Return to Chrysalis [Interview]

CHRYSALIS LIGHTS by Lori Titus is a novella which has references to characters in previous stories by the author. However, this story works fine as a stand-alone. Beginning with a sinister attack on a dirt road, Titus introduces the dark past of Chrysalis, a town with a long history of witchcraft.

The rest of the story shifts focus between Amy, a young woman who has just inherited a haunted house, and Lexi, a high school girl who has been experimenting with her heritage in the forms of spells and rituals. When the two become acquainted, the danger in Chrysalis increases for both.

I enjoyed the suspense and I'd love to see more from this town.

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Since I'm giving away a signed copy of The Bell House (see below), I thought I would invite Lori Titus back to the Lair to discuss the success she has had in the past year or so...

This is your third time in the Lair, and a lot has been happening for you since our last interview. Could you give readers an update?

Thank you for having me again!

It’s been an eventful time. I’ve been busy with a lot of different projects. One way that I’ve been working on getting my name out there is to participate in a few boxed sets. One of the sets I was in, Souls and Shadows, hit the USA Today Bestseller’s list this past July.

I’m also working with fellow author and friend Jonathan Lambert.  I’m his co-editor for a brand-new press called Jolly Horror. The vision of the publishing company is to mix dark humor with horror. We feature short stories from both new and established authors.

I’m also working on several projects: a follow up to Soul Bonded titled Personal Demons is the one I hope to finish soon. There’s also another story (and possibly a series depending on how it works out) about a paranormal investigator and a witch who helps him solve cases. There are also a couple of yet unnamed projects brewing as well. I’d love to do another ghost story soon and perhaps a romance that involves horror in a different way than I’ve done it before.

Chrysalis Lights obviously has the same setting as The Bell House and Blood Relations. Refresh my memory please: how do the characters of your novella tie in with your previous two novels?

Iris, the sheriff’s mother in Blood Relations appears as a character in this book too. It’s fun to use Chrysalis because the mood and setting is already locked in before I begin. If you’ve read my books before you’ll catch the subtle tie-ins, but you won’t feel left out of anything if you haven’t.

Blood Relations involved a mix of monsters, some of the worst were human. Do you have a favorite?

Josiah is probably my favorite from Blood. He’s one of those monsters who is mostly human, though part something else. His way of thinking is what’s probably the most frightening. He finds inspiration in the most heinous dictators and tyrants. On top of that, he uses spirituality to force others to submit to his will. For him, the greatest joy is exercising power over others.

Why do you think so many people are drawn to the horror genre?

I think it provides a safe place to explore all the things we tell ourselves we don’t really fear. It’s also a vicarious thrill. Is the killer hiding behind that door? Can my angry lover haunt me from the grave? Is that person across the street following me? We all have things that we try to run from in life, and horror presents it to us in an entertaining way.

What do you think of Halloween? Does the holiday hold any special meaning for you?

I love Halloween! The costumes and candy are fun. When you think about it, what other holiday allows you to be an entirely different person for a day? I especially love to see the little ones out enjoying themselves.

And of course, for us author types, it’s a great reason to promote our wares.

This has been quite a year for you. What do you think you’ll be doing in 2020? Any chance of a convention appearance?

I’ve already got some releases planned for next year, including one that should be out in January or February. I’m not sure about doing the convention circuit next year, but it’s a possibility. It depends on what I’ve got on my plate around the end of this year. There’s a lot of planning that goes into it.

Where can new readers find out more about your current books and future projects?

Readers can find me on Twitter or Instagram under the handle Loribeth215. I’m on Facebook as well.

My author blog is called The Darkest of Lore, and is here:  https://loribeth215.wordpress.com/

Special thanks to Miss Titus for her time!

If you would like a chance to win an autographed copy of The Bell House by Lori Titus, you can enter by leaving a comment below. A winner will be selected on October 20th.

As always,

AstraDaemon