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Date: 9/28/2023
SOUTHWICK — On Oct. 4, the Southwick Public Library will host Michael Aloisi, an accomplished writer known to some as Michael Gore for his darker tales. The discussion will examine the writer’s career, latest works and collaboration, and the domain of horror literature.
Aloisi’s latest literary endeavor, “Life with Ghosts,” encapsulates the eerie experiences of Steve Gonsalves from the widely watched TV show “Ghost Hunters.”
“The show was the No. 1 TV show in over 100 countries for 15 years,” Aloisi pointed out.
Published by Simon & Schuster in August, the book invites readers to Gonsalves’ most haunted locations. “He shared his stories with me and I penned them down,” said Aloisi, who devotes most days to the horror genre.
“Life with Ghosts” includes a chapter devoted to Theodore’s Bar and Restaurant in Springfield. Known to patrons for its “Booze, Brew and BBQ,” it’s also where workers claim to have seen a young child beside a pool table or experience cold spots in the storage room.
Readers traverse through ghostly locations like Alcatraz, St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida and the John Sowden House, famous for the Black Dahlia case and Stephen King’s inspiration for “The Shining.”
Beyond the tales from Gonsalves’ expeditions, Aloisi’s writing style weaves together genres. His more intense and mysterious stories bear the pen name Michael Gore.
“I reserve that name for the deeper, unsettling tales,” he said.
Aloisi described his early writing as mainstream and romantic. “I’m naturally drawn to dark and creepy and scary things. I’m a huge horror fan,” he said. “When it comes out for me, it comes from a place of actually being scared of everything in real life.”
He steers away from unsettling or horrific imagery in his own life, even finding great discomfort watching a boxing match. “I can’t kill a bug or anything like that,” he said. However, the world of horror allows him to explore those fears.
He summarized his writing philosophy by saying, “Writing becomes a mirror, reflecting and allowing me to confront my fears.” His fondness for the horror genre was apparent, especially evident in his series of short stories.
Best known for “Tales from a Mortician” and “Skeletons in the Attic” under the Michael Gore brand, Aloisi just released “Do Not Open: Fifteen Tales of Horror.” In the signature story, Tia is compelled to uncover the contents of a mysterious box left by her deceased father.
Another tale introduces readers to Josie, who answers a newly arrived phone at her farm, only to be greeted by voices from the unknown. Famed rocker Everette McDaniel may owe his musical prowess to darker forces.
In another, Madge’s triplets appear to be conspiring against her. Is Madge’s mind playing tricks on her or are they a genuine threat?
Aloisi’s initial forays into the creative world were less about words and more about frames. Before fully embracing literature, his interests lay in filmmaking.
His initial challenges with reading shaped Aloisi’s approach to literature. “Usually, when someone becomes a writer, they love books as a kid. But I realized later in life it was because I had a hard time reading,” he said.
He developed a liking for authors Richard Laymon, Bentley Little, Dean Koontz and Stephen King. His love for films, especially classics like the “Friday the 13th” series, remained undiminished.
Along the way, the author earned an associate degree from Springfield Technical Community College in television production, a bachelor’s in film directing from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and a master’s in creative writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
He felt that structured writing classes could inhibit creativity instead of exploring the richness of experiences or the value of connecting with fellow writers in informal settings.
“Writing is such a part of me. It’s something I do every single day. It’s like a faucet that turns on and shuts off,” Aloisi said. “Half the time, if I’m not writing, I’m telling myself stories in my head, making notes for future ones. It’s an automatic thing. All my stories go toward the dark side.”
Aloisi’s Oct. 4 talk begins at 6:30 p.m. at the library at 95 Feeding Hills Rd., Southwick. Advance registration is required at 413-569-1221, southwicklibrary@comcast.net, or in person at the library. Aloisi plans to read excerpts from his latest book and have a question-and-answer session. For more information about Aloisi, visit authormike.com.