A few years later, after social media took over the world, I revised the concept to address online relationships. I’d read a great story by Neil Gaiman titled “How to Talk to Girls at Parties,” and I wanted to tackle the same premise but from a more mature, darker angle. With that in mind, I changed the story title to “Girls from the Internet,” hoping to channel the campiness of 1950s horror and sci-fi films.
Things didn’t quite work out that way, though. About halfway through the story I realized that title wouldn’t work, as the tone I wanted to capture just wasn’t happening. The story wanted to go somewhere else, and in more uncomfortable ways. I resisted the urge to scrap the story (although I did put it on hiatus for almost a year) and finally followed the protagonist to his demise in the basement of that creepy house. The end result is “House of Nettle and Thorn,” a story that reads like an episode of Tales from the Crypt and is vastly different from how I originally envisioned it.
***
Karen Singleton remains one of my favorite characters because of how she came to life. “When Karen Met Her Mountain” began as a vivid dream, playing out almost like a film in my head. The opening scene of the story remains largely unchanged from its dream counterpart, with exception to a few minor details. I struggled with this one for a while, experimenting with different approaches before finding the right groove.
Originally, Karen was going to be a mute character, with the voice of her father speaking for her, but I couldn’t quite get that version to work. She needed more personality than that, and silencing her would’ve done her character a great disservice. The final version of Karen’s tale eventually came together in a single twelve-hour writing session one sweltering August day. I found inspiration in the exploitive revenge film I Spit On Your Grave and the claustrophobic horror of The Descent.
I loved the idea of a severely damaged character having to find their inner-strength (or in Karen’s case, an inner-psychosis) in order to overcome insurmountable odds, and how tapping into that strength forces them to become the very thing they’re fighting to survive. It’s a feral duality of nature, defeating the beast by becoming the beast.
***
“The Harbinger” went through a number of title changes, and it predates all of the other ULT stories by a couple of years. I began writing the story under a different working title, “Eldritch Cabal,” back in 2007. I envisioned the story as an ode to Lovecraft’s “The Shadow Over Innsmouth,” told through a series of letters about a mining town overtaken by a powerful evil found deep inside the earth. Unfortunately, the approach didn’t appeal to me very much—you can only do or show so much in a letter, and it’s really not my style anyway—so I scrapped it.
A few years later, I read a news article about sightings of “black-eyed children,” which put me in mind of the pouting “Time-Out” dolls that haunt a lot of country gift shops. “Ugly Little Things” seemed to be a good description, so I used that as a working title for a while. The story was originally going to be about a small bed & breakfast haunted by the dolls, but the idea kept growing, and then in early 2013 I rediscovered those old story fragments from “Eldritch Cabal” and everything fell into place.
I changed the title for the sake of avoiding redundancy, but I kept Maggie’s dialogue about the dolls being vessels for all the negative things we bury within ourselves. This resulted in the overall theme of the collection, with each story being another horrible thing hidden behind the face of a doll.
And now to address the elephant in the room: where did the story’s climactic ritual come from? I always pictured Maggie Eloquence as a matriarchal figure, birthing and protecting her young within the nest she’d made of the town. The ritual’s concept was one of the most disgusting things I could imagine, with echoes of the original plan of offering her aborted children in sacrifice to a dark being. I wanted the ritual to be something more than just sacrilegious. I wanted it to be transcendent and repulsive, something vile.
The birth of Dalton’s dolls is the result. We probably haven’t seen the last of them, but that’s a story for another day.
***
“The Final Reconciliation” almost didn’t happen. It’s one of those stories I started back in 2014 when I was still married to the idea of not working on another book. I wrote the first chapter and half of the second before stopping because I knew then that it would be a long story, and after putting off my third novel for two years, I didn’t want to get sidetracked again. So, I shelved it, and that’s where it waited until I was ready.
But the best stories don’t go away. They wait. They lurk.
And a delay was for the best, I think, because the world was being inundated with quick re-releases of The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers back in 2014, thanks to the success of True Detective. (Which I loved, by the way. The first season, I mean. The only season.) If this story were released back then, I think it would’ve been lost in the noise, but I digress.
Anyway, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that True Detective’s revival of interest in that particularly yellow corner of weird fiction had a hand in inspiring this story. I’d first read “The Repairer of Reputations” and “The Yellow Sign” many years ago, in a 1997 anthology titled The Hastur Cycle. Afterward, I forgot about Carcosa and the Yellow King until they turned up in True Detective nearly twenty years later, prompting me to rediscover Chambers and his weird collection.
While re-reading the stories, I was struck with the idea that Carcosa’s imagery would be perfect for a metal album cover. That idea haunted me for a few days before I finally started kicking things around, imagining a band called The Yellow Kings, and an album that drives its listeners mad. I jotted down some names—Johnny, Aidan, Bobby, Hank—and created a fictional track listing. Each part of the story would correspond to a song on the album, leading up to the event that ended their career.
As I mentioned before, I wrote a chapter and a half before setting the story aside. I didn’t pick it up again for nearly two years. The rest of the story fell into place over the course of three weeks. To be honest, I’ve never had a story come together so easily or naturally before, and the ease with which the words came made me suspicious of the story itself. My wife put those suspicions to rest. After she finished reading it, she told me it’s her favorite story of mine. I can’t really argue with that.
Oh, and that title? It’s a nod to Ghostbusters. So is the club owner, Vinnie Klorso. But for the sake of brevity, whenever people ask me about it, I tell them the story’s really about accounting with Satan.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I know you’re itching to close this book and move on to the next, but maybe I can keep your attention for just another minute (or three). These stories—hell, most of this book—would not exist were it not for the encouragement and support of a few folks. Normally this is where the lights go up and the curtain closes, but I want to hold things up for just a minute. These people deserve the spotlight as much as I do. So, from the bottom of my black heart, I give my thanks:
For Erica, who picks me up when I’m down, dusts me off, and sends me on my way. My words always fail me in the most spectacular fashion whenever it comes to expressing my gratitude for having you in my life. Thank you, my love. For everything.
For Amelia, my Book Wife, who drags me through the nine circles of Editing Hell time and time again, knowing I can take it. And I do, with a pained smile on my face. Thank you, my friend.
For Mercedes, my dear friend, for cheering me on over the years and encouraging me to keep going even when I wanted to quit. You honor me with your words, and I’m blessed to know you.
For Joe and Monique and everyone else at Crystal Lake Publishing who believed in this book. I’m forever grateful to be a part of the Crystal Lake family.
For Italia, my agent, who joined this party late in the process but brought everything together at the end in spectacular fashion. I can’t think of a better person to have in my corner. Thank you for everything
you’ve done, and everything you do.
For Erin, my friend and publicist, who is always ready to listen, give advice, and solve that weird, ever-changing puzzle known as “marketing,” even at the cost of precious sleep. You are truly awesome, my friend.
For Tony, Eryk, Brian, and Nikki, for being so supportive over the years. I love you guys dearly—even if you’re all sort of weird and write about deeply disturbing things.
And finally there’s You. The person holding this book. Thank you for spending your money and time to read my work. Your support makes things like this possible.
All right. I think that’s about it. It’s time for you to move on to your next book, and for me to step back into the shadows. That’s where I work best.
Todd Keisling
Wyomissing, PA
April 20th, 2017
THE END?
Not quite . . .
Dive into more Tales from the Darkest Depths:
Behold! Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders—Want to see something weird? Embrace the odd. Satisfy your curiosity. Surrender to wonder. Includes short stories by Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Lisa Morton, Ramsey Campbell, John Langan, Kristi DeMeester and many more.
Whispered Echoes by Paul F. Olson—Journey through the Heart of Terror in this eerie short story collection. Listen. They are calling to you. Do you hear them? They are the whispered echoes of your darkest fears.
Twice Upon an Apocalypse—Lovecraftian Fairy Tales—From the darkest depths of Grimm and Anderson come the immortal mash-ups with the creations of HP Lovecraft. These aren’t your mother’s fairy tales.
The Third Twin—A Dark Psychological Thriller by Darren Speegle—Some things should never be bred . . . Amid tribulation, death, madness, and institutionalization, a father fights against a scientist’s bloody bid to breed a theoretical third twin.
Embers: A Collection of Dark Fiction by Kenneth W. Cain—These short speculative stories are the smoldering remains of a fire, the fiery bits meant to ignite the mind with slow-burning imagery and haunting details. These are the slow burning embers of Cain’s soul.
Aletheia: A Supernatural Thriller by J.S. Breukelaar—A tale of that most human of monsters—memory—Aletheia is part ghost story, part love story, a novel about the damage done, and the damage yet to come. About terror itself. Not only for what lies ahead, but also for what we think we have left behind.
Beatrice Beecham’s Cryptic Crypt by Dave Jeffery—The fate of the world rests in the hands of four dysfunctional teenagers and a bunch of oddball adults. What could possibly go wrong?
Where the Dead Go to Die by Mark Allan Gunnells and Aaron Dries—Post-infection Chicago. Christmas. There are monsters in this world. And they used to be us. Now it’s time to euthanize to survive in a hospice where Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. But it won’t be long before that snow-speckled ground will be salted by blood.
Tales from The Lake Vol.3—Dive into the deep end of the lake with 19 tales of terror, selected by Monique Snyman. Including short stories by Mark Allan Gunnells, Kate Jonez, Kenneth W. Cain, and many more.
Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories—an anthology of dark fiction that explores the beauty at the very heart of darkness. Featuring horror’s most celebrated voices: Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, Ramsey Campbell, Paul Tremblay, John F.D. Taff, Lisa Mannetti, Damien Angelica Walters, Josh Malerman, Christopher Coake, Mercedes M. Yardley, Brian Kirk, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Amanda Gowin, Richard Thomas, Maria Alexander, and Kevin Lucia.
The Final Cut by Jasper Bark—Follow the misfortunes of two indie filmmakers in their quest to fund their breakthrough movie by borrowing money from one dangerous underground figure in order to buy a large quantity of cocaine from a different but equally dangerous underground figure. They will learn that while some stories capture the imagination, others will be the death of you.
Blackwater Val by William Gorman—a Supernatural Suspense Thriller / Horror / Coming of age novel: A widower, traveling with his dead wife’s ashes and his six-year-old psychic daughter Katie in tow, returns to his haunted birthplace to execute his dead wife’s final wish. But something isn’t quite right in the Val.
Tribulations by Richard Thomas—In the third short story collection by Richard Thomas, Tribulations, these stories cover a wide range of dark fiction—from fantasy, science fiction and horror, to magical realism, neo-noir, and transgressive fiction. The common thread that weaves these tragic tales together is suffering and sorrow, and the ways we emerge from such heartbreak stronger, more appreciative of what we have left—a spark of hope enough to guide us though the valley of death.
Wind Chill by Patrick Rutigliano—What if you were held captive by your own family? Emma Rawlins has spent the last year a prisoner. The months following her mother’s death dragged her father into a paranoid spiral of conspiracy theories and doomsday premonitions. But there is a force far colder than the freezing drifts. Ancient, ravenous, it knows no mercy. And it’s already had a taste . . .
Eidolon Avenue: The First Feast by Jonathan Winn—where the secretly guilty go to die. All thrown into their own private hell as every cruel choice, every deadly mistake, every drop of spilled blood is remembered, resurrected and relived to feed the ancient evil that lives on Eidolon Avenue.
Flowers in a Dumpster by Mark Allan Gunnells—The world is full of beauty and mystery. In these 17 tales, Gunnells will take you on a journey through landscapes of light and darkness, rapture and agony, hope and fear. Let Gunnells guide you through these landscapes where magnificence and decay co-exist side by side. Come pick a bouquet from these Flowers in a Dumpster.
The Dark at the End of the Tunnel by Taylor Grant—Offered for the first time in a collected format, this selection features ten gripping and darkly imaginative stories by Taylor Grant, a Bram Stoker Award® nominated author and rising star in the suspense and horror genres. Grant exposes the terrors that hide beneath the surface of our ordinary world, behind people’s masks of normalcy, and lurking in the shadows at the farthest reaches of the universe.
If you ever thought of becoming an author, we’d also like to recommend these non-fiction titles:
Horror 101: The Way Forward—a comprehensive overview of the Horror fiction genre and career opportunities available to established and aspiring authors, including Jack Ketchum, Graham Masterton, Edward Lee, Lisa Morton, Ellen Datlow, Ramsey Campbell, and many more.
Horror 201: The Silver Scream Vol.1 and Vol.2—A must read for anyone interested in the horror film industry. Includes interviews and essays by Wes Craven, John Carpenter, George A. Romero, Mick Garris, and dozens more. Now available in a special paperback edition.
Modern Mythmakers: 35 interviews with Horror and Science Fiction Writers and Filmmakers by Michael McCarty—Ever wanted to hang out with legends like Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, and Dean Koontz? Modern Mythmakers is your chance to hear fun anecdotes and career advice from authors and filmmakers like Forrest J. Ackerman, Ray Bradbury, Ramsey Campbell, John Carpenter, Dan Curtis, Elvira, Neil Gaiman, Mick Garris, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jack Ketchum, Dean Koontz, Graham Masterton, Richard Matheson, John Russo, William F. Nolan, John Saul, Peter Straub, and many more.
Writers On Writing: An Author’s Guide—Your favorite authors share their secrets in the ultimate guide to becoming and being and author. Writers On Writing is an eBook series with original ‘On Writing’ essays by writing professionals.
Or check out other Crystal Lake Publishing books for more Tales from the Darkest Depths.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR
TODD KEISLING is the author of A Life Transparent, The Liminal Man (a 2013 Indie Book Award Finalist), and the critically-acclaimed novella, The Final Reconciliation. He lives somewhere in the wilds of Pennsylvania with his wife, son, and trio of unruly cats. Visit his website, www.toddkeisling.com, and connect with him on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/todd.keisling/
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twitter.com/todd_keisling
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With unmatched success since 2012, Crystal Lake Publishing has quickly become one of the world’s leading indie publishers of Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense books with a Dark Fiction edge.
Crystal Lake Publishing puts integrity, honor, and respect at the forefront of our operations.
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