Day 3 of the WordCrafter “Midnight Madness” Book Blog Tour
Posted: October 21, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Audio Excerpt, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Horror, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press 1 Comment
This is Day 3 on the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour. Today we have a excerpt reading from Chris Barili’s story, “The Headmaster Burns” and a guest post from Lindsey Marting-Bowen about her story, “Lounge Act”.
About Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares
Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares contains fifteen stories which explore the fears that keep us awake at night. Featuring the winning story in the 2026 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest, as well as stories by veteran story tellers, Kaye Lynne Booth, Joseph Carrabis, Chris Barili, Rebecca M. Senese, C.R. Johansson, and more. The darkness in these stories touch on that which we fear most.
From a last big college prank gone awry, to an invisible beast none-the-less deadly, to a potion which makes you move faster than the eye can see, these stories showcase humanity’s deepest, darkest fears, how they shape our behaviors and their consequences they carry.
Everyone fears something. No one is immune. A sphere that drives men insane, apocalyptic zombies filled with sparkling dust, and even what happens when an electric car short circuits in the worst way are what make this story collection one you won’t want to miss.
Excerpt Reading from “The Headmaster Burns”
About Chris Barili
Chris Barili will retire later this year after forty-two years in the US Intelligence Community, so he can write full-time. He writes all kinds of stories, and has published fantasy, science fiction, horror, western, paranormal romance, and crime. He is author of the weird western Hell’s Butcher series, and also writes under the pen names B.T. Clearwater (Supernatural romance) and T.C. Barlow (western). Chris holds a degree in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Genre Fiction) from Western State Colorado University.
“L’Bonhomme Sept Heures”
About “Lounge Act”
Visiting Las Vegas and its casinos with my sisters and mother, who knew how to beat both the dealers and slot machines, brought a bit of levity to my life. But those light-hearted feelings arose more frommy company than from casino tables or slot machines.
Indeed, I enjoyed strolling through Caesar’s Palace, which emulated ancient Rome, watching those shows with the smoke-bellowing manikins in the town square and later in the lounge areas, but my family was the main source of levity.
Yet Bobbi Jo, the main character in “Lounge Act’’ doesn’t experience levity from either family members or gambling. Instead, her alcoholic husband likely makes her feel even more alone than sitting late at night among the slot machines. Bobbi Jo’s memory of an old man who might have intended to assault her and her marriage to an alcoholic are the sole portions in this tale that I took from my experiences. Other than those, and, of course, the setting in Vegas are based on memory.
From them, this story just appeared in my head one night—complete with symbolic characters and layers of meaning. I worked on it a few days until it seemed “ripe” with an unusual, but sad theme and what I hope is a tense, surprise ending.
—Lindsey Martin-Bowen
About Lindsey Martin-Bowen
On Halloween 2023, redbat books released Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s 7th poetry collection, CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison. Her 4th collection, Where Water Meets the Rock, was nominated for a Pulitzer; her 3rd, CROSSING KANSAS with Jim Morrison was a finalist in the QuillsEdge Press 2015-2016 Contest. In 2017, it won the Kansas Writers Assn award, “Looks Like a Million.” Writer’s Digest gave her “Vegetable Linguistics” an Honorable Mention in its 85th Annual (2017) Contest. Her Inside Virgil’s Garage (Chatter House Press 2013) was a runner-up in the 2015 Nelson Poetry Book Award. McClatchy Newspapers named her Standing on the Edge of the World (Woodley Press/Washburn University) was one of the Ten Top Poetry Books of 2008. It was nominated for a Pen Award.
Short Promo
Wrap Up
That’s all for today’s tour stop. Tomorrow will find us over at Roberta Writes with host, Robbie Cheadle, sharing an excerpt reading from contributing author Joseph Carrabis from his story, “Lessons Learned” and a guest post about the inspiration for Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s “Lounge Act”. Please join us, and don’t forget to leave a comment to enter the giveaway.
The Giveaway
Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment at each stop you visit, for a chance to win.
Three lucky readers will receive a free digital copy of Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares, volume 4 in the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series.
Winners are chosen in a random drawing after the tour ends and will be announced in the “WordCrafter News” post on Monday, October 26, here on “Writing to be Read”.
Tour Schedule
Mon. 10/19 – Interview with Mark Milstead & Guest post from Christian De Matteo & promo for “Shadowmancer” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74385
Tues. 10/20 – guest post from Robb T. White & Reading from Kaye Lynne Booth –
Poetry by Mich: https://michnavs.wordpress.com/?p=16503
Hotel by Masticadores: https://hotelmasticadoreshouse.wordpress.com/2026/10/20/midnight-madness-book-tour-day-2/
Masticadores Phillipines: https://masticadoresphilippines.wordpress.com/2026/10/20/midnight-madness-book-tour-day-2/
Wed. 10/21 – Reading from “Headmaster Burns” & guest post from Lindsey Martin-Bowen & Promo for “L’Bonhomme Sept Heures” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74390
Thurs. 10/22 – Reading from Joseph Carrabis & guest post from C.R. Johannson – Roberta Writes: https://roberta-writes.com/2026/10/22/roberta-writes-book-blog-tour-about-midnight-madness-a-carnival-of-nightmares/
Fri. 10/23 – Guest Post by Abe Margel & promo for “The Shape of Denial” & Promo for “Apocalypse Family” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74393
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[…] Wed. 10/21 – Reading from “Headmaster Burns” & guest post from Lindsey Martin-Bowen & Promo for “L’Bonhomme Sept Heures” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74390 […]
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