Falling Up Under Down

It’s been a little over a month since I last blogged. If you scoured my social media you’d find a lot less of me there too. It’s weird. As we have become more isolated, physically, due to the pandemic, I have pulled further away from online interactions.

I find the misinformation and political maneuvering troubling.

Here’s what I believe:

1. We are in the midst of a pandemic.
2. It is easily transmitted from person to person.
3. The death rate is slightly higher than that of the flu.
4. It is very dangerous for people with auto-immune issues.
5. People lack the common sense to act responsibly.
6. The media is doubling-down on fearmongering.
7. America looks weak and Americans look stupid.
8. Governments will use this pandemic to eliminate paper currency, require tracking and vaccinations, and to infringe on our so-called civil liberties.
9. Freedom, like legal tender, is an illusion — an accepted delusion we humans take part in so that urban society continues to function.
10. The only thing that has value is food, clothing, shelter, and entertainment.

This has all been a horrible, awful mess and my heart goes out to each and every one that has lost someone to this terrible illness. I feel sorrow for those who have struggled to recover from its effects.

I am truly sorry for all the small business owners who have had to endure the government implemented shutdown of the majority of our economy.

People really gave the government very little choice. By not utilizing common sense, governments, both local and federal, stepped in to play parent, because people were acting like children.

I get it.

We, the People of the United States of America, willfully surrendered ourselves to the government, looking up and asking them to save us, to give us money and food and medicine, when the power to save ourselves was in our own hands.

We have grown soft. Too few people understand true hardship, true sacrifice and struggle. Collectively, the vast majority of Americans live like kings and queens. Even the ones who bemoan their poverty do so while eating carry-out, watching Netflix on giant tv screens, and surfing the internet on their mobile phones. We are becoming pathetic and it saddens me.

Of course, there are people who really are suffering. People who have fallen through the cracks, who are homeless, who go to bed hungry… But theirs aren’t the voices we’re hearing.

Alright, I’ll step down off my soap box.

WATCHING: The Musketeers
READING: The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly Palmer Hall; Amiculus: A Secret History by Horseman & Caracuzzo
LISTENING: Charming Disaster — Spells + Rituals
PLAYING: A Song of Ice & Fire Miniatures Game; Dungeons & Dragons on Roll20

How about some of that entertainment I was heralding as one of the four things that have true value?

I share with you now a song I wrote, to whom it may concern.

Little Lies (Down)

I hear One Eye’s ravens calling
He’s got the old gods out there stalling
All the while the sky keeps falling down
A little slice of heaven’s waiting
But the Norns won’t stop debating
Find it so exasperating now
Falling up under
Down
Sound and fury
Just another hangman’s jury
Little lies we like to tell ourselves

Magic words as loud as thunder
Lift us from the spell we’re under
Leaving us to all just wonder how
The mystery has come unraveled
Shed your skin and astral travel
One last chance to take a final bow
Falling up under
Down
What’s the hurry
Gone so fast it’s too damn blurry
Little lies we take down off the shelf

(♫)
Falling up under
Down
No need to worry
Falling back the shadows scurry
Little lies I like to tell myself

There’s a rune carved on your spirit
That won’t let the trolls draw near it
There’s no time for you to be fearing drow
If the sigil’s true then wear it
Let no man nor beast forebear it
Something only the brave would dare avow
Falling up under
Down
Shall we complete the story?
One last verse in all its glory
Little lies we sing softly to dark elves.

(♫)
Falling up under
Down
Hoarfrost and flurry
Ymir’s breath is so damn surly
Little lies meant for someone else

©2020 Bob Freeman Music

Dreams of Winter: A Tale of the Liber Monstrorum

Yuletide is full upon us and though we’ve no snow here in the haunted Hoosier heartland, our spirits are still awash in the seasonal glow of Winter.

Being in a giving mood, I offer you, my friends, a short story of mine that you may have missed — Dreams of Winter — featuring some familiar faces, such as Dr. Landon Connors, Sarah Jones, and Detective Ellis DeTripp.

Originally published in the anthology Vampires Don’t Sparkle, edited by Michael West, Dreams of Winter is a favorite of mine. I hope you enjoy.

Click on the link below to download the pdf

Dreams of Winter

Bob Freeman’s “Descendant Blog Tour” Schedule

On Monday, November 18, I’ll be a guest of Dark Bites where I’ll be discussing the “scariest investigations” I’ve been involved in during my more than thirty-five years as a paranormal investigator.

I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the benefits of studying ancient myth on Tuesday, November 19 when I stop by Armed with a Book.

For Sheila’s Guests & Review, I’ll be discussing my writing process. Watch for it on Wednesday, November 20.

Thursday, November 21 will find me over at Jazzy Book reviews where I’ll share which movie or tv universe I’d like to find myself in.

On Friday, November 22, I’ll be interviewed for The Book Junkie Reads.

I’ve been offered an open forum on Saturday, November 23 at Sapphyria’s Books. Seeing as how it will be the 130th Anniversary of the first commercial jukebox (11/23/1889 at the Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco) I thought I might blog about music and its connection to my writing (and paranormal adventuring).

Seventh Star Press has asked me to discuss how much reality I allowed to seep into my writing (Descendant, in particular). Look for it on Sunday, November 24.

The Descendant Blog Tour comes to a close on Monday, November 25 with a visit to I Smell Sheep. Now that’s a blog any true Scotsman can get behind, if you know what I mean. They’ve asked me to list my Top 10 Paranormal Investigations. I’ll do so, but maybe with a twist…

In addition, there will be a number of reviewers posting their thoughts on Descendant throughout the week. I’ll post links to those reviews, and to each of tour stops as they become available.

Now Available from Seventh Star Press & author Bob Freeman — First Born: The Audiobook, narrated by CJ Gold

I am excited to announce the release of First Born: Tales of the Liber Monstrorum in audiobook format, available now on Amazon.com.

Narrated by the amazingly gifted CJ Gold, First Born collects more than a dozen esoteric thrillers — from the arcane sorceries of “The Wickedest Man in the World” to the supernatural exploits of Occult Detective Landon Connors and the harrowing investigations of Agents Wolfe and Crowe, this collection of macabre tales of the black arts treads the dangerous landscape between this world and that populated by angels and demons, gods and devils, ghosts and spirits, and the legendary creatures of our darkest imaginings.

First Born is the beginning of the journey into the Liber Monstrorum, the Chronicles of those Occult Detectives who are the last line of defense against those preternatural forces that threaten to destroy a world that refuses to believe that such things exist…

First Born is also available in Trade Paperback and ebook formats.

Also available in Trade Paperback and ebook formats is Descendant: A Novel of the Liber Monstrorum in a tale that directly follows the events played out in First Born.

Occult Detective Landon Connors reading Descendant?

Well, how about that? Dr. Connors seems to be enjoying his copy of Descendant: A Novel of the Liber Monstrorum. I happen to think you would too. It’s available now in trade paperback and kindle on Amazon and Amazon UK.

I’m doing a blog tour in November and would love to stop by your place for a chat. There’s still time to get me lined up for a visit. Sign up HERE if you’re interested.

Now Available — Descendant: A Novel of the Liber Monstrorum

Available now in trade paperback and kindle on Amazon and Amazon UK, Descendant: A Novel of the Liber Monstrorum is my love letter to the occult detective genre. I think it’s pretty good… but don’t take my word for it —

“Descendant is like the bastard lovechild of The X-Files, H.P. Lovecraft, and Doctor Strange; and I mean that in the most loving way possible.”

— Erik Smith, The Monster Librarian

“Descendant is up there at the top my favourite paranormal investigation novels… the depth of occult knowledge that has been intertwined into the story is vast.”

— Jim McLeod, Ginger Nuts of Horror

“Bob weaves an excellent tale here, moody and at times grim, but never dull. The characters made me give a flying dang about them and I found myself smiling at turns in the dialogue & plot. Executed with precision, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from Mr. Freeman. This stuff should be on TV.”

— Steven L. Shrewsbury, author of Mojo Hand

“Between ancient bloodlines, unholy alliances and magical orders of great power, Freeman’s knowledge of dark magic and its history shows throughout every page.”

— Rodney Carlstrom, The Sci Fi Guys Book Review

“…Agents Wolfe and Crowe, are colorful, smart, emotionally driven, wise-cracking, resourceful, tough and just plain fun to watch. Er, I mean to read. Well, that’s just the thing. I always had the impression that I was actually seeing them, like watching a movie. Man, I love these two characters! They each have very distinct personalities that play off each other extremely well. If this was a movie, I’d have to say the casting was perfect. Wolfe and Crowe have a terrific chemistry going on.”

— Gary Val Tenuta, author of Ash: Return of the Beast

“This is not a story with an occult theme; this is a fictional storyline based on Freeman’s detailed knowledge of the occult, with extensive terminology and background information. While this novel could be a stand-alone – no wicked cliff-hanger or blatantly open-ending – it is the first in a series, and I am looking forward to the sequel.”

— Ursula K. Raphael

Descendant will be released tomorrow

Tomorrow’s a double your pleasure kind of day: Hallowe’en reaches its zenith and Descendant reenters the world.

I’m extremely proud of Descendant. I think you’ll more than like it. If occult detectives or horror or even just a good mystery yarn is your thing, then this one’s for you. It twists and turns in all the right places…

You’ll be able to find it on Amazon tomorrow. Don’t worry. I’ll point you to it.

Three days till Hallowe’en? Maybe so, but it’s already Occult Detective Season.

Hallowe’en is always a special time for me, but this year it is even more exciting. Why? Well, let’s take a quick rundown of what lies ahead.

First, of course, there’s All Hallow’s Eve itself. Let’s just underline that one.

What else?

First Born will be released as an audiobook.

Descendant drops in trade paperback and ebook.

Our final round of playtesting the Occult Detective RPG begins.

My Parker Brothers short story “Nos Galan Gaeaf” made Horror Delve’s annual Halloween Suggested Reading List. You should check it out. Heck, read every story on Matt’s list. It’s a good one.

And, last but by no means least, The Bookhouse, the pallet shack Connor and I have been working on all summer, will finally be unveiled.

I’m planning on uploading a video tour, so stay tuned…

Speaking of tours, do you want to host me on your blog? I’m doing a blog tour in November and would love to stop by your place for a chat. Sign up HERE if you’re interested.

Hallowe’en is going to be extra spooky this year

How do you plan to spend All Hallow’s Eve?

Well, it looks like Indiana Bones has the right idea. Nothing quite like curling up with a horror novel when everyone’s favorite Witching Season descends.

Speaking of which —

Descendant: A Novel of the Liber Monstrorum is less than a week from publication, but you can pre-order the kindle ebook at Amazon right now and have it uploaded to your favorite reading device in time for Hallowe’en.

You might also be interested in First Born, a collection of novellas and short stories that all take place prior to Descendant — several of which being direct prequels and connected to the novel quite intimately.

The audio-book version, performed by the amazing 𝙲𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚢 𝙹. 𝙶𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚐, should be available just before Samhain’s festivities commence.

And let’s not forget, this all started with the Tales of Cairnwood Manor — Shadows Over Somerset and Keepers of the Dead, my first published works. If you’re interested in Gothic Horror, these are for you.

Regardless, Seventh Star Press and I have you covered.

All Work & No Play (Part Two)

Actually, work is play for me.

Today I’m going over the Descendant galley before next week’s release and I’m putting the finishing touches of the Occult Detective RPG Playtest Manual as we begin what I believe is our final round of playtesting.

If you have passed along an interest in taking part in playtesting in the past, you will probably be getting a message from me in the early part of November.

We’re just a week away from Hallowe’en 2019. Fall has been spectacular so far. This next week is going to be even better.

There’s always a bit of sadness when Hallowe’en passes, but I think this year will be different.

We’re racing toward 2020 and I can’t help but feel all the progress we’ve made this past year is going to blossom into something truly spectacular in the year to come.

So, with all that being said, I’m diving back into work.

Watch for Descendant one week from today, or, if you’re partial to ebooks, the kindle is available for pre-order at Amazon.

If you’re not caught up on my fiction, First Born, prequel stories to the novel that is dropping next week, is available in trade and ebook, and soon to be an audiobook as well.

Plus there’s the Cairnwood Manor tales, Shadows Over Somerset and Keepers of the Dead.