Tomorrow is February 1st, which means that Women in Horror Recognition Month begins. Created by Hannah Neurotica, the editor of Ax Wound Zine, WIH Month is to celebrate women in the horror industry.
Since I'm an avid reader and more fond of horror fiction than horror films, last year for WIH Month, I reviewed horror novels by women authors. I also wanted to do something involving women in horror literature this year, so I've decided to do a series of interviews with female horror writers and editors.
When people think of women horror authors they tend to think of Shirley Jackson, Mary Shelley or Anne Rice. But there are so many other great female horror writers. Hopefully these interviews will show there are several women in the horror field and introduce you to a few authors/editors you've never heard of. I have several interviews lined up, so stay tuned!
Last week Deadite Press posted a list of books they will be releasing in 2011 on their website. For those of you who don't know, Deadite Press is a cult horror fiction publisher that is "dedicated to publishing the goriest, craziest, and strangest stories in existence." In the past they released books from Edward Lee, Bryan Smith, Wrath James White, Carlton Mellick III, Robert Devereaux, David Agranoff, Dave Brockie, Andre Duza and Adam Pepper. This year they add Brian Keene and J. F. Gonzalez to their lineup. Also, in addition to brand new novels, they will also be republishing out of print books from Edward Lee, Brian Keene, Bryan Smith, Wrath James White and Robert Devereaux. Here is their publishing schedule for 2011:
February
Urban Gothic by Brian Keene Jack's Magic Beans by Brian Keene Clickers by J. F. Gonzalez and Mark Williams Clickers II by J. F. Gonzalez and Brian Keene
March
A Gathering of Crows by Brian Keene Take the Long Way Home by Brian Keene Baby's First Book of Seriously Fucked-Up Shit by Robert Devereaux
April
Highways to Hell by Bryan Smith
June
The Killing Kind by Bryan Smith
July
Walking Wounded by Robert Devereaux
September
His Pain by Wrath James White
October
Depraved by Bryan Smith
November
Santa Steps Out by Robert Devereaux Santa Conquers the Homophobes by Robert Devereaux
December
Freakshow by Bryan Smith
Deadite Press will also be releasing the following in 2011, but no dates are set yet.
The Corporation by J. F. Gonzalez Dark Hollow by Brian Keene Darkness on the Edge of Town by Brian Keene Castaways by Brian Keene Ghost Walk by Brian Keene Ghoul by Brian Keene Dead Sea by Brian Keene Kill Whitey by Brian Keene The Conqueror Worms by Brian Keene The Conqueror Worms: Selected Scenes from the End of the World by Brian Keene The Rising by Brian Keene Book Three of the Santa Chronicles by Robert Devereaux
Jason Dark: Ghost Hunter is a series of novellas with an intriguing premise. The main character, Jason Dark, is a paranormal detective who fights demons, ghosts, vampires and other supernatural beings. But the twist that sets it apart from other popular paranormal detective stories (such as Supernatural or The X-Files) is that it takes place in Victorian era London.
Demon's Night is the first volume in the series. In this novella Jason Dark investigates mysterious deaths where the victims' bodies are found shriveled like raisins. His detective work leads him to a dangerous demon who sucks the life out of its victims. With the help of Siu Lin (a woman he saves from the demon) and his special demon-slaying sword, he sets out to stop the demon before it kills again.
The plot leans more toward action/adventure than horror and it's very different compared to the usual gory stories I favour, but it still held my interest. There is a ton of action, suspense and mystery to make this an interesting - and quick - read. Normally I'm not a fan of historical fiction (it reminds me of boring history class), but I thought I would give this a shot since it involves the paranormal and I was pleasantly surprised. The time period actually makes it more interesting and unique than if it had a contemporary setting.
But the characters left a little to be desired. Jason Dark could have been fleshed out a bit more and given more of a back-story. I'm hoping that since this is the first in a series we will get to know him better in the other books. Although I guess that in a plot-driven story such as this one, it's not a big deal if the characters aren't deep as long as the story is entertaining - and it is.
There are nine volumes in the series, which you can read more about here.
Jason, from Halloween Overkill, came up with a fun reading adventure for 2011. He chose 11 categories and the idea is to read one book for each category. Visit Halloween Overkill to find out more and read along. Here are the books I've chosen for each category:
1. Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.
A book concerning time travel.
I'm looking forward to a new year, especially seeing new horror films and reading new horror novels. So I've compiled a list of my most anticipated horror movies and books to be released in 2011.
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
Release Date: TBA
Directed By: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison
A young girl sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend discovers creatures in her new home who want to claim her as one of their own.
Although I haven't seen the 1973 original yet, I still want to see this remake. Mostly because the trailer is so creepy. See for yourself:
The Woman
Release Date: TBA
Directed By: Lucky McKee
Starring: Angela Bettis, Pollyanna McIntosh, Sean Bridgers
When a successful country lawyer captures and attempts to "civilize" the last remaining member of a violent clan that has roamed the Northeast coast for decades, he puts the lives of his family in jeopardy.
Not only is this film based on a Jack Ketchum novel and continues the story from Off Season and Offspring, but it's also directed by Lucky McKee and stars Angela Bettis! This is probably my most anticipated film of the year. There's no trailer out yet, so instead here's a behind-the-scenes video:
Scream 4
Release Date: April 15
Directed By: Wes Craven
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette
Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer.
I loved the first three films (well, the second and third weren't as good as the first, but they weren't awful) and can't wait for the fourth.
The Cabin in the Woods
Release Date: TBA
Directed By: Drew Goddard
Starring: Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Jesse Williams
A twisted and unusual take on the familiar "cabin in the woods" formula.
This film was supposed to be released almost a year ago, but it was delayed to convert it into 3D, and given the new release date of January 14, 2011. And now because of problems with MGM, it's going to be delayed "indefinitely." But I'm still including it on this list because I'm hoping it will be released sometime in the near future. It's co-written by Drew Goddard (Cloverfield) and Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), so it should be interesting. The Innkeepers
Release Date: TBA
Directed By: Ti West
Starring: Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, Kelly McGillis
A horror-thriller centered on the last two employees at a haunted hotel that's going out of business.
I found Ti West's The House of the Devil to be very creepy, so hopefully this movie will be scary as well.
Release Date: March (e-book)
May (trade paperback)
The Woman is the powerful story of the last survivor of a feral tribe of cannibals who have terrorized the east coast from Maine into Canada for years now. Badly wounded in a battle with police, she takes refuge in a cave overlooking the sea. Christopher Cleek is a slick, amoral -- and unstable -- country lawyer who, out hunting one day, sees her bathing in a stream. Fascinated, he follows her to her cave. Cleek has many dark secrets and to these he'll add another. He will capture her, lock in his fruit cellar, and tame her, civilize her. To this end he'll enlist his long-suffering wife Belle, his teenage son and daughter Brian and Peg, and even his little girl Darlin', to aid him. So the question becomes, who is more savage? The hunter or the game?
I'm insanely excited about this book. Not only is it a third Ketchum book about the Sawney Bean clan, but it's also co-written by Lucky McKee!
From legendary horror director Tobe Hooper and acclaimed novelist Alan Goldsher comes a horror event that mixes fact and fiction to tell the story of what happens when one of Hooper's films causes a strange contagion to spread across America, forcing Hooper to delve into long-forgotten corners of his past to solve the mystery.
As MIDNIGHT MOVIE opens, Tobe Hooper is attending a festival screening of his "lost" film "Destiny Express," a movie that Tobe wrote and directed when he was sixteen years old and that hasn't seen the light of day for over thirty years. Over the coming days, Tobe learns that terrifying, seemingly supernatural events are befalling all those who saw the movie that night. Soon, the audience members' friends are affected, too. And their friends. And their friends. The effects are growing exponentially, and before long, people are dying by the thousands. Suspecting that the solution to the movie's strange power lies in his own past, Tobe begins a desperate cross-country quest to understand the film's thirty-year-old origins... and come to terms with his own secrets.
The plot of this book sounds interesting and if Tobe Hooper can write as well as he directs, it should be good.
In Laymon's Terms edited by Kelly Laymon, Steve Gerlach & Richard Chizmar
Release Date: TBA
An oversized, huge tribute anthology for Richard Laymon -- featuring original and reprint short fiction, essays, interviews, personal remembrances, photos, etc. from dozens of the biggest names in horror! Personal, moving, and wildly entertaining -- this oversized hardcover is a collection that Richard Laymon would be very proud of!
I'm really hoping this actually gets released this year. I'm a huge Richard Laymon fan and I've been waiting for this tribute to him for a year and a half. It was supposed to be released August 2009, and that never happened. But according to the Cemetery Dance website, it will be released in 2011 and is "at the printer now."
Entombed by Brian Keene
Release Date: TBA
Entombed is a follow-up to Dead Seaand was supposed to be released by Leisure in February, but after the changes Keene decided to go with a different publisher. It will be released as a signed, limited edition hardcover sometime this year.
There's also one more thing to look forward to in 2011. Former Leisure horror editor Don D'Auria will be in charge of a new horror line at Samhain Publishing, which will release two books a month beginning in October.
What horror films or novels are you looking forward to in 2011?
Every year I make a list of resolutions but never seem to accomplish them. So I'm going to share a few of them with you in hopes that it will help me complete them.
1. Post in my blog at least 5 times a week.
Even though I haven't posted a lot in the past few months, 2010 was the year I've posted the most since I started my blog. But in 2011 I plan on posting more frequently.
2. Finish NaNoWriMo.
For the past three years I've participated in National Novel Writing Month, but have never completed it. The idea of NaNoWriMo is to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. But this year I am absolutely dedicated to completing it - I've even begun thinking up ideas for my novel.
3. Watch all the movies I own but haven't seen.
If you read my blog, you know how much I lovetobuyDVDs. In 2010, I splurged a lot and now I have 159 movies I own but have never seen.
4. Read one book a week.
I only read 23 books in 2010, so this goal is more than double that amount, but I think I'm up to the challenge.
5. Stop buying DVDs and books.
I developed this goal to help me with resolution #3. Plus I have no more shelving space - I've resorted to stacking them everywhere I can find space - and saving money can't hurt.
I also have the other usual resolutions like eating healthier and exercising more, but I've only listed the ones pertaining to my blog. You can read the rest on 43 Things, an awesome website dedicated to setting goals and resolutions.
I'm also going to take part in a reading challenge:
For being a huge horror fan, it's pretty appalling how few King books I've actually read. So this year I'm going to read six Stephen King books:
1. Misery
2. Pet Sematary
3. Needful Things
4. The Dark Half
5. Night Shift
6. Skeleton Crew
I might read more, or I might change these later on. The challenge is hosted by Book Chick City and you can sign up here.
