halloween

In the Mood for Halloween

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It’s finally October, one of my favorite months of the year! We’ve been busy getting our Halloween decorations up today, which of course meant cleaning up the mess that remained after convention season came to a close last weekend. I also forgot that we got a big bag of miniature skulls to put around the house. So those are going everywhere.

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What I also like about October is how everyone expresses their love of horror! All month long, the Horror Writers’ Association will be showcasing the work of its members in Halloween Haunts. Horror authors will be talking about Halloween, posting snippets of upcoming books, or even hosting book giveaways. Last year I gave away a copy of Not Your Average Monster Volume 2. My post will be up on the 10th titled “The Angry Woman” about our eerie visit to New Orleans and the frightening haunting we experienced.

I also just sent off the final round of edits for The She-Wolf of Kanta! Fortunately the second round of edits weren’t nearly as difficult as the first, but I always enjoy putting together some nice background sounds that make me think of the piece. Usually it’s best without lyrics so that the words don’t interfere with my thoughts. A wonderful app that I like to use is called myNoise. I first got introduced to them as a way to help concentrate at work, but since then I use the app constantly. I bought the full pack to access all their songs, so I can get new sounds as they release them. The great part about it is that you can overlap up to 6 noises at once, all set to their own individual settings. Below are the sounds I mixed to get the feel I liked for She-Wolf of Kanta.

The Huu chant gives some nice low melodic sounds mixed with wordless vocals that give the mix an ethereal quality. The Autumn Walk literally has a person’s footsteps going through dried leaves which I really love since I associate Mercy with that scent and sound. I also really like the cawing crows occasionally with a few cheerful birds, like an idealized view of the woods that Mercy wishes she could visit. Finally the Twin Black Lodges has a nice mysterious/spooky sound that’s hard to describe, but was apparently inspired from Twin Peaks. If you have the app, give this mix a listen and let me know what you think!

 

Dead Man’s Hill

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So while I was out of town last week, the latest issue of The Sirens Call Publications eZine got released!

Not only is this whole issue FREE to read, but my story, “Dead Man’s Hill”, featuring some entertaining zombies, is contained within.

You know you’re not ready for Halloween to leave just yet.

Coming soon: Hallowe’en Hell

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Some excellent news this lovely October day! My Halloween-themed short story, “Dead Man’s Hill”, has been accepted into Sirens Call Publication’s eZine, issue 29: Hallowe’en Hell! Every issue of their eZine is free to read, so you’ll get a whole issue chock full of Halloween tales. How’s that for getting you in the Halloween spirit? Once it’s out, I’ll be sure to post a link here for everyone to enjoy!

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This story was originally written in a response to the following prompt: A zombie apocalypse occurs in a society which has been ready for it for over a century.

So YES, there will be zombies. And YES, there will be gore. It wouldn’t quite be Halloween without it, right?

Also a big thanks to everyone who visited and posted comments on the HWA book giveaway last week! I haven’t gotten the notification on who won yet, but once I do, I’ve got the anthology right beside me ready to go.

A Frightful Halloween Giveaway

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halloweenhaunts2Today I’m over at HWA’s Halloween Haunts talking about one of the coolest and scariest places to go trick-or-treating as a child: Burke’s Circle. The neighborhood looked like it was plucked from a Halloween movie and planted just for us kids to enjoy. Almost every house was decked for Halloween and giving out candy, and each home you visited made you double check the doorways and watch the shadows.

Be sure to comment at the site to be entered to win a free physical copy of Not Your Average Monster Volume 2, which I’m proud to report still has a 5-star rating on Amazon. It features my own creature horror story, “Tiny Necks”, which I talk a little bit about over here: Outside Your Comfort Zone.

Halloween Giveaways Galore

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We’ve had our Halloween decorations up for  a couple of weeks, but that doesn’t diminish the excitement when October rolls around. The temperature has dropped and the sweaters have been broken out. Pretty soon it’ll be time to visit pumpkin patches and drink hot apple cider to keep warm. It’s the month for marathoning horror films and making the tough decision of figuring out what to wear to that Halloween party.

Now there’s another treat to help you enjoy this frightful season. Throughout the whole month of October the Horror Writer’s Association will have daily guest blog posts from horror authors celebrating the season of candy and terror. We’re posting short stories, reminiscing about the joy of Halloween, and of course hosting giveaways!

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Drop by and check out today’s Halloween Haunt post, Dirty Ghosts by David Ghilardi. To see the full schedule, check out the listing here on Facebook.

not-your-average-monster-2-cover-smallBe sure to drop by on October 5th for your chance to win a free copy of Not Your Average Monster Volume 2!

On October 31st, for Halloween, one lucky winner will win a Kindle Fire HD6 as well!

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