Are things getting a little too... holly jolly around your neck of the woods? I love the holidays and queue up Christmas movies like I've been waiting all year, but man, some of those decorations are just a little too pristine for my tastes. If there is any holiday that's creepy, it's Christmas. Some old dude creeps around in your house and leaves things under a tree? Strangers knock on your door and sing at you? It's begging for some more in depth horror story treatment, I'm telling you. I've compiled a little Pinterest Board of Holly Horror, with the best wreat[...]
Monthly Archives
December 2014
2 It all began with a book. It. One read and I was hooked. Stephen King taught me what it was like to be a reader. After being forced to read classic stories in both middle and high school, I wasn't someone who picked up a book to read for fun. In fact, I bought Cliff Notes just to get a passing grade on anything related to the books my teachers thought I should be reading as a teen. I can't remember who it was that put It in my hand, but I know what happened after that. I was a reader. Once that light went on, I kept reading. And I read every book Stephen King wro[...]
We have a special guest today on the Midnight Society! Author Kim Culpepper, who writes horror and urban fantasy stopped by to celebrate her newest release and to talk a little bit more about writing. The Blood Talisman by Kim Culpepper Book Genre: Urban Fantasy Book release date: 05/21/2014 The Blood Talisman book blurb: Alex Jacobs gets bitten by a werewolf, and that’s only the beginning of his problems. When his wife is kidnapped and turned into someone he doesn’t recognize anymore, he not only struggles with letting her go but, also with s[...]
Last week I discussed why we should all write like Scrooge, and as I was writing that post I realized how far society has taken A Christmas Carol from its roots. I first read the story this year when I purchased a collection of Dickens' ghost stories. A ghost story, as you all know, is a sub-genre of supernatural fiction, often horror stories. Of course, not everything with a ghost is horror (another common genre is comedy, or in the case of Ghost, mystery and romance). Since then, it's been adapted and performed on stages worldwide, turned into animations for chi[...]
As acquiring editor for SHINE, the new YA/NA line from Leap Books, I’m always in the market for great reads and what better way to seek them out than to share news about our upcoming releases and provide our submission guidelines? Leap Books, LLC has been around since 2009, but we’re just venturing into the world of ebook novellas for both young adult and new adult markets. Early in 2015 we’ll see the launch of two young adult SHINE titles and I can’t wait for these babies to go live. Tina Ferraro, a two-time RITA Young Adult finalist and the author of T[...]
I love a good book recommendation, and it doesn't take much to convince me to grab a new vampire tale. The three books below feature characters who kick ass and face monsters outside and within themselves. There's a lot of neat mythology here--though there's only three books, the third is an anthology from some great authors who really use the short form to play with their own ideas for the undead. That's something a really great vampire story has to have to keep me hooked: details for the vamps. Do they turn to dust? How do they die? I wish more stories said how[...]
I will admit something here that I rarely say aloud because I'd get rotten tomatoes thrown at me, or cursed as I walked down the street. Here it goes--please don't judge me--I do not like British shows. I know, I know. You all love watching Dr. Who, Sherlock, The Game of Thrones, EastEnders, and Downton Abbey. I just cannot get into these shows. It might just be that I don't enjoy having to pay too close attention to decipher what the characters are saying with thick accents. I'm not sure what it is, but I have found a show with a Brit as a main character. And[...]