Heavy on the Scary, Light on the Gore

By Linda Lovely

I walked out on this "classic" due
to its graphic violence.

I love mysteries and thrillers—books and movies.  However, I try to avoid any entertainment medium that dishes up excessive violence and gore. While many people consider Clockwork Orange a movie classic, I walked out on that film when it premiered. I don’t need horrific, violent images polluting my mind and invading my nightmares. I’m not a fan of horror movies—even on Halloween.

I’m delighted when mystery/suspense/thrillers give me chills and goosebumps. I read/watch because, at least in my favorite books/films, the hero/heroine ultimately wins out over evil. For those of us who love these genres, the promise that right/justice can prevail (at least occasionally) is both comforting and inspiring.

I love books that make me eager to turn the page to find out what will happen next, to discover how the protagonists will escape what seems like inevitable doom. Dire situations are just dandy. But severed body parts, gallons of blood, and extended torture scenes are unnecessary and unwelcome for this reader/viewer. Spare me the chainsaw and slasher flicks. My imagination is quite adequate to feel the intense cruelty of a serial killer or psychopath without pages of gory description. 

Marathon Man is one of my favorite films
even though the torture scene made me squirm.

However, I have to admit one of my favorite movies, Marathon Man, includes an extended torture scene—though the instruments of torture can be found in most dentists’ offices. That seems to suggest my tolerance for violence extends well beyond PG.

The the people who die in my mystery/suspense/thrillers don’t exactly pass away in their sleep either. Since my killers tend to be smart, I figure they’re entitled to come up with ingenious methods to engineer their victims’ deaths. Their weapons have included everything from fire ants and dog collars to eye drops. If you haven’t read my novels, I don’t want to give details that could be spoilers.

So how do you feel about scary books/movies? Do you choose to pass on the gore? Where do you draw the line on violence? 

Scary Books, Scary Movies, Scary True History

 

by Kristin Holt

I freely admit I'm not a huge fan of horror, though I Am Legend (2007) rates in my top [out-of-my-typical-favorite-genres] movies of all time. Scared the living daylights out of me. I saw it at least eight years ago, yet I still find myself thinking about powerful scenes, nuances, and the premise.

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Another movie that scared me--and I loved it!--was The Sixth Sense (1999). I don't know that I've ever been so spooked. What a thrill! Remember how YOU reacted upon discovering the shocking twist?

The Sixth Sense, Theatrical Release Poster [Source]

  

Don't we read to experience everything?...all from the safety of an armchair (or commuter train seat or hammock)? Powerful fiction transports the reader to another place, another life, another set of circumstances. I think people read scary stories and watch scary movies to safely experience the thrill-ride of spine-tingling fear.

I can't say I read horror (or scary stories) on a regular basis, though I have read some. Far more often, I come across horrific (and probably true) incidents in my constant research of Victorian-American history.

 

True (at least as far as the viewpoint of the then-current news reporter) history can be every bit as scary, disturbing, nightmare-inducing...and heartbreaking.

The following newspaper clipping, published in Shelby County Herald of Shelbyville, Missouri on October 1, 1890. Yes, some newspaper 'articles' in the late nineteenth century were fictionalized, but this one doesn't seem to be anything but the sad truth--mental illness likely brought on by grief and heartache.

Horrible and sad all at the same time. I think every parent everywhere can imagine the agony experienced by this mother, can identify with her loss...and realize the slip into insanity could happen to any one of us. Isn't that what makes some stories (whether factual or fictional) so scary?

Why do you read scary stories?

Hi! I'm Kristin Holt.

I write frequent articles (or view recent posts easily on my Home Page, scroll down) about the nineteenth century American west–every subject of possible interest to readers, amateur historians, authors…as all of these tidbits surfaced while researching for my books. I also blog monthly at Sweet Americana Sweethearts (first Friday of each month) and Romancing the Genres (third Tuesday of each Month).

I love to hear from readers! Please drop me a note. Or find me on Facebook.

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Copyright © 2016 Kristin Holt LC

Things that go Bump in the Night!

 By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

Here I am celebrating Florida Romance Writers 30th Birthday  with fellow, Generista, Kristin Wallace and author, Carol  Stephenson !

  

I digress. This month’s topic is supposed to be why we read scary stories,  and watch movies making you want to cover your eyes and check under your bed.   

Honestly, I’m hardly a fan of scary movies or books. Ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night do nothing for me.  Give me a good comedy, drama or sweet romance.  Anything associated with the supernatural just makes me want to retch. Yes I am a scaredy cat. Living in today’s world is scary enough.

Scary to me is the absence of good manners. People who don’t have the decency to RSVP to a wedding,  or thank you for a gift. I abhor those with a sense of entitlement.

Upsetting and scary to me are millennials attitude toward marriage.  Beta marriage was not something promoted in my day. Marriage isn't something you try on for size,  and if  after two years it doesn’t fit, you dissolve minus paperwork. This Real Estate approach to marriage, with option to renegotiate terms every five years, is for the birds.

Equally scary is casual sex with multiple partners; not that that's anything new, except the stakes are much higher these  days. Today, getting under the covers with a stranger may result in the gift that keeps giving. The diseases making the rounds need more than penicillin to cure. 

Troubling and scary are innocent lives being taken by rogue cops who let power go to their heads. Rather than choosing the option to use a Taser, they simply shoot and then cover it up.

Scary are the number of mentally challenged walking the streets, abandoned by family,  and released by overcrowded institutions. These people harass  drivers at every stoplight, badgering you into giving them money rather than food. They need our help. 

What about the young men and women who are caught up in the illegal business of human trafficking? These are usually runaways used to perform domestic duties and the basest of sexual acts.

Scary are today's role models - barely articulate and tabloid fodder.  And not because they are do-gooders, but because the latest sex tape has been uncovered, and the size of their butts make enthusiastic cocktail party chatter.

Race relations are at their very worse. For me a child of the seventies, I find this very sad.

Addiction issues run rampant and rehab centers have huge waiting lists. Not all on that waiting list fit the sixteen to twenty-one age bracket. 

But scariest of all is the upcoming election, and where this country may be heading.  As citizens of the United States, it's up to us to vote responsibly, or there may be even scarier times ahead!

Every vote counts!

Like me on Facebook here: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

 Marcia King-Gamble is a National Bestselling author. She has penned 34 books and 6 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling, and with her animal family.

I Don't Do Scary Then Why Do I Scare Myself?

Judith Ashley is the author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, romantic fiction that honors spiritual traditions that nurture the soul.

Genre-istas have been invited to talk about reading scary stories or watching scary movies. I must confess I do neither. A few decades ago I did read romantic Suspense but no more. I’ve never been a fan of scary movies. I remember going to see Psycho with my mom when it first came out and having nightmares for weeks as well as startling at virtually nothing in broad daylight.

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I will admit that one of the scariest things I’ve ever done is learn about indie publishing so I can publish and promote my Sacred Women’s Circle series. Most recently I’ve committed to learn how to build a website so I can manage updates on my own. I’ve also committed to learn about creating a Newsletter to let my readers know what I’m up to. And on my ‘to learn list’ is Photoshop Elements so I can create simple book covers.

I’ve spent a lot of time worrying about my ability to learn how to do these things (not writing the books, that’s the easy part) but the technical stuff? Rigid muscles, tense hands, stressed out brain, headache from the iron bar across my shoulders and my self-talk? One would think I had the intelligence of a — well, I’m not sure what to put in here.

Why do I do this to myself?

The answer is in a concept I came up with over my decades of watching people including myself.

Public and Private learners.

Public learners just get out there and do it. They expect a learning curve. They expect to make mistakes. They expect to fall or fail. It doesn’t bother them if they stumble, fall or make a mistake because they are learning. They get back up, dust themselves off and start over again. Most babies are public learners. When they are learning to walk, they keep trying until they get it right.

Private learners are just the opposite. They may expect the learning curve and to make mistakes but they become very creative not to do any of that in public. They want to have mastered at the very least, the basics, before they do anything other people can see. I’ve seen some babies who are more private learners. They don’t talk until they can say phrases if not complete simple sentences! And they don’t walk independently until they know they won’t fall.

With those two concepts, which type of learner do you think I am?

If you guessed private learner, you are correct. And because I am a private learner, it’s even more difficult for me to try something out in front of other people. Funny, it isn’t that I’m afraid of people reading my books – nope it’s learning the techie stuff to make them available.

Sneak Preview of website

My new website, one I’ve created myself with the help of iPower’s (my hosting company) Concierge service will be available the end of October. I want to coordinate its launch with my new blog header, and Newsletter. All of these details take time!

I'm working at the 2016 Fall Home and Garden Show this week. Checkout my Judith Ashley blog on Monday for my take on the Show. I participated in the Spring Show earlier this year and had a fantastic time.

Hope you’ll check back for the Big Reveal Announcement about my website. I'm curious to know what you think of my efforts! And while you’re there, sign up for my newsletter. I’m hoping to get my first newsletter out in late October or early November. I’ve another techie learning curve coming up in order to send it out.

In the meantime, consider your own take on the world. Are you a public learner or are you a private learner?

You can learn more about The Sacred Women’s Circle series on my website.

Check out my Windtree Press author page.

Follow me on Twitter: @JudithAshley19

I’m also on Facebook

© 2016 Judith Ashley

Who hates scary movies? by Kristin Wallace

Can you believe it’s October already? Before you know it, we’ll be knee deep in Christmas decorations, if you’re not already buried in tinsel and holly. But we’ll stick with October (for this week at least), and more importantly...Halloween. The theme on Romancing the Genres is actually “Why I read scary books/Watch scary movies.”

Well, the truth is, I don’t do either. I don’t watch horror movies or read scary stories. (My one exception is seeing a few movies based on Stephen King novels, including The Shining and Carrie (and I’ve actually only seen the end of Carrie). I did see The Exorcist once and that freaked me out. I think the only scary/horror book I’ve ever read was Amityville Horror, and that was enough for me.

I grew up in the heyday of Friday the 13^th and Nightmare on Elm Street franchises. Jason and Freddie Krueger were pop culture icons, but I couldn’t bring myself to watch them. I just can’t get into blood and gore, and extreme violence, especially stupid violence. If you hear something in the basement, why would you go down there? I do remember a time when I was in junior high and had a sleep over with my friend. She wanted to watch one of the Friday the 13^th movies. I don’t remember which one…could have been 3 or 5 or 6…as they were pretty much the same. Start with 6 pretty teenagers and by the end there are 6 dead pretty teenagers. Or maybe one does finally get away. I didn’t want to watch it, but my friend insisted…then spent the entire movie covering her eyes and asking me to tell her what was happening. Mostly, it was a STUPID movie. It confirmed my firm belief that I don’t like those kinds of movies.

Give me a romantic comedy or a drama any day. You can take your scary movies this month and I’ll just wait for the Hallmark Channel Christmas movies to start. It should be next week, right?

Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and contemporary romance, and women’s fiction filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. Look for her latest releases FALLING FOR YOU AT CHRISTMAS, which is part of SWEET CHRISTMAS KISSES 3, a box set featuring 17 holiday stories by NYT, USA Today & national bestselling authors for only 99 cents, including. For info & buy links, visit Kristin's Website

Want a FREE book? I’m on Instafreebie where you can download FINDING YOU AT CHRISTMAS. CLICK HERE!