Welcome author Jason Brawn to The Dark Fantastic!
I have been writing horror fiction for twenty years. First 17 years as a screenwriter, which came to nothing, and now 3 years crafting my prose. Since then, I have had over 100 short stories, poems and film reviews published in many anthologies, magazines and webzines, appearing alongside Joe R. Lansdale, Ramsey Campbell, Simon Clark, Allison Littlewood, Anna Taborska, David Bernstein and many fledging authors. I will always write horror, regardless of the state of the genre and lack of marketing, but will also write genres like Science Fiction.
It had always been my dream to see my name in print and have my own books out. Doesn’t matter if it’s self-released or traditionally published, as long as it’s out. Anyway, I wrote REFUGE and STRANDED, as standalone books to fullfill my promise. As a writer, it’s always been my desire to improve each year, and releasing these books as novelettes has proved to be my most successful year.
REFUGE and STRANDED began as screenplays, back in 2008, that did gain a lot of industry interest. But no one was showing me the money and both projects weren’t progressing. Instead, they wanted me to make changes to the story and genre, which I found rather bizzare.
Now, they are both written, professionally edited and formatted. Also, I’ve used the services of the ever-brilliant BFS nominated artist, Paul Mudie, to provide the cover of both books.
REFUGE and STRANDED are my proudest stories to date, and I plan to release more short stories, novelettes, novellas and my debut novel in 2013. So you’ve been warned!
Extract From Refuge
22:32 pm. The three amigos were still fast asleep. The wind died down and the air felt warmer. The swirling leaves began to bury them. All seemed quiet, until Ray opened his eyes, coughing, and sitting up. What he hoped was a dream turned out to be reality.
He stretched his arms, hearing his bones click as he climbed to his feet. Len and Reggie were still untroubled by the wilderness. Moonbeams cast down on Ray, following him.
He made his move, deserting his friends. First he took a peek inside the van and removed their loot and arsenal, resting everything against the van.
Bam! Ray spun when he heard a sound, like a twig snapping. His eyes darted about. Then he limped back to his friends, who were resting.
Another noise. This time, more distant. Ray watched their gear as he softly kicked Len.
“Lenny,” hissed Ray. But Len wouldn’t move, neither would Reggie. “Damn,” he uttered. He looked at the result of his day’s work, before deciding to grab his share of the loot.
Ray ventured into the woods, shouldering a bag, while carrying his shotgun. The forest looked daunting and sombre. The air was silent, but he felt an uneasy presence. He continued moving, trying to trace the eerie sound and hoping he would soon learn its source.
A cloaked person wandering in the forest captured Ray’s attention. The figure had a black cowl. He wanted to tail this person, hoping he or she would lead him back to civilisation. Ray kept his distance, and hid when the dark figure stopped, as still as a statue, hailing its arms in a crucifix-like manner.
What the fuck is that? Ray halted abruptly. His eyes were focused on the entity, his sweaty hand fondling the grip of the gun.
He watched for several minutes, thinking, what the hell is it doing out here? The stranger’s activity made Ray think it was hostile. But Ray was armed and knew how to use his firearm.
If only it would turn around.
A sudden noise sounded. This time, Ray’s bag slipped off his shoulder, smacking the ground. His heart froze and his mind screamed, Holy shit!
The being directed its attention to the noise, and Ray saw a figure shrouded in blackness, like the devil. Recoiling in horror, dying to flee from it, he charged full bore, alongside the woods, flying past hundreds of oak trees that loomed over him.
But there was no Len or Reggie, and no van. Again, Ray sprinted like there was no tomorrow. Suddenly, he stopped at the realisation that he was unable to locate his friends. He was out of breath and felt his stomach cramping. He looked around… and around… trying to figure out where he was.
Suddenly, Ray was face-to-face with the devilish figure. It removed its cloak and thousands of worms, ants, spiders, beetles and bugs appeared to cover its face, arms, body and legs. A human form comprised entirely of creepy crawlies.
Disgusted by the sight, Ray scrammed, but not before coming very close to experiencing a heart attack. Once again, the figure appeared before him, now hailing its arms, and offering itself to him.
Book Trailers
Jason D. Brawn
Refuge
Amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/Refuge-ebook/dp/B009L2EO1Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350896789&sr=8-1
Stranded
Amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stranded-ebook/dp/B009NCZV6O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1350896443&sr=8-2
