The Quarry, by Mark Allan Gunnells

Mark is another wonderfully talented author from Evil Jester Press. I love his wit and his skill as an author. You won't find a picture of his face on this post because he believes in letting the writing speak for itself. And with Mark it clearly does. With everything going on I have been a little behind on my book reviews, but here shortly I will be review his book, THE QUARRY, and today, Mark is here to talk a little about this amazing novel.

THE INTERVIEW:

Welcome to my blog, Mark! What inspired you to write The Quarry?

I have a deep affinity for college campus horror stories, and Limestone College where my novel is set is a real place, my alma mater in fact. I loved the idea of setting a novel on the campus, and the actual idea for THE QUARRY came from doing research on the history of the school, discovering some of the things I thought to be true were in fact urban legend. Everything sprang from there.


Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Well, I won’t say that I was born with a pen in my hand or anything, but I did discover a love of storytelling at an early age. Probably wrote my first stories around the age of 10, really became serious about it in high school.


What made you decide to write horror?

There is just a limitlessness to horror that appeals to me. An anything goes, no rules kind of freedom that is rather exhilarating. I do step outside the genre from time to time, but horror is my first love, my true passion, and I can’t imagine a time I’d ever leave the genre.


Who inspires you as a person and an author?

As a person, my mother inspires me. Maybe a cliché answer, but I see how hard she has worked all her life, how much she has sacrificed for her children, and I am in awe. As an author, the writers I truly admire are the ones that are both talented and also remain gentlemen. Trust me, I’ve met authors with big egos that can be nasty and rude (and no, I won’t name names), but there are some writers that are so generous and encouraging that it really warms an upstart’s heart. Writers like James Newman, Brian Knight, John R. Little, Gene O’Neill. Also veterans like Lansdale and King inspire me because despite all the books and fans, I still get a sense from them that they are still writing for the sheer love of it.


I heard something about a new book on the way from Evil Jester Press, mind sharing a little about it?

Evil Jester just accepted my short novel THE SUMMER OF WINTERS. The story takes place in my hometown in the summer of 1983, a coming of age tale dealing with a young boy named Mike who suspects he knows who was behind the brutal assault and murder of a little girl in town. With no proof he spends that summer trying to figure out what to do and how to ensure no one else gets hurt. It is due out sometime in the early part of 2013.


It was great having you here, and I look forward to reading more of your work!

THE COLLEGE...Peaceful and idyllic, bordering picturesque Lake Limestone, known locally as the Quarry. Until DALE awakens an ancient evil lurking deep beneath the waters. Becomes one with it. And EMILIO loses his best friend and wants to know why. An obsession that will unravel the terrifying secrets of...THE QUARRY...

BUY HERE!

“THE QUARRY will wrap you by the throat, and slowly pull you into the madness below. Mark has a way of bringing supernatural evil down to reality. Reading THE QUARRY, you fall in love with his characters, only to fear when the Big-Bad comes for them.

As a busy writer myself, and avid blogger, it took me a bit to finish this masterpiece. THE QUARRY is well written from page one, to the last. This is not a tale to read lightly. Like the quarry itself, this story runs deep. And the ending was perfect! No spoilers here, just that it couldn't have been any better.

I have a PDF and Kindle copy, but plan to buy a print copy here soon. This is a tale that belongs on the book self next to the masters.” ~Dale Eldon, author of the soon to be released, Smell of the Dead

“Mark Gunnells is ready to thrill fans once again with his tale of ancient evil, The Quarry. Once this beast of a book gets its hooks in you, it won’t let go. Gunnells’ voice is stronger than ever and instantly recognizable as his own—the first sign of a truly great writer. Count me in as a big fan, already looking forward to the next one!” ~James Newman, author of Midnight Rain, People are Strange, and Animosity

“Mark Allan Gunnells is one of my favorite new authors, and The Quarry is a terrific first novel. It has a great premise, wonderful characters, and the plot carries you along effortlessly. I highly recommend it.” ~John R. Little, author of The Memory Tree and The Gray Zone

Mark's Bio:

Mark Allan Gunnells has been writing since he was 10 years old. His first book, A LAYMON KIND OF NIGHT, was published by Sideshow Press in 2009. Since then he has put out three more books with Sideshow: the two-novella WHISONANT/CREATURES OF THE LIGHT combo, a short story collection entitled TALES FROM THE MIDNIGHT SHIFT VOL. I, and the Halloween themed DARK TREATS. He also has put out the novella ASYLUM with The Zombie Feed, and a digital collection entitled GHOSTS IN THE ATTIC with Bad Moon Books. He recently released his first published novel, THE QUARRY, with Evil Jester Press, which was soon followed by the novel SEQUEL from Gallow’s Press. He still lives in his hometown of Gaffney, SC.


Also from Mark Allan Gunnells:

In the early ‘90s, the low-budget slasher CLASS OF ’93 is released to scathing reviews and fan indifference. Its cast of young and up-and-coming actors and actresses, hopeful for a hit, watch their “big breaks” fizzle. Although the movie seems destined to be forgotten, it soon gains a cult following through late night screenings and VHS rentals. When hip director wunderkind, Taryn Quint, announces her plans to make a sequel to the picture, the original cast and crew is contacted to reprise their roles.

With a larger budget, a marquee director at the helm, and a pop princess in the cast, expectations are high. Struggling actor, Mace Hunter, sees the movie as a do-over…a chance to once again make his mark in the industry and to forget the painful lessons he learned at the hand of the first film’s director. But not everyone is happy about the new movie. It isn’t long before Taryn receives threatening messages urging her to abandon the film. And then the murders begin. As the cast and crew are butchered one-by-one, the survivors try to stay alive long enough to discover who would kill to stop the SEQUEL.

BUY HERE!

For those of you who missed it,my pal and author, William Cook is hosting a give-a-away of his novel, BLOOD RELATED, until this Sunday. The contest originally posted here. Here are the guidlines, you only have to do one to enter, but each one of these you do gets you an extra point:

• Tweet this post and tag me
• Follow me @daleeldon or William @williamcook666 on Twitter
• Share on Facebook, and tag me, Dale Eldon, so I can see the post
• Comment on this post on blogger
• Follow my blog

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