South of the Mason-Dixon: About the Author | Reviews |
The latest horror novel from writer, director, and movie critic Sam Kench, is ‘South of the Mason Dixon’. It is the story of Harrison and Andy, a newlywed gay couple thrust into a fight for survival after finding out just how deep the roots of homophobia go in a small town.
In his debut (self-published) novel ‘The Fall of Polite’ Kench offers a realistic look at a contemporary end-of-the-world situation in a similar vein to works like Cormac McCarthy’s ‘The Road’ or Walter M. Miller Jr.’s ‘A Canticle for Leibowitz’. Through layered social commentary, Kench’s novel explores the extreme political divide as well as the racial, gender, and financial tensions afflicting the modern-day United States while setting the story in small-town New Hampshire.
With his sophomore effort, he went the traditional publishing route. ‘South of the Mason Dixon’ was published by horror-focused publisher Hellbound Books. This publisher was a perfect fit for Kench who is a huge fan of the horror genre.
Kench has shown his undying love and passion for horror movies, books and games with the Brickwall Pictures annual Macabre Month of Horror, where he offers top lists, and reviews of horror movies, books, and games.
According to Kench, ‘South of Mason Dixon’ is “easily my biggest and most complete contribution to the genre to date. There’s a well-known piece of advice for writers that goes – write the story you want to see – and that’s a piece of advice that I’ve always taken to heart. With ‘South of the Mason Dixon’ this horror novel is violent, unpredictable, loaded with social commentary and it does not pull any punches”.
Reviews for South of the Mason-Dixon
Amazon Review – 5.0 out of 5 stars
Chilling and all too possible – Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2022
Highly recommend! This is a story that is so horrifically apt for these insane times. With homophobia growing to a fever pitch in red-state-America — often intertwined with Christian fanaticism — you can picture something like this really happening. Kench is a deft writer who unfolds his terrifying tale efficiently and powerfully. The pace never lags, yet still manages to accelerate throughout until it reaches its mind-blowing and surprising conclusion. Hope the author considers a sequel — although this story concludes satisfyingly, there is definitely a possibility for another.
Goodreads Review – 5.0 out of 5 stars
The further into the book I got, the faster I turned the pages as the story went far beyond my expectations. Southern horror like you’ve never read before.
‘South of the Mason Dixon’ and ‘The Fall of Polite’ are both available in paperback and on Kindle.