Richard Schiver

Tag: Fiction

  • Update 11/10/2025

    I have officially finished a story that began in 1991. Three books that took more than 34 years to finish has drawn to a close. My Shadows of the Past trilogy is finally complete. I didn’t actually spend that much time writing each book. It was really a matter of letting myself get side tracked between each one. (Squirrel LOL).

    Adversary, the very first book I ever wrote, and the first in the trilogy, took me three years to complete. In contrast I wrote Parasite, book two in three months. Last year I decided I was going to finish this trilogy once and for all and began work on Assimilation.

    By the end of this week, I plan to release all three. Each one has been reworked to fall into line with the story, updated with new covers and brand new descriptions that will make sense now that everything is done. I do hope you’ll check them out, and if it’s something you like to read maybe you’ll give me a chance with the first book.

    Adversary

    Synopsis: Haunted by the violent death of his wife, Washington, D.C. homicide detective Sam Hardin struggles with his relationship with his two children, and the bottle. Called to investigate a murder he discovers a connection to an alleged mob boss, and the theft of an ancient artifact discovered in Antarctica. The artifact, a knife, contains an alien power that affects anyone who comes into contact with it.

    Jack Griffith served his country in the middle east, losing a leg in the process, and was recently diagnosed with cancer. While clearing a clogged sewer drain he is stabbed by the stolen knife and becomes possessed by an ancient entity that seeks to end the rule of man. His transformation leads him on a violent rampage. His fury focused on a brain damaged four-year-old he believes is the embodiment of his old adversary who holds the secrets of the universe.

    The boy’s death could open the passageway between the shadows of the past and present day, allowing old gods to rise to power once again. The only thing standing in his way is Sam Hardin. Guilt, redemption, and the supernatural weave together as Sam and Jack’s paths converge in a climactic showdown from which only one of them will survive.

    Parasite

    Synopsis: When bullied teen Anthony finally stands up to his tormentor Randy, a violent confrontation leads to a tragic accident. Something ancient and inhuman awakens in the aftermath. As Randy’s broken body is invaded by a bizarre, otherworldly parasite, a wave of grotesque transformations and unexplained violence sweeps through Garret County, Maryland.

    Deputy Sam Hardin, haunted by his own past encounters with the supernatural, is drawn into a spiraling nightmare as children go missing, birth defects surge, and a strange, predatory animal stalks the woods. Meanwhile, a prospector in Tennessee stumbles upon a buried alien machine, and a series of grisly incidents across the country hint at a spreading infection that threatens all of humanity.

    Told through the intersecting lives of traumatized families, desperate law enforcement, and ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances, Parasite explores the terrifying consequences of an ancient evil unleashed. As the parasite’s influence grows, turning victims into hosts and spawning monstrous hybrids. Sam and his gifted son Frankie must confront the horror head-on, racing against time to contain a threat that could spell the end of mankind.

    Blending small-town drama, cosmic horror, and relentless suspense, Parasite is a gripping tale of survival, sacrifice, and the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of everyday life.

    Assimilation

    Synopsis: In the Pacific Northwest, a mysterious alien infection threatens to consume humanity from within. Haunted by the loss of his family, ex-cop Sam Hardin and his gifted son Frankie are on the run, hunting the monstrous creatures unleashed by an ancient artifact. They cross paths with a cast of survivors—a determined crime scene analyst, a traumatized boy, a battle-hardened Marine, and everyday townsfolk—they must confront not only the relentless, shape-shifting enemy but also the darkness within themselves.

    When a small town is sealed off by a force field and overrun by infected townspeople and monstrous offspring, the survivors make a desperate last stand at Peskins’ gun shop. With resources dwindling and hope fading, Sam and his allies devise a daring plan to destroy the alien machine fueling the invasion. Sacrifices are made, alliances are tested, and the line between human and monster blurs as the group fights for survival.

    As the military closes in and the truth about the infection emerges, the survivors must decide who to trust, and what they’re willing to become to save the world. In the aftermath, the battle continues in the shadows, hinting that the threat may never truly be gone.

    Assimilation is a harrowing tale of courage, loss, and the enduring will to resist extinction, perfect for fans of Stephen King and Michael Crichton.

    I would also like to thank Sharon Rivet from the Indie cover group on Facebook for the killer idea.

  • Fridays 5 with Thomas F Monteleone

    Fridays 5 with Thomas F Monteleone

    1. When did you first consider yourself a writer?

    A: When I was 12 years old and spent a summer’s worth of lawn cutting money on a Royal manual typewriter.

    2. What is the hardest part of writing?

    A: Forcing yourself to do it every day… even on the days when you have other stuff you must do or don’t feel the urging of the muse.

    3. How did you feel upon publication of your first completed project?

    A: When I saw my name on the cover of the March 1973 issue of Amazing Science Fiction magazine, I realized I had accomplished something that 99% of the population would never do. And most likely would never think to do.

    4. In addition to writing, what else are you passionate about?

    A: I am passionate about my family. Son, daughter, grandkids, and wife are simply everything to me. (. . . And bourbon isn’t so bad either. )

    5. If you could ask any author, living or dead, one question, what would it be?

    A: I’d ask Ayn Rand why she allowed John Galt to speak for more than 100 pages.

    .

    Thomas F Monteleone has been a professional writer since 1972, and 4-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award. He has published more than 100 short stories in numerous magazines and anthologies. His stories have been nominated for many awards and have appeared in many best-of-the-year compilations.

    https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-F-Monteleone/e/B000AP5O92

  • Weekly Writing Challenge 11/05/2025

    Weekly Writing Challenge 11/05/2025

    Eric took a moment to read through the names, stopping when he came to a familiar one. Joshua Watkins. Jared’s last name was Watkins. The connection sent a chill across the flesh of his arms, and he brushed it off. It was obviously just a coincidence.

    He turned to Jared who stood right beside him. “Did you have any relatives who worked in this mine?”

    “I don’t think so,” Jared replied. He stepped around Eric to look at the plaque, the beam of the flashlight stopping on the name in question. He shook his head. “It doesn’t ring any bells.”

    Eric shrugged as he turned away from the plaque and approached the shaft at the back of the mine. This was how they would get down to the natural cave. Someone in the past had left a rope to make the descent easier, but Eric chose to use his own. He didn’t know how long the other rope had been in place, and with the amount of moisture present in the mine he wasn’t sure how sturdy it would be. Halfway down would be a bad time to find out it couldn’t hold him. Using the pinions already in place he secured his own rope and tossed the bag containing it into the black depths below. After a few seconds the sound of the bag hitting the bottom came to him.

    According to his map once they reached the lower level it would get a lot easier as there were ramps built into the interconnected shafts that would allow them to walk down to the cave. Once they were done they would use an ascender for climb back up the rope.

    “Are you ready for this?” Eric asked as he turned to look at Jared.

    Jared nodded, but Eric could tell by the expression on his face he wasn’t really ready. They would have to rappel down to the next level that was only fifty feel below.

    “I don’t know man, I mean I know you taught me how to do this, but it’s so dark down there.”

    “You’ll have the light on your helmet, as long as you don’t get in a hurry everything will be all right.”

    They had rappelled several times from a nearby cliff and Eric had proven to be adept at doing so.

    “I know, I need to quit being such a baby and just get it over with,” Eric said. He stepped up to the lip of the shaft and after turning on his light he peered over the edge. “It doesn’t look too bad, but I’ll need your help hooking up, I want to make sure I do it right.”

    “No problem brother, let’s get you set up.”

    Eric turned his back to the shaft and Jared hooked the rope through the brake bar rack attached to the front of his harness. Once they were done Jared held onto Eric while he carefully added his weight to the rope.

    “This doesn’t seem too bad.”

    “Just remember, lift the lever to speed up and push it down to slow your descent.”

    Eric nodded then pushed off the lip while lifting the friction bar. He dropped from sight with an exhilarating shout and Jared looked over the edge to watch as he descended. In a matter of moments Eric reached the bottom and looked up at Jared, momentarily blinding him with his headlight.

    “Are you good?”

    “I’m good man, I’m off the rope, come on down. This is great.”

    Jared turned and wound the rope through his own rack and stepped off the edge. He stepped off the edge and dropped about twelve feet before swinging back to the wall and bringing down the bar to stop him. As he did he heard someone talking below him.

    “What did you say?” He shouted.

    To be continued!

  • Fridays 5 with Eric A Shelman

    Fridays 5 with Eric A Shelman

    1 When did you first consider yourself a writer?

    A. In 1992, I sold a short story called The Crossing for $2.00. That was the moment I felt I was a writer.

    2 What is the hardest part of writing?

    A. The hardest thing about being a writer is finding the right story. A story you’re not excited about will not inspire you to write.

    3 How did you feel upon publication of your first completed project?

    A. At the completion and release of my first full-length book, it was a major milestone … a hump that once you’re over, the floodgates open and the next and the next are easier.

    4 In addition to writing, what else are you passionate about?

    A. My band, The Mood Zombies. Check us out at http://www.reverbnation.com/themoodzombies

    5 If you could ask any author, living or dead, one question, what would it be?

    A. I don’t really have any questions for other authors anymore. Not after 26 books!

    Eric lives in southwest Florida with his wife, Linda. A fan of horror since he was young, he’s been writing since his teens. Growing up his room was filled with monster models, including The Wolfman, Dr. Phibes, Frankenstein’s Monster, and many others. His first novel, A Reason To Kill, was about a serial killer before he moved on to his true passion with The Witches of Laguna Beach. In 2009, after a 12 year hiatus, he wrote Dead Hunger. He currently has over 20 books to his credit, all but two of which are novels.

    Eric can be found online at his amazon author page

    He also shares his stories on his You Tube channel.

  • Weekly Writing Challenge 10/29/2025

    Weekly Writing Challenge 10/29/2025

    While working on today’s episode yesterday morning the purpose of the story presented itself to me. Quite frankly I can write novels easier than I can write short stories, hence the reason I started doing this challenge. To force me to buckle down and work on a short story until it was done. I chose to follow the alphabet format and have completed the first drafts of stories up to the letter G. As time allows I work on rewrites and edits of the past stories as I try to whip them into some semblance of a real story worth a read. One of these days I’ll release them for everyone to read.

    Without further adieu let’s get into the continuing saga of Jared and Eric in Hell Hole.

    Story begins where it left off.

    They didn’t look sturdy enough to support the weight pressing down upon them, and it appeared the wood had rotted away on the surface, making them half the size they had originally been.

    “You know why they call it hell hole?” Jared asked.

    Eric shrugged. “Rumor has it the mine went so deep you had to be careful which way you swung your pick.” He stopped as he maneuvered around an old coal car whose steel sides had rusted away to nothing, leaving a flat surface covered in debris.

    Eric pushed past the coal car, coming to a section of tunnel that appeared much older than what they passed through earlier. Here the jagged walls and ceiling were brown and in some places water leaked through the various cracks and crevices that covered the entire surface, filling the space with the incessant sound of dripping water.  It looked like the entire ceiling was about to collapse and he wanted to turn around right then and there.

    He was beginning to get irritated with Jared’s endless whining. If he didn’t need him as bad as he did he would never have spoken to him. He was no more than a means to an end, that of his continued survival. Promises had been made, so promises had to be kept.

    “Why?” Jared asked.

    With a deep sigh Eric turned back to face him and when he did he was struck by a deep anger at the lengths he had to go to. “Because you might hit the devils door,” he replied with a laugh.

    “That’s not funny,” Jared said, turning in a complete circle as if he were afraid someone, or something, were sneaking up on him.

    “Come on, let’s go, you said you wanted to see this room of crystals.” Eric turned and started walking into the depths of the mine. He heard Jared scrambling to get around the abandoned coal car.

    “Wait for me,” Jared said as he rushed to keep up.

    Eric smiled, satisfied he had set the hook firmly. Once they got deeper into the mine Jared would be attached to his hip, which was just as well, he didn’t want him wandering off until he’d gotten what he came for.

    The mine had operated from the mid seventeen hundred until 1890 when a cave in sealed off the lower portion of the mine, opening the passageway to the r0om of crystals. They called them the devil’s jewels, locked away deep beneath the earth.

    The miners of the time had been very superstitious, in addition to being God fearing men. But when the only exit from a mine collapses, and God does little to save you, promises made to others became sacred vows.

    Eric had learned all of this from his research into the mine when he first heard about the crystal room. Sure, he was an explorer willing to take chances, but they were calculated risks made only after he was certain about the facts. He had visited the crystal room himself, along with the mouth of the section of the mine where the collapse occurred. Someone had placed a plaque nearby listing the names of the men entombed within. It was rumored if you listened closely you could still hear panicked pounding coming from the other side.

    To be continued!

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