The Blog Where Horror Dwells
The Editor Known as Mr. Deathrealm. Author of BLUE DEVIL ISLAND, THE NIGHTMARE FRONTIER, THE LEBO COVEN, DARK SHADOWS: DREAMS OF THE DARK (with Elizabeth Massie), BALAK, YOUNG BLOOD (with Mat & Myron Smith), et. al. Feed at your own risk.
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Books, Brews, and Bashes
I'd like to express my thanks to Traci Morton, owner of Magnolia & Main Books, for hosting what turned out to be an excellent book signing event yesterday. We had a good crowd, and I sold a slew of books — which I gleefully devalued with my signature. Magnolia & Main is a charming little store with lots of books, both new and used, plus other assorted goodies. Local folks — please stop in and check it out! And thanks to all who came out for the event, particularly those who braved a torrential downpour early in the day. I really do appreciate it. Several old friends that I haven't seen in ages popped in, which meant a lot to me.
Magnolia & Main is located at 810 Main Street, Ridgeway, VA 24148.
After the event, friends Terry, Beth, Bob, and Yvonne all headed with Brugger and me over to Renewal Brewing in Uptown Martinsville for a variety of refreshing beverages. We had earlier determined we should all have dinner together, and as we were debating a suitable destination, Bob & Yvonne up and invited us to their place. So, we paraded over to their house and enjoyed an incredible dinner, plus good drinks, and lots of good music and other entertainment. It would have difficult to ask for a better day. Well, that big old rainstorm during the morning damn near drowned us, but at least we all survived.
Except maybe Ms. B. there. She's looking a little rough after diving into The Monarchs. I worry for her soul.
Upcoming events where you may find me raising hell and wreaking havoc include NecronomiCon, Providence, RI (August 15–18, 2024); MHC Is for Book Lovers, Spencer, VA (September 20, 2024); and Martinsville Oktoberfest, Martinsville, VA (October 5, 2024).
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Mis-Inflammation
Long post warning. I will preface it by stating that, in the wake of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, in no way am I condoning or excusing violence. This was a heinous act that can't possibly bear good fruit; quite the opposite, in fact. This is evident in subsequent — and understandable — anger about the act. However, the resultant vitriolic blame for the mounting circumstances, both before and after the shooting, strikes me as, in many cases misdirected. I am not talking about conspiracy theories. I will elaborate. No, I'm not out to lose friends or insult people who don't necessarily think as I do; quite the opposite. But I calls 'em as I sees 'em, and if you're inclined to write me off, then that is entirely your prerogative
Here, I am not focusing on anything other than language and its ramifications
in this emotionally charged climate and very little else. Not the fitness, or
lack thereof, of either candidate; not the merits, or lack thereof, of their
respective platforms; specifically, the power of language and general
expression. While no single side is entirely blameless for fiery rhetoric, the
vehement, exclusive blaming of the left for its "hateful speech" and
"inflammatory name-calling" by such a vast segment of the right shows an
amazing lack of critical thinking and self-awareness. It's selective memory to
the point of willful blindness.
I invite you to think back to the pre-Trump days, when pejorative epithets
like "libtard" and "snowflake" became standard speech for conservatives, and
one didn't have to occupy an extreme left position to find oneself painted
with this brush. Then "Socialist!" became the all-encompassing catch word that
applied to anyone with views a half-inch left of Ronald Reagan. Then
"Communists" and "Marxists" who "HATE AMERICA!" slid into widespread usage,
goaded by Fox News and its ilk, never mind that the vast majority of those
using those terms clearly have no earthly idea of their actual meaning — and
that little could be farther from the truth. Stoking fear increases ratings,
and no one does that better than the right-wing media. (Yeah, I've watched
more than plenty of it, thank you.)
No, I am not an extreme
leftist; the only "extreme" thing I qualify to be is a horror writer. Still, as
a proponent of women's rights and absolutely of the conviction that a woman (and her
physician) should have more say over what happens to her own body than the
government, particularly in cases where her life or health might be in
jeopardy, in some circles I've been painted as a radical leftist, never mind
that a healthy majority of Americans share this belief. Really? I consider
this view simple common sense, as I believe most reasonably intelligent
members of the species do. Or should, if they have the temerity to call themselves "pro-life."
So, enter
Trump, who immediately set about raising the bar to unprecedented levels for fiery, vitriolic, even
hateful rhetoric. Trump has used — and continues to use — derogatory, accusatory
language to demonize and dehumanize those who oppose his views. None of this
can by any stretch of the imagination be attributed to incomplete or erroneous
context or, in the right's favorite terms, "liberal media brainwashing." The
man's words and actions are easily verifiable and have been right out there
for the world to see and hear unfiltered.
A few from rallies, where protestors were present: "Maybe he should have been
roughed up."—November 2015. "I'd like to punch him in the face."—February
2016. "Knock the crap out of him, would you? I promise you, I will pay your
legal fees."—February 2016. "You know, part of the problem is nobody wants to
hurt each other anymore, right? They're being politically correct the way they
take them out, so it takes a little bit longer."—March 2016. "If you do hurt
him, I'll defend you in court, don't worry about it."—March 2016.
I was flabbergasted when Trump attacked Senator John McCain, whose politics I vehemently disagreed with but whom I respected as a person, particularly for his endurance as a PoW in service to the United States. “He’s not a war hero,” Trump said. “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured."
Whatever one might think of Hillary Clinton, was it appropriate for Trump to
suggest, jokingly or otherwise, that the "Second Amendment people might take
care of her court appointments" should she have won? If that was okay, then
surely, so was Biden saying Trump needed to be in the crosshairs (which he
actually apologized for in the wake of the shooting). Speaking of Clinton, I
recall the debate with her in 2016 when Trump crept and paced around the stage
behind Clinton like some kind of unhinged stalker. I think it was then and
there that I knew that in no sane world could this man be a realistic
candidate for the highest office in the land.
Yet, here we are in 2024.
Who
can forget the lovely sentiment of all too many of Trump's followers, in
reference to folks decrying the sheer, unbridled venom of Trump's tweets over
the term of his presidency and beyond: "Fuck your feelings!"
Lately,
all I have to is do go out and about town to see "Let's go, Brandon!" and "Fuck
Biden — and fuck you for voting for him!" in yards and on bumper stickers. Do
you see this as enthusiastic support for Trump or the Republican party? Me, I see it as unbridled hate, facilitated by a figure whose contempt for civil
conventions long ago went out the window.
It's all such sincere Christian
stuff, I must say. I mean, much if not most of this vitriol shares its space
with signs reading "God Bless America!" and "Christian Patriots Live Here!"
and "God, Guns, and Trump!" Let me tell you, I grew up in the church, remained
active in one congregation or another well into adulthood, and studied the
Bible both in church and on my own. I can safely that I have forgotten more of
the tenets of Christianity than many of these folks have ever known in
their lives.
Now we have the words of the Heritage Foundation's
Kevin Roberts, in reference to Project 2025, the guidebook for a conservative
government if/when Trump is elected: “The Second American Revolution will remain
bloodless if the Left allows it to be.” Wow. Do you see this as anything other
than a less-than-cryptic threat that it's their way or the bloody way? Is
this an okay thing in our America? America is supposed to be,
after all, yours, mine, and ours — not just YOUR America.
Wisely, both
Biden and Trump, since the shooting, have called for Americans of all
persuasions to tone down the rhetoric. I have no doubt that Biden is sincere.
I would love to think that Trump is every bit as sincere. Truly I do. It's not bemusing at all that the Republican convention's theme is now "National Unity" and the first speaker up and called the left a "clear and present danger" to the country. Not too hypocritical, eh? I will categorically state that he is wrong. One-hundred percent wrong.
I have
not written all this without full realization that people have their
reasons for being angry and for acting out against that which angers them. I
certainly do. But if we dehumanize and demonize everyone whose views, whose lifestyles, feel diametrically opposed to our own, we cannot respect each other. And without respect, we are pretty well doomed. Because this country truly is that proverbial melting pot, and the diverse views and people are not going anywhere. Unless we succumb to the unthinkable and begin to shed the blood of our fellow Americans.
If you don't agree with a word I've said here, I'm sorry for
that, but I have to live with my conscience and my convictions. It's the
former that shapes the latter. I do my best to be fair to all, and it is with
that in mind that I feel absolutely compelled to illustrate how so many of us,
as Americans, have too readily succumbed to anger and hatred — God knows, my temper has
been running high lately — and it's anything but confined to the left.
So, if my tone seems snarky, it's born of frustration with such widespread willful
blindness, disrespect, and outright lies.
There's a lot — a fucking lot — more I could carry on
with above and beyond how we interact with each other. But that's for another
day.
Sunday, July 14, 2024
A Helluva Weekend
My destination was a place called Riverstone Farm, a gorgeous place in the middle of nowhere, more or less, with a little store where you can buy their fresh produce, and it's all on the honor system. You weigh your produce, fill out your own sales slip, and drop your money in a slot. I picked up a couple of fabulous fresh tomatoes, which weighed over a pound, for $5. And I got first-to-find honors on all three of the new caches, each of which was nicely done. I so appreciate geocaches that lead me to such splendid locations that I would surely never have discovered otherwise.
On my way home, I stopped for lunch at the Railway Café in Bassett. A delicious fried chicken sandwich and a much-needed cold iced tea. Damn, it was hot out there.
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The Riverstone Farm produce store |
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Trail along the Little River |
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A purty trail view |
This morning, again I rose early, grabbed coffee and a danish at the nearby Valero Fas-Mart, and hauled myself down to Burlington, NC, where I met friend Scott (a.k.a. Diefenbaker) for a day of caching in Hillsborough. As it has been lately, it was hot out there. Fuckin' hot. We both added quite a few to our total number of finds, including a bunch along the Eno Riverwalk. Another gorgeous location I enjoy visiting, and — as we usually do when in the area — we grabbed lunch at Hillsborough BBQ Company. Smoked chicken wings for me today, and damned good.
My favorite find of the day was probably the very photogenic black rat snake we ran across at Blackwood Farm Park.
I've no idea what level of madness our country and the world will reach this week, but I've no doubt it'll set a new fucking record.
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A nice black rat snake we happened upon |
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Train trestle over the Eno River, viewed from the Riverwalk |
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Another view of the Eno |
Thursday, July 11, 2024
"And All My Days Are Trances..."
To quote Edgar Allan Poe: "And all my days are trances, and all my nightly dreams are where thy dark eye glances, and where thy footstep gleams..." No other quote could better apply to David Niall Wilson's collection, The Devil's in the Flaws (Macabre Ink, 2023).
I've read a lot of Wilson's work over the years, and I published several of his stories in Deathrealm magazine back in the day — not to mention one of his more recent tales in my anthology, Deathrealm: Spirits (Shortwave Publishing, 2023). From the first of his stories that I read, back in the 1980s, I credited him as an accomplished stylist.
The Devil's in the Flaws proves that his style has aged like a fine wine (although I know the author is partial to bourbon). His prose is elegant, lyrical, masterful. While he has penned stories and novels in various subcategories of speculative fiction — horror, fantasy (everything from urban to sword & sorcery), science fiction, and thriller — the twenty short tales and one novella in this collection are primarily of a quiet, contemplative, introverted sort, more akin to the work of Shirley Jackson, Henry James, and perhaps Caitlin Kiernan than Stephen King or Paul Tremblay or Bridgette Nelson or any number of contemporary "horrific" voices. There is a wee bit of Lovecraftian influence for good measure.
Author/editor Richard Chizmar, who provided the foreword, wrote that, having been captivated by the work, he devoured The Devil's in the Flaws in a single sitting. I read the first few tales from the hardback edition of this book, but I absorbed most of it by way of the audiobook, read by the incomparable Joshua Saxon, whose polished, expert delivery could hardly have been more perfect for this collection's overall tone.
Now, many, if not most, of these stories are contemplative, dreamlike, trance-like, eschewing kinetic character conflict and/or action in the customary sense. Many of the tales focus on a single character's point of view and brim with vivid descriptions of physical or emotional stimuli, particularly those triggered by music or intoxicating compounds — or both — perhaps most notably in the story "Milk of Paradise." Traumatic memories often play a driving role. Of the short tales, "Little Ghosts," "Interred," and "Fear of Flying" are the standouts for me, with truly haunting imagery and vivid, sensual prose. "Wayne's World," dedicated to our mutual friend and fellow author, Wayne Allen Sallee, offers a powerful perspective on serial killer John Wayne Gacy, with whom Sallee once shared some correspondence. I suspect Wilson's take on Gacy's horrific soul might bring a big smile to Mr. Sallee's face.
For me, the crowning work in this volume is the title novella. Here, Wilson's style shines. The well-drawn characters, snappy dialogue, sense of otherworldly mystery, and an almost Lovecraftian menace — combined with a smidgen of whimsy — make this one of my favorite works by David Niall Wilson. Not that I could have ever published a piece this long in Deathrealm, but the novella is, at its heart, the consummate Deathrealm story. It is, as they say, worth the full price of admission.
The Devil's in the Flaws as a collection strikes me, at times, as too internalized, surreal, and trance-like, and I wonder if re-ordering some of the tales might bring a more balanced ebb and flow to the pacing. Regardless, the title story as the collection's finale packs such a lovely wallop that, whatever the sequencing of the other tales, it will leave you staggered — in the best possible sense.
Four out of five Damned Rodan's Dirty Firetinis.
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Of Men and Monsters
A little while back, horror aficionado, publisher, bookstore owner, and longtime friend, Dave Hinchberger, gave me a shout and said he and his wife, LeeAnn, were going to Necon — driving from Atlanta, no less — and wondered whether we might like to get together since they'd be passing close by us on their trip. Well, hell, yeah! It's been ages since I've seen Dave. As proprietor of The Overlook Connection, he has always been an invaluable proponent of small press publishers, and back in the days of Deathrealm magazine, he went many extra miles to help me keep it a viable, high-profile publication.
Dave and LeeAnn left Atlanta yesterday, with several stops planned along their trip northward, including visits with mutual friends Elizabeth Massie & Cortney Skinner in Waynesboro, Virginia, and Chet & Laurie Williamson in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They calculated their arrival in Martinsville would be around dinnertime, so we decided to meet at the Dutch Inn Restaurant in nearby Collinsville. Back in the days of yore, that restaurant one of the preeminent dining establishments in the area, but it closed down during the height of COVID-19, and it never reopened. However, the Inn is under new management, and the restaurant has finally opened its doors for business again. We enjoyed our dinners — I had a burger about the size of North America — and then we returned to Casa di Rodan for some drinks and the shooting of shit. And let me tell you, there was some shit to be shot. Stories about countless con experiences; fun gatherings with wacky mutual friends; favorite books, stories, and writers; Stephen King anecdotes; and lord knows what all.
The Hinchbergers had to get back to their lodgings in Greensboro before their bedtimes, but let me tell you, our evening ran pretty late. Absolutely a delightful time, but it only made me wish all the more that Ms. B. and I would be heading to Necon this year. Maybe... maybe if the stars align... next year.
Thanks, Dave and LeeAnn, for your thoughtfulness, and we look forward to getting together again, hopefully not such a long passage of time as the last!
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That's some funny shit, lady! |
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Okay, yeah, so they look nice and all, but who knows what evil
lurks... |
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Our Motley Crue |
Monday, July 8, 2024
Ghost Ship
The morning started out with a big ol' black bear running across the road in front of me. I guess I'm glad I didn't see it again after that, for it was not at all of meager girth.
Getting to where the cache is supposed to be hidden (the boat's ghostly interior) required some acrobatic feats, and I think it's safe to say I've rarely ever partied with so many — thankfully lethargic — wasps in such a confined space.
After over an hour of intense searching in there, the blazing sun began to turn the Ghost Ship into a Ghost Oven, and I finally vacated the premises before I became a Ghost Geocacher. I think I can count on one hand — maybe even one finger — the number of times have I emerged from a cache hunt so sweaty and filthy dirty.
Had I found this cache, I would have awarded it a favorite point for the exciting morning adventure, but since I didn't... I can't. Alas!
Next time...
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A target-rich environment! |
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Glad I brought my flashlight. |
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Forward view |
Friday, July 5, 2024
The Project 2025 Monster
In the words of the Heritage Foundation's leader, Kevin Roberts, Project 2025 is a guidebook for a second American revolution, which will be bloodless only if "the left allows it to be."
I've spent a great deal of time perusing the document, and it really is a monster, which uses a lot of bland terminology for extreme (and I mean extreme) right-wing policies. These are ostensibly its aims:
1. Restore the family as the centerpiece of American life and protect our children.
2. Dismantle the administrative state and return self-governance to the American people.
3. Defend our nation’s sovereignty, borders, and bounty against global threats.
4. Secure our God-given individual rights to live freely—what our Constitution calls “the Blessings of Liberty.”
So, is Kevin Roberts' statement hyperbole? I would say no. I absolutely take it at face value.
It's not an exaggeration to say that, in my view, once you begin looking at the details, it is as close to a fascist treatise as any guidebook could be. Whatever you take "wokeness" to be, this is the declaration of war against it (and what the right calls "woke" has been so perverted from its original connotation that it's unrecognizable; to the extreme right, "woke" basically means any attitude, policy, or program that helps more people than it harms). If you truly value your personal freedoms, a healthy environment, a healthcare system that isn't in absolute disarray (if you think it is now, just wait), and an economy that's not going to crash for everyone but the super-wealthy, educate yourself about this extreme viewpoint accordingly. Believe me, it affects everyone, right, left, or wherever you stand.
Here's a fairly balanced summary from The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4753684-heritage-foundation-project-2025/
Here is a view from that left-wing champion Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffraikes/2024/07/01/project-2025-is-a-blueprint-for-business-disaster/
Here is the document itself (a gut-wrenching 900+ pages): https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24088042-project-2025s-mandate-for-leadership-the-conservative-promise
Friday, June 28, 2024
Autographed Copies of The Gods of Moab Available
If you'd like to order an autographed copy of
The Gods of Moab using Paypal,
Venmo, or Credit Card, you may do so from this page using the
buttons below. The cost for the book is $9.99 plus $3.01 shipping, so place
your order for a total of $13.00 (a maximum of two copies at a
time is permitted on the site).
If you have any problem with the site or wish to pay by any other means, add a
blog comment below and leave a brief message. Be sure to include your email
address. Comments will NOT be published; they come to me for
moderation, and I will delete all comments immediately upon completion of the
transaction.
Order your autographed copy using Paypal, Venmo, or
Credit Card using the button below.
Thursday, June 27, 2024
A Graveside Chat with M. Wayne Miller
M. Wayne Miller is one of the most prolific and recognized talents in the field of the dark arts. Well, not necessarily black magic, but for three decades, his artwork has graced the pages and covers of countless magazines, anthologies, collections, and novels — including many of mine. Wayne's earliest work appeared in Deathrealm magazine, but it wasn't long before his list of clients began to include such noteworthy names as April Moon Books, Dark Regions Press, Journalstone Publishing, Necro Publications, Celaeno Press, Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Chaosium, Crossroad Press, TOR, and many others.
MWM: Yes indeed, Deathrealm magazine was my first paid commission, for a story by the late Tom Piccirilli, no less. At that time I was submitting to any publisher of line art. Hundreds I expect. Deathrealm was the first to respond, and we met in person as you mentioned at my home to discuss the work. I am pleased that our working relationship has become true friendship over the years.
That initial commission became a wave of work done for horror magazines and anthologies over the next several years. There were multiple issues of Deathrealm, as well as work in Lore, Terminal Fright (both magazine and anthology), Epitaph, Aberrations, and Flesh & Blood magazine. This led to many interior art commissions for RPG games from Chaosium and WEB Games, as well as many anthologies and poetry collections. There was a period where I was hugely prolific with line art, and while the financial reward was less than desirable, the work was huge fun and laid the groundwork for my subsequent freelance career.
MWM: I knew early on that black & white illustration would not pay the bills no matter how prolific I was. I had to gain color work in the industry to progress. While I see tone extremely well, color use was not something I had any natural ability with. My first forays into creating color work was using markers and color pencil to colorize line art. While the results were good in themselves, it was only a stepping stone towards my use of color in illustration. I made a concerted effort to learn to paint in acrylic and oils from 1999 to 2005. My line art had phased out, and I basically took that time to redevelop my skillset. I was successful in learning to paint, and for several years painted for myself. Those were quite good years, but of course, I had to break into the industry again to get my color illustration career off the ground.
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
The Gods of Moab Now Available in Paperback!
The Gods of Moab is a frightening novella by Stephen Mark Rainey, acclaimed author of Balak, Blue Devil Island, Other Gods, The Nightmare Frontier, and editor of the award-winning Deathrealm magazine and best-selling Deathrealm: Spirits anthology.
Friday, June 21, 2024
Distant Early Warning! Book Signing at Magnolia & Main Books, Saturday, July 20
Heads up, local Southern Virginia Folks!
Magnolia & Main Bookstore is a brand-new, indie bookstore in Ridgeway, VA, a few short miles south of Martinsville. I am on the calendar for a book signing on Saturday, July 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Many of my books and stories are set in a fictional version of Martinsville/Henry County and surrounding area — most notably, Fugue Devil: Resurgence and The Gods of Moab.
Come visit Magnolia & Main Books, 810 Main Street, Ridgeway, VA 24148! My books may scare the pants off you, but I'm pretty much okay. At least on Saturdays.
Monday, June 17, 2024
Social Animals?
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Dragon Glass Winery's mascot |
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Old dude, Ms. B., and friend Gretchen at Renewal Brewing in Uptown Martinsville |
For lunch, we settled on the nearby Town Hall Burger & Beer, where we've eaten on numerous other caching outings. Damned good dead critter here — lamb for me, and cow for my compadres.
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Bony bat! |
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Not a geocache, but a very large millicritter |
Sunday, June 9, 2024
Wildlife at the Eno River
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A nice little turtle we found on the trail |
That wildlife was a trio of geocachers — Cupdaisy (a.k.a. Debbie), Diefenbaker (a.k.a. Scott), and an old dude, commonly known as the No-Dead-Weight Irregulars. It was almost like old times: the nowadays all-too-rare gathering of several of us old-timers for a Sunday on the caching trail. Ah, for the days when every Sunday meant a gathering of old-timers on the geocaching trail.
Today, our target was Hillsborough, NC. I headed out bright and early this morning, bound for Burlington, NC, to replace one of my own caches that had gone missing and meet the other two reprobates in our party. From there, we hit the highway and in less than an hour began roaming little graveyards in the woods, big graveyards not in the woods, trails along the Eno River (which Scott and I forded at one point because the cache turned out to be on the other side and there was no footbridge), and up and down the Historic Oconeechee Speedway, where we've hiked on several previous occasions. We snagged all the caches we sought and hiked well over five miles, some of which were pretty rugged.
And to cap it off, we had a somewhat late lunch at Hillsborough BBQ Company, which is always a highly anticipated treat. It did not disappoint. For afters, we went next door for some frozen custard at Whit's Frozen Custard. That stuff is now officially a highly anticipated treat. That shit are good.
Hopefully, more geocaching later this week.
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Into the Eno we go. |
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Little graveyard in the woods |
Friday, June 7, 2024
Scary Things at Magnolia & Main Books
Magnolia & Main Bookstore is a brand-new, indie bookstore in Ridgeway, VA, a few short miles south of Martinsville. It's been a long while since there's been a physical bookstore in the area, so it's great to see this little boutique open its doors for business. It's a small shop, to be sure, but it's warm, welcoming, and easily accessible. Proprietor Traci Morton carries books by several local authors, including a bunch of mine, and I anticipate a booksigning happening here in the foreseeable future.