It’s that time again. I have to post about events I’m going to be doing in 2024! Or at least ones that haven’t happened yet. It would be weird if I posted about ones that have already happened.
So, first off, this coming weekend, on Saturday, September 28th, 2024, I will be attending the Hidden Marietta Paranormal Expo. It’s going to be at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Marietta, OH, so if you’re in the area, stop by. It’s a really amazing expo in a beautiful and historic town, and I’ll be selling books and doing Tarot readings while I’m there. If you can stop by, please do. I would be happy to see you. Here’s the website if you would like to learn more.
Next, I have two events in Columbus on October 26th, 2024. The first is Scary Saturday, which is being held in collaboration with the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Me and my fellow writers at HWA Ohio will be hosting events all day for folks of an adult age who would like to have fun with the library without kids in tow! We’ll be selling books, doing fun things like Horror Haiku Writing, readings, and lectures. I’ll be posting more about it as we get closer, but if you want to come, it’ll be at the Columbus Metropolitan Library in downtown Columbus.
Later in the day, the Thurber House, a local museum and creative arts hub named after local writer James Thurber, will be hosting fun Halloween themed events on the same day. That includes some adult-themed events in the evening, including some of our writers doing readings of their work. I’ll be hustling over from the library to the Thurber House for a reading myself. If you would like to stop by too, please come! You can find more information on their website.
Anyway, that’s all for now. I hope to see you at some of these events. And in the meantime, there will be a very special blog post tomorrow, so keep an eye out for that.
Until next time, my Followers of Fear, hope to see you at some of these events, and pleasant nightmares!
As we’ve entered September, horror fans have started celebrating spooky season. Because as we all know, spooky season starts as soon as the stores start putting up stock, and a few stores already have. And since we’re all thinking about what movies to watch, I’m putting out another list of films you can consider for this year.
I’ve tried to come up with a good mix of well-known and lesser-known films, as well as a good mix of older and newer films. So, hopefully there’s something here that will appeal to every horror fan out there. Enjoy, and let me know if you’re familiar with any of these films or if there are any I should check out myself. The more films we share, the better!
YellowBrickRoad (2010) In 1940, a small New Hampshire town up and walked north along an unmarked trail into the unexplored woods. Half were found dead, and the other half were never found. In modern day, a film crew tries to figure out the mystery of the disappeared townsfolk, including following the townspeople on the route they went. A route with a stone marker bearing the legend “YELLOWBRICKROAD.”
This move is an unsung gem. It’s a surreal and psychological piece of rural horror that takes the isolation and interpersonal conflicts of The Blair Witch Project and ups the ante by 100%. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is certainly going to be an interesting watch, no matter what.
Antrum (2018) A film-within-a-film, Antrum is a documentary about…Antrum, a supposedly cursed film said to be the deadliest film in history. The documentary crew manage to get a rare copy of the film, and, for the first time, show it to the public. What proceeds is a horrifying trip through hell which will leave you wondering if you’ll survive to see the morning.
I love horror mockumentaries, and this one is one of the best I’ve seen. It starts out as a documentary, showcasing the history of the film, before showing us the actual film. And it all feels damn realistic, to the point you could almost believe there’s a cursed film called Antrum and you’re really watching it. In fact, my sister and I saw it together and wondered if we would survive after watching it! As you can see, we did, but it still made us believe a little.
Peeping Tom (1960) This proto-slasher follows a shy young man who works as a cameraman and spends his free time killing women while recording their deaths. It’s a slow-burn psychological horror that really lets you get to know its main character. I’m honestly surprised it hasn’t been remade, because we’re so obsessed with recording everything. Anyway, I would totally check this out if you’re interested. It’s not as bloody and horrifying as other horror films, but it is fascinating and at times quite tense.
The Dark and the Wicked (2020) A pair of siblings return to the family farm when it appears their father is on death’s door. However, events unfold that show that something sinister at the farm. And it’s after the family. It’s a very dark and nihilistic film, and while some will be annoyed by certain aspects of the film, such as how the characters react to the supernatural presence, it is still a very chilling film. If you’re looking for something very morbid and grim, this film is for you.
The Void (2016) After finding an injured man on the side of the road, a sheriff’s deputy and several other townsfolk find themselves under siege at the local hospital, menaced not just by a mysterious cult, but by monsters hidden within the hospital hallways. For those who love cosmic horror, this is one of the best I’ve seen in years. The special effects and creature designs bring to mind both The Thing and Color Out of Space, and the story is a terrifying thrill ride. It’s a movie that gets better with every viewing, and I highly recommend it if you want to scare yourself silly this Halloween.
Late Night with the Devil (2023) In the 1970s, a struggling late night show host brings the lone survivor of a Satanic cult and the therapist working with her onto the show for a Halloween special. As you can imagine, shit eventually hits the fan. When this film got its limited theatrical run earlier this year, people were raving about it and even called it the best horror film of 2024. While I wouldn’t call it that, I would say it’s quite scary and a well-done film. I’m actually planning on watching it again myself as soon as my copy comes in from the library.
(I should warn you, though, a couple of images from the film utilize AI. It’s only three, but I know a lot of people feel strongly about AI, so I figured you should know.)
When Evil Lurks (2023) In a world where demons physically manifest like diseases and can infect everyone around the possessed, a pair of brothers try to protect their families when an infected individual goes missing and the disease starts to spread around the tiny village.
Some have called this the best horror film of 2023, and I can see why it was called that. Besides having a neat twist on the concept of demonic possession, this Argentinian horror film has plenty of tension and scary moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. Give it a watch and see for yourself.
Stopmotion (2023) A stopmotion animation artist is assisting her demanding mother in completing her last film. When the latter becomes gravely ill, the artist tries to make her own film, only to find herself spiraling into Hell.
I’m not normally a fan of horror stories where the whole premise is “the horror is the main character’s spiral into mental illness.” However, this film is quite captivating in how it melds stopmotion animation and real life storytelling to give us a frightening film with some seriously disturbing imagery. Warning you now: have a strong stomach before you go in to watch this one.
Night of the Demon (1957) A psychologist comes to England for a convention, only to learn that one of his esteemed colleagues has died and a so-called magician and cult leader is claiming his magic is responsible. Along with the deceased professor’s niece, the psychologist investigates the magician and his cult, and along the way learns that there may be more to the magician’s claims of magical power than just trickery and suggestible followers.
While it’s an older film, it’s quite influential in showing the demon multiple times throughout the film (quite unusual for the time), and many horror fans and creators, including Stephen King, have cited it as an influence. Just don’t watch its shortened American version, Curse of the Demon, because the original is the one to watch.
Land of the Dead (2005) Set in the same universe as Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, Land of the Dead takes place decades after the undead have taken over the world. Pittsburgh has become a last bastion for humanity, with the wealthy living in a magnificent luxury skyscraper and the poor living in slums. However, when one zombie, nicknamed Big Daddy, begins leading his kind to the city after a supply raid ruins his territory, it sets off a chain of events that will forever change the city.
Fun fact: this was the first time in the film series the word “zombie” was actually used for the zombies! Up until now, the terms used were “ghouls” or “undead.” Besides that, the film’s quite thrilling, with plenty of horror and action to satisfy fans. Give it a watch, especially if you’ve seen the first two films in the series (I would skip Day of the Dead, the third film).
Other fun fact: I’ve met Eugene Clark, the actor who played Big Daddy, and he was very nice. He even let me take a photo with him, which you can find on my Instagram.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994) An insurance investigator goes to a small town to try and locate a horror author whose work is considered so terrifying, people have actually gone crazy from reading it. What happens there, however, will not only change him forever, but the world as well.
The last film in John Carpenter’s Apocalypse trilogy (the first two being The Thing and my own favorite, Prince of Darkness), this film has grown quite the cult following due to its meta-narrative and exploration of cosmic horror. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fun and at times quite scary movie with lots of great imagery and cool ideas involving what it’s like to live in a fiction story. By the end, you’ll want to read Sutter Cane’s work as well. No matter what it does to your sanity.
The Empty Man (2020) In the 1990s in the nation of Bhutan, a group of American tourists discover a cave, which leads to terrifying events on a mountaintop. Twenty-three years later, a former police officer is asked by a friend to find her missing daughter, and finds himself wrapped in a cult with ties to the tourists in Bhutan.
This movie is almost hypnotic in how it draws you in, and it is both terrifying and…dare I say this? It’s satisfying. It’s that good, and I’m honestly sad that it’s rarely available on any streaming service I actually have access to (and never on DVD or Blu-Ray). Anyway, it’s a great horror film, so check it out if you trust my word.
Pontypool (2008) In a small Canadian town, a radio host and his team are working in the middle of a blizzard when they get reports of riots and horrifying deaths happening elsewhere in town. As time goes on, a strange sort of apocalypse starts to occur in the town. An apocalypse based around language.
I first saw this in college and loved it. I saw it again recently, and, while there are some aspects about the ending I dislike/don’t buy, it still holds up very well. It’s a very tense and freaky film with a great concept at its heart, so if you’re looking for a fun twist on the zombie apocalypse, I highly recommend this one.
And those are my recommendations, my Followers of Fear. But tell me, Followers of Fear, have you seen any of these films? What did you think? And what are you watching this season? Anything you would add to this list? Let’s discuss.
Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and only 52 days till Halloween! Get the Headless Horseman’s horse ready for him at once!
As many of you know, my last book was a collection called Hannah and Other Stories. The book contained seven stories, among which were tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses, among other things. The collection was released on September 23, 2023, which means at the time I’m writing this, the one-year release anniversary is only fifteen days away.
In honor of the upcoming anniversary, I created a book trailer for Hannah. One was actually supposed to be created last year before Hannah was released, but things didn’t work out, so it never happened. So, to help celebrate the anniversary, I created one myself using a combination of stock footage, the Canva design app, an editing program on my desktop, and YouTube-provided music. The result is below.
And thus, I present to you, the book trailer for Hannah and Other Stories.
What did you think? Did you like it? Can you believe that was all stock footage and some photos I created myself?
And if you liked that trailer and are curious about the book itself, I’ll leave links below. Right now, it’s only available in ebook, but if enough people show interest and read and review the book, a paperback will likely happen as well.
And speaking of reading and reviewing, be sure to leave a review if you end up reading Hannah. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps both me and other readers.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I hope you’re looking forward to a spooktacular autumn like I am. Until next time, good night, happy reading, pleasant nightmares, and only 53 days till Halloween. Where is the year going?!
It’s a damn shame when something that’s supposed to be pro-writers turns out to be exactly the opposite.
Now, for those of you who don’t know, National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short, is both an annual event and a non-profit organization. The former takes place in November every year, during which participating authors try to write a fifty-thousand word novel in 30 days (that’s about 1,667 words per day if you’re curious). If you actually manage to write that many words, you get bragging rights and a printable certificate (it’s a self-challenge, so that should be enough. Besides, previous attempts at “prize packages” have not gone well). The non-profit of the same name runs the annual event, as well as connects writers in the same area and other services and programs.
Sounds great, right? And for a while, it was. In fact, I even participated while writing the first draft of my novel Snake, and hoped to do so again someday. However, the organization’s statement on AI writing, which I’ve included as a photo below, has now made that impossible.
So, to summarize, not only is NaNoWriMo going to allow people to use AI to write their novels for them, but they claim that people who condemn use of AI writing are classist and ableist.
Um, excuse me?
I’m going to quickly respond to that last part first, as it’s outrageous. It’s not classist to ask writers, who span the whole range of socioeconomic backgrounds, to write a novel themselves. You know, like they’ve been doing for hundreds of years? Besides, AI use isn’t restricted to any particular class, let alone those living in poverty. If it was, and writing the whole novel yourself was restricted to those above the poverty line, then it would be classist.
And ableist? I have disabilities! I’ve managed to publish five books and write many more stories despite that! And so have many other authors, such as Octavia Butler (dyslexia), Fyodor Dostoyevsky (epilepsy), Flannery O’Connor (Lupus), as well as many writers who I consider not just colleagues, but friends. If anything, saying a disabled person can’t write a novel without the use of AI is what’s ableist!
But let’s get back to the fact that NaNoWriMo is willing to accept AI writing. I’m going to let you in on a little secret: AI writing isn’t even writing! AI writing is a computer program studying hundreds or even thousands of pieces of work, often without the original authors’ permission or even knowledge, looking for patterns, and then putting out something that has patterns like the ones found in the works studied. The results are usually full of contradictions, unimaginative characters, little mystery (because how could a program grasp mystery or secret-keeping for later payoff), and a lack of love.
Because that’s what AI writing really is. A cold calculation by a computer program based on analysis of so-called patterns gleaned from stolen works, rather than a labor of love by an author who wanted to share their stories with people who enjoy similar stories.
And the people calling themselves writers who are using AI, like the guy on Threads who said I was jealous that he was going to reach fifty-thousand words in one day (he’s been blocked)? They’re not writing. At best, they’re checking the finished project to fix the algorithm’s mistake. Other than that, they’re probably playing video games or making sandwiches or otherwise finding other ways to not write!
And that’s the saddest thing about this. NaNoWriMo started out as a fun challenge, and the organization was meant to help authors reach their dreams. Both were to encourage authors to push themselves and see what they could do in a month’s time. In short, it was to encourage writing. For NaNoWriMo to embrace AI writing and enable this laziness, rather than supporting the writers who insist on genuine hard work and practice, is a slap in the face to real writers everywhere.
I’m not saying it all has to be handwritten, but it should actually be, you know, written!
So, what can you do, both as a writer and a reader? Well, I’ve heard some people say they want to form a new organization and event, but whether or not that leads to anything, we’ll have to see. In the meantime, the most popular reaction seems to be people are boycotting both the NaNoWriMo event and the non-profit. Personally, in addition to the boycott, I would encourage authors to continue writing one word at the time. You know, actual writing?*
I would also encourage you to support other authors, especially lesser known ones, who continue to put real effort into writing, and leaving reviews, as well as refusing to support the works of authors who use AI, or the organizations who support them. Together, we can work to ensure writing and storytelling isn’t corrupted by algorithms, piracy, and laziness.
*And it doesn’t need to be fifty-thousand words in a month. Great work takes time, so take all the time you need.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. If you would like to help this non-AI using writer, especially with spooky season just starting, I’ll include a button below to lead you to my catalog. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I got something for every horror fan. And if you like what you read, please leave a review so I know what you thought.
And until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and only 58 days till Halloween!
Took a little longer than I expected, but I finally finished this book tonight and, as promised, I’m writing a review.
Jumping back and forth between the late 1990s and 2019, The Dissonance follows Hal, Athena, and Erin, who, along with their friend Peter, discover that they have mysterious powers. Powers that, according to Peter’s grandfather, stems from the Dissonance, a magical energy that stems from the gap between our broken world and the world as it should be. They start learning how to harness their powers, but tragedy strikes during their senior year of high school. Twenty years later, they return to their old stomping grounds as forces begin to throw the world out of whack. And in the midst of it all, a great evil descends on their hometown, dragging a closeted gay teen in tow…
I’ve heard this book called a cross between The Magicians and IT, and while I’m only vaguely familiar with the first one, I have to say, the comparison to IT is apt. Not only does it hop back and forth between past and present, but Hamill does a great job showing the characters as hormonal teens trying to navigate friendship and their lives in the past, and trying to deal with cosmic shift and their broken lives and relationships in the present.
As for the story, it’s definitely more in line with dark fantasy than horror. For example, the Dissonants conference feels more Harry Potter than The Craft. Still, it’s got some horror elements. The magic itself, which requires tapping into the pain and misery of life, is pretty dark in and of itself, and plenty of aspects of the novel are of the cosmic horror vein.
If there’s one thing I would have liked to see more of, it might have been more of the character Owen. I get that the focus was more on Athena, Hal, and Erin, but Owen was a relatable character and I would have liked to see the kid have a bigger role.
Well, if there’s a sequel, that might be a possibility. The book does present the possibility of being the jumping off point for a shared universe, like The Hobbit was for Lord of the Rings, but with more in common with the Cthulhu Mythos than Tolkien.
But getting back to the review, I award The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill a 4.5 out of 5. It’s an engaging dark fantasy novel with great characters and worldbuilding and a magic system that feels right for this wrong world. Grab a copy, tap into your deep well of inner pain, and prepare for a twisty, magical ride through hell.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and only 61 days and one hour till Halloween!
Shoot off the fireworks! Summon the party demons! Sing praises to the gods for protection! I have completed the first draft of The Shape of Evil, AKA the 3D Printer from Hell story!
So, if you were unaware, I’ve been working on a story about a possessed 3D printer since March. It was originally supposed to be only a novelette or a short novella, but before I knew it, I’d devoted several thousand words to the first two sections of the story and was like, “Okay, this one’s going to be a novel. Why do I do this to myself?”
(This isn’t the first time this has happened to me, by the way. My Gothic horror novel The Pure World Comes was supposed to be a novelette. Boy, did that plan backfire in my face!)
Anyway, I’ve been working on this story since March, and the writing process was lengthened by how damn busy my life has been since spring. However, around halfway through the story, which was back in June, things started to speed up. I even managed to finish the last three chapters in single sittings, with the last one being written late last night after I met with my horror critique group!
If you’re curious, the story is 273 pages long (8.5 x 11, double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font), and the word count is about 72,500 words. For context, the first Harry Potter novel was about forty-five hundred words longer. So, not a long novel, but a good length for a novel, to be sure.
Honestly, I’m really happy about finally finishing the story. Not only did it take longer than I thought to write, but I feel like this story has a lot of potential. Now, I feel like every one of my stories have potential, but I feel like this one’s going to be different. The story’s concept is a fun one and one I haven’t seen tackled in this or any other genre yet, and I feel like readers are going to empathize a lot with some of these characters.
So, some of you are probably wondering, “What’s next? And when can I read it?” Calm down, calm down, all in good time.
As many of you know, I like to give my stories a bit of time off after I finish the first draft before I edit them. In the case of The Shape of Evil, I plan to edit it in December, and hopefully finish the second draft by New Year’s. Afterwards, I’m going to try and find one or two beta readers who can act as sensitivity readers (my main character is nonbinary, so I want to ensure I wrote them well). After I get feedback from the readers back, I will do one more draft, and then try to find a home for the book. And from there, we’ll see what happens.
In the meantime, I’m going to take a couple of days to celebrate with good food, good drink, and good movies/anime. Then I’m going to write one or two non-fiction articles, and get started on some new stories I want to write. With three months and a few days till December, I think I can get plenty done (provided none of these stories want to become novels as well).
After all this work, I’m looking forward to a break.
And that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. If you want to support me while I’m working to get The Shape of Evil and other stories published, you can check out my already published work. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for every horror fan. And with spooky season starting up, now is the perfect time to read some of these stories. I’ll be sure to leave a link below if you want to check them out. Be sure to leave a review if you do end up reading them.
And until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and only 70 days till Halloween. Have you started doing your spooky dances yet?
You have no idea how much this musical has been on my mind lately. Especially the song “Non-Stop.”
I’ve had the soundtrack from Hamilton stuck in my head lately, especially the song Non-Stop (if you haven’t ever heard it, you can check it out here). Now, if you’re unfamiliar, this song is the Act One finale and summarizes Alexander Hamilton’s post-war rise to become the first Treasury Secretary of the United States, while also going over how Hamilton never stops working and writing.
There’s some verses from this song that has really resonated with me lately:
How do you write like you’re running out of time?… How do you write like tomorrow won’t arrive? How do you write like you need it to survive? How do you write every second you’re alive?
Even if you don’t know me, you probably know I’m a writer, and you can see why these lyrics resonate with me. If you do know me, you might recall I’ve mentioned how my time for writing has seemed to be shaved down this year. So, when I do write, I’m trying to make the most of my time (including as I’m writing this). And when I’m not writing, I feel like I should be.
Sadly, the time I’m not writing is usually spent doing things that are essential for living my life: eating, sleeping, working, etc. If I didn’t, I would not be able to pay my bills and would probably have to move in with one of my parents (and I’m not doing that again!). And while I would like to use my vacation time to spend some time writing again, at the moment, that’s not feasible.
So yeah, it’s a sucky situation. And I don’t know how to fix it. After all, summoning demons to win the lottery has too many drawbacks, though it is tempting.
I guess, while I look for new ways to find more time for writing, I’ll do like Alexander Hamilton did. I’ll write like I’m running out of time. Because time’s a quick bastard, and I need to take advantage of it when I can. Until I eventually get to the point when I can write full time and I (hopefully) don’t have to worry about not having enough time to write.
Going to write like I’m running out of time, like I need it to survive.
In the meantime, write like tomorrow won’t arrive. Write like I need it to survive. Write every second I can find.*
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I have to get ready to spend necessary time sleeping. So, until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and only 78 days left to Halloween. If you’re not at least thinking of getting ready for spooky season, then what are you doing with your life?
*That last one is not an exact quote, but I think Lin Manuel Miranda and everyone who loves this show will let it slide.
You know how, when people go down to Florida during spring or summer break, they have all these wild stories to tell? Odd mishaps, hilarious misadventures, fascinating tales of self-discovery? Yeah, I never had any of those. When I was growing up, the few times I visited Florida was with family. And when I got old enough to go on spring or summer trips, I worked and stayed home because I couldn’t afford the trips. And when I could afford them, I had other things that required my attention.
So, when I learned I was going to be attending a conference related to my day job in Florida with several of my coworkers, I hoped I’d get something I could call my wild Florida story.
Hoo-boy, did I get what I wished for! Because, as I’m sure many of you know, we had a hurricane last week. Hurricane Debby. And she caused the conference to be canceled…while some of us were already in the air.
Yeah, I’m not kidding. Me and about four other coworkers, including my boss, were up at the crack of dawn to get on the plane and head to Florida. And when we got off the plane, about half an hour later than expected due to the rainy weather, and then my coworker Charlotte tells us all, “Hey, I just got an email from Headquarters. The conference is canceled!”
Well, you can imagine how upset and confused we were about that. Here we are, already in Florida, and the reason we paid company money to get here is now up in smoke! In the end, we confirmed our hotel rooms hadn’t been canceled and made our way to the hotel. After that, it was decided that we would all just spend the week working from Florida and try to get home when we could. Worst case scenario, we’d go home on the days we were originally scheduled to.
So yeah, that was pretty wild. But it gets wilder. You see, the hotel we were staying at is attached to a mall (begin Googling now to figure out which one we stayed at). And in that mall, there’s a tattoo parlor. And I went into that tattoo parlor. And when I came out, I had….a tattoo!
A pick of my tattoo taken on my desk at home.
Yeah, bet you didn’t see that coming. Still, going to Florida and returning with a tattoo from a local shop does feel like something that would happen on a wild Florida trip. And I’m quite satisfied with the result. The two symbols are from two anime I’m quite fond of, with two bands around my wrist like a bracelet.
And don’t worry, my workplace is generally tolerant of tattoos, depending on the placement and what they’re depicting.
After all that, my week was generally calm. During the days, we would work from our hotel rooms, and I think we all got a ton done from our hotel rooms (I know I did). In the evenings, we mostly stuck around the hotel, since only one of us had a rental car and rideshares are expensive. However, we did go out on Wednesday to a buffet restaurant that served Mexican and Chinese food for some reason. That was fun.
We also spent some time in the mall, which once you ignore the pounding noise and ton of people, could be fun. My favorite part of the mall was the revolving sushi bar, where you were able to grab sushi from a conveyer belt. If you haven’t tried that, it is a blast! See if any are in your area! In addition, there was a bar that served frozen cocktails. Let’s just say I had more than one of those during the week (though always on my own time).
Of course, it wasn’t all finishing work assignments and spiked slushies. For one thing, I found six ants over the course of the week in areas they shouldn’t be (AKA indoors with me!). Those ants are no longer among the living, believe me. And on Thursday, I helped one of my coworkers, who was nervous about flying the next day, with some hypnosis. And she even let me film it and post it to YouTube, which you can watch below! (I recommend putting in your earbuds and turning the volume up for this video.)
After that, it was pretty quiet. I had my last night in Florida, and then I flew home.
So yeah, I got my wild Florida story. Maybe, at 31, I got it a bit later than other people do, but damn, was it fun and unpredictable and I got some souvenirs out of it (including the utterly creepy tee from the mall’s Hot Topic that I’m wearing below). Whether or I not get a story out of any of it, I don’t know (though the idea of a Florida trip gone wrong is fertile ground for a horror story).
Terrifying tee, isn’t it?
But now, I’m home, and I’m enjoying being here for a good, long while.
And maybe it’s just me, but I think things are going to work out for me over the coming weeks. Here’s hoping that actually happens.
And in the meantime, until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares, my Followers of Fear.
Happy birthday to the blog, Happy birthday to the blog. Happy birthday, Rami Ungar the Writer! Happy birthday to the blog.
Hard to believe, but today this blog turns (un)lucky 13. And coincidentally, I turned 31 a couple of months ago. Or is that a coincidence? Yes, yes it is. But it’s a weird one.
Anyway, it’s amazing how far this blog has come. Especially considering how short-lived many blogs are, even popular ones. Those who write them don’t get the views they’d hope for, or they face burnout from keeping up demand. Either way, they decide to shut down their blogs, leaving the blogs themselves to disappear from the internet.
And I’ve said it before, but I could have become one of those people. During the first few years of blogging, while I was still in college, my blog barely got one or two views a day, if at all. Growth was slow, and interaction didn’t happen that often. Honestly, a few times I wondered if I should keep blogging, as it didn’t seem to be helping my writing career at all. And helping my writing career was why I created this blog to start with.
However, maybe I like a challenge, or maybe I’m just stubborn. Either way, I kept at it. And all these years later, I’ve written over 2,100 posts and usually gain over two thousand views a month. Sometimes I even get three-thousand, or close to it. And while growth has been slower in recent years, I have over 1,450 followers subscribed to the blog. Many of these followers have been with me for years, and I consider quite a few of them as friends.
And, whenever I let you guys know that I’m working on a story or I’m getting something published, several of you let me know how excited you are and how you can’t wait to read it. (Or in the case of those published in audio format, listen to them.)
So, at this point in the post, I want to say thank you, my Followers of Fear. Thank you for all the support you’ve given me through these thirteen years. All the views, likes, comments, subscriptions, and even buying, reading and reviewing my books, give me energy and keep me going even in my lowest points (which are few and far between, but which still happen). I hope you’ll continue to support me through this coming year. Here’s hoping this year, I’m able to start writing full-time. Or, if not, I’m able to see the path to this start to form in front of me.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m going to work today and then open up a bottle of wine to celebrate (and because it’s Friday). I hope you’ll have a drink with me, wherever you are. If you would like to check out my books, I’ll include a link below. Just remember to leave a review after you’ve read the book so I know what you thought.
And until next time, good night, Shabbat Shalom, and pleasant nightmares.
So, I just heard that Fangoria Entertainment is going to make a whole bunch of movies based on Junji Ito’s work. They mainly will adapt stories from his collection Smashed, but I hope Remina or Madonna get adaptations as well, as they are great stories (see my reviews for Remina and The Liminal Zone, respectively). In the meantime, a new collection of Junji Ito stories got translated, so I’m here to review it.
As I say, Junji Ito can be hit or miss with me, but this one was entertaining enough.
My favorite story was probably “Town of No Roads,” which follows a teen girl who goes to live with her aunt after her parents and brothers react the wrong way to a stalker breaking into her room. As if that’s not stressful enough, her aunt’s home has been swallowed up by a giant structure where nobody has any privacy. It’s weird, but you really start to empathize with the main character and the themes of the necessity for privacy really do resonate.
Other stories really struck a chord with me, which was nice. “”The Ward” is a creepy body horror story about several women in a hospital ward who start acting funny, while “Blessing” is a tragic love story with a great twist in the end. “Mold” just grossed me out (as a homeowner, I felt the main character’s pain, especially when it comes to cleaning one’s home). And “Descent” was a weird but engrossing story with a great hook and a mysterious resolution.
Of the rest, they were mostly decent. The titular story, “Alley,” has a great idea, but I feel like there’s too much exposition, which is followed by an ending that could have been a few pages longer. “The Inn” has a great idea and some terrifying art, though the ending kind of puttered out on me, and “Smoker’s Club” has a great idea about tobacco and smoking that would put anyone off cigarettes, though it also could have used more pages for its story. And “Memory” has a great story, though not enough scary art for me (it still would make a great movie).
The only bad story was “Ice Cream Bus,” which other than a reminder about why stranger danger exists, wasn’t much better than its animated Netflix adaptation.
Overall, I think I would give Alley by Junji Ito a 3.8 out of 5. There’s some decent horror in there, so if you’re looking to get into his work, this might be a good choice for your second or third read of his (I recommend picking between Remina, Uzumaki and Tombs for your first and second reads).
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares!
Rami Ungar The Writer 