I took a little break before starting The Carny Murders. I have finished Act I and with the exception of a few narrative hiccups/hiccoughs, I'm confident in the direction of Act 2. If you haven't been keeping track, this is story number 4 of my second collection. It is a detective-less horror mystery that still… Continue reading March 9th Update
Philip MacDonald’s Mystery at Friar’s Pardon opens with a careful introduction to the man who will become our amateur sleuth, Charles Fox-Browne. MacDonald takes his time. He wants us to understand Browne before sending him to Friar’s Pardon, where he will say very little and observe a great deal. A wise move—there is much to… Continue reading Mystery at Friar’s Pardon
I'm almost done with story number 3, formerly known as Fantome Fatale. It's now called the Red River Murders, and while that's a worse title, it is the better title for this story. The Fantome Fatale trick does happen, but the trick is not the focus of the story. This thing has taken me forever… Continue reading February 10 — update
Another year, another step toward death. I'll be 50 next year. Maybe this will be the time I finally get my shit together. It's doubtful, but a man can dream. There is fantastic news on the horizon. Besides my second book of short stories (which will be published sometime in 2026) there is a secret… Continue reading Happy New Year
The old Visitor House crouched at the edge of the woods like something half-forgotten. Cloudy windows, rafters lost in shadow, and brittle November light that died a few feet past the threshold gave the place the air of abandonment. It smelled faintly of dust and cold stone—an emptiness that made every footstep sound too loud.… Continue reading Fantôme Fatale first scene rough draft
James Scott Byrnside 