Banshee Tales
Always Open-Minded, Seeking Inspiration, Eager to Learn
Introducing the ’20s – Roar Away, Friends!
Welcome back! It’s a new year and (to some) a new decade – out with the ‘10s and in with the ‘20s. I’ve never been a stickler for resolutions but, like many, I do make certain plans for a new year. 2019 was amazing for me: a year I sold two novels, shared a short...
Top 10s of the ’10s
Another year is wrapping up – but more than that, so is another decade. I know everyone is writing about the Best of the ‘10s, and I enjoy each and every one of these lists. I’m a fan of pop culture and I have a blog, so why shouldn't I do something similar? But...
What an Excellent Day for an Exorcism!
We’re almost there, horror fans! Halloween week has arrived, and I’d like to journey back to the distant past. There was one tale that scarred me for life while also sucking me past the point of no return and into the horror genre forever. The movie remains one of the...
To Trope or Not to Trope?
Ugh, horror is filled with stupid characters making dumb decisions. It's always the same old tired tropes! Yes, horror fans, we’ve heard this before. To be fair, some tropes are overused and some aren’t pulled off well. However, just because something is a trope...
Let’s Do the Monster Mash
Monsters are stupid and make-believe, they're not even scary! Horror is just monsters, gore, and slashers – cheap thrills, not art. If I had a dollar for every time I heard this…well, you know the saying. Horror fans are in the minority among genre entertainment...
My Favorite Scares
As you all know, I'm a dark fiction author who loves scary stories. One of the most common questions I’ve received recently is What are your Favorite Books? As people note my abiding love for all dark fiction, the question invariably shifts to What are your Favorite...
October Blog Series – This is Halloween!
Hello, October! I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m happy to see my favorite time of year rolling back around. We recently passed the Autumn Equinox (Sept. 23rd), also known as Mabon. This is one of two days in the year when there is equal light and darkness....
We Could Be Heroes
Who is the greatest hero in Western mythology? His tale sprouted from a small seed of history into the most epic of fantasies, crossing multiple genres and cultures. His story inspired countless interpretations for over fifteen hundred years. He’s even beloved in the...
Loki – Sympathy for the Devil
And now it’s time for Round 3 of the September mythology series. I’ve been looking forward to featuring one of the Norse deities since I’ve grown to love them over the past decade. Thor is my favorite Avenger, and the Asgardians rock! Odin from American Gods is...
Brighid of Ireland – Light My Fire
Welcome back to the September mythology series! This month, we'll begin with a somewhat unusual personal introduction. This is Suicide Prevention Month, and it seemed appropriate to illustrate the connection between mythology and myself which I credit in part with...