Issue 192: Spooky Season is Here!
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Newton Grove, Goldsboro, Mount Olive, Harkers Island, Thayer, Mammoth Spring, Koshkonong. These are not the only locales to heavily influence my writing. Not by any stretch of the imagination. But they most certainly play a huge role. HARROW COUNTY wouldn’t exist without these towns. DEATH FOLLOWS would never have sprung into being. BLOOD FEUD, and its town of Spider Creek, wouldn’t have popped into my mind. And CROOKED HILLS, which launches this week on Kickstarter, would not have seen the light of day.
Backwoods horror, folk horror, countrified terror, chicken-fried scares? Sure. Why not?
I’ve written quote a bit of it. I’ve lived in and visited quite a few small towns, nestled in the hills or surrounded by tobacco fields, shrouded by thick forests and the dark of night. I admit, I miss it. I miss the silence. The darkness. The stillness of it all. And I miss how damn creepy it could be.
CROOKED HILLS is a prose horror novel for spooky kids and spooky kids at heart. It takes place in a fictional small town that is part Newtown Grove, part Goldsboro, and part Thayer. I’ve likened the tale to “The Goonies Meet the Blair Witch” and I still think that description works. I wrote the novel with younger readers in mind, but I didn’t pull back on the scares, the world-building, or the thrills. Many adults have read and loved this story.
I hope you… and/or the kids in your life… will too.
The third project in the Outer Shadows horror imprint, this Kickstarter is for the first book in a series. It will launch in just a couple of days, so expect another announcement email, but you can follow the project here.
She’s baaaaaaaaaaack!
I just wrote a new Mrs. Friedly story! I do so love visiting with that creepily sweet old lady!
Thanks to the Collections feature on Patreon, I can share all the Halloween stories I’ve written very easily. Almost all of them are free for the public. Only this year’s stories are for patrons only.
If you like short, sharp, quirky Halloween stories, then HERE are a bunch of ‘em!
Speaking of Halloween, you can still listen to the Bunngalow Halloween Horror Playlist. Cindy and I have gathered a TON of creepy and kooky songs to help you celebrate in musical style! You can listen to it HERE to get yourself in the spooky season party mood!
THE EMPTY MAN just launched on Hulu. I don’t know how long it will be there, but I’m sure it will be through Halloween. If you haven’t had the chance to watch it… and you have Hulu… it seems like a good time to give it a go!
As you read this, I’m most likely in my car, driving to Kansas City. I’m heading that way to record an episode of the Dead Gremlin podcast with Jake Smith. I’m really looking forward to it, and I’m hoping to squeeze in a stop at Back in Time Comics beforehand. Afterwards, I’m planning on hanging out with my pal Jeremy Mohler from Outland Entertainment and talking a little business. Would love to see some of my other creator friends, too, but not sure I can make it happen this time around. I need to get back and get back to work as soon as possible. These stories aren’t going to write themselves… nor are my bills inclined to pay themselves off. But I think the next couple of months will see several trips to Kansas City, so there’s that!
I sent off a few more pitches for new comic series this week. I took several calls about potential TV and film projects. And I spoke with a few prose editors about some novel concepts I’m working on.
I’m certain I mentioned this in a recent newsletter, but it’s starting to feel like the playing field for me is narrowing in terms of publishers I can approach with new work. The ideas are not slowing down. And it’s doubtful immortality will be readily available in a shot from CVS before my time on the Earth is done. I have no interest in leaving this world without telling as many of these stories as possible, so I’m gonna be working like mad for the foreseeable future. Getting the stories into the hands of readers, though, that’s going to take some creativity and some effort. I’ve got a few ideas. I just need to make them happen!
More than ever, I’m viewing Patreon as a vital piece of my goals of making comics, telling stories, and paying my bills. I use the platform to share serialized prose and comics, behind-the-scenes secrets, sneak peeks at upcoming projects, and much more.
Here are a few of the items posted in the last few days:
The Garden - A new Mrs. Friedly story.
Witch-Marked, Part 9 - Continuing the new fantasy epic.
Work Update, September 19 - 25 - What HAVE I been up to?
Witch-Marked, Part 8 - Continuing the new fantasy epic.
THE MIDNITE SHOW #1
From the creators of The Sixth Gun and Manor Black comes this new supernatural horror series about monsters of the silver screen coming to life and wreaking havoc on a small town. Basil Saxon is a legend among horror fans. Over fifty years ago, he vanished during a freak accident on the set of the film that would have been his masterpiece. The cursed film-God of Monsters-was never completed and has never been seen. But when a film festival shows footage from the long-lost movie, classic horror monsters manifest to wreak havoc and terror on the unsuspecting populace. A ragtag group of misfits must band together to stop the most famous creatures of all time and send them back to the realm of celluloid nightmares.
What a way to start Halloween season! I’m super excited for folks to read this book! It’s pure fun on the page, pure horror hi-jinx! A bit of The Monster Squad, a bit of Waxwork, and a whole lot of love!
And here’s the trailer if you missed it last week:
GHOSTLORE #5
With Lucas and Harmony having parted ways, Shane continues enacting his sinister plan, with Harmony in his sights.
Meanwhile, while Harmony finds herself invited into the home of another who can see ghosts manifest, she encounters yet another ghost story, and her views on family take on an entirely new light.
We’re starting our second arc here, and the world of GHOSTLORE is going to get a lot bigger, and a lot more dangerous, very quickly! I’m excited for folks to see where this is going to go!
As you know, I’ve been watching horror movies in preparation for Halloween. As I have time, I’m posting my thoughts on the movies, along with a suggested book pairing, on my site. Here’s where we are so far!
Here is a quick and dirty list of upcoming projects. In most cases, I’m only listing projects that are definitely on the schedule with a published. Oftentimes, I will not be able to share much information, but I can at least tease the future! Everything here is, of course, subject to change.
2THE UNKNOWN FUTURE…
PROJECT: JUMP, a new comic book series in the Beyond Mortal Universe.
PROJECT: HEX, a supernatural/horror thriller.
PROJECT: HORROR, a licensed horror comic.
I’LL KILL YOU LAST - An 80s action/horror fiction anthology I’m editing.
GALLERY OF WHISPERS - An RPG project I’ve been quietly developing.
PROJECT: PREHISTORY - More kaiju craziness
PROJECT: MEGA-BATTLE - Even More kaiju craziness
PROJECT: BOT - A sequel to a story of robotic mischief
PROJECT: WATER HEATER - An apocalyptic horror/fantasy maxi-series
PROJECT: RUSH - A horror prose anthology I’m editing
BLOODBLADE - An action/horror story of destiny and demonic blood
PROJECT: CONVOY - A horror/thriller I’m co-writing
PROJECT: ARCANA - a dark fantasy series
PROJECT: MONSTER - a new horror/action/comedy series
PROJECT: HOAX - a horror limited series
PROJECT: DEAD - a short comic story
PROJECT: VARIANT - a really cool one-shot project
PROJECT: G - a new ongoing series
I don’t have any more official events or appearances in 2023. I have a few lined up for 2024, but only a few. I’ll start making a list as soon as I can!
THE SHOCK SHOP - My online store, where you can find exclusive covers you can only get directly from me!
TWITTER - This is the best place to interact with me online. My handle is @cullenbunn
TIKTOK - A fun spot for quick videos about writing, comics, and collecting
PATREON - Here, I post a serialized novel, a serialized comic book, short stories, and other cool materials.
THE CULLEN BUNN DISCORD SERVER - A place for fans to hang out and talk about comics, books, movies, games, collecting, and whatever else strikes their fancy.
THE BUNNGALOW - Cindy and I talk about life, hot button topics, pop culture, being married to a comic book writer and EVERYTHING in between.