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Lullabies for Suffering : Tales of Addiction Horror #BookReview
Title: Lullabies for Suffering: Tales of Addiction
Authors: Gabino Iglesias, Kealan Patrick Burke, Caroline Kepnes, Mark Matthews, John FD Taff, Mercedes M. Yardley
Wicked Run Press, 2020
5 Stars
My emotions are exposed and raw, my stomach tangled, my shoulders sagged. This open-veined collection tore me up.
When Lullabies for Suffering began circulating social media, I knew I wanted to review it and my expectations were high. I hoped for a hauntingly gritty, yet delicate portrayal of various addictions, not just alcohol and drugs. I hoped for stories that illuminated without romanticizing. I wanted to experience the disease fester in the character’s minds while longing for a happy ending.
I wanted to read this and feel addiction.
I got what I wanted.
Six unique short stories make up this collection, and each one left a mark. While alcohol and drugs are prevalent, the anthology includes some lesser represented addictions such as pain, people and even hope. When combined, Lullabies for Suffering becomes a dramatic and intense array for tales that burrow under the skin. Each time I finished a story, I thought ‘That’s my favorite. No story can top it,’ and then the next one did just that. Each writer exhibited a thoroughness and compassionate understanding of the subject matter, weaving together reality and fiction in such a way that addiction gets a worthy platform in which to enlighten readers about the true nature of the disease. I’m grateful that nothing was held back, that the characters contained realism both in action and dialogue, and that the lure of drugs/alcohol was presented in such a way that didn’t glamorize the topic.
But let’s not forget this is a horror collection. If you’re after blood, you’ll get it. Eerie tension? Yup, you can check that box. What about mysterious creatures? Sure thing. There’s plenty of dark elements to keep you glued to the pages.
Usually when I review a collection, I single out a few stories, but I’d rather not do that for Lullabies for Suffering. Each one created a captivating story world that sucked me in and led me on a dark and twisted ride. There wasn’t one that shined over the other. They all lit up the pages.
But it wasn’t just curiosity that led me to request this book. I’ve had my own struggles, faced my own demons, and been tortured by my own mind. I dream of writing my own story one day, but I’m not ready, and that’s okay. It was important to me, as someone who lived with heavy darkness shadowing her every move, to read this and tell the world whether the authors got it right. Rest assured, they did, and in doing so, gave a powerful voice to the victims of addiction, no matter what that addiction may be.
5 stars.
Shepherd's Warning by Cailyn Lloyd #BookReview
For years the abandoned MacKenzie mansion remained hidden in rural Wisconsin. Rumors and stories of apparitions, odd noises, accidents, and strange deaths in or near the property were enough to convince the townsfolk it was haunted and they stayed away.
Lucas MacKenzie and his brother Nate know nothing of this when they inherit the property and decide to bring their families to Wisconsin for a major renovation project with HGTV stardom in mind. As they tear out old fixtures and open shuttered windows, the house begins to reveal secrets of a terrible past and it soon becomes clear the MacKenzies are in grave danger. In the end, only one person can save them.
Shepherd’s Warning 4 Star Review
Shepherd's Warning is a slow, but tantalizing haunted house story that left me breathless. A family inherits an old mysterious house and soon discovers that something dark is lurking within the walls.
There's a lot of characters to keep track of, which was a little confusing from time-to-time. But each of them play a vital role in the outcome, adding flavor and texture to the page. Laura MacKenzie is the lead heroine, and she's all grit, even if she's a bit reluctant to admit it. Her arc starts as a doting wife, grief stricken over the loss of her son, and escalates to an empowered fighter of evil. She's the heart of the story, and as evil seeps onto the page, it's her survival I was most invested in.
But I also loved the ghost story. I saw each scene play out in my mind like a horror movie, filled with deliciously sinister jump scares and bloody fight scenes. I could almost hear the eerie music in the background as I explored the basement of the haunted house alongside the characters. The ability to put me right in the thick of the plot truly made this an incredible reading experience. There's plenty of "showing" rather than "telling" and I found myself holding my breath for the final scene.
Yes, haunted house books are plentiful. And there are some cliches in this one, but that doesn't diminish the incredible writing, plot construction and character arcs of this story. It's gripping from start to end and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves a scare. Just make sure to read it with the lights on!
Interview with Horror Writer V. Castro #Interview
Interview with V. Castro
V. Castro is a Mexican American horror author originally from San Antonio, Texas. She is a book and movie reviewer for Scifiandscary.com.
V, thank you for agreeing to talk to me today!! I love the review that you recently did for Sci/Fi and Scary!
Thank you! I absolutely love writing film reviews. I am that annoying person screaming at the TV when someone does something stupid. Have people in horror films never seen a horror film?!
When did you first start writing Horror?
I was just a girl. Once I picked up Scary Stories To Tell in The Dark, I was hooked. I’ve always wanted to write but never felt encouraged enough, so I stopped. It was during a very difficult time emotionally that I decided to just go for it. I needed to stop hiding.
You currently live in England do you see a difference in British horror to American horror?
I don’t feel there is a huge difference because the core of horror transcends borders. As humans we all fear the same things to a certain degree. Hate, pain, death, anxiety, The Other all live within our minds and take shape as different things across cultures. Fear is fear.
What writing advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t compare and just go for it! Don’t let fear and self-doubt determine your life choices. Although, I still tell this to myself every day.
There is a trend for authors to provide a playlist for their latest books. If you had a play list for Maria the Wanted what would it be?
My book references music throughout! Music is part of the tale! I’ve included music to give the reader a feel for the scene and the character’s personalities. Here are a few.
Opening terror scene: Devil Inside by Inxs
Como La Flor- Selena
Behind Blue Eyes- The Who
White Wedding- Billie Idol
When Doves Cry- Prince
Freebird -Lynyrd Skynyrd
Muevete- DLG
Black Gold of The Sun-Rotary Connection
Blue In Green- Miles Davis
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood- Nina Simone
Bound To The Floor- Local H
Hold On We’re Going Home- Drake
Bring My Family Back- Faithless
I Put A Spell On You- Nina Simone
Head Like A Hole- Nine Inch Nails
You Do Something To Me- Paul Weller
Just The Way You Are- Billy Joel
Do you find being a reviewer more difficult than being an author?
Yes. I don’t want to not like something someone has created, especially if they are indie. It takes guts to put yourself out there. If you are a person of color, it’s even more difficult.
Obviously, I would like people to enjoy my writing, however, I do it for myself. I feel compelled to create characters and stories that reflect where I come from and who I am. Even if only one Latina reads my books and feels empowered in some way, I know I’ve done my job.
What is a trope that you read that makes your cringe? If so, how would you change the trope?
I’m really open minded unless it lacks any sort of diversity. Then I’m just, “What the fuck is this?”
As a latinx writer do you feel that this is a demographic that hasn’t been tapped as of yet?
YES! There are nearly 60 MILLION LATINX folks in the US. We are almost 18% percent of the population. As a Mexican American I grew up with all kinds of stories of the supernatural. Nothing seemed out of the realm of possibility, I guess that is why I was always so fascinated with horror.
I’ve written short stories based on legends from Texas. My current book, Maria The Wanted, uses many aspects of my culture to address social injustice, current events, identity and hope- with vampires. I also have an erotic vampire novella based on a very controversial figure in Mexican history, La Malinche.
Writing isn’t an issue, it’s getting the word out there that there are Latinx authors kicking ass in the industry. I will be starting my own book review website later in the year to focus on marginalized writers.
What are your top five horror books?
Salem’s Lot- Stephen King
The Hellbound Heart- Clive Barker
Carrion Comfort- Dan Simmons
Dracula- Bram Stoker
The Between- Tananarive Due (this just knocked another out of my top 5)
What books are currently on your night stand?
Loteria – Cina Pelayo
Becoming- Michelle Obama
Are there any up and coming women of horror that we need to keep an eye out for?
I will say ALL OF THEM. I think any woman that is willing to put herself out there deserves a chance for her voice to be heard. The din of this male dominated genre is loud, ingrained and needs a bit of upset. I don’t dislike the men that are writing horror, but I do feel we need to do more to support women. This is my passion.
Thank you so much for joining me!
If you’re interested to learn more about V Castro, please check out her social media and wesbite:
You can also find more information about here books on Goodreads.
VelociPastor (2018) 5 Star #MovieReview
VelociPastor (2018) Movie Review
With a name like VelociPastor, how can you resist watching?
Let’s start with the synopsis: After losing his parents, a priest travels to China, where he inherits a mysterious ability that allows him to turn into a dinosaur. At first horrified by this new power, a hooker convinces him to use it to fight crime. And ninjas.
I know. It’s amazing. Frankly, I’m jealous that I didn’t think of this premise. The movie starts with an introduction of Doug Jones, a priest and our soon-to-be dino crime fighter. His parents are killed in a car crash, but if you’re expecting to see stunning CGI effects with this movie’s $35,000 budget, you’re mistaken. Instead, director/writer/editor Brendan Steere sets the comedic tone of this crazy and wild ride with an, um, fill in effect. (Watch it to see his brilliance!)
After his parent’s death, Doug Jones decides to take some time off and travel to China. He’s exploring the woods when a he stumbles upon a ninja, freshly shot with an arrow and clutching a large dino tooth. He takes the tooth, stumbles backwards, cuts his hand and bam! Blood mixed with the tooth and now he is the Dragon Warrior, or as I will refer to him from now on VelociPastor.
At first, he doesn’t know his own strength, but thankfully, he soon meets and teams up with the lovely Carol, a prostitute with a heart of gold who is a hooker in order to pay her way through pre-med/ pre-law school. She is his northern star, and helps him control the beast within himself while giving him a focus. Kill criminals.
Oh, and then there’s the ninjas. They want to kill him, since he’s the last Dragon Warrior. The last fight scene in the movie between VelociPastor and the head ninja had me cracking up.
But what makes this movie stand out among cheesy low budget horrors?
Sure, the premise helps, but the editing and actual presentation of events kept me intrigued. For example, there’s a love scene. Okay, that wasn’t really a surprise and I was just expecting a typical depiction of them consummating their relationship, but the screen gets cut into several blocks, each with a different camera POV, each with a different coloring and suddenly, the “cheesy” factor raises high and I’m glued to the screen.
The actors also help make this a stand out. Greg Cohen (Doug Jones) and Alyssa Kempinski (Carol) fully commit to the ridiculous plot and fun dialogue. They clearly loved their roles and it showed, making me love them as well. But let’s talk makeup and effects. No, there’s no big CGI, but there are some pretty cool physical effects. And we do get to see the transformation from man to dino, including the entire VelociPastor in daylight. It truly is a thing of beauty.
This movie has rocketed to one of my favorites within the genre. Please, give it a try! 5 stars
Halloween Merch for the Horror Lover in Your Life
Halloween Merch for the Horror Lover in Your Life
It’s almost Halloween! Okay, it’s still a month and a half away, but I love Hallween so much I start online window shopping for merch in the summer. I discovered three awesome stores with all sorts of goodies for the horror lover, so check them out:
Creepy Co.
Creepy Co. sells apparel, accessories, home and office decor and collectables. They’ve got awesome shirts from different collections including Goosebumps, Halloween (the movie), Tarman and Garbage Pail Kids. Check out their creepy pin selection or Michael Myer plush cushion. I’d love anything from this store, but I’ve been eyeing their awesome comedy horror shirts. Sizes range from XS - 4XL, unisex.
Image from the Creepy Co. website
Wicked Clothes
PLEASE buy me one of their sweaters! This is a clothing online shop that sells t-shirts, ringers, sweatshirts and hoodies. The only negative for this site is sizing. They only sell XS - 2XL. Boo! But if those sizes work for you, they’ve got some really haunting selections ranging in themes from ghosts to witches. While the site looks like it’s marketed more towards women, men could totally rock their soft cotton clothing.
Image from Wicked Clothing website
Jubly-Umph
Wear your weird. That’s their slogan and I’m loving it. Just for visiting their site and signing up for their newsletter, you get a free digital print. Mine is hanging in my work area to remind me to always embrace my beautiful weird self. Jubly-Umph as tons of items including clothing, pins, totes and bags, art and books with themes of weird, crafty, feminism, books, and compassionate/vegan. Honestly, I could spend an entire afternoon browsing their website and I love that their unisex sizes range from S - 5XL. So a bit more inclusive than other shops.
Image from Jubly-Umph website
Image from Jubly-Umph website
Hurry up and do your shopping! Halloween is right around the corner !
How to Write Flash Fiction #WritingCommunity
How to Write Flash Fiction
So you have a story idea, you’re super pumped to get started, and you scour the web for possible publication sites only to notice that the magazine of your dreams wants flash fiction. But you’ve never written flash fiction? What do you do?
Okay, maybe that’s not exactly how your desire to write flash ignited, but if you want to master the short short story, I’m here to help. First, let’s start with definitions. Flash fiction is typically a story around 1000 words. Each publication may have a little different guidelines on word count, but if you’re looking for a ball park number, aim for 1000. You may also see submission calls for drabbles. These are super fun and challenging, because you can only use 100 words to tell a story. No more, no less. But let’s get into more specifics:
Short doesn’t mean less. Every story, whether flash fiction or a drabble or a manuscript, must have the fundamental core points of storytelling. At the bare minimum, you need a protagonist, an antagonist, some sort of choice that needs to be made, a climax and a resolution.
Cut the fluff. This is a good lesson in all writing and why I love flash. It forces you to cut all the fluffy bits of text. If it doesn’t move the story forward, cut it. If it’s excessive, cut it. If it’s redundant, cut it. Keep it crisp and tight.
Be smart when it comes to adjectives. I like giving some sort of physical descriptor for my protagonist, even in a drabble. But words are limited, so be smart with placement. While a manuscript allows you to paint a large picture, flash forces you to focus on the most important aspects. For example, if it’s important that you’re protagonist wears a red rain coat, focus solely on that. Skip the larger description you might include in a manuscript - her clothing, her hair color, her eye color, her height.
Learn how to “Show” not “Tell”. This will help more than you know. For example, if your protagonist is a child and it’s important that we, the readers, know this, everything she does has to mimic her childlike state. Don’t spend words telling the reader that she’s five years old. Show us in the way her dialogue invokes a childlike innocence. Then, use that dialog to move the story forward, that way you’ve not only added to the plot, but you’ve “shown” your protagonist’s characteristics.
Write an actual ending. Since flash is nothing more than a very short manuscript, don’t flake out on the ending just because words are limited. If you’re not into cliffhanger endings in manuscripts, don’t do it in a flash piece. If you wouldn’t want to read a manuscript that turned out to be a giant metaphor, don’t do it in a flash piece. If you get annoyed reading a book only to discover the protagonist is in a mental hospital at the final paragraph, don’t do it in a flash piece. Don’t sacrifice any part of the story just to hit a word count.
If you want to see some flash I’ve written, head over to my publication section. There you can find anthologies I’ve been published in, alongside other awesome horror/scifi writers. Or just do a google search. Either way, give flash fiction a try.
Slasher Crasher by David Nora #BookReview
RATING: 5 STARS
SUMMARY:
It was the night HE tried to go home...but got caught in THEIR drama...
It’s Halloween. Nick Roesch, a towering figure of evil and stupidity, escapes from the upstate New York mental hospital he’s been committed to for the past five years. Planning to return to his childhood home, where he brutally murdered his babysitter’s boyfriend, his plans are halted when he crosses paths with an even more terrifying beast—two high school friends with some serious beef. Caught in a battle of loyalty that has been brewing for ten years of their friendship, the two girls, Kathleen Strife and Betsy Coleman, force the feud into a savage showdown, pitting the escaped monster against each other. Who will survive this epic deathmatch, and is it totally wrong to fall in love with the murderous lunatic who just tried to kill your ex-best friend with a machete?
Book Review
I’ve been craving a comedic horror read and Slasher Crasher didn’t disappoint. An escaped lunatic? Teenage drama? Epic deathmatch? Sign me up! From the first page to the last sentence, this book is a juicy festival of gore, perfect for slasher fans. It playfully embraces classic horror tropes, tips its hat to iconic horror movies and references the soundtrack of my youth. What’s not to love?
Sure, this book revolves around a psychopath murdering everyone in site, but at the heart of Slasher Crasher are three teenagers coming of age, dealing with boy drama, bullying and absente parents. They must face Nick, the monster, as well as their own inner demons in order to become the ‘Final Girl’, a trope horror fans know and love. Each character arc undergoes a transformation fitting and realistic to their characters. In addition to the main cast, there’s an array of supporting characters, including Nick’s doctor (who could have walked straight out of The Exorcist and into this book), Betsy dad who is a recovered alcoholic, and a cast of homophobic bullies who make poor David’s life a living hell.
While the main theme of the book lies around the final girl trope, religion plays an interesting role in the plot. One of the police officers insists on ending every conversation with “praise be to God”, an interesting little quirk for an arguably insignificant character. But it adds to the character developments, especially Betsy and her father, who struggle with their faith. And, of course, Nick’s doctor is certain that Nick is no mere mortal, but the Devil arriving in their town to raise hell.
But don’t worry. There’s nothing preaching about this book. It’s a horror novel to it’s core complete with tales of Nick’s sadism that will make your stomach churn. But what makes it powerful is that it doesn’t stop with external horrors, but explores the things that scare us all. Loneliness, jealousy, abandonment, the fear we aren’t good enough and never will be. So while on the surface, this is a teenage slasher with a final girl theme, underneath it’s a brilliant tale of courage and self discovery, even if those realizations lead us down a dangerous path.
This is easily one of my favorite books of 2019, and an absolute must read. Buy it here!
Paperback: 358 pages
Publisher: Black Rose Writing; First Printing ed. edition (August 22, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1684333288
ISBN-13: 978-1684333288
Married to a Writer : An Interview With My Husband
We sit at our kitchen table, the left over turkey burgers and cucumbers not yet sealed in foil and put in the fridge. Mr. Bell wears a red and white “ugly Christmas” shirt with a science theme. I’m rocking my rainbow skirt.
How many times have you wished I would stop talking about disemboweled bodies during a meal?
At least thrice. Wait, don’t say thrice. You can say at least three times that I can remember. I’m sure there were others.
We are pretty different, wouldn’t you agree? Are there any advantages to having a creative as a spouse, especially as a more analytical person?
You’re more imaginative, and when it comes to making decisions, you can see possibilities that I am not able to consider. For me, things are typically one way or the other. For you, there’s a thousand different options. So I feel like, between the two of us, we’re checking all the boxes.
Also, you’re way better at words. It takes me hours to write an email. Literally, hours.
Do I have any writer quirks? Is there anything I do, or a certain way I act, when I'm writing? Any signs that say "go away, I'm busy"?
You get really focused and I can tell when your brain is somewhere else. You’re in the zone, especially if your brainstorming a new story. Sometimes I’ll ask you a question and you’ll give me a short quiet answer. That means I should leave you alone.
Will you allow me to buy another dog?
Nooooooo…. I won’t. You won’t trick me this time.
What's the biggest frustration of being married to a writer?
Seeing you get frustrated, because I want to help and I know I can’t. I want to get you unstuck, but obviously, I don’t want to influence your ideas. Plus, I can’t always relate to your thought process.
Let's play a game. I'm going to use some publishing terms and we're going to see if you can define them:
Query : Is that the cover letter you send when you’re trying to get a publication noticed?
WIP : I think that’s work-in-progress
Proposal : Before you write something, like an outline of where you want the story to go, to try to get someone to pay you to write it.
Slush pile : That’s where the literary agent people put the stories that they don’t accept.
Comps : Like, compositions?
ARCs : A character’s flow, journey throughout the story. How they change and grow.
Blurp : When another author gives you a quote to put on your book cover
Well, thank you so much for sitting down with me. I know you’re not a huge fan of being in the spotlight so I appreciate it.
No problem.
Thanks to Mr. Bell for his time and insight!
Spotlight: LGBTQIA+ Horror Writers and Characters
It’s June which means it’s Pride Month! What better way to celebrate than to showcase amazing members of the LGBTQIA+ horror writing showcase. Take a look and meet the authors:
Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi: What can’t the talented Lady Dane do? She’s a performing artist, writer, advocate, educator, political commentator, and choreographer. In 2013, she became the first trans woman of color author in DC to publish a work of fiction with a trans woman as the main protagonist that centered around indigenous cultures. In addition, her novel Brew is about a trans teenage witch who quickly discovers things in her daily life aren’t what they appear to be.
Clive Barker - What would this list be without the talented Clive Barker? He’s a writer, director and visual artist. His six book series Books of Blood give life to many fascinating characters including members of the LGBTQIA community.
Sarah Waters - She’s an award winning, best selling author and your fix for Victorian lit. Her books such as Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith feature strong lesbian protagonists.
Poppy Z. Brite - Known for gothic and southern horror as well as dark fiction, Poppy Z. Brite writes incredible and sometimes gruesome stories. Her trademarks are most often gay men characters, graphic sex scenes and intense horror.
Tal Bauer - If you’re into romantic thrillers, this is the writer for you. Tal is an award winning best selling author. His books usually feature M/M romance in a political setting.
KC Luck - KC writes a little of everything, including horror, apocalypse horror, action and adventure, plus contemporary romance. Truly, something for everyone.