Anthology,  Blog Tours,  Book Promotion,  Dark Fiction,  Paranormal Fiction,  Short Stories

Welcome to WordCrafter’s “Midnight Oil” Book Blog Tour Day 3

October 29, 2025 / 20 Comments

Day 3 Tour Stop – Midnight Oil  

 

Welcome to Day 3 of the WordCrafter Midnight Oil Book Blog Tour. Today, we’ll be learning a little about three stories in Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares, volume 3 in the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series from WordCrafter Press. First, well see excerpts from stories whose authors weren’t able to participate in the tour, “The Snow Globe”, by Chris Barili, and “Darkness Tolls”, by Zack Ellafy. After that, it will be my pleasure to introduce you to author Roberta Eaton Cheadle, who will tell you about her story, 

“Just Desserts”, by Roberta Cheadle

https://youtube.com/shorts/sS2fBm7fjHo?feature=share

“The Snow Globe”, by Chris Barili

https://youtube.com/shorts/eB7Zs9LIcxk?feature=share

“Darkness Tolls”, by Zack Ellafy

https://youtube.com/shorts/J1IaW9o3hyg?feature=share

 

Meet Author Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of sixteen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

 

About “Just Deserts”, by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

“Just Desserts” came about as a result of three different inspirational sources.

The first was the idea of writing a ghost story about the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town. South Africa’s oldest building, this 17th century bastion fort was built by the Dutch East India Company. This building replaced the earlier fort called Fort de Goede Hoop which was constructed by clay and timer and bult by Jan van Riebeeck when he arrived at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652. I have a fascination with history and wanted to write a story including this historical landmark.

Secondly, I read a book review about a book that was written from the perspectives of various items in a museum. I liked that idea and decided to write this story from the perspective of the walls of the castle which have seen much throughout the building’s history, including secret meetings.

Thirdly, I was inspired by the idea presented in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, where your life decisions and behaviours reflect in your aged face and body.

Adding more would give too much away. I hope you’ll read it in the anthology.

 

Book Description

Midnight Oil: Stories To Fuel Your Nightmares A WordCrafter Midnight Anthology

14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare.

Contributing authors include Mario Acevedo, Joseph Carrabis, Jon Shannon, Rebecca M. Senesse, DL Mullan, Zack Ellafy, Christa Planko, C.R. Johansson, Kaye Lynne Booth, Robert White, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Chris Barili, Paul Kane, and author of the winning story in the 2025 WordCrafter Short Fiction Contest, Denise Aparo.


Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil

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That wraps up today’s tour stop, but you can join us tomorrow over at Carla Loves to Read. to meet contributing author Paul Kane, the Shadow Writer and learn about his story, “The Whistling”, and see excerpts from “Inside Out”, by C.R. Johansson, and “The Stairs”, by Jon Shannon.

The Giveaway

You can follow the links in the tour schedule below to visit any stops that you’ve missed, and be sure to comment at each stop, for a chance to win one of five digital copies WordCrafter Press will be given away in a random drawing at the end of the tour.

Tour Schedule

Day 1– Masticadores Phillipines & Hotel Masticadores – Christa Planko Guest Post/Excerpt “Sangoma, Zombie Elephants, & Tokoloshe, Oh, My!” & “Cattails” https://masticadoresphilippines.wordpress.com/2025/10/27/opening-day-midnight-oil-tour/

Day 2 – Undawnted – Joseph Carrabis Reading – “Jeremiah”/Excerpt “The Boy Who Loved Horses” & “Them Doore Girls”  https://josephcarrabis.com/2025/10/27/paul-kanes-the-whistling-in-midnight-oil/

Day 3 – Book Places – Roberta Eden Cheadle Guest Post/Excerpt “Darkness Tolls” & “The Snow Globe” 

Day 4 – Carla Loves to Read – Paul Kane Guest Post/Excerpt “Inside Out” & “The Stairs”

Day 5 – Writing to be Read – Denise Aparo Interview & DL Mullan Reading/Excerpt “The Price of Beauty” 

https://writingtoberead.com/?p=51449

Thanks for stopping by. 

Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!

 

 

 

 

Kay Castaneda is retired from a career as a college English instructor in Indiana. She received a B.A. and M.A. from Indiana University. Her articles about education and sociology are included in Sage Publication’s Education and Society Reference Book. Her poetry and creative nonfiction have been published in literary journals. Kay is currently researching the history of Ireland and Scotland for a novel based on her ancestors, in addition to editing her poetry manuscript. Kay’s hobbies include reading biographies, memoirs, traveling and baking.

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