Monster Men Interview

In this video episode of Monster Men, I discuss horror books and movies with hosts Hunter Shea and Jack Campisi. You can watch the show here or go to this YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pykpH6KL2xo

Deadly Reads Radio Interview

Last night I did a 2-hour interview on Deadly Reads Radio Show with Linda Barton and Lisa Vandiver. We talk about writing horror fiction, what inspires writers, experiences with the paranormal and I read excerpts from DARKNESS RISING and DEAD OF WINTER. My interview starts around 12 minutes into the show.

You can listen to it here:

Guest Post: Writing Schedule and Werewolf Novel Excerpt

Today’s special guest author is Glenn Rolfe, a highly talented horror writer who has published some terrific books, including short story collections, novellas, and novels. His latest novel, a werewolf thriller called BLOOD AND RAIN, just released in eBook and paperback. In the article below, Rolfe shares his writing schedule and then gives us a sneak peek of his writing with an excerpt from BLOOD AND RAIN. Enjoy!   

“Writing schedule? What’s that?”

By Glenn Rolfe

So a common question that we receive as writers is: “What does your writing routine/schedule consist of/look like?”

I would love to say that I start every morning with a cup of coffee and three hours of uninterrupted writing. I would follow that up with some social media/email checking, then a bite to eat, brief physical activity (walk, jog, push-ups, heavy bag, etc.), and followed by maybe another hour of writing or revisions. 

Unfortunately, my life does not allow for such writing-schedule bliss. I have a day job, I have three kiddos to take care of, a wife who busts her ass at a mentally exhausting job all day (and who deserves my attention when she gets home), and housework to help out with. Add in promotional work for my finished projects, blogs and articles for Samhain and my publicist, and the day just doesn’t look anything like that dream schedule.

Despite this crazy, wonderful life, I’ve managed to get a decent amount of stories finished over these last few years though. Four novellas, two finished novels, two first drafts of novels, and a bunch of short stories. That’s pretty good, I think.

I read in Stephen King’s On Writing about how he doesn’t worry about the “you have to write, write, write!” mentality that some writing teachers preach. While yes, of course we have to write, write, write, but we can, and should, take breathers. He’s probably talking about something like my above ideal schedule. I know he likes to work in the morning and fits in a walk. He mentions how the breaks are good for our minds and good for our stories. These tales deserve to breathe, too!

For me, I take that breathing room to a whole new level. Okay, maybe it’s because my busy life dictates that I have to work this way, but—BUT--I do believe it is very healthy for my storytelling. You run into so many things on a daily basis. And all of these little (or big) interactions and surprises can and will lodge somewhere in that writing brain of yours.

I don’t even write every day, let alone follow some sort of ritual or schedule. But honestly, I’m okay with this. Writing never feels like a job to me. I don’t have to force myself to sit down and work for a set amount of time. It really lets my writing brain breathe and thus usually lets me work footloose and fancy free when I dive into a piece. I like that.

At the end of the day, however you choose to work is up to you. If you work best from 8-12 every day, or night, that’s awesome. If you have to write every day to avoid guilt or let down, go for it. Every writer is different. I didn’t set out to work in patches the way I do (an hour here, two there, a nice four-hour block way over there!), but I think it works well for me. I never seem to get burned out, or brain tired. When I do feel the fatigue set in, I step away. That’s always a great time to watch a movie, right?

Speaking of which…I have Lucy queued up on the old DVR.

Stay tuned!

Blood and Rain, Synopsis

The light of a full moon reveals many secrets.

Gilson Creek, Maine. A safe, rural community. Summer is here. School is out and the warm waters of Emerson Lake await. But one man's terrible secret will unleash a nightmare straight off the silver screen. Under the full moon, a night of terror and death re-awakens horrors long sleeping. Sheriff Joe Fischer, a man fighting for the safety of his daughter, his sanity and his community, must confront the sins of his past. Can Sheriff Fischer set Gilson Creek free from the beast hiding in its shadows, or will a small town die under a curse it can't even comprehend? One night can-and will-change everything.

"With slashing claws and blood-soaked fur, Blood and Rain will have you howling in terror and delight. A welcome addition to the werewolf mythos, and proof that we're in the presence of a rising star in the genre. Highly recommended!" -Ronald Malfi, author of The Floating Staircase

An excerpt from Blood and Rain:

Mike Ouellette needed to get up. The whole world seemed to be coming down around him. He’d crawled beneath the children’s slide in an attempt to remain as dry as he could. The downpour was too much. It was coming through from every which direction. He curled on his side, pulled the collar of his dirty denim jacket tight against his neck and clutched the fifth of Popov vodka for dear life.

Too far from his own house, he knew he should climb out from under the slide in the playground and try Gil Laverty’s. Gil owned the tavern on Brighton Circle. He sometimes let Mike stay on his couch. Usually when nature got nasty and he was too drunk to stumble home, like tonight.

The booze was making his head spin. He wasn’t sure he could climb to his feet. Instead, he closed his eyes and sent a little prayer to the Lord. “Please, Jesus. Don’t lemme drown out here tonight. Not unless ya have ta.” A warm grin spread across his face. Lightning lit up the world beyond his closed eyelids. A thunderous boom answered. The storm was right over town.

A shuffling sound from the trees off to his right caused him to open his eyes. “Huh?”

  

He propped up on his elbow and tucked the bottle of vodka against one of the legs supporting the slide. He scanned the swirling trees for signs of movement. A shadow emerged.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no…” Old Mike’s heart hit Mach 1.

He’d forgotten what day it was. He knew this day every month. How could he have forgotten today? All these years, not one slip up, whether sloshed or otherwise. He always knew to find someplace safe to sleep during the full moon. Tonight, he fucked up.

He didn’t have a chance to scream. The beast flew at his extended arm. He felt its incredible strength and fury as it clawed into the flesh just above his elbow and pulled. He watched the rest of his arm detach from his body. He managed a high-pitched moan as the monster’s ugly yellow eyes lowered into sight.

Old Mike tried to push himself down and out, and even got his bottom half out on the other side of the slide. He heard the growl in harmony with the next blast of thunder. The paw of the monster palmed his face, its nails puncturing the flesh under his jawline.

Dragged out from under the slide by his face, Old Mike’s last fleeting thoughts were of Gil Laverty’s gentle hazel eyes and toothless grin. Should’ve known better, Gil.

The werewolf burrowed its snout into his stomach.

The storm screamed for him.

Blood and Rain ©Glenn Rolfe 2015 

Samhain Publishing

Rights Reserved

Be sure to check out Blood and Rain and the rest of Glenn Rolfe's books. You can find them at Amazon.

Praise for Blood and Rain

“A major new talent rises from the Maine woods…Rolfe is the real deal, and Blood and Rain is a classic monster novel, full of blood and teeth and the kind of razor sharp writing that makes the pages sing. Small town horror is back, with a vengeance!” –Nate Kenyon, award-winning author of Sparrow Rock, Diablo: Storm of Light and Day One

“Rolfe tells a tale that captures your attention like King without all of the wordiness. He also spills the red stuff like Laymon…” – Into the Macabre

“Blood and Rain is a monumental piece of horror fiction. It represents everything I love about werewolves, creature features, siege films, and everything else in between. It is still early in the year, but this is a clear cut candidate for my favorite book of 2015.” — Horror Underground

“Wow! Easily one of the best werewolf books I’ve ever read.” – Hunter Shea, author of Tortures of the Damned and The Dover Demon

Biography, Glenn Rolfe

Glenn Rolfe is an author, singer, songwriter and all around fun loving guy from the haunted woods of New England. He has studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University, and continues his education in the world of horror by devouring the novels of Stephen King and Richard Laymon. He and his wife, Meghan, have three children, Ruby, Ramona, and Axl. He is grateful to be loved despite his weirdness.

He is the author the novellas, Abram's Bridge, Boom Town, and the forthcoming, Things We Fear (March, 2016), the short fiction collection, Slush, and the novels The Haunted Halls and Blood and Rain (October 2015). His first novella collection, Where Nightmares Begin, will be released in March, 2016.

Find Glenn Rolfe at http://glennrolfe.com as well as Facebook and Twitter