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Seven Stories [Kindle Edition]

Brian James Freeman
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)

Digital List Price: $2.99 What's this?
Kindle Price: $2.99 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet

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Book Description

Seven Stories: Haunting Short Fiction

This mini-collection contains seven of Brian James Freeman's short stories that are currently available individually on Amazon. Save $4 if you order them together in this great bundle!

Freeman's best work has always been his short fiction, which is haunting and beautifully written. These stories feature characters who are searching for answers to deeply troubling questions, and there's often a real emotional punch before you reach the end.

This bundle won't be available at this price forever, so don't wait to download your copy!

* About the Stories:

Walking With the Ghosts of Pier 13:
A grueling summer of horror is finally winding down, and Jeremy is one of the wandering survivors who can't come to grips with the acts of terror that have been ripping his nation apart. His destination today is Pier 13, the ocean front amusement park his family visited every summer when he was a child, and his purpose for coming here is simple: he wants to understand why so many people have been dying in such violent acts... but that might not be the only answer he finds at the old docks.

Running Rain:
In the year since their son was the first victim of a serial killer known as the The Riverside Strangler, a devastated husband and wife have tried to pretend life can somehow be normal again... but the secrets they're keeping from each other are pushing their relationship to the brink. To make matters worse, The Riverside Strangler was never caught, and now the husband is obsessed with running along the river at night, searching for the truth about why his son died: a truth he may not really want to know...

Answering the Call:
A young man's very unusual job is taking a heavy toll on him. He stays in homes during the owner's funeral. Someone needs to be there to answer the phone, receive deliveries, and deter thieves who might have seen the obituary in the newspaper and decided this would be a good time for a break-in. The young man has seen a lot of strange things over the years in the homes of the dead, and sometimes his job is truly a matter of life and death...

The Punishment Room:
Assuming Michael manages to escape the Punishment Room with his sanity and his life, he isn't sure if he'll be able to go on living with the knowledge of what he did to survive... but then again, that's a dilemma he wouldn't mind confronting, given the finality of the alternative.

What They Left Behind:
There's something lurking in the basement of the old Timlico office building. This thing is evil, the result of the tragic fire that killed dozens of Timlico employees and sent that business spiraling into bankruptcy -- or maybe the thing was the cause of the fire. Scott and a few friends will learn more about this thing before the day is over, including some very bad news for everyone: the thing in the basement is still hungry.

A Dreamlike State:
Daniel is driving back to his hometown for the first time in six years because his father is dying, but he knows there's more than a sick patriarch waiting for him in the house where he grew up. He has a heart full of questions, and all of his childhood ghosts are patiently waiting for him... and they have a few questions of their own.

Where Sunlight Sleeps:
A grieving father and his young son, both dealing with their loss in their own ways. A Saturday ritual, retracing the last steps of the woman they loved more than any other. A search for the place where the sunlight sleeps, where bad feelings can be released. And a trip down a memory lane lined with jagged edges and vicious traps that just won't let them go.

(The only short story currently listed on Amazon that is missing from this bundle is "The Silent Attic," which is an experimental piece closely related to "A Dreamlike Sleep." If you like "A Dreamlike Sleep", be sure to download "The Silent Attic" to see another glimpse of that same world.)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"There is a great temptation to discuss and describe each one of the astounding tales in Brian James Freeman's latest collection of short stories but to do that would diminish the profound impact each one will have on readers who must discover the hope and the darkness themselves. What I can say is that each will leave you greatly moved and a bit disoriented, as a truth is uncovered, a hope is concealed, a terror is faced, a horror is revealed... You will lose yourself in these pages."
-- Ron McLarty, author of The Memory of Running, Traveler, and The Dropper

About the Author

Brian James Freeman is the author of The Painted Darkness, Black Fire, Blue November Storms, and The Illustrated Stephen King Trivia Book (with Bev Vincent).  His short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies including From the Borderlands (Warner Books), Borderlands 5 (Borderlands Press), Corpse Blossoms (Creeping Hemlock Press), and all six volumes of the acclaimed Shivers anthology series (Cemetery Dance Publications).  His essays, columns, and interviews have been published in The Stephen King Library Desk Calendar 2009, 2010, and 2011 (Book of the Month Club), Jobs in Hell, Hellnotes, and Cemetery Dance.

Freeman is also the Managing Editor of Cemetery Dance magazine and the publisher of Lonely Road Books where he has worked with Stephen King, 
William Peter Blatty, Peter Straub, Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan, Frank Darabont, Justin Cronin, Joe R. Lansdale, Mick Garris, Stewart O'Nan, and many other New York Times bestselling authors.

Product Details

  • File Size: 111 KB
  • Print Length: 81 pages
  • Publisher: Cemetery Dance Publications (July 3, 2010)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B003UNLJZE
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Enabled
  • Lending: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,933 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
(43)
4.6 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the best way that I could recommend you introduce yourself to Brian James Freeman's short stories. It has seven great dark tales. Nothing too gory. Nothing too Monster-y (except for the ones we hide within ourselves).

These tales make you think and feel more than most of the dark tales that you'll find out there. You can take that as a warning or as a sign of hope (depending on what you like in your short stories). I like strong emotional stories, and many of Brian James Freeman's short stories have packed a stronger wallop than I expected over the years.

Many of these were published under the name "Brian Freeman" in various anthologies (like Cemetery Dance Publication's Shivers series). All of the stories are available as separate downloads for Kindle, but you'll save yourself a lot of money by getting this collection. If you are missing just four of these stories, the low price is well worth it.

This collection is currently only on Amazon for Kindle, Kindle for PC/Mac, etc. Only one story has had its name changed. "The Punishment Room" was first released as "One More Day" in Shivers V edited by Richard Chizmar. Some of the stories have been slightly revised for this publication too (nothing major, just some good tweaks like most author collections).

"Seven Stories" is an awesome collection to start after you read Mr. Freeman's The Painted Darkness. After you finish with these stories, you will also want to get the outstanding short story"The Silent Attic" (which has some very interesting connections to the excellent "A Dreamlike State", which is included in this collection). There are also a few other stories of Mr. Freeman's that aren't included in this collection (like the rare chapbook "Pulled Into Darkness"), but I'll let you do the detective work for those.

Also recommended: Black Fire (Brian James Freeman writing as James Kidman) and his out of print novella Blue November Storms!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Seven (Great) Stories January 7, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I downloaded this collection of short stories after reading The Painted Darkness by Mr. Freeman. My favorite of the set is Walking With the Ghosts of Pier 13. The story is extremely well crafted. I read it again immediately after finishing Pier 13 the first time - just to pay more attention to how the author pulled off the story. Creepy! The other stories are all enjoyable and easy to consume when you might have 30 minutes or so to spend reading: What They Left Behind, Where Sunlight Sleeps, wow, they each deserve more words than I'm giving them. I believe that many of these tales will stay with you a long time, at least they have for me. Getting all seven for one price also makes them a great bargain.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good stories. February 22, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a collection of short stories with death and dealing with loss as the main driving force of the story. He has written these so well not one story lacks in excellence.
Stories that deliver with content that are Haunting, visceral, thought provoking and poignant.

Walking With the Ghosts of Pier 13
A thought provoking deep sense of feeling story. One brother visits a virtually abandoned amusement park, a Pier that has witnessed mass murderer and death including that of his brother.
This is a post 9/11 story, in a world where many more incidents and deaths have spread across the U.S.A.
Written well, descriptive and really a good story.

"I didn't really think the park would even be open, let alone with the coaster running."
"You heard the President, didn't you?"
"Go on living, right?"
"Like nothing has changed," the girl said."Like there's nothing to fear."
"You scared?"
"Out of my mind."

Running Rain
A story of a couple coming to terms with the loss of their son. Eight teenagers have been murders in the area, there is no body found of their Ron but they know he's dead now. They struggle, the husband has persistent nightmares and takes up running near where his son was last seen near a river. He was always running by the river trying to forget and shake off the eight names of the dead but it's hard for him. This is a good short read of loss and love.

Answering The Call
Original creative story of a man who entraps, it seems, souls of the dead in a phone answering device. A sort of ghostbuster. He visits the departed's home and removes the ghosts.

The Punishment Room
The story is as the title describes, a punishment room where you are tortured and people killed. It seems it's government run and the torture only stops when the deceased innocent victims family say so.

What They Left Behind
There is a presence of pure evil in the generator room. There are others.

A Dreamlike State
In this tale a brother is haunted by his sisters death, many years ago, nightmares and visitations of her and the dead.

When The Sunlight Sleeps
A widower is coming to terms with death of his wife and he is trying to deal with his sons hurt and make him accept she's dead. Every week they do a tour a visit the locations of how where they first meet mother and father, the sons wants it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Seven Little Gems
These seven short stories each pack a punch in their own unique way. The author requires you to pay careful attention while reading and every sentence and paragraph is... Read more
Published 25 days ago by Sally McMillan
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read - even for busy folks
Brian doesn't write just horror. He makes you think & sometimes it's your own mind that provides the horror. I really enjoyed this book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Vicki Liebowitz
4.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Bunch of Short Stories.
Really enjoyed reading these stories. I had never read any of Brian's works prior to starting these, and I was pleasantly surprised. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jesse A. Lankford
4.0 out of 5 stars Seven Stories
Brian Freeman is always a guaranteed great read. This is a great introduction into his wonderful world of storytelling. I read and the reread every story in one sitting. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bones
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Collection
Great collection of some short stories here. A little twisted and a little dark just like I like my stories. Read more
Published 2 months ago by BrianDeJ13
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Collection
I am a big fan of short stories, so when I discovered this collection I had to give it a read. There were a couple stories that didn't completely capture me, but overall I really... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Laurie
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Cemetary Dance title
Cemetery Dance is the leading publisher for specialty horror. If you see it was published by cemetery dance you know its going to be at least better than average. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Pirate too late
5.0 out of 5 stars Seven Stories
I was introduced to Brian Freeman through anthologies and I have always enjoyed his stories and when I see his name in an anthology I know I will be reading at least one excellent... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bradley Wiscount
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Collection of Brian James Freeman's work
This is a great starter for those interested in Mr. Freeman's work. Each story is unique and well written. They aren't too gory. Wonderful little collection.
Published 2 months ago by JRushing
4.0 out of 5 stars Where does the time go??
Great read! LIke with most Brian James Freeman stories, don't start reading this one at night, or you will be awake at sunrise :D
Published 2 months ago by dwayne gillmore
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More About the Author

Brian James Freeman sold his first short story when he was fourteen years old and his first novel when he was twenty-four. His novels, novellas, short stories, essays, and interviews have been published by Warner Books, Cemetery Dance Publications, Borderlands Press, Book-of-the-Month Club, Leisure, and many others.

His novella, The Painted Darkness, took the Internet by storm as an eBook during the summer of 2010, reaching more than 30,000 readers in the first few months after publication. The book was published in hardcover in December 2010 by Cemetery Dance Publications, with the signed editions selling out in just 24 hours. Due to overwhelming demand from booksellers, the first printing of the trade edition went out of print on the day of publication and Cemetery Dance rushed a second printing. The Painted Darkness was also offered as the "Free eBook of the Month" by WOWIO.com in October 2010 and within two weeks it became the most downloaded title in the program's history.

Freeman is also the author of Blue November Storms, which was recently revised and republished, and Black Fire, his first novel, which will be revised and republished by the end of 2013.

His short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies since 1994 including From the Borderlands (Warner Books), Borderlands 5 (Borderlands Press), Corpse Blossoms (Creeping Hemlock Press), and all seven volumes of the acclaimed Shivers anthology series (Cemetery Dance Publications).

He has four short story collections on the way in 2013 and 2014: More Than Midnight, Weak and Wounded, Dreamlike States, and Lost and Lonely. Seven Stories, an Amazon eBook exclusive short story collection, was the #1 bestselling story collection on Amazon.com in the US, UK, Germany, Spain, and France, and #2 bestseller in Italy, during the first week of February 2012.

Freeman is also the editor of the anthology Dueling Minds, which was published in 2013 as the 10th volume in the acclaimed Cemetery Dance Signature Series.

He's well-known in the Stephen King fan community for his retired website, StephenKingNews.com, and his two well-regarded books of Stephen King trivia: The Illustrated Stephen King Trivia Book (with Bev Vincent) and The Illustrated Stephen King Movie Trivia Book (with Kevin Quigley and Hans-Ake Lilja), both of which featured the artwork of Glenn Chadbourne.

Since December 2008, Freeman has been the managing editor of Cemetery Dance magazine, where his column "The Final Question" appears. His essays, columns, and interviews have been published in The Stephen King Library Desk Calendar 2009 (Book of the Month Club), The Stephen King Library Desk Calendar 2010 (Book of the Month Club), Jobs in Hell, Hellnotes, and Cemetery Dance. His non-fiction has been translated into French.

Freeman is also the publisher of Lonely Road Books where he has worked with Stephen King, Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan, Mick Garris, Stewart O'Nan, and other acclaimed authors. You can learn more on the official Lonely Road Books website at http://www.LonelyRoadBooks.com

He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, two cats, and two German Shorthaired Pointers. More books are on the way. Learn more about his work on his website, http://www.BrianJamesFreeman.com

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