Throughout the month of October myself and the lovely Heather over at heatherreviews.wordpress.com thought we would team up and do a read along with some spooky reads!
We have both been enjoying the Red Eye series published by Stripes Publishing this year so thought these would be ideal for a spooky read along!
Everyone is welcome to join in!
We have a hash tag on twitter where you can keep up to date on our progress and tweet out yours – #RedEyeReadAlong
We also have a Goodreads Group set up for the occasion for even more discussion and to comfort each other when we get scared – you can find the group here
As part of the read along the lovely people at Stripes and the brilliant Red Eye authors have agreed to play along with a weekly spooky guest post throughout the read along!
And today is extra special as this post is also part of the Halloween Red Eye Blog Tour!
Today I am honoured to have the wonderful Tom Becker, author of Dark Room, talking to me about Twin Peaks !
**cries for Mommy**
The camera never lies…Darla and her dad are looking for a fresh start. But when they wind up in affluent Saffron Hills, Darla stands no chance of fitting in with the beautiful, selfie-obsessed teens at her new school. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, she starts having visions. The gruesome snapshots flashing into Darla’s mind seem to suggest she’s going crazy…until she realizes they’re actually a horrifying glimpse into the future. With a killer on the loose, can she make sense of what she’s seeing before it’s too late?
Twin Peaks
When I was young I watched Twin Peaks on TV, and the show’s eerie, surreal atmosphere had the most incredible impact upon me. I’m not sure I’ve been as scared by a book, film or programme since.
The main reason for this was Killer Bob, a murderous demon that dwelt beneath the surface of the apparently sleepy town.
For me the best (or worst) Bob scene takes place in the spin-off film, Fire Walk With Me.
High-school student Laura Palmer returns to her home in the middle of the day having received a mysterious warning – and from the first shot of the house lurching up in front of her, you really don’t want her going inside. She creeps into the house to find the downstairs rooms empty. Fans turn slow circles upon the ceiling. The feeling of dread is even worse because this is Laura’s own house, where she should be safe. The staircase is so narrow it almost feels like it’s shrinking around her as she goes upstairs. By the time Laura reaches her bedroom you know there’s something terrible in there, and you’re willing her to get out. Instead she pushes her bedroom door open an inch at a time, to find Killer Bob hunched by her dresser, where Laura hides her diary. She screams – Bob roars. Sobbing, Laura races out of the house and hides in the garden.
But the full horror of her encounter is yet to come…
About Tom Becker
Since Tom Becker learned to hold a pen, he wanted to become a writer. In fact, when he was 5 years old, he wrote in a notebook that it was his dream was to be an author. Aged 25, Tom has realised that dream with publication of his first novel, Darkside in January 2007.
Tom’s early enthusiasm for books and reading was encouraged by his parents who were voracious readers. Their family home was cluttered with bookcases and piles of novels. Tom spent most of his childhood curled up in an armchair reading fantasy novels by Brian Jacques, and later graduated to grown-up novels by David Eddings and Guy Gavriel Kay.
Tom studied History at Oxford University and was struck by the otherworld-ly atmosphere of this academic institution. He used to spend long days studying and reading in the University library and always felt intrigued by the atmosphere there – perhaps that is why a library is such an important setting in Darkside.
Tom started writing Darkside in 2005, it took him three months to complete and he is now working on more books in the series. He drew inspiration from film noirs such as The Asphalt Jungle and The Big Sleep (hence the glasshouse scene in Darkside), and comicbook writers such as Alan Moore.
Aside from reading, Tom’s big love in life is music. He is still reeling from the break-up of his two favourite bands, Rocket From the Crypt and Sleater-Kinney. Tom’s other passions include supporting Everton Football Club and consisting on a diet of fry-ups and fish fingers.
Find out more about Tom Becker on his website here or follow him on twitter using @Tbeckerlegge
So with those dark nights approaching and Halloween just around the corner myself and the lovely Heather ( heatherreviews.wordpress.com ) thought we would team up and do a read along with some spooky reads!
We have both been enjoying the Red Eye series published by Stripes Publishing this year so thought these would be ideal for a spooky read along!
Everyone is welcome to join in!
We have a hash tag on twitter where you can keep up to date on our progress and tweet out yours – #RedEyeReadAlong
We also have a Goodreads Group set up for the occasion for even more discussion and to comfort each other when we get scared – you can find the group here
We also have some special treats and prizes to be won!
To find out more about the read along check out the announcement post here
And this week the #RedEyeReadAlong participates in the Red Eye Halloween Blog Tour also!
#RedEyeReadAlong – 26/10/2015 – 31/10/2015
So this week we will be reading…..
Dark Room by Tom Becker
The camera never lies…Darla and her dad are looking for a fresh start. But when they wind up in affluent Saffron Hills, Darla stands no chance of fitting in with the beautiful, selfie-obsessed teens at her new school. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, she starts having visions. The gruesome snapshots flashing into Darla’s mind seem to suggest she’s going crazy…until she realizes they’re actually a horrifying glimpse into the future. With a killer on the loose, can she make sense of what she’s seeing before it’s too late?
About Tom Becker
Since Tom Becker learned to hold a pen, he wanted to become a writer. In fact, when he was 5 years old, he wrote in a notebook that it was his dream was to be an author. Aged 25, Tom has realised that dream with publication of his first novel, Darkside in January 2007.
Tom’s early enthusiasm for books and reading was encouraged by his parents who were voracious readers. Their family home was cluttered with bookcases and piles of novels. Tom spent most of his childhood curled up in an armchair reading fantasy novels by Brian Jacques, and later graduated to grown-up novels by David Eddings and Guy Gavriel Kay.
Tom studied History at Oxford University and was struck by the otherworld-ly atmosphere of this academic institution. He used to spend long days studying and reading in the University library and always felt intrigued by the atmosphere there – perhaps that is why a library is such an important setting in Darkside.
Tom started writing Darkside in 2005, it took him three months to complete and he is now working on more books in the series. He drew inspiration from film noirs such as The Asphalt Jungle and The Big Sleep (hence the glasshouse scene in Darkside), and comicbook writers such as Alan Moore.
Aside from reading, Tom’s big love in life is music. He is still reeling from the break-up of his two favourite bands, Rocket From the Crypt and Sleater-Kinney. Tom’s other passions include supporting Everton Football Club and consisting on a diet of fry-ups and fish fingers.
Find out more about Tom Becker on his website here or follow him on twitter using @Tbeckerlegge
Check out the #RedEyeReadAlong Q&A with Tom Becker here
Check out the #RedEyeReadAlong guest post from Tom Becker here
Weekly Challenge
We are releasing this weeks weekly challenge early (normally a Wednesday) as this weeks challenge involves showing us your creepy Halloween selfie!
Yes that’s right to be in with a chance to win all 5 Red Eye Books (UK and IRE) you need to tweet us a scary selfie using the #redeyereadalong !
Remember we only have one set of books to give away each week so there can only be one winner each week! The winner will be announced on Sunday evening at around 7pm on twitter and in the Goodreads Group!
Although if the selfies are good I may give away two sets as we did not run a weekly challenge last week!
Good Luck!
Entries
We had no entries to this weeks weekly challenge!
Do join in using the has tag on twitter #RedEyeReadAlong and why not join the Goodreads Group here
Throughout the month of October myself and the lovely Heather over at heatherreviews.wordpress.com thought we would team up and do a read along with some spooky reads!
We have both been enjoying the Red Eye series published by Stripes Publishing this year so thought these would be ideal for a spooky read along!
Everyone is welcome to join in!
We have a hash tag on twitter where you can keep up to date on our progress and tweet out yours – #RedEyeReadAlong
We also have a Goodreads Group set up for the occasion for even more discussion and to comfort each other when we get scared – you can find the group here
As part of the read along the lovely people at Stripes and the brilliant Red Eye authors have agreed to play along with a weekly spooky guest post throughout the read along!
Today I am honoured to have the super scary Graham Marks, author of Bad Bones, talking to me about scary moments !
**cries for Mommy**
Gabe is feeling the pressure. His family has money troubles, he’s hardly talking to his dad, plus lowlife Benny is on his case. Needing some space to think, he heads off into the hills surrounding LA. And he suddenly stumbles across a secret that will change everything. A shallow grave. Gabe doesn’t think twice about taking the gold bracelet he finds buried there. Even from the clutches of skeletal hands. But he has no idea what he’s awakening…Graham Mark’s chilling novel is part of the Red Eye series, perfect for fans of James Dawson’s Say Her Name.
Scary Moments!
I jump in all the right places in scary films, even comedy horror, like Shaun of the Dead, which I love, and the kitsch Hammer horror movies from the 60s.
Scariest movie moment?
Probably back to Mr King and Carrie, at the end, when her hand busts out of the ground.
Horror genre influences would have to be, first and foremost, HP Lovecraft, and in my teens I read just about everything Dennis Wheatley wrote – The Devil Rides Out springs to mind – and while he isn’t a horror writer, Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes is an immaculate, scary book.
Of Bad Bones, there’s the bit in Chapter 2, at night, when Gabe discovers the skeleton in the canyon and scares himself witless; or the moment outside Cecil LeBarron’s antique shop, when he see’s the old man and recognizes him from his horrendous nightmare – that’s when Gabe knows trouble has him in its sights. But then there’s the bit, which spans the end of Chapter 10 and the beginning of Chapter 11, where Gabe meets Rafael face to face for the first time.
About Graham Marks
Graham has spent his whole career in children’s publishing, firstly as a Creative Director and latterly as a journalist and award-winning author. His first published work was a book of poetry, which came out while he was studying Graphics at Harrow School of Art. He has also worked for Marvel Comics writing scripts and in advertising as a copywriter.
Find out more about Graham Marks by visiting his website here or follow him on twitter – @GeeMarks
So with those dark nights approaching and Halloween just around the corner myself and the lovely Heather ( heatherreviews.wordpress.com ) thought we would team up and do a read along with some spooky reads!
We have both been enjoying the Red Eye series published by Stripes Publishing this year so thought these would be ideal for a spooky read along!
Everyone is welcome to join in!
We have a hash tag on twitter where you can keep up to date on our progress and tweet out yours – #RedEyeReadAlong
We also have a Goodreads Group set up for the occasion for even more discussion and to comfort each other when we get scared – you can find the group here
We also have some special treats and prizes to be won!
To find out more about the read along check out the announcement post here
#RedEyeReadAlong – 19/10/2015 – 25/10/2015
So this week we will be reading…..
Bad Bones by Graham Marks
Gabe is feeling the pressure. His family has money troubles, he’s hardly talking to his dad, plus lowlife Benny is on his case.
Needing some space to think, he heads off into the hills surrounding LA. And he suddenly stumbles across a secret that will change everything. A shallow grave.
Gabe doesn’t think twice about taking the gold bracelet he finds buried there. Even from the clutches of skeletal hands. But he has no idea what he’s awakening…
Graham Mark’s chilling novel is part of the Red Eye series!
About Graham Marks
Graham has spent his whole career in children’s publishing, firstly as a Creative Director and latterly as a journalist and award-winning author. His first published work was a book of poetry, which came out while he was studying Graphics at Harrow School of Art. He has also worked for Marvel Comics writing scripts and in advertising as a copywriter.
Find out more about Graham Marks by visiting his website here or follow him on twitter – @GeeMarks
Check out a #RedEyeReadAlong Q&A with Graham Marks here
Check out the #RedEyeReadAlong Guest Post by Graham Marks here
Check back for more updates throughout the week here where we will add any reviews of Sleepless from people taking part in the #RedEyeReadAlong and any entries to the weekly challenge!
Throughout the month of October myself and the lovely Heather over at heatherreviews.wordpress.com thought we would team up and do a read along with some spooky reads!
We have both been enjoying the Red Eye series published by Stripes Publishing this year so thought these would be ideal for a spooky read along!
Everyone is welcome to join in!
We have a hash tag on twitter where you can keep up to date on our progress and tweet out yours – #RedEyeReadAlong
We also have a Goodreads Group set up for the occasion for even more discussion and to comfort each other when we get scared – you can find the group here
As part of the read along the lovely people at Stripes and the brilliant Red Eye authors have agreed to play along with a weekly spooky guest post throughout the read along!
Today I am honoured to have the super scary Simon Cheshire, author of Flesh & Blood, talking to me about a chilling scene from Dr Who !
**wimpers**
I must record the facts that have led me to where I am now. So that, when someone reads this, they understand. Sam Hunter’s neighbours are pillars of the community, the most influential people in town. But they’re liars too. The Greenhills are hiding something and Sam’s determined to find out what it is. As his investigation unfolds, he realizes the lies reach further than he ever imagined – is there anyone he can trust? Uncovering the horror is one thing …escaping is another. Simon Cheshire’s chilling novel is part of the Red Eye series.
A Moment To Chill The Blood!
I saw it again the other week, for the first time in years. And although it didn’t utterly un-nerve me the same way it did back then, it still sent a shudder up my spine. If I had to pick one single moment that turned me into the horror/ sci-fi geek I am today, it could easily be a short scene from a 1970 episode of Doctor Who called Spearhead From Space:
From her garden, a woman hears something crashing about in her country cottage. She calls out. She hears the dog indoors bark, then whimper into silence. She calls out again. No answer. Nervous fear clouding her face, she enters the cottage slowly.
The floor is littered with broken furniture. She stumbles towards the doorway that leads into the next room. As she does so, a figure quickly emerges. Tall, dressed in blue overalls. Its head is bald, smooth, plastic. Its face is basic, like that of a shop dummy. With smooth motions, it stalks silently towards her. She screams…
I’m pretty sure I first saw that scene, as a kid, peeking out from behind a cushion. Nothing had ever conveyed to me a sense of ‘alien-ness’, of otherworldliness, more dramatically than those few seconds. An ordinary, domestic setting, into which comes… something… humanoid, yet inhuman; moulded to look like a person and yet blank, empty of personality.
It was called an Auton. The following Monday, every kid in the playground was being one. Jon Pertwee – who was playing the Doctor in that episode – used to say that the essence of scariness was coming home and finding a yeti sitting on your loo in Tooting Bec. I see what he meant.
That scene taught me the terrifying thrill of The Unknown. It’s a thrill that’s never loosened its grip. To me, that moment of confrontation, when all that is You meets its opposite, is what lurks in the heart of Flesh And Blood, of the Red Eye series, of all horror fiction.
About Simon Cheshire
Simon Cheshire grew up in Warwickshire. He was always the quiet kid at the back of the class, and spent a lot of time staring out of the window. From a young age, he was a dedicated reader and would spend many hours absorbed in books, happily dreaming of faraway places, and completely ignoring his mother’s cries of “Go out and get some fresh air, for heaven’s sake!”
His first book appeared in 1997, and since then his books have been published in many countries around the world, and in several languages. He writes in a tiny room that used to be a walk-in cupboard, but which is now crammed with books, pieces of paper and empty chocolate bar wrappers.
His hobbies include movies, repairing old computers and wishing he had more hobbies. He lives in Warwick with his wife and children, although he spends most of his time in a world of his own.
You can buy this book here and on Little Tiger here
Find out more about Simon Cheshire by visiting his website here
Check out a previous Guest Post by Simon Cheshire with his top 5 scares here
So with those dark nights approaching and Halloween just around the corner myself and the lovely Heather ( heatherreviews.wordpress.com ) thought we would team up and do a read along with some spooky reads!
We have both been enjoying the Red Eye series published by Stripes Publishing this year so thought these would be ideal for a spooky read along!
Everyone is welcome to join in!
We have a hash tag on twitter where you can keep up to date on our progress and tweet out yours – #RedEyeReadAlong
We also have a Goodreads Group set up for the occasion for even more discussion and to comfort each other when we get scared – you can find the group here
We also have some special treats and prizes to be won!
To find out more about the read along check out the announcement post here
or check out Heathers fab video below!
#RedEyeReadAlong – 12/10/2015 – 18/10/2015
So this week we will be reading…..
Flesh & Blood by Simon Cheshire
I must record the facts that have led me to where I am now. So that, when someone reads this, they understand. Sam Hunter’s neighbours are pillars of the community, the most influential people in town. But they’re liars too. The Greenhills are hiding something and Sam’s determined to find out what it is. As his investigation unfolds, he realizes the lies reach further than he ever imagined – is there anyone he can trust? Uncovering the horror is one thing …escaping is another. Simon Cheshire’s chilling novel is part of the Red Eye series.
About Simon Cheshire
Simon Cheshire grew up in Warwickshire. He was always the quiet kid at the back of the class, and spent a lot of time staring out of the window. From a young age, he was a dedicated reader and would spend many hours absorbed in books, happily dreaming of faraway places, and completely ignoring his mother’s cries of “Go out and get some fresh air, for heaven’s sake!”
His first book appeared in 1997, and since then his books have been published in many countries around the world, and in several languages. He writes in a tiny room that used to be a walk-in cupboard, but which is now crammed with books, pieces of paper and empty chocolate bar wrappers.
His hobbies include movies, repairing old computers and wishing he had more hobbies. He lives in Warwick with his wife and children, although he spends most of his time in a world of his own.
You can buy this book here and on Little Tiger here
Find out more about Simon Cheshire by visiting his website here
Check out a previous Guest Post by Simon Cheshire with his top 5 scares here
Check out a #RedEyeReadAlong Q&A with Simon Cheshire here
Or a #RedEyeReadAlong Guest Post by Simon Cheshire here
Check back for more updates throughout the week here where we will add any reviews of Sleepless from people taking part in the #RedEyeReadAlong and any entries to the weekly challenge!
Weekly Challenge
We are releasing this weeks weekly challenge early (normally a Wednesday) as this weeks challenge involves finding the missing word in a game we are calling….
Lets Play The Find The Missing Word Game!
Yes that’s right to be in with a chance to win all 5 Red Eye Books (UK and IRE) you need to find the missing word from the sentence below!
Tweet us using the #RedEyeReadAlong with a picture of the sentence including the missing word when you come across it in the book.
Be careful not to include the page number so other people don’t cheat ?
Remember we only have one set of books to give away each week so there can only be one winner each week! The winner will be announced on Sunday evening at around 7pm on twitter and in the Goodreads Group!
So here’s the sentence…..
“I couldn’t move. The insects scrambled over my bed, between the sheets, through my __________ . They bit me, smothering me from hair to toenails “
Good Luck!
Entries
Winner
Do join in using the has tag on twitter #RedEyeReadAlong and why not join the Goodreads Group here
Throughout the month of October myself and the lovely Heather over at heatherreviews.wordpress.com thought we would team up and do a read along with some spooky reads!
We have both been enjoying the Red Eye series published by Stripes Publishing this year so thought these would be ideal for a spooky read along!
Everyone is welcome to join in!
We have a hash tag on twitter where you can keep up to date on our progress and tweet out yours – #RedEyeReadAlong
We also have a Goodreads Group set up for the occasion for even more discussion and to comfort each other when we get scared – you can find the group here
As part of the read along the lovely people at Stripes and the brilliant Red Eye authors have agreed to play along with a weekly spooky guest post throughout the read along!
Today I am honoured to have the lovely Lou Morgan, author of Sleepless, talking to me about a scary film !
**hides under cushion**
Young, rich and good-looking, Izzy and her friends lead seemingly perfect lives. But exams are looming – and at a school like Clerkenwell, failure is not an option. Luckily, Tigs has a solution. A small pill that will make revision a breeze and help them get the results they need. Desperate to succeed, the friends begin taking the study drug. But as the side effects take hold they realize there are far worse things than failing a few exams. “…creepy, claustrophobic and pant-wettingly scary…” Kim Curran, author of Shift. Lou Morgan’s terrifying novel is part of the Red Eye series, perfect for fans of James Dawson’s Say Her Name and Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood.
The Babadook
I’m very, very late to this party, but “The Babadook” is one of the most effective horror films I’ve seen in a long time. If you haven’t seen it, I don’t want to spoil it for you so I’ll stick to telling you that the story revolves around a woman and her son who, one night, find a mysterious new book (Mr Babadook) in the son’s room and read it at bedtime. It doesn’t take long before they find that – as the book promised – you can’t get rid of the Babadook.
The whole film is full of brilliantly shot scenes (and I had to watch the entire second half from behind one of my cats) but there’s one in particular – a single shot – that really set me on edge. It’s a shot of the hallway and stairs of the house the story takes place in. That’s it. Nothing happens in it, but it’s so full of menace. Something *will* happen, you can be sure of that. The simple shot of the stairs is the calm before the storm… and that’s what makes it chilling. It has echoes of “The Exorcist” and “The Shining” about it, and that only adds to the whole effect.
While we’re talking about “The Shining”, if you want a perfect example of how to ramp up tension and terror in a single chapter, get hold of a copy of that book and read chapter 34: The Hedges. Just that chapter. Then tell me that you’re not turning on every light in your house and swearing you will never, ever set foot near a topiary hedge again…
Inspiration for Sleepless
Check out some photos of The Barbican in London where Lou got some inspiration for Sleepless!
About Lou Morgan
Lou Morgan is an award-nominated adult and YA author. Her first novel, Blood and Feathers – an adult urban fantasy – was published by Solaris Books in 2012 and the follow-up, Blood and Feathers: Rebellion, was released in the summer of 2013.
Her first YA novel, Sleepless, will be published by Stripes / Little Tiger Press as part of their Red Eye horror series in January 2015.
She has been nominated for three British Fantasy Awards (Best Newcomer and twice for Best Fantasy Novel) and her short stories have appeared in anthologies from Solaris Books, PS Publishing and Jurassic. She has also written genre novel-related features for magazines including Future Publishing’s SFX.
Born in Wales and a graduate of University College London, she now lives in Bath with her family.
So with those dark nights approaching and Halloween just around the corner myself and the lovely Heather ( heatherreviews.wordpress.com ) thought we would team up and do a read along with some spooky reads!
We have both been enjoying the Red Eye series published by Stripes Publishing this year so thought these would be ideal for a spooky read along!
Everyone is welcome to join in!
We have a hash tag on twitter where you can keep up to date on our progress and tweet out yours – #RedEyeReadAlong
We also have a Goodreads Group set up for the occasion for even more discussion and to comfort each other when we get scared – you can find the group here
We also have some special treats and prizes to be won!
To find out more about the read along check out the announcement post here
Or check out this fab video announcement by Heather below!
#RedEyeReadAlong – 05/10/2015 – 11/10/2015
So this week we will be reading…..
Sleepless by Lou Morgan
Young, rich and good-looking, Izzy and her friends lead seemingly perfect lives. But exams are looming – and at a school like Clerkenwell, failure is not an option. Luckily, Tigs has a solution. A small pill that will make revision a breeze and help them get the results they need. Desperate to succeed, the friends begin taking the study drug. But as the side effects take hold they realize there are far worse things than failing a few exams. “…creepy, claustrophobic and pant-wettingly scary…” Kim Curran, author of Shift. Lou Morgan’s terrifying novel is part of the Red Eye series, perfect for fans of James Dawson’s Say Her Name and Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood.
About Lou Morgan
Lou Morgan is an award-nominated adult and YA author. Her first novel, Blood and Feathers – an adult urban fantasy – was published by Solaris Books in 2012 and the follow-up, Blood and Feathers: Rebellion, was released in the summer of 2013.
Her first YA novel, Sleepless, will be published by Stripes / Little Tiger Press as part of their Red Eye horror series in January 2015.
She has been nominated for three British Fantasy Awards (Best Newcomer and twice for Best Fantasy Novel) and her short stories have appeared in anthologies from Solaris Books, PS Publishing and Jurassic. She has also written genre novel-related features for magazines including Future Publishing’s SFX.
Born in Wales and a graduate of University College London, she now lives in Bath with her family.
Check out a previous Guest Post by Lou here on Tales talking about the 90’s Point Horror series here
Check out this #RedEyeReadAlong Q&A with Lou Morgan here
Check out a fab #RedEyeReadAlong guest post by Lou Morgan here
Check back for more updates throughout the week here where we will add any reviews of Sleepless from people taking part in the #RedEyeReadAlong and any entries to the weekly challenge!
Weekly Challenge
So this week we are asking you to share…
What keeps you awake at night?!
You can show us in a drawing or in a picture like below!
You could be in with a chance to win all 5 Red Eye Books (UK and IRE) !
Tweet us using the #RedEyeReadAlong
Remember we only have one set of books to give away each week so there can only be one winner each week! The winner will be announced on Sunday evening at around 7pm on twitter and in the Goodreads Group!
Good Luck!
Entries
Winner
Do join in using the has tag on twitter #RedEyeReadAlong and why not join the Goodreads Group here
Throughout the month of October myself and the lovely Heather over at heatherreviews.wordpress.com thought we would team up and do a read along with some spooky reads!
We have both been enjoying the Red Eye series published by Stripes Publishing this year so thought these would be ideal for a spooky read along!
Everyone is welcome to join in!
We have a hash tag on twitter where you can keep up to date on our progress and tweet out yours – #RedEyeReadAlong
We also have a Goodreads Group set up for the occasion for even more discussion and to comfort each other when we get scared – you can find the group here
As part of the read along the lovely people at Stripes and the brilliant Red Eye authors have agreed to play along with a weekly spooky guest post throughout the read along!
Today I am honoured to have the lovely Alex Bell, author of Frozen Charlotte, talking to me about The Twilight Zone!
*plays Twilight Zone music*
Dunvegan School for Girls has been closed for many years. Converted into a family home, the teachers and students are long gone. But they left something behind…Sophie arrives at the old schoolhouse to spend the summer with her cousins. Brooding Cameron with his scarred hand, strange Lillias with a fear of bones and Piper, who seems just a bit too good to be true. And then there’s her other cousin. The girl with a room full of antique dolls. The girl that shouldn’t be there. The girl that died. Alex Bell’s chilling novel is part of the Red Eye series, perfect for fans of James Dawson’s Say Her Name and Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood.
The Twilight Zone
Many of the creepiest scenes I’ve seen on TV haven’t come from horror films but from old black and white episodes of The Twilight Zone. I’ve always loved the understated spookiness of the show, and the focus on chilling ideas rather than gory splatter-fests.
One of the scenes that sticks in my mind the most is from an episode in series 1 called Mirror Image. In this episode a 25-year-old woman named Millicent Barnes is waiting in a New York bus depot on a rainy November night for the bus that will take her to her new job in Cortland. It’s 2-o-clock in the morning and the bus is late so she goes up to the ticket counter to find out when it will arrive. It’s the first time she’s asked so she’s surprised when the man behind the desk is grumpy with her for repeatedly pestering him with the same question. She thinks he must have her confused with someone else but, for the rest of the episode, other people at the depot claim to have just seen her or spoken to her too. Millicent thinks there must be some other young woman around who looks a bit like her and that people are confusing the two of them.
Eventually, she goes into the bathroom and – while looking into the mirror there – the door behind her opens and she sees her exact double sitting on the bench she’s just vacated out in the waiting room. The woman isn’t merely a lookalike, but a perfect mirror image – even down to the same haircut and outfit. By the time Millicent gets out to the waiting room, her double is gone, but she becomes convinced that the woman is an evil version of herself who’s come to take her place in the world.
Finally, the bus arrives. Millicent goes outside to get on board, only to see that her double is already there in her seat, looking out of the window at her. The moment when Millicent sees her, smiling smugly through the glass, is one of the creepiest scenes I’ve come across on television. There’s no blood or gore or outright violence, but the insidious nature of the threat, and the fact that no one believes her about it, is what makes it so terrifying.
You never find out for sure whether Millicent’s theory is right – and the double herself never speaks directly to her or interacts with her in any way, so you can’t know what she wants, or why she’s there, or what the heck is going on. But I love this episode and I think The Twilight Zone in general has definitely influenced how I view the horror genre.
Rod Serling is supposed to have got the idea for this story when he was in an airport one time and noticed a man wearing the same clothes and carrying the same suitcase as himself – and he wondered what would happen if the man turned around and was revealed to be his exact double. You don’t need any blood or guts when you have brilliant atmosphere, a strange experience, the sense that something isn’t quite right, or simply the fear that you’re losing your mind. The Twilight Zone does all of this fantastically well.
About Alex Bell
Alex Bell was born in 1986. She always wanted to be a writer but had several different back-up plans to ensure she didn’t end up in the poor house first. For some years these ranged from dolphin trainer to animal shelter vet but then, at fifteen, she had an epiphany involving John and Robert Kennedy and decided to become a lawyer instead.
To that end she eagerly started a Law degree. Whilst at university, she wrote a grand total of six complete novels (admittedly there was not much of a social life during this time). The second book got her an agent with Carolyn Whitaker of London Independent Books but, unfortunately, not a publisher. The third book, written during her first summer holidays off from university, found a home with Gollancz. The Ninth Circle came out in April 2008 with possibly the most beautiful cover ever created. Since then she has published novels and short stories for both adults and young adults.
After deciding to use her Law degree for good, instead of for evil, she also works as an advisor for the Citizens Advice Bureau. Most of her spare time consists of catering to the whims of her Siamese cat.
The camera never lies…Darla and her dad are looking for a fresh start. But when they wind up in affluent Saffron Hills, Darla stands no chance of fitting in with the beautiful, selfie-obsessed teens at her new school. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, she starts having visions. The gruesome snapshots flashing into Darla’s mind seem to suggest she’s going crazy…until she realizes they’re actually a horrifying glimpse into the future. With a killer on the loose, can she make sense of what she’s seeing before it’s too late?
I am currently reading Dark Room by Tom Becker and I am honoured to have had the chance to put some questions to Tom to celebrate the release of book five in the fab Red Eye series from Stripes Publishing.
As you probably know I have been loving the books in the whole Red Eye Series!
Today I am joined by Tom Becker! Join us to discuss Dark Room, scares, Jive Bunny and selfies!
Hi Tom!
Welcome to Tales Of Yesterday. I’m so happy to have you here….although slightly scared of that camera in your hands!
No selfies today Tom please….we know what happens when we participate in selfies! #AngelTaker
*gulps*
The camera never lies…Darla and her dad are looking for a fresh start. But when they wind up in affluent Saffron Hills, Darla stands no chance of fitting in with the beautiful, selfie-obsessed teens at her new school. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, she starts having visions. The gruesome snapshots flashing into Darla’s mind seem to suggest she’s going crazy…until she realizes they’re actually a horrifying glimpse into the future. With a killer on the loose, can she make sense of what she’s seeing before it’s too late?
Can you tell us a little about your contribution to the Red Eye series published by Stripes Publishing, Dark Room?
A YA slasher horror set in the US state of South Carolina, Dark Room’s heroine is Darla, a teenage girl who drifts from trailer park to trailer park with her deadbeat dad Hopper. When they wash up in the secluded and exclusive town of Saffron Hills, Darla is amazed by the opulent mansions overlooking the main strip. But Saffron Hills is a town with secrets, and when a vicious killer begins preying upon a group of beautiful and privileged teens known as the Picture Perfects, Darla is drawn into the horrifying world of the Angel Taker…
*Michelle jumps as Tom adds extra special dramatic effects to that synopsis*
What inspired you to write the story of Dark Room?
I’d been watching a lot of US TV drama, a lot of which was set in the South – True Detective, Treme, Breaking Bad. There was something about the eerie atmosphere of True Detective in particular that was incredibly compelling, and made me want to try my hand at a different kind of setting to my previous books. I also owe a long-standing debt of inspiration to the director David Lynch, who makes incredible films about dark, unsettling secrets beneath the glossy veneer of small-town American life.
Can you tell us more about Darla’s bloody visions?
As she nears Saffron Hills, Darla begins to see visions of a dark, windowless room, where a killer develops photographs of his victims taken moments before their death. These horrifying snapshots give Darla premonitions of murders before they take place – but also serve to point the finger of suspicion at her and her dad…
Dark Room turns into a bit of a whodunit and The Angel Taker seems terrifying! Did you always know who the reveal was going to be?
Usually I have a very set idea of where a story is going to head before I sit down to write it, but Dark Room came out differently. It grew very much in the writing, and although I initially had an idea of what form I wanted the Angel Taker to take, this changed very early on. Then suddenly it all came together for me. I’d like to think that this means that the final twist comes as much as a surprise to the reader as it did to me when I thought of it.
I’m slightly scared to ask this! Do you see yourself in any of the characters in Dark Room or have you used any of your own experiences in the story?
Ha! Thankfully I’ve had a limited exposure to serial killers over the years, and nor have I any clue what it would be like to grow up beautiful and privileged like the Perfects of Saffron Hills. I guess Darla’s feelings of not fitting in and being an outsider are pretty universal – I think all of us have had experiences where we can relate to that, at one time or another.
Phew…that’s a relief!
What would your killer Angel Taker name be (I guess I’m asking you what you would call yourself if you were a killer like the Angel Taker!)?
Possibly the main reason I would be a terrible serial killer is the length of time it would take for me to decide upon a decent name. It took me long enough to come up with the Angel Taker!
Come on give us your Angel Taker / Dark Room selfie!
There’s a first time for everything, I guess.
That is actually quite Phantom Of The Opera ish and actually quite scary as it’s like your spying on me, hiding behind the corner!
*legs shake*
How important are names to you? Did you pick the character names in Dark Room for a reason?
This is a great question. Names are vital to me – I don’t feel the character is complete until I’ve found the right name for them. Often my characters change names as I’m writing. I don’t know what it is exactly I’m looking for, just a feeling. For example, Sasha’s surname was Miller for months but I knew that wasn’t right, and when I changed it to Haas I felt her character come together. But Darla and Hopper O’Neill were called that straight from the very first chapter, which helped me feel like I had their characters right from the off.
If you could cast your characters from Dark Room in a big Hollywood film adaptation, which actors would you choose?
I think slasher movies work best with unknown actors in the roles, as it doesn’t give the audience any clues as to who might survive. If someone really famous pops up you know they’re going to stick around for more than a scene or two, and certainty is a bad thing where horror is concerned. Having said that, my wife thinks Ruby Rose from Orange is the New Black would make a great Sasha, and surely Hopper would have to be played by Charles Esten, who plays Deacon Claybourne in Nashville.
That’s what I loved about the Scream movies….the shock of the fact that Drew Barrymore gets killed in the first 15 minutes was just genius!
Also fab actor choices! Much love for Ruby Rose!
Do you like to scare your readers?
Absolutely. But horror is the most delicate recipe in the writing cookbook – it’s almost impossible to cater to everyone’s tastes. Fear is so personal – what scares one reader will leave another completely unmoved. And it’s hard to overestimate the bloodthirsty nature of some readers. I remember a reader at an event in Hull telling me a scene he thought I should have included in my Victorian horror While The Others Sleep. Suffice to say, it involved a dog with no head, and it was several days before I regained the power of speech.
What are your top 5 writing YA horror rules? (A bit like the rules of a horror movie like Randy lists in Scream if that makes any sense?)
Creating an atmosphere of unease is crucial. Don’t spell everything out – let the reader’s imagination do some of the work for you.
Horror is a very visual genre. You need to have a strong image of your characters and locations in your head.
Use the past to add depth to what’s happening in the present.
Never underestimate the power of a secret.
Don’t forget your characters amid the blood and gore. Your audience has got to care about them, or who cares whether they die or not?
We would love to know a little bit more about you! Can you give us 5 random facts we don’t know about Tom Becker?
My actual name is Tom Beckerlegge.
I spent most of my school life being called ‘Breakaleg’ (see Fact 1). Even now people I meet are prone to using it, grinning in the vain belief they are the first people to think it up.
As a small child I was once nearly kidnapped on the back of a camel.
My highest break in snooker is 4.
The first album I ever bought was ‘C’mon Everybody’ by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers. By all means, enjoy:
Can you tell us a bit about some of your other books?
Sure. Dark Room is my ninth book – I wrote a series called Darkside that went to five instalments, and since then I’ve been writing stand-alone books.
There is a fantasy prisoner of war story called The Traitors
A horror set in a Victorian sanatorium called While The Others Sleep
And a spine-chiller about grave-digging called Afterwalkers set in the northwest of England.
I’ve also had a play published, called Until The Last Light Fades.
I read that you won the Waterstones Childrens Book Prize when you were 25?
You read right – for my first book, Darkside. (I appear to have a thing for titles with ‘dark’ in them.) Quite a way to start a career, it was a struggle to take it all at the time. It’s probably one reason why I’m still writing today.
Are you still reeling from the break up of your two favourite bands?!
I spent years in mourning after both Rocket From the Crypt and Sleater-Kinney split up. But – joy of joys – they are both back together in various forms, and I have seen both of them live in the past 18 months. I name-check Sleater-Kinney in Dark Room by way of celebration.
Growing up who inspired you into writing? Are there any authors or books that inspired you?
When I was growing up Brian Jacques’ Redwall series was hugely influential – I immediately started writing my own stories featuring talking animals and sweeping battles between good and evil. I dimly remember creating a rabbit with martial art skills, although perhaps I have misremembered. it was rather a long time ago now.
Are there any recent works or authors that you admire or books you wish you had written or that you would like to collaborate with in the future?
I think in the kind of area I write in, it will be a long time before I read a better book than Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines. The hook is so elegantly simple, and yet opens up a world of imaginative possibilities. I read it in one sitting, consumed with admiration and jealousy.
When starting a new book or idea what does your writing process look like?
Usually I have an idea years before I get the chance to actually write it, so there’s a lot of plotting and planning, developing characters and plotlines, often down to sketching out each chapter. There’s still room for the story to grow and change in the telling, but I like to put down firm roots before I begin.
What do you think makes a good story?
A little bit of craft and a lot of heart.
Do you have any strange writing habits?
I feel I should make some up in order to make myself sound more interesting, but mostly I try and save my strangeness for the page.
Over on Tales Of Yesterday I have recently been asking YA authors if music has any influence to their writing and/or characters. Is there a particular song that influenced Dark Room and/or its characters and if so how or why?
In the book Sasha mentions Poly Styrene of the 70’s punk band X-Ray Spex, and their track ‘Identity’ was a real inspiration for me as I was writing Dark Room. The lyrics draw on horror-style imagery of smashed glass and slashed wrists and touch on very modern concerns about self-image issues for young women. It really helped set the tone of the book for me.
What’s next? Any exciting plans that you are able to reveal? Any more contributions to the Red Eye series?
I’m working on a couple of hush-hush projects, including a historical fantasy which I’m really excited about. And if people like Dark Room hopefully I’ll get a chance to write another YA horror book – I’m keeping my blades sharp just in case…
*gulps*
Why are you waving that camera around again Tom?!
Okay, Okay….I will let you take a picture of me looking slightly terrified holding Dark Room up as you were good enough to play along earlier…..
Now how do you like that for a selfie! Tom? Tom why are you looking at me like that? TOM?!
Your the Angel Taker!
Noooooooooooooo!
About Tom Becker
Since Tom Becker learned to hold a pen, he wanted to become a writer. In fact, when he was 5 years old, he wrote in a notebook that it was his dream was to be an author. Aged 25, Tom has realised that dream with publication of his first novel, Darkside in January 2007.
Tom’s early enthusiasm for books and reading was encouraged by his parents who were voracious readers. Their family home was cluttered with bookcases and piles of novels. Tom spent most of his childhood curled up in an armchair reading fantasy novels by Brian Jacques, and later graduated to grown-up novels by David Eddings and Guy Gavriel Kay.
Tom studied History at Oxford University and was struck by the otherworld-ly atmosphere of this academic institution. He used to spend long days studying and reading in the University library and always felt intrigued by the atmosphere there – perhaps that is why a library is such an important setting in Darkside.
Tom started writing Darkside in 2005, it took him three months to complete and he is now working on more books in the series. He drew inspiration from film noirs such as The Asphalt Jungle and The Big Sleep (hence the glasshouse scene in Darkside), and comicbook writers such as Alan Moore.
Aside from reading, Tom’s big love in life is music. He is still reeling from the break-up of his two favourite bands, Rocket From the Crypt and Sleater-Kinney. Tom’s other passions include supporting Everton Football Club and consisting on a diet of fry-ups and fish fingers.
Find out more about Tom Becker on his website here or follow him on twitter using @Tbeckerlegge
I would like to say a huge thank you to Tom for answering all of my question and Stripes Publishing for sending me the book to read and review!
Or why not checkout the other titles in the Red Eye Series here
You can find a guest post by Tom Becker about Twin Peaks here
Or a spotlight post on Dark Room for the #RedEyeReadAlong here or here
Also do follow the new YA community from Stripes Publishing – doyareadme.tumblr.com or on twitter @doyareadme for news, competitions and more.
Have you read this book or any of the other Red Eye series? Do you like a scary read? Who do you think the Angel Taker is? I would love to hear from you! Why not leave a comment using the reply button at the top of this post or tweet me on twitter using @chelleytoy
