Red Tash's Blog, page 265
October 7, 2011
This photo creeps me OUT, but it's also fascinating.
The...
This photo creeps me OUT, but it's also fascinating.
The next time you look at a little kid and think they're weak, just remember—those little guys have TEETH! HUGE, pointy teeth, with extra sharp razor blade teeth waiting in the wings.
Then cower in fear.
Okay, you want to know something funny? I just remembered this.
Back in high school (yes, we're climbing into the Way Back Machine, hold onto your hats), there was a writing competition by the Literary Guild, or Literary Society, or Literary Club, or something like that. I wasn't a member, only because I was too damned busy running the yearbook and other diversions.
Anyway, they had a contest. I submitted a story. I have absolutely no recollection what that story was about, but it won. They even gave me a decent cash prize. I think it was $50 or something, which ain't too shabby for a kid in rural Indiana in the early 90s.
The Literary Club was preparing some kind of publication, perhaps a journal…? Anyway, they lost my story, so they asked me if I could rewrite it. Yep, this was in the olden days, children, before we typed everything out and had saved copies. They'd lost my only copy of this hand-written masterpiece, and they were deeply remorseful.
I replied honestly—I didn't have the heart to rewrite it. I just couldn't. I guess it was too demoralizing for the 17 y.o. emo-when-emo-wasn't-cool version of Red.
So, I offered a compromise. I would write them a *new* story for their journal.
And I did. I wrote a horror story, instead. Again, I don't remember a thing about that first story, only that it wasn't horror. Don't get me wrong, I can do light and fluffy! It's just not my favorite, and perhaps this story I'm telling you now reveals why I write the kind of fiction I do.
There was a boy. (Isn't there always a boy?) He was a complete jackass. I understand he grew up to be a deadbeat "dad," among other things, so I'm assuming he still is one. Anyway, I digress.
I was waiting for that jackass to check in at the military recruiting office. I don't know if they were just going ahead and giving him a physical, or what, but he was in there a VERY long time.
I guess that long, frustrating wait really poisoned my mood (that, along with the jackass), so I wrote a story about a little boy who went completely crazy and slaughtered his family with a large kitchen knife. I think I made that kid about 6 years old.
Never heard from the Literary Club again.
Kids, I think, are inherently dangerous. They shout threats that they mean with all their hearts, and the silent thoughts they bear inside their minds are often deadly. Especially the revenge plans. I challenge you to meet any killer who ruthlessly slays others, who doesn't have the heart of an abused child. I mean that.
And, hey, even the nice ones are hiding all those TEETH. Think about it.
HEY, speaking of winning contests, enter mine while you still have time.
October 6, 2011
I don't know that there are real ghosts and goblins, but...
I don't know that there are real ghosts and goblins, but there are always more trick-or-treaters than neighborhood kids.
~Robert Brault
Funny how that works, isn't it?
10 Days left to enter my Halloween party giveaway-a new Kindle and dozens of scary stories could be yours, for free. Or amazon gift cards!
Want a quick, free read? The Wizard Takes a Holiday has been a top ten free download in Fantasy since it went free last Friday. Enjoy.
If you're not a Kindle person, get The Wizard elsewhere.
I've been doing a lot of internet touring the past couple...
I've been doing a lot of internet touring the past couple of months, so I started a list of the links of my "appearances." I've lost more than a few of my marbles, so I'm quite certain I've left some folks out. If you're one of them, let me know.
Next week I should be adding at least one more stop, then I'm done until…well, for a little bit, anyway.
October 5, 2011
"Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength, move on."
Snickery snackery, are you ready for some Trick or Treat...
Snickery snackery, are you ready for some Trick or Treat debauchery?
There are 11 days left to enter the Bash, my friend. I am giving away:
1 Kindle
Dozens (40ish) of horror, sci-fi, paranormal, and fantasy novels by a mix of new and established authors
Two Amazon giftcards & copies of This Brilliant Darkness
You an enter as many times as you'd like, and I've given you lots of ways to enter:
Like a FB page
Send a tweet
Post on Google+
write a review
make a piece of fan art
join an email list
comment on this blog and on the blogs of other Basher authors
You can do as little or as much as you'd like. The more you do, the more entries you'll get, is all.
Want more details? Click here and fill up your head.
I just love these tacky old Halloween movies, and the posters...
I just love these tacky old Halloween movies, and the posters that go with them are out of this world, aren't they?
This week I have a guest post from the prolific Trick or Treat Basher, Angela White, and she's got all the skinny on the real first vampyre. It's not who you think.
Who was the First "Real" Female Vampire?
The Blood Countess, Elizabeth Bathory, that's who. Her story is chilling, perfect for a Halloween Bash. Listen…
Elizabeth Bathory was one of the most famous female 'vampires' in history. Though less well known than Dracula, she was a documented eater of flesh and liked to bathe in the blood of her subjects.
Elizabeth was a Hungarian of noble blood, born in 1560 to George and Anna Bathory. They were both Bathory's by birth, an inbreeding that many think responsible for Elizabeth's reign of torture.
As one of he most powerful families in Hungary, the Bathory's ancestors fought beside Vlad Dracula and Elizabeth's cousin became the Prince of Transylvania in 1571. He later became the King of Poland.
Elizabeth was highly educated, speaking multiple languages and engaged to Count Ferenc Nadasdy at the age of 11. It is rumored that she suffered bouts of rage and seizures due to inbreeding but the horrors of the time may have been large influences on how she grew as well. Punishments for those in that region included being sewn up in the belly of a dead horse and left there to die.
In 1574, Elizabeth became pregnant by a peasant lover and was hidden away until she gave birth. The child was given away and in 1575, she was married to Ferenc Nadasdy and stories soon spread of her and her new husband being involved in torturing servants.
After ten years of marriage, Elizabeth had three daughters and a son, and by all reports, was a doting mother. Her husband was a warrior who was gone a lot and during his absences, it is said that she regularly tortured young girls to occupy her time. One of her favorite methods was to douse a naked girl with water and then drag her through the snow until she froze to death.
In 1604, Elizabeth's husband died of an infected wound and she began traveling with new friends, all of whom were also into torture and witchcraft. It was during this time that Elizabeth discovered that blood would heal aging skin and took to bathing in the fresh blood of virgins to remain young.
Elizabeth's activities went overlooked for a long time because she was nobility but when she murdered females of noble blood, the King of Hungary ordered her arrest. Upon her capture, it is said there was found the body of a girl in the hallway and many other corpses, along with captives waiting in cells. Elizabeth's friends were arrested too and in 1611, were given fast trials and even faster executions. Evidence at the trial put the death count for Elizabeth Bathory at well over 650.
Although Elizabeth was never convicted of any crime, she was declared a danger and walled up inside the bed chamber of her own castle, given only tiny slits for ventilation and passing food. After three years, a guard saw her lying face down on the floor, dead. Rumors imply that the lack of fresh blood was the cause of death. She passed on August 21, 1614 and was buried at Ecsed.
And it's all horribly true. Count Dracula earned his reputation as the main male vampyre of the world but because she's female, less attention was paid to Elizabeth, whose documented murders number in the hundreds. By today's standards, Elizabeth Bathory would be the worst female mass murderer of all time.
Visit Angela's blog, where I posted last night about "What is Dark Fantasy? Like Obscenity, I know it when I see it."
Angela knows a little something about "scary," wouldn't you say? You can win her books as part of my Kindle giveaway, if you're the grand prize winner.
October 4, 2011
A place to hide, a place to write! I need a writer's...
A place to hide, a place to write! I need a writer's clubhouse like this, except it kinda looks like it's set in the woods in Forks, doesn't it?
Book Sculptures Mysteriously Appear In Scottish Libraries
Scary through the years
October 3, 2011
Hungry?
I may have to make some of these little beauties for my...
Hungry?
I may have to make some of these little beauties for my Halloween/birthday party. No, my birthday's not on Halloween, silly. Just close to it, and I like costumes, so…why not?
Speaking of parties, I feel like I have two reasons to celebrate now. The Wizard Takes a Holiday went free on Amazon last Friday, and it's been in the top ten ever since. Squee! It's free, give it a read. See what you think.
Lastly, the Bash lasts until October 16, leaving only a lucky 13 more days for you to enter. What's that, you say? You don't know of this Bash? I'm giving away a Kindle, Amazon gift certificates, and free books from almost 40 of my author friends. TONS of free spooky, scary reads. Find out how you can enter here.
