Part of The Lonely Motel, book 2
First published 2022
The Splatterfest horror convention draws writers, critics, and fans from around the globe for its signature Gross Out storytelling contest. Clay Kayden arrives with vengeance on his mind after his last performance got him canceled. He plans to destroy the convention from within. Meanwhile, aspiring writer Moira Mead desperately wants to catch the attention of a prominent horror director who has promised to option a story based on the weekend's readings. David Ennis, the guest of honor and Clay's former mentor, searches for his lost creative spark at any price. The weekend spirals into genuine violence and terror as these competing ambitions collide. Each writer pushes boundaries to win the contest, but the real horror extends far beyond their fictional tales. Characters Shyla and Angel from the Lonely Motel return to face new trauma. Only one author will emerge victorious from this blood-soaked literary competition.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, horror, thriller
Vibes: dark, gritty, intense, meta, suspenseful, visceral
Tropes: competition-stakes, mentor-betrayal, revenge-plot, unreliable-motivations
Setting: Splatterfest, Lonely Motel
Period: 21st-century
297 pages · Paperback · Shadow Work Publishing
Content warnings: gore, graphic-violence, violence