Nostalgia and Nightmares in The Empty Lot Next Door
The treehouse from The Empty Lot Next Door was not the structure depicted in the book's sketch but a simple, grounded platform built at the base of an old oak...
The Author's Desk » The Empty Lot Next Door
The Author's Desk is where I pull back the curtain on my writing and projects. I explain how each book came together, what worked, what didn’t, and the decisions I had to make along the way. I also use this space to share updates on new projects, project ideas, upcoming events, and behind-the-scenes details such as why second editions were published, why certain scenes changed, and what inspired some of the biggest twists.
A Mother’s Love In The Empty Lot Next Door
In this journal entry from March 20, 2024, I reflect on the complex relationship I had with my mother, as portrayed in The Empty Lot Next Door. Her relentless dedication...
The Haunting of Childhood: Horror in The Empty Lot Next Door
The Empty Lot Next Door masterfully weaves psychological and supernatural horror, making it far more than a typical ghost story. The primary source of terror, Candle Face, emerges not just...
The Empty Lot Next Door: Adult and Child Views
The Empty Lot Next Door presents a story that resonates differently based on the reader's age and life experiences. For adults, it unfolds as a story about children navigating a...
Listening to Readers: The Revised Use of Foreshadowing
In The Empty Lot Next Door, I initially used foreshadowing to build suspense and create anticipation about the supernatural events and family conflicts. However, reader feedback revealed that excessive hints...
Exploring Sibling Relationships in The Empty Lot Next Door
The Empty Lot Next Door explores the complex sibling relationships between Ray, Ricky, Dan, and Felix. Dan and Felix’s rebellious behaviors, including substance abuse and aggression, often left Ricky and...
The Empty Lot Next Door: A Story of Loss, Fear, and Growth
The Empty Lot Next Door explores themes of childhood, family issues, psychological trauma, and the supernatural, all woven into a true-life ghost story. The empty lot symbolizes both freedom and...
The Empty Lot Next Door: Who or What Was Griffin?
In preparing the second edition of The Empty Lot Next Door, I revisited the controversial character of Griffin, a creation of my brother Ricky’s imagination, embodying a lion-boy guardian meant...
The Empty Lot Next Door: The Bedtime Battle
In this vivid childhood memory from The Empty Lot Next Door, I recount the night I took extreme measures to stop my brother Ricky’s relentless sheet-stealing habit. Sharing a pullout...