Horror Aficionados discussion
This topic is about
The Essential Sick Stuff
Group Reads: Guest Author Invite
>
October 2020-Group Read #1: The Essential Sick Stuff by Ronald Kelly
date
newest »
newest »
That's super cool. Congrats to you too, Marie!I read the first story yesterday on my lunch hour and bravo!
I'm a little worried that this month's author invite reads might be too extreme for me, but I'm gonna give them both a shot!
Char wrote: "That's super cool. Congrats to you too, Marie!I read the first story yesterday on my lunch hour and bravo!
I'm a little worried that this month's author invite reads might be too extreme for me,..."
Thank you, Char!
Perseverance is the name of the game in this one, Char! LOL 😍
Mod
Mod
Ronald wrote: "Char wrote: "I see your name there in the front, Latasha! You're a star!"And, incidently, The Halloween Store is dedicated to both Tosha and Marie K. Their friendship and support has always been greatly appreciated! ..."
Thank you again, Ron! 😊
I am curious Ron - where did you come up with some of these ideas for these stories? Some of the stories make me think that they come from ideas of living out in the country. Like the story Consumption where (view spoiler) I know for a fact that kudzu is so thick that you cannot see if anything is making a home in it. We use to have some on our farm and I was always worried about trimming it or even sticking my hand in the vines as I always thought there might be snakes or "something" hiding out in it.
I had kudzu vines at our old house. They choked out everything else.I finished HOUSEWARMING. *shudder*
Mod
Mod
I will leave spiders alone if I see them in my house, because I know they kill other insects. If it crosses my direct path, though, that's something different.And ants? In the house? NO
Mod
And ants? In the house? NO"
I rationalize it that the spiders kill ants and the "biting" insects that we don't want around. (I also had a pet tarantula at one point)... But then, I grew up on a farm--if a spider bothered me, I'd have a lot more issues (than I already do!!!) ;)
Mod
Mod
I'm with you.
Char wrote: "I had kudzu vines at our old house. They choked out everything else.I finished HOUSEWARMING. *shudder*
"
That was a rough read especially the ending! An image that will be stuck in my brain for awhile! lol :)
It was a bit rough at the end there, but my eyes were glued to the page!I have to say, Ronald, that I love your style of writing. It's relatable and you write so well that the reader, (or at least this reader), never feels alienated or apart from the story. The characters are always believable and realistic. I think your writing is a lot like Stephen King's in that particular way.
Knocked out a few more stories last night and still having fun.
Mod
Mod
That was one of my favorite stories!
Mod
Kenneth wrote: "There were so many of these stories that, as I was reading them, made me feel like they would’ve been perfect in an episode of Tales From The Crypt or an old EC Comic."Yes, that is exactly what I used as a comparison when explaining this book to my sister. I told her that a few of the stories would have made good episode of Tales From the Crypt.
Latasha wrote: "In mojo mama, you mention Gettysburg. Are you interested in civil war history and have you been to Gettysburg? It’s sad but I haven’t been to any of the sites here in TN. I know we have a few."I've always been a huge Civil War aficionado, more so in my twenties and thirties than I am now. When I was a kid, my grandmother told me tales of our family during the War Between the States, since we had kin who fought for both the blue and the gray. I've never been to Gettysburg, but I've visited most of the battlefields in Tennessee. My family and I hike Stones River Battlefield in Murfreesboro often, and we all have a great respect for that turbulent time in American history and those, on both sides, who fought for one reason or another.
Mojo Mama was inspired by some of those stories my grandmother told, as well as others I've written dealing with Civil War history, like my short stories "Oh, Sordid Shame!" and "The General's Arm", and my novel Burnt Magnolia (which was released as The Possession by Zebra in 1993).
Kenneth wrote: "There were so many of these stories that, as I was reading them, made me feel like they would’ve been perfect in an episode of Tales From The Crypt or an old EC Comic."Although I never really thought about it when I was writing horror short fiction in the 90s, I've come to realize that, yes, I have brought my love of EC horror comics -- and other publications like Creepy and Eerie, and DC's House of Mystery -- to the keyboard time and time again. Of course, my mother did read a huge stack of EC Horror comics that she discovered in an attic during the time that she was pregnant with me, so I like to attribute that to an indirect influence. While other mothers were reading Dr. Seuss and Curious George to their unborn babies, my mom was reading me Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror.
Char wrote: "It was a bit rough at the end there, but my eyes were glued to the page!I have to say, Ronald, that I love your style of writing. It's relatable and you write so well that the reader, (or at least..."
Thank you, Char. I've always considered what I write to be plain, old-fashioned storytelling, not literary prose, like a lot of other writers aim and strive for. From the beginning, I've tried to write for everyone and in a way that everyone can relate to and feel comfortable with, whether the readers are doctors and college professors, or farmers and blue collar factory workers. It's all about the characters and story...not about trying to impress someone and adhering to the current literary trend or style.
Ronald wrote: "Kenneth wrote: "There were so many of these stories that, as I was reading them, made me feel like they would’ve been perfect in an episode of Tales From The Crypt or an old EC Comic."Although I ..."
I like to think of your mom, reading those stories and the words soaking in to you like osmosis.
Mod
Latasha wrote: "Your grandmother sounds like such a great lady. We had soldiers on both sides as well."She really was. I miss her and my mother a lot. They died three months apart... been gone about 32 years now.
Mod
It never gets easier, no matter how many years have gone by.
I've been reading the Kindle version of this book, but my paperback copy just arrived in the mail yesterday. I'm not finished yet, but this is enjoyable so far and I wanted a physical copy. I just finished with "Cell Number Nine." I loved those spiders!
I finished up a day or two ago and posted my review last night here and on Twitter and CHC on Facebook. I submitted it to Amazon and today I was told they bounced it, (but they never say why!), so I resubmitted it just now. Thanks so much Ronald, for spending this time with us this month! I enjoyed myself and I hope everyone else did too.
Mod
Mod
Thank y'all for having me! I hope you enjoyed (?!!) The Essential Sick Stuff.
Marie, I'd apologize and say that I'm sorry for that... but I'm not and so I won't."
It is fine Ron! Just sling some more blood and gore my way - I can handle it! I am what you would consider a "hard core horror fan" so bring it on! 😂 🤣