“i was looking up recipes for pumpkin martinis & i came across this…quite possibly the grossest looking shot i’ve ever seen…i’m not sayin’ i wouldn’t do like 6-10 anyway, but you know…”
Click here for the recipe.
(via folkinz.)
Author: Stefanie Snider
Novelist, wife, vengeful harpy.
Even Monsters Need Downtime
Freddy in Space dug up some great behind-the-scene shots from classic horror movies. Because hey, everyone needs to take a break once in a while.
Click the pic for more.
3 Of My Favourite Writing Books
Any writer worth anything should be in love with books. If you know me, you know that I have a bit of a book…obsession fixation…habit. I can’t imagine a life not surrounded by books.
So it should go without saying that I’ve amassed a number of how-to writing books, and thought I might share a few of my favourites. The ones I like best are the ones that go beyond the mechanics and add a little humor, or offer a peek into the lives of authors and writers.
The first I want to mention is one I’m reading now: How I Write: The Secret Lives of Authors. It’s a wonderful book, one of those that should be sitting as inspiration on your shelves. The editors asked authors to name what it is that inspires them, what keeps them writing. Some authors chose to share their spaces: the specifics of desk and chair and view. Others tell about the little totems they keep to bring them luck or appease their muse.
The second is Page Fright: Foibles and Fetishes of Famous Writers. Harry Bruce has unearthed all kinds of interesting little facts about some of the most well-known authors. No matter what bizarre little writing habits you’ve picked up, I guarantee this book will make you feel normal. (Or at least a part of a big, crazy tribe.)
And third, you must, and I can’t stress this enough, check out Chuck Wendig. Start with 250 Things You Should Know About Writing and go from there. Read his books, all of them, and never look at writing (or being a writer) the same way again. (All I’m going to say is that this is the man who once wrote a recipe calling for “a dick of carrots”. You’ll have fun with these.)
How To Make Horror Movie Blood
A short cooking class for the macabre among us, from the BBC’s A History of Horror.
SniderWriter Hits 1000 Views!
You’re fantastic. All of you.
(Especially you. You’re my favourite. Don’t tell the others.)
This blog hit 1000 views today, and I have to tell you how thankful I am. I know that 1000 isn’t much to some blogs. Some get several times that every day.
But what matters to me, right now, is that 1000 times you guys have visited this site. 1000 times, you let me into your life, however briefly, and we hung out for a bit. That’s just cool.
So thanks. You rule.
It’s Read an EBook Week!
Haven’t tried e-books yet?
This week Smashwords is hosting Read an E-Book Week. What does it mean? Thousands of independent authors, like me, have put our work on sale.
We’ve done it because e-books are a great way to try out a new author. Because we want you to step outside the rules of traditional publishing and see what it’s like when authors control their own work. Independent authors set our own rules and publish our own truths, without having to bend to the will of publishers. You get a pure story, as it was meant to be read, as the author envisioned it.
Supporting indie authors means you’ll see more unique voices than you would through traditional publishing. Indies have more freedom to experiment with new formats, new ideas, and new niches that traditional publishing simply doesn’t have the resources to support.
It’s exciting, and if you haven’t tried e-books before, this is your time.
This week only, my Dark Side collection is on sale for 25% off. Don’t have an e-reader? Don’t worry; you can read it right on the site at Smashwords.
Click on the cover to get your own copy of Dark Side: Seven Repulsive Stories, and use coupon code REW25 to get 25% off at checkout.
Free Horror Movies? In MY YouTube?
Did you know you can watch free horror movies on Youtube? Yeah, yeah, I know you can watch “free” movies, in the sense of pirated films uploaded in ten-minute segments, but I’m talking the real deal here. YouTube has an entire subsection of free, full-length and legitimately-obtained films.
You might be surprised by what you find there. Classic b-movies like Candyman, the original The Blob, and Curse Of the Swamp Creature are available. You’ll also find newer, wackier horror like Crocodile, The Quick and the Undead, and Suburban Sasquatch.
There are movies for rent, too, if you feel like throwing money at the Internet. Me? I’m gonna go pop some popcorn, turn out the lights, and gorge myself on these free treasures. The whole list is here. Why not watch a couple tonight? — if you’re anything like me, you won’t sleep until dawn anyway.
Joshua Hoffine’s Persephone
Joshua Hoffine takes the most distinctive horror photos I’ve seen. If you’ve ever come across a horror photo that made your skin prickle, chances are it was one of his. His work explores both childhood fears and those of adults, with everything from the monster under the bed to the killer through the keyhole.
He’s back, with Persephone.
©Joshua Hoffine 2012
Click the photo to visit his blog, and see the behind-the-scenes of the shoot. Or try JoshuaHoffine.com to view his other work, and to purchase prints.
Why We Need Horror
I’ve heard it said again and again: why would someone want to read horror? With so much bad out there in the world, why would we willingly choose to expose ourselves to the darkness? Why not read a nice, relaxing love story instead? Or turn on a comedy movie?
Those are valid choices, too. Sure they are. Sometimes you want something completely innocuous to fall into.
But sometimes you need the safety of a well-controlled scare. Something that opens your adrenaline taps and lets your imagination run wild. Something that lets your body experience fright, and terror, so you can inoculate yourself against the real boogeymen that lurk in the dark of the bushes outside.
Some women watch sad movies to give them an excuse to cry. They’re feeling sad already, and they know they need to let it out. The movie just gives them a concrete reason to let go. It’s the same with horror: we all have fears, and horror gives us a safe place to push our limits.
We don’t live the tooth-and-nail life of our ancient ancestors anymore, but our bodies are still wired for it. Being scared out of your mind gives you a primal satisfaction afterwards. I lived through it, and I came out stronger.
As far as your brain is concerned, the monsters in horror stories are real, and they’re threatening your very existence. Right. Now. Your mind fills in the blanks the story leaves, and suddenly you can feel the hot breath of some horrifying creature on the back of your neck.
It’s why we ride rollercoasters. It’s why we take risks, some less safe than others. But no matter how scared we get by horror, there’s still the safety of knowing it won’t happen.
Probably.
Though, come to mention it, I think I hear a scratching at the door.
sniderwriter 