Dora Esquivel's Blog: Ancient Bond: Masters and Servants, page 24
March 29, 2019
Super Smash Bros Ultimate – The Review
If You Own A Switch
It was a long time coming, and many of us snatched this bad boy up on day one. We were lucky enough to get this game as a Christmas gift from a good friend of ours, and the entire family has enjoyed every single second we have spent laying this game.
gift from a good friend of ours, and the entire family has enjoyed every single second we have spent laying this game.
[image error]Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Released for the Nintendo Switch at the end of 2018, this game went on to sell millions of copies in its first month on shelves. Almost everyone that owns a Switch has a copy of this game, that’s an actual statistic believe it or not. Also, that bodes well for future incarnations of the series.
This game blew us away, allowing you to unlock characters as you played, be it by yourself or with your family members and friends while parked in front of your TV. With 74 characters in all, all of them immediately available—after unlocking them, this game quickly proved why Super Smash Bros could be a franchise that Nintendo could revisit time and again.
Now, there is a season pass for this game, for 24.99 you get 5 bonus characters that are beginning to roll out, the first of which is Joker from the Persona series. Others can unveil as the season pass rolls on.
Many Modes
Anyone who has ever played a Smash Bros game knows what to expect from this series, classic fighting action, simplified, yet deep combat, and characters that everyone loves. There is plenty for everyone, and I could give you a brief rundown on what to expect.
Classic Mode. The name pretty much sums it up, classic action, be it by yourself against the computer, or with friends.
Spirit Mode. It would be the games story mode, giving you a chance to play through the actual story behind the Ultimate game.
[image error]Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Training Mode. It is pretty self-explanatory obviously.
Challenge Mode. This mode allows you to see challenges you must undertake to gain rewards and much more.
There are more modes, including online, but I won’t go into them. Instead, I can tell you to go pick this up. It is a must own if you’re a Switch owner.
Nintendo Did It Again!
This game is fantastic, and a fantastic series. If you have owned a Nintendo in the past, then chances are you have played one incarnation or another along the way.
It is a phenomenal family game, something that Nintendo does probably better than anyone. This game is one of those titles where you play with friends and family at your side.
[image error]Super Smash Bros Ultimate
So much chaos and laughs to have, so much fun for any who picks up a controller. Also, in the end, that’s what it’s all about. Fun for the whole family as well as fun for the individual, a Nintendo staple for you and your family.
So, there you have it. This title isn’t a game where the graphics are going to blow your mind, or have this super deep story, no, it’s all about fun, and that is in rare supply these days in the gaming market. So, in conclusion, I give this a 5 out of 5. If you own a Switch, you need this game, plain and simple.
Be On The Watch!
There you go, the review you have all been waiting for, one that says buy the game with a huge smile. Be sure to stay tuned folks. I have a couple of different reviews scheduled soon, reviews co-written by my stepson and stepdaughter.
So, be on the watch, they are heading your way very soon on a couple of games that I’m sure you can enjoy. Until then, I leave you as I always do. See you in the games.
Edward Hale
PSN ID BatEd700
Xbox Live SENSEIZEEANBEE
YouTube Channel
Us The Indie Community
for writers to make their brand stay and it’s even harder to get noticed.
However, there’s a place on Facebook where one can!
Likes, Join & Follows
Have you noticed how hard it is nowadays to get a “Like” on Facebook or get someone to “Join” your FB group or even “Follow” your page? It is quite hard as an indie author, artist, musician and any independent profession.
That’s because of the algorithm factor. Facebook has now
paid advertisement, and that is hurting many of us independent and freelance
people. Not only does Facebook hide promotional posts from “Professional Pages”
they also hide the indie community when they pay for advertisement favorizing
those who pay more.
[image error]Social Media Era
The average affordable paid advertisement on Facebook gets the indie professional’s ad to be seen by about 30% of the people who already follow the page and has little to no impact on the remaining 70% that doesn’t know about him or her.
Sad isn’t it?
Facebook isn’t the best place to have your next breakthrough unless you join groups of the same interest and engage with others. Best thing to do is to use Facebook as a tool to build your network, not your audience.
The Others
Pinterest has great potential for many indie professionals and is also a remarkable place to pay for an ad. It has excellent reviews from people. Pinterest is direct to the point, and when readers are looking for books, they mostly don’t care about who wrote it, but the look of the ad. Pinterest is all about the “look.” Chances are, indie professionals can get way more “Pins” from people in one day than with Facebook in a month.
Mix is quite similar to Pinterest but not as profitable and popular despite following its same type of sharing. I mean, is it hard to get people to notice you on Mix? Yes, and the reason is that there are fewer people and the chances to share the same interest can vary.
[image error]Social Media Era
Twitter according to some indie authors I know, are quite active and gets a lot out of the #authorcommunity, and some pay to have their advertisement on Twitter. It is very personal as to know if you like it or not due to it being a microblog and the restraint of words. Also, in its genre, Twitter doesn’t have competition.
Instagram, oh Instagram. Well, it belongs to Facebook for one thing. It is inconvenient to re-share post, and it is a mobile app restrained by its mobile obligations, i.e. Instagram can’t be on iPads or Tablets. It is quite stuck in one place. However, it has been quite good for authors and indie artists. It’s all about the visual, a little like Pinterest. Many pay to have advertisement because of Instagram’s simplicity to use for the masses.
As for Tumblr it is “dying” for many subjects due to drastic changes that occurred. The algorithms are hurting quite a large number of indie authors who prefer to leave the platform instead of working around it as it isn’t worth the effort for many people.
[image error]Social Media Era
Tumblr is now known for its RPG and Fan Fiction as well as Poetry and mostly teen and young adults’ audience.
Google+ is now in the past when it faced reality that Facebook would still be #1 and let’s face it, despite MeWe trying to make its entrance, unless the interface changes to be more friendly and accessible for sharing and exchanging with other people, it’ll stay far behind the others with a limitation of its participants.
What About WordPress?
Blogs are the way of the future for the indie community. However, with so many out there provided by WordPress and Wix, it is hard to make your place without proper knowledge of SEO and Marketing Tools. There are websites like ours Gothic Bite Magazine and Space-Time Magazine that share the work of other indie artists, authors, and editors but again, it’s all about being viewed.
Well, here it is WordPress Bloggers Promotions for Writers and Authors.
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This place is a group on Facebook founded by Gemma Dupont. She created this sanctuary for all authors and bloggers to gather and support one another by sharing, liking, following and spreading the word. It is essential in the indie community to show support.
With the #1 social media turning against its indie
professionals, it is more important than ever to prove that word to mouth and
support are the #1 advertisement.
My blog has reached more viewers, readers, and followers
since I joined this group and it also helps to create a network. An author
might find a book blogger, just like a Trekker might find a good sci-fi
magazine. It’s simple as that.
[image error]Social Media Era
WordPress Bloggers is welcoming, and there are no shenanigans. People do follow and like your articles. The system can work as long as the people joining the group are genuine in their intentions and ready to support others.
You’re not “Madonna,” so if you join us you must be ready to share your posts and take the time to share others’ posts and like those. Reciprocating is the key here. This little gem of a Facebook group is one of the reasons I still have some hope for its soul.
So, if you need a right place to help your blog get some
popularity, this one is the best I’ve seen so far. A great idea and filled with
good people.
March 28, 2019
Scorecard Killer
Soak Up The Sun
There is something about the State of California, with its sunny beaches, the coast, and its beautiful people, that can be misleading. There’s a darker side to this beautiful state.
Making California a little darker back in the 1970s were a trio of serial killers hunting California freeways for young men. One of these killers was Randy Kraft.
Background
Randy Kraft was born in 1945 in Long Beach California, but
the family eventually settled in Orange County and settled in an
ultraconservative area of Orange County.
[image error]Randy Kraft
Described by his teachers as highly intelligent. Randy eventually would join the Air Force. Finally, get discharged when he came out to the military and his right-wing parents. Randy eventually got work as a bartender at a local gay bar. He eventually became a serial killer of military men, by cruising marine bases.
Secret Sexuality
After his discharge, there seemed to be a change in Randy. During the day he was a friendly computer programmer, staunch political activist, with his roommate they frequently cruised local gays bars and not hiding their sexuality. While the third part of his personality traveled the labyrinth of California highways cruising for men and disposing of their bodies along the freeway.
First known violent sexual assault was with a young boy by
the name of Joey Fanch that took place in March of 1970.
[image error]Donnie Crisel Body
Joey was a thirteen-year-old runaway, Randy feed him some narcotic drugs, and once the drugs took effect, Randy savagely attacked Joey, eventually raping him. Joey did report Randy to the authorities but not the rape. The police searched Randy’s apartment, but without a search warrant so all charges were dropped. If the cops have had a warrant, they may have stopped Randy right there and then from his killing spree.
Dumping Grounds
Randy’s lust for blood and torture started in 1971 and didn’t stop till 1983. It is believed he killed around 67 people. California with its busy and frenzied highway system, and ease of access to towns and cities all around, the police had an impossible job finding tracks and pin every victim to their killer.
Currently back in the 1970s three known serial killers were hunting the highway system of California, all three were killing and dumping males along the highways.
What set Kraft apart from the other killers, was his love of torture. Kraft enjoyed torturing his victims before killing them. Many of his victims were enlisted in the United States Marines Corps. The bodies had high levels of alcohol and tranquilizers in their system.
[image error]Randy Kraft Victim
These highly trained marines were rendered inebriated as they were sexually assaulted and killed. It is believed randy cruised gay bars and lured his victims with alcohol, drugs, or a ride. Once inside his vehicle, he made sure to render them insentient.
He would then bind his victims, torture, and sexually abuse
them. Randy used several methods to kill his victims though most of them were
strangled, asphyxiated, or bludgeoned. Some victims ingested fatal doses of
drugs, and one victim had been stabbed.
Glory & Gore
The victims all suffered before death, many bore cigarette lighter burns, usually around the genitals, chest, and face. Others were found with massive blunt force trauma to the face and head. Several victims had foreign objects found inserted in the victim’s rectums.
One victim had cocktail swizzle inserted into his penis, stuffed dirt, leaves, and his genitals into his rectum, and shoved dirt and leaves down his throat post-mortem. Randy seemed to like to emasculate his victims by castrating or biting off their genitals.
[image error]Randy Kraft, E-38700
First suspected murder victim was on October 5th, 1971, police found the nude body of a 30-year-old Long Beach resident named Wayne Dukette discarded close to Ortega Highway.
Dukette was a bartender at a gay bar called “The Stables” near Sunset Beach. When his body was found he was already at the putrefaction stage. Physical evidence was hard to collect, and his murder was listed as acute alcohol poisoning. Kraft labeled this victim as “Stables,” in his cryptic scorecard.
Twiggie
One of his most gruesome attacks was on a 19-year-old man named James Dale Reeves who lived in the city of Cypress, California. Randy nicknamed this victim as “Twiggie.” His body was found November 27th of 1974 on a freeway outside of Irvine, California, near Cypress in Orange County.
The victim was found stripped practically nude, raped, and murdered. Twiggie was last seen at Ripples bar, one of the clubs that Kraft frequented; this is where Reeves’ car would later be found abandoned. When the victim was discovered, he was posed in a Y-shaped position and a 4 feet long / 1.2 meter long stick shoved up his rectum.
Eventual Capture
Most serial killers share similar characteristics. One is
keeping mementos of their victims. Kraft was no different. He held a cryptic
coded list. At the time of his arrest, they found over 70 young men, unconscious or dead under the foot
of his car and the bare feet of his last victim.
[image error]Randy Kraft
Kraft wouldn’t have been caught if he hadn’t been drinking and driving. The police pulled him over and discovered a dead U.S. Marine in his vehicle spelled the end of Kraft’s reign of terror.
From there the police had the colossal task of piecing together all of Kraft’s victims. Kraft kept a cryptic, evil, and detailed count of every one of his murders on a “scorecard.” They were able to match 14 out of the 16 victims on his scorecard.
Reference of a Deranged Mind
His references towards each victim were something that stood out about the particular person or murder. For instance, “Twiggie,” was named because of the branch stuffed in the victim’s rectum. The 33rd victim was titled, “marine Head,” a 20-year-old Marine, Mark Alan Marsh found decapitated and with his hands cut off.
[image error]
Other ghoulish nicknames on the list were, “EDM,” which police concluded belonged to Edward Daniel Moore. Another was “2 in 1 HITCH.” All in all, the scorecard contained 61 entries, each life taken. Police believed Kraft may have murdered more.
Kraft was found guilty on all counts as well as some other related charges of sodomy and torture and sentenced to death—in death row he became friends with another notorious highway killer William Bonin. His stay was commuted to life in prison in 2000, where he still resides.
The Scorecard aka Confirmed Murders by Kraft
March 1970: Joseph Alwyn Fancher, 13, drugged and sodomized, but not killed.December 23, 1972: Edward Daniel Moore, 20 (bit his genitals, beaten with a blunt object, and strangled; stuffed a sock into his rectum and redressed post-mortem)April 9th 1973: Kevin Clark Bailey, 18, sodomized and castrated.July 28th 1973: Ronnie Gene Wiebe, 20 (bit his stomach and penis, beaten, and strangled; a sock was stuffed into his rectum.July 30, 1975: Keith Daven Crotwell, 19, accidentally drowned, then decapitated post-mortem.January 3rd, 1976: Mark Howard Hall, 22. Sodomized, slashed his legs with a knife, and killed by alcohol poisoning and asphyxiation; mutilated his body with a car cigarette lighter, castrated, inserted a cocktail swizzle into his penis, stuffed dirt, leaves, and his genitals into his rectum, and stuffed dirt and leaves down his throat post-mortem.
Let’s Keep on Going!
February 12th, 1978: Geoffrey Alan Nelson, 18. Castrated and strangled.February 12th, 1978: Roger James DeVaul, 20. Sodomized and strangled.April 16th, 1978: Scott Michael Hughes, 18. Castrated and strangled.June 11th, 1978: Roland Gerald Young, 23. Castrated, stabbed four times in the heart, and redressed post-mortem.June 19th 1978: Richard Allen Keith, 20. Strangled.July 6th 1978: Keith Arthur Klingbeil, 23. Burned with a car cigarette lighter; killed by strangulation and drug poisoning.November 18th 1978: Michael Joseph Inderbieten, 20. Sodomized, stuffed an unspecified object into his rectum, castrated, burned his eyelids off with a cigarette lighter, and fatally suffocated.June 16th, 1979: Donnie Harold Crisel, 20. Burned with a car cigarette lighter and strangled; killed by alcohol and drug poisoning.September 3rd, 1980: Robert Wyatt Loggins, 19. Killed by acute intoxication.January 27th, 1983: Eric Herbert Church, 21. Sodomized, bludgeoned, and strangled.May 14th, 1983: Terry Lee Gambrel, 25. Strangled with his own belt; found in Kraft’s car when he was arrested.
Alleged/Suspected to be Kraft’s victims
September 24th , 1971: Wayne Joseph Dukette, 30. Killed by acute alcohol poisoning.February 6th, 1973: “Wilmington.” Unidentified; sodomized, castrated, and fatally strangled; stuffed a sock into his rectum and redressed post-mortem.April 22nd, 1973: “Hawth Off Head.” Unidentified; removed his eyelids, strangled, castrated, and dismembered post-mortem.December 23rd, 1973: Vincent Cruz Mestas, 23. Shaved his face and head, ruptured his intestines and fatally strangled; cut off his hands, mutilated his genitals, and inserted an unspecified object into his penis post-mortem.June 2nd, 1974: Malcolm Eugene Little, 20. Strangled and castrated; a twig was stuffed into his rectum.June 22nd, 1974: Roger E. Dickerson, 18. Sodomized, mutilated, bit his penis and left nipple, and strangled.August 3rd, 1974: Thomas Paxton Lee, 25. Strangled and mutilated.August 12th, 1974: Gary Wayne Cordova, 23. Killed by a drug overdose and alcohol poisoning.November 27th, 1974: James Dale Reeves, 19. Suffocated; a tree limb was forced into his rectum.January 4th, 1975: John William Leras, 17. Suffocated; a wooden surveyor’s stake was forced into his rectum.January 17th, 1975: Keith Daven Crotwell, 19. Killed by unknown causes and decapitated post-mortem.December 12th, 1976: Paul Joseph Fuchs, 19. Killed by unknown causes.April 16th, 1978: Scott Michael Hughes, 18. Strangled and castrated.September 30th, 1978: Richard A. Crosby, 20. Mutilated with a car cigarette lighter and suffocated.August 29th, 1979: “76.” Killed by unknown causes and dismembered post-mortem; a sock was stuffed into a body cavity.September 14th, 1979: Gregory Wallace Jolley, 20. Killed by unknown causes; castrated, decapitated, and cut off his hands post-mortem.November 24th, 1979: Jeffrey Bryan Sayre, 15. Killed by unknown causes.February 18th, 1980: Mark Alan Marsh, 20. Killed by unknown causes; stuffed an unspecified object into his rectum, decapitated, and cut off his hands post-mortem.April 10th, 1980: Michael Duane Cluck, 18. Sodomized and bludgeoned 31 times.July 17th, 1980: Michael Shawn O’Fallon, 17. Drugged, hogtied with shoelaces, sodomized, and strangled.July 18th, 1980: “Portland Eck.” Unidentified; strangled.August 20, 1981: Christopher R. Williams, 17. Paper was stuffed into his nostrils; cause of death was pneumonia induced by aspiration.July 29th, 1982: Robert Avila, 16. Strangled.July 29th, 1982: Raymond Davis, 13. Strangled like the previous victim.November 28th, 1982: Brian Harold Witcher, 26. Asphyxiated.December 9th, 1982: Lance Trenton Taggs, 19. Suffocated by a sock stuffed down his throat.December 9th, 1982: Dennis Patrick Alt, 20. Manually strangled.December 9th, 1982: Christopher Alan Schoenborn, 20. Strangled; a pen was inserted into his penis.December 18th, 1982: Anthony Jose Silveira, 29. Sodomized and strangled; a sock was stuffed into his rectum.February 12th, 1983: Geoffrey Alan Nelson, 18. Castrated, sodomized, and strangled.January 19th, 1984: Mikeal Laine, 24. Killed by unknown causes.January 17th, 1995: Craig Victor Jonaites, 24. Strangled.
Unknown victims and dates
“Angel,” “Hari Kari,” “Marine Down,” “Van Driveaway,” “In 1 MV TO PL,” “LB Marina,” “Diabetic,” “Portland,” “Navy White,” “User,” “Iowa,” “In 1 Hitch,” “Front of Ripples,” “Carpenter,” “MC Dump HB Short,” “MC Plants,” “England,” “Oil,” “What You Got.”
March 27, 2019
The Bell Witch
Who or What is it?
There’s much controversy about the Bell Witch Cave. Some say she is the daughter of an abusive father. Some say she is an outside entity that came to torment the Bell Family. There are even other reports that the Bell Witch was a male slave killed by Bell in the past.
The most common telling of it is that the Bell Witch was a neighbor girl whose name was Kate Batts. Often reports show the girl to quarrel with John Bell’s daughter Betsy who’s engagement was to Joshua Gardner—later broke up in 1821.
[image error]William Porter Burn The Bell Witch
Though eventually John Bell died and Kate claimed to take credit for the death, her actions performed in the cave reportedly tied her to the Bell property forever.
A Witching Game
Though I have not experienced the Bell Witch directly, I have had a personal experience with her. I used to live in Pleasant View, TN—only a handful of miles away from Adams where the cave’s location is situated.
Kids used to play a game called “I love the Bell Witch.” You would look into a mirror and confidently say “I love the Bell Witch” or “I hate the Bell Witch” three times, much like the Bloody Mary game.
Except she would not appear in the mirror. If you said “I love the Bell Witch” you reportedly received a black rose on your pillow before you went to bed that night. If you said “I hate the Bell Witch” you would be scratched, slapped, and hit in retaliation.
[image error]565 Bell Home 1909
I personally never played it. Even at such a young age, I held a healthy respect for the witch and refused to play the game. However, I saw the results. Over the weekend, many children who were known for playing the game would come to school with random scratches, welts, and other assorted wounds.
Witches Don’t Die
Abuse? You may think that however people knew their parents and knew what went on in those homes and there was no chance of abuse. When we asked, they would admit to playing the game at sleepovers over
the weekend.
They were not nearly so egotistical after those weekends, and I always wondered what went on. However, to this day I refuse to entertain playing that game.
[image error]565 Death of John Bell
Now here is the thing. No matter what form of the legend you believe, or if you believe the legend at all. There are little questions as to whether something happened or not.
Even if you view the Bell Witch as a tool to keep children in line, or as a real entity—there are enough eye witness accounts and experiences to give to the credence of the oral history.
March 26, 2019
GOOSEBUMPS! The Girl Who Cried Monster
Original 1993 Summary
She’s Telling the Truth… But No One Believes Her!
Lucy likes to tell monster stories. She’s told so many that her friends and family are sick of it. Then one day, Lucy discovers a real, live monster: the librarian in charge of the summer reading program.
Too bad Lucy’s told so many monster tall tales. Too bad no one believes a word she says. Too bad the monster knows who she is… …and is coming after her next.
“Monster!”
Here we are again dear readers and this is a doozy of a book. I have had a few reviews go out of order to match up with a monster of the month and because of that to catch up this month will have two separate reviews. The first is book #8 The Girl Who Cried Monster, from Goosebumps, let us begin.
This book begins by introducing us to our key characters, Lucy Dark and her younger brother Randy.
[image error]GOOSEBUMPS – The Girl Who Cried Monster by R.L. Stine
The girl who cried wolf is the theme of this book as Lucy is very active in the art of scaring her brother by claiming there are ghosts, or monsters, anything honestly that will scare the 6 year old. Lucy being 12 is scared of nothing of course. Yet.
Summer Time
In the town of Timberland Falls, it is summer and like most towns the local library has a reading program to help students discover new worlds regardless of age. Mr. Mortman, the librarian, helps students find books that call out to them.
Lucy is not really that big of a reader but is fascinated by horror, which is a good thing because as she stays in the library after closing she gets way more than she bargained for.
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There is obviously something strange about seeing a grown man eating handfuls of flies after transforming into a monster. Lucy sees Mr. Mortman for his true self and runs away in terror.
Lucy is so excited to tell someone what she has witnessed she gets home and tells Randy. Her Father overhears and thinking she is just trying yet again to scare Randy, he gets upset with her. She gets just as angry that he thinks she is making it up and decides that she will prove that Mr. Mortman really IS a monster.
Misery and Mayhem
Putting so much effort only to be thwarted at every turn, poor Lucy goes through a lot just to prove she isn’t lying. Things take quite a turn when Mr. Mortman begins to follow her to her home!
If Lucy is able to prove that she isn’t crying wolf is up to you dear reader as this one will have no spoilers. But in the end I will admit there is quite a twist that even I didn’t remember from reading this book and it was quite enjoyable.
Conclusion
This one was a good read but not one of my favorites from the series. The ending is one that makes you truly think about what it is exactly that you can truly know about a person and that is something that made this even more of a good read.
[image error]Goosebumps Novels by R.L. Stine
The next book however is one of my favorite tales as we head to Camp Nightmare for a swim in the lake. Join us next time readers for book #9 Welcome to Camp Nightmare, as always be prepared for a scare!
Kendra Hale
March 25, 2019
Choosing Your Fangs
Halloween Prop
If you’ve ever seen a modern-day vampire, you know that they come in many different shapes and sizes. Gone are the days of the slicked-back hair, capes and elongated fangs. Vampires don’t hide in the shadows these days.
Many make it a point to stand out in a crowd. Not afraid of the onlookers or the public eye. The subculture of modern vampirism is flush with new blood and new ideas. Amongst those new ideas are fangs.
[image error]
Ok, so fangs aren’t that new of an idea. I mean Dracula had fangs so what the big deal is and so new about fangs? It used to be that if a vampire wanted fangs, they had to go to a Halloween shop and buy plastic ones.
They used dental putty and pushed the caps over their teeth. They worked most of the time and for a few hours at least. It was one size fits all but that was rarely the case.
They cut into the gums; in some cases, they were painful to wear. There were a few reported cases of people gluing their plastic fangs in place and needed emergency surgery to get them out. Also, one or two incidences of “vampire attacks.”
Fangs, Did You Say Fangs?
Seeing an opportunity, and the market, a few dental technicians, who were rumored to be—well a little different themselves, took to creating custom fangs.
Moreover, roughly 30 years ago, fangsmithing was born. Today, visiting a fangsmith is relatively common for fledgling vampires, and there are several names to consider such as Dnash, Kaos Kustom Fangs and of course Father Sebastiaan himself. Dnash makes fangs for werewolves and other preternatural creatures as well.
Vampire fangs come in all shapes and sizes, and a fangsmith can help a young vampire decide what works best for them.
[image error]Visit FangSmith Australia!
Fangsmiths often offer multiple different styles of fangs for both the upper and lower jaws. Allowing the vampire to express the monster they are most akin to physically.
Some prefer the traditional single fanged look while others related to the double fangs featured in the movie Lost Boys. To each his or her own. Fangs are created using a mold of a person’s teeth and are often stained to match the vampire’s real teeth.
No need to point out, these are not real teeth. These fangs are temporary, high-quality dental acrylic and generally can last a few years with
proper care.
Ready To Be A Vampire?
Now that also means they’re not for breaking the skin. Sorry. However, in recent months fangsmiths have begun to test the waters of making
fangs permanent!
The process itself is an expensive procedure that requires a visit to the dentist office with a professional dentist. The cost of permanent fangs is between two and five thousand dollars.
[image error]
Researching the process online I found some odd variances in the procedure, so I didn’t want to write about any one particular process.
Canines or Fangs?
We’ve gone from plastic toys at Halloween to permanent dental surgery in just thirty short years.
Will permanents become commonplace in the vampire community? Many say fangs aren’t a necessity to be a vampire.
Others, however, are sinking their fangs right in and dishing out the dough for temporaries or permanents. Would you?
March 24, 2019
Is the Swamp Monster Bigfoot?
Swamp Monster Pt. 2
While all over the world, most likely in Nordic places. We are all aware of the legend of Bigfoot otherwise known depending on the location: Sasquatch, Yeti or Abominable Snowman. Otherly put, the existence of a tribe of giant furry animal-like bipeds.
They could be real for many people from everywhere and created enough wave to have many movies, documentaries, and shows about its possible existence and have some people doubt their own beliefs that it is impossible for such a creature even to be thought to be alive.
Also, now, it might even have moved down to the marshes of Louisiana and adapted to its environment thus evolved to become one with its surroundings. Many believe it to be of the Bigfoot family only slimier.
[image error]Swamp
The legend of the Swamp Monster might not be as old as its Sasquatch counterpart, but like any group of nomads trying to hide from the world, it had to move and find a new home eventually. Who knows, maybe it grew tired of the harsh winters?
As the Swamp Monster gains in popularity in the paranormal world, the Swamp Monsters show that aired on the Destination America channel in 2014 to give an example, picked people’s curiosity about the creature and it only grew from there on.
Many watchers such as me, didn’t want the team to kill the creature and I believe that it was one of the many reasons why the show went off the air—also that it was believed to be a fake documentary, like type of show.
The Devil Has Many Names
Just like Bigfoot, the Swamp Monster has many cousins all around the world and among them are the Will-o’-the-Wisp, Willothewisp, that seems to be living around the swamps and many legends has the creature appear as an evil spirit haunting the lands.
Another one named the Grootsland, which is a bizarre creature that is most doubtful to exist in my personal opinion. It is supposed to be an enormous creature reminiscent of an elephant with a reptilian tail that lives in caves and swamps in South Africa.
[image error]Swamp Cabin
As part of the Australian Aboriginal mythology, dating back to
1847, the Bunyip is a beast that marauds around the swamps, creeks and any
other type of body of water.
“…Much dreaded by them … It inhabits the Murray; but … they have some difficulty describing it. Its most usual form … is said to be that of an enormous starfish.”
George French Angus
A name that caught my attention was the Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp in the Lee County of South Carolina in the United States. The common characteristics are that the creature would be about seven feet of height and bulky. The reason for its reference as a lizard is the scaly skin all over its body.
Much like an amphibian, it would have three toes on each of its feet and hands. It is also believed to possess superhuman strength, and for that, there are testimonies of people reporting to have seen a tail despite having many other reports unaware of the presence of one.
It was on June 29th, 1988 in the early hours of the morning, 2 a.m. that Christopher Davis a seventeen years old boy in Scape Ore Swamp, encountered what would come to be known as the Lizard Man. His description of the creature was one worthy of a Stephen King novel.
[image error]Swamp
“I looked back and saw something running across the field towards me. It was about 25 yards away, and I saw red eyes glowing. I ran into the car, and as I locked it, the thing grabbed the door handle. I could see him from the neck down – the three big fingers, long black nails, and rough green skin. It was strong and angry. I looked in my mirror and saw a blur of green running. I could see his toes and then he jumped on the roof of my car. I thought I heard a grunt and then I could see his fingers through the front windshield, where they curled around on the roof. I sped up and swerved to shake the creature off.”
Christopher Davis
The Skunk Ape or the Cabbage Man is the Swamp Monster of the
marshes around the State of Florida in the United States. It was between 1960
and 1970 that many reports were emerging, but in 1974 sightings of an ape-like
creature tall and full was brought up as it was said to be running upright on
two legs in the suburbs of Dade County.
Of course, investigators were not taking those testimonies seriously and one of them, Joe Nickell, even wrote that the creature might have been none other than a black bear while other sightings might have been merely hoaxes.
It’s A Swamp Thing
There might never be a way to honestly know if the Swamp Monster is real or not, because maybe if they are a part of our world they want to stay secluded away from human eyes and if they do not, then why so many sightings and legends told about its existence?
While we are drowned in technology, holding our phones next to our face always looking down at the next cool thing to buy or watch or “like” we might be missing on paranormal sightings and mysterious encounters. We have disconnected ourselves with a single night around a campfire to tell each other creepy stories about creatures that may or may not exist.
[image error]Swamp
Our world still hides many secrets for us, and much is unknown. What is to say that we are the only ones out here? Before looking out there, maybe we should revisit our backyard and take a trip down “South” to one of those swamplands and see for ourselves?
Also, either you decide to believe or not, one thing remains true: legends and folklore captivate our mind and ignite our imagination.
March 23, 2019
Gothic Bite Magazine interviewed Co-Authors!
Who is Donna Maria?
Donna Maria is the seventh child in a family of six boys.
Her life has been one adventure after another, though maybe she would like to know you a little better before disclosing.
She has had a productive career history working for the MOD in a secret capacity, 25 years has elapsed so she can give some information, and also near Ranulph Fiennes the Arctic Explorer
[image error]Anne Rice
She has a love of the classics be they modern or old and her favorite author is Hilary Mantel but also loves Anne Rice. Among her favorite books are Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, Bring Up The Bodies and Interview With The Vampire.
Donna’s writing is always Gothic. She recently found what she calls an ‘Epic Co-Author’ Robert Lilley, whom she says has taken her writing to
another dimension.
Who is Robert A. Lilley?
Robert A. Lilley was born in the lovely town of Epping in the United Kingdom. He has lived in various places in Southern England but favors a quiet countryside location over a busy town.
He has one little boy who means the world to him. Robert has traveled to many countries from Europe to Asia to the USA, enjoying the diverse cultures within the cities and when traveling out in the wilderness or mountains.
[image error]The Dark Tower – The Gunslinger by Stephen King
He had his first introduction to the horror genre when just a young boy while staying with his Grandmother, with the likes of and movies.
A favorite but old book would be The Dark Tower. He still is a great lover of classic movies such as The Godfather, The Deer Hunter to The Road and Zombie horror.
INTERVIEW
Alexa Wayne (A.W.): When did you both find out you would want to write novels?
ROBERT: While talking book ideas over, Donna pulled me on board of her next creation to merge our thoughts and creative juices.
With us, both guiding the characters and stories mixed with her dark, demonic thoughts and my kinked erotic needs gives this writing an unusual and scary flow.
Taking you along a path that drops into to depraved sexuality of partners offering everything of themselves but wanting more than just pleasure.
DONNA: I have always had a passion for the word and kept journals, though never thought or dreamed they would result in a publishing career.
I write because I need and feel the drive to rid my mind of strange and dark ideas and the simple fact that some enjoy reading, is the cherry on
the cake.
[image error]Stephen King
A.W.: How is it to collaborate when writing?
ROBERT: collaboration was good, sharing ideas and following the natural path of the story. Playing with ideas to grow the characters, get our readers on the side, either side, wishing to know the conclusion and our characters future.
DONNA: It is incredible. I never thought I would be able to or even want to collaborate. I’m a very insular and introspective writer, but on discovering that RL was my muse for our current project and asking him for his reactions to given situations, I found his talent for dark prose and description so exciting. There our collaboration begins.
A.W.: What is your process to both write the same novels?
ROBERT: Initially we were throwing ideas at each other, different parts of the story to be told. Allowing the characters to find their feet and the introduction of other characters that were important to building the
main ones.
DONNA: We bounce off each other regularly, sharing Google documents, we are so in tune. Sometimes it seems we are entirely thinking the same thing, but it takes the other to disclose it, to hoof it out of each other’s dark realms.
A.W.: Talking about your work, all set in paranormal or Gothic settings, would you let our readers know why you are both more attracted to that genre?
ROBERT: I would put this in a modern Gothic setting. The setting allows the dark to weave into the story smoothly.
DONNA: This is Gothic in its purist form, a dark foreboding, but elegant atmosphere resides.
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I love the beauty of this genre which can make the most horrific of subjects strangely beautiful to read. That’s the pure magic and essence of Gothic.
A.W.: When writing about paranormal, do you both do research and if so, how far do you go with your research?
ROBERT: With the power of the many details and information found from many sides of belief, but it is essential to draw from personal experience and knowledge. Sometimes it means stepping into something new to allow that experience to travel through the book to the reader.
DONNA: I research death and it’s a process. Also religion, but I believe all books should be organic.
A.W.: What is most important to both of you when writing your novels?
ROBERT: This being the first novel I am hoping to take the readers on a believable journey, not necessarily a happy one but one that could be happening just around the corner to them.
DONNA: To keep it real, no matter what the setting. As RL says, any of it could be happening to you or someone you know.
A.W.: Which authors influenced your writing?
ROBERT: I do not feel locked to individual authors but different stories by different writers. I am also a big movie watcher living movies from Misery to The Road. I love how Misery‘s fear level grows from salvation to terror, and the desperate need to escape reaches its realization.
DONNA: I read everything and anything, even labels! I think a full life and broad literature knowledge is so essential when pitching at a
worldwide audience.
[image error]Misery by Stephen King
If I had to say one book, though I don’t like doing that, it would be Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel such a sinister book.
A.W.: Which of your novels is your favorite and why is it your favorite?
ROBERT: This one!
DONNA: This collaboration has stretched me and reinvigorated my love for the word. It’s entirely out of my comfort zone, and I find it intoxicating.
A.W.: Do you believe in the paranormal, by that I mean in hauntings, that there are creatures out in the wild we still don’t know the existence of?
ROBERT: Being that we hold energy within ourselves that on death is released into the world to circulate, I believe this as our paranormal. Energy not circulated but trapped could be our hauntings, with others trying to guide us.
DONNA: I am a believer. I lived through many experiences in different mediums.
Dabbled in most things and sometimes been so horrified by what I found that I wondered if I’d be the same after, maybe I wasn’t?
A.W.: What was your reaction when you learned a publisher wanted you as part of their authors?
ROBERT & DONNA: We have massive Interest in this current project from my current publisher and others. It’s incredibly exciting.
A.W.: What sets you apart from other paranormal and Gothic authors?
ROBERT: I think the collaboration of two different thinking authors does set us apart. Also, this first book is maybe pushing the boundaries of erotica, pleasure, and terror, but hopefully readers agree this is required in this story and enjoy the sexuality and terror mix.
[image error]Zombie Eye
DONNA: A fusion of two very different approaches to horror. A tantalizing juxtaposition. It’s a real treat to write, and hopefully, that transmits
to readers.
A.W.: What can readers look forward to from Donna & Robert in 2019?
ROBERT: We have more boundaries to push and other areas to experience, but the story must work and must be believable by readers and us authors.
DONNA: We are already planning new ventures. It’s incredibly difficult not to write them, but this project takes precedence.
March 12, 2019
The Ghost Makeup
The Inspiration
If you haven’t gotten a chance to watch the series of Haunting of Hill House, in my opinion, it is one of the best horror/drama series currently out there. I loved the movie, but the show came forward with a different take and a different story while paying homage.
[image error]Ghost Makeup by Kendra Hale on Gabby Blobette
Nell’s story is heart-wrenching and honestly feels real when they examine her life and how she connects to her brothers and sisters. She is the glue that holds them together, and she was always so haunting to me. She is a character you just cannot forget nor once you have watched the whole of the show do you really want to.
The Palette & Blobette
My Blobette and I decided this month to do my muse and her justice. I used the Lorac Pirates of the Caribbean palette along with one of their lipsticks to create a look that I see when I hear a ghost.
I honestly think of the more human and more recognizable when I think of spirits. We mixed together our muses, and when I got the makeup portion done, she shone like a star and smoothly transitioned into her version of what she sees when she thinks of the word ghost.
[image error]Ghost Makeup by Kendra Hale on Gabby Blobette
I genuinely hope you enjoy my photos and makeup and Blobette’s character she brought along with props, we had an absolute blast doing them.
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This was the most comfortable and most fun we have had with a Monster of the Month so far, but with so many lefts to play with who knows? Thank you for stopping by and please leave your comments or any questions below!
March 11, 2019
The Burial of Vampires
Medieval Europe
In the past decade, archeologists found many proofs of vampire burial. Skeletons exposed in specialized exhibition manifesting the belief of our ancestors, the belief of vampires.
In the sixteenth century, people were not understanding the human body yet as well as we do today. Many diseases were mysteries to villagers of numerous countries, and often, it was up to the Church to come up with an explanation.
[image error]Vampire Skeleton
When the spreading of a bloodsucking creature entered Europe, people would come up with ways to repel the vampires but couldn’t explain its presence or how it came to existence. While some thought they were demons, others believed they were revenants, and some took advantage of the people’s fears and became vampire hunters.
However, the most common explanation for vampires being part of our history lies in the ignorance those people were facing when plague would afflict their villages. When tuberculosis surfaced, no one understood it. When diseases spread and blood coming out of orifices would be a result of one of the symptoms, often people would accuse the sick to drink the blood of innocents.
What Awaited
Those accused of being vampires would face a trial often resulting in a stake planted in their frail bodies. Because most accused people were, in fact, sick, the “torture” would begin after their last breath.
[image error]Vampire Skeleton
Bodies of “vampires” would be cut open, their heart taken away and burned. Then, their limbs, staked to the coffin and in their mouth would be a rock. Sometimes, the rock would be so big that the jaw dislocated. The reason for those precautions on a dead body was to prevent the vampire from awakening and walk out of the coffin to feed on an innocent victim.
The Bodies of Vampires
In 2009, a body of a vampire surfaced in the archeological world in Venice, Italy, more precisely on the Venetian Island of Lazzaretto Nuovo. The body dated back to the 16th Century and was among other plague victims as many bodies carried the Venetian plague at the time and of course, no one understood the disease or the process of decomposition. That woman was unfortunate and went through decomposition with a rock shoved in her mouth.
[image error]Vampire Skeleton
Poland, in 2016, an archeologist found the body of another European vampire, dating back, again, to the 1600s. The body of the Polish vampire was part of a quite special exhibition of the same name. The bones showed holes in each limb, and a stone was in its mouth. In northern Poland, the vampire body was present for everyone to see at the Kamien Museum of Land History.
The complete skeleton showed all the macabre rituals vampires would go through. The staking of each limb, the rock in the mouth and it probably had its heart burned. The belief of vampires was widespread when new diseases would surface. Vampires were victims, maybe?
Now the Spectacle
As archeologists find more skeleton showing signs of vampire burials, it has me thinking if among those most often sick people, was another humanoid species taking advantage of wildly spread disease such as tuberculosis, black plague among others.
[image error]Vampire Skeleton
Today, we can only feel the fright left behind by our ancestors, unaware of the lifeless body stages of decomposition. We rejoice knowing that people don’t believe in vampires. So, I wonder, did we exterminate all vampires or are we looking back at a belief that hides something more?
Ancient Bond: Masters and Servants
Centuries ago Lucien's family and pack were slaughtered and betrayed by family. Lucien was then enslaved for five hundred years by the demon who killed ...more
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