I have some amazing content on the blog today – The making of an urban legend. This gives you a great insight into the mind of Brian and the book. Firstly my apologies though, there is an image missing. I just could not bring myself to include a picture of Momo on my blog. For anyone not familiar a quick google will tell you all you need to know.
The Urban Legend Behind Will Haunt You
by Brian Kirk
I’m a sucker for urban legends. Bloody Mary, Ghostly Hitchhikers, Slenderman. And now the new urban legend that’s captivated the world’s attention: Momo, with her deadly challenge. My kids’ school just sent home a stern letter to warn us parents about the dangers of Momo, which is a fictional character at the center of an online hoax.
Or is it?
See, that’s what makes urban legends so scary. The best ones blur the lines between fiction and reality, so that even if you know in your heart the story isn’t true, there’s a small part of you, perhaps a primal part, that is worried it might be. Maybe even that your belief can make it real. Many people believe that prayers can lead to tangible changes in the material world, so maybe belief can, in rare cases, cause your worst fears to become reality.
It’s like playing with a Ouija board. Logic states that Ouija boards are not conduits to the spirit world. Hasbro makes the darn things, the same toy company that created Mr. Potato Head. But there’s no way you could ever get me to interact with one, especially at night in a dark room surrounded by candles. Place the board in the middle of a pentagram drawn on the floor? NO. WAY.
Why is that? Why should my heart flutter when saying Bloody Mary’s name three times in front of a mirror. Do I really believe that a spirit is going to come and cause me harm? No, the rational part of me knows that isn’t going to happen. But the emotional/superstitious part of me says, “Strange things happen all the time. Why take the chance?”
My fascination for urban legends is what fueled my desire to create one myself. In this case, an urban legend about a book that preys upon the people who read it. That’s the basic premise behind my novel, Will Haunt You. The book itself tells the story of the last person foolhardy enough to crack the cover, but new readers wouldn’t know to beware of the book had they not been forewarned. That’s what led me to create a prequel told in the creepy-pasta format most commonly used to spread present day urban legends. I wanted readers to know what was at stake should they decide to read the book.
The prequel to Will Haunt You tells the story of a couple from my own neighborhood who disappeared after discovering a strange book in their home. The story is told through posts my neighbor made to the neighborhood website Nextdoor(dot)com, where she was chronicling her ordeal and calling for help.
Anyone considering reading Will Haunt You is advised to read The Story of OBSIDEO first so that they know what could potentially befall them should they decide to read the book. Then, like playing with a Ouija board, they can find out for themselves if the legend is true.
Following is more information regarding the novel Will Haunt You.
You don’t read the book. It reads you.
Rumors of a deadly book have been floating around the dark corners of the deep web. A disturbing tale about a mysterious figure who preys on those who read the book and subjects them to a world of personalized terror.
Jesse Wheeler―former guitarist of the heavy metal group The Rising Dead―was quick to discount the ominous folklore associated with the book. It takes more than some urban legend to frighten him. Hell, reality is scary enough. Seven years ago his greatest responsibility was the nightly guitar solo. Then one night when Jesse was blackout drunk, he accidentally injured his son, leaving him permanently disabled. Dreams of being a rock star died when he destroyed his son’s future. Now he cuts radio jingles and fights to stay clean.
But Jesse is wrong. The legend is real―and tonight he will become the protagonist in an elaborate scheme specifically tailored to prey on his fears and resurrect the ghosts from his past. Jesse is not the only one in danger, however. By reading the book, you have volunteered to participate in the author’s deadly game, with every page drawing you closer to your own personalized nightmare. The real horror doesn’t begin until you reach the end.
That’s when the evil comes for you.
Author Bio:
Brian Kirk is an author of dark thrillers and psychological suspense. His debut novel, We Are Monsters, was released in July 2015 and was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award® for Superior Achievement in a First Novel.
His short fiction has been published in many notable magazines and anthologies. Most recently, Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories and Behold! Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders, where his work appears alongside multiple New York Times bestselling authors, and received an honorable mention in Ellen Datlow’s Best Horror of the Year compilation.
During the day, Brian works as a freelance marketing and creative consultant. His experience working on large, integrated advertising campaigns for international companies has helped him build an effective author platform, and makes him a strong marketing ally for his publishing partners. In addition, Brian has an eye for emerging media trends and an ability to integrate storytelling into new technologies and platforms.
While he’s worked to make this bio sound as impressive as possible, he’s actually a rather humble guy who believes in hard work and big dreams. Feel free to connect with him through one of the following channels. Don’t worry, he only kills his characters.
Twitter : @Brian_Kirk
Website : https://www.briankirkblog.com/
Huge thanks for this Blog Tour support Kirsty x