The Demon of Walker's Woods

by Dan Dillard

An envelope from an old friend holds an obituary that should bring one man peace. He's been haunted by nightmares of his childhood neighborhood for decades. The memories flood back in detail of that last summer and fall with his friends, with his brother, and with the demon that lived in the house down the street.

From the collection, "Demons and Other Inconveniences"

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Short Stories, Vampires, Fantasy, Humor, Ebooks

Nook

First published April 14, 2010

About the author

Just write!
Dan writes. Well, actually, he types... so he's more of a typist than a writer. If he's any good at it is really up to you, and none of his business.

Leave a review, seriously, it's okay.

Dan lives in small town Midwest and writes and makes short films. He owes his imagination to his two beautiful children, and the guts to put it out there to a loving...and patient wife.

If you'd like more info, he's on facebook and instagram... just ask him.

for more info:

IG @demonauthor_films
http://www.facebook.com/DemonAuthor

Reviews

[Olethros · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Agradable brevedad.-

Género. Relato.

Lo que nos cuenta. Bob pone su caso en manos de una doctora, ya que desde que le convirtieron en vampiro hace tres semanas no acaba de encontrarse cómodo en su nueva condición. Relato que forma parte de la recopilación “Demons and Other Inconveniences” del mismo autor.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Not Now...Mommy's Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading Demons and Other Inconveniences by Dan Dillard, a few of the thoughts that ran through my mind were as follows:

- How did he do that? (awe)
- Why did he do that? (silently sobbing)
- Wow.
- He’s my new best friend.
- Curse you Dan Dillard!!!
- Did I lock the front door?
- I need a brighter night light.
- Just…wow.
- This man is either brilliant in his writing or one of the most creatively gifted psychopaths I know.
- What’s the balance in my checking account? I must purchase everything he’s written!
- What’s the balance in the childrens’ college fund? I must purchase everything he’s written!
- SO MANY FEELS!!!
- Would it be blasphemy to call him the god (little g) of horror for the new millennia?

Seriously folks, I battled back and forth between giving this book a rating of 4.5 and a 5 because this would be the second rating of 5 I’ve given a book in a limited number of reviews and I didn’t want to be thought of as the reviewer who hands out 5’s like Ritalin in a class of first-graders the day after Halloween. Yet to give this masterpiece anything less than a 5 would be doing it, the author, and me as a reviewer and book fan-atic a huge injustice. The only negative thing I could point out about this book is the hideous cover which might have prevented me from reading this book under different circumstances. Hopefully others will stick to the old adage of "don’t judge a book by its cover" and snatch up a copy of Demons and Other Inconveniences.

When reviewing anthologies, I like to give each story its own rating with a rating of five stars being ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT, 3 stars being Meh, It Was Okay and 1 star being Could Have Went Without Reading. My rating for the stories included in Demons and Other Inconveniences are as follows:

Rolling Meadows – 5 (I adored the main character in this story and found myself amazed at how Dan Dillard could create characters that you feel like you knew or wanted to know. A great story that takes place in a setting you don’t read about often in horror – a retirement home.)

Pig Man – 4 (The title alone gave me the creeps. After viewing the original Amityville horror, I have a thing with pig sightings of any kind. This story reiterates why.)

Confessions – 5 (Every mother’s worse nightmare.)

The Trash Menagerie – 3.5 (I would say this was the weakest story in the collection. Yet even Dillard’s "bad" is good.)

Infestation of the Third Kind – 5 (This story deserved more than a rating of 5! It went above and beyond! Seriously! Sci-fi has to be one of my least favorite genres but this post-apocalyptic tale with a sci-fi twist was genius! I did not want it to end and have considered contacting the author to politely request, beg, or subtly demand he turn this short into a full-length novel!)

IndiviDUALITY – 4 (I actually liked the protagonist in this story. His views on individuality, religion, society, etc. gave one food for thoughts and I even found myself nodding in agreement from time to time. Too bad he was a homicidal maniac.)

Anticipation – 4.5 (Wow! I did not see that one coming!)

Geometry – 3.5 (I enjoyed this story yet wish there was a definite conclusion. I suppose that was the entire point of this tale, however.)

Ingrate – 4 (I knew there was a reason I didn’t care much for dogs.)

Amber Alert – 5 (Chilling story. Word of warning to fellow ‘carnivores’ – don’t read this while eating.)

My Mind’s Eye – 4.5 (Admittedly, I first thought this to be the least favorite story in the collection and was tempted to skim through it but am so glad I did not. Once my mind wrapped around what this story was about and realized the truth of it, by its conclusion – I was shook up for a few minutes. Brilliantly executed.)

The Wrong Place – 4 (Ha! Unique twist to what I believed to be a predictable story.)

Never Judge a Book – 5 (Another great story with an unexpected ending. I laughed out loud several times while reading.)

The Frank Diary of Anne – 4.5 (Haunting. Left me wondering about the fate of "baby dearest".)

Unlucky in Death – 4.5 (Bob the hippie/surfer/stoner who happens to also be the most fascinating and hilarious vampire caused me to bump this rating up by .5)

Rotten Luck – 5 (This story is why I love short stories! When an author can, in a few short pages, convincingly and expertly tell a story that totally engages all of your senses in a way that leaves you wanting more yet feeling completely satisfied at the same time – that author has mastered the short story! Another reason that this story rocked? Zombies. Enough said.

The Demon of Walker’s Woods – 5 (This story was an emotional roller coaster ride. One minute I thought I knew what was going on and then Bam! I’m hit with something that leads me down a different path. A tale that will resonate with just about every adult who had the "scary old witch" in their neighborhood.)

Although it wasn’t mentioned in the table of contents (or list of scaries as Mr. Dillard refers to it), It is a Pleasure to Meet You is a poem that introduces the reader to the distorted world of Dan Dillard and lets them know they are in for a treat. I read it four times with awe and appreciation before I could proceed with the rest of the book. In fact, I thought I’d read this brilliant little piece and then shut down my Kindle for the night…er, early morning…but lo and behold and an hour and a half later, I was half-way through the sixth story and reminded again of why I love the horror genre. (Originally reviewed for Risque Reviews)

[Monster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demons, vampires, and things that go bump in the night. What scares you? Is something the future may hold? Is it a murderer of innocent children? What about the old woman living alone down the street? All of these and more can be found in the short stories contained in Demons and Other Inconveniences. Dan Dillard has quite the imagination and has some great stories here.
Some of my favorite stories in the collection include “Amber Alert”, about a child that’s gone missing in a small town, and the horrifying realization of who is actually responsible; “Unlucky in Death”, about a newly-turned vampire who faints at the sight of blood; “Never Judge a Book”, about Jack who runs into some pretty scary creatures on his walk home—this is a funny one; and “My Mind’s Eye”, about what goes through the mind of a potential killer.
Other notable stories include “The Trash Menagerie”, which takes an interesting look at hoarding; “Pig Man”, about what a little girl sees in the middle of the night—quite terrifying; “The Demon of Walker’s Woods”, about the imaginations of a group of small-town children one summer; and “Anticipation” about someone just waiting to die at the hands of others—and the surprise of “who” it is.
There isn’t a bad story in the collection. I look forward to reading more from Dan Dillard in the future. I definitely recommend this one.
Contains: Mild language and violence
Review by Colleen Wanglund

[megHan · Rating 4 out of 5]

(short story)

This was a short story I found months ago (a whole slew of his stuff was on sale for free on Amazon and I grabbed them because the stories sounded interesting), but then somehow forgot about them (there are lots on my Kindle, so this is easily understood). I decided that since it is a month of horrors, to pull 'em out and give 'em a read - and noticed that, sadly, and for some unknown reason, that this one is no longer available on Amazon. Too bad because it is one that I would recommend, so if you have a Kindle, contact me and I'll be glad to lend it to you.

In his description, he likens it to "early Stephen King and To Kill a Mockingbird," which I can completely see. When reading it, if you look at what is going on through the eyes of a child, you can really see how this could be a scary event. And the ending - totally messed up.

[Chrystal Mahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demons and Other Inconveniences is a masterful blend of horror, dark humor, and psychological terror. Dan Dillard’s collection of eerie tales explores both supernatural and real-life demons, making each story as unsettling as it is thought-provoking. The narration adds an extra layer of immersion, pulling listeners into a world where fear lurks in every shadow. With unexpected twists and chilling storytelling, this audiobook is a must-listen for anyone who loves their horror with a side of wit and a lingering sense of dread.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Free on my Kindle.....

Very short, cute story I think the author could possibly do a funny sarcatisc longer story and sell his work.

[Jackie M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way too short. Kinda reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode.

[Gwen - Chew & Digest Books - · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never should have read this on my iPod while trying to go to sleep. There was a Pig Man chasing me in my dreams!

[Reva Nowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this once night, right before bed. I admit, it freaked me out a tiny bit. I liked it.

[Dahne Yeager · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible variety.....

I actually stumbled upon Demons and Other Inconveniences by accident. I truly need to have more accidents exactly like this one! Dan Dillard offers an incredible variety of stories in this collection that run from terrifying to humorous and a just about everything in between. I had to stop more than once to double check that this is a single author's work and not an anthology of writers. It has been a long time since I was this impressed right out of the gate. So much so that I purchased 4 more of his books before I wrote this review. Do yourself a favor. Follow my lead.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the collection, "Demons and Other Inconveniences,"

We all have demons. This man has lived with his for thirty years. An envelope from an old friend holds an obituary that should bring him closure. As he shares memories of the old woman who lived down the street from his childhood home, he's not sure it will.

This short story is just thirty-five pages long, so it's a quick and easy read. There was potential for this story to be a bit longer.

#KindleBook

[Cher riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exellent!

I really like this writer,his stories are funny sometimes, scary sometimes, and both sometimes. Like his characters and he puts it together quite well. Very good book and looking forward to more! Thank you for your time and effort in this book.Please keep writing.

[Marc Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

As good as Stephen Kings very best books of short stories. The monsters and characters are completely original and scary.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an ok book for me!

[Christopher Armani · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky and fun read.

[Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Great mix of horror stories
Definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a great horror
Not your happy ending feel good stories but the shiver up your spine

[Miranda · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story line is super slow and boring I never give books one star and then I read this. Don't wast your time, go read The House Of The Scorpion its so much better.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting Book

The book was a decent length it held your interest but some of the description was much too long and drawn out. Overall, a okay read.

[Michael James Wilbur · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little collection of scary stories with a bit of fun thrown in the mix. A definite must-have for those looking for their spooky fix.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Originally published at Red Adept Reviews.)

Overall: 3 1/2 Stars
Plot/Storyline: 3 1/2 Stars

Pig Man was genuinely scary at times, particularly the final scene. Some of this might be residual childhood trauma over Jodie the Pig in Amityville Horror. Of course, I read Amityville Horror probably ten times, so what does that say about me? I think though that the author also managed to portray how scary it is to be an adult at home with a young child when the house settles, let alone when there's a real threat.

However, upon finishing Pig Man, readers will realize that there is a bit of a narrative cheat at work, an improbability in the storytelling. My guess is this was deliberate in order to jar the reader. It was an interesting gamble and, while I think it added to my surprise, I finished the story feeling a bit tricked.

Characters: 3 1/2 Stars

Pig Man is told from the point of view of a mother who is home with alone with her young daughter, unless you count the dog, while her husband is away on business. Although this was a short story, and there wasn't much time to flesh out the character, I felt like I had an understanding of this woman. She seemed to be chilled by her daughter's stories about Pig Man before most people would be, but I don't think it's a spoiler to say she wasn't wrong.

Writing Style: 3 1/2 Stars

The first part of the story often felt like it could have been tighter and used to ratchet up the fear more. There was a sense that everything leading up to the last scene was not the best version of the story that the author was capable of, because, as mentioned, the ending was beyond scary and a notch above the rest.

What I liked a lot was the author's sly sense of humor. I heard myself laugh out of surprise twice at lines I didn't see coming and which struck me as very amusing. I loved those moments and love them in particular when used in horror to momentarily defuse tension before everything goes to heck.

None of the characters in the story are named. I can see where that could work, but I kept thinking of Jim Dear and Darling from Lady and The Tramp.

Editing : 3 1/2 Stars

Aside from the sense that there should have been more commas as a stylistic preference, there were also a few commas inarguably just missing. Formatting was a bit wonky, with a tendency for whole paragraphs at a time to right justify. There was one hodge-podge sentence -- that's what I call it when an author rethinks wording, but accidentally leaves traces of the original sentence.
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[Colleen Wanglund · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEMONS AND OTHER INCONVENIENCES
By Dan Dillard


Demons, vampires, and things that go bump in the night. What scares you? Is something the future may hold? Is it a murderer of innocent children? What about the old woman living alone down the street? All of these and more can be found in the short stories contained in DEMONS AND OTHER INCONVENIENCES. Dan Dillard has quite the imagination and has some great stories here.
Some of my favorite stories in the collection include AMBER ALERT about a child that’s gone missing in a small town and the horrifying realization of who is actually responsible; UNLUCKY IN DEATH about a newly-turned vampire who faints at the sight of blood; NEVER JUDGE A BOOK about Jack who runs into some pretty scary creatures on his walk home—this is a funny one, too; and MY MIND’S EYE about what goes through the mind of a potential killer.
Other notable stories include THE TRASH MENAGERIE which takes an interesting look at hoarding; PIG MAN about what a little girl sees in the middle of the night—quite terrifying; THE DEMON OF WALKER’S WOODS about the imaginations of a group of small-town children one summer; and ANTICIPATION about someone just waiting to die at the hands of others—and the surprise of “who” it is.
Overall, there isn’t a bad story in the collection. I look forward to reading more from Dan Dillard in the future.

[Brandi Aquino · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always Dillard grabbed my attention from the get go. This story was filled with good humor and not so much gruesome horror as the last ones I read, but it was still an excellent read as far as I'm concerned. Unlucky in Death was far less polished than some of the others I've read, but nothing that really interfered with readability so I can't complain.

Here's a quick rundown-
David has been turned into a vampire and isn't really handling it well. In fact, he's decided to see a shrink. He misses his old life of waking up early and enjoying the sun, and eating Italian, because, dammit, he loves garlic! But all that has changed now, and worst of all, he's terrified of blood. Just thinking about it makes him pass out, poor guy. So what is a vampire to do? Get high, apparently. Thankfully, Bob, his creator slash surfer dude slash bum, has his back.


I had a fun time reading this and I can't wait to read more of Dillard's creations. He truly is a great writer.

[Brandi Aquino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great story! This one reminded me of a cross between a children's fairytale and the movie Stand By Me, namely because of the summertime adventure and the friendship the children otherwise would not have had they still been in school, separated by clicks and whatnot.

I have to say, this story gave me a good creep out. The descriptions were fantastic and the relationship between the children, their thought processes and so on took me back to when I was little. Dillard really captured the child-like imagination.

Without giving anything away, I have to say that I was torn between whether or not what the children believed was just their imaginations running wild, or the truth. All the way to the end I was guessing and I am so glad it took the turn that it did!

You're fearless in your writing, Dan, and I love it! Keep it up!

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author: Dan Dillard
Published: 14/04/2010
Recommended for: short horror stories
Edition: Kindle

I found this novel on the Kindle Store for free and so I thought that I would give it a go. This book to me sounded quite intriguing and sounded like a good one to read. I thought that it was well written and did a good job at keeping hold of the readers attention and kept a nice even pace through out which means there isn't a dull bit to read. This is one of the books I have read by Dan Dillard and I would definately still read more books by him. It did seem rather impossible that the demon could have done it, but for me I would prefer it to not be realistic when it is dealing with a demon (!)

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic short story that gives the Vampire genre a huge kick up the backside with the narrator not only hating the fact he's been turned but also being unable to feed as he faints at the very thought of blood as well as being a lover of garlic (none of which bodes well for life as a vampire). So he seeks the help of a psychiatrist and in doing so finds his attacker, a Vegan surf dude vampire called Bob who helps him overcome his aversion to blood the only way he knows how. Simple yet thoroughly engrossing this is a superb read and I can't wait to get my teeth into Dillard's other work.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long short story.
Kids can have a wild imagination when it comes to making up stories about the crazy old woman who lives next door. But maybe their imagination isn't enough!
Today must have been Dan Dillard Day. I knocked out 5 of his short stories. He's a talented writer. He describes himself as "a normal guy. My brain just doesn't rattle quite right." That's true. But that weird rattle created great horror/suspense stories and he can turn a nice phrase. An example:
An old crusty cyclone fence lined the perimeter and weeds climbed it trying to escape.
I'd recommend any of his work. Quite enjoyed them although, like any writer, some are better than others.

[Brandi Aquino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pig Man has everything I look for in a story but never seem to get. It has suspense, humor, drama, and a healthy does of horror.

Dan Dillard crafted a brilliant story of a tired mother who, stuck in her daily grind and her husband out of town, is woken up one night with her six year old telling her a Pig Man was in the house. If that isn't eerie enough, the creep factor gets turned up notch by notch until the gruesome end.

This is what I want in a story, for the author to be unafraid of shocking the audience. Dillard took it to the very horrifying and brutal end in a way that plagues the psyche of most people, abnormal or otherwise! Terrific read all the way around.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most neighborhoods have one - a decrepit house on a deserted corner, inhabited by a smelly, scary old woman who children have been told eats those who stray into her yard. When a group of kids spend their summer watching the Demon Woman of Walker's Woods, they're intent on finding out what rumors are true and what is false. But in the end, what their imaginations thought up might not even be close to the horrifying truth. This is a creepy, creepy story! If you're a fan of horror tales, be sure to pick up this short little read. Well worth the time I spent reading it, but I hope I won't have nightmares!

[Brandi Aquino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and interesting story. I know some have said that the title was distasteful, but I find it to be a humorous twist. But then, maybe I'm just as warped as Dan claims to be ;)

The story follows a new mother's journal writings from the day she gives birth to a beautiful baby boy to the day the police investigate the grizzly crime scene that is her home. I'm not exactly sure what her son is, and I don't want to give anything away by getting too into the storyline, but he's clearly not normal and definitely dangerous. By the end one thing is made perfectly clear: a mother's love knows no bounds...but maybe it should.

Great short read that made me shiver a little!

[Kellie Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a few Dan Dillard books and have thoroughly enjoyed them and this one has not let me down. Though it is not gorey like his other works it is, however, hilarious.

This short story is about a vampire that hates being a vampire. He loves garlic, early mornings, and loves bacon. If losing all of his loves in life, when he was turned, wasn't bad enough, he faints at the sight of blood. He now has to find a way to feed and not faint, which brings him back to his maker.

This is a short but hilarious adventure that is worth the few minutes it takes to read. With his twisted stories and the comedy he incorporates, Dan Dillard is truely a diamond in the rough.