Loren Rhoads's Blog

Twenty years ago, the last issue of Morbid Curiosity magazine saw the light of day. In honor of that anniversary, I am assembling a brand-new bonus issue — #11 — which will be Kickstarted later this month.

I’ve been busily inviting authors and collecting their essays. Believe me when I tell you this is going to do the earlier issues of Morbid Curiosity proud. Contributors include writers who repeatedly confessed in the pages of Morbid Curiosity, writers whose cemetery adventures appeared in Death’s Garden Revisited, and writers new to Automatism Press.

Reviews of the initial run of the magazine said:

“For a decade, Morbid Curiosity was a confessional where Americans revealed their deepest, darkest secrets. The title was no joke: Morbid Curiosity was definitely morbid. It was also frequently gross, disgusting, perverse — and very funny, if you prefer your humor to come in a decidedly dark hue.” — The Washington Post

“Fascinating frontline journalism. If you want to know how people really react to worse-case scenarios without the attendant Springer-style circus punch-ups, here’s some seriously good reading.” — Bizarre magazine

If you’re interested in grabbing a copy of the new issue or if you might like to fill in your Morbid Curiosity  collection, STAY TUNED for details!

A couple of years ago, I had a short story called “Nightbears” in an anthology called Manor of Frights.

The concept of the anthology was really clever: like a vertical tasting, but with short stories. The stories take place in the same house, each one in a different decade.

The official description of the book is:

Imagine a Victorian house where every room is cursed with a frightful existence. Are monsters in the halls? Ghosts left to fester in the library? Or are the rooms themselves enchanted with malevolent energy? What was summoned long ago and what doorways were left open? Manor of Frights is a collection of tales all set in different rooms of the same house.

The audiobook of Manor of Frights came out at the end of last month and I just got a chance to listen to my story. So much fun! The readers did a great job differentiating the voices.

You can get your own copy of the audiobook here.

Pooh cocked an ear. “You hear something?”

“Nothing.” Ted puffed on his cigarette, black eyes shining in the dark bedroom.
Then something scraped against the bedframe below them.

“Hell.” Ted flicked his cigarette off the bed into the darkened bedroom. It vanished in midair. He drew his gun. “Let’s take a look, Pooh.”

Bellies down, the two teddy bears crawled across the bedclothes and peered over the edge of the bed. A scaly arm quested out from below. As Ted watched it, sweat beaded under his police cap.

A second arm joined the first in its search.

“Now?” Pooh whispered as the third arm probed out.

Ted shushed him.

A scaly head followed the arms, poking out from beneath a spill of blankets. Its bat ears swiveled upward at the bears. Its muzzle twitched.

“Banzai!” Pooh shouted as he leapt off the bed. He landed on the thing’s scrawny neck and pinned it to the floor. It reached around, trying to dislodge him. One of its flailing arms knocked the slingshot from Pooh’s grasp. The weapon skittered out of reach.

“Move!” Ted ordered from his position at the edge of the bed. “I can’t get a clear shot!”

“Throw me your gun!”

The monster snarled, baring needle-sharp teeth, and struggled to sweep Pooh from its back. The pudgy bear grabbed the furry tufts under the creature’s ears and held on. The creature bucked and kicked, pinwheeling its scaly arms as it spun in a circle.

Ted watched in horror, certain his companion was doomed. He desperately tossed the pistol and hoped Pooh could spare a hand to catch it.

With uncanny luck, the squirt gun bounced into Pooh’s lap. He fired point-blank into the back of the horror’s head. The monster squealed as water trickled down its nose. Somersaulting to the floor, Pooh fired another shot right between the monster’s reptilian eyes. Hissing like a teapot about to go on the boil, the creature slunk back under the bed, dripping and defeated.

“Get outta here, ya bug-eyed creep!” From his crouch, Pooh stared into its burning eyes and brandished the water pistol, ready to fire again.

Grumbling, the monster retreated into the darkness under the bed and faded from sight.

After blowing imaginary smoke from its barrel, Pooh tossed the squirt gun back up to Ted.

“I got this playing hero, you know.” Ted scowled down at him and lifted his cap, displaying a tattered ear.

“But…” Chastened, Pooh climbed hand over hand back up the bedclothes.

“Just think and be careful.” Ted grabbed the collar of Pooh’s shirt and hauled him up over the edge of the bed.

They both sat on the comforter for a moment—legs stretched in front of them—and caught their breaths. Pooh replayed the fight in his mind and tried to figure out how he could have done things differently. The outcome was exactly what he wanted to happen, so it was hard to see how he could have done things better.

Eventually, Ted asked, “Want a beer?”

“I sure could use one.” Pooh grinned as he tugged the too-small red T-shirt back down over his round belly. Already opened beer bottles appeared in Ted’s paws. He handed one to Pooh.

“Thanks.” Pooh lounged against the sleeping boy’s pillow. His gaze roamed past the Arthurian adventure books on the shelf to the abandoned cardboard castle in the corner, over a jumble of Hot Wheels cars to the karate uniform. Jimmy was growing up quickly and they wouldn’t be able to protect him for much longer. The thought made Pooh terribly sad.

To read the rest, you can treat yourself to a copy of the paperback of Manor of Frights.

The interesting times that we live in continue to escalate, but maybe you’d like to take an hour off to have someone read you a story?

This Wednesday, January 28, at 7 PM PST: I’ll be reading live on Youtube for Story Hour!

Click on the cover to buy a copy of the book.

I’ll read “Black as Shadow, Red as Night, White as Bone” from last year’s anthology Black Cat Tales. In this story, Alondra DeCourval is called to a municipal zoo after something terrible occurred. Some hauntings leave no ghosts. What do you do when the horror has seeped into the very rocks and trees?

I’ll share the hour with Rhiannon Rasmussen, whose work I’m discovering for the first time.

The event is free!

Tomorrow (Thursday, January 15 at 5 PM PST): I’m returning to Strong Women Strange Worlds! I’m going to read one of my favorite spooky short stories from my collection, Unsafe Words. Guaranteed to raise a shiver.

The online reading will include short pieces by L. Briar, S.J. Lee, Diana Morgan, Melissa Olthoff, and Kathleen Palm.

There will be giveaways of free books and other goodies, available exclusively for attendees of this live event.

Come prepared to cheer on the authors. The audience is  encouraged to interact with the authors and audience via the chat function in Zoom. In addition, the authors will stick around after the reading to answer questions.

The event is free, but you need to register in advance on Eventbrite.

See you there!

In the late 90s/early 00s, I published a magazine called Morbid Curiosity. It showcased true confessional stories from writers around the world, telling their deepest, darkest secrets. It was so much fun to assemble! I never knew what I would get in the mail.

Next year will be the 20th anniversary of the final issue. That seems like a good thing to celebrate — and how better to celebrate than to create one more issue?

Got something to get off your chest?

Morbid Curiosity magazine is looking for TRUE 1st-person stories about your encounters with the unsavory, unwise, unorthodox, and unusual. All the dark elements that make life truly worth living!

Bizarre magazine described Morbid Curiosity as “fascinating frontline journalism.” We invite you to be a part of it.

True stories under 2000 words preferred. Reprints are welcome. No POETRY or FICTION.

Morbid Curiosity issue #11 will be funded on Kickstarter in Q1 2026, for publication in October 2026.

Deadline for submissions: December 31, 2025

Here’s a bit more information about Morbid Curiosity magazine.

Issue #10 is the only volume still in print. You can order a copy from me here.

Next weekend (October 25/26) I’ve got two more spooky events planned.

On October 25, I’m joining members of my local chapter of the Horror Writers Association to present an event called “This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Horror” at this year’s Lit Crawl. If you haven’t been before, more than 300 authors perform in three waves on one night. It’s amazing.

We’ll be at Silver Sprocket at 1018 Valencia Street at 8 PM PDT. Participants include Laura Blackwell (“The First Mrs. Edward Rochester Would Like a Word”), Jonathan Fortin (Bloody Caleb), Francesca Maria (They Hide: Stories to Tell in the Dark), Ben Monroe (The Seething), and Fred Wiehe (Stories that Haunt the Mind and Soul).

I’m going to read my story “Protection Spell” from Star Crossed: New Tales of Strange Love, Weird Romance, Polymorphic Passion, and Feverish Fabulism.

The whole Lit Crawl schedule is here.

On Sunday, October 26 at 1 PM PDT, I’m joining the editors and contributors of Black Cat Tales for a book signing at the Barnes & Noble at the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo (CA).

Participants include editors Francesca Maria and Mark Causey, along with contributors Ken Hueler, Sumiko Saulson, and Gregg Stewart.

I’ll be there in support of the anthology, which contains an Alondra story called “Black as Shadow, Red as Blood, White as Bone” that I’m really proud of. However, if you’d like to pick up a copy of 222 Cemeteries to See Before You Die at Barnes & Noble, I’d be glad to sign that for you. too.

Get a copy of the Black Cat Tales book and more details here!

Hosted by Horror Addicts hostess Emerian Rich, local authors read from (and sell!) their horror works. Among those coming are Jonathan Fortin (author of Bloody Caleb), R. L. Merrill (author of For the Witches), J. Malcolm Stewart (author of the Look Back in Horror series), Jay Hartlove (author of The Insane God), Sheryl Hayes (author of Chaos Kin), Valerie Frankel (author of books exploring every fandom), and more.

I’ll be reading from Lost Angels, Unsafe Words, and Still Wish You Were Here. I’ll have fun things to giveaway and books to sell.

Hope to see you in the Oak Room at the San Mateo Main Public Library, 55 W. 3rd Avenue in San Mateo, California, from 2-6 PM.

Here’s the official link. This event is intended for adults. You’ve been warned!

My first event of the season is tonight (October 7), but the fun continues through the rest of the month. (If the graphic doesn’t display correctly for you, you can see my whole schedule with more details on my home page at https://lorenrhoads.com/.

All the events are free, unless you buy books at the Spooky Book Fair or at Barnes & Noble.

Tomorrow, September 17 at 6-7:30 pm PDT Come join the live-streamed launch party for The Fabulist’s new “weird romance” anthology, Star Crossed Vol. 1: New Tales of Strange Love, Weird Romance, Polymorphous Passions & Feverish Fabulism. 

I’ll be reading my story “Protection Spell.” This little ghost story was inspired by author Jenny Bitner, who treated herself to a writing retreat in a lovely old hotel in the Gold Country a couple of years ago. Jenny is also reading her piece from Star Crossed.

I’ve been writing stories about Alondra DeCourval pretty much my entire life. I’ve written almost 30 stories about her as she travels the world meeting supernatural creatures. “Protection Spell” is the first story I’ve written from the point of view of Alondra’s girlfriend Stella.

Contributors reading tomorrow include Alethea Eason, Angela Liu, Claire Anderson, Elizabeth Stix, Jenny Bitner, Jyotsna Sreenivasan, Loren Rhoads, Patricia Flaherty-Pagan, Veronica Montes, and more TBA.

The event is free, but you need to pre-register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-party-star-crossed-vol-1-tales-of-strange-love-weird-romance-registration-1681679070369

Get yourself a copy of the book:

Ebook: https://fabulistmagazine.com/product/star-crossed-vol-1-new-tales-of-strange-love-weird-romance-polymorphous-passion-feverish-fabulism-2/

Print: https://fabulistmagazine.com/product/star-crossed-vol-1-new-tales-of-strange-love-weird-romance-polymorphous-passion-feverish-fabulism/

Whew! The Kickstarter for my new cemetery memoir, Still Wish You Were Here, ended successfully last Saturday. Sixty backers raised over $2100, which will help pay for the final publication details and promotion once the book is out. I am so grateful to them for their faith in the project and their help to get it done.

If you would like to preorder a copy of Still Wish You Were Here, the campaign will stay live on Kickstarter until the end of August. After that, I’ll close the campaign until the book goes on sale in October.

I learned a lot during my second Kickstarter. Three weeks is the right length of time for me. I was exhausted after that and don’t think I have the stamina to plow through another week while juggling the rest of my complicated life. I wish I’d done more advance work, so I’d had more people following the campaign from the start. I also didn’t do any podcasts or guest posts during the campaign this time. I don’t know if they would have helped, but I wished I’d done more work to arrange them.

Now, however, it’s time to finalize the book. I want to listen through the text one last time. I find it easier to hear typos than see them at this point, since my brain is so familiar with the text. I need to put together the index and add the list of backers to thank.

Loren speaking at the San Francisco Columbarium, October 2024. Photo by Mason Jones.

I’ve already started setting up release events for October. On October 16, I will be part of a live in-person book release event at the historic San Francisco Columbarium. I’ll join cemetery authors Amy Shea (Too Poor to Die: The Hidden Realities of Dying in the Margins) and Beth Winegarner (San Francisco’s Forgotten Cemeteries: A Buried History) for an evening of conversation about the subject we’re passionate about. If you can get to San Francisco, this will be quite a night.