Blood, Boobs and Carnage Blogfest

Alex J. Cavanaugh and Heather Gardner are hosting a blogfest today, yay! And it's possibly the best title I've ever heard of . . . the Blood, Boobs and Carnage Blogfest. So if you haven't already signed up to participate, just click here and share your favorite movie, TV show and/or book that falls into the blood, boobs and carnage category.

Call me crazy, but some of my all time favorite books, shows and movies fit perfectly into this genre. It's going to be a challenge for me to pick just one of each, but I think I've narrowed it down to the best of the best.

Starting with one of the best shows on TV, Strike Back. A co-collaboration between the British Sky1 channel and America's Cinemax, it's an action-packed series following Section 20 agent Michael Stonebridge and ex-Delta force member Damian Scott as they hunt down the world's most dangerous terrorists. Between the many bombings, gunfights, and hand-to-hand combat scenes, the show does not lack for blood and carnage. And I doubt there's a single episode where you don't see Damian Scott (aka. actor Sullivan Stapelton) and his many conquests going at it in various states of undress. In fact, we see Stapleton's ass so many times I read he banned his mother from watching the show. If you haven't seen it, I recommend you get started NOW. You will not be disappointed.

For my movie entrant, I had a terribly hard time whittling my list down. I mean, just about any vampire movie would have worked (Underworld 2 immediately springs to mind), and of course there's the very blood and boob-a-licious Sucker Punch, Catwoman, Species . . . the list goes on and on. But in the end I decided to go with movies based on the work of Frank Miller, most notably Sin City and The 300. Lots of carnage and sex appeal in those films!

And last but not least, books. I thought long and hard about which book to post about, and briefly considered mentioning the Game of Thrones series. But since just about everyone has at least heard of them (and I suspect many of you will mention them during today's blogfest), I decided to go for something a little different. Instead I want to feature a book I fell in love with when I was probably much too young to read it, Anne Rice's The Witching Hour. Most people are familiar with her Vampire Chronicles, but I think her witch series is actually much more interesting. It chronicles the lives of the Mayfairs, a family of witches with a dark past, a penchant for incest, and a spirit with malevolent intent haunting their bloodline. This series definitely gets checks in the blood, boobs and carnage categories!

And there you have it, my favorite examples of blood, boobs and carnage. I can't wait to check out what books, movies and TV shows everyone else picks for today's fantastic blogfest! 

Survive and Thrive Bloghop

Today I am participating in a very special blog fest hosted by Stephen Tremp, L. Diane Wolfe, Michael Di Gesu and Alex J. Cavanaugh. Thank you guys so much for hosting this amazing event. 

The Survive and Thrive Bloghop is aimed at bringing awareness to disease prevention and early detection for medical conditions that could be avoided with the proper care. This is something I've always felt very strongly about, as a little awareness, a few check ups and screenings can save countless lives. So join us today and help spread the word!

I have a few things I'd like to bring up today, both related to one of the leading causes of death in the United States -- cancer. My maternal grandmother died of melanoma when she was only in her early 30's and my paternal grandfather died of pancreatic cancer when I was a little girl. How many countless others of you have also lost friends and family members to this deadly disease? I implore everyone out there to do a little research into their family history, as genetics do play a role. Knowing what diseases your relatives have battled can give you a better idea what you might face, and what you should screen for. My grandmother (and several other more distant relatives) have died from skin cancer, therefor I need to take special notice of any discolored skin or moles. 

But don't stop with your family history. Until my mother found out that she had breast cancer, there wasn't one other relative in my family tree that showed any signs of it. And yet, when she went in for her yearly check up, her doctor noticed a lump and did a biopsy that showed Stage 1 breast cancer. Getting checked out once a year saved my mother's life, and it could save yours too.

There are also tests now that can check for genetic risk factors in regards to cancer. For example, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 tests can help women determine the likelihood of breast or ovarian cancer. This might be a good test for anyone out there who doesn't know enough about their family history to determine whether they might be at risk. 

So please, take the time to do your homework and get tested, even if it's just once a year. You never know what might be the difference between Stage 1 (treatable) and Stage 4!

Underrated Treasures Blogfest

Have you ever watched a movie or read a book that you simply loved, but no one else has ever heard of? Well, today Alex J. Cavanaugh is hosting a the Underrated Treasures Bloghop to help get the word out! So if you haven't already, sign up and tell us about your favorite book, movie, TV show or band that no one has ever heard of.

Gosford Park

With all the fans of Downton Abbey out there, I would assume that Gosford Park would have reached greater notoriety. After all, it shares a similar premise, time period, and even the phenomenal Maggie Smith. But for all my love of this spectacular movie, few of my friends and acquaintances have ever heard of it, let alone seen it. If you like whodunnit films starring British all-star casts, this is a must not miss.

The Man in the High Castle

My second book entrant (I couldn't limit myself to just one) is by a similarly well known author, Philip K. Dick. Most often associated with Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (aka. Blade Runner), Minority Report and Total Recall, people rarely read the lesser known The Man in the High Castle. However, it's definitely a work worth reading. In fact, it was recently optioned by Amazon Studios and a TV series is currently in the works. If your a sci fi or alternative history fan, check this read out. 

Taken

This may not count as a TV show, but I've been a big fan of the Sci-Fi Channel mini series Taken since it first aired in 2002. It takes place over the span of five decades with interwoven plots all surrounding alien encounters. It's phenomenally well written and features a terrific cast, including a very young Dakota Fanning and Anton Yelchin. 

Well, those are just a few of my underrated treasures. What about you? Any books, movies, or TV shows I've never heard of that you'd recommend? 

A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal

The end of March is nearly upon us, and the Blogging from A to Z Challenge is drawing nearer. Which means that it's time to reveal this year's A to Z theme! And what better way to do that than join in a terrific blogfest. Check out host Vidya Sury's blog to see all the other participants. 

I've participated in the A to Z Challenge for the past two years, and had a blast both times. The first year my theme was Science Fiction and I discussed everything from Androids to Time Travel. Last year I focused on Character Types and Tropes, which was a lot of work (blogging about five different examples for each category). 

So what was I to focus on this year? I thought up several different ideas, many of which I'm holding onto for years to come. But this year there was one topic that just sounded too interesting to pass up. And the theme is . . . 

Fairy Tales!

I'm really excited about this one, and can't wait for April 1st so we can get started. I've already got half my blogs complete and hope to have the rest (or as many as I can) finished before the challenge begins. 

What about you? Anyone have an awesome topic they're excited to reveal? 

Oh How I Miss You Blogfest

Late to the party on this one. Sorry guys. It's been a heck of a week, with a family member that took a bad spill and a friend who gave birth to a little girl a full two months early, I've neglected my blogging. Neglected it greatly, as I missed an IWSG post (my first since I joined the group). So I guess, belatedly, my insecurity for this month is the struggle between life and blogging. But here goes trying to make up for missing this one . . . 

But I made it just it time for the Oh How I Miss You Blogfest. Hosted by Andrew Leon, Alex J. Cavanaugh and Matthew MacNish, this bloghop is to honor the bloggers we really miss, and the ones we would miss if the worst happened and they ceased to grace us with their blogging presence. 

Fortunately for me, few of the bloggers I follow have stopped blogging, so my list here is short. The first would be my good friend Julie at From Pen to Paper. (By the way, she also happens to be the friend of mine that gave birth to a beautiful baby girl that I previously mentioned). Julie's funny and encourage, sharing her journey as a writer in a way that makes me laugh like a lunatic. I miss her posts, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll start up again once she's adjusted to life as a mom. 

The other blogger I miss a lot is Sophie Blackall at Missed Connections. Her artistic representations of posts from the Missed Connections section of the newspaper are breathtaking. Fortunately for me, she put a book together of her illustrations, so I can still look at them whenever I need a little beauty in my life. But I sure wish she posted new ones on her blog these days. 

As for the bloggers I'd miss the most if they stopped posting, that's a tough one. There are so many I count on each week, and so many I'd hate to lose. The Ninja Captain himself (aka. Alex J. Cavanaugh) would be a great and terrible loss. He's both encouraging and entertaining, and usually my first stop on the blog-o-sphere. And of course Mina Burrows, who shares my love of classic literature, vampires, and all related television shows. Her blog is one of my absolute favorites!

And last but not least would be a collection of bloggers - the bloggers that make up the Insecure Writers Support Group. Their posts get me through a lot of rough days when I feel like the publication world is against me and I'll never make it as an author. They are wonderful, and without them the blogging world would be a darker place. 

Norse Gods Blogfest

I have to admit while I've long studied Greek and Roman mythologies, it's only recently that I've become interested in that of the Scandinavian (or Norse) descent. It's an interest sprung from my love of Marvel's Thor (comic books and movie) and my father's recent interest in Vikings culture. But when I saw that there would be a Norse Gods Blogfest hosted by Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh to celebrate the release of Secrets of the Ash Tree by blogger Siv Maria Ottem, I wanted to get in on the action. 

I figured that most people would choose to talk about Thor or Loki, the two most popular Norse gods, so instead I thought I'd write about Baldr, the god of light, joy, beauty and innocence. The son of Odin and Frigg, he was the brother of Loki, and much beloved. When Baldr had a dream about his own death, his mother asked every creature to take an oath not to harm him. Every creature apart from mistletoe that is, whom she'd thought too small and weak to cause him harm. Thinking him invincible, the gods then gathered to celebrate by throwing darts and spears at him, knowing he could not be harmed. 

When jealous Loki heard of this, he travelled into the woods and retrieved a branch of mistletoe. Returning to the festivities and gave the branch to Baldr's blind brother Hod, who was not participating in the game because he couldn't aim. Loki offered to help guide Hod's hand, and together they threw the spear at Baldr, who died instantly. 

It was a tragic death, taking from the world the god of light and joy, as well as leading to the death of Hod as punishment for unknowingly killing his brother. I've always thought it a sad tale, and one that stayed with me for years. 

I hope you enjoyed the tale of Baldr, Hod and Loki. What are your favorite Norse gods? And don't forget to check out my Halloween Howl-Fest!

The Best and Worst Movie Remakes Blogfest

It's Friday and the perfect time for (yet another) blogfest! Brought to you by Stephen Tremp, Livia Peterson, Al Diaz and Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh, today I'm partaking in the Best and Worst Movie Remakes Blogfest. Click here if you'd like to sign up. 

When Hollywood runs out of ideas (which seems to be all the time these days) they remake older films in order to capitalize on past ideas. For the record, there are so many remakes that I had to set some parameters for my list. They are as follows:

- No reboots. This is an entire different category. One I'm considering for another post. 

- I'm excluding bad remakes of movies I didn't really like in the first place (aka. Arthur). My list is made entirely of bad movies remade into good ones, or amazing movies remade into crappy ones. 

- No remakes of movies that were based on books (aka. The Great Gatsby). These are simply different interpretations of the same original text. 
- To keep things short, I've decided to only list my Top 5 favorite remakes for each category.

Okay, so those are the rules. Now let's get to the movies. Here is the list of what I consider the BEST and the WORST Hollywood film remakes . . .

The Good:

> The Italian Job (2010) – It was an average movie with awesome cars in the 60's. The remake stole the premise (and the Mini's) and made it better. 
> Ocean's 11 (2001) – See above. 

> Red Dawn (2012) – I liked the original and the remake of this one. 

> The A Team (2010) – I was a bit young for the original series, though I enjoyed the re-runs, but I thought the film (and the all-A's team of Neeson, Cooper, Jackson and Copley) was a terrific update of TV classic. 

> King Kong (2005) – I've always been a fan or classic monster films like King King, and I thought Jackson's adaptation did a fair job. 

The Bad:

> The Karate Kid (2010) – I hate when they adapt childhood classics. It almost never ends well. As in this case. 

> Manchurian Candidate (2004) – It wasn't the worst movie in the world. Mostly, I just it was kind of forgettable. 

> The Omen (2006) – There were some parts of this version of The Omen that I enjoyed, but in general it lacked the creep factor of the original. Only remake it if you can make it scarier. 

> Fame (2009) – It lacked the "hot lunch" scene. That bothered me. 

> Poseidon (2006) – Again, it wasn't awful. It just wasn't worthy of its large budget if it wasn't going to improve on the original. 

And The Really, Really Ugly:

> The Stepford Wives (2004) – Why? Why would you take a creeptastic film like The Stepford Wives and remake it into something campy and ridiculous? 
> Dark Shadows (2012) – See above. 
> Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (2005) – For the love of God, STOP REMAKING CHILDHOOD CLASSICS. They're classics for a reason and do not need remaking. Ever. 

> Wicker Man (2006) – It's so bad it's amazing. Best bad movie I've ever seen. But as a remake, utterly abizmal. 

> Bewitched (2005) – It seems to me that Nicole Kidman just shouldn't remake movies. 

There you have it. My list of the best and worst Hollywood film remakes. And a few upcoming remakes. We'll see which list they wind up making. I hope to God they don't ruin some of my favorite movies. 

 > Lone Ranger

> Carrie 
> Robocop
> Dirty Dancing 
> Drop Dead Fred 
> Starship Troopers
> The Neverending Story 
> Time Bandits
> The Birds
> The Creature from the Black Lagoon 
> Highlander
> Lethal Weapon
> My Fair Lady
> Overboard 
> Romancing the Stone 
> Scarface
And the list goes on, and on, and on . . . 

Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest

It's time for a blog fest - the first one of the year for me, and good preparation for the forthcoming Bogging A to Z Challenge beginning this April! Hosted by legendary Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh, today's blogging festival is all about one of my favorite things . . . movies. For this challenge we're supposed to list our top ten favorite movies, something I've found incredibly difficult as I love approximately twenty billion of them. But if you're interested in joining, check the it out.

Okay, so over the weeks I had leading up to this blogfest I spent a lot of time making lists of my favorite movies and trying to narrow it down to just ten. And I found that it absolutely could not be done. I could make a list of my top five absolute favorites, or my top fifteen favorites, but not my top ten. I simply could not weed five of them out. Soooo, I decided that instead of a "top ten", I'd do blog about my top ten movies leading down to my TOP FIVE ALL TIME FAVORITE FILMS.

So here we go . . .

10. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Yes, technically these are three different movies, but since I've already cheated once today, I figured I might as well break all the rules and think of trilogies as one larger, three-part film. Plus, they're too amazing to pick just one. 

9. Zombieland - My all time favorite zombie flick, it makes me laugh, it makes me cry, it makes me hope to god that if the zombie apocalypse happens, no one mistakes Bill Murray for one of the walking dead. 

8. Star Wars (the original trilogy) - See #10. 

7. The Italian Job - I love a good heist film, and this one in particular has always been a favorite. I love the characters, I love the byplay between Lyle (aka. the Napster) and Handsome Rob, and I looove the cars. Who wouldn't want to have a high speed car chase in a Mini Cooper?

6. Stranger Than Fiction - I love how unusual this movie is. As a writer, I love the idea that the characters I create could in fact be walking around somewhere, their lives narrated by my words. And the scene in which Dustin Hoffman gives Will Ferrell's character the test to identify what type of story he's in is one of the wittiest scenes ever written. 

5. The Harry Potter Series - Like the Lord of the Rings, these movies are some of the best adaptations from novel to screen I've ever seen (apart from Goblet of Fire, which I felt didn't live up to its full potential). 

4. Ocean's Eleven - Another heist film, this is perhaps one of the best ensemble casts ever put together. And one of the most hilarious scripts written to date. 

3. Serenity - Joss Whedon. Enough said. 

2. Penelope - This movie can only be described as a modern day fairy tale. It's one of those stories that reminds us of childhood and child-like belief in magic. It's a love story, a transformation story, and a journey of self-discovery, but managed to be unitedly original. 

1. Blade Runner - A sci-fi masterpiece, Blade Runner is one of those movies I remember watching with my parents as a kid that stayed with me through adulthood. Of the many different versions that exist today, I prefer the the Director's Cut above all others. 

And now that I've completed my Top Ten Movie Countdown, it's time for my TOP FIVE ALL TIME FAVORITE FILMS: 

The Terminator -

Though many would say that Terminator 2: Judgement Day is better, I've always believed that the first Terminator film was the best one. It's not only stunningly terrifying with amazing action sequences, but is also arguably the most beautiful love story ever written. 

The Fifth Element -
#1 it has Bruce Willis.
#2 it has has an amazing female bad-ass in Milla Jovovich.
#3 it has a terrific story full of action, adventure and romance.
#4 it has a blue opera singer.
And #5 it has Christ Tucker in his funniest role ever. Bzzzzz.

The Princess Bride -

This is one of those movies that defined childhood in the 80's. Everyone who's ever seen The Princess Bride loves it, whether its because they love Inigo Montoya, think "inconceivable" is a terrific word, like to rhyme "mean it" with "peanut", enjoy a lisping priest, laugh hysterically at Miracle Max and is bickering wife, or think Wesley and Buttercup are this generations' (much less tragic) Romeo and Juliet. 

Aliens -

Yet another movie with a female bad-ass at it's helm, watching Ellen Ripley go to town and massacre a hoard of aliens which protecting a spunky little girl named Newt may be one of the defining moments of my childhood. 

Die Hard -

The is without a doubt the best action film ever made. And the reason Bruce Willis is my hero. I'd argue that it's a Christmas Classic - and I certainly watch it every year for the Yuletide holiday. 

Halloween Bloghop and Road Trip Wednesday

As I looked around at some of my favorite blogs today I couldn't help but notice the plethora of Halloween posts . . . which reminded me that I had been remiss in my own Halloween related posts this October. So I thought I’d rectify this problem by participating (last minute) in TWO bloghops.

The first is YA Highway’s Road Trip Wednesday. It’s been a while since I've participated, but when I saw the topic for this week’s post, I couldn't resist: What's your favorite scary book or movie?

I must admit that I’m somewhat of a wimp when it comes to scary movies; I’m the one hiding under a blanket when the creepy parts happen. However, I do have fond memories of watching The Poltergeist with my parents when I was in 8^th grade. We watched it around Halloween time and it terrified me to no end. To this day I’m a little nervous around old-fashioned TVs and I can’t shake the fear that I’ll be suck into one.

Despite my anxiety when it comes to horror films, I’m a big fan of the classics thrillers – specifically Alfred Hitchcock’s. Movies like The Birds and Psycho keep me on the edge of my seat, eyes glued on the screen the entire time. He’s a real master of suspense and I love his creepy classics.

As for scary books, I’m going old-school Stephen King with this one. Probably the scariest book I’ve ever read it the 1977 classic The Shining. I watched the movie when I was in middle school and then decided, since I guess I just hadn’t quite terrified myself enough, that I’d read the book. And boy was I ever not able to sleep for a month. And this may sound crazy, but the book’s warning about room 217 terrified me so much that I have since made a solemn oath to never stay in room 217 (or 237 – thanks to the movie) at any hotel. Ever.

Some call me a wuss – I prefer to think of myself as appropriately wary of the supernatural . . .

The second bloghop is the aptly named Halloween Bloghop hosted by the amazing Jeremy Bates. If, like me, you’re only just stumbling upon this, check out the details here.

As I mentioned the other day, I’m a fan of the monster genre – therefore I have a quite extensive list of favorite monster books and movies to choose from. However, if I’m only able to pick one of each, then I think I have to go with Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Technically I’m cheating a bit with Buffy, since I’m actually referring to both the movie and the TV show created by Joss Whedon, but I figure it’s a day for tricks (and treats), so it’s okay. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was my absolute favorite show in middle school, and remains at the top of my list to this day. I love that she fights all manner of monsters and demons as well as vampires, and that she saves the world time and time again with the help of her “Scooby Gang”.

As for Frankenstein, I was greatly affected by it when I first read it in 9^th grade. Shelley’s masterpiece manages to be both darkly terrifying and somehow poignant at the same time. I can’t help but feel pity for Frankenstein’s monster, even as he commits atrocious acts of violence. I truly believe that it’s one of the best novels ever written.

Last but certainly not least, Halloween costumes! Though I usually do my own thing in terms of costumes, but this year my friends and I decided that we’d all go as superheroes together. I, of course, lobbied that we all go as Marvel characters, but we wound up with an unfortunate mixture of DC heroes as well. Still, we looked pretty awesome in our costumes and had a great time fighting crime . . . uh, celebrating the holiday at the Natural Science Museum’s epic party. It's always fun at the museum since people there are pertty serious when it comes to Halloween. The guest list reached nearly 4,000, all of whom were trying to top each other's costumes, so you can imagine how amazing some of them were. Definitely a night to remember. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!

Monstrous Monday Blogfest

Today is all about monsters. Hosted by Timothy Brannan from The Other Side, this bloghop is a chance to post about monsters you love, hate, or are featuring in your latest novel. So sign up for Monstrous Monday if you already haven’t and join the monster-madness.

When it comes to monsters I have to say, it’s hard to pick just one – so I decided I wouldn’t try. Instead I’m going to post about two very different monsters that provoke two very different reactions. The first is a creature I became familiar with in my early childhood thanks to a little movie called The Princess Bride . . .

The R.O.U.S. (Rodents of Unusual Size):

R.O.U.S.s are large, rat-like creatures that are known to be incredibly vicious. They live in Fire Swamps and frequently attack human beings brave enough to venture into their lair. As a child these R.O.U.S.s terrified me – because who wouldn’t be terrified with a giant rat that eats people? Still, I always liked to pretend that I was in the Fire Swamp, battling an army of these strange creatures beside my hero Westley. If I ever come across an R.O.U.S., I’ll grab a sword and start swinging.

The second monster I want to discuss is a creature which absolutely petrifies me. The very idea of it makes me skin break out in goosebumps  . . .

The Mothman:

While R.O.U.S.s are make-believe creatures from a beloved childhood novel and film (at least, I hope William Goldman made them up), the Mothman is an ominious creature with a number of sightings. The most well-known incident occurred in 1966 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Police recorded several sightings of a seven-foot creature with long wings and glowing red eyes. These reports continued up until the 1967 collapse of the Silver Bridge, which killed forty-six people. Though some claim to have seen the Mothman standing on the bridge the day of the collapse, following the disaster the creature was never seen in Point Pleasant again.

The Mothman is a dark omen, bringing death in its wake. And while I think R.O.U.S.s are amusing, and feel confident that I could handle myself against most monsters (my wealth of Buffy knowledge would aid me such an event), the idea of facing a Mothman is not high on my list of fun activities. 

Beware . . .

Did I Notice Your Book Blogfest

Today I’m participating in the Did I Notice Your Book Blogfest hosted by Ciara Knight and Alex J. Cavanaugh. If you’re interested in participating, here are the guidelines:

You can choose a book that you’ve read, something you saw on a blog or social media site, Goodreads, or a sales website. Anything that caught your eye because of a great cover, blurb or reviews, but DON’T tell the author that their book has been noticed. Instead, shout out on social media sites, and encourage others to do the same, until the author finds his/her book. Leave a blog comment with Alex or Ciara when the author finds their book. 

Only two rules: 

1) You can’t post about your own book. 

2) The book shouldn’t be on the New York Times or USA Today bestseller list. This is your chance to shout out about a book that might not have been noticed by others.

Sounds fun, right? And what book have I chosen for this contest?

Villain School: Good Curses Evil by Stephanie S. Sanders.

Rune Drexler, Big Bad Wolf Jr., and Countess Jezebel Dracula are students at Master Dreadthorn's School for Wayward Villains. It's like military school for the children of famous villains; it's where you learn to be bad. But Rune is failing at his villainous studies, so when he lands himself in detention (again), Master Dreadthorn assigns him a Plot. In one week, Rune and his friends must find a henchman, steal a baby, kidnap a princess, and overthrow a kingdom. There's only one problem: Rune's not very evil. In fact, his behavior seems suspiciously heroic . . .

I read this book a few months ago and thought it was a hilariously clever idea. And not just because I wish I could attend a school for Master Dreadthorn's School myself. But what could be more fun than reading about a young boy who’s trying desperately to squelch his inner heroism and become – like his father before him – a villain.

So if you haven’t read it before, check it out! And don’t forget to blog, tweet, or shout out about Villain School: Good Curses Evil. If you'd like to know more about author Stephanie S. Sanders, check out her blog here. 

Tales of the Gothic: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

To kick-start my series on the Gothic novel, I thought I’d begin with one many people are familiar with – The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Recognized as one of the most significant tales of the 19^th century, Jekyll and Hyde is a fascinating representation of the inner struggle of man’s dual nature during the moral climate of the Victorian era.

Let me begin with a little background information about the piece. Published in 1886, Stevenson wrote Jekyll and Hyde during the height of Victorianism (which lasted from the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign over England in 1837 until her death in 1901). Founded on repression, Victorian society was predicated on the suppression of passion and sexuality, and a strict adherence to a social code of conduct and outward display of respectability.   

This was challenging, however, because of the existence of mankind’s dual nature – the moral half, and the sinful. Like different sides of the same coin, these two pieces are the basis of the human soul. And yet, in order to exist within the era’s concept of morality, one had to bury their immoral thoughts and project only their virtuous side to the outside world. Little empathy was shown for mankind’s struggle between these twin personality halves.

It’s in this very struggle that Stevenson’s ominous tale takes shape. Dr. Jekyll’s attempt to separate the two halves into distinct entities demonstrates the desperate lengths humanity will go in order to ease the torment of denying the darker – yet equally real – half of our nature. As Dr. Jekyll states, “If each could be housed in separate identities, life would be relieved of all that was unbearable.”

Unfortunately, the experiment does not go as planned. On the one hand, he succeeds in creating a new persona for his evil side – Mr. Hyde. Hyde represents this moral freedom, able to follow his every whim without a hint of remorse. However, his other half – Dr. Jekyll – is wholly the same, unable to rid himself of his sinister urges and yet forced to abide by Victorian edicts.

Still, under the mantle of Mr. Hyde, Jekyll is able to embrace a life of sin and freedom. It is this very freedom that he longs for, even as he tries to suppress it. At first he secretly enjoys this ability to pursue his dark desires as Mr. Hyde while walking through society under the mantel of Dr. Jekyll’s respectability. With his two halves separated into different men, he can exercise his demons without violating the Victorian code of conduct. However, it’s not long before his double life starts to collapse in upon him.

This sense of the soul’s impending doom inherent in the novella firmly roots in in the Gothic tradition. Furthermore, there’s a clear warning in Stevenson’s tale – one assuring us that no matter how well we suppress our wicked nature, it will always find its way to the surface in the end. Stevenson suggests that the more we attempt the separate our two halves, the worse the consequence will be. The only way to avoid becoming the darkest versions of ourselves is to accept the darkness within us.

Genre Favorites Blogfest

It’s time for another blog hop! Thanks so much to Alex J. Cavanaugh for hosting the Genre Favorites Blogfest, where those of us participating get to discuss our favorite genre of books, movies, music, and as an added bonus, our favorite guilty pleasure genre for one of the three.

Here goes nothing . . .

Music:

I must admit, I have very wide and eclectic taste when it comes to music. I enjoy everything from classical to bluegrass (a love inherited from my Appalachian-grown mother). However, if I had to narrow it down to just one favorite, it would probably be Classic Rock. Rolling Stones, ACDC, Queen, Guns n’ Roses, Dire Straits, The Police, Def Leppard – the best. I listen to it when I force myself to go running, when I’m writing a particularly bad-ass fight scene, when I’m jamming in my car, and anytime in between. FYI, Eye of the Tiger . . . best song ever.

Movies:

When it comes to movies, I have a clear genre favorite – Science Fiction. As the daughter of sci-fi enthusiasts, I was raised on The Terminator, Aliens and Star Wars. If it’s about time travel, clones, aliens or automatons, I’m there.

Books:

As both a former Literature major and novelist, books are pretty much my life. Thus, of the three categories, I found picking a preferred genre of books the most challenging. On the one hand, I love Middle Grade Fantasy. Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Chronicles of Narnia . . . all personal favorites. My own manuscripts all happen to fall into this very group. However, if I really have to narrow it down to just ONE category, I’d have to go with classical literature. Ridiculous as this may seem, I love reading novels from the literary cannon. Authors like Mary Shelley, Oscar Wilde, Charlotte Bronte and James Joyce are among my favorites. If a novel would make it onto the dreaded “summer reading list” for high school students, chances are it’s one of the books I love most. That doesn’t mean I don’t like a good mystery novel, and I go through science fiction books like potato chips. But at the heart of it, I’m a classicist.

Guilty Pleasure:

And now for the best genre – guilty pleasures. For this one, I decided to go with the “movie” category. I believe I’ve already mentioned that I’m a sci-fi fan; however, what you may not know is that I not only love well-respected films like Blade Runner and The Matrix, but I also secretly adore the really terrible made-for-TV movies produced by the SyFy channel. And I don’t mean enjoy them in ironic sort of way. I genuinely love them. Anyone seen Hammerhead: Shark Frenzie? A classic. Revenge of the Swamp Thing – phenomenal. And if you’ve never seen Lake Placid 2, you’re seriously missing out. Mock all you want, but it’s cinematic gold.

So, those are all my genre favorites. If you’re interested in sharing your own, hop on over to Alex J. Cavanaugh’s blog and sign up!

What Was Your Childhood Monster? Blogfest

In honor of the release of her novella, Fearless (click here for more details), author and blogger Christine Rains is hosting a brand new blogfest – the “What was your childhood monster?” blogfest. Click here if you’d like to join and tell us all about the monsters and minions that plagued your adolescence.

As for me, I didn’t have ONE childhood monster. Oh no – I had hundreds of them. I blame this partly on my overactive imagination (both a blessing and a curse to a future writer), and partly on my parents’ eagerness to share with their one and only offspring their love of science fiction films. They called it “my education”, and as an adult I find myself very appreciative. But as a child, it had some unfavorable consequences. Namely, my terror of Poltergeists (and being sucked into a TV), aliens, Predators, T-1000 terminators (I’ll never be able to look at a black and white checkered floor without a sense of panic), killer Great White sharks, vampires, zombies, gremlins, graboids . . .

And the list goes on.

My response to this long list of threats was – apart from spending a lot of time wedged in between my parents in their bed (punishment for letting an eight-year-old watch Aliens and The Terminator) – keeping the doors to all the closets OPEN.

Now I know that’s not the typical reaction. Most of my friends and family have assured me that it’s better to keep the closet door closed so they can’t get out. But anyone who’s ever seen Terminator 2 knows that to the T-1000, a closed door is no real barrier. And really when one thinks about it, a closed door really isn’t much of a challenge to most monsters and/or demonic creatures. So I maintain that it’s better to keep the door open and maintain a visual at all times, thus ensuring that said monsters can never surprise you. If you can see them coming, at least that gives you a fighting chance of getting away, am I right?

Here are a few simply creeds I follow for combating childhood (and present day) monsters:

- Check the perimeter: It’s best to do a full sweep whenever entering a new dwelling, and a second sweep upon entering an empty room.

- Keep closet doors open at all times: Or at least until they’ve been checked thoroughly. Same goes for shower curtains. And if there’s any sort of dust ruffle on the bed that obscures visibility beneath, I’d suggest lifting that up (or removing it entirely) as well.

- Stay in shape: Be prepared to run faster than any monsters that may be hiding inside closets, under beds, etc. Or at least be prepared to run faster than other occupants of the house. Good rule of thumb, never be the slowest person around. That’s like the monster equivalent of being the slowest gazelle in a herd being chased by a lion. Not good.

And always, always, always remember the immortal words of one Mad Eye Moody: “Constant vigilance”.

I hope these tips come to your aid in future battles against any nameless monster-foe in your future. And share with us, what are some of your childhood monsters and/or tips for combating them?

First Loves Blogfest

As a follow up to the Blogging A Through Z Challenge, today I’m participating in the First Loves Blogfest hosted by one of my favorite bloggers, Alex J. Cavanaugh. So today I’m going to talk a little about the first movie, music, book and person I ever loved.

It’s hard for me to say definitively which movie was the first one I ever loved, considering even as a child I was always something of a cinephile. However, my mom told me that when I was two years old and my dad had to travel a lot for work, I became obsessed with the Wizard of Oz. I became terrible upset every time he left, and the only thing that calmed me down was watching Dorothy and her friends journey across the yellow brick road. In fact, my mom got so tired of renting it for me that she finally went out and bought it, making it (I believe) the first VHS we owned.

I have absolutely no trouble remembering the first band I ever loved. When I was in elementary school, I fell in love with Losing My Religion by R.E.M. I remember playing that song on repeat on the huge stereo system in my family’s downstairs living room until my parents finally insisted that I put something else on. If memory serves me right, it was around this time I was finally given my very own CD player for my room. Wonder why . . .

My love of reading began early with one series in particular – Nancy Drew. When I was still too little to read them by myself, my mom used to read them with me before bedtime, beginning with my first (and to this day favorite), Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the 99 Steps. I was obsessed from that point on. I read Nancy Drew books day in and day out. I even used to read them on the playground at recess (that’s right, I was that kid). Thanks to Nancy and her best friends George and Bess, I am a lifelong reader. And if I ever come across a mystery that needs solving, I’ll know what to do.

Last but not least, I’m going to talk about the first person I ever loved. Now, I’m sure that the intention behind this category is to talk about romantic love, but I have something a little different in mind. To begin with, I’m an only child. I always wanted siblings, but unfortunately was never blessed with any. However, when I nearly seven years old my little cousin Allie was born. (That's her to the left. She screamed a lot as a baby. I loved her anyway). Though it wasn’t exactly the same as having a sister of my own, it always felt like it. We grew up a few miles away from one another and were basically raised side-by-side. Most of my childhood memories revolve around her tagging along after me. Though we’re six years and ten months minus four days apart (we keep track), we’ve always been incredibly close. We’ve had to be to survive some of our family get-togethers! Allie’s my cousin, my friend, and my sister all wrapped up into one, and the first person I ever remember loving. Here's us now:

Mature, right? Anyway, those are all my first loves. What are some of yours?