The debut of Ink and Riffs!

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to and why I think it’s awesome. Feel free to send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com. 

Proctor Valley Road (comic) — What to do when you just gotta have those Janis Joplin tickets? Well, charging for a trip down a supposedly haunted road seems like a good idea….just so long as it’s not actually haunted.

Writers Grant Morrison (Klaus), Alex Child (BBC’s Holby City) and artist Naomi Franquiz (Tales from Harrow County) have created this singular horror series released by BOOM! Studios. August, Rylee, Cora & Jennie organize a “Spook Tour” on the most haunted stretch of road in America, but when things go south, they not only have to face the monsters, but the town that holds them responsible.

What drew me in wasn’t just the creepy horror atmosphere, but the characters themselves. They all have a deep backstory, such as Cora’s crippling fear of the dark or Jennie’s dream of being an astronaut and taking down the social barriers in her way. You get to know these four well and care about them a lot more when things go south. The art is also really good and Franquiz does a great job at creating a horrifying world that is always getting scarier. 

Check out the comic at https://www.boom-studios.com/series/proctor-valley-road/. 

White Fire (book) — I’ve long been a fan of the Pendergast book series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, and recently picked up where I left off awhile ago. Here’s a quick look at the plot:

“In 1876, in a mining camp called Roaring Fork in the Colorado Rockies, eleven miners were killed by a rogue grizzly bear. Corrie Swanson has arranged to examine the miners' remains. When she makes a shocking discovery, town leaders try to stop her from exposing their community's dark and bloody past.”

As I write this, I’m just about done with the book and it’s been a real pleasure to read. I loved the setting and how it plays into the story. The twists, while not hard to guess this time, were fun to encounter and the different characters are deep and well thought-out. History is often a big part of these books and the look into the town’s past, both good and bad, was one of the more enjoyable aspects.   

If you’re looking to give this a read, visit https://www.prestonchild.com/books/whitefire/. 

Pale Strangers (music) — The self-titled EP by this kickass rock duo is showing a strong start to this new project, formed following a separation of their last band, Rival Bones. 

This is the kind of rock I grew up with, and listening to “Pale Strangers,” I’m reminded of a lot of the bands I love, while at the same time, appreciating the fact that these guys are bringing their own elements to the music. 

The quick and fierce intro leads to “Deep Waters,” amps up fast from the opening chords. “Witches of the Wasteland” is my personal favorite from the album a real wave of sound with a chorus that I can easily see myself singing along to.

The five-track EP brings a lot to the table, with strong, precise instrumentation blended with some powerhouse vocals. This is the kind of music that has you moving right off the bat, and that alone tells me that this is a band worth listening to. 

Hear all the band’s music at https://open.spotify.com/artist/2jvUQiQnxK3uLpj67dwP8N?si=hciGv-HyQ76m1nJpZ8LRRQ. 

 

Thomas Smith takes on an imaginative journey with “Other Places”

Horror author Thomas Smith has written some wildly terrifying tales over the years, and in his new horror collection, “Other Places” (Cemetery Dance), he brings us 16 different stories, all in his signature style.

In this interview, Thomas talks about the phone call from friend of the show Kevin Lucia that got this book rolling, and how he created each story. We learn which was the most fun to write, and get a peek at some of the themes and ideas he incorporated.

We look at the dedication to fellow horror writer Joe Cherkes and the history between the two that led to Thomas choosing Joe for this honor. Thomas talks about his own type of writing and what he hopes the reader gets out of it—and you may be surprised by what he has to say.

Citywide Bytes-Nick Roberts sinks his teeth into “Mean Spirited”

They say you should never judge a book by its cover, but in the case of Nick Roberts’ new release, “Mean Spirited,” it’s that wonderfully terrifying art that captures the feel of this new horror story. The book is released through Crystal Lake Entertainment.

Released just a day before this recording, the story centers on how an alcoholic teacher and father’s world spirals out of control when a former student is killed and he is left with her dog and the dark presence that follows it.

Nick and Max talk about the creation of Matt Matheny and why Nick went this type of character, as well as how he handles the challenges that await. His ex-wife, Lucy, also plays a role and we look at how the two work together to unravel what is going on. 

We discuss the dog, Conehead, and get a glimpse into the darkness that follows him. Nick also talks about the amazing cover art and the different aspects of the book that it captures.

The Pastor of Horror returns with a found footage nightmare

Ezekiel Kincaid, known as “The Pastor of Horror” and “The Paranormal Pastor” returns to the show to talk about his new book. “The Tetromet Tapes,” a part of his ongoing Tetromet Universe.

Set in 1990 in a small town in Louisiana, the book adapts the found footage movie style as a literary device. Five 12-year-old boys find some VHS tapes in the trash can of their neighbor, Edgar Craddock. The sickening footage leads the five friends down a rabbit hole of shadows and darkness, seeking to discover the truth around an ancient cult, a haunted road, and Edgar Craddock.

Ezekiel and Max dive into just what is on the tapes and where the footage leads the boys. He talks about Edgar Craddock, a character which plays a wider role in the Tetromet Universe. We also learn about the five boys, who reflect Ezekiel’s childhood friends, and how their different personas drive the story.

The book is currently out on Amazon and Godless, an e-book publisher launched three years ago and Ezekiel shares how he came to work with them. And of course, no horror conversation is complete without talking about the book’s epic cover.

Legends and myths tie together a three-story horror collection

It’s that time of year, so what better to talk about than a three-story release form Crystal Lake Publishing? “Dark Tide 9: An Unholy Triquetera,” features new works by William Meikle, Curtis M. Lawson, and Jason Parent.

Jason joins us to talk about his story, “A Knot Within a Knot,” in which the survivor of a plane crash finds himself going from bad to worse. Meanwhile, an elderly woman faces off against a god of night and his steed from the confines of her airplane seat, while another hides from night and storm in the hope of a new dawn.

Jason, Curtis and I talk about how this book got its start and the different stories done by Parent, Lawson and Meikle as well as the different myths and legends that each writer utilizes.

A haunted mask and ancient evil take the stage in Kevin Lucia’s new book

It’s that time of year and we’re kicking it off with one hell of a horror story! Friend of the show Kevin Lucia joins us to talk about his debut novel, “The Horror at Pleasant Brook,” out on Oct. 13 through Crystal Lake Publishing.

This Halloween, a malevolent, creeping horror invades a small, isolated town nestled deep in the Adirondacks. It cares nothing for this town’s secrets, prejudices, or flaws. Its only desires are to consume everything in its path and spread, until nothing else remains.

A small group of people stand in its way. They are the leftovers, the ignored, the excluded, and the dismissed. However, as the evil grows, they prove to be the only ones strong enough to stand and fight.

Cool synopsis, huh? Kevin, Curtis and I talk about the menacing force that we’re introduced to in the first chapter and the real-life origin that happened during his day job as a teacher. Kevin’s a familiar name in the horror publishing industry through his work at Cemetery Dance, and he shares how this helped him in the writing process.

We’re introduced to some of the heroes of the story and what makes them stand out, and discuss some of the character types that reflect life in 2023. We look at some of the tropes in horror and the ones he hoped to avoid in this story.

William Sterling shows us why puppets are just terrifying

William Sterling

I think we can all agree on that one, right? So of course these creepy dolls would find themselves into the pages of William Sterling’s soon-to-be-released book, “String Them Up,” out on Sept. 22 through Crystal Lake Publishing.

In this interview, William takes us through the town of Hollow Hills, which is plagued by a series of brutal murders. We meet the toymaker, once a beloved member of the community, now the prime suspect in the killings. William talks about Sinclair Redman, a man with a dark and haunted past who must unearth the truth behind the killings as the bodies continue to pile up.

William talks about the concept of toys in horror and why it appealed to him for his new book. We look at his first time working with a publisher and his own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to promoting his work. Plus, there’s a great giveaway for those that pre-order the book!

Todd Keisling’s “Devil’s Creek” hits a new intensity in horror

For this episode, I’m joined by Todd Keisling, author of “Devil’s Creek” a book that creeps the hell out of me after just a few chapters. It’s the author’s eighth book and unsurprisingly, has been nominated for a Bram Stoker Award, the highest honor in the genre.

Todd and I sit down to talk about the world he’s created in this new book, which centers around a death cult in a rural community and those that manage to escape it. We explore the mentality of its leader, Jacob Masters and how he led a community from its normal life to their grisly end. Jack Tremly, one of those brave enough to deft Masters, is the main character of the book and we talk about his role in the years that follow.

Todd has dedicated the book to Frank Michaels Errington and Matt Molgaard and he shares who these people are and the influence they had on the novel, as well as the forward written by Ronald Malfi. This book goes to some extremes and Todd talks about just how intense he’ll make a book and where he draws the line.

John Mantooth walks a haunted path with “Holy Ghost Road”

From the opening pages of John Mantooth’s newest horror tale, “Holy Ghost Road,” we’re plunged into the thick of the action. The story is seen through the eyes of Forest, a 15-year-old who’s just witnessed Pastor Nesmith forging a pact with a demon. She’s on the run to find her grandmother, the only person who can make sense of what’s happening and maybe, maybe put a stop to it.

Unfortunately, Granny is 40 miles away, and Forest is on her own with no car, no phone, and an entire congregation on her trail. To reach Granny, Forest will have to learn to see the world true, even as the demonic and the sacred wage war for her soul.

This book has been a great read, and so I’m very excited to talk all things scary with the author. John and I talk about the choice to make this a first-person viewpoint and how that influences the story. He shares some of the real-life influences and their role in the book.

John’s also a crime writer, having written three novels under the pseudonym Hank Early, and he talks about how the two styles cross over and which of the two genres is his favorite. We also go into his recent time with Cemetery Dance Publications—through which this book was released.