Cats of the Pacific Northwest

By J. W. Donley and Leo Corbett

"Creepy and disquieting, CATS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST is written with a sinister lyricism that seeps the story in a compelling atmosphere of horror and magic. I won't be forgetting this one soon!"

—Cassie Daley, illustrator, writer, & podcaster at Let's Get Galactic

"This dark, contemporary fairy tale weaves together Hansel and Gretel, The Blair Witch Project, and Get Out, and to create an unsettling, moving, and haunting story."
—Richard Thomas, author of Disintegration, and Breaker (Thriller nominee)

David, an unsure young man, is trying to figure out how to be a "man" in the modern age. Well, at least what his girlfriend, Emma, expects of him.

When she suggests a backpacking trip out on the Olympic Penninsula, he jumps at the opportunity to demonstrate his worth. But, once they get out into the wilderness, they are quickly lost. Now they are out of food and beginning to starve, when a strange couple of cats cross their path.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dark Forest Press
• Release date: Oct 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201728298

Book preview

Cats of the Pacific Northwest

Cats of the Pacific Northwest

J. W. Donley and Leo Corbett

Published by Dark Forest Press, 2021.

PRAISE FOR CATS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

"This dark, contemporary fairy tale weaves together Hansel and Gretel, The Blair Witch Project, and Get Out, and to create an unsettling, moving, and haunting story."

RICHARD THOMAS, AUTHOR OF DISINTEGRATION, AND BREAKER (THRILLER NOMINEE)

Cats of the Pacific Northwest is a surreal journey that'll captivate you and make you follow its every word—until it's fully under your skin.

EVE HARMS, AUTHOR OF TRANSMUTED

Lean without sacrificing gravity and as deftly written as any King thriller, Joe's concocted a taut little neo-fairy tale that had me jealous about the creatures in my own work. I could feel the rain and hear the screams.

S. A. HUNT AUTHOR OF BURN THE DARK

Donley gives us a surreal, nightmarish modern fairy-tale with claws and teeth and horrific bite where no one lives happily ever after.

BOB PASTORELLA, CO-HOST OF THIS IS HORROR PODCAST, AUTHOR OF MOJO RISING AND THEY'RE WATCHING (WITH MICHAEL DAVID WILSON)

’Hansel and Gretel’ meets Lovecraft’s ‘The Cats of Ulthar’ in backwoods Washington.

SOLOMON FORSE, FOUNDER OF THE HOWL SOCIETY

Thanks to Donley, I'll have to look at my cats with a raised eyebrow from now on. Cats of the Pacific Northwest is unnerving and has visuals that will creep up your brain stem in the dead of night.

SHANE HAWK, AUTHOR OF ANOKA

J.W. Donley coaxes you to the edge of the dark forest, through ravenous brambles and under the low brush to the black heart of the woods; the ever-hungry place that was never meant for men to see. Then he sods off and leaves you to fend for yourself.

MYK PILGRIM, AUTHOR OF A FISH DOESN’T KNOW, AND CO-HOST OF DEADFLICKS HORROR PODCAST

Creepy and disquieting, CATS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST is written with a sinister lyricism that seeps the story in a compelling atmosphere of horror and magic. I won't be forgetting this one soon!

CASSIE DALEY, ILLUSTRATOR, WRITER, PODCASTER AT LET’S GET GALACTIC

CATS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

J.W. DONLEY

Illustrated by

LEO CORBETT

Dark Forest Press

Copyright © 2021 by J.W. Donley

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

The Cutter’s Daughter originally published in Writer’s Corner Anthology 2018 from Chuckanut Editions 2018

Cover and book design by J.W. Donley.

Published By Dark Forest Press, July 2021

Joe’s dedication:

For my wife Melissa, who supports me through all of my crazy endeavors.

Forest foilage

Leo’s dedication:

I wish to thank my parents, Steve and Karolyn, and my brother Joe, for their continuing support and encouragement. Without them, this would not have been possible. Much thanks must also be given to the makers of the many professional materials and tools used to create these images.

CONTENTS

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Bonus Story

The Cutter’s Daughter

J.W. Donley

Author Acknowlegments

Story Notes

Illustration Notes

About the Author

About the Illustrator

DarkForestPress.com

Content Warnings

1

Daniel fails to find a stream after a fifth morning