Hermit Rites 001
Introduction, Drabble, Praise for R.J. Powell, Update on Werewolves
Introduction
In 000 I got super metaphorical and fun when introducing myself and this website. In this, the first proper issue, I wanted to start with a more grounded and serious introduction to Hermit Rites and what my current goals are with it. I am creating Hermit Rites not just because I missed writing about music/books/shit I love—and I do miss it, immensely—but because I wanted to devote more time to writing fiction and poetry as well; so to bring it all together gives me one outlet for both. Depending on my mood, each ‘issue’ might be very different from the last, especially as right now there is no one else involved in Hermit Rites. Some might be long. Some short. Some, like this one, are bookish, others will be more music obsessed. How often they come out, I don’t know, but I am hoping monthly.
I would love to have a future physical Hermit Rites, but what writer doesn’t want all of their writings in print, to touch and hold? Hopefully there are enough physical humans interacting with what I bring to the digital version that it warrants a physical version of Hermit Rites.
Will Hermit Rites impact my current work with Death Wish Poetry, where I am a staff writer, and indeed am their Deranged Prince of Darkness? No. I plan on still ruining King Loke’s day with my emailed horrors whenever they are required, and he will ruin your day as he sees fit to post said horrors to the always growing and always amazing Death Wish Poetry website.
What will each issue of Hermit Rites contain? Probably a mix of everything. This one contains a mixture of three of my old drabble (stories that consist of exactly one hundred words), three of my goodreads reviews of three of R.J. Powell’s novellas, and as an update on the werewolf novelette I’m writing.
Thank you for being here. Hail Satan, Praise Nabu.
Drabble I: The Shambler
His eyes scanned the stars above, the heavens cold and emotionless. Even in this city, they somehow made him feel alive, those distant points.
A foot scraping behind him brought his attention back down to earth. He turned to the movement, seeing someone he didn’t know shambling in approach. A local drunk, probably, as Spanky Pete’s was just down the alley he was currently ruminating in. Even still, a knot of fear grew within.
“Spare change?” the shambler asked.
“No, sorry.”
“Have a good night.”
“You too.”
The shambler passed, reeking of liquor. He himself continued stargazing, his fear abated.
Drabble II: Heck Puppies
Three boys crouched behind the oak, watching Caroline. She was about to ring the doorbell of the old scientist’s place, then run away.
As she poked toward the bell, dogs started howling inside. She fell back with a scream.
As she scrambled up, the door opened and Old Man McCarthy ran out hollering.
Scared further, Caroline fell to her hands and knees. Just as the scientist was about to grab her, the boys stormed to protect their friend.
The dogs ran outside and pounced. They weren’t dogs of this world, but Hellhounds, and they killed and ate the screaming children.
Drabble III: Dragonfire
The jagged peaks of the Kranylian mountain range stabbed and buried themselves in the grey clouds. There would be more snow that night, as if there wasn’t enough to nearly bury a large man should he fall off his mount.
Gavin strategically placed three logs on the fire, to keep it burning but to keep the light low. His teacher watched on, silent. This was Gavin’s test, and the only way to succeed was to survive. Gavin laid a strong protective circle, to blind eyes to the fire and the men before it.
At midnight, dragonfire proved Gavin had failed.
Praise for R.J. Powell
If my memory serves right, R.J. Powell started off like a lot of self-published horror authors: Bookstagram. Just a girl who loves gory horror that finally says fuck it, and writes her own story, and writes it well. I cannot remember when I started following R.J. Powell on Bookstagram, it was either shortly before or after her first book came out, and I know there’s a way to check, but whatever. That part isn’t important. What is, is that she has released four novellas and I have read three, and I loved all three of them. (The other part that is important is her dog is so fucking cute it hurts.) What follows is my three Goodreads reviews of those little books.
R.J.’s fourth novella, Madness in Tandem: Ménage a Trois, a sequel to her first release Madness in Tandem, is available through her website. I just keep forgetting to buy it because ADHD. Maybe writing this will help it stick in my head better and I’ll finally remember on Friday (it’s Monday).
R.J. Powell - Madness in Tandem
This is disgusting. Abhorrent. Repulsive. I wish it was longer, because I loved every page.
Madness in Tandem is my first from RJ Powell. RJ is a sick freak, possibly needs a few years of therapy, and I think she’s an autobuy author now. After also talking to her a few times in the last few months, I’ve also realized she’s an amazing human and more than deserves the support of the splatterpunk community.
R.J. Powell - eight cases of Jane
The second novella from RJ Powell is a tantalizing tale of a woman who murders men and is interviewed by a psychiatrist. On the surface, eight cases of Jane is not anywhere near as disgusting as RJ’s first novella, Madness in Tandem (also a five-star read), but after you let it sit and marinate in your memory for awhile you realize it might be even more disturbing.
Jane Murphy is a fantastic character. She is written so vibrantly and you almost can’t help but love her. She’s a smart and classy Southern gal. She just happened to have killed a few people, in very violent and terrifying ways, and we get to find out just how she did it. And why.
R.J. Powell - Dollface
R.J. has proven why she’s amazing once again with this ultra disgusting, ultra vile, ultra heartwarming revenge tale.
If you’re already a splatterpunk fan and have read R.J.’s Madness in Tandem, Dollface makes that book look like a mid-2000’s light R horror.
I cannot recommend it enough.
Update on Werewolves
Finally, an update on the werewolf horror novelette I was going to have released during Spooky Season 2024: It’s a werewolf horror novella now, and is halfway through the editing phase as far as chapter numbers go. I think it has a title, finally, but I am still letting it simmer. King Loke at Death Wish Poetry read an early version of it and said “What a nasty, brutal ride that was.”
I am looking for artists for the cover, so if anyone reading this happens to know or be an artist who can do extreme horror werewolves, please get in touch.
Dustin Ekman is a writer from Edmonton. This is not exactly his fault, but he did choose to move there from a small town that was even worse than Edmonton.
Dustin is a former record label owner, music critic, and metal promoter (founder of Funeral Rain Records, Crown of Viserys, and Black Mourning Light Metal Festival), as well as a fan of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Before the CoV website came down, Dustin published several hundred music reviews.
He lives with his cat, a roommate, an addiction to caffeine, various works in progress, and an increasingly shaky mental stability.