Genre: Horror
“Terror at the Sterling” is a short horror story based on actual events where the desk clerk is required to perform a simple eviction that plunges him back to the unsolved murders from thirty years ago.
CAST LIST:
Narrator/Mel: Hugh Ritchie
RJ: Nick Baillie
911 Operator: Susan Q. Wilson
Sergeant: Allan Michael Brunet
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your short story about? Let’s use the blurb for this one:
February 2013. The day started out normal enough for Mel: emails, phone calls, and general business issues. His normal routine was about to be disrupted when the new General Manager, Cheryl, told him and Jimmy to evict the two hookers whose rent was three days past due. Mel shivered at the thought. The last eviction, six months ago, still haunted him. He couldn’t erase the memory of the blood and gore, he and his partner RJ witnessed. What they saw reminded him of story the ole’ timer told him about the unsolved murders of two oil men in 1973.
Join Mel, as he embarks on a simple eviction that plunges him into the horrors and truths of the crimes from 1973.
2. What genres would you say this story is in?
Horror/Suspense. Some readers have compared it to Stephen King’s “The Shining.”
3. How would you describe this story in two words?
Hair-raisingly frightful
4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
Patton
5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the
most times in your life?)
Johnny Rivers, “Dancing in the Moonlight.” It was my high school (RIP 7-20-2009) favorite song back in the day
6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?
Not really.
7. What motivated you to write this story?
Lee Shendelman, the night clerk at the Sterling told me about this bizarre event when they were evicting two residents. Short version, he went to the room-card key didn’t work. Desk manager came up-card key didn’t work. Tried a master. Door opened to a tornado strike! Found the guys. Went back to the room. Everything was in place-nothing destroyed. How’s that for a plot line?
8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would
that be?
Erwin Rommel. Next to George Patton, he was an expert tactician. Lucky for us we had George or might all be speaking German.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Model railroading, World War Two and fishing.
10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?
Exposure, what else. I submitted it several times before it was picked. Anxious to see how the performers pulled it off.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
I’ve lost count how many people have told me they have a story and don’t know where to start. It’s simple, stop procrastinating, sit down and start doing it.
12. For more information on other works, please visit my Amazon page:
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Op: Mary Cox
Novel Writing Festival 