UNDEAD CHRISTMAS NEWS!

Just want to say that I'll be posting some free horror stories over the holidays! Watch out for vampires and zombies!  The stories are from my best selling House of Horrors! 

By the way, ghost stories and scary tales were customary in England Christmastime. It was a Victorian tradition. Hence, Dickens' Christmas Carol!

Victorians gathered around the fire to spin scary ghost stories. This tradition has sadly died out (for the most part), HOWEVER, there is still the tradition of the ghost story that shows up in a film on tv over the Holidays.

I remember some years ago seeing the first film version of The Woman in Black which scared the hell out of me. I love both versions! And I love Susan Hill's novel, too. If you haven't read it, please read it!

Meanwhile, stay scared and watch this space!

The Exorcist: Classic, But Still Scary?

The face that launched massive theater and church attendance!

It most certainly did. It frightened people by its very nature. A young girl becomes possessed of the devil. We must all know the gist by now. Her frantic mother doesn't know what to do. Doctors can't help, this is beyond medical science. But the rest of us sitting in the theater with our hands over our mouths know the problem. SHE IS POSSESSED OF THE DEVIL!

What can be done? Mom finds out a proper exorcism is the only recourse she has, so she arranges it, after a great deal of effort because the Church doesn't do this sort of thing often.

Two priests come, one is the elderly, Father Merrin who knows with whom he is dealing. The priests set about their mission. It's chilling and I found myself saying, 'The power of Christ compels you,' along with the priests! When Regan raises up slowly from the bed, I nearly fainted. That was back in 1973. I was out on a date. Yes, I'm that old!

I remember sitting and waiting for the film to start. When the house lights dimmed, BEFORE THE FILM WENT ON, A GIRL SCREAMED! There was muffled laughter throughout the theater, but we were all nervous!

NOW FOR THE QUESTION: IS IT STILL SCARY?

There are those who say it isn't. They don't find it frightening at all. That's fair, it's their opinion. But let's look at it this way: if a person could become possessed of evil, of the ultimate most intensely powerful evil there was, what then?

I happen to think evil and good exist in the hearts of human beings. However, I do think it is entirely possible for a force of pure evil to exist, something beyond our comprehension or possibly something else. That's up to each and every one of us to decide and think about.

There is a book I read years ago that I recommend to anyone with the slightest interest in this subject. It is entitled, Hostage to the Devil, by Malachi Martin. Father Malachi Martin, a prolific author and ordained Roman Catholic priest and aide to the Vatican, wrote this three years after the release of The Exorcist. It presents, what purports to be, five cases of (American) possession and exorcism. Whatever anyone's beliefs, if they have seen The Exorcist (film)­, I recommend this book. At the very least, it is extremely interesting and thought-provoking (review coming).

Evil has been done in the name of religion and not in the name of religion. I never want to exonerate human beings who have done great evil by blaming a force that may or may not exist. That would let them off the hook. Still, anything is possible. I don't know what the truth is. I can believe what I want, but I don't know. I don't think any one human being can know.

With regard to this film, let us say that anything is possible. If we can do that, the film is that much more horrifying. One of the priests, Father Karras, the one the girl's mother first sought out, battles his own demons. He is guilty about his elderly mother. The evil that he is trying to drive out of the girl, knows this and throws it back in his face. How could it know?! It can't but it does.

There are two forces at work here, good and bad. The film and novel show this in the most dramatic way. Each of us has on our conscience things we have done, wrongs we have committed. What if some night something whispered our wrongs to us, reminding us, demonstrating to us that it knows!

What if we could record it all and play it back so that we knew it wasn't our imagination? What then? I'd be frightened, would you?

So, is the film still scary? I say, yes! This film is still scary because EVIL is scary. Our own belief systems can label that evil whatever we like. It is more comfortable that way. We can pray and put symbols up of our faith 'to protect ourselves' or not. We can scoff and then open up a newspaper and read that a gunman blew away the entire senior class somewhere (anywhere). And we can certainly watch the news any night at all and see all the rotten, murderous acts of violence and insanity that occur with nauseating frequency around the globe.

If a young girl, living in Georgetown in America can be possessed of evil for whatever reason, I find that scary. So yes, the film is still frightening because it presents through good acting, great direction and chilling images, not only a morality play, but a memorable horror film. That's what I think. What about you?

Know what this isl!

Know what it is? I’ve seen it many times. I don’t live far from it. It’s on desolate moorland. It seems to be hiding away from the world, like something cast out. Even in summer it can look grim there. The only real color is the purple heather that carpets the moors; that’s in spring, by autumn, the heather is brown and wild, driving rain and howling wind is quite common.

A great writer was inspired by the place or so they say. She and her sisters didn’t live far. They walked on these moors quite often; Charlotte and Anne–and Emily with her favorite dog, Keeper. Perhaps she paused to look at the ruins there, for there were ruins at that time.

Legend has it that Top Withens (pictured) inspired Wuthering Heights. No one can agree whether or not that is true. I like to think that it is. I can easily picture Emily standing there and dreaming of the house that would be known as Wuthering Heights.

My inspiration for my first novel, the first in The Blackstone Vampires Series, The House on Blackstone Moor, was inspired by those same moors. Perhaps not by those ruins, though–those I shall leave for Miss Bronte for I would never claim them. The moorland is something else. As I did picture a grand looking house built upon them. A house completely out of place on such grim and lonely moorland. When I peopled that house, I began to write my novel.

There followed three more novels after that one. The story is a saga and was written as such. Unholy Testament - The Beginnings, Unholy Testament - Full Circle, The Fourth Bride. 
All four novels including The House on Blackstone Moor have been comprised into The Blackstone Vampires Omnibus. 

If you come to England, please visit West Yorkshire and the village of Haworth. You will find the Bronte Parsonage there. The house is alive with their presence.

Be sure to walk down the old streets toward the moor. Close your eyes and perhaps you will feel yourself being led to Top Withens. Is that a dog barking near you? And that woman–is she really there? Could it be Emily with Keeper, or is it just your imagination? Who can say? If there are spirits about the place, perhaps you will find Cathy and Heathcliff as well. I am certain they are all there and always will be.

The Castevets In Rosemary's Baby, Not The Sort of Neighbors You Want!

Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse move into the Dakota on Central Park West in New York. It's a nice building but there is no way they are prepared for what happens. Maybe if they had moved a block away, they'd have had a child and everything would have been a hell (ho ho) lot better than it was.

Guy is ambitious and fertile ground for the horrific Minnie and Roman Castevet's dastardly manipulations. See this seemingly pleasant couple serve something a lot more potent than the Neighborhood Watch Committee.

I can't imagine anyone not having seen the film, but I suppose there are those that haven't. If you haven't, you are missing out on a great film. The film is based on the bestselling novel by Ira Levin.

I happen to think this film and the novel it is based on, created its own sub-genre of horror. Now, Satan was really scary and so were those who served him. He wasn't Vincent Price hamming it up. (I loved Price, btw). It was something else entirely.

The film showed us power. The innocent, if they are trying to thwart Satan and his plans, are just picked off as Rosemary's friend is. This film is a giant leap beyond the black and white films, classic though they may be, that purported to show Satanism and devil rites.

The superb actors, Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer are the neighbors from hell (literally). They seem friendly, they look like they don't bite. They even look to be the kind of sweet, elderly couple you can leave your kids with! NO WAY!

Of course what makes this a great story is the realization that some people are easier pickings than others, easier for the forces of evil to gain a foothold that is. Rosemary (Mia Farrow) isn't like that. She just wants a child because she's in love with her husband. But the husband--played by John Cassavetes is a very willing vessel and so game for a pact. He wants to live in the Hills of Beverly and everything. In short, he's willing to do anything for stardom. That is sinister as hell, shocking really to see how far this man will go. He came across a lot scarier to me than anyone else in the film.

The Castevets (Minnie and Roman) are a riot as are their friends. They look like everyone's idea of pleasant elderly folk. That is brilliant! But make no mistake, the pace gets stepped up. And when Rosemary is desperate to protect her unborn child (her suspicions have led her to believe they want it for a sacrifice), that is for me, when the film is at its most potent.

Remember her schlepping around the heavy suitcase in order to get a new gynecologist? She never looked more vulnerable!

There's a great twist in the tale and between that and the superb direction by Roman Polanski, the film is great.

By the way, there is a scene where Rosemary is talking to an actor made blind conveniently so that her husband could take over the role. Polanski wanted her to look shocked and nervous. He didn't tell her that Tony Curtis was (non credited) the voice of the blind actor. Curtis and Farrow were good friends. She looked shocked because she didn't expect to hear his voice!That's a great director. The scene came off as Polanski intended. Perfect.

Great story, acting and directing and a lot of chills. What else do we need?

Mysticism and Myths Blog Tour!

 

THIS SAMPLER IS A MUST READ FOR FANS OF THE MYSTERIOUS WORLDS OF GHOSTS, SEA DWELLERS, SHAPESHIFTERS & ENTICING STORIES THAT SPAN THE GLOBE!

Pre-order your copy today – ONLY $0.99! Final price will be $2.99, so be sure to secure your order today.

Available through AMAZON

Release Date: December 15, 2015

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Bound By Blood (A Night Shift Novella)

By Margo Bond Collins

Sometimes the monsters in the dark are real...
As a child, Lili Banta ignored her grandmother's cryptic warnings to avoid children outside their Filipino community in Houston. When many of those other children fell ill, Lili ignored the whispers in her community that a vampiric aswang walked among them.

Years later, Lili returns to Houston to work for the Quarantine Station of the Center for Disease Control—but she is plagued by dark, bloody dreams that consume her nights and haunt her days. When a strange illness attacks the city's children, Lili is called in to find its source, and maybe even a cure.

But in order to save the city, she must first acknowledge the sinister truth: A monster stalks the night—closer than she ever expected....

Isa: Gift of the Baloma

By Perri Forrest

Isa: Gift of the Baloma is a fantasy tale created from a myth that derives from the Trobriand islands (today officially known as the Kiriwina Islands). Isa is the beautifully tortured soul who has never known love, and who has pretty much travelled through life alone.

When tragic circumstances lead her into the depths of the sea, she has no idea what her fate may hold, and thus prepares for worst. However, as in life, sometimes we have to go through our very worst to get to the place we were destines to be. Such is the case with Isa.

Just when she thinks all is lost, she meets Chief Topileta, headman of the villages of the dead, and an unexpected love affair ensures. As Isa will soon find, nothing in her life stays peaceful for long, and before she knows it, she is separated from the only person to ever care for her.

When tragedy strikes and Isa finds herself awake after two years of falling into a deep sleep, she is surprised to find that all thoughts are still with the man she has not forgotten. But has he forgotten her? Will he come for her? Will she find love again?

This is only the beginning of Isa's story, in the full length novel that is set for 2015 release, readers will find out the many layers of Isa and be able to journey with her as she finds out about her lineage and the family she was sure did not exist.

Micco, Anguta's Reign

By Dormaine G.

Revelation can be a disheartening truth.

Micco, a captivating Native American man with a desirable physique and statuesque features, radiates a mysterious allure. Living on the reservation with his unapproachable father, he doesn't believe in the old ways and works as a cop in the local town.

The only reason he lives on the land is Nara, his childhood friend and the love of his life, who is married to a cruel reservation man. Waking up in the heart of a murderous scene, he flees for his life, unfamiliar with his surroundings or how he arrived there.

To his horror, he's assigned to the case. As he works with the local detective, more murders transpire with unusual, terrifying sightings of wolves. His behavior starts to drastically change, forcing others to take notice. Although trying to avoid the inevitable, Micco is forced to accept the undesirable truth, unable to fight what has been awakened, and all that he has forgotten is finally revealed.

Cursed: A Yorkshire Ghost Story

By Karen Perkins

She's back. This time no one is safe.

A skeleton is dug up at the crossing of the ways on Hanging Moor, striking dread into the heart of Old Ma Ramsgill – the elderly matriarch of the village of Thruscross. And with good reason. The eighteenth-century witch, Jennet, has been woken.

A spate of killings by a vicious black dog gives credence to her warnings and the community – in particular her family – realise they are in terrible danger. Drastic measures are needed to contain her, but with the imminent flooding of the valley to create a new reservoir, do they have the ability to stop her and break her curse?

Carnem Levare

By Jaxx Summers

We are born, live and eventually leave the mortal world. For Stefano Bonaro the same can be said, with a powerful exception. He was born to live and love in Venice, beyond death.

Stefano is passionately in love with Anastasia Soranzo. They grew up with the promise of a future together, through family bonds and emotional ties. Then suddenly their lives are torn apart by unforgivable deception. For the sake of family, Stefano and Anastasia can no longer have a future together. While Anastasia can easily move on, Stefano refuses to do so.

During Eighteenth Century Carnival, Stefano seals his faith when he commits a crime of passion that ends with him even taking his own life. But this is not the end for the jilted lover, when he is suddenly brought back to life a year later. Stefano's spirit continues to hope in love, even as he becomes ruled by madness. But will it ever truly end for Stefano Bonaro?

The Life Keeper

By Abby L. Vandiver

The bloodline of Romania, older than the legend of the vampire, the strigoi are vile, evil creatures who suck the life from the people of the villages that line the impenetrable forests of the country. In this tale with a twist, Jessica Petrescu dotes on her grandmother and takes care of her family in the aftermath of the fall of communism in Romania. Her family is disrupted by a red headed, indigo colored eyes cousin, who turns her household upside down in his quest to discover whether a strigoi is living among his relatives.  

Connect:

Website: http://mythsandmysticism.wix.com/mam1

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Margo Bond Collins

Perri Forrest

Dormaine G.

Karen Perkins

Jaxx Summers

Abby L. Vandiver

   

Can Fiction Be Fictionalized?

Lamia, flesh-eating vampire

I know vampires fly because I saw them fly in True Blood. My vampires fly and they do it without turning into a bat. They don't need to turn into bats, that was Stoker.

If fiction writers want their vampires to eat an occasional bit of pate (they might be at a posh party) they have them do it. They do require blood however, but there is an herb, Wolfbane, mixed with Mistletoe (yeah, I know)! which can stave off their need for blood. How do I know this? I know it because I have written it that way in some of my fiction. I can do what I like because it's fiction.

If I show depraved monstrous vampires partaking of flesh I can do that too! Why shouldn't I?

If vampires can live in urban communities, in backwoods little Southern towns, in the present as well as the past--they can also go to high school or not. They can be anything the writer wants them to be.

There is no Gospel According to Vampires. If there is I haven't seen it. Thus there are no dictates as to what vampires must do--the writer is free to use his or her imagination. That's why writing is considered to be creative.

By the way, the Lamia ate flesh and drank blood. In ancient Greek mythology, Lamia was a beautiful queen of Libya who became a child-eating demon. Aristophanes claimed her name derived from the Greek word for gullet which referred to her habit of devouring children, not nanny material at all!

If a genre is not infused with new ideas it becomes stale in my opinion. I have written about vampires every which way. I have them as Gothic, romanticized blood-sucking creatures, as tortured beings and as monstrous flesh eaters. I've depicted them as feral monsters caught in the wilds of Transylvania by hunters who supply Victorian freak shows. Press link to read excerpt about this from Justine: Into the Blood.

The day that there is a government dictate telling me how vampires must be depicted I will write only for myself.

Fiction is fiction. We world-build, we put different spins on established monsters because we seek to entertain as writers, readers want that they have told me they do.

I have in mind another series which is going to be quite different but there again, I am, I assume, permitted to use my imagination and if I want a bad-ass Tinkerbelle type to drink blood and spit acid at people she doesn't like I will have her do that.

In the meantime, whatever you're reading or writing, I hope you enjoy it. As for me, I'm going to keep creating fiction in the belief that it is fiction. I'm going to do it because fiction is fiction and not factual. It is the stuff of dreams and if you write horror as I do, it's the stuff of nightmares!  BOO!

The Green Mile: Poignant And Masterful

The 1999 film, starring Tom Hanks is based on the serial novels written by Stephen King. It is as superb as Shawshank Redemption (review coming). In fact, in its own way, it is more special because it has about it something of the divine.

When I see or read something great I find I can boil the plot down to analyze the basic ingredients. I can with The Green Mile. The story is basically about guards performing their difficult duties on death row in a southern prison. It can’t be easy. We see that it can’t. It seems at times they are also sentenced to serve their time in this terrible place. Whatever we may feel about capital punishment, the men (except for one) are sympathetic and try to be as helpful as they can be. After all, these are condemned men they are overseeing, men preparing to go to their deaths. They are paying for what they did, most of them. In John Coffey’s case, it is more complicated and that’s at the core of the story.

John Coffey (like the drink, but not spelled the same) – one of my favorite lines, seems to have been put amongst them to bring divine grace and a special insight to the Green Mile. The light he brings lights up the darkness and it stays there. I am certain it remains always as an afterglow.
Coffey has been tried and convicted of a double child murder.  When Hanks and his men get a look at this giant, they don’t know what to make of him. But then they do and when they do, they each become affected by this unusual man as he touches all of their lives.

So why do they work there when it’s so difficult? Well, it’s during the Great Depression, a time when a secure job was prized—so they too serve and suffer. It is their fate.

Of course there is amongst them Percy, one nasty piece of work with an important relative—he taunts them with. Percy, we hope will get his come-uppins. He is stupid, mean and sadistic and this prison’s death row should be the last place for him to work in. I wanted to pull his head off, just sayin.’

An elderly man, Hanks grown old played by another actor, spins the tale and it's haunting and gripping at the same time. There are secrets to be told and one hell of a story. It is unforgettable and as for the mystery surrounding one little mouse--well that is just some of the beautiful magic.

I’d say there is a great lesson for all of us here. A man, many would consider to be an angel, visits this hellish place for a purpose. Perhaps it is to bring hope to the hopeless, whatever it is--i have always considered John Coffey to be that angel.

May I just add my own personal tribute to Michael Clarke Duncan who plays John Coffey and say that he will be sorely missed because he was John Coffey, there is no way he wasn't!

Director: Frank Darabont

Writers: Stephen King (novel), Frank Darabont (screenplay)

Stars: Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse