Friends Lovers & Other Gaslighters

<p>Since 2019 writer B.A. Ries has churned out dozens of stories of dark thrills and edge-of-your-seat suspense garnering praise and attention in Reddit's NoSleep horror writing community. Many of these stories have been adapted for audio by podcasts such as <em>The NoSleep Podcast</em> and <em>Creepy</em> and several have been published in written anthologies. Now for the first time B.A. Ries presents a compilation of his writing in <strong><em>Friends Lovers and Other Gaslighters</em></strong>.</p><p><br></p><p>These 25 tales of the macabre and the bizarre feature an assortment of menacing minions from hitchhiking ghosts to sentient scarecrows to vindictive vending machines. A washed-up star from a children's television show is hired to appear at a mysterious gathering. A woman returning home for the holidays finds herself drawn into a strange Christmas village. Two girls bond at summer camp only to learn that they each harbor a dark secret. An ideal job comes with a shocking drawback.</p><p><br></p><p>Don't expect formula from these stories. They go to weird dark places. Some are just spooky; others also explore social issues: soul-sucking jobs opioid addiction the lingering impact of pandemic-era isolation compulsory heterosexuality and sexual repression. More than anything these stories are about the worst demons of all - those who abuse the trust you put in them to make you question yourself your identity and whether your loved ones love you back. <strong><em>Friends Lovers and Other Gaslighters</em></strong> provides a glimpse into a world of those who trick you into letting them into your life. And by the time you realize that your friend - or even your lover - is your enemy it's already too late.</p>