Horror Isn't a 4-Letter Word

by Matthew Warner

"Horror isn't just a genre of stories but an outlook on life," Matthew Warner writes in his foreword to Horror Isn't a 4-Letter Essays on Writing & Appreciating the Genre. In this collection of articles published between 2002 and 2007, the author of The Organ Donor, Death Tales of Punishment & Revenge, and Eyes Everywhere challenges us to look beyond the stereotypes associated with a much-maligned type of fiction. Horror empowers us to cope with our fears by teaching us about them, he says, either overtly or through symbolism. It's not just about blood and guts.

The book consists mostly of editorials written for the Horror World website, plus selected articles from venues such as Hellnotes Newsletter. Warner runs the gamut in subject matter--everything from ghost hunting, to gory holiday decorations, to effective writing techniques--in his meditations about horrific things, whether they be fictional or real.

Contents include some of his most controversial "My Summer with a Book An internship at Edit Ink, a Notorious Scam Operation," "Message Versus The Agenda of Left Behind," "Addictive Plotting as Taught by Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and "Obscenity v. The First Why the Prosecution of X-rated Films Affects Books."

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

When critic Feo Amante gave Matthew Warner’s first novel, The Organ Donor (2003), a five-star review and labeled it a “straight-on modern classic of horror,” the praise went straight to Warner’s head. He wrote several more things, such as the novel Eyes Everywhere (2006), which Publishers Weekly described as “disturbing … compelling and insightful,” and a radio play and stage play premiered by theaters in central Virginia.

His opinion column, “Author’s Notes,” ran for five years on the Horror World website and consisted of a blend of commentary, autobiography, and tutorials about the writing craft. Guide Dog Books collected a portion of those columns into its debut non-fiction title, Horror Isn’t a 4-Letter Word: Essays on Writing & Appreciating the Genre (2008).

Blood Born (2011), is an apocalyptic monster novel set in the Washington, DC, area where he grew up. His first urban fantasy novel, The Seventh Equinox (2013), is set in a fictitious city inspired by his current home of Staunton, Virginia. Dominoes in Time (2015) collects sixteen years of horror and science fiction stories.

Other works include screenplays for Darkstone Entertainment and the novelization of their film Plan 9 (2016). His most recent novel, Empire of the Goddess (2018), depicts a nightmare version of modern America. Yes, one even worse than the actual America.

Warner lives with his wife, the artist Deena Warner, and sons, Owen and Thomas. In 2007, they opened a print and website design business, Deena Warner Design, serving the publishing industry. He’s a member of the Horror Writers Association and an enthusiastic practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

“One of the bright stars of today’s constellation of speculative dreamers.” — Keith Minnion

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining and often humorous look at the horror genre and the experience of being a horror writer. Warner's essays appeal to author and reader alike because of his direct approach and skillful story-telling. Reading this book is like having a few beers with a friend who tells great stories.

[Henrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read, interesting book.

More thorough review coming...