You Love Horror Comedies, You Just Don't Realize It (Saturday the 14th)

 

Don't scoff. You love horror comedies. You do, admit it. Maybe you don't even realize it. Perhaps you don't recognize a horror comedy when you see one. It could be that you haven't found the right fit for your tastes. Could it be you're afraid you might lose your horror cred if you laughed at the macabre. I'm here to tell you, you can admit it: Horror Comedy is great!

Of course dark, brooding, eerie, moody horror is your thing. Nobody is going to take that from you. No need to point your chin up at the occasional funny movie that plays in your sandbox. They can co-exist in blood-soaked harmony. No harm, no foul. Take a break. Have a laugh and then get back to all the brooding and bludgeoning. That's what life is all about.

You already like at least one horror comedy flick. I guarantee it. Almost certainly you've enjoyed Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, a movie that has the best time having fun with all the tropes you love. Then there's What We Do In The Shadows, pairing classic horror movie monsters with the reality television format. There are the mainstream ones that you might not even realize qualify as horror comedy like Gremlins, Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice. The Addams Family and The Munsters, too! Perhaps the modern granddaddy of the horror comedy movies, Shaun of the Dead? Its an out and out lampoon of the tried and true zombie horror movie we've been watching since Romero set the ghouls out to get Barbara.

Speaking of granddaddies, have you heard of one of my favorite horror comedies of all time? Saturday the 14th. It was released way back in 1981 starring Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss and features a young (and still balding) Jeffrey Tambor along with the likes of Stacy Keach and Michael Berryman to name a few.

Saturday the 14th is a spoof of sorts. But, not on the movie named for the day before this flick. This is more of a fun homage to classic Hollywood horror monsters. A typical suburbanite family inherits their dead uncle's house. The house contains an evil book of magic unbeknownst to the family but totally beknownst to the vampire (Tambor) who want to run the family off and get his hands on the book himself. Of course, the son find the book before Dracula. When he opens it up and starts reading the pages inside he sets loose a panteon of movie monsters on the unsuspecting family (and on Dracula Tambor). There's a werewolf and a mummy. There's a creature of a dark lagoon (or in this case, a bathtub.) There's even an exterminator named, you guessed it, Van Helsing, who's hired to get rid of the bats in the attic.

Saturday the 14th shows its age. But, its not a movie that needs its good looks to prevail. This is a movie about having fun with movie monsters. When I first watched this as a kid, there were parts that scared the bejesus out of me but it was the laughs that kept me glued to the TV and got me through it. This is the movie that made me love horror. And yes, its a horror comedy that made me love horror. See, horror comedy is horror.

You're not going to discover this as a kid. But you should still check it out. As of the the release of this blog, you can find Saturday the 14th streaming free on Tubi, Peacock, Roku Channel and Amazon Prime Video. There's no excuse not to check it out.

And if you find you love horror comedy like I do, why not check out my horror comedy books, inspired by movies like Saturday the 14th. You can find them on Amazon, Kindle & Kindle Unlimited. Or you can buy signed paperback copies direct through my web site at frankedler.com. Use the coupon code: BUY3 at checkout to get any three books for $30. 

A Year in Reading 2022

It's time to reflect on my year of reading for 2022.  It has become my annual tradition to spotlight my notable reads for the past year. It's a fun way to reflect on the best material I've had the honor of reading instead of making some inaccurate, ever-changing, or controversial ranked list.

I like to spotlight the books that I connected with most in a given year instead of ranking them. I read twenty six books this year, twelve less than last year. The is a reason for the dramatic decrease in books I read this year. It was my intention to focus on reading longer length books that have been sitting on my shelf this year. I didn't want to find myself reading short books just to reach my Goodreads reading goal so I set the bar lower (25) to afford myself more time to read longer books. And it worked.

The following are the books that have left an impact for one reason or another. They are presented in chronological order as I read throughout the year. I hope you will be inspired to check out any on this list that you haven't and discover those you wouldn't have ever considered.

And now, my most notable reads of 2022:

• Boondock Butcher by Chuck Buda (2021) La Cigolli Press: Chuck Buda's latest horror situated in the rural mountains of Tennessee. This reads like the bastard child of Edward Lee and Richard Laymon. Its gritty, extreme, gore fueled and just backwoods enough to lose a tooth while reading it. This is Chuck Buda's best horror to date. Wash it all down with a sweet tea.

• Talia by Daniel Volpe (2021) Independently Published: Last year, Daniel Volpe made my list with Billy Silver. This year, its Talia, a prequel to Billy Silver and every bit as visceral and disgusting. Maybe even more so. While it is connect to Billy Silver, the story takes on a whole different flavor from its predecessor. This is a tale of revenge wrapped in cringe and filth. Read if you dare.

• The Ballad of TERROR TINY TIM & Other Tales of Unkindness by Douglas Hackle (2022) Independantly Published: If Douglas Hackle writes a book, there's a really good chance you're going to find it on my year end list. Like this, Hackle's supposed last hurrah (though rumors are there maybe one or two more before he hangs it up for good.) This is a collection of odd, absurdist stories as on Douglas Hackle can tell them. These stories are weird but also, smart. Hackle practically dares his readers to see the brilliance of his work hidden in the miasma of silly preposterousness he weaves in words, both coherent and incoherent. Pick up TERROR TINY TIM... if you dare!

• Moonfellows by Danger Slater (2022) Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing:  As with Douglas Hackle, so too will Danger Slater almost certainly appear on my year end list anytime he publishes new work. And such is the case with the uber-moody, MOONFELLOWS. You know that old timey movie where a rocket ship is launced to the moon and then the grainy, choopy image of a man with his face painted like the moon, harrumph's when said rocket pierces him in the eye? And
  
  
  also, you know that similarly toned but more modern, yet still goes for the old-timey asthetic Smashing Pumpkins music video for the song Tonight? Yeah well this story are those two things, but its a Danger Slater book. So unique. Its party alternative history, part fantasy, part absurdist sci-fi, part bizarro, and part literary fiction. In the end, what it is is all good. Read it. For mankind.

• 

  Southern Fried and Horrified by Ronald Kelly (2022) Stygian Sky Media:  I'm nearly embarrassed to admit that this is the first book by Ronald Kelly that I've ever read. That's because this is the non-fictional account of Ronald Kelly's storied writing career from breaking into publishing as just before the industry collapse at the dawn of digital publishing and the comeback he made to once again find himself among horror fiction's elite in a new golden age of dark fiction books. The story is full of the southern charm it promises and is feel good even through the darkest time. You likely won't find another book 'on writing' quite like it. If you were to twist my arm and force me to rank these books, this one would easily be my number one read of 2022. Time for me to read some Ronald Kelly fiction in the coming year! 

• 
  
• Honorable mentions for 2021 include: 

• PARADISE CLUB by Tim Meyer, a book who's path was dictated by his Patreon contributors 
• ZODIAC by Tom Duffy, the debut novel with a wickedly sinister concept. A serial killer is forced out of retirement
• THE TRIANGLE OF BELIEF by Brian Keene, a non-fiction offering by one of horror's greats that connects the dots between belief, faith, maturity and writing. 
• TOLLBOOTH by Bud Smith. Too many people are sleeping on Bud Smith's work. This is the second book that I've read by him and it is exceptional, accessable fiction of the every man. This is what I like to call 'blue-collar fiction.' Do yourself a favor and check it, or anything, by Bud Smith out.

There you have it. Due to the curtailed amount of books I've read overall this year, I've made a comparable amount of notable books to spotlight this year as well. This year, three books of the twenty-six I read earned my elusive 5-star rating.  That's one more five star book with twelve less books read. Quantity went down, quality went up. 

Next year I will endeavor to read at least thirty books. I liked having the time to allow myself to read longer works but I was also a bit frustrated by the really longer books. I'll try to find a happier medium this year. I'm kind of getting frustrated dictating my book journey by reading goals I set for myself on Goodreads. But, its also fun to set those goals. Bottom line, I'm going to keep reading and you should too.

You can check out the complete list of the books I read in 2021 on Goodreads.
You can check out my notable books read from 2021 HERE.

A Year of Reading 2021

 It's time to reflect on my year of reading for 2021.  It has become my annual tradition to spotlight my notable reads for the past year. It's a fun way to reflect on the best material I've had the honor of reading instead of making some inaccurate, ever-changing, or controversial ranked list.

I like to present those books that really stood out to me in the past year. I read thirty-eight books this year, two less than last year. The following are the books that have left an impact for one reason or another. They are presented in chronological order as I read throughout the year. I hope you will be inspired to check out any on this list that you haven't and discover those you wouldn't have ever considered.

And now, my most notable reads of 2021:

• The Writing Life: Reflections, Recollections and a Lot of Cursing by Jeff Strand (2020) Independently Published: I don't usually go for writing fiction but Jeff Strand's book on writing takes a different approach than most. Strand cut his teeth during a changing era and he's had a good degree of success in the digital publishing age. Not only do I admire his work, but also, his work ethic. A must-read for anyone writing and publishing in the digital age.

• Billy Silver by Daniel Volpe (2020) Independently Published: Real. Uncomfortable. Wet. Daniel Volpe exploded onto the extreme horror scene early in 2021 with his viseral book, Billy Silver. Its a gritty, honest tale that presents a protagonist that you have no right rooting for and yet, for some reason, you do. You feel left as disgusting a human being as Billy Silver is in the end. Great ride!

• The Slob by Aron Beauregard (2019) Maggot Press: The Slob is disgusting. This Splatterpunk Award nominated book tells the story of the most depraved, dehumanized serial killer ever. Picture an episode of hoarders but with kidnap victims and the remains of those who came before them. Yeah, that's The Slob. Gross.

• Hogzilla by Mike Baron (2020) Wolfpack Publishing:  Last year, Mike Baron's FLORIDA MAN earned its way onto my notable reads list. This year he has returned with an even stronger follow-up to its predecessor, HOGZILLA. Where Florida Man lacked a narrative direction, Hogzilla is a finely tuned machine of storytelling. All the while, never losing its bat-shit-crazy edge that made the original a sucess.

• 

  
  
  
  Bird Castles by Justin Grimbol (2019) Atlatl Press:  Justin Grimbol has appeared on every notable reads of the year list I've done. He's a fixture. Bird Castles is another charming, poetic, simple and beautiful addition to his pantheon of wonderful poetic prose. I look forward to presenting another Grimbol book on the list next year.

• 

  
  
  
  Zoltergeist the Poltergeist by Douglas Hackle (2021) Independently Published:  Douglas Hackle presents what he claims is the penultimate book of his catalog. Douglas Hackle is is own genre but for my money, Zoltergeist the Poltergeist is my #1 Bizarro Fiction book for 2021 and the only worthy candidate for the Wonderland Book of the Year. Plus, these this thing in a cabinet that's the creepiest fucking thing in a book ever.

• Things Were Easier Before You Became a Giant Fucking Mantis by Matthew A. Clarke (2021) Independently Published:  Had Douglas Hackle not gone and written the most brilliant Bizarro book since Danger Slater's I WILL ROT WITHOUT YOU, Matthew A. Clarke's charming, twisted tale of the trials and tribulations of inter-cryptid-alien-species love would have been my top pick for Bizarro book of the year. As it is, it sits at number two and still earns a privileged place on my list of notable reads for 2021.

• Mother Maggot by Simon McHardy (2020) Potter's Grove Press: To say Mother Maggot has had a complicated publishing history is an understatement. The initial appeal of this book, at first, was simply getting my hands on a copy. Mother Maggot kept getting deplatformed from any distribution platform it was placed on. And yet, it had incredible buzz for being the most disgusting book ever written. Finally I was able to snag a paperback copy before it was removed from the retail market again. What I read became a focal point for how, what and where I consumed my fiction ever since. Mother Maggot brought extreme horror back into province. It was the 'killer app' that field the early success of Godless.com (an extreme horror fiction distribution platform that doesn't give a fuck if you are offended.) Mother Maggot also gets my nod for Cover of the Year. Look at that bad-ass thang!

Honorable mentions for 2021 include: 

• EVIL BIGFOOT MONSTER by FF Monsoon, a book that figures into Jeff Strand's THE WRITING LIFE. 
• WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, Max Booth III's book turned big screen movie about a dysfunctional family trapped in a bathroom after a tornado strikes.
• THIS IS A HORROR BOOK, Charles Austin Muir's short story collection that packs a whallop.
• THE DEMON, THE DUMBWAITER AND THE DOUCHBAG, newcomer Sal Cangemi's bizarro tale of an apartment building tormented by a fuzzy demon. Its a Troma movie told in words not celluloid.

This year, only two books of the thirty-eight I read earned my elusive 5-star rating.  I hope I'm not becoming too much of a curmedgion in my old age. This year, I found the books I reached for were different than years prior. A new crop of extreme horror has made a lot of people take notice, myself included. A new distribution platform, Godless.com, has fueled a lot of that attention. Godless is a disruptive force and so far has proven to be a game changer for a lot of readers. Much of what is offered on Godless is very short and inexpensive fiction, much of which I deemed too short to quantify as a read on Goodreads. I may have to do a separate list for the short Godless stuff next year because it still deserves attention and recognition.

You can check out the complete list of the books I read in 2021 on Goodreads.
You can check out my notable books read from 2020 HERE.

Death Packs and Demon Deals

 Need a book haul in your mailbox? I've got a deal for you! 

Now through October 31st you can order signed books direct from me. You can choose from three packs: The Death Pack, The Demon Deal or The Short Stack. Each dynamic deal comes with bookmarks and stickers and shipping is included in the price.

All books are personalized to order. Payment is accepted through Paypal, Cashapp or Venmo. 

1 Set: $25

2 Sets: $45 (save $5)

3 sets: $60 (save $15)

Email frankjedler @ gmail dot com with "Book Haul" in the subject line. Indicate which set(s) you are interested in purchasing, personalization preferences, and preferred payment format to complete your order.

Try on Uncomfortable Shorts

 

Uncomfortable Shorts is a collection of eight irreverent, irregular and irrational short stories. Try on these ill fitting tales that squeeze into horror, cosmic, comic and corny niches.

One size fits none. No refunds. No exchanges. No exceptions.

Pork Roll, Egg & Sleaze: A group of urban explorers find themselves on an adventure that turns into a horror movie.
My Date with the (Non)Word, Ans: An unlikely relationship with an autocorrected word.
Eat Sh*t and Die: An over-the-top tale of cosmic horror in a quiet New England town.
You Can Catch More Flies with Honey: There's more than one way to catch a fly. But which way is best?
There's a Frenchman in My Mayonnaise: A quirky tale of a hangry man who's attempt to make a sandwich sidetracks his entire life.
Conrad Lubbox is Out To Get Me You Stupid Idiot: You sure have a lot of questions about why I let Conrad Lubbox's dog outside.
Dick Sick: Preston isn't feeling well. He's sneezing, coughing and pooping penises out of every orifice.
Inflate: A Zen yogi leads the way to Nirvana (and not the Kurt Cobain kind.)

Uncomfortable Shorts is available now in paperback from Amazon.


The digital Uncomfortable Shorts eBook is available for only 69 cents exclusively through Godless dot com in your preferred file format. (.pdf .mobi & .epub)

Get Right with Godless

I have re-edited and re-released my first publication, SCARED SILLY, exclusively on Godless.com for just 89 cents.

If you're not aware of what Godless.com is, allow me to give you the pitch. Are you a fan of horror books? You need to get right with Godless. Do you wish you could support great indie horror writers but wish you could circumnavigate the Amazon juggernaut? You need to get right with Godless. Do you crave a community that is rabid for great, boundary pushing, over-the-top, and imaginative horror fiction? You need to get right with Godless. Would you be interested in making your horror fandom a multi-media experience? You need to get right with Godless!

I've moved SCARED SILLY off of the Amazon platform in favor of allowing it to be sold as an eBook exclusive through Godless.com. Its a great move for me, the writer as I receive a far higher royalty while being able to offer the book at a price lower than Amazon would ever allow. Getting your reading material through Godless is a pretty painless experience. When you purchase any eBook from Godless you get access to the .mobi, .epub and .pdf versions of the book so you can read them on your preferred eReader platform.

What's more, having SCARED SILLY available to Godless Horror let's myself and my work become party of an already robust and growing uber-focused community. People who are already reading Godless books are devouring them and loving them. And they are taking to social media and talking about these books like never before. Godless is an infection of passion for those who consume it.

I consume Godless books as much as I love distributing my own off the platform. I've discovered a ton of great new writers like Daniel Volpe, Simon McHardy, Aron Beauregard, BJ Swan and many others. I've grabbed up great, obscure releases from established writers like Armand Rosamilia and Jay Wilburn. 

Godless.com is a festival of horror fiction. I hope if you haven't already got right with Godless that you'll go to Godless.com and start up an account today. There are already lots of freebies and many, many books for less than 99 cents. 

Just like SCARED SILLY which is only 89 cents, now and forever, at Godless.com

3 Picks with Hunter Shea

 

It's time for 3 Picks! This week features a monster of a writer, Hunter Shea. Hunter Shea is the author of a library worth of books including Creature, The Montauk Monster and The Dover Demon to name a few. 

Up and down and all points in between, Hunter loves to write books about monsters. From his take on classic monsters to his vison of cryptids and on through unexpected monsters. Hunter knows monsters. So it's with that in mind that Hunter has been tasked to come up with 3 Picks of his favorite books featuring monsters.

When you have a passion for monsters, its difficult to whittle it down to just 3 choices but Hunter persevered. Here are his 3 Picks:

Pick 1: Night of the Crabs by Guy N. Smith - Covid-19 might have taken Guy N. Smith from us, but he left behind a hefty library of pulp horror (and softcore porn!) books to enjoy for generations to come. His giant killer crabs series is flat out fun. The man is a legend and his crab novels and short stories are the kind of glue that holds the genre together, along with a dash of bay seasoning. I can't recommend them enough...dipped in clarified butter.


Picks 2: The Ruins by Scott Smith - I grew up an enormous fan of Day of the Triffids, and I honestly thought I was never going to read or see another killer plant concept that could top it. Until The Ruins came to town. Many people smarter than me say The Ruins is one of the best horror novels of the past 20 years, if not all time. The movie kicks some serious chlorophyll, too. The human mimicking, carnivorous vines are some of the most terrifying monsters I've ever come across. Fuck lizard brain. Plant insanity knows no bounds!


Picks 3: The Bog by Michael Talbot - I just discovered this little gem from the 80s last year. Talbot only wrote a few horror novels before his passing, which is a huge loss for us fans. I've always been fascinated by archaeology (I plant to do it full time when I retire), and bog people rank up there with the top things I'd like to explore firsthand. In The Bog, an archaeologist moves his family to a strange old estate to spend a year pulling up and studying preserved bodies from a nearby bog. That would be enough for me, but there's also a creature out skulking around the bogs that has been terrifying - and eating - people for centuries. I don't know, something about this book got to me, and my heart beat just a little bit faster whenever the prey - I mean people - entered the bogs.

There you have it! 3 monstrous picks of monster books more classic than a Universal Monster. Is that even possible? You've gotta trust Hunter Shea on this one. He ain't the Monster Man for nothing.


You can find out everything there is to know about Hunter Shea and his work at HunterShea.com

3 Picks with Kenneth W. Cain

 

It's time for 3 Picks! The feature where a spotlight author shares their three book recommendations within a given category that they should know a thing or two about.


This week's 3 Picks features author and editor, Kenneth W. Cain. Kenneth is known books such as the dark fiction collection, Embers, best seller A Season in Hell as well as his forthcoming title, From Death Reborn.


Kenneth Cain also does tons of editing work for noted horror publishers Crystal Lake Publishing and Silver Shamrock Publishing among others as well. Kenneth knows a thing or two about story collections and anthologies. So, it is with that in mind that we turn to Kenneth Cain for his 3 Picks for Horror Anthologies worth their weight in gold.

Here's his 3 Picks:




Pick 1: After by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling - This anthology has a wide range of stories, many of which really hit the right tone and feel for what I like in horror, including some fun takes on well-used themes. “After the Cure” by Carrie Ryan was most excellent.


Pick 2: Chiral Mad 2 by Michael Bailey - If you know me, I’m quite fond of charity, and Bailey has worked hard to put out some incredible anthologies for a great cause. This one is chock-full of great stories by some of the best in the business, as are all of his anthologies. “The Great Pity” by Gary Braunbeck blew me away.


Pick 3: 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill - I’m a huge Joe Hill fan, and not because of who is father is. This collection contains one of my favorite stories, “Pop Art.” There’s a lot of subtext in that story, and some great lessons in how to write a good story. So many excellent stories.


Honorable mention (and only because I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet, despite having read many of the individual stories): The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu. I stumbled upon one of Ken’s stories on a podcast I listen to, and it blew me away. So naturally I sought out his work, and I found a literal treasure trove of amazing stories. So, while I wouldn’t classify his work as being full-on horror, it has a quiet dark side to much of it I feel would qualify it as dark fantasy, which is good enough for me. “Paper Menagerie,” which has a paranormal aspect to it, is a favorite that I’ve read over and over.

There you have it, a treasure trove of horror anthologies that pack a lot of punch. Kenneth W. Cain has poured over many horror anthologies so he know's a good one when he reads one. Be sure to check these titles out when you need a fix of horror shorts.

What are your 3 Picks for must read horror anthologies? Let us know in the comments below!

To find out more about writer and editor Kenneth W. Cain visit kennethwcain.com

3 Picks with Todd Keisling

 

It's time for 3 Picks! This week features Stoker Award Nominee, Todd Keisling. Todd's novel, Devil's Creek, is nominated for Superior Achievement in a Novel for the 2020 Bram Stoker Awards. Ugly Little Things: Collected Horrors and The Smile Factory are also among the notable catalog of work Todd Keisling has written. 

Devil's Creek has consistently been well reviewed since it's release. Being nominated for the Stoker Award is an outstanding achievement that speaks to exemplary work Keisling has written. To win the highest honor for a horror novel would be the icing on the cake. But, being on the final ballot for the Stoker Award is an insane achievement in and of itself. Any piece of horror that makes it the the final list has already won something special. Let's not forget those special works that fell just short of winning an award but succeeding in being recognized as superior work and the cream of the crop.

So it is with that in mind, that Todd Keisling gives his 3 Picks for horror books that made it to the final list but fell short of winning the Stoker. Just because they didn't win doesn't mean they aren't winners.


Pick 1: CROSSROADS by Laurel Hightower – Preliminary Ballot for Long Fiction (2020)

I’m going to cheat with this one. It didn’t make it to the final ballot (and official nominee status), but goddammit, it should have. What Hightower accomplishes in this novella is something most of us struggle to do in a full-length novel. The story of a mother grieving the loss of her son is already emotionally charged, but Hightower ups the ante with every page, telling a tale of how far a parent is willing to go to see their child again. The emotional fallout is devastating. The best stories often are.


Pick 2: KILL CREEK by Scott Thomas – Nominated for First Novel (2017)

One of the better “haunted house” tales I’ve read. It’s a new take on an old trope: a small group of horror writers gather on Halloween at the Finch House, a place with a bloody past, for a publicity stunt. Strange shit ensues, and quickly escalates to violence. I went into the book expecting another rehash of Amityville or Hill House, but this one surprised me, and I had a blast reading it. This would’ve been my pick for Best First Novel that year.


Pick 3: OCCULTATION by Laird Barron – Nominated for Fiction Collection (2010)

One of the de facto collections of modern cosmic horror (although to be fair, all of Laird’s collections deserve that moniker). Nine stories, including the fantastic novella, “Mysterium Tremendum.” I’ve said this for years and will continue to do so: I want to write like Laird Barron when I grow up. If you want an education about the state of cosmic horror, start here. Definitely would’ve been my pick for Best Collection.

There you have it. 3 Picks for horror books that could have, maybe even should have, won the Bram Stoker Award. But, not everyone can win and not winning doesn't make these gems and so many others winners in their own right. If you haven't read any of these titles you, be sure to check them out knowing you will be reading stand out works of horror fiction.

And, whether Devil's Creek wins or doesn't at this year's Bram Stoker Awards ceremonies, know for certain that Todd Keisling has already won. Best of luck to Todd and all the rest of the nominees for this year's Bram Stoker Awards!

You can find out everything you ever wanted to know about Todd Keisling at https://www.toddkeisling.com/

What are your 3 Picks for horror books that fell short of winning the Bram Stoker Award? Let us know in the comments below.

Mr. Frank's Avalanche of Audio

 I've got three announcements of an aural nature. Excited? I knew you would be. 

(Hey! Let a guy dream.)

First and foremost, DEATH GETS A BOOK is now an audiobook available on Audible. I decided it was time to get some of my work out there in audiobook format. I didn't expect the task of finding the right narrator for the job as daunting as it turned out to be. The process made me realize how much I value my work and when placing into the hands of someone else to care for, I wanted to be sure I had the exact right voice for the job. 

Well, I failed at that. What happened was I connected with a voice talent that exceeded my expectations. Ron Gabaldon, the narrator for DEATH GETS A BOOK audiobook, owned the story. He didn't just read the story, he owned the story. I don't hear him narrating the book so much as performing the story. DEATH GETS A BOOK is a vocal performance, entertaining from the first word to the last.

If you are an active audiobook listener, you need to check DEATH GETS A BOOK out. I'm confidant you'll be whisked away to the land of Grim Reapers I've created and Ron Gabaldon has brought to life. 

*(A special offer to those who read this blog: The first 5 interested parties to email me (frankjedler at gmail) will receive a free download code (US and UK) for DEATH GETS A BOOK at Audible.com)

The other two audio presentations I have for you are recent podcast appearances.

First, I found this great new horror focused podcast called The Horror Frequency whose host, Anthony, is a young, curious talent who produces a fun sounding show. You can check out my appearance on The Horror Frequency on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Radio Public and more. We talk about A DEATH IN TOLEDO, creepy places in New Jersey, unlikely books two horror guys are into and great kaiju movies.

And last, but not least, I made my triumphant return to Arm Cast, Dead Sexy Podcast. I have a fun conversation with Armand Rosamilia about why it was time to write a new Death book, adventures in marketing, what I'm doing to sell books in the pandemic era and I even coax a "Nice" out of Armand which is essential to claiming a great appearance on the show. 

There it is. More audio pleasures than you can shake a stick at. And, I don't know about you, but I can shake a stick at quite a bit of audio pleasure. Happy listening!

A

3 Picks with Somer Canon

 

Its time for 3 Picks! This week with author and podcaster Somer Canon. Somer is the author of uniquely twisted books like Vicki Beautiful and The Hag Witch of Tripp Creek. Her most recent release from Silver Shamrock Press, Slaves to Gravity, co-written with Wesley Southard has been getting a lot of great buzz.

In addition to writing, Somer also enjoys podcasting. She is part of the round-table writing discussion podcast, The Ghost Writers Podcast (also featuring Mary SanGiovani, Matt Wildasen and Dave Thomas.) And Somer also hosts her own podcast called A Case for Classics in which she spotlights classic literature and tries to convince the listeners that the books aren't boring drivel to waste time in lit class but bona fide, accessible stories worth reading.

It is with that in mind that Somer shares her 3 Picks for must read Classic Fiction. They are all worth checking out. Somer should know, here's her case for the classics.

My picks for must-read Classics:  Since "classics" can be a very broad term including works published in the last decade, I'm going to make my list consist of "antique" classics, a.k.a. old books written by people who are now dead!

Pick 1: Dante's Inferno.  The Inferno is part one of a three part piece called The Divine Comedy and while I certainly wouldn't chase someone away from reading the entire work, The Inferno is my personal favorite part.  This story contains absolutely breathtaking imagery of Hell as well as a healthy dose of fourteenth century Italian pettiness.  Also be on the lookout for one of classical literature's best fart jokes.

Pick 2.   Beowulf--particularly the Seamus Heaney translation.  This is an important work in  Western Literature but it is important to know that it is a foundational work in modern Fantasy.  J.R.R. Tolkien was OBSESSED with Beowulf.  It has all the hallmarks of a great Adventure/Fantasy book including monsters and excessive bragging.  If you don't personally think Beowulf is great, don't worry.  His high opinion of himself surpasses any criticism from us low-lives.  

Pick 3. The Odyssey.  I had a Latin teacher in college who said that if she were stranded on a deserted island, as long as she had a copy of The Odyssey and a fresh water source, she'd be perfectly happy.  I might need a McDonald's on top of that, but I sort of agree.  This is a book that blesses its audience with new details and surprises on subsequent reads.  It has a relatable, but flawed hero as the main character and I've always loved the underlying plot of the Greek gods being passive aggressive with each other by both helping and sabotaging Odysseus on his journey home.  

Great picks from Somer Canon! I'm sure many of us were subjected to several, if not all, of these titles in our school years. They are all classics for a reason and that reason is they are great stories that appeal to humans of any age and any time. Check them out if you haven't already.

What 3 picks do you have for The Classics? Let us know in the comments!

You can check out all things Somer Canon by visiting https://www.somercanon.com/

3 Picks with Chuck Buda

 

This week's 3 Picks are presented by author Chuck Buda. Chuck is known for his extreme dark horror series The Debt Collector and Gushers. But Chuck Buda is probably better known for his dark horror westerns, The Haunted Gunslinger series.

Chuck Buda's Haunted Gunslinger books have put a good deal of attention on him lately with a resurgence of interest in the genre, particularly with crossover style westerns. Since this is a genre on the rise once again, many people might not know where to start, even if they have an interest in exploring the books that are out there.

With that in mind, Chuck Buda is here to share 3 reasons he loves Westerns and 3 Picks for entry reading into the Western genre. 

What genre packs action, adventure, romance, suspense, thrills, humor and just about everything else into it? That is right. Westerns!

I love reading western yarns for 3 major reasons:

1) See the opening statement above.

2) Most western tales are told through series which I find most entertaining (or serials as we old-timers like to characterize them – just like the serials we watched on television as we grew up)

3) Nostalgia for simpler times when life was real and not doctored by technology or social media.

While the choices are vast, a few of my recent favorite authors and books are listed below. I highly recommend starting here if you wish to dip your boots into the dusty trails of westerns!



Pick 1: Lane R. Warenski – Grizzly Killer: The Making of a Mountain Man

Grizzly Killer is an epic saga of one man’s journey against bad guys and the hostility of nature. Strong characterization and expansive settings are the hallmark of this tale. Not necessarily a shoot ‘em up style of western but it frames up the importance of survival during the same period. Unforgettable!


Pick 2: Peter Brandvold - .45 Caliber Series

.45 Caliber reads like a hot bullet screaming toward its victim. Blood. Grit. Action. Just the right amount of good versus bad with lots of twists and gobs of shooting. Every facet of the West going wild within these pages. Read with your inhaler. Great fun!


Pick 3: Ron Schwab – Deal with the Devil (The Law Wranglers Series)

Deal with the Devil is like Law & Order set in the Old West. Lawmen and lawyers duking it out on the frontier, shaping the boundaries of the wild expanses. And still, there is time for love and sex and plenty of drama between characters. The pages turn quickly as you hurry to find out who does what to whom. Suspenseful!

Of course, you cannot go wrong with the classics by Louis L’Amour or Zane Grey, either.


If you are looking for some new ideas for escapism, pick up a Western and tell the author Uncle Cholly sent you! You will not be disappointed.

You can find out more about Chuck Buda at his website: authorchuckbuda.com

3 Picks with Tim Meyer

 

This week, 3 Picks features the horror author Tim Meyer. Tim is known for his gripping horror books like The Switch House and Limbs. He recently release Wormwood with fellow author Chad Lutzke and new release from Grindhouse Press (releases Feb. 5th, 2021) Paradise Club.

I'm Frank J. Edler, author of various horror comedies and voracious reader. Who didn't grow up in the 90s and not read R.L. Stein's Goosebumps series of YA Horror. There's a good chance Tim Meyer may have grew up to become a world-class romance writer had it not been for classic Goosebumps books. No doubt, Tim is still influenced by those books so I asked Tim what his 3 Picks are for adult horror with Goosebumps appeal.

Here's his 3 Picks:

Pick 1: Dream Woods by Patrick Lacey - I think I called this "a Goosebumps book on blue meth" (or something like that) when it first came out. It's about a sinister amusement park. That's all I'll say except go read it. Paired with: One Day at HorrorLand or Horror at Camp Jellyjam

Pick 2: The Worm and His Kings by Hailey Piper - Read this a few months ago and was blown away. It has a much grittier feel than anything R.L. Stine ever wrote, but wow...what a story. More adjacent to vintage Barker, but this one will definitely satisfy fans of those creature-feature Goosebumps tales. Also for fans of taloned monsters. Paired with: The Beast from the East and Calling All Creeps! 

Pick 3: The Handyman by Bentley Little - I feel Bentley Little's entire bibliography is a natural progression for any old-school Goosebumps fan, but this is one of those stories that took me by surprise. For fans of the more Twilight Zone-type Goosebumps titles. Paired with: Let's Get Invisible! and Piano Lessons Can Be Murder

Those are some great Picks Tim! Lots of people are talking about the Lacey and Piper books and Bentley Little is, well, Bentley Little. I haven't read any of these titles and I will be adding them to my enormous TBR pile.

You can find out more about Tim Meyer at: https://timmeyerwrites.com    

What are your picks for adult Goosebumps style horror books? How about your favorite classic Goosebumps title? Let us know in the comments!

SHOCKER Free-4-All

SHOCKER (book 1 of the Shocker Trilogy) is FREE on Kindle eBook now through December 31st, 2020.

SHOCKER is the horror humor story of a prisoner, a religious idol, monsters and mayhem. 

Vito "The Shocker" Shocketti has been locked away in Rahway State Penitentiary for twenty years of his life sentence. In that time not one cellmate has endured being quartered with him for very long. That all changes when a young kid, Manny "Dirty" Sanchez, gets put with The Shocker. 

A star struck Manny begs "The Shocker" to tell him his legendary story of crime and murder. Vito decides to unload on the kid, who becomes more and more engrossed in The Shocker's tales of living life on the edge in the seedy heavy metal club scene in 1980's New Jersey.

Here's what people have said about SHOCKER:

"Oh my gawd!" -a Goodreads reviewer

"Pure, family-friendly fun." -some guy named Nick

"I will rot in purgatory but this story was so hilarious (to me) in all the right ways that telling of murder can be." -an Amazon reviewer

"Cool cover, too bad I don't read." -some dude at a horror convention, he may have been wearing a Phish shirt

Bottom line, pick up Shocker now for free or Baby Jesus will be very disappointed in you.