A Horror Writer’s Life Review
King of the Cryptids! B-Movie Monster Maker! That Pulp Horror Guy!
I’ve been called all of those things and much more (and far worse!). I wear all of those badges with pride and honor. It’s exactly what I set out to do when I started scribbling stories back in the 90s when I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston was the #1 song in the world, and the first Jurassic Park was lighting up the big screen. Folks always said, “Oh, you want to be the next Stephen King.” In the sense that I wanted to write horror and make some money doing it, yes. King money would be incredible. But really, I was hoping to be more along the lines of Guy N Smith, James Herbert, and Hugh B. Cave.
So, for you, kind reader, who has happened upon this page, I wanted to share a bit of my writing journey and showcase the strange little darlings that seeped from my brain pan onto the printed page. You may be new to Hunter Shea, or a tried and true hellion. Come on, follow me (and keep your hands in the car and no flash photography)…
I may be fully immersed now in all things cryptid and monstrous, but I actually started out writing ghost stories. I lived in a haunted house from 1993 – 2019, and for a great part of that time, we had the spirit of a young boy sharing our living space with our family. I liked him a lot because I didn’t have to pay for any food or clothing, but I do wish I could have claimed him as a dependent on my taxes. Needless to say, I became obsessed with ghosts and the afterlife. My first published novel was Forest of Shadows, with the now defunct Samhain Publishing. I went on to make it a trilogy that is still available today. Numerous short stories have since followed in different anthos, and I feel there are more full-length novels that need to be told.
While churning out novels and novellas for Samhain, I came to the attention of an editor at Kensington Publishing, aka Pinnacle books. That editor and I collaborated first on 3 mass market paperbacks (still my favorite format), with 2 focusing on cryptids – the Montauk Monster and the Jersey Devil – and one a post-apocalyptic nightmare. It was pretty damn cool having books available everywhere, including your local Piggly Wiggly.
Samhain eventually goes kerplooie, and I hitch my wagon to Severed Press, where all things cryptid and monstrous really take center stage. I’ve grappled with the Dover Demon, squatches of all kinds, prehistoric ghost sharks, megalodons, the Goat Man, Loch Ness Monster, dinosaurs and even very pissed off killer whales. I’m still publishing with Severed and working on a new story idea as we speak for 2025.
My editor at Kensington came to me about writing a series of novellas about the things you used to be able to order from old comic books. Since we’re both technically 12 year olds, we were giddy as hell to get to work. Out popped the Mail Order Massacre trilogy over the course of one summer. We delved into the horrors of receiving sea monkeys, x-ray specs, and a submarine made of cardboard in the mail.
For our encore, we created a new trilogy of novellas, One Size Eats All! Easily my favorite book covers, this time we had rats invade NYC, a dinosaur eat a Florida town, and a strange fungus turn a camping trip into a nightmare.
And thank heaven my dream editor at Samhain, the legendary Don D’Auria, brought me along when Flame Tree Press when they started their horror line. This really gave me a chance to stretch my wings. I wrote my first slasher with a killer that would make Jason head for the hills, delved into the Melon Heads, and mined my personal life with a tale of real and unimaginable horror.
There are other books that are now out of print (some of them coming back with a new publisher this year!) and even a new one that will be out in 2025. Mostly these days I’m happily working on ghost writing projects outside the horror genre that give me great joy to write (and I’m spared having to do promotion). Sure, I may not be on the NY Times bestseller list, but I know I’ve given a whole lot of people a distraction from the real world. And really, that’s what matters most. I hope you’ll stick with me as I keep on typing away (a little slower now, but still getting it done). There are plenty more monsters that need to come to life!
The Jersey Devil Hits The Road
Over the course of writing The Jersey Devil, the elusive cryptid and I have gotten pretty close. He recently told me, over a cup of what he said was mulled wine, but I suspect it was something far more disquieting, that he wanted to get out and travel the country, if not the world. After over 200 years in the Pine Barrens, it’s time to spread his wings, so to speak.
“There’s just one teensy weensy little problem,” he said to me, tapping his cloven hoof on his chin. “I’m afraid there are too many monster hunters out and about nowadays. You see them bumbling about with their night vision cameras. I fear for my safety as much as my anonymity. The last thing I want is to be featured on some reality paranormal show…or shot!” Shivering, he added, “I don’t know which would be worse.”
Point well taken. We sat against the pygmy pines in the dark of night, contemplating his dilemma. As a cloud obscured the moon and the howl of a nearby Sasquatch got our attention (“Oh, that’s just Larry,” JD said), an idea came to me.
“How would you like to live vicariously through my book?” I asked.
Old JD flicked his tail excitedly. “How so?”
Knowing he’s a big fan of Instagram and Twitter (whereas Bigfoot prefers SnapChat & the Loch Ness Monster is partial to Facebook), I told him that I and my Hellions could take the book wherever we go and post pictures on Instagram with the hashtag #JerseyDevil. That way, he could see the world while in the relative comfort of his forest preserve.
“Oooo, I like that. Can you take me to a cemetery first? I’m so tired of the ones around here. It’s so…so…dead out here in the Barrens.”
The next day, I did just that, taking the book to the oldest cemetery in my city.
He wrote me back immediately on Instagram. “Love it! So nice to see new headstones. Where to next?”
Indeed. Where to next?
That’s where you come in. Help old JD out and tote your copy of The Jersey Devil with you when you’re out and about, on vacation, even in the house puttering around. Post your pic on Instagram using #jerserydevil and @huntershea2017 or Twitter using #JerseyDevil and @huntershea1 so the beast and I can collect and enjoy this little travelogue.
We’ll pick people at random every week to receive free books from the Hunter Shea library!
It’s the holiday season. Be kind to cryptids. And have fun doing it. It will be interesting to see where The Jersey Devil ends up. Plus, it’s always a smart idea to keep a monster happy. You wouldn’t want an angry Jersey Devil tapping on your window late at night, would you? Don’t end up the main ingredient in his ‘mulled wine’. Just saying.
New Cover Reveal – TORTURES OF THE DAMNED
Ho-ho-ho and all that claptrap. I haven’t been posting much this month because I’ve been doing rounds of edits on my latest book for Samhain and working on a brand new novella. Because of this, I’m seriously behind with Christmas shopping, but I still have a week. Looks like I’ll be hanging out at the gift card rack at Walgreens.
I went out to dinner last night with my editor at Kensington, Gary Goldstein. Time spent with Gary is time spent well. The first thing he presented me with was the cover of my next thriller, TORTURES OF THE DAMNED. It comes out July 28, 2015. I know that seems like a long way off, but it’ll be here before you know it. This one is a unique look on a post-apocalyptic world. No zombies in this one. Nope. I opted for something much, much more terrifying. Gary and I channeled our inner Roger Corman for this one. What do you think of the cover? Subtle, right? 🙂
Here’s the back cover copy in case you can’t read it on the pic I took of it :
Shock. . .
First, the electricity goes–plunging the east coast in darkness after a devastating nuclear attack. Millions panic. Millions die. They are the lucky ones.
After Shock. . .
Next, the chemical weapons take effect–killing or contaminating everything alive. Except a handful of survivors in a bomb shelter. They are the damned.
Hell Is For Humans
Then, the real nightmare begins. Hordes of rats force two terrified families out of their shelter–and into the savage streets of an apocalytic wasteland. They are not alone. Vicious, chemical-crazed animals hunt in packs. Dogs tear flesh, cats draw blood, horses crush bone. Roaming gangs of the sick and dying are barely recognizable as human. These are the times that try men’s souls. These are the tortures that tear families apart. This is hell on earth. The rules are simple: Kill or die.
The novels of Hunter Shea are:
“A lot of splattery fun.”–Publishers Weekly
“Harrowing, bloodsoaked.” –Jonathan Janz
“Frightening, gripping.”–Night Owl Reviews
The Montauk Monster 2.0 Virtual Publicity Tour is Set to Party!
As if the heat isn’t cranking up hot enough, we’ve put some more wood on the fire to flame The Montauk Monster‘s virtual publicity party! Are you ready to join the party? I could sure use a beer or two to cool me off on this crazy ride of book publishing. So the hottest summer party will be right in my court, peeps. Be sure not to miss any of the action.
Last week we got The Montauk Monster 1.0 tour going with some great authors and friends whose blogs I’ve been visiting this June. You can view that initial list of stops HERE, though I’ll add them all to this list too so you can follow along however you wish. Be sure to take a peek at all their sites and books too. Thanks a bunch to everyone!
Erin Al-Mehairi, my amazing publicist and first reader, good friend, and bundle of laughs, has spent time behind the scenes setting up for me the virtual tour for The Montauk Monster 2.0! Thank you for your rockin’ efforts, Erin! I’m certain if you lived a tad closer we’d be tipping back a few extra.
We are stoked to give you an initial look at all the places you’ll want to be–it’s Monster approved! We’ll update the stops when more roll in, but we’ll update each website with the direct link to the appearance once it posts. Thanks to Kensington/Pinnacle for helping Erin and I to put all the books out to the publicity stops!
Static Page Schedule
Besides this post, you can view all the updates at a static page on Erin’s site at: www.hookofabook.wordpress.com/montauk-monster-tour
Twitter and Instagram Promotion
If you Tweet, use the hastag #MontaukMonster. If you have a copy of the book, snap a pic, upload to Instagram, and also tag #MontaukMonster. We’ll keep track of the photos this way for a special promotion at the end of July!
Shake, rattle, and roll!! Or to World Cup soccer fanatics, Ole!
The Montauk Monster Virtual Publicity Party:
Here’s a few past ones from 1.0....
June 12:
Guest Appearance at Author and Screenwriter Keith Rommel
http://keithrommel.weebly.com/blog/horror-author-hunter-shea-talks-about-monsters
June 16:
Guest Appearance at Author Brian Moreland
http://www.brianmoreland.blogspot.com/2014/06/guest-post-from-hunter-shea.html
June 18:
Guest Appearance at Author Jonathan Janz
http://jonathanjanz.com/2014/06/18/hunter-shea-and-his-montauk-monster-attack/
Kicking-off 2.0…….!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 19:
Interview with Author Glenn Rolfe
June 20:
Guest Appearance with Aniko Carmen
www.anikocarmean.wordpress.com
June 22:
Guest Appearance with Jack on Back in Jack, his co-conspirator on Monster Men Podcast
Talks about his live signing event and party in New York!
June 27:
Guest Appearance with Gef at Wag the Fox
www.waggingthefox.blogspot.com
June 28:
Guest Appearance with Rich at The Horror Bookshelf
www.thehorrorbookshelf.com
July 2:
Guest Appearance with Jenna at Girl With Book Lungs
www.girlwithbooklungs.com
July 7:
Guest Appearance with Author Mary San Giovanni
www.marysangi.wordpress.com
Interview with Author Kristopher Rufty
www.lastkristontheleft.blogspot.com
July 8:
Joe Hempel review at Top of the Heap Reviews
July 9:
Spotlight and Excerpt with Michelle at Castle Macabre
www.castlemacabre.blogspot.com
July 14:
Review from Christina at Creating Serenity
www.creating-serenity.com
July 15:
Review by Jennifer in Ohio’s The Entertainer Magazine
www.entertainerohio.com
July 17:
Guest Appearance at Author Matt Manochio
www.mattmanochio.wordpress.com
July 18:
Review by Rich at The Horror Bookshelf
www.thehorrorbookshelf.com
July 21:
Review and Guest Appearance at Author David Bernstein
www.davidbernsteinauthor.blogspot.com
July 22:
Review by Des and Guest Appearance at Bookie Monsters
www.bookie-monster.com
July 23:
Review by Author Glenn Rolfe
www.glennrolfescribbles.wordpress.com
July 24:
Guest Appearance at Author W. D. Gagliani
www.wdgagliani.com
July 25:
Review at Editor/Writer Tim Busbey
www.timbusbey.wordpress.com
July 28:
Review and Guest Appearance at Paul Dail
www.pauldail.com
July 29:
Review and Interview with Ira at The Rage Circus vs. The Soulless Void
www.ragecircus.blogspot.com
July 31:
Review by Melissa at Little Miss Zombie
www.littlemisszombie.blogspot.com
Also coming:
Date TBA, review on HellNotes
READY FOR AUGUST: TBA soon! Want to join?
If you’re late for the date, we’ll hold the monsters at bay. To join the tour, email Erin at hookofabook@hotmail.com or drop me a line so we can fit you in! The more the merrier!
And don’t forget I’ll be at Scares that Care, which is a horror convention in VA raising money for charity, during the weekend of June 27-29!
And in case you haven’t heard, or picked up your own copy:
Publisher’s Weekly named the upcoming thriller, THE MONTAUK MONSTER, one of the best summer books of 2014! Not only that, they gave it an awesome review. Here’s a snippet:
The urban mythologies of the Montauk Monster and the government labs on Plum Island unite to cause staggering levels of mayhem when mutant animals with toxic blood descend on a Long Island town. This wholly enthralling hulk of a summer beach read is redolent of sunscreen and nostalgia, recalling mass market horror tales of yore by John Saul, Dean Koontz, and Peter Benchley. — PW
The Montauk Monster, Synopsis and Advanced Praise:
“Shea combines ancient evil, old school horror, and modern style.” –Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author
It Kills. . .
On a hot summer night in Montauk, the bodies of two local bar patrons are discovered in the dunes, torn to shreds, their identities unrecognizable. . .
It Breeds. . .
In another part of town, a woman’s backyard is invaded by four terrifying creatures that defy any kind of description. What’s clear is that they’re hostile–and they’re ravenous. . .
It Spreads. . .
With every sunset the terror rises again, infecting residents with a virus no one can cure. The CDC can’t help them;FEMA can’t save them. But each savage attack brings Suffolk County Police Officer Gray Dalton one step closer to the shocking source of these unholy creations. Hidden on nearby Plum Island, a U.S. research facility has been running top-secret experiments. What they created was never meant to see the light of day. Now, a vacation paradise is going straight to hell.
“Hunter Shea is the real deal.. . .intense.” –Gord Rollo, author of Valley of the Scarecrow and Crimson
“Shea delves deep into the unknown. A thrill-ride of a read!” –Alexandra Holzer, author of Growing Up Haunted
Amazon Purchase HERE
I’m Now A Thriller Writer!
Man, has it been hard to keep this one under my extra-large Mets cap (which has been replaced by my Seahawks snap-back). Well, I can’t hold it in anymore. I’m incredibly excited to let you all know that my first thriller novel, THE MONTAUK MONSTER, will be out as a Pinnacle paperback this June. This is part one of a two book deal. I’m busy at work putting together the framework for my next thriller (while finishing the final draft of the Sinister Entity follow up where things go in a totally new, and darker direction).
First, what do you think of the cover? Nice choppers on that bad boy, huh?
Here’s a little bit about the book:
It Kills. . .
On a hot summer night in Montauk, the bodies of two local bar patrons are discovered in the dunes, torn to shreds, their identities unrecognizable. . .
It Breeds. . .
In another part of town, a woman’s backyard is invaded by four terrifying creatures that defy any kind of description. What’s clear is that they’re hostile–and they’re ravenous. . .
It Spreads. . .
With every sunset the terror rises again, infecting residents with a virus no one can cure. The CDC can’t help them;FEMA can’t save them. But each savage attack brings Suffolk County Police Officer Gray Dalton one step closer to the shocking source of these unholy creations. Hidden on nearby Plum Island, a U.S. research facility has been running top-secret experiments. What they created was never meant to see the light of day. Now, a vacation paradise is going straight to hell.
I have to tell you, I held nothing back with this one. And for you horror hounds out there, I can assure you there is plenty in the pages of The Montauk Monster to satisfy your blood thirst. You can pre-order a copy at Amazon. Believe me, there is more to come about this. I just needed to get it out before I exploded. It’s been an amazing experience working with a new publisher (and yes, I’m still very much with Samhain, too!) and taking my writing in a different direction. And I’ve always, always wanted to publish a paperback, so I can finally check that off the list. Think of this one as a roller coaster on speed. No one’s getting off with the ability to see or walk straight.
Stay tuned for more and be careful when you take out the garbage at night. That just might not be the neighbor’s dog sniffing around in the dark.
Hunter Shea 