Blog Archives
Inescapable Guilt
Say Your Goodbyes to the Light follows a man who thinks he has covered his tracks after committing murder, who is unprepared for the vengeful spirits that are soon following him and invading his life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration stemmed from my deep fascination with the consequences of guilt and the belief that one can never truly escape the wrongs they’ve committed—nor should they. I wanted to explore how someone who believes they’ve outsmarted justice faces an unstoppable force beyond their understanding or control. The concept of vengeful spirits intrigued me as a metaphor for inescapable guilt and retribution.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
Horror and the paranormal fascinate me because they allow us to confront fears that are deeply rooted in the unknown. These genres create a space where we can explore themes of morality, mortality, and the supernatural in ways that challenge our perceptions of reality. Writing this book was an opportunity to delve into those fears, particularly the fear of unseen consequences and the price of our actions, in a way that’s both thrilling and unsettling.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One of the central themes is the idea of justice and how it can manifest in unexpected ways. I also wanted to examine guilt and its psychological toll, as well as the inevitability of facing the repercussions of one’s actions. Redemption—or the lack of it—is another theme I wove into the story, asking whether true atonement is ever possible when you’ve crossed certain lines.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it?
I’m currently working on a new horror novel that continues to delve into the darker side of human nature, combined with a deeply unsettling supernatural twist. Fans can expect it to be released within the next year, and I’m excited to share a story that will push boundaries even further. Stay tuned for updates!
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It starts innocently enough: whispers in the dead of night, flickers of her face in mirrors, and the oppressive chill of a presence he refuses to believe is real. At first, Elliot dismisses it as paranoia—his mind cracking under the weight of what he’s done. But Delyla’s ghost grows stronger, turning his world into a waking nightmare. She invades his thoughts, manipulates his surroundings, and forces him to confront the life he destroyed and the dark corners of his soul.
As her vengeance becomes more unrelenting, Elliot spirals into paranoia and despair. Delyla is determined to make him pay, forcing him to relive her pain, her fear, and her final moments. Trapped in an inescapable cycle of torment, Elliot must make a choice: confess his sins and face the justice of the living, or endure an eternity of punishment at Delyla’s ghostly hands.
Say Your Goodbyes to the Light is a gripping psychological and supernatural thriller that delves into the depths of guilt, justice, and the fragility of the human mind. For fans of chilling hauntings and dark character studies, this novel is a harrowing exploration of crime, punishment, and the shadows we can’t escape.
Dark Dreamcatchers: And Other Stories
Michael Stone’s Dark Dreamcatchers: And Other Short Stories delivers a chilling quartet of tales, each unraveling its own brand of paranormal unease. Across these pages, Stone invites readers into unsettling worlds where the line between reality and the extraordinary blurs, leaving behind an atmosphere thick with tension. The collection opens with Dark Dreamcatchers, where a family vacation descends into terror. Jonah’s family stumbles upon a quaint town seemingly frozen in the 1950s—a picturesque facade concealing something far more sinister. The story unfolds with mounting dread, setting a haunting tone for the rest of the book.
In Rattlesnake Dick and His Proposition, the Sierra Nevada mountains become the stage for a surreal encounter. Ethan’s hike takes a dark turn when he meets gold panners from a bygone era. Held at gunpoint and brought to their leader, he faces a grim choice that could determine his survival. Then, in The Rift, the discovery of a mysterious portal upends the lives of Nala and her owner. The portal offers the allure of time travel but exacts a perilous cost. Finally, Pear, Anyone? plunges into the disorienting depths of the human mind, exploring how extreme circumstances twist perception and fracture reality.
What makes this collection compelling is its refusal to lean solely on conventional horror tropes. Stone deftly blends psychological terror with supernatural intrigue, crafting tales that provoke both fear and fascination. Each story is distinct yet tied together by recurring themes of the uncanny and the unknown. The result is an emotional rollercoaster—relief, unease, and shock linger long after the final page. Stone’s gift for vivid detail enhances every story. His evocative descriptions bring eerie towns, time-bending portals, and unnerving encounters to life. The accompanying illustrations amplify this immersion, making each setting and character feel strikingly real.
Dark Dreamcatchers: And Other Short Stories is a fresh take on horror and the supernatural. With its creative storytelling and psychological depth, the collection will captivate fans of both genres. Whether you crave mind-bending twists or spine-tingling suspense, this book promises an unforgettable journey into the extraordinary.
Pages: 125 | ASIN : B0DLT8L4D8
Moonset on Desert Sands
Moonset on Desert Sands by Sherri L. Dodd is an enchanting dive into a world where magic, mystery, and human complexities intertwine. The story orbits Bethie Spiritbrite and her circle of coven sisters, weaving their spiritual practices with a gripping mystery involving a stolen athame and its sinister connections. Set against the vivid backdrops of Sedona and the redwood-covered Boulder Creek, the book melds magickal lore with suspense in a way that feels both grounded and otherworldly.
What I loved most about the book was its evocative imagery and atmosphere. Dodd paints Sedona and its mystical allure beautifully. For instance, Arista’s shop, Cosmic Prisms, felt like a real haven filled with the scent of candles and the shimmer of crystals, contrasting with the bustling, sometimes judgmental tourist crowd outside. The way Dodd writes about Sedona’s sunsets, with their scattered blues and magentas, made me want to pack a bag and explore it myself. These serene moments are pierced by tension-filled scenes, such as the cliffside car crash that opens the story, which had me gripping the book tighter. The characters, however, are the heart of the novel. I found Arista particularly compelling as she wrestles with her past trauma while trying to navigate a new life. Her journey into aura reading and her curiosity about Trini’s layered aura provided a sense of warmth and growth. Fergus and Fallon, with their dark ambitions and manipulative schemes, added a sinister depth. The tension between light and shadow, the nurturing bond of Bethie’s coven versus Fergus’s malevolent rituals, kept me hooked. I especially enjoyed how Dodd wove moral dilemmas into the story, like Dustin’s theft of the athame. It made me question loyalty, power, and consequence.
Moonset on Desert Sands delivers a satisfying blend of mystery, magic, and heartfelt relationships. It’s perfect for readers who love a bit of witchcraft with their whodunit or enjoy character-driven stories with supernatural undertones. Whether you’re a believer in magick or simply someone who loves an atmospheric mystery, this book offers plenty of spells to capture your imagination.
Pages: 371 | ASIN : B0DF33L1YW
The Wheels of Creativity
The Chimera Snare: Fragments weaves an intimate coming-of-age story into an epic cosmic battle as two teens discover they are vessels for ancient other-worldly guardians and must fight to restore a fractured reality. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Shannon: The concept for this story was developed in fragments, funny enough, spanning over a decade, first beginning in high school. Much of the fundamental background was inspired by living day-to-day life and wishing for something magical to lay beyond the stars. The manga and comics I read in school (Angel Sanctuary, Seimaden, Dragonball Z, DNAngel, to name a few), coupled with music and sketching, influenced my roaming mind and helped me hammer out the first two main characters of the story, Von and Navaryn. Initially, I was planning to do a simple animation to convey the plight of the two characters. But in the end, I felt like there was a bigger story to tell, so I began writing.
After self-publishing the first iteration on my own, Edward joined the writing journey with me, and we’ve since re-crafted the TCS universe together as a team, driven by much of the same inspiration as in the beginning: music, anime/manga, and comics. Only now, with the addition of beer from time to time, to grease the wheels of creativity.
How do you divide the writing process? Do you each focus on specific characters, chapters, or aspects of the story, or is it more fluid?
Shannon: Great question! We work together to structure the basic framework of where we want the book to start and end. From there, we both storyboard the chapters in greater detail, bounce ideas off one another, and things more or less come together.
Edward: We learned early on that we both have unique writing approaches. Shannon often begins by painting the scene with description, substance, and movement before moving on to writing dialogue. I, on the other hand, do the opposite. So we assign chapters to each other, write them independently, then meld them together stylistically. And we both have characters that resonate with us. In most instances, we each take the lead with the characters we jive with, but we do switch off.
Where do your story ideas typically originate? Do you brainstorm together, or does one of you usually bring the initial concept to the table?
Shannon: I get ideas for our series in many ways, but I often find the most inspiration while listening to music and letting my mind roam free. I tend to have the best “drifting” sessions when I’m running, tending to the garden, or working on art—as long as I’m plugged into music. But yes, music is very important to us while we craft our universe.
Edward: We brainstorm both independently and together. But when it is time to craft the arc, we sit down and agree on the framework and approach. Sometimes, the writing process creates additional ideas, which we have to take back to the table again. But we stay very organized because the universe we’re creating continues to expand organically as the series unfolds.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Shannon: We are working on Reflections, the second entry in the Chimera Snare series. If all goes well, it will be available in Late Spring 2026.
Edward: Seeing our readers so hungry for the next book has been very encouraging. As the saga continues, it’s definitely going to get darker, more twisted, more intense, and more powerful, so Reflections on all aspects will up the ante. We’re really excited for people to dig into it.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Instagram | Amazon
Amidst mystical recollections and a wondrous magic system that shatters the veneer of their everyday lives, the two friends embark on a journey against time to connect with the Celestine guardians’ allies in hopes of freeing them from their imprisonment. Simultaneously, the shadows cast by Daeva darken. The notorious outlaw, Merisek, has positioned himself to claim dominion over the Order of Existence—a trio of powerful artifacts capable of reshaping reality. Armed with two of these relics, Merisek races against the emergence of the Celestine guardians to claim the third. The stage is set for a showdown that will determine the fate of existence itself.
Rayshell and Trish are all that stand between Merisek and his unhinged desire to twist the fabric of reality into his making. As the threads of destiny unravel, the question looms: who will be the author of existence, and what profound truths will be unveiled in the final, decisive act?
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award January 2025
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
A Haunting Deception by Micah Briarmoon
Harpazo: Book One of the Trib Trilogy by Nathalie Bujold Ryan
Walk a Mile in My Shoes Surviving Life’s Challenges by Paul Bradford
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Behind the Facade
Eli Pope’s Behind the Facade plunges the reader into a world of visceral storytelling, psychological exploration, and an unsettling confrontation with human darkness. The novel intertwines tales of personal turmoil, societal critique, and haunting violence. From the first chapter, where the protagonist narrowly avoids a catastrophic encounter with a falling body, Pope establishes a tone that is as unpredictable as it is unnervingly immersive.
Pope’s writing crackles with energy, painting vivid, sometimes grotesque imagery. For instance, the opening sequence, with its description of blood misting upward, is both shocking and magnetizing. It’s the kind of scene that demands the reader’s full attention. Pope’s prose doesn’t shy away from discomfort. This rawness helps build an atmosphere where anything feels possible, making the novel gripping yet challenging to digest at times.
The protagonist’s internal monologues are a striking mix of cynicism and sorrow, giving life to themes like the loss of individuality in an increasingly technological society. Passages such as the critique of modern connectivity and its alienating effects resonate deeply, though they occasionally veer into heavy-handedness. The character’s disdain for societal decay is balanced by moments of moving vulnerability, like their reflections on lost love and shattered dreams.
Pope’s exploration of identity is another highlight. The author deftly examines how trauma and grief can reshape a person. The protagonist’s increasing detachment from reality symbolized by vivid dreams and unsettling acts feels both horrifying and tragic.
Behind the Facade, by Eli Pope, is a bold and unapologetic work that explores humanity’s hidden depths. It’s a challenging read but deeply rewarding for those who appreciate gritty, thought-provoking fiction. I’d recommend it to readers drawn to psychological thrillers with philosophical underpinnings and a taste for the unsettling. It’s a book that stays with you, whether you want it to or not.
Pages: 211 | ASIN : B0DMLPHNPR
The London Cheque
Allen Longstreet’s The London Cheque delivers a haunting debut horror tale set in the picturesque yet ominous 1960s Scottish village of Catrine. The disappearance of four boys, including 12-year-old Arun Khan, sets off a chilling chain of events that intertwines the lives of Aniqa, a mother driven by relentless determination, and Margaret Brown, a jaded policewoman seeking redemption. As Aniqa begins to suspect Albert Reid, a local benefactor with a shadowy presence, the story spirals into a gripping tale of resilience, redemption, and the horrifying truths hidden within the seemingly serene community.
Suspense drips from every page, showcasing Longstreet’s skill in crafting an unsettling atmosphere. The visceral image of “the man with no skin” lingers long after it’s introduced, a testament to the author’s ability to create vivid, terrifying moments. Aniqa’s journey is especially gripping. Her pain, resilience, and fierce maternal instincts ground the story in raw emotion, while Margaret’s parallel struggle adds layers of complexity, showing how two very different women are united by their pursuit of justice and truth. Albert Reid, the antagonist, stands out as a truly unforgettable character. Longstreet crafts him with grotesque precision, but he isn’t a caricature of evil. Instead, Reid’s humanity peeks through the horror, making him as tragic as he is terrifying. This depth elevates the narrative beyond a simple battle of good versus evil, delving into the complexities of human darkness and redemption. The balance of horror and humanity keeps the story gripping and emotionally resonant.
The Scottish dialect, though challenging at first, adds authenticity to the setting, pulling readers further into the world of Catrine. Longstreet’s descriptions of eerie landscapes and the harrowing events that unfold feel cinematic, painting vivid pictures of terror and tension. The book almost begs for a screen adaptation, with its evocative imagery and powerful character arcs. While some scenes are undeniably disturbing, they serve a purpose, highlighting the stakes and the cost of the characters’ choices. Longstreet doesn’t exploit violence for shock value but uses it to underscore the weight of trauma and resilience. By the time the plot reaches its shocking twist, every harrowing moment feels earned, leaving an indelible mark on the reader.
The London Cheque is a chilling, emotionally charged novel that lingers long after the final page. It explores themes of loss, survival, and the enduring bonds of family with unflinching honesty. Longstreet’s debut is nothing short of remarkable, and I eagerly anticipate what he brings us next. For fans of horror with depth and heart, this is a must-read.
Pages: 579 | ASIN : B0CTHK2H57
LITERARY TITAN 