The Allure of Dark Paranormal
By
Lynda K. Scott
Have
you ever stayed up late to watch a scary movie? Or read a scary book? Did your
heart race? Was your breath short? Did you get shaky hands? Or a tingle down
your spine?
That's
part of the allure of dark paranormal - ghosts, goblins, vampires (the
Nosferatu types), werewolves, warlocks…the list goes on. Now, a lot of these,
particularly the vamps and weres, are pretty popular right now especially if
they're smokin' hot and supernaturally ripped. But that's not how these types
began.
They
began as the Things That Go Bump in the Night. Things that prompted you to be
leery about being out after dark. Or, heck, being alone after dark. They were on the order of morality plays.
Let's
talk about Little Red Riding Hood. A mother sends her daughter on an errand to
take some special food to her grandmother. Mother tells her - Don't go in the
woods. Stay on the path where you'll be safe. The young daughter agrees that
she'll stay on the path and go directly to Grandmother’s house. But, on the
way, the wolf intercepts her and asks where she's going and why. Well, Little
Red tells him because…why not? Mother didn't say not to talk to strange wolves.
But she notices how pretty the flowers in the nearby woods are and the wolf sees
his advantage. He tells her to stop, to take her time, and smell the flowers.
So she did.
We
all know that wolf had evil intentions toward both Red and her grandmother but
Little Red was an innocent kid and what harm ever came from smelling flowers?
She even picked a big armful to take to her grandmother.
And
that gave the wolf time enough to eat Grandma and do the 'what big eyes'
routine when the kid finally got there. He ate Little Red too in some versions.
That was her punishment, and the story warning, for disobeying her mother. In
the end, of course, the wolf was punished for his bad deeds and Little Red and
Grandma were saved by the Huntsman or Woodsman depending on the version.
The
original Dracula did pretty much the same thing. We knew he was evil. We knew
his bite would kill us but oh, he was so seductive, he made us forget all our
good sense. We had the adrenaline rush, the urge to run and the urge to throw
our heads back to expose our throats.
While
Little Red Riding Hood and Dracula are pretty old hat to us, they illustrate
the two facets we want from our dark paranormal.
We
want to be scared. We want to be seduced.
But,
mostly, we want that adrenaline rush that causes the racing heart, the short breath
and the shakiness in our hands and limbs whether it's from fear or excitement. That's
the true allure of dark paranormal.
What
are your thoughts?
Leave
a comment AND email me at Lynda@LyndaKScott.com to be entered in a drawing for
a copy of either Altered Destiny (PDF format) OR Great Escapes - Valentine’s
Day. The drawing will be on Aug 16.
Thanks
for having me here!
Heartstone
By
Lynda K. Scott
Mundania
Press
Science
Fantasy Romance
Eric
d'Ebrur is out of time. He must fine the legendary Heartstone and fulfill the
ancient Gar'Ja bond he shares with the Stonebearer. But when he finds her, he
discovers that love can be more dangerous than the Gawan threat. Eric can
defeat the mind-controlling Gawan but will it cost him the woman he loves?
After
terrifying episodes of hypersensitivity, Keriam Norton thinks she's losing her
mind. When handsome shapeshifter Eric d'Ebrur saves her from the monstrous
Gawan, she's sure of it. But insane or not, she'll find the Heartstone and, if
she's lucky, a love to last a lifetime.
Available
in print and ebook format
Buy
Links: Mundania Press (use MP10 at checkout for 10% discount)
Altered Destiny
By
Lynda K Scott
Science
Fantasy Romance
Available
in ebook formats
Stranded
on an alternate Earth, architect and Jill-of-all-trades, Liane
Gautier-MacGregor must find her way back to her homeworld before she's
enslaved...or falls in love with a man who is the exact duplicate of her
ex-husband.
Devyn
MacGregor's alter ego as the Reiver Lord is the only way he can fight the
Qui'arel and their nefarious Bride Bounty, a tax paid with human
females...until he meets the oddly familiar woman who claims he is her husband.
And who sets in motion the rebellion that will either free his countrymen or
destroy them.
Buy
Links:
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Altered-Destiny-ebook/dp/B00579FKFO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308920443&sr=8-1
Great Escapes –
Valentine’s Day
By
Lynda K. Scott and Linda Wisdom
Coliloquy
Interactive
Adult Paranormal Fiction
The
heartbroken and lovelorn come to Great Escapes B&B in search of a relaxing
getaway, only to embark on a weekend of sexual self-discovery, courtesy of the
inn's resident ghosts, who bring to life each guest's deepest desires.
Just
as the ghosts transform to meet the needs of each guest, Great Escapes
leverages the Kindle platform to deliver what each reader wants. Do you like
your erotica steamy or romantic? Your hero to have blue or brown eyes?
Anonymously fill out your preferences, and we'll deliver the best version of
hundreds of combinations prepared by the authors.
In
Great Escapes: Valentine's Day, Rose's best friend gives her a weekend stay,
where an invisible lover helps her to rediscover her sexuality. But will she
open her eyes enough to see who is right next door?
Buy
Link
About
Lynda:
In
her family of Kentucky 'ridge runners', oral tales were a tradition that even
children participated in. She spent many nights with her brother, cousins and
friends telling tall tales to excite the imagination. Now she creates award
winning science fantasy romance filled with despair, hope, love and courage
To
join my newsletter, send a blank email to: LyndaKScott-Newsgroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lyndakscott
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LyndaKScott
16 comments:
Hi everyone! I'm so glad to be visiting (LOVE the background for the blog...all those BOOKS!) Darkling Delights. Thanks to Pamela for the invitation ;-)
It's the thrill of the unknown that gets me. Is that dark handsome stranger really after me or is it my imagination? It's my imagination, damn it. Oh well, maybe in my next life. Tee Hee. Loved the blog. Valentine's Day really peaked my interest. Ghosts are my first love in the world of the paranormal. Has it been formated to down load to my Kindle Fire yet? Keep writing so I can keep reading.
To me, it's the lure of the unknown. Yes, I'm the silly one that goes to investigate that noise. I just have to know. I'm glad you have a new book out and ghosts are my favorite too!
Mary, I do believe GE-Valentine's Day is now formatted for the Kindle Fire.
Linda, I'm the one who investigates too but that's because I'm the bravest one in the house, lol.
Don't forget to send me an email to enter the drawing with your choice of Altered Destiny or Great Escapes.
I'm still shaking in my computer chair. Love the blog post and allure...Great presentation!! All the best Lynda, happy sales :) Thanks Pamela for hosting Lynda.
Hi Jennifer!
Thanks for stopping by!
Lynda:
I loved the post. And I totally agree. A hundred years ago there was a period in writing about the end of the seventies when dark paranormals were written and published like mad.The Exorcist was one of them. About that same time was when I read In Cold Blood by Truman Capote not a paranormal but terrifying because it showed the dark side of human nature at a time we were still relatively innocent.
And your book Heartstone sounds great!! Wonderful blurb. I'll check it out.
Teresa R.
Teresa,
The Exorcist was a book I had a hard time finishing. Darn thing kept making me check under the bed, behind the curtains and in the closet, lol.
But I admit I loved it even if it scared me half to death!
Popping in to say thank you to Lynda for stopping by and also for holding her awesome contest. Good luck, everyone! :-)
I think at one time, a long time ago, these scary tales (good vs evil) were used as entertainment...but, I think they were also used to give children lessons about being good, or about doing what they were told. Great blog - thanks for sharing!!
Good morning!
Pam, it's my pleasure to be here ;-)
Lacey, I think you're right. The tales were entertainment (campfire tales anyone?) and lessons for children to follow the rules, as in Little Red Riding Hood. I guess it boils down to - do you like to be scared? I do, lol
Don't forget to send me an email if you'd like to be included in the drawing for either Altered Destiny or Great Escapes. Tomorrow will be the last day to send it. You can put Darkling Delights in the subject line to help me differentiate between this drawing and another one I have starting tomorrow.
Boy, I love blogging and having contests!
I think you're right it's the thrill...from the safety of a book on your lap.
During the war, it was the dark windows that scared me. I wrote s short story, "Faces in the Glass," that sold immediately to a new magazine that folded immediately. What is the reverse of the Midas Touch?
Hi Julie,
Don't feel bad. For a long time, I had the 'kiss of death' for magazines. They'd buy a story, then go belly up. I was afraid they'd send out word to all the other publishers to stay clear of me! ;-)
Well, no one emailed me so I'd have their email addy so I'll just pick one of you ;-)
The winner is Julie Painter. Julie, please email me and let me know which book you'd like. The choice is Altered Destiny (PDF) or Great Escapes - Valentine's Day (available in Kindle and Nook formats)
My email is Lynda@LyndaKScott.com
Thanks, Pam, for having me visit!
Fantastic post Lynda! My heart does race from both of those stories!! Enjoyed this! Thanks for sharing :)
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