Amanda Hocking writes a winner with Hollowland! If you like some good gore and a fun story, then this book may be just what's cooking for dinner tonight with a heaping spoonful of brains. I have always loved zombies and I've dated a few here and there. I am a huge fan of "Night of The Living Dead" by George A. Romero and Lucio Fulci's "Zombie." Please for the love of god, watch Lucio Fulci's "Zombie" movie, if you have not seen it...I promise you will thank me later.

There's just something wonderful about being trapped with some people who you may or may not find attractive in small areas. It could be a mall or a fenced in camp setting...hell it could be anything! I like having to use survival instincts and trying to protect others from being consumed by flesh eating zombies. I would have to say that this is a fantasy of mine. I have thought of what I would do if a 100 zombies were cornering me in a huge barn and it's incredibly frightening.

Now, let me get back on track here with my quick book review. Amanda Hocking is a very good storyteller and Hollowland is the first book I've read of hers, but I plan on reading My Blood Approves as well. I'm very impressed with her character development and I could not get enough of the main character Remy, who is a kick ass survivor of the zombie apocalypse. She does a wonderful job of incorporating horror (super gross visual descriptions of zombies) and paranormal romance into Hollowland, although there is more horror then romance in this book, I seem to like it even more for the gore or maybe I'm just a morbid soul...yeah, I'm pretty morbid...oh well.

Hollowland is a simple story that will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering who will be chewed apart by the zombies next. I grew an almost lesbian-like attachment for Remy (the girl on the book cover is hot) and could not wait to see what happens when she finds her younger brother. The only element of the book, I could have done without is where they find a lion and make it their pet. Of course, there are some other aspects of the book, which were a little hard to believe, but overall, I would highly recommend reading Hollowland. As an indie writer myself, I am thrilled to see such a young writer reach the success Amanda Hocking has in such a short amount of time.

I give this book a bloody 8 star rating out of 10!

Stay dark,

Veronica Mordem

Have you ever seen or heard of the horror film MORTUARY from 1983? This movie is out of print and I use to have it on VHS, but now all I have is a copy. I have always adored the movie poster because of the beautiful purple colors and the mist forming around the tombstone.

It really is a beautiful work of art and I just love how the hand bursts forth from the grave. I am very fortunate to own the original theater-used movie poster for MORTUARY and I like to encourage my friends to buy "original" theater-used movies posters.

Buying original movie posters is a great investment. I will admit the cover art on the MORTUARY poster and the VHS box is not the same as the movie, but still, it looks freaking awesome! If you are looking for a cheaply filmed horror flick and you are bored to death, then check this one out!

Bill Paxton is at his best in this cheesy film and it will make you want to get out your old popcorn machine. For example, seeing Mary McDonough from The Waltons in a horror movie is a breath of fresh air. John boy would be proud of her and so would the rest of The Waltons family. MORTUARY may not have been the best horror movie to come out of the 80's, but it sure has some good moments. If you never have seen Christopher George as an actor, you need to check this movie out now! Is it his best role? No, it's not, but it was the last film he made before he died.

On a good note, Bill Paxton makes MORTUARY worth watching because he does a wonderful job of showing how well he can play a lunatic. As many already know who have seen MORTUARY, it leaves very little to be desired in the areas of great kills and superb gore.

The killer in this movie uses a trocar (a surgical instrument with a three-sided cutting point enclosed in a tube, used for withdrawing fluid from a body cavity) as his main instrument of death. Are the killings good you may ask? Yes, some of them are good, but it's still 100% good old 80's cheese. This is one of those flicks that has fallen through the cracks of time and it needs an official dvd release. Please keep in mind, this movie does have some redeeming qualities, such as the music (eerie and suspenseful) and a young Bill Paxton.

Sick of crappy remakes? Many of the horror flicks coming out today are lacking the vital elements, that make a good horror film. I certainly don't claim to be the master of horror, but I do think we can have better scripts and actors today, not to mention, I am noticing a good number of stunning young actresses coming from Canada, who are doing very well in the horror genre. Go Canada!

Stay dark,

Veronica Mordem

 

Like lightning follow me like
To a trip to a candy land
I never thought I'd ever needed you
The key that opens my heart
Strips down and changes to bark
I keep turning I keep turning blue

I'm digging a hole to bury me
And I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep
Just take it slow coz I got no enemies
I'm not stopping til I'm six feet deep

Black cats keep crossing my path
Sleeping blasts from here and restless
I know, I know it's you
I'm down but laughing out loud
I see you peeking from behind the dark cloud
This thing goes pointing right at you

I'm digging a hole to bury me
And I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep
Just take it slow coz I got no enemies
I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep

I'm digging a hole to bury me
And I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep
Just take it slow coz I got no enemies
I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep

I'm digging a hole to bury me
And I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep
Just take it slow coz I got no enemies
I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep

I'm digging a hole to bury me
And I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep
Just take it slow coz I got no enemies
I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep

I'm digging a hole (digging a hole)
I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep
(deep deep deep deep)
I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep
I'm digging a hole (digging a hole digging a hole digging a hole)
I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep
(deep deep deep deep)
I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep
(deep deep deep deep)
I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep
(I'm not stopping till I'm six feet deep)

Well, I have an idea for a great book with the lyrics that inspire me from this song! I think it's time to get out the shovel, find my favorite cemetery and let the fun begin!

Stay dark,

Veronica Mordem

You'll twist and turn your spite
Till you drain the sane
Cover up your track's with lie's
Deceit hide's a smile

So tired of this false pretense
Can't even look me in the eye
Approached by truth, you take offense
Praise the hypocrite!

I'll dance on your grave until my feet bleed
Six feet unders, where you'll rot
No remorse, your ill fate kept you running

What lie's behind close door's
Your slave's dance, you stamp your feet
Secrecy will land you on your face
No game, no gain

Your sheer presence make's my skin crawl
But your stale memory drag's on
What goes around, comes around

I'll dance on your grave until my feet bleed
Six feet unders where you'll rot
No remorse, your ill fate kept you running

We'll spit on your grave until your soul scream's
Six feet unders not deep enough
No sleep lost, good thing's come to those who wait

This is one of those songs I can listen to over and over again! Talk about writing inspiration and overcoming desperation...I just love it!

Enjoy!

Veronica Mordem

As a writer, I would like to think that self expression through my short stories will touch someone out there, even though many of my stories deal with the macabre, I'm certain, there are some fright freaks who will enjoy getting a "quick fix" to feed their darksides from my paranormal stories.

Ever since I was a teenager,  I've been heavily influenced by those obscure horror movies from the 70's and 80's, such as the works of such brilliant Italian directors as Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci. Fortunately, thanks to the VHS collectors on YouTube, you can get to see the fine artwork that was displayed on those old VHS tapes of the past today. Both the cover art, as well as the movies from the 80's helped shape and mold my mind for writing some fun-filled and creepy stories.

I love the horror artwork on theater-used posters from back then (70s - 80s), because many of the illustrations were done on canvas. For example, the original movie poster for "Maniac" starring Joe Spinell had some of the best canvas artwork I've ever seen. If you never have had the pleasure of seeing Argento's "Phenomena" or Lucio Fulci's "Zombie," you don't know what you are missing. I would also like to encourage anyone who is visiting my blog to check out VampireFreaks.com, because it is a site with so many outstanding bands to choose from online. I like to write as I listen to such bands as "The Birthday Massacre" and "Ashbury Heights" over at VampireFreaks.com.

I plan on making this blog contain vital information about my upcoming books and some of my favorite bands. 

Stay dark,

Veronica Mordem

PS:  Keep checking back for my new books :)