Maxy Awards- 2019 Best Horror
Pencraft Awards- 2019 Best Fiction Horror
American Fiction Awards- 2020 Best General Horror
A Wistful Tale of Gods, Men and Monsters is a work of dark and intriguing horror fiction penned by author David Ruggerio. Short and sharp in its presentation, this is a story with shivers sewn into its spine. The action centers around the small town of Brunswick in New York State, where less than five thousand people reside. Here there are many places where strange happenings are alleged to have been witnessed, not least the eerie Forest Park Cemetery on the very edge of the town. When a dedicated servant and a vicious master stir up unspeakable trouble at Halloween, one young boy falls victim and must do all he can to survive. I was hooked on this eerie tale from the very first page because it plays on all those wonderful nostalgic sensibilities of small-town horror and draws you in with the promise of intense fright. Author David Ruggerio builds his tale of woe very well, maintaining suspense with small chunks of exposition and building tension as well as character in the early stages. It was wonderful to see that the frights, when they came, did not disappoint, and the narrative, pacing, and dialogue all shifted to match the intense atmosphere and shocking surprises of the plot itself. What results is a highly accomplished horror tale with haunting cinematic descriptions and dialogue lines that echo in your head long after the story is over. I would certainly recommend A Wistful Tale of Gods, Men and Monsters to classic horror fans everywhere.Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite.com
"A wonderful ode to the mysteries, fears, anddelights of the things that haunt the night. Replete with tinges ofSupernatural and Stranger Things, it brings to mind what you might get if director Tim Burton wrote horror novels! This is one story sure to keep you upfar into the night!" -- J. Aislynn d'Merricksson, Manhattan Book Review"Author, David Ruggerio, merges Mary Shelley andStephen King in A Wistful Tale of God's Men and Monsters. Suspense laced withvibrant prose, this novel will have you turning the pages and wondering whatevil awaits you." -C. L. Paur, author - Stories and Waves."He could sense that there was someone or worse, something, evil, seemingly crouching in the recesses of the cellar. It fed on his fear."
The sleepy town of Brunswick, New York, has its share of characters and history that give the town its identity. Unlike most small towns, however, the identity of Brunswick seems to be colored in unspeakable evil. From the abandoned funeral parlor and mansion suspected to be involved in corpse mutilation and unholy sacrifice to a string of cold cases involving murdered and mutilated young girls that the town seems oddly unconcerned with, Brunswick's past is checkered, to say the least. With a new sheriff in from Philadelphia, some overeager ghost hunters from New Jersey, a local boy enamored by all things dark and spooky, and a rare "All Hallow's Tide" blood moon all intersecting, the distinction between local legend and supernatural truth is called into question. If there truly is evil in this town, the community must face its past before it can move on.
Calling to mind the idyllic yet horrific New England of Stephen King's books, the setting of this book is just as pivotal to its suspense and grip as any of its scariest monsters. The duality of what we think of as a simpler, happier lifestyle and the presence of evil lurking in anyone's heart creates an environment of not knowing who to trust when everyone appears to be what they say at face value. This tension comes to an absolute head near the end of the story, as the author brilliantly sets up each chapter as a vignette about one of the town's characters or current visitors before throwing alliances and allegiances up in the air on either side of a deadly but resigned cult. The pressure builds slowly but releases in an instant, always hinting at something sinister lurking but not in a hurry to reveal its secrets. The result is unsettling... yet satisfying. Book review by Michael Radon, US Review of Books
A small town with a gothic history falls prey to evil forces in former TV cooking-show host and restaurateur Ruggerio's (Ruggerio's Italian Kitchen, 2000, etc.) debut novel.
Children have been disappearing in the tiny, rustic hamlet of Brunswick, New York, for centuries. As Halloween draws near, young, stuttering, motherless William Willowsby witnesses frightening apparitions while playing with his friend Lilly Mueller in the reportedly haunted Forest Park cemetery. Even though he's fascinated by the idea of monsters, he encounters creeping fog and the sound of a guttural moan that forces William to flee. But he soon becomes obsessed with investigating the mysteries surrounding the graveyard. Meanwhile, brothers Joey and Bobby Martorano visit Brunswick to debunk supernatural rumors. But horrific events befall the siblings as they explore the deep corners of a morgue, just as local longtime bookshop owner Jessup Homel feared would happen. Soon, local law enforcement becomes inspired to reopen a cold case and solves a mystery in the process. Throughout the novel, the author builds out Brunswick's origins and legacy with ominous historical anecdotes. Ancient lore meets contemporary horror as monsters materialize in the present day, and William, Tom, and Bobby, cry werewolf--to the townspeople's collective dismay. Bloodshed ensues before the serpentine nightmare comes to a close, leaving room for a potential sequel. In a succession of crisp, clipped chapters, Ruggerio moves his story along using classic horror and suspense tropes, blended with a unique descriptive flair, particularly when setting scenes or detailing the grim particulars of a monster. The author also conjures a fantastically eerie sense of place, showing Brunswick to be a close-knit, Halloween-loving, evil-fearing township, complete with a haunted mansion and schoolhouse, and a creepy mortuary with a grim past. The author brings in numerous characters along the way, although some wander in and out a bit too hastily. Overall, though, the story is alluring and devilishly entertaining, with a tone and subject matter reminiscent of spooky (but PG-rated) horror movies.
A sinister but not-too-scary slice of Halloween horror fiction featuring a hearty bunch of heroes. - Kirkus
First, rather than a writer, I consider myself a storyteller. I am a bonafide horror aficionado; I especially love the classics. I've read everyone from Mary Shelly to Bram Stoker to Stephen King. Washington Irving's' Sleepy Hallow was an inspiration to my story.
I wanted to deliver a book that people would pick up again and again during the favorite of all my seasons; Allhallowtide.
In a Wistful Tale I incorporate actual towns, and real places, I believe that makes it spookier. In addition, I incorporated an array of villains, monsters, heroes and even a few characters who bring a bit of levity to the story.
So, cuddle together with your loved ones close to the fire with a steaming hot chocolate and be ready to be frightened.
Thank you so much for considering my works,
David Ruggerio
From the Inside Flap
"I'm a huge fan of musical super groups. A Wistful Tale of God's, Men and Monsters is the literary equivalent. David Ruggerio has captured the storytelling nature of Neil Gaiman, replicated the family lineage of a George R. R. Martin novel and offered descriptions that rival Stephen King. A true masterpiece of penmanship." Alex Bernstein -Author - The Platform
From the Back Cover
Can a village be inherently evil?
Welcome to Brunswick NY, Population 4,941.
On the facade, this sleepy hamlet comes to life every autumn with picturesque apple orchards, haunted corn mazes,fun-filled pumpkin patches and holiday hay rides. During a snowy Halloween, a young William Willowsby must battle evil forces that have been shielded by the locals for generations. On the outskirts of the town is the abandoned Forest Park Cemetery. All things wicked seem to revolve around the old graveyard. A rarely seen homunculus serves an evil task master. Together they weave a wicked web that attempts to snare the youth of the hamlet. A creepy graveyard, a spooky schoolhouse, an abandoned mortuary and a member of his own family will leave you simply sleepless.
About the Author
David Ruggerio, is an acclaimed chef and TV host. Ruggerio honed his culinary skills in France at several of the country's leading restaurants, among them, the Hotel Negresco with famed chef Jacques Maximin; Moulin de Mougins with renowned chef Roger Verge; l'Auberge du Pont de Collonges with legendary chef Paul Bocuse, and Les Pres d'Eugenie with mythical chef, Michel Guerard.His rise to fame began as the chef at the legendary New York eatery, La Caravelle. At the time Ruggerio was only twenty-five years old and garnished rave reviews as the restaurant that was hailed as one of the best in the country. He went on to take command of Pierre Cardin's New York outpost of Maxim's de Paris where he unbelievably garnished three stars from the New York Times. He then took his talents to the iconic Park Avenue restaurant, Le Chantilly. Here he gained national acclaim by again receiving three stars from the New York Times. David has cooked for five US Presidents.He was honored in 1995 by noted vintner Robert Mondavi as one of the thirteen best young chefs in America. He went on to star in his own popular PBS cooking series entitled, Little Italy with David Ruggerio. He later went on to star in his own iconic series on Food Network entitled, Ruggerio to Go. David has written two acclaimed cookbooks which were published by Artisan books, "Little Italy with David Ruggerio," and "David Ruggerio's Italian Kitchen."
For more about Ruggerio, please visit the following;
Food Blog: davidruggerio.com
Business Website: canvasbackfarms.com.
Books:ruggeriobooks.com
Wikipédia Page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ruggerio
David's YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCysxN9Ss8pCwvxUJpKbzc4Q
Facebook: facebook.com/david.ruggerio
Twitter:twitter.com/DavidRuggerio
Instagram:instagram.com/david.ruggerio/
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