The latest of my stories to hit Amazon is Court of the Abominatrix. It’s another fast-paced horror serial in the same style as Iron Dead, but with less sci-fi and a lot more “OMGWTF!?”
Seriously, while this isn’t the darkest story I’ve written, but it is by far the strangest. The author’s notes in the ebook version go into some depth about what I was trying to achieve and why this might also be the most confusing of my stories… and the most important.
In it, a group of men… some of which are rather unsavory and at least one of which is insane… find themselves trapped in an otherworldly labyrinth.
Are there monsters?
…sigh…
I’ll forgive the question this time, but please don’t insult me again. ANYWAY, there are some things in this story that you will not see coming, and some things that seem like they don’t belong in this story at all. …maybe because they don’t! Or do they?
My old fans already know that most of my tales are connected in some way. Court of the Abominatrix (COTA) shows a tiny bit of the pattern those connections are forming. It isn’t pretty. In fact, it’s ugly and full of monsters and crazy people with just enough room left over for somebody to get their ass kicked. It generally resembles what would happen if the alien from John Carpenter’s The Thing got loose in a zoo… one where they routinely put hallucinogens and steroids in the water.
Heh, maybe I shoulda used that as the book description.
Speaking of which, I owe you guys an apology. I published COTA last night, but managed to fubar the book description (again!?). Since it was late, I decided to make the corrections this morning and then make the formal announcement (this blog post) when I got home. Since I’m an absolute nobody on Amazon, I didn’t worry about anybody seeing the funky description or buying the book in the interim. Silly me… three people bought the thing while I was at work. The apology part comes from me wanting you guys to be the first to know about it. I know it’s a minor thing, but maybe I’m getting sentimental in my old age. Anyway: Sorry about that.
Oh well, I think I’ve padded this blog post rambled enough. The book is currently 99 cents. Would you kindly buy it and leave a review?
Wow, was that a random Bioshock reference? Yup. Must be time to go play some video games.
Eric Hood out!
As an old fan I’ll have to agree, it’s not the darkest story you’ve done (that would probably be The Hanging Tree) and it’s also pretty strange. I had a hard time following it back in the day, but perhaps as a completed work I’ll do better.
It’s hard not to make suggestions on which of your works to publish in this format next.
Wow, I think I’d forgotten about Hanging Tree. I was thinking that Darker was the darkest story I’d done (even though it isn’t technically “written”) but you’re right. Hanging Tree is seriously messed up. I had a co-author for certain parts of that, so it’s doubtful it’ll end up on Amazon.
Soon, I’ll make another post about what’s coming next. I hope to plan out the next three to five books so people will know what to expect, but honestly I’m having trouble thinking that far ahead. Opinions are welcome.
Are you serious, you’ve forgotten some of your own work? Not me. I haven’t read it in a few years, but I’ve got it all on disc and will return to it at some point. Well, maybe I’ll just start getting the updated books instead of digging around my stack of backups.
Co-authored stories probably won’t make it in the new format, and that’s a shame. The Expedition and Santa’s Sleigh are two great ones, and the timing is just about perfect for the latter.
Bags. I always liked that one, and the rest of the Mr. Hope stories. I saw a lot of potential with that character.
A Little Evil was a great one that hooked me back in the day. I don’t know it it was your darkest but it got me. I’m with Nate on the Hope stories. I forget which one ended with the grave. I don’t want to spoil anything for newer readers but I fell in love.
Honestly I think your fantasy stories were darker then some of your horror stories. Hanging tree, some December stories. Man, I wish I had the forethought Nate had and saved some. The one with New Venysee and the rain god? The plot wasn’t dark, but what happened to some of the characters were kind of haunting. Man I really don’t want to spoil anything but damn those were freaking awesome!
Still waiting for The Crusade. I came across a old sketchbook from my highschool days and found some crappy sketches of Jason and Ashley. If you ever want to sell me the read only rights to those stories I would be happy to pay something! I would say a lot, but biotech in GA isn’t paying much right now haha.
Man I can’t wait for more!