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3/3/2021 0 Comments

All Spooky House Press titles on sale now!

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Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares

Boarded Windows, Dead Leaves

People: A Horror Anthology About Love, Loss, Life & Things That Go Bump in the Night

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10/23/2020 0 Comments

The Missing Piece ...

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Rob here!

​So, I've been working on a story for a while now. It's a weird one, definitely firmly in the realm of "weird fiction," and it was spawned from a really lovely writing group meeting I attended back before the world started ending in March of 2020. 

The story itself is a bizarre one, lacking in answers, but deeply-creepy and strange, and, I like to think, a little touching. At least, that's what some of my critique group members have said. 

And yet, I can't sell the damn thing. 

I've edited the story three times now, more than I have any story that I've sold, and yet, I can't find a buyer or outlet for the thing, even though I think it's strong, and it's been worked on by a few different groups of talented authors, there's some weird reason this thing can't find a home.

It'll end up in my next anthology, for sure, but at the same time, I'd love to find it a temporary first home where folks can read it and get creeped out by it. 

The missing ingredient needs to be found, and even after three re-writes, it's still not there. The point is, your stories and writing won't always be perfect, and more often than not, you won't know the reason why something isn't working. 

The way to fix this is to get involved in writing groups and critique groups. It's a scary thing, for sure, but in the end, the feedback will make you a stronger writer, I promise. Check Facebook, check your local library, join an organization, do whatever you can to get your work looked at by different eyes, and I promise you'll grow from it.

Even when you can't figure out what the missing piece of the puzzle is, like me. 

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10/5/2020 0 Comments

Release: Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares

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Robert P. Ottone's new collection, Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares is now available wherever fine books are sold!

To purchase online:
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

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8/23/2020 0 Comments

Upcoming Reading Dates/Appearances for Robert P. Ottone ...

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Robert P. Ottone will be hosting a number of online readings and events in the month of October in support of his new short story collection Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares.

The dates and locations are as follows: 

October 8th - Galactic Terrors (online)
October 13th - Brentwood Public Library (online registration required) - 7pm
October 14th - Riverhead Public Library (online registration required) - 7pm
October 29th - Jericho Public Library (online registration required) - 2pm
October 29th - Sayville Public Library (Facebook Live) - 7pm

*More To Be Added

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8/19/2020 0 Comments

Two early reviews of Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares

"This is a collection of horror stories that dives into many different types of horror including creepy creatures and supernatural stories with some twists that I didn't see coming. All in all a very solid collection of dark nightmares." - @LastBookOnTheLeft (Instagram)

"One of his greatest strengths is this ability to pull powerful metaphors out of nightmarish horror yarns. Another is his skill in building ominosity in seemingly safe settings, whether it be a Midtown office building or a mountain cabin. Because of that, his psychological horror is especially powerful." - Rebecca Rowland, RowlandBooks.com
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8/17/2020 1 Comment

Trailer and Cover Reveal for Robert P. Ottone's Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares!

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8/7/2020 0 Comments

Boarded Windows, Dead Leaves receives Indies Today's 5-Star Recommended Badge!

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Michael Jess Alexander's collection of masterful horror has received Indies Today's 5-star Recommended Badge! That means they really loved it! 

​​We think you'll love it, too! Get your copy here! 

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7/8/2020 1 Comment

New Release: Boarded Windows, Dead Leaves by Michael Jess Alexander

Hey everybody! Spooky House Press is proud to announce that Michael Jess Alexander's collection of short horror fiction is now available in paperback and pre-order for Kindle from Amazon!

​Please check it out here. 

From the back cover:

From cultish rituals to cosmic horror, Michael Jess Alexander's collection of horror fiction will leave you disquieted and unsettled.

In "Chatterbox," a college professor is haunted by the spirit of a former student.

"A Profound Impact" tells the story of a lost group of people who finally find a place they belong.

In "Space For Amateurs," a science experiment goes horribly awry.
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These tales and six others await you in this haunting volume of horror fiction. 

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3/22/2020 0 Comments

New story featured in Blood Moon Rising Magazine ...

Click here to read Robert P. Ottone's latest story, Support, over at Blood Moon Rising magazine's website! The story will be featured in his next collection, due out in September of 2020.
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12/27/2019 0 Comments

Writing or Reading: The Eternal Struggle

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So here's the thing: I have a ton of books waiting to be read. This isn't a problem, per se, however; it's overwhelming, when my second collection of short stories is just about finished (more on that in the coming weeks), and I'm struggling with a couple of the stories that are in that collection.

Thankfully, I'll be workshopping one of the stories that may get the axe in a couple weeks, depending on how the workshopping goes. It's an experiment into a different kind of horror, in the same way that my first novel, People, was, however, it's in an entirely different direction.  It has more in common with Abbott & Costello than it does Stephen King, that's for sure.

Anyways, years ago, I attended a reading and signing of my literary hero, Bret Easton Ellis' then-new book, Imperial Bedrooms. He talked about the writing process a little bit, and echoed statements I've heard my entire life about writing, that, to be good at it, one must read a ton, as well.  Not just in one's own chosen genre, but in every kind of genre. 

So, I'm at a weird crossroads where I need to figure out if I should take a break from writing to recharge the batteries, post-Holidays, catch up on my reading, or just forge ahead and finish the final, difficult story I'm writing to close out the next collection?

I'm reading John Langan's Sefira and Other Betrayals, which is quite good, but I also have The Exorcist calling my name from my book shelf. I also have Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts to dive into. Not to mention, I have two volumes from the DC Comics showcase collection of Challengers of the Unknown. ​Way too many books, so little time.
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    Robert P. Ottone is an author, teacher, and cigar enthusiast from East Islip, New York. He delights in the creepy.

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