Monthly Archives

April 2017

/

I

Hello, lovelies! Sorry for the lame title but I can't think of any other way to express my fondness for middle grade horror. I LOVE it, and not just because I write it. There's something so magical about scaring kids. I remember hiding in the back shelves of the library, pouring over SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK. I was hooked on the shivers and the adrenaline I felt coursing through my veins when that girl's sore split open and spiders went ALL OVER HER FACE. When I read IN A DARK, DARK ROOM (and other scary stories), I became obsessed with the story, "Th[...]

/

Faith’s Favorite Frights #4

Are you ready to tour the web with Faith's Favorite Frights? It's Wednesday, and I'm your undead host, Faith McKay. Let's dive right in with this beauty... That's right! You're looking at a glittering stache, for a vampire. With fangs. And oopsy! A little bit of blood in that mustache. Must be a hazard of the life. #VampireProblems. I super love K. Flay's new album. You've probably heard a song on there, Blood in the Cut, because it was on an EP and it was awesome. This week when I was daydreaming of seeing K. Flay in concert, I went over to the website[...]

/

Upcoming YA Horror Book Alert: When I Cast Your Shadow by Sarah Porter

What screams “read me!” more than a resurrection and possession?! You know me, if there’s one thing I love, it’s horror books! I found this one today and it sounds pretty awesome. Also, I started a YA horror 2017 reading list on Goodreads. If you’re interested, add me or keep this link handy to check out upcoming scary reads. I also have a ton of other Goodreads book lists like ghosts, serial killers, and more.   Book: When I Cast Your Shadow Author: Sarah Porter Publisher: Tor Teen Release date: September 12, 2017   A teenage girl calls[...]

/

Kids Need Scary, Too: A Plea for More Middle Grade Horror

We're celebrating middle grade horror this month. So I thought of middle grade me, and if you had asked kid-me if I liked horror, I would have said no. Maybe because Mom was all about the non-scary, about keeping us from things that she didn’t like. Maybe because Dad liked it, but being a not-so-talkative guy, there was never any discussion about it. But when I look back on my childhood, I did like horror. If Dad was watching some crazy, creepy movie, I watched it, the whole time knowing I “shouldn’t”. I had books I loved, only later realizing they were h[...]

/

Faith’s Favorite Frights #3

It's time to find some creepy things from around the web! I'm your undead host, Faith McKay. Today we have...   This iron on patch from BrightonBabe on etsy is just the cutest. It comes in two colors!   I don't know what it is about this crop top that I love so much, but I do. I think it's just the right amount of creepy. I don't know. I freakin' love bats, guys.   YES. I'm sure I've told you to pick up Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper before, but I'm going to go ahead and tell you again. This book is an excellent ghost story. Smart wom[...]

/

A Portrait of the Horror Writer as a Teen

My entire adult writing life has been about writing adult horror. Creepy, atmospheric locations to set the tone. Plenty of blood and gore, as the story allows. Strange and unusual twists to set the reader off-kilter. it's what I like to read, and what I love to write. But it hasn't always been that way. I had to start somewhere, and that somewhere was in a high school English class. Okay, so I wrote short stories before then (though I'm not sure my story about a talent show for aliens back in 7th grade would make the cut), but it was an assignment in one of my h[...]

/

THE VOID is a Love Letter to John Carpenter

John Carpenter is my director of all time. Not even just my favorite horror director--my favorite director. The three biggest influences on my writing are Clive Barker, H.P. Lovecraft and John Carpenter, and it's my love for Carpenter that is most easily seen in every story I write. So as a lifelong fan of Carpenter's work, I can truly appreciate what a love letter The Void is to three Carpenter films in particular--Prince of Darkness, The Thing and Assault on Precinct 13. And while the movie does not execute on everything it sets out to do, it's a solid horror[...]

/

Cover Reveal : Broken Chords by Jessica Bayliss

Good Morning, poppets,   I have something SO exciting for all of you today. My critique partner and friend, Jessica Bayliss, is revealing her cover! Jessica is unfathomably talented. I was chatting with my mom the other day, trying to remember the title of this amazing book I just read so she could buy it. Turns out the book I was remembering was Jessica's most recent story I had the privilege of beta-ing!. She is THAT good. ^^^ This is a Jessica ^^^ And now onto the goods!   Broken Chords by Jessica Bayliss Genre: YA Horror (novella) Release dat[...]

/

Let’s Watch a #Horror Movie… A Nightmare on Elm Street

I am still squeeing and flailing about the IT trailer. September has never felt so far away! I would love to gather up all my horror-loving friends and go see it together! Sadly, that might be a little difficult, so we'll have to settle for live-tweeting scary movies. And this month, I wanted to take a trip back in time and watch an oldie, but a goodie. Let's watch... A Nightmare on Elm Street! The 1984 classic American slasher film written and directed by Wes Craven brought us the stuff of nightmares. This is the film that began the whole gory series. I love i[...]