top of page
sarahscatsextended [2].jpg

Otto Redman

Author of horror and occult fiction

BOOKS

Vampire 2.jpg

The Vampire of Portsmouth

The old forest front cover.jpg

The Old Forest 

sarahscatsextended [3].jpg

Sarah's Cats Softback

Books
Portsmouth Macabre Cover.jpg

Portsmouth Macabre

The Vampire of Portsmouth

Struggling to cope with the accidental death of her Father and her Mother’s terminal illness, Hellen Oswold is trying to get her life back on track by attempting to return to her academic career by attending an interview at the prestigious King’s College in London. She accidentally misses the last train home and by chance meets with the mysterious and charismatic Adam Decker. From that day on her life gradually begins to unwind itself at a frightening speed. She starts having terrible nightmares and begins sleepwalking, something the medical profession can’t explain. What caused the mysterious marks on her neck? Why does she feel that she is continually being watched? And who does the strange voice in her dreams belong to that calls for her to return to London? Will Hellen be able to cope with the terrible truth and save her soul, or will she be claimed by darkness forever?

Vampire 2.jpg

Sarah's cats

It is New Year’s Eve and happy in her Southsea home Sarah Pulling turns eleven at midnight. She is an only child and excited to be spending the evening watching horror films with her nineteen-year-old babysitter and best friend Amy White while her parents travel up to London to celebrate their anniversary. Her birthday party is planned, she has a good idea of what presents they have bought for her, and Sarah feels on top of the world.

 

When the police arrive at Sarah’s door in the early hours of the morning what could possibly have happened that will shatter her world so badly? Who is the strange old aunt that has come to see her after so long without any contact? What is so strange about the old lady’s beliefs that her mother called them blasphemous and why is Amy so reluctant to head home to her mother?

 

Sarah’s Cat’s is a strange and mysterious journey into the world of ‘the old religion’ and ancient witchcraft over an eight-year period which spin Sarah towards a series of events which with test her abilities to the limit.

 

Sarah’s Cats is the second novel from the author of The Vampire of Portsmouth, Otto Redman. Are you ready to enter the strange and frightening world of Sarah and her cats!

sarahscatsextended [3].jpg
Anchor 1

The Old Forest
A new housing development is well under construction in the quiet Hampshire village of West Marden and the deforestation of many acres of ancient woodland has already begun. When one of the construction sites workers goes missing whilst working alone in the woods a series of strange and bloody incidences begin to occur.

Local farmer Jenny Croft has lived on the Eastern edge of the old forest with her family for over twenty years and knows the area exceptionally well. So why does a trip along a local footpath with her youngest son cause her to start fearing for her family’s safety? Where do the strange voices that they hear come from?

Old Mavis Fairbrook is a solitary and kooky green witch who has lived within the forest for her whole life. She is disliked by the locals for her sharp tongue, hatred of people and strangely youthful appearance for her advanced years. Mavis is a militant ecological activist and fought the plans for the development tooth and claw since its first conception, even resorting to sabotaging expensive equipment in her quest to halt the work. Now banned from the site by a court order, why is she so worried that the balance of nature has been tipped to the point of no return? Have ancient beings really been woken and walk the woods at night? If Mavis is right, can she prevent them from murdering again or is it already too late?

 

The old forest front cover.jpg

Portsmouth macabre
 

Portsmouth has an extensive history that can be traced back to the Romans and has been home to the Royal Navy dockyard for centuries. But what truly happens in such a historic city when night falls and the lights go out? What secrets does the city hold that many are too frightened to believe in? When has the familiar ever seemed so frightening?

 

In Gunwharf Quays self-confessed Goth Hazel Morton Is on a date with a handsome older man. If the clouds clear, will she return to her date’s home to view the January’s Wolf Moon through his telescope? And if she does, what will the full moon portend?

 

In Gosport Alicia Sykes must confront a terrible and unnatural challenge. Who is the Gosport Blood beast stalking the streets at night? And will Alicia ever be granted her wish?

 

Poppy Edwards lives on her own in Old Portsmouth. Who is stranger knocking on her door late at night? And why does she feel compelled to invite them in?

 

It is approaching Christmas Eve on Hayling Island and residents are preparing to celebrate. Why is the area experiencing unexpected power cuts? Is there any truth in the drunken reports of revellers seeing a huge monster? and why is Sarah Pulling, a local witch, paying the area a visit?

Portsmouth Macabre Cover.jpg

IN THE PRESS

“

Otto Redman's first novel has really hit the mark. Written in such an easy, approachable style, it is a treat for all lovers of the vampire/horror genre. This book is a real page turner that makes you hungry for more.

Amazon Review

“

This is an imaginative and gripping novel which presents a model of vampires within the Jess Franco and Jean Rollin tradition. Fans of Hammer horror will likely be pleased that this takes a traditional approach rather than the neo-romantic view of vampires presented of late. A good read!

Amazon review

“

I liked this. The characters were good as was the pace.
Hellen is a professional woman with a good job who goes for an interview and decides to spend the day and night in London and meets Adam, a strange, good looking man, in a club. However, when she wakes up in a skip the next morning Hellen worries something untoward has happened. That is not the case but what HAS happened is far, far worse and Hellen will need all her strength and her help not only from her University friend, Ben, whom Hellen realises she has feelings for but also, Sophie, her life long best friend. This book is about 240 pages long and enjoyable if you like vampire stories.

Good Reads

In The Press

“

I bought this from Otto himself at WGW in 2024, I finally got around to reading it about 6 months ago and wished I'd read it sooner!

It's really refreshing to have a modern day vampire story that doesn't fetishise the monster. Helen is genuinely terrified of what is happening to her, and there are some really dark points in the story. I couldn't put this book down and I will definitely read it again at some point, this book has a permanent spot on my bookshelf.

If you enjoy scary, gothic vampire stories with no romance between the victim and predator, this book is for you!

.

“

Sarah's cats received a top review of 'overdue' from Claire and Sophie. Episodes #138,139,140,142,143

“

 I would describe the book as an Eco-Horror-Fantasy and all three aspects are given equal importance, although the author describes it as horror. And certainly, there’s a lot of that. If you happen to live in or near a forest or large tract of woodland, not just in sleepy rural Hampshire where this is set, you may wish to consider moving after reading The Old Forest. Luckily for me, I live in a town so can sleep well at night. There is a large, colourful cast of characters, led by green witch Mavis and her cat, Shadow, who effortlessly steals the show. 

Amazon Review

@loungingwithbooks (instagram)

Steve Sheppard (Author)

Coming Up Next

Meet Otto Redman at the following events

gothic pigeon with a witche's hat.jpg

The Denmead Horticultural society 75th Village show

​

With the Portsmouth Authors collective

​

All Saints church hall

Hambledon Rd.

Denmead

28/08/2026

11:00-16:30

Prison-con

​

Shepton Mallet Prison

Somerset

10:00-16:00

 

17/10/2026

Horrorfied

​

Farmborouh International Exhibition Centre

www.horrorfied.co.uk

​

19/04/2025-20/04/2025

09:00-18:00

​

Strange Little obsessions

​

Crowne Plaza Nottingham.

10:00-17:00

VIP early entry 9:30

 

www.strangelittleobsessions.co.uk

26-27/09/2026

inject-stores-service_1721747160117.png

Aspex gallery

Gunwarf Quays

The Vulcan building

Portsmouth

​

www.thedarksidemagazine.com

18/10/2026

Whitby Goth Weekend

​

Rifle Club 

25/04/2025-27/04/2025

10:00-17:00

haunted hotel.jpg

British fantasy society 

Fantasycon 2026

​​

The Glasgow Crowne Plaza

​

www.britishfantasysociety.org/events

09-11/10/2026

Spring Fair

​

Portsmouth Cathedral

​

12/04/2025

10:00-18:00

gothic pigeon with a witche's hat.jpg

Shed of Hell​

 

Rushden Goods Shed

05/07/2025-06/07/2025

10:00-18:00

BIO

witchy cat.jpg

Otto’s fascination with horror started from a young age with television series such as the Addam’s Family, the Munsters and the Twilight Zone. He sought out horror and gothic literature from authors including Mary Shelly, Bram Stoker, H P Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe and developed a love for the classic Hammer Horror and B-movies of the 1960s and 1970s. Otto revelled in the worlds created by Wes Craven, Jess Franco and Jean Rollin and the charismatic acting of Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Vincent Price. During the COVID pandemic he made the decision to redirect his career into writing horror stories of his own centred around his hometown. His first novel The Vampire of Portsmouth was released in 2022 and having enjoyed the process, Otto decided that his next novel would be far longer and focus on witchcraft. Otto lives near Portsmouth in the South of England with his numerous cats. Sarah’s Cats is his second horror novel

Bio

CONTACT

For any media inquiries, please contact Otto Redman:

Sign Up for News, Events & Much More!

Thanks for submitting!

Follow me:

  • Black Twitter Icon
Contact
© 2024 by Otto Redman. Powered and secured by Wix
bottom of page