This past month I attended the Public Safety Writers Association conference in Las Vegas, a must for any writer of mysteries and crime---it was both informative and enjoyable. There I was on a panel of writers for a discussion about the fun and pitfalls of writing a series. For something like this, I like to familiarize myself with something my fellow panelists have written. I was particularly intrigued by the short stories of the writer I now want to introduce, partly because I had lived in Ohio and was familiar with the site of his stories, and partly because I both enjoy and have written two paranormals of my own. So without further ado,
MEET ALLEN GRIMES . . .
Allen Grimes, a retired Special Agent with the FBI and former Akron Police Officer, brings over 26 years of law enforcement expertise to his gripping narratives. As a child, Grimes was inspired by weekly visits to a mobile library where he consumed fairy tales and Gothic horror literature. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in mass media communication from the University of Akron and has since published works of science fiction and horror in magazines like Nightmares, Potpourri, and Lords of the Eternal Darkness. Crafting compelling tales featuring law enforcement protagonists thrust into extraordinary circumstances, Grimes blends his real-world experience with imaginative flair. His writing reflects a lifelong love for literature, justice, and the possibility of the paranormal. He brings all of this talent to his debut novel When the Lantern Swings. Grimes lives in Yuma, Arizona, with his wife, Deltrina.
Ed Freemen, a retired cop turned Senior Park Ranger, came to Lake Hope looking for a fresh start after shooting a teenage robbery suspect armed only with a BB gun. But his dream of writing citations and leading nature walks is soon shattered when the mangled remains of a young woman are found on the Moonville Rail Trail. It looks like she was run over by a train, but the tracks were removed forty years ago. As Freemen and his team investigate, he discovers the legend of a railroad worker run over by a train a hundred years before. The ghost returns every ten years to wreak vengeance on the guests of Lake Hope State Park. As more bodies are discovered, he is tormented by the voice of the dead teen. As his mental state deteriorates, Freemen must overcome the ghost of his past and stop the lantern-wielding menace before he reaches his diabolical quota and returns in ten years! On dark summer nights, visitors are warned to beware...because when the lantern swings Jackie Hudak is coming back!
When the Lantern Swings is based on one of many legends passed down through the years in the Hocking Hills. When my wife and I were newlyweds, I had little money for a honeymoon, so we spent a week at Lake Hope State Park in Zaleski, Ohio. During the annual “campfire night,” the park ranger told the true story of a miner trapped in the Moonville Tunnel when a train came. He used his signal lantern in a desperate attempt to warn the train off but was killed. Legend has it that park guests can see the miner’s lantern swinging in the darkness.
That week, I wrote the first draft of When the Lantern Swings. Later that year, I published it as a short story. The story stayed in my mind, and after retiring from the FBI, I decided to expand it to a novel. Though sub-plots and characters have been added, the story remains essentially unchanged from the original. I conceived of When the Lantern Swings as a trilogy in which the character transforms from a law enforcement agent to a paranormal investigator. In the sequel, working title When the Pieces Fall, Ed attempts to return to normal life by becoming a Captain of a small-town police department but soon finds that the supernatural world is not quite finished with him. By the time we see him again nine years later in When the Lantern Swings Again, Ed has now embraced his role as a paranormal investigator and has spent those years honing his craft in preparation for the return of Jackie Hudak.
Visit Allen's website: https://www.allengrimeswriter.com/ and find his books on Amazon:
Have a wonderful end to your summer!
Sorry I missed seeing you at the conference this past year. I'll be there next year and will look you up. Your stories sound wonderful.
Allen was a pleasure to meet at PSWA Conference. Just reading his post gave me the chills. I'm sure When the Lantern Swings would deprive me of sleep. Congratulations!
Allen was one of the few people I didn't have the pleasure of meeting at the conference. Hopefully next year! (I'm Pat Weill)