First chapter of A SAVAGE AUTUMN by Thomas Morgan

Go HERE to read the first chapter of my next Thomas Morgan novel A SAVAGE AUTUMN. Gotta go get some more story written! Happy weekend for everybody.

Interviewed by Blu Gilliand for Horror World

As antisocial as I tend to be, I enjoy being interviewed a lot, possibly because I live inside my own head too much. I’m happy to share my latest interview on Horror World. Blu Gilliand also interviewed me last year on his own website, October Country. I think he might love Ray Bradbury, and who can blame him? Something Wicked This Way Comes was one of the books that made me want to write. So a big thank you to Blu for thinking of me for the May interview. I’m wishing him mucho success with his own writing career, and tipping back a drink to those who read and share this interview.

You might not agree with me on everything, which is okay, just don’t expect me to agree with everything you have to say. (I’ve read some disturbing bashing that some trolls did on an author who didn’t do anything wrong and that pisses me off.)

Anyway, I have exciting news that I can’t share yet. Wishing you all self-awareness, which leads to a type of peace and happiness that very little else can provide! 

My Second Year Anniversary

(Note: I’ve been up since yesterday so this might not come across very coherent…)

In a couple weeks it will be two years since Darkfuse released my first novel Nursery Rhymes 4 Dead Children. A lot has happened since then: I’ve learned a lot, written and sold a ton of other novels and novellas and short stories, started writing under other names, and it’s all gone by in what feels like the blink of an eye. I have a lot going on here at the moment, digging deep into this second novel I’m writing as Thomas Morgan, getting another novel ready for Darkfuse Publications, dreaming of how wonderful it’s going to be to hit The World Mystery Convention in New York again later this year and get to talk to some of my literary heroes and hang out with my best buddy Shaun Ryan.

Pausing for a second to look back, I still think that the honesty in a writer’s work, the honesty of their characters, and the pivotal moments in those characters’ lives are what resonate with us as readers. 

Click here to read a post I did a while back called “Remembering.”

It’s good to consider our roots.

What are you excited about right now?

I’m curious. Tell me!
Here’s what I’m excited about this week…
My latest Dark Fantasy novel GOSSAMER: A STORY OF LOVE AND TRAGEDY earned a 10 out of 10 star review on Famous Monsters of Filmland. Thanks to Peter Schwotzer for the read and review! You can check out the novel on Goodreads, or buy it from Amazon, Smashwords, iTunes, Kobo, etc throught that Goodreads page.

Also great to see Shock Totem, my favorite magazine, receiving glowing praise for their sixth issue from John Skipp over on Fangoria!

I’m eagerly awaiting my best writing buddy Shaun Ryan’s Crime novel. After I pre-read it, offer feedback, and he becomes famous I can make him buy me dinner. Good plan. He’s an amazing writer and I can’t wait to see him sell that first novel. What a thrill.

The weather here is finally breaking into spring so I can get out and walk/jog a lot. Thank god. I was sick of winter. A snow bunny I am not.

Reading a lot of great novels lately by James Lee Burke (Robicheaux series) and Joe Lansdale (Hap and Leonard series).

But the thing I’m most excited about is warmer weather.  My brain is thawing. Soon I’ll be the midnight express.

Share your secrets with me. 

New review and a short break

I have a new review of the second Division story WITHIN THIS GARDEN WEEPING. It makes me happy because that story hasn’t gotten very much attention and it’s a crucial point in Red Piccirilli’s life between Before Leonora Wakes and The Collected Songs of Sonnelion to who he becomes as an old man in Nursery Rhymes 4 Dead Children. Thanks to Eden Royce for the review on Hellnotes!

I’ve been a busy motherlicker, as is my nature. I’ve written four novels in the the last eight months and just ordered myself to take a week break because, honestly, I need a recharge. I’m emotionally beat. I just want to read and take walks and watch a bunch of movies before I hit it hard again.

Things to consider:

If you’re a writer check out this post on the awesome Chip MacGregor’s website, where on April 10th, you could learn a lot! Learning is great!

Also, David Farland’s Daily Kicks are one of my favorite things. Unfortunately his son was just in a bad accident and is in a coma. Send good energy their way and go buy one of his books since they don’t have insurance.

I hope everybody is well! 

Issues of Shock Totem free on Kindle

The awesome crew at Shock Totem Publications are offering FREE Kindle copies of issues 1 through 5 this week. Get on it while the getting is good! Check it out here. And spread the word!

Shock Totem #6 paperbacks!

Received copies of Shock  Totem #6 and will be sending the five winners their copies tomorrow! Thanks to everybody who spread the word about its release and thanks to everybody who entered! If you haven’t tried them yet go snag a copy from Shock Totem’s website or Amazon! They’re the best.

Finished the first Julian Vaughn novel and other stuff

Last night I finished the first draft of Earthly Things, the first novel I’ve written as Julian Vaughn. I am so excited about this story. Like The Lesser People (which I wrote as Thomas Morgan)  it’s a meaningful, beautiful, tragic story full of humanness. I’ve got to start editing it today so I can send it to my pre-readers by April 1st. Can’t wait to hear what they think of it and the feedback they offer. Then I’ll work in their feedback so I can see what Chip MacGregor thinks of it. I’m so excited about it.

That sweetheart Jennifer at Book Den is hosting a 5 copy giveaway for my latest Lee Thompson novel Gossamer: A Story of Love and Tragedy. Go enter! And a big thanks to Jennifer!

You can also buy Gossamer for your Kindle or snag it on other formats at Smashwords. Buy, read it, think about what it all means. Tell your friends who enjoy dark fiction. 

Here’s the cover and a quick synopsis:

An ancient witch, Dorothy Good, has lost everything to the vampire who has blown in on the hot desert wind and lain waste to her soul and her town. When a young family arrives at the end of a two week battle, she sees a chance to end the bloodshed and possibly regain a portion of what was stolen.

But they’re heavily outnumbered and night is falling…

Currently reading James Lee Burke’s Cadillac Jukebox. He’s amazing. And fellow Dark Fiction writer Brett J. Talley has sent me a copy of Limbus Inc., which I look forward to checking out this next week! Thanks Brett! 

My buddy Les Edgerton has had a bunch of interviews lately. He’s an intelligent, talented and humorous cracker. 

I’m also super pumped about Bouchercon. Last year I met John Connolly, Michael Connelly, Michael Koryta, Michael Stanley (Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip), Les Edgerton, and a number of other wonder book lovers there. And this year my best writing buddy Shaun Ryan is going with me! We’re going to tear it up, and learn a lot, and make memories that we can look back on with great fondness later in life. 

Anyway, time to knock out some editing on Earthly Things. Go make your dreams a reality. 

Kindle version of Gossamer: A Story of Love and Tragedy available!

Very happy that the Kindle version of Gossamer is out. Go snag it, read it, review it, tell people about it, and be your awesome self. If you need it in another format you can pluck it from Smashwords! Thanks!

The book cover for Gossamer: A Story of Love and Tragedy!

Very excited that Daniele Serra has sent me the cover for my novel Gossamer: A Story of Love and Tragedy. It’s about women and witches and loss. Let me know what you think of the cover and spread the word to your friends so that they can buy the novel on Smashwords in all the digital formats. I’ll also be uploading it to Amazon soon so expect a post when it’s available on Kindle! And if you’re on Goodreads, make sure you add it on there!

Here’s a short synopsis:

An ancient witch, Dorothy Good, has lost everything to the vampire who has blown in on the hot desert wind and lain waste to her soul and her town. When a young family arrives at the end of a two week battle, she sees a chance to end the bloodshed and possibly regain a portion of what was stolen.

But they’re heavily outnumbered and night is falling…

Yeah, go buy it, review it and spread the word!