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By KC GrifantReviewed by Pennell Paugh
July 5, 2024 (San Diego) -- KC Grifant’s debut short story collection, Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny, will be released on July 11 at an online event at 5 p.m. Join Galactic Terrors readings at https://tinyurl.com/y4gj654q.
The San Diego author brings characters alive as they walk into a world of nightmares. She taps our deepest fears from the bowels of NYC to the mind-warping outer reaches of space. Her stories made me think about life, as well as the sources of our irrational fears.
Below is an excerpt from the short story, “The Circus King:”
Evelyn remembered the dread she had felt when she and her father turned away from the boardwalk, away from the crowds, and down an alleyway in the tiny coastal town. They and a few others headed toward the circus, set far back from the pier. “It’ll be fun,” Pa kept saying. “Maybe we’ll see the world’s smallest man or acrobats.” The tent loomed in great red and white stripes, shining with newness. The first few drops of rain licked on its surface as though the Circus lived under its own force field. It whispered, its stripes shuddering in the wind.
Evelyn had stopped. She didn’t want to go into the tent. She dropped the cup of soda. Her dress was a mess. Pa’s brow darkened, telling her to be more careful. It was her nice dress, ruined. She didn’t care, didn’t even like the dress. He gave her a warning slap on the arm, the jolt sending her cotton candy flying to the ground. She watched in horror as the delicate pink candy darkened next to her shoes. She cried but Pa chided her again before turning on his heel and marching toward the tent, leaving her to follow.
The tent ahead of her flapped as if to get her attention but she looked down at her ruined treat, raindrops catching in her lashes as she wished with all her might that she would never see Pa again. Wisps of the cotton candy against the damp bricks morphed, spreading into wings. Hardened nubs of the candy lengthened like a spine, as fluffs of pink expanded and enveloped her.
Evelyn had emerged, stretching and straining in the Circus’ spotlight on her perch, speaking her ringmaster lines as if in a dream. It was where she had been ever since.
KC Grifant is an award-winning writer who lives in San Diego. She creates internationally published horror, fantasy, science fiction, and weird west stories. Many of her short stories have appeared in podcasts, magazines, games, and Stoker-nominated anthologies. Her weird western novel, Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger, described as a blend of Bonnie & Clyde meet The Witcher and Supernatural, ranked #1 in Amazon New Releases for Western Horrors. Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen, will release in 2025. She is also co-creator of Monster Gunslingers: The Game.
In addition to writing, she is the co-chair and founder of the Horror Writers Association San Diego chapter, a short story instructor, and member of numerous writing organizations, including the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association.
Learn more at www.KCGrifant.com or connect on the social networks at @KCGrifant.
Grifant’s upcoming events include:
A book signing at San Diego Comic Con, Sat July 26, 2:30 p.m. (following Grifant’s Weird West panel at 1 p.m. the same day).
An in-person book launch at Mysterious Galaxy Sat, August 10, 2 p.m.
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