Another Positive Review for My Book

Book blogger Chris Wolak, kindly passed on this positive and unsolicited review of my book.  She also gave a plug to 31 Days of Horror, which is slowly creeping up on us.

Check out her blog Wildmoo Books.  Chris worked for Borders for many years in a variety of positions. She blogs because she misses the interaction with books and readers that she lost when the store closed.  She also posts reviews of libraries she has visited.  All in all, it is a fascinating blog worth your attention (even if it did not have a review my book).

Thanks Chris.

Reading Map for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Goes Live!

As promised, I am posting more frequently in these days leading up to October 1 and my 31 Days of Horror blow-out!

Today I am proud to unveil my reading map for the novel Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with reading maps, please head on over to RA for All's Reading Map Archive where I have both articles about making reading maps (including one I wrote) and examples of reading maps made by my students and for the BPL.

But back to this particular map.  I have pages on the Novel, the Author, the Movie, Lincoln, Mash-Ups, Vampire Hunting, and If You Liked This Book... all of which take you on a journey that begins with Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the book, but then takes you off the page and allows you to explore the novel in a variety of ways.

I hope you enjoy the map.

Stephen Jones' Favorite Horror Stories

We are leading up to October 1 and 31 Days of Horror.  Only a week away now.  I will be posting some teasers to get you ready.

But first, don't forget about the offer from Robert Dunbar that I posted on Friday.  There is still time to get your free copy of Martyrs and Monsters here (offer good until 9/25).

Today I have this list from Publisher's Weekly, where Stephen Jones, the multiple-award-winning editor and author of more than one hundred books in the horror and fantasy genres, shares his 10 favorite horror stories.

These tales should get you in the mood for Halloween right quick.

Celebrate the Autumnal Equinox with a Free Book By Robert Dunbar

Dark fiction author extraordinaire Robert Dunbar not only writes compellingly terrifying books, but he is also a great guy and a friend to libraries.

He is a confirmed participant in my upcoming 31 Days of Horror too.  Beginning in just 10 days!

To celebrate the Autumnal Equinox, Dunbar and his publisher have some free offers and new content I wanted to pass on.
 
Uninvited Books, publisher of Martyrs and Monsters, Dunbar's critically acclaimed short story collection, is offering a FREE Kindle copy of the book beginning today and going through 9/25.  Click here to download your free copy. Thanks to Dunbar for including libraryland in the offer.

Dunbar's own site is here.

Dunbar also gave this interview to author Richard Schiver on his blog, Whisphers from the Abyss.

Finally, Dunbar got some of his friends together to start, Occupy Horror.  Here is his description of the project:

"The revolution is underway. The mindlessly commercial, the undistinguished and barely literate will no longer be allowed to utterly dominate the genre. Not without a fight anyway."

The series will feature author interviews and blog posts. Writers who have confirmed their participation in the weeks to come include, Laird Barron, Gary Braunbeck, Ramsey Campbell, Mort Castle, Greg Gifune, Ronald Malfi, Elizabeth Massie and Tom Piccirilli.  All big name, fabulously frightening authors.

Keep the Occupy Horror Series link to check out more as they are posted.

What College Kids Can Learn From the Zombie Wars

It appears that college classes are reading World War Z by Max Brooks to "to facilitate conversations about globalization, ethics and mortality."

How do I know this?  Click here to listen to Brooks and a Freshman from St. Edwards University talk about it on NPR.

This is further proof of what I always say about the popularity of zombie novels.  While they are set in a fantastical world where the dead rise and begin to hunt down the living, these novels are more about the people and times in which they are written.  So The Walking Dead in all its formats is about modern America, how we choose to live, how we allow ourselves to be governed, and what the consequences of this is as much as it is about out running a zombie.  Click here to read my post which goes into this issue in greater detail.

And click through to listen to hear more the conversation between an author of one of the best zombie books ever and a reader.

New LEGO Monster Fighters Series and 31 Days of Horror Preview

LEGO is actively promoting a brand new line of scary sets.  The line is called Monster Fighters and you can use this link to explore it in detail, but here on the left is the exclusive Haunted House.

In my house LEGOs outnumber people about 1,000,000 to one and that may be a conservative estimate, but this is a set that all of us are excited to build. We ordered it and plan to put it together to use as our Halloween indoor decoration centerpiece.  Not only will it be a family activity to build the 2,000 piece set, but it will last for years.

Now I know what you are thinking, "This is a site about horror books and reading, why is she going on about LEGOS?"  Ahhh, but there is a point.  The popularity of all things scary can be seen in the major investment LEGO has put into creating an entire monster based line.  Yes, they are ramping up the marketing for Halloween, but they did not create an entire line for this one holiday; one or two sets maybe, but not such an extensive product line.  Even Christmas only has a few sets; they add one of two a year only.

This is a great time to be a horror fan.  Society is catching up with us and our macabre tastes. No longer are our interests in the dark, unsettling, and creepy considered fringe; instead, we are on the cusp of a trend.

New monster mini figures. I love the zombie chef

Speaking of the fast approaching Halloween, I have a very exciting month of posts planned for every day in October.  I have lined up many authors, publishers, and members of the fan community to contribute and they have generously offered plenty of giveaways. Confirmed appearances by:

• Lisa Morton
• JG Faherty
• Joe McKinney
• Brett Talley
• President of the HWA and author, Rocky Wood
• Coordinator of the Horror Blogger Alliance, Jeremy Hawkins
• A representative from Journal Stone, the hottest publisher in dark fiction right now (imo)

There are many more, but I am holding back more for later in the month.  As you can see this is going to be a big celebration of dark fiction.

I am reading lots of new horror and will be publishing move reviews than ever for a wide range of horror fans from teens to adults.

I have also just completed a column for the October 15th issue of Library Journal where I highlighted 6 2012 titles for a wide range of horror seekers.  For those of you outside the library world, this is one of the biggest publications for librarians to find reviews and reading suggestions.  I will post the online version of the column once it is published, due to copyright restrictions I cannot post it before that time.

So, stay tuned.  I will keep posting here at least once a week while I prepare for the October onslaught.