GUEST POST
The Challenges of Setting a Horror Novel around Christmas
Most people look at A Death at the North Pole with a level of concern. They don’t understand why anyone would actually want to take the time to churn out a horror story that revolves around the holiday. In some cases, the fact that I killed off Santa Claus upsets people more than that.
That is why there has to be a balance in place for this process. While a person could go out full force slash horror, such as Santa’s Slay or Silent Night, Deadly Night, I figured adding in a little black humor would lessen the blow. Items like the elves and Lauren’s one liners help to give the book a whimsical feeling. When you blend that with the overall themes of the holiday, it doesn’t hit the reader as hard.
It doesn’t mean that the story is a one dimensional piece either. While you can sit down and begin to read the story at face value, you can also pull more from it. I threw in some philosophical items that people can think about and pull their own value from. Since people read for a number of reasons, I felt it was important to give them a full array of options that they could take the time to explore. In the book, you will find that the story offers insight on commercialism as well.
Of course, no matter what you do there will be plenty of people who attack you for even going up against the Christmas holiday. Once, I received a lovely e-mail from a parent whose child was reading the story on her Kindle. For some reason, she thought it was a story her 10 year old would be okay reading. She ranted on and on how I should have provided a warning that the book wasn’t for children. Apparently the synopsis and the word death weren’t enough of a giveaway. That is one challenge I think that will never go away. The story does open with elves, Santa Claus and the first few chapters focus on the legend itself.
So, if you are looking to prepare yourself for writing a holiday inspired horror tale, you might want to consider that most people are up in arms about Christmas, Easter and similar holidays. However, if you are planning about Halloween, they you are find. Just keep in mind that thousands of others regularly write their works of horror fiction around this holiday as well.
Book Details:
Genre:Adult Suspense, Mystery, Thriller,Horror
Publisher: Darkcountry Publications
Publication Date: June 13, 2008
Synopsis:
Detective Lauren Bruni has dealt with death for her entire life. She has watched it ruin lives, and brought people closer together. Her job taught her to separate fact from fiction.
But on a cold December day, all Lauren had believed in would be shattered and tossed aside. Thrust in a world unlike any she has seen before, she investigates a prominent figure’s grisly murder, and searches for answers along a strange new set of people.
All while a killer watchers her every movement from the background. He waits in the shadows, waiting to strike at her when the time is right.
What is the secret of the death at the North Pole, and what is the larger horror at hand? Life lessons are learned and a realization that sometimes the most real things in this world are the ones we believe in the least.
Author Bio
Joel M. Andre was born January 13, 1981. At a young age he was fascinated with the written word. It was at fourteen that Poe blew his mind, and Andre began to dabble with darker poetry.
Between the years of 1999 and 2007 Joel was featured in various poetry anthologies and publications. In 2008 he released his first collection,Pray the Rain Never Ends.
Knowing there was something deeper and darker inside of his soul, Joel decided to take a stab at commercialism. Releasing the dark tongue in cheek, A Death at the North Pole, created a dark world among the death of Kris Kringle. Ultimately providing a tale of redemption.
October of 2008 saw Joel release his second book, Kill 4 Me. A tale in which a woman is haunted by a vengeful spirit through text messages and instant messaging.
Taking some time off and doing a lot of soul searching, Joel took things in a new direction and dabbled in the Fantasy Genre with, The Pentacle of Light. The tale dealing with five major races battling for control of Earth, and the acceptance of their God.
Finally, after missing his detective Lauren Bruni, he released the book The Return in October 2009, this time moving the action from the North Pole and placing it in the small Arizona community he was raised in.
Andre’s latest book is The Black Chronicles: Cry of the Fallen about a dead man who seeks revenge on the woman that tormented him in peaceful Northern Arizona.
Currently, he resides in Chandler, AZ.
Connect With Joel:
Website
The Next Stop:
November 27-Spotlight@ Sweeping Me (review delayed)
Purchase Links:
Amazon
