John S. McFarland
John S. McFarland's short stories has appeared in The Twilight Zone Magazine, Eldritch Tales, National Lampoon, River Styx, Tornado Alley, A Treasury of American Horror, along with numerous other journals and anthologies, in both the mainstream and horror genres. He has written extensively on historical and art-related subjects and has been a guest lecturer in fiction at Washington University in St. Louis. His tales have been collected with stories by Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, Robert Bloch, and Richard Matheson. His work has been praised by such acclaimed authors as T.E.D. Klein, Ramsey Campbell, and Phillip Fracassi, and he has been called "A great, undiscovered voice in horror fiction." The Dark Walk Forward,
his first collection, has been reprinted in German by Wandler-Verlag, and his novel The Black Garden is printed in limited special editions by Zagava. John is also a lifelong Bigfoot enthusiast and wanted to bring his love for the popular cryptid to children. His young reader series about Annette, a motherly Bigfoot, is now available through Dark Owl Publishing and was previously printed in three languages.
Visit John's website at jsmcfarlandauthor.com
John's Work
Ste. Odile is first featured in this
disturbing collection of frightful tales
The Dark Walk Forward
"Literate and suspenseful... complex and lyrical... drawn from the traditions of Southern Gothic horror. John McFarland has a talent for drawing horror from raw human emotion. The Dark Walk Forward is a heartbreaking and sad as well as frightening, with characters that linger in the mind long after the pages have turned."
~ Elizabeth Donald, Author of Nocturne, Setting Suns and The Cold Ones
"McFarland tempers his frights with the mercy of familial love and sympathy for outsiders and victims. Horror readers will be riveted."
~ Publishers Weekly
The small town of Ste. Odile in America has experienced the Great War in ways that no one should ever have to endure.
Doctors must tend to births and deaths that make their most difficult cases seem benign.
An 1880s schoolteacher is faced with the worst blizzard of her time and must save the children under her charge.
A young man searches for his father in the abandoned orphanage the older man owns... and both know they will despair at what they find.
A primative woman experiences colonization and the stereotypes of men, yet finds her own method of retribution.
John S. McFarland has slogged through his characters' woes and woven them into sweetly emotional yet acutely distressing tales. We as readers are forced to understand the pain, the despair, and sometimes the hope of his creations.
We realize we are lucky to live in the era we do. We also realize anything can change to tear us apart. Is it fate? Destiny? Or do we bring about these changes on our own?
McFarland will let us know.
This book is appropriate for teenagers on up.
Baby Monster
McFarlands's next collection of gothic historical fiction stories
featuring Ste. Odile and its hidden mysteries
"Authentically unnerving. An uneasy pleasure to read."
~ Ramsey Campbell,
author of Demons by Daylight and Alone With the Horrors
"[McFarland has a] talent for finding something touching on the other side of horror."
~ T.E.D. Klein, author of The Ceremonies and Dark Gods
"In Baby Monster, McFarland revisits the cursed town of Ste. Odile, where the darkest angels of our souls, all our souls, reside."
~ Dacre Stoker, author of Dracul and great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker
Return with us to Ste. Odile, a cursed town indeed.
We will also be lured to other areas of the world during periods of history that were dark, foreboding, and unsympathetic to humankind in general.
You will find recognizable characters within these pages when we revisit their unfortunate situations. You will also be introduced to some new ones who are unique enigmas on their own.
A familiar scientist is conducting a study on teeth, using participants from the women's wing of St. Mathurin's Home for the Insane.
A resolute woman must perform an unspeakable act to save herself from a life-ending condition.
An abandoned and crumbling orphanage hiding a horrific secret, a woman's obsession with speaking to the dead, and her husband trying to save their son from potential murder come together in a thunderous storm of shock and terror.
Step into the end of intimate acquaintances and the beginning of tenuous relationships. Mysterious men, undaunted women, warped creatures, maddened minds, human atrocities... all await you in McFarland's second volume of harrowing short stories, including two novelettes, published here for the first time.
"McFarland's stories are like gifts sprung from a dark chest full of wonders."
~ Michael Schmidt, Wandler/Verlag
This book is appropriate for teenagers on up.
The mysterious events have begun within
The Black Garden
"An engaging, intricate horror tale that feels ripped from the pages of a penny dreadful."
~ Kirkus Reviews
"Richly imagined, this is an intricate, intelligent and absorbing tale of faith and sacrifice."
~ John Linwood Grant, author of Where All is Night, and Starless
The small town of Ste. Odile is about to host a new visitor.
Perdita Badon-Reed has come to this place to hone her skills as a sculptress, but also to escape a life behind her, including a fiancé, that she isn't sure she wants. For a woman in 1882, this is a huge risk, but her strong will determines she must take it. She believes staying at the home of her uncle, Father Condell, and taking on a commissioned sculpture will help clear her emotions and find meaning to her need for escape.
But all is not as it seems in this quiet community. Its secrets are dark and deep, and Perdita finds herself entangling in them. A young woman sentenced to death attaches herself to Perdita, an orphaned girl at the convent sees visions and illustrates them with a talent beyond her years, and a persistent strangeness hovers as to why Perdita's fiancé's sister lost her life in connection to this town. But the most mysterious of all is Orien Bastide, an extremely wealthy man who seems to be a benefactor to Ste. Odile but is an enigma, nearly a legend, to the residents.
Perdita's embroilment becomes an urgency to help those around her, to find answers to perplexing questions that continue to mystify. Her persistence and strength preserve, but will they be enough to save her from an unimaginable horror waiting in the shadows?
John S. McFarland successfully weaves together history and fiction to create this gothic mystery novel, a tale with a chilling narrative sure to pique your interest while slipping beneath your skin. Ste. Odile will stay with you long after you've left the confines of the page...
come and learn why.
Some adult themes and situations.
This book is appropriate for savvy teenagers on up.
More dark secrets are revealed in
The Mother of Centuries
1757.
"You are an herbalist, a doctor, a midwife, and a seer, some have said.
A protector of women."
So is described Euphrosine, Meres de Sicles, the Mother of Centuries. Her age is unknown, but she knows her purpose: to protect women from the demon Balphoroth, a monstrous being who infects the bodies of men to carry out his lustful desires against innocent women.
Euphrosine's journal from 1757 details her time in November of 1948 through January of 1949, her destiny leading her to gain the trust of young Seraphica to save her life. Back then, she knew the ancient demon was influencing Orien Bastide, an affluent man who was grateful for time immortal life he'd been granted, even though it was turning him into a living corpse.
1894.
"I hoped you would not have the sight, but you do...
and stronger than anyone before you."
Anatolia Montes is a young woman gifted - or perhaps cursed - with prophetic abilities. In 1888 she was at St. Perpetua's school for girls in Ste. Odile when she met Perdita Badon-Reed. Perdita sacrificed her own life but sadly failed to save Anatolia from Bastide, who has now attacked the young woman as his newest victim.
Anatolia must now return to Ste. Odile to meet with Moira Keane Parnell, Perdita's dear friend. Moira has found Euphrosine's journal and believes Anatolia's life is at stake. When Anatolia discovers herself pregnant, she knows she is the key to stopping Bastide's evil reign and that she must find him. Her desperate search leads her to South Carolina, to meeting the Gullah people who understand the curse and can lead her on her journey. She must find the strength to get to Bastide, stop him, and banish the demon Balphoroth forever.
McFarland has woven two time periods together in this gothic historical novel, the sequel to his highly praised work The Black Garden. Come learn the fate of the loving Anatolia, the history of the enigmatic Euphrosine, and how both women's lives will entwine to hopefully save countless women to come.
Some adult themes and situations.
This book is appropriate for savvy teenagers on up.
Praise for McFarland's Work
Baby Monster
"Authentically unnerving. An uneasy pleasure to read."
~ Ramsey Campbell, author of Demons by Daylight
and Alone With the Horrors
"That chillingly macabre cover quite startled me as I pulled it from the envelope. (And I speak as someone used to finding garter snakes in my mailbox.) I was interested to read about the [image's] origins, photographic and medical, in Andrea Thomas's note - a nice reminder of your talent for finding something touching on the other side of horror."
~ T.E.D. Klein, author of The Ceremonies and Dark Gods
"These stories will swallow you whole."
~ David B. Busboom, author of Every Crawling, Putrid Thing
"McFarland writes with elegance and humanity, whether about people, animals, or monsters, as they may or may not be perceived. There's a real humane depth to his writing, and it's a testament to his skill that the times he so eloquently brings to life feel vividly real and authentic...."
~ Frank Duffy, author of The Resurrection Children
The Dark Walk Forward
"I genuinely want to reread this one for pure pleasure.
Some powerful and disturbing imagery lurks within."
~ John Linwood Grant, author of Where all is Night and Starless
"The writing is spectacular... I was drawn in from the first sentence (which is always the goal, right?) and find the language very sophisticated and descriptive."
~ E.J. Hammon, author of Ted Bundy: Memories of the Beast
"These stories absolutely absorbed me."
~ David B. Busboom, author of Every Crawling, Putrid Thing
"McFarland's stories are like gifts sprung from a dark chest full of wonders, Historical horror... horror against a wide variety of cultural backgrounds... whatever story you pick up, it may remind you of Ray Bradbury or other great masters of the genre, but it contains one thing for sure: McFarland's unique vision and his very own voice! A true master among writers working today."
~ Michael Schmitt, Wandler/Verlag
The Dark Walk Forward
and tales from the collection
"It's a really unusual and impressive collection - not only harrowing, as promised on the cover, but also frequently quite touching. ...I very much admire the elegance - at times, where appropriate, the old-fashioned elegance - of [the] writing."
~ T.E.D. Klein, author of The Ceremonies and Dark Gods
"McFarland tempers his frights with the mercy of familial love and sympathy for outsiders and victims. Horror readers will be riveted."
~ Publishers Weekly
Click here for the entire review
"McFarland is adept at creating unsettling scenarios within very human, everyday contexts. The horrors that plague his characters feel like something that could happen to anyone, anytime, which is a great way to creep under a reader's skin and stay there a while."
~ Philip Fracassi, author of Behold the Void
"The stories are... extremely well written."
~ John Linwood Grant, author of A Persistence of Geraniums
"The stories creep with dread. No jump scares will startle you. Instead, horror will crawl closer on six legs until it wraps boneless but muscular fingers around your heart and squeezes."
~ Jonathon Mast, author of The Keeper of Tales
Click here for the entire review
"At less than two hundred pages, this book can be polished off in a single evening, but I encourage any prospective reader to go slowly and note the web of references interlocking the stories. This is the author's first short-story collection, and the quality of these pieces should encourage readers the next time they see McFarland's name on a bookstore shelf."
~ Robert Bolton, Mountain Statesman newspaper
Click here for the entire review
"McFarland's writing is lush and sensual, filled with textures, sounds, smells, and primal terrors that have lurked beyond the firelight since prehistory. It is filled with wit, psychological insight, and intelligence, counterbalancing the deepest dreads that curse our collective nightmares."
~ Kenneth Anderson, editor of Charon II
"McFarland's style definitely whispers of older writers, like Lovecraft, but his handling of language is much more crisp and focused. The perfect combination of literary and contemporary. One of the great, undiscovered talents of horror fiction."
~ C.P. Dunphy, Gehanna and Hinnom
"A beautiful and absolutely terrifying collection of stories. What's unique... is that all of the stories are sorts of intertwined in a way. They had little references to the other stories, even though they all take place in different periods with different people from all walks of life. It's so clear they're all part of the same world. It really brings a realism and gravity to each story, which, when it comes to horror, the realer it is, the scarier it feels... They all have darkness that looms over them that I've never seen over an entire collection. John really has a way with atmosphere."
~ Shelby Scott, Scare You to Sleep podcast
"Classic horror, worthy of H.P. Lovecraft."
~ Michael Gerber, author of the million-selling Barry Trotter series
"The sort of tales I very much like... Extraordinarily powerful."
~ T.E.D. Klein, author of The Ceremonies and Dark Gods
The Black Garden
"McFarland's precise prose evokes the period without ever feeling too stiff or mannered... Ste. Odile is richly rendered, a Cajun fever dream that blends nearly all the tropes of Southern and Continental Gothic... The author has mastered the simmering miasma of Victorian horror fiction, whetting readers' anticipation for terrible things that take chapters and chapters to arrive... For those who love a good, old-fashioned, slow-burning novel of the occult, this one more than delivers."
~ Kirkus Review
Click here for the entire review
"McFarland takes his stories concerning the strange, history-haunted town of Ste. Odile to new and Gothic proportions in this novel of a young woman who must confront an unnatural horror which spans both centuries and continents. Richly imagined, this is an intricate, intelligent and absorbing tale of faith and sacrifice."
~ John Linwood Grant, author of Where All is Night, and Starless
"The Black Garden is literate and suspenseful, a complex, lyrical story drawn from the dark traditions of Southern Gothic horror. John McFarland has written a grand opera of a tale."
~ Elizabeth Donald, author of The Cold Ones, Nocturne, and Setting Suns
"In The Black Garden, John S. McFarland sets the mood early and keeps you immersed in it until the end... John McFarland creates a dark atmosphere with great skill that keeps you reading this gothic horror tale."
~ Debbie Monterrey, KMOX Radio
"Part of the appeal of any historical novel is the detail given about a time and place. McFarland's descriptions of Ste. Odile are elaborate and fascinating. The extensive research McFarland undertook to complete this novel contributes to the suspense of the story. Fans of horror fiction will find much to admire in McFarland's novel. The combination of historical detail, appealing characters, and sinister story make The Black Garden a good choice for discriminating lovers of the genre."
~ Jennifer Alexander, West End Word
"McFarland captures the claustrophobic social milieu of the period skillfully: his strong female protagonists are victims of an oppressive society, curbed by prejudice and stuffy morality, long before they are Bastide's. I enjoyed the way the narrative progressed, interspersed generously with letters exchanged between [characters], allowing periodic respite from the increasingly sinister environs of Ste. Odile, yet never quite enough to loosen the tension the author relentlessly builds up."
~ Lavanya Karthik, book critic, Mumbai, India
"John McFarland's novel, The Black Garden is a loving homage to the horror thrillers of old, where men were men (despite the tuxedos and flowery verbiage) and women were women (despite the corsets and lack of suffrage), and the monsters went bump in the night instead of twinkling like a disco ball at the Laser Floyd show."
~ Raul Friswold, The Riverfront Times
"While ghosts and goblins and their human foil can be fun, I enjoy horror that is far more personal, stuff you suspect isn't just written but bled upon the page. Stuff that is more exorcism than entertainment, where the writer is tacitly saying it is either the notebook or the noose. The stuff that, when you read it, you feel as though you just stumbled upon a scene that you shouldn't have seen, that you should not be seeing, and that you should forget about as quickly as you can (a feat that often proves all but impossible.)
"John McFarland is one of those writers. His stories put me in mind of Thomas Ligotti and Robert Aickman (fine company for sure) whose work reveals bits and pieces of the world-weary psyche behind them. He takes as grist for his creative mill the plight of the lonely, the psychological malaise of the alienated, the deception of love, and the general cruelties and absurdities of mankind; and churns out tales that hit you right in the heart as the best fiction should...
"McFarland wields his pen with confidence and an artistic vision rooted in the ordeal of living."
~ Evan Romero, Reviewer
The Mother of Centuries
"Excellent work."
~ John Padgett, Vasterien, a Literary Journal
"John S. McFarland wrote with poetic brilliance while creating intriguing and sympathetic characters.
A truly masterful story."
~ Nella Warrent, author of Sin Full and Time Thief
"Masterfully written with the perfect blend of historical setting, folklore, suspense, and horror.
I couldn't put it down."
~ D. L. Andersen, author of Across Unstill Waters and That Far Distant Country
A touching story of a boy and his motherly new friend.
"The type of book every young Cryptid enthusiast should read."
~ David Bakara, Expedition Bigfoot: The Sasquatch Museum
Evan Nestor Bettancourt is sure he saw a real, giant monster in his bedroom one night. Thank goodness he had Froggums, his favorite stuffed toy, to protect him. But his dad wants him to stop seeing imaginary creatures and start looking at scientific information. He says there is nothing new to discover in the world, and that Evan Nestor needs to learn the facts.
But Evan Nestor does discover something new, something that most people say doesn't exist: a real, live Sasquatch! Her name is Annette, and he is so lucky she found him when he got lost. She is very kind, and Evan Nestor feels very protected.
The problem is there are people who also believe the Sasquatch is real, and they want to catch her and maybe even hurt her! Evan Nestor needs to get home to his worried parents, but he doesn't want his new friend to be captured. What can they do to keep Annette's existence a secret, but still get Evan Nestor home safe?
Come join Evan Nestor and Annette on their journey of discovery and fun, of kindness and love, with illustrations by the author himself. We know after you read this book, you'll want to get out and explore, and maybe find a Sasquatch for yourself!
This book is appropriate for 6-year-olds on up.
This sequel to Annette's first story is a fun and exciting adventure
everyone will enjoy!
Evan Nestor Bettancourt was right! Bigfoot is real! He was saved by one named Annette when he was lost in the forest behind his house. She brought him back safe and sound to his mom and dad, who now know Bigfoot is real too! Annette went back into the forest to live her peaceful life, and Evan Nestor and his family are forever grateful.
Annette soon finds out her son, Aidan Conner, now has a family of his own, including a brand new baby! Annette is determined to travel north to see her son and her grandbaby.
But Wesley Interruptus Buttinski is still convinced he can capture Annette to prove Bigfoot is real to the world. He is determined to gain fame and fortune, so he changes his plans and enlists his unusual friend, Hyram Paul Condria, to execute his dastardly scheme!
Evan Nestor and his dad Duane go to find Annette to learn more about her, but they discover that Wesley is at it again, and they know they must help their new friend. And to top it off, Wesley's rival Reynard and the Crypto Contempos find out about Annette as well and join the hunt, wanting to steal Annette right out from under Wesley's nose!
Get ready for another wild adventure, avoiding bumbling cryptozoologists to make sure Annette meets her new family.
Join your favorite characters and discover some new ones in this hilarious and fun tale about everyone's favorite Sasquatch!
This book is appropriate for 6-year-olds on up.
Praise for Annette: A Big, Hairy Mom
"Annette: A Big, Hairy Mom by John S. McFarland is a delightfully illustrated romp for young readers, woven together with legend, conspiracy theory, loveable monsters, colorful characters, and unforgettable character naming conventions such as Wesley Interruptus Buttinski. McFarland has the whimsical storytelling of Roald Dahl. A terrific book to read aloud with the kids."
~ Kevin M. Folliard, author of Grayson North, Frost-Keeper of the Windy City
"Annette: A Big, Hairy Mom is the kind of book every young Cryptid enthusiast should read. While so many films and books portray these beings as monstrous, the fact is they are more like us in many ways. Adventure, surprises, and discovery await the young mind in this delightful book. Recommended!”
~ David Bakara, Expedition Bigfoot: The Sasquatch Museum, Blue Ridge, Georgia
"All parts of Annette: A Big, Hairy Mom are scintillatingly believable in their sharp focus, realistic action, sure character, and plot development. Undoubtedly, like many readers, this reviewer was moved to tears when Evan sacrificed his beloved Froggums for Annette to cherish, understanding and identifying with her special loneliness. Like J.K. Rowling and others, McFarland never underestimates the sensitivity and sophistication of his intended audience.”
~ Midwest Book Review
From 5-star Amazon Reviews...
"Annette is a ripping good tale with food for thought... Kids will love this suspenseful tale of a young boy who gets lost in the woods and the maternal Sasquatch who rescues him from a mountain lion while avoiding detection by an obsessed cryptozoologist, and adults will appreciate the humor generated by the book's cavalcade of quirky characters. There's never a dull moment as we come to understand that Annette is way more human than we every imagined, and that maybe we haven't discovered all the large mammals after all. I highly recommend it."
~ David Lancaster
"A fascinatingly well written children's book with very unique characters that will warm your heart. I totally enjoyed reading this book and I hope every child has a chance to read it... I think the character names are very creative and unique... I like how descriptive the author is in introducing each character so you feel like you really know them... all I can say is it is awesome and I loved it!”
~ Eileen Gorman
"Well, I must tell you: everybody loves Annette and I knew they would because it's just a lovely book. Young readers are excited by the story and many wan to read it again as soon as they finish it! They are very anxious to find out what happens in the next book!"
~Sanja Petriska, VF Libris
"I recently finished reading your book, Annette: A Big, Hairy Mom to my second grade class in the Parkway School District. My students loved your story! We used it in conjunction with our unit on chapter books...
"We thought Evan Nestor was very brave and rather intelligent, too. We also thought he was fortunate to have experienced such a thrilling adventure. His problems reminded some of us about times when we were lost and scared. Our class clapped when Evan Nestor was reunited with his parents.
"The students also loved Annette. Part of our class thought they might be afraid to read a story about a Sasquatch, but the cover put those fears to rest. Once we saw the illustration of Annette wearing the pink, heart-shaped sunglasses, we knew she was a good creature. Most of our group thought they would like to ride up on Annette's shoulders, the way Evan Nestor did. However, none of us wanted to stay in the trailer with crazy old Liam!...
"Thank you for writing such a wonderful story. It has been a long time since I have read a book that has captured the attention of my entire class. Looking forward to Annette's adventures as a grandmother!"
~ Mimi D. Barrow, Parkway School District,
St. Louis County
From 5-star Amazon Reviews...
"What a delightful book! My son couldn't put it down, and we all know how hard it is to get an eight year old to sit still. He read it in a few days and loved talking about the story. This would be a great stocking stuffer or good report card gift for kids!"
~ Amy Fenster
"I love how the characters are developed, and I felt like I've built a close, personal relationship with each of them. The book was an enjoyable for me (37) as it was for my son (7)!"
~ David Pexa
"Great book for kids... and adults!... I read this book while I was getting my tires changed, and kept laughing so loudly that the other customers thought I was crazy! This book is great for kids, but is just as enjoyable if you're an adult. The author does a great job giving each character a real, relatable personality, and you really feel a connection. It's a short read, highly enjoyable, and I'd recommend it to both kids and adults alike!"
~ Dontya