Storberry – Vampire Horror Resurrected

Storberry is now available for digital download through Amazon.com.

Jen Barrows, sixteen, believes something wicked hides within the crawlspace above the old garage. Her best friend, Tom, fears the dark forest at the edge of town. Instinct proves reliable.

When a strange wind storm cripples the town, something horrible follows in its wake to walk among the shadowed backyards of Storberry after nightfall, changing all that it touches forever.

Driven by a promise to protect each other and avenge personal tragedies, Tom and Jen align themselves with a former school teacher, who knows the truth behind the legendary forest, and a town stalwart, who first discovers the creature stalking the night. Page by Page, the terrifying threat of the creature escalates.

Set in 1987, Storberry is a welcome return to old-school vampire and zombie horror. Grab your bowl of popcorn and read Storberry with the lights low.

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When I wrote Storberry, I wanted to recapture the magic of the vampire horror my generation grew up with – Nosferatu, Salem’s Lot, The Hammer Films. Back in the day when monsters were monsters and vampires were to be feared, a good horror movie was an unforgettable night at the Drive-In. I hope when you read Storberry you feel like you are at the Drive-In, a big tub of buttered popcorn at your side. Or perhaps seated around the campfire, sparks popping off the bonfire like fireworks, the eerie glow of the moon, and the chirring of crickets, as I tell you the story of the little Virginia town called Storberry.

My debut novel is the culmination of six months’ worth of writing and three drafts – a labor of love. Thank you to all of my family and friends who stood behind me in this effort and encouraged me to reach for my dreams…or in this case, nightmares.

Hammer Film Horror Returns

Enjoy Storberry and let me know what you think. Just a reminder. If you want to be the first to know about my latest writing projects and novel release dates, then you should absolutely sign up for my email newsletter. Be a part of our growing horror community!

Certainly, there’s an intrinsic connection between Storberry and the classic Hammer horror films of the 1970s. Those movies, much like Storberry, evoke a potent atmosphere of dread and suspense that’s deeply rooted in the gothic tradition.

The Hammer horror films, known for their atmospheric sets, rich color palettes, and melodramatic narrative style, created a unique aesthetic that has shaped horror cinema. They took classic monsters – vampires, werewolves, and mummies – and breathed new life into them, making the horror more visceral, intimate, and psychological.

Storberry shares this commitment to rejuvenating classic horror archetypes. The vampires in Storberry, like the monsters of Hammer horror, are far removed from their more sanitized, mainstream counterparts. They are brutal and unrelenting, a stark departure from the romantic or tragic figures that vampires are often made out to be.

Much like the Hammer horror films, Storberry is also rich in atmosphere. The eponymous town of Storberry, with its close-knit community and seemingly idyllic façade, recalls the claustrophobic villages often seen in Hammer horror. Just as those picturesque locales hid something more sinister, so does Storberry harbor a chilling secret. This gives Storberry a brooding, gothic feel that fans of Hammer horror will instantly recognize and appreciate.

Additionally, Storberry has the Hammer films’ flair for dramatic tension and narrative depth. The characters in Storberry are complex and multifaceted, much like the protagonists in the Hammer horror films. Their struggles are not just physical but psychological and moral as well. It’s not simply a matter of surviving the night, but also questioning their beliefs, their relationships, and their very identities.

However, it’s important to note that while Storberry takes inspiration from the Hammer horror films, it does not seek to replicate them. The story, characters, and themes are uniquely its own, while still paying homage to the rich tradition of gothic horror.

Do You Love early Stephen King?

The influence of Stephen King’s early works on Storberry is notable. King’s knack for creating small-town settings that are deceptively quaint on the surface and slowly unraveling their darker secrets is an essential element of Storberry’s narrative. Just as King’s towns of Derry or Castle Rock house a lurking malevolence, the quaint town of Storberry, Virginia, harbors its own supernatural threat.

Moreover, the focus on a group of ordinary individuals coming together to face extraordinary horrors is a recurring theme in King’s early works, such as ‘It’ and ‘The Stand’. Similarly, Storberry brings together a teacher, a town sheriff, and a group of teenagers to confront an unimaginable evil. The transformation of these ordinary characters into unexpected heroes under the shadow of terror will remind readers of King’s ability to create complex, relatable characters.

King’s influence is also evident in the way Storberry tackles broader themes under the guise of a horror story. King is renowned for exploring themes of childhood, trauma, and the human capacity for good and evil in his early works. Likewise, beneath its surface as a vampire horror, Storberry delves into issues of faith, community, and human resilience in the face of monstrous adversaries.

Much like Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot’, Storberry features an enemy that is as much an external threat as a reflection of the town’s inner demons. In both narratives, the arrival of the supernatural horror amplifies the existing fears and tensions within the community, making the story not just a battle against an outside enemy, but also an exploration of the characters’ inner turmoil.

However, while the influence of King’s early works is evident, Storberry forges its own path. The vampires in Storberry are more feral and monstrous, and the narrative takes some unexpected twists that set it apart. The unique blend of character-driven storytelling and relentless horror makes Storberry a distinctive addition to the vampire horror genre.

In conclusion, fans of Stephen King’s early works will find plenty to love in Storberry. The narrative captures the essence of King’s character-driven, thematically rich storytelling while offering its own unique spin on the vampire mythos. It’s a chilling journey into a small town besieged by terror, one that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.

In essence, Storberry can be seen as a love letter to the Hammer horror films of the 1950s-1970s and classic Stephen King. The story captures their atmospheric dread, their complex characters, and their revitalized monsters, all while carving out a distinct and memorable identity of its own. If you’re a fan of Hammer horror, or simply a lover of well-crafted, atmospheric horror, Storberry promises a terrifying journey you won’t want to miss.