Coffin Hop Winners!

Sadly, the Coffin Hop has come to an end. Sad, because I probably will not keep up this level of blogging activity. I'll try, but well, you know. But on a happier note it's time to announce the winners of my Coffin Hop prizes. Drum roll please...

For the movie time game, I had three people who accurately guessed all the movies. And because I'm a good sport and slightly crazy, I'm sending them all a signed copy of Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous. So, would wordplaythursday, wwe11, and JeanetteJ please send me your home adresses? I will get those out to you this week.

And the winner of their choice of titles from the AKP library is Anne Michaud. All I need from Anne is an email address and the title of her choice.

This has been fun. Thank you all for playing and I sincerely hope you enjoyed the interviews as much as I did. Be sure to check back occasionally, in case I get ambitious!


♥Stacey

Happy Halloween!

So it's the last post for Coffin Hop and I couldn't think of anything to blog about today. But then I had an idea. Remember those old choose your own adventure books? Well, this is a choose your own blog post. I have another blog that I started several years ago. It's my silly side and where I blog about my family. And one year, I did several fun Halloween posts. So I'm going to post links to those posts and you can read what you want.

Would you like a real life ghost story from my own personal experiences? Then you should read "That story I promised you on Sunday" or maybe "So about that haunted house...."

If you want a spooky video from the web, try "The Pantry Ghost."

Another little bit of real life and two movie reviews? Read "Ghosties Again."

If you'd like a spooky poem, try "Come in for a spell."

Want a funny post? Try "The one where I loose a tooth in a pumpkin carving accident..."

And for completely ridiculous, try "The one with zombie giraffes."

Leave me a comment and let me know which one you chose and what you thought about it. All comments are an entry to win a signed (by several authors) print copy of  Fading Light. Or your choice of an eBook version of any of AKP's titles.

Don't forget to visit the other Coffin Hop blogs here .

Happy Halloween & Happy Hopping,
♥Stacey

Movie Time!

So I'm still doing the Coffin Hop thing and thought I'd take a break from interviews. I played a Horror Movie game on Belinda Frisch's blog yesterday and came close to winning. It was so much fun that I thought I'd try it out here. Obviously, I picked different movies than Belinda did, just to mix things up. So scroll through the movie stills and write down the titles. I've picked movies from the last decade, mostly from the last couple of years. All are ones that I've enjoyed.

Since we're Coffin Hopping, you get a chance to win prizes. For a signed (by Gene O'Neill, Gord Rollo, Tim Marquitz, and little ole me) copy of Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous, leave a comment on every blog post. You can always go back and catch up! To win a free eBook of your choice, from any of the Angelic Knight Press titles, one comment = one entry. Don't forget to hop by the AKP blog and meet some of our authors. Leave a comment for a chance to win some cool prizes. And visit the other Coffin Hoppin' Cool Kids here.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

Up until now you've been getting one point for each correct guess. The next two pictures are from older films that I consider classics in the genre. Two points apiece for them.

#9

#10

And last but not least, this film is not only a classic, but it's the film I credit with my early love of horror. And a life long phobia. Three points for this guy.
 

#11
Alright! And today's winner gets a signed copy of Fading Light. Plus an entry into the hat for a free eBook. Have fun!

Happy Hopping,
♥Stacey

Meet Fran Friel

I met Fran Friel at KillerCon in Vegas this year. I was instantly a Fran fan. Not only is she perhaps one of the nicest people I've ever met, she's one of those individuals who instantly make you feel at home in their presence, as though you'd known them forever. We went to dinner with some other fine folks (Gene O'Neill, Gord Rollo, Danielle Day, Bob Meracle, and Bill Gagliani) and had one of the best conversations about writing that I've ever had the great fortune to take part in. I'm happy to call all of them my friends.

I attended a reading that Fran did at the convention for her short story collection, Mama's Boy. And I was blown away. Here's this super nice, super caring lady talking about dead babies falling from the sky. Yep. You read that right. Dead babies. Talk about blown away. So naturally, I had to buy the book. And Fran was kind enough to sign it personally for me. You can read my review of her book over at See Spot Read. Go ahead, you now you want to...

But for this blog, I interviewed Fran so the rest of you could get to know more about her. And you'll see by her answers what a wonderful conversationalist she is. Without further ado~

1. How long have you been taking your writing seriously?

 I know that many of us have been writing since we could hold a crayon, but when did you have that subtle mental shift that says, “I am a writer?” I’ve always known, Stacey. Dr. Seuss and Green Eggs and Ham sent me down that slippery slope at a very early age. I was writing poetry for the community newsletter when I was six. My Aunt Helen was the publisher, and her deadlines were so demanding, I wilted under the pressure and gave up writing until I was “discovered” in high school. But I’m plagued (or gifted…depends on the day) with a Gemini’s heart, so there was also art. I spent an inordinate number of hours staring at flowers and trying to draw them. Then there was my Norman Rockwell phase. I recreated his portfolio with colored pencils, and I suspect Norman is still rolling over in his grave. Hmm…I think there’s a story there, but I digress. Then there was music (I told you I’m a Gemini!). I played the Bassoon, which is a big double-reed instrument in the oboe family. It’s a fairly rare instrument, so I was fortunate to get a full scholarship to a wonderful college prep school, and also to a university conservatory. So, music took front stage for many years, and my writing stayed in the shadows. Finally, in my thirties, I started feeling the pull again, but it wasn’t until 2005 when my dear husband made the suggestion that I get serious about it, that I finally jumped in with both feet. Good husband, huh?

2. Do you write full time or do you have a day job?

Well, I’m the keeper of the castle here at Chateau Friel, and that keeps me busier than I’d like to be. I’m financier, bookkeeper, housekeeper, animal wrangler, repair woman, mechanic, gardener, personal shopper, and personal assistant to Mr. Friel (he works a minimum of 14 hours a day and when he’s not working, he’s mostly sleeping…poor guy). I retired from my private practice as a holistic therapist back in 2005 to pursue writing, but I still see clients part-time. So, I continue to pursue that magical balance between the demands of normal life and writing life. I’m not there yet, but I can smell it. It’s close.

   3. What is your writing routine like? Any special rituals you must complete to get you “in the mood?”

Being the keeper of the castle and being a Gemini makes setting a routine a challenging thing, consequently, I’m usually flying by the seat of my pants. I wish I could offer some wisdom on the subject, but my goal at this time of my life and my career is to keep writing and to maintain my love of the process. I have had the tendency to make writing a laborious chore, weighting it in my mind as something akin to doing brain surgery in a war zone combined with spreading hot tar on the roof of a sweltering city apartment building. This, as you can imagine, is not an inspiring scenario. Hence, my change of heart—I’m keeping it light, and my muse and I love it! Fortunately, when I’m not castle keeping, I have a very quiet house in which to work. When I write, I don’t listen to music (unless I’m in a public place, then the headphones come out and I crank up some ambient tunes to block out the noise!). I don’t have the television on. I like it completely quiet (I’m a little ADD, so sound is distracting to me). Writing for me is like a meditation. I’m going someplace deep and far away. I find interruptions almost painful—like being dragged up from the depths back into the glaring world of real life. Ugh.

4. Pantser or Plotter?

I used to be a very careful plotter. I wasn’t comfortable writing until I knew most of the details and plot points and how I was going to get were I was go. It felt like writing with a connect-the-dots approach. Then I started to notice that I was losing the juice. By outlining with so much detail, I often felt like I’d already written the story, so the creative energy seemed somehow spent before I did the actual writing. So with my need to keep loving the process, sans the roof tarring misery, I decided to start writing blind. I’m a firm believer in the magic of the creative process, so I challenged myself to take an inspiration and just run with it. An inspiration usually comes in the form of a scene, or maybe just a snapshot of a scene—a mystery for me to solve. What is this scene about? Who is in it? What is the significance of the objects I’m seeing or the feelings this image is engendering in me? It’s kind of like stepping into the scene of a movie, or stepping onto a set where everyone is frozen in place. What’s happening? I’ll sit with those questions for a while and daydream until the answers start to get clearer. Then I just start writing—drilling down. So far this process has never failed me. The story begins to reveal itself, and I just follow along. When I get stuck, I pose a question to my psyche about whatever the problem is, then I take a break. Sometimes I take a nap, or sleep on it. Inevitably, the muse and the secret writer in my brain’s private office, they sort it out and bring me the answer. This is my version of the elves who make the shoes while the cobbler sleeps. I’ll make notes about a story when an idea hits me, but I don’t plot anymore. I may make a scene list that can be juggled into place and repositioned for continuity and arc, but for me, that’s part of the editing process. I fast draft the first draft with minimal editing, so as not to stifle the creative process, then I put on my editors hat. I’m merciless in the editing process, which is much easier to do when I take off the hat of the artsy fartsy writer—she’s much too sensitive about “killing her darlings.”

5. Have you always been a fan of the horror genre?

Not really. Like many folks, I read Stephen King and Dean Koontz before I became a writer, but my first love has always been Science Fiction. I fell into writing horror kind of by accident. I was eager to get my first publication credit, and a friend told me that the Horror Library was holding a contest. Winning included publication, so I gave it shot. To my surprise, I won. I seemed to have a bit of a knack for twisted tales (which I attribute to having older brothers—read my story, “Mashed,” and you’ll see what I mean).

6. “Fine Print” was one of my favorite stories in your collection, Mama’s Boy. The society and the idea of the dreamers was very detailed. How did you come up with the idea?

I’m so glad you enjoyed the story, Stacy. When I wrote it, I was worried that the pacing was too slow for most readers, but I made an executive decision to slow it down and follow wherever it wanted to take me. That’s how the details of the Society of Dreamers emerged. I’ve been a long-time student of The Monroe Institute, where I’ve studied the subject of expanded consciousness and things like the out-of-body experience, life after death, and near death experiences. The esoteric and the mystical have fascinated me for most of my life, so I guess the concepts just bubbled up out of my psyche. There was very little thinking and planning on the subject—the details just revealed themselves piece by piece.

7. I’ve met you in person, and you are so fantastically sweet and caring. But some of the stories in this collection, “Special Prayers,” for example are amazingly dark. How do you explain such a dichotomy between your public self and your writing self?

You’re very kind to say that, Stacy, but I’m not really sure. I did spend sixteen years in private practice as a holistic therapist, not to mention, a lot of years of training and private therapy. I’ve gone to very deep places with folks, as well as in my own personal work, so I guess you could say that I’m not afraid to plumb the depths of the human psyche. The psychology of why people do what they do, fascinates me. I believe that for the most part, we’re not born evil. We learn it as a means of survival. That doesn’t justify the darkness they inflict on others, but it sure is an intriguing subject to explore.

8. Who are some of today’s authors that you admire?

These days, I read mostly Science Fiction, and I tend toward British writers, like Peter F. Hamilton and Iain M. Banks, but I love the work of Cat Rambo, Kelly Link, and my old favorites, Jack Vance and Julian May. Some of the horror voices that I really enjoy are Gary Braunbeck, Gene O’Neill, Tom Piccirilli, John R. Little, Kealan Patrick Burke, and John Mantooth, all who write strong character driven stories with a psychological bent.

9. What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

Well, I know you asked for the best, but I’ve gotten a couple. Hard to pick the best.

1. I took a fiction course at Gotham Writers’ Workshop with Terri Brown Davidson. She’s the angel who taught me to use the two hats writing approach of fast drafting with complete abandon, then switching hats and passing the reigns to the ruthless self-editor. It’s very freeing!

2. Stephen King’s, On Writing, changed me as a writer with his simple advice to “Tell the truth.” I’ve never forgotten that. When I get antsy about writing something that’s personally uncomfortable, but completely truth for the character, I put on my big girl pants and tell the truth, just like Master King told me.

3. A few years back I did a writers’ intensive where we did tabletop critiques with seasoned professionals. We went from one instructor’s critiquing circle to the next—kind of like running the gauntlet. One instructor, who knew my work well, literally said, “What is the sh*t? This opening is completely incomprehensible!” Tough skinned, I took my lickin’ and went on to the next instructor. He also knew my work well, and preceded to tell me that the story was the best thing I’d ever written, particularly the opening. That day, I learned that opinions are just that—opinions! I take them all with a grain of salt.

10. What advice would you give to new or aspiring authors?

I would recommend a couple of things:

1. Join a critique group. If you can’t find one, create one. Francis Ford Coppola’s, Zoetrope.com Virtual Studios is where I started. Only about ten to twenty percent of the advice you get in most critique groups will be of value. When multiple people tell you the same thing, then take serious notice. The rest, take under advisement.

2. Volunteer to be a slush reader for a fiction magazine, preferably one in your genre. The experience is invaluable, because you learn quickly what not to do when you see the same errors over and over. You also learn how editors choose stories. It often has nothing to do with the writing; rather it’s a personal preference, duplicate subject matter in an issue, or a story is just not right for that particular month, etc.

3. Go to writing conventions or workshops. Study your craft (particularly the Three Act Play, theme, POV, and voice) and meet people face to face. Introduce yourself and be humble. These friendships and connections can make a huge difference in your career long-term.

4. Write a lot, but let your first drafts sit for at least a couple of weeks before you do your next draft. Waiting will help you see your work with fresh eyes. Avoid rushing to submit. If your writing is good enough for publication, make sure it’s the best work you can produce at the time. Otherwise, you’ll regret it later and wish you could go back and fix all the crap you didn’t notice because you sent the story out too quickly.
  
5. Finally, Fast Draft with wonder and abandon. Edit fearlessly!

Thanks so much for the opportunity to talk with you and your readers. It’s been a real pleasure. Let’s do it again soon!

No. Thank you, Fran, for sharing so much with my readers. (I told you she was a sweetheart, didn't I?)

Fran's Bio:

FRAN FRIEL lives and dreams by the sea in southern New England. She’s a two-time Bram Stoker Award finalist and winner of the Black Quill Award. She writes horror, dark fantasy and science fiction, and like many “respectable” authors, she is currently working on a novel. You'll find Fran’s award winning collection, Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales, at ApexBookCompany.com and other fine book sellers.

Fran’s work has been featured in anthologies such as, Horror Library Vol. 1 (Cutting Block Press), Tiny Terrors 2 (Hadesgate/UK) and Legends of the Mountain State III (Woodland Press), as well as publications online and in print at The Horror Library, Apex Digest, Insidious Reflections, Wicked Karnival, The Lightning Journal, Lamoille Lamentations The Eldritch Gazette, and Dark Recesses Press. Fran’s limited edition debut novella, Mama's Boy, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award (2006), as was the the follow-up collection, Mama's Boy and Other Dark Tales (2008 Stoker Finalist).

You can find Fran on FaceBook, Twitter, and at her blog.

For all you Coffin Hopper's out there, don't forget to leave a comment to win prizes. I'm offering a signed (by Gene O'Neill, Gord Rollo, Tim Marquitz, and me!) print copy of Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous to one lucky winner who leaves a comment every day. For a free eBook of your choice from the AKP library of titles, one comment = one entry. Don't forget to stop by the Angelic Knight Press blog for a chance to win frame quality artwork and a free copy of Satan's Toybox: Terrifying Teddies. You should also visit the other Coffin Hop blogs here for a chance to win other great prizes.

♥Stacey

Meet Patrick Greene

The good news is that it's still Coffin Hop time! So there is still time to win prizes and meet great people, all coffin hoppin' their way to Halloween. You should visit their blogs to win prizes and get daily doses of insanity, I mean, uh, wit. You can visit any of those fine folks here. And don't forget to stop by the Angelic Knight Press blog for a chance to win frame quality prints of our book covers.

Today I'm hosting Patrick C. Greene. He's the author of the recently released book, Progeny. You can find the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fine retailers. The book was just released this week by my friends over at Hobbes End Publishing. They are another example of a great small press and besides that, they're just nice people. I don't personally know Patrick but he was kind enough to send us an interview conducted by, well, someone who does know him well. So without further ado, I'll turn it over to them. Stay tuned at the end of the interview for ways you can win prizes this blog hop!


Patrick Greene, the dispassionate observer, interviews THE Patrick C. Greene, first-time novelist and renaissance weirdo, on a variety of topics.

Q: You're one day in as a published novelist. What does that feel like?

A: Very good—but odd. Progeny is already kicking ass, sales wise, and the paperback hard copy, a sample of which I just got a few days ago, looks so sharp. It's that classic experience of almost feeling like you exist outside of all this—like it's happening to someone else and you're just hitching a ride.

Q: Someone's going to ask eventually, so it might as well be me—uh, you. Have you ever seen Bigfoot?

A: Just on TV. And in my nightmares. Plenty of nightmares.

Q: Nightmares denote that the beast represents a source of terror, a threat. What of the shy and retiring Bigfoot from “Harry and The Hendersons” and the like?

A: I think the real Bigfoot, if there is or ever was one, would be just as complex and mercurial as any human being. Capable of both great kindness and murderous rage. And like any mammal, each one would have individual motivations and personalities. The novel's introduction by author Micah Hanks of Gralien Radio approaches these concepts from a couple of interesting angles.

Q: Are you afraid of running afoul of SADL?

A: ...SADL..?

Q: The Sasquatch Anti-Defamation League?

A: Funny. Just ask the questions and scribble the answers, Jimmy Olson.

Q: Right. Sorry. Progeny seems to be pretty heavy on testosterone, what with the hunters and the reclusive writer and the two sons playing such a large role. Anything for the ladies in there?

A: As a matter of fact, there is quite a strong heroine in Deanne. She's a very bright and independent half-Native American who serves as a sort of go-between for the town's less assimilated native people and the Caucasian businesses and government. She also helps Owen, the protagonist, and the two strike up quite a romance. She feels very motherly toward Owen's son Chuck, who, as a city boy well out of his element is in need of a little feminine nurturing. She's not the type to be intimidated, not by anyone or anything. There's a second strong female character as well—but it's best not to say too much about her.

Q: Mysterious! So you have a few short stories haunting Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other on-line bookstores. What can you tell us about them?

A: I had a lot of success with getting some short stories published a few years ago, so when I saw my fellow Hobbes End authors flourishing via on-line self-publishing, I saw the writing on the wall. Even with free promotions, it's a great way to get your writing into a reader's hands. I have quite a few short stories I've written over the years for an eventual collection I'd like to compile, so I'm giving them a little solo time in the interim. To synopsize: "Finders Keepers" is about a young bank-robber couple hiding out in a hotel where they find an old suitcase that contains an indescribable horror. "Bill's Becoming" is about a hopelessly unattractive man who suddenly finds within himself a beauty most terrifying indeed. My "Halloween Double Feature Fiction Affliction" is a pair of spooky shorts dealing with the dead coming into the world of the living on that beloved dark night of nights.

Q: In between fiction projects, you've spent some time as an actor, fight choreographer and screenwriter in the film biz. What was that like?

A: The film industry is a strange animal. I enjoy acting because a good role lets me explore certain aspects of my personality that might usually lie dormant. As a martial artist, I've always enjoyed seeing a great fight scene. Getting to actually construct and oversee them is tremendously satisfying. I don't have the resources of Hong Kong filmmakers, but I hope one day I will be able to compose a truly breathtaking fight scene that will stand alongside those Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix) or Sammo Hung. As for screenwriting, I've been working to establish myself over the years and I'm finally starting to get there. There's a pair of anthology scripts in development and also a sort of dramatic thriller called “A Shotgun Wedding” which will shoot next year. I've been involved with a lot of projects that just sort of died under their own weight. It can be frustrating but now that I'm gaining ground as a prose writer it seems to be positively impacting the screen projects as well.

Q: Progeny'smain set up—a small group trapped in a fragile shelter while under siege from forces outside—is one of the most popular set ups for modern horror stories. Why do you think that is?

A: There's a lot of room to play with that. If you really want to analyze it, you could say the shelter represents the womb, and the outside force is the world at large, which you will eventually have to face. When it's done well—"Night of The Living Dead" for example, or "Assault on Precinct 13", you get this feeling of shrinking safety, of feeling like you're okay for now but that could end very soon. It's a breathless, live-in-the-moment kind of feeling that really makes you feel close to the characters. I've written a screenplay called S.O.L. that deals with a similar situation, though with more of a sci-fi/action bent. It's those moments during the siege when the outside force is not doing anything that makes the imagination come alive; wondering if you're about to get hit, or if the enemy has given up and gone away.

Q: Now that Progeny has been released, can you tell us what to expect? Other than, you know, the unexpected?

A: Damn, bro. You're making me look bad.

Q: Easy, fella. We're almost finished.

A: I've written a story called “Dark Cloud” that is very meaningful to me, appearing in The Endlands: Volume 2 from Hobbes End. I was also handed the opportunity to write the introduction, and considering the level of talent represented in this anthology, that was a very meaningful honor indeed! I'm between drafts on the dramatic thriller screenplay I mentioned called A Shotgun Wedding, and I'm also involved in writing a couple of "Creepshow" style films, one of which will be directed by the great Jack Sholder. Then there's my epic vampire novel, already in progress.

Q: Are these new-style, "sensitive" vampires, or old-school savage vamps?

A: They are generally quite complex—but capable of shocking brutality.

Q: I smell bestseller.

A: Me too!

Patrick's Bio: Some dark serendipity plopped a young Patrick Greene in front of a series of ever stranger films-and experiences-in his formative years, leading to a unique viewpoint. His odd interests have led to pursuits in film acting, paranormal investigation, martial arts, quantum physics, bizarre folklore and eastern philosophy. These elements flavor his screenplays and fiction works, often leading to strange and unexpected detours designed to keep viewers and readers on their toes. Literary influences range from Poe to Clive Barker to John Keel to a certain best selling Bangorian. Suspense, irony, and outrageously surreal circumstances test the characters who populate his work, taking them and the reader on a grandly bizarre journey into the furthest realms of darkness. The uneasy notion that reality itself is not only relative but indeed elastic- is the hallmark of Greene's writing. Living in the rural periphery of Asheville North Carolina with his wife Jennifer, son Gavin and an ever-growing army of cats, Greene still trains in martial arts when he's not giving birth to demons via his pen and keyboard. You can keep up with Patrick at www.patrickcgreene.com or http://www.facebook.com/patrickcgreene

Remember, to win a signed (by several authors) print copy of Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous, you must leave a comment every day. To win a free eBook of your choice, from the AKP titles, one comment = one entry. Be sure to stop by tomorrow when I interview the talented and lovable Fran Friel.

♥Stacey

It's time to Coffin Hop!

Yep, it's that time of year again. Time to put on your Coffin Hopping duds and dance your way through some graveyard posts. Or, you know, visit a bunch of blogs and win free prizes, if you want to be normal about it. There are lots of great folks signed up for the Coffin Hop and they are all offering some fabulous prizes. You should visit them here.
 

And what am I offering? Well, free books of course! Leave a comment on every post and you'll be entered to win a free print copy of Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous, signed by Gene O'Neill, Gord Rollo, Tim Marquitz, and me! If you can't stop by every day, you can still win a prize. For every comment you leave, I'll give you one entry in the hat to win a free eBook of your choice from any of the Angelic Knight Press' library of titles. I'll announce the winners on the Friday after Halloween!

Come back tomorrow for an interview with Patrick C. Greene, the author of Progeny, just released by Hobbes End Publishing!

I'll also have other author interviews and some book reviews for your blog reading pleasure all during the Coffin Hop. And don't forget to visit the Angelic Knight Press blog. We're offering some really great one-of-a-kind prizes there too!

♥Stacey

7 Year Witch Contest

It's contest time!! And that means free books. Who doesn't love free books? Crazy people, that's who. So since we're all relatively sane here and most of us love free books, let's have a contest. The book up for grabs this time around is AKP's latest release 7 Year Witch.

7 Year Witch is part paranormal romance, part sexy romp, part romantic comedy, and all parts awesome. What happens when a novice witch pops back in time to 1877 to confront an evil wizard and ends up landing in a field outside of London where she's found by a Duke? Add a magic disease, some meddling relatives, and the whole time difference thing, and you've stirred up a pot of calamity that tries to keep these lovers apart. It's a fun book that you won't want to miss!

So how do you enter? Each contestant will be awarded two entries for signing up for the AKP newsletter over on our official blog. One entry will be given for following the AKP blog. One entry will be given for following Cindy Keen Reynder's author blog. One entry will be given for liking the AKP Facebook page. And one for liking the 7 Year Witch Facebook page.

The contest will run through Wednesday, April 18th at midnight CST. Winners will be drawn on Friday and announced here and at the AKP page. Prizes are:

3 copies of the Kindle version of 7 Year Witch.
1 print copy of the book.
1 $10 Amazon.com gift card.

Please leave a comment after you enter and let me know if you can't do a Kindle version (because you have a Nook or other reader) and we'll see what we can do!

Thanks and Good Luck!

♥Stacey

Creepfest Winners!

Obviously, commenting on every post wasn't too hard, as I only wrote two. I gave my excuses on my other blog. Basically, though, it all boils down to the fact that this is the last Christmas that I know my kids will be home for. My youngest son is leaving for the Marines soon, and my son-in-law is leaving for the Air Force. No idea where either will be stationed next year. So I didn't want to miss a minute of this year. No one says at the end of their life, "Hey, remember that Christmas, the last one we were all together for? Remember how I was always working and missed most of it? Yeah, I should have done that more often." Nope.

But I did have a contest and there are winners!

Nora Peevey wins the copy of Satan's Toybox: Toy Soldiers! Congrats, Nora!

And I will be giving a free copy of Satan's Toybox: Demonic Dolls to Cindy Keen Renyders, Red Tash and Nora.

Thanks to everyone who visited my blog! Hope you all come back!

♥Stacey

The making of a horror writer

I've seen a lot of posts lately on why horror writers write horror. What is it that draws a person to the darker side? Honestly? I have no idea. No easy answers here folks, sorry. Someone suggested that our minds work slightly differently and that may be the case. I do know that my mind works way differently than almost anyone I know. Why? It's probably a little bit nature and a little bit nurture.

As for the nurture part, I'd like to thank my parents for being horror fans. Sure, letting a four year old watch "The Birds" was maybe not the best thing to do, (I have this horrible bird phobia. Seriously, those aviary things at Zoos? Can't get near them.) but that and Twilight Zone, Night Gallery and an endless stream of horror flicks set me up with a life long love of all things paranormal. And I don't consider that a bad thing.

I write horror because I want to scare people. I love that "Omigod, I cannot look behind me right now" feeling that you get when you watch a good scary movie or walk through a haunted prison (Mansfield Penitentiary- Ohio). That wonderful little thrill when you,re walking through the woods at night. That thrilling sensation when you're home alone and hear that inexplicable noise. Love it. If that makes me slightly crazy, so be it. It's how I roll. And I want to share that feeling. I've said before that if I can make one person sleep with the light on after they read my work- I've succeeded. And according to a friend who shall remain nameless, I'm a success. But I won't stop there. I've got more scaring to do.

Recently while blog hopping, I came across a giveaway, and you know I can't resist a giveaway, especially when the prize is a signed copy of a horror novel AND a DVD collection of horror films. It's like Christmas. So the entry is that I have to tell a true supernatural story that actually happened to me. I have several to choose from. But my favorite is also the basis for a novel I've been working on haphazardly for the last two years. So grab a snack & a drink, and give me your full attention.

From the age of 4 to 6 we lived on Okinawa, a small island off the coast of Japan. My father was career Air Force and we were stationed at Kadina Air Base there. I remember some of it, but being so little at the time, not all of it stuck with me. The following story is one my mother tells and my father corroborates. I don't remember much of it.

Around the age of 5, I developed an imaginary friend. I wasn't a loner, I was in school and played with neighborhood friends so my Mom thought it was odd that I'd develop an imaginary person to keep me company. Then again, I was a highly imaginative child, so they dismissed it at first. My mother says that I started spending most of my time playing with the imaginary friend, a little boy I called Manny, instead of other real children. She began to get a little creeped out when I started insisting on a place setting for Manny or cried when someone "shut the door on Manny's arm". But we were headed stateside and she had a million other things to worry about. When we flew back to the US we made the rounds of visiting relatives and ended up at my maternal grandmother's house here in Illinois.

One day I was playing on our suitcases in the upstairs hall outside the bathroom. My dad was taking a bath, but since he's 6'2" and its an old clawfoot tub, he needed my mom to come in and help rinse his hair. My mother told me to stay right where I was. And I did. Unbeknownst to us, my grandfather had come home that afternoon, drunk as a skunk, and was threatening my grandmother with a shotgun in the kitchen below the hall. One thing led to another and the gun went off. Luckily for me, I'd run to the bathroom door split seconds before the shotgun blast came through the floor on the side of the suitcase, where my leg had been just moments before. Of course my father, after assessing the situation, ran downstairs and took charge of the gun rather forcefully.

My mother examined me to make sure I was alright and then rather warily asked me why I'd run to the door. I told her "Manny told me too!" After that day, I never mentioned Manny again.

Do you have goosebumps yet? I don't know what Manny was; ghost, guardian angel, or what. But I do know, that if he hadn't been around, I might not be here at all. And that thought is truly scary.

The link to the contest is here. Go read more entries, vote for your favorites, or join yourself. The more, the scarier. Good luck! And sweet nightmares. I mean dreams. Yeah, of course I did.

♥Stacey