The Spooky Good News Just Keeps Coming!

Hello again!

In case you haven’t heard, Tamara’s novel, BRIMSTONE is now available in ebook and paperback at Amazon.com! BRIMSTONE is a coming of age story that takes place in 1968 in a little town called Brimstone in Arizona …

The Brimstone Grand Hotel, owned by reclusive former movie star, Delilah Devine, looms high on Hospital Hill, harboring long-buried family secrets that whisper of unimaginable horrors. Horrors that will echo down through generations. Within the walls of the Brimstone Grand, the past has come back to life, and Holly Tremayne and her grandmother Delilah are faced with an ancient familial evil that rages just below the old hotel’s serene facade. An evil that won’t rest until it possesses Holly – body, mind, and soul.

BRIMSTONE has been praised by THE WALKING DEAD author, Jay Bonansinga as “ … a kaleidoscopic cast of characters, a rich sense of place, and ever mounting suspense, BRIMSTONE brims with chills and thrills. Highly entertaining and highly recommended!” And New York Times bestseller, Kevin O’Brien says, “BRIMSTONE is deliciously scary … Earthquakes, nightmares, aberrations and ghosts keep the reader constantly on-edge.”

You can get BRIMSTONE now at Amazon …

And that’s not all!

We’ve just released installment #5 in our serialized gothic horror series, THE RAVENCREST SAGA: EXORCISM. This one’s called NATIVITY, and it’s available in ebook at Amazon now!

In NATIVITY, Jazz Age music drifts through Ravencrest manor on chill night breezes as the haunting in the old poolhouse grows stronger and the ghost of Violet LeBlanc tries to warn Belinda that an unholy child is about to be born.  All hell is breaking loose at Ravencrest and there is nothing that can stop it.

But wait! There’s more!

Don’t forget that Alistair’s ghostly murder mystery, SLEEP SAVANNAH SLEEP, will be on sale for just $0.99 in ebook June 19th – June 25th at Amazon! SLEEP SAVANNAH SLEEP takes place in a mysterious little northern California town called Shadow Springs where residents keep to themselves (most of them, anyway), fog creeps through the graveyard at all hours, and a young woman with a shady past and a grim future disappears under very unsettling circumstances. And that’s just the beginning of the mystery …

We hope this helps get your summer off to the spookiest possible start and we wish you haunted nights, sweet screams, and lots of happy horrific reading!

Thorne & Cross

“Think Mario Puzo Meets Anne Rice …”

Tamara’s novel, Candle Bay, has received an awesome review by Michael Schutz over at Darkness Dwells, where within the next week or two, she’ll also be appearing on the podcast to talk about horror, vampires, her writing career, and the upcoming Thorne & Cross collaboration, Darling Girls (slated for a spring 2018 release.)

Check out the review of Candle Bay,  and keep your eyes open for Darling Girls this spring! Here’s a little more about Candle Bay, which is available in eBook and paperback on Amazon:

Shrouded in fog on a hillside high above an isolated California coastal town, The Candle Bay Hotel and Spa has been restored to its former glory after decades of neglect. Thanks to its new owners, the Darlings, the opulent inn is once again filled with prosperous guests. But its seemingly all-American hosts hide a chilling, age-old family secret.

Lured to the picturesque spot, assistant concierge Amanda Pearce is mesmerized by her surroundings–and her seductive new boss, Stephen Darling. But her employers’ eccentric ways and suspicious blood splatters in the hotel fill her with trepidation. Little does Amanda know that not only are the Darlings vampires, but that a murderous vampire vendetta is about to begin–and she will be caught in the middle. For as the feud unfolds and her feelings for Stephen deepen, Amanda must face the greatest decision of her life: to die, or join the forever undead.

For book deals, updates, specials, exclusives, and upcoming guests on Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!, join our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ckaBrr

The Cliffhouse Haunting – A Review

The Cliffhouse Haunting is available in ebook and paperback at Amazon! Here’s what one reviewer has to say:

“The Cliffside Lodge has a history dating back to 1887. Not only has it been a place to stay for people enjoying the beauty of Blue Lady Lake, but it was also a place with a dark history. In the twenties a serial killer called the Bodice Ripper terrorized the town and a ghost called The Blue Lady was seen when a death was about to occur.

Flash forward to the present and a new serial killer is terrorizing the town and the Blue Lady is making her presence known again. At the Cliffside Lodge, wet foot prints are being spotted in rooms, disembodied voices are being heard and when people look in the mirror they see the face of the Blue Lady.

What can I say about The Cliffside Haunting by Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross other than it left me with a huge smile on my face. I’ve been a fan of Tamara Thorne going back to the mid nineties. I like her writing because her books have great characters and she creates a detailed mythology. Also her stories have just the right amount of horror, smut, and humor that I look for in a book.

The Cliffside Haunting is no exception, it was obvious that Alistair Cross and Tamara Thorne had a lot of fun writing this and it was hard to put down. I would love to know the writing process behind this book because all the characters are so detailed and a lot of them reminded me of people I knew. I’m not sure who wrote what in this book but by the end of it I was wanting to read any solo work that Alistair Cross has out along with re-reading Tamara’s books.

The best part of The Cliffside Haunting is without a doubt the characters. The serial killer referred to as Hammerhead who hates everyone including the ghost who helps him is a perfect villain. We also have characters who are self-centered and egotistical but at the same time are fascinating because we’ve all met people like this. Authoress Constance Welling thinks she is God’s gift to the world but no one else seems to like her. I kept hoping that nothing bad would happen to her in the book because the scenes that she is in were so entertaining. There is one scene when she is doing a fortune-telling act that’s one of the funniest and most outrageous scenes I’ve ever read in a book. Another great character is Dr. Siechert who will want to make you stay away from doctors for the rest of your life and is part of a very funny scene which takes place in a supermarket.

In addition to memorable characters in this book I also loved the detailed history of the Cliffside lodge and how the mystery of the Blue Lady unfolds. I loves how The Cliffside Haunting goes back and forth from being funny to scary and it was hard to predict where the story would go next. There are some gruesome death scenes in this book and one in particular had me laughing and cringing at the same time. All I’m going to say about it is beware of the chocolate wanderer. You want to know what it is? You need to read the book; you won’t be disappointed.”

For special deals, events, and all things Thorne & Cross, join our newsletter.

What Reviewers Are Saying About Sleep, Savannah, Sleep

 

“Alistair Cross shows that he is a master storyteller by giving us memorable characters and a twist ending that you’ll never see coming.” – HorrorAddicts

“I read the last few pages with my jaw on the floor.” – Romi Reads

“Sometime in October, when I list my absolute favorite Halloween night reads, this book will be way up on my list! Probably #1.” – The Novel Lady

“The end of the book was shocking. To put it simply, I was shook.” – Paws and Paper

“Love this story, and of course, I expected to, since it was written by Cross. Cross has a talent for giving great stories while scaring the hell out of the reader. Love it!” – Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews

“Soap opera becomes murder mystery becomes horror novel … A couple of beautifully orchestrated 180-degree plot twists later we get to the almost-happy ending we expected from the beginning.” – Renaissance Writer

“From the word go, the book had me in its captivating world … I was blown over by the story!” – Book Vue

“Alistair Cross has a way with words and it shows … a wonderful novel to read late at night with only a small light on next to you.” – Mystery Sequels

“If you’re looking for a modern gothic tale you can’t go wrong with this book … I would definitely read more from this author.” – Bibliophile Book Club

“SLEEP SAVANNAH SLEEP hooks you with a small-town atmosphere that quickly turns ghostly cold. Beware a plethora of twists and turns …” – Michael Aronovitz, author of Alice Walks and Phantom Effect

“I really enjoyed Sleep, Savannah, Sleep — a spooky, suspenseful tale that delves with insight into the dynamics of small towns and grieving families. It is sure to please fans of both crime fiction and horror – and anyone who appreciates a good story. Alistair Cross’s deft narration and well-drawn characters will pull you in, and the pages will turn as if by magic. – Margaret Lucke, author of Snow Angel and House of Whispers

Available at: https://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Savannah-Alistair-Cross-ebook/dp/B074XF55JF/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504742931&sr=8-1&keywords=sleep+savannah+sleep

Join the Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ckaBrr

 

Black Friday Books!

A Girl’s Worst Nightmare is Her Mother …

Priscilla Martin. She’s the diva of Morning Glory Circle and a driving force in the quaint California town of Snapdragon. Overseer of garage sales and neighborhood Christmas decorations, she is widely admired. But few people know the real woman behind the perfectly coiffed hair and Opium perfume.

Family is Forever. And Ever and Ever …

No one escapes Prissy’s watchful eye. No one that is, except her son, who committed suicide many years ago, and her daughter, Claire, who left home more than a decade past and hasn’t spoken to her since. But now, Priscilla’s daughter and son-in-law have fallen on hard times. Expecting their first child, the couple is forced to move back … And Prissy is there to welcome them home with open arms … and to reclaim her broken family.

The Past Isn’t Always as Bad as You Remember.
Sometimes it’s Worse …

Claire has terrible memories of her mother, but now it seems Priscilla has mended her ways. When a cache of vile family secrets is uncovered, Claire struggles to determine fact from fiction, and her husband, Jason, begins to wonder who the monster really is. Lives are in danger – and Claire and Jason must face a horrifying truth … a truth that may destroy them … and will forever change their definition of “Mother.”

Happy Black Friday! MOTHER is on sale for $0.99: http://tinyurl.com/jtsuq2l

Join our mailing list: http://tinyurl.com/zscnyy8

THE CRIMSON CORSET is on SALE!

To celebrate October, Halloween, and last week’s show at Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE! with vampire author extraordinaire, Laurell K. Hamilton, THE CRIMSON CORSET is on sale at Amazon for just $0.99 in ebook, now through October 6th.

“Alistair Cross’ new novel THE CRIMSON CORSET … is taut and elegantly written taking us into the realms where the erotic and the horrific meet. Reminiscent of the work of Sheridan Le Fanu (CARMILLA, UNCLE SILAS) in its hothouse, almost Victorian intensity, it tells a multi-leveled story of misalliance and mixed motives. The language is darkly lyrical, and the tale is compelling. Read it; you’ll be glad you did.” – Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, author of the Saint-Germain Cycle

“This drop-deadly tale of seduction and terror will leave you begging to be fanged … ” – Tamara Thorne, international bestselling author of HAUNTED and MOONFALL

“I couldn’t put this book down. It’s got more hooks than a day boat out of San Pedro Harbor!”  – QL Pearce, bestselling author of SCARY STORIES FOR SLEEP-OVERS

VAMPIRES for .99!

Some years ago a young woman named Amanda Pearce came to a sleepy little California town on the central coast where she began work as concierge at the Candle Bay Hotel & Spa. She liked Natasha and Stephen Darling – the siblings who owned the inn, and was especially attracted to Stephen, a tall, broody drink of … water.  A good girl, Amanda didn’t even allow herself to fantasize about him because she knew you shouldn’t have affairs in the workplace. And Stephen, though attracted to her, kept his fangs to himself.

She met Natasha and Stephen’s uncle, Orion Darling and thought him eccentric because of his identification with The Godfather – even his office was an exact replica of the one in the movie – but that was fine with her. And then, along came a stranger, an old family friend – or so he claimed – named Julian Valentyn. There was something about him that frightened her, but Amanda was too happy in her new position to question things.

But after a run-in or three with Stephen’s lascivious, eternally sixteen-year-old twin sisters, Lucy and Ivy, and then finding a bloodless body in a laundry cart that never seemed to stay in one place, she began to think the hotel wasn’t quite what she’d bargained for.  

The bodies began piling up, but Amanda, her love for Stephen growing, persevered through every trial, through the strange dreams about Julian Valentyne, and despite threats and dangers at every turn. And at the end of the story she and Stephen had their first kiss.

But the question was never answered: Did he turn her or didn’t he?

At last, that – and many other questions – will be answered.

The sequel to Candle Bay had been planned for years, but simmered on a backburner until after Alistair wrote his vampire novel, The Crimson Corset, and asked if he might give the Darling clan cameo roles in the book. Tamara happily agreed and it went so well that she and Alistair decided to tackle the Candle Bay sequel as a collaboration, bringing together both Tamara’s Darlings (and Julian Valentyn, of course) and Alistair’s vamps – particularly peace-loving Michael and his lieutenants, Winter – the big lusty fellow with a deadly sense of humor – and Chynna – a beautiful warrior with a soft spot for her white tigers, Absinthe and Hyacinthe.

In the sequel, there is a vampiric festival coming up – a very special one that only occurs every century or so – in Eternity, California, a tiny town in the shadows of Icehouse Mountain, where Sheriff Zach Tully once battled a time-travelling Jack the Ripper. It’s a town where people like Ambrose Bierce, Elvis, and Amelia Earhart are rumored to live thanks to a supernaturally-charged prehistoric monument known as ‘Little Stonehenge.’  

Eternity is also on the bucket list for vampires as it was once the home-away-from-home for vamps misplaced after Atlantis met its watery death thousands of years ago. Icehouse Mountain is rumored to be the site of a very special vampiric holiday where the vamps gather to celebrate their long ago champion and king, the Trueborn, Kelieu. Think of it as Christmas with fangs.

Natasha Darling of Candle Bay and Michael Ward of Crimson Cove are travelling together to the festival in Eternity, and they have an intense past together. But these days, Michael is celibate while Natasha remains hot as hellfire, igniting their reunion with plenty of sparks and steam. And when Juicy Lucy and Poison Ivy carpool with Winter and Chynna, well, Chynna finds herself in charge of keeping everyone’s hands – and fangs – to themselves. As for Stephen, Julian, and Amanda, that eternal triangle is coming to a head. Will wedding bells chime? Will fangs fly? Will blood spill? Will the serial killer have a stake in the action? Will Sheriff Tully decide he’s had enough?

In the sequel, we again meet all these vampires and humans – as well as some fresh faces – as they head up to Eternity, some for marriage, some for fun, some to kill vampires, some to seduce them. Even the rarely-seen-but-oft-heard deejay, Coastal Eddie Fortune, is going. He’d really rather not – he’s no fool – but what can you do when you’re in love … with the mother of a serial killer?

We are hard at work on the sequel, approaching mid-point, and expect to see it in print before 2016 ends. Until then, you can read Candle Bay for just .99 now through Sunday, to refresh your memory and get ready for the sequel! Eternity and The Crimson Corset are also available if you really want to do your homework.

At Last

By Alistair Cross

The 4th (or is it the 5th?) and FINAL read-through of MOTHER is finished. All that’s left is a quick detail check. MOTHER will go to publication next week and Tamara and I will return to The Witches of Ravencrest, our solos, and begin research and development on the Candle Bay sequel.

I will never read MOTHER again. I never read my work after it goes to publication because, by then, I’m sick of the sight of it. Usually, I’m pleased to never lay eyes on it again, but this time, I admit to a certain sadness. I will miss MOTHER … and all the folks of Morning Glory Circle.

This book, I believe, is the best work Tamara and I have done … so far. I am pleased. And that’s rare.

 

Our Interview with V.C. Andrews

Check out our interview with the author behind the V.C. Andrews book series, which has sold over more than 100 MILLION copies worldwide, and spawned such classic moves as FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC. Just Click our pic to listen!

One of the most popular authors of all time, V.C. Andrews has been a bestselling phenomenon since the publication of her spellbinding classic Flowers in the Attic. That blockbuster novel began her first family saga, which includes Petals on the Wind, If There Be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday, and Garden of Shadows. Since then, readers have been captivated by more than fifty novels in V.C. Andrews’ bestselling series. V.C. Andrews’ novels have sold more than one hundred million copies and have been translated into sixteen foreign languages.

Sage’s Eyes has just been released and is available everywhere. 

Following the death of Virginia Andrews in 1986, the Andrews family worked with a carefully selected writer to organize and complete Virginia Andrews’s stories and to create additional novels.

The identity of this writer was kept a secret from the general public for years, but the ghostwriter has since been identified as horror novelist Andrew Neiderman, beginning with the completion of Garden of Shadows and the later novels of the Casteel series.

Neiderman has carried the VC Andrews torch, satisfying her devoted readers for many years, as well as writing dozens of other novels, which include DEFICIENCY, Unholy Birth, Life Sentence, Deadly Verdict, Garden of the Dead and THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE, which was made into a major film starring Keanu Reeves, Charlise Theron, and Al Pacino. He also wrote the screenplays for Rain, based on the VC Andrews novels, and Duplicates.

Andrew Neiderman’s latest novel, Lost in His Eyes, is also available now.

About Thorne & Cross

Tamara Thorne’s first novel was published in 1991, and since then she has written many more, including international bestsellers Haunted, Bad Things, Moonfall, Eternity and The Sorority. A lifelong lover of ghost stories, she is currently working on several collaborations with Alistair Cross as well as an upcoming solo novel. Learn more about her at: http://tamarathorne.com

(Click Moonfall for books by Tamara Thorne)

Alistair Cross grew up on horror novels and scary movies, and by the age of eight, began writing his own stories. First published in 2012, he has since co-authored The Ghosts of Ravencrest with Tamara Thorne and is working on several other projects. His novel, The Crimson Corset, debuted to great acclaim and was an immediate bestseller. Find out more about him at: http://alistaircross.com

(Click The Crimson Corset for books by Alistair)

In collaboration, Thorne and Cross are currently writing several novels, including the serial, The Ghosts of Ravencrest. Their first horror novel, The Cliffhouse Haunting, is available now at Amazon. Their next project, Mother will appear in this spring, and several more projects are on their way. They’ve already begun the next tale of terror…

(Mother, coming soon from Thorne & Cross)

Also, if you enjoy things that go bump in the night, be sure to check out our radio show, Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!, a weekly one-hour horror and thriller-themed show that has featured such guests as Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Christopher Rice, Cheslea Quinn Yarbro, V.C. Andrews, Christopher Moore, Douglas Clegg, Jay Bonansinga, and many more. Visit the Guest Page to catch one of your favorite authors.

Free Book Giveaway

Over at Books that Hook, they’re doing a 3-book giveaway of THE CRIMSON CORSET, the first installment of sexy terror and undead intrigue in THE VAMPIRES OF CRIMSON COVE series. If you like a little venom with your vamps, go to Books that Hook for your chance to win a free copy.

Still not convinced? Here’s what New York Times bestselling author of THE WALKING DEAD, Jay Bonansiga, has to say about it:

“Put Bram Stoker in a giant cocktail shaker, add a pinch of Laurell K. Hamilton, a shot of John Carpenter, and a healthy jigger of absinthe, and you’ll end up with Alistair Cross’s modern Gothic chiller, “The Crimson Corset” – a deliciously terrifying tale that will sink its teeth into you from page one.”