Welcome to October GLIAS friends! The crew and I are returning to the cliche' for this post, since it is the month of Halloween. No costume blogging, however. Instead, we want to know a little about the scary things in your life. Read on to find out what scared the GLIAS ladies early in their formative years, what scary things have happened to us, and what our favorite scary movies are.
Plus--stock up on our latest releases. Even if THEY don't happen to be very scary at all!
LIZBETH SELVIG
What
were you scared of as a little kid?
I hated any kind of faces in the
dark! Pictures of people on the walls, decorative masks, the idea of a face in
the window, going past a mirror--all of it was terrifying to me! And the
she-needs-a-therapist thing about that is, the fear is still with me. To this
day I shield my eyes at night from mirrors or windows. And I always leave
magazines flipped so that no faces on covers show, in case I happen to walk
past them in a dimly lit room. So, so weird.
What’s
the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you?
Nearly a mother's nightmare. My
daughter at age sixteen was in a rollover car accident on a very snowy
Minnesota night. She was not being careless, she was where we knew she was
going to be and, once it started to storm, we'd called the father of the young
man she was chauffeuring and told him to keep her there and we'd come get her.
She never arrived, the boy's father called and said there'd been an accident,
and his son was in the hospital but nobody knew where my daughter was. The
utter panic for ten long minutes before she called was awful. Turned out the
police had refused to let her ride in the ambulance with her friend, taken her
to a nearby gas station and left her. (The anger over that is a different
story.) I'm very happy to say that everyone involved was fine--except the 1994
Ford Explorer and daughter's glasses. Small prices to pay for a good end to my
own potential horror story!
Horror
movies and books—yes or no? If yes, what’s your favorite?
I am such a big no on this--at
least for movies. I've never even read Stephen King. I so much don't like scary
movies that I will totally let people tell me the endings so I know ahead of
time (same with death movies--if a character I come to love dies, I am MAD!!).
I have read a few scary books--
Silence of the Lambs comes to mind. I
deal better with the written words so, nope, I never did see the movie :-)
Check out my very UN-scary current books:
Betting on Paradise--the
fourth book in my Seven Brides for Seven Cowboys series. And then
pre-order my exciting new romantic suspense
Missing By a Heartbeat.
AVRIL TREMAYNE
What
were you scared of as a little kid?
Something under the bed! Not helped
by the fact that I was one of five practical joke playing children, and have
twice checked under the bed only to actually find someone under
there!
What’s
the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you?
This is a bit of an Aussie thing,
but when I was a kid, I was swimming at a Sydney beach with my sisters,
and was swept out to sea in a rip. It happened so fast I don't have a
real understanding of how it felt - only that the three of us were jumping over
waves with a group of other kids, and at one point we said out loud
that it was time to get out of the water because the waves
were rough, and next second (it really was that fast) I was swept
completely away with one of the other kids and he was hanging around
my neck and dragging me under in terror. A friend of my father's (who was related
to the other kid) jumped bravely into the rip to reach us and
basically dragged us back to shore where we all collapsed from
exhaustion not unlike a scene from a movie. My mother was
mid-meltdown, my sisters had been saved by two surfers, adults had been
throwing themselves into the surf all over the beach to save everyone caught in
that rip, but that other kid and I were the miracles.
Horror
movies and books—yes or no? If yes, what’s your favorite?
Not books so much, but movies...?
Oh, yes! I love so many, but my two absolute favourites (also the scariest) are
Italian director Dario Argento's
Deep Red and
Suspiria.
These films also are the best illustration I can think of as to why I love horror films but don't really read horror - it's all in the
colour saturation and the intensity of the visuals. Yowzer! It's a toss up which movie is the more terrifying, but I can tell you that I sneaked into
Suspiria
(set in a ballet school - isn't that enough to whet the appetite?) as one of a
group of underage teenagers, and one of us ended up on tranquilizers!
Check out my latest duet, which may not be horror stories but have nevertheless got a touch of Alfred Hitchcock in the Tippi Hedren complex that rates a mention in each of them - think the movie
The Birds - sooo scary! (And I confess it is a complex I have myself!)
ANGI MORGAN
What
were you scared of as a little kid?
Vampires.
It was the time of Dark Shadows. Oh and black crawly bugs (STILL). My
mom recently told me that we were in a house where they kept hearing things in
the wall. Dad broke the wall open and out poured all these beetles. Yes, this
really happened in front of me. No wonder I can’t watch The Mummy.
What’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you?
Being broken down in the middle of absolutely nowhere and having
to hitchhike.
Horror
movies and books—yes or no? If yes, what’s your favorite?
I read Stephen King’s The Shining–alone and in one sitting.
By the end of the book I was buried in pillows and screaming at every creak.
BUT…I have always laughed through horror/slasher movies. Come on, how many
times can you watch someone leave the safe cabin and get picked off by the guy
in the woods? Now…ghost stories. Different
thing. I
love a good ghost movie.
All Texas Ranger Jack MacKinnon has
to do to is keep Megan Harper alive while they hunt down whoever's framing her
for a fatal shooting. But the gorgeous intelligence analyst is too
independent for her own good...and
Jack's peace of mind.
With a false murder rap and hit men
gunning for her, Megan has no choice but to trust the cowboy-handsome lawman.
She isn't used to playing it safe. Yet how can she let Jack put his career and
life on the line? And how can they ignore the desire ratcheting up the stakes,
tempting them to take one last risk before a killer erases their future?
PJ FIALA
What were
you scared of as a little kid?
Clowns.
I hate clowns. So you can imagine that the IT movie that's out now is not
one I'll be attending.
What’s
the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you?
See
below. **Shivvers**
Horror
movies and books—yes or no? If yes, what’s your favorite? No. I made the
mistake of going to a movie with a girlfriend once titled, The Grudge.
Honestly, I didn't sleep for weeks afterwards. And, it freaked me out so
much that every time I saw a woman with long dark
hair afterward,
I got the creeps. That was the last time I've watched a horror movie.
AMANDA McINTYRE
What
were you scared of as a little kid?
We always
lived in big old houses. Great and full of character when you're an adult. As a
kid a fortress of rooms and closets and in general dark spaces. I saw the movie
Wolfman with Michael Landon when I was little and that stuck with me. Maybe
that's why I don't write
shapeshifters?
What’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you?
My first visit to New Orleans was interesting & certainly
memorable. Scary in terms of a what is possible and making a believer out of me
that
there may exist a fine line
between this world and the next. I was sharing a room at a writers
conference with friends. It was late , we were talking about the day and
I got a phone call. Signal was bad, so I stepped into the empty hallway to see
if I could call them back. As I'm dialing I walked a few feet down the hall
past the bank of elevators to a short flight of steps that led to a suite. I
sat down and heard something akin to elevator doors opening, then shortly
thereafter the sound of a breathy sigh near my left ear. The hairs on my neck
stand up even now as I speak of it. I sort
of shook it off, telling myself it was the Hotel
Monteleone, and yeah
everything in NOLA is haunted, right? Still, I got up and peeked around the
corner and no one is at the elevator. So, I sauntered back to the step,
sat down to dial the person and again with the low-timbered sigh in my ear. At
that point I stood-my insides screaming to stay calm as I walked back to the
room ( you know that feeling if you turn around something will be there?) It
was similar to that. The next morning, my friend in the next bed asked if
I'd gotten up in the middle of the night (no) because she saw someone standing
between the two double beds (shiver across the shoulders).
Later that weekend, I
had gone upstairs to pack while my friends were downstairs. I didn't have the
TV on or anything and I'm busy laying things on the unmade bed when there is a
knock at the door. Assuming its room service, I call out, " Just a
minute!" Seconds later I walked to the door and looked through the
peephole first-no one. Puzzled, I opened the door , looking down the long and
very empty corridor and saw nobody. Now, it was not until later that I was
reading the history of the hotel that I discovered the ghosts (friendly but
mischievous) that haunt the hotel. I gained a new appreciation, respect and
belief in such things after that experience.
Horror movies and
books—yes or no? If yes, what’s your favorite?
I enjoy the thrill of
the horror movie if done well and not meant to be so graphic that its more gore
than horror. I do think the term "horror" has changed by
definition over the past decade or two--whats scary to me are the movies that
play to your imagination. Some of my favorites include, The Sixth Sense, The
Shining (w/Jack Nicholson), An American Werewolf in London (Rick Baker's
special effects are amazing), Lost Boys (campy, but good) , The Others,
!408 (John Cusak), The Skeleton Key , The Birds, --to name a few.
My latest release is a follow up story to my
first Hell Yeah Kindle World for Sable Hunters Hell Yeah series. Set in and
around New Orleans and its famous plantation row-it touches on the experiences
I've had in New Orleans and how I've come to love that historic city!
exclusively at Amazon Kindle
World)
In
addition I am thrilled to be part of a special multi-author project soon
to be revealed!! It's a trek into a historical genre I've not
written before and I have so enjoyed getting to know these amazing
authors! When the time is right-you all will be hearing about it right
here at GLIAS!!
Until
next time-#kindnessmatters
Amanda
❤
REGAN WAKER
What were you scared of as a little kid?
Monsters
appearing in my bedroom at night
What’s the
scariest thing that’s ever happened to you?
I
imagined Dracula appeared in my room one night at the foot of my bed
Horror
movies and books—yes or no?
Cannot
watch them. Cannot read them. My imagination is too vivid. They give me
nightmares.
New! Medieval Warriors boxed set
“This
series captures the Medieval era perfectly,
creating the true sensation of
traveling back in time to experience epic, riveting love stories that ignite
the imagination. Beautifully written, perfectly paced and action-packed with
passionate love affairs... What more can you ask?” — The
Book Review
JILLIAN STONE
What were you scared of as a little kid?
I was a very
impressionable child—witches, goblins, aliens—any creature that was the least
bit scary on film or TV gave me nightmares.
What’s the scariest thing
that has ever happened to you?
When I was in high
school, my BFF and I took a space ship ride at an amusement park. After the
ride was over, the freaky attendant let everyone else off and then slammed the
door and chased us around inside the ship. We escaped though an emergency exit
door and ran! (We also reported him.)
Horror movies or books—yes
or no? If yes, what’s your favorite?
I enjoy novels that
are inspired by real life events or books that are written as non-fiction
accounts of something scary, like The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty or
Communion by Whitley Strieber
The last good movie monster
was the creature in Alien, which came out in 1979. How sad is that? Nowadays
when I want a good scare I turn to zombie movies like 28 Days Later. I also
find the survival aspect of
dystopian zombie tales inspiring or challenging—LOL!
NANCY ROBARDS THOMPSON
What were you scared of as
a little kid?
The show Dark Shadows
was all the rage when I was a little kid. I had a love-hate relationship with
it. I tuned in faithfully. I even had the Dark Shadows board game that
came with a nifty set of glow-in-the-dark vampire fangs. However, at night I
was terrified that a vampire would find its way to my room and bite me.
When I was six or seven, I went through a phase where I'd sleep with a little
white cross under my pillow and a scarf around my neck.
What’s the scariest
thing that’s ever happened to you?
My daughter and I
were in a car accident. A woman plowed through a
stop sign and
broadsided us. It happened so fast. It made me realize how life can turn on a
dime.
Horror movies and
books—yes or no? If yes, what’s your favorite?
NO! NO! NO! But it
hasn't always been a hard no - hence my Dark Shadows days. Until I was in
middle school, I loved scary books and movies. But then I saw the movie the
Exorcist and it felt like it damaged a part of my soul. That marked the end for
me. I decided that I would much rather be able to walk around my house late at
night without getting creeped out. Now, I go for the happily ever after. All
books and movies must make me laugh or sigh or think happy thoughts.
Speaking of happily
ever after.... I have a new book! THE COWBOY WHO GOT AWAY hit the shelves on
September 19. It's book 12 in my Celebration, TX series. Here's the back cover
copy:
From homecoming
crowns to wedding rings
Hunky bull rider Jude Campbell seems to have the world by the proverbial horns.
But when the world champion returns to Celebration for his high school reunion,
he's confronted by the ghosts he'd worked so hard to forget. Not to mention the
high school love who got away…
Bridezilla wrangler Juliette Lowell is as gorgeous and genuine as she was as
Jude's homecoming queen. And the spark between them burns as bright as ever.
But Jules still smarts from Jude's betrayal years before. And as successful as
he seems, Jude's struggling with the prospect of hanging up his spurs. But with
his queen, Juliette, by his side, maybe this homecoming will take once and for
all…
KATHERINE GARBERA
What were you scared of as
a little kid?
Snakes. We lived on the edge
of the Green Swamp in Florida and I had seen a snake once in our yard but in my
mind they were always outside waiting for me. I would stand on our front porch
and wait checking the grass before I’d feel brave enough to leave the house.
One time I put my dad’s boots on and stomped around the yard for my younger
sisters one of them yelling out “Dad’s with us.” so that snakes would know not
to mess with us!
What’s the scariest thing
that’s ever happened to you?
I can’t think of anything where I
was really terrified. A couple of parenting things like my son has asthma
and when he was about 18 months old before it was diagnosed he was playing on
our living room floor with his sister while I fixed dinner and I heard her say
Lucas, stop doing that. And then she called me over and he was struggling
to breath. His entire body (chest cavity, stomach) were heaving in and
out and I almost freaked out. But kept calm and got him into the car and
to the emergency room.
Horror movies and
books—yes or no? If yes, what’s your favorite?
No! I’m not a bit into being scared.
I love Halloween, but more for the dressing up and the candy…okay, mostly
for the candy since I just wear
a Halloween T-shirt and go as a
“suburban mom” every year.
NAN DIXON
What’s the scariest thing
that’s ever happened to you?
I was in a house fire
when I was a sophomore
in college. Very old
house. Middle of the night. Had to go out the window. The fire was so hot, the
paint was melting off the window frame. Horrible. Everyone was safe except the
kittens.
Horror movies and
books—yes or no? If yes, what’s your favorite?
NO. NO. NO. Nope. No way. (See
answer to first question for reason why!)
EE BURKE
What were you scared of as a little kid?
Santa
Claus! OMG, I was terrified of the old man with a white beard at the store, and
I resisted going to see him. He terrified me! I just wanted him to drop off
those presents and get
What’s
the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you?
I've had some bad things happen,
but I wouldn't call them scary. Once, I played a practical joke on some friends
and scared one so badly she peed her pants. Does that count?
These pictures are of my kids, who
also love scary things and share my ghoulish sense of humor.
Horror
movies and books—yes or no? If yes, what’s your favorite?
Oh my gosh, yes! I devoured (pardon
the pun) Stephen King novels and loved to read Edgar Allen Poe to my friends
during sleepovers. The Shining is probably still one of my favorites from King,
and The TellTale Heart is the BEST for sleepovers.
Put a ticking clock under a
blanket and get out the flashlight. Hehehe.
My current favorite movie is
"It" based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. Pennywise, oh
whoa. That clown is truly creepy!
Much as enjoyed horror movies and books, I'm an even bigger fan of historical romance. Here's my latest release,
a box set special on The Bride Train. Only $2.99 for the whole set! Now that's
not too scary, is it?
So, friends, what do you think? Can you top our stories? Give it a try! We'd love to know what scares you--then and now!!
