Time for Coffin Hop

Oh, October, how I love thee because... 'tis the season to be scared!

Halloween is upon us once more and I for one can't stop watching horror movies and reading all kinds of spooky material. To top it all off, 'tis the time of the Coffin Hop, too! In case you've forgotten, the Coffin Hop is the annual Horror Author event where readers and fans of the genre can interact more closely with the authors. Each year, the number of blogs participating increases, and each one of them houses one (sometimes many) giveaway. So, go, visit other blogs on the list, comment, and win prizes while sharing your love for the macabre with us.

On previous years I've done a Classic Monsters and Urban Legend Series, Real Haunted Places and Symbols in Dreams, and this year I'm excited to present you a Mythological Beings Around the World Series. I'll share with you the creepy story of some monsters you've never heard about, but that you'll never forget. From Celtic, Egyptian, and Native American lore, among others, I'll take you down the darkest roads of the world's forgotten legends. All you have to do is be here on the 24th, 27th, 29th, and 31st to share your thoughts in the comments section. On November 3rd I'll announce the one winner that will take home a virtual copy of the critically acclaimed new magazine Jamais Vu: Journal of Strange Among the Familiar. Check it out, choose the issue that intrigues you the most, and take it home for free!

Want to win even more stuff? Then visit other participating blogs and pile up the prizes! Best Halloween. Ever. I know.

And just to give you a taste of what I'm talking about, here is the first in my series. From Choctaw Mythology, I present thee:

NALUSA FALAYA

Literally The Long Evil Being, Nalusa Fayala is a Native American legend of the Choctaw people original to Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. This creature is described as resembling a man--about the same size and walking upright--but with a shriveled face, very small eyes, and long, pointed ears. It lives in the densest of woods, near swamps and away from men. But when hunters stray away from familiar territory and the shadows grow tall, Nalusa Fayala comes out to play. It sneaks upon the lost, calling in a voice that resembles that of a man, except that when the hunter turns to face his caller, the mere sight of this creature causes him to faint. With its pray unconscious, the Long Evil Being sticks a thorn into the hunter's hand or foot that bewitches him, pushing him to do evil unto others but without remembering his encounter with the monster until after having committed its deed.

Sor far the legend sounds more like an excuse for being a mean drunk, right? But wait, there's more.

Nalusa Fayala is said to have many children that, when very young, have the ability to remove their own entrails. Yep, picture that. Then, with their innards hanging from their hands, these kids become small, luminescent beings that can be seen roaming the boarders of the marshes.

Before I wish you sweet dreams, tell me about other Native American legends that you've heard, or monsters that have turned your heart black with fear. I'm dying to hear all about it.

Enjoy the coffin hoppin' and be mindful of the sleeping skeletons.

1. Scott M Baker (Author): Are Zombies Still Relevant	2. Horror Made	3. Haunting Television
4. How to Scare the Neighborhood Children	5. An Opener’s Closing	6. Jeff Chapman’s Writing
7. Katie M. Johns Coffin Hop <3	8. Little Bird books COFFIN HOP 2014 Showcase and giveaway	9. Diary of a Vampire Stripper
10. The Manicheans by Johanna K. Pitcairn	11. Land of the Brewin	12. Paul Stansfield
13. Dream Dragon Press	14. Are You Afraid of the Dark?	15. What’s your Z PLAN?
16. Michelle Muto	17. atrtink	18. Dance on Fire
19. Kintsugi Poets Society	20. Yours in Storytelling	21. Blood Red Shadows
22. Kim Koning | Deadlines & Dead Bodies	23. Dark Moon Digest	24. Blaze McRob’s Tales Of Horror
25. Joanna Parypinski: Dark Fiction Writer	26. C. A. Verstraete, Girl Zombie Authors	27. Precious Monsters
28. The Sirens Song	29. Anne Michaud	30. Zombieholics Anonymous
31. Days with the Undead	32. The FlipSide of Julianne	33. Clarissa Johal-Author of Paranormal & Horror
34. Claire C Riley horror and paranormal writer	35. Halloween Little Bites	36. Mary Rajotte – Shadowed Musings
37. A Diamond In The Dark	38. What Really Scares Me	39. As the Crowe Flies
40. Belinda Frisch, Horror, Mystery, & Thriller Author	41. Sotet Angyal – The Dark Angel	42. The Road To Nowhere
43. Spreading the Writer’s Word	44. Axel Howerton	45. Jack Wallen: The Zombie King
46. Coffin Hop