Chris Verstraete - Killer Valentine Ball

Writing Scared – Christine Verstraete

I love getting scared. You know, the scream-your-head-off, no one can hear you kind of scared? Roller coaster scared. Halloween haunted house scared.

I keep saying I'll go sit in a graveyard in the dark or go in a "real" haunted house. Haven't done it—yet. But what I have done and enjoy doing is writing scary. Being a fan of Stephen King, I guess it's natural I gravitate to horror, though I do like to add a touch of humor. Weird sense of humor, I guess.

In my short fiction eBook, THE KILLER VALENTINE BALL by C.A. Verstraete, Jess decides to go out with her mother's friend's son as a favor, after all, why spend Valentine's Day alone? Still... a blind date, on V-Day? Yikes! Can you say loser?

Well, this will be one memorable blind date—one Jess will never forget. It's a weird little party.... the lights are low and seem to be playing tricks on her eyes...

Excerpt:

"... The music played quietly in the background. When the shadows brightened, Jess caught a quick glimpse of one of the couples. The young man's mouth gaped open. His partner's gown glistened with streams of dark ribbons. The light flashed again and Jess gasped. Those weren't ribbons! The girl's dress shone with dark glimmers. Like-like blood, she thought. No, it can't be! She looked back at Dylan, who shook his head and urged her on.

"Light tricks," he whispered. "It's not real. It's Halloween stuff, like the movie. Don't worry."

Yes, it's a weird little story, with a touch of humor. (I couldn't resist!) I think it plays on that funny feeling you get when you know you should've made a different choice, and the things that play out as a result.

Of course, in the end, Jess is vindicated. Well, kind of. That's the fun of writing horror. It doesn't have to be all blood and guts. It can be a little ghoulish—with a funny, odd little twist. Call it horror with a smile! So I had some fun with Jess... but you have to read it to see!

(Buy: Kindle, http://tinyurl.com/3pu8hu2  - or Muse Bookstore, http://tinyurl.com/647pn87 )

Bio: Christine Verstraete http://cverstraete.com is an award-winning journalist and author published in fiction and nonfiction. She loves writing short horror as in her eBooks, "Motherly Love" and "The Killer Valentine Ball." Her recent short stories were published in DAW Books anthologies such as the latest, Hot & Steamy: Tales of Steampunk Romance. She also is author of a nonfiction book on miniatures, IN MINIATURE STYLE II, and a children's mystery, SEARCHING FOR A STARRY NIGHT, A MINIATURE ART MYSTERY. All books are linked at my website (above) or blog, http://candidcanine.blogspot.com/