Want A Free Kindle?

Why, sure you do. Scott Nicholson, author of books such as The Red Church, Speed Dating With The Dead and Burial To Follow, is giving away at least two kindles (possibly as many as 20) to promote the currently available e-book editions of his work. Head over to Scott's website for the details, and good luck to you.
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Speed Dating with the Dead

As a Southerner myself (as you may have guessed from the title of this blog, which everyone keeps telling me is beyond stupid) I have a particular weakness for horror writers who also hail from the Old South, and one of the best working today is Scott Nicholson, author of The Red Church and Burial To Follow, among many other fine works. His latest, available in e-book format, is called Speed Dating with the Dead.

A team of paranormal researchers, led by Digger Wilson, investigate a “haunted hotel”, The White Horse Inn, to see if they can find evidence of supernatural phenomena. They come equipped with all sorts of scientific equipment to perform various measurements. Digger also has another motive as his recently deceased wife has promised to contact him (shades of Harry Houdini!). He is much less than positive this will happen (refreshingly he is very skeptical of the paranormal, despite his position with the team), but he gives it a go anyway.

As those of us who read horror stories and watch horror movies are well aware, you should not Meddle with Things Best Left Unknown. The researchers in the book ignore this basic rule, and their efforts awaken an ancient evil. Soon, the numbers of the people in the hotel are on the wane, and it is up to Digger and his daughter Kendra to put an end to what they started.

Nicholson always writes a fast paced story, and this one is no exception. I am a doubter of all things supernatural myself, but Nicholson has actually been involved in “Ghost Hunter” type paranormal research, and his familiarity with the methodology employed lends a sense of verisimilitude to the story. Like with any well-written tale, you begin to believe you are there.

You will never go wrong when you read anything by Scott Nicholson, and this is another good one. To learn how to order the e-book, visit Scott’s site, The Haunted Computer.
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Burial to Follow

There have been enough Southern horror writers to constitute their own sub-genre. Ronald Kelly, Joe Lansdale, Robert R. McCammon and Michael MacDowell are only a few of the great Southern horror writers. One of the better currently active practitioners is Scott Nicholson, whose fine novella Burial to Follow is available for free download at his website.

Southern funerary customs are not formally written in a book of rules, but custom has solidified ritual to the point where they might as well be. Burial to Follow takes places at the visitation for Jacob Ridgehorn, and has as its main character Roby Snow, who presents himself as a distant cousin of the Ridgehorns, but who is there for a much more serious purpose.

Much of Southern observance of death centers around friends and neighbors delivering food to the family of the deceased, and usually results in much more food at the family’s home than can be consumed. This is probably an expression of the desire of good people to do something for the bereaved survivors, even though there is nothing that can really be done. In Burial to Follow, Nicholson crafts a story that imagines a deeper meaning to this, for Roby is the somewhat unwilling agent of a supernatural power, one of several who have roles to play in the passage of a soul from its earthly life.

As a Southerner, I’ve attended a number of these grim events, and Nicholson does a great job of capturing the feelings present, the grief of the survivors, the beginnings of a division of the spoils among the heirs, and the sympathy and morbid curiosity of friends and acquaintances. His dialogue is sharp and rings true to my ear, and the characters seem familiar to me.

If you have already read Mr. Nicholson’s work, you will certainly want to read this novella, and if you haven’t tried it, Burial to Follow makes a fine staring point.

Burial to Follow was originally published as part of the anthology Brimstone Turnpike from Cemetery Dance.
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The Red Church

Scott Nicholson is one of the rising talents in the horror field, and The Red Church is his Bram Stoker Award nominated debut. It is the story of a small town in the North Carolina Appalachians. In the 19th century a Christian-derived cult, in which Christ was believed to be the first (and unsuccessful) of two sons, sprang up around a charismatic preacher named McFall. The Temple Of The Two Sons goes a little too far when it ventures into child sacrifice, and the reverend is hanged by angry townsfolk outside his church.

The present day story begins with the return of McFall’s descendent, who resurrects the church, and plans a little revenge on the families that hanged old great-great-granddad.

It’s easy to see how the buzz about Nicholson got started. This is a nice entry into Stephen King territory (the small isolated town beset by horror) with a good Lovecraftian edge. It is nice to see how Nicholson uses the religious faith that infuses towns like these, for good as well as bad. I’m from a rural Southern town, and I can assure you, faith dominates life there.

Recommended. It is now out of print, but shouldn’t be too hard to find through used vendors.