Happy Halloween! Our plans consist of chili for dinner and giving out candy to trick-or-treaters. We always get a kick out of seeing the costumes – they can get creative. I’m determined to empty our candy bowl before turning out the light for the evening so we don’t eat the leftovers. The last kid might need an extra bag to hold it all. I’m also trying to convince Mike to watch a horror movie, but the odds of that happening are pretty slim.
Today’s author is no stranger to BMR, and he’s here today with his recently released choose-your-own-adventure horror comedy. He covets a Halloween decoration (which would be totally cool) that’s probably nonexistent, but if you can help him achieve that dream, please share the info. Welcome Steve Stred!
What’s the creepiest thing you’ve researched for a book?
By now, I think a few folks know this already, but for my Father of Lies series of novellas, I joined a cult on the dark web for four years as an observer. There were a few things I needed to do to gain their trust and allow myself to remain active and able to be a ‘member.’ I’ve detailed some of it in the Father of Lies Omnibus and afterwords of the books. It was an interesting experience watching the members fervour grow as they whole-heartedly believed they were going to ascend into the cosmic heavens and become immortal.
What’s one Halloween decoration you wish you owned?
I don’t think it exists, but I’d love to have an eight-foot animatronic sasquatch decoration. It’d be used year-round. A few blocks from where we live, a house has one of those massive skeletons outside and they re-decorate based on time of year. Halloween it’ll have a costume on, Christmas they put on a Santa suit and being in Edmonton, it often has an Oilers jersey on for the NHL team. I’d do something similar for the Sasquatch!
Would you rather own a haunted bookstore or a haunted bed-and-breakfast?
Honestly, this question was ridiculously difficult to walk through when I considered the pros and cons. If we look at the bookstore – how many books are going to be on the shelves? So, if you have one or two mischievous ghosts constantly knocking books off the shelves or moving them around, you’d ALWAYS be rearranging and picking things up. I feel like your patience might run thin quick. On the other hand, with a bed-and-breakfast the people staying there would potentially be your annoyance. Between them getting super scared and canceling or fleeing mid-stay, to them not liking the food you’ve made (or even worse if the ghosts sabotage your scrambled eggs!), it’d become an exercise in patience.
So, after weighing both – I’d have to choose Haunted Bookstore because I don’t know how to cook haha! And I love books 😊
If your book had a soundtrack, what’s one song that captures its mood?
I always soundtrack my books, though I don’t always share the soundtrack. This changes from book to book, but one band that’s been a constant for me while writing over the last decade or so has been ColdWorld and one of my favourite songs from them is ‘Autumn Shade’ which does a great job of capturing all of my book’s moods!
Have you ever changed a plot because of something you learned during research?
Yeah, absolutely. Specifically, with my Father of Lies series, when something new and insane would happen to a group member, I’d need to find a place to add that into the narrative and then would realize by changing X I’d need to adjust Y and Z. It’s always a fun experience to be involved in active research while writing, though some prefer to do all the research, then write and I can’t say I blame them!
Which character refused to cooperate with your original plans?
Easy – Bruiser from ‘Churn the Soil.’ For those who’ve not read ‘Churn the Soil’ – you should! – Bruiser is a Cane Corso K9 officer based loosely on a friend’s dog and one of our own dogs we’ve had in the past. Originally, Bruiser was going to just appear and aid his partner in tracking the creatures, but it soon became apparent to me that he had a larger role and was paramount to the story and to those who survive. And who knows, you just may see him again!
Welcome to Survive the Five: the new reality show that could make you famous, if it doesn’t get you killed.
Influencers Aaron and Steph think a slot alongside four other beautiful couples is their big break. They should’ve worried about the producer, washed-up 1980s porn star Brock Boulder, whose comeback runs on manufactured drama and one unforgettable location: Werewolf Island.
The contestants are ready to flirt, fight, pose, and scheme for the cameras. They are not ready for what comes out after dark.
Perfect for fans of interactive horror, gamebooks, and pick-your-path adventures, where every choice could be your last.
Steve Stred’s raunchy, gory horror-comedy crosses a cheesy R-rated creature feature with the shameless excess of reality TV. Seven brutal deaths, two alternate endings. The producers want drama. The island wants blood. Book 24 in the Try Not to Die series.
Purchase Link Amazon
GIVEAWAY! Steve is offering e-books to five lucky winners! To enter, comment below or on the Instagram post @tpolen6. Winners will be announced the first week of November.
Author Bio and Social Media
An award-winning author, Steve Stred lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with his wife and son. He enjoys spending time outside, playing various sports and is currently working towards achieving the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt in Songahm Tae Kwon Do.
Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.
Website – https://stevestredauthor.ca/
Instagram – @ stevestred
