Tuesday 23 October 2012

Coffin Hop Blog Extravaganza

HALLOWEEN BLOG HOP. 

This year I am taking part in the fangtabulous Coffin Hop Blog Extravaganza. Over a hundred masters of horror all sharing their work with the world. (That means you!)

artwork by @AxelHowerton

Although most of you know me mainly for my contemporary YA fantasy series, 'The Knight Trilogy', I have a much darker writing side. When not writing about hot sexy knights marauding around ancient woodlands, I'm penning delicious little gothic stories about cannibals, demons, goblins and other delectable morsels of horror. 

I've recently had the privilege of working alongside a total master of spooky paranormal thrillers, Jeff Bennington and have had two of my ghost stories published in his series 'Creepy' which collates 'true life' ghost stories and fictional ghost stories. If you want to spook yourself out this Halloween, these are a kindle must. (Click here to grab your copy for just £0.77p)

I've always been fascinated by horror. Maybe it's because I am fortunate for my life to be very unhorrific. I'm not saying it's completely full of sunbeams and blue-birds, but I've never had to face true horror, allowing me to remain at a safe, fantastical distance. This fascination began with under-the-covers reading of Dean Koontz, James Herbert and Stephen King (all read at a totally inappropriate and impressionable age) and then when I went to university my fascination with the genre pulled me into the reading of some of the great forefathers of horror; Shelley, Poe, Lovecraft, Lewis etc. When I went on to do my Masters degree, I found myself pulled back into the genre with a morbid, analytical fascination studying the work of the modern American masters, Ellis and Palahnuick. (I wrote a weird thesis on the historical role of economics and the impact it has on outpourings  of extreme horror art forms - yeah, feel free to ask me anything you like about that haha!)

My most recent novel, 'Beautiful Freaks' (due out October 31st - as in this week!) is much closer to my  darker, horror side. It's a total gothic indulgence of paranormal murders - but even this is a cautious step forward to me realising my true horror self. I have a true and extreme horror novel all planned out on Scrivener, but I'm nervous of upsetting my established readership. This is a particular dilemma being that I write within the YA arena.  Beautiful Freaks began life as a short story called 'The Venus Club' which was winner of  indiehorror's Cannibal Cookoff story contest in 2010. I've recently revisited the story and done a revised edition of it; expanding some of the details now I'm not limited by a 5,000 word limit. It will front a collection of spooky paranormal short stories called 'Blood and Tears' (hopefully available just in time for Halloween. It will be going on the KDP select program and will be free for 5 days at the beginning of November. Hopefully it will be a chance for some of my readers to see a different side to my writing. 


In the meantime please take the opportunity to go and hang out with some of my horror writer homies by taking part in this year's Coffin Hop Blog Hop.


You'll discover some amazing reads and very talented writers along the way. Many of those taking part in the event have become good writer friends over the years and I can't wait  to share them with you. Be sure to check out Belinda Frisch's awesome zombie book 'Cure' (soon to be a movie!), Red Tash and her brilliant unsettling story 'Troll or Derby', Rebecca Treadway whose work is completely spine chilling - in fact just put aside the whole day and check out all of the fangtabulous writers taking part. (Yeah, I know I used that pun earlier but I just loved it!)

artwork by @Nicolas Caesar
CHECK IN WITH THE COFFIN HOP HEAD QUARTERS BY CLICKING HERE. You will be able to find out more about the event, the authors, artists and giveaways. 

Oh and in order to celebrate this wonderful Coffin Hop Blog Hop I'm going to shower you in giveaway gifts - just as every other author taking part is going to. So if you want to get your hands on signed 'Beautiful Freaks' giant postcards, book charms and other swag then enter the rafflecopter giveaway below. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 comments:

  1. Great post Katie! And Beautiful Freaks sounds great! It's going on my wishlist for Amazon :)

    Julie

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    1. I was supposed to tell you what I love about the horror genre - I love being scared!!

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  2. So thrilled to learn Beautiful Freaks is FINALLY coming out! I remember the Cannibal Cook Off Contest - I think every single person voted for your story - period. lol

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    1. Thanks Rebecca, you are such a sweetie. Yep, Beautiful Freaks is FINALLY coming out. LOL It's a much tamer story than Venus Club lol - however its clearly of the same ancestral line. Looking forward to reconnecting with some of my horror homies :) Happy Halloween x

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  3. It's an honor to be mentioned ;-) Thanks, sweetie.

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  4. Love the cover for Beautiful Freaks, (and the title). It sounds like a great book.

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    1. Thank you. I'm very fond of this little baby (haha) Thanks for stopping by :)

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  5. Yep, will definitely be checking out Beautiful Freaks. Looks good!

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  6. I love horror because it’s honest in its intentions. It’s meant to scare, and delight at the same time. Horror movies or books are designed to make you feel something, to shock you, I love that reaction.
    Thank you for the giveaway!
    Artemis

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  7. I just love how much you can be scare just by reading or watching something shocking, so so terrifying, you can sleep or think anything else after that. Muajajaja xD

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