Happy Halloween Reading List! #horror #zombie #mystery

There's no better time than Halloween to curl up with a good scary book! Here are some suggestions and some new books I came across. Don't turn out the lights! Boo!

It seems everyone is writing short stories, which I love, so there are plenty of treats to pick from!

Anthologies:

Dead Ends, Stories of the Gothic South, J.T. Ellison, editor - Cool idea. Thirteen novelists were asked to build stories around a photo of a dilapidated mansion with a gothic flavor. Includes stories by Amanda Stevens, Lisa Morton and others.

Descent Into Darkness - What keeps you awake at night? These 19 spooky tales and novellas from assorted authors might... Edited by Tony Urban. Includes my story, "Thirteen Horses" by C.A. Verstraete. 700+ pages - Oct. 30: Woo-hoo! It hit #1 in anthologies/horror!

Fearful Fathoms: Collected Tales of Aquatic Terror (Vol. 1: Seas and Oceans) - How deep does your fear go? New double anthology features an unpublished story by Jack Ketchum, plus stories by Lori R. Lopez, W.D. Gagliani and others. 

   

Joe Ledger, Unstoppable, Jonathan Maberry - What's Halloween without Maberry and Joe Ledger? Stories about Maberry's favorite covert operative Joe Ledger and the Department of Military Sciences by 22 authors including Seanan McGuire, Joe McKinney, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Dana Fredsti and others. Releases on Halloween!

Mrs. Dracula: Vampire Anthology - She's worn out every welcome and bitten the hand that feeds, but what did you expect? Dark tales by 18 authors about the Mrs. in the Dracula family.

Rage Against the Night - Stories of those who rage against the night and triumph in the face of overwhelming evil. From horror masters Stephen King, Peter Straub, Jonathan Maberry, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and others. 

  

Treasured Chests: A Zombie Anthology for Breast Cancer Care (Registered charity in England and Wales) - Proceeds to benefit breast cancer.

Undead Worlds: A Reanimated Writers Anthology - Stories by 22 authors, 22 undead worlds.... Do you dare? Stories by Derek and Mark Cusco Ailes, Grivante, Julien Saindon, Valerie Lioudis, Samie Sands and others.

Apocalyptic:

Infection: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Novel (Sympatico Syndrome Book 1),  M.P. McDonald - When the US crumbles and services stop, there's only one thing to do - take your family and run...

GHOSTS:

 New! Spectral Edition: Ghost Reports from US Newspapers, 1865-1917, Tim Prasil - Between the Civil War and World War I, a wave of ghost reports hit the newspapers. Prasil shares hundreds of the reports he's collected. (Cool idea! I've read some of these on Tim's blog. Love the idea.) Paperback.

The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden's Fall River, C.A. Verstraete - Another view of the Borden murders... Was Lizzie's doctor and neighbor haunted by what he saw that morning in 1892? Was he being haunted by Fall River's bloody past? 

Lizzie Borden:

What's Halloween without infamous axe murderess Lizzie Borden?  

  

Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, C.A. Verstraete - What if Lizzie Borden did kill her father and stepmother... because she had no other choice? 

The Murderer's Maid,  A Lizzie Borden Novel, Erika Mailman  - Bram Stocker award finalist Mailman presents a different take on the infamous 1892 Borden murders with an interwoven tale of past and present focusing on the Borden family maid, Bridget Sullivan, and a modern-day barista in fear for her life. Take note  of the cruel and cunning Lizzie Borden lurking around corners who'll make your toes curl!  Just released!  

Time Travel-Romance:

Wide Awake Asleep: Time Travel Romance, Louise Wise - Julie Compton's relieved to have survived a car crash. One problem: she's back in 1972, in the body of a stranger.

#Halloween Read: Descent Into Darkness Sale!

Get it Now! 

The still HOT anthology (it's now #1! in anthologies/horror!), Descent Into Darkness, is on sale to Halloween for 99 cents!

How cool is this? Oct. 30 - it's now at #1!!! Woo-hoo!!

700+ pages - novellas, stories and more!

I've got a creepy little story in there, "Thirteen Horses" where a certain crime has its own brand of justice... 

#Halloween #Zombie Blog Crawl: What's scarier than Lizzie Borden?

Thought I'd share an older post today for the Reanimated Writers Zombie Blog Hop. (You'll have to join the group to see the posts. I'll include others I find.)

Since it's Halloween, what's scarier than real life monsters?

Since I couldn't copy/paste from my word program for some reason, I'm including part of a previous blog post.

Women Who Kill

By C.A. Verstraete 

There's something truly frightening about the idea of a woman—and an upstanding Sunday School teacher at that—swinging, hacking, and attacking not one, but two people. But that is what 32-year-old Lizzie Borden was accused of doing when she was put on trial in 1893 for the murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Durfee Borden, on Aug. 4, 1892.

A Victorian tragedy, Borden continues to fascinate today. Dozens of reasons have been given as to why she might have committed the crime—madness, jealousy, rage, female hormones, an illicit affair, incest…

No direct proof connecting Lizzie with the crime was ever found, though only she and the maid, Bridget Sullivan, were at home at the time of the murders. Did she do it or didn’t she? The jury thought not, or at least were not convinced by the lack of evidence, so she was acquitted.

When I decided to write about Lizzie Borden, I followed the timetable of the actual crime, and used transcripts and newspaper accounts as part of the story, but I  came up with an even more unique solution as to why she might have committed the crime. What if Lizzie did kill her father and stepmother… because she had no other choice?

Here’s a short excerpt:

Every muscle quivering, Lizzie fought with everything she had to keep his mouth away from her body and limbs. Her strength waning, she hoped to fight for as long as possible when Emma yelled from the doorway.

“Father!” Emma screamed. “Lizzie, what are you doing? You’re hurting him!”

A quick glance told Lizzie her sister was still not herself. Lizzie struggled to talk while she fought to keep her father at arm’s length. “Emma, help.” She panted with the effort. “Please, help. He’s sick, he’s gone insane. Help me.”

Emma finally blinked and stared like she was seeing everything for the first time. “Lizzie! What should I do?”

“The hatchet!” Lizzie pleaded. “Get the hatchet. Hurry, please hurry! I can’t hold out much longer.”

  *About Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter: 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?

Website: http://cverstraete.com
Amazon: http://getbook.at/LizzieBordenZombieHunter
Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/hp9rvyd

 ** What’s your view on Lizzie Borden? Guilty or not guilty?

Dial Meow for Murder #Mystery Book Tour!

Looks like the blog has gone to the cats  - and the dogs  - as I welcome author Bethany Blake, who's touring for her mystery, Dial Meow for Murder. With a black cat, perfect for Halloween, I say! 

Dial Meow for Murder

A
Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery #2

by
Bethany Blake

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Even an experienced pet sitter like Daphne Templeton can be fooled by animal behavior: how can an adorably tiny fuzz ball named Tinkleston be capable of sudden flying leaps with cat claws bared? But human behavior remains even more mysterious, especially when Tinkleston’s owner is murdered on the night of a gala fundraiser for Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue.

Accompanied by her unflappable basset hound, Socrates, Daphne plans to take charge of Tinks the Terror and leave the crime-solving to handsome detective Jonathan Black. But while luring the prickly Persian out of hiding, she uncovers clues that might take suspicion off her own mother. Maeve Templeton already has a reputation as a killer—in real estate. How far would she go to bag Sylvan Creek’s most coveted property, the Flynt Mansion?

To expose the truth, Daphne finds herself donning a deranged clown costume on an autumnal adventure that might just be crazy enough to work—if it doesn’t get her killed.

Includes recipes for homemade dog treats!

“Doggone charming from start to finish!” 
—Cleo Coyle, New York Times bestselling author of Death by Chocolate Lab

* Add to Goodreads

 * Amazon
* Apple
* B&N
* Google
* Kobo

Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband
and three daughters. When she's not writing, cooking for pets and
people or riding horses, she's wrangling a menagerie of furry family
members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind
goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton,
the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and
operates a pet sitting business called Barkley's Premium Pet Care.

* Facebook
* Twitter * Amazon
* Goodreads

Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Halloween #Zombie Blog Crawl

I'm late getting in on this, so I'll share links as I find them.

Join in on some fun posts and more! Sponsored by the Reanimated Writers FB Group. (It's a closed group, so you'd have to join.) I'm linking blogs below; some may change as I get the posts.


Weds:., Oct 25: Valerie Lioudis' Blog: Five Great Zombie Apocalypse Hideouts

Thurs, Oct 26: Brian Parker

Friday, Oct 27: Here on GirlZombieAuthors: Women who kill - what's scarier than Lizzie Borden?

28 Mercedes Prunty

29 Philip Harris

30 LC Champlin

31 Baileigh Higgins

Lizzie Borden Books for Halloween! Fall River newspaper!

Cool! How about a Lizzie Borden book for Halloween?

Some of the latest Lizzie Borden books - including my book, The Haunting of Dr. Bowen - are talked about in the Fall River Herald News - Lizzie Borden's hometown newspaper!! 

** Plus! I got a nice new review on Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter - 7 of 10 zombie heads at The Rotting Zombie! 

Samie Sands Talks #Zombies & Not Dead Yet!

Today I welcome author Samie Sands, who's on a book tour for her latest zombie book, Not Dead Yet. (AM13 Outbreak Series Book 4)

Not Dead Yet

The AM13 Outbreak has affected everywhere, the entire world has experienced infection. 

Victims of the virus are no longer human, they've changed, become something scientifically impossible. With their loss of human function and their new lust for flesh, there’s only one word to describe them... Zombies.

The world is divided as everyone tries to work out how to survive. Many have already lost their lives in the fight, but there are still a few who are not dead... Yet!

* Get it on Goodreads -  Amazon

Don't miss the other books in
the AM13 Outbreak Series!

Lockdown

AM13 Outbreak Series Book 1

Goodreads - Amazon

Forgotten

AM13 Outbreak Series Book 2

Goodreads - Amazon

Extinct

AM13 Outbreak Series Book 3

Goodreads - Amazon

Samie Sands is a 28 year old freelance graphic designer who's had a number of short stories published, including one of the most popular pieces at Zombie Guide Magazine. She lives in a small seaside town in the UK, but loves to travel to gain inspiration from new places and different cultures. Follow her on:  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,  Wattpad 

Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy #Halloween #Horror Giveaway!

It's nearly Halloween! MwAHH-HA-HA!

What's better than some TREATS???

 ** Here's a fantastic Halloween Giveaway! **

Come get your selection of 32 horror, zombie and monster stories, 

novellas, excerpts and more HERE!

Mine may not sound creepy from the title (since it all doesn't fit in the preview... )

 In The View From #7 French Street, A Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter Short Story, Lizze faces another zombie outbreak and more personal devastation.... It also contains excerpts to my related books, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter and The Haunting of Dr. Bowen. 

Please let me know what you think via my website. I'd love your feedback.

Lizzie Borden, #Zombie Hunter: Rotting New Review!

Got a new rotting review - in this case it's a good thing - haa! for Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter at The Rotting Zombie!

It's a long and thoughtful review. Here's a little bit: "...Of the other main characters it is Lizzie who stands out as the best one. She is strong willed, but there was also a vulnerability to her character on the many occasions she bites off more than she can chew. ...A good yarn told in a well written and engaging style."

The best part - I love the zombie heads rating!  

Herer's the Amazon link to Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter.

Thanks, Daniel!

New Review Haunting of Dr. Bowen #Paranormal #Mystery

Hope you enjoyed the October Frights Blog Hop! Always a great event. Glad to see lots of new people stop by though I wish more of you would comment. Curious to learn who you are!

SURVEY: Are you interested in books, other authors? Writing? Paranormal talk, ghosts, zombies? Let me know! Share your ideas and suggestions!

Anyway....

If you're looking for a slightly different Halloween read, my short novellette, The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden's Fall River, just got a great review at Kings River Life.   

As reviewer Terrance McArthur is familiar with my work (and picked Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter as one of his Best Picks for 2016), he saw that this was somewhat different and asked: How was I to prepare myself for a partly paranormal mystery wrapped around a tender love story?

See what he says... Check it out. 

October Frights: Descent Into Darkness #Horror Stories

How about some more tasty horror morsels
 for the October Frights Blog Hop?

There are all kinds of spooky stories, excerpts, contests and more.  See the Facebook group for all info.  Be sure to visit the rest of the stops at the end of this blog. *  See the Halloween Horror Giveaway 1 and Giveaway 2!

* NOTE: I'll be in Kenosha WI tonight signing books - and they have a MONSTERS! show! 6-9 p.m., Left of the Lake Gallery,  4615 7th Ave. 
**********

Here's a look at a few of the stories 
from the just released new horror anthology, DESCENT INTO DARKNESS  

What keeps you awake at night?

Murder and monsters...

Demons and forces of evil...

Ghosts and urban legends...

Dive into the darkness with twenty tales of terror that will keep you awake long after the lights go out.

A horror anthology featuring featuring several best-selling and award-winning authors from around the globe, "Descent into Darkness" contains a variety of terrifying short stories and novellas.

Includes: 
Baba by Tony Urban - Blood Note by Sylvester Barzey  - Nail Gun Glissando by Steve Vernon  - The Evil in Devil’s Creek by Paul B. Kohler  -  What’s Been Keeping Me Awake by Amanda Luzzader  - Mark of Perdition by R. L. Blalock - The Sun Makes Me Turn Purple by Gretta Penelope - Send in the Clowns by David J. Schmidt - The Nine Lives of Captain Osborne by E.E. Isherwood - They Want to Die, Let ‘em by L J Parker
Simon Says by Rachel McClellan - The Door by Delia Rai 
Thirteen Horses by C.A. Verstraete - Zombie Apocalypse by Max Lockwood
Fetch by Joe Jackson - Knock, Knock by Cindy Carroll
His Model Son by Brian J.W. Lee - Ascension by G M Sherwin
Through a Dark Wood by Shayne Rutherford - Lock and Key by Patrick Logan

About the anthology:

I asked a few of the authors to give me some details on their stories. Here's what they said: 

Paul B. Kohler - The Evil in Devil’s Creek.

About the story:

A road trip to visit Sheri's son turns deadly when Owen runs over a stray dog in the road. As they look for help, their fear climbs when they discover the nearby town deserted . . . but only of humans. There are others watching.

What inspired the story?

“I was inspired to write this story after a dozen or so trips to visit my daughter in college. Several of the oddities along the way are included in the story. The scary stuff was added because of my wandering mind.”

Quote from The Evil in Devil’s Creek:

Blood, rusty and dirty streaked the walls and countertops and left dried lakes on the floor. With a shaky voice, he called out again, “Hello? Is there someone—anyone?” But the hollowness in his stomach told him he was alone.

** Paul B. Kohler is author of The Humanity’s Edge Trilogy (Turn, Book 1 and Detour, Book 2.) He is working on Book 3, Reversion.   

* * * 

C.A. Verstraete - Thirteen Horses

About the story:

A couple think they're being set free from jail, accused of a crime they say they didn't commit. But sometimes the punishment does fit the crime...

What inspired the story?
A couple had been arrested after a number of horses were found dead on their property. The story stuck with me. They continued to say they were not guilty but were out on bail. The husband killed the wife and himself once they were found guilty and sentenced. 

Quote from Thirteen Horses:

That wasn’t the only odd thing, she realized. The shadows…

In the few minutes since she’d come in, they’d edged closer. They now stood right behind her, almost as if—

As if they’re following me. How can that be?

** C.A. Verstraete is the author of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter and The Haunting of Dr. Bowen. Learn more at her website, www.cverstraete.com.

* * * 

Tony Urban, Baba

About the story::

After seeing a murdered girl in the forest, Phil convinces his two best friends to visit the scene, unaware that they were hiking into a nightmare.

What inspired the story?

I've always loved coming of age horror stories and wanted to put a darker, realistic spin on it.

Quote from Baba:

They had long blonde hair which was dirty and matted. Blood from the holes in their torsos swam up their bodies and formed rivulets on their upside down faces.

** Tony Urban is the author of the Life of the Dead series. The third book, The Ark, just came out. 

* * *

Brian J.W. Lee, His Model Son

About the story:

All hell breaks loose as dark forces connected to an ancient secret in Pulau Purba sweeps through the island. An old gun technician working in a remote military base there must learn to overcome both physical and mental threats to reach his son, a conscripted marine.

What inspired the story:

My real life experiences in the military, of real conscripts coming to terms with a life they're unsuited to. Local folklore amped up a thousand times to a point where it doesn't resemble the original source material And of course, Stephen King, H. P. Lovecraft.

Quote from His Model Son:

Help was further than Boon Teck thought, and so was his breath.

** Brian J.W. Lee is the author of a horror story collection, Through the Abyssal Gates. 

* * *

Delia Rai, The Door

What is the story about?

Not all doors are meant to be opened.

What inspired your story?

I was talking to a friend about writing inspiration and he said, you know, there are many writing prompts online, you should do a search and see what you can find. I did just that and found this: "You know...there is nothing as tempting as a locked door." All my horror bells went off at once and I sat down to write. The prompt became the first line in the story.

Quote from The Door:

“A locked door, a red scarf, a tiny key, an old paperback. I say these words again and again, a litany of sorts, or a spell meant to reveal something. The devil is in the details. And yet there are no revelations.”

** This is Delia Rai’s first published story. She is working on a short story collection and her first fantasy novel, and is aiming for 2018 publication.

* * *