Ray Garton

Ray Garton Jr. was born in Redding, California, on December 2, 1962. He was adopted by Pat and Ray Garton, the latter being a World War II veteran. Garton grew up in Anderson, California, where he only attended religious schools. Raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, he had left by adulthood, calling it a "pseudo-Christian cult." Garton married his wife, Dawn, around 1989. Weeks after being diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer, he died on April 21, 2024, at the age of 61.

Garton was first published before age 22. In the 1980s, Garton worked for Pinnacle Books in New York City.

Growing up, Garton's media influences included Bob Wilkins' Creature Features, Dark Shadows, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Boris Karloff, Stephen King, H. P. Lovecraft, Bela Lugosi, and Edgar Allan Poe. He further credited child abuse and church-induced eschatological fears with inspiring his interest in horror fiction. Beginning with seeing 13 Ghosts, the genre was an outlet that took his then-lifelong fear "and made it fun." In 2009, he explained that horror was not his intention when beginning writing, rather "that's just what came out".

In the early 1990s, he was hired by Ed and Lorraine Warren to write a book about Carmen Snedeker, her ill son, and their family's house—allegedly a former funeral home that was infested with anal-rapist demons. After he found various Snedekers' stories to be contradictory, Garton says the Warrens told him "Everybody who comes to us is crazy. Otherwise why would they come to us? You've got some of the story – just use what works and make the rest up. And make it scary." He did so, and after A Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting was published, Garton revealed his side of—and contributions to—the story, which was denounced by the Warrens and Snedekers. The book was oft miscategorized as non-fiction, and both the Discovery Channel (A Haunting in Connecticut) and Lionsgate Films (The Haunting in Connecticut) produced docudramas based on his work.

By August 2006, he had written over 50 books, with Dread Central calling Live Girls his "crowning achievement" at that time. By late 2019, his canon had increased to 68 books.

Live Girls was a Bram Stoker Award nominee. In 2006, Garton was bestowed the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award.

When writing for young adults, to prevent that audience from accidentally reading works not written for their age level, Garton published under the pen name Joseph Locke. He also wrote under the pseudonym Arthur Darknell.

{{As of|2023|05}}, Locus listed two original collections published by Garton:

• {{cite book |date=July 1990 |title=Methods of Madness |language=en |publisher=Dark Harvest |isbn=0-913165-45-X}}
  A collection of one novella, four novelettes, and two short stories—four original (Fat, Something Kinky, "Shock Radio", and Dr. Krusadian’s Method)—that originally sold for {{US$|19.95|1990}}.
• {{cite book |date=March 1996 |title=Pieces of Hate |language=en |location=Baltimore |publisher=CD Publications |isbn=1-881475-17-4}}
  A collection of one novella and eight short stories—five original (A Gift from Above, "Cat Hater", "Bad Blood", "Ophilia Raphaeldo", and "God's Work")—that originally sold for {{US$|50.00|1996|long=no}}.

{{As of|2023|05}}, Locus listed five original novelettes published by Garton:

• {{cite book |editor-last1=Schow |editor-first1=David J. |editor-link1=David J. Schow |date=July 1988 |chapter=Sinema |title=Silver Scream |language=en |publisher=Dark Harvest |pages=59–94 |isbn=0-913165-27-1}}
• {{cite book |editor-last1=Gelb |editor-first1=Jeff |editor-link1=Jeff Gelb |editor-last2=Garrett |editor-first2=Michael |date=January 1991 |chapter=The Picture of Health |title=Hotter Blood: More Tales of Erotic Horror |series=Hot Blood |language=en |volume=2 |publisher=Pocket Books |pages=37–66 |isbn=0-671-70149-5}}
• {{cite book |editor-last1=Crowther |editor-first1=Peter |editor-link1=Peter Crowther |editor-last2=Kramer |editor-first2=Edward E. |editor-link2=Edward E. Kramer |date=January 1996 |chapter=Screams at the Gateway to Fame |title=Dante's Disciples |language=en |publisher=White Wolf Publishing |pages=251–278 |isbn=1-56504-907-1}}
• {{cite book |editor-last1=Gelb |editor-first1=Jeff |editor-last2=Garrett |editor-first2=Michael |date=February 1997 |chapter=Hair of the Dog |title=Kiss and Kill |language=en |series=Hot Blood |volume=8 |publisher=Pocket Books |pages=190–216 |isbn=0-671-53766-0}}
• {{cite book |date=December 1998 |chapter=Tuesday: Smitten |title=Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: Eight Spells a Week |language=en |publisher=Pocket Archway |pages=63–94 |isbn=0-671-02121-4}}

• {{cite book |date=May 1986 |title=Invaders from Mars |language=en |publisher=Pocket Books |isbn=0-671-62697-3}}
  Derived from the screenplay by Dan O'Bannon and Don Jakoby, and based on the screenplay by Richard Blake, this film novelization originally cost {{US$|2.95|1986|long=no}}, and was republished by Grafton that September.
• {{cite book |year=1988 |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master}}
• {{cite book |year=1989 |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child}}
• {{cite book |date=February 1989 |title=Warlock |language=en |publisher=Avon |isbn=0-380-75712-5}}
  Based on D.T. Twohy's screenplay for the 1989 film, Garton's novelization originally cost {{US$|3.50|1989|long=no}}.

• {{cite book |title=The Folks |language=en |publisher=Cemetery Dance Publications}}
• {{cite book |chapter=Monsters |date=December 1988 |title=Night Visions 6 |language=en |publisher=Dark Harvest |page=189 |isbn=0-913165-35-2}}

• {{cite book |year=1984 |title=Seductions}}
• {{cite book |year=1985 |title=Darklings}}
• {{cite book |date=December 1986 |title=Live Girls |series= |language=en |publisher=Pocket Books |isbn=0-671-62628-0}}
  While working in New York City, it was a disturbing experience in a 1980s' Times Square peep show that inspired Garton to write this evergreen vampire novel. Originally selling for {{US$|3.95|1986|long=no}}, it was republished by Futura (October 1987), Macdonald (November 1987), and CD Publications (October 1997).
• {{cite book |title=Night Life}}
  The sequel to Live Girls.
• {{cite book |date=June 1988 |title=Crucifax |series= |language=en |publisher=Pocket Books |isbn=0-671-62629-9}}
  Set in the San Fernando Valley, this horror novel originally sold for {{US$|3.95|1988|long=no}}, and was later republished by Dark Harvest (June 1988), Futura (January 1989), and Macdonald (April 1989).
• {{cite book |title=A Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting |year=1990s}}
• {{cite book |date=February 1990 |title=Trade Secrets |series= |language=en |publisher=Mark V. Ziesing |isbn=0-929480-15-5}}
  A horror thriller, in 1990 Trade Secrets in hardcover sold for {{US$|25.00|1990|long=no}}.
• {{cite book |date=July 1991 |title=The New Neighbor |series= |language=en |publisher=Charnel House |isbn=0-927389-03-7}}
  Only 500 copies of this slipcased erotic horror novel were published, with a list price of {{US$|125.00|1991|long=no}}.
• {{cite book |date=September 1991 |title=Lot Lizards |series= |language=en |publisher=Mark V. Ziesing |isbn=0-929480-59-7}}
  This novel about a vampire prostitute was published in hardcover for {{US$|22.00|1991|long=no}}.
• {{cite book |date=April 1992 |title=Dark Channel |series= |language=en |publisher=Bantam Falcon |isbn=0-553-29190-4}}
  Originally selling for {{US$|4.99|1992|long=no}}, this horror novel is set in Marin County, California, and was republished by Science Fiction Book Club in August 1992.
• {{cite book |date=April 1997 |title=Shackled |series= |language=en |publisher=Bantam Books |isbn=0-553-29891-7}}
  A horror novel eschewing the supernatural, this story about satanists and child abuse originally sold for {{US$|5.99|1997|long=no}}.
• {{cite book |year=2004 |title=Scissors}}
• {{cite book |year=2004 |title=The Girl in the Basement}}
• {{cite book |year=2006 |title='Nids}}
• {{cite book |year=2006 |title=The Loveliest Dead}}
• {{cite book |year=2007 |title=Graven Image}}
• {{cite book |year=2008 |title=Serpent Girl}}
• {{cite book |title=Ravenous |language=en |date=2009-04-01}}
• {{cite book |title=Bestial |language=en |year=2009}}
  The sequel to Ravenous.
• {{cite book |year=2011 |title=Meds}}
• {{cite book |year=2014 |title=Frankenstorm}}
• {{cite book |year=2023 |title=Loveless}}
• {{cite book |year=2023 |title=Trailer Park Noir}}

{{As of|2023|05}}, Locus listed eight young-adult novels published by Joseph Locke (with one under his real name):

• {{cite book |last1=Locke |first1=Joseph |date=February 1992 |title=Petrified |series= |language=en |publisher=Bantam Starfire |isbn=0-553-29657-4}}
  About four teenage girls are locked in a wax museum, this originally sold for {{US$|3.50|1992|long=no}}.
• {{cite book |last1=Locke |first1=Joseph |date=July 1992 |title=Kiss of Death |series= |language=en |publisher=Bantam Starfire |isbn=0-553-29653-1}}
  Originally sold for {{US$|3.50|long=no}}, this supernatural novel is about teens and serial murder.
• {{cite book |last1=Locke |first1=Joseph |date=June 1993 |title=Game Over |series= |language=en |publisher=Bantam Books |isbn=0-553-29652-3}}
  Teens and violence mix in a video arcade named Hades, the original edition of which sold for {{US$|3.50|1993|long=no}}.
• {{cite book |last1=Locke |first1=Joseph |date=January 1994 |title=1-900-Killer |series= |language=en |publisher=Bantam Books |isbn=0-553-56079-4}}
  A young-adult non-fantasy horror novel about party line killer, it originally sold for {{US$|3.50|1994|long=no}}.
• {{cite book |last1=Locke |first1=Joseph |date=April 1994 |title=Vengeance |series= |language=en |publisher=Bantam Books |isbn=0-553-56080-8}}
  A teens thriller novel that originally sold for {{US$|3.50|long=no}}.
• {{cite book |last1=Locke |first1=Joseph |date=July 1994 |title=Blood and Lace Book One: Vampire Heart |series= |language=en |publisher=Bantam Books |isbn=0-553-56614-8}}
  Originally selling for {{US$|3.50|long=no}}, this is gothic horror for young adults.
• {{cite book |last1=Locke |first1=Joseph |date=July 1994 |title=Blood and Lace Book Two: Deadly Relations |series= |language=en |publisher=Bantam Books |isbn=0-553-56617-2}}
  Originally selling for {{US$|3.50|long=no}}, this is the second in Garton's Blood and Lace gothic horror series for young adults.
• {{cite book |last1=Locke |first1=Joseph |date=January 1998 |title=Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: Ben There, Done That |language=en |publisher=Pocket Archway |isbn=0-671-01680-6}}
  This young-adult novel is the sixth based on the TV series, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. It originally sold for {{US$|3.99|1998|long=no}}.
• {{cite book |last1=Garton |first1=Ray |date=July 1998 |title=Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: All that Glitters |language=en |publisher=Pocket Archway |isbn=0-671-02116-8}}
  The twelfth Sabrina the Teenage Witch novel originally sold for {{US$|4.50|1998|long=no}}.

{{As of|2023|05}}, Locus listed nine original short stories published by Garton:

• {{cite magazine |year=1987 |title=Active Member |magazine=New Blood |language=en |publisher=Chris B. Lacher |issue=2 |issn=1040-4392}}
• {{cite book |editor-last1=Gelb |editor-first1=Jeff |editor-link1=Jeff Gelb |editor-last2=Friend |editor-first2=Lonn |editor-link2=Lonn Friend |date=April 1989 |chapter=Punishments |title=Hot Blood |language=en |volume=1 |publisher=Pocket Books |pages=263–275 |isbn=0-671-66424-7}}
• {{cite book |editor-last1=Weinberg |editor-first1=Robert E. |editor-link1=Robert Weinberg (author) |editor-last2=Greenberg |editor-first2=Martin H. |editor-link2=Martin H. Greenberg |date=November 1990 |chapter=The Other Man |title=Lovecraft's Legacy |language=en |publisher=Tor Books |pages=33–52 |isbn=0-312-85091-3}}
• {{cite book |editor-last1=Gelb |editor-first1=Jeff |date=December 1991 |chapter=Weird Gig |title=Shock Rock |language=en |publisher=Pocket Books |pages=204–220 |isbn=0-671-70150-9}}
• {{cite magazine |date=Fall 1992 |editor1-last=Chizmar |editor1-first=Richard T. |editor1-link=Richard Chizmar |title=Pieces |magazine=Cemetery Dance |language=en |location=Edgewood, Maryland |publisher=Cemetery Dance Publications |volume=4 |issue=4 |page=68 |issn=1047-7675}}
• {{cite magazine |date=Fall 1992 |editor1-last=Horsting |editor1-first=Jessie |editor2-last=Van Hise |editor2-first=James |editor2-link=James Van Hise |title=Choices |magazine=Midnight Graffiti |language=en |location=Sherman Oaks, California |issue=7 |page=70}}
• {{cite magazine |date=August 1993 |editor1-last=Secker |editor1-first=Erik |title=The Devil's Music |magazine=Thunder's Shadow Collector's Magazine |language=en |location=Winfield, Illinois |volume=4 |issue=2 |page=5}}
• {{cite magazine |date=Fall 1993 |editor1-last=Chizmar |editor1-first=Richard T. |title=Bait |magazine=Cemetery Dance |language=en |location=Edgewood, Maryland |publisher=Cemetery Dance Publications |volume=5 |issue=3/4 |page=54 |issn=1047-7675}}
• {{cite magazine |date=Fall 1997 |editor1-last=Chizmar |editor1-first=Richard T. |title=Second Opinion |magazine=Cemetery Dance |language=en |location=Edgewood, Maryland |publisher=Cemetery Dance Publications |volume=8 |issue=2 |page=67 |issn=1047-7675}}

• With {{cite book |editor-last1=Anderson |editor-first1=Dana M. |editor-last2=de Lint |editor-first2=Charles |editor-link2=Charles de Lint |year=1991 |title=Cafe Purgatorium}}
• With {{cite book |editor-last1=Campbell |editor-first1=Ramsey |editor1-link=Ramsey Campbell |editor-last2=Little |editor-first2=Bentley |editor-link2=Bentley Little |year=2012 |title=Cut Corners |volume=1}}
• With {{cite book |editor-last1=Burke |editor-first1=Patrick |editor-last2=Smith |editor-first2=Bryan |year=2017 |title=Cut Corners |volume=3}}

{{As of|2023|05}}, Locus listed two additional non-fiction works published by Garton:

• {{cite magazine |date=Fall 1987 |editor1-last=Silva |editor1-first=David B. |title=Fragments of Horror |magazine=The Horror Show |language=en |publisher=Phantasm Press |volume=5 |issue=4 |page=74 |issn=0748-2914}}
• {{cite book |editor-last1=Jones |editor-first1=Stephen |editor-link1=Stephen Jones (author) |date=June 1997 |chapter=Haunted in the Head |title=Dancing with the Dark |type=biography |language=en |publisher=Vista |pages=116–122 |isbn=0-575-60166-3}}

{{reflist |refs=

{{cite news |last1=Argendeli |first1=James |date=2002-08-26 |title=There is such a thing as a free book review |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/books/08/23/hln.hot.book.twofer/index.html |url-status=dead |language=en |publisher=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130072528/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/books/08/23/hln.hot.book.twofer/index.html |archive-date=2008-01-30 |access-date=2023-05-21 |quote=Everyone likes a good deal -- to get something for nothing. Why else would you be reading this for free on your electronic reading receptacle?}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/4307/live-girls-book/ |title=Live Girls (Book) |last=Butane |first=Johnny |date=2006-08-09 |publisher=Dread Central |language=en |access-date=2023-05-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521152412/https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/4307/live-girls-book/ |archive-date=2023-05-21}}

{{cite magazine |date=2009-02-03 |title=Ray Garton, Author of Ravenous and Bestial |url=http://www.horrorbound.com/readarticle.php?article_id=61 |url-status=dead |magazine=Horror Bound |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223211754/http://www.horrorbound.com/readarticle.php?article_id=61 |archive-date=2009-02-23 |access-date=2023-05-21}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/12765/bestial-book/ |title=Bestial (Book) |last=Johnson |first=Scott A. |date=2009-08-03 |publisher=Dread Central |language=en |access-date=2023-05-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418175720/https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/12765/bestial-book/ |archive-date=2016-04-18}}

{{cite news |last1=Skropanic |first1=Jessica |date=2019-10-30 |title=Horror writer Ray Garton is living out a spooky books fan's fantasy here in Shasta County |url=https://www.redding.com/story/entertainment/2019/10/30/redding-born-horror-writer-talks-youth-heroes-and-redding-born-horror-writer-disturbing-robert-bloch/4078648002/ |url-status=live |work=Redding Record Searchlight |language=en |location=Shasta County, California |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321011842/https://www.redding.com/story/entertainment/2019/10/30/redding-born-horror-writer-talks-youth-heroes-and-redding-born-horror-writer-disturbing-robert-bloch/4078648002/ |archive-date=2023-03-21 |access-date=2023-05-21}}

{{cite magazine |date=2024-04-22 |title=Ray Garton (1962–2024) |url=https://locusmag.com/2024/04/ray-garton-1962-2024/ |url-status=live |magazine=Locus |language=en |issn=0047-4959 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422180428/https://locusmag.com/2024/04/ray-garton-1962-2024/ |archive-date=2024-04-22 |access-date=2024-04-22}}

{{cite magazine |title=Books, Listed by Author [Garton] |url=https://www.locusmag.com/index/b185.htm#A2497 |url-status=live |magazine=Locus |language=en |issn=0047-4959 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724054444/https://www.locusmag.com/index/b185.htm |archive-date=2021-07-24 |access-date=2023-05-21}}

{{cite magazine |title=Books, Listed by Author [Locke] |url=https://www.locusmag.com/index/b300.htm#A4225 |url-status=live |magazine=Locus |language=en |issn=0047-4959 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518121353/https://www.locusmag.com/index/b300.htm |archive-date=2021-05-18 |access-date=2023-05-21}}

{{cite magazine |title=Stories, Listed by Author |url=https://www.locusmag.com/index/s264.htm#A5842 |url-status=live |magazine=Locus |language=en |issn=0047-4959 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027125640/https://www.locusmag.com/index/s264.htm |archive-date=2021-10-27 |access-date=2023-05-21}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.raygartononline.com/bibliographies/locke.html |title=As Joseph Locke |last=Garton |first=Ray |publisher=Ray Garton Online |language=en |access-date=2023-05-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731031209/https://www.raygartononline.com/bibliographies/locke.html |archive-date=2022-07-31}}

}}

• {{official website|1=https://www.raygartononline.com}}
• {{ISFDB name|2358}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garton, Ray}}

Category:1962 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:20th-century American novelists

Category:21st-century American novelists

Category:American adoptees

Category:American horror novelists

Category:American male novelists

Category:American young adult novelists

Category:erotic horror writers

Category:former Seventh-day Adventists

Category:novelists from California

Category:people from Shasta County, California