A Halloween Trivia

October is so delightful! My favorite month of the year by far. First off there's my birthday, the 7th, and there's Halloween at the end; in between you have nice colder weather, beautiful sunsets (much more awesome than summer's), amazing colorful trees, and creepiness galore. What's not to love about it?!

So, of course I have to keep up with the halloween fever! I'll participate for the second year in a row on the Coffin Hop, where 100+ blogs unite to tell horrific stories, interview writers, give tons of free stuff, and just celebrate All Hallows Eve with the right attitude. Click on the picture if you want to host the party or if you simply want to visit as many blogs as you can and have a god time winning cool stuff. I will have a contest, but I'm still working on the details, so keep coming back to know more!


Now, in the spirit of the season and the love of everything horror, I've decided to share with you a few Halloween trivia facts. Hope you like it!

1. Halloween by colors. There are many colors associated to Halloween. Of course there's the classic orange, long associated to the harvest, and black, representing death, the unknown, and plain evil. But then, you can also see purple in many of the seasonal decorations, a color considered to represent mysticism and the paranormal; red which represents blood, fire, and demons; green is associated to goblins, monsters, and zombies; and white reflects ghosts, mummies, and the moon. 
2. Carving into history. Jack o'Lanterns are original from Ireland in the myth of Singy Jack who, after being rejected by heaven and hell upon his death, is forced to roam the darkness seeking a place to rest his soul. He then carved out a turnip and, filling it out with coal, used it to light his way. It was only after the first Irish immigrants arrived to America with their traditions, that turnips were replaced by pumpkins.
3. Trick or Treat? We all know Halloween, the holiday, was originally a Celtic tradition, but Trick-or-Treating is in fact, of Irish origin! It was during the Great Irish Potato Famine that peasants would beg for food from the wealthy. When those higher in the chain refused to play along, the beggars would play practical jokes on them. So came the custom of giving candy, cookies, or fruit.
4. Coming to America. The Halloween festivity arrived to America with European immigrants, who celebrated the harvest by lighting bonfires, sharing ghost stories, singing, dancing, and telling fortunes.
5. Back to the beginning. Just in case you are the only one who doesn't know (I'm thorough if anything at all)... Ancient Celts believed that spirits came back from 'the other side' on All Hallows Eve, the only day they could roam the world of the living. In order to protect themselves and avoid being recognized as humans, people began to wear demonic masks and costumes.
6. An apple a day keeps spinsters away! Bobbing for apples is an ancient costume said to be of Roman origin, though some sources claim Celts were doing it before. What is clear is that it was used as a divination method for two important reasons: 1. Romans associated the apple tree to Pomona, a fertility goddess, and 2. Celts associated pentagrams to mystic rituals and fertility itself, so apple bobbing was a way to know who would marry next. (Because of the seeds that form a pentagram inside of it. I know you knew... just in the spirit of 'No child left behind.')
7. Cat conflict. Black cats are a staple of superstition and long associated to witchcraft, though not always with a negative bend. Ancient Egyptians revered all cats, blacks in particular. But Hebrews and Babylonians considered cats to be similar to serpents, coiled near the hearth, and thus granting them a negative connotation. They were thought to be good familiars to witches because they can hardly be seen at night, when witches were said to conduct all their mischievousness.
8. How old, you say? Halloween has been celebrated for over 6000 years in one way or another, under many different names, and by many different cultures. You could say our present celebration is being 6000 years in the making...
9. Approval rate. I'd say it is high. Halloween is the second most successful commercial holiday, preceded only by Christmas.
10. Commercial can be good. In 1950 in Philadelphia, a Sunday school decided that all the money collected during their treat-or-treating would be send to UNICEF. They sent a grand total of $17, which may not seem like much, but served as inspiration for the organization. Trick-or-Treat for Unicef was created and you can sign up! Just follow the link, sign up, and they'll send you uniquely decorated boxes along with materials explaining the program.

Red Island. My Review

So, for my latest read I went a bit out of my usual genre and tried a procedural. I love a good psychological thriller where a clever but dark hero is after a super intelligent serial killer bent on driving said hero crazy and bring down the whole city with him, so I jumped at the chance to read Red Island by Lorne Oliver.

Red Island is the story of Sgt. Reid. He used to live in Vancouver, but after a grueling case that left him and his family scarred, they moved to Prince Edward Island. Otherwise known as The Gentle Island, this seems like a great place to concentrate on his family and leave the past behind. That is until the body of a young woman appears hanging from the feet, naked, and baring the terrible markings of torture. The island is not gentle anymore and the only hope for its people lies in the expertise of Reid against serial killers.

Red Island is a strong story where the great abilities of Oliver to paint a picture without dragging the description forever are put to work so well. The simple matter-of-fact narrative allows the reader to loose himself in the story, and though some of the scenes depicted are quite gruesome, it never feels out of place or even graphic. The language is also under control, without four-letter expletives thrown everywhere, but realistically applied.

The novel is divided in two stories, that of the detective and that of the killer, where one is narrated in present tense and the other in past, but both in first person. Particularly enjoyable are the sections related to the killer, his development as a killer, and the reason behind his horrible murder spree. A true study on the psychology of murderers and simply outstanding. Sadly, I found very difficult to empathize with the main character. Although he has a dark past haunting him and, maybe, going through somewhat of a middle age crisis, I found many of his actions hard to justify and, at times, annoying.

The procedural side of the story is also very aptly done, always leaving the reader wishing for more and actually paying attention to the details that true cops are interested in. No shortcuts or illogic actions are put there so the author can go from point A to point B. The book, however, has several editorial mistakes, mostly the kind resulting from merging two sentences or typos. Very rarely these mistakes get in the way of understanding or involve a grammatical mistake, so it shouldn't put you off if the blurb and genre appeals to you.

All in all a good, an interesting story worth reading.

Finally, I leave you with the blurb and a link to buy the book if you're interested.

Was it the nightmare that woke him or the late night phone ringing that brought on the dream? Sgt. Reid of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police brought his family to Prince Edward Island, "The Gentle Island", to get away from crime and homicides. He had to get away from the nightmares and concentrate on his family. PEI is a lovely place to live. The sound of the ocean crashing against sandy beaches, sand dunes covered in tufts of dancing grass...
...And then there was the young woman hanging from a tree. It wasn't a gentle island anymore.

Red Island ebook. Hope you enjoy it!

From Conventions to Confessions

As October's Insecure Writer's Support Group meeting is upon us, the foremost thought in my mind are writing conventions--or, in my case, horror conventions.

Now, our paths are as varied as the experiences that have brought us to the point we are today. Some of you may have attended many conventions and conferences, some may have tried either one of them, or maybe, like me, neither.

Invariably, we all have heard of what a great resource this events are for building confidence, work on our craft, develop our selling aptitudes, and networking. However, I'm convinced that like any other experience in our life, the more you do it, the better you know how to take advantage of it. So, here is what I propose: I'll tell you my story, my reason for haven't attended one of these events yet, and I'd love to read of your experiences. Good, bad, or your own reason for still haven't tried. My goal is to make of this little entry a well of do's and don't's that will enrich all of us, helping first-timers and veterans alike to take full advantage of the unique opportunities that conventions bring.

In my case, I've been trying to pull resources from everywhere to get myself into one of the many conventions my publisher attends, but alas, the cost of feeding a family and paying a mortgage proved too much to allow space for another career in this family, other that my husband's.

I don't have any more copies of my book to sell on my own, and I simply can't pay hotel and food for the whole family, even if it's only for two days. Any of you mothers and fathers reading this will know that the most modest road trip with two young kids can add up quickly. "Then go by yourself!" you say...well, that's where my real problem comes in: Fear.

I'm afraid I'll look like an idiot who doesn't know what to do, where to go, what to say, or where to stand; completely out of place. Who will I talk to or what about? You see, I'm a shy and insecure person though most of my family and friends would consider me outgoing and easy to make friends. And I am. I'm all of those things. I'm shy and awkward with people I don't know and have a horribly hard time making small talk or saying hi for the first time, but if you come to me and start talking, I'll engage in an easy conversation and might even end up making a new friend. Still, I wished I had a writer buddy close enough for us to attend together. You know, like a comfy blankie.

I keep reminding myself that as the year began, I made myself a promise that this year I would challenge my fears and move out of my comfort zone. And even though chances are slim, I will still make my biggest most honest effort--and savings--to attend AnthoCon in Portsmouth, NH, the last 2012 convention for PostMortem Press. Wish me luck!

Pandora's Box, A Review

This time I'm reviewing Pandora's Box by Joanna Parypinski, published by Damnation Books. I came across this book on Facebook, as the author asked for people interested in reviewing her new book. It took me some time to jump in the boat as the cover art made me fret this was yet another vampire book. However, the blurb won me over and boy, am I happy I took the chance.

Pandora's Box is the story of Maria Vakros, a woman fighting her own demons in order to reclaim control of her life as she and her husband, a teacher by trade, start anew in the small town of Sickle Falls. Leaving behind the big city of Chicago, they buy a quaint old house in the nicer part of town with a beautiful view of the lake, but hiding in the shadows of the basement lies an ancient horror waiting to be unleashed. It has infected the whole town, even causing the previous owners untimely deaths.

The plot is well constructed, weaving five different stories without making it confusing nor heavy. At all times the narrative is fluid and interesting, the sense of doom and horror is well transmitted without the overuse of adjectives. The story starts slowly, building on the mystery and creating a menacing atmosphere, and though there are segments quite violent, it never gets too graphic or gory. I found particularly refreshing the rich vocabulary Parypinski uses, it has been a while since a book made me open a dictionary, and though I always thank an author who teaches me something, when the uncommon vocabulary forces you to interrupt the reading in order to look for a word, it gets in the way of enjoying the book. I mean, if you use obscure words that the reader can deduct from the general context, you're okay, but don't over do it or you risk looking like a snub. Now, Parypinski doesn't go to that extreme but once, so we won't hold it against her.

The characters are interesting and complex and each individual story builds to a final crescendo that has all kinds of unexpected turns. Parypinski's style is refreshing, almost poetic in her descriptions, giving the horrors depicted a tragic and twisted feeling. It is outstanding how much information the author manages to convey and still leave the reader craving for more, in particular when relating the story of the box, and yet the ending feels a bit abrupt; but knowing how difficult it is to find the perfect balance between giving closure to a character's story and simply going too far, I think Parypinski's decision to give the final word to one of the side characters is an interesting one that explains the insertion of the box's story and allows for a small moral very apropos.

I highly recommend Pandora's Box to every horror lover, even the squeamish ones as there's something for everyone in this mystery/horror. An outstanding story edited to perfection, Pandora's Box shows small presses can be every bit as professional as the Big Six.

For more information on the author, go to her website Pandora's Pen. If you want to add this book to your TBR pile, go here.

Possessions, Ghosts, and Everything Horror. Why do we like them so much?

With October fast approaching, horror fans all over the world are salivating over the many movies we'll enjoy in theaters everywhere. Already The Possession has earned a total of 33 million dollars and opened as the number one movie during its debut weekend, and it's only september! With movies like V/H/S and Paranormal Activity 4 which claim to be the scariest movie ever and the scariest franchise ever, respectively, it seems there are no limits to what a good trailer can sell, no matter how disappointing the actual films turn out to be. Truth is, as the last film gets ripped apart by devotees and critics, there will always be those who still enjoy the ride, and no sooner the big screen fades into blackness, the new 'scarier/gorier/most realistic film ever' is released.

But if you still doubt about the genre popularity, don't look further than your own TV. Celebrity Ghost Stories, Ghostly Encounters, My Ghost Story, and Haunted Collector are but a fraction of the dozens of shows that have sprout in recent years. The fact is that the Horror Genre is not only alive, but has gone mainstream in a big way and our hunger for 'True Stories' is more avid than ever.

Hauntings, exorcisms, demons, and ghosts are no longer a once-in-a-year fest, but a year-round-spook-galore. Suddenly vampires (hello Damon!) are more popular than doctors (Dr. McWho?) and being a Ghost Hunter can allow you to quit your day job as a plumber. But, why on earth is it that we are so interested in the paranormal? This, my friends, is the million dollar question and if you're able to answer it, you might be able to ride the paranormal wave all the way to the bank.

In my case, I've always been interested in the paranormal. It is a mysterious field where no answer is definitive and no one can be certain of the truth. I have learned not to believe everything that I hear, and I know most of those shows 'based on real stories' use the term 'based' very loosely. Still, there's a part of me that finds an inordinate amount of pleasure in the rumor that the lyrics of Hotel California really told the story of Anton Lavey's satanic congregation. Why? Because there's a special beauty in folklore, because some mysteries are better left unveiled, because if we believe that there's dark behind the curtain, then it means there is light as well.

So, tell me, are you a fan?

A New Blogfest, A Little Complaining, and a Book Review

Awesome blogger and writer Mina Lobo is having a hell of a good time at her blog, Some Dark Romantic, celebrating its first anniversary. Of course, a blogfest is in order and the theme of this one is: Resurrection. But don't fret, this celebration does not wander into the realms of the philosophical, instead it focuses on the road we as bloggers have travelled to get where we are. Remember that amazingly clever post you wrote back when nobody stopped by your blog? Well, Mina is inviting all of us who would like to resurrect a post like that. November 7th is the day for your old post to come back to life. There will be amazon gift cards for the winners, and it will be a lot of fun. If you are interested, check out the rules and details here. I'd love to read an old jewel of yours and can't wait to share mine with you.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled review. This time it is the turn of Carole Gill's The House on Blackstone Moor.


The House on Blackstone Moor is a beautifully written gothic novel full of suspense and plot twists. It is narrated by the main character, Rose Baines, the sole survivor of her family's massacre carried out by her own father. In fact, she's the one who discovers the bodies caked with blood and horribly twisted. When police arrives, they find the young woman in such a state of shock that it's decided she needs to be committed. So begins the difficult path this character has to travel in order to find her place in a world of darkness she can't escape.

You always hear how important it is to have a strong first page to draw in your readers; Carole Gill does that amazingly, showing off her gift to describe horrid scenes with simple, elegant words that serve so well to the gothic style. The story grabs you immediately, the characters are believable and very soon we root for this poor girl who has gone through such a terrible experience. The rest of the characters keep the action going and I never felt bored, though it is until three quarters of the book have passed that the first vampire is revealed as such. For a book described by its author as a story of vampirism, it is rather late in the game that vampiric lore is introduced. It is at this point that the darkest side of the story is unveiled, finally embracing its paranormal secrets.

The book is edited to perfection, letting the prose shine in all its romantic glory without grammatical mistakes or typos to distract us. Carole Gill is a gifted author I've been following for some time now, and even though I don't think The House on Blackstone Moor is her best piece, it succeeds in showing her great talent as a wordsmith and inventor of dark worlds. I can't wait for whatever else this author has in store.

Time for a Break?

Summer is finally over, school is back and with it a sense of order returns to our lives. At least for mothers and fathers it does, anyway. We look at our messy house and sigh a sigh of relieve. We survived the insufferable attack of our kids under the influence of too much leisure time, too much sugar, and heat waves. We greet our old friend Silence as we sit at our desks and open our computers, ready to retake control of our writerly dues.

With this welcome change of pace comes another Insecure Writers meeting, and how wonderful! I could actually hear my thoughts as I mulled over what route to take for this latest installment. Given that I haven't been able to write much lately, I decided to talk about rejection. When is it time to pull the plug on a story and let it go into the archives labeled as 'For Future Analysis?"

I have three short stories I considered finished by the beginning of summer. In fact, two of those I've been trying to publish for a little over four months; for the last piece, a Flash Fiction, although I finished it over a year ago, it's only recently that I decided I was interested in publishing it. So far I've garnered four rejection letters for the shorts and both are presently being considered by a fifth mag. No word on weather they have already read them and are thinking about it, or if they're still on the slush pile. You know how it goes.

The flash, though, I only submitted to two publications. Both rejected it, but the latest was awesome enough to actually write back with a series of commentaries as to why they had found the story wasn't up to their standards. It was so good and refreshing! Finally someone telling me what I'm doing wrong, at least to their eyes. After reading their mail, I re-read my piece, thought about it, considered their words, and found out there was so much more I could do to make the story better. Before submitting the story I had send it to a reader to get feedback, but still I guess I was too close to the story to notice many of its shortcomings. Now I'm now working on it, polishing it for a new round of queries.

Then, about the other two... A few months ago I came across a publication called The Rejected Quarterly which mission, they state, is to publish unusual fiction that doesn't fit anywhere else. The first requirement? Have at least five rejection letters for the piece you are submitting to them. My plan is to query both stories at least two more times (provided that this fifth time isn't the charm), then submit them to Rejected Quarterly, and if rejected again, file them for good.

I don't mean to let those stories gather dust forever and ever, but to let them rest a few years as my skills develop further and I become less attach to them. When I feel like it's the time to give them a new chance, or I have no new ideas (it can happen), then I'll revise them and make them pretty all over again.

I don't think a story is ever truly dead. It tugs at you to be told and weather you let it lay dormant for sometime, or you choose to tell in a whole different way, it will always find its way out of your mind. What do you think? How many rejections are enough for you? What do you do with those stories? I've always heard that you should let your stories breath between drafts to get a better perspective of them. I give three to six months before I go back to a story to work on a second draft, maybe I should leave more time. What do you think?