New Release

Coming Up Short 8

A young man knows he needs to escape the desperate financial clinging of his alcoholic mother. It’s well past time for him to have a life of his own, settle down with his girlfriend, and look to the future. He wants those things, but…something is wrong. He has forgotten something very important and needs to remember. The night the black classic Chevy shows up in the drive-thru at his work, it all comes crashing down on him, and suddenly, his future may not be what he hoped, not even close.

When a young man sits at his bedroom window, staring into the death and destruction his neighborhood has become, he isn’t remorseful over all that’s been lost. Instead, he celebrates it, for the lawlessness that has overtaken the world has freed his creative, evil impulses. He’s a killer looking for one more death…or is he? There’s something about Michael that isn’t what it seems, not yet anyway.

Being allowed to make three wishes, and have anything she wants, isn’t appealing to Delia Martinez because she believes the old man who has offered such an opportunity to her is a fraud. When she realizes she was wrong, and that she is now encountering the opposite of her wishes she’ll move heaven and earth to get her three wishes back, but can she afford the price that will be asked of her? Sometimes making a deal isn’t just a deal when it comes to the devil.

Coming Up Short 8 is a new collection of tales of the macabre and the mysterious by the author of the award-winning Within the Fog series.

Warning: These stories will keep you up late at night, nervously chewing your fingernails, cringing at every little creak of your home. Our reality may not be what you have been led to believe.

For fans of The Twilight Zone, the Coming Up Short series will be familiar, and twisted territory!

About the author

Charles Welch has been a home designer and builder, a middle school and high school teacher, education administrator, corporate learning and development professional and writer, previously publishing the spiritual book Walking Softly. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science Teaching, a Master of Education in Learning and Technology, and an Educational Doctorate in eLearning. He and his wife live in Northern Colorado and share their lives with three extraordinary kids, three grandchildren, two pugs, a pit bull, a Chihuahua and two lizards. Charles has had a lifelong passion for horror fiction and horror films and is a huge fan of several of the genre’s great authors including Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Brian Keene, Richard Laymon and many others.

Dr. Charles Welch

Complete Series

Within The Fog

Featuring a likeable, ordinary family fighting to survive a horrific evil, Charles Welch’s WITHIN THE FOG is a gripping debut that reimagines the vampire story to create something that is simultaneously familiar, fresh, and utterly chilling.”- Craig DiLouie, author of THE CHILDREN OF RED PEAKThe same ancient evil that killed 115 people at Roanoke, Virginia in the late 1500’s has arrived in a small eastern Colorado town. A fog covers the small town and closes in on Tom Benton and his family. The evil that lurks within the fog feeds on humanity but has special plans for those with anger deep inside. Tom Benton’s son Bobby has seen the face of evil outside his bedroom window in the darkest hours of the night. The man who appears at his window offers a veil of redemption to those holding onto anger and rage. As the fog wraps around the Benton family home there will only be a narrow chance at survival. Can Tom Benton and his family escape the issues of their past in time to save themselves from Croatoan? – Winner of a 2021 horror genre finalist award in the IAN Book Awards

What Readers Are Saying

“Featuring a likeable, ordinary family fighting to survive a horrific evil, Charles Welch’s WITHIN THE FOG is a gripping debut that reimagines the vampire story to create something that is simultaneously familiar, fresh, and utterly chilling.”

Craig DiLouie,

Author of THE CHILDREN OF RED PEAK

“Charles Welch is a captivating author. I literally read this book in one setting, it was exciting and I had to find out what happened next. Croatoan is a wicked character that is as old as time. I loved the split of two times in Croatoan’s life-as the raging dead. This book is a cliff hanger and I can not wait to find out what happens next to Tom and Sin and the tribal people. I’m hooked on this fantastic vampire continuation. Congrats Dr. Welch on another superb book!”

Shawnae

Review on Rage: Within The Fog

“This author is probably the most talented writer I’ve ever read.
His stories are so original and captivating it beggars belief.

I’ve been reading constantly at least 5 books a week from all different authors for over 50 years and I am in awe of his storytelling.

I feel blessed that I’ve actually stumbled upon his work.”

BookEater

“Every one of these Coming up short books are awesome ! Every story is well written , scary and thought provoking. I am def a new fan of this author. As a lifetime reader of horror, it is hard to frighten me but these stories all hit their mark”

D.F.

Review on Coming Up Short

Upcoming Book