#OctoberFrights Begins!

                                                                                          

* Welcome to the OCTOBER FRIGHTS BLOG HOP , or at least one of the stops. See more information and stops below. This runs today through Thursday, Oct. 15. 

I'll be featuring some spooky stories from myself and a few other authors: 

The Posts on this Blog: (live day of posting)

1 Intro: Today and Sunday, Oct. 11

2  Mon., Oct. 12 - A Spooky story - Stephen D. Sullivan

3 Tues. Oct. 13 - Halloween Reading List 

4  Weds. Oct. 14 - Story, C.A. Verstraete - The Pumpkin Patch

5  Thurs. Oct. 15 - Story excerpt, James Noonan

*** Be sure to check out the other blogs on the tour for other spooky stuff, prizes & more!!

OCTOBER FRIGHTS PARTICIPANTS:

Are You Afraid of the Dark? - Night to Dawn Magazine & Books LLC

Hawk's Happenings - Heidi Angell - Curiosities

James McDonald - Always Another Chapter

Spreading the Writer's Word - Yours in Storytelling

Carmilla Voiez - Hello Romance

GirlZombieAuthors - Frighten Me - M'habla's!

Angela Yuriko Smith -  Brain Matter - NLCARTERWRITES.COM

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* Bonus! Get some free-bies!! See the October Frights Giveaway - Oct. 1-31.

* Visit the October Frights FB Group

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SPECIAL!!

How about a ghostly mystery and love story??  A supernatural tie-in to the Lizzie Borden story, without the zombies...  (Please, be sure to leave a review if you can!)

 ** Get it while it's on sale for 99 cents! **

 

The Haunting of Dr. Bowen,  C.A. Verstraete - 

 Gruesome deaths haunt the industrial city of Fall River, Massachusetts.

Dr. Seabury Bowen—physician to the infamous Lizzie Borden—swears he’s being stalked by spirits, though his beloved wife thinks it’s merely his imagination. But the retired doctor insists that neither greed nor anger provoked the recent sensational axe murders in Fall River. Rather, he believes the city is poisoned by bad blood and a thirst for revenge dating back to the Indian and Colonial wars.

Now, two years after the Borden murders, Dr. Bowen is determined to uncover the mysteries stirring up the city’s ancient, bloodthirsty specters. Can he discover who, or what, is shattering the peace before Fall River runs red? Or will he be the next victim?

Part mystery, part love story, The Haunting of Dr. Bowen reveals the eerie side of Fall River as witnessed by the first doctor on the scene of the legendary Borden murders.

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* Read my twist on the Lizzie Borden story....

Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter - What if Lizzie Borden killed her father and stepmother because they'd turned into... zombies?

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.

October Frights Blog Hop Oct 10-15

Welcome to the annual October Frights Blog Hop! A bunch of us horror and spooky authors invite you to follow along on our blogs, join in on the Halloween fun and maybe pick up a prize or two. We'll have freebies, spooky stories, lots of good horrific fun and more! 

I'll be focusing on a variety of topics here on the blog, including a monstrous reading list for October! Be sure to check out the blog list at the end of each post, plus the freebie links and a little monstrous gift for you! Happy Haunting!

When Fantasy Meets the Dark Side

 By Christine (C.A.) Verstraete

The word fantasy often conjures up images of fairies, swords, wizards, and tales in different dimensions. But like any genre, there also is a dark side.

   Mention dark fantasy and the images change to blood, vampires, surreal creatures, and the dark of night. Monsters. Oh, and of course, zombies. They’re the creatures that not only lurk in the night ready to suck out your soul, but they stalk you by day in search of your flesh, too. And as gruesome as they can be, zombies make the perfect villains—they’re the things we fear; the monsters that come at you without end. They’re the stuff of nightmares.

   Monsters can also be the perfect solution to an unsolved crime as I offer in my novel, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter. As horrific as the real-life crime is, it’s still hard to imagine a woman so heartless and selfish that she could hack her own father and stepmother to death with a hatchet as she was accused of doing on August 4, 1892.

   While the jury, for various reasons, declared her not guilty of the crime in June 1893, once I studied the autopsy reports and photos, I knew I’d found the perfect fictional reason as to why the spinster/Sunday School teacher could have committed such a terrible crime. It made perfect sense… if her father and stepmother had turned into zombies.

   Time, of course, determines how you approach a crime. As this year marks the 126th anniversary of the murders, the crime is distant enough to be part of history. Fantasy also allows you to insert monsters into a story. Monsters actually make sense since nothing can be a horrible as real life. They can be vanquished, but the human soul has a darkness that often can’t be cleansed.

   And since monsters aren’t real, it’s up to the author to provide a reason as to why they would be there, as in Lizzie Borden’s story. In Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, Lizzie becomes a kind of dark heroine who kills, but for a reason—to save her sister, and her city, from the evil her father might have had a role in.

   Admittedly, writing about a killer, any killer, is not for the squeamish, though having grown up reading about Chicago’s gangsters and the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre must’ve softened me to it early on.

   But I know I’m not alone. Crime fascinates, judging from the various crime shows, movies, documentaries, and the endless true crime novels. The unknown, the wondering how someone could ever do such a thing, draws us in. It’s the struggle to understand how and why that seemingly nice man—or woman—next door could do the most horrible of things--kill. 

   That’s the clue to writing dark fantasy, I think. It’s taking someone we thought we knew… and giving them a reason for their evil by inserting another evil into their story, like monsters or zombies. In Lizzie’s case, it’s enough of a reason to make her almost sympathetic, even if in real life, she would be the most pathetic of people if she was indeed guilty—someone who killed for the oldest of reasons: greed and money. The jury is still out on that. 

* Today's gift for you: *Get free books, novellas, previews & more here!  


** Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter  Kindle SALE! Grab it quick at 99 cents.  And it'll be $1.99 next week thru Halloween! 

* Visit and join the October Frights FB  group.

 

 ** CONGRATS to winner Amy W. who's been notified. Thanks for entering! **

** MY GIVEAWAY - win a print copy of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter or Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2: The Axe Will Fall, and a copy of The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, plus this cool skull bracelet! (US shipping only, sorry! International readers - pick 2 of the Kindle books.) One winner only - must sign-up for newsletter at top-center column of my website to enter. Add email in entry to be verified and to contact you. (Ends 10/20/18)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Visit the other October Frights Blogs - prizes & more!!

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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. 
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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.

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October Frights Blog Hop 3 - #horror fiction

What better time to share something scary than during the annual

October Frights Blog Hop October 10-15? - Prizes, stories & more!

See all the blog stops below. *  See the Halloween Horror Giveaway 1  - Giveaway 2!

Today, I wanted to share a strange little story I wrote a while ago that some of you may have read already, and some of you maybe haven't.

Fall Leaves

By C.A. Verstraete

(photo: pixabay.com)

It was over with me and Hal.

I'd finally had enough when he came home late again, drunk. Then I saw the lipstick mark.

I lost it.

Not thinking, I swung the lamp.

Horrified at what I'd done, I spent all night digging and covered the hole with a big leaf pile. Tomorrow, I burn.

(heh-heh)

October Frights Blog Hop Day 1 #horror

Today starts the annual October Frights Blog Hop from October 10 to 15.

There are all kinds of spooky stories, excerpts, contests and more.

I'll be sharing a couple creepy little stories too!

See the Facebook group for all info.  Be sure to visit the rest of the stops and see my story below. *  See the Halloween Horror Giveaway 1 and Giveaway 2!





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Today I'm sharing a fun, creepy but lighthearted little story. Don't worry, I'll get gorier later in the week. haa!

 (Image: Pixabay.com)

The Pumpkin Patch

By C.A. Verstraete

Every year he sat in the pumpkin patch, waiting for that one special person to come his way.

   Day after day, he grew larger and a vivid, brighter orange as he turned into a grand specimen of the pumpkin family.

   Then it happened. A cute little boy with a big smile and freckles almost as orange as his skin came and picked him up.

   The boy’s hug felt nice, so good, just like his ancestors had told him it would.

   The others rustled their big green leaves on the vine in goodbye as the man carried him to the family’s car.

   He rode to his new home nestled in the arms of the boy. He relished the warmth of the boy’s hands around him. The pumpkin patch seemed far away now.

   The boy insisted on carrying him in. Wait, what was that? A flash of orange on the porch step caught his eye. Another pumpkin. But-but what was wrong with that pumpkin’s face?

   He didn’t have the chance to see enough as they carried him inside. A rustle of paper. He sat on the table waiting to be set in the place of honor. That’s all he’d heard as he grew up in the pumpkin patch—that the one chosen had a place of honor in the family’s home.

   “All right,” the father said. “Scary or funny?”

   “Funny!” the boy cried.

   Wait . . . what-what was happening? ARGGGH! Something sharp cut into his brain. No-No! What are they doing?

   Oh, the pain! The cutting, the searing pain, the stabbing, seemed to last forever.

   Then the worst came. The horrible humans dug inside, scooping out his innards—his heart, his brain—until he sat there, nothing but an empty shell.

   Through the magic of the pumpkin patch, he still felt, though. He still followed their motions. The little boy, who had seemed so good, so loving, turned his gap-toothed smile of terror in his direction. The man gave an evil leer and leaned ever closer with that instrument of torture.

   He quivered in fear as the man cut into his soft, tender flesh. One cut, and then another, and soon a big evil smile with five little pointed teeth decorated his face.

   In surprise, he blinked, his vision sharp and clear as the man cut two triangular eyes above his newly formed mouth and nose.

   The electric candle they put inside him gave an eerie glow and lit the space around him. He looked out from his place of honor by the fireplace, listening as the house quieted and the family went to bed.

   Slowly, carefully, he rolled and bumped his way off the fireplace bricks. He slid along the wood floor, going down the hall. At the door, he stopped and listened to the soft breathing where the little boy slept.

   Longing filled him.

   Chomping his teeth, he slipped into the room without a sound, eager to be with the one who had given him new life. ## 

October Frights Blog Hop Oct 10-15!

The annual October Frights Blog Hop starts October 10 to 15.

All kinds of spooky stories, excerpts, contests and more.

I'll be sharing a couple creepy little stories too!

Some come back October 10  - tomorrow - Tuesday  !! - for the links and see what's up. I dare you!! See all the Blog Stops Below!   See the Facebook group for all info. 

October Frights 5: #Zombies!

Today is Day 5 of the October Frights Blog Hop!!!

Be sure to stop by all 25 blogs for some freaky Halloween fun, free fiction, prizes & more!!

** Contest: There'll be a new question each day. Comment here on the blog to win a spooky bracelet! Must include email. Contest ends 10/15.

Today: since it's nearly Halloween - How about some zombies???

  Here are a few of the awful zombies in my book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, 

called "too gory" by one reader: 

It raised claw-liked hands at her—or rather stumps since most of its fingers were gone.

***

Her (Lizzie's) eyes leaked tears from the strong, nearly overpowering scent of rot surrounding him.

*** 

 The thing shuffled faster, dragging its boney feet across the paving stones with a sickening scrape.

*** 

Several of the undead crouched over the remains of a few of the more unlucky students who hadn’t made it out in time. The creatures’ grunts and gurgles filled the room as they pawed at the gory remains. The wet slurps and sloppy chewing turned her stomach.

 *** 

 The skull of the ghoul nearest to her cracked and exploded. Fragments and nasty smelling remains scattered everywhere like a bomb exploding in a graveyard.

Today's Question:   What's your favorite or most feared kind of zombie?

 * 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? Print and Kindle.  (Also read with Kindle Library and Kindle Unlimited) * Be sure to put up a review!

An InLinkz Link-up

October Frights 4: Lizzie Borden Letter

Today is Day 4 of the October Frights Blog Hop!!!

Be sure to stop by all 25 blogs for some freaky Halloween fun, free fiction, prizes & more!!

** Contest: There'll be a new question each day. Comment here on the blog to win a spooky bracelet! Must include email. Contest ends 10/15.

Today - something a  bit different! 

A Letter From Lizzie

By Christine (C.A.) Verstraete

    The Fall River Herald News in Lizzie’s hometown recently had a writing contest in which entrants wrote a letter from Lizzie. I learned about it later or I would have entered, so before I read any of the entries, I decided to write my own as a fun exercise.

    Here’s Lizzie’s take some time later on the events of that fateful August day in 1892 when her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Durfee Borden, were brutally hacked to death in their home.

August 4, 1927

My Dear Emma,

    I know that you still wish not to speak to me, but with my health failing, I feel now is the best time to reach out to you.

    We have been through the worst of times, you and me, trying times, and I always felt you were the one person who understood me best. You were always there to look out for me and stand up for me, for which I am forever grateful.

    You were not wrong in your support, for as you are aware, I had no other choice for what I did. I tried my best that fateful August morning to do what you had done for me, to be there, to fight back, and in turn, protect you as you had done for me earlier.

    A thousand times I wished that this had never happened. Inside, I wept and prayed for forgiveness even as I presented a straight face to the world. I know what everyone said and thought, but I had to act like it didn’t bother me; that they were all wrong.

    I had to do it to protect you.

    No one, not even I, ever suspected that Father had his own share of terrible secrets, but hidden behind that stern exterior lay a heart shadowed by darkness.

    Did that mean he, or Mrs. Borden, deserved to die?

    No, never, and not at my hands, at least in the normal course of events. But there was nothing usual or “normal” about what happened that hot August 4th morning in 1892, was there? Nothing at all.

    I vowed never to tell anyone and to take those horrific secrets to my grave. But I wanted to beg your forgiveness and clear the air, hoping, perhaps, that some peace might be forged between us, even if for the last time.

    If I don’t hear from you, I will understand. I have left a record, of sorts, which you can either read or destroy. I leave it up to you. Either way, I send my love and wish you well, dear sister.

With kind thoughts,

Lizbeth Borden

    (Note: Later, Lizzie chose to go by the name Lizbeth, Maybe it was a way to put some space between her and the “other” Lizzie?)

Today's Question:   What kind of person do you think Lizzie Borden was?

(**Also check out the new interview and book excerpts!)

 * The reasons for the letter are expanded on in my book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:  (Get the book on Amazon, print or for Kindle.)

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? Print and Kindle.  (Also read with Kindle Library and Kindle Unlimited) * Be sure to put up a review!

An InLinkz Link-up