Hallowe’en Horror Tales – Welcoming back Author William Todd

 

Welcome to Unusual Fiction. We’re gearing up for Hallowe’en with the focus, very much on horror fiction with a selection of ghost stories, ghoulish interviews and tasty titbits of terror. It’s with great pleasure that I introduce the first of our writers of dark fiction, I’m delighted to welcome back author of sublime Gothic Fiction – William Todd.

 

Question 1
What draws you to horror as a genre?

I like being scared.That feeling of dread that makes your heart race.

Question 2
In your opinion, what are the essential components of a great ghost story?

For me, the setting is almost as important as the monster. If you have read any of my works, you know that I put much thought into where the story takes place and how it interacts with the characters. If done correctly, the setting can come alive on its own and add to the fear in the story that the creature, whatever it may be, could not do on its own.

Question 3
If you could have a celebrated horror/ghost story writer (living or dead) endorse your writing whom would you pick?

I would love to have Edgar Allen Poe endorse my works. The way he could marry poetry and fear was amazing.

Question 4
What is your favourite character from one of your works and why?

Owen Costello from Return of Captain Jack. In today’s sterile world and ‘in your face’ attitudes, Owen’s Civil War-era, gentlemanly demeanor is refreshing.

Question 5
Have you ever experienced a supernatural/ghostly encounter?

We have lived in our current home for 18 years. I get up at 3:00 am to get ready for work so I am the only one up in my house at that time. On multiple occasions, while in the bathroom or shower at the early time, I have heard a small girl laughing, I have had someone knock on the door, and when I open it no one is there, and I have seen shadows on the other side of the shower curtain while I’m showering.

William Todd has been writing online for nearly 20 years, primarily writing horror stories in the style of Poe and Lovecraft. He was the 2nd most popular author on the website storiesbyemail.com for two years before moving on. He had his first book, Bumps in the Night, published by Mystic Moon Press just a week prior to their abrupt closing, and he never saw his hard work pay off. Afterwards, he took publishing into his own hands, became an Indie author and hasn’t looked back. His first self-published book was the well-received Dead of Night – a compilation of Victorian horror stories, published September 2016. After its publication he left his comfort zone for mystery and wrote a short story about Sherlock Holmes in the original Conan Doyle style, Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Broken Window. It stayed in the top 100 on Amazon short stories list for eight months. He loved the process so much he then wrote a longer Holmes story, A Reflection of Evil.  He released Beyond the Gossamer Veil on New Year’s Day, 2018, another compilation of both Victorian and modern supernatural/horror stories and his latest Holmes installment, Murder in Keswick, was released June, 2018.

 

Dead of Night

Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Broken Window

A Reflection of Evil

Murder in Keswick

Beyond the Gossamer Veil