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Searching for the Origins of Halloween
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.
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At the start of the nineteenth century, a girl approaches the town’s constable, William, and accuses the powerful O’Neill family of witchcraft. She is quickly dismissed, but Bridget, a bright nurse and William’s love interest, soon convinces him that the girl is telling the truth. An investigation commences, and William and Bridget join forces to unravel the mystery.
As they navigate the increasingly sinister facts, the duo finds out what evil is. They are soon forced to keep secrets to stay safe…only to learn that others will pay the price. Confronting their own terrors, William and Bridget discover that not everything is what it seems-sometimes, it’s darker.
This haunting story revels in our fears and the strange things we can’t explain.
Recipient of the Literary Titan’s Book Award in October 2024.
Facing Demons: An All Hallows’ Eve Tale
Set in the early 1900s in a quiet South Carolina town, Facing Demons: An All-Hallows’ Eve Tale by Kevin Matthew Hayes offers a gripping blend of gothic horror, mystery, and historical detail. The story opens when a young girl approaches William, the town constable, with an alarming accusation: the esteemed O’Neill family is involved in unspeakable satanic rituals. Skeptical at first, William dismisses her claims. However, his companion Bridget, more attuned to the unusual, urges him to investigate. What begins as a reluctant inquiry soon spirals into a terrifying descent into the darkest corners of their seemingly peaceful community. William and Bridget, drawn ever deeper into the investigation, uncover a sinister reality lurking beneath the town’s façade. The evil they face is no fleeting malevolence—it is ancient and pervasive, threatening to unravel the very fabric of their world. As they inch closer to the truth, the stakes become higher, revealing secrets that could forever alter the town’s tranquil existence.
Hayes masterfully weaves this chilling narrative with a rich gothic atmosphere reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft and Ray Bradbury. His writing evokes the eerie charm of the era, with echoes of Poe’s C. Auguste Dupin stories adding a layer of mystery. The horror builds subtly but relentlessly, grounded in the detailed depiction of period-specific dialogue, accents, and mannerisms that lend authenticity to the characters. William, the level-headed, pragmatic constable, provides a steady contrast to Bridget, whose intuitive curiosity drives much of the investigation. Their dynamic keeps the story engaging as they confront not only external dangers but also their own doubts and fears. Together, they uncover unsettling truths about the O’Neill family, an aristocratic clan whose behavior might not be so far removed from the power-hungry elites of the modern world. While their methods may be different, the underlying thirst for control and secrecy rings disturbingly familiar. The novel’s strongest asset lies in its atmospheric detail and the tension that mounts as the investigation unfolds. The O’Neill family, with their aura of decaying grandeur, serves as the perfect embodiment of hidden corruption. Hayes ensures that each element, whether it be the gothic horror, historical setting, or creeping dread, coalesces into a gripping narrative. The final twist is both satisfying and haunting, delivering a payoff sure to please fans of horror, history, and mystery alike.
In Facing Demons, Hayes captures the essence of classic gothic storytelling while offering fresh, unsettling insights into the darker sides of human nature. The result is a richly layered tale that will leave readers both unnerved and enthralled.
Pages: 56 | ASIN : B0DCDKM3GH
LITERARY TITAN 