Suspense and Horror Stalk Ancient Rome in “Mother of Ghosts” By Wynn Mercere

MIDLOTHIAN, Va. - Dec. 30, 2015 - PRLog -- A new horror/suspense novella set in ancient Rome takes readers on a terrifying journey through a young man's descent into a world of madness and eternal mystery. Wynn Mercere’s new book Mother of Ghosts (Raven Press, Scottsdale, AZ) is now widely available. To kick off the release, Mercere will be signing copies at MarsCon at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia January 15 - 17, 2016.

Mother of Ghosts is Mercere's first work in the New Adult genre, which focuses on characters aged 18 - 30.  "Dealing with hiding a murder and coping with superatural attacks would be difficult for anyone, but it is especially hard for a young man expected to handle his own problems without causing any dishonor to his respectable family," Mercere explains. Gaius and his friends face many of the same roadblocks of today's young adults, such as getting a job, pleasing their parents, and finding love. Readers can easily identify with their struggles which are made keener by the ghostly visitations. The ancient setting of the book adds flavor, but does not overwhelm the story. There are no emperors, gladiators, or grand wars. However, the brutality of the age is not softened. The casual social violence of slavery is presented as a horror distinct from that of the phantom attacks.

In contrast to feats of gods and goddesses in Mercere's epic mythological novels (the City of the Gods series co-written with M. Scott Verne), this work puts the talents and acts of average humans in the spotlight. The phantoms themselves often assume the form of common people which adds unsettling confusion to intense fear. "Like anyone with a serious problem, Gaius has to decide whom he can trust and how much of his predicament he can reveal," Mercere points out. "We all have some 'ghost' that makes us afraid to be completely honest with the world."

About Mother of Ghosts

Gaius never imagined his trip to the festival would include the brutal death of a friend; but seeing the beheaded body of Marcus in the street was just the first of many horrors. Now haunted by the dead, Gaius learns of dire omens that have shaded his life and struggles to understand and escape the dark companion that follows him.

Readers will explore life in ancient Rome through the eyes of Gaius Mercurius, a young man coming of age in the most important city of its time. Like many of his friends, he dreads the dull choices of male responsibility set before him. But as death strikes his family and friends, these mundane fears fade as he rises to the challenge of confronting phantoms and the madness they bring. Mother of Ghosts is a fast-paced thriller which cleverly showcases how traditional Roman myths and superstitions impacted the day-to-day life of people in that time.

This novella is the first in Mercere's "Mania" series. Future releases will move the story onward as Gaius continues his struggle with the supernatural. A Fall of Green Peaches is slated for a 2017 release, followed by Sleep On, Lost Years in 2018.

Book Details:

Paperback: 150 pages

All eBook formats (epub, mobi, PDF) coming in Spring 2016

ISBN-10: 1519669667

ISBN-13: 978-1519669667