Ask Thomas Drago discussion

Welcome! Please take a moment to ask me a question about my new horror novel Crow Creek, and I will answer each one. Thanks!

I do not generally choose horror as my genre of choice, but I was intrigued by both the cover of your book and the plot description of a sinkhole exposing clues to a crime. What made you decide to have part of the town devoured by a sinkhole?

Cathy wrote: "I do not generally choose horror as my genre of choice, but I was intrigued by both the cover of your book and the plot description of a sinkhole exposing clues to a crime. What made you decide to..."
Thanks for asking. The idea for the novel came from a vision I had one morning on my way to class (I'm a high school teacher). I pictured a young mother jumping over the seat of her car to comfort her daughter as they slipped together into darkness. It's probably not as sophisticated an answer as you're looking for, but it's the truth. That became the first chapter (you can read that as a free preview on Amazon). Perhaps, some of the anti-fracking signs hanging around my hometown sent me a subliminal message.

Thomas wrote: "Cathy wrote: "I do not generally choose horror as my genre of choice, but I was intrigued by both the cover of your book and the plot description of a sinkhole exposing clues to a crime. What made..."
I teach, too (junior high). Our area of Pennsylvania sits on the Marcellus Shale, so there are many heated discussions about fracking in this area, too. It gives me a better frame of reference now. Thanks. I also like your description of the image you had. I try to impress on my students the importance of keeping a writer's notebook to store their thoughts and ideas until they can make use of them.

Hello Thomas
Is Crow Creek your first book and if not are all your books in the horror genre.
Richard

Cathy wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Cathy wrote: "I do not generally choose horror as my genre of choice, but I was intrigued by both the cover of your book and the plot description of a sinkhole exposing clues to a cr..."

Cool! My wife's from Western PA. I started out as junior high teacher. Never easy. Thanks for your kind words. My next blog will explain where I got the ideas for the novel. The sinkhole was one of a few images that I pieced together.

Richard wrote: "Hello Thomas
Is Crow Creek your first book and if not are all your books in the horror genre.
Richard"

Yes, Richard, Crow Creek is the first novel I've published. I've been writing for over 30 years. Most of my work has been in the horror genre. I review my entire career in various blog posts that you can find on my Goodreads author page. Thanks!

Thomas wrote: "Cathy wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Cathy wrote: "I do not generally choose horror as my genre of choice, but I was intrigued by both the cover of your book and the plot description of a sinkhole exposing..."

Your wife is from Western PA? Which region? I live in a teeny, tiny town halfway between Altoona and Johnstown--but I have sister in Nashville, NC.

Cathy wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Cathy wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Cathy wrote: "I do not generally choose horror as my genre of choice, but I was intrigued by both the cover of your book and the plot description of a si..."

Yes, she's from the Latrobe area. I've definitely heard of Johnstown, so it must not be too far away. Nashville, NC? Not familiar with it. Only the Tennessee city.

Nashville is just a stone's throw away from Rocky Mount...so you've heard of the "Flood City". The history of Johnstown is pretty cool. So, what fascinates you the most about horror that it is your preferred genre?

Cathy wrote: "Nashville is just a stone's throw away from Rocky Mount...so you've heard of the "Flood City". The history of Johnstown is pretty cool. So, what fascinates you the most about horror that it is y..."

What fascinates me most about horror? Maybe I enjoy being afraid. Stephen King once wrote that terror is the finest emotion. I guess I agree. Horror stories (and horror films) are probably the only place you can safely embrace fear.