Stephanie Faris's Blog, page 20

Like Twilight Zone? Don't Miss These Shows

I've always been a Twilight Zone fan. Something about that classic black-and-white film look, combined with the spooky twist. Not to mention this guy, who is arguably one of the best TV show hosts/creators of all time.



But while rewatching old episodes on Hulu, the website clued me into a couple of shows I missed. I've seen every episode of Twilight Zone at least five times, so being able to see NEW twisty stories shot on black-and-white film was a HUGE treat. Here are four shows you don't want to miss if you like Twilight Zone!



Alfred Hitchcock gets my vote for one of the worst TV hosts of all time, but the man could produce a movie. This TV series has great actors and suspenseful storylines. Watch on Hulu.



If not for Hulu, I would have never, ever known this show existed. It's supposedly based on true stories, but it has a definite Twilight Zone feel. Watch the pilot on YouTube. (To watch the rest, search One Step Beyond Season 1 episode 2, etc.)



It may not have the production quality of his original series, but Rod Serling's 1970s anthology series is definitely worth a watch. Some of the episodes are cheesy, but there are many, many more that will be on your mind for years after you watch them. Watch on Hulu.




I had to throw one modern-day example in! Stephen King tweeted about Black Mirror while he was watching the first season. I was curious, so I clicked over to Netflix and watched Season One. It's a British show that mixes Twilight Zone-style sci-fi with the future of tech. It proposes a future in which technology changes our lives...for better or worse. Watch on Netflix.

What is your favorite classic TV show?

Introducing Dear Poppy by Ronni Arno

Today calls for a celebration. Why? It's the day a great book launches into the world. This book...




...not only has a fun cover, but it's written by a great person! Ronni Arno is brimming over with talent. Plus--she's the type of person you'd just love to share a cup of coffee with! Read all about her new book and buy your own copy below.
Blurb:

When twelve-year-old Poppy moves to the country, she discovers a secret stash of letters that give her a unique connection to her late mother in this M!X novel about friendship, first crushes, and family drama.

City girl Poppy has always wanted a best friend, but never felt enough of a connection with anyone to gain BFF status. Even without a BFF, Poppy is horrified when her father decides to move her and her older brother out to the family farm. Away from her beloved city and away from memories of her late mom—a fresh start for everyone.

And after a weird first week at her new school, Poppy is convinced she is destined for a boring year—until she finds a stack of letters from 1985 hidden in the barn of the old farmhouse that they move into. Even better? Those letters are addressed to Poppy…from her mom. Poppy doesn’t know what supernatural event brought these letters to her, but she doesn’t care. All she knows is that she finally has the connection she yearns for. Plus, her mom seems to understand everything that Poppy is going through: not quite fitting in, the desire to put down roots, and the heartbreak of losing a loved one. Has Poppy discovered the friend—and acceptance—she’s always wanted?


Buy Links:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound
Bio:

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Ronni Arno Blaisdell is the author of Ruby Reinvented. She has written for several magazines, blogs, and websites. In a previous life she worked as a publicist in Hollywood, and eventually built a home in Maine. She is a keen SCBWI member and contributor to the KidLiterati.com blog.




Links:
Website| Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Scary October: Brookdale Lodge

It's October, which means I'm sharing spooky stories every week this month. Today's post is about a Brookdale, California hotel that had an interesting history even before the spirit of a young girl began haunting the place. This was once the sign for the Brookdale Lodge:



Built in 1890, the lodge peaked in the 40s and 50s, when visitors included Marilyn Monroe and President Herbert Hoover. It was notable primarily for the stream running through its main restaurant, known as the Brook Room.



According to legend, Sarah Logan, the niece of the lodge's owner, died in the building in 1892. Some say she drowned, but that can't be verified. There are also stories of a girl drowning in this pool, which also can't be verified.



The pool was visible from the bar. People have reported seeing a young girl floating in the pool through this window in the bar:



The death of a Sarah Logan was recorded in that county in 1892. A ghost hunter obtained a copy of that girl's death certificate, which lists the cause of death as "paralysis of the lungs."



In the years that followed, little Sarah's ghost was reported numerous times. She was often described as wearing a white and blue dress, walking through the lobby or playing on a balcony.



In addition to Sarah's ghost, guests of the Mermaid Room in the restaurant reported hearing voices, the clinking of glasses, and soft music.



Other visitors say they've seen the ghost of a woman walking across the brook as though there is a bridge above it. Some say it's the ghost of Sarah's mother, searching for her long-lost daughter.



In 2009, a fire destroyed part of the lodge and its owner was indicted on insurance fraud in connection with that fire.



However, don't give up hope on being able to visit this landmark someday. Plans are currently underway to reopen the lodge, although they can't legally call it the Brookdale Lodge. If plans work out, it will reopen as Brookdale Inn & Spa.


Image source: KSBW
Check out last week's post on the Lizzie Borden House. And be sure to come back next week for the final stop on my annual ghost tour:

Scary October: The Lizzie Borden House

It's October, which means I'm sharing spooky stories every week this month. Today's post is about a particularly evil woman, assuming she did what she's accused of doing. Recognize her?



Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.

The Lizzie Borden saga goes farther back than people realize. In 1848, a man named Lawdwick Borden was forced to deal with the tragedy of his wife dropping their three children in a well before taking her own life. A few decades later, Lawdwick's nephew, Andrew Borden, moved into the house next door to where all that happened. With him were with his wife, Abby, and his daughters, Lizzie and Emma.



Their home in Fall River, Massachusetts was not a happy one, though. Lizzie called her stepmother "Mrs. Borden" and there were reportedly numerous family battles, especially in the days leading up to the murders.



On the morning of August 4, 1892, Abby Borden was making the bed in their home's guest bedroom when she was suddenly struck on the side of her head with a hatchet. She fell to the ground, only to be struck 17-18 more times on the back of her head.



Andrew Borden arrived home around 11 a.m., unaware his wife was dead upstairs. He lay down for a nap on the sofa on the first floor, where he was struck in the face with a hatchet 10-11 times. This is the sofa.



Lizzie was tried for the murder but acquitted. She and her sister inherited the entire estate, worth $265,000. Seeking privacy, Lizzie and Emma moved to a home they named "Maplecroft." Emma moved out in 1905 after an argument, but Lizzie stayed there until she died.



Today, the home where Andrew and Abby were killed is a bed and breakfast. Yep--not only can you take a tour, but you can sleep in the room where Abby Borden was murdered.



Visitors report hearing doors opening and closing and smelling the faint scent of perfume. Guests often leave the bed and breakfast in the middle of the night, too afraid to stay until morning.

Check out last week's post on the Winchester Mystery House. And be sure to come back next week for the next stop on my ghost tour:

Scary October: Winchester Mystery House

It's October, which means I'm sharing spooky stories every week this month. Today's post is about this beautiful house, owned by the widow of gun magnate William Wirt Winchester.



Sarah Winchester's story starts with tragedy. Her daughter died in infancy and her husband died of tuberculosis. Sarah decided to visit a psychic for guidance.


Sarah Winchester
Sarah's husband was best known for "the gun that won the West."



And her "misfortune," the psychic said, was because of all the lives that Winchester rifle had taken. The psychic told her to make her surroundings attractive to kind spirits. Those spirits would keep the evil spirits away. Sarah traveled to California and purchased an eight-room farmhouse. She hired workers who began building.



If you ever tour the house, you'll see how little sense it makes. There are stairways that lead nowhere and doors that open with nothing but solid walls behind them. The house is just a huge maze.



For 38 years, Sarah directed construction as guided by spirits through seances she held. She died in 1922 but some say her spirit remains with the house. Psychics have reported hearing organ music. There is an old organ in the house, but it doesn't work.




Visitors hear footsteps, slamming doors, and strange voices. People have also reported seeing "fog people" in the house.



Do you think the Winchester Mystery House is haunted? Or just an oddly confusing maze of a home?

Check out last week's post on the Waverly Hills Sanitorium. And be sure to come back next week for the next stop on my ghost tour:

Introducing After Loving You by Kelly Hashway

Kelly Hashway is a regular visitor to my blog...and her books are almost always toward the top of my to-read list! Today I'm helping out with the launch of her latest book and I'm so excited to start reading. Here it is...scroll down to read all about it and get your copy.





Blurb:

When Mia Thompson and Jared Grande break up before college, they think that's the end for them.

But two years later, Mia is stalking Jared's Facebook page and he's contacting her every chance he gets. Even though they're both seeing other people, they can't seem to say good-bye to the past they shared.

One way or another, they'll have to figure out how to love again. Is it time to get back together or time to move on?


Buy Links:
Amazon | B&N | Kobo
Bio:

Kelly Hashway grew up reading R.L. Stein’s Fear Street novels and writing stories of her own, so it was no surprise to her family when she majored in English and later obtained a masters degree in English Secondary Education from East Stroudsburg University. After teaching middle school language arts for seven years, Hashway went back to school and focused specifically on writing. She is now the author of three young adult series, one middle grade series, and several picture books. She also writes contemporary romance under the pen name Ashelyn Drake. When she isn’t writing, Hashway works as a freelance editor for small presses as well as for her own list of clients. In her spare time, she enjoys running, traveling, and volunteering with the PTO. Hashway currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, daughter, and two pets.
Links:
Website| Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google+

IWSG: When Do You Know Your Story Is Ready?

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means hundreds of us will be posting about our insecurities. If you haven't yet, join in. You'll be glad you did!



Each month we have a question. This month's question is:

When Do You Know Your Story Is Ready?
This is one tough question! I've never been one of those authors who revises the same novel for four years. I think writing is one area where being a perfectionist can definitely hold you back.



Don't get me wrong--you can create a great book that way. A standout book that wins major awards and becomes the best book of all time. However, I haven't seen that to be the case for a few of the perfectionist-writers I've known. Some writers just end up either making their book worse or keeping it pretty much the same.



We all revise. For some, though, that means a quick read-through before sending it out to an agent or editor. For others, that means revising over and over and never sending it out. Most of us fall somewhere between those two extremes.



In the end, though, we all have to ask ourselves why we're still revising. Are we sure it needs yet one more pass? Or are we just afraid to take the next step? After all, once we've submitted, this can happen:



In the early stages of your career, an objective reader can make a big difference. This is especially true if you plan to self-publish, where no professional editor stands between you and your readers.



But everyone can benefit from a second pair of eyes. Whether it's a critique group or beta readers, get a group of readers and pass everything you write through them. It can be very difficult to see our own plot holes on our own--that feedback could make the difference between this:



And this:



What are you insecure about this month?

Introducing Black Flowers, White Lies by Yvonne Ventresca

I've been excited to read today's book since I first saw the cover. How can you resist this beauty?




Today is release day for Black Flowers, White Lies by my new friend Yvonne Ventresca. Best of all, I get to help her celebrate!!! Scroll down to read all about it and buy your own copy.


Blurb:

Her father died before she was born, but Ella Benton knows they have a special connection. Now, evidence points to his death in a psychiatric hospital, not a car accident as Mom claimed. After a lifetime of just the two of them, Mom suddenly feels like a stranger.

When a handprint much like the one Ella left on her father’s tombstone mysteriously appears on the bathroom mirror, at first she wonders if Dad is warning her of danger as he did once before. If it’s not a warning, could her new too-good-to-be-true boyfriend be responsible for the strange occurrences? Or maybe it’s the grieving building superintendent whose dead daughter strongly resembles Ella? As the unexplained events become more frequent and more sinister, Ella becomes terrified about who--or what--might harm her.

Soon the evidence points to someone else entirely: Ella herself. What if, like her father, she’s suffering from a breakdown? Ella desperately needs to find answers, no matter how disturbing the truth might be.


Buy Links:
Amazon | B&N | IndieBound
Bio:

Yvonne's debut YA novel, PANDEMIC, won a 2015 Crystal Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. In PANDEMIC, a teen struggles to survive not only a deadly outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons. Ventresca's other works include the short story “Escape to Orange Blossom,” which was selected for the dystopian anthology PREP FOR DOOM, along with two nonfiction books, PUBLISHING (Careers for the 21st Century) and AVRIL LAVIGNE (People in the News).

Besides writing, she enjoys learning Isshinryu karate, which she has studied for the last ten years. You can visit her website at YvonneVentresca.com.
Links:
Blog| Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Google+

Scary October: Waverly Hills Sanatorium

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I love scary things.



Which means October is my favorite month!!! Every October, I dedicate my blog to scary things. In fact, I'd already picked out this year's posts by the time last October was over. Probably because I always spend the last week of this month binge-watching this show.



One haunted location that has become a favorite of paranormal shows is an old tuburculosis hospital in Louisville. Every Halloween, I want to make the three-hour drive to tour it and every Halloween, I remember that they turn it into a haunted house during the month of October.



Yes, it's always a haunted house. But in October, it becomes the type of haunted house with actors dressed up in costumes, chasing you around with chainsaws.



Other months of the year, you can tour the building and hear spooky stories. That's my kind of haunted house.



In the early 1900s, Louisville, Kentucky had a serious tuberculosis problem. Waverly Hills opened in 1910 with the goal of housing 40-50 tuberculosis patients. Over the course of the epidemic, the building saw thousands of patients.



There were deaths every minute during the disease's peak. At Waverly Hills, bodies were sent down "the death tunnel" to avoid alarming other patients. A hearse was waiting at the bottom.



There are many ghosts still lingering at Waverly Hills, with reports of strange sounds and sights. Many visitors report seeing the ghost of a child.



The most interesting legend is of a nurse in Room 502. The legend says that a nurse committed suicide in the room because she was an unwed pregnant woman.



The crew of Ghost Hunters visited the local library and found evidence that two nurses died at Waverly Hills. One was 45 and single, while the other was 34 and single. However, the cause of death wasn't listed.



Some have reported seeing a man and a dog. Ghost Hunters confirmed that a homeless man and his dog were found dead in this elevator shaft:



Do you believe the Waverly Hills Sanatorium is haunted?

Come back next week for the next stop on my ghost tour:

Best Books of September

It's once again time to tell you about the best books I read this month. Here are my favorite September reads!




I have a lot in common with the first author I read this month. She wrote a series of chapter books for Aladdin and now she has a new middle grade book out for Aladdin M!x. I did both of those things, in reverse order. But even if we didn't share that in common, I'd be a fan of Allison Gutknecht's books. She's just pure awesomeness.



In The Bling Queen, a 12-year-old fashionista named Tess decides to enter a contest held by her favorite fashion blogger. Only her friend-turned-arch nemesis decides to enter, too. In addition to the bling battle, Tess also has an ailing grandma with a missing locket, which makes her even more endearing as a character. Allison has a knack for creating likable characters and plenty of twists and turns in her stories.

Next up is another Aladdin M!x book--this one by a very accomplished author. I remember reading Barbara Dee's books when I was still trying to get published. Her books are always page-turners.



Truth or Dare is all about honesty vs. deception. The main character, Lia, tries hard to fit in with her group of friends, but she seems to be losing ground. So instead of going with them to camp, she decides to spend the summer with her aunt. When she returns, she makes up a detailed, bold fib during a game of Truth or Dare...but this book has an underlying theme of honestly. Not just being honest with your friends, but being honest with yourself.

My next book is from one of my favorite blogger-authors, Sandra Cox. I want to just take a month off to read everything she's ever written (it would take that long--she's very prolific!). Her latest is this beauty:



In Sundial, a sundial transports a woman back in time, to a place where she meets a man named Jesse, whom she keeps confusing for "Aaron." She can't explain her confusion, but she follows him through adventure after adventure. He also feels there's something familiar about her...but to find out the rest, you'll have to read the book! With unforgettable characters and rich historic detail, this is one time-travel romance you'll have a hard time putting down.

If you read blogs regularly, you'll likely know all about the next book I read. Jacqui Murray made her way around the blogosphere with her tour for this one:



From the first word of To Hunt a Sub, I knew that the author was someone who was a truly intelligent woman. The research and technical details she included in this book had me in complete awe. A cybervirus is crippling submarines--and as subs sunk to the bottom of the ocean, I found myself having a hard time breathing. It's up to Zeke and Kali to save the entire country using their brains. If you love thrillers, this is definitely one you can't miss!

Murees Dupé is another familiar face in the blogosphere and her book is one that catches your eye from the start:



The Amaranthine focuses on a highly relatable woman named Claire. Claire works for a nightmare boss and is largely unrespected by everyone. It reminded me of Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in Batman! This ordinary Cinderella-ish woman just happens to exist as the soul mate for a hunkalicious immortal warrior named Alex. As Claire begins to realize her place is with the immortals, she tries hard to fight her growing feelings for Alex. If you're a fan of vampires and werewolves (or just romances in general), you can't miss this one!!!

What are you reading now?