Horror writer Mark W. Curran, a former resident of Wildwood, will publish his Cape May-themed short story collection, “The Witches of Wildwood: Cape May Horror Stories and other Scary Tales from the Jersey Shore,” on Sept. 15, 2017.
The book, scheduled to be released in hardback, contains 10 stories and a novella all set entirely in Cape May County, with Wildwood as the central setting.
Curran, a writer and filmmaker now residing in Los Angeles, called Wildwood his home during the 1980s when he worked as a musician playing drums in local Wildwood clubs such as Cozy Morley’s Club Avalon in North Wildwood and The Club Lincoln on Atlantic Avenue, all since demolished.
“The ‘80s were an interesting time in Wildwood,” Curran recalls. “We were winding down from the heyday of the thriving ‘60s and ‘70s, a cultural shift was taking place, and the decaying structures of previous seasons were crumbling. A perfect setting for horror and suspense.”
Curran incorporates Cozy Morley’s Club Avalon and many familiar local haunts into his stories, including Wildwood’s famous boardwalk, Fun Pier, Mack’s Pizza, and references to the town’s celebrated doo-wop motels and Googie architecture.
Among the stories are tales of modern day witches, zombies, haunted attractions and even a Jersey Devil.
“Though the stories are classified as horror, there are strong suspense and fantasy elements in the writing, as well as a healthy dose of humor. It’s fun reading for all ages, even if you are not a horror fan,” Curran says.
For more information, visit www.witchesofwildwood.com.