C.M. Saunders's Blog, page 38
March 1, 2016
Sker House is out TODAY!
The result of over five years work, my new novel Sker House drops today!
It’s a contemporary ghost story with a distinctly Welsh flavour, featuring some great artwork by Greg Chapman.
Dale and Lucy are two students with a fascination in the supernatural. One weekend, they travel to Sker House, South Wales, a private residence with a macabre history which has recently been converted into a seaside inn. They plan to write an article for their university magazine about a supposed haunting, but when they arrive, they meet a landlord who seems to have a lot to hide. Soon, it becomes apparent that all is not well at Sker House. An air of oppression hangs over it, while misery, tragedy and ill-fortune are commonplace. Gradually, it becomes clear that the true depth of the mystery goes far beyond a mere historical haunting. This is a place where bad things happen, and evil lurks.
Little by little Dale and Lucy fall under Sker’s dark spell, and as they begin to unravel the mysteries of the past, they realize that nothing stays buried forever.
Welcome to Sker House, a place where past and present collide.
The book is already picking up some rave reviews, one of which, from the Horror cabin, you can read HERE
Sker House is available exclusively on Amazon:
February 22, 2016
Sker House
Dale and Lucy are two students with a fascination in the supernatural. One weekend, they travel to Sker House, South Wales, a private residence with a macabre history which has recently been converted into a seaside inn. They plan to write an article for their university magazine about a supposed haunting, but when they arrive, they meet a landlord who seems to have a lot to hide. Soon, it becomes apparent that all is not well at Sker House. An air of opression hangs over it, while misery, tragedy and ill-fortune are commonplace. Gradually, it becomes clear that the true depth of the mystery goes far beyond a mere historical haunting. This is a place where bad things happen, and evil lurks.
Little by little Dale and Lucy fall under Sker’s dark spell, and as they begin to unravel the mysteries of the past, they realize that nothing stays buried forever.
Welcome to Sker House, a place where past and present collide.
In keeping with the Welsh theme, Sker House: A Novel will be available on Amazon on St David’s Day (March 1st).
It is available for pre-order HERE
And if you don’t have a Kindle, no worries. I won’t ask you to buy one. Just download the FREE Kindle app and install it on your computer or phone. Easy peasy.
February 8, 2016
Something to Declare?
Today is Chinese New Year, 2016 being the Year of the Monkey. Therefore, I think it’s time for another weird China story from the vault.
On September 11th 2011, the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks (which was nerve-wracking enough in itself) I made the journey from Wales back to my ESL teaching job in China. After getting a lift from my dad to Cardiff Central I got a National Express coach to Heathrow airport and then endured a gruelling 10 hour flight to Shanghai Pudong, where I had to get another bus to another airport in Shanghai so I could make a connecting internal flight to Changsha city, capital of Hunan Province. As you can probably imagine, by that point I was tired, stressed, and not in the best of moods.
I dragged my 24 kg suitcase to check-in at Hongqiao, where a nice young Chinese lady slapped a sticker on it and sent it through an arcane-looking X-ray machine. And then an alarm went off. Uh-oh. A couple of burly ‘security operatives’ appeared and whisked me away to a little side room where my suitcase was waiting, sitting on an oversized metal table. One of the security people motioned to a monitor where several ‘suspect’ items were highlighted, and told me to open my suitcase. He then put on some rubber gloves and proceeded to rummage around in my personal affects, placing several of my possessions on the table for further scrutiny.
The first was a police-issue extendable baton, bought for 20 RMB from a street seller in Changsha the year before. Whatever your opinion on this, in my view living alone in a foreign country where laowai (foreigners) are often targeted, necessitates some form of personal protection. Besides, it was pretty cool.
“Can’t have,” said one of the young customs officers.
“Okay, no problem,” I replied, sheepishly. Fair cop, guv.
The next item was a 5-inch switchblade knife with a retractable spring-loaded blade, kept for the same reasons as the baton (although this one doubles as a handy household tool). They are illegal to own in some places, and certainly illegal to carry. The customs officers opened the blade and admired it for a few moments, tested it was sharp enough, then stuffed it back in my suitcase and told me it was fine.
What? Are you sure? I wanted to ask, but of course didn’t. Besides, things were about to get weird. The next things pulled out of my suitcase was a meagre collection of paperback books.
For reference, the titles of these were as follows:
Horns, by Joe Hill
Breathless, by Dean Koontz
Full dark, No Stars, by Stephen King
Bookie Wook 2, by Russell Brand
Country Driving, by Peter Hessler
As the security personnel picked their way through the pile, flicking through the pages and breaking the spine on at least one (I hate that) vague notions ran through my mind. The Chinese government dislike Peter Hessler, an American who lives in China and writes almost exclusively about his adopted country, and often ban his stuff. Could this be the problem? Or could it be the fact that in 2008 the Chinese government banned ‘horror’ (whatever that means) in reaction to Steven Spielberg pulling out of his role as advisor to the Olympic committee on political grounds?
“Why do you have so many books?”
“I like reading.”
“Really?”
“Really. Why else would I carry so many books half way around the world?”
The customs officer considered this and, apparently satisfied, moved on to the next item, which was a pound of Cheddar Cheese.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a pound of Cheddar Cheese.”
“What is it used for?”
“It’s cheese. You eat it.”
“When?”
“Erm, whenever you want.”
He made a ‘yeah, right!’ face, picked the cheese up and started bending it and sniffing it. ‘Did you pack this yourself?’
“Yes I did. I packed my suitcase myself, and this is definitely my cheese.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“About what?”
“The cheese.”
“Yes, I am quite sure this is my cheese. Is there something wrong with it?”
“I’m not sure you can take this on the plane.”
“Why?”
“No why.”
“So I can take a knife on the plane, but no cheese?”
“Knife no trouble in suitcase.”
“So will the cheese be trouble in my suitcase?”
“Maybe.” He gives the matter some thought, stroking the few wispy hairs on his chin.
“Look, I would really appreciate it if you let me take my cheese on the airplane. Of course I will put in my suitcase, and not get it back out until I get to my apartment.”
“Okay. We trust you.”
I hurried off and hid in the departure lounge before they changed their minds. Angry, confused, and bummed at losing my baton, but happy I got to keep my books and cheese. Happy New Year, China.
February 4, 2016
Gender, Genre and Style: Do Your Genitals Determine What You Write? (Part 2)
I got myself involved in a little writing experiment. See if you can pick out the section I wrote. It shouldn’t be too difficult if you know anything about my writing style and preferred subject matter. If you can just narrow it down to which gender wrote which part, you might even win a prize. Easy, right? Source: Gender, Genre and Style: Do Your Genitals Determine What You Write? (Part 2)
January 31, 2016
Sker House – Cover Reveal
I have a new book coming out on March 1st (bonus point if you know why I chose that particular date). Sker House is a traditional haunted house story, with a contemporary twist and a distinctly Welsh flavour. Damn thing took over five years to write, though I was doing other things in between, obviously, like sleeping, eating, and the day job.
Out on DeadPixel Publications, Sker House will be available for pre-order soon. Further details will follow imminently. But first things first, I wanted to share the all-important cover with you. The cover and the blurb are probably the two hardest things to get right. Below is a collaboration between myself and my good friend Greg Chapman. I think it fits the bill, and sums up the mood perfectly.
Sker House is a real place, situated on the Welsh coast near Bridgend. It has a very long and chequered history, which I will tell you more about in a series of blogs after the book’s release. The cover is based on an old postcard I found online. There’s something about this particular image that I love. Looking at it, how can the place NOT be haunted?
January 18, 2016
2016 – The year of the Reboot
It makes me a little sad that the big Hollywood studios are so reluctant to at least try to break any new ground, and would much rather spend their resources tapping into a pre-existing market. That said, I’m pretty excited about some of the movies being served up this year. Here’s my top five. Just don’t judge me on the last one.
Cabin Fever
Who could be so bold as to remake Eli Roth’s 2002 classic? Eli Roth, obviously. For the reboot he’s using the same script, with different characters and presumably a bigger budget. The first one cost just $1.5 million, and went on to gross over twenty times that amount. It also made Roth a star. This time he’s moving upstairs to executive producer while Travis Zariwny takes over directing duties. Nope, I don’t know who he is, either. You have to wonder why it’s being made with the same script, when this could be the perfect opportunity to expand on certain elements a little. But this is Eli Roth, and I’m sure as fuck not going to argue with him.
Ghostbusters
This is one film that isn’t staying true to the original. In fact, it seems to be doing everything it can to distance itself from the original by employing an all-female (including Melissa McCarthy) cast in place of Bill Murray and company, who are all too old to get in those jump suits anyway. He and Dan Ackroyd do get cameo’s, though. It’s being marketed as a reboot of the franchise, rather than the film, which either means there’s going to be a slew of sequels or we aren’t going to see a giant marshmallow man this time around. It’d be a shame if that’s the case.
Point Break 3D
How can you make a remake sound new and exciting? Stick ‘3D’ in the title, that’s how. But this is Point Break, ya’ll! The original was one of the defining films of the 90’s and made Patrick Swayze’s career what it was. Well, that and Roadhouse. We don’t talk about Dirty Dancing. The 2016 version stars Edgar Ramirez and Ray Winstone, and will probably be one for adrenaline junkies everywhere. Being a joint American and Chinese production, expect more than a passing nod to our friends in the far East.
The Magnificient Seven
As far as ‘man’ films go, the original 1960 shoot-em-up starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, and just about everybody else who could point a gun, is right up there with Rambo and Jaws. Well, the truth is, it wasn’t original even then, but a remake of the legendary Japanese flick Seven Samurai. Still, of all the reboots and remakes planned for 2016, this is the one I’m most wary of, even if the Daily Mirror reports are right and it does have Vinnie Jones in it (doubtful).
Dad’s Army
I warned you about the last entry on this list. Yes, if you’re British Dad’s Army is something you probably remember from your childhood, or those endless Sunday afternoon repeats, but 2016 sees the wartime comedy about a group of disparate individuals given a momentous overhaul, and it’s set to be one of the biggest Bricoms of the year. Let’s face it, how can anything with Catherine Zeta Jones in possibly not be worth a watch? She’s magnificent.
January 6, 2016
The Bookshelf 2015
A list of every book I managed to read, cover-to-cover, in 2015.
Extreme: Why Some People Thrive at the Limits by Emma Barrett & Paul Martin (2014)
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King (2013)
Social Media Monsters: Internet Killers by RJ Parker & LL Slate (2014)
Elemental: A Book of Poetry by Hanna Elizabeth (2015)
This is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl by Paul Brannigan (2011)
The Day the Leash gave Way and Other Stories (Reissue) by Trent Zelazny (2014)
State of Horror: Illinois edited by Jerry E. Benns (2014)
Their Cramped Dark World and Other Tales by David A Riley (2015)
Defriended by Ruth Baron (2013)
The Urban Survival Tin by Anson Bond (2012)
Journeymen: The other Side of the Boxing Business by Mark Noble (2014)
Sex, Peanuts, Fangs & Fur: A Practical Guide for Invading Canada (2015)
Innocence: A Novel by Dean Koontz (2013)
Will Anyone Figure Out This is a Repackaged First Collection? By Johnny Mains (2015)
The Dead Lifeguard by RL Stine (1994)
Sea Sick by Iain Rob Wright (2013)
Nightmares & Dreamscapes by Stephen King (1993)
Vaudeville & Other Nightmares by Greg Chapman (2014)
Getcha Rocks Off: Life & Death on the Rock n’ Roll Road by Mick Wall (2015)
Mr Mercedes by Stephen King (2014)
Foo Fighters: Learning to Fly by Mick Wall (2015)
Rescue Pilot: Cheating the Sea by Jerry Grayson (2015)
Ghost Camera by Darcy Coates (2015)
Check out last year’s list here
December 31, 2015
2015 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,900 times in 2015. If it were a cable car, it would take about 48 trips to carry that many people.
Click here to see the complete report.
December 26, 2015
Foo Fighters – Saint Cecilia EP Review
“Even in the smallest way perhaps these songs can bring a little light into this sometimes dark world. To remind us that music is life, and hope and that healing go hand-in-hand with song.”
– Dave Grohl, November 2015
It has long been said that Dave Grohl is the nicest man in rock, and so it proved last month when his band made this new EP available for free as a ‘thank you’ to their legions of loyal fans. Not only that, but in an open letter he dedicated it to the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks and hosted a donation link on their website.
Having just finished Mick Wall’s biography Learning to Fly, I’m in the midst of a bit of a Foo’s frenzy. I’ve been a huge fan since an ex-girlfriend played me Monkeywrench about fifteen years ago. That song is still perpetually on my playlist, but it wasn’t until I saw them play Cardiff CIA on 2002’s One By One tour that I really started taking notice. It was the first time I saw them live, and the gig was spectacular. You can’t fail to be impressed by their professionalism and musicianship. But what really made a difference to me and most of the audience that night was when the band came out for the encores wearing Welsh football shirts. The national team had beaten Azerbaijan 2-0 in Baku earlier that day, a month after beating Italy 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium, and under the leadership of Mark Hughes were on the cusp of qualifying for the 2004 Euros. As it happened we eventually lost in a play-off to Russia, but the fact that Dave Grohl and co didn’t just acknowledge there was a match that day, but took the effort to ingratiate themselves with the Welsh public to such an extent was nice to see.
To the music…
Saint Cecilia contains 5 tracks, most of which sound more like vintage Foo’s. That isn’t surprising because one of the songs, the Neverending Sigh, is apparently almost two decades old. That would date it somewhere between the Foo’s first two albums which are still, by many people’s estimations, among their best to date. Title track excluded, there is a distinct lack of soaring, arms-aloft choruses to be had here. Compared to the last two studio albums, which at times come across as sprawling and unfocused, the songs on Saint Cecilia are short, punchy and to the point. Sean rocks up with a fuzzy guitar, smacks you in the face with it, and is gone in just 02:11 while Saviour Breath is so breathlessly intense it could easily pass for a Motorhead cover. Iron Rooster offers some respite with it’s jazzy hooks and dreamy melody, and the aforementioned Neverending Sigh rounds things off with the hauntingly self-analytical refrain ‘No one lets everyone in’ perhaps betraying a younger, less confident Dave.
According to Wiki, Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians. It’s also the name of the hotel in Austin where these songs were recorded. Not that you would know they were recorded in a hotel. This EP isn’t just one for the completists, but a worthy addition to any collection. If it was a release by a younger band you would mark them one to watch, but the Foo’s have been there, done it, bought the Welsh football shirts, and they are still doing it. Kudos.
Oh, and Russia? We’ll see you in France next summer.
December 17, 2015
12 Days of Stuff: Day 10
Day 10 of Bookmas. I’m up…
Dangling on the Edge of (In)Sanity
Ah, day ten of Bookmas, or whatever it is you want to call this shameless self-promotion stuff I’ve got going on. Yesterday’s winner of a signed copy of Concessions by Hanna Elizabeth is AMY HUGHES. Congrats Amy!
Now, as we edge closer to party day on The Facebook, I realize we’re edging closer to Christmas as well. When I think about that, I realize I’m not done shopping. When I think about shopping so close to Christmas, I get itchy, and anxious, and I start to feel a tiny bit of fear, because I LOATHE SHOPPING.
So, what better time than now to give away a little bit of horror, right?
Shut up.
For those of you just tuning in, we’re having a bit of a Christmas thing here on the edge, in which I give away book goodies for twelve days. On the 20th, we’ll be meeting
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