Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Haven of Evil by Melvin Rivers Excerpt & Interview


Haven of Evil
Melvin Rivers

Genre: Horror

Re-release date 10/25/16

ISBN: 978-1494317461
ASIN: B01384ES70

Number of pages: 265
Word Count: 41,200 words

Cover Artist: Artrocity

Book Description:

Haven of Evil, a book of supernatural terror, contains bone-chilling terror that is unleashed on an unsuspecting couple who moves into their new home after a flood had destroyed the old one.

When Kevin and Sandra Wilson’s home and personal possessions were destroyed by flood waters, the couple relocated to a town called Havenville. Things started out rough when they avoided hitting a mysterious woman on the road. Later Kevin was attacked by hawks in a cemetery where a stranger rescued him. Kevin and the stranger become fast friends, but later the stranger wasn't who he had appeared to be.

After some tragic and terrifying events Sandra goes into a murderous rage not long after Kevin finds out about an evil that dwelled inside their house--an evil that will change their lives forever.

In this tale of horror, some will live and others will not.



Excerpt:
He turned to walk back home. A woman in a black dress stood a few paces in front of him. The woman’s eyes were black marbles embedded in a sunken face. Her white hair hung down over her shoulders like spaghetti strings, and there were more cracks in her face than there were on a broken sidewalk. A foul stench seemed to follow her around – the scent of rotting meat.
Kevin grimaced and held his nose. The horrid odor clung to him like stench on a decomposed corpse. “What in the –”
“Leave that place now,” the woman’s voice gurgled.
He took a step back, fanned his nose, and spat. “You’re the woman I almost hit on the road.” He narrowed his eyes and scratched his head. “How – I mean, what in the –”
“Don’t give in to the dreams or listen to him. You can’t defeat it.” She turned and pushed her way through a hedge of high bushes to the right of the highway.
“Miss, what are you talking about?” He pinched his nose to keep the woman’s stench at bay and followed her through a stretch of woods, coming to an open field. A steep hill was not far away. “Hey, Miss, where are you?” he called, looking around. She was nowhere in sight.
She’s obviously crazy. I wonder if her family knows she’s out here. If she has family at all… he fanned his face and blew out a breath. That smell… how did it get on her?
Squawking came from somewhere above him. Kevin looked up to see hawks circling the area as if they owned it.

About the Author:

Melvin Rivers was inspired to write horror by imitating the writers of his favorite horror comics many years ago. As he grew older the works of Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and of course Stephen King grabbed his attention.

Melvin Rivers was born in the town of Luxora, Arkansas, and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He received a degree in Journalism from the University of Iowa. He lives in Cedar Rapids Iowa with his wife, dog and two cats. When he is not writing or surfing the web, he enjoys having a hot bowl of popcorn while watching his favorite horror flick on TV.

Interview
Where are you from? I was born in Luxora, Arkansas and raised in Memphis, Tennessee.

When and why did you begin writing? I began writing many years ago as a young child by imitating the writers “Witching Hour,” an American comic book horror anthology published by DC Comics from 1969 to 1978. Later, I discovered works by Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and of course Stephen King.

When did you first consider yourself a writer? The first time I put pencil to paper to write a story about a witch that terrorized my fourth grade classmates. I read the story in front of the class after its completion, and was thrilled by the response.

What inspired you to write your first book? I always wanted to see my name of the front cover of a book. It wasn’t about being commercially successful or even a little successful, it was the self-satisfaction of doing something that I have always wanted.

Do you have a specific writing style? Not really. I just put the words down and hope for the best.

How did you come up with the title? The story takes place in the fictional town of Havenville, Illinois. Alas, the title “Haven of Evil.”

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? I want readers to be entertain while reading the book.

How much of the book is realistic? Depends on who you ask. Some people claim to have had experiences with the supernatural, such as hauntings and demonic possessions.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life? No. Everything in the book is inspired from a few of my favorite horror books and my imagination.

What books have most influenced your life most? Too many to name . . . But to make a list, I would include the Shinning, the Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, Salem’s Lot, Pet Semetary, and Dracula, to name a few.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? Stephen King. I like his style. Some people say my writing style is kinda similar to his. I take that as a huge compliment.

What book are you reading now? Stephen King’s “Misery.” I watched the movie like a million times, but I’ve never got around to reading the book.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? Yeah. I stumbled across an author on Goodreads. His name is Perry Lake. He sent me his book “The Nightmare of Frankenstein.” It’s the Frankenstein’s monster story with a twist. I recommend readers to check it out.

What are your current projects? I’m working on a collection of short horror stories . . .  Well, I’m revising the collection of stories. The stories were published in book format, but I decided to unpublished the book because I wasn’t satisfied with the final product. Hopefully, it does well once completed.

What would you like my readers to know? Like watching a movie or listening to music, fiction will take you to different places to escape the chaotic state of today’s world via entertainment. Unlike a movie or even music for that matter, a good entertaining book will entrance you from the moment you pick it up until you put it down. I’ve always envisioned cave men sitting around a fire telling stories, and one day one of them had the brilliant idea to write the stories on a stone. This is how books were born. Well, at least to me anyway. 




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