The Story Behind The Peruke Maker: The Salem Witch Curse by Ruby Dominguez

The Peruke Maker by Ruby Dominguez (click on cover to purchase)

Driven by a mystical dream I had after trying on a 100% hand-tied human hair wig that I purchased online in 2004, described to be harvested from a reliable and youthful donor.

I woke-up from the dream in shivers, seemingly reliving a dark history of a young woman’s horrifying fate named Bridget and her father’s (The Peruke Maker) vindictive quest for justice beyond the grave.

Eerily, I believed that in Salem, Massachusettes from three centuries ago, the Peruke Maker’s Shop lay hidden behind a forgotten and abandoned room of an old crematorium built-up with dust and cobwebs with a finished white wig still sits by the boarded up window to this day.

Wefts of yak, goat, horse and human hair, fishhook-like needles, pomade, powder and a wooden head are laid down on a work table wherein a pair of rusty scissors, entwined with strands of Bridget’s red hair eerily rests by the wall mirror.

THE PERUKE MAKER – The Salem Witch Hunt Curse, is my first published book written as a screenplay.

It was my initial intention and still is, that it becomes a Halloween blockbuster  movie.

In the meantime to generate a buzz, I opted for self-publishing for immediate distribution to the e-world.

It didn’t take me long to discover Outskirts Press via internet and then submitted my manuscript for their consideration and acceptance.

And now my book is available in 25,000 internet stores around the world.

It took me 1 year of dreaming about it, 1 year of research work, 4 weeks to put down into written words, and another 2 years to crystallized the story.

Submitted it to Lejen Literary Consultant – Lee Levinson for script coverage analysis and after 2 months received it back with a good review.

Thereafter, it took Outskirts Press  approximately 2 weeks to review and accept

The author, Ruby Dominguez is challenged by the conflicting complexities of the past and future. Undeterred, she strokes with pen the somber and bright hues of her visions. She currently resides in San Francisco and works in the field of property management/leasing. She has been a recipient of the “Editor’s Choice Award,” by the National Library of Poetry in 1999 and 2007 for her published poems in the SHELTER OF SHADE. Visit her website at: www.outskirtspress.com/theperukemaker, and blog at www.salemcurse.wordpress.com

KILL 4 ME by Joel M. Andre: “…what if someone were haunted, or stalked though text messaging.”

One night I was sitting bored at work. I think to a point we all have those nights. Well, most people I suppose would have those during the day. At that time I was working the graveyard shift at a gas station. It paid the bills, but left me emotionally and mentally unfulfilled.

Most of the night I was left with just my mind, and the sounds of coyotes howling in the distance. I guess I should mention this little gas station was about 15 miles outside of Phoenix and rested basically in the middle of no where, out in Cave Creek.

While I was scrubbing down the lot, I received a text message from someone, although I don’t recall who it was at this time. But it struck me, what if someone were haunted, or stalked though text messaging.

The hamster in my mind probably was rolling its eyes, as it stretched and began running on its wheel as I thought of different scenarios I could use for this. But most of all, I needed to figure out a way to make it work. The rest of the night was spent debating in my mind what direction I wanted to go.
As the sun rose, I had a title and a basic story in my head. Of course that story wasn’t where the finished product went. At that moment, it was about a serial killer, and was so full of cliché’s I don’t think I would have enjoyed writing it.

Instead when I finally sat down to write ‘Kill 4 Me’, I began the opening scene in the car, and started to let the story tell itself. It in turn decided to become a technological ghost story. Which I am pretty happy with.

On a little back story, I wrote a novel which will never see the light of day, but I have it here where Casey Dwyer actually appeared in. I decided to pull her from that story, and have the book focus on her. She didn’t let me down at all.

She survived quite a bit of torment in the other book, and I had to bring her back to a normal character for this book. I had to imagine what she would be had nothing in the past ever happened to her. It was pretty mentally stimulating, my only concern is that I wouldn’t make her vivid enough for the reader based on my previous encounter with her. Based on the feedback of strangers, it looks like I did alright. I am nervous whenever I put anything out there on the market.

The ending was the hardest part for me, the original ending I had was very violent and very graphic. It also drug on for quite a bit. I had several people read it, and let me know they just didn’t like how I ended it. Apparently it was too predicable. So the surprise ending I came up with is the second ending. The original ending is sitting in the bottom of a drawer somewhere in the event I can use a similar idea sometime.

My goal when I write is the keep the reader entertained in a story that is straight to the point and focused on a person’s busy life. I love Stephen King and Anne Rice, but their books require lengthy dedication to a book. I write for the busy person, the one who wants to pick up a book, spend a few hours on the weekend reading, and know they received something entertaining and that can keep them motivated to read at a fast pace.

Most importantly, I write for people to have something to read. Reading entertains a part of the mind that visual entertainment cannot. I hope everyone will encourage others to read and to grow their minds. If someone loves Dragons, grab a book about dragons for them. Encourage our youth to read, and write.

Joel M. Andre is the author of the horror novel, KILL 4 ME.  You can visit his website at www.joelmandre.com.