Middle Tennessee native, Jamie Lee, will have copies of his novel and be signing autographs for ‘Harmony’ at Scarefest 2023 in Lexington, Kentucky, from October 20th through October 22nd.

ScareFest is a weekend of horrors set to frighten guests at Central Bank Center at 430 W Vine St. Lexington, KY.

This horror and paranormal convention promises an unparalleled experience with a spectrum of events. Celebrity meet-and-greets, haunted attractions, workshops, Halloween Cosplay Fever, and the Vendor Village create a weekend of horror. Some of the guests at Scarefest include esteemed actors such as David Arquette, Richard Dreyfuss, Dylan McDermott, and Greg Nicotero.

Lee’s journey in the world of fiction is a tale as intriguing as the stories he weaves. With a background in Microbiology, one might think of him as a mad scientist, but it’s the alchemy of words that has captured his heart for three decades. His debut release, “Harmony,” a testament to 15 years of dedication, faced an unexpected hurdle with the Covid-19 pandemic disrupting its anticipated March 2020 release. However, Jamie turned adversity into opportunity, revisiting “Harmony,” delving into its sequel, “The Bleed,” and shaping the third installment, “Cacophony.” The extended wait has only heightened the anticipation surrounding “Harmony,” which was released in March of this year under Raven Tale Publishing.

When he isn’t writing, Lee is a dedicated gamer, spending Friday nights on online RPGs with old friends and channeling his creativity into building and painting Warhammer armies. He will test some of his story ideas in his ongoing RPG games to get their feedback.

His diverse interests include reading, music, and barbeque. Fueled by a steady stream of coffee and kombucha, He also is on the search for the perfect haunted house.

“Harmony,” available through Raven Tale Publishing, invites readers into the small town of Cookeville, Tennessee, where secrets linger in the air.

The narrative revolves around The Man Called Midget, drawn by the occult power of decay. His journey intertwines with the mysterious Ramon and an unconventional companion — a shovel. Emma, a gunfighter, sees her destiny entwined with magic, alchemy, and an unexpected tool—a humble wheelbarrow. From a single ritual act, the characters are thrust into a dark world where unraveling mysteries could alter their essence and place in the world. Amidst arcane threads, a girl named Harmony and the fractured being she holds captive, dance in the embers of a once-fiery turmoil. The world teeters on the edge of chaos, threatening to succumb to the flames of an unknown destiny.

“Harmony” is not just a tale; it is the genesis of a modern myth, reaching into the depths of the reader’s soul. To be exposed to these myths is to invite them into one’s very being, with revelations as terrifying as they are enthralling. Enter the world of “Harmony,” where shadows dance, mysteries beckon, and revelations await those brave enough to step into the realms of modern myth-building. What secrets will you uncover, and how will they change you? Jamie Lee, the writer of words and worlds, invites you on this transformative journey.

Jamie Lee’s childhood fascination with horror laid the foundation for his storytelling.
“I was allowed to watch horror movies at a young age. I saw the Exorcist when I was five, and Creepshow when I was six, and they absolutely terrified me. I remember having nightmares all night, as in was I asleep or dreaming? No clue,” says Lee. “I had the same visceral attraction to haunted houses. Disney World’s Haunted Mansion was never the same, as screaming second grader me was dragged into it by my mother. Now, the “scarier” the experience of whatever the media, the more I laugh. I understand this is why I can’t have nice things. It might be the driving factor why I avoid seeing horror movies in theaters anymore.”
In crafing relatable and complex characters, Jamie explains “I find a middle ground for my characters to live in. I’ve always been drawn to characters that are more nuanced than simply “good or evil”. My characters dwell in shades of grey. There aren’t black hat, cackling villains unleashing their master plans in my stories. And the “heroes” in my work are sometimes prone to violence. Emma, for example, has something of a short fuse, and even shorter draw time. In some ways, my stories’ protagonists’ abilities are just as terrifying as the villains. The Man Called Midget’s magic is empowered by entropy and decay, and some readers identify him as the central hero of “Harmony”.

Jamie’s creative process, inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, involves creating story endings first and building suspenseful trajectories. Chapters may look like a game of Twister as he shifts and moves them to where they need to be. Complex world-building is his key strategy, ensuring that everything happens for a reason.

Real-world experiences, particularly from Jamie’s roles in the food manufacturing industry, influence his work. He eschews the trope of horror stemming from technology gone awry, favoring folk tales and mythology that evoke primal fears associated with the dark.

The setting, a significant element in horror, is developed through an entire mythological structure crafted for all his books.

Tertiary elements sometimes lead to creating entire bases for their existence, potentially branching into another trilogy. Being a visual thinker aids Jamie in translating vivid and gruesome imagery onto the pages of his novels.
However, this process transforms his Google search history into a visual ransom note due to the search for visual elements.

Balancing resolutions and leaving mysteries unsolved involves a continual evolution of the mythology of his stories. “Harmony” explores the theme of change through revelation, bridging an understanding of the presented stories with a sense of wonder.
Expressing a preference for gothic classics, Jamie hopes horror finds a middle ground between the classics and the current generation. Graphic descriptions are not avoided but must be thematically relevant, not merely random shock elements. Beyond scaring readers, Jamie aims for his horror novels to convey continually evolving mythology. He looks forward to others’ interpretations of these myths and characters in the future.
“Solve et coagula,” an alchemical concept of purifying matter into something purer, heavily influences “Harmony.” Change is a central theme, with narrative elements intentionally reflecting an earthy influence, introducing adult elements and body horror in the early chapters.
Past events on his book tour for Jamie were at the Texas Author Con in Richardson, Texas in July and the Tennessee Book & Readers Convention in Knoxville, TN in September. The next opportunity to see Lee is at ScareFest in Lexington, KY, on October 20th – 22nd. “Harmony” is available on Kindle and in print through Amazon and at events.

For aspiring horror authors, Jamie Lee emphasizes consistency in writing and overcoming doubts to get ideas down on paper. His journey, marked by resilience and creative passion, continues to inspire others in the realm of horror literature.