Horror/Scary: February 14, 2018 Issue [#8758]
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Horror/Scary


 This week: Strong Emotions
  Edited by: Annette Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Dear readers and writers of all things scary and horrific, I am Annette Author Icon and I will be your guest editor for this issue.


Word from our sponsor

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Amazon's Price: $ 13.94


Letter from the editor

Strong Emotions


On this Valentine's Day, take a peak behind the curtain of pink flowers, balloons, and chocolates and look into the abyss of human nature.

Mrs. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross has been quoted with having said, "There are only two emotions: love and fear. [...] They're opposites. If we're in fear, we are not in a place of love. When we're in a place of love, we cannot be in a place of fear."

I'm sure she gave this a lot of thought before she said it. Of course, she said much more to illustrate her point. I still can't help and think that no amount of illustrating can simplify the emotions we feel down to two. We are all capable of many more emotions that aren't a variation on love or fear. That makes me think she's wrong.

Since today is Valentine's Day, I think it's a perfect time to discuss how far love and fear really are from one another. Judging by the many works of fiction here on the site where horror/scary and romance/love get mixed together, I can't help but wonder if these emotions don't belong together after all.
In addition to the examples from the site I posted below in my Editor's Picks, you can find thousands of fiction books exploring horror within the context of romance and love in bookstores or online.

If anything, I would say that fear (horror) and love feed of one another. At least in fiction they make a good couple to get a plot started, to enrich a plot, or to explain what happens in the story.

Wars, which are a form of horror, have been started for love in real life as well as in fiction. Both the ten year war of Troy as well as the Game of Thrones books are driven by love even as both stories are full of gory and horrific details.

Each time you write a horror story, you will find that adding an element of romance will enhance the feelings of dread. Give it a try.



Editor's Picks

Jason Cantor, I thought. The name sounded familiar; he wrote murder mysteries. I wanted to know more. "Why doesn't he ever go out?"
There Could Be Tigers Open in new Window. (13+)
We may need to conquerour fears, but we should never completely ignore them.
#939525 by dmack Author IconMail Icon


While I had been looking at pamphlets for exotic vacation spots in places like Aruba and Barbados he had been booking our rooms at some obscure hotel in the middle-of-nowhere part of Vermont.
Silence of the Lamps Open in new Window. (13+)
A tale of a woman, her husband, and the things that haunted their honeymoon.
#1960327 by Cat Voleur Author IconMail Icon


Does she keep her hit list in there?
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The End of Summer ~ Quill HM Open in new Window. (18+)
Chad falls for a perplexing woman and disregards his friends' warnings. Quill honorable
#2124319 by Mrs. Nixie Clause Author IconMail Icon


She reached out and stroked the soft moss infesting his chin like a green goatee.
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Undying Love Open in new Window. (GC)
Angela married Bob but can't forget her ex - First Place Distorted Minds Contest Feb 2017.
#2112360 by Christopher Roy Denton Author IconMail Icon


The bell rang out again, accusing me, as if to say, "I see you! I know your heart and what you’ve done. You’re a murderer. Murderer!”
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Siren's Song Open in new Window. (13+)
A ghostly tale of a tragic love
#802114 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon


There were identical letters addressed to her step mother, her two step sisters, her father and…yes…and her.
 
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The Female Of The Species Open in new Window. (E)
August entry for Monthly Calendar Contest - A Cinderella Story with a twist - 2268 words
#2052580 by Choconuts Roasting Author IconMail Icon


A shadow or rather the form of a tall man who had to have been veiled by the old elm tree's dying shape ventured forward. I gasped. Something was not right.
 
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Inside the Darkness Open in new Window. (13+)
The light in the center of darkness. Maybe a vampire isn't all that bad.
#716584 by Joy Author IconMail Icon


werewolves howl
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This item number is not valid.
#1978470 by Not Available.


She looked so innocent and sweet.
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This item number is not valid.
#1973266 by Not Available.


Many of the great authors we hold dear today got their first paying jobs writing for pulps like Weird Tales, Astounding Tales, and True Detective, just to name a few.
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FORUM
WEIRD TALES CONTEST  Open in new Window. (18+)
A Contest Inspired by the Old Pulp Fiction Covers of Weird Tales Magazine
#2083492 by Beacon's Anchor Author IconMail Icon

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
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Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Ask & Answer

For my last Horror/Scary newsletter "CannibalismOpen in new Window., I got these replies:

Danger Mouse Author Icon wrote: Cannibalism is one of my favorite horror tools. It doesn't have to be a person filling their own gut. What if you are very poor, broke, and have to feed the children or the dog?

A disturbing thought.

BIG BAD WOLF is Merry Author Icon wrote: Look up a fetish called "Vore" if you're going on along these lines. Either it will turn you on to an interesting thought process or turn you off your lunch. Discretion advised of course, as it isn't family friendly at times.

I agree. Not very family friendly.

Elfin Dragon-finally published Author Icon wrote: While cannibalism may be a scary act to us, it does not always have to be a scary act in a story. If you have a tribe of people who've practiced it for generations as either a death rite or just a part of their culture, it becomes less frightening. As with many things, it all depends upon context.

I agree. Context rules. However, there are also disturbing accounts of missionaries saying they encountered a tribe of cannibals so that they could then execute said tribe to steal their land. Later archaeological excavations found no traces of cannibalism. It's way more prevalent in fiction than in real life.

Lilith 🎄 Christmas Cheer Author Icon wrote: Oh my... interesting newsletter, very good and some cool links to stories too!

Thank you for the comment and I am glad the stories I linked find your favor.

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