Golden Perils Press

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The Dark RidersThe Dark Riders (book)

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From the darkest reaches of the Wild West comes a terrifying band of desperados bent on a course of destruction and revenge. Led by a vicious outlaw with half a face, they are called Dark Riders, neither alive nor dead, trapped in a world of eternal night. They descend upon the 7HL ranch in a fury of flashing fangs and ruthless bloodlust, leaving the compound littered with bloodless bodies. When Chris Durrin, a man stalked by death and nightmares, returns to find his uncle and all cowhands murdered, he soon realizes the devil has come to claim his due—a devil named Milus Clint. A devil he killed six years previous. Before the night is over he finds himself locked in a desperate struggle between the world of the living and the realm of the undead. Can he overcome the menace before he too becomes another in a long line of victims of The Dark Riders?

PistoleroPistolero (book)

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A vicious killer stalks the dusty streets of Mascarada, New Mexico, slicing the throats of saloon girls like some Western Day Jack the Ripper. The Crucible Society, an organization that claims it doesn't exist, plans to tame the Wild West, but are their methods any better than those of the criminals they hunt down? Johnny Hickok, a man falsely accused of murder, struggles against the demons of his past and the specter of the Pistolero within. After the Crucible Society offers him a pardon in exchange for bringing the ripper to justice, he soon finds himself entangled in a web of hidden motives, danger and deception. Can he face the ghosts awaiting him on the blood-stained trail that leads straight to the woman he left behind and vanquish the Janus tearing apart his soul? Or will he fall prey to an adversary as deadly as any the West has ever known?

Dark HarborsDark Harbors (book)

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Strange and terrifying things happen in the small seacoast town of Dark Harbor, Maine. A ghostly image in stone calls out to a lost love... A mysterious entity rises from the sea, beckoning to a searching soul... A living blue liquid invades a lonely widow's life... A ghost train rears out of the misty gray morning... A malicious entity, trapped within mirrors, reaches out to possess the living... A distraught man discovers his girlfriend is having an affair--with a werewolf... A mysterious ship's mirror reflects the past and spawns a deadly force... Dark Harbors takes you on a chilling journey into the macabre. Travel through twenty-nine tales of dark fantasy, haunting love and spine-tingling terror--if you dare... Includes three extra tales exclusive to this edition and a bonus tale of vengeful spirits and honor in the Old West...

NIGHT DEMONSNIGHT DEMONS (book)

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Deep within the blood-drenched walls of an ancient mansion Nathan Courtwright initiates a bizarre rite that will free every depraved soul since time immemorial to prey upon the living. Halted on the verge of success, he discovers the cost of failure is far greater: living interment in the family mausoleum, his demon soul consigned to a netherworld of suffering for all eternity. But when the mausoleum is torn down a century later, the evil that was Nathan Courtwright escapes...an evil capable of prying into its victims' deepest fears and blackest nightmares. Haunted by frightening visions, Paul Stanford returns to the fate-shrouded town of Dark Harbor, Maine--a town filled with sorrow and dark memories. Within days he finds himself locked in a desperate and terrifying struggle that spans a century-old feud and demonic desires. Only he holds the key to the door of the damned—a key that will cost him the life of the woman he loves and his very soul. A key that will fill the world with Night Demons...

The Nightmare Club: #1 The Headless PaperboyThe Nightmare Club: #1 The Headless Paperboy (book)

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When October Williams moves to the small seaside town of New Salem, Maine, he hardly expects to be chased by the ghost of the Headless Paperboy. But New Salem is a town gripped by the supernatural where anything can happen... October soon learns a strange and terrifying tale. Every Halloween three children vanish as the ghost begins searching for his head. Riding a thirty-year-old bicycle and hurling flaming newspapers, the phantom needs three victims before disappearing for another year. Together with a band of misfit kids who call themselves the Nightmare Club, a strange girl named Alliecat who wants to shove her way into the group, and a pot-bellied pig named Barnabas, he must find the Paperboy's head and put it back with the body before it's too late and he loses his own!

GrimmGrimm (book)

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For retired Detective Sergeant Arlo Grimm the world has turned into a nightmare haunted by the ghosts of his past and the demons of his future. His youngest son murdered, he suddenly finds himself plunged into a frightening web of conspiracy and the supernatural. In the small seaside town of New Salem, Maine, a horrifying menace has risen from the blackest depths of history. Renegade sorceresses from the Salem witch trials have claimed the town as their breeding ground for the hideous demon, Czcarabus. Calling themselves the Sisters of the Snake, they embark on a spree of grisly killings and terror that will bring the Dark One back into this world--unless Arlo Grimm can stop them in time. Together with a beautiful exotic dancer named Chloe, Arlo finds himself locked in a desperate struggle of danger and dark lust. Can he resist the spell of an evil temptress and stop the Sisters from opening the doorway to Hell? Or will he become the final sacrifice to the darkness bent on devouring his very soul?

The Avenger: The Gray NemesisThe Avenger: The Gray Nemesis (book)

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The steely-eyed machine of vengeance who fought for justice after the dread loss of his wife and daughter to a vicious crime ring... Richard Henry Benson...The Avenger! A complete history and retrospective of the man, his adventures, his aides, gadgets and multimedia appearances. Step into the roaring heart of the crucible with the most authoritative account of The Avenger's amazing career available.

The Chloe Files #1: Ashes to AshesThe Chloe Files #1: Ashes to Ashes (book)

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A silver locket said to have belonged to Joan of Arc and a children's nursery rhyme... A 600-year-old monkey with an attitude and a mysterious supernatural symbol on a Caller ID box... A deadly plague reemerging in the seaside town of New Salem, Maine, and the manifestation of a little girl's ghost... How do these tie in with the sudden disappearance of Chloe's fiancé, Detective Sergeant Arlo Grimm, while on a routine search for a lead to her twin sister, who vanished thirty years earlier? When the answer points to an Evil she'd thought vanquished Chloe knows she's in over her pretty blonde head and this time she'll have nothing to rely on except her own wits and courage. But will that be enough to save her and the life of the man she loves?

The Nightmare Club #2: The Deadly DragonThe Nightmare Club #2: The Deadly Dragon (book)

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Orville “Ace T” Turner has a hard time staying out of trouble but after moving to the spooky seaside town of New Salem, Maine, he soon discovers his troubles are only just beginning. Because on the day he walks past the deserted old mansion on Tuttle Street, he sees a mysterious and terrifying sight—the ghost of the Dragon Boy! Then when bullies from school start disappearing, Orville quickly finds himself right in the middle of a ghostly mystery. Together with a band of misfit ghost hunters who call themselves the Nightmare Club, a strange girl named Alliecat who wants to shove her way into the group and a potbellied pig named Barnabas, he must solve the riddle of the Dragon Boy’s ghost before it claims its final victim and vanishes into the night forever!

The Chloe Files #2: Sliver of DarknessThe Chloe Files #2: Sliver of Darkness (book)

Print: $14.99

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Who knows what crimes cripple the minds of the guilty? Brant Lamont’s acting career was on a downhill slide, then one night after a performance he vanished. Was he dead? Alive? Forty years later still no one knows what became of the mercurial actor…or the rising starlet who’d become his mistress. It was as if they’d both walked off the face of the earth. Until Chloe Everson’s world flashes to a bizarre black and white and the specter of one of Lamont’s characters, the Sliver of Darkness, visits her in the dead of the night. But ghostly visitations aren’t Chloe’s only dilemma, because the New Salem Ripper is stalking the waterfront, butchering prostitutes and young strippers, moving ever closer to an encounter with the object of his obsession… Chloe herself… Includes the bonus Chloe story: The Trouble with Flappers

The Nightmare Club #3: The Willow WitchThe Nightmare Club #3: The Willow Witch (book)

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When Allie “Alliecat” Carpenter sees the New Salem Witch flying across the face of the full moon she knows the trouble is just beginning. Somebody has helped the old hag escape her grave and legend has it she must kidnap seven children in seven days to become immortal, or perish forever. Soon, the children of New Salem begin disappearing and Allie knows the old legend is coming true. Together with a band of misfit ghost hunters who call themselves the Nightmare Club, she decides to track down the old witch and put her in her grave once and for all—if the witch doesn’t get her first!

Dark Bits

Haunted November: Bloody Hell…
2009 Nov 20
Did anyone see the new Discovery Channel documentary on Jack the Ripper the other night? The investigator tracked a man named James Kelly from the Whitechapel murders to various ripper crimes occurring across the US in the years following the Ripper’s sudden disappearance after his “last” atrocious killing, and presented some very compelling and convincing evidence using modern forensics, old manifests and computer facial deconstruction tools. Whether one accepts his conclusions that this man was, indeed, Red Jack, or needs more or countering evidence, it was a fascinating program, if gruesome.

I’ve always found Stigmata a fascinating phenomenon, despite the boring movie of the same name. For those who aren’t familiar with the term, Stigmata is the spontaneous discharge of blood usually from invisible wounds on the body. Those wounds normally occur in areas representing those suffered by Christ on the cross, though there have been cases reported of blood flowing from the eyes. Predominantly, the stigmatics are Catholic, and whether this has something to do with the fact most Protestant faiths do not have the religious effigies or crucifixes as Catholicism may be significant.

The first recorded stigmatic was, in fact, St. Francis of Assisi, who bled from the palms and feet after an extended fast while meditating on the crucifixion.

The actual number of stigmatics is not known, though at least 320 cases have been documented, bleeding as little as a half-pint, or as much as a pint and a half.

Oddly, the placement of the wounds corresponds to those of the individual’s familiarity with a particular crucifix or statue representation of Christ.

In the early stage, blood appears to discharge through the skin and when wiped away no wound is seen. However, some advanced stigmatics show evidence of actual wounds, or in more remarkable cases even a hard flesh-covered lump that appears to be the head of a nail protruding from the wound. Many times these bleedings are associated with some particular religious holiday and most who experience the phenomenon are deeply devout. The appearance of the wounds generally corresponds with meditation.

So what’s going on here? Is this truly a manifestation of some Holy Spirit or does the answer lie hidden deep within the subconscious mind of the stigmatic?

Most telling might be the individual’s perception of Christ’s wounds. Those who are familiar with representations showing the nails driven through Christ’s hands bleed from the hands, while those familiar with the nails in the wrists exude through that spot. It’s probably common knowledge these days crucifixion nails were pounded through the wrists because those driven through the hands would not have supported the victim’s body weight and would have torn through. If this were truly a holy experience, logic (and applying logic to matters of faith is not always prudent nor practical, though it is my personal belief a supreme power would work within the bounds—known or unknown—of physics It constructed) would seem to dictate all wounds would be the same and therefore an actual representation of Christ’s wounds, whether those wounds match our artistic perceptions and interpretations.

The second telling point is the meditative state, or spontaneously altered state of consciousness all humans are capable of in varying degrees. Some people can reach these states easily and deeply and not even be aware of it. It’s also a scientific fact that while in deep hypnosis people can halt or alter bleeding in surgery or dentistry. It should come as little surprise or leap, then, that we could unconsciously produce bleeding. Studies have also shown that while in hypnosis the mind can spontaneously produce warts or hard bumps in the flesh—so the nail phenomenon is easily explained.

In all likelihood, stigmata is self-induced, albeit unconsciously. Often it comes in times of great personal stress. The mind is an incredible organ, and frequently an incomprehensible one. For me, stigmata is all too easily explained and localized to be attributed to Holy influence. And I personally don’t believe a Holy Spirit is going to work by scaring the living hell out of Its believers—I mean, that’s contrary to the whole point, isn’t it?

The Chloe Files: Kicking Evil’s ass one demon at a time…
In paperback.
Howard Hopkins Horror, western, comic book author http://www.howardhopkins.com
Haunted November: I’ve Looked at Clouds…
2009 Nov 18
First a couple items: Ghost Whisperer continues to improve over the past few weeks. Really liked the Headless Horseman nod for Halloween, but I still find myself hoping the cheesy little kid gets eaten by the shinies. Oh, yeah, booo, I know. But he just adds nothing to the show at this point except Melinda’s over the top gushing looks and a decided lack of her running around in sexy lingerie. Priorities, people!

On the other hand, I checked out Ghost Hunters Academy last week. I am a fan of the Ghost Hunters show but this new one is, in a word—lame. Maybe it’s because the dweebs they selected for the academy are as unskilled and uninteresting as you can get, or because the manufactured “drama”, especially from one girl, comes over as just plain silly. I’m not sure. I do know the addition of two “sensitives” really detracts from the legitimacy of true ghost hunting—which is not to prove the existence of psychics, but of ghosts in a non-biased, scientifically provable aspect. I won’t even be giving this one a second try. I liked none of the people involved, except for Steve and Tango, GH regulars, but even they can’t save this dreadful lot. On the other hand the regular GH episode had an extremely interesting chain incident last week. Now THAT I would like to see more on.

Did you know there are actually folks who claim, through a feat of psychokinesis, they can make clouds dissolve? I didn’t. There’s even a term for it. It’s called, appropriately enough, “cloud dissolving” or “cloud bursting”.

Considering the wet, dreary—and chilly—summer we had here in Southern Maine, I find myself more than a little skeptical such a thing is possible. If it were, I think there’d be perfect weather all the time, except in places with droughts, where rain is needed.

Of course, there’s the other side of the coin. Indian shamans have long believed in scared dances that bring about the formation of clouds and subsequent rain. In all fairness, I have noticed a definite increase in moisture every time Shakira shakes her hips—but that’s probably just me sweating profusely.

Certainly we’ve all stared at the clouds on lazy summer days and imagined dragons or various animals, even giant faces, or in my case certain parts of Jennifer Love Hewitt’s anatomy (and I must admit THAT was certainly a spiritual experience, lemme tell you).

But forming clouds with the mind? Dissolving them? Making it rain and controlling the weather?

I don’t think so. There’s certainly no empirical evidence to back up such claims. It’s difficult enough trying to quantify PK in the lab. But clouds are ever-shifting, at the whim of the wind, not the mind.

The Chloe Files: Kicking Evil’s ass one demon at a time…In paperback
Howard Hopkins Horror, western, comic book author http://www.howardhopkins.com
Doc Savage Returns…Sorta…
2009 Nov 12
Yesterday the first of DC Comics’ New Wave series came out, a crossover book starring Batman (the gun-toting Batman of the early ‘40s) and the legendary Man of Bronze, Doc Savage. Given as the writer, Brian Azzarello, was one I had never warmed up to, I didn’t expect much from the book…so I guess you could say I wasn’t disappointed. I, and Doc fans—and there are more of them than the callous comments of the writer indicated in an online interview he did—didn’t get much.

The cover artwork was pretty damn good, but the interior artwork was basically passable and in one case one character resembles Doc enough to be mistaken for him in a few panels. Doc was portrayed with lighter hair instead of the darker bronze stated in 182 original novels (give or take a couple misstatements by ghost writers). But that’s quibbling.

The weakness comes mostly with the lackluster story, or lack of story, and out-of-character Doc Savage. While this does take place on an alternate earth, and I guess that’s the excuse, Doc Savage, despite being an open good-doer, was still a private person, not the party-going, gregarious holier-than-thou Azzarello paints him to be. The use of “heh” and “Huh” too often for all characters was especially annoying after a short time and Doc’s open talking about the loss of his father to Batman just didn’t jibe with the pulp character.

Still it could have been worse and I tentatively have to recommend Doc fans pick it up and give it a try themselves. It’s far better than what DC did to Doc, The Shadow and The Avenger in the 80s.

What does scare me, however, is the brief bio in the back of the magazine for another pulp character I am especially fond of, The Avenger. Azzarello’s understanding of the character is dead wrong. I was looking forward to seeing Richard Henry Benson in comic format again, but now…I’m worried. However, I would recommend you keep your eye on Moonstone Books (www.moonstonebooks.com) for the “real” Richard Henry Benson, who will be returning in two all new prose anthologies in 2010, edited by Joe Gentile, a genuine Avenger lover, and yours truly. Joe is working on lining up some special things for the books as well. And pick up the first anthology, The Avenger Chronicles, for some great reading. While you're at it, grab a copy of my complete history of The Avenger,The Gray Nemesis.

Howard Hopkins Horror, western, comic book author http://www.howardhopkins.com
Haunted November: Being Bi…
2009 Nov 12
How many times have you wished you could be in two locations at the same time? Well, apparently some mystics, monks and other holy folks contend they have the ability to do just that. It’s called “Bilocation.” Talk about multi-tasking. Reckon Microsoft could learn a thing or two from them.

Bilocation is simply the appearance of an individual in two distinct places at once. Prevailing theory suggests that this doppelganger is a projection, or type of out of body experience.

Instances of bilocation are rare but it is an ancient phenomenon. Mystics claim it can be practiced at will and if the bilocation occurs spontaneously it can bode the impending death of the individual.

Scant credibility or study is afforded to the phenomenon these days, but probably the most famous case occurred in Italy in the year 1774 when St. Alphonsus Maria d’Ligouri was spotted at the bedside of dying Pope Clement XIV, despite the fact that the saint was confined to a cell at least a four-day ride away.

Often these doppelgangers are reported to act stiff or robotic, and do not converse with witnesses. Honestly, how rude of them.

Are they real? Can a person project a spirit double and sent it traipsing to distant places? Is it the “soul” or some sort of mind construct?

Well, obviously proving it definitively one way or the other is problematic. I certainly can’t create a double of myself and send it where I want it to go, though I have met others who claim they can, though they are peculiarly either ignorant of the details when questioned, or the opposite, obviously fantasy-prone types. I have doubts about the phenomenon. If it were possible, I’m pretty sure I would have found a way to project myself into Jessica Alba’s shower by now. Until that day (or the day she projects herself into mine!) I remain highly skeptical.

Has anyone reading this ever experienced an out of body romp? I’d be interested in hearing your view on the subject or about your experiences. And if you’re Jessica Alba, these are my shower coordinates…

The Chloe Files: Kicking Evil’s ass one demon at a time…
In paperback.
Howard Hopkins Horror, western, comic book author http://www.howardhopkins.com
Western Wednesday: Grab Yer Phaser, Pardner...
2009 Nov 11
I’ve talked a few times about blending other genres with the Western; namely, horror. Horror goes well with westerns for there is a long-standing tradition of ghost stories told ‘round the campfire.

But another genre blends especially well with the Western, and that is Science Fiction. It’s been said that Science Fiction is nothing more than cowboys and Indians in outer space and to a degree that’s spot on. One can draw many parallels with hard or fantasy driven Science Fiction. Star Trek might just as easily be placed in the Old West; simply substitute aliens with Indians and Captain Kirk with Kirk Custer. Science Fiction explores new frontiers, breaks new ground and chronicles the hardships of striking out into territories unknown. As does the Western. If anyone saw the Serenity movie a couple years back (based on the TV series Firefly), that was little more than a western set in space.

While there are many parallels between the two genres in terms of action and exploration, some shows blend them together exceptionally well. Two of my favorites are The Wild Wild West and The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

The Wild Wild West ran for four seasons in the mid-sixties and starred Robert Conrad (dude, how did you get into those pants and without neutering yourself?) and Ross Martin as Secret Service Agents James West and Artemis Gordon. Though strongly grounded in the Western USA during the Grant administration, the show commonly melded science fiction elements into its storylines and did it well. One show even dealt with supposed flying saucers and aliens from space. The entire series is available on DVD. The first season was black and white and probably more Western oriented, so start with the second for a more Science Fiction flavor.

The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. starred cult horror actor Bruce Campbell and the exquisite Kelly Rutherford and ran for only a season and 27 episodes in the early 1990s. During his hunt for the John Bly Gang who killed his father, Brisco runs across such things as a mysterious orb and time travel. One episode even featured a sheriff patterned after a certain king of rock and roll, thank you very much. The show often blended tongue-in-cheek humor with drama as well as Adventure and Western themes. In one episode, the smarmy little bandit Pete (don’t touch Pete’s piece!) was killed by a Chinese throwing star only to appear fully healthy in a later episode. When asked how, he says something to the effect of “funny thing about Chinese stars, an hour later you’re alive again…” It’s a pity the show was not renewed but I highly recommend picking up the set on DVD.

Any other favorite blendings of science fiction and western? Let me know yours.
Howard Hopkins Horror, western, comic book author http://www.howardhopkins.com

The Chloe Files

The Latest from Chloe
2009 May 15
My New Supernatural Adventure, Sliver of Darkness, is Now Available!
2008 Nov 21
Chloe Status Report
2008 Sep 30