Facing Demons: An All-Hallows’ Eve Tale follows the town constable who is approached by a young girl accusing an esteemed family of being involved in witchcraft, leading to an investigation that reveals a darker truth. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I enjoy watching horror films each year in October and I’m a big fan of the “Halloween” franchise. I was up late one night watching AMC and they had “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” airing. I had never seen the film before because many of my friends told me it wasn’t that great. I decided to watch it and I thought the concept was very interesting. After it caught my interest, I began researching the origins of Halloween which go back to the ancient Celts. I thought if I set the prologue in Ireland and used some aspects of Samhain, it would be a great way to pay homage to the ancient roots of Halloween even though much of it is still debated to this day.

Was there a reason why you chose this location as the backdrops for your story?

When I write the stories for the “All Hallows’ Eve Tales” series, I try to base them on old legends that I heard growing up. Most of the time, my stories are loosely based so I can take liberties with the storyline. In regards to “Facing Demons,” the story is loosely based on South Carolina’s forgotten witch trials which occurred almost 100 years after the Salem Witch Trials. Several of the towns I use in the story reference the final case of witchcraft in South Carolina. In this case, a woman from Chesterfield named Barbara Powers was accused of witchcraft around 1813-1814.

What draws you to the horror genre and makes it ripe for you to write such a great mystery story in it?

I think what drew me to the horror genre was the mystery surrounding local legends in the Southeast. For example, “The Beast of Talbotton” is loosely based on a werewolf legend that took place in Talbotton, Georgia. From the first time I learned about it, I always wondered what started the legend. Did someone see a wild animal that they could not identify? Was this just an accusation to smear someone? Or was there something we truly can’t explain? I tried to portray the same thing in “Facing Demons.” If a magical or mysterious event occurred, I wanted a possible rational explanation as well. Like many mysteries, who knows what really happened.

What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?

I’m currently working on a western-style story that takes place in south Florida in the 1850s. It involves outlaws, gunmen, soldiers on assignment from the Florida Militia, and the wilds of south Florida in an era sometime around the 3rd Seminole War and just before the American Civil War. I’m hoping to have it out in 2-3 months. I’m also working on a new addition to the “All Hallows’ Eve Tales” series which will be released by next October.

Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website | Spring | Book Review