It's my pleasure today to introduce you to horror author, Melvin Rivers. He's just released his latest book and since we're getting closer to Halloween (*rubs hands gleefully*)I asked him here to tell y'all a little about his love of Halloween, how he celebrates, and to share a little about his new paranormal horror novel HAVEN OF EVIL. Take it away, Melvin!
Halloween begins on October 31 of every
year. It’s the day kids get dressed in costumes and go door to door saying
“trick or treat” with the hope of receiving some goodies. As for myself,
Halloween begins on the first day of October.
I enjoy celebrating this holiday all month long. I head to the market
and buy pumpkins, curve scary faces into them and sat them in my yard. From
there I go to dollar stores and even bigger retail stores and purchase things
such as plastic skeletons, coffins, and other props such as witches and
vampires. I put these items in my yard next to the jack o lanterns.
Once my
displays are finished, I sat on my porch and watch the neighbors marveling at
the sight. Also the Halloween season, is the time when leaves change colors
from green to orange and the weather get a tad cooler. This is the perfect
setting to read my favorite horror novels by my favorite authors. There’s
nothing like sitting on the porch on a cool brisk day eating a bowl of popcorn
reading a scary book in front of the Halloween display while orange leaves fall
off the trees onto the ground.
Although the Christmas season has classic movies
such as “It's a Wonderful Life,”
Miracle on 34th Street,” and Christmas in Connecticut,” movies shown during the
Halloween season aren’t too shady either. Every night during the Halloween
season, I stay glued to my TV enjoying movies such as “Dracula,” “The Wolfman,”
and of course John Carpenter’s classic “Halloween.”
The season is a great time to visit haunted things. All season long
haunted attractions such as houses, museums, and cemeteries are at their peak.
There is always a supposedly haunted place (or perhaps a real haunted place) to
visit during this time of the year.
Finally, during the last day of the Halloween season on October 31, I
passed out candy to the little witches, vampires, and angels that come knocking
on my door saying “Trick or Treat.”
When do you begin celebrating Halloween? And what do you do to celebrate
it?
Haven of Evil
Melvin Rivers
Genre: Horror
Re-release date 10/25/16
ISBN: 978-1494317461
ASIN: B01384ES70
Number of pages: 265
Word Count: 41,200 words
Cover Artist: Artrocity
Book Description:
Haven of Evil, a book of supernatural terror, contains bone-chilling terror that is unleashed on an unsuspecting couple who moves into their new home after a flood had destroyed the old one.
When Kevin and Sandra Wilson’s home and personal possessions were destroyed by flood waters, the couple relocated to a town called Havenville. Things started out rough when they avoided hitting a mysterious woman on the road. Later Kevin was attacked by hawks in a cemetery where a stranger rescued him. Kevin and the stranger become fast friends, but later the stranger wasn't who he had appeared to be.
After some tragic and terrifying events Sandra goes into a murderous rage not long after Kevin finds out about an evil that dwelled inside their house--an evil that will change their lives forever.
In this tale of horror, some will live and others will not.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/QZ_pTAvuVKo
Amazon
He turned to walk back home. A woman in a black dress stood a few paces in front of him. The woman’s eyes were black marbles embedded in a sunken face. Her white hair hung down over her shoulders like spaghetti strings, and there were more cracks in her face than there were on a broken sidewalk. A foul stench seemed to follow her around – the scent of rotting meat.
Kevin grimaced and held his nose. The horrid odor clung to him like stench on a decomposed corpse. “What in the –”
“Leave that place now,” the woman’s voice gurgled.
He took a step back, fanned his nose, and spat. “You’re the woman I almost hit on the road.” He narrowed his eyes and scratched his head. “How – I mean, what in the –”
“Don’t give in to the dreams or listen to him. You can’t defeat it.” She turned and pushed her way through a hedge of high bushes to the right of the highway.
“Miss, what are you talking about?” He pinched his nose to keep the woman’s stench at bay and followed her through a stretch of woods, coming to an open field. A steep hill was not far away. “Hey, Miss, where are you?” he called, looking around. She was nowhere in sight.
She’s obviously crazy. I wonder if her family knows she’s out here. If she has family at all… he fanned his face and blew out a breath. That smell… how did it get on her?
Squawking came from somewhere above him. Kevin looked up to see hawks circling the area as if they owned it.
Kevin started up the hill when a hawk swooped down. He ducked. The bird soared past him and came up squawking, wings flapping and beak open. Kevin covered his face with his arms and ran. The animal’s talons, long and sharp, reached for his arms. Kevin sidestepped to the right and caught hold of a wing. He hurled the hawk with all his strength. The bird fluttered wildly before flying away.
He sat and breathed heavily while watching the sky in case the hawk came back. After resting, he climbed the hill and surveyed the view. There was, on the other side of the hill, a cemetery – the biggest he had ever seen. Headstones, grave markers, and crosses spread out over at least five-hundred acres. He descended the hill for a better view. Something snapped and he fell.
“Oh, shit!” he screamed. He clenched his jaw against the pain and fought to keep back tears. He pried the mouth of an animal trap from his leg and staggered to his feet, managing to limp a few feet before falling again. He winced in pain.
A hawk flew down and perched on a headstone.
I’m going to die only a few yards from a cemetery. At least they won’t have to carry me far.
The bird raised a wing as if it was ready to attack.
“No, I’m going to fight. I refuse to die out here,” Kevin said under his breath. He struggled to his feet. A knife-stabbing ache went through his leg. He went down on one knee. He slowly shook his head back and forth. “Must go on.” He got to his feet and glanced at the headstone. The hawk was gone. He hobbled to the hill.
I can make it if I crawl. A shadow loomed and covered the area in front of him. He heard heavy breathing from somewhere nearby. He stood still, balancing his weight on the uninjured leg. Something began snarling. He turned around slowly. Two menacing black eyes stared into his.
About the Author:
Melvin Rivers was inspired to write horror by imitating the writers of his favorite horror comics many years ago. As he grew older the works of Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and of course Stephen King grabbed his attention.
Melvin Rivers was born in the town of Luxora, Arkansas, and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He received a degree in Journalism from the University of Iowa. He lives in Cedar Rapids Iowa with his wife, dog and two cats. When he is not writing or surfing the web, he enjoys having a hot bowl of popcorn while watching his favorite horror flick on TV.
https://www.facebook.com/Haven-of-Evil-1600674046823390/
http://melvinrivers2.wix.com/mysite
Thanks for being with us, Melvin! And good luck with Haven of Evil. It sounds intriguing!
