Love a good scare? Dark Screams Volume 2 came out on Tuesday from Cemetery Dance and Random House Hydra!
What’s this anthology all about?
Dark Screams: Volume 2
Robert McCammon, Norman Prentiss, Shawntelle Madison, Graham Masterton, and Richard Christian Matheson scale new heights of horror, suspense, and grimmest fantasy in Dark Screams: Volume Two, from Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar of the renowned Cemetery Dance Publications.
THE DEEP END by Robert McCammon
Everyone thinks the drowning death of Neil Calder in the local swimming pool was a tragic accident. Only his father knows better. Now, on the last night of summer, Neil returns in search of revenge.
INTERVAL by Norman Prentiss
Flight 1137 from St. Louis by way of Nashville has gone missing. As anxious friends and family gather around the gate, a ticket clerk finds herself eyewitness to a moment of inhuman evil.
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK by Shawntelle Madison
Eleanor has come from New York City to prep an old Victorian house in Maine for America’s Mysterious Hotspots. Although she’s always thrown herself into her work, this job will take her places she’s never dreamed of going.
THE NIGHT HIDER by Graham Masterton
C. S. Lewis wrote about a portal that led to a world of magic and enchantment. But the wardrobe in Dawn’s room holds only death—until she solves its grisly mystery.
WHATEVER by Richard Christian Matheson
A 1970s rock ’n’ roll band that never was—in a world that is clearly our own . . . but perhaps isn’t, not anymore . . . or, at least, not yet—takes one hell of a trip.
My story, IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK, started out as simple idea about a production crew visiting a house. From there the idea blossomed into something much more sinister. To be honest, I wrestled with the idea of a happily ever after also. I’m much more used to writing those! Which way did I go? I won’t tell you the direction I went. I guess you’ll have to read the stories to find out…
Crafting this story was a delight. I got to explore how television shows are produced and go behind the scenes on how shows start from a concept up to the point where production staff members scout out a location and prepare the site for filming. I hadn’t realized so much went into the many shows I see on TV. It’s hard work!
Next, I needed inspiration for the house. During my initial research period, I wanted to find the perfect house that could be potentially a great place to film, and yet, have undertones of something ominous. I found that in the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion. In my mind I saw a classic Victorian home on a rainy day and from there the Lockwood-Mathews place helped me form a setting in my head.
Once I had the setting in place, I continued my research into set preparation. Hours watching HGTV and DIY Network paid off on that front. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the handiest person in the world, but I find DIY projects quite fascinating! I’ve seen walls patched and dry wall put up, but I’ve never seen plaster done except for TV. Learning about older homes and the plaster process was really cool. I’ve seen countless movies and saw holes in the walls, but I never truly understood about the restoration process for older homes and care needed to get them back to their former glory until I wrote my story.
It’s amazing how far one can go down the rabbit hole before writing a story. I’m not different in that regard, but I learned a great deal and had fun. What more could a writer want while crafting a dark tale?
Want to read IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK? Check out the anthology from one of the links below.