Tim Meyer's Blog
August 3, 2023
MEET ME IN LACUNA'S POINT
Today is a big day. BIG. My new novel, LACUNA'S POINT has hit the streets and I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to have this book out in the wild. I started working on it at the beginning of 2020, a couple of months before the pandemic hit, just before we all went on lockdown. The majority of the first draft was written when I wasn’t working the day job, between the beginning of March and the end of May. It changed so much from the initial idea (what was supposed to be a YA novel), and the events of 2020 really shaped the way this novel turned out. I think if you read it, take the trip to Lacuna’s Point, you’ll be able to pick up on these real-life inspirations.
A huge shoutout to DarkLit Press for taking this novel on (and TruBorn Design for that amazing cover!). It’s no slim read. Not quite as big as MALIGNANT SUMMER. Not sure I’ll ever write anything as big as that again (although the fantasy novel I wrote last year is begging for sequels a la GoT or WoT). But this one clocks in at a whopping 128k words. It’s big. Immersive. Has a large cast. And the town itself is perhaps the biggest character of them all. Think SILENT HILL meets PLEASANTVILLE.
Don’t just take my word for it. Clay McLeod Chapman, author of GHOST EATERS and WHAT KIND OF MOTHER had this to say about it: "Tim Meyer gets under your skin and simply no amount of scratching will ever extract him. Lacuna's Point is a rest area rendered by M.C. Escher and Lovecraft on a road trip straight to hell."
If you’d like to purchase LACUNA’S POINT, it would mean everything to me. Here’s a link tree where you can buy it from your favorite bookish retailers: https://lnkj.in/p/lacuna
Cheers!
TM
A huge shoutout to DarkLit Press for taking this novel on (and TruBorn Design for that amazing cover!). It’s no slim read. Not quite as big as MALIGNANT SUMMER. Not sure I’ll ever write anything as big as that again (although the fantasy novel I wrote last year is begging for sequels a la GoT or WoT). But this one clocks in at a whopping 128k words. It’s big. Immersive. Has a large cast. And the town itself is perhaps the biggest character of them all. Think SILENT HILL meets PLEASANTVILLE.
Don’t just take my word for it. Clay McLeod Chapman, author of GHOST EATERS and WHAT KIND OF MOTHER had this to say about it: "Tim Meyer gets under your skin and simply no amount of scratching will ever extract him. Lacuna's Point is a rest area rendered by M.C. Escher and Lovecraft on a road trip straight to hell."
If you’d like to purchase LACUNA’S POINT, it would mean everything to me. Here’s a link tree where you can buy it from your favorite bookish retailers: https://lnkj.in/p/lacuna
Cheers!
TM
August 19, 2022
THE DREAMWORLD NEEDS YOU!
Been a long time since I've posted something here, but hey - I've been busy! Anyway, I wanted to post a bit of news I'm particularly excited about - I'll be editing my first anthology! Here are the details:
NEVER WAKE: An Anthology of Dream Horror
NEVER WAKE will be edited by myself and Kenneth W. Cain, published by Crystal Lake Publishing the back half of 2023. But! (Yes, there is a BUT). We can only make this happen if we get this Kickstarter 100% funded. If done right, anthologies can be super expensive to make, so we've decided to Kickstart this thing. We're running the campaign as a pre-order where our backers will receive early copies, but there is also an opportunity to get cool rewards like signed books, special shout-outs, and even have your name appear in a story by one of our headlining authors. The anthology will feature stories by:
Sadie "Mother Horror" Hartmann (Introduction)
Laird Barron
Philip Fracassi
Gwendolyn Kiste
Eric LaRocca
Lee Murray
Cynthia Pelayo
...plus more from our open call! (details when the campaign is funded)
We only have about 2 weeks left in the campaign and we are about 60% funded, so it's going to be a tight race at the finish line. I'm still confident we'll make it happen! I'm really passionate about this project and excited to bring it to life, so if you consider heading over to the Kickstarter page and checking it out, I'll be forever grateful! Cheers! - TM
VISIT THE NEVER WAKE ANTHOLOGY KICKSTARTER PAGE
April 13, 2020
DEAD DAUGHTERS (Book Trailer)
This week, my wife and I got bored, decided to mess around and shoot a book trailer for DEAD DAUGHTERS, my new novel that comes out April 16th. I think the thing came out pretty good and I figured I’d post it here, in case you haven’t seen it floating around my social media. So, what do you think? Also, are book trailers a good promotional tool? Let me know how you feel about them in the comments below.
DEAD DAUGHTERS (book trailer)
DEAD DAUGHTERS (book trailer)
April 26, 2019
BEERS N FEARS BREWERY BOOK TOUR 2019
Hey all! Just wanted to post the information for our upcoming NJ brewery book tour. I have a lot of fun at these every year, so if you live in the area or within reasonable driving distance, I’d love to see your face! Below is everything you need to save the date! Let me know in the comments if you plan on attending!
*although not pictured, author Dan Padavona has been added to the May 10th signing.*
*although not pictured, author Dan Padavona has been added to the May 10th signing.*
June 18, 2018
THE SWITCH HOUSE PRE-ORDER CONTEST!
It’s here! THE SWITCH HOUSE is finally available for pre-order. You can enter the EVERYWHERE by clicking here. There will be an audio version, too. Details on that coming soon.
PRE-ORDER CONTEST: If you do pre-order THE SWITCH HOUSE, send a screenshot of the order confirmation to tfmeyer3(at)gmail.com. You’ll automatically be entered in a lottery. On July 31st, I’ll draw one name and that lucky person will receive a signed copy of THE SWITCH HOUSE and (yes, and) another one of my books. Winner’s choice. There’s only a few entries so far, so your chances of winning are pretty good!
That’s all for now. Now, feast your eyes on this gorgeous cover!
CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve won a role on LET’S SWITCH HOUSES! Your life is going to change. We promise. Your dreams will come true. Everything you’ve ever wanted, we have it. This is a chance of a lifetime. Come inside. Switch with us.
Angela and Terry return home after several grueling months of filming the popular television show, LET’S SWITCH HOUSES!, only to find their residence in ruin. Sure, the décor and framed photographs are the same; the color of the walls hasn’t changed; the furniture sits unmoved. But something is off. Their quiet New Jersey home feels tainted. Angela can sense it. Crawling inside her. Infecting her mind. Poisoning her thoughts.
Then the nightmares begin. Awful, lucid visions that cause her to question her own reality. What happened at 44 Trenton Road while she was gone? Just what did she do, that bizarre woman who claims she can communicate with the beyond? Who is she exactly? Angela aims to find out, but the further she investigates, the deeper into madness she descends. How far will she travel before she loses the trail of clues? Or worse—before she loses her mind.
THE SWITCH HOUSE is a short novel for fans of supernatural thrillers with a dark twist.
“…[Meyer’s] best work yet. Unmissable.” – Matt Hayward, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of WHAT DO MONSTERS FEAR?
“An odd, tragic, and mind-bending tale.” – Glenn Rolfe, author of BECOMING and LAND OF BONES
“Brilliant twists… creepy occult… story stayed with me long after reading it. Tim at his finest!” – Chuck Buda, author of THE FIRST CUT and PAY UP AND DIE
“Equal parts nightmare and thriller, Tim Meyer’s THE SWITCH HOUSE drags the reader into its darkened halls of insanity. Don’t miss it.” – Todd Keisling, author of THE FINAL RECONCILIATION and UGLY LITTLE THINGS
“If there’s one book you read this year, make it this one.” – CEDAR HOLLOW REVIEWS
PRE-ORDER CONTEST: If you do pre-order THE SWITCH HOUSE, send a screenshot of the order confirmation to tfmeyer3(at)gmail.com. You’ll automatically be entered in a lottery. On July 31st, I’ll draw one name and that lucky person will receive a signed copy of THE SWITCH HOUSE and (yes, and) another one of my books. Winner’s choice. There’s only a few entries so far, so your chances of winning are pretty good!
That’s all for now. Now, feast your eyes on this gorgeous cover!
CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve won a role on LET’S SWITCH HOUSES! Your life is going to change. We promise. Your dreams will come true. Everything you’ve ever wanted, we have it. This is a chance of a lifetime. Come inside. Switch with us.
Angela and Terry return home after several grueling months of filming the popular television show, LET’S SWITCH HOUSES!, only to find their residence in ruin. Sure, the décor and framed photographs are the same; the color of the walls hasn’t changed; the furniture sits unmoved. But something is off. Their quiet New Jersey home feels tainted. Angela can sense it. Crawling inside her. Infecting her mind. Poisoning her thoughts.
Then the nightmares begin. Awful, lucid visions that cause her to question her own reality. What happened at 44 Trenton Road while she was gone? Just what did she do, that bizarre woman who claims she can communicate with the beyond? Who is she exactly? Angela aims to find out, but the further she investigates, the deeper into madness she descends. How far will she travel before she loses the trail of clues? Or worse—before she loses her mind.
THE SWITCH HOUSE is a short novel for fans of supernatural thrillers with a dark twist.
“…[Meyer’s] best work yet. Unmissable.” – Matt Hayward, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of WHAT DO MONSTERS FEAR?
“An odd, tragic, and mind-bending tale.” – Glenn Rolfe, author of BECOMING and LAND OF BONES
“Brilliant twists… creepy occult… story stayed with me long after reading it. Tim at his finest!” – Chuck Buda, author of THE FIRST CUT and PAY UP AND DIE
“Equal parts nightmare and thriller, Tim Meyer’s THE SWITCH HOUSE drags the reader into its darkened halls of insanity. Don’t miss it.” – Todd Keisling, author of THE FINAL RECONCILIATION and UGLY LITTLE THINGS
“If there’s one book you read this year, make it this one.” – CEDAR HOLLOW REVIEWS
July 7, 2017
SUNFALL: SEASON THREE IS NOW AVAILABLE (SEASON ONE IS FREE!)
The post-apocalyptic series (SUNFALL), I co-write with Chad Scanlon and Pete Draper, dropped its third book today. YOU CAN GET IT HERE! SUNFALL has been a passion project since day one. It's a fun, pulpy story that really allows the three of us to flex our creative muscles. This third book is unlike what we've done with the first two, and although I'm excited to share SEASON THREE with our readers, I'm also a little scared. I'm not sure what readers will think of it, but personally, I think it's one of the best things I've ever written and I'm damn proud of the story we've told.
If you haven't checked out the series yet, the guys and I are dropping the prices of the first two books this weekend only. SEASON ONE is usually $.99 for your Kindle device, but you can currently get it for the blowout price of FREE! SEASON TWO is normally $2.99, and right now you can nab it for just a buck. That's two books for less than a cup of coffee. Can't beat that. For you paperback junkies, all three books are available in print as well.
If you live in New Jersey near the Ocean County area, feel free to stop by our book event Saturday, July 8th in TOMS RIVER. Details can be found here!
Well, that about does it. I probably won't be blogging much since it's almost vacation time and I will be prepping for another SCARES THAT CARE adventure. Hope to see some of you there!
Cheers,
TM
December 28, 2016
Top 10 Horror Novels of 2016
Okay, so the title should really read "My Favorite" Horror Novels of 2016, but the SEO machine needs to be tickled, so pardon me.
I tore through a ton of books throughout 2016 (73, Goodreads currently tells me), in fact, that's the most I've ever read in a single year. In 2015, I believe I ended up reading around 50 works of varying length. This year, I'll probably finish 75 or greater.Read more…
While some may argue the year itself wasn't all that great, there's no denying 2016 was fantastic for horror fiction. This year handed us some high-quality reads which made this list extremely difficult to rank. Although I did my best, there are a number of books with great buzz I didn't get to read (Bracken MacLeod's Stranded and Ed Kurtz's The Rib From Which I Remake the World, just to name a couple). If you want to look at all the books I read this year, check out my Goodreads Profile here. Also, feel free to drop your own favorites in the comments below, especially some lesser known titles. I'm always on the lookout for new reads!
Without further ado, here are my favorite books of 2016:
10. Night Things: Dracula vs Frankenstein by Terry West - Terry West has crafted a great book for the die hard horror fan. Specifically, those in love with our classic movie monsters. Not only does the book feature a fresh take on Dracula and Frankenstein, but he incorporates other cinema favorites along the journey. Loved this book.
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9. Beyond Where the Sky Ends: Dark Tales to Disturb and Engage by D.S. Ullery - D.S. Ullery may not be a household name (yet), but odds are if you're a fan of anthologies, you've come across his name. This book collects some of D.S.'s best short fiction and it will terrify you, make you cry, and sicken your soul. This is a writer to watch and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.
8. Desolation by Kristopher Rufty - This book came out last January and I wish I had read it sooner. Desolation is basically a home invasion story, but the way Rufty crafts his characters is something to gush over. The way he realistically portrays violence will make even the most seasoned horror reader cringe. Desolation is an exceptional story by an exceptional author.
7. Blister by Jeff Strand - There's something about Jeff Strand's writing that sits well with me. A relatively short read, Blister is more or less a different kind of love story. It's funny and violent, but it has a lot of heart, something I wasn't totally expecting when I cracked it open. Plus, the book deals with a lot of the same themes and carries the same tone as my novel, In the House of Mirrors, so it definitely connected with me on another level.
6. Mayan Blue by Michelle Garza & Melissa Lason (The Sisters of Slaughter) - This book really knocked my socks off. I wasn't sure what to expect during the first few chapters, but as the book progressed it went from typical horror-movie tropes to this-is-some-crazy-ass-shit in a flash. It's a perfect combination of extreme horror and dark fantasy, and I couldn't get enough of it. I can't wait to see what the Sisters of Slaughter come up with next.
5. The Jersey Devil by Hunter Shea - Come on now. You can't have a book called The Jersey Devil out there and expect me to leave it off my Top 10. No way. Well, a sucker for New Jersey lore aside, I enjoyed this awesome book written by one of my favorite writers. Shea's portrayal of the Jersey Devil is completely unique and this book is a great example of Shea at his best.
4. Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones - This book really took me by surprise. Through the first twenty pages, I didn't really like it. The jumping timeline and the fact that it was hardly a werewolf story at all kind of turned me off, but as I delved deeper I became fascinated, and I found myself unable to put it down. The prose is almost hypnotic in the way it pulls you in. You know what, enough explanation - just read it! It's great!
3. The Night Parade by Ronald Malfi - Ronald Malfi's books, for me, are staples of modern horror fiction. I expected The Night Parade to be some of his best work, and you know what? It is. A post-apocalyptic plague that causes people to have waking nightmares is one of the most ingenious inventions ever. This book has great imagery, an amazing plot, and a winning cast of characters, elements that a lot of modern post-apocalyptic fiction tends to lack.
2. Savages by Greg F. Gifune - I had only read a few Greg F. Gifune's DarkFuse novellas prior to jumping into this novel about a group of shipwrecked survivors trying to outwit a highly proficient assassin. I can't tell you how much I loved this novel. It has everything a horror fan wants and expects, and so much more. Add it to the top of your TBR, like, now.
1 . Children of the Dark by Jonathan Janz - My number one spot goes to Mr. Jonathan Janz for his novel Children of the Dark. It's the only book this year I literally could NOT put down. Seriously, I felt like this book had been glued to my fingertips. For a few days I spent every waking moment worshipping Janz's beautiful prose and captivating storyline. If you consider yourself a horror fan, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not checking out Janz's work, and Children of the Dark is the perfect place to start.
A few other works I thoroughly enjoyed and deserve a mention: The Disappearance at Devil's Rock by Paul Tremblay, The Complex by Brian Keene, Chasing Ghosts by Glenn Rolfe, Paper Tigers by Damien Angelica Walters, & Zero Saints by Gabino Iglesias. I'm also halfway through Thomas Olde Heuvelt's Hex and I'm fucking loving it.
That wraps up my list of favorite novels from 2016. Hope everyone has a great holiday and please stay safe this New Year.
-TM
I tore through a ton of books throughout 2016 (73, Goodreads currently tells me), in fact, that's the most I've ever read in a single year. In 2015, I believe I ended up reading around 50 works of varying length. This year, I'll probably finish 75 or greater.Read more…
While some may argue the year itself wasn't all that great, there's no denying 2016 was fantastic for horror fiction. This year handed us some high-quality reads which made this list extremely difficult to rank. Although I did my best, there are a number of books with great buzz I didn't get to read (Bracken MacLeod's Stranded and Ed Kurtz's The Rib From Which I Remake the World, just to name a couple). If you want to look at all the books I read this year, check out my Goodreads Profile here. Also, feel free to drop your own favorites in the comments below, especially some lesser known titles. I'm always on the lookout for new reads!
Without further ado, here are my favorite books of 2016:
10. Night Things: Dracula vs Frankenstein by Terry West - Terry West has crafted a great book for the die hard horror fan. Specifically, those in love with our classic movie monsters. Not only does the book feature a fresh take on Dracula and Frankenstein, but he incorporates other cinema favorites along the journey. Loved this book.
[image error]
9. Beyond Where the Sky Ends: Dark Tales to Disturb and Engage by D.S. Ullery - D.S. Ullery may not be a household name (yet), but odds are if you're a fan of anthologies, you've come across his name. This book collects some of D.S.'s best short fiction and it will terrify you, make you cry, and sicken your soul. This is a writer to watch and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him.
8. Desolation by Kristopher Rufty - This book came out last January and I wish I had read it sooner. Desolation is basically a home invasion story, but the way Rufty crafts his characters is something to gush over. The way he realistically portrays violence will make even the most seasoned horror reader cringe. Desolation is an exceptional story by an exceptional author.
7. Blister by Jeff Strand - There's something about Jeff Strand's writing that sits well with me. A relatively short read, Blister is more or less a different kind of love story. It's funny and violent, but it has a lot of heart, something I wasn't totally expecting when I cracked it open. Plus, the book deals with a lot of the same themes and carries the same tone as my novel, In the House of Mirrors, so it definitely connected with me on another level.
6. Mayan Blue by Michelle Garza & Melissa Lason (The Sisters of Slaughter) - This book really knocked my socks off. I wasn't sure what to expect during the first few chapters, but as the book progressed it went from typical horror-movie tropes to this-is-some-crazy-ass-shit in a flash. It's a perfect combination of extreme horror and dark fantasy, and I couldn't get enough of it. I can't wait to see what the Sisters of Slaughter come up with next.
5. The Jersey Devil by Hunter Shea - Come on now. You can't have a book called The Jersey Devil out there and expect me to leave it off my Top 10. No way. Well, a sucker for New Jersey lore aside, I enjoyed this awesome book written by one of my favorite writers. Shea's portrayal of the Jersey Devil is completely unique and this book is a great example of Shea at his best.
4. Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones - This book really took me by surprise. Through the first twenty pages, I didn't really like it. The jumping timeline and the fact that it was hardly a werewolf story at all kind of turned me off, but as I delved deeper I became fascinated, and I found myself unable to put it down. The prose is almost hypnotic in the way it pulls you in. You know what, enough explanation - just read it! It's great!
3. The Night Parade by Ronald Malfi - Ronald Malfi's books, for me, are staples of modern horror fiction. I expected The Night Parade to be some of his best work, and you know what? It is. A post-apocalyptic plague that causes people to have waking nightmares is one of the most ingenious inventions ever. This book has great imagery, an amazing plot, and a winning cast of characters, elements that a lot of modern post-apocalyptic fiction tends to lack.
2. Savages by Greg F. Gifune - I had only read a few Greg F. Gifune's DarkFuse novellas prior to jumping into this novel about a group of shipwrecked survivors trying to outwit a highly proficient assassin. I can't tell you how much I loved this novel. It has everything a horror fan wants and expects, and so much more. Add it to the top of your TBR, like, now.
1 . Children of the Dark by Jonathan Janz - My number one spot goes to Mr. Jonathan Janz for his novel Children of the Dark. It's the only book this year I literally could NOT put down. Seriously, I felt like this book had been glued to my fingertips. For a few days I spent every waking moment worshipping Janz's beautiful prose and captivating storyline. If you consider yourself a horror fan, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not checking out Janz's work, and Children of the Dark is the perfect place to start.
A few other works I thoroughly enjoyed and deserve a mention: The Disappearance at Devil's Rock by Paul Tremblay, The Complex by Brian Keene, Chasing Ghosts by Glenn Rolfe, Paper Tigers by Damien Angelica Walters, & Zero Saints by Gabino Iglesias. I'm also halfway through Thomas Olde Heuvelt's Hex and I'm fucking loving it.
That wraps up my list of favorite novels from 2016. Hope everyone has a great holiday and please stay safe this New Year.
-TM
October 24, 2016
7 GREAT WRITING BOOKS TO IMPROVE YOUR CRAFT
Every writer has their favorite books when it comes to improving their craft. Some are universally loved (like the first two on my list), must-owns on every writer's bookshelf. But when you browse Amazon for a good book on writing, there are so many choices that it can become a bit overwhelming, especially if you're just starting out. In honor of NaNoWriMo, I've put together a short list of books that have helped me over the years. I hope they help you, too!
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1 - The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. E.B. White – Also known as “My Bible.” Odds are, you've read this already, or at least browsed its pages. If not, I suggest you head on over to Amazon and grab yourself a copy. The book is concise and the information it contains is crucial for clear, stylish writing. I occasionally peruse the pages and attempt to beat certain passages into my head. It's simply the best book on writing guidelines and tightening your craft.
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2 - On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King – You didn't really think you'd read a “Best of” list on writing and not see this masterpiece on it, did you? Okay, let the obligatory swooning over King's masterful command over the language commence. He's the best at what he does and I'm sure few would disagree with that statement. Although On Writing is partly a personal memoir, it's still amazing and the lessons he teaches in the latter half of the book can't go ignored. Whether you're a fan of King or not, if you plan on taking a crack at this writer thing, On Writing needs to be on your bookshelf.
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3 - Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels with Peter David by Peter David – So, this isn't a book on novel writing per se, but I think Peter David's experience writing them, and his stellar work for Marvel Comics (The Incredible Hulk and The Dark Tower), are important to note. Bottom line: Peter David is a writer. And while this book is geared more towards comic book writing, Peter's message remains on the importance of storytelling and structure. To me, that information is just as important as the technical aspects. Peter David is a master in his field and he has valuable information to bring to the table, a lot of which I think crosses over into other mediums.
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4 - Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee – Like my third suggestion, this book doesn't have anything to do with novel writing; it's all about how to take the story in your head and make sense of it, structure it, and breathe life into it. If you've seen the movie Adaptation with Meryl Streep and Nicolas Cage, then you're already familiar with this book. McKee's Story is a wonderful book that has helped me organize the scenes in my head, and give my plot and subplots substance. Want to know why every Hollywood movie seems more or less the same? Well, McKee explains it all in great detail. Want to master the art of the Three-Act Structure? Five-Act Structure? It's all here. I find this book incredibly helpful and I think both newcomers and veterans can benefit from giving this book a read.
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5 - Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch: Let Verbs Power Your Writing by Constance Hale – It's hard to pick a favorite on this list, but Constance Hale's book on the power of verbs is an enlightening experience. A lot of writers will make the mistake in using too many adjectives (myself included), but Hale's book explains why you don't need them at all. The basis of this book shows how nouns and verbs can drive your sentences, and stronger word choices can make your prose pop. This is a fantastic read and I find myself going back to it time and time again. It's complete with optional exercises at the end of each chapter. Again, I believe this book can service novices and veteran writers alike. If you only check out one book off this list, I think this should be it.
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6 – Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K.M. Weiland – Writers seem to fall on two sides of the fence when it comes to outlining: I love to outline! or F that Noise, outlining kills my creative output, man. If experience has taught me anything, no opinion on outlining is wrong. I happen to be stuck on the fence spikes and haven't found a way off. Sometimes I outline, sometimes I take my chances and roll with it. Each project is different. Lately, I've found outlining more helpful, and Weiland's book has been a big part of it. In it, the author stresses that outlines shouldn't tether you to your story. It teaches you to treat them more like guidelines, a road map you can feel free to deviate from. I happen to like this method best. It keeps me from wandering too far from my story while allowing it to ebb and flow where it needs to. Also, if you plan on cranking out an entire novel in November, a solid outline will make your month easier.
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7 - Manuscript Makeover: Revision Techniques No Fiction Writer Can Afford to Ignore by Elizabeth Lyon – Is it December? Did you just crank out a whole 50k word novel? If so, I applaud you. That's fantastic. Now the question is: what do I do with it? Manuscript Makeover was one of the first writing books I read and it will forever hold a special place in my heart. Although it does offer tidbits on prewriting and characterization, the value is within the revision process, what to look for and how to look through an editor's eyes. It offers tips and tricks on how to tighten your story and the prose itself. I always skim the pages and implement Lyon's advice into my current project before sending my manuscript off to an editor. I love the chapters on revising for genre, and also the copyediting and marketing sections in the back of the book. It's a must-read for anyone looking for the best chance to impress an agent or publisher.
Honorable mentions: Write. Publish. Repeat. by Sean Platt, Johnny B. Truant, and David Wright. Crystal Lake Publishing's Writers On Writing: An Author's Guide series.
These are my favorite books on writing. I hope they help you in one way or another. What are yours?
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1 - The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. E.B. White – Also known as “My Bible.” Odds are, you've read this already, or at least browsed its pages. If not, I suggest you head on over to Amazon and grab yourself a copy. The book is concise and the information it contains is crucial for clear, stylish writing. I occasionally peruse the pages and attempt to beat certain passages into my head. It's simply the best book on writing guidelines and tightening your craft.
image:
2 - On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King – You didn't really think you'd read a “Best of” list on writing and not see this masterpiece on it, did you? Okay, let the obligatory swooning over King's masterful command over the language commence. He's the best at what he does and I'm sure few would disagree with that statement. Although On Writing is partly a personal memoir, it's still amazing and the lessons he teaches in the latter half of the book can't go ignored. Whether you're a fan of King or not, if you plan on taking a crack at this writer thing, On Writing needs to be on your bookshelf.
image:
3 - Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels with Peter David by Peter David – So, this isn't a book on novel writing per se, but I think Peter David's experience writing them, and his stellar work for Marvel Comics (The Incredible Hulk and The Dark Tower), are important to note. Bottom line: Peter David is a writer. And while this book is geared more towards comic book writing, Peter's message remains on the importance of storytelling and structure. To me, that information is just as important as the technical aspects. Peter David is a master in his field and he has valuable information to bring to the table, a lot of which I think crosses over into other mediums.
image:
4 - Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee – Like my third suggestion, this book doesn't have anything to do with novel writing; it's all about how to take the story in your head and make sense of it, structure it, and breathe life into it. If you've seen the movie Adaptation with Meryl Streep and Nicolas Cage, then you're already familiar with this book. McKee's Story is a wonderful book that has helped me organize the scenes in my head, and give my plot and subplots substance. Want to know why every Hollywood movie seems more or less the same? Well, McKee explains it all in great detail. Want to master the art of the Three-Act Structure? Five-Act Structure? It's all here. I find this book incredibly helpful and I think both newcomers and veterans can benefit from giving this book a read.
image:
5 - Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch: Let Verbs Power Your Writing by Constance Hale – It's hard to pick a favorite on this list, but Constance Hale's book on the power of verbs is an enlightening experience. A lot of writers will make the mistake in using too many adjectives (myself included), but Hale's book explains why you don't need them at all. The basis of this book shows how nouns and verbs can drive your sentences, and stronger word choices can make your prose pop. This is a fantastic read and I find myself going back to it time and time again. It's complete with optional exercises at the end of each chapter. Again, I believe this book can service novices and veteran writers alike. If you only check out one book off this list, I think this should be it.
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6 – Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K.M. Weiland – Writers seem to fall on two sides of the fence when it comes to outlining: I love to outline! or F that Noise, outlining kills my creative output, man. If experience has taught me anything, no opinion on outlining is wrong. I happen to be stuck on the fence spikes and haven't found a way off. Sometimes I outline, sometimes I take my chances and roll with it. Each project is different. Lately, I've found outlining more helpful, and Weiland's book has been a big part of it. In it, the author stresses that outlines shouldn't tether you to your story. It teaches you to treat them more like guidelines, a road map you can feel free to deviate from. I happen to like this method best. It keeps me from wandering too far from my story while allowing it to ebb and flow where it needs to. Also, if you plan on cranking out an entire novel in November, a solid outline will make your month easier.
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7 - Manuscript Makeover: Revision Techniques No Fiction Writer Can Afford to Ignore by Elizabeth Lyon – Is it December? Did you just crank out a whole 50k word novel? If so, I applaud you. That's fantastic. Now the question is: what do I do with it? Manuscript Makeover was one of the first writing books I read and it will forever hold a special place in my heart. Although it does offer tidbits on prewriting and characterization, the value is within the revision process, what to look for and how to look through an editor's eyes. It offers tips and tricks on how to tighten your story and the prose itself. I always skim the pages and implement Lyon's advice into my current project before sending my manuscript off to an editor. I love the chapters on revising for genre, and also the copyediting and marketing sections in the back of the book. It's a must-read for anyone looking for the best chance to impress an agent or publisher.
Honorable mentions: Write. Publish. Repeat. by Sean Platt, Johnny B. Truant, and David Wright. Crystal Lake Publishing's Writers On Writing: An Author's Guide series.
These are my favorite books on writing. I hope they help you in one way or another. What are yours?
October 22, 2016
9 Best Horror Movies on Netflix Halloween 2016
Let's face it - NETFLIX's movie selection is a lot like trick or treating; sometimes you get a King Size Kit Kat bar (YAAAAY!) and sometimes you get a Sugar Daddy (BOOOOO!), the latter always more prevalent. There are a ton of films in the NETFLIX-VERSE that will waste your precious time. Luckily, you have me here to help you out. And if you're like me - and you are - you have no minutes to waste on bad movies. Those days are gone, friends. This year, I decided to compile a list of horror-movie goodies you can feel confident about stuffing into the pillow sack of your mind. Here are 9 horror flicks to spice up your 2016 Halloween.
1. PONTYPOOL - This Canadian zombie flick is inventive, claustrophobic, and mind-bending. Taking place primarily in an underground broadcast booth, Pontypool follows a washed-up DJ as he reports on the apocalyptic madness taking place in the outside world. This movie is weird enough without being too weird and the creep factor is amped in this one. Solid watch.
2. JOHN DIES AT THE END - The book is better, no doubt, but the adaptation is way above average, especially considering my expectations. In the mood for something more quirky than scary? JDATD is your movie. It has laughs, strong elements of horror and science fiction, and thrilling moments of bizarro. Of course, I'd recommend the book over the movie, but we all know you won't do that. But you should. Because books are always better.
3. DEATHGASM - This movie reminds me a lot of Peter Jackson's Dead Alive (Braindead). Maybe it's the whole New Zealand thing, or maybe it's the over-the-top, volcanic eruptions of gore. Deathgasm follows two death metal aficionados as they unknowingly summon demons from the netherworld. Chaos unfolds quite formulaically, but the movie is fun nonetheless. The gore factor is off the charts, which - I mean - is fantastic. If you're in the mood for a low-budget bloodbath with some light (and sometimes corny) comedic relief, you could do no better than Deathgasm.
4. HUSH - This movie really took me by surprise. Just when I thought the whole "Home Invasion" sub-genre couldn't get original anymore, Hush comes out and completely blows me away. It's about a deaf writer who gets stalked by a murderous psychopath while staying at a secluded cabin in the woods to finish her next novel. I will say no more other than this was a heart-pounding thriller that kept me on edge the entire 90 minute runtime. Watch it. Now.
5. NEVER SLEEP AGAIN - I'm a huge Nightmare fan. It's my favorite of the "classic slasher" flicks. Freddy Krueger haunted me as a child and I find myself frequently revisiting the originals. This documentary was a fun trip and the four-hour runtime flew by. If you like documentaries and The Nightmare on Elm Street series, then this is worth an afternoon of your time.
6. WE ARE STILL HERE - One of the more original haunted house flicks in a long, long time. Legitimately scary. I knew nothing about it before pressing play other than it was universally liked among horror lovers. I suggest you do the same and just press play.
7. BASKIN - Probably the weirdest movie on this list. It's a foreign film, so if subtitles aren't your thing, you can skip this. Also, I go back and forth with loving this movie and thinking "what in the hell did I just watch?" Seriously messed up movie, but visually engaging. What the film lacks in a decent story and character development, it makes up for with unsettling the audience and the overall bizarreness of individual scenes. Judge this one for yourself.
8. THE HALLOW - I watched this last week and I was pleasantly surprised how well it was done. The movie centers on a family staying at a house in Ireland, and while there, they are stalked by forest demons who desire to kidnap their baby. The first half of this movie is a little slow, but at the halfway point it unfolds with nonstop action and creature-feature horror. The demons look pretty cool and original, although toward the end they really show off the movie's budget. Still, worth adding to your Halloween watch list.
9. PAY THE GHOST - Based on the Tim Lebbon novella, Pay the Ghost is about a father who loses his son at a crowded Halloween street carnival. Years later, the father is convinced his son is still alive and tries to unravel the mystery surrounding his disappearance. This movie is not very well reviewed, but eff that noise - I enjoyed it. It's an entertaining horror-thriller that doesn't try to do too much, and the acting is actually one of the finer points of the movie. Sarah Wayne Callies of The Walking Dead fame brings it like always and Nic Cage isn't typical crazy-man Nic Cage, full of laughable acting choices and outrageous facial gesticulations. Worth a watch, especially around the Halloween season, as it incorporates many Allhallows Eve themes and captures the ambience of our favorite time of year.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING THIS HALLOWEEN ON NETFLIX???
1. PONTYPOOL - This Canadian zombie flick is inventive, claustrophobic, and mind-bending. Taking place primarily in an underground broadcast booth, Pontypool follows a washed-up DJ as he reports on the apocalyptic madness taking place in the outside world. This movie is weird enough without being too weird and the creep factor is amped in this one. Solid watch.
2. JOHN DIES AT THE END - The book is better, no doubt, but the adaptation is way above average, especially considering my expectations. In the mood for something more quirky than scary? JDATD is your movie. It has laughs, strong elements of horror and science fiction, and thrilling moments of bizarro. Of course, I'd recommend the book over the movie, but we all know you won't do that. But you should. Because books are always better.
3. DEATHGASM - This movie reminds me a lot of Peter Jackson's Dead Alive (Braindead). Maybe it's the whole New Zealand thing, or maybe it's the over-the-top, volcanic eruptions of gore. Deathgasm follows two death metal aficionados as they unknowingly summon demons from the netherworld. Chaos unfolds quite formulaically, but the movie is fun nonetheless. The gore factor is off the charts, which - I mean - is fantastic. If you're in the mood for a low-budget bloodbath with some light (and sometimes corny) comedic relief, you could do no better than Deathgasm.
4. HUSH - This movie really took me by surprise. Just when I thought the whole "Home Invasion" sub-genre couldn't get original anymore, Hush comes out and completely blows me away. It's about a deaf writer who gets stalked by a murderous psychopath while staying at a secluded cabin in the woods to finish her next novel. I will say no more other than this was a heart-pounding thriller that kept me on edge the entire 90 minute runtime. Watch it. Now.
5. NEVER SLEEP AGAIN - I'm a huge Nightmare fan. It's my favorite of the "classic slasher" flicks. Freddy Krueger haunted me as a child and I find myself frequently revisiting the originals. This documentary was a fun trip and the four-hour runtime flew by. If you like documentaries and The Nightmare on Elm Street series, then this is worth an afternoon of your time.
6. WE ARE STILL HERE - One of the more original haunted house flicks in a long, long time. Legitimately scary. I knew nothing about it before pressing play other than it was universally liked among horror lovers. I suggest you do the same and just press play.
7. BASKIN - Probably the weirdest movie on this list. It's a foreign film, so if subtitles aren't your thing, you can skip this. Also, I go back and forth with loving this movie and thinking "what in the hell did I just watch?" Seriously messed up movie, but visually engaging. What the film lacks in a decent story and character development, it makes up for with unsettling the audience and the overall bizarreness of individual scenes. Judge this one for yourself.
8. THE HALLOW - I watched this last week and I was pleasantly surprised how well it was done. The movie centers on a family staying at a house in Ireland, and while there, they are stalked by forest demons who desire to kidnap their baby. The first half of this movie is a little slow, but at the halfway point it unfolds with nonstop action and creature-feature horror. The demons look pretty cool and original, although toward the end they really show off the movie's budget. Still, worth adding to your Halloween watch list.
9. PAY THE GHOST - Based on the Tim Lebbon novella, Pay the Ghost is about a father who loses his son at a crowded Halloween street carnival. Years later, the father is convinced his son is still alive and tries to unravel the mystery surrounding his disappearance. This movie is not very well reviewed, but eff that noise - I enjoyed it. It's an entertaining horror-thriller that doesn't try to do too much, and the acting is actually one of the finer points of the movie. Sarah Wayne Callies of The Walking Dead fame brings it like always and Nic Cage isn't typical crazy-man Nic Cage, full of laughable acting choices and outrageous facial gesticulations. Worth a watch, especially around the Halloween season, as it incorporates many Allhallows Eve themes and captures the ambience of our favorite time of year.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING THIS HALLOWEEN ON NETFLIX???
September 30, 2016
#OctoberReads
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and no, there won’t be any mistletoeing and my heart won’t be glowing – it’s the time for pumpkin ales, haunted hayrides, and reading horror. Now, 90% of what I read nowadays falls under the horror category, but every October I try to find some books that capture the essence of my favorite month. Books like Ray Bradbury’s The October Country or Richard Laymon’s Night in the Lonesome October. I’ve compiled a list of five books I plan on reading this October:
The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon – When the one-night-only Traveling Vampire Show arrives in town, promising the only living vampire in captivity, beautiful Valeria, three local teenages venture where they do not belong, and discover much more than they bargained for.
All Hallow’s Dead by Bryan Smith – It’s Halloween week in Willow Springs, TN, and a mad slasher is on the loose! Twenty-five years ago, a group of local boys did a very bad thing. Now a masked killer is leaving a trail of corpses and bloody pumpkins all over town. Brutal vengeance against his former tormentors and thirty-one dead for Halloween are the madman’s demented goals. As the body count mounts, local law enforcement scrambles to track down the seemingly unstoppable killer and bring the carnage to an end.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill – Arthur Kipps is an up-and-coming London solicitor who is sent to Crythin Gifford—a faraway town in the windswept salt marshes beyond Nine Lives Causeway—to attend the funeral and settle the affairs of a client, Mrs. Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. Mrs. Drablow’s house stands at the end of the causeway, wreathed in fog and mystery, but Kipps is unaware of the tragic secrets that lie hidden behind its sheltered windows. The routine business trip he anticipated quickly takes a horrifying turn when he finds himself haunted by a series of mysterious sounds and images—a rocking chair in a deserted nursery, the eerie sound of a pony and trap, a child’s scream in the fog, and, most terrifying of all, a ghostly woman dressed all in black. Psychologically terrifying and deliciously eerie, The Woman in Black is a remarkable thriller of the first rate.
Off Season by Jack Ketchum – THE STORY: A beautiful New York editor retreats to a lonely cabin on a hill in the quiet Maine beach town of Dead River, during off season; awaiting her sister and friends. Nearby, a savage human family with a taste for flesh lurks in the darkening woods, watching, waiting for the moon to rise and night to fall.
Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge – Halloween, 1963. They call him the October Boy, or Ol’ Hacksaw Face, or Sawtooth Jack. Whatever the name, everybody in this small Midwestern town knows who he is. How he rises from the cornfields every Halloween, a butcher knife in his hand, and makes his way toward town, where gangs of teenage boys eagerly await their chance to confront the legendary nightmare. Both the hunter and the hunted, the October Boy is the prize in an annual rite of life and death. Pete McCormick knows that killing the October Boy is his one chance to escape a dead-end future in this one-horse town. He’s willing to risk everything, including his life, to be a winner for once. But before the night is over, Pete will look into the saw-toothed face of horror–and discover the terrifying true secret of the October Boy . . .
These are my picks for Halloween 2016. What are you reading this October?
TM
The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon – When the one-night-only Traveling Vampire Show arrives in town, promising the only living vampire in captivity, beautiful Valeria, three local teenages venture where they do not belong, and discover much more than they bargained for.
All Hallow’s Dead by Bryan Smith – It’s Halloween week in Willow Springs, TN, and a mad slasher is on the loose! Twenty-five years ago, a group of local boys did a very bad thing. Now a masked killer is leaving a trail of corpses and bloody pumpkins all over town. Brutal vengeance against his former tormentors and thirty-one dead for Halloween are the madman’s demented goals. As the body count mounts, local law enforcement scrambles to track down the seemingly unstoppable killer and bring the carnage to an end.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill – Arthur Kipps is an up-and-coming London solicitor who is sent to Crythin Gifford—a faraway town in the windswept salt marshes beyond Nine Lives Causeway—to attend the funeral and settle the affairs of a client, Mrs. Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. Mrs. Drablow’s house stands at the end of the causeway, wreathed in fog and mystery, but Kipps is unaware of the tragic secrets that lie hidden behind its sheltered windows. The routine business trip he anticipated quickly takes a horrifying turn when he finds himself haunted by a series of mysterious sounds and images—a rocking chair in a deserted nursery, the eerie sound of a pony and trap, a child’s scream in the fog, and, most terrifying of all, a ghostly woman dressed all in black. Psychologically terrifying and deliciously eerie, The Woman in Black is a remarkable thriller of the first rate.
Off Season by Jack Ketchum – THE STORY: A beautiful New York editor retreats to a lonely cabin on a hill in the quiet Maine beach town of Dead River, during off season; awaiting her sister and friends. Nearby, a savage human family with a taste for flesh lurks in the darkening woods, watching, waiting for the moon to rise and night to fall.
Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge – Halloween, 1963. They call him the October Boy, or Ol’ Hacksaw Face, or Sawtooth Jack. Whatever the name, everybody in this small Midwestern town knows who he is. How he rises from the cornfields every Halloween, a butcher knife in his hand, and makes his way toward town, where gangs of teenage boys eagerly await their chance to confront the legendary nightmare. Both the hunter and the hunted, the October Boy is the prize in an annual rite of life and death. Pete McCormick knows that killing the October Boy is his one chance to escape a dead-end future in this one-horse town. He’s willing to risk everything, including his life, to be a winner for once. But before the night is over, Pete will look into the saw-toothed face of horror–and discover the terrifying true secret of the October Boy . . .
These are my picks for Halloween 2016. What are you reading this October?
TM
