Meet Billy: The Coffee-Addicted Writer with a Passion for Horror and Tales of the Wild West

Why Is Every Blogger Required to Have an "About Me" Page?

Do you feel the need to stalk me? Are you hoping to steal my identity? Or are those just the plot points of clichéd novels and campy Lifetime movies that haunt my dreams?

Let’s be honest, you’ve probably arrived here by some magical vortex or a good ol’ search engine. And then there are the hopefuls knocking on my digital door, desperate for me to review their glittering new books or films. The "mystic seer" foretold it was bound to happen, after all.

Welcome to My Digital Oasis

To whomever you may be, welcome to my little corner of the internet! Or as the humans call it—a blog.

Who Is the Coffee-Addicted Writer?

I made my grand entrance into this world in the fall of 1981, blessed (or cursed) with the name Billy. Not William! Let’s keep it clear, Ms. Whittaker—your 1st-grade student’s name isn’t William; it’s Billy!

Am I going a bit too deep into the time machine?

My childhood was nestled between the pages of spooky tales by R.L. Stine, my eyes glued to the screen past midnight as Michael Myers rampaged through the unsuspecting residents of Haddonfield. Eventually, I found my way into the chilling grip of Stephen King, who opened Pandora's box to horror writing. The bullying I endured throughout high school led me to devour the haunting works of John Saul and the seductive vampire sagas spun by Anne Rice. In a twist worthy of a gothic novel, I discovered Amish romances and the eerie tales of V.C. Andrews, which became my lifeline in a mad world. My journey through the literary landscape continued with Cat Who mysteries and the countless lighter offerings from James Patterson, but eventually, I returned to my horror roots and ignited a newfound love for Wild West tales.

I've dabbled in the murky waters of short story writing, with a touch of publication success, though I guarantee you haven't read most of them. Most of my stories were crafted for the younger crowd, appearing in ezines that have since faded into the ether. Believe it or not, my werewolf short story, Full Moon, snagged a “Granny Award” in 2009 from Stories for Children Magazine. My sole romance piece, My Dearest Love, nestled itself in the anthology Passionate Hearts. My ghostly narrative, The Long Walk, was showcased in the Flash! anthology—though I recommend not searching for them, as they're both long out of print. I ventured into young adult territory with a zombie tale titled Night of the Babysitter, which crept its way into the Children of the Dead anthology. The Goosebumps-inspired scare, Halloween Dare, found a home in Ghostly Tales of Terror, while my twisted splatterpunk piece, The Leeds Devil, lurked within How: Dark Tales of Feral and Infernal. For reasons still shrouded in mystery, I stepped back from fiction writing. Ideas swirl in my head, but motivation often eludes me—maybe one day, those stories will claw their way out.

The Birth of Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

On April 1st, 2009, Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer made its debut into the wild world of blogging.

So, why did I decide to start a blog?

Picture this: a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… I ran a small MSN reading group, a cozy haven where book lovers from across the cosmos could gather, unwind, and rave about their favorite literary treasures. Then, as fate would have it, the powers that be shut down their group services, leaving me adrift in a sea of loneliness without my sanctuary. That’s when I decided to create this blog!

Here, you’ll find my strange musings on books, films, and whatever else the Lament Configuration puzzle box allows me to unlock from the shadowy recesses of my mind. Enter, if you dare.

〜B.J. Burgess