Blog Tour: THE ROOTS RUN DEEP

THE ROOTS RUN DEEP

C.M. Forest

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GENRE:  Horror Short Story Collection

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BLURB:

Dug from the twisted mind of C.M. Forest, the acclaimed author of Infested, comes a collection of 15 horror stories that will drag you into the abyss of fear and despair.

A fast-food playland with a nightmarish secret, a greenhouse with a bug problem, a busload of kids lost in the woods, a trip through the solar system to investigate a strange comet, and many more.

Brace yourself for an unrelenting journey through a world where evil knows no bounds, and darkness consumes all.

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Excerpt One:

Alison got out of her car, the engine still on, and staggered down the road. Blood soaked through the front of her dress. It looked black—like a growing oil spill—under the sickly haze of the street lights. A smattering trail of circles on the pavement marked her route as she stumbled away. Her underwear, torn and soiled, hung limply around one ankle. 

She did not want to look back at the car, but a deep, primal urge overrode all her wants and desires. Even as her body trembled, she found herself peeking over her shoulder. Tendrils of mist, which were seeping in off the nearby dark fields, gave her vehicle a ghostly appearance. A 3000-pound wraith waiting to lunge. The headlights, blazing though the fog, seemed to stare back at her. The fender, a taunting grin. Specks of blood dotted the windshield from the inside; gory handprints stained the seats.

Something moved within the car. An arm, a face, briefly—horribly—illuminated by the interior lights. A shifting figure, covered in a blanket of shining viscera. It was already bigger than it should be. It was growing fast.

Interview:

Where are you from? Tell us a little about yourself!

I was born in Canada’s most southern city, Windsor, ON. It sits right on the border with Detroit. Because of its closeness to the US, Windsor is often called Canada’s most American city. Not sure if that’s true, but growing up we only got Detroit television, so most folks here know miles instead of kilometers, and Fahrenheit instead of Celsius.

About ten years ago, I moved to a town called LaSalle, which is just outside of Windsor. It’s a very peaceful (and, if I’m being honest, somewhat boring) community.

Tell us about your book? How did it get started?

The Roots Run Deep is a short story collection comprised of tales written (mostly) from 2017 to 2023. The last few years of my career have been dedicated to writing novels (I’m in the middle of one now, but the less said of that mess, the better!), so I was in need of a change. 

I started looking at all the short stories I had written in that time period mentioned above, and realized I had enough to fill a collection. A quick chat with Eerie River Publishing (publisher of my novel Infested) resulted in a contract.

How do you create your characters?

To be honest, at first most characters are just a version of me. They are all different degrees of my own personality. But, as the story develops, they begin to makes choices or take paths that I would avoid at all costs. By the end, they no longer resemble me at all.

As for names, I tend to pull from followers/friends lists on social media. So, if you follow/friend me, you might just end up in a book! 

What inspires and what got you started in writing?

I’ve always been a creative person. As a child, my dream was to be a comic artist. As an adult, I went to school for animation in pursuit of that dream (it was the closest thing I could find to comic art school). About a year after I graduated, I was sitting in front of my computer writing a comic script with the intention of drawing it myself, when I thought of my newborn daughter in the room next door. A part of me knew I would never finish a comic book (I was always a lazy artist), and I was hit with a need to do something. If not for me, then for her. On a whim, I started writing a novel. I finished it in weeks and it was the worst thing every written. But, and this is important, I had the most fun of my life writing that thing. After that, I was hooked.

Where do you write? Is there something you need in order to write (music, drinks?)

I don’t really have any necessary rituals when I write, more like preferences. I prefer to write in a coffee shop, hot beverage next to me, and my headphones on. But I am pretty adaptable, so really, all I need is a spot to set up my laptop and I’m good to go. Given that I live in Canada though, there is a Tim Horton’s on every corner, so a coffee shop is never heard to find. 

How do you get your ideas for writing?

Most of my ideas come from everyday observations. Little, mundane moments that I seem to hold onto. Things that grow and change in my mind until they become something weird and twisted. I know some writers that struggle to find their next idea. I have the opposite problem. I have trouble picking just one!

What do you like to read?

A read a little bit of everything. Horror is my most read genre and accounts for the lion’s share of my bookshelves, but I really do enjoy almost everything. Sci-fi, crime, fantasy, literary fiction, hell, I even have a small collection of poetry books.

What would your advice to be for authors or aspiring in regards to writing?

Two things. The first is, write all the time. Don’t worry about the quality. Don’t worry about grammar or mistakes. Those things come later. In the beginning, just write. Like everything in life, practice makes perfect. The more you work that creative muscle, the stronger it will get. Second, once you have written something, even if it took you years, don’t be precious about it. If something doesn’t work, cut it. I know that is hard to do, especially after you’ve put so much work into it, but believe me, the story will be better for it.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I just want to thank everyone that has given my work a shot. There are so many great books out there, but you chose to spend some time with one of my mine. I am hugely appreciative for that. You rock!

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

C.M. Forest, also known as Christian Laforet, is the author of the novel Infested, the novella We All Fall Before the Harvest, the short story collection The Space Between Houses, as well as the co-author of the short-story collection No Light Tomorrow. His short fiction has been featured in several anthologies across multiple genres. A self-proclaimed horror movie expert, he spent an embarrassing amount of his youth watching scary movies. When not writing, he lives in Ontario, Canada with his wife, kids, three cats and a pandemic dog named Sully who has an ongoing love affair with a blanket.

Website: http://www.ChristianLaforet.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchristianlaforet

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianlaforet/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/c_laforet

TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@christian_writes_horror

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway