C.A. Verstraete's Blog, page 56

It's Almost Halloween!

It's Almost Halloween!!!!

Which means we've got some spooky stuff coming up!
Creepy books, strange characters (no, not the authors! ha!) and more... 
I'll be running Halloween Reads all week so stay tuned!
In the meantime, pick up something perfect to read!

Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter  - What if Lizzie did  kill her father and stepmother... because she had no other choice?
(Print and Kindle - see Amazon.)


About Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies? 

Barnes & Noble Horrorfest Tonight!

Barnes & Noble Horrorfest 2016!
Come talk Monsters with Us!
Tonight - tonight! If you're in the Racine, WI. area! 
Barnes and Noble Southland Center, 2710 S. Green Bay Rd.

With John Everson (The Family Tree), W.D. Gagliani (Wolf's Blind), 
Christian Larsen (The Blackening of Flesh), C.A. Verstraete (Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter)

Books at the Milwaukee ParaCon!

An interesting day Sunday with authors Dawn Napier  (Black Bells) and Christian Larsen (The Blackening of Flesh) at the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference. 


Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter - What if Lizzie did do it... because she had no other choice?(Print and Kindle - see Amazon.)


Definitely some unique vendors and panels.  Oh, and Krampus (from Minnesota Krampus) made an appearance, too. Make that Krampuses since there were three of them!




Also met up again with Kelly from Dollface  Inc. She does an amazing job in repainting and dressing dolls to give them a "new life" as undead dolls. Here are a couple pix of her unique dolls. I'll have more soon and a feature about her!

October Frights Winner!

Okay, the October Frights Blog Hop is over so I want to thank everyone who stopped by.

So who won the cool skeleton hand bracelet????




I counted the responses (excluding doubles and my answers) - which equaled 39.

Then I put that in the magic number generator at random.org.

And this is what I got: 

And that number response is from....

AF Stewart! 
Thanks all for playing! Btw, there will be another cool jewelry contest... soon!

Great New Review! Lizzie Borden, #Zombie Hunter - Milwaukee ParaCon

** Today I'm at the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference at the UW Milwaukee Student Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., with fellow authors Dawn Napier (Black Bells) and Chris Larsen (The Blackening of Flesh.) The event includes panels, speakers, etc. 10-4 p.m. $10 admission. Seek us out in the vendor's room!



** Had to share a  portion of a Great New Review of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter at Kings River Life Magazine!! Follow the link to read it all and enter the contest!

"…I admire her detailed descriptions of the nauseating stench and the decaying putrification of the sort-of-dead. You can mentally hear the moans and breaking bones, see the rotting body parts, and—BOY—can you smell it!
"There's a decent mystery attached to the story... If you liked Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, or if unsolved murders make you want to imagine a solution, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter is a cut above the others."--Terrance McArthur, Kings River Life Magazine.

October Frights 6: 12 Questions for Lizzie Borden

Today is Day 6 of the October Frights Blog Hop!!!


I hope you enjoyed the hop and all the Halloween treats!  
Be sure to come back the rest of the month for more Halloween fun!
** Contest: Comment here on the blog to win a spooky bracelet! Must include email. Contest ends today 10/15.


Writing about a real-life person can be fun since you get to read historical accounts of what they were like and what happened in their life. But what about the things you don't know? Or think you know?

12 Questions for Lizzie Borden
By Christine (C.A.) VerstraeteVogue Magazine has an interesting question-answer format it does called 73 Questions where it asks celebrities the questions on video, while giving a glimpse of their home.  A recent featured celebrity was Taylor Swift.
So I thought I’d try it out but with a twist based on my book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter by C.A. Verstraete. Ironically, Lizzie is portrayed during her 1893 trial for murder as far from a fashion doyenne, with one newspaper even calling her “a plain old maid.” (No matter what, that had to hurt.)
Outside of a few letters obtained by the Fall River, Mass. Historical Society in recent years and the still-enduring skipping rope rhyme that Lizzie Borden took an axe… , mystery still surrounds the real persona of Lizzie Borden. Many still wonder, did she or didn’t she?
My take? What if Lizzie did it because she had no other choice? But let’s allow Lizzie to answer a few questions herself:
BUY: http://getbook.at/LizzieBordenZombieHunterAdd it on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31553183-lizzie-borden-zombie-hunterWebsite: http://cverstraete.com - Blog: http://girlzombieauthors.blogspot.com

 Lizzie's Turn
1 WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?I’ll say that I’ve had plenty to cry about in the past year.
2 WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH?I’ve grown rather fond of my sister’s cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches.
3 DO YOU THINK YOU’RE STRONG?I never thought I was particularly strong, but circumstances can force you to dig deep for what you hold dear and what keeps you strong, like faith, family and friends.
4 WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?I used to notice how someone was dressed, or how they smiled. Now I notice whether they look me in the eye or not.
5 WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?Despite what people may think of our relationship, I do miss my father.
6 WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS READING IT?Even with the horrid events that have happened, I did find time to read Miss Shelley’s Frankenstein. It was rather disturbing.
7 YOUR FAVORITE SMELL?Fresh flowers. They can mask the smell of almost anything.
8 WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE TELEPHONE?I’d rather not say. It was a disturbing message.
9 PUPPIES OR KITTENS?I do love dogs, especially Boston Terriers. I’m thinking of getting another though I know my sister Emma wouldn’t like it.
10 FAVORITE DESSERT?I used to love oatmeal-raisin cookies at one period in my life. Now, I prefer a nice, fresh-baked piece of cake.
11 FAVORITE ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE?I so enjoy sitting out on my closed-in porch in the summer. It’s pleasant hearing the birds sing and sitting quietly with the dog, a good book in hand.
12 THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?My freedom.
I think that’s as many questions as I’d like to answer right now, if you please. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me. – Lizzie Borden
** See what could've happened in Lizzie's life.... Don't forget to get your copy of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter in print and Kindle!
Today's Question:   What's your favorite Halloween or horror mash-up, & why?
* * * 
 * About  Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:  
Every family has its secrets…  One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies? (Available in Print and Kindle.  Also read with Kindle Library and Kindle Unlimited.) * Be sure to put up a review!

***Preview or get the book here:***

October Frights 5: #Zombies!

Today is Day 5 of the October Frights Blog Hop!!!


Be sure to stop by all 25 blogs for some freaky Halloween fun, free fiction, prizes & more!!
** Contest: There'll be a new question each day. Comment here on the blog to win a spooky bracelet! Must include email. Contest ends 10/15.



Today: since it's nearly Halloween - How about some zombies???

  Here are a few of the awful zombies in my book,  Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter,  called "too gory" by one reader: 

It raised claw-liked hands at her—or rather stumps since most of its fingers were gone.

***

Her (Lizzie's) eyes leaked tears from the strong, nearly overpowering scent of rot surrounding him.

*** 

 The thing shuffled faster, dragging its boney feet across the paving stones with a sickening scrape.

*** 

Several of the undead crouched over the remains of a few of the more unlucky students who hadn’t made it out in time. The creatures’ grunts and gurgles filled the room as they pawed at the gory remains. The wet slurps and sloppy chewing turned her stomach.

 *** 

 The skull of the ghoul nearest to her cracked and exploded. Fragments and nasty smelling remains scattered everywhere like a bomb exploding in a graveyard.

Today's Question:   What's your favorite or most feared kind of zombie?

 * About Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:  

Every family has its secrets…
 One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies? Print and Kindle.  (Also read with Kindle Library and Kindle Unlimited) * Be sure to put up a review!



An InLinkz Link-up

October Frights 4: Lizzie Borden Letter

Today is Day 4 of the October Frights Blog Hop!!!


Be sure to stop by all 25 blogs for some freaky Halloween fun, free fiction, prizes & more!!
** Contest: There'll be a new question each day. Comment here on the blog to win a spooky bracelet! Must include email. Contest ends 10/15.



Today - something a  bit different! 
A Letter From LizzieBy Christine (C.A.) Verstraete
    The Fall River Herald News in Lizzie’s hometown recently had a writing contest in which entrants wrote a letter from Lizzie. I learned about it later or I would have entered, so before I read any of the entries, I decided to write my own as a fun exercise.    Here’s Lizzie’s take some time later on the events of that fateful August day in 1892 when her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Durfee Borden, were brutally hacked to death in their home.
August 4, 1927
My Dear Emma,    I know that you still wish not to speak to me, but with my health failing, I feel now is the best time to reach out to you.    We have been through the worst of times, you and me, trying times, and I always felt you were the one person who understood me best. You were always there to look out for me and stand up for me, for which I am forever grateful.    You were not wrong in your support, for as you are aware, I had no other choice for what I did. I tried my best that fateful August morning to do what you had done for me, to be there, to fight back, and in turn, protect you as you had done for me earlier.    A thousand times I wished that this had never happened. Inside, I wept and prayed for forgiveness even as I presented a straight face to the world. I know what everyone said and thought, but I had to act like it didn’t bother me; that they were all wrong.    I had to do it to protect you.    No one, not even I, ever suspected that Father had his own share of terrible secrets, but hidden behind that stern exterior lay a heart shadowed by darkness.    Did that mean he, or Mrs. Borden, deserved to die?    No, never, and not at my hands, at least in the normal course of events. But there was nothing usual or “normal” about what happened that hot August 4th morning in 1892, was there? Nothing at all.    I vowed never to tell anyone and to take those horrific secrets to my grave. But I wanted to beg your forgiveness and clear the air, hoping, perhaps, that some peace might be forged between us, even if for the last time.    If I don’t hear from you, I will understand. I have left a record, of sorts, which you can either read or destroy. I leave it up to you. Either way, I send my love and wish you well, dear sister.
With kind thoughts, Lizbeth Borden    (Note: Later, Lizzie chose to go by the name Lizbeth, Maybe it was a way to put some space between her and the “other” Lizzie?)
Today's Question:   What kind of person do you think Lizzie Borden was?
(**Also check out the new interview and book excerpts!)

 * The reasons for the letter are expanded on in my book,  Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:  

Every family has its secrets…
 One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies? Print and Kindle.  (Also read with Kindle Library and Kindle Unlimited) * Be sure to put up a review!


An InLinkz Link-up

October Frights 3: #1LineWed, Lizzie Borden Murders

Today is Day 3 of the October Frights Blog Hop!!!



Be sure to stop by all 25 blogs for some freaky Halloween fun, free fiction, prizes & more!!
** Contest: There'll be a new question each day. Comment here on the blog to win a spooky bracelet! Must include email. Contest ends 10/15.

It's Wednesday which means it's #1LineWed - 1 Line Wednesday. But I'll cheat and give you a few one lines outlining the Borden murders.

The Borden Murders
By Christine (C.A.) Verstraete
Most everyone today recognizes the name Lizzie Borden and knows what happened that fateful August 4 morning of 1892: that her father. Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Durfee Borden, were brutally hacked to death with a hatchet in their home. The dutiful, Sunday School teacher and spinster daughter, Lizzie, was arrested—and eventually declared not guilty—of the crimes in June, 1893.   Many say she did it. Some say she was covering for someone else. No one really knows.   But what if she did it… because she had no other choice?   Here, in a nutshell, is a summary of the crime as described in my book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:
The Crime:Then Lizzie spotted it: the worn hatchet Father had left behind after he’d last brought in thenewly chopped wood. No, no! Her mind filled with horror, but when her stepmother came at her again, Lizzie whispered a prayer for forgiveness and grabbed the handle.
The Accused:Everyone, of course, would read the later newspaper accounts and say what happened was barbarous, cruel, horrific— and that anyone who did such a thing (namely her) was a full-fledged monster. The Trial:What if she was found guilty? Would they—could they—hang her?
The Verdict:“The trial is over, but my sentence continues. From day one, I have been hounded and watched, nothing has changed in that respect. Nothing.”
The Monsters:It raised claw-liked hands at her—or rather stumps since most of its fingers were gone.
“Oh, Father,” she whispered, voicing what was becoming an all-too-familiar refrain. “What have you done?

Today's Question:   What's your favorite line and why?

  About Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:  

Every family has its secrets…
 One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies? Print and Kindle.  (Also read with Kindle Library and Kindle Unlimited) * Be sure to put up a review!


An InLinkz Link-up

October Frights 2: Horror Flash Fiction

Today is Day 2 of the October Frights Blog Hop!!!


Be sure to stop by all 29 blogs for some freaky Halloween fun, free fiction, prizes and more!!
** Contest: There'll be a new question each day. Comment here on the blog to win a spooky bracelet! Must include email. Contest ends 10/15.

For today, here's a piece of horror flash fiction. Warning: not for the squeamish.

The EntréeBy C.A. Verstraete
Lisa nervously eyed the empty dining room. Maybe it’d been dumb going alone to meet someone she’d only talked to online. But he was so nice. He’d made her feel special.   “There you are.”   Lisa smiled at the sound of his voice. She quivered at the feel of his hands on her shoulders.    “So beautiful,” he whispered, and slid the needle into her arm.    Tears dripped down her face as she woke atop the table, unable to move. Men in black surrounded her and began carving her tender flesh.    “Let’s eat,” someone said. “Leg? Who wants white meat?” (98 words.)
Today's Question:   What story/book freaked you out the most and why?

  Read my take in  Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter:  

Every family has its secrets…
 One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies? (Also read with Kindle Library and Kindle Unlimited)

An InLinkz Link-up