What do you think of when you hear that someone is a blogger... especially a HORROR blogger? Do you envision a gloomy room lit by light filtering through the blinds as dust motes dance lazily in the dry breeze of an old fan?  Do images of a room consisting of shelves of horror DVD's, books, and collectibles come to mind?  How about a slightly disheveled shape hunched over in utter darkness tap tap tapping at a keyboard- their face lit by the cold blue glow of a computer monitor... empty pizza boxes and Twinkie wrappers scattered around their feet? Or do you imagine an average sort of person that you'd meet on the street, and think, " Hey, he's just like me ,"?  Well, that's the thing about horror bloggers- they can be ANYONE. ANYONE... even your Grandma could be one. Some people get a funny look on their face when I say that I write a blog about horror books and movies... a sort of, " You don't look like a gothic, Crow wannabe ," look....

Some of you may be wondering where last week's summary was... and possibly where ANY of my posts have been the past week.  Well, due to technical difficulties inside and outside the corner (e-mail, having to re-install Windows), and beginning a graveyard shift job, it's been a little crazy here.  So, without any further ado, I bring you the lastest summary of William Castle's 2011 Xquisite Corpse story! The story so far: Johnnie Moon has a gift- a gift that winds up costing him a leg and his Harley.  A mysterious woman with black hair calls out to him through the gift... but to what end?  What importance does she and Johnnie have to the fate of the world?  While allowing Johnnie the opportunity to avoid disaster at one turn, will the gift bring him nothing but horror at the next?  Having just barely escape death, Johnnie is now forced to take the long road to his destiny with the black haired woman in his visions.  On the way, he come...

Monday rolls around and thoughts turn to work... and my latest summary of William Castle's 2011 Xquisite Corpse project .  No need to wait, because here it is! The story so far: Johnnie Moon has a gift- a gift that winds up costing him a leg and his Harley.  A mysterious woman with black hair calls out to him through the gift... but to what end?  What importance does she and Johnnie have to the fate of the world?  While allowing Johnnie the opportunity to avoid disaster at one turn, will the gift bring him nothing but horror at the next?  Having just barely escape death, Johnnie is now forced to take the long road to his destiny with the black haired woman in his visions.  On the way, he comes across the auburn haired Raven and a child that will die if Johnnie doesn't act to deflect fate's fatal shot.  But Raven, her boyfriend, and the child may be more than he thinks... and could very well mean trouble he doesn't need... Rich Orth- who a...

Some of you may be going, "HEY!  It's Monday!  Isn't this supposed to be the weekly summary of William Castle's 2011 " Scare It Forward! " stories?  What's this ' Xquisite Corpse ' stuff?"  Well, the answer to that is, quite simple:  For the third tale of terror this year, Mr. Castle is changing things up a bit.  Instead of having a unified theme in regards to the pictures accompaning the chapters- such as the postcards found in the other two this year, each picture will be completely different from each other... creating a macabre collage of words and images.  A Frankensteinian approach to story telling and illustration, if you will.  With the change in approach, comes a change in name.  So, without further ado, allow me to cobble together the first of my Xquisite Corpse 2011 summaries for you... The story so far: Johnnie Moon has a gift- a gift that winds up costing him a leg and his Harley.  A mysterious woman with black hair c...

Well, gang- Monday has rolled around... another long start to a long week.  Fortunately, we have my weekly summary of William Castle's second " Scare It Forward! " tale to make the day go a little bit easier! The story so far: Rod "Hot Rod" McIntosh, is a guitarist with a taste for cocaine, liquor, and fast bikes.  During his band's performance one night, a mysterious woman gives him a note and a kiss.  Soon, Rod is faced with a growing horror as the woman stakes a claim on his soul.  Is this hellish nightmare a bad trip... or a fast trip to Hell? A night of passion turns into a nightmarish vision of shadowy death and and an creepy mystery for Rod after he meets, "Mindy".  Kisses land like feathers, and blood flows like wine in the fog of his memories from that night.  Who  IS  this mysterious woman... and what does she want with him?   Seeking answers to the fragmented questions about the strange night w...

For those of you wondering where my weekly update of William Castle's second 2011 "Scare It Forward!" tale was yesterday, I'm sorry.  Sometimes life gets in the way of things.  Having said that, allow me to present my sumary of Chapters Eight and Nine! The story so far: Rod "Hot Rod" McIntosh, is a guitarist with a taste for cocaine, liquor, and fast bikes.  During his band's performance one night, a mysterious woman gives him a note and a kiss.  Soon, Rod is faced with a growing horror as the woman stakes a claim on his soul.  Is this hellish nightmare a bad trip... or a fast trip to Hell? A night of passion turns into a nightmarish vision of shadowy death and and an creepy mystery for Rod after he meets, "Mindy".  Kisses land like feathers, and blood flows like wine in the fog of his memories from that night.  Who  IS  this mysterious woman... and what does she want with him?   Seeking answers to the fragm...

I enjoy starting my week by catching up on the lastest chapters of William Castle's 2011 "Scare It Forward!"   This week, I help you by giving you a summary of the story up to Chapter Seven... The story so far: Rod "Hot Rod" McIntosh, is a guitarist with a taste for cocaine, liquor, and fast bikes.  During his band's performance one night, a mysterious woman gives him a note and a kiss.  Soon, Rod is faced with a growing horror as the woman stakes a claim on his soul.  Is this hellish nightmare a bad trip... or a fast trip to Hell? A night of passion turns into a nightmarish vision of shadowy death and and an creepy mystery for Rod after he meets, "Mindy".  Kisses land like feathers, and blood flows like wine in the fog of his memories from that night.  Who  IS  this mysterious woman... and what does she want with him?   Seeking answers to the fragmented questions about the strange night with "Mindy," Rod is on a journey to f...

Kicking the week of right is important in life- and you can't kick it off any better than by catching up on William Castle's second 2011 "Scare It Forward!" tale ! The story so far: Rod "Hot Rod" McIntosh, is a guitarist with a taste for cocaine, liquor, and fast bikes.  During his band's performance one night, a mysterious woman gives him a note and a kiss.  Soon, Rod is faced with a growing horror as the woman stakes a claim on his soul.  Is this hellish nightmare a bad trip... or a fast trip to Hell? A night of passion turns into a nightmarish vision of shadowy death and and an creepy mystery for Rod after he meets, "Mindy".  Kisses land like feathers, and blood flows like wine in the fog of his memories from that night.  Who  IS  this mysterious woman... and what does she want with him?   Seeking answers to the fragmented questions about the strange night with "Mindy," Rod is on a journey to find her and discover the truth b...

Monday has rolled around again- and that means it's time for another chilling update on William Castle's 2011 "Scare It Forward!" .  This week, I bring you a quick summary of Chapter Three and Chapter Four! The story so far: Rod "Hot Rod" McIntosh, is a guitarist with a taste for cocaine, liquor, and fast bikes.  During his band's performance one night, a mysterious woman gives him a note and a kiss.  Soon, Rod is faced with a growing horror as the woman stakes a claim on his soul.  Is this hellish nightmare a bad trip... or a fast trip to Hell? A night of passion turns into a nightmarish vision of shadowy death and and an creepy mystery for Rod after he meets, "Mindy".  Kisses land like feathers, and blood flows like wine in the fog of his memories from that night.  Who IS this mysterious woman... and what does she want with him?   Seek answers to the fragmented questions about the strange night with "Mindy," Rod is on a journey...

Last Monday, the first of three tales for William Castle's, 2011 "Scare It Forward! " ended, and today, I bring you the first two chapters of the second tale. The story so far: Rod "Hot Rod" McIntosh, is a guitarist with a taste for cocaine, liquor, and fast bikes.  During his band's performance one night, a mysterious woman gives him a note and a kiss.  Soon, Rod is faced with a growing horror as the woman stakes a claim on his soul.  Is this hellish nightmare a bad trip... or a fast trip to Hell?  Chapter One is written by Dan Dillard- who also wrote Chapter Two of the first tale- as well as contributed to Chapter Six with William Castle and Will Newell of that story.  Chapter Two of THIS tale was written by Jason Chalmers. I'm looking forward to seeing where this tale leads over the course of the next eleven chapters. Check out the complete first tale- " Scare It Forward- Undertow ", as well as last year's story, " Scare it ...

  This week's update for William Castle's 2011 "Scare it Forward!" features the concluding two chapters for the first story. The story so far: Summer- a time for sunshine, bathing suits, swimming in the river... and death.  Grant and four of his friends are enjoying the summer sun by spending the night along the banks of a river.  After Grant sees what he thinks is a dead body, evil begins to stalk the teens one by one...   Years ago, a simple Mexican peasant girl caught the eye of the Don's son.  He wanted her, and have he would.  But all was not what she expected.  Soon the rumors brought to her by the servants, and his growing attention towards their twin sons would pull the family apart... and her actions would haunt the landscape for years to come... And one of those years is now.  Aaron- one of the teens camping by the side of the river is found the next morning... barely concious,...

  It's Monday again, and that means a new update on William Castle's 2011 " Scare It Forward! ".  This week, Chapters Ten and Eleven take you onto a strange journey into the nightmare that is the La Llorona twisted heart. The story so far: Summer- a time for sunshine, bathing suits, swimming in the river... and death.  Grant and four of his friends are enjoying the summer sun by spending the night along the banks of a river.  After Grant sees what he thinks is a dead body, evil begins to stalk the teens one by one...   Years ago, a simple Mexican peasant girl caught the eye of the Don's son.  He wanted her, and have he would.  But all was not what she expected.  Soon the rumors brought to her by the servants, and his growing attention towards their twin sons would pull the family apart... and her actions would haunt the landscape for years to come... And one of those years is now.  Aaron- one of the...

The time has come for another update for William Castle's 2011 " Scare It Forward! ".  This week, we have Chapters Eight and Nine for you to enjoy! The story so far: Summer- a time for sunshine, bathing suits, swimming in the river... and death.  Grant and four of his friends are enjoying the summer sun by spending the night along the banks of a river.  After Grant sees what he thinks is a dead body, evil begins to stalk the teens one by one...   Years ago, a simple Mexican peasant girl caught the eye of the Don's son.  He wanted her, and have he would.  But all was not what she expected.  Soon the rumors brought to her by the servants, and his growing attention towards their twin sons would pull the family apart... and her actions would haunt the landscape for years to come... And one of those years is now.  Aaron- one of the teens camping by the side of the river is found the next morning... barely concio...

Monday has rolled around again, which means it's time for another great update about William Castle's 2011 " Scare It Forward! "  Only one chapter was written this week, but what a chapter it is! The story so far:   Summer- a time for sunshine, bathing suits, swimming in the river... and death.  Grant and four of his friends are enjoying the summer sun by spending the night along the banks of a river.  After Grant sees what he thinks is a dead body, evil begins to stalk the teens one by one...   Years ago, a simple Mexican peasant girl caught the eye of the Don's son.  He wanted her, and have he would.  But all was not what she expected.  Soon the rumors brought to her by the servants, and his growing attention towards their twin sons would pull the family apart... and her actions would haunt the landscape for years to come... And one of those years is now.  Aaron- one of the teens camping by the side of the river...

It's time for another update regarding William Castle's 2011 " Scare it Forward! " project.  Over the course of the past week, Chapters Five and Six were posted. The story so far:   Summer- a time for sunshine, bathing suits, swimming in the river... and death.  Grant and four of his friends are enjoying the summer sun by spending the night along the banks of a river.  After Grant sees what he thinks is a dead body, evil begins to stalk the teens one by one...   Years ago, a simple Mexican peasant girl caught the eye of the Don's son.  He wanted her, and have he would.  But all was not what she expected.  Soon the rumors brought to her by the servants, and his growing attention towards their twin sons would pull the family apart... and her actions would haunt the landscape for years to come... And one of those years is now.  Aaron- one of the teens camping by the side of the river is found the next morning... barely conciou...

This past week, Chapter Four of William Castle's 2011 " Scare It Forward! " project was posted for all to read and enjoy. The story so far: Summer- a time for sunshine, bathing suits, swimming in the river... and death.  Grant and four of his friends are enjoying the summer sun by spending the night along the banks of a river.  After Grant sees what he thinks is a dead body, evil begins to stalk the teens one by one... Years ago, a simple Mexican peasant girl caught the eye of the Don's son.  He wanted her, and have he would.  But all was not what she expected.  Soon the rumors brought to her by the servants, and his growing attention towards their twin sons would pull the family apart... and her actions would haunt the landscape for years to come... Chapter Four was written by Kathy Gori, who, along with the author of Chapter Three met with Castle just days before his death to discuss the screenplay for a movie called, " ANIMUS ".  They've now com...

On the 20th of May, 2011, the second annual " Scare It Forward Project! " began with the posting on William Castle's blog of the first Chapter.  To date, there are a total of three chapters- each written by a different writer! The story so far: Summer- a time for sunshine, bathing suits, swimming in the river... and death.  Grant and four of his friends are enjoying the summer sun by spending the night along the banks of a river.  After Grant sees what he thinks is a dead body, evil begins to stalk the teens one by one...  The authors this week are: Brian Lane Dan Dillard and Alan Berger  The ghost of William Castle, on his Facebook page relates that on May 27, 1977, he met with Alan Berger, and Kathy Gori to discuss the script for a proposed movie called, " Animus ".  Unfortunately, Mr. Castle passed away four days after that meeting.  Thanks to the wonders of technology however, they were able to meet again via Facebook, with both offerin...

   In 2010, my friend, Jay- from Film Reviews in the Basement , took part in a special story telling project hosted by the ghost of William Castle.  Every four days,a new chapter of the story (titled " Angel Island ") would be published on William Castle's blog .  Each chapter would be written by a different person.  A total of 31 chapters were written. Well, this year, William Castle is once again proud to present " Scare It Forward! "  This year, there was such an overwhelming response to his request for writers, that the project is starting early- June 20th, and continuing until Oct 31st. Due to the number of writers volunteering for this project, the ghost of William Castle has divided the writers into three stories of about 13 writers each.  Just like last year, a new chapter will be posted on the William Castle blog every four days. Not only is this a fun project, but I'll be taking part in it this year as well!  I will be writing Chap...