There are three different book festivals / conferences that I haven't been to that I am dying to attend. One is BEA (but we're not talking about that right now and how R.L. Stine was there and how Midnight Society Member Amy went and I am supremely jealous). The 2nd is SCBWI (but we're not talking about that right now either). The one I really want to attend is Thrillerfest. Now, I know this is a horror blog but thriller and horror novels are very interrelated. In fact, most of my early R.L. Stine books have them listed as YA thrillers, not YA horror novels. H[...]
Monthly Archives
June 2014
0 We horror writers are made of sturdier stock than most, right? We can handle a good scare without much psychological scarring. I think? Maybe? This is the lie I usually tell myself as I pop in another horror movie: "I can handle it." Telling myself that "I could handle it," I sat down for the first time to watch a series of Japanese horror films that basically destroyed my sleeping patterns for a the few following months. I bought a nightlight. I developed a habit of dashing from the bathroom, which is three feet away from my bedroom, once I'd shut off the ligh[...]
I grew up in Maryland, surrounded by civil war sites and colonial relics. There are old things back there. Old places. I love old places. For awhile we lived with my grandma. Behind my grandma's house, maybe a half mile away, was a very old cemetery. We had to cross some train tracks to get there and we'd always leave shiny pennies on the track, picking up the smashed ones from the time before. The cemetery was marked only by a short iron fence that sagged over, choked out with weeds and vines. The graves there were old--some of the oldest I'd ever seen as a k[...]
You played with dolls as a child, right? Dolls can be fun... or they can be the ultimate fear factor. You know what I mean. Hard plastic eyes that you could swear are staring at you. So you move to a different place in the room BUT THE EYES FOLLOW. Or, the doll was sitting on the couch. You are SURE it was sitting on the couch but then, why is it on the floor? I admit, I had a thing about Care Bears when I was young. I swear mine were possessed or something. They moved, they STARED. They were scurry. But now that I'm all grown up, I'm past all that. Yep. Dolls ar[...]
I was going to think of a fun title for this post, but honestly, doesn't the simple title grab your attention? Maybe you thought I was kidding when you decided to look at this post, but let me tell you straight up, this post is about exactly what I said it was. Zombie beauty pageants. I did not realize this was such a big thing, but it is, and there's probably one (at least somewhat) near you! They happen at conventions and as part of the intermission at plays (that happened at a community play in Wichita) and county fairs (hey Denver!). A great ongoing one is th[...]
I had so much fun searching for a few new horror movies to watch. Here's what I picked up from my public library to help me get over my BEA hangover: Slither When I saw that Nathan Fillion stars in this film, I had to see it. He often chooses campy films to be in, so that's what I expect with this flick. http://youtu.be/2-f8wU6Fpeo The Thing I've really been into watching older horror films...they're usually very scary. http://youtu.be/5ftmr17M-a4 Shutter Island Leo DiCaprio is soft on the eyes, but from what I've heard this movie is scary. You have all the rig[...]
Do you like to be scared? Do you wish you could be in a real horror book or horror movie, as long as you could guarantee your survival at the end? Some of you may be nodding in excitement. The others may be saying,” Hell to the no!” Well, the good news is, you can be a part of a night of horror. I mean, as long as you’re willing to shell out the dough. World, meet The Great Horror Campout! What is The Great Horror Campout? According to the website, The Great Horror Campout (GHC) is a “choose your own adventure” overnight, interactive campin[...]