exlibrislarsen

The past won’t stay buried.

If you’re not already thinking Halloweenie thoughts, Saturday’s a great opportunity to inject some pumpkin spice into your veins (not literally, though). It’s October 1st, and the Oswego Public Library is hosting the 5th Annual Oswego Literary Festival, where I’ll be personalizing copies of my ghosts and gangsters novel, THE BLACKENING OF FLESH from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

I’ll be joining horror scribes from the creepiest cobwebbed corners of our genre’s dusty basement: Norm Cowie, writer of the horror-comedy LUCIFER’S; John Everson, author of the thriller-and-chiller THE FAMILY TREE; Kate Gingold, researcher of the non-fiction paranormal tome HAUNTED BY HISTORY: SPECTRES IN A SMALL TOWN; and game-creator Greg Stolze, two-time story contributor to the WHISPERS FROM THE ABYSS franchise.

If horror’s not your thing, no worries! The 5th Annual Oswego Literary Festival plays to multiple tastes and age groups. Here’s a list of a bunch more authors who will be signing copies of their books, broken down by genre:

Children’s Books

• Bernard C. Turner & Michelle Duster (TATE AND HIS HISTORIC DREAM)
• Kathy Elstad (THE LONG-LEGGED TURTLE)
• Rosemary Kuhn (THE ANGELS’ GARDEN)

Historical Fiction

• Georgiann Baldino (AN IMPERFECT UNION)
• Marilyn Huntman-Giese (THE EYE OF GOD)
• D.L. Larson (MEMORIES TRAIL)
• Judith Nickels (A COMPETENT WITNESS)
• Wayne Turmel (THE COUNT OF THE SAHARA)

Memoir

• Joan Aubele (THE DANCE)
• Marjorie Bomben (IT’S NOT THE TRAUMA, IT’S THE DRAMA)
• Amy Chally (MAKING INDEPENDENCE HAPPEN, ONE PAW AT A TIME)
• Carole Madrzak (FADING AWAY)
• James M. O’Brien (HANG YOUR WRAPS IN THE CLOAK ROOM)
• Rania Zeithar (AMERICA THROUGH MY EYES)

Mystery & Suspense

• Debra R. Borys (BOX OF RAIN)
• Luisa Buehler (THE STATION MASTER)
• J.L.Callison (STRANDED AT ROMSON’S LODGE)
• Patricia Rockwell (FIRECRACKERED)
• Donna M. Zadunajsky (NOT FORGOTTEN)

Non-Fiction

• Kay A. Clark (CATHOLIC HOME SCHOOLING)
• Maria Malayter (CHANGE MANAGEMENT)
• W. Nikola-Lisa (THE MEN WHO MADE THE YANKEES)
• John M. O’Donnell (FROM BANKS TO BLOW-UPS)
• Ann Powers (HERBS IN MY KITCHEN)

Romance

• J. Leigh Bailey (DO-GOODER)
• Vanessa M. Knight (SOPHOMORE SLUMP)
• Nicole Leiren (REMEMBER THE NIGHT)
• Allie Pleiter (THE TEXAN’S SECOND CHANCE)
• Barbara Valentin (FLIGHT RISK)
• Margaret Watson (SAVE ME)
• Jerilyn Willin (UNLESS A LOVE BE FREE)

Women’s Literature

• Mary Hutchings-Reed (SALUTING THE SUN)
• Joanne Zienty (THE THINGS WE SAVE)

Young Adult Fiction

• Kristina Springer (CICI RENO)
• Elizabeth Wheeler (ASHER’S OUT)

Festival programming also includes panel discussions on writing and publishing, and music provided by the Fox River Academy of Music and Art. And in addition to the authors listed above, multiple publishers and writers groups will be in attendance to provide you prospective writers with more information about the craft and business of writing, if that’s your thing. And did I mention that admission is free?

With cooler weather coming, it’s the perfect time to stock up on your new fall and winter reads by nationally-known authors and maybe a gem or two from someone who lives in your neighborhood. So, there’s plenty of reasons to head out to the Oswego Public Library at 32 West Jefferson Street this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Christian A. Larsen is the author of the novels LOSING TOUCH and THE BLACKENING OF FLESH, now available from Post Mortem Press.

It’s that time of year again: Halloween-time … and Barnes & Noble in Racine is getting in on the action with Horrorfest 2016 on Friday, October 21st from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The event features appearances by three of the area’s scariest authors … plus I get to tag along, too, which ain’t too bad!

John Everson, author of THE PUMPKIN MAN, THE 13TH, and NIGHTWHERE, will be signing copies of his newest novel, THE FAMILY TREE for his readers at the event. In it, Scott Belvedere inherits the family inn, built around an old tree that oozes sap used to make special ale and bourbon. But the Belvedere family doesn’t keep its skeletons in the closet; they keep them in the roots of the tree, and those secrets are horrifying, to say the least. What’s better than THE FAMILY TREE? A signed copy of THE FAMILY TREE. Get one.

WOLF’S BLIND is W.D. Gagliani’s latest entry in the Nick Lupo series. Lupo is a homicide detective … and a werewolf, which can come in handy when trying to recuperate from a near-fatal explosion. But something is keeping him from shape-shifting and healing while he’s on the run from the mafia. Equal parts thriller and horror, WOLF’S BLIND is the sixth installment in the series, but makes a great entry point for the uninitiated. Come on out and complete your collection. Or start one!

We’ve all heard the poem: “Lizzie Borden had an axe. // She gave her mother 40 whacks. // When she saw what she had done. // She gave her father 41.” While both Andrew and Abby Borden were felled by considerably fewer whacks, (and by a hatchet, not an axe) what if the rhyme missed the most interesting detail? What if Lizzie did it because she had to? C.A. Verstraete will have copies of her new novel, LIZZIE BORDEN, ZOMBIE HUNTER on hand, so you can explore the most horrifying ‘what if’ of this famous case.

And speaking of horror novels inspired by historical killings, my latest novel, THE BLACKENING OF FLESH, draws from a less high profile but chillingly sinister crime that happened in my hometown of Park Ridge, Illinois. We are often so sure we can tell the good guys from the bad guys, but what if we’re wrong? Let the ghosts and gangsters help you sort it out in THE BLACKENING OF FLESH. And I’d be happy to sign your copy. I might even bring a few copies of LOSING TOUCH in which to make my mark, too.

So come on out to Barnes & Noble in Racine on Friday, October 21st from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. for Horrorfest 2016. You’ll find the store on Green Bay Road just north of Durand in the Southland Shopping Center next to Dick’s Sporting Goods, and you might also just find your new favorite book just in time for Halloween.

Christian A. Larsen is the author of the novels LOSING TOUCH and THE BLACKENING OF FLESH, now available from Post Mortem Press.

The title of the blog post pretty much sums it up, except how to get it. Sign up for the Post Mortem Press newsletter, and it’s yours.

Oh, and if you sign up before 10:59 p.m. CDT on September 15, you’ll get yourself a free ebook. Might be THE BLACKENING OF FLESH or LOSING TOUCH, or it might be an anthology like SHRIEKS AND SHIVERS or THE GHOST IS THE MACHINE. Who knows?

You won’t end up on any lists, except the one you signed up for, and every now and again, you’ll get a nice little visit from PMP in your inbox. Short stories, sneak peeks, Q&As with Post Mortem authors, and exclusive offers that only subscribers get.

“No more than two emails per month, probably fewer,” said PMP founder and editor-in-chief Eric Beebe.

Subscribers get lots of goodies, but you’ll get a free ebook if you make your (digital) mark on the subscription list before 10:59 CDT Thursday night. What’s the downside?

Christian A. Larsen is the author of the novels LOSING TOUCH and THE BLACKENING OF FLESH, now available from Post Mortem Press.

I’ll be bringing an element of dark fantasy and science fiction to Indie Author Day October 8th at Cook Memorial Library in Libertyville. If you’re not local, that’s no problem. This literary gathering is webular in nature, so you can log in from McMurdo Station (hello, R.J. MacReady!) and it’ll be like you’re right here with us instead of fending off a penguin attack or whatever.

The past won’t stay buried.

The Q&A will bring together writers, agents, and publishing industry insiders from across the country. Moderated by First Amendment attorney Jon Fine, the web panel is just part of the fun. After the online portion wraps up, stick around and chat with area writers and publishing professionals. I’ll have copies of THE BLACKENING OF FLESH and LOSING TOUCH for sale from my 2001 Honda Accord mobile store.

October has always brought us Halloween. Now it brings indie authors together with readers in their own backyard and across the country. It all happens October 8th … and I’ll see you from Cook Memorial Library in Libertyville.

Christian A. Larsen is the author of the novels LOSING TOUCH and THE BLACKENING OF FLESH, now available from Post Mortem Press.

The past won’t stay buried.

Ghosts and gangsters are coming to the fifth annual Oswego Literary Festival. Forty authors will be signing their newest and most popular works at the Oswego Public Library on Saturday, October 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and I’ll be bringing copies of THE BLACKENING OF FLESH, about a teenager who’s house is haunted by five Prohibition-era mobsters.

I can’t think of a better way to kick off the month of Halloween, but it won’t be all scares and creeps. With a 25% bigger roster of authors taking part in the event this year, you’d be hard-pressed to find a genre—fiction and non-fiction—that’s not represented. You’ll find everything from cookbooks and memoirs to humor and suspense. And don’t forget to bring the kids. There’ll be children’s activities, presentations, live music, and more. Everyone is welcome … and it’s free to attend.

Presented by the Cultural Arts Commission and the Oswego Library District, the festival is hosted by the Oswego Public Library at 32 West Jefferson Street. For more information about the event, please call 630-554-4636 or email info@oswegoil.org. Or just come on out. Yeah, but tell a bunch of people about it first.

Christian A. Larsen is the author of the novels LOSING TOUCH and THE BLACKENING OF FLESH, now available from Post Mortem Press.