About

Alistair Cross

Alistair Cross was born in the western United States and began penning his own stories by the age of eight. First published in 2012, Alistair has since written several more books. His debut solo novel, The Crimson Corset, a vampiric tale of terror and seduction, was an immediate bestseller which earned praise from veteran vampire-lit author, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and New York Times bestseller, Jay Bonansinga, author of The Walking Dead series. In 2012, Alistair joined forces with international bestselling author, Tamara Thorne, and as Thorne & Cross, they write, among other things, the successful Gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. Their debut collaboration, The Cliffhouse Haunting, reached the bestseller’s list in its first week of release. Learn more about Alistair at: http://alistaircross.com

Some highlights of Alistair Cross’ life to date:

1977 – born in Mt. Pleasant, Utah

1983 – read a book called The Ghost That Goofed, and fell in love with the name Belinda, developed a worrisome interest in fire

1984 – was mauled by an angry turkey, discovered rock music

1985 – discovered Stephen King

1986 – Halloween-themed short story assignment was ridiculed (and we’re talking absolutely trashed!) by teacher in front of entire class, considered becoming a novelist for the first time, began writing stories

1987 – Saw Carrie and the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, wrote more stories (most of which featured an unmanageably extensive cast of talking cats)

1988 – dressed as a hooker for Halloween and decided being a cross-dresser wasn’t in the future

1990 – began writing really bad poetry inspired by Stevie Nicks’ lyrics, wrote lots of stories about talking cats

1993 – moved to a new state, didn’t write much

1994 – moved to several new states, began work in fast food, unapologetically dropped out of high school

1995 – moved again, made up all missing credits in five months and received high school diploma, reluctantly cut mullet, began writing again

1996 – got discouraged with writing, considered being a paramedic

1997 – attended my first rock concert and cried a little when Stevie Nicks stepped onto stage

1998 – decided against being a paramedic, discovered the work of Dean Koontz, John Saul, and Tamara Thorne, decided to be a writer again

1999 – Stalked Tamara Thorne via mother’s AOL dial-up connection to the interwebs

2000 – discovered vodka, read Wuthering Heights and Rebecca

2001 – 2004 – lived in a vodka-induced blur, went to some parties, took a lot of pictures of people and stuff

2005 – had a spiritual awakening, renounced vodka and photography, became very serious about writing, penned 75% of a novel titled The White Room

2006 – lost The White Room in what is now and forever known as The Tragic Internet-Porn-Related Computer Virus Catastrophe of ‘06

2007 – 2010 – wrote lots of poetry, penned several new stories, practiced the craft of novel-writing, took courses in Creative Writing, won a short-story contest, submerged self in books about writing, began several novels

2011 – became disgusted with life, quit job of thirteen years, moved out of state, finished The White Room, was rejected by 257 agents and publishers, continued writing and being disgusted with life

2012 – got first book published (not The White Room), began doing author interviews via blog, met Tamara Thorne, peed a little when invited to write with her

2013 – got a cat, realized how bad The White Room sucked and pulled it out of circulation, continued writing with Tamara Thorne, released the first installments of Belinda, later titled, The Ghosts of Ravencrest

2014 – wrote The Cliffhouse Haunting with Tamara Thorne, began the radio show, Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!, began rewriting The White Room from the ground up after gleefully trashing the original manuscript

2015 – publication of The Cliffhouse Haunting, publication of The Ghosts of Ravencrest, publication of The Crimson Corset (formerly known as The White Room!!!) began new collaboration with Tamara, began new solo novel. The Cliffhouse Haunting and The Crimson Corset reach bestseller’s list

2016 – got another cat, finished the novel, Mother, began second volume of The Ravencrest Saga

 

Tamara Thorne

Tamara Thorne’s first novel was published in 1991. Since then she has written many more, including international bestsellers Haunted, Bad Things, Moonfall, and The Sorority. Tamara’s interest in writing is lifelong, as is her fascination with the paranormal, occult, mythology and folklore. She’s been an avid ghost story collector and writer all her life. Tamara’s novels range from straight-out ghost stories to tales of witchcraft, conspiracies, UFOs, elemental forces, and vampires. No matter what topic she chooses, chances are you’ll find a ghost or two lurking in the background. Today, she and her frequent collaborator, Alistair Cross, share their worlds and continue to write about ghosts and other mysterious forces. Whether collaborating or writing solo, there is no shortage of humor, sex, blood, and spookiness. Learn more about her at: http://tamarathorne.com

Some highlights of Tamara Thorne’s life to date:

1960s

Preferred The Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, and One Step Beyond to cartoons.

Began telling elementary school friends ghost stories at recess. They believed them.

Started collecting “true” ghost story and folklore books, never stopped.

Discovered Ray Bradbury

Began writing, mostly science fiction

Began reading every single Writer’s Yearbook and other writing how-to books in library

Figured out how to rig a seance

Loved Whatever Happened to Baby Jane

Traumatized by Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte

Thought The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was best movie ever made. Still do.

Began writing Star Trek satires. Cracked self up.

Read The Once and Future King.

Hooked on Dark Shadows

Began exploring cemeteries, haven’t stopped

Sang Paperback Writer incessantly

Life-changing book: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

Began writing more horror, but continued reading Bradbury.

First reading of The Lord of the Rings

Secretly listened to classical music

Watched moon landing. Decided against being an astronaut because of urination requirements.

1970s

Began writing satire in high school

Turned down college journalism scholarship – hated telling truth

Married high school sweetheart and got a couple cats

Went to college, got business degree to fund book-writing

Secretly listened to classical music

1980s

Had really big hair.

Bought a house, got more cats

Hooked on exploring ghost towns

Took five years off from managing offices to write a book.

Had a play produced.

Sold some short stories.

Wrote a book. Sold it as Chris Curry

Secretly listened to classical music

1990s

First novel published 1991: Winter Scream

Met Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Douglas Clegg, and QL Pearce. All remain boon companions

Became treasurer of HWA

Second novel published 1993: Trickster

Participated in The Infamous Road Trip to San Francisco with Doug Clegg.

Panic Published

Thunder Road published

The Infamous Trip to the Adult Sex Shoppe with Doug Clegg and whoopee cushions

Retired disliked pen name, Chris Curry

Haunted, Moonfall, Eternity published

Lots of ghost hunting trips

Continued enjoying cats

Openly listened to classical music

2000s  

Candle Bay, The Forgotten, Bad Things, The Sorority: Eve, The Sorority: Merilynn,

The Sorority: Samantha, new edition of Thunder Road published

2010s

Began listening to classic rock instead of classical music

Reissue of all previous Tamara Thorne novels, including The Sorority as omnibus.

Interview with Alistair Cross, didn’t know he was my stalker

Partnership with Alistair Cross

Sang the virtues of cats to Alistair Cross

Began writing short story together that turned into novel (not yet released)

Began collaborating in the Cloud while talking on Skype. Yeah, baby!

Conceived of The Cliffhouse Haunting during five night stay in haunted cabin with former stalker and current collaborator, Alistair Cross

Began writing The Ghosts of Ravencrest, and releasing it as serial novel

Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE! debuts on Authors on the Air Network

The Cliffhouse Haunting published

Began work on new collaboration, psychological thriller, Mother

Released the full novel, The Ghosts of Ravencrest, first book in The Ravencrest Saga

Began working on new solo novel to be published in 2016

Began releasing serial episodes of The Witches of Ravencrest, Book 2 in The Ravencrest Saga

Mother scheduled to release in April

Begin new collaboration, Candle Bay sequel, which features vampires of Candle Bay and Crimson Cove

Planned final 2016 novel, called “S.”

Continue to research for 2017 big-ass novel, “BO.”

Thorne & Cross

In collaboration, Thorne & Cross have written The Cliffhouse Haunting, The Ghosts of Ravencrest, and Mother, as well as the ongoing Ravencrest Saga, a serialization with new installments appearing every four to six weeks. They are currently at work on their next solo novels and a new collaborative project, and whether writing individually or as a team, neither has any intention of slowing down anytime soon.

In 2014, Alistair and Tamara began the internet radio show, Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!, which premiered to great acclaim and has featured such guests as Chelsea Quinn Yarbro of the Saint-Germain vampire series, Charlaine Harris of the Southern Vampire Mysteries and basis of the HBO series True Blood, Jeff Lindsay, author of the Dexter novels that inspired the hit television series, Jay Bonansinga of The Walking Dead series, Laurell K. Hamilton of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novels, Peter Atkins, author and screenwriter of HELLRAISER 2, 3, and 4, worldwide bestseller V.C. Andrews, and New York Times best sellers Preston and Child, Christopher Rice, Jonathan Maberry, and Christopher Moore.