J. Harris

I was 17 years old, living in my first apartment that my sweet Aunt Janie rented to me before I was of age. I went to school and worked and spent a lot of time alone. I read. I remember the moment clearly, deep in the middle of the night, because when you are into a book, sleep be damned; Tom Cullen... I was 17 years old, living in my first apartment that my sweet Aunt Janie rented to me before I was of age. I went to school and worked and spent a lot of time alone. I read. I remember the moment clearly, deep in the middle of the night, because when you are into a book, sleep be damned; Tom Cullen and Stu Redman were making their way back from Vegas to Colorado and fighting to stay alive towards the end of the epic novel, "The Stand". A splash of something wet hit my page and shocked me. 17-year-old boys don't cry, but here I was, the wetness spreading on the thin paper as proof. I always liked to read. In this moment, I realized how deeply a story could impact you and pull real human emotions from you. My like turned into love, and reading has been a faithful companion in my life ever since.I dabbled in trying to tell my own stories, lacking the skill and probably the emotional complexity to make anything worthwhile. My entire adult life, it was just a hobby. Sometimes, I would get an idea and try writing something. I continued to read a lot, so it was easy to go back to my own work and realistically know it wasn't very good. But I kept writing and trying and eventually got better. I had a few stories that I would share with friends and family looking for feedback. I never submitted any of my work for publication or thought of writing as anything but a hobby.A co-worker and I were discussing our love of horror and talking about movies and books. I mentioned that I wrote stories and shared some of what I thought were my best. This person was a new acquaintance at the time, not a friend or family member and I was anxious for an unbiased opinion. His support and encouragement were more than strong. He heaped massive praise on my work and encouraged me to do something with it. We are now good friends and co-hosted "The Weekly Horrorscope" podcast together, and I am forever grateful for the push. I cleaned up and submitted "The Tenant" and found a publisher with the awesome team at Black Hare Press. That title was published as a stand-alone mini book in late 2024. I was beyond thrilled and kept writing diligently and sending them more stories."Dark Storms- Tales of Terror" is my first published collection. Some of the tales are updated and polished versions of the old stories I passed around for years. Others were written with this collection in mind. I am thrilled with how it turned out and love the idea of creating characters and putting a reader into their lives and problems and sometimes pulling the rug out from under them. I plan to write and create for the rest of my life with the hope of putting stories into the world that others enjoy. My writing is certainly not for everyone, as I like dark and twisted subject matter and surprise turns to shock expectations.I spent all of my adult life in central New York, a setting I return to in my stories quite often, but finally escaped the cold winters, now living in the Myrtle Beach area with my wife, Crystal. Keep reading and keep it dark!jharrisauthor.com

Dark Storms - Tales of Terror

By: J. Harris

When darkness falls in Dark Storms, no one can trust their mind—or their senses—as the line between reality and nightmare blurs beyond recognition.Dark Storms presents a chilling collection of stories that navigate the eerie and unsettling forces lurking within human nature and beyond.Each tale delves into the macabre, drawing readers into scenarios where the ordinary world is tainted by the e...

Cycle of a Rose

By: J. Harris

A man struggles with addiction, but instead of salvation, invites something far worse into his life. A young girl sets out for the big city, looking for a new life full of art, creativity, and love, but fate send her down a dark path she could have never imagined. Two men, bonded by tragedy, search for answers and justice, but instead encounter a terrifying truth that no one would believe. C...