Sneak Peek: SCREAM FOR ME

My second collection of short stories, "Scream for Me," releases on October 28. Between now and then, I thought it would be fun to share some sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes information about some of the stories.

In "The Not Deer," an adolescent boy, still mourning his father's death by suicide, takes a fateful trip to the heart of the Appalachian Mountains with his mother and her new boyfriend. Here, the family's idyllic visit to the lush forests of North Carolina quickly turns into a nightmarish encounter with bizarre local wildlife.

"Not deer" are a more recent "pop cryptid" unique to Appalachia, born not from centuries of mountain legends, but rather online word of mouth through platforms like Creepypasta and Tiktok. Although similar in appearance to white-tailed deer indigenous to the area, "not deer" are distinguished by their abnormally elongated legs, forward-facing eyes (unlike normal prey species), erratic movements, and bizarre ability to walk upright on their hind legs. Unlike a deer's natural aversion to humans, "not deer" are said to be fascinated with us -- in unnerving, predatory fashion. Some speculate that deer suffering from chronic wasting disease are the source of rumored "not deer" sightings, but others say the creatures are really shapeshifters in disguise. Whatever the truth may be, it remains irrefutable: "not deer" are a terrifying new breed of Appalachian folklore.

"Scream for Me (and Other Stories)" is available for pre-order through Amazon for only $2.99.