Back to School Horror Books!

It’s back to school time! Let’s jump into some horror book recommendations that are set in schools:

Killer Nashville Claymore Award Finalist!

I’m beyond thrilled to announce that my screenplay for Food Fright (my first ever published book) is a Killer Nashville Claymore Award Finalist! It moved from the top 20 to the top 6!

If you haven’t had a chance to check out Food Fright, here’s a bit about it, and you can purchase it here!

High school junior Cassie Adler just wanted the bullying to stop. She thought gaining a spot on the varsity soccer team would whip up instant friends, but it isn't until the popular girls need Cassie's help that they acknowledge her presence. Cassie reluctantly agrees to participate in a prank that turns sour fast. Now with blood on their hands, she and the popular girls race to cover their tracks. But something savage knows what they've done, and it's hungry for revenge. Can Cassie redeem herself before it's too late, or will her deadly sins ketchup to her?

Book 7 in the Rewind-or-Die series: imagine your local movie rental store back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, remember all those fantastic covers. Remember taking those movies home and watching in awe as the stories unfolded in nasty rainbows of gore, remember the atmosphere and textures. Remember the blood.

Ready for Horror Beach Reads?

Who is ready to sit by the pool with a good horror book? Here’s a few suggestions!

It’s time for SUMMER HORROR!

I’m not a fan of the heat, but I LOVE summer horror! Of course, one of the most popular summer horror movies is Jaws, but what about other beach horror movies that are just as thrilling? Here’s some recommendations!

Piranha is just camp b-horror fun! As you can probably guess, a bunch of human-munching piranhas are in the water, and they’re hungry!

Sweetheart is one of the most underrated movies ever! At least, in my opinion. It’s a tense story of a young woman trapped on a deserted island while a creature hunts her.

Beach House features a struggling couple who escape to … you guessed it … a beach house to try and fix their relationship. Soon, they’re interrupted by an older couple and a mysterious environmental concern.

Who doesn’t know The Meg? Okay, just in case you don’t The Meg is about a mega shark that escapes the bottom of the ocean and reeks havoc.

Happy Summer!

HAPPY PRIDE!

IT’S HERE!!!!!!! GET READY FOR FUN PRIDE CONTENT!

Please note, all month the templates are provided by H.Everend who you can hire for your social media needs :)

What is Pink Horror?

The Definition of Pink Horror:

It’s a new term for an old concept. Pink horror is all about uplifting women, femmes, and non-binary writers. It focuses on the real issues these communities face and contains characters, plots, and values with these individuals in mind. Also, there’s plenty of toppling the patriarchy!

Recently, an individuals reached out and asked if all pink horror includes non-binary individuals. I hadn’t even considered otherwise; to me, pink horror doesn’t exist without all non-binary writers; however, after further researched, I noticed some definitions excluding this group of authors.

While the idea of pink horror may be rooted in women and femmes, feminism is not. Intersectional feminism is broad, inclusive in all respects, and effects everyone (even those who deny the need for feminists). I consider pink horror feminist writing, so it makes sense to me that the inclusivity would be extended.

Also, pink horror doesn’t have to be just focused on the seriousness or tragedy of this community. It can be silly, funny, upbeat, and really, anything you can dream up, as long as it holds to the overall tenants of the pink horror definition, which really, is still evolving, so unleash your inner pink feminist and get creative!

Who are the Pink Horror Audiences?

Literally, anyone and everyone. While it’s certainly written for a certain audience, I highly encourage cis-hetero-white men to read and absorb the stories. These are the men at the top of the patriarchy, and it’s always important for this group to check themselves, their actions, and the actions of other men. A great way to understand the point-of-view outside the patriarchy is through storytelling. So, if you’re the leaders of the patriarchy, please pick up some pink horror and give it a read with an open mind!

Can Cis-Hetero-Men Write Pink Horror?

In general, I don’t like censoring what an author can and can’t write. I find the mindset of “this isn’t for you” exclusionary (even if it’s true). My idea of toppling the patriarchy means working with all communities, even those who have permanent seats at the proverbial table. That doesn’t mean everyone agrees with my opinion, and I completely understand that. Reading about a personal topic by someone who hasn’t lived it can be extremely frustrating to say the very least. So, back to the original question. I’d say every cis-hetero-man will have to decide that for himself; however, if his book takes the place of an equally qualified story written by a member of a marginalized community, the man should be prepared for backlash. While writing pink horror as a man and publishing it for free on a blog with no intention of progressing towards publication where they profit is one topic, being published and becoming a best seller and profiting while a marginalized writer is tossed into the slush pile is a different topic.

In a perfect world, in my mind, there would be room for all of us at the table. We have a long way to go for that.

How Are My Books Pink Horror?

Dissociate Identity Disorder: Mental Health Awareness Month

It’s Mental Health Awareness month which means we’re going to be diving in to how the horror genre handles this sensitive topic. We’re going to talk about specific mental health concerns, movies and books that get it right (and wrong), and share personal stories to help spread awareness and break the stigma!

Today, we dive into dissociative identity disorder, a commonly used plot device within the horror community. Often, it feels like writers are quick to add mental illness as a character plot point without doing proper research and presenting the mental illness with accuracy and respect. In my opinion, these are some books that do it right. Note: I realize Fight Club isn’t a horror book, but I believe it handles the topic well.

3 Body Problem: Not A Problem for Viewers

I’m about halfway through the new Netflix show 3 Body Problem, so let’s chat about this big budget adaptation.

First, you may be like me and have started the series completely unaware that this is adapted from a book series written by Liu Cixin. The first book, The Three-Body Problem, seems to follow closely to the Netflix show as ties into China’s Cultural Revolution where an alien signal is first received. Not having read the books (yet), I can’t say if the show follows the rest of the series, but as a stand alone from the literature from which it’s based, Netflix seems to have a hit on their hands.

The show vacillates from China’s Cultural Revolution to present day London where scientists are experiencing high suicide rates. Slowly, the series pieces together an intriguing puzzle linking the two and weaving mystery into a wonderfully tense plot.

So what is the 3 Body Problem?

I won’t give too much away since this is certainly a show worth watching but know that the 3 body problem sits at the heart of the alien contact. While you may think you understand the intention of this integral story element, there is a clever pivot which shifts the focus of the characters’ overall intentions.

Who is in the cast?

The characters come to life with a dynamic and talented group of actors. Here’s the core five:

3 Body Problem Cast

Eiza González (I Care A Lot, Godzilla vs. Kong, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw) plays Auggie Salazar, a brilliant nanotech expert on the verge of revolutionizing the industry.

John Bradley (Game of Thrones, North Shore) plays the lovable (if not stereotypical) silly sidekick and comedic relief who quit his posh college life and to start a snack business empire.

Jess Hong (Inked, The Brokenwood Mysteries) plays a genius theoretical physicist who finds herself entangled in a complex web

Jovan Adepo (Babylon, Watchmen (series)) plays the scientist who isn’t as serious as the rest but a loyal friend

Alex Sharp (How to Talk to Girls at Parties) plays the lovable, if not a bit sad, physics teacher who receives life changing news

From what I can tell from reading about this series online, the book has very different characters, but again, I’ve yet to read it.

What I can say is that halfway into the series, I’m completely hooked. There’s tons of twists and curious moments, intrigue and mystery, and plenty of tension. To watch, go to Netflix!

Three Quick Queer Horror Book Recommendations

It’s time to diversify those bookshelves! If you’re new to Queer horror and looking for some recommendations, here are five incredible queer horror books written by openly queer authors. Check them out:

Blood and Flowers by Mars Adler

Two warring vampire families must set aside their differences to solve the disturbing mystery of a cursed house.

Brainwryms by Alison Rumfitt

Shocking, grotesque, and downright filthy, Brainwyrms confronts the creeping reality of political terrorism while exploring the depths of love, pain, and identity.

When a transphobic woman bombs Frankie’s workplace, she blows up Frankie’s life with it. As the media descends like vultures, Frankie tries to cope with the carnage: binge-drinking, sleeping with strangers, pushing away her friends. Then, she meets Vanya. Mysterious, beautiful, terrifying Vanya.

The two hit it off immediately, but as their relationship intensifies, so too does Frankie’s feeling that Vanya is hiding something from her. When Vanya’s secrets threaten to tear them apart, Frankie starts digging, and unearths a sinister, depraved conspiracy, the roots of which go deeper than she ever imagined.

Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker-Martin

From Gretchen Felker-Martin, the acclaimed author of Manhunt, comes a vicious new novel about a group of teens who must stay true to themselves while in a conversion camp from hell.

Something evil is buried deep in the desert.
It wants your body.
It wears your skin.

In the summer of 1995, seven queer kids abandoned by their parents at a remote conversion camp came face to face with it. They survived—but at Camp Resolution, everybody leaves a different person.

Sixteen years later, only the scarred and broken survivors of that terrible summer can put an end to the horror before it's too late.

The fate of the world depends on it.