Continuing my pay-it-forward series of posts, I am presenting you today with Steve Bosley and his upcoming novella, Die, Blossom, Bloom. The novella is now available to pre-order for the low price of just 99p. You also get a FREE story from his next collection of horror stories, A Sinister Six, by visiting his website.
Die, Blossom, Bloom by Steve Boseley
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Let me start by offering my thanks to Nicholas for giving me a few minutes to introduce myself, and my upcoming novella, Die, Blossom, Bloom (DBB): Thanks, Nicholas!
I’m Steve Boseley. I like to write about amazing, fantastic, and sometimes, brutal things happening to everyday people. Although the adage ‘write what you know’ is good advice, I have to say that on the whole, I have never dismembered anyone, killed anyone, had any hallucinations that – well, there was that one time…
I’ve dabbled in humour, and harbour a secret urge to try my hand at YA fiction. I have also written about my experiences with disability, which was actually quite cathartic! I mostly write horror and dark fiction, and DBB sits happily in the dark fiction category.
A quick introduction to the novella
A pensioner with a newfound love of gardening, TED HARRIS, is haunted by the memories of his wife’s death. A regular competitor in the village ‘In Bloom’ competition, GERALDINE BUTLER-THOMPSON is keen to put Ted down at any opportunity and is more than happy to share her thoughts on his garden.
As Ted’s life with his wife is revealed, we get a glimpse into the love that they shared, before things started to go wrong. The choices that he made haunt him still, and Butler-Thompson pushes him to reveal more than he is willing to, leading to a showdown with JORDAN, Butler-Thompson’s grandson.
This confrontation pushes Ted towards what he sees as an inevitable conclusion and a final showdown with Butler-Thompson.
The annual ‘Haverly in Bloom’ competition is the backdrop for this thrilling tale of love, murder, and suspicion that is sure to leave you horrified.
The dark fiction route
When I started writing DBB, I did not think it would go down the dark fiction route that it did. I had been looking at writing in other genres, so I set out with that in mind when I was writing DBB. Very quickly it became obvious to me that the story was heading in an entirely different direction, so instead of dragging it back on course I decided to stay on and ride it to the end. I’m glad I did, because the feedback I have received from beta readers is very positive!
The protagonist, TED, is an amalgamation of my grandfather and a few others. He was the kind of man that mowed his lawn wearing a shirt and tie and measured the height of his grass with a ruler. That’s where the likeness ends, I hasten to add, as he never did what Ted does in DBB. At least not to my knowledge…
Extract
Here’s a short extract. Jordan has just confronted Ted in his own garden:
“Well, I’m not certain,” Jordan paused and held the bone out towards Ted, “but I reckon that,” he jabbed a finger at one end of the bone, “looks like a tooth.” He pulled the fragment of bone back to his own face. The moon offered little in the way of light, and he squinted. Dropping the hand slowly back to his side, Jordan looked at Ted. He broke into a grin and began to laugh. Silently at first, his shoulders moving up and down, then he threw his head back and brayed a laugh. “It bloody is, isn’t it?” Ted’s shoulders had slumped. “This is a bone. From a mouth, right?” Never the quickest of boys, Jordan’s conclusion was sound. Ted offered a silent prayer that he had reached the limits of his intellect, but the boy pressed on. “Is this,” he paused at the realisation of what he was about to say, “your wife?” It was Jordan’s turn to take a step back.
Ted lowered his head. “Yes.”
Jordan stared at the old man across from him. “You killed her.” It was a statement, not a question.
Ted looked up at him. “Yes, but you can’t say anything. No one will understand.” He spoke through his tears. His voice wavered as he stepped towards the boy.
“Don’t you come near me, freak.” Jordan took another step backwards.
“I’m not going to hurt you Jordan. You’re too big for me to do that.” Ted stepped back, aware that he had been advancing on the scared boy.
Regaining a modicum of composure, Jordan stepped back towards Ted. “Yes, I am aren’t I? I’ll take this with me.” He put the muddy bone in his sweatshirt pocket. “I’ll tell my grandma about this, and she’ll call the police. Then you’re finished here.”
Ted stepped in front of him. He suddenly felt every one of his seventy years. He held the spade and torch out in front of him. “No, Jordan, please don’t! At least let me explain!”
“Get out of my way, murderer!” He pushed past Ted and walked back towards the front garden.
Where can you find Die, Blossom, Bloom?
It is currently available for the pre-order price of just 99p, and will remain so until it is released on May 9th 2016. Anyone pre-ordering before this date will also receive a story from Steve’s upcoming horror collection, A Sinister Six. To benefit from this offer, simply send Steve an email (details below) with a screenshot of your purchase.
There’s more! Once you have purchased (and sent your email address to Steve), you can get another story by referring a friend to purchase DBB. The person you refer will also get a 2nd story!
It is available from:
Who is Steve?
Steve is a freelance writer, living in Nottingham, UK.
His dark fiction and horror short stories have appeared in several online webzines, and the anthologies The Asylum Within and Dead but Dreaming Halloween Edition. Most recently, Steve was a guest author for the short story collection Deathly Musings.
Steve enjoys writing horror that makes you stop and think: Could that happen to me? Although from time to time, the odd demon can creep in!
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Dark is good! I enjoyed the excerpt. Great luck with your book, Steve!
Ooh, sounds like an intriguing story. Best of luck, Ted. Hi, Nicholas. 🙂
Hey, Sue! Thanks for the visit and comment 🙂
Sounds like a very British thriller, with some aspects we can all identify with. Those shirt and tie gardeners are in abundance, here in Beetley.
A darker version of those ‘village murder’ stories on TV perhaps?
Good luck to Steve, I hope his book sells well.
Best wishes, Pete.
Lol – yes, it does sound rather familiar, doesn’t it? 🙂