Tag: Horror

DL Mullan (aka Undawnted)’s ‘Mangled’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology

I asked fellow Midnight Roost anthology contributors to share some things about themselves prior to publication and those generous enough to do so will be appearing here for the next week or so.

Each entry gives a taste of their contribution, a little about them, how to contact them, how their story came about, and definitely a link to Midnight Roost (which you should purchase because it would make each and every one of us happy.
you do want to make us happy, don’t you?
i mean, considering what we wrote, you want us to know you’re a good person, right?).

Let’s start with a Hallowe’en-themed introduction to the anthology as a whole:

DL’s contribution is Mangled. Here’s the opening:

Lub-dub.
Over the sound of my heartbeat in my ears, I heard indistinct clatter in the background. At first, the sounds seemed muffled and distant. With each syllable, my surroundings resounded with a concussive force against my eardrums.
Even though the pressure stung, the picture in my mind’s eye became cohesive. I heard people walking and talking down tiled halls. Words like doctor, nurse, surgery, and triage floated through the air.
From my gurney, I perceived the frantic pace of the hospital. Wind rushed by me as bodies breezed in and out of the room. The air streamed past me felt as cool as the night time temperature.
It was night. I remembered something, but I could not bring forth other memories. Incoherence threw challenges at my cognition. Images splashed in my mind’s eye, but the slideshow was out of context and chronology. My twentieth birthday party appeared. Then a picture of my graduation from boot camp took its place. Darkness of a moonless night, where millions of stars shown in their galaxies above, filled me with apprehension. The wave of the United States flag displayed the red, white, and blue in the wind.
Next, I heard an explosion. I saw an array of colored lights as my synapses overloaded and the world around me turned black.

Continue reading “DL Mullan (aka Undawnted)’s ‘Mangled’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology”

Christa Planko’s ‘The Easterville Glass Ghost’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology

I asked fellow Midnight Roost anthology contributors to share some things about themselves prior to publication and those generous enough to do so will be appearing here for the next week or so.

Each entry gives a taste of their contribution, a little about them, how to contact them, how their story came about, and definitely a link to Midnight Roost (which you should purchase because it would make each and every one of us happy.
you do want to make us happy, don’t you?
i mean, considering what we wrote, you want us to know you’re a good person, right?).

Let’s start with a Hallowe’en-themed introduction to the anthology as a whole:

Christa’s contribution is The Easterville Glass Ghost. Here’s the opening:

As Taryn approached the glassworks ruins, an eerie feeling overcame her. She clutched her goose-fleshed arms. Dilapidated walls rose above the rubble, a testament to the existence of the factory that once stood. Its brick-faced front featured large, arched entryways.
Despite the “No Trespassing” sign, she stepped over the rope. She climbed onto a pile of fallen bricks to take in the view. People usually roamed the park grounds. But not on this chilly spring day. It allowed her to get close and personal with the ruins she found so haunting.”

How the story came about:
History often serves as a window to the past. Social and political times, livelihoods, ways of living may change, but the human soul remains constant. Accounts of past lives enable the re-imagining of experiences and associated emotions we can relate to today. Such stories provide transparency, like a glass window into yesteryear. They build a bridge that connects past and present, reminding us of how brief and fragile our lives are—but also how remarkable acts, such as heroism, can live.
The story of the “Easterville Glass Ghost” is a historical fiction account of a 19th-century hero who met his untimely death at a glass factory. It examines how the spirit of human kindness transcends time and dimension, inspiring others across centuries.
Continue reading “Christa Planko’s ‘The Easterville Glass Ghost’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology”

Denise Aparo’s ‘The Pines’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology

I asked fellow Midnight Roost anthology contributors to share some things about themselves prior to publication and those generous enough to do so will be appearing here for the next week or so.

Each entry gives a taste of their contribution, a little about them, how to contact them, how their story came about, and definitely a link to Midnight Roost (which you should purchase because it would make each and every one of us happy.
you do want to make us happy, don’t you?
i mean, considering what we wrote, you want us to know you’re a good person, right?).

Let’s start with a Hallowe’en-themed introduction to the anthology as a whole:

Denise’s contribution is The Pines. Here’s the opening:

The ping of the brass counter bell resonated through the rustic tavern lobby.
“May I help you?” As the tavernkeeper appeared from behind the mahogany counter, he gave the guest a cheerful smile as he twisted a stark white cloth inside a barrel-shaped stein.
“I have a reservation for a single room under Douglas. Orna Douglas.” She held out a credit card.
Setting the pint glass on the inner counter, he flipped the pages of a large register. He frowned, “Em, sorry, Ms. Douglas. There was no confirmation for the booking. I procured it yesterday. Unfortunately, no rooms due to the storm.”

How the story came about:
The inspiration for her short story “The Pines” came from a weekend visit to the cozy New Hampshire town of North Conway. While staying at a local inn with her husband and another couple, they each experienced unexplained events, like seeing shadows move against the wall and having a feeling of being tapped on the shoulder when standing alone. The more they discussed their eerie feelings, the more the power of suggestion took over!
The visit to the inn, combined with recently learning about her family heritage, and hearing about the miscarriage of a very spiritual friend, prompted the structure of her story.
Continue reading “Denise Aparo’s ‘The Pines’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology”

M J Mallon’s ‘The Cull’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology

I asked fellow Midnight Roost anthology contributors to share some things about themselves prior to publication and those generous enough to do so will be appearing here for the next week or so.

Each entry gives a taste of their contribution, a little about them, how to contact them, how their story came about, and definitely a link to Midnight Roost (which you should purchase because it would make each and every one of us happy.
you do want to make us happy, don’t you?
i mean, considering what we wrote, you want us to know you’re a good person, right?).

Let’s start with a Hallowe’en-themed introduction to the anthology as a whole:

M J’s contribution is The Cull. Here’s the opening:

Adrian studied his self-portrait, a medium black charcoal piece set against a white
background, turning it this way and that as if trying to understand it. As he stared, the more
disturbing it became. Its painted charcoal mouth startled him by opening wide, its tongue
swelled. It spat, twisting and turning on the page, becoming a spectre of rage.
He yelled. “Stop that! You diabolical, twisted abomination…”
Adrian brought the edge of his hand down hard against the portrait, erasing half of his face in a fury of frustration.

How the story came about:
I wrote this short story whilst working in a Sixth Form College for international students in Cambridge. I was required to have GDPR training at work. Whilst focusing on the finer details (which were quite boring,) I began to imagine what would happen if people were subjected to a computer generated cull… That’s how this story came into being! In my experience, ideas for stories can derive from all sorts of different sources: conversations, visual stimuli, artwork, and even the most mundane day-to-day work tasks can be an inspiration!
Continue reading “M J Mallon’s ‘The Cull’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology”

Sonia Pipkin’s ‘Once Upon a Time’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology

I asked fellow Midnight Roost anthology contributors to share some things about themselves prior to publication and those generous enough to do so will be appearing here for the next week or so.

Each entry gives a taste of their contribution, a little about them, how to contact them, how their story came about, and definitely a link to Midnight Roost (which you should purchase because it would make each and every one of us happy.
you do want to make us happy, don’t you?
i mean, considering what we wrote, you want us to know you’re a good person, right?).

Let’s start with a Hallowe’en-themed introduction to the anthology as a whole:

Sonia’s contribution is Once Upon a Time. Here’s the opening:

Once upon a time, in a magical forest, woodland creatures lived in peaceful co-existence, and not one human was the wiser. The sky was the perfect shade of azure blue, trees with full leafy crowns filled every corner, and the creatures lacked for nothing since the forest provided it all. Within this land, bears were friends with foxes who were friends with squirrels who were friends with birds, and not one drop of blood had ever been spilt on the soil in the enchanted land until that day.

How the story came about:
I wrote this short story while I was attending Western Colorado University, during a short forms course. I love the idea of combining a fairytale with unexpected horror and that was my inspiration.
Continue reading “Sonia Pipkin’s ‘Once Upon a Time’ in WordCrafter Press’ Midnight Roost Anthology”