HORROR THROUGH THE HALLOWDAYS ENDS NOW

Well, we have come to the last holiday of our Horror through the hallowdays promotion. After exploring the pagan and occult roots of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, we finally come to the last holiday of the year: New Years.

New Years is probably the oldest holiday. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year, the first recorded history of the celebration, began with the first New Moon. The Roman Empire changed the first day of the year to January 1st with their calender, which many countries adopted. The name January actually comes from Janus, the god of gates, doors and new beginnings.

Making nosie on New Years was originally adopted to scare evil spirits and demons away.

Today, as in ancient Rome, we see New Years as a new beginning, a chance to make up for past mistakes, to get things right. Oh, it's also a time to be with the ones we love.

I've never been big on resolutions. I am an agenda freak and everyday I write down short term agendas (things I need to do that day) and long term agendas (goals I am working towards).

Today is also the last day my novel is free through Amazon. So, if you love horror, please download my book and read it in the dark, with a flashlight, in the wee hours of the night.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thanks for 2013 and here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQ3FFX0

The ultimate noise maker

Images courtesy of "The Black Album"

THREE MORE DAYS OF THE FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY

So, things are back on track with Amazon. My book "THE BLACK ALBUM: A Hollywood Horror Story" is NOW available absolutely FREE until the stroke of midnight on the 31st.

INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS, a free digital book version is available for your kindle, iPad or more, at the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQ3FFX0

Here are some more excerpts from the novel:

"Loveless wanted his heroine to be an anomaly to the horror movie genre formula. He wanted her to have a hard edge. Grace Lynn would be godless."

"Lycanthropy, as in the werewolf disease?" Loveless thought he was hearing things.

"Yes," Jerry lamented. "Painful thing. Picked it up on my travels through Eastern Europe and unintentionally passed it on to my wife years later. Had no idea the damn thing could be transmitted sexually."

Now Loveless had heard it all: the werewolf curse was an STD.

The sheriff's deputy was something right out of a God damn Nicaraguan death squad. 

"I'll leave," the filmmaker found himself blurting out. "I'll leave this mountain right now, tonight and never come back."

The officer spit tobacco on a tree as they passed, "Damn right you're leaving. Only not the way you think." The hick cop actually laughed.

The Demon Jeremy comes for Grace

Images courtesy of "The Black Album"

BOOK GIVEAWAY UPDATE

BOOK GIVEAWAY UPDATE

Due to a glitch in the Amazon set-up, I can't do five days straight through on my free promotion of my book "THE BLACK ALBUM: A HOLLYWOOD HORROR STORY." I have to do two days on, one day off, then three more days back on. So, as of this coming Sunday, the book will be free again all the way through midnight Tuesday night.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQ3FFX0

If that's confusing, this should make it simpler: the new free dates are December 29th, 30th, and the 31st.

Sorry for the confusion.

The Demon Jeremy is salivating at the thought of a free book.

Images courtesy of "The Black Album"

FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY COUNTDOWN

IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT OF GIVING, STARTING TODAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, I AM GIVING AWAY FREE DIGITAL COPIES OF MY NOVEL "THE BLACK ALBUM: A HOLLYWOOD HORROR STORY" THROUGH AMAZON.

JUST GO TO THE LINK BELOW AND ORDER YOUR FREE COPY FOR YOUR KINDLE, IPAD, SMART PHONE, AND MANY MORE TYPES OF DEVICES.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQ3FFX0

DON'T FORGET. BECAUSE WHEN THE COUNTDOWN ENDS AT MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 31ST, THE PROMOTION WILL BE OVER. 

CURL UP BY THE FIRE WITH AN EGGNOG AND MY BOOK AND HAVE YOUR VERY OWN NIGHTMARE FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

AND IF YOU ENJOY MY NOVEL, YOU CAN GIVE BACK BY WRITING A REVIEW ON MY BOOK PAGE AT AMAZON.

THANKS FOR ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT!

Below are a few quotes from the book:

"THE NAMES HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT! Because frankly there are no innocents to protect in this incendiary cautionary tale of either psychological or supernatural happenstance. We all make our graves. We all must lie in them."

"The waitress looked like a grotesque Geisha from hell. The poofed-up bright orange hair clashed brutally with the blood red lipstick. The long hairs sticking out of her nostrils and the cigarette dangling from her lips completed the perfect picture of the last person in the world you would want serving you food. Forty years ago, she was probably a headlining showgirl. Now she was a harpy who waited on bums, an on-the-run filmmaker, and one shock jock journalist."

"Like any good horror story, this one starts with a road trip."

"You can't make a deal with the Devil. He's the father of all lies."

Grace plays the Hell Board.

Images courtesy of "The Black Album"

HORROR THROUGH THE HALLOWDAYS

Horror through the hallowdays continues. This time the subject is Christmas. I grew up like most of you thinking of it as a time of animated cartoons, Christmas carols, egg nog, and presents (I even watched "Jesus Christ Superstar" on Netflix last night).

But my research digs up real horror when we travel back to the origins of the holiday. Horror that even makes my skin crawl.

THE ORIGINS OF CHRIST'S MASS

Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of the day Christ was born. But no one knows when that really was. It is estimated he was born between 7 and 2 BC. But the exact day and month are unknown.

The day December 25th was chosen because it was a pagan holiday called Saturnalia. The church found it was easier to convert pagans if they were allowed to bring their own religious holidays into Christianity. However, there was nothing Christian about Saturnalia. In its earliest incantation, it was a holiday of Roman pagans. On Saturnalia the Roman courts were closed and Roman law dictated that no one could be punished for damaging property or injuring people. It was a day of wide spread intoxication, violence, and rape. I'm reminded of the movie "THE PURGE." Later, Emperor Domitian curbed Saturnalia's subversive tendencies. 

But does it really matter where any holiday comes from? The sentiment is what's important. Not the religion. I like to think of Christmas as a time of peace on earth and good will to man. 

Once this season is over, we'll go back to having sex with our neighbor's wife, cheating people, lying to our friends, and spreading violence across the globe. Hmm, sounds kind of like Saturnalia.

Too bad we can't celebrate the spirit of Christmas everyday.

Merry Xmas!

Images courtesy of "The Black Album"

COMING: more timeline from the movie, excerpts from the book, movie news, lost footage from the movie, and much more horror.

Sincerely,

Carlton Kenneth Holder

REVIEWS FROM READERS

Below are some reviews from readers that appear on the Amazon page where my book is sold. Some of my friends have been getting on my case because they say I don't laud my accomplishments enough. Usually I'm too busy writing.

If you're bored this Holiday Season and feel like curling up by the fireplace with a good scare, read my book, inspired by true events. Thanks so much for all your support.

http://www.amazon.com/THE-BLACK-ALBUM-Hollywood-Horror-ebook/dp/B00DQ3FFX0

Please note that the cover is different for the ebook and the physical paperback.

I just wanted to post these reviews because they put a small on my face. And... tis the season to be jolly (or at least cheerful).

A DISTURBING DELIGHT 

(Five stars)

If you love any and all things creepy, then this is the book for YOU! The narrative is very well-constructed and leaves the reader wondering which parts of the story are true and which parts aren't, although with all the disturbing situations that arise in this novel, perhaps it's best we don't know...

The author writes in a breezy, easy-to-read manner making this novel one you hate to put down! Once you start reading it you won't be able to stop until you're finished!

Definitely recommended, and if you read it you will never visit the Big Bear area again without looking over your shoulder...

I REALLY LIKE THIS ONE 
(Five stars)

Great read... So different I couldn't put it down... I didn't want it to end... Love the characters and the writing was impeccable... Highly recommend.

A SMALL TOWN LEGEND FIT FOR THE BIG SCREEN 
(Five stars)

This was a great read! The author leaves just enough hints about other forces that could be at work to keep you guessing as to what is causing all this turmoil.

HORROR IN BIG BEAR 
(Four stars)

This book is interesting, it held my attention. I looked forward to getting back to it when I had to put it down.

Yeah, it's a good read.

The Demon Jeremy rises.

Images courtesy of "The Black Album"

I"ll be back with more timeline from the making of the movie, insights about the pagan origins of Christmas, excerpts from the novel, and more shenanigans. Oh, and more lost scenes from the movie.

Sincerely,

Carlton Kenneth Holder

POSSESSION SCENE TOO REAL

A filmmaker set out to make a horror film. Strange things happened.

Here is some more lost footage from THE BLACK ALBUM... the scariest film you'll never see.

http://youtu.be/Tovk5zCQFRc

The possession of Grace Lynn

Images courtesy of "THE BLACK ALBUM"

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH

I couldn't let the day go by without wishing everyone a Happy Friday the 13th! To the Jason Voorhees in all of us!

I plan to bring you more lost scenes from the damned movie.

http://youtu.be/4JaCvHxyxxE

Eat up!

Images courtesy of "The Black Album"

VIDEO FROM THE SCARIEST MOVIE YOU'LL NEVER SEE

A filmmaker set out to make a horror film. Strange things happened.

Here is the link to the opening sequence from THE BLACK ALBUM... the scariest movie you'll never see. Is it cursed? You decide.

More scenes to come.

http://youtu.be/4JaCvHxyxxE

Grace plays the Hell Board

Images courtesy of THE BLACK ALBUM

ANOTHER EXCERPT

I'm not going to lie, I've been busy working on my Cold War spy novel every chance I get. Time management is a bitch. 

However, I'm not going to neglect The Black Album.

I can't.

It won't let me.

EXCERPT FROM THE NOVEL

"Are you sure you want to finish the movie?"

Loveless put down the shotgun and closed the gap, resting his hands caressingly on Charlotte's shoulders. He would have to be the strong one here. He would have to lie to her and himself, at least pretend that it was alright. Hell, maybe it even would be. "We see it through, to completion. That's the deal. Right? This is our investment. Our stake. Our future."

"If we're still alive to capitalize on it, J.D." Charlotte looked deeply into the filmmaker's eyes, searching for any signs of uncertainty in them. "I don't want to become an urban legend. I don't want you, me or my daughter to be a cautionary tale they tell around a campfire to scare the hell out of misbehaving children."

"We won't."

"How do you know?"

Loveless opened his mouth, not sure what answer, if any, he had for her, when he was interrupted by Lizzy's disconcerting little girl giggle. "Marshmallows go good with campfires. You know that?" The teenager frowned slightly as she looked deep into the fire. "You just have to be sure not to burn your mouth. And you can't listen when they say things to you. Crackle and pop. Marshmallows always say things to you. They say bad things when they think you're not listening."

The Demon Jeremy rises.

Images courtesy of "The Black Album"

Happy Friday,

Carlton Kenneth Holder

EXCERPT

Continuing with our HORROR THROUGH THE HALLOWDAYS theme, we'll be discussing Christmas in the upcoming weeks. The darker side of ole' Xmas.

But for now, here's an excerpt from the book where, after months apart, J.D. Loveless is trying to find his lost love Charlotte Rae. Hope you enjoy:

"Hello?" Beauregard said groggily, squinting at the cell phone display, trying to make sense of the time. It was 3:37am.

"Where is she?" It was Loveless.

The journalist recognized the voice instantly. He sat up. This review was not quite over.

"Loveless, that you?"

"Where's Charlotte Rae? You said you interviewed her. You have an address on her?"

"Yeah. Hold on a second. Lemme find my notes." The journalist fumbled around for a moment before finding his agenda book. He rattled off the Los Angeles address to the filmmaker. "Are you alright, J.D.?"

"Gotta go. I've got a long drive ahead of me," was all Loveless said. Then he added, "Thanks, Beauregard. Good luck on the radio show."

Beauregard was going to say something, but Loveless had already hung up. The journalist decided that the tenor he had detected in the filmmaker's voice was optimism. He laid back in bed in the dark, phone on his chest. After several minutes, a smile spread across the Freak King's face. Beauregard fell asleep smiling. That night, for once, he didn't have a single nightmare. 

Grace Lynn on the run.

Images courtesy of "The Black Album"