Blog Archives
Suspension of Disbelief
Auberon Manor follows a rich paranormal skeptic who is drawn into the mystery of Auberon Manor, an estate with a long, dark reputation, where he discovers something more frightening than a ghost. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Many people will tell you they do not subscribe to the notion that ghosts or other supernatural entities are real. If you were to drop one of these non-believers into an old, isolated, creepy house, I’m willing to wager they’d feel some level of anxiety. Introduce a few odd, not easily explained noises, and even the fiercest skeptic might be tested. What interested me the most in writing this book was the characters’ reaction to discovering a supernatural entity. That’s hardly an everyday occurrence, and I’m sure it would test most people to their limit. I created a group of characters and threw them into that frightening scenario to see what they would do. I admit, I would have fled on day one. Thankfully, my characters are far braver than I would have been. Suspension of disbelief.
Your novel features some very interesting characters with flaws, but who are still likable. How do you go about creating characters for your story?
My preference is for strong, capable characters. The kind of people you can count on when the going gets tough, who run towards a problem instead of away from it. Having said that, not every person is skilled, capable of courage when called upon, nor are they dependable when you’re forced to rely on them. I’m fascinated by human behaviour in all of its forms. Too often, a protagonist has to go out of his or her way to navigate around another person’s shortcomings to reach a goal. That’s life. That’s real. No story proceeds in a flawless straight line. Humans are sometimes bumps in the road that need to be navigated. I want the reader to share that frustration.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
This genre has no limits. If you can imagine it, you can put it on the page and not be criticized for breaking the rules of physics or angering a reader for forcing them to suspend their disbelief. They want to suspend their belief for a story like this. The author and the readers are all on the same page.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
In addition to writing in this genre, I also write action-adventure, legal thrillers, and tech thrillers. My next book is titled ‘Legacy of a Silent Man.’ This is an action book. Work is underway, and the publication is expected in the first quarter of 2026.
Author Website
For the curious and adventurous, the stories read on the website inspire them to make the journey to Pennsylvania and see the manor for themselves. Over time, the stories about the house grow darker with reports of visitors suffering injuries. When an amateur group of investigators conducts a scientific examination of the house, disaster strikes. Members of the investigative team suffer broken arms, a broken rib, and a near-fatal concussion. This compels the owner to prohibit any further visits.
When the story of the Auberon haunting reaches a bored and wealthy young man named Dane Ledger, he’s encouraged by a friend to take a ghost-hunting road trip. To Dane, who doesn’t believe in ghosts, it presents an opportunity to debunk the ridiculous notion that this house, or any house, is haunted. He and his friend arrive at the manor to discover recently erected fencing and a guard who refuses them entry. All of this security makes Dane and his friend even more curious about the house. They approach the homeowner for permission to inspect the property, but are firmly denied. After money is exchanged and Dane agrees to assemble a team of professional paranormal investigators to inspect, identify, and exterminate the entity from the manor, permission is finally granted.
With the team assembled, they enter Auberon Manor and discover its frightening occupant. Terrified by what they’ve discovered, and too frightened to go back into the house, they struggle to find a way forward. Letting the entity remain in the home is not an acceptable option, as it would imperil every future visitor. They don’t know what they’re battling, but it’s not a ghost. It’s something much worse.
Auberon Manor
Paul Chandler’s Auberon Manor is a supernatural thriller that pulls you in slowly, like fog curling over the edges of a graveyard. It begins with Edison Elsher, a weary paranormal investigator whose skepticism is tested when he’s drawn into the mystery of Auberon Manor, a mansion with a long, dark reputation. Alongside Dane Ledger, a rich skeptic seeking proof that ghosts don’t exist, and a small team of experts, Edison steps into a place where logic falters and fear takes root. Chandler builds the dread steadily, layer by layer, and by the time the team realizes they’re in over their heads, it’s far too late to turn back.
I’ll admit, the writing surprised me. It’s clean, deliberate, and full of old-fashioned storytelling confidence. Chandler doesn’t rush. He lets the tension breathe. Some chapters read like a slow drip of unease, and others explode with sharp, unsettling energy. The characters feel grounded, flawed, and real. Edison’s weariness hits hard, and Dane’s arrogance cracks just when it should. The dialogue feels lived-in. People talk the way real people talk when they’re scared but trying not to show it. There’s a sense of decay throughout the book, not just in the manor itself, but in the people who come near it. That touch of melancholy made the story more than just a haunted house tale, it felt like a story about pride, guilt, and the limits of reason.
There are moments where I wanted the fear to bite sooner. But when it comes, it’s worth the wait. The haunting isn’t about gore, it’s about what you can’t quite name but can’t shake either. The book also has a throwback charm. It feels like something between The Haunting of Hill House and Poltergeist, but written with modern restraint. Chandler clearly loves the genre, and it shows in the care he takes to make the supernatural believable.
When I closed Auberon Manor, I sat for a bit, thinking about how fear works, not just in old houses, but in us. I’d recommend this one to readers who like their horror slow and thoughtful, more spine-tingling than stomach-turning. If you enjoy haunted stories that respect your intelligence and still manage to give you chills, this is your kind of book.
Pages: 231 | ASIN : B0FSYL9B2P
The Grotesque
The Grotesque is a dark novel that dives headfirst into trauma, obsession, and the blurred edges between reality and delusion. The story shifts perspectives between characters who are each broken in their own ways. Katrina, a dancer clawing through rejection and danger. Jared, a haunted figure battling inner demons and visions that blur into nightmares. And Michael, a man desperate to control his own narrative. Their paths intersect in a cityscape soaked with menace, hallucination, and fleeting moments of hope. What begins as a tense character study unravels into something stranger, almost dreamlike, where memory and horror bleed together and nothing feels entirely safe.
The writing has a raw, abrasive energy, like it’s trying to peel back a layer of skin. I couldn’t look away. Foy writes with an eye for the grotesque, both in the literal violence that shadows the characters and in the quiet cruelties they turn inward on themselves. Some scenes made me tense up, almost angry, but that anger was directed at the world he was showing me, not at the prose. The language is sharp, cynical, often bitterly funny, and it fits the mood. It’s not elegant in a polished sense, but it’s alive, and I felt its pulse.
There were moments I loved too. Small sparks of connection, odd flashes of warmth, even in the middle of so much darkness. Those moments felt like stolen breaths, like someone opening a window in a suffocating room. They didn’t last long, but they mattered.
Reading The Grotesque felt to me like stepping into the fractured, hallucinatory world of American Psycho, only with more aching humanity flickering beneath the horror. I’d recommend The Grotesque to readers who aren’t afraid of stories that claw under the skin. If you want tidy resolutions or comforting escapes, this isn’t your book. But if you’re drawn to characters who stumble through shadow and survive in fragments, and if you’re willing to sit with unease, you’ll find something here that lingers.
Pages: 348 | ASIN : B0FPLW71S1
Case Files from the Nightfall Detective Agency: Fury of the Vampire
David Alyn Gordon’s Fury of the Vampire is a sweeping supernatural thriller that jumps across centuries, from ancient Jerusalem to 1920s Arizona, weaving together myth, history, and horror. The story follows vampires, werewolves, jinn, and humans caught in webs of betrayal, love, and ambition. At its heart is the eternal struggle between Lilith, Abram, and a cast of characters tied to mystical objects like the Ring of Solomon. Intertwined with this are political conspiracies, mob dealings, and the simmering tension of racial injustice in early 20th-century America. It’s a bold mix of folklore, pulp action, and noir detective work.
I enjoyed how daringly the author blends myth with history. Seeing Lilith spar with Abram in one chapter and then finding myself in the smoke-filled dance halls of Prohibition-era Tucson in the next kept me hooked. The pacing is brisk, and the action scenes pop with energy. I found myself leaning in whenever vampires clashed with werewolves or when political schemers whispered in dark corners. The dialogue can be blunt, sometimes even melodramatic, but it fits the pulpy, high-stakes feel of the book. It reminded me of flipping through an old serialized adventure, where the thrill matters more than polish.
Some passages carry raw emotional weight, like Malia grieving for her cousin, while other scenes are exaggerated. That didn’t ruin the ride for me, though. If anything, it made the book feel unpredictable. I enjoyed how unapologetically it leaned into its own wildness. It’s not a quiet or subtle novel; it’s brash, bloody, and loud. And I have to admit, I had fun with that. Sometimes I rolled my eyes, other times I grinned, and a few moments genuinely made me pause and think, especially the parts dealing with cultural memory and injustice.
I’d say Fury of the Vampire is best for readers who love fast-moving supernatural adventures, who don’t mind a little chaos in their fiction, and who want something that feels both familiar and refreshingly strange. If you’re into folklore reimagined as a gritty pulp detective saga, this is your book. It’s messy, it’s fierce, and it absolutely has bite.
Pages: 164 | ASIN : B0FLTB1L71
Life’s Greatest Mysteries
Dark Matter is a tightly woven collection of techno-thriller novellas that dive into themes of surveillance, data manipulation, artificial intelligence, and ethical collapse. What was the inspiration for this collection of short stories?
The inspiration for almost everything I write comes from fear. Each story dives into a fear that I have, whether it be wasps or having my online data used against me. I tend to get into the “what if” scenario, and that really drives my speculative theories. The future is coming at us so fast in real life that some of my scenarios may even seem like they’re already happening in a way, and I think that really hits home with readers.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
Our relationships are what drive our experiences in this world. Imagine going through life without interacting with another living being–it would almost be impossible (or it would be incredibly boring). These relationships create drama and tension needed to establish a relevant story that readers will enjoy. From those relationships come actions–I often find myself debating what actions my characters should take, and it makes it fun for me. Almost like I’m playing God. Great fiction showcases these relationships and actions in a unique way by shining a spotlight on our fears and desires. We all want something in life, and I lean on that with my characters.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this collection of stories?
Definitely artificial intelligence. It’s such a hot topic as we are in an AI revolution that will put the Industrial Revolution to shame (in my opinion). Death is also one of life’s greatest mysteries, and I always enjoy tapping into that theme. But to be frank, I don’t sit down and say, “Okay, what theme do I want to drive with this new story?” I typically come up with a premise, start to build the characters and world, and let the muse guide my story. The themes will often expose themselves through character development and their growth. For example, in the story “The Chair,” the main character has a distaste for the lower class. I didn’t start the story thinking the division of economic status would be a major theme; it naturally grew to end up being a main piece of the main character’s arc and the conclusion of the story.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’m definitely focused on the launch of Dark Matter coming out in September, but I am working on my next novel. It’s called Zero, and it’s actually based on a short story I wrote in college. I’ve been wanting to dive back into this particular story and can’t wait to expand on it. I’m hoping to release it in 2026, but it will most likely be available later that year. I love books and movies on time travel, and this book will be in that genre. Expect a twisty, epic adventure with a lot of heart.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
In this haunting collection of speculative tales, Robert Plant examines the razor-thin line between innovation and annihilation. While technology has crept into the cracks of human life, the potential for destruction and chaos lurks beneath the surface.
Within these pages you’ll discover a dating app with deceitful intentions; a family off the grid desperate for help; a game show blurring the lines of reality; a woman trying to save her game with unthinkable consequences; a writer’s getaway turned trap; the possibility of eternal life but at a cost; and an AI assistant who will do anything to make you happy.
Terrifying yet familiar, Dark Matter shines a light on the shadows of our relationship with technology. These stories not only envision our future, they warn us about the present.
Featuring “The Perfect Match” – the grand prize winner of the 2025 Small Bites Short Story Contest from Indies United Publishing House
American Eugenics Movement
Trail of the Zombies follows a trio from the Nightfall Detective Agency as they unravel a sinister conspiracy tied to eugenics, Indian boarding schools, and a nefarious project called the Utopia Institute. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Great question. I had recently heard of the recent stories about the mistreatment of Indian children in boarding schools and read/mostly watched several documentaries on the subject in researching the beginning of Trail of the Zombies. I also am a fan of the works of Edwin Black and his book, War Against the Weak, told about the height of the American Eugenics Movement which coincided with the timing of the persecution of the Indian children. I also wanted to portray zombies in the way they were meant to be depicted. Recent works and movies/television series inspired by Day of the Dead and The Last Man on Earth show them as flesh-eating monsters. Those are actually ghouls, not zombies.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
This kind of supplements my response to question one. I read and watched a lot of material like many documentaries on the persecution of the Indian Children, the American Eugenics Movement, and actual Zombies. You can find all the sources I used in the Acknowledgement section of Trail of the Zombies.
The Trail of the Zombies crosses many genres. What books or authors were the biggest inspiration for you?
Good question. I mentioned Edwin Black and his book War Against the Weak. That really helped. Universal Horror and Horror movies of that era from other studios like White Zombie were inspirational as well. Mystery-Noir works also guided me as well as the writings and shows of Rod Serling like The Twilight Zone. Historical Fiction like those by James Michener also influenced me.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
The next book in the Case File Series will be Fury of the Vampire and it will come out before Halloween this year. It picks up right where Trail left off and our heroes will have to solve a political assassination, prevent widespread contamination of a local water supply, stop the antagonists from creating an alternative reality, and combat a powerful Jinn. I think readers are going to enjoy it when it comes out.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
For the first time since coming into their office, Simon struggled to lift his head, the bullet hole in his eye becoming more evident.
“To find out who killed me.”
Thus begins the next thrilling adventure for the Nightfall Detective Agency.
Vampire Detective Tori Jacobsen and Werewolf Detective Bram Mueller are drawn into the shadowy depths of the Utopia Institute to both solve the murder of the late Ira Simon and the reports of abuse of the Native American Students and those deemed unfit to attend there.
Set in 1929, just outside Marana Arizona, the pair unearth a web of dark secrets.
The Institute is a front for a sinister plot.
Evil Forces, once thwarted in their pursuit of the Eye of Aten, are now bent on creating an army of Zombie slaves from the people held at the Institute.
The ultimate goal?
A hidden Aztec treasure that could fund their designs for world domination.
Tori and Bram must race against time to prevent the ushering in of a new Dark Age of Terror.
If they fail, the world will descend into chaos and repression.
The stakes have never been higher.
Decay
Andrew Kibe’s Decay plunges readers into a nightmarish, high-stakes experiment that questions the boundaries of human endurance and morality. The story begins with Sam Williams waking up in a mysterious steel room, disoriented and desperate for answers. He and a diverse group of strangers are thrust into a deadly game where survival hinges on their ability to navigate escalating trials filled with horrifying threats, including zombified creatures and brutal ethical dilemmas. Each step in the experiment pushes them closer to their physical and psychological limits while revealing unsettling truths about their captors and themselves.
Kibe’s writing is immersive and visceral, pulling no punches in its depiction of terror and chaos. The opening chapter hooked me instantly; the claustrophobic imagery of Sam’s initial confinement was so vivid that I could almost feel the cold steel walls closing in. Kibe excels in creating tension, whether through eerie silences or the grotesque, blood-soaked battles against the zombified enemies. For instance, the description of the first encounter with a zombie was so graphic and intense that I could practically hear the crunching bones and taste the metallic tang of blood in the air. Yet, amidst the gore, Kibe threads a moving narrative about familial love, as Sam’s quest is deeply rooted in his longing to reunite with his sister.
While the action sequences are gripping, the character dynamics elevate the story further. Sam’s reluctant heroism contrasts with Leon’s hardened pragmatism and Walter’s paranoid conspiracy theories, creating friction that feels raw and believable. The inclusion of Kelly, a ten-year-old girl, adds a heartbreaking layer to the stakes. Watching her try to navigate this hellish reality alongside her protective mother, Heather, and then seeing her resilience after her mother’s tragic death, was both gut-wrenching and inspiring. Kibe’s ability to capture human vulnerability amidst monstrous chaos is commendable.
One aspect that stood out was the philosophical undertone running through the narrative. As the group progresses through the trials, they’re forced to confront not only external threats but also their moral boundaries. In one chilling moment, Leon’s assertion that they must kill to survive raises uncomfortable questions about humanity’s instinctual drive for self-preservation versus its capacity for compassion. Similarly, Sam’s internal struggle weighing his promise to protect Kelly against his own desire to find his sister adds depth to his character and keeps readers emotionally invested.
Decay is a gripping blend of survival horror and psychological drama. Andrew Kibe’s prose is sharp, his pacing relentless, and his world-building immersive. The book is perfect for fans of dystopian thrillers like The Hunger Games or survival horror stories such as The Walking Dead. If you enjoy exploring the darker corners of human nature under extreme circumstances, this book is a must-read. But fair warning: it’s not for the faint-hearted; brace yourself for a bloody, emotionally charged ride that will linger with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
Pages: 233 | ASIN : B0CPQWXW5W
Twists and Turns
Wolf’s Hyde follows a sheriff investigating several murders that don’t appear to have been committed by a human. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wanted to write a “different” story that gave nods to all my favorite tales in the genre. The movie The Usual Suspects is one of my favorite movies, and I wanted to create something that had that level of twists and turns. It was also very important for me to write a fast-paced book. I wanted to draw non-readers in. So, from the first page, it launches the reader into the fire and keeps them there until the end. If I can give them nightmares while still wanting to keep reading, then I have done my job… Hopefully.
How much and what kind of research went into the elements of folklore in your book?
Weeks that turned into Months. Burning my eyes out from internet searches and making sure I wasn’t going too far to be disrespectful of the Navajo culture. From the historical points to the folklore, I dug deep and wide, looking for anything I could pull ideas and inspiration from but was still broad enough that I could make it my own. I have Native American heritage that goes back through my family tree, so it is something that I have been drawn to since I was a kid.
What is it that draws you to write horror stories?
Being born in the late 70s, all we had in the 80s and early 90s growing up were paperback books. We didn’t have thousands of movies out as we do now that you can watch from the comfort of your bed to your toilet. If you were a horror fan, you read. That’s what we did. Horror has always been something that not only I was drawn to but my family as well. Saturday afternoon Thriller Features, Twilight Zone, and Tales from The Darkside were constantly on our TV while growing up. There is just something about being scared that draws me in for more. It’s like a roller coaster rush to me.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Currently, I am wrapping up a novella titled “Sexbomb.” It is a story that takes place in the late 1970s Las Vegas. Where we find the famous singers Tom Jones and Billie Preston are vampire hunters. It’s a mixture of Fear and Loathing meets Fright Night. Lots of dark humor. I am shooting for the spring of 2025 for the release.
But have no fear. I have already started two follow-up books to “Wolf’s Hyde.” There is much, much more to come from Tanaka and Norman. As well as other characters from the book. I didn’t intend to make a series out of this story but as it came to the end I was like… yes… this needs to be a series. Even I wanted more.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
From the author who brought you the horror story collection, Free Candy, comes the novel Wolf’s Hyde. From the trenches of Nazi Germany to the streets of Detroit. Follow one man’s crusade fueled by guilt and driven by wrath.
LITERARY TITAN 