Why Horror?
When I was asked to write a blog about my work, I honestly
wasn’t sure where to begin. So I started thinking about questions people have
asked me before, and one of the things that seem to surprise people when I talk
about my work is the fact that I enjoy writing horror. People probably wouldn’t
expect it from me. They probably, in fact, would think I would prefer to write
fantasy or young children’s stories instead of middle grade horror novellas,
but horror stories are how I got my start and what I enjoyed when I was a
child. So I’m going to try to explain why horror is important to me and why I
think these books are worthwhile.
Even though people don’t like to admit it, deep down I
believe that everyone likes a good scare as long as it’s caused by something
that doesn’t have a bad outcome. People like to tell a good “close call” story
or a story about seeing something they can’t explain if the audience is willing
to listen. We all have a deep fascination with the unknown and things that
can’t be easily explained. Even though no one likes to say it, we tend to look
in the direction of an accident because we have a fascination with things that
are grim.
When I was a child, I read books from the Scary Stories series. I read these books
because I was fascinated by the gore and the horrific things that happened in
the stories. The stories made me jumpy and a little nervous but it was a good
feeling, an interesting shiver that would make me always look over my shoulder.
As I grew up I started watching scary television shows and reading books like Goosebumps. I started reading Stephen
King novels probably when I was too young.
The point that I’m trying to make is that horror books are
worthwhile because they stimulate that need that we have to see the grim side
of things and to experience a close call through the eyes of another person. We
can read a story, feel afraid, and then breathe a sigh of relief knowing that
it’s all just a story in the end. No one knows how keenly we need this kind of
outlet than children.
The world today is a scary place. Amid stories of child
trafficking, families splitting up, school shootings, and other horrible
realities that children are exposed to, stories about children fighting
monsters and facing their fears are important. In the Spine Chillers series, my characters have to save themselves by
being clever, thinking things through, and using their talents in creative ways
to fight off the monsters that thrive on their fear. In facing the creatures,
many of them have to confront their own inner demons as well and learn what
they are and aren’t capable of in order to protect themselves and others. If my
stories can give children courage, and can convince those facing something that
seems too big for them that they can be confident in themselves, then I’ll have
done what I set out to do with these novels. I’m proud to be a horror writer,
and especially one for middle school children.
About the Author
Nancy Gray has published a number of works including her
young adult fantasy series Blood Rain. Her short story “Chosen” appeared
in Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Author Quest: a Penguin Special from
Grosset & Dunlap. Her work also appears in various anthologies.
Nancy
Gray has been writing for over ten years. Gray lives in South Carolina with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys books,
video games, anime, manga, and horror.
Her
latest book is the mid-grade horror, Spine Chillers: The
Scarecrow.
WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK
About the Book:
Title: SPINE CHILLERS: THE SCARECROW
Author: Nancy Gray
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 113
Genre: Mid-Grade Horror
Author: Nancy Gray
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 113
Genre: Mid-Grade Horror
BOOK BLURB:
Eleven year old Sophie arrives at her Aunt and Uncle’s farm
to horrible news: her cousin, Hunt, has gone missing. When Sophie starts
searching for clues to where her cousin went, strange things happen. The scarecrow wanders around the cornfields
at night and murders of crows lash out at other animals for no reason at all.
An ancient spirit wants revenge. Sophie will have to be brave
and clever in order to save her cousin…and herself!
No comments:
Post a Comment