"The Coming Evil: Among The Dead"

It's been quiet around here lately, but don't think I haven't been working. As always, I'm searching far and wide for a more permanent home for "The Coming Evil, Book Two: Enemies of the Cross". Not only that, but I've also taken this time to write an all-new short story set in the "World of Greensboro" entitled "The Coming Evil: Among The Dead". As you know, it's always been my dream to enlarge the mythology of "The Coming Evil" and I feel that I've taken a small step in that direction. Writing "Among The Dead" was purely an exercise in fun. I wrote it primarily for myself--as a vacation from the labyrinthine plot in the last two books of "The Coming Evil" saga. But, I enjoyed the short story so much, I wanted to share it with all of you, too.

The story takes place ten years before the events of "The Strange Man". 12-year-old Rosalyn Myers has just lost her dad and is dealing with the tragedy the best she knows how. When she befriends a local shut-in who tells stories about ghosts in the North Woods, Rosalyn questions whether she belongs with her friends and family, or her father...among the dead.

"Among The Dead" is meant to serve as a jumping-on point for new readers, but also rewards TCE fans with some extra knowledge of your favorite characters, as well as a few revelations that will come into play in "The Coming Evil, Book Two: Enemies of the Cross."

I've posted the story in four segments on my MySpace blog. Follow the links below or in the sidebar to read the entire chilling tale.

Prologue
Act One
Act Two
Act Three

Updates!

As previously posted, I've finished my working draft of The Coming Evil, Book Two: Enemies of the Cross, but the fun doesn't stop there. I'm currently hard at work on the third and final chapter of the Trilogy. This installment is shaping up to be bigger and better than I could have imagined, with all (or most :)) of your questions answered.

On top of that, I've been developing a number of ideas to help flesh out the Trilogy in comic books or some other medium that God has yet to reveal to me. So what does that mean for you, the Fan? Well, not a whole lot at this point, except to know that, if God allows, "The Coming Evil Trilogy" will not be the end, but only the beginning. "The World of Greensboro", as I've come to call it, is my life project, and I hope to be staying here a long time, exploring all of its nooks and crannies. Oh yes, folks, it has crannies--filled, filled with monsters!

In other very exciting news, the official website for all things Halloween Comics is now open, continuing the Halloween saga begun in John Carpenter's classic masterpiece Halloween! As you know, I'm a contributor on this site and my compatriots and I have worked very hard to bring you the most extensive Halloween experience ever and I'm proud to say that it all begins here.

On this site, you can find out about the current comic book title, 'Halloween: Nightdance' and this will also be the place to find out about future projects. Also, the site will be the home of lots of original content available there and nowhere else, giving you lots of information on the universe of Halloween Comics! You can explore case files, morgue reports and crime scene photographs already, and over the coming weeks, these sections will be expanding and new ones opening!

So, that said, head on over to www.halloweencomics.com now to get your fix before tomorrow's release of 'Halloween: Nightdance' 1 at your local comic book shop!

Book Two Finished

After much hard work, my manuscript for the second chapter in the epic "The Coming Evil" Trilogy is now finished. It's approximately 128,000 words which puts it at nearly three times the length of the first book and it is bursting at the seams with new characters, startling revelations, and some surprising twists for the mythos. Now, in answer to the first question people ask me after they've read the first book ("When's the next one coming out?") we're not through with the waiting period yet.

As you know, I released the first book "The Strange Man" independently and I have no desire or intention of doing that a second time. The first book is slowly making the rounds and getting some good attention and it is my hope to have the entire series adopted into a loving publishing home. Now that the second manuscript is finished, I'll be hard at work pitching it to anyone who will listen. This means more waiting for you, The Dear Reader, but I believe it'll be worth the wait. This trilogy has been a long time in coming and I've been careful to take prayerful steps in the journey and I'll continue to seek God's direction and timing. In the meantime, pray for me and continue to get the word out on "The Coming Evil."

And, just so you don't think I'm a total tease, I'll reveal a tidbit of information that a lot of you have been bugging me about. The Title ;) The official title of the next installment will be...

"The Coming Evil, Book Two: Enemies of the Cross".

Okay, okay, so it's not "The Coming Evil"...

...but it's neat nonetheless.

For the last year or so, I've been hard at work writing original content for a website debuting in 2008 based on the new line of comics that continues the Halloween film saga begun in John Carpenter's classic 1978 film!

My friend Stef Hutchinson is writing the comic book (more info below) and invited me to, basically, help him build the surrounding mythology and world for Halloween. I've loved Halloween for a long time, and have prided myself on collecting a whole bunch of obscure information gleaned from 30 years of tie-in material. A lot of that has been buried and, while I wasn't able to resurrect it all (for copyright reasons or what-have-you), I WAS able to integrate some of that old material into the new, and for a continuity buff like me, that's very exciting.

The new MySpace page is up for the Halloween Comics, so feel free to drop by and look around.

Also, in addition to the The Coming Evil Official MySpace Page, I've had to make a more general MySpace page for myself to put on the Halloween site. So drop in and add me if it so moves ya.

Now, without further ado, here's the official press release for Halloween: Nightdance!

Beginning in February, the original storyline begun in John Carpenter's 'Halloween' will continue with a new comic book series from Devil's Due Publishing.

Written By Stefan Hutchinson ('25 Years Of Terror' Director) and illustrated by Tim Seeley ('Hack Slash' Creator), 'Halloween: Nightdance' will be a 4-Issue Monthly Limited Series.

"Michael Myers returns! On October 31st, evil descends on the small town of Russellville, Illinois. A young girl named Lisa discovers that a secret from her past has come back to haunt her, and he's leaving a trail of bodies in his wake!"

Each issue of this series will feature, amongst its variants, an alternate comic book by a "Master Of Comic Book Horror!" The "Masters Of Comic Book Horror" cover for Issue 1 is painted by the legendary Bill Sienkiewicz (Stray Toasters, Elektra, 30 Days of Night)!

The series will be supplemented by a dedicated website, opening later in 2008 - www.halloweencomics.com

The available covers for issue 1 are as follows:

Cover A - by series artist Tim Seeley
Cover B - "Masters of Comic Book Horror" Painted Cover by Bill Sienkiewicz Cover C - Painted Cover by Crash Cunningham Cover D - Glow-in-the-dark Jack-o-lantern (Image to be confirmed) Cover E - Bill Sienkiewicz sketch Retailer Incentive (extremely limited)

Issue 1 is available in February, but you can make an order with your local comics retailer right now!
The following link will tell you the location of your nearest stockist!

http://csls.diamondcomics.com/

More news, inluding a full press release and pages will follow shortly!

Saturday's Booksigning: The Verdict

This past Saturday, my lovely wife Meghan (yeah, that's her) and I sold and signed copies at The Storehouse in Jonesboro. It was slow moving, but we managed to move a few copies of the book and I'm happy to say that a couple people will be getting "The Coming Evil" for Christmas. There's just something about the thought of spreading fear and terror that brightens up my holiday :)

If you'd like to give the gift of horror this Christmas, order your copy today!

Book Signing November 24th!

WHEN: Saturday, November 24th
2:00-4:00 in the afternoon

WHERE: The Storehouse, Inc.
1825 E. Nettleton
Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401

If you're near the area, come out and see me on the 24th at The Storehouse. I'll be selling and signing copies of "The Coming Evil, Book One: The Strange Man" and answering your questions. I hope to see you there!

Full Moon Horror Convention!

Home at last.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Full Moon Horror Convention in Little Rock, Arkansas. Me, my best friend/part-time enforcer Johnny, and an armload of copies of the book made the Statehouse Convention Center our home for three days.



We met some great people like Evelle LeChat and the crew over at Night-Frights, a late night monster show in Conway, Arkansas. They were the first friendly faces we met at the convention and they're doing very important work: Keeping the late night monster show alive! Check them out over at their site and show your support.



Our next door neighbor at the convention was up-and-coming starlet, Sarah Swofford. This was the hardest working girl at the convention, tirelessly posing for pictures with fans and signing autographs. During the lulls in traffic I was able to get to know her a little bit and she's really a great girl. Visit her at her site and check out her new movie Sugar Creek.

In perhaps the strangest twist at the convention, I witnessed the metamorphosis of my friend Tim (proprietor of Tim's Weird World: Northeast Arkansas's premier [and only] emporium of the eccentric) into Timothy M. Eubanks: The International Lover.



At the convention, I also met former Disney animator Richard Harrison Green. He was gracious enough to draw his rendition of the Strange Man, the villain of "The Coming Evil". He did an amazing job!





Overall, the convention was a huge personal success. I was able to meet a lot of people, make some contacts for the future, and even sold some books! And, while I'm glad to be back home, I'm looking forward to my next convention outing. Who knows? It could be in a town near you!