I have to say that Netflix has really been scheduling some cool spooky stuff lately!
Watch the trailers at the links.
First, was The Munsters movie by Rob Zombie. Campy fun.
About the Book:
When Annabelle flees her abusive husband and moves into an 1860's farmhouse, she soon learns that she is not alone; she shares her home with Christian, the ghost of a poet who killed himself in 1917. Christian, wanting nothing but solitude, tries to scare Annabelle away, but once they come together while she is dreaming, they fall in love. The clock is ticking for Christian, for moments after his hanging his fiance magically cursed his spirit to be stuck on earth for one hundred years, and his time is almost up.
With Annabelle's ex threatening her and the spirit she has fallen in love with on the verge of disappearing, Annabelle becomes obsessed with staying with Christian, and will do anything to be with him. Being in love with a ghost is bad enough, but for Annabelle, discovering that her true love will be crossing over at any moment pushes her over the edge of reckless behavior.
* Buy A Shadow of Love on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.
Review: With an opening line that says, "Lillian watched at the edge of the tree line as Christian hanged himself," you have to keep reading, right? The story was a bit slow in momentum at first but once the nightmares stared for Annabelle, the action keeps you intrigued. Who can resist a handsome ghost anyway? 😉4 stars.
* Enter to win a copy: Contact me at my website contact page. Tell me: would you want to meet a ghost? Who and why? Be sure to enter your email so I can contact you. Continental US entries only. * Entries end noon central 10/28/22.
*******
October 29th @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Visit Linda's blog for an in-depth interview with author Amy S. Cutler about her book A Shadow of Love.
https://bootsshoesandfashion.com
October 31st @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Visit Anthony's blog for Amy S. Cutler's guest post about finding a publisher.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
November 1st @ Choices
Join Madeline as she features a guest post by Amy S. Cutler about the first draft process.
http://www.madelinesharples.com/
November 2nd @ Jessica Belmont's Blog
Jessica reviews Amy S. Cutler's book A Shadow of Love.
November 3rd @ Write Advice
Read Amy's guest post about how she found the idea for Shadow of Love and turned it into a story.
November 4th @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Read Anthony's review of A Shadow of Love by Amy S. Cutler. A paranormal book you don't want to miss!
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
About the Book:
When Annabelle flees her abusive husband and moves into an 1860's farmhouse, she soon learns that she is not alone; she shares her home with Christian, the ghost of a poet who killed himself in 1917. Christian, wanting nothing but solitude, tries to scare Annabelle away, but once they come together while she is dreaming, they fall in love. The clock is ticking for Christian, for moments after his hanging his fiance magically cursed his spirit to be stuck on earth for one hundred years, and his time is almost up.
With Annabelle's ex threatening her and the spirit she has fallen in love with on the verge of disappearing, Annabelle becomes obsessed with staying with Christian, and will do anything to be with him. Being in love with a ghost is bad enough, but for Annabelle, discovering that her true love will be crossing over at any moment pushes her over the edge of reckless behavior.
* Buy A Shadow of Love on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.
*******
Why are ghost stories so popular?
By Amy S Cutler
I have always loved ghost stories, and horror in general,
although ghost stories certainly do not have to be scary. Part of the reason
that I like the horror genre so much is that I love the adrenaline rush that
being scared gives, along with the safety of knowing that I can shut the book
or turn off the TV if I need a break.
Ghost stories are different. They give me comfort, and if
that comfort only lasts while I’m reading, I’ll still take it because taking a
break from the question of what’s next is a sort of meditation. It
relaxes me, stills my unease. I frequently ponder the purpose of my life – what
is my life purpose? Am I fulfilling it? Does it even matter? It is often while
reading or watching a ghost story when I find myself letting my guard down,
throwing away my analytical thinking, and getting to the bottom of these
questions. Ghost stories allow people to open their minds, and that is where our
answers lie.
Of course, many ghost stories are scary, as that is so often
the point in the telling of them. But even then, there is comfort in the idea
of ghosts as a possibility. Naturally some people may not want to know these
answers, and are not so thrilled with the idea that ghosts could exist outside
of the pages of a book. I happen to know quite a few people who say that they
do not believe in ghosts and do not want ghosts to exist, yet they still love a
good ghost story. I like to think that they are getting some comfort, too, in
knowing that it’s just fiction (or rather, they think it’s just fiction,
wink wink).
To tell the truth, there are some ghost stories that have scared the daylights out of me, stories like The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, Hell House by Richard Matheson, and Pet Sematary by Stephen King.
Naturally I don’t want those stories to be true, and
don’t want an afterlife where it is I who is the terrifying one. I may not want
that reality, but I do know that life cannot be wrapped up in a pretty bow, or
box, just because it’s what I want to believe. I still enjoy these stories,
even if I am not fantasizing about them being true, and I still get a glimmer
of hope that there is something out there besides … nothing.
One can probably guess that October is my favorite month and
Halloween is my favorite day, since ghost story lovers like myself are free to
express to the world how enthralled we are with the afterlife. It is my hope that people get something more
out of the Halloween month than just scary tales and KitKats – something
deeper, something that brings us all closer to the answers we seek.
About the Author:
October 25th @ Four Moon Reviews
Join
Samantha as she reviews Amy S. Cutler's book A Shadow of Love. You can also win a copy of the book too!
https://fourmoonreviews.blogspot.com/
October 27th @ Girl Zombie Authors
Come
by Chris' blog again and read a review of Amy S. Cutler's book A Shadow of Love. You can also enter to
win a copy of the book too!
https://girlzombieauthors.blogspot.com/
October 29th @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Visit
Linda's blog for an in-depth interview with author Amy S. Cutler about her book
A Shadow of Love.
https://bootsshoesandfashion.com
October 31st @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Visit
Anthony's blog for Amy S. Cutler's guest post about finding a publisher.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
November 1st @ Choices
Join
Madeline as she features a guest post by Amy S. Cutler about the first draft
process.
http://www.madelinesharples.com/
November 2nd @ Jessica Belmont's Blog
Jessica
reviews Amy S. Cutler's book A Shadow of
Love.
November 3rd @ Write Advice
Read
Amy's guest post about how she found the idea for Shadow of Love and turned it into a story.
November 4th @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Read
Anthony's review of A Shadow of Love
by Amy S. Cutler. A paranormal book you don't want to miss!
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
About the Book:
Kestrel, the King's Privateer, is preparing to wait out the annual storm season when she receives an unexpected royal order to capture and deliver a rare creature for the king’s menagerie. Before she can weigh anchor, news reaches Kestrel of a long-ago friend in desperate need of help—in the opposite direction of her assigned voyage. In addition, her ship may be haunted by something big, loud, and terrifying.
Every decision is fraught with danger. Each wrong turn may mean her death or the death of her crew. And Captain Kestrel can walk away from none of them.
October Frights continues! See participants here. Get some Halloween reads free here.
Witches are often one of the symbols of modern Halloween, but being called a witch had dire consequences in past centuries as the church persecuted mostly women in Europe and women were accused during the Salem witchcraft hysteria in this country. Some men also were swept up in the persecutions. (Image, pixabay)
Here are some books and sites that shed light on this dark past:
* Read the original documents of the Salem Witch Trials, plus maps
* Source records on European Witch Trials
* Trials of witches and wizards, True accounts of trials in Scotland, etc. 1720 - download. (Image:Demons, 1720 - source: Wellcome Library, public domain)
* See Malleus Maleficarum history and background.
* Download Malleus Maleficarum @ wikimedia commons. (Image, Wellcome Library, public domain.)
Books:
Children of Salem, Robert W. Walker - A spy working for religious organizations, Jere Wakely is summoned to Salem Village Parish, where it has become obvious to church authorities that there is serious trouble. He is reluctant to return to his hometown for many reasons, not the least being that his heart is broken and he's worried about running into his former lover, Serena Nurse.During his investigation, he has no expectation that their love will be rekindled. But their renewed passion parallels a greater fire--one of terror amid the infamous Salem Witch Trials. A witch hunt in this important election year of 1692 is backdrop to a romance filled with intrigue and mystery; the history is accurate, and the truth is disturbing yet fascinating.
Salem Witch Trials: A History from Beginning to End, From the court proceedings to the execution of 19 people accused of witchcraft. Topics include: The Puritans of the Mayflower - The Accusations Begin - Mass Hysteria in Salem - The First Executions -Corey’s Death by Pressing - The Legacy of Witchcraft in Salem
The History and Haunting of Salem: The Witch Trials and Beyond, Rebecca F. Pittman - Information on the trials, plus exclusive interviews with the Salem Witch Trial's top experts, and never-before-seen photographs and information about Proctor's Ledge from the experts and historians who located the actual site of the hangings. A focus on the paranormal activity happening in Salem is offered in The Haunting section. You will also find a nod to Hocus Pocus and other movies. Spotlights on the best lodging, restaurants, and tourist attractions are also listed, along with maps, and websites for further study.
The Salem Witch Hunt: A Captivating Guide to the Hunt and Trials of People Accused of Witchcraft in Colonial Massachusetts - Historic and fictional look at the people who were caught up in the Salem witch hunts.
The Witch's Trinity, Erika Mailman - In 1507, when a severe famine strikes a small town in Germany, a friar arrives from a large city, claiming that the town is under the spell of witches in league with the devil. He brings with him a book called the Malleus Maleficarum—“The Witch’s Hammer”—a guide to gaining confessions of witchcraft, and promises to identify the guilty woman who has brought God’s anger upon the town, burn her, and restore bounty.
Güde Müller suffers stark and frightening visions—recently she has seen things that defy explanation. No one in the village know this, and Güde herself worries that perhaps her mind has begun to wander—certainly she has outlived all but one of her peers in Tierkinddorf. Yet of one thing she is absolutely certain: She has become an object of scorn and a burden to her son’s wife. In these desperate times her daughter-in-law would prefer one less hungry mouth at the family table. As the friar turns his eye on each member of the tiny community, Güde dreads what her daughter-in-law might say to win his favor.
What Were The Salem Witch Trials? Joan Holub - (chldren's, educational) Something wicked was brewing in the small town of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. It started when two girls, Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, began having hysterical fits. Soon after, other local girls claimed they were being pricked with pins. With no scientific explanation available, the residents of Salem came to one conclusion: it was witchcraft! Over the next year and a half, nineteen people were convicted of witchcraft and hanged while more languished in prison as hysteria swept the colony. Author Joan Holub gives readers and inside look at this sinister chapter in history.
READ SOMETHING SPOOKY!!
There are sooo many good new horror offerings that I can't keep up! Turn the lights off and get reading! haaa!
* A gift for you through Halloween! Get some great creepy Halloween reads free here.
* Don't forget to visit the October Frights Blog Hop participants here and below:
Always Another Chapter - Be Afraid of the Dark - Hawk’s Happenings
Carmilla Voiez Dark Reads and Intersectional Feminism - GirlZombieAuthors
Frighten Me - Brain Matter – The Official Blog of JG Faherty - Angela Yuriko Smith - James P. Nettles
HALLOWEEN HORROR RECOMMENDED READS
Anthologies
Horror Quickies, Vol. 1, Steve Hudgins - Short flashes of horror. Over 30 Tales of Terror • The seance was just fun and games until they asked the spirits to give them a sign that they were there. • A young woman hears her mother talking in the basement. The problem is, her mother is not at home. • Strange tales emerge from those who made the mistake of traveling through the eerie town of Allensburg. • The hospital is abandoned. So, why is there a patient standing in the corridor? • A house sitter fears she may not be alone in the house. (*First of 5-book set was free at time of posting.)
Literally Dead: Tales of Halloween Hauntings, Gaby Triana, Editor. Stories by Jonathan Maberry, Gwedolyn Kiste, Tim Waggoner, Lisa Morton and others. Nineteen spooky ghost tales that you'll want to read while under the covers (and the lights on!)
Monsters in the Weird West : A Collection of Gunslinging Adventures, KC Grifant - Kindle Vella. Read issues 1-3 free. In the Weird West, unflappable sharpshooter Melinda and her easygoing partner Lance hunt a menagerie of monsters. From cannibalistic gremlins to psychic bugs, there's nothing this gunslinging duo can't handle--or so they think.
Tavern of Terror, Vol. 2 - Scare Street assorted authors - (New! Sale, 99 cts) An artist struggles to hold on to her soul as she feverishly completes a deadly masterpiece. The death of a movie producer unleashes an ancient reel of film with a dark secret worth killing for. And a woman gets the scare of her life as strange intruders break into her home...Welcome back to Hannigan’s, the tavern of a thousand tales. In this cozy neighborhood pub, everyone has a story to tell. But those stories don’t always have a happy ending.
As you sip your drink and listen to another nightmarish tale, you slowly realize the crowd around you has changed...It’s closing time. And it looks like the last drink is on you…Audiobooks: Zombie
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, C.A. Verstraete - 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.
Nekropolis 1 -Meet Matt Richter. Private Eye. Zombie., Tim Waggoner - (Half-off sale to 10/18)
This is fun. Includes sound effects. Be sure to listen to the sample at the link above! Centuries ago, when Earth's Darkfolk -- vampires, werewolves, witches and other creatures -- were threatened by humanity, they departed our planet's dimension and journeyed to a shadowy realm, where they built the great city of Nekropolis. Matt Richter is an Earth cop who came through a portal to Nekropolis on a case, died, and was resurrected as a zombie. Unable to return home, he works as a private investigator on the very mean streets of this shadowy, dark city. And in this first case, Richter must help a delectable half-vampire named Devona recover a legendary artifact known as the Dawnstone, before it’s used to destroy Nekropolis itself. That is, if he can survive the variety of horrors that infest the city.
Audiobook - History/Monsters
Children of Salem, Robert W. Walker - A spy working for religious organizations, Jere Wakely is summoned to Salem Village Parish, where it has become obvious to church authorities that there is serious trouble. He is reluctant to return to his hometown for many reasons, not the least being that his heart is broken, and he's worried about running into his former lover, Serena Nurse.
During his investigation, he has no expectation that their love will be rekindled. But their renewed passion parallels a greater fire - one of terror amid the infamous Salem Witch Trials. A witch hunt in this important election year of 1692 is backdrop to a romance filled with intrigue and mystery; the history is accurate, and the truth is disturbing yet fascinating.
GHOSTS
Horror
A Head Full of Ghosts, Paul Tremblay - 2015 Bram Stoker Award Winning Novel.
Dr. Cushing's Chamber of Horrors, Stephen D. Sullivan - Despite a lifetime of traveling with their father to collect strange artifacts, twins Topaz and Opal Cushing have never fully believed in monsters or the supernatural. Werewolves? Vampires? Living mummies? None of those could be real. Those legends are just for rubes. Right? Since the girls’ father has been away, though, strange things have been happening in the family’s little exhibit—and in the waxworks studio that shares their dilapidated Victorian mansion on the outskirts of London
Horror Deals - Freebies:
* A gift for you through Halloween! Get some great creepy Halloween reads free here.
* Looking for something new and spooky to read?
See the October Frights Authors Books Showcase here.
*
* Get some Spooky Halloween Tales - Oct. 11-Nov. 13
*
Deals on books with Deadly Thoughts, Murderous Plots- Oct. 18-Nov. 18
*
In Kindle Unlimited? Get some free spooky mysteries & more, Oct. 30- Dec.2:
*
Interested in books with alternative storylines?
Check out these Altered History book deals, Oct. 31-Dec. 2.
*
