A strange growth that will change a man.... People with open umbrellas when no rain is in sight.... An old suitcase with a haunting past and the man who decides to change its future.... A vengeful victim of a house fire.... A mattress that can bring a man hope in his dreams.... A mother so bent that she does the unthinkable to keep "her baby" from growing up.... These are only the catalysts.Stories included in this Ghosts of a CatalystThe Beginning the DreamThe Growth of Alan AshleyDrawn InInquisitor, Inc.You Make My Flesh CrawlKill -13-Icarus FallingBurned OutSnow DayThe Umbrella PeopleStray CatsOld Nelly's High PriceSomething in the PipesFun Gus the Tap Dance ManMommy's Baby Don't Need to Grow Up
Bill Gauthier lives in Southeastern Massachusetts. His collection Catalysts and his novellas Alice on the Shelf and Shadowed are available through Crossroad Press. His novel Echoes on the Pond came out in June 2023 from Macabre Ink/Crossroad Press.
Wow. So let me start off by saying I haven't read too many short stories lately, or a collection of them, at that. With that said, Bill Gauthier put together a fantastic set of them in "Catalysts". I loved it. These stories really pack a punch. Bill does a great job of putting you in the story. I was terrified at some of these stories. "The Umbrella People", and "Snow Day" were my favorites. Put more chills up my arms than some whole novels I've read. If you're into mystery, horror, and thriller type of stories, check out Bill Gauthier. You'll be glad you did!