Sunday, February 28, 2021

SARAH BLACK - WOMAN IN HORROR

 


https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000816639384

https://valentinewolfe.com/home

https://valentinewolfe.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheValentineWolfe/videos

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheValentineWolfe/featured

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5kC9IaXzP1GEtTNSZNzKmT?utm_source=ms_bing&utm_medium=listen_results

https://tunein.com/artist/Valentine-Wolfe-m854273/

https://valentinewolfe.threadless.com/?fbclid=IwAR1xXQvRDEzMSSgT5FL6wDgvbdidxt5UxX-cFMTTQ5tjSHn9ofYWL4ITXg4

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=734180080284781

https://twitter.com/Valentine_Wolfe


Sarah Black is my Woman In Horror today! Sarah is one half of Valentine Wolf. In their words:

"We're a gothic metal/dark ambient/alt classical duo. All of our music features soprano, solo double bass, and electronics. No guitars in our music, and no, it's not a cello. Death Positive."

Here's a picture of Sarah and her partner and husband, Braxton Ballew.



   

Be prepared in this post to be bombarded with pictures, as well as links to some of their great music. I mean, how can you experience the great sounds and performances that this dynamic duo produce without watching them perform and listen to some of their majestic collaborations? Short answer? You can't. 

Terri DelCampo, my wife, and I first met this fantastic duo at Monsterama in Alpharetta, Georgia in 2018. If you look at the clip, you can see the back of Terri's and my head at the bottom.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=734180080284781

After being a part of their audience, we were hooked on their fantastic music.


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Watch them perform one of my favorite songs, Annabel Lee.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akMEXkWHn-4

Absolutely beautiful!

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Enjoy the words of Poe and the music of Valentine Wolfe.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoU_toaqhw8

From Valentine Wolfe:

We return to the work of Edgar Allan Poe with this abbreviated version of a brand new song, Dream-Land. Paired with a fan-made video featuring an equally iconic work, The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari, both works explore the severing of the cord connecting the real and unreal. 

Out of space, out of time. 

That disconnect inspired us to feature a song lurching into life, appearing from a formless void, and definitely inspired by my (Braxton) love for the music of Opeth.

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I Felt A Funeral



https://valentinewolfe.bandcamp.com/track/i-felt-a-funeral-2

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Bear in mind that Valentine Wolfe has many songs and readings available for you to enjoy. Check through the many links I have available for you above. Terri DelCampo buys all of their CDs and merchandise. We have a lot of their shirts, for example. I bought Terri a gorgeous book they have, as well. 



You can get this great book here:

https://valentinewolfe.bandcamp.com/merch/once-upon-a-midnight-graphic-novel

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https://valentinewolfe.bandcamp.com/track/etheria

This great song is the theme for the TV show The Ghost Finders.

Great job!

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A little background for Valentine Wolfe's Beyond The Veil series that Braxton is doing on Youtube, as well as the first one in the series.

https://twitter.com/Valentine_Wolfe/status/1353851278640566272

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Great article courtesy of the Greenville Journal



https://greenvillejournal.com/arts-culture/hearts-of-darkness-valentine-wolfe-mixes-poems-by-emily-dickinson-with-dark-gothic-music-on-new-album/

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THE NIGHTINGALE: A GOTHIC FAIRYTALE


http://www.steampunk-music.com/article.cfm?a=119

I love Steampunk! Whether it's in video, book, or music form. Valentine Wolfe is great with this genre. Their music is a perfect match for it . Check this post out and you'll see what I mean. The article contains a link for this great music! This shows they are indeed musical storytellers.

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THE ATLANTA STEAMPUNK EXPLORER



https://www.steampunk-explorer.com/articles/steampunks-set-save-future

Valentine Wolfe performed at this great gathering shortly before the crap hit the fan with on venue events. This great event further cements their place in Steampunk!

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DEATH AND THE MAIDEN: FROM THE ELEGIAC REPOSE






Valentine Wolfe is also involved with Death Positive which is a philosophy that means accepting that death is a part of life. People within the death positive movement are working to break down taboos that prevent people from discussing important end of life issues. The movement is growing fast, as well it should.

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More great videos!

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VALENTINE WOLFE LIVE AT DRAGON CON -VIRTUAL 2020





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WINTER - VERSION FOR PIANO AND SOLO BASS





From Valentine Wolfe:

As you may imagine, Valentine's Day is a big deal for a band called Valentine Wolfe. Beauty and passion are just as important to us as haunting, bleak, and heavy emotions. Which bring us to the version of the song you're about to see and hear. 

We'd been playing Tori Amos' song Winter in various arrangements for quite some time. Sarah's favorite version is one where she plays Tori's piano part, and the lonely, melancholy sound of my solo bass performs the vocal part. 

We were going to just record Winter in that configuration, but as the original builds in an intimate and emotional intensity, we had the idea to combine the piano and bass textures with a dark and gothic metal groove. And we were quite pleased with the results. We hope you will be, too. 

And visually, we think this fan--created video (using one of our favorite films, Crimson Peak) really brings this song to life.

Movie
Crimson Peak

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Goth Girl Plays Piano: Bach's Praeludium no. 6 in d minor


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WHERE I HAVE LOST, I SOFTER TREAD


From Valentine Wolfe:

Our haunting setting of Emily Dickinson's Where I Have Lost, I Softer Tread, from Only Gossamer My Gown. This album features 11 songs of bleak, ethereal soundscapes balanced with brooding, heavy distortion. All lyrics adapted from poems by Emily Dickinson. Visit valentinewolfe.com for full details. 


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THE GHOST'S SUMMONS


Marley was dead, to begin with...

In the 19th century, Christmas Eve entertainment was gathering around and telling ghost stories. Valentine Wolfe has always found it fascinating that one of the most inspiring Christmas tales, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, is in fact, a ghost story. Tonight, we're going to return to that bleak midwinter holiday tradition. We have three songs for you with a ghostly accompaniment, and then a ghost story of our own: Ada Buisson's wonderfully macabre The Ghosts' Summons. 
So light a candle and pour a glass of Christmas cheer. And let's celebrate those of us who know the bumps in the night are not reindeer.

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VALENTINE WOLFE'S PATREON PAGE



Go where all the smart kids go! Valentine Wolfe would love to have you as a patron!

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Get your digits pumping away at clicking onto the links above and find out how great Valentine Wolfe really is and why Sarah Black is an outstanding Woman In Horror!


Blaze McRob





  









 

Saturday, February 27, 2021

CHRISTINE MORGAN - WOMAN IN HORROR

 


https://www.facebook.com/christinemorganauthor?fref=ts

https://christinemariemorgan.wordpress.com/

https://sabledrake.livejournal.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Christine-Morgan/e/B001K8FJ0C/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1520529287&sr=1-2-ent


Christine Morgan is my Woman In Horror today! Christine writes about, zombies, games involving adult sexual situations, body modifications gone wrong, Bigfoot, spiders, gnomes, dragons, elves, dwarfs, alchemy, and more. In other words, try to find something she doesn't write about. Not an easy task.

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Christine's Amazon bio:

Christine Morgan divides her writing time among many genres, from horror to historical, from superheroes to smut, anything in between and combinations thereof. She's a future crazy-cat-lady and a longtime gamer, who enjoys British television, cheesy action/disaster movies, cooking and crafts. Which latter two led a recent podcast to refer to her as "The Martha Stewart of extreme horror," so, make of that what you will!

Her short stories have appeared in dozens of anthologies, as well as the collections The Raven's Table (Viking-themed horror, with a companion volume due out in late 2020 or early 2021) and Dawn of the Living-Impaired And Other Messed Up Zombie Stories (zombies, obviously).

Her novels include the historical pioneer blizzard snow monstery White Death, the Edward Lee sequel Lakehouse Infernal, the totally trashy Spermjackers From Hell, the soon-to-be-rereleased Murder Girls, and others.

She also takes on editing and proofreading gigs, is a regular contributor to The Horror Fiction Review, has twice earned an Honorable Mention from Ellen Datlow in the Year's Best series, and been nominated in various categories of the Splatterpunk Awards.

Christine currently lives in Portland, Oregon, where she works the overnight shift in a residential psychiatric facility. She is always glad to hear from readers, as well as other authors (and hey, agents, publishers, movie people, it's all good!)

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Some of Christine's fantastic books.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RMD482V/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0

"Lakehouse Infernal is the coolest, ball-bustingest, most outrageous, and most ENTERTAINING horror novel you’re likely to find in a long time.” - Edward Lee author of CITY INFERNAL

Lake Misquamicus was an unremarkable lake in Florida, unremarkable that is until suddenly it was filled with six billion gallons of blood, bile, pus, piss, shit and ...things... directly from the pits of Hell. First the public was in shock, then the government built a wall, and as time passed it became another urban legend. But for some, it has become a travel destination. Spring-breakers, drug-runners, and religious nuts. But a weekend getaway on the shores of Hell, may not be the safest idea...

With an introduction by and officially endorsed by splatterpunk legend Edward Lee, LAKEHOUSE INFERNAL is an official entree in Lee's infamous INFERNAL series. Christine Morgan (SPERMJACKERS FROM HELL) expands on this universe with her own twist of hardcore horror tourism.

"Think Spring Break, only instead of a beach house, it’s a lakehouse, but the lakehouse IS IN FUCKIN’ HELL, that’s right, a chunk of Hell that’s been upheaved and pushed up into our pretty little world–sunny Florida, no less!” - Edward Lee

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Dennis J. Rooney

5.0 out of 5 stars Grand Slam!!!

Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2019

Verified Purchase

Full disclosure : Edward Lee's Inferno series is one of my all-time favorites . When I saw the preview notification that Ms. Morgan was releasing this I channeled Larry Tate from the old "Bewitched " TV series. "That's just crazy enough to work!" It does work. This book has all the world-building you could hope to find along with Morgan adding some deliciously sleazy characters along the way. Just a brilliant twist on a fabulous setting. Buy this. You will definitely be getting more than your money's worth.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074TZGTT3/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2


Let’s summon a succubus, they said. It’ll be fun, they said…

I have some friends and we had a crazy idea: let’s summon a demon. Not just any demon but a sexy devil chick that will do anything we want—even butt stuff. It’ll be easy. It’s not like it’s going to work. Monsters aren’t real.

We were wrong. Really fucking wrong.

The demon is not what we thought and it’s making horrible things happen. People are cutting into each other's junk, some guy is fucking his dog, and sex slugs from Hell are raping us and stealing our semen in order to build a goddamn hive!

We didn’t mean for any of this. But we’re gonna fix it... Just after a few more beers and bong hits.


From Christine Morgan, author of Mythic Lust: the Minotaur, and The Raven’s Table: Viking Stories, comes a sleazy and deviant satire about sex, occultism, and nerd culture.

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Amber Fallon

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Disgusting!

Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2017

Verified Purchase

This book is NOT for the faint of heart!

A group of horndog pervy pals decide it would be fun to summon a succubus, believing that they'll get a hot naked demon chick with cute little bat wings. How wrong they were...

My favorite thing about this book is that it's one hell of an original twist on the Succubus trope. I love originality and this angle is so well done, so completely horrific and vile and just amazing that it has earned a place among my favorite books.

While this book is not really gory, there is no shortage of bodily fluids. It's gross. It's hilarious. There are these brilliant author interludes that add so much to the story... I couldn't put it down.

If you like Ed Lee. If you like laughing while feeling slightly queasy, if you like new takes on old tropes, this book is definitely for you!

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FG95XX8/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1

Some things, according to Cody McCall, are worth risking a whipping. Such as, sneaking out with your friends after dark for a peek at the traveling show setting up just outside of town. Oddities, the signs promise. Marvels. Grotesqueries. Exotic attractions and mysterious magics.

Not as if they'd be allowed to attend otherwise, not with parents and preacher and schoolmarm all disapproving. But how often does a chance like this come along? There isn't much else by way of excitement in quiet, peaceful Silver River, a once-prosperous boom town slowly gone bust.

Worth risking a whipping, sure. Worth risking life and limb, and maybe more? Worth risking being ripped to pieces by ravenous, inhuman brutes? Worth crossing paths with those strange, silent cult-folk from the high valley? Worth all the fire and bloodshed and horror and death?

Because something far worse than any ordinary traveling show has come to town, and one thing is for certain: those who survive, if any, will never forget the night Silver River run red.


(All Splatter Western books are stand-alone stories. Read them in whatever order you please!)

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Nikolas P. Robinson

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Pa's Sort of Western

Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2020

Verified Purchase

My maternal grandfather was a big fan of Louis L'Amour and he had a massive assortment of paperback westerns when I was growing up. I developed a deep appreciation for those stories and others, as well as western movies and television as a whole.

The Night Silver River Run Red is absolutely not one of those westerns. Christine Morgan nails the language, the descriptions, and the tone of authentic western authors...but that is where the similarities end.

It starts off like a tale that could have been a Halloween-themed Laura Ingalls Wilder story from her Little House series. Kids in a rapidly depopulating town sneak out together at night to try and catch a glimpse of carnival attractions their puritanical parents oppose. The only element that wouldn't fit is the presence of a religious cult a short distance outside of town, but I didn't say it was a perfect comparison.

It doesn't feel like one of those stories for long anyhow. The violence erupts and any thought that this could have been a western story you might have read while growing up is dispelled quite rapidly and that sense of familiarity never returns...plus, there is a uniquely psychotic rapist named Horsecock in the book, so there's that.

I can only hope the other Splatter Westerns published by Death's Head Press are this good...because Christine Morgan expertly weaves her own brand of extreme horror and visceral violence into an almost perfect replica of the pulp westerns a lot of us know quite well.

This is the fourth of the books, but it had to be the first I read, just because of this particular author.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TWGM3DF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i4

With her signature style of fusing horror and humor, Christine Morgan brings you the zombie collection you've been waiting for. From a televised debate-destined for disaster-between a zombie killing general and an advocate for the "Living-Impaired(which seems all too plausible)”, to an unlikely schoolyard romance that finds common cause experimenting on the dead, and all manner of ghoulish delights in between. Christine delivers all the blood and brains you could ask for in these nine tales risen from the grave!

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RD

5.0 out of 5 stars More Zombies

Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2020

Verified Purchase

I am really tired and bored with zombie stories. I avoid them like the plague. But I decided to read this based on the reputation of the publisher. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The author finds a way to approach the whole zombie thing from new angles. My favorite story in the collection is A Tower To The Sky. High marks to the author for being able to breathe new life into a genre that has been pounded into the ground.

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No other author writes in the style Christine Morgan does. Christine Morgan is a true Woman In Horror!


Blaze McRob



Friday, February 26, 2021

NINA D'ARCANGELA - WOMAN IN HORROR

 










Nina D'Arcangela is my Woman In Horror today! Nina and I go back a ways. We both love the lore of New Jersey and New York horror tales and shared space on Pen Of The Damned for quite some time. As you can see above from all the links that Nina has that she is very busy in the world of horror, both the writing and promotional aspects of it. She has always supported other authors and worked to champion their works.

You can read many of Nina's short stories by going to https://sotetangyal.com/ She has many superb tales to whet your horrific senses!

Hustle your digits to https://spreadingthewritersword.com/ and read many posts from her The Ladies of Horror Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge! You'll be blown away by the wonderful writers Nina presents to you. Nina believes in spreading the word of terrific Ladies of Horror throughout the year.

Make sure you check out the other links above to find out more about Nina and the great work she does. There is much material for you to peruse.

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Some of Nina's great stories.





Where does reality end and dreamscape begin?

Woken each night by the sounds of screams and twisting metal, Lauren must relive the panic and fear of discovering her brother’s broken body on the asphalt. But each morning, she finds it’s only a dream… One she doesn’t want to keep having.

At what point does a dream become a nightmare, and what if the nightmare was more than a figment of her subconscious?

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Robert C. Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars Bent Metal Will Bend Your Mind!
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2014
Verified Purchase
Bent Metal, by Nina D'Arcangela, is one of those mind-blowing tales that takes twists and turns from start to finish. You know the ending, but you really don't. You are pulled into alternate realities that pull at you from all directions, whispering into your ears that what you are reading only hints at the truth, and no matter how it plays out, there will be deep sadness.

Many people say never to write about dreams. No one cares to hear about them. I beg to differ. Dreams are on a plane of existence unlike our waking psyches. Nina's dream world is interlaced with realities, and bonds itself to the physical reality we try to ground ourselves in.

I have had the same dream every night for 47 years. I keep hoping for a different ending so that happiness will finally wash over me. This gives me more insight into the tale Nina shares with us. I understand. I believe. And I can still hope.

Read Bent Metal. Nina D'Arcangela is a master of psychological horror.

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COFFIN HOP: DEATH BY DRIVE-IN is a collection of stories from the ranks of the annual Coffin Hop online horror extravaganza. Brains from Space! Robot Squids Gone Wild! Radioactive Microwave Men! Monster Mash Massacres! Crotch Tentacles! Werewolf lovin’! Vengeful Gods! Hot-Rod Hauntings! Alaskan Apocalypse! Vampire Seduction! Man-eating Toilet! Robot Lincoln & Zombie Jackson! Featuring interior art by the legendary Nic Caesar, and an introduction by B-Movie expert and cult classic Stink of Flesh director Scott S. Phillips!

Get your popcorn ready and dim those headlights.

The Dusk ‘til Dawn is about to begin, and it’s gonna be killer, baby!

All profits from COFFIN HOP: DEATH BY DRIVE-IN will be donated to LitWorld.org!

Visit us on the web at www.coffinhop.com

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Denise Z
5.0 out of 5 stars Creepy Fun That Pushed All The Right Buttons
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2014
One of the best horror anthologies I have read. Each story is short and sweet and there is always that little chill of what if lurking. I will admit that often in reading an anthology, I find only a couple of stories that I enjoy and that I am ambivalent about much of the others; however, this treat pushed the right buttons. I enjoyed almost every one of these offerings with the exception of one that scared the wits out of me; nope I am not saying which one, I will let you discover these chills all on your own. In the reading of this anthology I giggled, shuddered in horror, and sat back with that holy cow you did not say that feeling, which all in all left me very satisfied indeed. Definitely recommend for those who enjoy short little snippets of horror to enjoy all at once or just a short treat on that occasional coffee break where you can imagine the mean boss or supervisor getting the starring role as the victim. To top it off all of the proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to a non-profit organization supporting child literacy. I requested this book from the author and received it with a request for my honest review without any compensation whatsoever, other than the joy of reading a new book.

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Myth or reality…

Explore the twelve tales of horror and intrigue in Twisted Realities: Of Myth and Monstrosity and ask yourself, what would you consider a fair price to pay for life immortal... or the chance of life at all?

Would a young woman pass up a shiny bauble if she believed it to be nothing more than a harmless trinket? What transpires once a year in a peaceful and remote village that no one will ever speak of? What better way for a broken man to honor a crippled existence than with a memorial of blood and vengeance? How could a disfigured woman ever dream of chancing across an object that would restore her beauty - and at what cost?

Follow the twists and turns of each writer as they delve into the legends of days gone by, as well as the consequences that are wrought when myths and monstrosities collide with our world.

With stories from Thomas James Brown, Nina D'Arcangela, K. Trap Jones, Amber Keller, Lisamarie Lamb, Edward Lorn, Alexa Muir, Kate Monroe, Joseph A. Pinto, J. Marie Ravenshaw, Julianne Snow, and Jonathan Templar.

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Knightmst
4.0 out of 5 stars Mythology, Monsters and a great Anthology
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2012
Myths, folk lore, stories of the past are things that a reader can find in countless books. The stories of central characters are splashed across pages and often it can be hard to tell the good from the bad. In the Siren's Call Publication anthology, Twisted Realities: Of Myth and Monstrosity, some of these creatures are brought forth within the pages.

The anthology has short stories from many great authors who use their words to bring the creatures of old to life. Their stories will not only introduce you to a myth, or monster, but will make sure you understand who it is you are reading about. The stories encompass things from ancient Greece to those of ancient Ireland.

The stories cover things such as the Irish Morrigan, the satyrs, and a relation to Cerberus. The point of being vague on the stories themselves is to get people to pick up the anthology. In my personal opinion it's worth a read and fans of the old mythology will love the stories. Readers that are unaware of these stories will find themselves looking for more information about who, or what, they read about.

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As you can see, Nina D'Arcangela is definitely a Woman In Horror!


Blaze McRob




Thursday, February 25, 2021

ANNE FRANCIS SCOTT - WOMAN IN HORROR

 


https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Francis-Scott/e/B007TTCK9O

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnneFrancisScott/

https://annefrancisscott.com/

https://annefrancisscott.com/blog/

https://annefrancisscott.com/about/

https://twitter.com/AnnefScott


Anne Francis Scott is my Woman In Horror today! Anne is a most interesting woman. Her books are fantastic, and  https://annefrancisscott.com/blog/  lets you in on what she thinks about the paranormal. The part about parallel dimensions grabs me. I was immediately drawn to it. Okay, so I have some physics studies under my belt and love the subject, but Anne gives you her thoughts in clear, easy to understand words. Make sure you read it.

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About Anne Francis Scott

Paranormal Mystery Author

Anne Francis Scott is a Readers' Favorite award finalist author in paranormal fiction. She has a fascination for haunted houses, ancient cemeteries, and ghostly mysteries with a twist. Those passions fuel her writing, giving her the chance to take readers to an otherworldly place and leave them there for a while. She hopes that journey is a good one...

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To read more about why Anne travels down the haunted trail, copy and paste this link into your browser: https://annefrancisscott.com/about/

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Some great books by Anne.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TC861M/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0

Lost Girl - Readers' Favorite Award Finalist in Paranormal Fiction

If the dead spoke to you, would you listen?

Or would you close your senses, tune out the whispers, pretend you couldn't hear.

Maybe run.

To where?

Anywhere.

Find me . . .

Renowned sculptor Allison Weathers doesn't believe in ghosts. But when a tragic twist of fate leads her to the small mountain town of Dawson Mills, Tennessee, she soon learns that the dead don't always stay silent. Shadows begin to shift in the rambling, old Victorian farmhouse she's purchased. Voices come from nowhere. She can feel the eyes on her.

Paul Bradford, a contractor who is bidding the renovation work on the house, believes it's more than just Allison's imagination conjuring up the paranormal activity. Toni Harper, a reporter for the local paper, concurs. She's heard snippets of hand-over-the-mouth gossip from some of the town's deputies who responded to calls in the middle of the night. Ghosts. Or so the former owner claimed in the few months before his death.

The secrets they unearth rock Allison right down to the core. Thrust into a haunted world where the paranormal and evil collide, she has one hope of survival: unravel the sinister history buried for decades within the old farmhouse and find the link to a muddled piece of her past.


Lost Girl by Anne Francis Scott is a paranormal mystery/ghost story with chilling scenes at the fringe of horror.

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Katharine E. Pfeil

5.0 out of 5 stars Stellar Read!

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2018

Verified Purchase

Stellar read. There's always something eerie about an old house in the middle of nowhere, secluded by dense forest. Growing up I lived next to a forest with an old cabin, and though I would walk, and still walk the same forest, there's always moments where your mind can play tricks on you or you feel a sudden rush of goose bumps thinking someone is watching you.... This entire book held me in that exact mindset as I read. Completely thrilling and exciting. I read this book in a day and a half, even trying to read it in the shower, because I couldn't wait to see what happened. The characters are well defined. I loved Allison and Paul, but I also appreciated Toni. Every character matched perfectly with their personality and the developing plot. The twists and turns just melded well together throughout the book. I think I will even go on record to say that this is the best book I have read in 2018 thus far. ;) Well done.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BVBRYKK/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

SLEEP IS NO CURE FOR A NIGHTMARE

After reeling from the backlash of decades-old murders, the residents of Dawson Mills, Tennessee are more than ready to put the nightmare behind them. But Toni Harper, a reporter for the local paper, knows the trouble is just beginning. When the bodies of two men are found at the edge of the woods, their faces impossibly twisted, and mouths wide open on a scream, she believes the sheriff's men have missed a crucial piece of evidence. A simple revelation coiled up right under their noses, waiting for lightning to strike.

The hunt for answers leads Toni to a sinister world where the present rides parallel with a gruesome past. Shadows begin stalking her. Visions and chilling dreams haunt her. At the heart of the darkness, an ancient evil waits. Sly, calculating. Hungry.

Can she destroy the devil-thing that has a taste for her? Or will she soon join countless lost souls in an eternal death?

Thrust into a wicked paranormal realm, Toni races against the clock, immersed in the shadowed mysteries of the occult, where her only hope of survival rests with the ghost of a long-dead witch.


Lost Souls by Anne Francis Scott is a paranormal mystery at the fringe of horror, guaranteed to keep you reading with the lights on...

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Amy's Bookshelf Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling with the right amount of chills

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2018

Verified Purchase

I've read Scott's Lost Girl, and liked it very much. Scott's Lost Souls brings the reader back to Dawson Mills. This time, the story revolves around Toni. This is full of twists and mystery as there is also something sinister and chilling looming. I liked both books, but I think this is my favorite so far in this trilogy. Scott pens a magnificent story, and brings it to life. This is one of those you can't put down until the end. I look forward to whatever comes next in this trilogy.

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Just read some of the reviews for these great books. Anne Francis Scott is definitely a Woman In Horror!


Blaze McRob


Wednesday, February 24, 2021

LISAMARIE LAMB - WOMAN IN HORROR


 

https://www.amazon.com/Lisamarie-Lamb/e/B004ZK1MXU/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1423191720&sr=1-2-ent

https://www.facebook.com/lisamarielamb81

http://themoonlitdoor.blogspot.com/p/buy-my-anthologies.html

http://www.lisamarielamb.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR3PoK2kjy2yMbenawPqA_mivjVZYb4zRqxkYfrkR6moeqQnD5BCPFIwsok


Lisamarie Lamb is my Woman In Horror today! Just take a peek at all the great books she has written as a stand alone author or as an author within anthologies at her Amazon Author Page. https://www.amazon.com/Lisamarie-Lamb/e/B004ZK1MXU/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1423191720&sr=1-2-ent Boggles the mind, and yet there are more great books on the way. Wow!

I was debating whether to put up a different picture of Lisamarie than the one on her Amazon page because that one doesn't show her face like the ones on her blog and Facebook pages do. But you can see her face in those other places. I think her Amazon photo shows her as a writer, doing her mastery on the keyboards. Good choice, Lisamarie!

I first got to know Lisamarie when Angelic Knight Press was doing our Satan's Toybox series. She is one of only a few authors who has stories in all three of the anthologies. That is quite an accomplishment considering the fine authors with tales in those tomes.

You will notice that Lisamarie is published with many different publishers. This says a lot for her skills at the craft. Having read many of her stories, I know why. She writes so well! It's that simple. She combines her horror with a reflective posturing, allowing the reader to be drawn in subtly, and then wham! The trap has been set and the reader cannot escape the majesty of her words. And I love her English styling and charm.

I firmly believe that good authors can write in any genre. Lisamarie takes this a step further and has a special website http://www.lisamarielamb.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR3PoK2kjy2yMbenawPqA_mivjVZYb4zRqxkYfrkR6moeqQnD5BCPFIwsok for freelance writing where she has set rates and advertises she will write anything. That takes in a lot of territory. I am really impressed. 

******

Lisamarie's Amazon bio:

About Lisamarie Lamb

I'm a writer... At least, I write...

I was five when I wrote my first short story - it involved a car going over a cliff, Jessica Fletcher and the Phantom Raspberry Blower. It didn't have much of a plot (he did it, she solved it) but it did have rather colourful (crayon) illustrations and it did make me realise that writing was for me.

At 12 I wrote my first novel during the school summer holidays. Loosely based on the Famous Five, with a bit of James Bond thrown in, it was an adventure story and my teacher made me read some of it out in class. And that's when I realised that I wanted people to hear my stories and read my work.

Over the intervening years, I have written various short stories, plays, poems and novels in different genres, including romance and children's books.

******

Some of Lisamarie's great books.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KLOX8JA/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0

"If you are looking for a wide variety of short science fiction stories with the flair of horror reminiscent of The Twilight Zone or Outer Limits, you need to look no further." -Amazing Stories

WHAT HAS TWO HEADS, TEN EYES, AND TERRIFYING TABLE MANNERS? features more than a dozen never-before-published short stories that combine Horror and Science Fiction elements. These original tales, written by some of the best new genre authors, range from the horrifying to the humorous, the thought-provoking to the thought-twisting. All are diabolically entertaining.

Read about...

A microwave leading to another dimension!

An angry little girl harboring a hungry evil!

A spaceship with mythical beast stowaways!

A woman who gives up sleep, and her sanity!

An aging starlet who makes the ultimate flesh sacrifice!

And much more!

If you enjoy movies like ALIEN, THE THING, EVENT HORIZON, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, and PHANTASM, you'll love WHAT HAS TWO HEADS, TEN EYES, AND TERRIFYING TABLE MANNERS?!

******

Dr.Gonzo

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting and Impressively Creative Collection of Stories

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2015

Verified Purchase

The best thing about this collection is the sheer creativity of the stories. I really enjoyed the variety of stories presented and the authors' imaginations really spoke to my own imagination (as a fan of Sci Fi.)

Like any collection the stories do vary, but even the least interesting are 3 or 3.5 star reads while the best are 4 or 4.5 star level (which is why I have awarded 4 stars overall.) I will mention that I found the order of the stories to be less than ideal, in that some of my favorites were slotted earlier in the collection that I would have liked and some of the later stories were among the weaker in my opinion.

Overall and excellent creative collection of stories, highly recommended for fans of sci-fi.

******



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1326882376/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p3_i1

Who's that trip trapping over my bridge? It's the echo of a childhood bedtime story read on a mother's knee, but this story is definitely not for children. Eliza is excited when she gets her first assignment as a newspaper journalist, even if it does mean she has to travel to the back of beyond to get the story. But with a slew of missing persons and some weird weather warnings, there is definitely something going on in the little village of Bailby. The villagers stick together, and local policeman, Fraser, is Eliza's only ally. As they grow closer, something else is ripping the village apart - and it's coming to gobble them up.

******

Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Slow building beauty.

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2016

The start of this is a quick, strong, crazy blow to the mind. You just have no idea what the hell just happened. Then you read the story of the main character. It goes through telling her story of fleeing an abusive relationship out of self preservation. Her partner alone is the kind of horror that is all too real for most. Then twists start hitting, left and right, and a real life fear builds in you for the Main character.  I definitely recommend this book to anyone.

******



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BR0P8O0/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i2

For some, death is not the end. There are those who are doomed to walk the earth for all eternity, those who are trapped between one plain of existence and the next, those who, for whatever reason, cannot or will not let go of the lives they left behind. These are the vengeful spirits, the tortured souls, the ghosts that haunt our realm. Welcome to FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE, a collection of 19 original ghost stories from:

Brent Abell

Gordon Anthony Bean

Rose Blackthorn

Tim J. Finn

Scott M. Goriscak

Marianne Halbert

Jeffrey Kosh

Lisamarie Lamb

Mark Leslie & Carol Weekes

Edward J. McFadden III

Adam Millard

David North-Martino

Jeffrey C. Pettengill

Nelson W. Pyles

Michael Thomas-Knight

Robert W. Walker

Cynthia Ward

Jay Wilburn

Jennifer Word

******

Tracy J. Devore

5.0 out of 5 stars You won't be disappointed!

Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2013

Verified Purchase

When a book boasts ghost stories, I expect to be frightened, and "From Beyond the Grave" didn't disappoint me. Nineteen talented authors have come together, along with the masterful editing of Michael J. Evans, to create chilling tales that will tingle all your senses. Should you read this book alone, late at night, by candlelight? Oh, yes. By all means. Highly recommend.

******



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OF183TU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i3

Think Halloween is just a bit of fun for children? Think again!

These ten wonderfully sinister tales of terror will remind you that sometimes it's better to leave the lights on when you go to bed.

******

Sarah Doebereiner

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely, check it out.

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2014

I got the chance to read this book as part of a special promotional event. One of the things that I enjoy most about anthologies is how the different voices of the writers come through in each segment. This book is no exception. I won't lie, some of the stories I loved, and some of them weren't my cup of tea (like in any anthology), but the whole compilation kept my attention and made me want to keep reading. My favorite story was actually the first one, "Fashionably Late" because it was closest to the literary style that I enjoy reading. The cover artwork is amazing. Don't worry, there is definitely something for everyone in this anthology. Vivid imagery, well imagined plots, and an all around spooky time.

******



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EJCDZM4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i7

Welcome to the Campfire.


Did you ever go camping as a kid and sit around the fire at night listening to scary stories? Creepy Campfire Quarterly features horror fiction from the most talented writers across the globe. Dark, disturbing, dramatic, or just down right creepy, these stories will entertain you. And perhaps the next time you are around a campfire, you’ll find yourself recounting a few of these haunting tales…

Featuring works from the newest crop of modern horror writers:

James E. Coplin

D.J. Schuette

Jeffrey Todd

Morgan Griffith

Tom Breen

Nick Nafpliotis

Vincent Salvati

Ryan Neil Falcone

Christopher Hivner

David Neilsen

Jim Cort

Lisamarie Lamb

Howard Rachen

Dale W. Glaser

Nancy J. Hayden

Fredrick Obermeyer

Jack Lee Taylor

Ambrose Stolliker

******

There can be no doubt that Lisamarie Lamb is a Woman In Horror!


Blaze McRob

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

SUSANNE LEIST - WOMAN IN HORROR


 

https://www.amazon.com/Susanne-Leist/e/B00F253FE6/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

https://susanneleist.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/susanne.leist.98

https://twitter.com/SusanneLeist


Susanne Leist is my woman In Horror today! I run into Susanne and her marvelous books in many places. She is a tireless worker and a wonderful supporter of other authors.

Susanne has a different approach to writing Vampire tales. I will present some highlights to that in the posts about her books below.

About Susanne Leist

"I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn't reading late into the night, the TV shows--Murder She Wrote and Columbo--entertained me with tales of murder and suspense.

Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I wrote one.

The Dead Game, Book One of The Dead Game series, brings fantasy and the surreal to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to spice the motley mix.

The story continues in Book Two, Prey for The Dead, as The Dead vampires use an exclusive club in Disney World to infiltrate the rich and famous. As The Dead grow in power, not even the bright sunshine of Florida can weaken them. Linda, my main character, and her friends join forces with human vampires--known as hybrids--to defeat the evil threatening to control Oasis. A masquerade ball and a romp through the tunnels beneath the town lead to a showdown in the swamps of southern Florida.

A career in writing has been a big leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it's too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart."

******

On to Susanne's great books.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F3IWF70/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i2

 New edition.

Linda Bennett moves from New York to Florida to live a quieter life. Life is peaceful until the dead body washes up onshore. She learns that dead bodies and disappearing tourists are typical for the coastal town.

Linda and her friends receive an invitation to a party at End House, a deserted house overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The group arrives, but no one is there to greet them. The house has a sinister life of its own where horror follows their every step. Traps, illusions, and revolving rooms add to their growing fear. A bloody skeleton sleeps in an upstairs' bedroom, and body parts fall from the chimney into the living room's fireplace. Wild animals escape their cages in the basement. The young residents flee for their lives.

They embark on a harrowing journey, not knowing whom to trust, to uncover the one controlling the evil game.

Who are The Dead?

Are they humans or vampires?

Will Linda lose her heart to Todd, who knows more than he admits?

Will her best friend, Shana, fall in love with Sheriff Sam?


The Dead Game has begun.

******

Editorial Reviews

Review

Do not turn off the lights.Ted Top 1000 ReviewerThe author has crafted herself a town that is bipolar in its nature. By day it pretends to be a bright seaside destination where youth collects to begin their adult lives; make friends, start businesses and parties. By night, the town closes ranks to all newbies and becomes a creepy destination for elites to ply their generational customs that include preying on the innocent. Linda and her friends will experience horror, shock, and disbelief as they attempt to get to the bottom of the macabre events in one of the historical mansions. The mansion was my favorite part as all senses of reality disappeared upon entering. The Dead Game by Susanne Leist is a mysterious supernatural thriller with plenty of twists and turns that is well-written and keeps you turning the page. From the first page you start a wild ride and just when you think all is well, she throws in another twist. 

Rhonda Cratty, Parenting & Education Examiner


I was absolutely surprised by this book! I knew it had some enigmatic mystery and some dark action, but the author set up the story so well I was happily amazed. It starts with a very engaging character, a young woman who is very well portrayed in a community, Oasis, Florida. The town's mysteries are maze-like and become deeper and more sinister as the book progresses. This is a very original approach to the concept of vampires and their existence.

Ray Miller "Relevant Reviewer"


The Dead Game by Susanne Leist is a top-notch haunted house horror thriller. The author excels at spooky descriptions, terrifying scenarios like opening a door and stepping into a black abyss or forever trapped in a dark maze with endless rooms stretching into infinity. Her characters are perfect and the reader can easily connect with them.

Simon Okill, Simon's Phantom Blog


A beachfront town, a haunted mansion, people disappearing or turning up dead--these are the elements of gothic horror, but this unique novel has a more than a few twists. The writing is first-rate, and the pace is fast. The characters are well-defined, and the plot is imaginative and unpredictable...

Howard Lipman, pen name PanOrpheus, author


Susanne's take on vampires is fresh and new but you'll have to read to know. She takes the age-old vampire legend and turns it into something I've never read before...

Elle Klass, Author of As Snow Falls


From the Author

Nothing can be as fine

as the dear book of mine. 

It might not be sold in a big bookstore, 

but you will not find one to offer more.

It was created with much love and hope,

even though it wasn't blessed by a Pope.

It has my blood, sweat, and tears.

Might raise many of your fears.

It has action, murder, and romance.

It can even do a little dance.

Please try it, and you'll see

it has the best of me. 

******



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PB9KG4P/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

Linda Bennett's dreams of happiness have always eluded her. Five years ago, she moved to Florida from New York to escape heartache. The Dead, an evil group of vampires, ruined any hope of peace for her and the small town of Oasis. Since then, Linda has learned to live among vampires and human-vampires, finding finds solace in her bookshop. Then one morning, Oasis goes dark, and an explosion rocks her store and any future dreams for a happy ending.

News of a vampire presence at an exclusive club in Disney World prompts Todd and Sam, hybrids, to go undercover as members. Linda and her best friend, Shana, join them as their trophy wives. Disaster follows in their wake as vampires fight for control. A devastating surprise waits for them in the tunnels beneath Oasis.

Can Oasis survive the battle between good and evil?

Will Linda find her happy ending?

******

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Set five years after the events in Leist's (The Dead Game, 2013) previous novel, this sequel aims to expand on the threat of Wolf and explore romance among the vamps. Readers will also enjoy a touch of mystery when they discover that Wolf's spirit has migrated into a new body... The Florida coast is beautifully evoked by water that "shimmered in alternating shades of azure and cerulean blue" and "the scent of zinnias and lavender" that "permeated the gentle wind." Most of the violence isn't the traditional vampire neck biting but more in tune with battlefield carnage ("A body hung from the chandelier--a headless form--still wearing his shirt and pants, now saturated with blood")." -- Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

A career in writing has been a giant leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. Don't listen if someone tells you it's too late to try something different. It is never too late to follow your heart.

The Dead Game, the first book of The Dead Game Series, brings fantasy and surrealism to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to spice the motley mix.

The story continues in Prey for The Dead as The Dead vampires use an exclusive club in Disney World to infiltrate the rich and famous, a club based on Walt Disney's Club 33. As The Dead grow in power, not even the bright sunshine of Florida can weaken them. Linda and her friends join forces with human vampires--known as hybrids--to defeat the evil threatening to control their coastal town. A masquerade ball and a romp through the tunnels beneath Oasis lead to a showdown in Florida's swamps.

The Dead At Heart, the last book in the series, is Shana's love story. When Linda moves into Gregg's mansion, she suggests Shana bring William with her as he recuperates from his last battle. While Gregg, a vampire, has learned to live with humans, Shana doubts whether William can mend his evil ways. Shana watches the engaged couple with dismay as her arguments with William mount. After werewolves kidnap Linda, Shana flees with Sam, who believes William has been plotting with vampires and werewolves to overthrow the upcoming vampire summit in Quebec.

I am working on my fourth book. A seaside town in Maine provides the backdrop for murder, mystery, and romance. Will this book become a series? I don't know yet. But I'm eager to begin the journey.

******



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DZY6LPF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1?

As Oasis is under attack, Shana must choose between a vampire and a human-vampire...

Late at night, werewolves swarm Gregg’s estate and kidnap Linda. Gregg gathers his men and races after his fiancee. Alone in a mansion filled with vampires, Shana flees, afraid William, her vampire boyfriend, has returned to his evil ways.

Sheriff Sam asks Shana to help him track the rogue vampires and werewolves. She follows him to Florida’s swampland, where The Watchers live in luxury. While proclaiming their innocence, the vampire leaders force them to board a plane to Quebec, capturing William along the way.

Once Linda is freed from the werewolves, she heads to Quebec in search of Shana. Meanwhile, trapped in a building sealed as tight as a tomb, Gregg outsmarts the computer-activated house and escapes his tormentor.

As the opposing vampire sects arrive at Chateau Frontenac, the boardwalk erupts in flames. The battle for control has begun. Torn between William and Sam, Shana must pick the right side since any mistake can become a deadly one.

******

Editorial Reviews

Review

5.0 out of 5 stars True love conquers allThis book finds Linda & her friends back in trouble in their quest to protect Oasis and one another. We learn more about the depths of Linda and Greg's love and commitment to one another while William and Sam battle to prove their love for Shauna. Heather D

******

Susanne Leist writes of Vampires in a whole new light. No wonder she's a Woman In Horror!


Blaze McRob


Monday, February 22, 2021

EDEN ROYCE - WOMAN IN HORROR

 


https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B004XVKWTG?_encoding=UTF8&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=2&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader

http://www.edenroyce.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eden_Royce

https://apex-magazine.com/interview-with-author-eden-royce/

https://twitter.com/EdenRoyce


Eden Royce is my Woman In Horror today! Eden is a firm believer in "celebrating folklore and telling our stories." She's absolutely right. One must never forget where we come from. She holds her head high and proudly, as well she should.

Rather than jump into a bunch of biography about Eden, I'll let a great interview she did with Apex magazine  https://apex-magazine.com/interview-with-author-eden-royce/ do the talking for you. Eden and Andrea Johnson did a fantastic job.

Also, Wikipedia has a short bio, as well as a great many of the fantastic works that Eden has written at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eden_Royce  

Visit Eden's website at http://www.edenroyce.com/ for more of what this fine lady is up to. 

For super fast happenings in Eden's life and books, as well as retweets about other authors, visit her at Twitter  https://twitter.com/EdenRoyce This is a treasure-trove of delights.

******

Eden's Amazon bio:

About Eden Royce

Eden Royce is descended from women who practiced root magic in her native Charleston, South Carolina. She's been a bridal consultant, a reptile handler, and a stockbroker, but is now content to write dark fiction about the South from her home in the English countryside.

When she's not writing, she's probably roller-skating, watching quiz shows, or perfecting her signature dish for Masterchef. Sometimes all at once.

Follow her on her website at edenroyce.com or on Twitter @edenroyce.

******

Let's get on to some of Eden's fantastic books.



 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0872932RN/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

“A poignant, necessary entry into the children’s literary canon, Root Magic brings to life the history and culture of Gullah people while highlighting the timeless plight of Black Americans. Add in a fun, magical adventure and you get everything I want in a book!”—Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation

Debut author Eden Royce arrives with a wondrous story of love, bravery, friendship, and family, filled to the brim with magic great and small.

It’s 1963, and things are changing for Jezebel Turner. Her beloved grandmother has just passed away. The local police deputy won’t stop harassing her family. With school integration arriving in South Carolina, Jez and her twin brother, Jay, are about to begin the school year with a bunch of new kids. But the biggest change comes when Jez and Jay turn eleven— and their uncle, Doc, tells them he’s going to train them in rootwork.

Jez and Jay have always been fascinated by the African American folk magic that has been the legacy of their family for generations—especially the curious potions and powders Doc and Gran would make for the people on their island. But Jez soon finds out that her family’s true power goes far beyond small charms and elixirs…and not a moment too soon. Because when evil both natural and supernatural comes to show itself in town, it’s going to take every bit of the magic she has inside her to see her through.

******

David Ginsburg

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it - left me wanting more!

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2021

Verified Purchase

I've been a fan of Eden's work ever since she published Containment. Root Magic, however, is unlike any book I've read.

Root Magic is geared towards Middle Grade, it has the perfect blend of humor, horror/darkness and history. I fell in love with the Turner family, especially Doc and Jez. Eden's skill with words puts you right into South Carolina in the 60's. You can taste the food that's being cooked, you can feel the weather and experience their life out on the edge of the marsh.

The one thing I truly loved about this book is the education I received. With Eden's background, you know you're getting honest to goodness learning about the Gullah-Geechee along with root/conjure. Unlike in other horror media, this may be the first time it's been explained and not just lumped in as something people use for evil or bad intentions.

There is only one downside - I want more. I want to see Jez and her twin Jay grow up. I want to see them more. I truly hope we get a series of books, because there is so much more I want to learn and experience through the characters eyes and through Eden's words.

Go read this when you get a chance. You will not be disappointed.

******

I'm reading this book right now and am mesmerized by the words. This book is for children. Maybe. Maybe not. I'm in my seventies and am pulled into the story. Everyone should read this book. It's that good.

Blaze McRob

******



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06W2FLLMB/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1

A 2018 Bram Stoker Award Finalist Thought-provoking, powerful, and revealing, this anthology is composed of 28 dark stories and 14 poems written by African-American women writers. The tales of what scares, threatens, and shocks them will enlighten and entertain readers. The works delve into demons and shape-shifters from "How to Speak to the Bogeyman" and "Tree of the Forest Seven Bells Turns the World Round Midnight" to far future offerings such as "The Malady of Need".  These pieces cover vampires, ghosts, and mermaids, as well as the unexpected price paid by women struggling for freedom and validation in the past. Contributors include: Tiffany Austin, Tracey Baptiste,  Regina N. Bradley, Patricia E. Canterbury,  Crystal Connor, Joy M. Copeland, Amber Doe, Tish Jackson, Valjeanne Jeffers, Tenea D. Johnson,  R. J. Joseph, A. D. Koboah Nicole Givens Kurtz,  Kai Leakes, A. J. Locke, Carole McDonnell,  Dana T. McKnight , LH Moore, L. Penelope, Zin E. Rocklyn , Eden Royce, Kiini Ibura Salaam, Andrea Vocab Sanderson,  Nicole D. Sconiers, Cherene Sherrard, RaShell R. Smith-Spears, Sheree Renée Thomas, Lori Titus, Tanesha Nicole Tyler, Deborah Elizabeth Whaley, L. Marie Wood, K. Ceres Wright, and Deana Zhollis.

******

Sumayyah Talibah

5.0 out of 5 stars We are Sycorax's Daughters

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2017

Verified Purchase

Sycorax's Daughters are us. We are the saviors, the monsters, the witches, the the magic personified. Billed as horror, some stories fall under the speculative umbrella, and leave the reader with thoughts to ponder. Others leave the reader inexplicably chilled and turning on every light possible. Poetry is interspersed and offers views on love, death, and redemption.

******



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XRKOW18/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i2

Pull up a rocking chair and sit a spell. Soak in these twelve tales of Southern Gothic horror:

Sinister shopkeepers whose goods hold the highest price, a woman’s search for her mother drags her into the binding embrace of a monster, a witchdoctor’s young niece tells him a life-altering secret, an investigator who knows how to keep a 100% confession rate….

These are stories where the setting itself becomes a character—fog laced cemeteries, sulfur rich salt marshes—places housing creatures that defy understanding and where the grotesque and macabre are celebrated.

The stories are rich in flavor and clever in metaphor, the horrors completely surreal or—far more unnerving—all too possible. She brings a refreshing perspective to the table that paranormal lovers are sure to enjoy. 

—B.D. Bruns, author of The Gothic Shift

You can feel the warm thick air, the rich history and legends, the desperation of the impoverished, and the deep horror of the betrayed.

—Roma Gray, author of Gray Shadows Under a Harvest Moon

******

Rasheedah Prioleau
5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Read!!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2017
Verified Purchase
Spook Lights is a collection of southern gothic horror stories written from a third person perspective.  The tone of each story is soft, warm, and inviting.  It has the echo of a loving mother with a gentle warning for her children, "Once upon a time something terrible happened..." 

The atmosphere throughout the book is thick and rich.  Each description has depth and dimension. The heat of a bar, the sound of a drum, and the smell of worn skin all work together to fully transport the reader into that space and time.  Her words are sadistically hypnotic.  There is an uncomfortable familiarity throughout the book with a focus on the everyday reality of what happens in families, and the finality of each tale that seems to swing on a pendulum between vengeance and justice.  Just when you feel you can’t take it anymore the last story comes to a conclusion.  You can finally breathe again.  However, as a flood of relief from the horror rushes in, all you want to do is read more.  

Spook Lights is my top recommendation if you’re looking for something to frighten you this Halloween.

******





Y’all gather round for thirteen more tales of Southern Gothic horror:

Boys find evil in their favorite sweet treat, a perfume shop that makes more than scents, a hurricane carries a mother’s vengeance, a conjure woman lies dying, unable to name a successor…

This is Gothic horror Southern style—shadowy rice fields, creatures that assume humanity at will—where even the most damaged and delicate have their power.

Spook Lights II takes us again South with stories that are graceful in the telling, and beautifully edgy in their details. Humans and haints traverse historic land in search of magic and revenge, finding salvation and justice in unexpected ways; each tale unwinds magnificently in Royce’s hands.
—Linda D. Addison, award-winning author of “How to Recognize a Demon Has Become Your Friend”


“Eden Royce’s collection of Southern Gothic fiction is an elegant and haunting read. Her stories filled with the kind of quiet chills born of things glimpsed mostly from the corner of the eye. From the genius of ‘To-Do List’ (just try to forget this tale once you reach its ending!) to the landscape she has created in the house of secrets known as Azaleas Hall, in Spook Lights 2 Ms. Royce has created an experience—and one of those favorite books likely to be enjoyed over and over again.”

—Gregory L. Norris, Tales From the Robot Graveyard

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Amy's Bookshelf Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the first
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2017
Verified Purchase
I loved the first volume, but this one really set a tone for more than just a horror collection. I always read the sections in the front of the book, and when I read the Introduction, I knew it was going to be filled with grand stories that were more than just horror, it was about the human condition and the monsters within. I read each story twice, but I really found myself connected with "Grandmother's Bed". The words stuck with me. “I’ve seen our fall, Gran, and it will be because we lose you. I can’t let that happen yet. To be honest, I’m not ready. None of us is.” Highly recommended collection. Read it more than once.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MT57FV5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i5


Colors in Darkness, the premiere online site for dark fiction authors of color presents its first anthology!

Amid the upheaval of the 1960s, the Kretcher Motel opened in a poor, desolate part of Atlanta. It still serves its original purpose: to lure those souls who are lost, who are troubled, who are evil…to itself. Check in to view these thirteen dark tales of horror, betrayal, fear, and wickedness, all featuring characters of color. You may never want to leave.

The Thing in Room 204 – C.W. Blackwell

Karma Suture – Tawanna Sullivan

The Last Day of Jerome Brown – Jordan King-Lacroix

Roost – Kenya Moss-Dyme

Salvation – Ross Baxter

The Honeymoon Suite: Jacob’s Reunion – Sumiko Saulson

A Long Way From the Ritz – Eden Royce

Mister Mackintosh – David Turnbull

Flesh Trap – Querus Abuttu

A Devil of a Deal – David O’Hanlon

Hollygraham – Sy Shanti

The Adjusters – Dahlia DeWinters

Need – Zin E. Rocklyn

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Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars "Forever Vacancy" is a wonderful collection of short

Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2017

Verified Purchase

"Forever Vacancy" is a wonderful collection of short, horror stories by an eclectic mix of talented authors. The theme of the anthology is a pretty simple and basic one--people check into the Kretcher Motel but not everyone checks out. Now, what happens to the guests once they check in is where each story takes an interesting and surprising turn. This Colors in Darkness anthology will keep a reader guessing and fully engaged to the last page.

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Make certain to check out all the books Eden Royce has written, as well as those anthologies she shares with other authors, for she is one fantastic Woman In Horror!


Blaze McRob