Mooner

by Selah Janel

Like many young men at the end of the 1800s, Bill signed on to work in a logging camp. The work is brutal, but it promised a fast paycheck with which he can start his life. Unfortunately, his role model is Big John. Not only is he the camp's hero, but he's known for spending his pay as fast as he makes it. On a cold Saturday night they enter Red's Saloon to forget the work that takes the sweat and lives of so many men their age. Red may have plans for their whiskey money, but something else lurks in the shadows. It watches and badly wants a drink that has nothing to do with alcohol. Can Bill make it back out the shabby door, or does someone else have their own plans for his future?

Kindle Edition

First published January 23, 2012

About the author

Selah Janel has been blessed with a giant imagination since she was little when she wondered if fairies lived in the nearby state park and worried that vampires hid in the old barns outside of town. Her appreciation for a good story was enhanced by a love of reading, the many talented storytellers that surrounded her, and a healthy curiosity for everything. A talent for warping everything she learned didn’t hurt, either.

She gravitates to writing fantasy and horror but has a deep love of children’s and YA literature and can be convinced to pursue any genre if the idea is good enough. Often her stories feature the unknown creeping into the “real” world and she loves to find the magical in the mundane.

Her first title ‘Mooner’ is a historical, vampire-centric horror story from No Boundaries Press. She will have stories included in upcoming issues of 'The MacGuffin,' 'The Realm Beyond,' and the 2012 Wicked East Press Anthology 'Bedtime Stories for Girls.' She also writes about women's roles and perceptions in genre fiction and film for the Fandom Fest blog Fandom Scene.

Reviews

[David Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read recently is Mooner by Selah Janel. This is a historical horror story set in an 1800’s saloon and centers on a worker in a logging camp named Bill. Bill is trying to make enough money to start a new life and his path to doing that is a hard job that many men can’t handle. His role model is Big John and after a hard day’s work they head up to the bar, but what they don’t know is that someone else has plans for them. The setting really comes to life in this one, as the story begins you really feel like you are in an 1800’s bar. The description of it and the language used really adds to the atmosphere and you feel like you are in a different time. To show how much research went into this little vampire tale, there is even a little glossary of terms in the back. It amazes me how much research went into this little tale and the payoff is a horror story that sticks with you.

You really feel for Bill in this story as you get the impression he doesn’t fit in at the bar and he is the only one that pays for his drinks. Even without the vampire element you get the impression that this would be good historical fiction and it has some great characters. There is a sense of building dread as a stranger comes into the bar and only three people seem to understand what’s happening as the other patrons get the stranger to perform tasks for drinks. This is a masterfully told story that had me thinking of the old Tales From The Crypt comic. The vampire is terrifying and sympathetic and for a short story it still has a couple of great twists, this is a must read for horror fans. Considering how good Mooner is I would love to read a longer historical horror novel from Selah Janel.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Selah Janel’s MOONER drops the reader into a historical saloon where the whiskey isn’t the only drink in town.

Bill has his life planned out: earn a fast paycheck in logging, get out of town, and settle down with a new wife. Big John, however, has other plans for his friend. When the two enter Red’s Saloon, everything changes. A mysterious recluse has a proposition for the two men. Bill must figure out how to satiate the recluse’s strong thirst, or he might lose everything he’s worked for.

MOONER builds the tension to a surprise ending. Janel does a brilliant job making readers feel like they’re in this late 19th century saloon in a cold logging town. The dialogue felt realistic. A few of the characters were a bit clichéd, such as Big John, but I enjoyed how the story progressed. The creepiness seeps into the pages. The mention of the Mooners is brilliantly placed, and the creation of this vampire-like creature is fascinating. For me, some of the details slowed the pace at the beginning, but it picked right up to the very end.

MOONER by Selah Janel creates a tense horror leaning toward the psychological and building up to a gory ending. It’s a quick and fun read.

[Sandy Wolters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: Mooner
Author: Selah Janel
Genre: Horror
Length: 20 Pages
Currently Available: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

There are things that live in the woods that will hurt you.

This story takes place in the late 1800s and focuses on the evil ways of loggers enjoying themselves at that time. Big John is seen as the camp golden boy. He's been logging and throwing his money to drink for many years. There are a few men that take the logging job to save for their future. Bill is one of the good ones. Big John sees an easy way to steal the naive Bill's money and belongings in Red's Saloon. Fortunately for Bill, the saloon keeper and his wife are watching out for him and will call on a Mooner to save his life and small fortune. This was a really good, creepy read.

[Ellie Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome story. A new monster to add to those that already haunt the night. I can't wait to read more by Selah Janel.

[Errant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I highly recommend to fans of horror.