Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: The Jersey Devil
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://huntershea.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.:
no2012140172
LCCN Permalink:
https://lccn.loc.gov/no2012140172
HEADING:
Shea, Hunter
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1_ |a Shea, Hunter
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__ |a eng
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__ |a His Evil eternal, ©2012: |b title page (Hunter Shea)
670
__ |a His Twitter page, October 26, 2012 |b (Hunter Shea; horror writer; New York)
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__ |a Hunter Shea is an American horror fiction author.
PERSONAL
Male.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Horror writer, and co-host of the Monster Men video podcast.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Hunter Shea is an American horror fiction writer based in New York. In an interview on the Hook of the Book Blog, Shea attributed his love of horror to his upbringing: “I was raised a good Irish Catholic altar boy. I know evil when I see it! I thank God that my father let me watch horror and sci-fi flicks.” Also interested in the paranormal, Shea has interviewed exorcists and explored real life hauntings. With friend Jack Campisi, Shea hosts the Monster Men video podcast.
In 2014, Shea published The Montauk Monster, a story of ancient evil in the old school horror style. On Long Island, Officers Gray Dalton and Meredith Hernandez are investigating a series of gruesome deaths believed to be from vicious animal attacks, but the locals are attributing them to the Montauk Monster. A slew of government agencies, like the CDC and FEMA, are called to the scene. Some suspect that nearby on Plum Island, the federal research facility conducting secret experiments may be culpable. A Publishers Weekly reviewer described the book as having “staggering levels of mayhem in this unreservedly recycled yet wholly enthralling hulk” of a book.
Shea’s 2016 The Jersey Devil follows the Willet family who hunts the legendary creature. Dormant for decades, the Jersey Devil has reemerged and his wreaking havoc in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Elder Boompa Willet survived the Devil sixty years ago. Now with four generations of Willets by his side, he aims to destroy the creature once and for all and learn the strange connection his family has with the Devil. But this time the Devil has a posse of its own, a horde of mutant monstrosities that prey on teenagers at a summer music festival.
According to a Publishers Weekly contributor, Shea “delivers a tense and intriguing work of escalating tension splattered with a clever, extensive cast,” despite a major reveal that reinforces an uncomfortably sexist focus. Jeff Heimbuch remarked on the Horror Buzz Web site: “The novel is more of an old-school horror vibe that I miss from books these days. It had a pulp-y feeling, and it was very visceral. The action, and death, came fast and furious.”
Shea’s 2017 We Are Always Watching features supernatural enthusiast West Ridley who moves from New York to his grandfather Abraham’s decrepit Pennsylvania farmhouse. The perpetually drunk Abraham believes the house is haunted and West begins to believe him when he sees the words “We see you” written above his bed. In a review online at This Is Horror, a contributor said: “Shea has done a masterful job in suspense building and leaving his audience guessing, until what’s revealed is something completely surprising.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, Apr. 21, 2014, review of The Montauk Monster; July 25, 2016, review of The Jersey Devil.
ONLINE
Hook of the Book Blog, https://hookofabook.wordpress.com/ (April 25, 2013), author interview.
Hunter Shea Home Page, https://huntershea.com (May 1, 2017).
Horror Buzz, http://horrorbuzz.com/ (November 20, 2016), Jeff Heimbuch, review of The Jersey Devil.
This Is Horror, http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/ (March 28, 2017), review of We Are Always Watching.
Unnerving Magazine, http://www.unnervingmagazine.com/ (March 20, 2017), Emma Whitehall, review of We Are Always Watching.*
One Killer Interview with Author Hunter Shea, Master of the Paranormal Horror
Today on the site we have one of my most favorite authors ever–the never elusive, extremely funny, and all around great guy Hunter Shea!!! Let’s see how much he tries to scare our socks off this time. He told me he has revealed more in this interview than anywhere before…..and I’m kicking myself for not asking him even MORE questions! If you like paranormal, creepy, horror, and the like, then you’ll want to check out what Shea has to say.
Or maybe start with a kiss……
Hunter kissing a skull
Hi, Hunter! So happy to have you stop by the blog today so I can infiltrate your monster of a mind. 🙂 One of my favorite times on the blog is when you are hanging out…
Hunter: Thanks Erin. Glad to see you lifted the restraining order so I can come around again. I’ve tried to stir up all the cranial beasties and spirits, just for you!
Erin: You sure know how to rub a girl the right way….! I’m anxious to ask you some questions to let readers get to know you and your writing better, as well as catch up on your news for 2013!
Q: When did you first start writing? Have you always had a love affair with the pen?
A: I started writing with the aim of doing more than just killing time in the mid 1990’s. I was in a dead end job and my friend Norm who sat next to me was working on a book whenever he had some down time in the office. I was going through a tough time and Norm both inspired and coached me along the way. I thank him every chance I get (and dedicated my book, Swamp Monster Massacre to him). As a kid and a teen I used to write zombie poems and dystopian stories littered with tough guys who said inane things and battled creatures. Then college came and writing only became something you did to get a good grade on a paper…or writing flyers for wing night or free keg. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties when the bug burrowed under my skin and became a passion. And boy, it only grows with each passing year.
Erin Comments: “My friend Norm” sounds like a Cheers episode. Boy am I glad your friend Norm was writing novels and not just tipping back beers. Otherwise you’d be a drunk not an author….lol! Now I’m wondering what happened to Norm and if he published anything….
Q: Your writing is pretty polished. You have a nice tone to your writing voice. How did you perfect this over the years?
A: Now you’re making me blush. Lots of practice, trial and colossal error. I didn’t even attempt writing a novel in my favorite genre, horror, until I’d been working on short stories and novels in other genres for almost 8 years. My very first full length book was a romantic comedy, of all things, but the voice wasn’t quite mine. It was hard getting the voices in my head to translate onto the page. I realized early on that everything I was writing was not solid gold. I have a vampire novella in a file that induces nausea quicker than a shot of Ipecac. I learned from my mistakes on that one and moved on to another that was slightly less horrible. I just kept at it until I was comfortable with my voice and style.
Erin Comments: Would love to see a vampire novel from you! And I can see why’d you write comedy, you’re so funny.
Q: Where do you come up with all the evil stories you churn out? What gives you inspiration?
A: I was raised a good Irish Catholic altar boy. I know evil when I see it! I thank God that my father let me watch horror and sci-fi flicks from day one on this big blue marble. We had a drive-in theater by our house so I got to see all these wonderfully awful B movie monster and biker flicks. We had Chiller Theatre on TV and this new writer called Stephen King giving everyone nightmares. I’ve loved horror for as long as I can remember and I was blessed with an overactive imagination. Now I get to put it to work!
Erin Comments: It’s always those preacher kid and good little altar boys isn’t it? Ha!
forest of shadows
Q: When following a creative lead, how do you write? Outline first or just write what comes into your head?
A: I’ve heard other writers talk about their process and I guess I fall into the ‘organic’ category. I despise outlines. I did too many of them in school. Whenever I think of doing one, I get the feeling there’s an angry Brother behind me tapping a ruler in the palm of his hand. I develop a basic idea for a novel and kind of let my subconscious turn it around for a few months. If I still want to do it months later, I’ll start research (on locations or events or people), then pick a day to sit my ass down and start typing. I let the story kind of write itself and I’m always surprised by how my novels and characters end up. It’s pretty cool. Kind of like a medium and automatic writing, except it’s just the dark recesses of my demented brain doing all the heavy work.
Erin Comments: Knowing you, I am determined you just press your finger to the screen and say download. I don’t know how you write so fast….but glad you do.
Q: Who are some of your favorite authors? Who inspires you? I think you are unique in your writing style, an original. Would you say so, or are you compared to any certain novelists in how you approach your stories?
A: I’m sure there are bits of every author I admire in my work. I do make a conscious effort to not sound like anyone else, but it’s hard to keep all your influences and loves at bay. I re-read several Hemingway books every year. If you want to learn brevity and the power of words, you have to study him. For horror, aside from the master, King, I’ve devoured everything by Robert McCammon, Brian Keene, Richard Matheson and Bentley Little. Oh, and I can’t forget my pal Norm Hendricks.
Q: I know you are a huge video and film buff. What are some of your favorite all-time movies? Why?
A: Me likey movies. Hell, I started the Monster Men podcast with my bud Jack Campisi because we both loved scary movies so much. For my money, Alien is the best horror and the best sci-fi movie of all time. I mean, holy cow. There is nothing scarier than that creature, especially when Dallas was going through the air ducts with the flame thrower and they can see the alien on the radar coming up on him and he can’t! I still get chills.
The Big Lebowski is my #1 favorite movie. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is funnier. The Hunter abides. I love Excalibur and its grandiose story, music and action. King Arthur kicks some serious ass. The Haunting (the original, not that abomination of a remake) is proof that you can make a terrifying ghost movie without special effects. Rosemary’s Baby is just plain creepy, as is The Sentinel. I could go on forever (and you can all see Jack and I pontificate at The Monster Men…and it’s all free!).
the-graveyard-speaks
Q: What movies are you looking forward to this year?
A: I haven’t been too thrilled with movies the past few years. I really can’t think of anything I feel like I absolutely have to see in 2013. I’m sure something will come out of the blue and surprise me. Of course, I’ll watch anything with Salma Hayek. Hence my ponying up money to see Here Comes the Boom. I’m so shallow.
Erin Comments: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter was awesome!!
Q: What books are you looking forward to reading this year?
A: I have a whole wish list of books from other authors at Samhain that I can’t wait to dive into. I’m finally going to get around to reading NightWhere by John Everson. I hear it’s kinky and twisted. John is a super nice guy. Hard to imagine that coming from him…that is, until I went to one of his short story readings. He’s a sick puppy, alright! I also can’t wait to read The Narrows by Ron Malfi, another awesome dude and Tumor Fruit by bizarro master Carlton Mellick. Carlton is an acquired taste, but he hooks you like a drug. I’m also looking forward to reading The Lawgiver by Herman Wouk. My Amazon wish list is about 60 books long. I’m hoping to get through all of them this year.
Q: How did you begin to take a turn with your writing in regards to being published or publishing your work?
A: I wrote my first horror novel, Forest of Shadows, with the intention of sending it to editor Don D’Auria who was at Dorchester/Leisure horror at the time. I was an avid fan of the entire Leisure line and wrote my book to make sure it fit in with the tone and style they were looking for, which was also the style I enjoyed writing. I submitted it only to Don and waited…for 3+ years. Then, out of the blue, I got an email from Don saying he wanted the book. For the first time in my life, I was speechless. Before I could sign the final contract, though, Dorchester went under. Luckily, Don signed up with Samhain a few months later and asked if I wanted to head up the new horror line. It’s all been wonderful since then.
evil-eternal-cover
Q: I know you set out for Evil Eternal to be a comic book. Why do you describe it as such? Do you still have hopes of it becoming drawn?
A: I grew up loving comic books and have always wanted to write one. Evil Eternal is so over-the-top, so visual, so gory, I still hope we can get this in graphic comic form some day. It doesn’t read like anything else I’ve written. The characters are larger than life and dammit, they need to be drawn! 🙂
Erin Comments: Yes, it does and the cover is awesome. You can see my review HERE.
Q: Have you written any other comic stories? Movie scripts? Tell us a little bit about what other writing you do besides on your novels.
A: Over the years I’ve written tons of stories in all genres except romance. I’ve never read a romance novel and I feel you can’t write something you have never read. Just a rule of mine. I also wrote a darkly comedic suspense novel back in 2000.
My one experience with script writing was, in hindsight, a funny disaster. A friend of mine met the head writer of a very, very popular crime show on network TV. He told him about my desire to be a writer and the guy asked me to write an episode of one of the top comedies on TV at the time. I spent 2 weeks watching every episode to get the characters, cadence and overall flavor down. Then I spent another 2 weeks writing and polishing the script. Turns out I did a good job, because the script was stolen by a staff writer and pitched to the producers. I didn’t get credit, but I did learn some valuable lessons about protecting my work, especially in a script/screenplay environment.
Erin Comments: That sucks!! But glad you take it as a compliment.
Q: Where is the best place for you to write? Do you make set times to do so, or try to do it wherever and whenever the muse strikes?
A: I have a corner of my bedroom that is my writing cave, but I’ve learned to write wherever I can. That could be in the kitchen, in the living room surrounded by my family, in libraries, my car, airports, hotels, you name it. When I’m knee deep in a project, I make sure I write at least 6 days a week and you can’t always do it in the place or the time you want, so you make do with what you have and where you are. You know what they say, “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.”
Erin Comments: Remember the post about writing in the kitchen….read HERE.
Q: I know you have a Monster Men podcast and I enjoy listening to some of them. How did this come about? Can you tell us more about it?
A: Jack Campisi and I worked together for many years and discovered that our childhoods intersected but we’d somehow never met. We have the same sensibilities, likes, and passion for movies and horror. We’d always said we should just do a show where we talk about the things we love, like watching us sit at the bar and debate the state of the zombie as a genre.
When my first book, Forest of Shadows, was picked up, Jack decided it was time we put our money where our mouths are so I could also use the show as a way to promote my books. This summer we’ll have been doing it for 2 years and it gets better and better (and funnier). We say we have a lighthearted approach to dark topics. I do think we take a unique angle when it comes to talking about movies, books and the paranormal. It’s all about having fun.
Erin Comments: JACK is the MAN!!
swampmonstermassacre
Q: Tell us about your previous novels/novellas first, then let us know what is upcoming for you this year. What will be published?
A: My latest novella is Swamp Monster Massacre, a sweaty slog through Florida’s Everglades with a pack of vicious skunk apes on the trail of a group of shipwrecked tourists led by a crook named Rooster. It’s non-stop, relentless fun, and a chance for me to give some love to Bigfoot’s wet, smelly cousin. People have really taken to it and it’s my most successful book to date (as of January 2013).
In April, Samhain released my next novel, Sinister Entity, and a short story that precedes it, The Graveyard Speaks. Both are sequels to Forest of Shadows and center around a 19 year old ghost hunter with nerves of steel and unknown paranormal abilities of her own. She’s joined by the descendant of famed spiritualist D.D. Home and together they go up against angry poltergeists, malevolent spirits and the terrifying doppelganger of a young girl.
They’ve hit top selling lists on Samhain’s website and TGS has hit a top list on Amazon. The Graveyard Speaks is still free, for now, and introduces my ghost hunter. It takes the reader right into Sinister Entity and should give folks a chill or two up their spines.
Erin Comments: You can read reviews of Forest of Shadows HERE, The Graveyard Speaks HERE, and Sinister Entity HERE.
sinisterentity
Q: What are you currently working on? What is on the horizon for Hunter Shea?
A: I started my next novel already, as a matter of fact and have a first draft done to turn in at the end of the month. I don’t want to give away much, but I will say it’s set in Wyoming in the early 1900s and Teddy Roosevelt will be a minor character. And no, he’s not hunting vampires or killing zombies. That’s already been done. It’s going to be a unique story with a lot of true history behind it. I also completed a novella that is based on the actual paranormal events my wife and I went through over a decade ago. More on that to come…
Erin Comments: I can’t wait, sounds amazing!
Q: Your favorite movie snack?
A: Popcorn, without a doubt. I could eat the stuff for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And theaters, don’t give me that pre-popped in a giant bag crap. Pop it fresh. It’s not that hard to do.
Erin Comments: Mine too, extra butter! It’s how I keep a nice round butt!
x2_d7bf340
Q: How can readers and fans connect with you?
A: The best place to find me is on my web lair at www.huntershea.com. There you can read my blog, excerpts of my books, free short stories, every Monster Men podcast and more. You can find the Monster Men on our You Tube channel, Monster Men 13. I also have a Facebook fan page (Hunter Shea, of course) and you can follow me on Twitter at HunterShea1.
Erin: Thanks so much for joining me. It was a lot of fun, as always, to talk to you. You’re a great writer with a friendly side. Your books scare me more than you do. *wink*
Hunter: Thank you for having me. I love what you’ve done with the place. And sure, you say my books scare you more now. Wait till I visit and stay for a week. Then you’ll see. *wink*
Author Hunter Shea, Biography~
I’m the product of a childhood weened on The Night Stalker, The Twilight Zone and In Search Of. I don’t just write about the paranormal. I actively seek out the things that scare the hell out of people and experience them for myself.
My novels, Forest of Shadows, Evil Eternal , Swamp Monster Massacre and Sinister Entity are published through Samhain Publishing’s horror line. I live with my family and untrainable cat close enough to New York City to get Gray’s Papaya hotdogs when the craving hits.
I’m also proud to be be one half of the Monster Men video podcast, along with my partner in crime, Jack Campisi. Our show is a light hearted approach to dark subjects. We explore real life hauntings, monsters, movies, books and everything under the horror sun.
Feel free to contact me any time at huntershea1@gmail.com. Writing is lonely work.
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Hunter Shea
My novels, Forest of Shadows, Evil Eternal , Swamp Monster Massacre , Sinister Entity and The Waiting are published through Samhain Publishings horror line. My first thriller novel, The Montauk Monster, will be released June 2014 as a Pinnacle paperback. I live with my family and untrainable cat close enough to New York City to get Grays Papaya hotdogs when the craving hits.Im also proud to be be one half of the Monster Men video podcast, along with my partner in crime, Jack Campisi. Our show is a light hearted approach to dark subjects. We explore real life hauntings, monsters, movies, books and everything under the horror sun.
Bio – All About Hunter
Hunter Shea is the product of a misspent childhood watching scary movies, reading forbidden books and wishing Bigfoot would walk past his house. He doesn’t just write about the paranormal – he actively seeks out the things that scare the hell out of people and experiences them for himself. Hunter’s novels can even be found on display at the International Cryptozoology Museum. His video podcast, Monster Men, is one of the most watched horror podcasts in the world. He’s a bestselling author of over 13 (lucky number!) books, all of them written with the express desire to quicken heartbeats and make spines tingle. Living with his wonderful family and two cats, he’s happy to be close enough to New York City to gobble down Gray’s Papaya hotdogs when the craving hits.
To really get to know of the monster behind the man, join the Dark Hunter Newsletter and revel in the terror!
hunter-shea-headshot-2016
You can contact Hunter Shea directly at huntershea1@gmail.com or through his various contacts below.
Represented by :
Louise Fury, The Bent Agency (literary agent)
Dana Spector, Paradigm Agency (film agent)
Publicist – Erin Al-Mehairi, Hook of a Book Media
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4/12/17, 9)40 PM
Print Marked Items
The Jersey Devil
Publishers Weekly.
263.30 (July 25, 2016): p53. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Jersey Devil
Hunter Shea. Pinnacle, $7.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-0-7860-3887-9
Shea (The Montauk Monster) delivers a tense and intriguing work of escalating tension splattered with a clever, extensive cast of bystanders turned victims. Deep in the New Jersey Pine Barrens lurks a monster out of legend. It's been mostly dormant for decades, but something has roused it from its normal pattern of malicious pranks into a frenzy of escalating, gory murder. When news of the Jersey Devil's reemergence reaches the Willet family, they know what to do. Three generations of Willets and their TV-famous cryoptozoologist buddy trek into the barrens to resolve the family's mysterious link to the legendary monster and put an end to its rampage. An otherwise excellent, tightly delivered plot stumbles when the major reveal reinforces an uncomfortably sexist focus, potentially spoiling an otherwise wicked ride. Shea fans will appreciate the call-outs to his other work, and fans of cryptid creatures are likely to revel in this love letter to a legendary menace. Agent: Louise Fury, Bent Agency. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Jersey Devil." Publishers Weekly, 25 July 2016, p. 53. PowerSearch, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=GPS&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA460285492&it=r&asid=b41b598901780d645b9b28af46774db3. Accessed 12 Apr. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A460285492
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4/12/17, 9)40 PM
The Montauk Monster
Publishers Weekly.
261.16 (Apr. 21, 2014): p61. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2014 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Montauk Monster
Hunter Shea. Kensington/Pinnacle, $7.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-0-7860-3475-8
Pairing the urban mythologies of the Montauk Monster and the government labs on Plum Island creates staggering levels of mayhem in this unreservedly recycled yet wholly enthralling hulk of a summer beach read. An oceanside rendezvous lifted directly from Jaws propels police officers Gray Dalton and Meredith Hernandez to uncover the origins of bizarre animal attacks in the Long Island town of Montauk. A muscular plotter, Shea (Evil Eternal) initially withholds more than he reveals; mutant animals with toxic blood lurk in the shadows for some time before attacking in a wave of dismemberments and gruesome gore. Not content with merely dispatching hapless tourists and hard-luck townies, Shea gleefully hurls in the cast of a Real Housewives-inspired TV show, pot-addled teenagers haplessly defending themselves with fireworks, a surprisingly resilient indigent known as Can Man, and an acronym-fest of heavily armed federal agents. This affectionate homage to a bygone genre is redolent of sunscreen and nostalgia, hardly groundbreaking but a lot of splattery fun. (June)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Montauk Monster." Publishers Weekly, 21 Apr. 2014, p. 61. PowerSearch, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=GPS&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA366618025&it=r&asid=a37f4899d627d84c9be66f2fd7d5d5c0. Accessed 12 Apr. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A366618025
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REVIEW: The Jersey Devil by Hunter Shea
BOOKSPRINT November 29, 2016 Jeff Heimbuch 0
book6 book review4 hunter shea2 Review79 the jersey devil2
Of course I’m a big fan of the Jersey Devil. I grew up in New Jersey, and was born and bred to learn all about it. I’ve obsessed over every detail of the legend, to the point that, in my final years living in NJ, joined a group that went out to find it on weekends.
We didn’t ever see it, unfortunately. Or, rather, if it is anything like the creature in Hunter Shea’s The Jersey Devil, we were fortunate not to have come across it and been torn to shreds.
For those of you not in the know, the Jersey Devil is a legendary creature in NJ folklore. Legend has it that he was the 13th child of Mother Leeds, who cursed it upon his birth, and it transformed into the ghastly beast.
The novel centers around the Willet family, specifically three generations of it. While we don’t know the whole story until later on in the novel, they have a personal stake against the beast, specifically the eldest of the clan, Sam. After years of lying in wait, preparing, the devil returns, and the Willets take off to end it once and for all.
The characters, from the leads all the way to one-offs, where surprisingly well rounded. They were believable, despite how much or how little time spent with them. They were living breathing things, and sometimes, made me feel for them through their loss.
The Willets are all wonderful characters, each with their own personality and quirks. Sometimes, I get confused when so many characters are introduced, but Shea does a wonderful job of keeping them all different enough to keep track of.
The novel is more of an old-school horror vibe that I miss from books these days. It had a pulp-y feeling, and it was very visceral. The action, and death, came fast and furious. It was quite bloody and VERY descriptive. I found myself visualizing many of them quite well as I read, and almost wishing it was a film so I could see it all unfold! There is an almost B-Movie quality here (and I don’t mean that in any bad way at all), and I loved every moment of it.
And as a Jersey guy, I will say that Shea did get a lot of the finer details of my home state right. He nailed the feel of the Pine Barrens, and the isolation that it causes you to feel. Even the bits and pieces of the legend that he threw in were great.
The novel is a fast-paced read, and definitely one worth picking up for fans of monsters and Shea fans in general.
Review of We Are Always Watching by Hunter Shea
March 20, 2017
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Emma Whitehall
I like horror stories when they aren’t really about monsters and gore. Fear is a powerful metaphor, and the best pieces of prose use it to tell stories that hold a mirror up to our real-world lives. Hunter Shea’s “We Are Always Watching” is a brilliant example of this, being as much about family conflict as it is about scares.
West and his family move back into his father’s childhood home - a rotting nightmare of a house, in the middle of nowhere. Tensions are instantly running high between West’s dad, Matt - who suffers from a chronic illness which means he can’t work - and his own father, a cantankerous drunk. And, soon enough, another staple of Matt’s childhood rears its ugly head - mysterious messages from an unseen force known as The Guardians…
The characters are well-written, especially West, our main protagonist. It’s so refreshing to read a teenage character who is just a decent kid - not a snarky smart-ass or an insufferable nerd. The relationship between his parents is realistic (part spiteful swiping, part total devotion), and Abraham is great as a totally horrible, grating asshole. He reminds me a lot of Rick from “Rick and Morty”, but even less likeable.
This book is brilliantly crafted, keeping you on your toes. There is no way of working out who, or what, the Guardians are for most of the novel (although on a second reading, you may have some questions about logistics that don’t get answers), and even once we know, the story throws other questions at the reader, making it impossible to become complacent in exactly who our heroes and villains are. Every plot point is driven further forward by the relationships between every member of the family, whether that be a positive or a negative one. If you’ve ever had a family member you just couldn’t stand, but had to be around for one reason or another, this book will speak volumes to you.
The pace is great, although in the last chapter events to hurtle quite quickly towards their resolution - but even this quick-fire of events got a gasp of genuine shock from me at one point. For the most part, I wasn’t reading this as a reviewer, picking out plot points and themes to write about - I was a horror fan, reading a damn good book. And I don’t think you can give “We Are Always Watching” higher praise than that.
Book Review: We Are Always Watching by Hunter Shea
March 28, 2017
“Shea has done a masterful job in suspense building and leaving his audience guessing, until what’s revealed is something completely surprising.”
West Ridley is into horror and paranormal investigations, so the thought of moving into his grandfather’s supposedly haunted house in rural Pennsylvania is exciting at first, until strange things begin to occur. The teenager struggles with deciding if his foul-mouthed grandpa is actually trying to connect with him or if he’s a complete lunatic. Not only is he growing frightened to live there, he is also homesick for his old town and his best friend. Everything starts to become unbearable. West comes across a young girl sunbathing and befriends her. He discovers her family knows the mysterious Guardians that are wrecking his life as well. He sees her as his savior from all the madness surrounding him, but can she rescue him from a house that’s never empty?
West’s father and mother, Matt and Debi, had no other choice but to move in with Grandpa Abraham after Matt’s debilitating car accident and terrible battles with vertigo coupled with having to use a cane to walk. Debi suffers one hell of a commute everyday but she does it to help support her family but it also means her teenage son is left back at the farmhouse with her husband who can only do so much and her father-in-law who seems to be creeping farther and farther into insanity. The odd noises around the house are shrugged off as the sounds of the old place settling until notes begin to appear, signed by THE GUARDIANS. The occurrences begin to happen with more frequency, crossing the line into violence when Grandpa Abe is nearly impaled on pitchforks. Matt grows more and more irritable with living in his childhood home, in his heart he knows he made a dire mistake in returning. The Guardians are no stranger to him, he knows they won’t allow him to leave again. He now fears for the lives of his wife and son.
This is definitely no ordinary haunted house story. The characters are fleshed out nicely, each having their own believable personality and motives. The pacing keeps the story flowing and unfolding with no lag. A sensation of being watched looms over the reader, giving them the same sense of paranoia and desperation as the Ridley family. The isolation by a threat the victims cannot speak of is gut wrenching, knowing they can’t just get in their truck and drive away from it, the past won’t allow them too. There’s a bloody history entangling the Ridley’s and the Guardians, like a thick web from which they can’t break free. And now a reckoning has come. Hunter Shea has done a masterful job in suspense building and leaving his audience guessing, until what’s revealed is something completely surprising.
Hunter also shares his horror expertise on the Monster Men video podcast where people can see discussions on a variety of dark and creepy topics. He is the man to connect with when it comes to ghost phenomenon, monster sightings, and all things that go bump in the night. His novels have earned him high praise in the genre and his prose really captures the essence of terror in a precise and poetic manner. We Are Always Watching is definitely one to check out, but be sure to do it with the lights on.
MICHELLE GARZA
Publisher: Sinister Grin Press
Paperback: (252pp)
Release Date: 1 March 2017