Thorne & Cross: Carnival Macabre

Coming soon … Legends and lore, monster and myths, hauntings and horror ~ straight from the pages of our research …

Behind the Veil

To Pants or Plot

One thing I’m frequently asked is whether I write an outline for my books, or just fly by the seat of my pants. The short answer is: both. The long answer is a little more complicated. In my experience there are two types of writers: plot-driven writers and character-driven writers. Whereas the strength of plot-driven

I am Now Officially Fully Vaccinated … and I Don’t Care …

I got my second COVID-19 vaccine today … and I’m proud of it. I realize that getting vaccinated is basically as controversial as not getting vaccinated at this point, but I don’t care. I’ve long accepted that no matter what you choose to do, you’ll incite the ire of someone for one reason or another

An Audio Excerpt from Dream Reaper

An audio excerpt from my novel, Dream Reaper, narrated by Jamison Walker. Cover art by Mike Rivera. Available now at Audible.com About Dream Reaper 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,

Another Brick Wall in Spite House

Of all the books Tamara and I have written together, none have taken longer, been more complicated, or evolved over time as much as Spite House, the one we’re writing now.  We had a plot — we weren’t writing blind — but it kept shooting off in all sorts of directions and as much as

A Gothic Recipe for Horror

The Thorne and Cross thriller, The Witches of Ravencrest, is the latest to come to audiobook and to celebrate, we’re sharing our recipe for Gothic horror. But first … a little about the book … Narrated by film and voice actor, Nathan Foss, The Witches of Ravencrest is book 2 of The Ravencrest Saga, preceded

A New Book Cover for Sleep Savannah Sleep

Sometimes, as much as you love your book cover, you have to admit that it just isn’t right – that even though it’s good, it could be better. That’s the conclusion I recently drew with my novel, Sleep Savannah Sleep. Don’t get me wrong: I love the original cover art for this book. From the

10 Things I’ve Learned About Writing in the Past 10 Years

I’ve been writing all my life, but it wasn’t until ten years ago that I got serious about it. And I didn’t want to be a hobby-writer, either. I wanted to be a real-life, full-time professional who spends his time writing, editing, marketing, and well … doing it all – because that’s what writers do

The Black Wasp – Artwork by Stefan Ellis

Here’s a piece of artwork depicting the Black Wasp, the character from my upcoming novel of the same name. She’s a different kind of monster, and in many ways she’s my creepiest creation. But there’s a lot more to her than meets the eye – which you’ll learn all about in The Black Wasp, book

The First-Ever Excerpt from The Black Wasp

Good news for those awaiting The Black Wasp! I’ve just received word that it’s currently scheduled for a mid-June release, and while I don’t have an exact date yet ( know, I know) I will very soon. I promise to share that information here as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, (and, of course, the

The Art of Blaming the Industry

In 2010, I completed my first novel and the rush it gave me was of greater magnitude than anything else I’d ever experienced. After years of trying, I had finally done it: I had written my very first book. I was elated, bubbling with pride, and eager to get it out into the world where

Behind the Book: Sleep Savannah Sleep

One night, days after finishing my novel Dream Reaper, I was in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering what to write next. I considered going back to the Crimson Cove series but I felt like there was a different story in me trying to get out. The trouble was, I didn’t know anything about it

Classic Horror Movies I’m Just Now (Somehow) Seeing for the First Time

I know, I know … as a self-proclaimed lover of horror, it’s pretty ridiculous that I haven’t seen some of these movies until now, but I have an excuse: I grew up in the days of movie rentals on VHS in a small conservative town in the midst of the “satanic panic.” In short, the

Finishing Books and Listening to Your Characters

On March 5th, I finished The Black Wasp, book 3 in the Vampires of Crimson Cove series, and I’m astounded by the direction these books have taken. This is in so small part due to the Black Wasp herself – a character who showed up in the middle of the previous book, The Silver Dagger.

Storm

Discovering Horror

Not too long ago, I took a late-night, spur-of-the-moment, why-the-hell-not trip to my old hometown and wow … does this bring back memories. And one of the best memories that came back to me was right here. It was here, on this bridge ~ which is, ironically, right in front of the local morgue ~

Today is the First Day of a New Book

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

NEW RELEASE Available for Pre-Order

The Angel Alejandro is available for pre-order. Buy it today and have it directly sent to your Kindle on January 25th: http://tinyurl.com/z9mc5un   A Man without a Past   After a near-fatal accident, Madison O’Riley is faced with an astonishing problem: What to do with the man who saved her life. Naive and heart-stoppingly handsome,

Halloween Blow-Out Sale! — Thorne & Cross

Now through the end of the month, get three Thorne & Cross ghost stories for just three bucks at Amazon. Check the poster below for sale dates. Book descriptions: The Cliffhouse Haunting When the Blue Lady Walks… Since 1887, Cliffhouse Lodge has been famous for its luxurious accommodations, fine dining… and its ghosts. Overlooking Blue […]

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

Real Ghosts

Remember when the parapsychologists in Poltergeist tell the Freelings about a fantastic poltergeist experience they’d had just before they see what’s going on in Carol Ann’s room? It goes like this: LESH Yes, Ryan photographed an extraordinary episode on a case in Redlands. RYAN A child’s toy, a small matchbox vehicle, rolled seven feet across

Dirty Ghosts, Dirt Cheap

THE GHOSTS OF RAVENCREST is available at: http://tinyurl.com/hzvae3e   “The Ghosts of Ravencrest delivers on every level. Delicate, creepy, detailed, and beautifully crafted, this reinvention of the gothic ghost story into a sexy, sleek modern chiller is a marvel of suspense and atmosphere. A knockout of a horror yarn!”   -Jay Bonansinga, the New York

.99 Cents For Jim Morrison, Elvis, and Jack the Ripper?

Tamara Thorne’s ETERNITY goes on sale for .99 on Monday, August 1st! Get a copy at: http://tinyurl.com/hgo8xzw Read a review of ETERNITY at HELLNOTES: http://tinyurl.com/jktk5xm   Currently, she and I are writing a collaboration that takes place in Eternity, which is a sequel to CANDLE BAY and features Michael, Winter, Chynna, and Arnie from my

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

The Angel Alejandro

THE ANGEL ALEJANDRO – coming later this year.   After a near-fatal accident, Madison O’Riley is faced with an extraordinary problem: What to do with the man who saved her life. He calls himself Alejandro … and he has no memory of who he is or where he came from. As they set out to

MOTHER is on Sale at AMAZON!

MOTHER is on sale for .99! : http://tinyurl.com/hzghpsa 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

TODAY ONLY

Today is the last day to get your copy of THE CLIFFHOUSE HAUNTING for .99 on Amazon! And here’s a list of the weekend’s events!

THE CLIFFHOUSE HAUNTING is on sale!

A deranged doctor with an appalling side-hobby, a macabre groundskeeper who delights in terrifying children, an unlikely vandal with vulgar talents, a lovestruck cop, a 60s Scream Queen, a death-portending ghost, and an egomanaical self-proclaimed psychic who wants to write a book about it. What happens when they all end up in a cozy cliff

THE CLIFFHOUSE HAUNTING is on sale NOW for .99!

Today through Saturday, The Cliffhouse Haunting is on sale for only .99 at Amazon! To celebrate, here is this week’s copy of the The Cliffside Weekly Chronicle! Just click the pic below to obtain your .99 cent copy! THE CLIFFSIDE WEEKLY CHRONICLE Another Death at the Peppermint Stix Motel Another body has been found in

$0.99 sale on The Crimson Corset

Today through Wednesday, THE CRIMSON CORSET is on sale for.99! http://tinyurl.com/jrmrvjz

THE CRIMSON CORSET is on SALE!

The sale starts tomorrow: http://tinyurl.com/jrmrvjz Welcome to Crimson Cove Sheltered by ancient redwoods overlooking the California coast, the cozy village of Crimson Cove has it all: sophisticated retreats, fine dining, and a notorious nightclub, The Crimson Corset. It seems like a perfect place to relax and get close to nature. But not everything in Crimson

Guest Post: Mother by Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross

Originally posted on We Read That Too:
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our tour. Today we’re exploring the neighborhood in which our new thriller, Mother, takes place. Think about the street you grew up on. Much like every other neighborhood, it was probably complete with the mean old man who yelled at…

At Last

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

Suspending the Pen

I’ve been in the writing dungeon so long that the sunlight streaming from the windows has begun to burn my eyes and an evening trip to Wal-Mart – or some other dreadful place – is starting to feel like an outing, a night on the town, rather than the necessary evil it actually is. With reviewers waiting

Nasty Neighbors

Have a neighbor you just can’t stand? In honor of the upcoming release of our thriller, Mother, which takes place in a gossip-laden cul-de-sac called Morning Glory Circle, we want to hear your Nasty Neighbor stories! Whether it’s someone who listens to polka music too loud, or someone you’re sure has corpses piling up in

In The Land of Moms and Monsters

We wrote an article over at Risingshadow about what inspired our upcoming thriller, Mother, titled In the Land of Moms and Monsters. Mother is a psychological thriller in the vein of Psycho and Misery, with a pinch of Peyton Place and a dash of Gaslight. Expectant couple Claire and Jason Holbrook have fallen on hard times, forcing

FACEBOOK EVENT Today at 7 – 8 pm EST

Today, at 7 – 8 pm EST, Tamara Thorne​ and I will be chatting about our upcoming book, MOTHER, on Facebook at The Edge of Madness Release Party. Just go to this page, join the event, and come hang out with us from 7 – 8 pm EST, where we’ll be discussing writing, MOTHER, books,

The First Interview About “MOTHER”

Here is the very first interview about our book “MOTHER.” Tamara Thorne dishes a little dirt about this twisted little soon-to-be-released psychological thriller, over at Fiona Mcvie’s Author Interviews.

MOTHER is Coming Soon

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.

GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is Available!

GRAVE EXPECTATIONS, episode 1 of THE WITCHES OF RAVENCREST is now available!! Just click the book below to buy! A New Day Has Dawned After confronting the evil lurking in the east wing of Ravencrest Manor, butler Grant Phister realizes governess Belinda Moorland’s talents may be the key to undoing centuries of bloodshed and evil.

Pendergast Television Series

WALKING DEAD producer, Gale Ann Hurd to produce the adaptation of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child’s best-selling Pendergast series. Read about it here.  We interviewed Preston & Child a few weeks back. They were fun, fascinating, and we can’t wait to have them back. Give us a listen at Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!

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

V.C. Andrews Visits Thorne & Cross

Sage’s Eyes, V. C. Andrews’ newest thriller, has just arrived in bookstores and we’ll be celebrating the release on Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE! today, January 29, at 5 pm Pacific, 6 Mountain, 7 Central, and 8 Eastern. Yes, the author will be joining us. Andrews designated  author Andrew Neiderman as her successor decades

THE WITCHES OF RAVENCREST: GRAVE EXPECTATIONS, Available Next Week!

A New Day Has Dawned After confronting the evil lurking in the east wing of Ravencrest Manor, butler Grant Phister realizes governess Belinda Moorland’s talents may be the key to undoing centuries of bloodshed and evil. Taking her under his wing, he begins teaching her the ways of her power – but is she strong

Pinhead and Peter Atkins Raise Some Hell at Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!

Thursday at Thorne​ & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!, we’re talking to Peter Atkins, author of MORNINGSTAR, MOONTOWN and the screenplays HELLRAISER II, HELLRAISER III, HELLRAISER IV, and WISHMASTER. Pinhead doesn’t want you to miss this show. Just look at him. He’s very excited that you’re coming. Such a sweet little guy.   The link goes

THE WALKING DEAD Author, Jay Bonansinga, Joins Us for a Chat

If you missed last night’s show with THE WALKING DEAD author, Jay Bonansinga, be sure to give it a listen. We talked about Daryl, Carol, Rick, Carl, and Michonne, and got an inside peek at the creation of this crazy-addictive series. Jay also told us about SELF-STORAGE, his new supernatural thriller about a lonely divorced

MOTHER: Coming Soon From Thorne & Cross

Coming this spring: MOTHER – a new novel by Thorne & Cross. 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

Holiday Sale

Now through New Year’s, four classic Tamara Thorne novels are on sale for only $2.99 a piece on eBook. Haunted is the tale of horror writer David Masters who buys Baudey House, the most haunted  mansion in California. He and his equally skeptical daughter, Amber, are in for the ride of their lives when ghosts

THE CRIMSON CORSET is Now Available in Paper

At long last, THE CRIMSON CORSET is available in paperback. You can also get it on Kindle. “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