Happy New Year from the Antichrist Watch (AW)! We hope you have a happy and hope-filled 2021. Elon Musk (1) just became the wealthiest man in the world, which elevates his position to the top of the Antichrist Watch: Jeff Bezos (2) now sits a little lower on the hypothetical dark throne. As Trump’s presidency … Continue reading Anti-Christ Watchlist Report
I believe that satire and gothic fiction pair well in small doses. In the food world, comedy prose and occult thrillers are the union of onion soup and absinthe, or a desert tray of wax candy lips and black licorice. The former tastes like anus – the later like anise. All this to say, the … Continue reading Gothic Fiction Advertisements
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gz3JD87tOE4"The Double Agent & the Cigar" Micro Mystery by SM Dotson Micro Mysteries are short u-solve-it mysteries written by historian and gothic fiction author, SM Dotson. “I’ve been reading my new Micro Mysteries during livestream spoken word events.” So far, the reigning champion is Missouri Poet Laureate Karen Craigo. “Her breadth of knowledge is remarkable … Continue reading “The Double Agent & the Cigar” U-Solve-It Micro Mystery.
“Psuche-Therapy” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #9] Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion. Metaphysics in Along the Graveyard Lane by SM Dotson. Paranormal Thriller. Niko Yokel: “You’re that famous exorcist! What’s it like dealing with demons all the time.” Martin Salzburg: “Demons don’t possess children.” Niko: “Well, that’s what they call it, don’t they, demon … Continue reading “Psuche-Therapy” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #9] Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion. Metaphysics in Along the Graveyard Lane by SM Dotson. Paranormal Thriller.
Martin: “What was the name of that Governor who was assassinated about a decade ago?” Galen: “Harold Clement, Why?” Martin: “I think I just got a confession from his murderer.” Galen: “You cracked the case? Where is the suspect?” Martin: “Nile Creek Cemetery.” Galen: “He’s got a hideout there?” Martin: “No, his grave is clearly … Continue reading “Soul Memory Imprint” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #8] Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion.
“I sure slept well, why does everyone look so tired?” Britany asked over the breakfast table. “You were possessed again last night.” Her father said. “It was horrible.” Said mother who hung her head over her bowl of grits. “You told the priest to go to hell… ,” her brother blurted. “Johnny, that’s enough!” Mother … Continue reading “The Power of Dawn” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #7] Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion.
“Mommy what’s the rope for?”
“It’s a full moon tonight, Jenny, we’re going to have to tie you up again.”
“Locus Transfer” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #5] Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion. There is an easy remedy for the phantasm who possesses children. In the previous article, it was determined that the ghost is always near its locus, the corpse. Therefore, if a ghost is violent once in control of its victim, one … Continue reading “Locus Transfer” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #5] Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion.
“Corpse as Locus” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #4] Along the Graveyard Lane (2020). Paranormal Thriller. Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion. ‘Lil Luna: Mommy, will I go to heaven when I die like the preacher said? Mother: No, actually the bible says our soul sleeps with the body until the Second Coming of Christ. … Continue reading “Corpse as Locus” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #4] Along the Graveyard Lane (2020). Paranormal Thriller. Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion.
This is a recent interview (video below) I did with James Bryant of OIC Studios and SpoFest spoken word event. We discuss diverse magic systems in fiction. I talk about my book as well. We talk about the world-building of Zelazny's Amber series and Stephen King's Dark Tower epic. At the end, the discussion moves … Continue reading [Magic in Fiction] Interview w/ Author SM Dotson. Magic systems of Zelazny, Stephen King, Tolkien, Brooks & Sanderson. Religion as a magic system.
“The Demonization of Symptoms” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #3] Metaphysics in Along the Graveyard Lane by SM Dotson. Paranormal Thriller. Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion. Wilma: Judy was possessed again last night. This demon claimed he was my mother - said I had an older sister they had to give away because they … Continue reading “The Demonization of Symptoms” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #3] Metaphysics in Along the Graveyard Lane by SM Dotson. Paranormal Thriller. Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion.
“Phantasm: The Wandering Ghost” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #2] Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion. In the previous article in this series, it has already been established that the invasive spirit during possession is not a demon, but a ghost. Future articles will explore external factors that influence the wandering spirit, such as the … Continue reading “Phantasm: The Wandering Ghost” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #2] Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion.
“The Demonization of Ghosts” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #1] Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion. Question: What if an exorcist claimed demons are not present during possession, but instead they are the ghosts of the dead, accidently having strayed into a child host? Answer: That exorcist would be considered a heretic. I explore this … Continue reading “The Demonization of Ghosts” [Nine Tenets of Exorcism & Possession #1] Gothic Fiction, History, & Religion
But today is special because my first published novel is now on Amazon. It’s a paranormal thriller, a descendent of the old gothic fiction genre, titled Along the Graveyard Lane. It’s available as paperback and eBook. If you have Kindle Unlimited, it’s free in eBook form.
Evolution of the Word Goth - From German Barbarians to Pop Culture - Medieval & Modern History The word goth references several things, many of them only indirectly related, but all things goth, whether literature, fashion, architecture or music, contain an atmosphere of dark beauty. The Barbarians The word goth comes from the Greeks and … Continue reading Evolution of the Word Goth – From German Barbarians to Pop Culture
Where did we get the idea of a Heaven or Hell in the afterlife? This is a recording of a live reading I gave at a SpoFest event. It was originally an episode of my history show Ancient Light, but the content fits nicely here. Where did Christianity get the idea of heaven and hell? … Continue reading “The Myth of Er” Live reading. Heaven & Hell before Christ. Plato & Myth.
New Year’s Eve Book Title Announcement Winner: Along the Graveyard Lane (2020) I am about to publish my first novel. It is a work of gothic fiction, or paranormal, or even horror. The genre has yet to be set in stone and the concrete is still wet. One important feature I must carve into the … Continue reading New Year’s Eve Book Title Announcement
How Tolkien is that Tale? + Book Club Discussion Questions The Fantasy Trope Scale. Rating a Fantasy story by its use of conventional genre devices. Here is a list of book club discussion questions. A fun way to look at tropes in fiction. Your book club can read a fantasy novel, experience its world-building, and … Continue reading How Tolkien is that Tale? [The Fantasy Trope Scale] Book Club Discussion Questions.
This game is fun for authors. They identify with the need for etymology. Some authors and critics are adept at knowing and guessing the origin date of a particular word. They have this ability because they have been using an etymological dictionary. Etymology is basically concerned with the history of a word. If an author uses a word in a setting when the word did not exist, he or she becomes anachronistic. Authors do not want to be anachronistic. When one becomes anachronistic, he or she is violently torn between disparate decades and centuries battling for authority in the sentence. Aspiring writers are often found completely split in half.
Q: In what way are authors and musicians similar? A: They try to stay in the right time. As an author of fiction, I reach for the etymological dictionary more than a standard dictionary. Like with any author, I am weary of anachronisms and anachronisms abound. An anachronism in a text, for example, happens when … Continue reading Being in the Right Time: Authors & Etymology. Research & Publish.
SM Dotson 