Blog Archives
A Commentary on Society-at-large
Where’s Jackson Pollock? follows a gallery owner in Richmond, VA, who is accused of stealing two valuable modern art paintings and needs the help of her brother and his girlfriend to clear her name and find the missing art. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
It was mostly about greed. So many people are self-absorbed in how they live life and never stop to see their own foibles. Everyone in the book, except the protagonists, had some sort of angle, some kind of scam going on, and they all thought it was business as usual. More or less, a commentary on society-at- large.
Sophia is a smart and engaging character who keeps the other characters and readers on their toes. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?
Her unique abilities have allowed her to see the world as it is, not in a jaded way. She sees not just the good and the bad in people, but their endless variations. Having such a gift can be chaotic and overwhelming, but she has learned to cope with it.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
Living on this planet for over sixty years. Nothing gives you a better experience than experience.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Chris and Sophia and the direction of the next book?
They are asked to use their unique skills and join a special branch of the FBI. They use their abilities to solve some of their most complicated cases. They next book has them in Boston, Montreal, Prague, and Antwerp.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Chris and his uniquely skilled girlfriend, Sophia Garcia, coax an old detective out of retirement to help solve the case and save Jackie. However, his once vaunted detective skills have deteriorated, and as the case becomes more complex, what evidence they do find incriminates her.
When the FBI becomes involved, and two people turn up dead, Chris and Sophia become desperate and must use their combined talents to find the stolen paintings and discover the identity of the real criminal and keep his sister from being convicted of the crimes.
The case is complex, the evidence convoluted, and the suspects are clever. Will anyone ever find out, “Where’s Jackson Pollock?”
The Story That Wanted To Be Told
Morgan’s Landing follows a local police detective from a small Maryland town who is investigating the disappearance of a fourteen-year-old girl from the town’s wealthiest family and digging up buried secrets in the process. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
It began with the idea that even in a small town full of friendly neighbors, people would rush to judgment and start blaming each other if a young girl disappeared. I’ve always enjoyed police procedurals and had written one, Guilty Knowledge, with an urban setting, but I thought it might be interesting to trace the actions of a small town detective investigating within his own community.
It seemed like you took your time in building the characters and the story to great emotional effect. How did you manage the pacing of the story while keeping readers engaged?
I don’t think I managed the pacing so much as I let it flow naturally. I told the story that wanted to be told in the way the characters would let me tell it. I think being engaged in the story myself is the best way to encourage readers to stay with me on the journey.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I was more interested in how a small town detective would go about investigating a case than in what the solution would turn out to be. The dynamics of a family in which the members seem to be at odds and each has his or her own version of the story also intrigued me.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
While it isn’t impossible for Detective Jim Brady to have another case in the future, Morgan’s Landing was never intended to be part of a series. I feel as if I’m done with these characters—or they’re done with me—but I never know when something may spark the next story, and if it turns out to fit into the world of Morgan’s Landing, so be it!
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Detective Jim Brady, married and the father of two, has been on the Morgan’s Landing police force for twelve years. He identifies a few suspects in the girl’s disappearance—Is it the fired school janitor, a paroled sex offender, Julie’s computer teacher…or his own teenage son? Jim can’t believe his son could be involved, but his wife is convinced the boy is hiding something.
He needs to find Julie before the worst happens—and keep the peace at home.
The Depth That Horror Offers
Blood on the Trailhead follows the Chief of Police for a state park who is investigating several cases involving a mutilated body, strange glyphs, and a missing child, all leading to a supernatural cause. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Our inspiration all started around the Indigenous myth of the Tah-tah-kle’-ah. Feel free to Google it, but be warned, it will be a big spoiler. Therefore, we don’t want to elaborate here, knowing many people have not read the book yet.
We were also very inspired by the beauty and the vastness (Redwoods) surrounding Ferndale, CA, which is the town that we modeled the small city of Lost Grove after. There is still so much wilderness that holds pockets of secrets that we have yet to uncover. We found this fertile ground to explore in this story.
What were some ideas that were important for you to personify in your characters?
A big one for this book was nature conservation and the preservation of cultures, specifically the Wiyot tribe of Northern CA. Both of these are throughlines that run through the horror and mystery in the story. One of the other ideas we cling to in the Lost Grove series is the close-knit mentality of the small town of just under 1,500 residents, their resilience, and camaraderie. We see this among the teens and in the small police force. Lastly, and this is more so a focus for Alex, is always keeping a sense of humor in the characters that feels grounded and true to who they are.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
Well, we both absolutely love horror in any fictional medium. We watch over one hundred horror films a year and host our own year-end Horror Oscars. We also love the depth that horror offers its lead characters, placing them in life-or-death situations that reveal everything about a person. The draw to paranormal is the intrigue of the unexplained that exists and persists in our world. The paranormal also gives us a chance to explore things beyond what we experience in most of our day-to-day lives. Charlotte, in particular, has always been fond of folklore and superstition, which are ripe to explore in this sub-genre.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
Regarding Lost Grove, they can expect book four next fall. The working title is The Devil’s Acre, and it will return readers to Lost Grove during one of its darkest winters. Cold Cases, isolation…it may be one of the more unsettling books in the series so far.
Charlotte is also wrapping up an epic fantasy trilogy, Trust of the Magdrid that she has been working on for some time now. She hopes to release the first in that series late next year as well.
Alex is in the midst of his own mystery trilogy. Book one, The Disappearance at Devil’s Churn, is complete. He is planning to begin work on book two at the start of 2026. He is waiting until he finishes book three before releasing any of the books, as they will be released in quick succession.
Charlotte Zang Links: GoodReads | Website
Alex J Knudsen Links: GoodReads | Website | Facebook
Just outside town, a local teen stumbles on strange, twisting glyphs scorched into the trees, eerily similar to those once studied by an Indigenous academic researcher who disappeared just years earlier. Desperate for answers, she turns to a friend with family ties to the Wiyot Nation, only to be warned off: some things are better left buried.
When a local teenager goes missing, town meetings turn ugly, campers cancel in droves, and the pressure mounts with each bloodied trail. On the eve of the county fair, Seth is faced with the burden of an old case threatening to resurface and unravel his career, along with the rising dread of a community coming apart.
Because what waits in the forest isn’t just an echo of the past. It’s hunting again.
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
If We’re Brave Enough
Filaments follows a professor returning to her small hometown to investigate her mother’s strange behavior that is linked to two men’s disappearances and a supernatural force connected to her family. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I always begin with setting. For this story, I immersed myself in scientific literature about bogs, and the narrative naturally grew from there. During my research, I discovered Sax-Zim Bog in Minnesota—a place that felt like the perfect backdrop for the tale to unfold. From that foundation, I shaped the characters to feel both relatable and grounded, anchoring them in the eerie beauty of the landscape.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
Our lives run in parallel, each seemingly separate, yet deeply intertwined. We often believe ourselves to be isolated individuals, but in truth, we are threads in a vast, living ecosystem. The suffering we endure is not ours alone—it echoes and reverberates in ways we may never fully comprehend.
Filaments, I felt, was about generational trauma, addiction, and identity. What is one thing that you hope readers take away from the story?
The narratives we craft about ourselves are often the hardest to unravel. Yet becoming our true self is possible—if we’re brave enough to dismantle the facade we’ve built. It takes courage to confront the stories we’ve clung to, but in doing so, we make space for authenticity to emerge. Â
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’m beyond excited about my next book! It leans a bit more into sci-fi, but the threads that define my writing style remain firmly in place. This story will spotlight female-driven narratives, unfolding within a world that breathes life into their journeys—infused with a touch of quiet horror. I’m aiming to publish next year, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Â
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Drawn back to her Minnesota small town, Thea begins to unravel the mystery behind her mother’s erratic behavior and two men’s disappearances. She unknowingly awakens a force that has patiently waited in the shadows for her return. With each new revelation, Thea’s accosted by her small town’s prejudice and simmering bitterness of former friends. What started out as a trip to save her mother becomes a fight for her own survival and sanity.
A Trail in the Woods
A Trail in the Woods follows Epiphany Mayall, a psychic counselor in her sixties who sets off with her son and granddaughter for a summer retreat in Lenox, Massachusetts. What begins as a family getaway turns into a haunting journey filled with mystery, loss, and spiritual reckoning. The story drifts between realism and the supernatural, weaving ghosts, psychic visions, and tangled histories into a tale of grief and renewal. O’Connor paints both Florida and New England with lush, sensory detail, and her characters are written with the quiet melancholy of people trying to understand both the world around them and the worlds beyond.
I found the writing to be smooth and deeply atmospheric. The author’s voice has that old-fashioned warmth, steady and patient, but it also hides sharp edges. I loved how the conversations between Epiphany and her son capture that mix of affection and frustration that defines family life. Some scenes, especially those with the ghosts, felt almost cinematic. Others lingered on explanation, and I caught myself wanting the story to move faster. Still, the pacing fits the theme. It’s a book about healing, and healing never happens in a rush.
Emotionally, the novel caught me off guard. It isn’t scary in a horror sense, but it’s haunted in a quieter, sadder way. I felt the weight of regret, the pull of memory, and that fragile thread of hope that keeps people going after loss. O’Connor’s use of dreams, coincidences, and spirit encounters makes the reader question where grief ends and magic begins. I admired that. It made me think of how every family carries ghosts, visible or not.
A Trail in the Woods isn’t just a ghost story; it’s a meditation on love, forgiveness, and the strange ways the past reaches into the present. I’d recommend it to readers who like slow-burning mysteries with a spiritual twist, to anyone drawn to stories about mothers and sons finding common ground, and to those who don’t mind a few eerie chills mixed with heartfelt emotion.
Layer of Tension
Born on Monday tells the story of two people with a shared history and whose lives are both scarred by heartbreak, who reunite under less than ideal circumstances. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
Born on Monday began as a short story called “Time Capsule,” which was published in my debut collection, 50 States. The original story was very much about how those who leave a place after high school are changed, whereas those who stay behind remain the same. Billy Stevens stays in Augusta, whereas the love of his life escapes to New York City. When I started exploring this aspect of the story —wondering whether they would ever reconcile their differences —it became increasingly clear that they would have to overcome a past mired in tragedy. More than that, they would have to face several present-day threats, including someone sinister who follows Jessica Michaud home. It was in discussing the progression of this story with a close friend that her real-life experiences and my own research into stalkers would inform much of the novel’s direction.
What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of writing a thriller?
For this thriller, it was very much a matter of who knew what and when they knew it. All the characters have different perspectives on their shared past, which not only dramatically shapes how they interact with each other but also how they perceive themselves. The same can be said for the reader, too. They inevitably know more than any one character, creating an additional layer of tension, but never know enough to predict the end. Born on Monday is very much a story with secrets within secrets, and the consequences of keeping them.
Do you have a favorite scene in this book? One that was especially satisfying to craft?
There were several, and the two that stand out for me may be among the most overlooked by readers. I very much enjoyed crafting the chapter where Billy and his current girlfriend, Autumn, reconcile their differences. It’s a tender, heartfelt moment amid the chaos surrounding them. The immediacy and intimacy of their reunion run deep. The second is Andrea’s visit to the Kennebec Journal. She meets with her boss and mentor to discuss the story she is working on, which also touches on what journalism means in a small town like Augusta. Having worked as a journalist, this chapter allowed me to rehash some old conversations with colleagues in a contemporary setting. More than that, it underscores why I was so thrilled that Andrea, who was initially meant to be a supporting character, grew to become such a strong protagonist.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
My next work in progress (WIP) can best be described as a speculative thriller, blending and bending science, metaphysics, and something akin to the supernatural. It’s a continuation of the short story “Dead Ends” from 50 States. “Dead Ends” was one of the most called-out stories from the anthology and involves a young couple who take a reckless turn off a state highway in Utah and find themselves in a nightmarish government biohazard area. I’ve been relatively consistent in releasing a new book every other year, but I’m hoping to accelerate my pace so this novel is something readers can look forward to toward the end of 2026!
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
In Augusta, Maine, a historic nor’easter unearths sins and secrets buried deep in the town’s past. Billy Stevens, a quarry worker haunted by loss, is drawn into a web of betrayal when a brutal crime pins him as a suspect. Jessica Michaud returns to care for her ailing mother, only to find herself hunted by a vengeful ex whose chilling threats awaken old wounds. And journalist Andrea Kearney digs into a local dynasty’s corruption as the storm’s fury mirrors the rising tide of violence.
With time running out, three lives collide in a desperate fight for survival, where truth becomes a casualty and redemption comes at a cost. Eleven-time award-winning author Richard R. Becker delivers a gritty literary thriller that digs into identity, perception, and the human condition.
Literary Titan 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
Childhood’s Hour: The Lost Desert
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
LITERARY TITAN 