Recently, a member of Chamber of Horrors NY reached out after reading 5 Elements of a Good Horror Story and felt the following infographic might be something of interest to all of you. Whereas 5 Elements tried to focus on horror as a whole, their post What Makes a Movie Scary, as you'd imagine, explores what horror elements and tropes make you cringe when you see them on the silverscreen. 

When asked "what is Chamber of Horrors NY", they answered, "The Chamber is Long Island’s Premier Haunted Attraction. A dark collection of mazes and rooms, it combines lights and sound with a cast unequaled in imagination and talent, not to mention bloodlust. Owned, built and staffed by industry veterans, we can proudly say that we are 'Where fear lives…'" 

I absolutely enjoy haunted attractions, but at first I was a little unsure why this one wrote an article on the scariest elements of a good horror movie. However, after checking out the infographic below and reading the coinciding post - as well as a handful of others - I started to think about the presentation of any good haunted attraction. It wasn't all about dark pathways and ghouls popping out from the shadows, sometimes it was about the little details such as building suspense and drawing of your fears. 

If you liked what you saw in the infographic, be sure to read more on their site 

Check out my short story "No-injury Policy " from the collection of the same name in time in time for Friday the 13th.

Time runs out on 10.14.17. 

The small town town of Stull, Kansas doesn't see too many residents over the years, but there is one in particular they wish would just go away. A 1974 issue of  University Daily Kansan first "reported" Lucifer appears twice a year: Halloween and the spring equinox. This story leads to the investigation of a nearby cemetery, which supposedly holds one of the seven gateways to hell. 

​Story goes the Evangelical Emmanuel Church was possessed by Lucifer himself even when it became nothing more that rubble. Some said rain could never penetrate the church, even when its roof was torn off during a fierce thunderstorm. 
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And just further out from the church  are said to be a set of steps you must never enter at risk of never returning. These steps lead you through the gateway of hell. 

Although the story behind the gateway to hell was debunked and determined to be nothing more than the creative brilliance of some college students, visitors still flock to Stull, especially around Halloween, in hopes of crossing paths with the paranormal.

The visits over the years have left behind footprints on the entire town, unfortunately, and many parts of the cemetery were often vandalized, or tombstones were stolen. There was once an old tree the town allegedly removed to deter tourist. Many other attractions were also removed to keep people from hurting themselves and the cemetery. While the some of the Stull locals may advise you to stay away from the town altogether -- it's a not a tourist stop -- just remember if you're going ghost hunting on someone else's turf, don't be a dick. 

In the spirit of Halloween and all things spooky during the month of October, I am  (probably) going to start a series about strange conspiracy theories and legends that exist 'til this day. By large, these tales will be centered around Halloween, but it's a bit too early in the month to jump right into those sorts of ghosts and goblins. Instead, let's start by taking a look into the tale of a phantom cat who is said to roam around the government buildings of Washington, DC. 

Every other fall or so, I like to write about the Worst Things Found in Halloween Candy. However, this year I want to do something a little different and address the myths surrounding Halloween candy. I might run this into a sequel. I might not. Who knows?

For now, though, I'm going to address a handful of true and untrue Halloween candy myths, focusing on things that can poison you, get you high, and cut you. 

Following my post in 2012, I wanted to construct a new list of the Worst Things Found in Halloween Candy for 2015, starting off with a real bang! That turns out to be a pun. 

Recently Neil Gaiman, most famous for his book & animated film Coraline, explored the importance of reading. His focus was how we estimated the number of prison and jail cells we will need in the future. He concluded that the formula was quite simple: figure out how many 11-year-olds were illiterate. ​

The original check-your-candy list for Halloween. In honor of the month of horror, I want to dive into one of the most important rules of Halloween with a top ten list. That is, always remember to check your treats. Here are some of the most horrifying objects found in food

Horrific situations in real-life are certainly anything but enjoyable. However, an augmented version of a terrifying situation -- a horror movie, a haunted house, a skydive -- can be rather delightful.

But while some people enjoy a good scare, many don't and will go out of their way to avoid goosebumps. I can only imagine those who do not enjoy scaring themselves have a difficult time fathoming why on Earth anyone else would want to do such a thing. To tackle the subject, I covered the cons of loving a good scare in a previous blog post. This time, I'll focus on some of the pros. I'm not sure this will solve anything, but maybe it's worth taking a look at. 

Let's face it, some of us aren't as  geographically savvy as others. When we're totally lost, we're scared shitless for a moment. That's me in New York last summer. And the following is what both provided inspiration for a story and the fearful turn it needed. ​

YOU AND THAT ANNOYING QUESTION

Lately, I've been taking another crack at Excluded before it re-releases (hopefully) by the end of this year. By another crack I mean editing and redrafting a bit, by which I mean a chore I try to put off a little more often than I'd care to admit.

​Sometimes my excuses are quite wild; sometimes I blame another book. 

That's the case with this blog. Don't consider it so much as a form procrastination as much as a productive way to step aside from Excluded and look at some of the other horror elements I've come up with since the novel.

In this case, I reviewed some drafts of Ashland's Asylum as well as an older post called 6 Insane Cures for Insanity.

Although I'm reviewing some of the treatments from the previous post, to see what makes for an intense scene or two in the book, I can't help but continue diving into the other bizarre methods doctors once used to "rid" their patients of various psychological ailments. As always, feel free to let me know if one of these treatments deserves to be in the novel. 

Rare and fascinating to many, solar eclipses have a way to get people talking. Today, countless news articles encourage us to step outside and watch the eclipse (while wearing protective eye wear, of course). Back in ancient times, solar eclipses either brought discovery or fear.  Below you will find a mix of discoveries & myths birthed during solar eclipses. 

For me, I love the idea of being scared. But for others, being terrified voluntarily sounds just plain stupid. So, why is that? 

Like anything else you need to do, distractions can cause you to lose your time to write. The worst part is writers now favor a word processor on their computers over writing by hand, which poses a dreadful dilemma: Should I check my email and Facebook first?

I believe a good horror story is broken down into fear, surprise, suspense, mystery, and "spoiler."

THE LAST SHOT FOR CHANCE BLACK TO SAVE HIS FAMILY . . . 

Chance Black, while not the writer he hoped to be, was a pretty damn good photographer. With his skills, Chance turned a dollar or two--enough for him, his wife, and his son to get by. One day, a comparatively sizable paycheck came along. An opportunity arose to photograph an event for the Long Brooke Sync, a local tabloid publication, but Chance had no idea what would come along with the cash.

​By coincidence, one of his photographs captured suspicious behavior in the background, and unfortunately for Chance, the man committing the act figured it out first. In order to take the photograph back from Chance, the man in the photo decided he needed some major collateral. 

What's better: Writing every day or writing only when inspiration strikes?
Provide your answer below and then find out which response might be best for you.

Say goodbye the the red cover for Excluded. 
Take a peek at the new coverart for my horror novel's re-release in 2017. ​

At the end of last month, I reviewed 5 of the deadliest makeshift weapons I came across as I worked on Excluded & Ashland's Asylum. However, I felt I dwelled too much on (the questionably ingenious) prison-escape weapons and not enough on the everyday items people have used in the desperate name of survival.  For the most part, this entry is that: 5 Deadly Everyday Weapons Used in Desperation. 

Chance Black, while not the writer he hoped to be, was a pretty damn good photographer.

​With his skills, Chance turned a dollar or two--enough for him, his wife, and his son to get by on. One day, a comparatively sizable paycheck came along. An opportunity arose to photograph an event for the Long Brooke Sync, a local tabloid publication, but Chance had no idea what would come along with the cash. By coincidence, one of his photographs captured suspicious behavior in the background, and unfortunately for Chance, the man committing the act figured it out first. In order to take the photograph back from Chance, the man in the photo decided he needed some major collateral. ​

I was challenged to write about a redeeming moment for a villain, and I chose to write about Adam Coy. It's just a little adventure, but I hope you enjoy. You can read Adam Coy in all of his horrific glory in Excluded.

What follows is an older one of my tales, originally published by Negative Suck in November 2011. The publication eventually went dark, and the rights of this story returned to me. For awhile, I sat on the story and more or less placed it in the "trunk." 

Recently, I brought the story back out and reread it. I'm not completely sure how I feel about it, but I am re-releasing the story "Reassurance, or the Evolution of a Pessimist." It's a rather dark tale involving razor blades, promise rings, and psychological masochism. 

HOW THIS STORY CAME ABOUT

I had an instructor from Ball State challenge his students, including me, to write a story based on some kind of formula, such as including the first three of something you saw. My challenge was to work the first 3 advertisements I saw on facebook into a narrative. The first 3 ads I came across were for wrestling rings, promise rings, and an ad for a dating app.

​So, if you're into strange, experimental fiction, keep reading below. But don't say I didn't warn you. 

While I'm touching up Excluded and retooling the stories from Ashland's Asylum, I find myself considering all the makeshift weapons used in the stories. I'm not entirely sure what it is (or what it says about me), but I prefer stories in which characters misuse everyday tools as weapons or completely concoct their own nefarious devices. 

For no good reason other than perhaps researching equalizers for Ashland's Asylum, I began scouring the vast depths of the web for stories about people who have done just that: crafted their own weapons during desperate times, such as being on the run or under pressure to escape from prison. I'm not writing about all of the devices I came across, but here are 5 Deadly Make-Shift Weapons Made in Desperation.