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Old Leather
They’re waiting for you inside...
Dr. Rachel Miles and her husband Harrison arrive in Nigeria to help combat the Ebola outbreak only to discover the Obayifo—an African vampire that tastes the blood of children...
Paul Burroughs stumbles upon a way to deal with “Micawber,” a ravenous, hideous creature visible only in candlelight…
An ex-Special Operations Group officer travels half-way around the world to deal with kidnappers…
The spirit of a young Native American girl finds an unlikely hero to exact revenge on her murderers…
A world where government-mandated implants control the movements of the population, until a small group of rebels find a way to deactivate them…
And many more...
Dr. Rachel Miles and her husband Harrison arrive in Nigeria to help combat the Ebola outbreak only to discover the Obayifo—an African vampire that tastes the blood of children...
Paul Burroughs stumbles upon a way to deal with “Micawber,” a ravenous, hideous creature visible only in candlelight…
An ex-Special Operations Group officer travels half-way around the world to deal with kidnappers…
The spirit of a young Native American girl finds an unlikely hero to exact revenge on her murderers…
A world where government-mandated implants control the movements of the population, until a small group of rebels find a way to deactivate them…
And many more...
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 4, 2015
129 people want to read
About the author
Don Gillette
15 books39 followersDon Gillette is a member of the Academy of American Poets and is an active voting member of the Horror Writers Association. He holds both BS and MA degrees in English.
Born and raised on the Atlantic Coast, he has been writing fiction, non-fiction, plays, and poetry since he begged for (and got) one of the original "Tom Thumb" typewriters for his 6th birthday.
Don has published three novels (Pandemonium, Rubber Dead Man, Sarcophagus), a collection of his political humor articles from time spent as a newspaper editor (The Meeker Collection), a poetry collection (The Face In The Mirror Is Not Mine), a short fiction collection (Old Leather), and a mixed media fantasy collaboration (Fallen Angels) along with several chapbooks.
His other work has been featured in magazines, anthologies, literary journals, newspapers, and television.
Don is currently working on a new novel, Dark Voices, scheduled for publication in late 2019. He is also spearheading and editing an experimental novel written by 30 different authors, He Has Stayed Too Long. This book will appear in late 2019/early 2020.
He spent 24 years working for the Department of Defense, 26 years in the Army National Guard, served on Active Duty during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and retired in 1996 as a Chief Warrant Officer Four.
After leaving government service, he spent twenty years as the Vice President of Military Operations for Reese Group, Inc.
He and his wife, Sim Yoon, live in Nashville, Tennessee.
Born and raised on the Atlantic Coast, he has been writing fiction, non-fiction, plays, and poetry since he begged for (and got) one of the original "Tom Thumb" typewriters for his 6th birthday.
Don has published three novels (Pandemonium, Rubber Dead Man, Sarcophagus), a collection of his political humor articles from time spent as a newspaper editor (The Meeker Collection), a poetry collection (The Face In The Mirror Is Not Mine), a short fiction collection (Old Leather), and a mixed media fantasy collaboration (Fallen Angels) along with several chapbooks.
His other work has been featured in magazines, anthologies, literary journals, newspapers, and television.
Don is currently working on a new novel, Dark Voices, scheduled for publication in late 2019. He is also spearheading and editing an experimental novel written by 30 different authors, He Has Stayed Too Long. This book will appear in late 2019/early 2020.
He spent 24 years working for the Department of Defense, 26 years in the Army National Guard, served on Active Duty during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and retired in 1996 as a Chief Warrant Officer Four.
After leaving government service, he spent twenty years as the Vice President of Military Operations for Reese Group, Inc.
He and his wife, Sim Yoon, live in Nashville, Tennessee.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 8, 2015
This is the best collection of short stories I've ever read in my life. I like horror and thrillers but not a steady diet of them so this was perfect. There would be two really spooky stories where you didn't want to go to sleep after reading them but then a nice, regular, really interesting story to break it up. My favorite was either "Dark and Stormy" or "Odum's Grocery" but I really liked the main character in "Crocodile Fears." I hope Mr. Gillette will write an entire novel with that character as the main character.
I recommend this book as highly as I can if you like short stories, horror, thrillers, mainstream, or even sci-fi because it's got it all.
I recommend this book as highly as I can if you like short stories, horror, thrillers, mainstream, or even sci-fi because it's got it all.
November 22, 2019
This was a great, fun variety of short stories. Reading Gillette's prose is like chatting with an old friend - easy to fall in step with and engaging until the end. Some of my favorites were Ebola Darkness, The Tennis Shoe Man, Candlelight, and Dark and Stormy. There's something here for everyone no matter how you like your horror. Highly recommended.
October 21, 2020
I have to start by saying the introduction to this book was wonderful and I'm glad it was included. It hit me kinda hard how much writing means to an author. It really did.
And it really shows in the writing here.
Even when the odd story didn't quite hit the mark for me, never once was I bored.
Recently, I DNF'd a book because it felt like I was being told a story by one of those guys you can't get away from. It was like, just get to the point, man. Stop waffling.
Anyway, you won't get that here.
Don really cares.
This is proper good story telling.
I could even imagine Don sitting around a campfire and everyone just engrossed and wanting more.
Some standouts were:
EBOLA DARKNESS, which I didn't want to end.
THE CRIES, which was right up my street, clever and unexpected.
I enjoyed clever take on DARK and STORMY, too. Nice one.
This would be a really good collection to end your Halloween reads with. There's plenty here to enjoy.
I'm giving this a solid 4.
Pick it up. You'll enjoy it.
It's cheap on Kindle but you might want end up owning the paperback.
It has that kind of feel to it.
And it really shows in the writing here.
Even when the odd story didn't quite hit the mark for me, never once was I bored.
Recently, I DNF'd a book because it felt like I was being told a story by one of those guys you can't get away from. It was like, just get to the point, man. Stop waffling.
Anyway, you won't get that here.
Don really cares.
This is proper good story telling.
I could even imagine Don sitting around a campfire and everyone just engrossed and wanting more.
Some standouts were:
EBOLA DARKNESS, which I didn't want to end.
THE CRIES, which was right up my street, clever and unexpected.
I enjoyed clever take on DARK and STORMY, too. Nice one.
This would be a really good collection to end your Halloween reads with. There's plenty here to enjoy.
I'm giving this a solid 4.
Pick it up. You'll enjoy it.
It's cheap on Kindle but you might want end up owning the paperback.
It has that kind of feel to it.
February 19, 2018
I read this on Kindle Unlimited after buying another book by Gillette in paperback called Fallen Angels. Fallen Angels was so good that I wanted to read more of the authors work.
This book wasn't what I expected because it wasn't all horror stories, which I prefer. But I have to say that even the stories that weren't 100% horror stories were usually creepy enough to keep my attention. One story in particular, about a "monster" named Micawber stayed in my mind the entire day after I read it. Micawber is also the nickname Keith Richards has for one of his guitars so I thought that was kind of an inside-joke. There was actually only one story I didn't like. the rest of them were great. I wont mention which one I didn't like because you might like it.
Anyway I think Old Leather was really good. I'm going to buy the paperback now because I want it in my collection and Kindle Unlimited will delete it after a while.
This book wasn't what I expected because it wasn't all horror stories, which I prefer. But I have to say that even the stories that weren't 100% horror stories were usually creepy enough to keep my attention. One story in particular, about a "monster" named Micawber stayed in my mind the entire day after I read it. Micawber is also the nickname Keith Richards has for one of his guitars so I thought that was kind of an inside-joke. There was actually only one story I didn't like. the rest of them were great. I wont mention which one I didn't like because you might like it.
Anyway I think Old Leather was really good. I'm going to buy the paperback now because I want it in my collection and Kindle Unlimited will delete it after a while.
September 29, 2020
Old Leather is an eclectic collection of excellent short stories. Don Gillette serves up a savory feast for readers, blending supernatural tales with neo-noir. Gillette's prose is tight, and his wit is sharp.
My favorite stories were "Indian Mound," "Dark and Stormy," "Croc-A-Dial Fears," and "Ebola Darkness." Each of the stories packs an emotional punch. Highly recommended.
My favorite stories were "Indian Mound," "Dark and Stormy," "Croc-A-Dial Fears," and "Ebola Darkness." Each of the stories packs an emotional punch. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews