The Complete Hidden Evil Trilogy: 3 Novels and 4 Shorts of Frightening Horror (PLUS Book I of the Portal Arcane Trilogy)

by J. Thorn

  An Interview

  Abbie Foxton interviewed me in late September of 2013 and her questions were extremely interesting and thoughtful. It’s posted below, with her permission, with a link to the original blog post. *Text is copied from original source.

  From Abbie Foxton (http://abbiefoxton.com/2013/10/31/dark-dreamer/)

  The days spent in the care of my older brothers, (sic) were some of the best and worst memories of my childhood. Horror aficionados, they loved nothing better than to scare me with dark tales and torment. I got the works – ankles grabbed from under beds, hiding in closets, bloodied livers in drawers, tomato sauce entrails, reflected knives at windows, uplit torch stories of headless boyfriends, ghost hitchhikers and mass murderers on the loose. It was so much fun…well, in retrospect.

  One horror event has never left me, forever etched and burned into my psyche. The time they made me watch The Exorcist. They were relentless, I could close my eyes but never escape the noises that filled the air. If I dared tried (sic) to leave the room they would drag me back. I’m proud to say I lasted the whole movie and for a young, vulnerable girl it was a total freak out. We watched it twice. I didn’t realise it at the time, but they helped shape my love for the genre and gave me fuel for my own imaginings.

  But I digress… slightly. Today on this special Halloween blog entry, a celebration with no traditional links in Australia, I wanted to spend it with someone who loves to roll in the fear. I met horror author James Thorn by chance (as you do), on twitter, many full moons ago. I was a virgin blogger and his page stood out. His professionalism, prolific interactions and generous nature had me hooked. Always willing to share his knowledge, I admired his dedication – his energy contagious. His interviews and topics on his blog are eclectic and I sunk my teeth into all of it. Then I discovered he was also a musician, a lover of Metal! ching, ching!

  I remember when I first read your blog, I thought here is a writer with smarts…

  “Fooled you! Seriously, thanks for that. My blog has always been a representation of not only who I am as an artist but also who I am as a person. I find one-dimensional people boring. I don’t want to go to a party and have conversations about one thing all night long, no matter how interesting it might be. So I kind of approach my website that way. It’s a bit scattered in topics but they’re all ones I find interesting, people I find interesting. I love heavy metal and horror but lots of things catch my attention. I’m a naturally curious person and so I’m glad that comes through on the blog. Of course the blog is meant to build my platform and sell my art, but it’s too much work to use it just for that”. (sic)

  It is the norm these days for authors to get out into the public via social media. I sniff out quickly those that have no idea how to use these promoting techniques, getting people to tweet on their behalf – I’m pleased to see that you keep it real, you are very hands on.

  “It’s interesting, I don’t have enough friends to have someone tweet on my behalf. Like the blog, I try to keep my social media interactions real and I try to post/tweet about things we all experience. Some musicians post only about their band/recording/performing. Some authors post only about their writing/editing. Again, that’s one dimensional and I think it alienates people. On the blog and social media, I’m just me and people will either take it or leave it”. (sic)

  That’s what I found the most intriguing and interesting about your blog, the parts of you, still somewhat related to metal and horror but gave you a platform to discuss related topics. You dabble in other blogs and forums, one I read Disinfo.com. (sic)

  “The site has been around a long time (in internet time) and I’ve always read it. It’s an odd collection of weird stories and perspectives. Disinfo.com doesn’t write the material, they mostly aggregate it. Anyways, I approached them a few months ago about being a contributor and they brought me in with open arms. Sometimes I blurb the front end of the story and link to the source and sometimes my blog is the source. Either way, they get more content and I get a wider reach to people I would naturally talk to offline”. (sic)

  There is so much more of your work to read. I am still a J Thorn novice, but intend to be an expert soon. I got sidetracked from reading due to the magick pull of your band Threefold Law – Oops!

  But back to your books, do you see any recurring themes of horror, monsters, inner demons that can’t escape your ink?

  “Themes are interesting. I don’t set out to write thematic novels; they just happen that way. I don’t plot or outline anything. I have a great sense of where my stories will go but I get bored with all the planning/outlining and if it bores me it will certainly bore the reader. I’ve struggled with addictions and anxieties like many other people. That feeling of gloom, isolation, depression; those show up in my work because they are universal and no matter how happy you are, you’ll experience those feelings at some point. I find that writing and reading about it is like therapy. Some people would rather not and I get that. But it helps me stay sane…a little bit.”

  So true… I love your sense of suburbia in your writing, you don’t have your head in the clouds, you write an everyday tale, great observations of your surroundings, mundane becomes beautiful and comforting.

  “Write what you know” is somewhat controversial advice that seems to be in most books on writing. I don’t know serial killers, ghosts and clouds of doom. I do, however know my own history. So I think I transplant the supernatural world that I create into the one that I have lived. In a way, it’s less work. I grew up in suburbia and so I don’t have to research it”. (sic)

  In your writing, novels and lyrics you dabble in paganism. Such a great topic to explore and be influenced by. What is it that appeals to you. I sense you have strong beliefs in a karmic law and the power of the mind?

  “I’ve had a few trolls try to corner me on religion and such. I honestly don’t know. I don’t believe in a god that sits in the clouds and sends hurricanes to the East Coast or wants all ‘fags’ dead. I think that’s nonsense. I’m also turned off by the loud mouth atheists that want to convince everyone they’re right. So now that I’ve just pissed off 98% of the people in the world, LOL… None of us know with certainty. A preacher or priest or shaman can tell you something but you don’t really know. Because of that, I try my best to treat each person I meet as if they were my son, or daughter, or brother, or sister. I know that makes me sound like a hippy, but I think it’s that simple. If we quit trying to force others to adopt our beliefs we could have a lot more fun. I’d rather argue about who should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame than whether it’s your god or my god that’s in heaven”. (sic)

  Well it’s not too much peace, love and mung beans but I totally understand. I suppose I’m trying to find what stimulates your lyrics and writing. Though they are equally the same. You are like a performance artist. You’re conceptual, words, music and visuals are equally important in telling your stories. One theme I wanted to touch on was religion. As a lapsed Catholic girl I can see the smoke, the sweet scented smell of sin, sacrament and confession. Where does this fit in with your novels?

  “Lapsed Catholic girls are the naughtiest, LOL! I was raised a Catholic as well, went to Catholic school, was an altar boy, etc. My parents are still devout. When The Seventh Seal was released I took a storm of criticism from fundamental Christians about it. The truth is, I have nothing against Christianity and my whole reason for using the priest as the ‘bad guy’ in that book was to tell a tired story in a new way. I could have made the bad guy a rabbi and the story would not have changed. I didn’t use it as a way to take a punch at Catholicism. I have many friends of different faiths and I respect them. However, for me, religion has not improved my life. I worry about the extremists and what that does to the world when people of any faith believe that ‘heaven’ comes after you die. If that’s the case, it’s hard to find a way to make people nice to each other while they’re here”. (sic)

  I suppose these Pagan themes are more pr
ominent through your music?

  “When Angus (guitarist in Threefold Law) and I settled on the name, we clearly had an interest in the occult, mysticism etc. For me, it’s pure imagination. I love exploring worlds unlike my own and that’s what drives a lot of the lyrics and symbolism in both my writing and in Threefold Law. I love art that has layers. It’s like listening to your favourite album and hearing something for the first time on your 1000th listen, that’s the best way I can describe it”. (sic)

  Angus seems more ‘old school’, I was giggling to myself thinking Earth rolls a little like KISS and he said in your flashdrive release that they had a big influence on him. He is pretty cool from what I see.

  “Angus is just a little more old, period. Ha! Angus is an (sic) unique guy. I’m not sure I’ve ever said this to him and he’d probably crack a joke about it if I did, but he’s the primary reason I’m doing what I am today. When we first got together to jam in 2005, I was playing bass. He was the one that encouraged me to step up to the mic and helped me learn to play guitar. The floodgates opened after that and included my novel writing. He never once wavered, never once doubted me, and having his vote of confidence was amazing. I consider him a brother. And to his credit, he’s open-minded and embraces change. He’s also very observant and he’s seen the change in buying habits too. The video on the MMX flash drive release is 3 years old and in this day and age, that’s almost a generation”. (sic)

  Ha! so true. And what a riff monster!

  “He writes some of the best riffs ever. I remember him breaking out The Burning Time at practice one night and I almost fell to the floor. It was so pure and heavy. He does that all the time. I think the guy has a thousand riffs just trying to break out of his fingers. The intro to Earth is my favourite thing to play live. There is an energy on stage, when Angus and I harmonize on the riff it’s brutal. I would play an entire set just to get to play that song”. (sic)

  That, I would love to see. Threefold Law is a Wican (sic) term – energy you give back is returned threefold. If this is true, James is going to form another sun. Do you find it difficult to manage so many hats – writer, musician, family man, running your brand empire?

  “The Threefold Law is a simple, timeless concept. You’ve pretty much got the gist. As far as managing my life, I don’t see it as a burden. I enjoy every moment. I make the most out of each day I’m given and so I try to create rather than destroy. I’m human and I rant and complain like everyone else, but I don’t want to look back at my life and wish I had spent more time writing, playing music, or playing with my kids. Its (sic) easy to get caught up in the negativity and dwell on jealousy and mean-spirited conversations, and I have to really try hard not to let that happen. When I read some of the vicious reviews folks put up on Amazon, about one of my books or another author’s work, I honestly feel sorry for those people. It would be a sad life spent getting off on knocking other people down”. (sic)

  I am also a member of James’ writers group The Keepers. I love his philosophy. It’s a place where we can all benefit, we may not all be writers, but readers having input, makes us ask and answer questions that help clear your head, kill your darlings, keep you focused. Do you work better in a group environment, does it help stimulate and help you fine tune your work?

  “I work best by myself, other than Threefold Law. The Keepers was really about connecting with readers and giving them a part of the creative process. As an author, I want to make sure I’m writing stories that people want to read. Before I started the group, I imagined what it would be like if Stephen King asked me what he should write his next book about. Stephen King obviously can’t do that in an intimate way, but I can – for now. I’ve put my phone number on my blog, in my twitter bio, etc. I want people to have a say in their entertainment and that in turn motivates me. There are different levels of interaction and collaboration in The Keepers and although I was targeting readers I encourage anyone to join”. (sic)

  I’m looking forward to how this level of interaction will develop. James and I have been bouncing back ideas and a future collaboration is on the cards – looking forward to a slow walk into some dark spaces. We all become your muse, my inner demons can be confronted by your pen. It would be cool to see something I may suggest come up in your next chapters. Brainstorming can be very helpful to a writer, just bouncing back ideas but ultimately it is your original voice that the fans want to hear.

  “It’s different than a beta read which many authors do. In a beta read, you get a draft of a novel and provide the feedback. I’m giving The Keepers’ (sic) a chance to provide feedback before I start writing. Not always and I won’t always use every piece of feedback, but I can tell you that the folks that were part of a recent conference call are going to love the conclusion to The Hidden Evil.

  Before the Realm: Inception, Act I

  Salem 1692

  The red devil’s stone ax split her mother’s skull every time she closed her eyes, the gruesome scene playing over and over again in her head. Mary would be pleased with three hours of sleep. Maybe two. But most nights she laid awake, listening to her uncle’s snores and watching the spiderweb flitter in the night’s chill. Her mother’s brother took her in as a gesture of condolence as well as empathy. Mary hated tending to the animals and standing over the hearth while the fire singed the bottom of her skirt, but the relative safety of the village was preferable to the vulnerability on the world’s edge, the place where the red devils could ride out of hell and bludgeon your family to death with a wicked reckoning.

  Mary sat up and pushed the thin, woolen blanket off of her feet and tucked the edges around Bridget’s neck. The gaps in the shake let the chilly, autumn air seep into the home. Her uncle refused to burn the firewood before the first frost in hopes that it would last until the first thaw. She crept out of the room and pushed the heavy door outward. The rows of cornstalks swayed and rustled like murmuring children. The aroma of ripe apples, leaves, and the inevitable winter shook the sleep from Mary’s head.

  “I’m not going tonight,” she said in a hushed whisper. She knew it was a lie. She was going whether she wanted to or not.

  She turned to the right, toward the forest and the narrow path at the eastern end of the Parris farm. For a moment, Mary thought she saw the flicker of his eyes. She looked up at the crescent moon in a cloudless sky, and when she looked back they were gone. She stood still, the autumn woods soft and gentle but also smothering the hidden evil.

  You must come to me to save yourself.

  Mary tired of the call and shook her head, as if to loosen the words from inside and spill them onto the ground. The Black Man spoke as if he controlled her every action, and in a way, he did.

  “I’m tired. I wish to sleep and rest my weary bones.”

  You are barely a woman, a child on the cusp of adulthood. Your bones are not old enough to be weary. Come to me so we can continue the apprenticeship.

  “I don’t want to any longer. The Reverend, he preaches of the clutches of Lucifer and—”

  The Reverend wishes nothing more than to push his diseased appendage into your warm folds. He has sick, demented fantasies in his head, and they are not the work of Satan.

  Mary sighed and turned to look back at the door of the family’s home. Her feet pulled her toward the safety of the warm bedding until the vision of blood on the pillow filled her head again, the memory of the red devil’s ax buried in her father’s head. She turned away from the door and its memories and looked again at the path leading into the forest. She took a step toward the trees and out of the moon’s meager light.

  ***

  His cape hung on broad shoulders and cut through the air like a black knife. He never faced her, never revealed his eyes. The rim of his black hat glistened with moisture as the deepest depths of night turned toward dawn. The sun would not breach the horizon for several more hours, leaving Mary and the Black Man alone. She knew none of the others would be joining them. Mary dreaded these meetings m
ore than all the rest.

  “Harvest. The solstice comes soon thereafter.”

  “You did not beckon me from sleep to speak of fall plantings.”

  “No, I did not,” said the Black Man.

  He stepped around the struggling fire burning inside a white star drawn on the freshly scraped earth of the forest, crackling leaves pushed to the perimeter in fluffy mounds. Mary took a step backward until her shoulders felt the bite of sharp bark at her back.

  “I fear they’ll return. The red devils. I want your protection,” she said as he stood in front of her. His hat floated nearly seven feet from the ground.

  “I shall protect you from their savagery,” he replied.

  “I know and that is why I am here. I want the power of darkness to keep the beasts at bay.”

  “And I have provided that protection, have I not?”

  Mary nodded as she felt his cold grip on her breasts.

  “When the final judgment comes to this village, you will deliver the weak to me and I will spare your soul.”

  Mary hitched up her skirt and turned around, wrapping her arms around the tree. She felt him enter, which forced a tear from her eye. She bit her lip until it bled and that pain was the only thing she could feel.

  ***

  “What is meant here by Devils? One of you is a devil, a wicked angel or spirit in service of the Dark Prince, the Black Man, and his fallen angels. He uses the flesh for vile and wicked deeds, the worst of such, their villainy and impiety do not resemble devils and wicked spirits. Thus Christ, in our text, calls Judas a devil, for his great likeness to the Devil and his betrayal of God’s only son. For he was a man, but a devil in likeness and operation. Ye are of your Father, the Devil.”