I’ve teamed up with a bunch of other swell authors to bring you spine-tingling tales to get you in the Halloween spirit. All this month, I will introduce you to a new author and their Spooktacular ghost story.
Meet: William Todd
William 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. 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. Both were published in 2017. He released Beyond the Gossamer Veil on New Year’s Day, 2018, another compilation of both Victorian and modern supernatural/horror stories and is just putting the finishing touches on his third Sherlock Holmes installment, Murder in Keswick.
Spooktacular Ghost Story Excerpt from: Memento Mori in Beyond the Gossamer Veil
Percy wiped the grime from the book. The title looked to be Gaelic, maybe Irish, which he was ill-equipped to translate. He opened the yellowed pages. They were dry and hadn’t much give left in them. The tome was well-used and an old one, for certain, which made it a queer thing to bury in the back garden.
Who had buried it? And Why? What kind of a book, exactly, was it? Percy was pondering these thoughts when the constable interrupted him. “Oh, yes. I was supposed to inform you that the coroner is here for the bodies, as well.”
“Right, good work finding this. It might prove noteworthy as the investigation unfolds.”
That little bit of praise seemed to warm the young man, and he smiled as he waved Percy by. “Thank you, Inspector. Just doing my job, is all.”
By the time Percy made his way down the large staircase, the coroner, John Kall, had, with some help, placed Mr. and Mrs. Gromit each on individual gurneys to be wheeled out to a waiting ambulance. He approached Percy as he descended the last step. “I hear Cotton finally took the collar off you,” he said as the two shook hands.
“News travels fast,” Percy replied with a smile. “He was going to have to set me out on my own at some point. Since it seems the dead wife killed her husband, Cotton decided this was an easy case in which to wean me.”
John nodded thoughtfully. “They say the spouse should always be at the top of the suspect list.”
“Even if the spouse is dead?”
“Especially if the spouse is dead.”
“Care to elaborate on the specifics of just how that is done?”
John scratched his head. “I think I missed that day of class when we went over re-animation techniques. I believe Mary Shelley was our guest speaker that day.”
Nodding to the bodies, and with a more serious tone, Percy said, “Let me know if you find anything interesting. If I do not hear from you by the end of the day, I might stop by and see how things are progressing.”
“I have got a new bottle of gin tucked in my desk. We can toast to your promotion to big boy work,” Kall replied with a playful jab of his elbow.
Percy nodded. “Sounds good to me. Now do your job and get these bodies out of here.”
John winked. “In charge for a few hours and the power is already going to your head.”
Both bodies were now covered in white linen. Mr. Gromit was the first to leave his home, with John at his feet and a helper, George Arins, at his head. Two others who Percy did not know were waiting behind with Mrs. Gromit’s body. Percy was near the back of the procession watching as the deceased left their home for the last time.
As a constable held the door open, and Mr. Gromit and his entourage passed through on their way to the waiting ambulance, a strong gust of cold wind whipped through the open doorway fluttering the sheets covering both bodies. Mr. Gromit’s sheet held tight, but Mrs. Gromit’s sheet became unfastened and fluttered up and over, revealing her head and shoulders. Percy’s blood ran cold as the dead woman’s head was tilted unnaturally and her eyes were open. They did not have the cloudy, lifeless hue so often seen when the dead have been in that state for some time. They were the brilliant blue he had earlier imagined they would be. With the awkward tilt of her head the way it was, she happened to be looking right at him. However, as unnerving as that was, it was when she blinked at him that Percy became unhinged.
William Todd’s Links
FB@billscreativepen
For other fun Spooktacular ghost story reads check out these authors: Pam Lecky, Fiona Hogan, Catherine Kullman, D.J. Doyle, and me, (Tam Francis) look for their features in the next coming weeks!
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Tam Francis is a writer, blogger, swing dance teacher, avid vintage collector, and seamstress. She shares her love of this genre through her novels, blog, and short stories. She enjoys hearing from you, sharing ideas, forging friendships, and exchanging guest blogs. For all the Girl in the Jitterbug Dress news, give-aways, events, and excitement, make sure to join her list and like her FB page! Join my list ~ Facebook page Can’t wait to read Tam’s spooktacular ghost story tomes. Check out these pages: Ghostoria or The Flapper Affair
I downloaded Beyond the Gossamer Veil to my Kindle to read on a recent holiday. I have to say I really enjoyed the stories, particularly the Civil War one. Great collection and well written.
Great post! I have read William’s gothic horror tales before and heartily recommend them to all lovers of great dark fiction.