Once Upon a Time...When Things Turned Out Okay

by Michelle von Eschen, Michelle Kilmer, Jonathan Lambert (Editor)

Once upon a time...a woman wrote a collection of short stories, none of which end particularly well for their characters. This is a mini collection showcasing the diverse skill of Michelle Kilmer (von Eschen) and written for debut at Crypticon Seattle, a horror convention, in 2019. Featuring five short stories of loss detailing how far life is from a fairy tale. Follow a fiery scourge in Firesick, become transfixed by a mysterious, real life painting in The Hands Resist Him, consider what you can and can't live without after an alien invasion in Takers, strap into an advanced future technology in Pain Management, Inc., and take a back seat as a woman takes control of her destiny in The Opportunity.

119 pages, Paperback

Published April 6, 2019

About the author

Michelle von Eschen (early works written as Michelle Kilmer) is an American author of quiet, literary horror.

She is a lover of the macabre who prefers Earl Grey tea, October, people who say goodbye on the phone, and her dreams are so real she can’t figure out what has really happened to her. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys weightlifting, dark beer, web design, singing and playing guitar, camping and hiking, and watching horror movies. She lives in England with her husband, horror author Jonathan Butcher.

Reviews

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short horror form a consistently unique voice. I may not know what to expect from each of Michele’s stories as I begin, but I know I’ll love it by the end.

[Alexandra Grayson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day as I couldn't put it down. It was wonderfully twisty, intriguing, and exciting. Can't wait to read more!