Winnie Jean Howard's Blog, page 2

Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: Time to Binge Watch Halloween Movies

This week, I have some exciting news to share—I’ve officially released The Pumpkin and the Mouse Jinn under my other writer name, Wendy Spurlin. The story has been a labor of love and a long time coming! It blends whimsy, adventure, and a touch of magic. I’ve mentioned previously that this tale that centers around a grumpy pumpkin and a tricky mouse jinn. It’s a story about the consequences of wishes and never being happy. I’m absolutely in love with the mouse, so there’s gotta be another bo...

Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead…A Tale of Two Zombie Comedies

Yes, it’s been another month instead of a week. I’m trying. Anyway, a few weeks ago, I posted a remembrance to Shaun of the Dead on Instagram, and a week ago I watched Zombieland with my nephew (his first viewing), so I thought it fitting to write about both these movies I love so much!

Zombie comedies, or “zom-coms,” have carved out a unique niche in the horror genre, blending the thrills of the undead with humor that ranges from slapstick to dark satire. Just so happens that both movies...

Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: Crazy Murderous Donuts

A week of editing and book formatting means I needed a huge break with crazy murderous donuts. I knew I had to watch Attack of the Killer Donuts when I encountered it in the Horror section on Peacock. Then I was sure it was a must watch when I found it had a 3.8 rating on IMDB. I really live for movies like this! Unfortunately, a lot of the poorly rated horror movies don’t deliver, but this one did!

Attack of the Killer Donuts embraces its ridiculous premise with gusto, delivering a blend...

Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: Artistic Creations and TV Obsessions

It’s been a week filled with artistic inspiration and thrilling TV marathons.

New Art Pieces

Ghouly Haunted Collage: I threw together a spooky haunted collage that kinda captures the eerie essence of the supernatural. I had the hardest time finding pieces for this, but it combines various elements to create a chilling yet captivating scene, right? Quick is not always good. But I had a fantastic time putting it together.

New Abstract Painting: Alongside the haunted collage, I’ve a...

Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: Time Machine back to 1986 with Class of Nuke ‘Em High

Not much artwork to brag about this week. It was a week of catching up on marketing activities and editing other people’s work. Not always the most fun, but something that must be done.

Class of Nuke ‘Em High (1986) Review

I watched a few horror movies while posting on social media. Puppet Master, one of my favorite horror movies, was one of them. Considering the title above and the picture to the right, the main feature was Class of Nuke ‘Em High. Wasn’t my first time watching the mov...

Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: What I’ve Loved and Achieved

It’s been a productive and entertaining week, and I’m thrilled to share what I’ve been up to and what I highly recommend you check out.

The collage to the right was a quick compilation I threw together a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I’ve been incredibly busy with writing that my art projects are suffering, although I do love the way this collage turned out.

I’ve made significant strides in the third book of my series. Barry’s journey is becoming more intense as he continues to absorb ...

Evil Stepmothers Across Cultures: Folklore’s Universal Villain

Evil stepmothers are a recurring theme in folklore and fairy tales across various cultures, each portraying these figures with unique characteristics and motivations shaped by their societal values and historical contexts. While the archetype remains consistent in its essence—an antagonistic female figure who mistreats her stepchildren—different cultures imbue these characters with specific traits and narrative roles that reflect their cultural norms and anxieties.

In Western cultures, pa...

Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: Vampires in the House

As the month of May comes to an end, it’s odd to think we are almost half way through the year. Feels like I accomplished a lot, but there’s so much more to do. That endless task list seems to grow, including wanting to do more horror collages.

The collage on the right is the only one I was able to accomplish this month. Then again, maybe I should be happy I can accomplish at least 1 a month. This one was fun, filling the room with a vampire scene. I used photos and AI for this one. Quit...

Vampires in the House

As the month of May comes to an end, it’s odd to think we are almost half way through the year. Feels like I accomplished a lot, but there’s so much more to do. That endless task list seems to grow, including wanting to do more horror collages.

The collage on the right is the only one I was able to accomplish this month. Then again, maybe I should be happy I can accomplish at least 1 a month. This one was fun, filling the room with a vampire scene. I used photos and AI for this one. Quit...

The Evil Stepmother Personified in Fairy Tales and Folklore

The figure of the evil stepmother looms large, embodying a host of malevolent personality traits that have fascinated and terrified audiences for generations. The evil stepmother is often depicted as a master manipulator, driven by jealousy, greed, and a thirst for power. Her actions are characterized by deceit, favoritism, and a ruthless desire to control those around her, particularly her stepchildren. By exploring the complex personality traits that define this enduring archetype, we can bett...