LEGEND OF THE PUMPKIN THIEF by Charles Day

As the town folk sleep, something creeps into the neighborhood. Hidden in shadows, its presence is as old as time itself, its intent not born of goodness.

Nick, a young man who fancies himself a detective, wakes to find his carved out masterpiece missing. Now a mystery is afoot, and Nick has his first assignment, to find out who or what is snatching up the town’s pumpkins and why.

Unfortunately, as with all great detectives, obstacles stand in Nick’s way—the neighborhood bully and his cronies, and the strange old lady and her dog who share the run down house at the end of Nick’s block. As Nick investigates, an urban legend unravels…

The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief.

Nick fears the legend as he embarks on the most dangerous adventure of his young life. Collecting clues, ever closer to the true nature of evil, he learns that curiosity comes with a high price.


Without giving too much away, can you tell us what your book is about?

Okay, I’ll try. The story revolves around, Nick, a Seventeen-year old, who wants to go on to college and eventually sit for the police exam. His ultimate goal is to be a Detective someday. As the story develops, he’s forced into doing some early detective work when some pumpkins suddenly disappear in his small town of Chesterville.

An urban legend foretells of a Pumpkin Thief who chooses a town each Halloween, stealing the pumpkins so his ghosts, goblins, and other Halloween creatures can have their right to free passage into this chosen town. Without the pumpkins to keep them away, they have free sovereignty to wreak terror and mayhem. Is Nick’s town chosen one this year?

Although this is a young adult novel, my first actually, it’s fun for all ages. I had a blast writing this, and I’m excited to be working on my next YA novel for them. I really enjoy writing for this genre.


How long did it take you to write this book?

All together, about six months for the first draft.


What was your inspiration to write this book?

As a kid, my friends and I loved Halloween. We always caused ruckus in our neighborhood, and we picked on this old lady at the end of the block. You’ll see in this book that my fictitious character, Mrs. Needlewhitter, is the same old lady who we just loved to tease. And I’m a huge fan of this holiday, so….


Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book?

Simply put, you’ll have a blast remembering all the great times you had as a kid on Halloween.


Do you have a specific genre that you always write in or do you try writing in different genres?

No. I thought I did when I published my 14 short stories, since most of them were horror to some extent. But I also enjoy a good mystery, and I wrote two, “Deadly Workout” & “The Plan,” which have both been sold to small press publishers. In fact, “The Plan” is now out with Naked Snake Press and on Amazon.com


Do you have any writing projects you are currently working on?

Most certainly. I love to write stories.

It releases all the voices in my head. I seem to have transitioned from the short stories to novellas and novels. I enjoy the fact that I can really build my characters and go to unexplored territories with them. They lead, and I follow without question. Otherwise, I seem to receive retribution. You don’t even want to know what they do inside my head, nasty little buggers. And, I might add, I have an ample supply of characters that have great stories to tell.

I currently have three books under consideration with small press publishers from 2011, “Kyle McGerrt, Monster Hunter & Destroyer of the Indian Curse: Book 1 Hunt for the Ghoulish Bartender.” As you can see, this is going to be a western horror trilogy. I’m already at work on his next adventure, “Book 2: Curse of The Earth Monster.”

“Redemption,” a collaborative Novella with Mark Taylor from across the pond, is about two friends who get drunk at a bar and then drive home, only to hit and kill a young girl. Problem is, they killed the wrong girl, and now she’s coming back for revenge, along with some furry friends of hers. What’s so cool about this book is that my novella is all about Al Fudrucker, and his showdown with the dead girl. Mark’s novella is all about Al’s friend, Benny Fairwhether, and both books interrelate. It’s two separate novellas around 20,000 words each. A one book treat, and a great concept that my publisher came up with.

As for 2012, I’m only going to concentrate on three projects that I’ve already started, I hope! Hehehehe! Anyway, first up is “Summer Camp,” a horror novel I hope to have done and ready to send out to only the most respected agents in NY before the end of this year, as my goal is to get this book into the big NY publishing house. Hey, I know every writer has this dream, and if I don’t at least try I’ll never feel that I took a shot at this dream.

I’m a huge advocate for the small press publishers, but I need to have one novel I can step into deeper waters with, right? I also plan on pitching something at the WHC in Salt Lake City this coming March. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed.

The second is my next YA horror novel, “Immortal Family,” that I’m writing exclusively for Noble YA Publishers. I’m hopeful they will like it, but if they don’t, it will be up for grabs for another publisher who may want it.

And the last is “In the Eye,” a horror novel set around a deadly Hurricane. I’ve written about 10,000 words so far on this, and will seek out a small press publisher who would find this something they may want to publish. Any takers on a partial?

I wanted to say thank you, to everyone who came by to read my interview. It means so much. I promise you, you will not be disappointed with Legend of The Pumpkin Thief. It’s a suspense driven good old fashioned fun and scary novel! Happy early Halloween!


Charles' and Jester's BIO:

Charles Day A.K.A, the evil little Jester, is an HWA affiliate member and the Mentor Program Committee Chairperson, and a full member of the New England Horror Writers Association. He's published 14 short stories with various small press publishers, including his novella Lockdown (Wicked East Press, 2011) which received an endorsement form four-time Bram Stoker winner, Lisa Morton.

His biggest success to date is the sale of his first horror novel, Deep Within (Twisted Library Press, Spring 2012), his first YA horror novel, Legend of The Pumpkin Thief (Noble Publishers, Jan 09th, 2012) and a novella Deadly Workout (Dopamavoli Books, Spring 2012). His novelette The Plan a Mystery is now available from Naked Snake Press and on all online retailers.

He has also edited his first anthology Tales of terror & Mayhem from Deep Within the Box (Wicked East Press, Winter 2012) compiled with 24 amazingly terrifying stories by talented authors in the horror genre. Includes the debut story of how the evil jester became so damn evil in The Gift, By Charles Day, edited by Hollie Snider.

He is also the founder/owner of Hidden Thoughts Press- Non fiction books, where the focus is on mental wellness collections- and Evil Jester Press, a fiction imprint.

He firmly believes that after walking the dark and dingy halls of a psychiatric ward as an employee for 12 years, many of the characters that speak to him daily in his head are those he may have watched over, anxious to share their stories through the written word. You can find out more at charlesdayfictionwriter.blogspot.com. Welcome to their twisted world.

Evil Little Jester and his sidekick Charles Day

Dale Eldon

Today I have the honor of interviewing an author whom I look up to. Charles Day has been working hard at the keyboard while juggling a day job as the Evil Little Jester jabs him with a hot-poker. I mean it when I say that he is my kind of crazy! Charles is the founder of a small press called, Evil Jester Press (EJP), where I have met several other great authors. Also it is his site that inspired my current novella. I give you Evil Little Jester and his muse Charles Day...


Charles Day, and Evil Little Jester

The anthology, TALES OF TERROR AND MAYHEM, includes “The Gift,” the premiere story of the origin of Charlie in the Box, the evil little jester. Now you get to read how he became the evil dude in the jester’s box. As told by his alter ego, and muse Charles Day.

In another awesome anthology, HANNIBAL'S MANOR, my new Novella is now available in Hannibal's Manor by Wicked East Press. Come meet Tobias, a young man full of relentless rage who continues to hear a voice in his head. Is he mentally ill, or is this voice real? His mother knows the truth, and she's been keeping it a secret from him since he was a child. Nonetheless, she is afraid and can no longer control her behemoth son from his violent outbursts.

Unwillingly and not with out a fight, he is sent by police escort to a locked Psych Unit at Calvary Hospital to be evaluated. While secured in restraints, Tobias manages to break free.

Hell in the flesh is about to show its face to the staff and other patients now locked on this unit, and there is no way out. Tobias controls it all, and he's about to reign down a fury upon the staff and other patients, never seen before. Also included are 13 short stories of insanity and mayhem, sure to delight.

Lisa Morton, Multiple Bram Stoker Winner and author of “The Castle of Los Angeles writes, "LOCKDOWN was very entertaining, with a wonderful character in Tobias, fantastic and compelling realism in the hospital descriptions, and a lot of solid set pieces."

"Charles Day spins twisted webs in your mind with his dark and unstable characters. His stories never fail to keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what horrors will be unleashed next." ~ Rebecca Besser, author of Undead Drive-Thru.

"Lockdown is the tale of a man, Tobias, who is disturbed. His mother believes it’s mental illness, but secretly knows better. Nonetheless, she calls for help. The police take her son to a mental hospital to get him treatment, but they don’t know what they’re dealing with.

The staff in the wing Tobias is admitted to, finds out they’re dealing with someone, or something, far beyond what they can handle. Will any of them make it off the floor alive? Or will the ‘Lockdown’ take its toll on them all?"

DEEP WITHIN (Coming late 2011/Early 2012)
By Charles Day


Awakened before the birds start to chirp, Dr. Steve Evans, Child Psychiatrist, is alerted by phone that his college buddy, Marty, also a Doctor, is in dire need of his professional services. He informs him that a patient he’s been seeing, Carlitto, is not well and needs some professional help with his unexplainable psychosis. However, Marty intentionally leaves out something even more important.


An unsettling and horrible event has occurred while his patient remained locked up, the true reason why he reaches out for his friends help in the first place. So begins a roller coaster of a ride for Dr. Evans, who immediately heads out to assist his friend, unaware that he is about to embark on a perilous journey. This path of uncertainty will only lead him far beyond the realm of psychology.


Located in the heart of the Northern Adirondack Mountains of NYS, the historic Moose Hill Psychiatric Hospital holds some of the most severe and precarious mentally ill patients. Marty’s patient, Carlitto, has recently become another statistic at the hospital after being located by police in a psychotic state, gazing out into the NYC Harbor. He takes on this patient’s care the moment he’s admitted to Moose Hill.
While Carlitto remains secure at the facility, his family and a friend become unintentionally involved, ultimately surrendering to deaths grip along the way. These unexpected events compel Marty to reach out to someone he can trust, someone who is willing to help him in his own investigation surrounding these mysterious deaths.


As the story unfolds, Steve is also forced to face his childhood fears when some old friends of his, “The Boulder Street Boys,” resurface in his life, creating havoc at the worst time. When all of this catches up with him, he’ll need to make some choices, ones he never thought he’d have to make. Even more troubling is what occurs midway, when something unnatural enters his mind and settles deep within. Thus begins the battle between good and evil, as the two young doctors try and comprehend what’s happening in their struggle to prevent a supernatural entity that has been born, and now unleashed at Moose Hill. Can they stop it before it kills again?
*Coming Soon*


Evil Little Jester and his muse Charles Day


Charles's Links


The Interview:


When did you first want to write for a living?


I wrote a story when I was around 14, it was a fantasy that mimicked The Lord of The Rings book I read, since I loved that book. From there I didn't start writing again until I was an adult, back around 2003. I wrote two novels but never did anything with them until about 2007. I started penning chapters of “Deep Within,” while working on a secured in-patient psych unit on the overnight shift back in 2007. When I tried to get them published the traditional route, with query's to agents, I had no success so I put them aside. Then, in 2010, I started going on line and began looking at the Small Press Websites around May, 2010.


I found many open call for short stories in anthologies and started writing for these. My first sold in July of 2010, and from that point I had my share of rejections, but I also received 14 acceptances, which resulted in 14 published or soon to be published short stories with various small presses. This clarifies my mistake on my interview earlier this week, since I was caught by surprise with a barrage of questions. I meant to say that I started writing a short stories about a year ago, and the agent queries a few years back were for two novel/novella length pieces of work!!




What made you decide on horror?


Oh easy. I always enjoyed watching scary movies. My own father took me to see the Exorcist, and hell, I was only a kid. It scared the daylights out of me. As I grew up, we visited haunted houses, The Amityville House, and other crazy things. My friends and I just loved to scare each other. Horror is in my blood.




What kind of inspirations do you have?


They come from great books and movies, and the voices that speak to me in my head. A few get assertive and demand I write their story. And so the writing begins.





Favorite authors/or books?


Stephen King, Scott Smith, Jeff Strand, Brian Keene, Dennis Lehane, Joe Hill, Dean Koontz and so, so much more!





What can we expect to see from you in the near future?


My YA Novel “Legend of The Pumpkin Thief,” is currently under consideration. My Novelette “Reflection,” was sent out for consideration, and I have a two novellas near completion, “Redemption” and “APT for Rent, Small Pet’s OK.” Redemption is already promised to a small press publisher for re-consideration.


I also have two novels in progress, “Summer Camp” and “Kyle McGertt, Monster Hunter and Destroyer of the Indian Curses”, both hopefully to completed before December 2011. I’m taking a two week vacation from my day job, so I’m hoping to get further with these. They are both currently around 10,000 words. I’m also in discussions with a few artists, producers and screenwriters, developing a “Graphic Novel.” Top Secret, with the evil little guy in the Box!!!


After that, I’m taking a three month break and preparing myself for the WHC/HWA conference!!



A Little More About Charles 
Charles Day Aka, The evil little Jester, is an HWA supporting Member who has published 14 short stories with various small press publishers, including his novella Lockdown (Wicked East Press, 2011). His biggest success to date is the sale of his first thriller/ suspense novel, Deep Within (Twisted Library Press, late 2011/early 2012). He is also the founder/owner of Hidden Thoughts Press- Non fiction works where the primary focus is mental wellness collections- and Evil Jester Press a fiction imprint.

He is proud to mention that he sold his first story one short year ago and owes much of his success to the little guy in the Jester’s box. He also believes that after walking the dingy halls of a Psychiatric Ward as an employee for 12 years, many of the characters that speak to him are those he watched over, anxious to share their stories through the written word.

You can find out more at charlesdayfictionwriter.blogspot.com. Welcome to his twisted world.