I love scary stories. I’m also a total chicken. I grew up telling stories on the playground, huddled around trees or crawling into quiet places with friends to to listen to urban legends and frightening tales, from La Llorona to to Bloody Mary, to strange tales of a woman with the ribbon around her throat that literally held her head on to creepy dolls come to life the moment you closed your eyes to sleep at night…I couldn’t help myself. I devoured them!
In class, we learned more about La Llorona (a figure that inspired my novella, Weep, Woman, Weep), Baba Yaga, and all sorts of spooky stories that gave me a good chill but were rather less terrifying than what I heard on the playground.
Of course, there was no better time to tell and listen to these stories than the fall, as the season slowly ripened into Halloween, the days got shorter, and the cool evenings and turning leaves were the perfect backdrop for stories that reminded us that there is more to this world than meets the eye.
I would come home from school filled up on those terrible tales and, after playing in piles of leaves in my backyard, would feel a growing sense of unease as the sun began to set and darkness took over. I was certainly grateful for the comforting presence of my dogs when darkness stole across the sky. The feelings were pushed away with dinner, in the cozy brightness of the kitchen and the warmth of family, but readily came back when I was tuckedin bed later that night.
Every creek, howl of wind, or cricket chirp sounded like aghostly footstep, theweeping woman, or all manner of supernatural threats. Mirrors were not to be looked in, when the sun went down. Windows must be closed at night, lest La Llorona find a way in. Blankets were to be tucked around you up to your chin to protect you from whatever might be lurking under the bed.
I felt would never fall asleep!
But, of course, I did. And with the coming sun, came the confidence of youth that there was nothing truly scary in this world and I went right back to the playground ready to consume more lurid and horrible tales.
They were terrifying. They were also thrilling. I couldn’t help myself—even when they gave me nightmares and my mom tried to get me to stop listening to these stories—they had this allure to me, pulling me into a world of the strange and gothic.
The feeling didn’t go away as I got older. Take, for example, the time I went trick o’ treating with a friend in middle school, one of the last times I would venture out on that childhood ritual. I was no stranger to haunted houses—there were plenty in my neighborhood. I livednext door to one and there was another a few blocks away that looked like something out of a gothic novel: big, dark, looming, and a story about a murder so strange and unexpected it devolved into its own neighborhood legend with everyone having a slightly different explanation for why the house just felt…off.
My friend and I were alone on the street and were doing our best to casually walk past the house, feeling very brave and very adult in our fairy costumes, proud of the fact that we could trick-or-treating unchaperoned. But once we neared that house, suddenly home felt so very far away, the other groups of Halloween revelers so very far away. There was only the darkness surround us and the specter of that gina those before us.
Then we heard something—a yip, a yell, from someone in the distance—and we screamed, running for the safety of my home.Gone were the bold, brave adults and in their place were two frightened children who wanted nothing more than the warm lights and safety of home. As it turns out, the noise we heard was from a bunch of wildpartiers, but it became so much morefrightening when it was disembodied and the shadows fed my imagination, as did all the terrible tales I’d been coming that season.
As scary as that was, and as silly as my friend and I felt in retrospect, there was no denying the fun we had, nor the deep sense of comfort we felt in returning to my house. That’s what scary stories do for us. They bring us home. We find catharsis in facing the darkness and making it out the other side. We appreciate the light where and when we can find it.
Here I am now—still loving scary stories. Still a total chicken. Still ready for a good tale of terror…in the daylight. Still not looking in mirrors and closing all my windows at night. And I speed up whenever I have to walk by that haunted house, indeed any haunted house, less the specters inside think to invite me in.
That’s the beauty of these early childhood frights. They gave me a solid appreciate of the thrills of a good scary story and a healthy respect for the unseen worlds or even vibes I get that tell me a person or situation is more than meets the eye.
This is why I tell spooky stories today. They reveal so much more about ourselves and the world around us than many an ordinary tale. From writing horror comedy about the terrors of dating in Hungry Business to the haunting wails of La Llorona in Weep, Woman, Weep, all my tales are inspired by the ordinary gothic all around us, pairing catharsis as we face the dark and find the light. What do you love about scary stories?
MY REVIEW
Hungry Business by Maria DeBlassie is a quick read horror story with a little snark on the side. Dating during a zombie apocalypse is not and easy thing to do. Are you eating or being eaten? Do they have a heartbeat, even if half their face is missing? Will she be alone for the rest of her days? Is there any point in leaving the house? The cat in the window….
Hungry Business by Maria DeBlassie is an okay read and the cover does intrigue me.
2 Stars
Hungry Business: A Gothic Story about the Horrors of Dating
Maria DeBlassie
Genre: horror, comedy
Publisher: Kitchen Witch Press
Date of Publication: October 12, 2020
ASIN: B08L48MVHD
Number of pages: 20
Word Count: 4400
Tagline: Dating. It’s hungry business.
Book Description:
Looking for love can be deadly…
A short story on the horrors of dating during a zombie apocalypse by bruja and award-winning writer and educator, Maria DeBlassie.
“Simple yet detailed, unique, and innovative. A brilliantly written little gem that is equal part creepy with the plague of walking dead and equal parts cozy with the hot chocolate and watching the neighbor’s cat.”
“Drawing parallels between the pitfalls of dating and dating in the zombie apocalypse, this short story packs a big world into a few pages.”
“Just the right size to occupy your time while waiting. I hope you find the humor I found.”
You know how it goes.
You go out, hoping to meet someone.
You wade through your fair share of brainless automatons, lifeless bodies, and ravenous undead, good at passing as human.
The more you go out, the less hope you feel and the colder your body gets.
But you keep at it.
All you need is one beating heart to match your own before yours stops pumping altogether.
How hard can it be to find one living, breathing human in a city full of bodies?
He said he’d
love to have you for dinner—but you are careful.
A woman has to
be careful. Never give them your address. Don’t drink too much.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Carry grave dirt to
throw at them if they get too forward. Be ready to run to the nearest
safe space if needed. The good news is that the Hungries, while
persistent, are dumb as fuck (brain rot, you know) and slower than the sickness
overtaking their bodies. Unless, of course, they are well fed, which is
rarely the case.
This one looks a
little better, you think optimistically.
You sit across
from each other at the dinner table. The white tablecloth is as smooth
and unblemished as his collared shirt. He has dressed for the occasion,
taking care to hide the evidence of his affliction as best he can (though truly
there is only so much he can do with a missing ear and half a brain).
Still, the tuxedo and carefully applied makeup are enough to create the
illusion of pumping blood beneath his pallid, blush-stained cheeks—in the right
light. Which is another reason why you chose this place. Candlelight can
hide a multitude of sins.
His manners are
studied and smooth, as if he has spent a lot of time practicing more human-like
movements and behavior. You admire a man who makes that kind of effort.
He watches you as much as you do him, as if he is trying to remember what
it was like to be alive. When you reach for your wine glass, so does he—only
his thick decaying fingers almost crush the stem, whereas your nimble live ones
carefully bring the dark red liquid to your mouth. You try not to notice how he
stares at your lips—stained now from the wine—wondering, perhaps, how you
taste. As it turns out, he does get a taste of you. You’ve been surreptitiously
picking at a hangnail on your pinky finger—that’s how scintillating the
conversation is—when you looked down and realize it is your whole fingernail
that has come off. You stare at it in horror, letting the truth of your
situation sink in.
At least he has
the decency to wait until you’ve left the table before grabbing your napkin and
stuffing your bloodied nail in his mouth. A little color comes back into
his face. He groans in ecstasy.
Nice to know you
could still have that effect on a man.
About the Author:
Maria DeBlassie, Ph.D. is a native New Mexican mestiza blogger, award-winning writer, and award-winning educator living in the Land of Enchantment. Her first book, Everyday Enchantments: Musings on Ordinary Magic and Daily Conjurings (Moon Books 2018), and her ongoing blog, Enchantment Learning and Living are about everyday magic, ordinary gothic, and the life of a kitchen witch. When she is not practicing her own brand of brujeria, she’s reading, teaching, and writing about bodice rippers and things that go bump in the night. She is forever looking for magic in her life and somehow always finding more than she thought was there.
**images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**
Hi Everyone. Hope you are doing well and enjoying the weekend. I am watching my MICHIGAN play football. Looks like the officials are having trouble. GO BLUE!
We went to Biloxi for Crusin’ The Coast. I love watching all the cool cars and the FLAME OUTS.
I got the idea and the motivation to start doing Tackling The TBR from All The Book Blog Names Are Taken. It has helped me to keep track of my reading shelf as far as current events and to tidy up my shelves. I feel better about my out of control TBR and have even knocked off a couple of those old ones that had been hanging around for years.
COME ON….JOIN IN.
Previous Total: 2054
Currently Reading
Books Read
I couldn’t find Monsters by S M Reine on Amazon, so the cover is linked to Goodreads.
When I saw the cover, then read the blurb, I had to read Only Child by Casey Kelleher. The story twisted and turned, just like my mind. Great job, Casey.
I have been reading more books with diverse characters and I am so happy that I have found new authors to keep an eye on. Casey Kelleher is one of them.
Some may say that Sherrie is a helicopter mom, but she does what she always does, makes things all better for her daughter, Kayla.
The resilience of youth is alive and well in Kayle. Things don’t keep her down for long.
I knew the villain early on, but I didn’t know what made him the villain. I know the victim, now it’s a matter of getting the details.
Panic attacks. Blackouts. PTSD.
The mins is an amazing organ that does its best to protect us when our lives becomes so overwhelming we can no longer cope. I love psychological thrillers and delving into the minds of the characters. Why they do what they do. We have some great ones here.
Well…I though I knew what was coming, but I was so wrong. I love when an author can surprise me and there were plenty of surprises to keep me glued to the pages.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Only Child by Casey Kelleher.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The police are here. The feeling of pure dread swirls in my stomach as a million scenarios start playing out in my head. My whole life I’ve expected something bad to happen to my daughter. It is as if part of me has been expecting it. As if I deserve it.
Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them.
Then one day – just as Sherrie had dreaded – Kayla fails to return home after a sleepover. In desperation, Sherrie and her husband Richard call Kayla’s friends. They scour the streets, their search becoming more and more frantic. Until the police arrive and deliver the shocking news, when their worst nightmare comes true: someone has their daughter.
As Sherrie and Richard grill friends, family, and even each other, Sherrie starts to wonder, has the secret they’ve been hiding all these years finally caught up with them?
Because Sherrie and Richard are living a lie. A lie so huge, so shocking, that it could destroy the one thing they hold most dear – their daughter.
And if the truth comes out, their family will never be the same. But if it doesn’t, they will never see their precious girl again…
ABOUT CASEY KELLEHER (from Amazon)
I was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, and i grew up as an avid reader.
Whilst working as a beauty therapist and bringing up our three children together with my husband, I penned my debut novel Rotten to the Core. Its success meant that I could give up my day job and concentrate on writing full time. I have since written fourteen books. (all listed below)
I love connecting with my readers, and there are plenty of ways you can get in touch.
Pets in Space 7: A Science Fiction Romance Anthology Publication date: October 4th 2022 Genres: Adult, Romance, Science Fiction
Pets in Space® is back for a new year of adventures!
Pets in Space is back and better than ever! Featuring 13 original, never-before-released stories from some of today’s bestselling science fiction romance authors, starring your favorite sci-fi pets. These furry, feathered, and slightly alien friends are always ready for a new adventure with their two-legged human and alien companions. From dogs to cats to sea creatures and unicorns, these romantic tales show that pets are more than just animals – they’re family.
This limited-edition anthology includes novellas by some of the biggest names in science fiction romance. New York Times Bestseller S.E. Smith and USA Today Bestsellers R.J. Blain, Grace Goodwin, Skye MacKinnon, Carol Van Natta, Honey Phillips, Carysa Locke, S.J. Pajonas, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch, plus Leslie Chase, Winnie Winkle, and Candace Colt.
The Pets in Space 7 authors continue their vital support of Hero-Dogs.org, the non-profit charity that improves quality of life for veterans of the U.S. military and first-responders with disabilities.
Don’t miss out — grab this limited-edition anthology before it’s too late!
What was the human doing here? No sane female would seek out these bastards.
Until she appeared, everything had been going to plan. Humans in a black vehicle had arrived to pick up some Quell at the odd window on the side of the building. I’d marked their vehicle so I could track them once I was done here.
Then? Chaos. Human weapons firing. The female was injured, severely.
The Siren operatives didn’t know I was here. Not yet. But I would take pleasure in ending their lives. Males of worth did not harm females of any species.
“Let her bleed out. Kill the animal. We can dump the bodies later.”
I moved closer without making a sound.
“No!” The female’s voice rang out.
I watched the Rogue 5 hybrid lift his ion blaster and point it toward the animal. I could not afford to intervene. Rokor, their leader, was dangerous. Deadly. I could not lose foc—
I felt the blast to my hip as if I were the one shot. The barrier in my mind shattered like broken glass and suddenly I was seeing through two sets of eyes.
She held up her small, blood-stained hand and begged for her pet’s life. “Don’t hurt her. Don’t. Please.”
I saw myself through her eyes, a shadow moving closer, Death himself. She was not afraid of dying, nor of me. She wanted—me. My cock twitched. Hard. Hot. My hand burned. She wanted to be in my arms. She ached for me.
She was mine.
The connection faded yet I clung to the fleeting warmth in my mind, desperate to feel it again. It had only been a few seconds, but I was out of time.
Her beast must have sensed the danger as well. The golden animal charged the male who held the ion blaster.
Join Us For This Tour From Oct 4 to Oct 17 Book Details:
Book Title: Through New York’s Golden Door: An American Journey by H. Claude Shostal Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 384 pages Genre: Memoir Publisher: Mascot Books Publication Date: Oct 4, 2022 Tour dates: Oct 4 to Oct 17 Content Rating: PG
Book Description:
How did a sickly infant smuggled through France during the darkest days of World War II become a “Rockefeller guy,” grow into something approaching an elder statesman in New York’s civic community, and along the way amass a respectable portfolio of adventure travel? In H. Claude Shostal’s words: “Of one thing I am quite certain: my story could not have happened anywhere else.”
Claude Shostal was part of one of the few Jewish families who successfully made a hazardous escape from Nazi Europe in 1941. Even though they arrived in America penniless and in debt, his parents were able to create a good life that allowed their son to live out the American Dream. He has lived a rich life, with patches of heartbreak, but marked by far more excitement and fulfillment than despair or disappointment.
Opifex is an organization committed to Inexora, a ritual that, when completed, will begin a new era. What does that mean?
Running, searching, faced with the ultimate task, Thomas, Rex, Malachi and Karel meet in a face off. Will darkness be unleashed? Is the end of world nigh?
I felt I was in a Supernatural TV episode. I had a hard time deciding who was good and who was bad. Many lives will be sacrificed and I can’t imagine the terror as they met their end.
The story flowed smoothly. The major players stood out, but I knew who I was rooting for. I had no idea how the story would end…and I was eager to find out. Soooo, buckle your seat belt, because this is a wild ride.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Inexora: The Killing Plan by Tobias Hall.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
“Something is at the door, pushing against the frame. The handle rattles and thousands of voices whisper through the keyhole. The Opifex removed the locks that kept everybody safe.
A god is awakening in the darkness, with a hunger invoked by a thousand years of sleep. It spreads fear, corrupts and destroys, leaving this world hollow.
Time is running out and as the world tumbles into chaos, Thomas must unearth the past of the Archontix to save himself and change the fate of humanity. “
ABOUT TOBIAS HALL
I write about the things which push people into the darker side of life. I’m fascinated by resilience, strength, and human resourcefulness.
Skipped school for the first time at age nine because I had to finish Tolkien’s “Return of the King”.
I love music, especially metal and old punk and hip-hop.
I’m passionate about philosophy, psychology and studied archaeology at Gothenburg university.
I grew up in Sweden, Italy and now live in Chelmsford, UK with my family.
I like to write late in the evening, then reluctantly try to sleep while having too many things on my mind.
Realm of Darkness A Limited Edition Fantasy and Paranormal Collection Publication date: October 4th 2022 Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
When darkness falls, beware of the creatures that come out to play…
Fall under their spell over and over again in this ultimate paranormal and fantasy romance boxset! Over 40 full-length novels with heart-melting heroes and devastating anti-heroes, full of romance, magic, mystery, and adventure can be yours for an insanely low price.
Ready to be swept away? Your book boyfriends are waiting… Enemies-to-lovers, alphas, fae, werewolves, dragons, shapeshifters, vampires, gods, angels, demons, and more: with novels ranging from sweet to spicy, there’s a flavor to sate your every craving.
You won’t find these exclusive novels anywhere else, so don’t miss your chance. Over ten thousand pages by New York Times, USA Today, and International bestselling authors and at less than three cents per book, this collection is a steal, but only for a limited time. Grab it today before it’s gone forever…
Jaiya swallowed, feeling the sharp nick of the blade barely brushing her skin.
She turned her head to the side, exposing her neck to the dominant male, as blood trickled from her fresh wound.
“I yield,” she whispered, closing her eyes. Her voice barely registered to her own ears.
The weight of the blade lifted away as the prince trailed his nose along her neck, breathing in her scent.
She gasped when his smooth tongue lapped at her wound. Something hard pressed against her thigh, growing with each passing moment.
She was afraid to move, to fight. Here was a side of the prince that she had never seen before, as he went from an attacker to . . . an aroused caregiver?
—
Unblessed by Nia
Being flogged with a wire whip.
Carrying red-hot metal bare-handed.
Getting bitten by a nest of rattlesnakes.
Nia hadn’t enjoyed any of them. But she would rather relive any of those experiences than spend even one second with Xavier Rohesia. And here she was, preparing to spend the next five days with him. Alone. In a secluded cabin.
Inhaling the scent of jasmine courtesy of the nearby aromatherapy mister, she slid deeper into the warm bubbling water. I’m going to enjoy every second of this that I can before I have to meet up with that insufferable man.
Despite tightly braiding her long black hair and curling it into a tight bun on top of her head, strands had worked their way loose and clung to her damp neck and shoulders. As long as the rest stayed up — she’d no wish to wash and dry the thigh length mass of it after this soak.
Sunk in the water to her chin, Nia continued to expand her list of things that she would prefer to do rather than spend time with Xavier.
Running without cover to draw fire from my triad.
Shopping at a big box store the day before Christmas.
Nia shuddered at the last thought as she positioned herself to have jets of water massage her lower back. That trip had been horrifying. The things she did for her triad, her partners in all things…but joining them on a shopping trip during the Christmas season had stretched her bond with them to the limit. Adding their respective partners had nearly killed her. Nia would much rather be shot at.
And now she had to spend a week in a cabin shared by the asshole unicorn who did not live up to his last name – kindness. To make matters worse, there was a strict no killing rule. The mage may have saved the life of Amir’s lover, but this was still a steep price for it.
A deadly, incurable disease creeps silent through Chattanooga. And its victims aren’t random. When inexplicable human rabies cases appear in Tennessee, disease ecologist Letty Duquesne jumps at the chance to trace the virus back to its source. But the closer Letty gets to finding the outbreak’s origin, the further someone will go to stop her. With an unwanted promotion threatening to take Letty far from the field work she loves, this outbreak feels like her last chance to make a difference. It’s not something she can ignore, especially now. The spillover of zoonotic diseases to the human population is on the rise and violent animal attacks — like the one that killed her sister — are becoming all too common. Something in nature has gone very wrong. Local authorities would rather she go home, but Letty can track a source animal like no one else. With the help of disgraced detective, Andrew Marsh, Letty follows the virus’s epidemiological trail. But her every move is watched. And the source animal is closer than she thinks. Inhuman Acts is a pulse-pounding thriller. Gripping and intricately paced, Brooke L. French’s debut novel will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Book Details: Genre: Thriller Published by: Black Rose Writing Publication Date: September 29th 2022 Number of Pages: 310 ISBN: 1685130356 (ISBN13: 9781685130350) Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
ABOUT BROOKE L FRENCH
Brooke L. French is a recovering lawyer turned writer who lives with her husband and sons between Atlanta and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. She spends most of her days gleefully researching and writing about fatal viruses, terrorism, and murder.
Awesome cover! I usually wait until it is closer to release day, which is 1.10.23, but I thought this might peak your interest for October. I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review The Nightmare Man by J H Markert.
The cover caught my eye and when I read the blurb, I thought of Stephen King. How can I go wrong? Blackwood Mansion. The Atrium. Oswald Asylum. A family, murdered, hung by the barn rafters in a cocoon. A book that comes to life.
I want to share so much, that I quit taking notes. I was afraid of spoiling the horror for YOU.
This is my first novel by J H Markert/James Markert and I thoroughly enjoyed the grim story. I love books that deal with the depravity of humanity. It also brings about the best in people. All I KNOW is that you won’t find me wandering around in the cornfield. You never know what might be out there.
I didn’t find any mind blowing moments, but I did find myself wondering what was coming next, at times rapidly flipping the pages because I had to know.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Nightmare Man by J H Markert.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
T. Kingfisher meets Cassandra Khaw in a chilling horror novel that illustrates the fine line between humanity and monstrosity.
Blackwood mansion looms, surrounded by nightmare pines, atop the hill over the small town of New Haven. Ben Bookman, bestselling novelist and heir to the Blackwood estate, spent a weekend at the ancestral home to finish writing his latest horror novel, The Scarecrow. Now, on the eve of the book’s release, the terrible story within begins to unfold in real life.
Detective Mills arrives at the scene of a gruesome murder: a family butchered and bundled inside cocoons stitched from corn husks, and hung from the rafters of a barn, eerily mirroring the opening of Bookman’s latest novel. When another family is killed in a similar manner, Mills, along with his daughter, rookie detective Samantha Blue, is determined to find the link to the book—and the killer—before the story reaches its chilling climax.
As the series of “Scarecrow crimes” continues to mirror the book, Ben quickly becomes the prime suspect. He can’t remember much from the night he finished writing the novel, but he knows he wrote it in The Atrium, his grandfather’s forbidden room full of numbered books. Thousands of books. Books without words.
As Ben digs deep into Blackwood’s history he learns he may have triggered a release of something trapped long ago—and it won’t stop with the horrors buried within the pages of his book.
ABOUT J H MARKERT/JAMES MARKERT
J. H. Markert is the pen name for writer James Markert, an award-winning novelist, producer screenwriter, husband, and father of two from Louisville, Kentucky, where he was also a tennis pro for 25 years, before hanging up the racquets for good in 2020. He graduated with a degree in History from the University of Louisville in 1997 and has been writing ever since.
