It's time for the new month's ezine!!! Hope you enjoy!
Index
Jodie Pierce
President & CEO
Lindsey Jayne
Vice-President and Cover Artist
Jessica Sawa
Editor-In-Chief
Index:
For
Whom the Phone Rings: by Thom Futrell
Rand’s Story:Wiped Away Part 1: by Brien O’Raighne
Meditation and Neuroplasticity: Frank Julius Palumbo
Dear Hattie: Helen Bishop
Vampire Music: by The Vampire Queen 1/Jodie Pierce
The Worm Farm (Chapter 19): Helen Bishop
Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf: by Ronald Griffin
The Hybrids:The Blood Moon Part 1: by Brien O’Raighne
2016 All
rights reserved, including the right of reproduction of this ezine in part or
in whole.
FOR WHOM THE PHONE RINGS
TGREAPER
Recently my older brother had to go to Grand Rapids to
have open heart surgery. This was of course a very scary time for the family as
we waited for any updates by the doctors. Once I knew all was well, it was time
to do what I enjoy: search for paranormal areas.
I ran into
a gem of a story about a haunted phone company! What a concept! Here is what I
found out:
This modern
building, in downtown Grand Rapids, is said to be haunted by two very unhappy,
and distinctly un-modern ghosts. These two spirit have wreaked havoc in this
building for decades in a way that is strangely unique.... even for the spirit
world.
The ghosts that
haunt the building are said to be those of Warren and Virginia Randall, a once
blissful couple who made their home in Grand Rapids shortly after the
turn-of-the-century. In 1907, they moved from Detroit and settled into the
Judd-White House, a once prestigious mansion that had lost its luster and had
become a slightly dilapidated boarding house. This was only temporary, of
course, as Warren had a good job as a brakeman on the G.R. and Indiana
Railroad.
In 1908, Warren
met with a tragic accident and he lost his leg in a railway accident. It was
replaced with an artificial, wooden one and this signaled the end of the
Randall's previously happy marriage. Warren became strange and paranoid, often
accusing his wife of having affairs with more desirable men than he. Their
disagreements often became violent and local police became used to going to the
Randall's house to break up their latest argument. Later that year, Warren was
even arrested while chasing his wife down an alley with a straight razor.
Virginia didn't press charges but later that summer, she finally left him.
One summer night
in 1910, Warren coaxed Virginia into taking a buggy ride with him. Perhaps he
hoped to convince her to come back to him, but no one really knows for sure. We
do know that they ended up at the Judd-White House and had one last fight where
in Warren took off his wooden leg and beat Virginia with it. He knocked her
senseless and then proceeded to seal every opening and crevice in the room with
towels. He ripped a gas fixture from the wall and let the lethal fumes fill the
room. Finally, he took out the straight razor that he had threatened his wife
with once before and slashed his throat with it.
The rooming
house had been vacant at the time the couple had been living in it and no one
seemed to be aware that they had gone into it that night, or were even missing.
Next door to the house, however, was an office building and staff members there
started to notice a horrible smell from the building about two weeks later.
They eventually called the Board of Health to go and investigate.
Several Board
members and an employee of the local gas company broke open the door of the
house and were nearly overcome by the odor of gas, mixed with the even more
noxious smell of decaying flesh. They traced the smell to the locked bedroom
door. One of the men was lifted up to look inside through the transom above the
door and was greeted with the sight of the Randall's rotting corpses.
The authorities
were immediately summoned and they broke open the door to find two bodies that
were so blackened with decay that they were only identified by Warren Randall's
wooden leg.
The story of the
Randall's murder and suicide became public knowledge and the Judd-White house
was never occupied again.... at least not by the living. It was said that the
house became haunted and people reported strange lights and sounds from the
house. Those who dared to go inside claimed that they heard the sound of
Warren's wooden leg thumping in the bedroom where the couple met their deaths.
Others claimed to hear the screams and cries of Virginia as she begged her
husband for mercy. Many who grew up in the area were told by their parents not
to play near the abandoned house because it was haunted.
The house
remained standing for another 10 years or so, when it was finally torn down and
the land purchased by the telephone company. They built their offices here in
1924 and they still remain today.
Many claim that
the spirits of the Randalls did not vanish with the removal of the Judd-White
house. They say that the ghosts moved into the new building and remain there
today, still plaguing the employees of the telephone company.... and the
citizens of Grand Rapids. It seems that for many years, residents of the city
have been harassed by strange, late night telephone calls.... which have been
traced to coming from inside the phone company building itself!
Author Bio:
Thom Futrell is a horror
writer living in Jackson Michigan. He has been in more than sixty publications
and has four films under his belt. He writes under the name T.G. Reaper.
Rand’s Story:
Wiped Away Part 1:
JUNIPERWOODS SUBDIVISION | AUTUMN, TEXAS
Brandon paces in his home. He
is wearing a white thin undershirt tee over plaid pajama pants. He has an
infant in his hands. He is bouncing her as he tries to give her a bottle. His
brown locks are in disarray. There is a scowl on his face. Something in his gut
is telling him something went wrong. Roxanne never came home.
The infant, Olivia Ariel
Phoenix also known as Livvy, drinks her bottle. She is wrapped tightly in a
pink blanket with stars on them. There are very little stubbles of brunette
hair on her head. She finishes the bottle. Brandon sets the bottle down on the
end table between two chairs in the living room.
He picks up a burp rag, a
cloth diaper and sets it over his left shoulder. Brandon pats the bottom of
Livvy with his hand. Nothing. Then, he pats the back of Livvy. She burps and,
then, spews a bit onto the burp rag. He takes a breath and exhales.
Brandon picks up the pacifier
from the end table. He places it in her mouth. Livvy begins sucking on it. He
walks over to the bouncy chair and sets her inside.
Brandon then walks over to
the sliding glass door that looks out onto the back patio of the home. He
sighs. A look of distraught hits his face. Then, the doorbell rings. His head
snaps the direction of the front door.
He walks across the living
room. He pauses a moment to look down at Livvy. She has fallen asleep. He
breathes a sigh of relief. Then, he continues on towards the door. Brandon runs
a hand through his hair just before opening the door.
Standing before him are
Destiny, Matt, and Lance. Brandon raises a brow. He looks around behind them.
“Where is she?” Brandon
demands to know.
Destiny gulps. Then, she
turns towards Lance. He nods. She takes a deep breath. “Brandon, we have a
major problem. Can we come in and talk?”
Brandon closes his eyes and
shakes his head. “Not good is it.”
“No.” States Matt. “Now, may
we come in.”
“Come in.” Brandon says. He
motions them inside. “I probably need to sit for this. Don’t I?”
“Yes, Brandon, you do.”
Bandon walks over to the
chair next to Livvy’s bouncy chair. He sits down. Destiny walks over to the
chair next to his and sits down herself. She reaches out for Brandon’s hand. He
is visibly shaken.
“When she didn’t come home
last night.” Brandon’s begins as his voice wavers through tears. “I feared the
worst. I feared she was killed.” He looks down at the ground.
“Yes, and no.” Destiny says.
“She would’ve been better off dead than her current condition.”
Brandon looks up. There is a
raised brow on his face that looks pasty white. “How can you say that? She’s
your sister-in-law.”
“I love her like a sister,
Brandon. You know that.” Destiny pleads. “Lucifer got to her and others with
the help of Detective Goodson.”
“WHAT?” Brandon raises his
voice. This prompts crying from Livvy. Brandon rolls his eyes.
Destiny holds out her arms.
“Let me hold her. I’ll get her back to sleep for you.”
“Why?” Brandon says. “Are you
afraid I’ll hit you?”
“With what I’m about to tell
you… yes.” Destiny says.
“You know I’d never do that.”
Brandon retorts.
“Still, I’d like to hold my
niece. You’re a wreck.”
“Alright.” Brandon bends over
and picks up Livvy. He turns and hands Livvy to Destiny. “Here.”
Destiny takes Livvy from
Brandon and puts her in the crook of her right arm. She begins swaying Livvy.
She, then, looks up at Brandon. “This is hard for me to believe. The memories
are a little jumbled. She wanted me to tell you that she’d return to you in due
time. Once her cravings were under control.”
“Cravings? Under control?”
Brandon asks. “Are you trying to tell me that I am now married to a vampire?”
“Well, he figured it out.”
Matt says jubilantly. “Let’s go.”
Brandon rises. There is a
look of rage on his face. He walks over to Matt. He begins poking Matt’s chest.
“Where do you think you’re going, Matt?”
Matt gulps. “Um, home to see
Elise.”
Brandon shakes his head. “Uh.
Uh. Not yet. Sit.” He points to the couch next to Lance who is looking over
Destiny’s shoulder at Livvy.
Matt puts his hands up.
“Fine. Fine. Fine.”
“Now tell me exactly what
went down.”
Minutes later, Destiny, Matt,
and Lance finish their story. Brandon is rubbing his chin. There is a scowl on
his face. “You sure you don’t know what happened after the witnesses left, the
patrons of the club and the employees.”
“No. We woke up in the
Downtown Metapol Facility this morning.” Destiny says. She gulps. “I don’t know
what he did. I’m even afraid to find out what he did to me.”
Lance raises a brow. “What
are you saying, doll? You think he could’ve impregnated you?”
Destiny shrugs her shoulders.
“It’s possible. He’s been biding his time to get me in his grasp. Last night he
had the perfect opportunity.”
“This is not good.” Brandon
says. “We’re going to need additional help to figure this out.”
Destiny sighs. “I was afraid
you were going to say that.”
To be continued…
Author Bio:
Brien O'Raighne
He is a connoisseur
of sci-fi and paranormal films and books. He, also, lives in Houston with his
son.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DRBStreetTeam/
Meditation and Neuroplasticity by Frank Julius Palumbo
It Will Pass
A student went to his meditation teacher
and said, “My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or
I’m constantly falling asleep. It’s just horrible!”
“It will pass,” the teacher said
matter-of-factly
A week later, the student came back to
his teacher. “My meditation is wonderful!
I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It’s just wonderful!’
“It will pass,” the teacher replied
matter-of-factly.
The above story, written approximately two thousand
years ago by Zen masters, is meant to point the student towards enlightenment.
Enlightenment being that state of mind where the one who has attained it, is
not affected by the roller-coaster ride
of human emotions and is marked by the absence of desire and suffering. The
aspirations and miseries that most people experience in life do not play havoc
with the constant state of mind a Zen master has achieved. The Zen master sees
these events as if he/she is watching a television film. For the average
person, the television character’s pleasures and tribulations within the scene
are viewed objectively from safely outside the setting in which the movie is
taking place. The Zen master too will
experience the events in his/her life as an observer,
not impacted by the desire or sufferings
of his ego, watching his/her fate unfold without interference from preconditioned attitudes. Not affected by his/her successes or failures, the
Zen master maintains this constant state of mind, allowing the creative force
of the universe to flow through them. How many great teachers in history have shown how this limitless energy, once
tapped into, caused a change in their
environment? The author need not elaborate on this.
However, this state of mind is not a product of
culture or teaching but of the practice of mindfulness itself. Mindfulness is a
state of mind where the individual has no thought of the past or the future.
There is only the present. Like now. Take a moment and focus your attention on
the air going in and out of your nostrils. Nothing else. The past plays no part
in your current experience, and the
future holds no anxiety. This practice is far more
challenging than one would think to maintain for any length of time. But
the practice itself causes the effect of a calm and steady mind. By that, I
mean mindfulness changes the actual structure of the brain. This phenomenon is
called Neuroplasticity and is a relatively recent understanding of how the
brain functions and adapts.
There are several profoundly important areas of the
brain that are physically changed by the practice of mindfulness, areas of the
brain that control the overpowering or even superhuman traits of those great
men and woman who have gone before us. Images of the brains of subjects and control
groups were taken before and after using a magnetic resonance imaging, (MRI).
The subjects were instructed to perform a mindfulness technique that would have
been practiced for at least eight weeks before the study. In one study, it was
shown that the amygdala, a structure which has increased activity during stress
and becomes denser during prolonged
stress, did the opposite when subjects practiced mindfulness. For those people
who meditate daily, the amygdala had significantly less activation during stress
and had become physically less dense overall. This insinuates that people who meditate will not suffer the dire
effects that stress has on the body overall, i.e. high blood pressure, immune deficiencies, depression, and a host of other
ailments.
The amygdala is shown above. There is a significant
decrease in density and activity during stressful events for people who meditate daily. Additionally, other studies
have shown that there is an increased in grey-matter density in the
hippocampus, which is associated with learning and memory.
In another study, people who meditated forty minutes a
day developed thicker cortical walls than non-meditators. Studies have shown
that as a person ages, the cortical walls become thinner. The thickness of the
cortical wall is associated with memory, attention, and decision-making. The conclusion was that the brains of people who
meditate daily aged much more slowly than those who do not. Along with the
above, meditators have shown increased
thickness in the sensory regions, demonstrating
that daily meditation leads to an increase in sensory awareness. See diagram
below.
SW Lazar, a German scientist, is quoted as saying,
“With a
rapidly aging society, it becomes
increasingly important to counter normal
age-related decline in cognitive functioning. Growing evidence suggests that
cognitive training programs may have the potential to counteract this decline. On the basis of a growing body of research that
shows that meditation has positive effects on cognition in younger and
middle-aged adults, meditation may be able to offset normal age-related
cognitive decline or even enhance cognitive function in older adults.”
The prefrontal cortex and the auditory and sensory
cortex are shown above. Increases in the density and size of these areas occur with the practice of daily meditation.
Additionally, an increase in Myelin, the coating
of brain nerve cells, has been documented. A decrease in Myelin may result in
depression, dementia, and schizophrenia, and attention deficit disorder.
In
Hugh G. Byrne’s book, “The Here-and-Now
Habit: How Mindfulness Can Help You Break Unhealthy Habits ...” he
describes two distinct states of self-awareness. The first is the
‘narrative-focus,’ or extended self-referencing and is the default mode for
humans. This state primarily is associated with negative thoughts about
oneself, mind wandering and rumination about the past and the future. Typical
everyday experiences. The second state is called the ‘experience-focus,’ or
momentary self-referencing and deals with seeing those daily tasks in life as moment to moment events and any emotional
feelings as transient. The experience-focused state is entwined within and lost
in the narrative-focused state making our
life experience filled with past influences impinging upon the present moment
and future prospects, and vice versa, creating a whirlwind of emotional
turmoil. However, Byrne’s states that with the daily practice of mindfulness,
the experience-focus can become the
dominant state, separating the once combined neural pathway into two distinct
neural networks. Now, after the divide, the narrative-focus
is assessable only with intent. Having the experience-focus
become the dominant state of mind is crucial
in the development and evolution of the human condition because one such area
of the brain that shows an increase in activity and thickness as a result of
the daily practice of mindfulness is the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal
cortex is associated a person's personality and expression, decision making
and social behavior. Additionally, it is involved in the prediction of
outcomes, expectation based on actions, the determination of what is good and bad, future consequences of current
activities, and controlling urges.
The
above traits are all fine, and any one of
us would like to have a superior capacity to judge what is right and wrong, or
to control of unwanted urges. However, the real reason for the prefrontal
cortices significance is due to a paper written by Elisa Filevich, a researcher
at the Centre for Lifespan Psychology at the Max Planck Institute for Human
Development. Using an MRI, Elisa Filevich discovered that the subjects capable of having lucid dreams had an enlarged
anterior prefrontal cortex, (located in the front portion of the prefrontal
cortex, approximately where the mysterious third
eye would be on a person’s forehead) and was
highly active during the lucid dreams. Hence, the above studies show that daily
meditation does increase the thickness and activity in the prefrontal cortex and that the prefrontal cortex is
associated, if not critical, for the
ability to have lucid dreams.
Additionally,
the practitioner of mindfulness does not have to engage in the practice for
extended periods of time. Results have
been documented in as little as eight weeks. If you read my previous article on
the out of body experience and how lucid dreaming and the purging of the
subconscious mind through meditation techniques can produce an actual state of separating the consciousness
from the physical body, you will see that for
humanity to evolve to higher states of consciousness, one must meditate. The
Zen master in the above story is a product of his practice. He sees the
emotional states of his student as an impediment to Enlightenment but not because
the Zen master was taught that, but because that is how his brain now
functions. I believe that once the experience-focus
or momentary self-referencing becomes the dominant neural network, the
practitioner becomes the observer, allowing that person to connect to a
consciousness that is greater than his, i.e. his Higher Self, or the Christ
within. The Zen master stands outside of his experience, watching his fate
unfold, allowing the Christ Consciousness to rise to the forefront of his
experience. When this takes place, the will of the Higher Self dominates, and
life flows unhindered by obstacles and
detours, allowing the true will to be revealed. Additionally, this is where
synchronicities, a theory published by Sigmund Freud’s apprentice, Carl Jung, flourish, and thoughts can be observed creating
reality. Synchronicities can be defined, as per
Merriam-Webster Dictionary, as ‘the coincidental occurrence of events and
especially psychic events (as in similar thoughts in widely separated persons
or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related
but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality.’ (I will
elaborate on Carl Jung’s theory of synchronicities in a later article.)
The
practice of mindfulness is a tool that can be used to change the foundation of
human thought and bring Humanity to the brink
of an enlightened state. The method is
simple, just watch your breath going in and out of your nostrils, in
and out, in and out…and let the infinite wisdom of your higher self to take
control.
Gard, T., Hölzel, B. K.
and Lazar, S. W. (2014), The potential effects of meditation on age-related cognitive decline: a systematic
review. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1307: 89–103.
doi: 10.1111/nyas.12348
Lazar SW, Kerr CE,
Wasserman RH, et al. Meditation experience is associated with increased
cortical thickness. Neuroreport.
2005;16(17):1893-1897.
Filevich, E., Dresler,
M., Brick, T.R., Kühn, S. Metacognitive Mechanisms Underlying Lucid Dreaming. The
Journal of Neuroscience (2015) (DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3342-14.2015)
Author
Bio:
Writer of horror and dark fantasy with a spiritual connotation; Astral projection, occult sciences, Enochian magick . . . And sitting in half lotus for decades.
Frank Julius Palumbo was born in the Bronx in December of 1964. He has worked as a carpenter, a freelance illustrator, and is now currently involved in Law enforcement. His studies include Psychology and Neuropsychology, and he has been practicing Zen Buddhism and the Kabbalah for over thirty years.
See below for his new book!
Dear Hattie
by Helen Bishop
by Helen Bishop
Dear Hattie:
I was just a
small town girl, too big for my britches, who made a stupid remark at a party I
had no business attending. A party that someone like me had to lie my way into,
I really miss those days. Nowadays, I party anywhere and I'm always on the
list, but I'm jaded somehow.
Do you know a
good lawyer? I'd like out of this contract.
Soul-less
Dear Less:
I believe a
contract such as yours is ironclad. The common consensus is that all the best
lawyers already work for him.
Dear Hattie:
I'm the original
klutz. I'm low in funds, no insurance, my car is now in the shop, I have
smoker's cough and a general feeling of worthlessness. Yesterday, after biting
into 'no it's not too hot' pizza and spending hours in the emergency room, I
hit a cop car on the way home. Is it my fault that the painkillers were so
strong?
After the weekend
I just had I'd like to join a fitness place. Do you have a suggestion?
#1 Klutz a.k.a.
Prisoner 2365
Dear #1
I hear there's a
lot of exercise in the place you are now. Laps in the yard not withstanding. No
smoking or pizza should heal up your mouth and the money you save can be
applied towards your bail.
Author
bio:
Helen Bishop is a native of Pennsylvania and a
true fan of the written word. She works as a litigation paralegal; reads on
average 20 books a week; writes book reviews for an internet blog; writes
stories, poems and novels in various genres; and-just to fill out her dance
card-contracts with fellow authors to proofread and copy-edit their work before
it goes to the publisher. You can check her out at
thttps://www.facebook.com/HelenBishopAuthor?ref=bookmarks, and
thttps://www.facebook.com/HelenBishopAuthor?ref=bookmarks, and
https://www.writerreadr.wordpress.com
Most Popular Vampire
TV Shows & Books:
1.
True Blood (2008 TV Series)
Telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse encounters a
strange new supernatural world when she meets the mysterious Bill, a southern
Louisiana gentleman and vampire. (60
mins.)
Stars: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten
2.
The Vampire Diaries (2009 TV
Series)
A high school girl
is torn between two vampire brothers. (43
mins.)
Stars: Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Candice Accola
3.
Dark Shadows (1991 TV Series)
Victoria Winters comes to Collinwood, an isolated
mansion in coastal Maine, to work as a governess, but soon finds herself drawn
into a strange... (341 mins.)
Director: Matthew Hall, Mark Sobel
Stars: Jonathan Freid, Ben Cross, Joanna Going, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jim Fyfe
4.
Kindred: The Embraced (1996 TV
Series)
Series based on the White Wolf role-playing game,
Vampire: the Masquerade. Julian Luna, the undead Prince of the City, leads the
Vampire Clans as he falls in love with Caitlin, a human reporter. (60 mins.)
Stars: Mark Frankel, C. Thomas Howell, Kelly
Rutherford, Stacy Haiduk, Erik King, Patrick Bauchau, Brigid Brannagh
5.
Death Valley (2011 TV Series)
A mockumentary following a police force as they deal
with various perpetrators who are mostly supernatural in nature.
6.
Hemlock Grove (2013 TV Series)
A teenage girl is brutally murdered, sparking a hunt
for her killer. But in a town where everyone hides a secret, will they find the
monster among them?
7.
Being Human (2008 TV Series)
A werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost try to live
together and get along. (60
mins.)
8.
Blood Ties (2006 TV Series)
(60 mins.)
Stars: Christina Cox, Dylan Neal, Kyle Schmid, Gina Holden
9.
Blade: The Series (2006 TV
Series)
The adventures of the half human/vampire hunter. (60 mins.)
Stars: Sticky Fingaz, Jill Wagner, Nelson Lee, Jessica Gower
10.
Hellsing (2001 Mini-Series)
A British taskforce, led by the daughter of the
vampire hunter Prof. Van Helsing, battles the supernatural with the aid of two
vampires.
Director: Umanosuke Iida, Yasunori Urata
11.
Ultraviolet (1998 Mini-Series)
Michael Colefield is unwillingly thrust into the
nightmarish world of vampires when he discovers a secret... (300 mins.)
12.
Blood+ (2005 TV Series)
A young girl named Saya combats vicious,
shape-shifting demons in Okinawa, 2005.
Director: Junichi Fujisaku
Stars: Kari Wahlgren, Ben Diskin, Crispin Freeman, Olivia Hack
13.
The Munsters (1964 TV Series)
A family of friendly monsters have misadventures never
quite realizing why people react to them so strangely. (30 mins.)
14.
Moonlight (2007 TV Series)
A vampire lands work as a private investigator and
falls for mortal woman. (60
mins.)
15.
Forever Knight (1989 TV Series)
800-year-old vampire Nick Knight quests for redemption
as a cop in Toronto, trying to hide his vampiric nature from the rest of the
world. (60 mins.)
16.
Dark Shadows (1966 TV Series)
The rich Collins family of Collinsport, Maine is
tormented by strange occurrences. (30
mins.)
17.
Angel (1999 TV Series)
The vampire Angel, cursed with a soul, moves to Los
Angeles and aids people with supernatural-related problems while questing for
his own redemption. (44 mins.)
18.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 TV
Series)
After the traumatizing ordeal in the movie with the
same name, Buffy Summers and her mother move to Sunnydale, only to discover
that L.A. was just a walk in the park... (44
mins.)
19.
Being Human (2011 TV Series)
Three twenty-something’s share a house and try to live
a normal life despite being a ghost, a werewolf, and a vampire.
Stars: Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, Sam Huntington, Kristen Hager
20.
The Gates (2010 TV Series)
A metropolitan police officer becomes chief of police
in a gated suburban neighborhood where vampires, werewolves, witches and other
supernatural entities reside. (60
mins.)
Stars: Rhona Mitra, Frank Grillo, Marisol Nichols, Luke Mably
My Favorite Vampire TV Shows:
1. Kindred:
The Embraced (Ended too soon but the main character was killed in a motorcycle
accident)
2. Dark
Shadows (1966-?)
3. Moonlight
4. Angel
5. Buffy
6. True
Blood (First season only)
Books:
FANGLAND BY JOHN MARKS
Marks’ nifty update of Stoker’s Dracula finds
investigative journalist Evangeline Harker heading to Eastern Europe to
interview elusive war criminal Ion Torgu. The tapes which Evangeline
sends back to her head office (based on Marks’ experiences working on 60 Minutes) are
infected with Torgu’s vampirism, and his influence starts to spread. It sticks
closely to Stoker’s structure and stirs in newsroom details and post-9/11
paranoia to create an intriguing spin on the classic tale.
THE HISTORIAN BY ELIZABETH KOSTOVA
Like Fangland, The Historian plays
with the structure and the details of Stoker’s Dracula, but Kostova uses them
to create a rollicking adventure story. Helen, our heroine, discovers that her
father attempted to trace the real life roots of Dracula during the 1970s. She
quickly becomes embroiled in the hunt herself as she realizes the forces of
darkness are alive and well. It’s a hugely entertaining ride with wit and
intelligence, and it’s thoroughly recommended.
ANNO DRACULA BY KIM NEWMAN
Fans of vampire literature should
certainly pick up a copy of Kim Newman’s alternative history novel, in which
Jonathan Harker and Van Helsing failed to stop Dracula. The Count has married
Queen Victoria and humans and vampires now live side by side…until Jack the
Ripper starts eviscerating bloodsuckers with his silver knife. It’s filled to
bursting with characters from film and literature (John Merrick, Lestat de
Lioncourt and Count Orlock appear) and it’s an utter treat for fans of the
genre.
CARMILLA BY SHERIDAN LE FANU
Carmilla beats out competition from James Malcolm
Rymer’s Varney the Vampire and
Polidori’s the Vampyre for
a spot on this list because it combines the thrills of the former with the art
of the latter. Le Fanu’s tale of a young woman who falls prey to the attentions
of the titular vampire is daring both in terms of its structure and its subject
matter, addressing the erotic potential of vampirism nearly 20 years before
Stoker’s Dracula.
LOST SOULS BY POPPY Z. BRITE
Brite’s brief but important time
as a horror writer produced three stylish and provocative novels. The first,
this vampire novel, told the story of a young runaway who falls in, and falls
in love, with a pack of gluttonous, highly sexualized vampires, one of whom
happens to be his father. Published in the early 90s, it’s very much of its
time (and packed with pop culture references) but it’s very powerful, often
disturbing, and utterly unforgettable. A lurid but tender gay love story, it
would make a hell of a movie with the right director.
INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE BY ANNE RICE
Anne Rice’s vampire novels are arguably the most influential post-Stoker interpretation of vampires. Her elegant, disaffected, beautiful, tragic creations staring longingly at each other’s throats paved the way for the waves of imitators that followed. While her later novels would focus on Lestat, it’s the “happy family” of Claudia, Louis and Lestat at the center of this first novel that makes it so memorable. A vampire named Louis tells his 200-year-long life story to reporter referred to simply as "the boy" (the character's name is revealed to be Daniel Molloy in Queens). In 1791, Louis is a young indigo plantation owner living south of New Orleans. Distraught by the death of his wife, he seeks death in any way possible. Louis is approached by a vampire named Lestat, who desires Louis' company. Lestat turns Louis into a vampire and the two become immortal companions. Lestat spends time feeding off the local plantation slaves while Louis, who finds it morally impossible for him to murder humans to survive, feeds from animals. Louis and Lestat are forced to leave when Louis' slaves begin to fear the monsters with which they live and instigate an uprising. Louis sets his own plantation aflame; he and Lestat exterminate the plantation slaves to keep word from spreading about vampires living in Louisiana. Gradually, Louis bends under Lestat's influence and begins feeding from humans. He slowly comes to terms with his vampire nature but also becomes increasingly repulsed by what he perceives as Lestat's total lack of compassion for the humans he preys upon.
Anne Rice’s vampire novels are arguably the most influential post-Stoker interpretation of vampires. Her elegant, disaffected, beautiful, tragic creations staring longingly at each other’s throats paved the way for the waves of imitators that followed. While her later novels would focus on Lestat, it’s the “happy family” of Claudia, Louis and Lestat at the center of this first novel that makes it so memorable. A vampire named Louis tells his 200-year-long life story to reporter referred to simply as "the boy" (the character's name is revealed to be Daniel Molloy in Queens). In 1791, Louis is a young indigo plantation owner living south of New Orleans. Distraught by the death of his wife, he seeks death in any way possible. Louis is approached by a vampire named Lestat, who desires Louis' company. Lestat turns Louis into a vampire and the two become immortal companions. Lestat spends time feeding off the local plantation slaves while Louis, who finds it morally impossible for him to murder humans to survive, feeds from animals. Louis and Lestat are forced to leave when Louis' slaves begin to fear the monsters with which they live and instigate an uprising. Louis sets his own plantation aflame; he and Lestat exterminate the plantation slaves to keep word from spreading about vampires living in Louisiana. Gradually, Louis bends under Lestat's influence and begins feeding from humans. He slowly comes to terms with his vampire nature but also becomes increasingly repulsed by what he perceives as Lestat's total lack of compassion for the humans he preys upon.
Escaping
to New Orleans, Louis feeds off a plague-ridden young girl, who is five years
old, whom he finds next to the corpse of her mother. Louis begins to think of
leaving Lestat and going his own way. Fearing this, Lestat then turns the girl
into a vampire "daughter" for them, to give Louis a reason to stay.
She is then given the name Claudia. Louis is initially horrified that Lestat has turned a
child into a vampire, but soon begins to care for Claudia. Claudia takes to
killing easily, but she begins to realize over time she can never grow up; her
mind matures into that of an intelligent, assertive woman, but her body remains
that of a young girl. Claudia blames Lestat for her condition and, after 60
years of living with him, she hatches a plot to kill Lestat by poisoning him
and cutting his throat. Claudia and Louis then dump his body into a nearby
swamp. As Louis and Claudia prepare to flee to Europe, Lestat appears, having
recovered from Claudia's attack, and attacks them in turn. Louis sets fire to
their home and barely escapes with Claudia, leaving a furious Lestat to be
consumed by the flames.
Arriving
in Europe, Louis and Claudia seek out more of their kind. They travel
throughout Eastern Europe first and do indeed encounter vampires, but these
vampires appear to be nothing more than mindless animated corpses. It is only
when they reach Paris that they
encounter vampires like themselves – specifically, the 400-year-old vampire Armand and his
coven at the Theater des Vampires. Inhabiting an ancient theater, Armand and his vampire
coven disguise themselves as humans and feed on live, terrified humans in
mock-plays before a live human audience (who think the killings are merely a
very realistic performance). Claudia is repulsed by these vampires and what she
considers to be their cheap theatrics, but Louis and Armand are drawn to each
other.
Convinced
that Louis will leave her for Armand, Claudia convinces Louis to turn a
Parisian doll maker, Madeleine, into a vampire to serve as a replacement
companion. Louis, Madeleine and Claudia live together for a brief time, but all
three are abducted one night by the Theatre vampires. Lestat has arrived,
having survived the fire in New Orleans. His accusations against Louis and
Claudia result in Louis being locked in a coffin to starve, while Claudia and
Madeleine are locked in an open courtyard. Armand arrives and releases Louis
from the coffin, but Madeleine and Claudia are burned to death by the rising
sun. A devastated Louis finds the ashen remains of Claudia and Madeleine. He
returns to the Theatre late the following night, burning it to the ground and
killing all the vampires inside, leaving with Armand. Together, the two travel
across Europe for several years, but Louis never fully recovers from Claudia's
death, and the emotional connection between himself and Armand quickly
dissolves. Tired of the Old World, Louis returns to New Orleans in the early
20th century. Living as a loner, he feeds off any humans who cross his path,
but lives in the shadows, never creating another companion for himself.
Telling
the boy of one last encounter with Lestat in New Orleans in the 1920s, Louis
ends his tale; after 200 years, he is weary of immortality and of all the pain
and suffering to which he has had to bear witness. The boy, however, seeing
only the great powers granted to a vampire, begs to be made into a vampire
himself. Angry that his interviewer learned nothing from his story, Louis
refuses, attacking the boy and vanishing without a trace. The boy then leaves
to track down Lestat in the hopes that he can give him immortality.
I AM LEGEND BY RICHARD MATHESON
Forget
the Will Smith film, Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel is one of the greatest
vampire stories ever written. Few books have been as influential as this one.
Before I am Legend, vampires were trapped on the pages of Gothic novels. Richard Matheson crafted
vampires into the realm of science fiction. The premise centers on Robert Neville,
a man who wakes up one morning to find the world has ended; he’s the last man
alive, with the rest of humanity turned into hordes of undead who by night
continually attack his house (or I should say fortress). It's a novel about
man's unrelenting will to survive in the face off all adversity. And a tale
about being alone and enduring isolation, without the prospect of ever ending
that isolation. This is a rich novel folks, one that everyone should read.
Don’t think because you’ve seen the feature film based on the book that you
already know the story. The film in no way matches the spine-tingling chill
present throughout the entire book.
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN BY JOHN AJVIDE LINDQVIST
The subsequent film may have
received more widespread adulation, but Lindquist’s novel is a beautifully
rendered story of childhood isolation and the need for companionship. Oskar is
routinely bullied at school and his mother doesn’t have time to pay attention
to him. When he befriends his new neighbor Eli, he discovers the rewards and
the dangers of counting on somebody else. The novel is much more explicit in
its depiction of horror than the film, but it’s a gruesome fairytale that
superbly depicts the pain of lonely adolescence. Much praised, and deservedly
so.
DRACULA BY BRAM STOKER
After
so many references to Stoker, it’s only right that we should discuss his
genre-defining work. The story has been told so many times in film and
television that it’s easy to forget how bold and how powerful the original
novel is. The opening segment of Harker’s voyage to Transylvania is
particularly terrifying, and Stoker expertly portrays the English fear of a
foreign, highly sexualized invading entity corrupting their homes. Although
it’s a little bloated around the midsection, this masterpiece has often been
imitated but very rarely bettered. This is THE progenitor of the entire vampire
genre. While this is not the best vampire book in terms of style, originality,
or plot (Stoker was a mediocre writer in terms of style at best), this is the
book that put vampirism on the map in a big way. It spawned countless
derivative books, and brought the vampire myth into public consciousness. Yes,
I Dracula is technically the first modern vampire story written, but it's the
story that caught the public's eye and spawned an entire industry. Few other
novels have ever had the lasting pop culture influence that Bram Stoker’s book
has had. And for this reason alone, you should read it. And you know what,
first-of-the-vampire-works-aside, the story itself also a pretty damn good tale
to boot. Worth reading? Oh yea.
SALEM’S LOT BY STEPHEN KING
Many would point to The Shining as
Stephen King’s masterwork, but his sophomore novel is just as entertaining,
emotional, and terrifying. Writer Ben Mears returns to his home town to write
about the Marsten House, where he witnessed something terrible as a child. But
his arrival coincides with the arrival of the house’s new resident, and
darkness quickly spreads. Salem’s Lot is
steeped in Gothic tradition but uses King’s natural gift and love for writing
small towns being torn apart. The evil that seeps out of the Marsten House
turns neighbors and family members against one another, resulting in a
fantastically chilling novel that remains quite possibly the greatest vampire
book ever written.
Twilight Saga (Stephanie Meyers)
Twilight
Bella Swan moves from Phoenix,
Arizona to live
with her father in Forks,
Washington to
allow her mother to travel with her new husband, a minor league baseball player. After moving to Forks, Bella
finds herself involuntarily drawn to a mysterious, handsome boy, Edward
Cullen. She eventually learns that he is a member of a vampire
family who drinks animal blood rather than human blood. Edward and Bella fall
in love, while James, a sadistic vampire from another coven, is drawn to hunt
down Bella. Edward and the other Cullens defend Bella. She escapes to Phoenix,
Arizona, where she is tricked into confronting James, who tries
to kill her. She is seriously wounded, but Edward rescues her and they return
to Forks.
New Moon
Edward and his family leave Forks
because he believes he is endangering Bella's life. Bella goes into a
depression until she develops a strong friendship with Jacob Black, whom
she discovers can shape-shift into a wolf. Jacob and the other wolves in his
tribe must protect her from Victoria, a vampire seeking to avenge the death of
her mate James. Due to a misunderstanding, Edward believes Bella is dead.
Edward decides to commit suicide in Volterra, Italy, but is stopped by Bella, who is
accompanied by Edward's sister, Alice. They meet with the Volturi, a
powerful vampire coven, and are released only on the condition that Bella be
turned into a vampire in the near future. Bella and Edward are reunited, and
she and the Cullens return to Forks.
Eclipse
Victoria has created an army of
"newborn" vampires to battle the Cullen family and murder Bella for
revenge. Meanwhile, Bella is compelled to choose between her relationship with
Edward and her friendship with Jacob. Edward's vampire family and Jacob's
werewolf pack join forces to successfully destroy Victoria and her vampire
army. In the end, Bella chooses Edward's love over Jacob's friendship and
agrees to marry him.
Breaking Dawn
Bella and Edward are married, but
their honeymoon is cut short when Bella discovers that
she is pregnant. Her pregnancy progresses rapidly, severely weakening her. She
nearly dies giving birth to her and Edward's half-vampire-half-human daughter, Renesmee. Edward
injects Bella with his venom to save her life and turns her into a vampire. A
vampire from another coven sees Renesmee and mistakes her for an "immortal
child". She informs the Volturi, as the
existence of such beings violates vampire law. The Cullens gather vampire
witnesses who can verify that Renesmee is not an immortal child. After an
intense confrontation, the Cullens and their witnesses convince the Volturi
that the child poses no danger to vampires or their secret, and they are left
in peace by the Volturi.
Dark Prince (Christine Feehan)
Mikhail
Dubrinsky is the prince of his people, the Carpathians. But they are dying out,
there are few women, and the men are either falling prey to vampires, or are
choosing the soulless life. Losing all hope, Mikhail is no longer sure he can
bear the bleak future laid before him. The only thing that can add light to his
life, can relieve the terrible and haunting loneliness, is to find a life mate.
But he has given up believing one exists. Raven Whitney has a rare gift. She
not only can read minds, but she can communicate telepathically. But her talent
is not always a gift. Her job is to track the twisted mental paths of serial
killers, and those evil thoughts drain her both mentally and physically. Now,
she is hoping to heal and seek a quiet escape in the Carpathian Mountains, but
when she mentally hears the anguished cry at dawn, she cannot ignore it,
unaware that her life is about to change forever.
The Vampyre (John
Polidori)
Aubrey, a young Englishman, meets Lord
Ruthven, a man of mysterious origins who has entered London society.
Aubrey accompanies Ruthven to Rome, but leaves him after Ruthven seduces the
daughter of a mutual acquaintance. Aubrey travels to Greece, where he becomes attracted to Ianthe, an
innkeeper's daughter. Ianthe tells Aubrey about the legends of the vampire.
Ruthven arrives at the scene and shortly thereafter Ianthe is killed by a
vampire. Aubrey does not connect Ruthven with the murder and rejoins him in his
travels. The pair is attacked by bandits and Ruthven is mortally wounded.
Before he dies, Ruthven makes Aubrey swear an oath that he will not mention his
death or anything else he knows about Ruthven for a year and a day. Looking
back, Aubrey realizes that everyone whom Ruthven met ended up suffering.
Aubrey returns to London and is amazed
when Ruthven appears shortly thereafter, alive and well. Ruthven reminds Aubrey
of his oath to keep his death a secret. Ruthven then begins to seduce Aubrey's
sister while Aubrey, helpless to protect his sister, has a nervous breakdown.
Ruthven and Aubrey's sister are engaged to marry on the day the oath ends. Just
before he dies, Aubrey writes a letter to his sister revealing Ruthven's
history, but it does not arrive in time. Ruthven marries Aubrey's sister. On
the wedding night, she is discovered dead, drained of her blood — and Ruthven
has vanished.
Fevre Dream (George R.R. Martin)
Martin
is well known for his amazing Game of Thrones, but less so for this highly atmospheric
Vampire fiction. Fevre Dream is what you get when you mix Mark Twain with
Dracula. The book merges history with myth. Vampires hunt each other up and
down the Mississippi river during the great riverboat days of the 1800s,
leaving a large body count of innocents along the way. The tale is not really
about vampires though, but of the struggle for acceptance and friendship. It's
the story about the struggles of friendship (literally) in a landscape that's
inimical to it. If the premise of this novel sounds interesting, that's because
it is. This is a unique novel by all accounts and the fact that Martin can
merge so two unlikely subjects together into something that's not only workable
but outstanding shows the genius of the writer. This book is mesmerizing on all
levels. Martin is a superb writer and this is one of his best works to date.
This is the most complex, most interesting, and best damn vampire tale you'll
ever read.
Vampire$ (John
Steakley)
From
the moment you jump into Vampire$ to the moment you finish, its vicious
action without apology.
Steakley
makes the vampire myth completely believable within the realms of his novel. No
nonsense about turning into bats or any of that. No lovey dovey human and
vampire harlequin nonsense with a handful of vampires with bad hair really
being "decent guys" despite the fact they drink blood for sport. No,
in this book vampires are just purely evil, purely vicious, murdering bastards.
This book is as close to action perfection that you're going to find.
It's
vulgar, edgy, and as good as it gets when it comes to reading about vampire
killing. It's also got some of the best male camaraderie and bonding you'll
read in a book (the non-gay kind).
The
book follows a group of professional vampire killers. They love to drink,
swear, and carouse, and they have the full backing of the Catholic Church to
kill some vampire ass. There was a movie made by John Carpenter based on this
book. Forget it ever existed! Vampire$ is a thousand times better than that
wreck of a movie. So if you want a kick ass vampire novel that doesn't scrimp
out on vulgarity and raw action, Steakley's Vampire$ is the best you're going
to find.
Children of the Night (Dan Simmons)
I’ve
heard it said that it’s impossible for Dan Simmons to write a bad novel; I
agree. A man with many talents (his Hyperion is considered one of Science
Fictions most beloved novels), Simmons turns his unique skills to the Dracula
tale. This books is great because not only does Simmons tell a fantastic
thriller tale, he also flips the Vampire mythos upside down. The novel has one
of the most convincing scientific explanations for vampires that I’ve yet read
about.
The Keep (F. Paul Wilson)
This
novel’s a fun one. Combine Nazis and Vampires in this piece of horror fiction.
Captain Klause Woerman is told to hold a small abandoned keep in the heart of
the Transylvanian Alps. When his men start disappearing, all hell breaks loose.
For readers looking for Vampire fiction with a horror sting to it, The Keep is
up there with the best. It’s a riveting page turner that takes some of the
classic vampire lore that we are all used to and adds a whole new twist to it.
Just don’t read it at night when you are alone. Especially if there’s a forest
nearby.
If
you've read Twilight, True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, and company take note,
this is the novel you’ve been looking for. It is in fact one of the best
vampire stories out there, if you like some of those books. The Last Vampire
is, as the title suggests, the story of the last vampire. The star of the
show is Sita, a 5000-year-old vampire who’s falling in love with a human who
resembles her old (vampire) lover. This is her struggle to find peace. The
Last Vampire is a series, but it’s one of the more intelligent and interesting
vampire series on the market. I, hands down, prefer this to the new vampire
books flooding the market.
Fledgling (Octavia E. Butler)
For
a powerful vampire novel that tackles some of life’s important issues. Fledgling
is not your standard vampire novel. So if you are expecting Twilight 7, don’t
waste your time. Rather, it’s an intelligent novel about society, about its
prejudice, its power, and the transformation it causes. It’s not very often
that something new happens in the time-worn vampire fiction genre. However,
Butler manages to instill something unique into the genre.
Humans
have been conquered and now the vampires rule. That’s the premise of E.E.
Knight’s wonderful Vampire Earth series. Vampire Earth is a skillful blending
of different genres. It's one of those books where the whole is greater than
the sum of its parts. The book (series in fact) follows the life of David
Valentine, a man whose parents have been murdered by agents of the Kurians,
otherworldly "vampires" that have enslaved humanity. The world is not
as you know it, but rather a post-apocalyptic wasteland that's been corrupted
and conquered by the alien overlords. Into this world is born Valentine. For those
of you who like your books gritty, you won't have too much to complain about
when reading this novel. The action is absolutely vicious and heart pumping
when it happens. This book is all about surviving by any means possible. It’s
not the most sophisticated of the vampire books in the vein of say, Butler’s
Fledgling. There is no hidden depth to the novel, no subtext message present
(other than maybe "it would suck to be conquered by an alien vampiric
race"). But all that other stuff doesn't matter when you read the book.
My Favorite Vampire Books:
1. Blackwood
Farms by Anne Rice
2. A
Carpathian Holiday Celebration by Christine Feehan
3. Queen
of the Damned by Anne Rice
4. House
of Night Series by P.C. Cast
5. Carmilla
by Joseph de Le Fe Sheridan
6. Dracula
by Bram Stoker
7. The
Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
8. Blood
Stained Lives by Ronald Griffin
9. Blood
Family: Quest for the Vampire Key by Mark Knight
10. The
Promise Me Series by Tara Fox Hall
11. The
Undeparted Series by Deborah Palumbo
Author Bio:
The
Vampire Queen1 aka Jodie Pierce has been writing since Jr. High School but was
unsatisfied with her teenage romance stories. One day, a friend handed her an
Anne Rice book and she found her inspiration. She’s been writing about vampires
ever since.
The Worm Farm (Chapter 19)
by Helen Bishop
19
When Dan brought Phil back
the next morning, I was already out in the chair, dozing. I had gotten up
earlier, and washed up good, made and ate breakfast and rinsed off the wagon. I
was tired.
Dan wanted to know what I’d
done to myself, he said I had circles under my eyes. “I didn’t sleep too well
last night, Dan.” “Didn’t you take your pain pill?” “No, I didn’t, I didn’t
want to be fuzzy. I wanted to be clear to talk with you both.” Dan and Phil
looked worried.
“Phil,” I said, “if you are
sure you want to stay and work with a dopey head like me, I would be happy to
have you here.” Phil started to smile. I went on,” I can’t pay you much, I’m
just starting out, but you’ll have a roof over your head and you’ll always eat
well.” Phil interrupted, “Charlie, I
don’t need much money...could you manage minium wage?” “Well, yes, and maybe a
bit more.” I went on, “And Phil? Maybe if this works out we might talk about a
partnership, later on down the line? It’ll be a lot of work, not so much in the
Winter, but the rest of the year.” Phil and Dan, and I admit it myself, were
all smiles. I still hadn’t figured out how to, or if I would even continue to
punish people in the future, but if I had to, I guessed I would figure out a
way to do it, at the time.
So, Phil and Dan went up to
get his stuff, and I cleaned out a bedroom and an adjoining bath for him. I had
only ever really cleaned out the rooms I was actively using. My ribs still
hurt, so I had to stop and rest a lot, but I got it done, almost as soon as
they pulled up.
Dan looked at me, hard, and
said, “Charlie, you overdid it, didn’t you?” I saw no reason to argue, and
nodded.
Dan said he and Phil would
move the stuff in, and let me rest.
I laid in the padded chair in
the sun and dozed off.
For the next hour or so, the
images boiled over in my mind. I was walking by the worm bed and leaned over to
pick up a runner, and slowly toppled into the worm bed. No one was there to
hear me, and it was so fast that I couldn’t cry out as the worms came up over
me. For a minute I struggled, swimming through them, then I relaxed as they ate
me. Fade to black.
Then I was in the house, sleeping in the recliner. I woke as a lamp fell over, and looked at the place where it had been. As I leaned over the floor, the worms that were everywhere, eased up the sides of the chair and covered me like a warm moving blanket, then smothered me. All of a sudden, I was grinding up road kill and adding kibble to the grind when a bird perched on the edge. I waved my arm to scare the bird away and the edge of my sleeve got caught in the grinder, and slowly pulled me in. I actually saw myself going through and mixing with the kibble. All these thoughts moved through my mind like I had moved through the grinder. I felt myself grab for the edge of the scoop as whoever it was scooped me up to throw onto the worms. I held on for dear life, and shouted to make them see. “No! Don’t! I’m here, I’m here, don’t throw me in!”
Then I was in the house, sleeping in the recliner. I woke as a lamp fell over, and looked at the place where it had been. As I leaned over the floor, the worms that were everywhere, eased up the sides of the chair and covered me like a warm moving blanket, then smothered me. All of a sudden, I was grinding up road kill and adding kibble to the grind when a bird perched on the edge. I waved my arm to scare the bird away and the edge of my sleeve got caught in the grinder, and slowly pulled me in. I actually saw myself going through and mixing with the kibble. All these thoughts moved through my mind like I had moved through the grinder. I felt myself grab for the edge of the scoop as whoever it was scooped me up to throw onto the worms. I held on for dear life, and shouted to make them see. “No! Don’t! I’m here, I’m here, don’t throw me in!”
Dan put his hand on my
shoulder to wake me.
“Charlie? Buddy, are you
alright?”
I woke with a start. “Yeah, yeah, sorry Dan. I
guess I was dreaming.”
“Well, calm down kid, you’re
pale as hell and you look like you’ve been running a marathon! What was your
dream about?”
“ I fell into the worms, and
they were eating me.”
Dan laughed, and said, “I
guess they would! I often thought that maybe that’s what happened to Bobby
Drums. Maybe he snuck back here in the dark and went into the worms by mistake.
Nobody would have been here to hear him or help him get out, and I figured
that, hey, the worms have to eat, too.”
“Dan?”
“It would have been justice,
Charlie, or like money laundering. In with the bad, and out with the good.”
I just stood there and stared
at Dan.
“Well, it was just a
thought.”
Author
Bio:
Helen Bishop is a native of Pennsylvania and a
true fan of the written word. She works as a litigation paralegal; reads on
average 20 books a week; writes book reviews for an internet blog; writes
stories, poems and novels in various genres; and-just to fill out her dance
card-contracts with fellow authors to proofread and copy-edit their work before
it goes to the publisher. You can check her out at
thttps://www.facebook.com/HelenBishopAuthor?ref=bookmarks, and
thttps://www.facebook.com/HelenBishopAuthor?ref=bookmarks, and
https://www.writerreadr.wordpress.com
Three little pigs and a big
bad wolf
by:
Ronald Griffin
Once upon a time there were three little pigs that lived next door to one another. There was Oscar who didn’t have a lot of money but he had too much pride to ask his older brothers for any help. So he built his house out of straw. The house wasn’t very sturdy or strong but it kept the rain out and was nice and cozy to him. One day however Adolph the big bad wolf came knocking on his door.
“Hello Mr. Pig.” He said.
Oscar being the trusting pig that he is opens the straw door. When he saw the big bad wolf at his door his body began to tremble. He looked into the wolfs’ big eyes and shut the door on the wolfs’ face. Adolph would start beating on the flimsy straw while snarling.
“Little pig, little pig, you better let me in.” he would bellow.
“Not by the hair on my freckled ass cheek.” Oscar said.
“Alright then you’re going to make me huff and puff until I blow your house down.” He said.
Adolph would breathe in deep sending fear through Oscars trembling legs. As the wolf blew the house down Oscar ran as fast as his little hooves would take him until he knocked on his older brother Sammy’s’ door. Sammy was a little better off than Oscar and had built a house made out of stick. The stick house was much more secure than the house of straw. He opened the door letting his brother Oscar into the house.
“What’s wrong brother?” Sammy asked.
Oscar shut the door behind him as he breathed hard.
“The big bad wolf is after me.” He said.
“Well don’t worry dear brother he won’t be able to get to us in here.” Sammy said.
Adolph knocked on the door.
“Little pigs…little pigs, you know that I will get in.” he said.
“Not by the hair on our freckled asses.” Sammy said.
Adolph huffed and he puffed but Sammy stood there in confidence in his stronger house. The big bad wolf didn’t care about the sticks and was able to blow it down. The stunned Sammy looked upon the wolfs’ teeth that were dripping with saliva. Oscar grabbed Sammy by the hand and dragged him as fast as their hooves could have carried them over to their eldest brother Melvin’s’ house. Melvin had a lot of money and had his home built of brick. The two brothers knocked on the door until he opened. When Melvin saw the wolf he hurried them into the house closing the door behind them.
Adolph was hungrier than he had ever been and wiped the saliva from his muzzle as he approached the brick house. He knocked on the door and listened out for the little pigs inside. He heard a little bit of noise but couldn’t tell what was going on. No one answered so he knocked again.
“Little pigs’little pigs I’m tired of this game so you better let me in.” he listened to the door for a response but didn’t hear a single oink.
“Alright I will huff and puff until…”
Before Adolph could finish his sentence the door slowly creaked open. He was surprised that they let the door open for him so he stepped inside of the house. He searched the living room sniffing the air for them.
“I’m ready for my ham dinner tonight. I think I will have a side of bacon to go with it as well.” Adolph said while rubbing his hands together.
He walked into the kitchen and still the pigs were nowhere to be seen. He sniffed the air and could smell several spices and herbs being cooked with potatoes and carrots. Adolph walked over to the stove and there wasn’t a single pot on the stove. He hits the table with his hand out of anger breaking it in half.
“Where are you little bacon bits at?” he bellowed.
The pantry door opened slowly and Adolph could smell the heavenly aroma coming from the pantry door. He walks into the pantry and finds a trap door with a ladder leading into a room below.
“Aha, so you think you can hide from me in a secret room. Now you have nowhere left to hide.” He roars.
He jumped down into the opening while ignoring the ladder. When he lands he is surprised when he lands in a large tank of water. Adolph raised his head above the water to see carrots and potatoes floating around him. His arms are now covered with oregano and parsley flakes. A clove of garlic hit him in the head so he turned to see where it came from. Oscar was throwing garlic cloves into the water while Sammy stirred the water with a large spoon. Adolph began to sweat and soon realized that the water was getting hotter the longer he was in there.
“What are you doing you little shits!” Adolph yelled.
Melvin was stoking the fire underneath the massive sided pot.
“You see everyone is tired of you terrorizing and eating whoever you wish. You’ve eaten a lot of our friends since you came into town Adolph.” Melvin says.
“So now it’s our turn to eat you.” Sammy says.
“No you can’t do this.” Adolph says.
He tried to climb his way out of the pot but Sammy hit him over the head with the large wooden spoon. Stunned Adolph fell back into the water and floated amongst the veggies and spices. Once he regained his senses he couldn’t help but watch as the three little pigs covered the pot with a massive iron lid. He tried to huff and puff and blow the lid off, but it wouldn’t budge. The three little pigs sat at a nearby table and waited. They listened to the big bad wolf with smiles on their faces as he is boiled alive.
From that day forward the three little pigs lived in their homes in peace. Oscar in his cozy straw house, Sammy in his stick house, and Melvin in his brick house. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how much or how little you may have. As long as you have family then you have it all. As for Adolph he didn’t have neither of those things. So the three little pigs and the nearby animals all lived happily ever after.
Ronald Edward Griffin is a native of Macon, GA where he
was born and raised. He is an accomplished Author in his own right and is
always working hard on something. He has two children whom he hopes to pass his
writing bug on to them.
The Hybrids:The
Blood Moon Part 1:
By:
Brien O'Raighne
MICAH RIVERWALK MALL | DOWNTOWN STORM CITY, TEXAS
Belle walks along the
Riverwalk at the mall in the refurbished Downtown Sales District. She is
holding hands with Jean-Luc. He is still limping from the fight at Belle’s home
with the ancient sorcerer, Xanathos. Belle tosses golden locks out of her face
as the light breeze blows off the manmade river. Her pink dress blows in the
breeze revealing the pink boy toy shorts underneath.
“Good thing you wore shorts
underneath.” Jean-Luc mentions as the lights along the Riverwalk begin to come
on.
Belle giggles. “Yes, it is.”
Then, Belle looks around.
Something is off to her. Jean-Luc crooks his head as he notices her reaction.
He listens and doesn’t notice anything. No noise at all. No cars, no birds, no
people, no rushing water. He raises a brow.
“Belle, something’s not
right. I am not hearing any noise whatsoever.” Jean-Luc says.
“I noticed the same thing,
honey.” Belle says. She releases Jean-Luc’s hand. She looks up and the clouds
begin to part. A brow raises when she sees the full moon. There is a tint of
red upon it. She crooks her head. “Huh?”
Jean-Luc looks up as well. He
gulps. His heightened senses did not foresee this. He turns to Belle. “Mon
chere, it’s time you left here without me.”
“Why would I want to do
that?” Belle says as she turns to look at Jean-Luc.
Jean-Luc is beginning to huff
and puff. “Chere, do as I ask.” His voice become guttural.
Belle begins to back up to
the edge near the water. Her eyes are wide open. She has never seen him
transform. She gulps knowing that this is entirely possible for her to do so as
well. There is a look of fear on her face.
“Go!” Roars Jean-Luc as the
transformation begins ripping his clothes.
Belle takes another step
back. She hits the railing. She begins to lose her balance. She slips and falls
onto her rear as it hits the ground. She looks from Jean-Luc to the moon above
him. “The full moon… wait… why haven’t I transformed as well?”
She gulps as Jean-Luc, in
full, wolf man form walks up to her. He leans in. Drool comes from his snarling
fangs. They hit the ground by Belle’s hand. He sniffs her. Then, he turns and
runs away from her in the opposite direction.
Belle is huffing and puffing
as well as shaking. She grabs the green rail to pull herself
up onto her feet. She looks
around. Jean-Luc is gone!
Wow! He’s fast in that form. Faster than I imagined. Belle thinks to herself.
She uses the rail to steady
herself as her legs continue to quiver. Belle takes a deep breath and exhales.
She does this a couple of times to help regain her composure. She bites her
lower lip as a scowl comes over her face. Then, she sighs.
“Now what?” She mutters to
herself. “I better go ask mom. She’ll know what to do.”
Then, she starts to the parking
garage. That’s when it hits her. She smacks her forehead. “Son of a… He has the
keys to the car.” She reaches into her purse. “I better call mom.”
She pulls up the contact
information on her iPhone. She sees the entry MOM. She taps on the phone icon
next to it.
JUNIPERWOODS SUBDIVISION | AUTUMN, TEXAS
Destiny is relaxing on the
couch. She is watching an episode of The Walking Dead and laughing. Elise
raises a brow as she walks down the stairs. Her curly locks are pulled back
into a ponytail.
“What’s so funny?” Elise
asks. She, then, sees the TV. “Oh?”
“You and I know that is not
what zombies looks like.” Destiny says as she takes a drink of her Diet Coke.
Then, her phone rings. She picks it up. She sees the ID: BELLE. She raises a
brow. “Why is she calling me?”
“Why don’t you find out?”
Elise suggests as she walks across the living room to the kitchen.
Destiny swipes to the right
to answer the call. “Honey, why are you calling me?”
“Mom, what’s a reddish full
moon mean?”
“A reddish full moon?”
Elise turns her head upon
hearing this. Her eyes open wide. “Tell Belle to get away from Jean-Luc now.”
“Did you hear, honey?”
Destiny asks.
“Yes, Mom. It’s too late
though. He’s gone.” Belle answers. “What is it, though?”
“The Blood Moon.” Destiny
says. She rubs her eyes. “Where are you, honey.”
“At the Micah Riverwalk Mall
downtown.”
“Do you need us to come and
get you?”
“Yes, Jean-Luc still has the
keys.”
Elise shrugs her shoulders
and takes a deep breath. “Tell Belle I will be there shortly.”
“Elise is on the way.”
Destiny says into the phone.
“Thank you, Mom.”
“Don’t thank me, yet, honey.”
Destiny reiterates. “This night is far from over.”
Destiny ends the call and
turns to Elise. She shakes her head.
Elise goes into the junk
drawer. She pulls out a pouch of silver dust. A wry grin is on her face. “Be
back shortly.” She tosses the silver powder onto the ground as she chants.
There is a flash as the dust disperses. Elise is gone.
Author Bio:
He is a
connoisseur of sci-fi and paranormal films and books. He, also, lives in
Houston with his son.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DRBStreetTeam/
Thanks all! Hope you enjoyed this month's issue. Please leave us a comment on your thoughts and/or if you'd like to contribute.
**We are looking to put together a special Halloween edition that will be available for purchase on Amazon.com and all the proceeds will go to the Alzheimer's Association. Please contact me if you'd like to participate. Submission deadline is September 1st.**
***Frank Julius Palumbo's new novel Sullen Falls - Release Date-7/15/16. Preorder your copy on Kindle at Amazon.com
Back Cover blurb
Deep below Sullen Falls stirs an ancient evil.
Seth left Sullen Falls monastery five years ago in search of answers to his life. With the unexpected appearance of a comet, he is lured back to the town he once called home. There he discovers that an evil warps those he cared about and threatens the woman he loved–Sophia.
The Coughlins thought that vacationing in the scenic campgrounds of Sullen Falls would provide the respite from the crazy world and build a closer bond between parents and teen children. Drawn into town by what appears to be a festival, the family of four is plummeted into a nightmare none can awake.
The secret to defeat the evil lies in an ancient book, guarded by the last of an order thought to be extinct. To save Sullen Falls, the Coughlins and Sophia, Seth must find the tome and accept his destiny, even if it would cost him everything that is dear to him.***The Coughlins thought that vacationing in the scenic campgrounds of Sullen Falls would provide the respite from the crazy world and build a closer bond between parents and teen children. Drawn into town by what appears to be a festival, the family of four is plummeted into a nightmare none can awake.
****Jessica Sawa and Lindsey Jayne are available for hire if you are looking for an awesome Editor and Cover Artist!****
Happy Reading!!
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