How Do You Like Your Horror?

The stories here at BloodRed are, I hope, a decent example of my theory concerning the horror story. That's not to sound egotistical. Horror story? End in Horror. I love horror, so I write horror according to my own theories, philosophies, and beliefs. Hopefully, the tales here express those theories and beliefs. And the theory is quite simple: if horror is the genre, then horror it should be throughout the tale: beginning, middle, and end. Pretty obvious, at least to me, but not always the case. And not everyone agrees, as some of my peers have mentioned. But the formula is simple, and usually spot on every time. Horror tale? Make it end in horror? You will be pleased with the results. At least, this is what I tell myself, but it doesn't always ring true in every case. After all, there are a lot of stories in the world, and some need their own genres and sub-genres to classify them.

Over time we've all seen some great horror movies--read some great stories, novels, short stories, only to see them turn bad because of the nice, pretty little package all tied up like a sparkling rainbow under an equally sparkling Christmas Tree. It's like the Care Bears visits Night of the Living Dead. Not a good combo. Usually this happens to satisfy the reader or viewer, who is not always a fan of the horror genre. As a fan of horror, of course, I'm not satisfied. In fact, I'm slightly repulsed. Aren't you?

Let's take the word Horror, what it suggests, the way it looks in BlockBuster Video in that particular section, so different than Drama, Action Adventure, Science Fiction, and Comedy. Horror stands alone. It should live up to its name, that simple one word, so ghastly, so lovable, so capable of making all its fans smile.

There are times the wrapped-up endings (pretty and proper) is appropriate, but a horror story with a happy ending doesn't seem a horror story--a story that is horrifying throughout, filled with darkness, death, blood, and monsters, only to have the main characters fall in love, defeat the antagonist (whatever that might be), kiss...then eventually fade to black. Yes, this happens. We've all seen it. Horror Story? Or Love Story with dark elements and monsters throughout? Hmmm.

Pet Sematary by Stephen King is a great example of the perfect Horror Story. Just as the movie, The Evil Dead, the short story The Tell-Tale Heart by Poe, all fine examples of traditional horror. Granted, there are exceptions to every rule. Jacob's Ladder, for example, starring Tim Robbins--an incredible horror movie,even with the "brighter-salvation-like" ending. It fits the rest of the story. But as far as traditional terror goes, horror, fear, death, blood and madness, all leave a perfect, pretty, bright scar in the end. Scars that warp the mind in a nice way for fans like us. Characters can live, but they must go mad, or lose all hope in order for the ''horror" to deliver. Drama goes beyond drama and compassion when we create unforgettable characters we love, only to have horrifying things happen to them in the end. This isn't a cop-out. This is reality, a lesson in blood. The horror story is teaching us something here, that life isn't always sweet and romantic. For those who love the genre, we already know this. The horror story is a lesson, helping us prepare for the terrifyingly unexpected, a powerful concept in any story, but especially horror. Horror stories fail to focus on character development and instead focus on the horror itself. A great failing, I believe, and thankfully, not true in all cases. Despite how supernatural the tale may be, hints of realism still exist, making for a more believable tale, a more effective and memorable horror story. Jeepers Creepers (just an example) failed at this because the characters were unlikable, mainly the sister (her name escapes me). Why should we care about character we don't like? I remember watching the movie, unable to contain my excitement, predicting when she would die. I hated her, the way she talked, the way she acted, and I WANTED HER DEAD! Imagine my disappointment to find out she was one of the characters left standing in the end. Other than this, it would have been a great movie. Some horror, unfortunately, is a cop out. A sad reality for fans like you and me, who want the horrifying ending.

Traditional horror is on the rise, however; the comebacks are on the way, the dreaded, horrifying conclusions leaving us in a state of breathless shock. This is the goal of the tale. Wide eyes. Paling skin, a nice little scar when we walk out of the theater, or put down that book, making us laugh because we have a twisted sense of humor. Horror becomes comedy for us. The laugh we deliver watching the madness is actually a sound of praise. Do you do this? This is the goal--at least when it comes to that precious art form, "The Horror Story."

Anxious to deliver your two cents? I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this topic, and why you agree or disagree, like or dislike, or have a fetish for both. You can bludgeon me with my own naivete, my lack of understanding, even, but don't be surprised if that bludgeoning comes back to you in another form. After all, the horror tale in the form of revenge is--though a cliche--still running strong.

Our Little Secret...

Well, a little Bloody Valentine news is here to inspire those horror writers who may be reading this. The article on the woman was found by my good Agent Nelson, who thought news briefs, related to BloodRedTales, might be a good way to keep the sight updated, and I have to agree. So, thank him for the article. Any news you may have on your own blood drinking experiences will be greatly appreciated here. Do I have any of these fetishes myself? Well, maybe I shouldn't share those with you, though, I am working on creating a Dracula-like setting in my own home, mainly the bedroom, of course. Red and Black, oh, my brothers and sisters! But I assure you, I would never drink my fair maiden's blood, nor chase her down the street with a pick-axe should she try to run away. I wouldn't mind if she had fangs and pale skin, however. Besides, I plan on keeping the ladies around, and I think acting like a gentleman is the sure-fire bet to do such a thing. I think the traditional roses and chocolates are the way to go. Then, again, this is the new millennium, and people are getting weirder and weirder by the day. Me? I keep the blood and dementia inside my dark, cryptic brain where it belongs. I write, so I don't have to act out these little fantasies. It's safer that way, and I have an image to uphold. What that image is, of course, well, let's just make that our little secret, shall we?

Some Words From Tiny Tim!

I was not aware that Nick Bowden had died until today, the feature artist on the front page of Blood Red Tales with his masterful arwork, Somewhere Above and Beyond. To him and his family, my sincerest sympathy and heartfelt compassion. Nick's work can be viewed at Deviant Art, http://www.deviantart.com I recommend you check it out. He was an incredible artist, otherwise I wouldn't have chosen his work for my main page. God Bless You, Nick! And thanks for the great work!

Also, I wanted to thank everyone for voting for the best author website at Fiction Addiction. Seems I placed in the top ten, so thank you all for voting! The lollipops should have been doled out accordingly. If not get back with me, and I will end yours via UPS.

To all my friends, family, horror writers, fiction mags, upcoming anthologies, and to everyone I've met recently, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Just because we are mainly of the darker trade, doesn't mean we can't get in touch with this festive time of year, its childlike spirit, and embrace the resonding notes that makes Christmas what it is. I for one, have been reading the Christmas books by Dickens, have decorated the house with lights, put out the little village of lighted houses, and watched A Christmas Carol twice already, the one with Alastair Sim, and George C. Scott. This is great stuff! And, this is the stuff that gets us in touch with the lighter sides of our vision and art. Don't be afraid to embrace it!

On a slightly less macabe note, as Tiny Tim has been fond of saying:
"God bless us, Everyone!"
I leave it up to you to provide the accent!
Cheers, all!
Brandon

7th Dimension Magazine is Alive and Well and Featuring a Bloody Piece of Madness.

Well, the mag came in the mail the other day, and I should have posted this sooner, but with moving, hooking everything back up, and having some minor PC troubles, all is well. Knock on wood. 7th Dimension's debut issue has arrived with my tale Last Dresser Drawer. This is a flash piece of blood and madness. What else is new, right?

Seeing your name in print is always pretty cool, but this one holds a little something special for me. It was a random submit. I didn't expect to get published, so when the acceptance letter came, I was pretty excited. And I got paid for it, too, which is always a plus. Anyway, for only $2.50, the magazine can be purchased at http://www.newtonshair.com/7thdimension/ But, hey, I'm not twisting your arm or anything.

The Other "Significant Other."

So, I got to thinking about alter-egos and wanted to tell a story, but first! (haha)--I want to thank Nanci Kalanta and Mark Justice at HorrorWorld and the Pod of Horror for the shoutout concerning Blood Red Tales. That was the coolest thing I've heard in a long time, and #39 was pretty entertaining to say the least.

Also, I want to say congratulations to the Horror Library for their Stoker nomination. I am keeping my claws crossed and holding my cold breath for you. I just finished reading the Horror Library Vol I and The Butcher Shop Quartet and I was pleasantly suprised, impressed, and glad I'd spent the small dollars. Talk about money well spent! The stories in these two early volumes are well written, original, and very very satisfying. This is real horror, ladies and gentleman, and if you haven't gotten yours yet, I encourage you to do so. http://www.cuttingblock.net/. I am only barely scratching the surface here and am thankful two more volumes await my perusal. It was also something special to read tales by names I have actually talked with, if perhaps, only briefly. So, congratulations on the mention at Pod of Horror as well, and for the nomination. This is Brandon (Buster) wishing you the best! Go HL!

Also, if you were not aware of http://www.gravesidetales.com/, I encourage you to check them out. Dale Murphy, Matt Hults, and Bret Jordan are three very cool cats over there, or should I say werewolves? What a welcome I received! Dale has schooled me patiently on technical matters concerning banner signatures and myspace issues (that inevitable pain in the arse), while Matt told me it was okay to send a story his way, though I am two months past the submission deadline. That alone deserves a loud thanks! So, thanks, Matt! Bret Jordan has some fantastic art work over there, too. He has been kind enough to spend his lunch hours reading from Blood Red Tales, and his kindness will be reciprocated in some fashion or another. That is a promise. He had some very nice things to say about my work, so thanks, all three of you, and I will see you around the boards!

All clear? Okay. Let me see if I can tell this story without sounding like a total wacko. Too late? I thought so. Here goes:

A while back I was working at a nursing home as a night cook. My aunt got me the job. She is a great lady, but not a fan of horror. I forgive her because she is a treat. Anyway, I'm not sure how many other horror writers have this issue, but I know I do. Sometimes, I think because we write about the dark, we make sacrifices and take dangerous risks mentally and spiritually for the sake of the art. With me, it was a trip into borderline madness. Maybe I'm exaggerating here, but I wanted to write horror on such a different level, I felt putting myself mentally into the blackest places I could would be better for the sake of the art and the tales. Foolishness? You bet your ass! So, I risked my mental health as a young teen by abusing my body with every chemical I could get my addicted hands on, finding myself on the verge of poverty, hunger, destitution, hopelessness, homelessness, and despair. After all, what better, truer emotions to work a horror story around than these bleak and terrible emotions and situations? Yeah, well, I'm not too bright, and I will be the first to admit it. I did it for the art, nothing more. I was pretty young and stupid then, more so than I am now, so I wasn't really sure what the hell I was doing, or that the results would have grisly, long term effects.

(I didn't realize this blog would be so honest when I started it, so bear with me, and I hope you don't mind? Honesty is the best policy and all that, right?)

When I was working at the rehab, I was going through some pretty rough times. Some people knew I had issues with addiction then (But I'm happy to say I've conquered my demons. Sober now, I hope for good, for almost three years, and I like looking at life in a clearer, less sickly light. Eating, sleeping, and exercising are all good things, trust me.) A girl worked at the rehab with me--we'll call her Melanie--who was every inch young, obnoxious, yet brimming with vitality. She was a treat, I have to say, though we did have our differences.

I have this little habit of talking to myself quite a bit. "Thinking out loud" I call it, to keep me out of trouble. Writers? Do you do the same? Acting out the dialogue in your head, the scenes, the words, only to realize you're voicing these thoughts aloud for the world to hear? Some of you may be raising your eyebrows at me by this time, but that's okay. I think all artists have this twisted perception which makes them less normal than the common man or woman.

On one particular day, I was doing this "Thinking out loud" thing as I was mopping the floor, mumbling words I knew not what at the time. I could have been withdrawing from several chemicals, and maybe it was beginning to show. Melanie asked, "Who are you talking to, Brandon?" Melanie and I were at war with the radio. I liked to listen to classic rock; she liked modern be-pop, bubble gum music, which moves in under my skin and makes me grow jagged scales. I turn into a slavering beast hungry for violence. It flicks a switch. I was slightly peeved at her and wasn't in the mood for talking because we'd been having this war all day. So, I replied with the first name that came to mind, "Buster," I said. "And Melanie? He doesn't like the way you're acting, so you'd better just watch it, young lady."

Thankfully, she laughed, which helped ease the tension, but I went on to tell this story to several very close-knit members of my family, and soon, Buster grew into sporadic, tangible life. I would go to parties at my cousin's house, and her reply would always be the same: "Did you bring Buster with you?"--followed by several guffaws of laughter. Since then, Buster is now the running joke in my family and between close friends. My darker half, the one who still abuses, takes risks, and victimizes anything innocent. He is still running amuck. No, I don't let him influence me any more, at least my body, but he is alive and well and in my mind. He is charming when he needs to be, but he has alterior motives. He frightens me. So, because of it, I have given him more life by writing several stories about him. Which leads me to my question:

Who or what (if at all) is your alter-ego? Is he or she the same sex as you? Is he or she a darker or lighter side? Do they have a name? Are you the only one who knows about them? How clear and vivid are they in your mind? Do they look like you? Or maybe a better question would be: How did they evolve?

Whatever the case, I would be anxious to hear your thoughts on this as readers, writers, as people in general. We'll call it the Other "Significant Other." After all, this little corner of blood-stained madness gets frigheningly lonely sometimes, and us horror writers need to let one another know that we are not alone in our dark thoughts, no matter how often they may "seem" to betray us. This "darker" side is, in fact, essential, even necessary. Then again, maybe I'm asking this question to appease myself, so that I won't feel so alone. So that you, my little underground dwellers, can tell me exactly what I long and pine to hear...

What Scares You?

For those of you reading and getting tired of harping on myself and the gratitude I have for others, bear with me a little more, will ya...

I'm very happy to say I will be be published in an upcoming anthology: Twisted Tales 3. So, thanks to J Richards Jacobs for accepting the story. I also want to thank AJ Brown from the Horror Library at www.zoetrope.com/ Sorry, I was talking so late the other night, dude. If you keep replying, so will I. I enjoyed the hell out of talking to another writer, though. Weird, because AJ and I talked on everything under the sun, it seemed, except writing. And yeah, let's not talk about the Broncos/Colts games. Geesh!

Also to Marilyn Peake www.marilynpeake.com/ , Kim McDougall, www.kimmcdougall.com/ Ellen Meister, www.ellenmeister.com/ Richard Earl Linsley III, and, without leaving her out, Lindsay Nicols, for the sound and invaluable advice at www.zoetrope.com/ in the Promote Yourself Forum. You guys all rock and roll. I see a fantasy! Also to Eddie, at www.feoamante.com/ for the press release. Thanks, mahn!

I also want to mention Christina Dunn, my first official and very sincere fan, for printing out all my stories and reading them while you were in the hospital. I think about you and wish you the best! Sorry to keep you in such anticipation for more, but I'm flattered by the demand of my dementia and feeding your own!

My favorite haunts are to the side. (I think I stole that phrase from Todd Banks, or some other forum. Hope you don't mind, Todd.) I'm not sure how to display them without the url link, so it's a little haphazard looking to say the least. I'm still trying to figure all this out. If you have any ideas, let me know. Until then, I'll see...I still have writing to do.

Also, Steel Moon Publishing is officially up and running. There is a contest going on there and the theme is "Fire." Go to www.steelmoonpublishing.us/ for the guidelines, and read the ones already posted. Todd Banks from the Dead Watch Society has a little piece that will certainly make you anxious for your next meal. And WGM has another great editorial at www.writershelm.com/. They're always good for a reality check.

Anyway, I thought I'd ask for a little participation here. The voting is under way for the best author website at www.FictionAddiction.NET/vote.html. You don't have to vote for mine, of course. That would be slightly pompous on my part, to say the least. There's plenty of great looking sites there, but it might be fun, more for me and the authors there than for you. But there is a big, juicy lollipop in it for you if you do vote for mine. So, there's a slight incentive.

Also, I wanted to ask everyone a simple question on the theory of fear. That is, quite simply, What Scares You? What are your worst fears? Could be bugs. Could be death. Could be failure. You can give me an extensive list, or a very small one. It matters not to me, and I think it will help me get to know you.

Until then, my little crypt dwellers...the lights on, the toes under the covers...You know the drill...Oh, yeah, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Hearts and Thoughts

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.