Today is the First Day of a New Book

Alistair here ~ and today is the day I began a new book. With The Black Wasp (book 3 of the Vampires of Crimson Cove series) in the editor’s hands, and not a lot going on besides some book marketing and the disposal of an old sofa, I figured I might as well do some writing. Since I’m dying to find out what happens next, I’ve decided to dive right into book 4 of the Crimson Cove series which, for now, I am referring to only as TMR.

TMR picks up where The Black Wasp leaves off, and given that it hasn’t even been released yet, I can’t say a whole lot more about it except that things have really changed for my protagonist, Cade Colter. The Black Wasp not only introduced new characters, but new motives as well – and those motives are what will drive TMR and leave poor Cade with some pretty big fish to fry. And by “pretty big” I actually mean huge.

To simplify it, he’s in way over his head, and when The Black Wasp comes out (this summer!) you’ll see why. Even as I was writing today, I realized just how much Cade is underestimating his situation and how little he actually understands. I’m currently feeling very bad for him, but I can’t help it – I’m a sucker for the drama. There’s nothing more fun than a character who’s bitten off way more than they can chew (insert evil laugh here.)

With so many endings on the horizon, I’m feeling especially excited about the new project (not only was The Black Wasp recently finished, but Tamara and I are creeping up on the climax of our next Thorne & Cross standalone, Spite House, as well as wrapping up the final scenes in Shadowlands, book 4 of The Ravencrest Saga), and no doubt adding to my excitement is the fact that this, the beginning, is my favorite part of the book. It might sound strange to say I prefer the beginnings and (and even the middles) to the endings, but I do – and not just in the books I’m writing, the ones I’m reading, too. Endings just kind of depress me, I guess, but the good news is, you can always start the next one – so, that’s what I did.

I wish I could tell you more about it, but for now, I need to keep its secrets close. When The Black Wasp comes out in the next month or two, maybe I’ll be able to say more …

Until then, happy reading, writing, or whatever it is that makes you shine, and just because, apropos of nothing, here’s me with my familiar, Pawpurrazzi, who oversees all my writing.

~Alistair

Writing with Pawpurrazzi, sometime last year

Behind the Book: The Cliffhouse Haunting, with Jamison Walker on Thorne & Cross: Carnival Macabre

Tamara and Alistair sit down with Dr. Jamison Walker, narrator of the novel that started it all, The Cliffhouse Haunting. Go behind the book for an inside look at the writing and narration of the story, the development and portrayal of the characters, and the joys and frustrations of the process: https://bit.ly/3txSjDO

Dr. Jamison Walker commands an impressive vocal range and an extensive repertoire. From opera and oratorio to musical theater and pops, Walker has performed in recital, opera, symphonic, and academic settings, nationally and internationally across the United States and in Europe and Asia.

Before completing his education, Mr. Walker served as a Counterintelligence Agent in the U. S. Army. Since then, he has taught extensively and now serves as an Assistant Professor of Voice on the faculty of James Madison University.In October of 2020, Dr. Walker began his journey in the realm of voice acting and audiobook narration. As of April 2021 he has seven professional releases with dozens more under contract.

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

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 Cliffhouse Haunting and Mother with Tamara Thorne and is working on several other projects. His debut solo novel, The Crimson Corset, was an Amazon bestseller. The Black Wasp, book 3 in The Vampires of Crimson Cove series is on its way. Find out more about him at: http://alistaircross.com

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In collaboration, Thorne and Cross are currently writing several novels, including the next volume in the continuing gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. Their first novel, The Cliffhouse Haunting, was an immediate bestseller. Together, they hosted the horror-themed radio show Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE! which featured such guests as Anne Rice of The Vampire Chronicles, Charlaine Harris of the Southern Vampire Mysteries and basis of the HBO series True Blood, Jeff Lindsay, author of the Dexter novels, Jay Bonansinga of The Walking Dead series, Laurell K. Hamilton of the Anita Blake novels, Peter Atkins, screenwriter of Hellraiser 2, 3, and 4, worldwide bestseller V.C. Andrews, Kim Harrison of the Hollows series, and New York Times best sellers Preston & Child, Christopher Rice, and Christopher Moore. Currently, Thorne & Cross are hosts of Thorne & Cross: Carnival Macabre, where listeners can discover all manner of demented delights, unearth terrifying treasures, and explore the dark side of the arts.

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

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Thorne & Cross: Carnival Macabre – What Hollywood Gets Wrong with Forensics Expert D.P. Lyle

Violence. Murder. Death. As television viewers we see crime on a constant basis, but how reliable is Hollywood when it comes to the facts? Thorne & Cross go straight to the source: https://bit.ly/3wWpRh7

D.P. Lyle, MD, is the award-winning author of many nonfiction books and works of fiction. He is the co-host of Crime and Science Radio, and has worked as a forensics consultant with the writers of popular television shows such as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Monk, Judging Amy, House, and Pretty Little Liars. Find him online at www.dplylemd.com.

At Thorne & Cross: Carnival Macabre, you’ll discover demented delights, unearth terrifying treasures, and explore your most frightful fantasies. Come one! Come all! You’ll hear of horrors old and new, of things that none dare mention, and bear witness to the dark side of the arts with the Demonic Duo, the Diva of Darkness, Tamara Thorne, and the Nordic Nightmare himself, Alistair Cross. Learn more at: alistaircross.com or tamarathorne.com

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Five Nights in a Haunted Cabin – Night Four

Horror authors Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross spent five nights documenting the phenomena inside – and outside – of an allegedly haunted cabin tucked deep in the woods in Gold Country. By turns intrigued and terrorized, Thorne & Cross not only came away with great story ideas, they left the cabin with a new definition of horror.

Now, night four of our adventure in a haunted cabin is available now at Thorne & Cross: Carnival Macabre: https://bit.ly/2OQ2VyG

Five Nights in a Haunted Cabin is read by Jamison Walker and Caroline Kiley. 

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Check out all the episodes at:

Night One – https://bit.ly/39YNHPo

Night Two – https://bit.ly/3s2wyuo

Night Three – https://bit.ly/3wBAkhE

Night Four – https://bit.ly/2OQ2VyG

The final night, night five, is on its way.

Five Nights in a Haunted Cabin – Night Three

Horror authors Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross spent five nights documenting the phenomena inside – and outside – of an allegedly haunted cabin tucked deep in the woods in Gold Country. By turns intrigued and terrorized, Thorne & Cross not only came away with great story ideas, they left the cabin with a new definition of horror.

Now, night three of their adventure in a haunted cabin, read by Jamison Walker and Caroline Kiley, is available for your listening eeriness at Thorne & Cross: Carnival Macabre: https://bit.ly/3wBAkhE

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Check out all the episodes at:

Night One – https://bit.ly/39YNHPo

Night Two – https://bit.ly/3s2wyuo

Night Three – https://bit.ly/3wBAkhE

Nights four and five are on their way.

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Dream Reaper is Available in Audiobook!

DREAM REAPER is available in audiobook! Get your copy at: https://adbl.co/3mkSHTw

Angel or Demon?

Naive and heart-stoppingly handsome, he calls himself Alejandro, and Madison O’Riley has no clue what to do with him. As they set out to recover his lost identity, Madison realizes the mysterious man who saved her life harbors deep, otherworldly secrets that will put her in grave danger.

The Devil is in the Details

Gremory Jones has something for everyone, and for a price, he’s willing to make a deal. Walking the streets in top hat and trench coat, he tempts the citizens with mysterious wares from his shiny black briefcase. But buyer beware: All sales are final – and fatal.

A Scorching New Terror Has Come to Town

The townspeople are changing in appalling ways and it’s up to Madison – with the help of a psychic, a local priest, and the new chief of police – to help Alejandro unlock his forgotten powers before an unspeakable evil tears apart the fabric of existence … and costs them their very souls …

Behind the Book: Dream Reaper

I’ve often thought that without dreams, without hopes and aspirations, human beings wouldn’t be much more than empty shells, living day to day, with nothing keeping them alive except, maybe, the biological instinct to survive. Thinking on this more, it seemed likely to me that these dreamless beings would indulge in all kinds of risky immoral hijinks in their efforts to feel alive, to add some kind of texture and meaning to their lives, and the more I explored this idea, the more it started sounding like a story I wanted to write.

I already had my hero waiting in the wings – a beautiful amnesiac who calls himself Alejandro – from something I’d written many years earlier, and now I just needed a villain. Since I also like the idea of new, non-traditional monsters – not to say I don’t love vampires, mummies, and werewolves – I came up with Mr. Jones, a demonic salesman who trades wishes and whims for a person’s innermost dreams.

Mr. Jones came into existence all at once, when I saw a man – impeccably dressed with slicked-back black hair, dark glasses, a black briefcase – walking down the street near my house. I knew then and there that this was my bad guy. I threw in a psychic, a priest, an angel, and a chief of police with a drinking problem, then began exploring what happens when the townspeople start selling off their dreams …

And that’s how Dream Reaper came to be.

P.S. ~ Dream Reaper is coming soon to Audible.com!

~ Alistair Cross

Five Nights in a Haunted Cabin – Night Two

Here it is – night two of our adventure in a haunted cabin. Read by Jamison Walker and Caroline Kiley. Listen in at Thorne & Cross: Carnival Macabre.

Horror authors Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross spent five nights documenting the phenomena inside – and outside – of an allegedly haunted cabin tucked deep in the woods in Gold Country. By turns intrigued and terrorized, Thorne & Cross not only came away with great story ideas, they left the cabin with a new definition of horror.

You can listen to other episodes of Thorne & Cross: Carnival Macabre at Audible, Spotify, and many other services. For more: alistaircross.com and tamarathorne.com

From The Black Wasp

A description of Gretchen VanTreese, through the eyes of the local sheriff, Ethan Hunter.

Gretchen was originally meant to be a very minor character who dies right away, but here we are, three books into the series, and she’s still alive (in a manner of speaking) and biting. Sometimes characters do that, and I’ve learned to let them. Gretchen’s presence has changed the DNA of this series in ways that have surprised – and pleased – even me.

~ Alistair

P.S. – The Black Wasp, book 3 in the Vampires of Crimson Cove series, is coming soon

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