Columns

5 Spooky Non-Fiction Reads for Halloween

October 21st, 2016

It's that wonderful time of the year again. Halloween is upon us. And while old horror flicks and movie marathons are a staple of the holiday, nothing gets you in the right mood like a book. Time to snuggle up on the couch, grab a spooky read and descend into darkness for a little while. Now, I'm sure you've got plenty of horror novel recommendations. But that's not what we're here for. We're looking at the novel's little brother: non-fiction.

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Post-Mortem: Can 80s YA Horror Stand the Test of Time?

October 20th, 2016

Image via Discard Treasures It's 1989. I'm ten-years-old and nerdy, with long blonde hair and massive blue glasses. I'm tall for my age, and super-skinny. In my more romantic moments, I'd describe myself as "coltish." It's a pretty word often used to describe the lanky, awkward girls in the books I love. It makes me feel better about myself. Yes. I'm coltish. Darn it.

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6 Horrible Comic Book Presidents (and One Good One)

October 20th, 2016

The 2016 election has come to resemble, in many ways, a comic book. Depending on your perspective there’s an underdog on one side and a demagogue on the other, with the latter hatching malevolent plans to take over the world. This Kierkegaardian either/or has rankled most Americans, but that’s the consequence of reducing the narrative to black and white, something comic books are often accused of doing.

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Well-Written Horror Films: Part IV

October 19th, 2016

It's the most wonderful time of the year, when the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is at its thinnest, allowing spirits to roam freely among us. Perhaps you keep these spirits at bay with propitiation, or perhaps you honor those you've lost in the last year. Or perhaps you spend this time of year engaged in the Americanized traditions of costumes, candy, and horror movies. Or all three.

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The Mini-Guide To Writing Sex For Your Genre

October 19th, 2016

There are approximately a zillion questions to consider when it comes to the craft of sex in fiction. One of the most important being: Does your genre's intended audience expect, crave, or even allow sex? Will your intended audience flee the minute the forecast leans toward a slight chance of penetration, or will they be pissed at you if there's not enough? Whether sex plays a main role, a side character, or is simply an off-the-page thought only mentioned in passing, chances are, the topic’s going to pop up. Incorporating sex into your fiction can be a tricky endeavor.

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Writing the Crime Scene: Cops Don't Talk Like That!

October 18th, 2016

Your cop protagonist shouts into the radio strapped to his tactical vest while he races toward a liquor store robbery. The veteran detective you’ve created confesses something to her partner on an overnight stake-out outside the killer’s apartment. Whatever crime fiction you’re crafting, it’s important that you maintain your authority by nailing the dialogue when writing characters who are in law enforcement. As a criminal lawyer, I spend a lot of time chatting with the police.

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22 of the Best And Worst Promotional Products For Your Book Release

October 18th, 2016

I played in a golf tournament recently (or, I should say I was very drunk for several hours and there was golf happening around me), and was given the customary goodie bag. Golf tees, coupons, and, of course, a stress ball that was made to look like what I assume is part of a human spine.

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Horror While Black: Race in Matt Ruff's 'Lovecraft Country'

October 17th, 2016

H.P. Lovecraft, along with Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, is one of the most chilling horror writers in history. He also was a raging racist. Although obscure within his lifetime, the last few decades has seen the Rhode Island native receive a critical re-appraisal, and with that comes the perspective of modern eyes.

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Library Love: Where Do Books Go When They Die?

October 17th, 2016

Image via UBC Library You may have heard about the Shakespeare First Folio that is visiting each of the 50 states this year. It’s a timeless relic that brought together 36 of Shakespeare’s plays, 18 of which had never been published before. The First Folio ensured Shakespeare’s place in a narrow canon of works that continue to have meaning centuries after their conception, thousands of miles outside their place of origin.

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6 Twist Endings Every Writer Loves (That Are Bullshit)

October 14th, 2016

Reading an abundance of short stories in slush piles has cursed me with a sort of abhorrence toward twist endings. I still enjoy the concept of a twist ending. I love the idea of pulling the rug out from under the readers’ feet and turning their worlds upside down. If you can make your readers question everything they’ve just read, you’re basically a magician.

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