|
My story Los Grillos was narrated on CreepyPod!
It's the second story on the episode, and you can find it at about 45-50 minutes in. Don't get me wrong; I encourage listening to the full episode. Simply informing you where to find mine... CreepyPod is a podcast that features scary stories and creepypastas from around the world. The podcast is hosted and created by Jon Grilz, a writer from Minnesota. You can find all the episodes and learn how to get involved by visiting Creepypod.com. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When I wrote the story Los Grillos, I knew it was perfect for CreepyPod. It's about a man who is haunted by something he saw. One disturbing night, he witnessed a stranger turn into a swarm of crickets, and now, the man wonders... Will the curse of Los Grillos come for him, too? The direct link for the episode is: www.creepypod.com/episodes/2024/5/26/the-old-man-of-llanhun Feel free to reach out and let me know what you thought! 
1 Comment
 The Day of the Door sunk its hooks in me right away. I had no knowledge of the plot going in. Hadn’t even read the synopsis. And this story touched on all my deepest cringes. I’ve never been able to wrap my head around harming a child. The character of Stella is exactly the type of narcissistic, calculating individual who fuels my nightmares because she is 100% real. And that bothers me, a lot! I’ve watched every episode of Evil Lives Here because, even though it breaks my heart to hear first-hand accounts of abuse, I believe that evil exists, and that the only way to control it, is to expose it. That’s exactly the vibe The Day of the Door puts out. I was emotionally invested in the Lasco siblings, who lost their eldest brother, Shawn, to violent events in the household years prior. I felt their grief. I wanted to know more, to hold their hands and see them through the dark. This tale unfolds at a decent pace. There are creepy visuals throughout, which is something I personally appreciate because if I don’t get a good dose of creepiness every 20 pages or so, I nod off. There’s plenty here for horror fans and mystery/ suspense fans alike. When I started reading The Day of The Door, I was curious about the author, knowing that her last novel had garnered tons of positive reviews and a Bram Stoker nomination. I still haven’t read Below (an oversight I plan to correct immediately) and figured I’d give this one a try, since it’s her newest release. Boy, did Hightower deliver. 5 out of 5 stars, for sure. On the surface, The Day of the Door presents itself as a horror story about a dysfunctional family with a traumatic past. But once you dive in, you sink so much deeper. What I ultimately took away was the feeling that nobody ever truly knows what a person has gone through. People look at a situation and draw their own conclusions, and sometimes, a person’s pain grows so much deeper, feeling like nobody sees their life story for what it truly is. But in the end, you can’t waste your life worrying if anyone else understands it. You’ve just got to live it! Yes, I really did take such deep thoughts away from this little horror novel! It was a darn good one. I might have known. Ghoulish Books always serves up top-notch fiction. I’ve been a fan of Max and Lori Booth for over a decade now, and everything they do keeps getting better. If you don’t follow Ghoulish Books, you should. If you haven’t read Laurel Hightower, you should! That is my review! Now go read!  Family Portrait by Graham MastertonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow. The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it nearly twenty years ago when I was fifteen, and it affected me in a way I hadn't expected. The flippant, hedonistic attitudes of the characters would have ordinarily repulsed me, but Wilde's prose had been so enchanting, I found myself caring for these characters and getting wrapped up in their vain pursuits. When I discovered one of my favorite horror authors had written a novel based on one of my favorite books, I said, "How have I not read this yet!?" and I eagerly dived in. I can honestly say this is one of the best horror books I've read in a while. Masterton is amazing at painting a scene, drawing out suspense, and crafting his cast. He's one of my favorites for understanding that the horror genre is about more than just scares. When you open up the reader's mind by triggering their fear, there's an opportunity to play on so many other emotions, and Masterton uses this opportunity to its fullest. Family Portrait was written around the same time I was born, and yet, there was nothing to indicate it was penned over thirty years ago. Just like the Grays, nothing here has aged. The plot is still fresh, all this time later. I especially liked how this story is an origin story, the idea being that a real family inspired Oscar Wilde's most famous work - a family with a dark secret and an aging portrait. An easy five stars, no question. Read this one if you haven't. View all my reviews  The Box: Uncanny Stories by Richard MathesonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars This is one of the best short story collections I’ve ever read. That’s not to say that every story is a home run. There were a few misses. But even the stories that failed to strike a chord with me did not fall completely flat. Each had its own charm and intrigue. I don’t have much negative feedback to offer, so I’ll elaborate on the stories I really enjoyed. My favorites were: “Button, Button”: A couple is offered an opportunity to earn fifty thousand dollars, and all they have to do is press a button. The catch? The button, once pushed, will cause the death of a random person. This idea really pulled me in, and the main character’s struggle with her own morality held me captive. A great story. “Girl of My Dreams”: A criminal uses his girlfriend’s psychic abilities for bad instead of good. This story is told from the viewpoint of a violent psychopath who only looks out for “number one”, as they say. A truly chilling piece. “Dying Room Only”: What struck me about this story is that it could happen to any of us, any time, on any average day. What would you do if a loved one suddenly disappeared? How far would you go to find them? Emotionally charged storytelling here. “A Flourish of Strumpets”: Oh wow. This story “goes there”, exploring the idea of door-to-door sex workers. An unsettling plot with a hidden dose of humor. Loved it. “Mute”: This is the longest story in the book. I couldn’t tell you if it was closer to novelette or novella length. I was too busy enjoying it. An orphaned little boy has never spoken a word and is thrust into a society desperate to make him speak. But what if his lack of verbal language is a rare treasure, more beautiful than anyone can ever imagine? What will happen when they finally break him into breaking his silence? Lovely bit of fiction, this one. “Clothes Make The Man”: I thought this was so peculiar and interesting. A man cannot function without his magical suit. The ending will make you gasp! “‘Tis the Season To Be Jelly”: In post-apocalyptic America, radioactivity is destroying the human race. People lose body parts left and right, but their hearts can still fall in love. I liked this one simply because it was so unusual. Overall, a nice collection of stories from a world-renowned author. And I must add… If you are a writer in need of story ideas, this collection will get your brain wheels spinning. Richard Matheson is truly a master at thinking outside “The Box”. View all my reviews   Yesterday, I decided to take a break from the internet for a couple days to focus on writing. Such self-discipline is necessary, as I'm easily distracted. Then something awful happened. David Bowie died. Suddenly, I was hooked to the net again, browsing and reflecting on how much I adored this man. I was feeling too distracted to work on my latest piece of fiction, when it hit me. I could write something else. I could say goodbye to David Bowie. Once again, he’s inspiring me to express myself, just as he’s done all my life. At six years old, I fell in love. I wanted to live in the world of Labyrinth. While watching that movie I remember thinking that if I were Sarah, I’d strike a bargain with the Goblin King: "Return Toby to my parents, and I’ll stay here." (Isn’t that what the whole thing was really about?) Sure, sure, the Goblin King was evil, but I also felt he was lonely and misunderstood. I suppose this is where my fascination with bad boys began. :) And my fascination with Bowie stayed with me. My childhood was awkward. My pre-teens were awkward. My teens were awkward. But always, there was Bowie. He was awkward, too. Hell, the guy had mismatched eyes. He made being different look good… and sound good, too! So the world didn’t understand me. Who cared. At least one guy did. With lyrics like “And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds, are immune to your consultations. They're quite aware of what they're going through,” I knew he got it. And I felt a little better while listening. In ninth grade, I had to do a project for school and design my own Utopia. I named it Valley Stardust and the leader was a starman modeled after Ziggy Stardust. I have a folder full of my old writings in my bedroom closet, and I dug this project out today. Here’s some pics.   I fueled up on Bowie during my teen years to power me through the bad days. Not every album or side project made my favorites list, but it was always good. He had that way about him. He painted, he sang, he acted, he played instruments. Like King Midas and the golden touch, everything Bowie touched turned to art. Creative people look to other creative people for inspiration. In that respect, Bowie not only gave the world his own art; he inspired countless artists after him to make their own. If you ask me, a life in the arts is always well spent, but in this particular case, I think his 69 years adds up to much more. Perhaps we should count his time in light years. :) Now that I’ve gotten this out of my system and said goodbye to a lifelong idol, I really should get back to writing. Because that's what David Bowie would want me to do. I know the kids will distract me. I know my crazy life will go on around me while I struggle to create. But I won’t sweat it. There can be no art without life, and life is meant to be lived. As a wise man once said: “Let the children lose it. Let the children use it. Let all the children boogie.” Born David Robert Jones, he ended up going by David Bowie so people wouldn’t confuse him with Davey Jones of The Monkees. Well, we couldn’t confuse him with anyone now. He was truly one of a kind. RIP, Mr. Bowie. Much love, much respect. The starman has returned to the stars forevermore.  I'm writing this blog today as a thank you to everyone who voted for my poem "The Voice Inside The Mirror" in the Preditors & Editors poll this year. This poem is very special to my heart. I wrote it in response to the bullying of autistic children/ teens, which occurs in shocking numbers in our supposedly "civilized" society. As it turns out, the poem ranked third place for Best Poem of 2014. The anthology in which it appears, Fractured Realms, got #5 in the Best Anthology category. All in all, not bad! A great honor to be nominated and receive so many votes! All proceeds earned for Fractured Realms are given to the Autism Trust, so it's good for the cause when we manage to pull in a few extra readers. 
But the real focus here is autism awareness. I'd like to share this poem with you today, in hopes that it might touch someone and perhaps motivate them to discuss bullying with their children. Not every child is a bully, but a lot of them stand by and let it happen because they don't know to report it. We like to think the new generation of children are raised "tolerant". Yet bullying incidents towards autistic kids occur every day. Here are a few links that just might break your heart: Autistic Teen Left Paralyzed After Bullies Force Him Off Bridge Bullies Drench Autistic Boy In Bodily Fluids Why Autistic Kids Are Bullied For the main character of my poem, I chose a boy with an extreme form of autism that prevents him from speaking. There is no way for him to express his feelings to his peers. Until one day, something wondrous happens.... The Voice Inside The Mirror "Lonely" was a loaded word Zaine wished his lips to speak. But though his mind was crying out, his mouth spoke not a peep. His feelings, bottled up inside the prison of his brain were triggered by the sights and sounds that, daily, tortured Zaine. Too much, he thought but couldn't say, too much is taking place, an endless stream of lights and noise and countless thoughts to chase. He plugged his ears against the noise and longed for it to cease. His muscles twitched beneath his skin and itched for a release. Red-hot, piercing pinpricks stung his flesh as he refused to flail his arms and flap his hands and let his demons loose. Worse yet than his body's pain: the crowd's relentless gaze, observing him with cold regard, a rat trapped in a maze. Peculiar boy, misunderstood, whose brain often betrayed him. His peers moved with a steady stride; his special needs delayed him. But there was something he could do that no one else was able. When he stood before a mirror, young Zaine could turn the table. No longer was he crippled by the limits of his mind. In the mirror's reflected twin a vibrant brilliance shined. The first time his reflection smiled, Zaine wondered, Who are you? The strange boy only winked an eye, reached out and pulled him through. The mirror opened up to Zaine; glass suffered not a fracture. He tumbled through, fell to his knees, and dropped his jaw in rapture. Before his eyes, this world made sense, a place built just for Zaine, customized to fit his needs, tailored for his brain. He found himself returning each day when he felt alone. Though he knew he couldn't stay. This place was not his home. One day a bully followed him, seeking a little fun. (He liked to corner smaller boys and tease them til they'd run.) He watched his victim slip away, In shock, he felt defeat. The mirror seemed to swallow him, first head, then chest, then feet. How can this be? The bully thought, reaching out to touch the glass. It didn't yield, hard to the touch. Why did it let Zaine pass? And now, filled with that burning rage that fuels young troublemakers, he scanned the room with wild eyes, hoping to find glass-breakers. He ripped the lid from the commode and swung with all his force until a splintered spiderweb rained down onto the floor. And in those shiny, shattered pieces a strange sight did appear: a hundred tiny Zaines stood there, gazed out from in the mirror. "Why?" Zaine asked, this question echoed from his mass reflections. "Why do you hate me?" he repeated from the mirror's fragmented sections. The bully frowned and shook his head. He'd never heard Zaine speak. He didn't have an answer; his heart felt heavy; knees felt weak. He gathered up the pieces and he passed them out at school to all the kids who'd done Zaine wrong and labeled him a fool. The shards, they told a story of a boy, not unlike them, who wanted to be understood, but ended up condemned. Inside that mirror, he found his voice. What was reflected there? The soul of a boy, so differently wired, his struggles so unfair. Together, the kids who'd tortured him fixed the mirror with tape and glue. They held their breath and waited, hoping Zaine would step back through. And when he did, an odd thing happened. They cheered and welcomed Zaine. They celebrated his return, this boy and his wondrous brain. Now when they look into the mirror, they think of that special kid and smile, remembering the voice he found and the magic trick he did. **** To purchase a copy of Fractured Realms, visit one of the following links. Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/shop/horrified-press/fractured-realms/paperback/product-22000279.html Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fractured-Realms-Horrified-Press/dp/129191370X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421545274&sr=8-2&keywords=fractured+realms&pebp=1421545336210&peasin=129191370X 
 Stephen Morrison is a grieving father who can't let go of the past. He lost his daughter, Allie, in a tragic car accident, and his psyche suffered a blow so devastating, he feels hopeless to ever recover. He finds release from his mental anguish in the pain pills prescribed for his injuries, and his wife, Shelley, is forced to watch him stumble down the slippery slope of addiction while battling her own maternal grief.
The tension in this book is palpable. Eads approaches the topic of depression with finesse. He spins a visceral web of self-loathing, with enough horror to hold our attention. Most importantly, he makes us care. We care what happens to our main characters as frightening occurrences plague their everyday lives... such as Stephen's strange ability to move his missing arm--a ghost arm, if you will. When the ice cream truck driver responsible for Allie's death dies in his hospital bed, something sinister seeps into this world from a mysterious crack in the sky, and one thing becomes clear: their daughter is attempting to contact them from beyond. Allie needs their help. This novella has a vibe along the same lines as the movies Poltergeist and Insidious--a dark world within our own world, a helpless child, trapped. Yet the writing is one of a kind. The pages are full of passion, suspense, and fear. Author Ben Eads nails the dynamics of a loving marriage fraught with heartache and terror. And you won't be disappointed with what awaits you in Cracked Sky. You can pre-order this novella before January 12th or purchase it after the 12th by visiting: http://www.amazon.com/Cracked-Sky-Ben-Eads-ebook/dp/B00QD89JK0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417391534&sr=8-2&keywords=cracked+sky You can sign up for the Cracked Sky newsletter on Ben's website: http://beneadsfiction.com Also, please show your support and like him on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ben-Eads-Fiction/266455789069  Hey, everyone! If you're familiar with my blogging history, you know that I used to run Author Interview Corner. I closed it recently, as I want to spend more time focused on my own writing. Yet, there will be times when I want to promote my fellow writers, and since this website comes with a blog, hey, how about right here? I just finished a book, and I thought I'd share the review. Alamo Rising is the third book I've read by Bowie Ibarra, and if I had to summarize his work in one word, I'd go with: “fun”. His characters have a certain rambunctious energy, capable of carrying them through hell and back with a smirk. Doesn't everyone love that in a protagonist? I know I do.
Alamo Rising kicks off when a newly formed team of paranormal investigators starts prowling for ghosts in San Antonio. A dark curse is unleashed on the city, and strange things start happening in the area around the Alamo. The team soon bites off more than they can chew as they catch the eye of those evil people who are summoning the dark forces... and who will let nothing stand in their way. My favorite decade for horror movies is hands-down the 1980s, and Bowie's writing style gives me the same vibe. A dramatic plot-line, interspersed with comedy and witty dialogue to keep it light, all leading up to some major buckets of blood. Drama, comedy, and gore--the three main ingredients for a fun horror story. Throw in some truly original ideas, and you've got Alamo Rising. Another good one, Mr. Ibarra. Keep them coming, please. |
AuthorLindsey Beth Goddard is a horror fiction author who enjoys learning about fellow writers. This blog is intended to showcase any book reviews and promotions her readers may enjoy. Archives
June 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed
