Winnie Jean Howard's Blog, page 18

Bitchin’ About TV Shows and Stories That Will Make Your Skin Crawl

Howdy all! Here’s what happened this week.

Upcoming Events

I’m joining A.F. Stewart’s Bloody Valentine event next month. I’ll be sharing a love gone wrong short story for the event.

I’m also hosting another blog post event for Women in Horror Month that will be a kind of blog tour of interviews with us women horror writers. Still working on the details and will post the schedule when it’s finalized.

The Movies

This week I bitched about season 6 of American Horror Story.

Initially, I liked the real crime-drama format. Something new and original for the series. I also liked that most of the main characters were played by two actors. But I also feel there were too many characters. I would have much preferred that they stuck to the historical story and ghost aspect of the theme. Throwing in the inbred family had it’s creep factor, but it wasn’t necessary. Without them, there could have been much better character development. READ MORE

The Stories

In an effort to read more fiction in 2017, I features a novel, anthology, or short story I’ve read and enjoyed over the past week. Below is this week’s read:

Rebirth by A. F. Stewart

This week I’m featuring the story Rebirth in Pen of the Damned, a clandestine collection of the most eclectic minds of horror. These anguished souls have stripped free their pretenses for your grotesque delight. Rebirth is a dark and poetic short story that gave me the chills. My skin crawled while I read. READ IT

This Week’s Release of The Courier

Chapter 8 of Warrant for Damnation was released on WattPad yesterday. This week, no one is happy to see Gita the demon that possesses Nina.CLICK HERE to read it from the beginning or GOT TO chapter 8.

How to Help Me This Week

Every week, I end the post nicely begging you to help promote my work. Here’s this week’s request:

I broke down and finally created a Facebook Like page. CLICK HERE to go like it.

Have a GREAT week!

No One Is Happy To See Gita The Demon

Part 8 of Warrant for Damnation is available to read on WattPad. This week no one is happy to see Gita the Demon. Enjoy!

Go to part 8 or start reading below.

FREE today on Amazon
Beware man-sized birds your first day working for Margery the Demonhttps://t.co/qts9TWNhAT#horror #comedy #goodvsEvil pic.twitter.com/gBKPwXm6Co

— W. J. Howard (@by_wjhoward) January 13, 2017

Dodge Demons with Magical Cigarettes for Free this Friday

Quick announcement that Call for Obstruction is free this Friday on Amazon. Don’t forget!

FREE Friday. Add it to your GoodReads to-read list. https://t.co/D5nqOczrjj
Beware of demon's magical cigarettes with an electrical punch

TV Review: American Horror Story – Roanoke

It ain’t gonna be pretty this week. I’ve already voiced my opinion about season 6 of American Horror Story on social media. Here’s a little something about it from a critic on Rotten Tomatoes:

“American Horror Story: Roanoke takes a surprising turn away from prior AHS formats, revisiting the deliberate pace of earlier seasons on a spookier, smaller scale, even if the true-crime format feels overdone.”

I’ve loved this series, especially Asylum and Hotel, but I was so disappointed with Roanoke. They threw everything at us, including the kitchen sink. You know that saying, “less is more?” The writers should have taken this into consideration. When there’s too much thrown at a show’s audience, the needed build up is missing. The horrific effects are lost and we start rolling our eyes.

Initially, I liked the real crime-drama format. Something new and original for the series. I also liked that most of the main characters were played by two actors. But I also feel there were too many characters. I would have much preferred that they stuck to the historical story and ghost aspect of the theme. Throwing in the inbred family had it’s creep factor, but it wasn’t necessary. Without them, there could have been much better character development.

Just when I was ready for the season to end, they went back to the house. The show turned into a teen slasher movie like Friday the 13th. Every week was just a waiting game to see who would get the axe and who would live to the end. At this point the characters got annoying. I was more cheering for their quick demise. And there was nothing surprising at the end.

When I saw how popular Roanoke was, I tried to remember that this is a TV show for mass viewing. There were people watching who don’t watch horror on a regular basis, or should I say obsessively like I do. Maybe average viewers were looking to tune in for an hour of shock a week, and season 6 delivered in that regard. Or maybe what this season showed is that the series is starting to fizzle out.

My Rating: 1 out of 5

Please leave zombie movie suggestions in the comments.
I prefer movies rated below a 4 on IMDB.

Sick and Tired

What a week! Can’t believe I accomplished anything with both gluten contamination and the flu. ICK! It’s why my weekly wrap up is late. So, what happened this week? Not much, but here it is.

Upcoming Events

I’ll be in a Women in Horror Month (WiHM) post on the RMFW blog February 6th. We’re talking about women in horror, surprise surprise. I’ll be talking about childhood influences that led me to be a horror fanatic.

Other than that, I’m looking for more to do for WiHM, so if you know of anything, let me know.

New Blog Segment Coming

I’ll be adding a Thursday post on evil in pop culture later this month. It’s something I’ve done a lot of research on, so why not, right? The first post is about evil corporations, and I’m looking for guest opinions for these posts. If you’re interested in adding your 2 cents, CLICK HERE to submit content for the blog posts.

The Movies

This week I reviewed Cooties, a fun zombie movie you can watch with the kids as long as they’re not too young.

The Stories

I finished reading Heart of the Goblin King this week. This book is paranormal romance, a genre I don’t usually read, but I loved this book and found myself a bit attached to the characters.

Heart Of The Goblin King (The Realm Trilogy Book 1) by Lisa Manifold

Brennan,the King of the Goblin Realm finds himself facing his greatest challenge he’s faced since he came to the throne. A rogue sorcerer is raising an army of Brennan’s own subjects against him threatening the peace Brennan has worked so hard to create for his people. Thankfully, he’s engaged to an eminently suitable lady, because who has time for love? Not with his kingdom on the brink of chaos. Iris is on a date with her crush, Heath. He’s on the verge of asking her out again when she crash lands into a weird guy who looks like he’s wearing a dress in the ladies bathroom. All she wants to do is get away from him, but ends up kidnapped and taken off to who knows where.

This Week’s Release of The Courier

Chapter 7 of Warrant for Damnation was released on WattPad yesterday. Barry found Nina last week, but this week .CLICK HERE to read it from the beginning or GOT TO chapter 7.

BTW, I added a form to my website to request free copies of book in The Courier series. The link is at the top of the columns. You can request a book for yourself and a friend.

How to Help Me This Week

Every week I nicely beg you to support me in some way. Here’s this week’s request:

If you’re a Twitter addict like me, please follow @by_wjhoward and @TheCourierNovel. Quick and simple.

That’s all this week. Have a great weekend!

A Bloody Mess on an Old Country Road

Part 7 of Warrant for Damnation is available to read on WattPad. This week Barry makes another costly mistake that ends in a bloody mess, but maybe I’ve given up too much. Read and find out. Enjoy!

Go to part 7 or start reading below.

Movie Review: Cooties

More zombies this week. During a little holiday downtime I watched Cooties, Here’s what it’s about:

“COOTIES is a horror comedy with unexpected laughs and unapologetic thrills. When a cafeteria food virus turns elementary school children into killer zombies, a group of misfit teachers must band together to escape the playground carnage. The film stars Elijah Wood (The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings), Rainn Wilson (“The Office”), and Alison Pill (“The Newsroom”) as teachers who fight to survive the mayhem while hilariously bickering in an uncomfortable love triangle on the worst Monday of their lives”

Did you notice the list of TV actors? There are even more of them in Cooties, making this a fun zombie comedy despite the tired plot.

This movie jumps right in high on the gross scale, a huge plus. It starts by showing the making of chicken nuggets from slaughtering the chickens through to packaging. I think the manufacturing process was probably worst part, and the fact that we feed chicken nuggets to our kids. Maybe that was the message in this one.

The acting is good. The characters are well developed. The kids are awesome as the zombies. And I laughed out loud quite a bit during the viewing. Watch for the playground scene after the kids have all turned into zombies. So funny!

I’m giving it a 4 out of 5 for keeping my interest as well as all the laughs, but really, there’s very little uniqueness to the the movie. It is definitely worth watching if you enjoy horror comedy.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Please leave zombie movie suggestions in the comments.
I prefer movies rated below a 4 on IMDB.

Horror Haiku, Finding Nina, Upcoming Events, and More

First, I can’t believe it’s New Year’s Eve. 2016 flew by. I guarantee that while you read this I’m already holding a mimosa or glass of wine.

Now I’d like to welcome you to my new weekly wrap up. This is basically a diary of everything I accomplished over the past week, including things like Twitter post highlights, movie & book reviews, short story and novel part releases, upcoming events, and more. I’ll also mention other creative people you should know because they help to inspire me day after day. Don’t worry if you miss a post. The best highlights from weekly posts will go in my quarterly newsletter. BTW, you can join my email list in the right column.

This Week’s #HorrorHaikuesday

This is a Twitter event I joined a few weeks back. I’m enjoying these so much I might do more than one a week. This week’s theme was the new year.

Baby New Year cries

My year is a big surprise

from the depths they rise

Shout out to A. F. Stewart for introducing me to this event. She’s been doing them long enough to publish hers in Horror Haiku and Other Poems.

Upcoming Events

I signed up to be an author for the Brain to Books Cyber Convention and Book Expo (B2BCyCon) in April. I hope to see everyone there. There are a lot of great activities for both authors and readers. Readers CLICK HERE for more info about the convention and to join their mailing list.

To all my author friends, the deadline to register is March 17th. In 2016, B2BCyCon united 800 readers and authors from 18 countries. With that much success, the event should grow substantially in 2017. Authors CLICK HERE to get started and register.

The Movies

This week I wrote a post that remembers King of the Zombies, a classic horror comedy you can watch over and over again!

Mantan Moreland should have gotten top billing. I loved him growing up in the Charlie Chan movies. He really is the star of King of the Zombies. In fact, if he were alive today, I think he’d be drawing viewers to the theater more than most other comedy star. He could just stand in place and pop out those eyes and I’d laugh my ass off. READ MORE

If you’re still in the mood for Christmas horror, here’s one you might enjoy, recommended by Blaze McRob during Friday Horror Chat, a group I help run on Facebook every Friday. Everyone who loves horror is welcome to join.

The Stories

In an effort to read more fiction in 2017, I’ve added a segment to the weekly wrap up that features a novel, anthology, or short story I read and enjoyed over the past week. Below is this week’s read:

Chill by Terri DelCampo

Santa F-bombs heard only by some. From where in the forest should Christmas trees come? Will Christians to Morningstar be lost? Who’ll win the bet, Vulcan or Frost? Christmas Eve miracle for a small child. South Pole festivities horribly wild. Good kids onto naughty list drift. Naughty boy tempts hungry gifts. Classic holiday ditties these stories are not. MORE INFO

This Week’s Release of The Courier

Chapter 6 of Warrant for Damnation was released on WattPad yesterday. Barry is finding Nina in this part along with getting himself into other trouble. You’ll also find out more about Ulla and Inez’s pancake remedy.CLICK HERE to read it from the beginning or GOT TO chapter 6.

How to Help Me This Week

Every week, I’ll end the post nicely begging you to help promote my work. Here’s this week’s request:

Call for Obstruction needs some love on Goodreads. If you’re interested in reading the series, CLICK HERE to go to the book page and add it to your ‘Want to Read’ list, give it an honest starred rating if you’ve read it, and if you have time, add a short review. As always, THANK YOU for your support.

YOUR TURN: Leave a comment about your greatest accomplishment this past week or recommend something that you enjoyed. Let me know where you need help. I’ll check it out and let you know my thoughts.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAVE A GREAT NEXT WEEK AND 2017!

Remembering King of the Zombies

It’s been awhile since I reviewed a zombie movie. I got a bit reminiscent when I saw King of the Zombies on TCM channel. I’ve seem this movie a number of times and couldn’t pass up another viewing. Here’s what it’s about:

“During World War 2, a small plane off the south coast of America is low on fuel and blown off course by a storm. Guided by a faint radio signal, they crashland on an island. The passenger, his manservant and the pilot take refuge in a mansion owned by a doctor. The easily-spooked manservant soon becomes convinced the mansion is haunted by zombies and ghosts. Exploring, the 3 find a voodoo ritual in the cellar, where the doctor is trying to acquire war intelligence by transferring personalities into his zombies. But the interruption causes the zombies to turn on their creator.”

I enjoyed it as much as every other time! By today’s standards, it’s cheesy horror. While I watched I wondered if people were at all afraid of the traditional voodoo zombies, although this movie is intended to mix horror and comedy.

Mantan Moreland should have gotten top billing. I loved him growing up in the Charlie Chan movies. He really is the star of King of the Zombies. In fact, if he were alive today, I think he’d be drawing viewers to the theater more than most other comedy star. He could just stand in place and pop out those eyes and I’d laugh my ass off.

Anyway, back to the movie review and stereotypes. What you have to love most about this movie is that it’s not typical for the time. While there were blatant stereotypes for African Americans back then, Mantan Moreland greatly tops the white stars in brain power. We can watch old movies today, knowing that blacks were portrayed as they were, although not to excuse it, and still enjoy the movies. Well, at least I hope we can because we humans need constant reminders or we repeat history over and over again.

Growing up, I watched countless old horror movies and I hope that young people continue to have an interest in watching them. After all, they are easier than every to access via the Internet. King of the Zombies is one that should never be lost in the archives. Watch this one!

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Please leave zombie movie suggestions in the comments.
I prefer movies rated below a 4 on IMDB.

Warrant for Damnation Part 5 on WattPad

Part 5 of Warrant for Damnation is available to read on WattPad. This week Barry meets a peculiar member of Pete’s crew in Trinidad, CO. Enjoy!

Go to part 5 or start reading below.