Some of the best Horror Under the Summer Sun
In my opinion, that is ;) And of course... my opinion is correct...
What up, readers and listeners!
As always, thanks so much for being along for the more intimate side of my writing and podcasting journey. Without ya’ll…I’d merely be screaming into the wind! Now, of course, I am still screaming into the wind as well, but it’s nice that not only the wind is listening these days.
As always, I have some updates for you fine folks with two very exciting announcements, and then I will get on to my monthly horror recommendations. Let’s get into it.
BOOK UPDATES:
Just one this month, folks, as I’ve been very focused on this book and the release date (as well as an official date for the release party in Seattle) is finally here!
That’s right, ya’ll! Rain Shadows is finally here, this coming Sunday, July 19th!
Rain Shadows is available everywhere you buy books from Amazon and Barnes and Noble to Kobo or Smashwords. We will also be at the Central Location of the Seattle Public Library and in the Olympic Library System out on the Peninsula (with hopefully more to come).
If you want to pick up physical copies, we will have some of those floating around as well. In Montana, you can buy them at the Billmans Home Decor (furniture store in town) in Cut Bank, Montana.
In Washington, you can find physical copies at Haunted Burrow Books on Capitol Hill :).
So, being fans of my work, I assume you’d like to support me writing more books… well, the best way to do that is to buy a copy of Rain Shadows on release day and to review that book when you’re finished on Goodreads, Amazon, and wherever else you fancy. It would mean the world to me if you could do so, and thanks for all you’ve already done for me in terms of support. I appreciate you all.
Barnes and Noble is one of my outlets of choice, so I’ll link you to them from here, but feel free to order wherever you like.
AND
If you happen to be in the Seattle area, I’d like to invite all of you to our book launch party on:
Sunday, August 10th at 2 Finger Social in West Seattle- 9211 Delridge Wy SW, Seattle, WA 98106
I’m not a great inventor…so I try to avoid reinventing the wheel, and Tamara already wrote up a great, detailed blog post about the event.
Check out all the LAUNCH PARTY DETAILS RIGHT HERE, and I hope to see you all there!
PODCAST UPDATES:
First and foremost, a big announcement!
While our next season doesn’t begin until our first live episode of SSN 4 on September 3rd, we are doing one special, summer episode to accommodate one of our most established author guests to date…drum roll please…
Loyal listeners, please join me in welcoming Paul Tremblay to Fermented Fiction!
He will be joining us on Tuesday, August 5th at 4 PM PST to debate one of the most classic horror films of all time: An American Werewolf in London.
As always, you’ll be able to tune in with us live on YouTube RIGHT HERE!
If you are a fan of our show, this is a must-watch episode as we’ve been hoping to get Paul on since day one! Hope to see ya’ll there :).
HORROR RECOMMENDATIONS
Alright ya’ll, I’ve been diving almost solely into the horror genre for the past few months in an effort to learn more of my contemporary landscape in both film and books. I also do it because I have an undying and intrinsic love for horror that has enriched and impacted my life in such a profound and positive way that I simply cannot help but try to spread that love to you all…
So, behold, a few more under-the-radar books and movies from my favorite genre that I believe deserve substantially more attention. The best way to make that happen is for all of us to consume them…and be those mouths that spread the good word!
#1. I Can Fix Her by Rae Wilde
This book is like drinking a hidden shard of glass from the ice well of your favorite cocktail bar: sharp, witty, cutting prose that blends seamlessly with the desperate hope of a doomed romance. Wilde will seduce you, intoxicate you, make you believe in love, and then lacerate you from the inside out while you gleefully guzzle it down.
A quick read. A mind-fuck. Equal parts erotic, nauseating, disorienting, and beautiful...as all true horror-romances should be.
My hat is off to Rae here. Her best work so far. I legitimately can’t wait to read what she writes next.
If you like mind-fuckery books that make you question what is real, where you are…or even when you are on every page, this book will not disappoint you. It has a satisfying ending as well, which is often difficult with these sorts of surreal, looping plots, and I found myself immediately wanting to wander through the labyrinth of this relationship again, if just to enjoy the beauty of Wilde’s poetic prose and wit.
Go check it out RIGHT HERE at your earliest opportunity.
#2.Come and Play by Jacob Chase
Reminiscent of the Babadook, this creepy nursery rhyme of a horror movie effectively utilizes a fun use of technology to illustrate the encroaching monster getting closer to our young protagonists literally and figuratively.
Really strong performances from the child performers and a chilling creature design carry what might have been a relatively straightforward horror narrative to another level.
I’m also a sucker for the second act ‘false victory’ with the boys becoming friends again and a creepy reveal that the monster is much more present and powerful than they believed.
The monster, Larry, is a manifestation of the loneliness we seek to cure with social media and screen addiction. Not to mention that SpongeBob SquarePants is tied directly into the narrative, and that banger of a show deserves more recognition as the mental health balm that it is.
This movie is free on Shudder…so there’s literally no reason not to go watch it! I had a great time, and I hope you will too.
#3. The Changeling by Victor Lavalle
I really enjoyed this book, as I have all of Lavalle's work. His ability to weave classic mythology and folklore into modern world settings is unparalleled, and the way he balances societal issues with familial tension is nothing short of masterful.
In this heartbreaking story, we follow two young parents, Apollo and Emma, as they struggle with the early stages of their parenting journey. Emma, in particular, seems to be expressing symptoms of post-partum depression, as she has trouble connecting with her son, Baby Brian. That inability to connect quickly becomes something much darker and more sinister as, rather than simply a disconnect, Emma's suspicions turn toward Brian not even being her baby at all. This, naturally, drives a wedge between her and Apollo until things come to a head.
I'll say no more, as there would be spoilers going forward, but suffice it to say that when this scene of 'boiling over' occurs, it is one of the most sudden and brutally effective shifts of tension I've ever experienced in a novel. I strive and dream to be so good at pacing and turning the tide on my readers one day.
If you're a fan of folk horror set in the modern city...of familial-centered themes and tension, and of violent explorations of the fantastic elements lurking beneath our streets, then this book is sure to satisfy all your cravings.
#4. Overlord by Julius Avery, Billy Ray, and Mark L. Smith
This remarkably well-produced, high-budget horror film is set in WW2. Very rare to find when free on Shudder.
Not only does it successfully utilize horror elements to amplify the already very intense stakes of a wartime setting, but it also comes packaged with a highly impactful ending that emphasizes the age-old fact of conflict- the war is far from over after one small mission.
My favorite aspect of the film was that aspect of zooming in on one mission to showcase that a war is won on many minute fronts, not just these massive military maneuvers like landing on the beaches of Normandy — that only happens when the other small missions succeed.
Every little mission matters for victory, and every movie like this one that utilizes horror well in wartime settings is a true diamond in the rough. Don’t miss your chance to view it for yourself!
#5. The Massacre at Yellow Hill by C.S. Humble
An epic and beautiful beginning to what is sure to be a wholly epic saga by one of my favorite modern authors and speakers. In The Massacre at Yellow Hill, Humble seamlessly blends historical accuracy, folklore, cosmic horror, and a western setting with effective and powerful feminist and racial character arcs and themes, such as we rarely see executed with so much elegance.
Despite the sweeping scope of this six-book saga-establishing novel, Humble has no pomp or frills in this story. The setting is lush and visceral, but the characters lie at the center--guiding us through their arcs, beliefs, and purpose through genuine, masterful dialogue, exciting action sequences, and a perfectly paced plot that will have you reading cover-to-cover faster than a high noon duel.
I highly recommend picking this one up for fans of intentional, lyrical prose, westerns, horror, progressive themes, and/or any and all combinations of the three. C.S. Humble is an author to read, to listen to, to learn from, and to always keep your eyes on. Don’t miss out on this amazing series!