Women In Horror Month: Focus on Artists #WIHM

Horror Genre Artists

Women in horror month is the time of year we celebrate females slaying the horror industry. Last year, I spent time highlighting women in film and literature who are killing it in the horror genre. This year, I wanted to show off some amazing artists who bring the terror to life through art.

Recently, I’ve been spending more time exploring horror art, and drawing inspiration. Here are some incredible artists to check out and, hopefully, inspire you:

Reiko Murakami

Reiko Murakami is known for her surreal and horror characters. Her majestic and eerie portrays of the human body captivate the imagination. My favorite are her illustrations / digital art. Check out her website where you can scroll through her drawings, concept art, coasters and more.

Carly Janine Mazur

Carly Janine Mazur works with oil and acrylics to create dynamic and colorful, yet hauntingly provocative illustrations. My favorite is Meche, which you can check out here. She weaves together the human form with abstract ideas in order to create a stunning visual experience.

Laurie Lipton

Laurie Lipton uses black and white to encompass a haunting world of ghosts, death, and unsettling worlds. She’s meticulous with details, and not only explores the horror genre, but the science fiction as well. Whether you’re drawn to her Day of the Dead series or Machine punk collection, you’ll find something that inspires. Check her out here.

What To Expect in 2020

Hello and thank you so much for checking out my site! If you’re a new visitor, welcome :) If you’ve been here before, thanks for the support and coming back! Since it’s a new year, I thought this would be a good time to take a moment and announce some fun things coming up in 2020.

First, my debut novel Food Fright will be published on March 26th as part of Unnerving’s Rewind or Die series. All year long, books are released under this collection and with strong camp/90s vibes. So be sure to check that out!

I also continue to submit short fiction and drabbles to various publications. I got an acceptance yesterday, so I can announce that I’ll have a Valentine’s Day themed 188 word story coming out this February. More on that soon!

I’m still considering starting a YouTube channel. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while, so this may be the year I give it a try. Maybe. I don’t know. I want to, but there’s so much negativity online, and I’m not sure I want to expose myself to the comment section of YouTube videos. Time will tell.

Finally, I hope to finish another horror comedy manuscript by summer 2020 so I can participate in PitchWars.

What are you planning for 2020?

All I Want For Christmas is Gifts Under $10 : A Cheap Gift Guide for Horror Lovers

It’s that time of year again! The tinsel is hung, hot chocolate is poured, and it’s time to exchange presents! But what do you get the horror lover in your life? Here’s a list of possibilities:

Adorable vampire salt and pepper shakers available online from Walmart (You can also find them on Amazon) $12.99

Cthulhu Ornament, perfect for any Christmas tree $11.96

Scrub-a-Dub-Dub, it’s Creature from the Black Lagoon Soap in your tub! $11.95

Checking in with your Bates Motel Key Chain $7.00

For the outdoor camping enthusiast, Camp Crystal Lake T-Shirt $6.00

Four Writers I'm Thankful For #WritingCommunity

With Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s a time of reflection. So I decided to come up with a list of authors who I am thankful for. In no specific order, these are the writers who influenced and inspired me during various seasons of my life.

1. Susan May Warren : I started writing in Christian fiction and romance. The first book I read in that genre was a Susan May Warren book, and I was hooked. She’s a wordsmith, crafted character-driven novels that inspired me and helped when I was going through a difficult period in life. But it wasn’t just her writing that shaped me. She’s a teacher, traveling around the country hosting writing workshops. Years ago, I nearly passed out when I discovered she was coming to my state and only a few hours from my city. I signed up, promised myself I wouldn’t “fan girl” all over her, and got ready to meet one of my favorite authors. I wasn’t disappointed. For two days, I learned more than I had in a year of trying to crack the writing world on my own. When I came back, revised my manuscript, and sent it to my critique partners, one replied, “Geeze, what did you learn? It’s like you’re a completely different writer.” And I was. Even though I left Christian fiction, I still use the techniques in her workshop every time I sit down at my computer. Her tips still echo in my mind. Her words of wisdom still comfort me when doubt and fear creep up. I’m very thankful for the chance to meet and learn under her.

2. Chuck Palahnuik : This one shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. I’m basically obsessed with his writing. The first Palahnuik book I read was Choke, parts of which I still quote to myself when life shits all over itself. He not only provides me with radical escapes from reality, but he proves to all rebels and outcasts there is a place for them in the world. When I was making my shift from Christian to horror, it was Palahnuik’s writings that gave me the courage to make the final leap. Because he’s brave. Because he’s gritty. Because he makes me gag and squirm and cringe and he doesn’t apologize for it. His writing is an embrace of the weird, not an omission, and during a time in my writing career where I clearly wasn’t fitting into the Christian world, it was this wild fearlessness that inspired me. I’m so thankful for him.

3. John Irving : Okay, this one might be a surprise. To understand why he’s made the list, we must travel back to my high school senior English class. There I was. Little Nico, sitting in her desk, staring at the reading list and feeling nothing but dread. I hated reading. I hadn’t completed a book since I outgrew the Babysitter Club Little Sister books by Ann M. Martin. (Side note - I’m thankful for Cliff notes for making it possible for me to never read a full book for the majority of my reading assignments). It wasn’t that I hated storytelling. I loved to write from an early age and dreamed of being published. But reading? Reading took time, and I was a very slow reader. I still am. And that doesn’t work well in public school where you have to read, understand, analyze and report on a book within a confined time limit. So when I saw A Prayer For Owen Meany by Irving had 645 pages, I knew I was doomed. This was also right around the time my parents caught on to my Cliff Notes scheme. (I mean, I’m surprised it took so long.) And since this was pre-information available at the click of a button, I was forced to actually read the book. To my surprise, I loved it. It took awhile for me to get through it, but unlike past attempts to meet reading deadlines, I actually enjoyed staying up late reading this book. It was the first book I completed in years, but more importantly, it was the first book I loved in years. And it re-sparked my love of reading. It also taught me that some books are worth the effort, and slow reading isn’t “bad”, as my teen self believed. If it takes me a long to read a book, so be it. I’m thankful for that lesson.

4. Ann M. Martin : Ah, the Babysitter Little Sister Club. These are the books of my childhood. I read every one multiple times, mimicked the story structure when writing my own stories, and even convinced my parents to buy me a pet mouse who I named Pepper (Karen had a pet rat, but my folks weren’t willing to go that far into the rodent world). When I outgrew these books, I never really found a new niche. I tried R.L. Stine, but at that point in my life, I didn’t like being scared. (I still don’t. I much prefer to scare others….mwa-ha-ha). These books provided a wholesome escape and for that, I’m thankful.

   
   What about you? What writer inspired you to start writing? Which author sparked your imagination? I’d love to hear!

Five Feminist Horror Movies to Get You Excited About The Genre #MovieReview

Five Feminist Horror Movies

Feminist horror embodies the values of feminist culture. Not sure where to get started in this subgenre? Give these five movies a watch!

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014) This is a gorgeously crafted tale of a skateboarding vampire who lives in a worn-down Iranian city. She preys on men who mistreat women in this beautiful and striking black and white horror flick directed by Ana Lily Amirpour. If anything screams female empowerment, it’s this justice seeking vampire.

The Witch (2015) No one believes Thomason’s innocence in this period horror film. Set in 1630, a New England family is outcasted and forced to live on the edge of society, surrounded by ominous woods. Their baby boy disappears, and Thomason is blamed. Soon, the family accuses her of witchcraft, and their love and faith are tested. This story shines light on the marginalized role of women in society, how they are treated under the harsh stare of the patriarch and how their words fall on deaf ears.

Teeth (2007) This movie is a wild ride. Dawn is a member of her high school’s chastity club, but when she meets Tobey, they decide to break the vow. Unfortunately, Dawn discovers that lying within her vagina are a pair of teeth, ready to gnaw and gnash any unworthy man. It’s a crazy coming of age tale that exams the power roles within a sexual relationship and gives Dawn the ability control who and when men get to have sex with her.

It Follows (2014) Death is a sexual transmitted infection in this horror flick. Jay and her boyfriend Hugh have sex for the first time, and that’s when Jay discovers she’s been marked. Death creeps in the shadows, waiting to consume her unless she passes the curse to another person. This movie can be interpreted a few different ways. It highlights how sexual partners become a part of our histories, always following us through life. If taken more literally, it illuminates the dangers of STI’s. It doesn’t condone or condemn sex, just highlights many issues surrounding it with Jay at the center.

Audition (1999) This is a Japanese thriller horror flick that follows Aoyama, a producer widower who is ready to start dating again. He makes up an acting role and has women audition, as a way to find a new partner. It’s through here that he meets Asami, dressed in white as an expression of purity similar to his deceased wife. And that’s when everything turns. She isn’t what she seems, and she’s not interested in playing the role of the docile housewife.

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:

Twitter

Instagram

Website

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