Weekly Notes from Inside the Haunted House

Test Edition

Welcome to the test version of my weekly newsletter. In weeks to come, these notes will land in the subscriber section, but I thought it might be fun to test the waters and give you all little peek at what I am up to. I will talk about writing, books I’ve read, or am reading, and movies. These will all be horror related, so if you are expecting my thoughts on the latest Chad Michael Murray Lifetime movie, I apologize in advance. Without further ado, let’s get to it.

What I Am Working On

Right now, the majority of my focus is on my serial novel, Nerve Damage. I am at the stage now where it is beginning to keep me awake, with ideas for future chapters barging their way into my head when I would sooner be in slumberland. I picked up a little Bluetooth keyboard for my iPhone so that I can make notes when ideas hit. It’s a foolish expense, but also one that I talked myself into rather easily.

I am also trying to figure out which project to start next. I have 3 definitive ideas, so maybe you can all help me decide. Here are the options:

1. Long Pig - It’s opening night at a new restaurant for a chef with a mysterious past. What’s on the menu?

2. The Midnight Monster Club - A group of teens in a treehouse take turns telling stories to decide who gets to name their writing club. Not all as simple as it sounds.

3. The Matt Collins Chronicles Book 1 - I have an idea for a series of standalone books with a character who lives in a van and runs into all manner of creepy situations while looking for his missing wife.

What will it be: 1, 2, or 3?

My Favorite Horror Book of the Year

I am in a bit of a coin flip situation, as I had a pair of definite standout titles. Red Walls by Christina Bergling is an amazing revenge story that begs for a backstory telling us more about the lore of the villainous characters.

Green Unpleasant Land by Matt Thomas is so much fun it should be illegal. A series of great characters in a cosmic horror romp set in an alternate Victorian universe. The little Easter Eggs in this one are amazing, too.

I highly recommend both!! What other books should I be adding to my TBR?

My Top 3 Horror Movies of the Year

I did not watch as many as I would have liked, but the ones that I did get to were mostly good. I am not a fan of negativity and worst of lists, but I will say that Nosferatu and The Substance missed the mark for me. Now, here is what I loved:

1. Bring Her Back - Absolutely brilliant storytelling. This one took so many turns that I wasn’t expecting and was vile in a way that was somehow impossible to look away from.

2. Weapons - I know this one is a little divisive, but I loved. Aunt Gladys quickly became one of my all-time favorite villains.

3. Heretic - While I enjoyed this movie as a whole, the opening half hour or so was amazing. You could absolutely cut the tension with a knife. Great acting all round.

What movies struck a chord with you guys this year? You’ll have to let me know.

And in Other News

I wanted to end this first edition with a thank you to everyone who had subbed, commented, or interacted with me in any way across all my socials. The last couple of years have been difficult for health reasons, to the point that I thought my creative side was dead. It’s great to be back, and to have so many of you taking the time to welcome me in, so THANK YOU!!

JW