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Ross McDermott

@beyondtheonions.bsky.social

710 followers 470 following 1K posts

I write ✍ Author TUSK: A Beringia Story - https://a.co/d/eJgOYf1 The Murderous Villain Rosco Pitt - https://a.co/d/fx8xng3 Weathervane - a.co/d/3iPzhvE (horror) (poetry) - Beyond the Onions https://a.co/d/j1SWuiC https://gravatar.com/beyondtheonions

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · Mar 25

"Words lament, pages weep,
Never written if never read."
~ Ross McDermott - Beyond the Onions

TUSK: A Beringia Story - #historicalfantasy
a.co/d/9owR2nQ
The Murderous Villain Rosco Pitt - #western
a.co/d/4dskZHv
Weathervane - #western / #horror
a.co/d/eymNU43

#booklovers #storytime #booksky

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 19h

I slip from the #tip
of my precarious perch
the iceberg rolls and sprays,
#influenced as undertows
and riptides come to play,
and the crash of ocean's memories,
melting more, day by day.

#2wordprompt #poem #poetry #amwriting #writing

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 19h

#vss365 #poem #poetry #writing #amwriting #poetrysky #read
~ #Undertones ~

Rolling in uncertainty
I rise and fall and rise.
Waves bulge aqua-green
offering glimpses of the sanctuary shore;
brief and blurred shimmers of hope.

This ocean speaks to me,
whispering of riptides and undertows.
Undertones of a one-sided conversation.
For the swell steals my sounds allowing only gulps and gasps,
and the desperation of my own whispered undertones.

And still I rise, and fall and rise
Treading in this sea of uncertainty.

by Ross McDermott, Beyond the Onions

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 20h

#WIPSnips #push #amwriting #wip #western #horror #fiction
Sunsetter - continuing the tale of ancient evil in the wilds of the west. Sequel to the #novel Weathervane.
*Have y'all met Jebediah Stoll?
Introduced in Weathervane, in this snippet Francis has his first encounter with the legendary hunter

The voice was a gravelly grind, not one I’d heard before.
I saw Manny’s eyes open wide as he crouched to help Josh to his feet and as I turned my head my vision was filled by the hulking mass of what could only be the legendary Sunsetter, Mr. Jebediah Stoll.
The man was a monster, almost as wide as the hallway itself, he turned to the side to allow Manny and Josh to push past. Manny nodded respectfully to the man who filled the frame, while Josh’s head tilted woeful, down at the floor from where he’d just risen.
I watched Manny glance over his shoulder as he guided the bloodied Josh down the hall to turn into the main dining room. From the room there arose a sudden commotion, conjuring a chuckle from the man who towered above and around me with his immensity of size.
“His lip bleeds fresh yet he dares the Setter thirst… perhaps he’ll make a Sunsetter after all,” he mused, nodding down at me, a dim shadow in the dusk.
“Hello young fella,” the mountain of a man continued. “I’m to assume you are the one Francis Slayter. I’m Jebediah Stoll.”

from the #wip Sunsetter
by Ross McDermott

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 1d

@archivewhisperer.bsky.social
🙏
Thank you.

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 1d

"Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear..."
~ President Snow, The Hunger Games.

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 1d

Thick skin proves worthy
when swimming with #piranha
nipping at your heels. 🦶🐟🐟🐟

#vss365 #haiku #poem #poetry #writing #amwriting #writingcommuity

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 1d

#WIPSnips #hope #amwriting #horror #western #fiction
An excerpt from my #wip Sunsetter - a tale of ancient evil in the wilds of the west. Sequel to the #novel Weathervane
In this scene, Francis thinks he sees a ghost... Maddie does too...
#writing #books #read #booklovers #horrorsky
🦇🧛‍♂️

As we departed the meadow, we followed the tracks of the comings and goings of others, fanning the flames of hope that our presence here would go undetected, but in truth we knew that any eye would see our movements, so clear they wrote our tale in the snow.
McTavish led the way as we climbed the small rise to slip silently into the forest. Bringing up the rear I glanced back at the meadow, that now appeared not-so-pretty, as I had first observed, but bore the scars of death corrupted, and a faithful night of blood and chaos that visited the Widow’s Weeping Willow and her crumbling box of sticks.
A man!
Just for a moment I saw him, leaning against the willow and watching us depart. I blinked and he was gone… just a memory imprinted on the land?
My mind reeled as for a moment – Union cap, buckskin waistcoat, a casual lean and a pearl-handled Colt dangling on his hip – I recognized the apparition, the trembling mirage of the man known as the murderous villain Rosco Pitt. I paused at the crest of the hill and as quick as my vision appeared, it had vanished before I could focus my eyes.
“He loved her dearly,” Maddie’s voice startled me. She had caught me staring back down towards the meadow.

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Reposted by Ross McDermott

Trey Lindsey Art @treylindsey.com · 4d

My gift of fear to you for Halloween: S.0.S. (Save Our Souls) -- Our terrifying true story of a demonic haunting in Washington state. marriedtoamedium.substack.com/p/save-our-s...

#spooktober #31DaysOfHalloween #terror #haunting #demons #horror #creepy #scary #ghost #paranormal #supernatural

S.O.S. (Save Our Souls)

Our Terrifying True Story of a Demonic Haunting in Washington state

marriedtoamedium.substack.com

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

Trey, I found this both terrifying and inspiring at the same time. The stark reality of the story truly shines a light on the strength and will exhibited by you and your partner.
A gripping, horrorifying read.

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

It is a "painful" write, to be sure. Your perception of judgements is astute... self judgements, self doubt, a sense of meaningless existence, magnified to a dramatic degree. As you noted, "We belong to ourselves."
Appreciate your thoughts Karen. 🙂
🙏🙏

Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

I showed my pet monkies his picture, and they all started going crazy?

(I don't really have any pet monkies.😔)

Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

And again... thanks Phil! 🙂

Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks Phil. Much appreciated!

Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

Oh... and who could forget this little gem.
TUSK: a Beringia Story - a mystic tale of love and struggle at the dawn of humanity. Follow the clan as they brave the land of Beringia and follow Hooyip's mammoth.
#historial #fantasy #fiction #booksky #read
USA - a.co/d/ayT7t6L
Canada - a.co/d/iVjHXr4

Book covers: TUSK: a Beringia Story
A novel by Ross McDermott

Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

*The Murderous Villain Rosco Pitt
a.co/d/gFu4idS - USA
a.co/d/5WtMzsn - Canada
*Weathervane
a.co/d/8WGo8BZ - USA
a.co/d/7sATILn - Canada

#Read em together or stand them alone, but do it soon, Sunsetter is coming. - #wip (work in progress)
#books #read #booksky #writing - #western #horror #fiction

Book covers: The Murderous Villain Rosco Pitt, Weathervane - available now.

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

#poem #poetry #rhymetime #writing #writingcommunity #amwriting #amhungry

The ribbon was worn, tattered and torn
Like the heart of the scribe who pounded the keys.

Bright red, it sat on the tiny desk
His Underwood Olivetti

Fingers putting to the test
the speed of words he sees
...stomach rolls and rumbles
He craves some canned spaghetti.

But words kept spilling to the page
descending falls to form cascades,
then raining like confetti,
Or noodles spilled,
from canned spaghetti.

Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

#MAGA man don't understand
You sold your mortal soul

To an orange demon in a big white house
Who roars like a lion then flees like a mouse

Whose dead eyes squint imperial,
deep and dark and black as coal.

#poem #poetry #Trump

Reposted by Ross McDermott

FizzytwizlerAllsortsOfAllsorts @fizzytwizler.bsky.social · 2d

When sadness showers down
Made from artificial
Silly people clouds
There naught be
An umbrella
Or a #raincoat
Big enough
To cover
Ones heart
From welling up
And sinking
Like a boat
With a broken hull

#vss365

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

sinew in the meat
the beast despised the grizzle
spitting out the world.

#haikuhorrorprompt No. 1539 #sinew ##haiku #poem #poety #amwriting #horror #vsshorror

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Reposted by Ross McDermott

Jason H. Abbott @jason-h-abbott.bsky.social · 2d

She plunges the silver dagger into the werewolf, and leaves it backing away.

He howls, pulling it out of his shoulder. “Ow! You suck!”

“But, you should—”

The werewolf’s eyes hold an old man’s wisdom in the moonlight. “Long ago, I learned to take the lore into my own hands!”

#SciFanSat #vss #sff

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

A #raincoat
on a sunny day

A snowsuit
in the month of May

Look at me,
they seem to say

A shiny needle
in the hay

If one says 'go',
then 'no' they'll stay

Contrarians,
and the games they play!

#vss365 #poem #poetry #rhymetime #au_contraire #writing #blueskypoetry

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

#horrorprompt #incarnate #poem #poetry #amwriting #horror #vsshorror
based on a character from Weathervane ( #novel ) and the sequel Sunsetter ( #wip ) 🦇🧛😱 #spooky #halloween

A fiend, a god, a legend, a myth:
I tell you all no child is this
Ancient blood, a residue,
amber hard, that much is true
Avert your eyes. He knows your mind
Flee east and leave this death behind
To set things right we’ll drive the wood
Immoral men will do what’s good
Smite the child, the unholy spawn, we pray it’s not too late
From dust to dust, to go he must, this evil incarnate.

based on a character from the #novel Weathervane, and the #wip Sunsetter -- continuing the tale of ancient evil in the wilds of the west.
by Ross McDermott

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

Mercy can be measured
but the tale of the tape is often a lie.
Mercy can be foretold
shining bright in judgments' eyes.
Mercy is a #thing, something to be given
Mercy lies on #top of death, to hide it from the living.

#2wordprompt #poem #poetry #writing #darkpoetry #amwriting #writingcommunity

Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 2d

#WIPSnips #welcome #amwriting #horror #western #wip Sunsetter: the continuing tale of ancient evil in the wilds of the west, sequel to the #novel Weathervane.
*Ladies & gentlemen, the 'obnoxious' side of Mr. Andrews.
Francis' 1st attemp to ride the crazy Appaloosa.
#books #booksky #writingcommunity

“I wouldnee do that if I were…” Too late.
Before McTavish could deliver his cautions, I raised my legs slightly forward then brought my heels down angling with some force to strike the soft underbelly of the obnoxious beast. Mr. Andrews’ response was immediate, and too fast for me to act. Shot like a cannon ball from his back, I was flung threw the air head over heels hitting the ground hard and awkward, landing no more than a foot from the flames of our fire. I did not hear the crack of the rib but I felt the stab in the flank of my back, low where them bones wrapped around my girth. Each breath was immediately punctuated with a sharp stab to the side.
“I told you,” McTavish mumbled, raising his cup to his lips and sipping his morning coffee. Again Maddie rushed to my side, circling the fire quickly to crouch and feel the tender spot. I winced but welcomed her touch. My eyes turned to the dreaded Mr. Andrews and though not surprised, it amazed me to see him standing practically where he had before, rutting and scraping that same patch of ground, oblivious to any injury he may have caused. I truly was starting to hate this horse.

from the manuscript Sunsetter - work in progress - sequel to the published novel Weathervane - a tale of ancient evil in the wilds of the west.
by Ross McDermott.

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Ross McDermott @beyondtheonions.bsky.social · 3d

🙏🙏🙏 Merci beaucoup! 🧛‍♂️🤠

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