Tag Archives: spooky books

Author of the Month

Author of the Month: Bonnie Randall – Unmasking Halloween chills in her new book, ‘The Shadow Collector’

Discover her advice for writing memorable and haunting stories this spooky season.

The plot of The Shadow Collector held my interest from the first page to the last. I was left in suspense after reading each page.

– The Avid Reader

Welcome to a must-read interview with Tellwell author Bonnie Randall, a contemporary writer with a unique perspective that traverses both the traditional and self-publishing realms. Known for crafting mysterious and eerie tales, Bonnie Randall has left a trail of suspense with her books, Divinity & the Python, Within the Shadow’s Summit, No Vacancy, and her latest offering, The Shadow Collector.

The Shadow Collector has reached remarkable heights, achieving the coveted #1 spot on Amazon.com’s Ghost Romance chart. It has also peaked at #2 in Canada and reached an impressive #19 in Paranormal Suspense on Amazon.uk.

Today, Bonnie Randall generously shares her insights into the art of writing gripping stories and making the most of self-publishing.

Q: What inspired you to delve into the supernatural thriller genre, and how do you keep it fresh and exciting for your readers? 

Hey, I’m a Scorpio! I was born into the supernatural thriller genre! 

As for keeping a story in this category fresh and exciting, it can be a tall challenge! A lot of what we define as “paranormal” spins out of legends and folklore that are so old—the roots of those tales stretch right back into ancient tomes like the Torah and Bible. As such, there are fields of tropes and clichés you need to either embrace or avoid when creating your own story, because you definitely don’t want your reader to feel like they’ve already seen this book a million times. But you also want to deliver the thrill they’re expecting and hoping for. So how do you turn the key in such a way that it unlocks something unexpected? Well, how about a graveyard that’s haunted not by ghosts, but by tangible memories only your heroine can see? Or what about little phantasm children who, instead of innocent victims, are perhaps wiser (and certainly wilier) than the adults? 

Oh, and how about a haunted house that is the safest place your protagonist has ever known, a place her heart longs to be? That’s The Shadow Collector in three pithy lines, but beyond that, what keeps this story exciting are characters who are deeply human, who take you to their emotional place and make you care about them, root for them.

Q: You’ve created a captivating series of supernatural thrillers. Can you tell us what it takes to plan and execute a series like yours, and you go about it? 

Wine. A lot of wine. Or maybe it’s “whine.” 

Just kidding. The Shadow Collector is the first in what will be a four-book series whose overarching question, “Where did all the children go?” is currently answered via a blizzard of Post-it notes that serve as a storyboard in my writing room. And, just like any individual title, it is divided into Acts I, II, and III, so too is an entire series—except on a far more protracted scale. As such, Book II and Book III ostensibly serve as Act II of the entire series, and right now I am writing them simultaneously due to the amount of cross-pollination of clues and secrets revealed within each of these stories. 

Beyond plotting and process, though, another important element in a series’ execution involves staying true to the voice of each character. This series has a big cast, and each book will feature a different leading man and lady whose points of view will propel the narrative drive. To that end, one of my many jobs in crafting these novels will be to respect each character’s individual personality, their back-story, and their unique voice, which my readers have now come to know and recognize from Book I, The Shadow Collector.  

Q: Your books often mix romance, mystery, and danger. What advice can you offer to writers looking to incorporate both elements and maintain an effective balance?

First and foremost, always—and I mean always!—stay true to reactions and emotions that are consistent with whatever your protagonist is facing in each individual scene. For example: if your character is facing off with the phantom in the graveyard, she will not be thinking about how sexy the hero is (even if he is). Conversely, if your hero is flashing his adorable dimples at her while she is trying to be serious—dang! She’s gonna notice those damn dimples, and become aware of a whole clutch of other, even naughtier thoughts that will upend her too. 

In short, a romantic thriller is, essentially, two stories about the same people happening simultaneously: it’s a love story and a mystery. So to keep those pages turning, use the romance to create barriers that keep your protag from solving the mystery, and use the mystery to create barriers that keep your protag from connecting with their love interest. 

Q: Can you tell us about your experience working with Tellwell, and how self-publishing compares to traditional publishing?

I have had a variety of publication experiences! First, I had a project traditionally picked up by small press Panverse in California (Divinity & The Python, 2013); next, I self-published with no assistance (Within The Summit’s Shadow, 2019); and now I’ve chosen the assisted-publishing route with Tellwell’s contribution to The Shadow Collector

Each experience has benefits and challenges: going the traditional route can result in a publisher taking on the “heavy lifting” of cost, distribution, and some marketing, but trad publishing also involves querying and uncertainty. Will an agent or editor even be interested in my project? Or will they take a pass? 

Self-publishing comes with the benefit of getting your project into the hands of readers, but indie authors still (sadly) face a lot of stigma: some readers (and other writers) assume your work is substandard, amateur, or even “illegitimate.” With that reality in mind, I strongly recommend that any author going the self-published route does it well: make the investment and use assisted publishing to help craft the best-looking product you can produce, because like it or not, we do judge a book by its cover, so yours needs to shine! Don’t believe me? I’d be only too happy to share the dramatic difference in sales between my unassisted self-published novel Within the Summit’s Shadow and The Shadow Collector, which I created with Tellwell. 

Next: use an editor. No, seriously, use an editor! If you have a professional editor, great. If you don’t, and the assisted-publishing company you’ve employed offers editing as part of their service, purchase it!

Yikes! That turned into a bit of a lecture, didn’t it? Let me sum up with this: my Shadow Collector journey with Tellwell has been top shelf; the formatting, the cover art design, and (perhaps especially) the marketing coaching has, without a doubt, been a massive part of what has propelled The Shadow Collector into the top 50 in its Amazon categories eight separate times since its release in May. I am so thrilled and grateful to be working with such a great partner! 

Q: Could you share some of the books and authors who have inspired your writing journey? 

I read so much and from such a wide variety of genres, anyone who looks at my Goodreads list probably thinks it’s been compiled by a dozen different people! But certain authors inspire me more than others: Lucy Foley and Shari Lapena are pacing and plot twist queens! For the creepy factor, though, I adore Jennifer MacMahon, but I (obviously) love me some sweet magic too, so for that I pick up everything by Sarah Addison Allen and Heather Webber. When I want my prose to lean a little more into the poetic and imagery-rich side of life, Ann Marie Eleazer’s poetry gets me there, but if I really want my paranormal possibilities to crackle and creep you out good and proper, I dive into the blacker-than-midnight rabbit holes of the late indie journalist David McGowan!  

Q: What’s your favourite way to celebrate Halloween? 

I’m glad you asked, but you might not be! Aside from giving out stellar loot bags (no candy corn or witch’s kisses from this house, baby! Here it’s chips & chocolate all the way!) I, unlike The Shadow Collector’s Natalya, actually enjoy a stroll through the cemetery—especially on Halloween. In fact, an abandoned graveyard where I used to live had headstones that would appear then disappear depending on who was looking at them, and what angle they were looking from. And yeah, I write fiction, but I am not making that up.

Pick up one of Bonnie’s books this Halloween. Just click the image below.

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Tellwell Books

No tricks, just treats with our spooky reads!

Halloween is just around the corner! What better way to celebrate the spooky season than to tell a spine-thrilling story around the campfire.

Make sure to check out the spooky reads from these talented Tellwell authors to find the perfect addition to your bookshelf.

Looking for your next spooky adventure?

Make sure to check out In BlackBurn Hamlet: A Ghastly Graveyard Grin, written by Paul Toffanello.

This is the story of Danny Nells, a little boy who loved Hallowe’en, until one fateful night when he tried to play a prank on his mom and dad!

GRAB YOUR COPY HERE!

Searching for your next spine-thrilling story?

Make sure to check out Unhallowed, written by James D Thorn.

For young detective Ozwald Shields, becoming a police detective was all that he had ever dreamed about from the time he was very young. Nothing could prepare him or his veteran partner, Terry White, for the journey they were about to embark on with the discovery of their first victim in a string of gruesome and horrific murders that were about to occur.

Join these detectives on their spine-chilling journey on the hunt for such a dangerous and sadistic killer. Will they catch and stop this murderer in time? Immerse yourself in the story of Unhallowed as this first time author, James D. Thorn, takes you on an intense tour throughout the neighborhoods of Boston to find out.

GRAB YOUR COPY HERE!

Looking for your next story to read by the campfire?

Make sure to check out In BlackBurn Hamlet: Mommaletti’s Ghost, by Paul Toffanello.

The story of Mommaletti’s Ghost is about a man who becomes a ghost outside of Nonno’s Pasta Shop and thinks he wants a serving of spaghetti. If he doesn’t get it, he chases little kids to their homes, and they had better make him some pasta, or else!

GRAB YOUR COPY HERE!

If you’re into a captivating tale from the past . . .

. . . take a look at Plenty to Hide by Moira Leigh MacLeod.

It’s 1948, and Mabel is happily juggling the demands of being a wife, a mother and the owner of the town’s most popular bakery. Life is full and good.There is a wedding in the offing and plans for a special homecoming, but things quickly begin to unravel.

A violent attack, a tragic accident, dirty politics and a shocking secret that forces Mabel to confront a troubling moral dilemma, combine to create a page-turning narrative that is, at times, playful and fun; at others, shocking and sad. As she did in her debut novel, The Bread Maker, and in its sequel, Or So It Seemed, MacLeod’s latest work grips readers with its surprising twists, colourful characters, powerful imagery and rich dialogue. Readers will feel as if they stepped into a bygone era, eavesdropping on the lives of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances. A beautiful story about love, loss, deception and depravity, Plenty to Hide will keep you guessing what’s next for Mabel and the unforgettable cast of characters who come to life on the pages of this rich and moving tale.

GRAB YOUR COPY HERE!

Looking for your next page-turning read?

Make sure to check out In a Raven’s Shadow, by Peter Browning.

Torment is a terrible thing; it festers and consumes and is nurtured by each ugly experience. The teacher is a product of his past—left embittered by events best forgotten. He is a loner, avoiding any social contact that might inflict pain or distress. His classroom is his refuge, an island of solace, a place where he can embrace the innocence and kindness missing in the outside world. When one of his favorite students suffers a gruesome death, he reaches a breaking point. But will a new dark path destroy him?

‘The raven gave a loud caw, flapped his wings and took to the air . . . this was an invocation impossible to ignore.’

GRAB YOUR COPY HERE!

Take a glance at the future!

Check out Seeing Through Doors by Elle Renee.

The year is 2032. The current state of the world makes the pandemic of 2020 look like it was nothing. Mankind needs the help of Gloria Stevens, the world’s most renowned psychic.

A collective of psychics appoint one man, Richard Matheson to seek her help. As he looks deep into her life in Kitchener in the 1970’s, he learns a lot more than he bargained for.

GRAB YOUR COPY HERE!

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Tellwell Books

Tellwell’s Top Books for Halloween🕸🕷

Fall has officially arrived, and with it our excitement for Halloween! In honour of the spooktacular holiday, the Tellwell team pulled together our top spine-chilling, hair-raising reads for October! 🎃

From horror books with demons and plagues to psychological thrillers with a thirst for revenge, we think you’ll love these eerie excerpts below. 👻

The Plague by Ryan L. Canning

She turned and ran. There was no end in sight. The bodies, the tents, the smell, they went on for miles. 

– Ryan L. Canning, The Plague

Get your copy of The Plague on Amazon.

Lit by Mark Anthony

The apartment filled with sounds from another world. Screaming, shouting, music with an unearthly twisted tune played out of the walls. A chorus of suffering, a background of nightmares and fears. It was angry, insulted and outraged.

– Mark Anthony, Lit

Get your copy of Lit on Amazon.

Deathless by Evan S Sullivan

“There are enemies approaching the gate,” a voice said through the dark. “Devilish things.”

– Evan S. Sullivan, Deathless

Get your copy of Deathless on Amazon.

Poppy Seeds on a Grave: A Collection of Short Stories by Mirko Markovic

Every ounce of blood in this man’s body drained from his skin and he froze in time, a statue paralyzed by the shock of what he had just seen.

– Mirko Markovic, Poppy Seeds on a Grave: A Collection of Short Stories

Get your copy of Poppy Seeds on a Grave: A Collection of Short Stories on Amazon.

The Book of Nodd: The Dreamwalker by B.S. Thompson

Suddenly he heard a snap and an electric bolt of pain shot down his arm, but the cottage did not stop rocking, and it would not be much longer before it collapsed on him completely.

– B.S. Thompson, The Book of Nodd: The Dreamwalker

Get your copy of The Book of Nodd: The Dreamwalker on Amazon.

Chains by M Todd

Before him, strewn about throughout the cavern from ceiling to floor, placed within the bluish rocks, were hundreds, or thousands, of human bodies. Men and women, their faces contorted in masks of horror and pain, frozen like macabre cadavers in a monster’s freezer.

– M. Todd, Chains

Get your copy of Chains on Amazon.

The Hallowmas Train by Gloria Pearson-Valley

The timeriders hesitated only briefly before entering the darkness. Shrieks and moans echoed eerily from the blackness that stretched before them. 

– Gloria Pearson-Vasey, The Hallowmas Train

Get your copy of The Hallowmas Train on Amazon.

Take Her by Tara White

Without thinking, I knew what I had to do. I tugged my sister out from behind me and moved her around me until we had switched places, me behind her with my hands on her shoulders. “Take her,” I said, and gave her shoulders a little shove forward.

– Tara White, Take Her

Get your copy of Take Her on Amazon.

Vindictive by Ryan Lawrence

Squinting, he focused with laser-like intensity to see what he could of the corpse below. He marvelled at the kaleidoscope of colours and textures the mangled body had created all over the urban canvas. 

Ryan Lawrence, Vindictive

Get your copy of Vindictive on Amazon.

Emergence by Ellie Beals

But Just Watching had become kind of a habit, and habits are hard to break. 

– Ellie Beals, Emergence

Get your copy of Emergence on Amazon.

Unhallowed by James D. Thorn

He choked as blood filled his airway. It spurted from his mouth as he exhaled, trying to get a breath. There was so much blood. 

– James D. Thorn, Unhallowed

Get your copy of Unhallowed on Amazon.

Finding Out by Ava Coughlin

Was my mom a criminal? Did she know something or do something that helped ruin this man’s life? Did Mathis know? Was it even true? There was too much to think about all at once. 

– Ava Coughlin, Finding Out

Get your copy of Finding Out on Amazon.

Have a spooktacular Halloween! 🎃 🕸 👻
From all of us at Tellwell!

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