Horror author Greg Smith will present a lighthearted, interactive discussion of how and why horror literature thrills, provokes and entertains at Wiscasset Public Library on Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

He will use short readings from the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, Anne Rice and himself to explore the dynamics of mood, suspense and mystery.

Smith was born and raised in the greater Boston area. He has worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, public school special education teacher and educational administrator. For 35 years, he lived a double life as an Army National Guard officer, during which he commanded emergency relief missions, including responses to Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Irene and the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, he said.

“I’ve probably been writing since the time I could talk,” said Smith. “These days I spend as much time as possible at our place in Boothbay Harbor where I like to bike, hike, and row across the harbor.  Somehow the cool breeze, sparkling sea and crystal clear sunshine help me do my best writing.”

Smith will also talk about his recent work, “Prayers for Evil: A Novel.” Synopsis from his website: Something dangerous lurks in the town of Ashton Falls, Maine. For Chris Murphy and his daughter, moving to the small mill town offers the chance for a clean start, a fresh beginning. A new job, new friends, and a passionate new romance promise a bright future for Chris. But sinister forces with roots in the Dark Ages, Nazi Europe, and Maine's long forgotten violent past, soon lead to mysterious deaths in Ashton Falls. Can Chris defeat the dark menace before it destroys him and everyone he loves?

Smith’s work has appeared in Country Living, Career World, Military History, Canada’s History, National Guard, GX (Guard Experience), the Boston Globe and Wall Street Journal.

Come to the library at 21 High St., sit down, have some cider and donuts, listen and talk about what really scares you.

Learn more about the author at www.paulgregorysmith.com