Just got another great review for Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter! 4 1/2 stars! "...It was interesting that Verstraete put quotes at the
beginning of each chapter from the trial of Miss Borden. The plot of the story
follows Lizzie from the murders, through the trial and after. I can tell the
author did her research, including the clothes, language of the times,
buildings, etc., giving it an authentic feel. The author writes well, which
always makes a book more enjoyable.A recommended read! – Myra Nour BookChat
I appreciate the author's feedback. Interesting is how each reader views something differently. While she had a couple minor quibbles, she gives it a recommended read.
Yes, my bookshelves are full, and the book piles are growing. But I-Just-Can't-Resist-Getting-Another-Book! I have several books I'm reading right now, but it takes me awhile, so it's good to have others to choose from. You never know what you'll be in the mood to read! So here are a few other books I've added to the reading list:
Started this one a while ago...
What's A Ghoul to Do?A Ghost Hunter Mystery, Victoria Laurie - A medium with a message. Seems Dr. Sable's grandfather jumped out a window of the family lodge, but the doctor knows it's foul play. Problem is there are more ghosts here with their own dirty tricks....
The Darkness Knows, Cheryl Honigford - Found this new mystery. New series set in Chicago in the golden age of radio in the 1930s. The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger - heard the movie was good. A love story, and the tale of a dashing librarian who involuntarily travels through time.
And if you need something slightly different to read, how about Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, which offers a new solution to the Lizzie Borden murders? What if Lizzie did kill her father and stepmother... because she had no other choice? Every family has its secrets… One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Share! What are you reading or what's on your reading list??
Looks like Netflix is getting into the zombie realm with a new streaming TV series, Santa Clarita Diet, with Drew Barrymore turning zombie! Starts Feb. 3.
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies? As for my reading, I've had a tendency lately to hop from book to book. I read one at night (that one being The Virgin's Lover (about England's Queen Elizabeth) by Philippa Gregory. During the day I have a couple other books I pick up here and there, or when I'm waiting somewhere. That's not including the books started on the Kindle, of course.
I'd read the first book in this series, Gone, by Michael Grant, and started the second one, Hunger, a while ago. Goneis a dystopian, sci-fi where all but the young disappear. It's every kid for themselves as they fight to survive among cliques and gangs in an abandoned high school. It can get pretty rough and brutal. In Hunger, it's three months later, everyone is near starvation, and then something in the Darkness begins calling some of the teens. And there are odd creatures... and monsters... 1 Line from Hunger: (yeah I picked a rather gross one...)
Up close he could see the worm, just one, but its black snake's head was buried in pink flesh, boring through Orc's cheek.
I've been lax posting, I admit, since I'm pretty much in writing mode, but I wanted to share some books that are my on reading radar that I hope to get into soon. Yes, quite a mixture from historical to medieval, miniatures related and of course, Lizzie Borden! Started:
The Virgin's Lover, Philippa Gregory - The story of England's Queen Elizabeth and her reign. As I just finished the story of her sister and predecessor, the Tudor Queen Mary, with the interesting tale of a psychic court jester wrapped around it in The Queen's Fool, I wanted to continue reading while the story was fresh in my mind. (I really don't like these newer covers. They look too "romance" to me and too modern. I'm reading an older version of the first book; both books had a beautiful, gold-gilded Tudor dress on front.) Next Up Soon:
The Inheritance, Jacqueline Seewald - Reminds me of old gothics! To collect her inheritance, a widow must live in an old mansion for two years - and someone doesn't want her there! The Witch's Trinity,A Novel, Erika Mailman - In 1507, a friar arrives in a small town in Germany claiming a severe famine is due to a witch's curse. You know what that means...
Coming soon:
All Dolled Up: Creating a Paper Fashion Wardrobe for Paper Dolls, L. Delaney - paper versions of dollhouse miniature dresses. Can't wait to try this out. (Releases Feb. 15. Has a different cover, I see.) Lizzie Borden stories, of course!
I know some authors don't like to read in genres, etc. that they're writing in, but what I did with Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter based in part on the actual trial - and a different - but plausible - version of why the crime happened - is much different than anyone else's interpretation, so it doesn't affect my thoughts in the writing process. I have my own outline worked out on book 2 (with the usual strange circumstances I seem to be drawn to) , and have a different take on parallel events in the novella I'm working on as well centered on Lizzie's physician/neighbor. (Book 2 and novella are out! See website. I won a galley of this and can't wait to read it in a few months! The Murderer's Maid, A Novel of Lizzie Borden, Erika Mailman - Another take on the Borden murders, this time from the point of view of the family's Irish maid, Bridget Sullivan. The History and Haunting of Lizzie Borden, Rebecca F. Pittman - I plan to eventually get this one, too. Huge (800+ pages) take on the murders and another explanation of possible culprits. Nearly 125 years later, the crime goes on... It never gets old, does it? What's on your reading list? What topics do you like to read about?
I'd love to see this! Big stories make good theatre Add catchy music and you never forget it. I still remember watching a friend performing in Godspell. Jesus Christ Superstar also stuck with me. What's a bigger, more fascinating story than the Lizzie Borden murders? Lizzie, The Lizzie Borden Rock Musical by the 11th Hour Theatre company is playing in Pittsburgh, Jan. 12 -29. It also just opened in Washington, DC. (Anacostia Playhouse, Jan. 12-Feb. 5) If you go, please share your impressions or a review with us! What an idea! See details at the website or see their Facebook page. Here's a preview:
Every so often, it seems to me that the zombie genre is limping along on its last leg, and then something happens to rekindle my faith that zombies are still here—and probably will be for a while—and that makes me incredibly happy.
This week, it was the discovery of some new zombie films. I haven’t seen either of these, but they are on my list. I think they look fabulous!
What about you? Have any of you seen this films? Any thoughts from the trailers?
I was a little surprised as Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter was up and down, but it managed to hang in there and made it in the Top 10 of the 2016 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll! I really wasn't expecting it, so thank you! (Included photo of new 2nd edition and new cover!)
Every family
has its secrets… One hot
August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father
and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family
conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What
if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?
Thrust
into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking conspiracy
to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the world beyond, Lizzie
battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her hometown from nightmarish ghouls
and the evil forces controlling them.
Today I thought I'd mention some Lizzie Borden novels I heard about... And I want to say thank you to our dedicated followers who come back often to check the blog, even when we slack off! Well the slacking off for me was due to a reason... to my surprise, I started LIZZIE BORDEN, ZOMBIE HUNTER 2! (Photo: Stephen D. Sullivan taken at Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum)
I didn't intend on starting it yet. I had thought up some ideas, had a part-outline and have been stewing on it, but I needed a break from the Dr. Bowen novella I've been working on. I'd hit a part that wasn't working so I wanted to stop for a bit and let it simmer... To my surprise, the Lizzie 2 idea popped right up! I've written the first 3 chapters and outlined it up to Chapter 7. It's exciting! I may have to do some tweaks, of course, and change a little bit, but so far, so good! It's fun to be working on this, I might add! I'll have to put my thinking cap on to come up with some new, strange zombies!
The dilemma is working around and continuing some things from book 1, LIZZIE BORDEN, ZOMBIE HUNTER, without giving a lot away. As some themes have to be continued in the second book, I may have to put in a disclaimer that it's best to read book 1 first. I don't want to spoil the first book's surprises! It's also hard to not be working around the actual trial for a framework, but I do have some references and flashbacks to the initial events that should work. The trial can't be forgotten...
The Bordens: Lizzie, her father Andrew, and stepmother Abby Durfee Borden.
After all, even if Lizzie was declared not guilty, it's not like there were never any reminders in her life of what happened, or that she ever forgot. The newspaper certainly didn't let her forget it. Nor did neighbors and former friends who shunned her and acted like she was a leper. I'd think, try as you might, how can you totally put such a horrific event as your parents' murders out of your mind? How could she? (Especially if she'd done it!) Could you? For story purposes, of course, Lizzie has to be haunted by past events, since the "other" crime - namely the release of zombies in the area - hasn't ended. It's continued with another outbreak for another strange reason... I love making up the strange reasons. haa! So stay tuned. I'll post progress - or struggles - as I go along! In the meantime... there is never a dearth of Lizzie Borden reading material... * Coming in October: Author Erika Mailman has a new take on the Borden murders concentrating on Irish maid Bridget Sullivan, in The Murderer's Maid, A Novel of Lizzie Borden. * Not so new - I just found that the original Lizzie Borden book, The Fall River Tragedy, A History of the Borden Murders, written right after the trial by reporter Edwin H, Porter, has been reprinted and is now on Kindle. Not sure who published it. * Or read the actual 1893 Lizzie Borden trial transcripts for yourself in two PDFs. It may give you a different perspective on the crime. Happy Reading!
The other day, my boys and I were flipping through the channels trying to find something to watch. It was a slow day, so there wasn’t much on. Finally, I found Jurassic Park and decided to watch it—even though it was going to be plagued with commercials.
Side note: we own this movie on DVD, but it seemed like a lot of work to get it and put it in the player, so I suffered watching it on TV.
This movie is one of my faves. I remember when it came out in theaters. I watched it in the theater. Consequently, I saw all the other films in the theater too and had the opportunity to take my boys to see Jurassic World, which we all loved.
Even to this day, Jurassic Park holds up. Some of the technology is a little outdated, yes, but it’s still fun to watch. The special effects still hold up, and the story is fantastic. Even with commercials, I enjoyed watching the movie.
My boys weren’t convinced that this film is a horror movie—mainly because they don’t find it overly scary. Personally, I don’t find it overly scary either, but I have a high threshold when it comes to horror. However, that doesn’t change the fact that I say it’s horror.
If anything, it falls into the Creature Feature category. Science and scientists are the bad guys in the film because they are messing with forces beyond their control that end up killing people, which is a staple of the horror industry. The events unfold on an isolated island where it’s impossible to get help. Once the raptors get out, there are jump scares. What else do you need to make it horror?
As the movie was playing, I started thinking about the book. The film and the book are different—because they always are—but they are enjoyable in their own ways. I decided that since it had been so long, I was going to read the book again. I ordered a copy, and it showed up in the mail earlier this week.
I don’t know who was more excited about the book: me or my boys. They’ve asked me to read it to them before bed, and we’ll see how that goes. They sometimes have short attention spans when it comes to long stories like that (they are still under 10), but I’m excited to experience it again.
Do you have any books that you’ve read in the past that you have or want to reread?
The reviewers at King's River Life Magazine share their picks for Best Books of 2016! Mysteries, romance, sci-fi, history, a great selection.
Halfway down in the story, see librarian Terrance McArthur's favorites - ** Thrilled to have Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter included which he calls "Bloody good fun." Yay! See the full story (which includes a link to the great review.) (See new 2nd edition book link - and here's the new cover!)
I'd appreciate your votes for Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter for best horror. Vote HERE.
(Don't forget to comment in the filter link at the bottom too! It's easy to overlook.)
One hot August
morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and
stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family
conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What
if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies?
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies?
As evidenced by the new books released last year, Lizzie Borden continues to be as fascinating today as the day she supposedly picked up that ax, killing her father and stepmother in 1892. And more are coming next year... Great way to start the new year! A listing on Mondo Lizzie Borden of several novels about Lizzie, including my book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter (changed here to new 2nd edition & new cover!)
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies?
Walter Satterthwait's The Return of Miss Lizzie... Miss Lizzie now is on a mystery-solving trek in New York, teaming up with the girl she met one summer whose stepmother was also found hatcheted in the neighboring house in the first 1989 novel, Miss Lizzie.
I'll list some of the upcoming books for 2017 soon.
