THE WALKING DEAD TV SERIES: HORROR AT ITS BEST!

WOW! This series got me hooked from the first episode I saw! It's got it all, scares, zombies, fine acting and it's well-written. I am a horror fan and horror author. And I've been searching for good, solid well-made horror all my life! Most films disappoint I found. Although, I nearly always find something that I like in a film.

But THIS! This is one hell of a series and I say that because it's a lot more than flesh-eating zombies stomping around. It's much more. It presents itself realistically, as in WHAT IF?

The people who don't, for one reason or another, succumb to a horrific death by zombies cannibalizing them, develop and change in order to survive. And it's how they change that I find fascinating. The writers present those changes in a realistic way. Not everyone can become stronger without becoming vicious, nearly as bad as the monstrous zombies.

Rick has to be the best. He is the Adam of this horrific apocalyptic world. He sometimes weakens but never loses his humanity. He just carries on, supporting his 'clan' and they are a clan in the best sense. Each, their own person, warriors that know all too well how tenuous their survival is.

They yearn for normalcy, but accept it's not available and might never be. That hopelessness is the true horror of the tale. But then again, the horror is about people turning on one another, it's about cruelty, madness, sadism, to the point where some of the human survivors Rick's clan come into contact with, almost make the zombies look like the good guys! How's that for a layered, character-driven plot!!

Fighting to stay alive, protecting yourself, family and friends, losing tragically those you love, is at the core of it all. And then it seems no matter how much they fight, those zombies keep coming at them. And if they manage somehow to defeat them, the monstrous humans try to kill them.

I asked myself why? Why can't all the survivors just band together and fight a common enemy!
They can't. Not in this series. They can't because this series is different. It recognizes evil in its human form and how in the most dire circumstances, people's best and worst qualities surface.

I hope the series serves as a benchmark in horror. I hope it raises the standards of horror writing, acting and directing! I think it might if for no other reason than its success proves what people want. Please given them what they want! 

Horror Push Your Buttons?!

HOUSE OF HORRORS 99 CENTS PROMOTION THRU MAY 8!

Cute little guy, isn't he? He's got a truckload of amigos just like him in my horror story collection which is on promotion at 99 cents until May 8th!

It's packed with stories that appeared in various horror anthologies and sci-fi ones. There are four sci-fi shorts.

But for you horror fans, you'll find stories of vampires, zombies, murderous midgets, demon clowns, evil dolls, haunted cemeteries, a real shop of horrors, taxidermy gone haywire, serial killers (3 Jack the Ripper stories), satanist dollmakers, child vampires, infamous mass murderers, haunted theaters, dancing dead, toys that kill, necromancy, necromantics, stories that inspired novels...and more!

MORE?!

You bet!

AMAZON BEST SELLER 2015 HORROR ANTHOLOGIES 

"I live for stories like these!"

Carole Gill’s talent is a wonder to experience. She has the uncanny ability to craft horrors imbued in fairy tale finesse.”

.

“House of Horrors is a fine addition to my Kindle, and I’m sure I’ll be going to read this again and again…”

“A veritable blood feast for vampire fans everywhere!”

“If you are a fan of horror, you won't want to miss this one!! High marks to Ms. Gill.”

“There are so many different monsters in this book the no matter what your biggest fear is or your favorite one to read about you are gonna find it without fail.”

“I grew up with horror legends such as King, Koontz, Poe, Shelley, Stoker and I added Gill to that list.” 

AMAZON 

ZOMBIES PROMOTING BOOKS!

No! Don't laugh. It's possible to promote books after death. Zombies, I know from personal experience can and Vampires probably can too. But I'm here for the ZOMBIES!

The walking dead can most certainly promote books. How do I know? I'm one of them! Sadly, what passes for 'a life' is what I endure, not live now--after my husband's death. I function on autopilot. I wish I didn't, but I do, at least for now.

The only difference between me and a genuine zombie is I don't eat flesh! Actually I don't eat meat anyway. Maybe that's the reason!

If you want to be kind to a zombie like me, I'd appreciate it! I'll try to blog more to keep you guys entertained. I am working on some projects so that's good!

Here's a bit from my new novel! It's got ghosties and goulies and short and long legged beasties with hauntings to make you wince but it also tells the story of loss and the search for life beyond death!

“How are you feeling today?”

            I felt like telling the doctor to go fuck himself. But thought better of it.

He looked odd to me. But that was because I was cracked and had been ever since my loss. It took me a few seconds to realize he was talking to me. That understanding smile now to show me he wasn’t annoyed with my lack of attention.

“I’m sorry…”

“That’s alright…just tell me how you are today.”

“The same.”

I had thought of a stronger reaction as in hostile, but then I thought better of it. Besides, a two word answer like that was probably provocative enough.

He was reading through the nurses' notes. “You’re sleeping well?”

“Yes, except when I don’t.”

Watch it, Liz. 

Back soon! 

YOU'LL MEET ALL SORTS IN HOUSE OF HORRORS!

99 CENTS JAN 12 JAN 18!
This collection is packed with wide-ranging horror stories. There are even some sci fi shorts I wrote. All of them have appeared in anthologies at one time or another.

Tales of Jack the Ripper, vampires, zombies, murderers just getting started, satanic doll makers, haunted cemeteries where the dead dance, monstrous (for real) husbands, Death contemplating the carnage of the Black Death of 1348, pedophile and the doll that fixed him up permanently, Gothic tales of madness and dreams of suicide, nightmares that turn into reality, lighthouses best avoided, haunted movie theaters where you can catch the show! Viking undead, a spin on Jekyll and Hyde...and a whole lot more!

99 cents will buy you the whole taco filled with horror, whatever your taste.

AMAZON

2015 – Amazon Best Seller in Horror Anthologies

“Carole Gill’s talent is a wonder to experience. She has the uncanny ability to craft horrors imbued in fairy tale finesse.”

“House of Horrors is a fine addition to my Kindle, and I’m sure I’ll be going to read this again and again…”

A veritable blood feast for vampire fans everywhere!”

“If you are a fan of horror, you won't want to miss this one!! High marks to Ms. Gill.”

“There are so many different monsters in this book that no matter what your biggest fear is, or your favorite one to read about, you are gonna find it without fail!”

TESTING A NECROMANTIC SPELL! YOU NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS!

Louis' friend was dead. There was only one thing to do. Louis was going to bring him back. A man told him about a certain book. Perfect, Louis thought. He just had to test it first. 

"It looked like it would work. There were diagrams and shit, like you see in movies sometimes. The only thing that bothered him was that the print was red; some schmuck’s idea probably to make it scarier or something.

He read it over until he had the basics down.He smiled when he spotted the mouse.

“Bart!” he called. “Come here boy! I got somethin’ for ya! Somethin’ I want you to do.”

Bart sidled in, his green eyes lit up and the mouse was fucked. Two good swipes and it was dead. Louis was delighted.

The time had come. Put up or shut up. Louis closed his eyes and said the incantation only nothing happened.

He was determined to go and ask for his money back when suddenly the mouse stirred. It didn’t have much of a head left. What was there was bloody and mushy but the little fucker stood up anyway.

“Welcome back, little fella!”

(END OF EXCERPT) 

***

There are other stories about:

War surplus from the Eastern Front supplies a quaint little shop of horrors!

Orphaned child vampires

Haunted cemeteries where the dead dance, 

What would Death say if he could speak?

A story of the war: evil comes to a village near you.

What if the world became Dead World?

Valhalla rejects are nasty, worst vampires ever!

Three tales of the Ripper

What are the blood-drenched secrets of The Crimson Club?

A crazed soldier and his famous father!

Zombies in therapy. Hey, why not?

Poetic justice meted out by grave angels and fate

Jonathan Harker has a night to remember!

 ~*~

"I grew up with horror legends such as King, Koontz, Poe, Shelley, Stoker and I added Gill to that list."

¬C.Gaydas

"There is no doubt that she soars above the endless parade of independent horror authors to shine as a true star in the darkness. With the brilliant anthology House of Horrors she proves why she is a perennial favorite. To put it simply, this is a great assembly of tales anyone would be proud to have in their collection"

~Joshua Skye

DARK MEDIA

AMAZON

FREE READS!

It's better to drown sometimes!

Beacon 

Zombies wanting to change, to better themselves--what's wrong with that?!

UNDEAD ANONYMOUS 

A most unusual circus! Discover their secrets! 

THE CIRCUS STORY THAT INSPIRED A NOVEL! 

UNDEAD ANONYMOUS, ZOMBIES NEED SUPPORT TOO!

ANOTHER FREE, COMPLETE SEASONAL UNDEAD STORY!

The meeting began promptly. A towering and decomposing hulk of a creature lurched up to the front of the class and announced:

“I’m Harvey and I’m a zombie!”

The other zombies were on their feet applauding. “Good on you, Harv!”

“Way to go!”

Harvey was overcome. Well, overcome for a zombie is kind of different than for anyone else. The tear ducts are gone, so sighing is all a zombie can do really.

Harvey sighed. “I’m so glad I came!”

Renaldo Gizzard blew Harv a kiss. “You honor us.”

The truth was this support group was solely Renaldo’s idea.

"We’re not all monsters the way the movies portray us as stomping flesh- eating morons who can’t string two words together!”

Sadly, most zombies were stomping flesh-eating morons who couldn’t string two words together but some weren’t. Some were tragic, moldering carcasses who wanted to support one another and share their angst.

“It helps to know we are not alone. You are not alone. Yes, friends we can help one another.”

Their support group was pretty new. They had only begun meeting shortly before Thanksgiving. As a matter of fact they had gotten together for their very own Thanksgiving Dinner.

Harvey still lived at home with his living mother (she insisted) so he wasn’t certain he could leave her alone on Thanksgiving, but he did and to her credit she encouraged him.

Thanksgiving went nicely. They shared a vegetarian roast Renaldo made from scratch. Even in his undead state he still loved to cook. At his worst (flesh eating) he insisted his fare be prepared in just the right way.

They discussed a lot of things at that dinner. One of which was how they should exist.

Renaldo as always tried to teach them to stomp in the light.

“There are choices! We can eat live flesh or we can choose not to. It’s your decision! Mine too!

And so it was.

And if Thanksgiving was great, Christmas was even more special for they had all spent it with Harvey and his mother.

Yes more vegetarian food although some had eyed Harv’s mom up a bit. Well she was pleasingly plump and if Renaldo and Harvey were now above eating human flesh, Big Guy, Maggot and Grave Stench were not.

Yet they were under control and Renaldo was proud. He told them so.

“I am delighted with you all and I have decided to throw a New Year’s Eve bash for all of us!”

And he did too. There was veggie party food and balloons and music. There were even DVDs to watch, with the exception of undead films. Just a precaution you understand.

As midnight approached Renaldo and Harvey were talking about the growing numbers of zombies.

“You see if we don’t do something soon, something to redirect our species away from the carnage, the world will be in a nightmare.”

It was true. And the truth made everyone pretty sentimental. Even Grave Stench and Big Guy began reminiscing about the past. As for Maggot he was sobbing about how bitterly he missed his living life.

Renaldo had a real crying jag on and began speaking about a hair salon he had in the Village years before.

“I used to cut Elton John’s hair! Imagine. What would he say now?”

Everyone tried to assure Renny that Elton John was a nice guy and would not make judgments. But Renny disagreed.

“We frighten people! No matter what we do we frighten the hell out of them!”

“We’ll have to change, with your help we will!” Harvey piped up.

Maggot agreed. “You have made us understand, Renny. And in truth there is knowledge.”

“And in knowledge we will be able to change!” Big Guy sobbed.

Grave Stench just nodded, he was so emotional he couldn’t speak.

But all was not well. Harvey sensed it. And when there was a knock at the door, he rushed to answer it for he felt it was his mother. She was supposed to drive him home.

He let her in and stood in front of her lest something happen. Actually he was right about something being wrong for he could see the way the others were staring at her and rubbing their tummies, even Renaldo appeared to be salivating!

Suddenly Renny rose to his feet. “Come here,” he grinned. "I would like to wish you a happy new year!”

“You leave my Mom alone!” Harvey shouted as all of them began stomping toward his mother.

But they stopped in their tracks as another voice called out:

“Anyone order pizza?”

Renaldo looked ecstatic. “Holy moly!" he said. "I forgot about that. Come in young man!"

They ate well that night. Yes, sadly they succumbed to the flesh, even Harvey did. A leopard doesn’t change its spots you see. And because that is true Harvey’s mother would soon become history too.

Well they did have to see the New Year in properly didn’t they and besides, they could always mend their ways--and if not, so what?!

© Copyright 2011 Carole Gill

AMAZON 

Hope you enjoyed that! There's more twisted tales where that came from! 

TESTING A NECROMANTIC SPELL!

Louis' friend was dead. There was only one thing to do. Louis was going to bring him back. A man told him about a certain book. Perfect, Louis thought. He just had to test it first. 

"It looked like it would work. There were diagrams and shit, like you see in movies sometimes. The only thing that bothered him was that the print was red; some schmuck’s idea probably to make it scarier or something.

He read it over until he had the basics down.He smiled when he spotted the mouse.

“Bart!” he called. “Come here boy! I got somethin’ for ya! Somethin’ I want you to do.”

Bart sidled in, his green eyes lit up and the mouse was fucked. Two good swipes and it was dead. Louis was delighted.

The time had come. Put up or shut up. Louis closed his eyes and said the incantation only nothing happened.

He was determined to go and ask for his money back when suddenly the mouse stirred. It didn’t have much of a head left. What was there was bloody and mushy but the little fucker stood up anyway.

“Welcome back, little fella!”

(END OF EXCERPT) 

***

There are other stories about:

War surplus from the Eastern Front supplies a quaint little shop of horrors!

Orphaned child vampires

Haunted cemeteries where the dead dance, 

What would Death say if he could speak?

A story of the war: evil comes to a village near you.

What if the world became Dead World?

Valhalla rejects are nasty, worst vampires ever!

Three tales of the Ripper

What are the blood-drenched secrets of The Crimson Club?

A crazed soldier and his famous father!

Zombies in therapy. Hey, why not?

Poetic justice meted out by grave angels and fate

Jonathan Harker has a night to remember!

 ~*~

"I grew up with horror legends such as King, Koontz, Poe, Shelley, Stoker and I added Gill to that list."

¬C.Gaydas

"There is no doubt that she soars above the endless parade of independent horror authors to shine as a true star in the darkness. With the brilliant anthology House of Horrors she proves why she is a perennial favorite. To put it simply, this is a great assembly of tales anyone would be proud to have in their collection"

~Joshua Skye

DARK MEDIA

AMAZON 

H0USE OF HORRORS PROMO 99CENTS, THURSDAY!

BEGINNING THURSDAY SHORT TIME ONLY! 

PACKED WITH

Vampires, zombies, murderous midgets, demon clowns, evil dolls, haunted cemeteries , a real shop of horrors, taxidermy gone haywire, serial killers and more!

What happens when an infamous serial killer dies? 

What kind of poetic justice do child killers get?

Why not witness it!!

Some women marry monsters. Not real ones of course...or are they?!

Find out what The House of Death is. Bear witness to the ghostly occupants taking two more victims!

"There is no doubt that she soars above the endless parade of independent horror authors to shine as a true star in the darkness. With the brilliant anthology House of Horrors she proves why she is a perennial favorite. To put it simply, this is a great assembly of tales anyone would be proud to have in their collection."

~Joshua Skye

DARK MEDIA

. "Gill writes well and her prose is reminiscent of Shirley Jackson and Susan Hill (two authors who spring to mind). The Gothic underpinning to most of these stories, bleeds an element of disquiet in a subtle and transformative fashion, as you delve deeper into the darkly ethereal world of `House of Horrors."

~William Cook

”I grew up with horror legends such as King, Koontz, Poe, Shelley, Stoker and I added Carole Gill to that list.”

C.Gaydas

AMAZON

DON'T MISS OUT! 

99cents few days only! 

-

Undead Story! ANOTHER UNDEAD SEASONAL FREEBIE

“When you’re a Vamp you’re a Vamp all the way from your first taste of blood through all your undying days…!”

Yes, it’s Riffy Vampire and he’s on his way to see his pal, Tony but Tony will beg off telling him he is tired of fighting the Zombies.

“Besides there’s this girl…”

“You traitor!” Riffy cried. “I know who you mean! I seen you with her. Why she’s nothing but a decomposing Zombie!”

Tony was adamant. “I love her!”

“But Maria Zombie and her brother are our immortal enemies!”

“Well they shouldn’t be!” Tony shouted back.

“Why, you lousy punk! How could you betray me, your bro, and with a Zombie yet? They’re the dregs man! They don’t belong here. Ain’t this neighborhood bad enough already? They need to go back where they came from. This city should be zombie free!”

Tony shook his head. “But I can’t stop seeing her. I love her!”

And so he did, deeply too and if he did, Maria felt the same way even though her brother Bernardo had warned her not to ever befriend a Vampire, let alone have petting sessions with one!

Bernie’s girl even got into the act. Yeah, Anita, Bernie’s main squeeze tried to reason with Maria singing the most heart rendering song to her--but to no avail. For when she finished, Maria merely swore her undying love for Tony. Not only that, the two continued to see each other and alone, too!

Ah undead love!

*

Now there was a human who liked the undead, who felt sorry for them for he understood their ways. As a matter of fact he was a horror writer! So respected was he that both his blood and his flesh were off limits to Zombie and Vampire alike!

He always tried reasoning with them, even if he had a deadline to make:

“My goodness! Why can’t you get along? Why do you act as if there’s some kinda apocalypse waiting to happen?

They were all sitting in his little candy store. The one Eddie Poe owned in order to supplement his writing.

Suddenly some human gangbangers came in, the Crips and Bloods had come for a conference.

“Hey!” Riffy Vampire cried gesturing wildly. “You’re not all human there’s undead in your ranks both Zombies and Vampires! Why is that?!"

Tito 179 head of the Crips nodded. “Yeah. We got both in with us. They’re okay, they’re stand up guys!”

Both Riffy and Bernardo looked appalled. 

Some of the gang stepped forward to introduce themselves.

Eddie Poe, always the idealist and mistrustful of their motives, shook his head. “But this isn’t a solution. Don’t you understand? It’s no good to be in a gang anyway!”

“Ah shut up, man!” Tito 179 cried. “We came here to work out a truce for Christmas. A truce between all undead and the living. And a truce is a truce man!”

The truth of that statement hit Eddie hard and he wept as did all the Vampires and Zombies—even Bernie and Riffy were sobbing.

Soon they were all overcome with emotion as the Crips and Bloods also broke down.

Nothing like this had ever happened! There would be peace perhaps beyond Christmas.

“Hey we can do it, right?”

That was the general consensus and it was very inspiring. Yet that is not the end, for this is a tale of woe. Sadly, neither Tony nor Maria knew of the truce for they had already destroyed themselves as neither could abide existing in an undead world filled with hatred.

All are punished unless someday, somewhere, someplace they can all find a new way of existing!

'Sniff!'

The End

© Copyright 2011 Carole Gill

Glutton for punishment? There are a lot more where that came from!

AMAZON

What Pushes Your Scare Buttons?

Dolls, clowns, ghosts, shadow people, the dark, bogeymen, zombies, werewolves, vampires, creepy children, haunted toys. If you can think of some more, please let me know!

That still by the way is from Village of the Damned (1960). I've baby sat for kids like that. Maybe that's why I write horror? Could be! Those were the best creepy kids on film I've ever seen.

On to dolls! Dolls have always done it for me. I mentioned that in a recent post about Annabelle, the doll from The Conjuring. 

Remember this cutie from Night Gallery? This doll did it for me. Every scare button I had (and I had a lot) was pushed when I saw her.

If I remember correctly, the doll was sent to someone with a curse attached. There were scenes where the doll was placed in one spot and then appeared in another! That did it. I knew I'd remember this bloody doll forever! I mean look at this damned thing!  Imagine waking up during the night and finding it next to you! ARGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!  I have stories based on this fear and yes, I am still afraid!

Yikes! I mean, what is it? Dolls should be cute--and when they're not, when there's a lunatic glint in their eyes, well--I'm ready to scream or run. Running is preferable.

Along with dolls I'd include ventriloquist dummies. Wow, they have been used to great effect in films like Dead Silence (2007). I love that film. It has everything.

Dead Silence rocked my boat. The urban myth device, daring us to say something three times was used to great effect! Here goes: Mary Shaw, Mary Shaw...oops not going to say it! And remember the beginning? The damned thing arrives and the wife thinks it's a present! HELP! 

There were superb films about 'scary doll ventriloquist dummies like Magic (1978), with Anthony Hopkins and Dead of Night (1945).

Reviews coming! As I'm writing this post, I'm remembering these films. Wow. Scary memory lane and everything.

Freddy Kruger Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) is the ultimate bogeyman. That's not to say that there haven't been others that were good, but Freddy is the best on-screen bogeymen. 

Having been a child killer, he is probably the most worthwhile villain in horror film because he represents an all-too real menace. The ultimate monster among us.

Ghosts? How about The Woman in Black?  (1989) and (2012). First of all it is based on the superb novel by Susan Hill (one of my icons)--if you haven't read it, please do!

The photo on the left is from the original (1989) film. A revengeful ghost, how scary is that? Hate never dies. I have that as a line in one of my books--and I think it's true. Relentless hatred doesn't die and if it leaves this world and comes back, how do we protect ourselves, answer: we don't!

From 30 Days of Night (2007) No pouty vampire, he! THIS is a vampire. This guy isn't going to seduce anyone! He's a vicious monster. I bet no one has the hots for him, right? Scary!

And the werewolf from An American Werewolf in London! (1984). That had everything, scares and humor. The Yorkshire Moors can look desolate but at night--is something deadly this way coming? Look out!

You know there is supposed to be a huge cat on Bodmin Moor! Sheep have been killed and the legend persists. Could it be based on fact? If it is, how do we know what's skulking around on other moors or anywhere in fact?!

28 Days Later (2002) A very well-made, scary zombie film. Sure, there are classics as well, but this is a fave.

Writers are influenced by things we see and fiction we read. I'm no different. So here's a suggestion:

Give my House of Horrors a read through some time, why don't you?!

AMAZON