Posts

Showing posts from August, 2024

Marking Tonight's Rare Blue Supermoon: A Snippet From 'Under a Hunter's Moon'

Image
Tonight’s full moon is not only a supermoon, but also a blue moon!  It’s a supermoon because it will be closer to the earth, and thus brighter than usual. It’s a seasonal blue moon, being the third full moon in a season with four full moons.  Tonight’s full moon is also known as the sturgeon moon. It seems the giant lake sturgeon is more easily caught at this time of year.  To celebrate, I thought I’d share a snippet from my upcoming novella Under a Hunter’s Moon . The story occurs during a full moon in October.  The novella is now at the proofing stage, so I’m hopeful I can release it soon. It’s an exclusive for my newsletter subscribers.  Click here if you're interested in subscribing. ********** “ Shit! ” She gripped the sides of the window, her mouth hanging open. “What? What?” Vasilyev frowned in confusion. “There’s something loose out there. It just attacked a woman.” “ What?! ” The Russian shoved her away from the slit and peered out. “There’s nothing out there,” he sa

The Hungry Ghost Festival: An Excerpt From 'Joss Paper'

Image
Today, Aug. 18, is the Hungry Ghost Festival, the midpoint of the Hungry Ghost Month when the wall between the world of the living and the realm of the dead is thinnest …  In the spirit of the festival, I thought I'd share an excerpt from my short story “Joss Paper,” about a young woman who is fascinated by the Chinese ritual of offering property and money to the dead during this month. The story is an homage to W.W. Jacobs’s iconic short story “The Monkey’s Paw.” “Joss Paper” is in my collection of ghost stories, titled Joss Paper And Other Horror Stories . The stories are set in Southeast Asia and the U.S., and based on Asian folklore and beliefs. The stories have a Tales From the Crypt vibe ... Please check the book out if you’d like a chill in your summer. The stories are also available to read for free on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited service.  BTW, I highly recommend “The Monkey’s Paw” if you haven’t read it. Masterful, atmospheric, and creepy as heck. The story is reproduce

Book Review: 'Last Days' by Adam Nevill

Image
Five stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’ve been a fan of Adam Nevill since The Ritual .  This book didn’t disappoint as well. Nevill’s storytelling is unmatched, and he has a genuine talent for visceral and unsettling imagery. The protagonist here is one Kyle Freeman, who has been hired to make a documentary about a cult known as the Temple of the Last Days. The cult gained notoriety in 1975 after its leader and others were murdered. The project takes Freeman to London, France, and then Arizona.  As Freeman films the locations and interviews former cult members, he and his colleague begin to experience strange phenomena. Even more disturbing, the interviewees keep dying. It isn’t long before Freeman learns the cult’s true nature.  This book is downright frightening. It is exactly the kind of cerebral horror that I enjoy. Nevill doesn’t rush you through the story. He takes the time to build up the cult’s details. The characters are believable and well-rounded. The author’s descriptive writing thoroughly im

Folks, It's That Time of Year Again: the Chinese Spooky Season Starts Today

Image
Today, Aug. 4, is the start of the Chinese Hungry Ghost Month. Aug. 4 until Sept. 2 is the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Chinese people of the Taoist or Buddhist faiths believe the gates of Hell are open during this period, and hungry ghosts wander the earth in search of food and entertainment. At this time, Chinese communities burn ghost money and ghost goods—such as paper-mache cars, cell phones, houses and jewelry—to ensure their ancestors are well taken care of in their afterlife. If you’ve read up to Book #4 ( The Four Perils ) of my Geomancer’s Apprentice series, you’ll know yin energy (as opposed to yang energy) is dominant now, which is attractive to ghosts.   The Hungry Ghost Festival falls on the 14 th or 15 th day of the month. This year it’s Aug. 18. On that day, some people will serve large feasts on offering tables for the dead. Some cultures also light lanterns in the shape of lotus flowers and release them on rivers and other bodies of water. As they f

Cover and Title Reveal for My Upcoming Novella ...

Image
I’m excited to reveal the cover and title of my soon-to-be-released novella! I just finished the second draft of the manuscript. It comes in at 26K words, and has been sent to my editor. The novella features another of Pearl Tham’s early adventures. Pearl is the half sister of Joe Tham, the feng shui consultant in my Geomancer’s Apprentice series. Under a Hunter’s Moon is the sequel to Offerings for the Dead. These adventures are fun, fast-paced, and action-oriented. I may bundle the stories later and release them for sale. For now, however, they’re newsletter exclusives and free for subscribers. Stay tuned for the release announcement! Please visit my website if you’d like to subscribe. My newsletter goes out the beginning of every month. I use it to update subscribers about my writing projects, and any upcoming sales or other events involving my books. If you’re already subscribed and haven’t received your Aug. 1 email, please check your spam filters. PEARL THAM: BRIEF RECAP Who