HAPPY BIRTHDAY

For me, September ran in like a freight train through a ball pit. I'm not sure what happened to this blur of a month, but today I've at least completed another lap around the sun. To celebrate, I took a few days off to reset, eat loads of chicken wings, catch up on some reading, and, of course, get some writing done. Last month was a ‘write’ off (see what I did there?), but I can now confirm I've made progress on my next horror tale. It has a strange title, and it's been a complex WIP to get ‘write’ (sorry, again!). Anyway, read on to find out more about it and what else has been going on.

APOTROPAIC 

Yup, you probably pronounced it wrong. It’s not the most punchy or attractive title, but it may be the only horror tale of that name when it is released.

Apotropaic has been a WIP for two years and has taken many forms, eventually splitting off into Formulation at one stage, as well as another future project. Now that I have finally worked out the direction, I have made solid progress.

I have just finished the first few chapters, and I am excited to see where this psychological horror tale leads me. For me, this is the best part of being a writer. Setting up the pieces and allowing the story to find its own direction.

I don’t want to give anything away here, but fans of my psychological horror tales are in for a real treat.

IT’S ALL IN THE TITLE

When I start a new project, it's important to me to have the ‘write’ title (sorry, I promise, that’s the last one). All my works have a title that reflects the story's intricacies and keeps me grounded in what I am trying to achieve. Otherwise, I become lost, and one story ends up becoming multiple stories.

As someone who cannot plot a story, I respond best to a single beacon. A word that keeps me on track. Otherwise, other story ideas begin to creep onto the page. By organising my WIPs under the perfect title, I find it much easier to focus on my current project. Think of each title as the lid on a jar. Once tightly fastened, the stories inside the jar remain fresh and free from cross-contamination.

SEPTEMBER SALES

With August being my most fruitful month so far in terms of sales and reads, it was pleasing to see that momentum continue into September.

Formulation topped sales this month, closely followed by RED, then Obsession. I haven't promoted my latest release, Isolated, yet, but I'll do so shortly in preparation for Christmas.

Thank you, everyone, for your support. I am more motivated than ever to push forward, challenge myself as a writer, and create the very best horror I can.

WHAT IS HORROR TO ME

Horror is my comfort zone. Regardless of my mood, there is always room in my life for more horror. In fact, the rest of my life often has to make room for horror. Psychological horror is my go-to genre as a writer, but it can be quite exhausting to experience. Although I feel more comfortable writing supernatural horror, I haven't connected with the right story yet.

As a reader, I keep horror books in my car, in my office drawer, and all around the house. My trusty Kindle is always fully loaded on my bedside table. Right now, I am loving the Fontana series of short horror stories, which includes work from as far back as the 1800s. These forgotten horror stories are the ones I feel most at home with, as they transport me to a dreamlike time when the world was very different. It feels like stepping into a time machine for a holiday away from reality.

The world feels like such a hostile place now, with the horrors of humankind once again making regular appearances on the news and social media. Horror fiction has been an even bigger comfort blanket for me lately, giving me respite from the tidal wave of frustrating news.

IN CLOSING

This month, my objective is to finish the first draft of Apotropaic. Then it’s on to the dreaded edits, which are the most time-consuming part of writing. I have fallen into the habit of releasing one book a year, and I am keen to build on this.

I recently shadow-dropped the paperback of Isolated, and, as mentioned, I will be promoting it in the run-up to the festive season.

That's all I have to say for now. Thank you for reading my ramblings, and I look forward to seeing you next time…

Yours in horror

Daniel Lorn