Available Now--"WHISPERWOOD: Sequel to Halloween House"

It's June. The sun is bearing down on us, the humidity in Arkansas is building. Summer is in full effect, and my heart yearns for autumn colors and cool breezes and Jack O'Lanterns smiling back at me from inviting porches. If you're like me and would love a little taste of Halloween this blistering summertime, then perhaps I have just the thing for you.

Whisperwood, my new novella collaboration with writer and occult detective Bob Freeman is now available in print and on Kindle for your macabre enjoyment. Back in 2018 (has it really been that long??) Bob and I entertained one another by composing a novella whereby we each took turns writing a chapter. There was no forethought, no planning. We only sought to surprise each other with every installment--and periodically dropping our heroes in impossible situations to gleefully muse how the other author might rescue them. The fruit of that labor was Halloween House--a story of an old manse's demonic possession. 

 As stated in my introduction to Whisperwood:  

We set Halloween House firmly in Bob’s rich Liber Monstrorum mythos that occupies the majority of his writings, featuring his iconic protagonist, Occult Detective Landon Connors. What’s more, Landon’s sidekick in that yarn was none other than “Greg Mitchell”, a character Bob named after me some years ago in his Connors’ short story “The Cabin in the Woods”.

Now, while Bob’s spent these years writing stories set in the world of Landon Connors and his colorful supporting cast of hard-boiled characters, I, too, have been developing my own fictional universe of monsters and heroes spread across a number of novels. And, to return the favor he paid me in “The Cabin in the Woods”, I named a character after Bob Freeman in my novel Night World, which introduced Blue Squad: a government-sponsored task force dedicated to combating the forces of darkness, led by skeptic ex-cop Jack Mills. 

When it came time to do the follow-up to Halloween House, Bob suggested it was only fitting that, since our first co-writing venture took place in his mythology with my alter ego, we should take a trip across the multiversal pond and set the sequel in my story-world and include Bob’s fictional counterpart. I eagerly jumped at the notion, already growing excited about the concept of tying our two universes together by giving them a common extradimensional foe. 

  

Whisperwood is the result of that endeavor, and I'm very proud of the story we've crafted (by the seat of our pants!). This book is especially exciting for me as this is the inaugural title under my new Willowbrook Underworld banner. If you have read my (to date) two HITMEN collections, then you may be aware that, for over 25 years, I have been filming backyard blockbusters with my friends and family. These elaborate "home movies" have become the foundation of my fictional universe--a test bed of characters and ideas. The two HITMEN braided novels (Four Tales of Magick, Monsters, and Murder and Night World) are, in fact, expanded adaptations of a carefully curated selection of those home movies. The movies--and the books inspired by them--take place in the town of Willowbrook. I would love to continue adapting those movie projects into written form, but as the mythology has grown significantly over the last quarter century, finding the next selection that could fit thematically into a braided novel is becoming trickier.

It is my hope that the Willowbrook Underworld line is the solution to that conundrum. Now, I can release individual adaptations at a time, rather than trying to narrow down which ones to include in upcoming collections. There might still be collections, yes. And, under Willowbrook Underworld, I also hope to write all-new stories set within the mythology of those "home movies" that are very near and dear to me and my family. Whisperwood is one such story--an original tale set within the home movie universe, starring characters that you can meet in my novels Night World and Infernal City.

This summer, as the hot days draw out, I welcome you to the mist-shrouded forest of Whisperwood to uncover the monsters that lurk there...

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Special Agent Jack Mills of the National Clandestine Agency receives a call from an old partner, he is drawn to the small rural community of Whisperwood to investigate an unsolved murder from his past. Aided by his new task force of monster hunters, Mills must return to familiar paths fraught with peril and painful memories, leading him to Holbrook House--a mysterious ruin possessed of something not from this earth.

As the danger mounts, Mills seeks the aid of author and paranormal investigator, Bob Freeman, to unravel the mystery surrounding Holbrook House and the cult that has come to offer sacrifice to its new otherworldly occupant.

Finally, the veil between worlds is torn, unfathomable abominations emerge, and no one is safe within Whisperwood.

Order your copy today! 

 

 

New Book Announcement & Cover Reveal!

In keeping with my (apparent) one post a year theme, here's yours for 2021! Haha, seriously, I don't get around these parts much anymore, but for those one or two of you who are still following--I've got a new book coming out!

As related in a previous post, my "writing career" has taken a serious backseat to "fun writing". I burnt off my entire twenties and most of my thirties "chasing the dream", as it were, of becoming a "professional writer". And, while I DID achieve that dream, it never satisfied. I chased after that for so long, I really forgot to live my life, and, as my oldest daughter is now a full-fledged teenager, I see that time with them is short. So, on the professional side of things, my writing has slowed down.

But that doesn't mean that it's stopped.

Since the 2017 (!) release of my last novel Infernal City, I have turned my attention to writing machinima based on the old video game Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic AND I've taken a turn at doing some no budget Star Trek fan films. I co-wrote and released Halloween House with my friend and often-collaborator Bob Freeman, but mostly I've been churning out a bevy of "home movies" that I make with my kids and my friends. These are not meant to be show to a public audience (as they are VERY amateur and not kind to copyright laws, haha) but they are stories I am proud of nonetheless. If you're a frequent reader of my work, then you know that I adapted four of these movies--the original main canon installments--and released them as my novel HITMEN: Four Tales of Magick, Monsters, and Murder. 

Well, I've done it again. Allow me to introduce to you my NEXT novel, a new adaptation of four more of the home movies we've created: NIGHT WORLD!

With fantastic art, once again, by Bob Freeman, this book is a love letter to the stories/movies I've been crafting with my daughters for, quite literally, their entire lives. I'll go into it more upon the book's release, which should be in a week or so, but in the meantime, please enjoy the cover! Keep your eyes peeled and your ears to the ground for the release--this is one wild ride!

Worlds Collide!

First, allow me the annual dusting-off of cobwebs on this here blog...

Now with the housework out of the way--Welcome! The leaves are changing, the wind is turning crisper, and my favorite season is upon us. Halloween is here, and I have returned to the interwebs with a treat to offer you.

Over the course of the last year and a half--among the other projects I've been tinkering on--my friend and fellow author Bob Freeman and I have been putting together our first storytelling collaboration. As you may or may not recall, Bob has already lent his incredible artistic talents to my HITMEN novel, providing the cover. But, this time, we agreed to tackle a novella together, trading off writing chores on rotating chapters, and making it a point to surprise the other. It was a lot of fun and, today, we present to you the fruits of our labors...Hallowe'en House!

This tale was especially thrilling for me as it involves the character Bob named after me, and it also marks the first time I've ever written in Bob's sprawling occult detective mythology. I've been a huge fan of his mega-myth for a number of years now, but actually contributing to it filled me with equal parts eagerness and caution. I think we've crafted a wile ride through the darkest corners of the cosmos and we hope you agree.

Also of note, readers of my own mythology (particularly my Rift Jump duology) might find some interesting connections inside the Hallowe'en House...

The book is available now in print and Kindle. Get your copy today--just in time for Halloween! A perfect little story to read by the soft flicker of Jack O'Lantern light.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Demonologist Greg Mitchell has discovered a secret from his father's past, a secret that not only sheds light on their strained relationship but on the path he has found himself upon, caught between Heaven, Hell, and all points between.

Turning to his former mentor, Dr. Landon Connors, Mitchell and the infamous occult detective seek out Hallowe'en House, a legendary transdimensional nexus that bristles with unfathomable eldritch energies.

But they're not the only ones who have come seeking out Hallowe'en House.

Hangin' Out with Bob Freeman, Author of "First Born"!

Well, hello there! It's been quite awhile since I've been 'round these parts, but today I've returned to the Internet for a special occasion. My buddy Bob Freeman has got a new book out--First Born: Tales of the Liber Monstrorum--and you should know about it! To celebrate, I've invited Bob back to the blog for another palaver about his latest publication, inspirations, future projects, and anything else we have a mind to discuss. So, on with it!

Greg Mitchell: It's Bob! He's back! What have you been up to recently?

Bob Freeman: Thanks for having me, Greg. It's good to be back. I'm still hard at work being the best husband and father I can be, all the while indulging in my various and sundry eccentricities.

GM: You've got your priorities in the right place, there. Let's talk about the new Landon Connors book, First Born. This is the first book in your massive Liber Monstrorum opus, yes? What's the skinny?

BF: First Born was a chance to put most all the Landon Connors/Wolfe & Crowe stories that I've written so far under one roof. I say most because I only included those stories that take place before Descendant, which will be the second volume in Liber Monstrorum.

GM:  I have to say that, though I know you've published most of these stories in other sources, reading them all in a single volume--with the stories arranged in chronological order--really brings it to new life. You can see the sprawling occult epic like never before, and I made so many more connections between the various stories than I did when I was reading them scatter shot across various sources. 

I know you're never supposed to ask a writer this, but is there any particular story that sticks out in this collection as your favorite? Or, when putting them together, did something previously unknown to you about your story world jump out?

BF: Wyrdtails, in a lot of ways, because I think it has an interesting twist and there's a lot of truth I put down on paper. My best friend passed away less than a month after writing that story, and in some ways, I think it was prophetic. In fact, it's only now that you ask that question that I'm somewhat staggered by that revelation.

GM: I recall Wyrdtails as having a heavy feel to it. What's next for Landon Connors?

BF: Well, there's his role in the collaboration you and I are putting together, but I suppose that's as much of a tease as we should give your readers.

GM: Too true! Yeah, Bob and I are at work on something that's proving to be an exciting exercise. But that will remain secret...for now.

BF: He has a minor role in Descendant, though his influence is ever-present. He's there between the lines, in the spaces between words. His role is far more prominent in Liber Monstrorum's third volume, Born Again, and then, I will look to wrap up the series in the fourth and final book, Afterbirth.

GM: I'm so ready for those. I've read an earlier incarnation of Descendant, but I believe Born Again and Afterbirth will be fresh territory for me to explore as a reader--and I'm happy to do so!

Of course, Landon isn't the only focal point in your mythos. How are the Wolves of Cairnwood these days? You've got one final book to complete that trilogy, right? Any update on that?

BF: I have been dropping hints, here and there. A lot of questions regarding the Cairnwood Legacy will be answered in Born Again, strangely enough. If sales warrant it, Shadow of the Wolf will come along after. If not, I think Born Again could satisfy that itch.

GM: Yeah, it's only been recently after some of the stories you've published online on your site (occultdetective.com, shameless plug) and conversations we've had that I've started to figure out how the two mythologies connect--and once I hit on it, it was incredibly exciting, but also very mysterious. I'm anxious to see how it all comes together.

Okay, books on hold for a second, though: Recently you (finally) watched Stranger Things. To say I love that show is a sad, sad understatement. This is the point in the interview where I give you the mic and let you expound your love for the wonder of Stranger Things.

BF: Look, I was born and raised in rural Indiana. I was 17 years old in November of 1983. I was an avid player of Dungeons & Dragons with a insane curiosity about all things "paranormal" and considered myself a student of the occult. Stranger Things was like holding up a mirror to my childhood in a lot of ways. It really hit home. Couple that with the obvious homages to Carpenter, Spielberg, and other milestones from the era, and well, it was tailor-made for someone like me. It was me...

GM: No doubt. It tugs at me. I switch it on, and I'm transported back in time. It takes me back to when I first saw the Monster Squad and subsequently rode my bike up and down the street, hoping to find a monster to hunt. I mean, it hits on all the right notes for me, and I can't gush enough about it.

But beyond that, what other movies/comics/books/TV has got you buzzing these days? What's inspiring you lately? How are you feeling about the X-Files revival take two?

BF: The latest X-Files has seemed a little stiff, but I'm still a fan. That being said, I have always liked the idea behind the X-Files far better than the execution. 

GM: I can see that, though I have enjoyed this season considerably more than the last one.

BF: Millennium was a better show, as far as I'm concerned, and Fringe out X-Filed the X-Files by being more consistent and Twin Peaks sort of outshined it a far as revivals go by being far more edgy and, well, weird.

GM: I will admit, I ONLY RECENTLY watched the first season of Twin Peaks. Haven't made it to the second season yet. Hm... 

BF: As for being buzzed, I'm a bit of a YouTube junkie and a real gaming nerd, so I spend a fair amount of time watching "actual plays" and tutorials. I think, if backed into a corner my three favorite "shows" right now are Critical Role (professional voice actors playing Dungeons & Dragons), Schola Gladiatoria (Historical European Martial Arts enthusiast Matt Easton's Sword channel), and Curse of Oak Island on History Channel.

GM: Having said that, I feel I should point folks to your own YouTube channel where you talk about tabletop gaming and RPGs!

BF: At home we've been binge watching a lot. It's been a great chance to share things I loved with the two most important people in my life. We plowed through Star Trek (all flavors), Babylon 5, Highlander, Twin Peaks, and Stranger Things, to name just a few. We're currently waist deep into Fringe (which I mentioned earlier) and it's been a real bonding experience for us as a family. I just wish I could get them to watch Veronica Mars :)

GM: With all these muses in your head, do you ever have trouble keeping them straight? I know that, in my own mythology, it sometimes gets so big and detail-orientated that I find myself having to re-read the various books to remind myself of how it all fits together.

BF: I think I have some sort of weird mutant ability to keep all that stuff straight in my head. Sometimes, if I've been away from it for a handful of months, I'll need a refresher, but mostly it all comes rather naturally. It seems like the stories have all already happened and I'm just the guy who drew the short straw and get to write them down.

GM: I can understand that. In my own experience, there is an almost instinctive quality to it, like you're just uncovering what's already there. What's your son, Connor, up to these days? I enjoyed his first book, Jonny Spencer and the Black Lich of Ashrock Earth (what a sweet name!) and understand he's working on other projects?

BF: Thanks for asking. I am more than passingly proud of that kid. I've just finished editing his first urban fantasy novel, Word Hollow, and I'll tackle editing its follow-up in a couple of weeks. That will make three books in four years for him. Not bad for a fourteen year old.

GM: No doubt! Thank you, as always, for stopping by to hang.

BF: Thanks for having me, my friend. It's always a pleasure. I have, for as long as I can remember, been obsessed with telling stories. The medium didn't and doesn't matter, whether it was playing with action figures, writing short stories, novels, or comic books, slinging dice from behind a DM Screen, or even sitting around a campfire spinning yarns. It is what I was born to do and I feel infinitely blessed to be able to do so.

GM: Well I, for one, have enjoyed your stories and love exploring the worlds you've created. Alright, everybody, that's your cue to go buy Bob's latest book: First Born! 

ABOUT THE BOOK: From the arcane sorceries of the "Wickedest Man in the World" to the supernatural exploits of Occult Detective Landon Connors and the harrowing investigations of Agents Wolfe and Crowe, this collection of macabre tales of the black arts treads the dangerous landscape between this world and that populated by angels and demons, gods and devils, ghosts and spirits, and the legendary creatures of our darkest imaginings.

First Born is the beginning of the journey into the Liber Monstrorum, the Chronicles of those Occult Detectives who are the last line of defense against those preternatural forces that threaten to destroy a world that refuses to believe that such things exist...

"Keepers of the Dead"--An Interview with Bob Freeman

Mornin'.

Today, we've got a new interview with Bob Freeman, real-life paranormal investigator and writer of occult tales. Recently saw the release of Bob's new book from Seventh Star Press, Keepers of the Dead, the second installment in his Gothic horror Cairnwood Manor saga.

I always love having Bob stop by, so let's jump right into it:

Greg Mitchell: Bob! You’re back! And with the second novel in the Cairnwood Manor series: Keepers of the Dead. Tell us about it. 

Bob Freeman: Thanks for having me, Greg. Keepers of the Dead picks up a few months after Shadows Over Somerset and the stakes are much higher. Michael is just settling into his role as the alpha of the Cairnwood Pack when his whole world gets turned upside down and he is drawn into a conflict with a sinister cabal intent on raising a demon that’s been locked away in the belly of Rosslyn Chapel for centuries.

All the main cast is back for this one, plus, I hope, some interesting new faces.

GM: It’s funny; in preparation for the release of Book Two, I went back and re-read Shadows and kept thinking, “This is classic Bob Freeman.” You’ve got a Gothic Scottish mansion/castle in the Indiana heartland, with witches, werewolves, vampires, secret societies, occult detectivery (new word), and Conan-esque swordplay. It’s a very unique blend of a sort of “horror high fantasy” crashing into Small Town, America. I’ve never seen anything quite like it, and it’s pretty exciting. In our last interview, you talked about the real-life inspiration for the kernel that became the Wolves of Cairnwood, but when it came time to start putting pen to paper, what were some of your inspirations for crafting this surreal fantasy world? 

BF: Nick Mamatas and I had a chat at a convention a few years back and he said the biggest mistake almost every first time novelist makes is dumping everything they have an interest in into that first work.

Shadows being my first, I can honestly say, guilty as charged.

Dark Shadows' vampiric patriarch Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid)

I grew up obsessed with Universal Monsters, Dark Shadows, and The Night Stalker, and I read more than my fair share of gothic paperbacks as a kid living in rural Indiana. I discovered Lovecraft and Howard at a young age, and later was really into Katherine Kurtz’ Adept series. And, obviously, I’ve always had a fascination with the occult, its practices and practitioners. I think if you tossed all of that into a blender, mixed in my love for local history and folklore, a smattering of everything from William Castle to Terence Fisher, and Dan Curtis, plus a little Highlander and the gods only know what else that my primal brain has latched onto and you get the whole insane Cairnwood Manor saga.

GM: As it was with Shadows Over Somerset, I believe this is the second edition of Keepers of the Dead. Anything new to discover inside? 

BF: Well, it had a tighter editorial hand, a couple of name tweaks here and there, and prettier packaging, but the story stayed the same.

I’ve toyed with the idea of doing a major rewrite of the whole thing, but, it really is a kind of time capsule of who I was at the time, what kind of writer I was, and to alter it too much would disrespect that.

GM: I can understand that. I went through a similar process when reworking my Rift Jump stories from the original high school days to the "real" version. Trying to change it, while also keeping it true to who you were back in the day. 

So, you’re working on the next Cairnwood Manor book at the moment, correct? Is that the final one? What can you tell us about it—or is that a secret? 

BF: Without giving anything major away, Shadow of the Wolf has time-travel, alternate realities, and what I hope are surprising guest appearances by characters from some of my other works in store.


The story takes place roughly 15 years after the events in Keepers, but also spends a fair amount of time in the 1880s. There’ll be plenty of hairy action, romance, and swordplay, with, I hope, more of a gothic atmosphere.

Oh, and more magic. And electric light...

GM: That all sounds fantastic. I'm totally on board for that ride. And what of your other projects? I know you’ve got to be working on, at least, five other things right now, ha. Are we still looking at a revival of your paranormal investigators Wolfe & Crowe? What’s your signature creation Landon Connors up to these days? 

BF: I’m working on Shadow of the Wolf, of course, plus an occult detective fantasy novel, and a weird western, but my mind is constantly drifting into Landon Connors/Wolfe & Crowe territory. I just can’t help it.

I would love to find a publisher who was as interested in Wolfe & Crowe as I am. I still consider Descendant my best work to date.

As for Dr. Connors, he’ll be appearing in a month long serial on my website, occultdetective.com, throughout February, if the gods are willing and the creek don’t rise.

You know me, Greg, I’m a storyteller at heart. The medium isn’t as important as the story itself and I’m always looking for ways to get that story told in some fashion or another.

Readers are such a small audience and I’d swear 80% of them are writers.

GM: I'd believe that.

BF: I’m always looking for some way to get my stories out there. I recently adapted Mourn Not the Sleepless Children as an audio drama being produced by Openly Gamer and I wrote an episode for one of their upcoming ‘actual plays’.

I really dig the idea of cooperative storytelling. I’ve been playing RPGs for almost forty years and I’ve tried my hand at developing occult detective themed board and roleplaying games and could really see me heading even further down that rabbit hole.

GM: I would be remiss if we didn’t talk about your son, Connor. He’s got a new book out, as well—his debut! That’s gotta be great as a father, right? Spill the details, man! 

BF: Obviously I couldn’t be more proud.

Connor is home schooled and, when he was ten, my wife Kim and I decided to add creative writing to his curriculum. Well, he up and ran with it, creating Jonny Spencer and the Black Lich of Ashrock Earth.

His new project, Word Hollow, is a sort of midwestern gothic fantasy, with demons, werewolves, monster hunters, talking birds and cats, and more.

GM: Nice!

BF:He’s a very creative kid and he and I spitball ideas every day. I really am one lucky guy.

GM: One of the things I love talking with you is inspirations. What shows, movies, books, games has got you excited these days? 

BF: There’s so much great stuff out there:

In comics there’s Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott’s Black Magick, Tim Truman and Tomas Giorello’s King Conan: Wolves Beyond the Border, and Rich Douek and Brett Barkley’s Gutter Magic to name just a few.

I’ll continue to preach my love for the Lovecraft-inspired tabletop game Elder Sign. It has two expansions, Unseen Forces and Gates of Arkham, with a third coming out soon called Omens of Ice. What’s great about it is you can play it as part of a group or all by your lonesome.

I’m digging the X-Files revival and Lucifer on Fox, Syfy’s The Magicians, and the CW's run of superhero fare is must-see-TV at our house — Flash, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow. A friend of mine turned me on to a show out of New Zealand called The Almighty Johnsons that is absolutely absurd, but I couldn’t help but watch. It’s about these four brothers who are, it turns out, reincarnated Norse Gods.

What else? If you haven’t seen Crimson Peak, you bloody well should.

GM: I know, I know. That's on my list, when the Blu-Ray hits. I'm sorry to have missed that one in the theaters.

BF: I’ve been reading mostly bad paranormal non-fiction here lately, unfortunately. I get sent a lot of review material and most of it just isn’t up to snuff, you know.

I’m really hungry for a really great occult detective novel or a collection of short stories that goes above and beyond, something different and unexpected.

GM: Thanks, Bob, for coming out. Now I’m off to read more of Keepers of the Dead—now available in print and Kindle!

BF: Thank you, Greg. It’s always a pleasure.

A Look Ahead

Happy (belated) New Year!

It's been forever since I've posted on here, mostly because I've been hard at work on a number of upcoming projects. Not only that, but I've been, frankly, trying to live my life a little. It's possible to have too much going on, and I was knee deep in that territory for the latter half of last year. So this year, I'm taking a bit of break. Still working, but these days I'm working more on my personal projects rather than "for hire" work--though there's some of that thrown in there, too.

So what's coming up?

First off, I'm pleased to announce that I have finished the manuscript to my seventh novel. Still have edits to do and then there's the question of what to do with it after. I've published my last three books on my own, without much success, to be honest. But I love the creative control and the freedom. Plus, with publishers becoming even more exclusive because of the increasing financial risk of publishing anyone who is not Stephen King or George RR Martin, I'm not sure where to turn. But that's all upsetting business stuff to worry about later. Right now, I'm focusing on just the simple joy of telling (and completing) a story. I don't want to say too much about it just yet, but what can I tell you about the next book? No title yet, as it keeps changing, but this is a story that I've been trying to tell--in one form or another--since 1998. In many ways, it's a return to my Coming Evil roots--simple people fighting off incomprehensible evil. It involves a City that devours souls, and centers on Quinn, a thuggish "Retriever" who makes sure that, well, let's just say he makes sure that the dinner doesn't scramble off the plate. It's a noir-type story, rife with monsters and a very faith-driven fight of good versus evil. Also, it fits squarely into my larger mythology. In fact, this book is the concluding chapter of my current "concept trilogy" that consists of HITMEN: Four Tales of Magick, Monsters, and Murder, and the Rift Jump duology. Together, they pull back the veil on the world introduced in The Coming Evil Trilogy, showing that the threat presented by the Strange Man has its roots in something much more cosmic. And that tasty morsel leads into my next announcement...

I've officially broken ground on the next Coming Evil novel. Still waaaay too early to say anything about that yet, but I've had this story in mind for many, many years. There are seeds of it sprinkled throughout The Coming Evil, and even more of its foundation is laid in the aforementioned "concept trilogy". I'm super excited about it, but nervous, as well. The Coming Evil has always been very special to me and I want to be extra careful to handle its continuation properly.

In other news, I've also had the opportunity to help develop another Syfy Channel Original. I'm buried way back behind the scenes on this one, but it's always fun to be involved in these creature features. Definitely can't talk about that one yet, but I'll be sure to keep you posted as the premier draws nigh.

Finally, my fellow Star Wars contributor Edward M. Erdelac and I have co-written an essay on that beloved saga to be included in Sequart's upcoming book A Galaxy Far, Far Away: Exploring Star Wars Comics. Very thankful to be included in this alongside other reputable Star Wars fans and authors. I think it's going to be pretty neat. Look for that later this year.

That's what I've been up to. I know I started this blog with saying that I wanted to be less busy, but, believe me--this is less busy for me :)

And, no, this won't be the last you hear from me for another six months. Coming up in the days ahead, I've got an interview with my buddy, paranormal investigator and author Bob Freeman. He's got a new book out!

New Story Included in "Grimoire of Eldritch Inquests"!

Howdy, folks. Some great news this weekend, courtesy of Emby Press. My short story "Divide and Conquer" has just been accepted for their Occult Detective anthology A Grimoire of Eldritch Inquests! The two-volume anthology is edited by Emby mastermind Miles Boothe and Joshua M. Reynolds--author of the super-awesome Royal Occultist pulp occult detective stories. Not only that, but my buddy Bob Freeman (read my most recent interview with him right here) has been tapped to contribute and write the foreword. I'm thrilled to be a part of the collection and am, as always, thankful for the chance to work with Emby Press and their impressive Monster Hunter line of anthologies.

My story "Divide and Conquer" is an original tale featuring an early case of my own occult detective, Vinnie Caponi: Urban Mythologist. As you should know by now (because I've posted a lot about it), Vinnie is one of the main heroes in my new book HITMEN: Four Tales of Magick, Monsters, and Murder. It was great delving into his old case files for another adventure with his faithful sidekick and brother-in-law, Josh. I love writing these two characters and I hope you enjoy my wild and woolly tale of...well, I'm hesitant to say what particular nasty they go up against. But, suffice it to say, it'll be wild and woolly. Fans of my The Coming Evil Trilogy should also take note of this short story as it includes one of my Arbigast Group characters from Lengthening Shadows. You won't want to miss it!

I was sort of a late(r) bloomer to the occult detective genre. I seemed to always be around it without ever really recognizing it. Growing up, my best friend Johnny was into Lovecraft and paranormal investigators and movies/shows like Angel Heart, X-Files, Lord of Illusions, and To Cast A Deadly Spell. I knew all these things through him and learned to enjoy and appreciate them. I even fashioned Johnny into an occult detective for my series of "Hitmen" home movies: you guessed it--he was the inspiration for Vinnie Caponi. Over the years, my love for pulp horror like Lovecraft and occult detectives have grown and developed, but the genre will always remind me of my early teen years at Johnny's, playing the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game, and talking about ancient tomes and eldritch horrors. Good times.

Fred Ward (that's the guy on the right) in "To Cast A Deadly Spell"

Look for the first volume of A Grimoire of Eldritch Inquests later this year. As of this writing, I'm not quite sure yet which volume I'll be included in, but they'll both be worth the look. In the meantime, get caught up on Vinnie Caponi by checking out HITMEN (available in print and ebook) or by reading this vignette of Vinnie's origins--for free, yo!

"Shadows Over Somerset"--An Interview with Bob Freeman

Hey, everybody. Today we've got none other than Bob Freeman stopping over at the blog to talk about his new Gothic Horror novel Shadows Over Somerset. Bob's a good pal and colleague and has, over the years, contributed the covers to my ebooks Flowers for Shelly and The Coming Evil: Lengthening Shadows. Most recently, he also did art duties on my newest release HITMEN: Four Tales of Magick, Monsters, and Murder. Now that I've shamelessly plugged my own stuff, I'm gonna turn the spotlight on Bob and his new book! Behold this beautiful cover, yo!

Greg Mitchell: Bob! Congratulations on the new book. Or should I say the reprint, as this isn’t the first time Shadows Over Somerset has been unleashed on the world. How does this version differ from the previous incarnation?

Bob Freeman: Thanks, Greg. First and foremost, this new edition is properly formatted. There were some serious problems with the original. There were several instances where scene breaks were overlooked by the design team, and I was green enough to not catch it in the galleys. The result was a chaotic mess, to be honest. It feels good to have those wrongs righted at long last. Seventh Star has done a superb job of presenting Shadows Over Somerset in the manner I always felt it deserved.

GM: The last time we had you over at the blog, you were considering an exciting new venture as your own publisher to release the Cairnwood Manor saga, but now you’ve been picked up by Seventh Star Press. How did this change come about?

BF: I have a tendency to overreach. There's just so much I want to do, but I work long hours and I place a high value on the time I spend with my family. There aren't enough hours in a day... It was just a bit overwhelming, but I was soldiering on. But, as luck would have it, I ran into my friend Stephen Zimmer at a convention and he expressed interest in my bringing something to his Press. I admired and respected the work he'd done, plus some close close friends of mine were already being published there. It really seemed like a perfect fit, and freed me up to delve into some of my other obsessions.

GM: Let’s go back to the beginning a bit: What was the original inspiration behind Shadows Over Somerset? How did this series start for you?

BF: The idea for a pack of werewolves making the Mississinewa their home was sparked by a real event. My brother, two of our close friends, and I were hiking along an abandoned stretch of road that once crossed Goose Creek. It was near dark. Along the bank, from the woods, we heard low, menacing growls and spied the reflective glow of several sets of predatory eyes. The beasties came for us, sprinting through the trees and we high-tailed it out of there, with these hellhounds snipping at our heels. It was terrifying and exhilarating and... ultimately, inspiring. So, years later, due largely to my wife's encouragement, when I sat down to put pen to paper on my first novel, it was that story that welled up inside me and demanded to be told.

GM: Because I know you and your love of Marvel Comics and the idea of a connected mythology (I can relate :p) how does Cairnwood Manor fit into your uber-mythos?

BF: All my characters are pretty much playing in the same backyard. Cairnwood Manor is a thirteen minute drive from Landon Connor's Caliburn House, and roughly 12 minutes from the Sinclair Mansion in the first Wolfe and Crowe novel, Descendant. It's just a matter of time before they bump into each other.

GM: Not only do you have the exciting news that the Cairnwood Manor trilogy will be released in its entirety, I understand that Seventh Star has already picked up the rights to publish your Wolfe & Crowe series, as well?

BF: Quite true. And as events unfold, you can certainly expect the two series to become intertwined in such a way that the whole of it all might better be thought of as a sextet.

GM: I seriously hope that my cameo in Descendent (a previously published volume of the Wolfe & Crowe adventures) is intact? :p Still horribly mangled by a gargoyle, am I?

BF: Indeed. And given the nature of this preternatural playground of mine, mangled and disemboweled does not necessarily mean Greg Mitchell's story has ended. In many ways, his adventures have just begun.

GM: Nice! With no less than six books coming out, I expect you to be pretty busy. How’s your workload these days?

BF: It's a full plate, to be sure, but I enjoy the challenge, and I'm always finding new and exciting ways to express myself creatively. In the end, it's all about time management and doing the absolute most you can with the time you have.

GM: When you do rest, what sort of things inspire you to keep creating? When the well runs dry, where do you go for more water?

BF: I have a ten-year-old son at home and his wheels are always turning. He's constantly coming to me with story ideas, plot devices, and new takes on familiar monsters. So between him and my own fertile imagination, all my bases are pretty well covered.

I also have decades of real-world experience with the supernatural and paranormal investigation. Almost all of my stories have elements from the various cases of worked on and the research I've dedicated the better part of my life toward.

Interior illustration from Enggar Adirasa
from Shadows Over Somerset

GM: My next question is to Bob: The Artist. Usually you handle the art duties for your projects (and a few side jobs like my newly released HITMEN: Four Tales of Magick, Monsters, and Murder, Ithankyou), but for Shadows Over Somerset, Seventh Star has brought in (the wonderfully talented, I must say) Enggar Adirasa for cover and interior art. Was that difficult for you to hand over the responsibility to another artist? How did it feel getting back those first renderings?

BF: I was actually really looking forward to tackling the art on the Cairnwood Manor series. I was never very happy with the original cover art on Shadows and Keepers, but when Stephen Zimmer introduced me to Enggar, I was blown away by the talent of this young man. Turning over the reins to him was a no-brainer. I knew he was capable, and, again, it freed me up to check-off some nagging deadlines that were weighing heavily on my soul.

It was brilliant move on my part. Enggar's cover for Shadows Over Somerset is a thing of beauty. I couldn't be happier.

GM: So what’s next for you, and where can folks find the new edition of Shadows Over Somerset?

BF: I'm currently writing the third volumes in both the Cairnwood Manor series and the Wolfe & Crowe series, plus working on the artwork for the release of the first Wolfe & Crowe/Landon Connors. I've also got a few short stories on the fire, an intro and story for an upcoming Occult Detective anthology being edited by my friend Josh Reynolds, and a million and one other things to boot.

Shadows Over Somerset is available now in ebook and trade paperback. You can order from Amazon through this handy little link or stop by my website for further details.

One project I'm neck-deep into and crazy excited about is an Occult Detective board game. I've always had a passion for tabletiop role-playing games and I think this will present an interesting compromise between traditional board game play and collaborative storytelling.

GM: As always, I love having you over to the blog, Bob. Thanks for stopping by and best to you and your new book! Now if everyone will excuse me, I'm off to go order my copy right now!