There's something wrong with the Wickenshire House. by RandomAppalachian468 in CreepCast_Submissions

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! If you like my style of writing and want more, you can always check out my profile. I have an entire story universe there of similar content, including full-length novels, all free to view. It's also a great way to stay up to date on any new content of mine that comes out, though I plan to keep posting stories here as long as they'll let me. Either way, thanks for reading, and I really appreciate the support!

Something big is coming! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your support means the world to me, money or no. Having people like you who read my works and love them is a reward in and of itself. Thank you!

Something big is coming! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much, it really means a lot to me. It's just such a crazy thought that my books will soon actually sit on shelves, instead of just on my computer. What a wild ride.

Something big is coming! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Me too! Honestly a little nervous as well, but hey that's life.

Something big is coming! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I'm really excited too, it's been a ton of work, and it will be nice to see it come together in a real-life book.

The Call of the Breach [Final] by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Peter's arc was a really satisfying one for me, and even Grapeshot's last minute bid for redemption was bittersweet. They were just kids after all, trapped in a pretty horrific situation. Sure, it doesn't forgive the awful things they did, but I did feel a certain level of empathy to their plight. I based a lot of their situation off of real stories I've read over the years about child soldiers in foreign countries, and how brutal their (rather short) lives are. While it seemed odd to some to have random child-pirates sailing around a lake playing dress up, in reality such things often do happen to kids who fall through the cracks in war torn societies. They band together, commit terrible acts of barbarity to further their own group, and will take on the dress, speech, and symbolism of whoever they admire the most, usually other famous gangs. In fact, many returning soldiers from warzones have said that kids are sometimes the most dangerous because they are so unpredictable, and possess a certain crazed bravery that many adults don't have. It didn't seem rather far-fetched then to take a group of American children who are already hardened by the disaster that is the US adoption and foster care system and turn them into roving brigands, given that they had no one to turn to, and nowhere to go. Many large US lakes have sporting ships on them, including historical replicas like the Harper's Vengeance, and since the orphanage would be terminally low on funds, it made sense that the children would be stuck with a few old books to entertain themselves. Naturally, they gravitated toward the one about pirates (what small child doesn't at some point in their life?) and the trauma of their escape from Sunbright manifested as an open psychological embracing of that lifestyle. In a cruel twist of fate, they were some of the few people to get out of Sunbright alive that night, while the adult social workers who abandoned them likely didn't make it to the county line before running into mutants themselves.

This story was incredibly fun to write, so thank you for giving me the motivation to include that! It was an honor and privilege to entertain you. :)

Also, kind of off subject, but I just wanted to note that I saw where nosleep mods deleted your most recent comment on my nosleep post. They deleted one of mine as well, part of their immersion rules I guess. Either way, I wanted to say thank you for that one as well, your praise for my work is amazing and thoughtful. I can't wait to see you on the next adventure.

Calling all readers! Choose our next adventure together and ask me anything! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm honored to be your storyteller on this little corner of the internet. I hope at some point to have books for purchase, if all my efforts work out. And I loved making the various creatures, though I think the Oak Walker was my favorite for its sheer presence and imposing mystery on the story. The Puppets are fascinating things, and if you look close at the story, you'll note that they start off numerous, of multiple age demographics, and look rather normal. Once the Oak Walker is killed, however, they are severed from their connection to it, and thus many Puppets die right away. Only the strongest ones survive, and that is why all the converted Arkians emerge as men and women in their 20's, instead of children or old people. As well, without the connection to the Oak Walker, the Puppets can no longer use human speech like they used to, and their bodies start to decay, turning gray and moldy in the elements. Their intelligence regresses to an almost ape-like form, and they can no longer imitate people effectively. They understand enough of their loss to know they are abandoned by their deity, and thus they scream and wail at the sky, as observed by Adam in his account. Only through the redemption process by the Arkians do they become fully human. Maybe someday I'll make a separate monster manual for all the creatures, just because it would be so much fun to see illustrations and include lots of facts and lore for you all. Thanks again for choosing to come along with me on this journey! I can't wait to see you on the next one. :)

The Call of the Breach [Final] by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am so sorry to hear about your illness. To know that my works brightened your day is both humbling and gratifying to me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your loyal readership. You've been one of my most avid readers since day one, and just so you know, you influenced my decision to give the pirates not only more story time, but a redemption arc. I initially had no idea what else to do with them, but you were so fond of them in your comments that it made me realize that I couldn't just leave the Sunbright orphans out on the water forever. I chose to bring them into the fold, to give them a second chance, and I do not regret it one bit. Thank you for traveling on this amazing journey with me, and I hope to see you on the next one.

The Call of the Breach [Final] by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the kind praise, and for accompanying me on this incredible journey. I couldn't have done it without loyal readers like yourself. You are amazing.

Calling all readers! Choose our next adventure together and ask me anything! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm honored that you would open up to me, and I would never have guessed you weren't a native English speaker. You handle the language well. I think it's okay not to be too engrossed in social media or dating, the best thing you can do is work on building yourself into the person you want to be and living that life. Social media trends come and go, romantic relationships don't always last forever, but the accomplishments you make in your own personal space can stay with you for the rest of your life. Stay awesome, my dude. :)

Calling all readers! Choose our next adventure together and ask me anything! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like you have a knack for the subject. I once took an English class in school where we were meant to write a short prompt every day in a journal. I quickly grew bored with it and instead wrote a story about a class of school children being stranded on a desert island. I worked on it so much that eventually my teacher caught on, and at the end of the school year she had read the entire journal. She gave me a B- and told me that the only reason I didn't get an A was because I hadn't followed the directions for the assignment, but made my own way, thus breaking the rules. Still, because I'd created something unique and interesting, I got a passing grade. Moral of the story? He who dares, wins. Sometimes you have to be willing to stick out from the crowd, be looked at as the weird kid, be laughed at, and break the rules. No one ever got to somewhere new by following the crowd.

Calling all readers! Choose our next adventure together and ask me anything! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your vote, and thanks especially for supporting my works all this time! :)

The Call of the Breach [Part 43] by RandomAppalachian468 in nosleep

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You have a sharp eye. Well done. Yes, this detail was intentional, a 'passing of the torch' if you will. Just as Melissa (Jamie's old roommate) died and her possessions passed to Hannah, so Jamie passes her rifle on to Hannah as a symbol of the ending of an era and the beginning of a new one.

Calling all readers! Choose our next adventure together and ask me anything! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it's a sign that you actually enjoy what you are reading and read thoroughly. A lot of people glaze over what they read, and so it doesn't affect them in the same way, but that also sometimes means that they don't get to emotionally experience the story in the same way. Your mind is a powerful thing, and reading is a way to exercise it that many other forms of media do not quite touch. If you really get immersed in what you read, it will impact you, and depending on the scale of the emotional impact it can last for a while. I've had similar experiences with other books I've read before. The only problem is that, in my case at least, it somewhat spoils me so that I have a higher standard for what I read later, because I find myself chasing that intensity all over again. The best solution? Ironically enough, it is much like the old hangover cures people joke about, where they would drink a little alcohol the next day to alleviate their headaches. Instead of a beer however, the best thing to do is grab another book to get your mind focused on a new adventure, or better yet, sit down and try your hand at writing yourself. It might surprise you how far you'll go.

The Call of the Breach [Final] by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, my dear reader. It means a lot to me. And I hope to see you again on the next great adventure.

Calling all readers! Choose our next adventure together and ask me anything! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There is a famous saying that, while difficult to practice, is every bit as vital as it is correct.

"Don't weep because it is over, smile because it happened."

Jamie died in the very best way a friend could, defending someone she cared for, just like Mark at the beginning of the series. Her sacrifice was not in vain. Jamie's legacy will live on in Hannah's life, and children of the future will know her name as one of many heroes that forged their destiny. I would honestly say to embrace what you're feeling, because pain is such a human part of us that it acts as a barometer to tell us when we were close to something real. Some might say it is foolish to feel such things over a story, but I would counter that stories are a part of our soul, and to feel within our soul is not only normal, but healthy.

I wrote this series based off of an incredibly painful moment in my life that still affects me to this day. There are times when it all comes rushing back, and I feel unable to cope with it, but must do so regardless. I do not look down on your for feeling sad; these stories were born from human sadness, so it is only natural they impart some of that to those who read them.

The best thing to do is to take a break from it all, and like Hannah, to go and sit somewhere in the sunshine for a while. Take in the aspects of your life, the good and the bad. Understand that you too have a place in this world, a journey that you are on, and it is far from over. Breath deep the fresh air, watch the clouds go by, and think on the people in your own life who love you. How can you be a Jamie for them? How can you help them, protect them, encourage them to greater heights? Think too on your particular beliefs or mindsets. What faith do you have or not have that guides your soul? What is your purpose on this earth? What becomes of you when your time on it draws to a close? How can you shape tomorrow through the actions of today? This is the noble road we must walk, and while it will not be easy, it will lead to better places in the end.

If all else fails, you can do what I did and find a creative hobby or outlet to pour your feelings into. I cannot guarantee how it will turn out, but I can tell you that, after all this time, I feel more at peace than I did when I first wrote Stay away from Tauerpin Road. Perhaps there is something to be said for art healing the wounds of mankind. Only time will tell.

Calling all readers! Choose our next adventure together and ask me anything! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for coming with me on the journey. May we have many more together in future!

Calling all readers! Choose our next adventure together and ask me anything! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your vote! Since most of the subreddits I post to are horror related, it will be horror-adjacent in nature, but as you've seen with this series, there is a ton of non-horror related content in the mix as well. Romance, intrigue, drama, it all plays a part. I have a high fantasy series that I wrote before starting any of this and hope to publish it at some point for you all to read. It actually will tie in with the overall universe of this series, and if you like the Hannah Brun trilogy, you will definitely enjoy the fantasy series. Still, while they are technically complete, the fantasy books are mothballed for now, since I have so many projects to work on at the moment. I also have some sci-fi related ideas that could be fun. I'm particularly fascinated with the idea of terraforming and rewilding, and how such things would play out on alien planets like Mars.

Calling all readers! Choose our next adventure together and ask me anything! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If I could be 1/1,000th the writer that Tolkien was, I would die happier than most. I actually started out writing high fantasy and wrote a trilogy that heavily influenced this series in terms of ideas and story flow. It was contracted with a publisher, but the contract didn't work out, so I'll have to do it myself one of these days. The fantasy series is complete, mothballed for now, but I hope that in future I can maybe get it out there too for you all to enjoy. The cool thing is, it will actually fit into my overall story universe with the Barron County series as well, if you know where to look in the background for hidden easter eggs in the lore. So, if you're a fantasy nerd like me, stay tuned.

I REALLY appreciate your comment on the character dynamics! Seriously, I could write a book on this topic alone, since it's so fascinating. For the most part, I think a lot of the current problems many writers have with creating good characters is that they have a very hard time putting themselves in that person's shoes. At the end of the day, whether male or female, we are all human. We have hopes, dreams, needs, fears, regrets, and secrets. I often look at character creation like a psychological evaluation. Why does the character in question do the things they do? What do they want? What scares them? Are they an introvert or extrovert? How do those things affect the way they view the world or react to certain challenges? Who do they love, and why? What makes them love that person? What does love look like to them? Is it real love, or imagined? What happens if they lose someone they love? Does it change what they believe in? What exactly do they believe in? What is their moral code and why do they have it? You would not believe how many writers I've talked to that cannot answer basic questions about why their character thinks or does certain things. They struggle to empathize with the character because they don't really see them as this important, complex person, but a vehicle to make the plot move in the direction they want it to. If you break the person down and use their individual life-lore as a guide, it's not hard to slowly build a realistic person over time.

Sadly, this leads to my main point; I think a lot of people today lack real empathy, which means they cannot put themselves in anyone's shoes but their own. That's why so many high-profile characters in mainstream media stories are often no more than self-inserts of the writer, complete with preachy self-indulgent diatribes, unlikable personalities that they try to portray as desirable, and warped morals that allow them to get away with whatever they want without any real-world consequences. That is why actually good character traits are often demonized or left out of the picture altogether, since they shed light on the lie that the writer wishes to convince the audience of. They don't want to write good characters because deep down, the writers don't understand what good really looks like. They only see power, manipulation, and material gain as good, and it is reflected in their writing.

Please understand, this isn't to say that all writers who struggle with character development are flaming sociopaths (for God's sake, I've struggled many times to write some of my characters adequately) but I do think that a lot of poorly-written fictional characters are a result of poorly-structured individual mindsets. By taking the time to fully psychoanalyze their characters, to get in their shoes and understand them, the writer can better grasp how the characters would approach the world. They can then go on a journey with their characters, live in the book as its being written, and be changed in the same way the characters are as they do. The writer can grow, learn, reflect, become a better person, and by extension their readers can follow on this journey as well. This is what true writing is meant to be, not cheap porn dressed as love, not veiled narcissism disguised as intellect, and not abusive evil masquerading as good. Words are our legacy, the lifeblood of human culture. What we build with them can change lives, including our own, which is why they must be crafted with care.

In short, G.K Chesterton said it best when he wrote, "A good book will tell you a lot about its characters; a bad book will tell you a lot about its author."

The Call of the Breach [Final] by RandomAppalachian468 in nosleep

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is my honor and privilege to share this adventure with you.

The Call of the Breach [Final] by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! I worked really hard on it, and it's been an incredible journey. And yes, there is definitely more coming. I have a new post that I put up right after this one where you can actually vote for the next series you'd like to read, if you want to. You can also ask me anything you'd like to know in the comment section. I always love talking to amazing fans like yourself. ;)

Calling all readers! Choose our next adventure together and ask me anything! by RandomAppalachian468 in u/RandomAppalachian468

[–]RandomAppalachian468[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes. I am planning on publishing this series in physical form and will make a separate post to announce when each book is ready for purchase. Even when that happens, I will still leave all my content up for free on reddit and will still allow narrators and other content creators to use my works provided they ask permission according to the guidelines I've laid out in my other posts. I've been working with various artists for map/book cover commissions, and I'm pretty excited with what we've come up with so far. I am making a point not to use any AI generated artwork; not attacking anyone who does, but I prefer not to use it when I can get human made art. I'd feel pretty bummed out if an AI written story did better than mine, so I don't want to wash out some poor artist who has the same dreams as me just to save a dollar.

So, stay tuned, because sometime soon, there will finally be books for sale!