Christopher Courtley

Biography

Christopher Courtley lives in the vast, ancient, crumbling haunted house of his own imagination, perched precariously upon the windswept edges of the cliffs of insanity. There he spends his absinthe-fueled nights writing feverishly, whilst Nightgaunts dog his every step into the deepest regions of the netherworld of his darkest dreams and naked succubi call to him with lurid siren songs that would wake the dead.

Smashwords Interview

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes! I was in grade school. I had just seen the episode of the Original Star Trek series entitled "The Apple" set on a planet whose inhabitants worshiped a mysterious entity known as "Vaal". So I started writing a story about a group of astronauts who visit a volcanic planet called "Vol". My teacher liked it so much I turned it into a series. It was actually quite terrible.
What is your writing process?
I don't know if I can really call it a "process". It's very chaotic and sporadic. But typically I write a beginning and an ending (or sometimes I write the ending first) and then start on the middle. It's rare for me to start writing a story and not already have at least a vague idea of an ending in mind, but it does happen from time to time. I also tend to edit as I go, which is not generally considered a good habit to have as a writer, but I can't seem to stop myself.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Christopher Courtley online

Books

Dark Tales of Vampires, Witches, and Werewolves
Price: $3.30 USD. Words: 64,770. Language: English. Published: July 21, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Paranormal, Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author
Gothic stories and poems of romance and suspense; of love and death, and undeath; of lust and envy, betrayal and revenge; tales of nature and supernature red in fang and claw. Macabre, visceral, morbidly erotic, at times grimly humorous and often deeply disturbing, these blood-soaked yarns are certain to haunt your darkest dreams.
Thirteen Black Roses: Gothic Romantic Poetry
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 2,340. Language: English. Published: March 25, 2013 . Categories: Poetry » Themes & motifs » Death, Fiction » Romance » Gothic
Thirteen of the darkest of Christopher Courtley's Gothic Romantic poems, selected by the author.
The Bone Dancer (Tale II of the Valruna Saga)
Series: The Valruna Saga, II. Price: $1.50 USD. Words: 11,490. Language: English. Published: January 18, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Horror » Weird fiction
Having fled the wicked desert city of Bel-Athis with the wrath of the devil-god Baal-Zebub at their backs, the barbarian warrior/sorceress Vana Valruna and her trusted guide and companion the wily thief Jerob stop for a much-needed rest at a caravanserai on their way to the great port city of Rakasad, where the ultimate betrayal turns what at first seemed like a safe haven into a most deadly trap.
The Temple of Baal-Zebub (Tale I of the Valruna Saga)
Series: The Valruna Saga, I. Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 6,760. Language: English. Published: January 9, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Horror » Weird fiction
A warrior-woman/sorceress from the northern steppes visits the ancient and wicked city of Bel-Athis, "The Jewel of the Sands" while traveling through strange desert lands far to the south and east. There she comes into conflict with the vicious tyrant Ammon-Zul, High Priest of Baal-Zebub, "The Lord of Flies," a devil-god who demands human sacrifice lest he unleash a terrible plague upon the city.
Troll Stew: A Strange Brew of Dark Fairy Tales and Poems for Adults
Price: $2.90 USD. Words: 30,450. Language: English. Published: December 21, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
This collection of original fairy tales and poems is sure to satisfy the cravings of any reader with an appetite for the unusual. Contains three works of short fiction, four works of flash fiction, and six works of poetry, all inspired by the darker side of Faerie. Due to the macabre nature of some of the tales and poems, this book is not recommended for young children.

Christopher Courtley's tag cloud

ancient idols    ancient temple    baal    barbarian    barbarian heroine    barbarian woman    belit    bone dancer    caravans    caravanserai    cats    dark faerie    dark faerie tales    dark fairy tales    dark poetry    demonic high priest    demonic possession    demonic powers    desert adventure    desert fantasy    desert kingdoms    devil gods    djinn    fables new    faerie    faerie queen    fairy poetry    fairy tale adult    fairy tales for adults    fane of ancient evil    fantasy norse gods nine worlds runeblade    fantasy series    fantasy weird fiction    flash fiction    free fantasy story    gods and demons    gothic fairy tales    gothic poems    gothic poetry    heroic fantasy    high priest    horned god    human sacrifice    jinn    lilitu    lord of flies    lovecraftian fiction    mythos inspired    necromancy    norse gods    odin    ogres    pagan fairy tale    pagan fantasy    poetry    poetry collections    possession    rhyming poems    runes    series fantasy    serpent goddess    serpentwomen    short fiction fantasy    snow queen    sorceress    sorcery fantasy    strange tales    sword and sorcery    swordswoman    trolls    undead    valruna    valruna saga    vampires and werewolves    vampires and witches    vana    warrior woman    witches and werewolves    wolves    woman with a sword    ziggurat    zombies   

Christopher Courtley's favorite authors on Smashwords

Smashwords book reviews by Christopher Courtley

  • Lady of The Sidhe on April 07, 2013

    This book brought back fond memories of playing Dungeons & Dragons and reading the Forgotten Realms fiction of R.A. Salvatore. Shana O'Quinn is a wonderful new author with a vivid imagination and the skill to bring her musings forth in vibrant colour upon the page, not only in her illustrations (the cover art is her own) but in her words as well. "Lady of the Sidhe" will take you back to a time and place that never existed, but perhaps should have; yet it never ceases to remain relevant to our current lives and times. A highly entertaining read that left me hungry for more. Christopher Courtley, Author & Poet www.christophercourtley.com www.courtleymanor.blogspot.com https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/christophercourtley
  • Secret Ones Volume 1 on June 07, 2013

    In this first installment of what promises to be an exciting and unusual series, Shana O'Quinn does for the Sidhe what Anne Rice did for vampires. These ancient beings live amongst mortals in modern times, unbeknownst to all but a few, and the author's skill at characterization, and especially, the complex web of relationships she weaves, make them seem at once larger than life, and yet at the same time believable and real. As far as I know, no author has ever blended the modern world with that of the Sidhe so seamlessly. Charles De Lint comes close, but O'Quinn's Fae seem somehow even more integrated into contemporary society. They exist in some ways separate from it, yes, but they are also very much a part of it. And of course, in addition to Elves, Half-Elves and Drow (Dark Elves), their hidden world also contains vampires and werewolves, making for all kinds of possibilities, which promise to be explored more fully in future installments. O'Quinn's imagination seems to know no bounds, and her knowledge of European and especially Celtic lore is extensive. She also has a great sense of humour. These qualities combined with her considerable writing skill have made her one of my favourite up-and-coming fantasy authors. I eagerly await the next installment. Christopher Courtley, Author & Poet www.christophercourtley.com www.courtleymanor.blogspot.com https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/christophercourtley