Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Story's Writer

Rate this book
There are dark things hiding in well-lit places, waiting to change the hearts of men and women. They are strange and possessive things that may once have had a place in our world. They yearn for that old place and wait impatiently to find their way back. Amy is a loving mother, though lonely and recklessly navigating the world of late nights and one night stands. She is looking for something that will complete her, for someone to hold her and accept her young son as his own. When she meets Grant, a successful novelist who appears to have it all together, she seems to have found a man willing to fill both positions. Bailey is independent for his age, as competent at caring for his own daily needs as most children twice his age, but overweight and ailed by a lack of personal confidence. His reservations about meeting a new man are evident in his resistance of his mother’s demands, but he soon warms to the charming writer. Bailey sees an opportunity to gain not only a father, but a friend. Months later, after Bailey and his mother have taken up residence with this new man, odd behaviors begin to emerge as Grant researches the basis for his new novel. It’s a nonfiction manuscript, based on ghost stories originating at a local bar with a reputation for appearances from the other side. It’s a good book with a good story behind it, but it’s taking Grant down a path of hatred, violence, and ultimate destruction. When Amy begins helping Grant with his editing, she too falls victim to the effects of the story. Soon, Bailey sees the changes in his parents and becomes the focus of the story’s rage. Bailey’s only hope lies in the hands of his Aunt Deb and the manager of the very place it all started. They are racing against time to save a child whose survival depends on the unburying of old ghosts. Bailey doesn’t know how it can all end, sees the mixture of love and hate in his mother’s eyes as she types away at the growing manuscript, can only hope that someone will save him before the unthinkable can happen, because the story being written in his home has stopped mirroring the events at a remote bar, and has become the new terrorizing story of his life.

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2016

18 people are currently reading
62 people want to read

About the author

Wayne Lemmons

7 books31 followers
Remember when you were a kid and told everyone that you wanted to be an astronaut-cowboy-billionaire? I didn't really do any of that, but the principle still remains the same. I'm an electrician/mechanic by day, a writer/editor/proofreader/drunkard by night, and a scuba diver on the weekends. I was born in Kentucky and somehow found myself on Clearwater Beach living in a houseboat with a group of eclectic neighbors that are sure to grace the pages of one of my books in the near future. What a terribly boring life I lead, right?

I've been writing since I pumped out my first short story at the glorious age of nine. For some reason the story was absolutely violent beyond belief and I'm thankful that I've been able to tone down the language since then. I was a vulgar little kid.

I'm continuing the dream of that nine-year-old by writing full-length novels that will take you to emotional places that you may or may not want to go, but the journey will leave you fulfilled and unsettled. Two feelings that I love to invoke.

So read my books! You'll love them, I promise!

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
26 (52%)
4 stars
14 (28%)
3 stars
6 (12%)
2 stars
3 (6%)
1 star
1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly A. Bettes.
Author 42 books230 followers
February 27, 2017
Good story.

Having suffered abuse as a child, I could relate a lot to the Bailey character, and I felt great empathy toward him. The Story's Writer is a creepy read, for sure, and it pulls--no, it jerks on the heartstrings a bit, so be prepared for that.
Profile Image for Irene Well Worth A Read.
1,048 reviews113 followers
May 18, 2016
8 year old Bailey is a lonely child, often left home alone for long stretches of time while his mother is out. He is a bit overweight due to his favorite pastime of watching movies, playing video games and comforting himself with food. He is a bright boy, wise beyond his years and loves his mother Amy fiercely, and she returns that love even though it seems she could benefit from a few parenting classes.

Suddenly, Amy just happens to click with her latest one night stand Grant, and the two become a couple. Not long after that Amy and Bailey move in to his apartment and Grant is thrilled to be part of a family. While working on a book concerning the happenings in a haunted bar, Grant begins to act strangely. He has bursts of rage for no apparent reason and vile thoughts that are no longer under his control. It appears something evil has followed Grant home from the bar and is now taking over his personality. Bailey knows something horrible is happening and that it has to do with the book, but he is powerless to stop it and as it begins to effect his mother's behavior as well there is nobody left to protect him.

This was a quick and creepy read with several heart in your throat moments that made me wish I could get in that apartment and rescue Bailey myself.

I received a complimentary copy for review.
Profile Image for Heather Lake.
6 reviews
August 23, 2016
This book is totally different than anything I usually read, but I gave it a try after reading Dark Roads by Wayne Lemmons that I loved. This book grabbed my attention immediately and angered me like no other. I felt so bad for Bailey and how he was being treated. I long for him to be saved. I couldn't quit thinking about it even after I put it down for the night. It was a unique book written by an author who knows how to tell a story. I highly recommend it, but only for those not faint of heart.
Profile Image for Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime.
5,639 reviews329 followers
August 10, 2016
Review of THE STORY'S WRITER by Wayne Lemmons

A compelling novel of supernatural evil as it manifests via humanity, THE STORY'S WRITER has at least three possible qualifiers for its title of "Writer." It is a hard-driving novel of the lengths to which individuals, overtaken by something evil to which they have submitted themselves as accessible vessels, will go, in terms of violence, child abuse, pure unadulterated hatred, and torture and murder. A gentle, seemingly sensitive writer named Grant has instituted a successful career in the horror genre, by the time he meets single mother Amy and her eight-year-old son Bailey. If that were all to the story, it would be sweetness-and-light, happy-ending material.

But Grant has been offered the ugly history of a well-known Nashville tavern; and in investigating, pondering, and discussing that history with the current owner and his long-time barkeep, Grant [or something nudging Grant] manages to open himself up to a process that can only be described as possession. In typing (on a manual typewriter) the words of "The Story," the evil behind the bar's history takes over, and before very long, Amy is also drawn into it by the tasks of typing and editing. Poor Bailey, a mature child for his age and a loner by choice and circumstance, all too soon becomes the target as the entities possessing Grant, Amy, and The Story determine on a new outlet for their evil.
Profile Image for Alex Carpenter.
15 reviews2 followers
September 2, 2016
The story's writer is something different than what I would usually read and I was not disappointed. The horror novels that I have read have been very similar and The Story's Writer breaks this mould and is something really different, something that Wayne has done throughout everything I have read that he has written. I really did enjoy this book, the way that Wayne describes Bailey is a little un-relatable but this soon changes when you are told his back story, and you quickly find yourself feeling for him. The actual horror scenes throughout the book get gradually more terrorising and you find yourself really feeling for Bailey. As Bailey becomes more and more lonely you really will wish that something good is about the happen to him, I've felt for characters in novels before and usually do, but Wayne has a way of allowing you to understand the character and subsequently really, truly feeling for them. The dialogue in the story's writer is flowing and really adds to the visual theme created in each chapter, adding to the creepy descriptive terms and flowing nature of the novel. I also really enjoyed reading about the sub characters in the book and felt that they were very carefully written, likeable characters, this made Amy and Grant seem predominantly worse in comparison. I would recommend this book to anyone, not just horror fans, I really enjoyed Wayne's last book "The Dark Roads" but this is my new favourite written by this new and diverse writer, one to look out for in the not to distant future.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
32 reviews2 followers
April 10, 2016
Hard to put down!

I kept telling myself to stop reading this book, I felt so bad for Bailey, but I also knew I had to finish it to see how everything turned out!
5 reviews3 followers
June 26, 2017
This book is full of suspense and is thoroughly creepy. I finished it in one day. I just couldn't put it down. A great read!
Profile Image for Indie Horror Book Reviews.
4 reviews2 followers
June 19, 2016
Review: The Story's Writer by Wayne Lemmons

The Story's Writer feature's one of Horror literature's favorite tropes: a horror novel about a horror novelist. Stephen King has trodden down this path a time or two or ten, with mixed results (The Dark Half was my favorite - what's yours?), and as a horror writer myself, I seldom get tired of this meta-fictional refrain.

The Story's Writer is no exception. There is a lot to recommend in this novel: strong, well-defined characters, very little 'writerly' writing to get in the way of the plot, and creeping, desperate horror. Sure, the conceit is a little thin in places; for example, Grant, our antagonist, seems to be pushed into madness quite independent of his own agency; the plot is something that just happens to him. The after-the-fact explanations are flimsy, at best.

However, it's a hell of a ride. Some of the material might be a bit too much for some readers; be warned that if you can't stand scenes of graphic physical abuse, you may want to stay away from this book. If you can stomach it however, it is an overall rewarding read, eagerly paced, solidly written, suitably gruesome, and with a mostly satisfying ending.

Bailey, our young protagonist, is a precocious eight-year-old with a too-common problem these days; Bailey is overweight, and the subject of much torment due to this condition. This plays a small but vital part in the proceedings, though it's not always clear why; one could argue that Lemmons' use is a bit of over-ripe tropism. It's manageable, however, and while the depths of this aspect of Bailey's persona are never satisfactorily plumbed, it does the job of bookending the character's growth arc.

Grant is a bit of a mystery; he starts off as an almost-perfect dream man, but that aspect of his character is hustled off-stage about midway through the book, without much reason at all for the change. Not a mortal sin in the context of such an easy-reading novel, but could have been so easily remedied that it's a shame that Lemmons relies on pushing Grant like a Chess piece rather than growing something more organic and providing some backstory to support Grant's metamorphosis.

Bailey's mother, while starting off as a well-rounded, multi-dimensional character, gets shuffled off to the side in favor of Bailey and his new step-father, Grant. In the end, this story is really about these two, and how growth and change can be both good and bad, and how easy it is to slide in the wrong direction and how difficult it is to climb the opposite way.

The supernatural elements of the novel, while intrinsic, are secondary to the rising action of the truly horrifying events of the second half of the novel and as such, seem to be merely a vehicle for a bit of Deus ex machina during the climax. Still though, some of the creepiness is quite effective, and while the ghostly secondary story arc grows rather muddled, it is wrapped up nicely by the end.

A couple of small gripes - there are two instances of the use of the word 'caged' in place of 'cadged'. Maybe I'm just a persnickety asshole, but such a simple oversight, so easily corrected, annoys me to no end. One time is just poor editing; two times turns it into a glaring error.

Also, two instances of the word 'boloney'. Now, according to the Google, this is just an outdated spelling of the word 'bologna', but it was just so out of place I couldn't help but again, be annoyed. And annoyed readers are not your friend, dear independent authors.

You're right, I am just a persnickety asshole. Recommended!

Goodreads Review

Find The Story's Writer by Wayne Lemmons at Amazon
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
16 reviews
February 26, 2017
A Welcome Surprise.

I had a lot of reservations before reading this book. I have found that with some of the newer independent authors we have to deal with a lame story, a lot of filler, and numerous typos.

Not so with this one.

This is a very dark work and can be difficult to read at times for its content. However, it is so well written that it entices you to keep reading it into the early morning hours. I really admire Mr. Lemmon's care and effort he put into this work ( no typos or mistakes that I found).

I have a feeling this author will be around for awhile and continue his craft.

As for myself, I need to get started reading his other works.
Profile Image for Christina McDonald .
227 reviews11 followers
May 21, 2016
This was a wonderful and intense story! Suspense, drama & strong characters that will bring out many different emotions in the reader. This is a tale about a mother and son who meet and build a relationship with the mother's new boyfriend. He seems pretty cool, laid back, funny and intelligent: he's an author and is in the middle of a big project. Tension rises within the household as the story unfolds, with big drama and supernatural forces. Find out if this poor little boy makes it out of this insane situation in one piece and be warned: this short will get into your head, grab you and make you forget everything else until you reach the end. I most highly recommend to all fans of modern horror and will definitely check out more by this author!
Profile Image for Sheridan Lee.
103 reviews8 followers
April 2, 2016
Creepy rating 10/10

eview is from: The Story's Writer (Kindle Edition)

On par with Stephen King's, The Shining or Ian Rob Wright's, ASBO. Really solid storytelling, but it may be too intense for some readers. Personally, I had to keep putting it down and coming back to it. I've been reading Stephen King's books since I was Bailey's age so I'm no stranger to horror.

Bailey is easy to relate to and I loved him right away. He's an old soul. Some of the other characters weren't so easy to relate to. You don't want to be judgmental but...

Profile Image for Becka.
45 reviews16 followers
April 24, 2016
Short but chilling story

It was a shorter book than I usually read but packed a big punch. It was chilling and suspenseful with an original concept which I enjoyed. So many books these days seem to just be copies of other books with a change of location and names. This was not.

I feel like the writer spent too much time consulting a thesaurus and used too many words that aren't used in everyday language. The story could have flowed a little better with a slightly simpler vocabulary.
Profile Image for 3 no 7.
751 reviews24 followers
June 11, 2016
This is an intense story filled with suspense, drama, and violence. The book starts as a nice little story about a single mom and her slightly overweight son who both have some “social challenges.” Then, the mom meets a new guy and a nice pseudo-family develops. Then things start to go terribly wrong. The new boyfriend is a writer and is working on a non-fiction book about a local “haunted” pub. In true “Stephen King” fashion, things quickly get out of hand and get worse and worse as the story unfolds.
It’s creepy and compelling and addictive and horror-filled. I am still shaking.
Profile Image for Jeanine.
2,439 reviews111 followers
July 9, 2016
The story is shaping up to be a good one, unfortunately a third of the way in my copy is missing every other page.. I won't. Rate it until I get a copy I can read.

Update: I was able to find a solution to the problem.. It was my Kindle, not the book.. Back to the book.

Wow.. Some parts were tough to read, but a really terrific story.
29 reviews2 followers
May 11, 2016
Book was interesting and kept me going

Book was interesting and kept me going....not really Knowing what to expect next . Overall, I in enjoyed the book .
Profile Image for Dee.
16 reviews21 followers
August 15, 2017
First off, I highly recommend this book. Such a GREAT read. I felt bad for The little boy in this book, and the absolute hell he went through, it was hard to get through at times. It broke my heart.
At first I laughed at the voices in the moms, boyfriends head, then, as I read further into the book it got serious, and It wasn't funny anymore. I did love that it had a story within the story.
When my daughter was 3 years old (she is now 24), I was reading a book, and never talked to her about it. She came to me and said "mommy I have a new friend, I said, you do, what is his name, she said Paddy and he has a boo boo. I gasp, I was scared for my daughter, because Paddy was a wounded, mean character from my book. I ask her if he was mean! She said no, he was nice. What a freakin night relief.
So things like this can happen. Spirits sometimes attach themselves to certain objects.
I laugh out loud when the characters referenced about Wayne Lemmons book, The Dark Roads...That was priceless.
I want to thank Mr. Lemmons for the authors note incorporated into the end of his book. I took it personally, because I was an emotionally, physically, and sexually abused child from the age 5 until I was 17. It was a very touching note. I am a survivor.
Profile Image for Sara.
5 reviews
February 24, 2018
Pheww!!

I have read many of Wayne's books and you never know what to expect as they really are never in the same genre.

I didn't expect to get through this book so quickly, but these types of horror type ghost stories keep me swiping left on my kindle (also known as turning pages in actual books). This book was no exception.

As I started reading, the writing was reminiscent of Dean Koontz, but don't think for one second that it is a rip off of that author. Wayne has a style of his own that comes out as you delve further in.

I could not put this book down until I knew what the outcome was going to be for these characters. Avery good read that doesn't disappoint.
Profile Image for Kelly Rickard.
493 reviews8 followers
May 31, 2017
Wayne leads us down a Dark Road in this book. Dark and twisted this tale is about a young boy called Bailey. While his mother leaves him for long periods of time she isn't neglectful. Grant comes into Amy and Bailey's life and everything is wonderful except Grant is writing a book and things take a turn for the worse.

Well written, tense and some horrific scenes. A great read.
Profile Image for Collette Mclaughlin.
54 reviews8 followers
July 9, 2017
As a big horror fan, I was looking forward to reading this novel by Lemmons.
The Story's Writer takes your classic ghost story and brings it together with gripping true psychological issues faced in society today.
Without revealing any spoilers, I'll just say that the emotions of a certain character were so well written/described, that I shed a tear and it really gripped my heart.
A must read!
Profile Image for Judy Stambaugh.
174 reviews2 followers
March 18, 2018
Worth the read

This one holds your attention! A woman and her 8 yr. old son move in with her boyfriend. The boyfriend is a writer. He's writing a story that I is based on a murder committed in a local bar. Things start happening when he sits down to write. I'm not saying anymore. Just that this book is worth the read!
13 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2020
will be honest. I wasn't expecting much as we have a new writer that wrote two books incredibly fast. The Dark Roads was phenomenal and I didn't think this could be as good. I was wrong. Normally I would say it's an easy read as it isn't very long, but I had to put the book down THREE times due to the disturbing content. The main character is so lovable and pure that it just tears you up inside reading what he endures. Fantastic story. I highly recommend it. Take the time to really read the small parts of the backstory or the current one gets lost.
143 reviews
August 3, 2016
Really good read

Much different to his other book but definitely worth a read. There wasn't really a twist but the story did keep me gripped. Not a series too which is great
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.