Posts tagged horror

Doom Rider

March 26, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Scary, Star Author · Tagged , , , , ,

This year, I’ve got something new and exciting coming out: Doom Rider! With my Dead Trilogy done, I wanted to do something different, but stick with a dark, horror-esque story line. This actually started out as little more than a note at the end of an email to my editor. I didn’t really think anyone would take my idea seriously. A kid who’s been murdered a 1000 times and finds out he’s the first rider of the apocalypse with the power to destroy the world? Really?

From the off, I didn’t want to do something comic. The Apocalypse Riders are great fun to send up, but I wanted to do something serious. And I also wanted to play with the whole notion of free will verses destiny in a world where religion holds sway.

The blurb goes like this: Seth Crow has lived a thousand lives, and in each one he’s been murdered before he turns thirteen. And now he’s being hunted again. But this time it’s different … Enter Lily, who tells him of his fate: Seth is CONQUEST. The first of the four riders of the Apocalypse. And people want him dead, before he can fulfil his destiny. Seth’s only hope lies in finding the other riders – Strife, Famine and Death. Together the fate of the world will be in their hands. The Apocalypse is coming. And the only ones who can save the world, hold the power to destroy it.

Sounds a riot, doesn’t it? And it really is! When I do school visits I get asked, “What’s the best book you’ve written?” I always hope it’s the next one that’s out, as I’m always trying to improve what I do. So if you enjoyed my Dead Trilogy, trust me, you’re gonna just LOVE Doom Rider! It’s out in July so keep an eye on my website (www.davidgatward.com) as I’ll be keeping it up to date with news, perhaps even a competition or two…

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The Damned

March 20, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Star Author, writers, Young Adults · Tagged , , , ,

The Damned was a terrifying experience. But before I explain why, this is the blurb: “It’s not just the Dead who want to return to the Land of the Living, but the creatures of Hell itself. And only Lazarus, Stone, Keeper of the Dead, can stop them. But he’s on an insane rescue mission to save his best mate and his dad, with only the help of an undead priest and an angel with an alcohol problem. This isn’t just about saving the world, this is personal…”

So why so terrifying? Well, The Damned was the first time I’d ever experienced characters taking on a life of their own, controlling the story, and telling me what was going to happen next, where they were going to go, rather than the other way round. It was a bit disconcerting. I’m big on planning my books out. To me, it’s a bit like how I’d approach a piece of art (were I an artist, which I’m not, trust me!) First, I’d sketch it out, until I was happy with what I was doing, and then I’d add in the detail, the colour. And that’s much how I work – plan it out first, get happy with the structure of the story, then colour it in! However, half way through The Damned, the characters had other ideas as to what was going to happen. And I just had to hold on tight and hope they knew what they were doing, which it turns out they did!

The Damned is an epic conclusion to a crazy, dark, hellish journey. It draws on a lot of my love of horror movies and fiction, with plenty of nods to everything from Lovecraft to Fulci. The characters are still with me, the story still haunts me, and I hope that, once you survive your time with the Dead/Dark/Damned, you’ll be a little bit haunted by it, too!

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The Dark

March 19, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Scary, Star Author, writers · Tagged , , , ,

And then came book 2… And what a blast it was! Having set up Lazarus with a pretty nasty beginning, this was where I could let things get really out of hand. so I did. This is the blurb: “Lazarus Stone has been killed, resurrected, and attacked by demons. He’s all that stands between our world and the Dead. But things are getting complicated: he’s alone in the land of the Dead, his best mate Craig is missing, and he’s no idea who – or what – tricked his dad into trying to bring back his long-dead mum. Oh, and he’s wearing a corpse’s clothes. Life, he might think, couldn’t get much worse. But it will…” Writing The Dark was a steep learning curve, as most books seem to be. Here though I was seeing just how far and dark I could go, but also wondering all the way if I could sustain Lazarus’s story not just for book 2, but on into book 3.

When I do my school visits I often explain that the best way to think about a story is this: in the first part, get your character into a tree, thus presenting them with a problem – how to get down again. Then, to make the story interesting, it’s my job as a writer to do everything I can to make their journey back to the ground as difficult as possible. So throw stones at them, spears, rockets, try to chop the tree down, burn it, kidnap their family, train a flock of flesh-eating crows to take up residence in the tree…

Essentially, what I’m saying is that to make a story interesting, I have to make sure it’s nigh on impossible for a character to achieve a purpose. So that’s what I do in The Dark: I throw everything I’ve got, and a little bit more, at Lazarus. And through it all he gets stronger, more determined, and we can’t help but want to keep turning the page to find out what happens next…

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Skulduggery Pleasant: The End of the World by Derek Landy

March 12, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Scary · Tagged , , , ,

Everyone’s favourite skeleton detective is back in a mini-adventure.  The End of the World is a shorter story that Derek wrote for World Book Day in the UK and we’re also lucky enough to get it in New Zealand too.

The End of the World focuses on Ryan, an ordinary boy living in an ordinary world.

Or so he thought.

Ryan holds the key to a powerful weapon that could destroy the world.  He’s being pursued by a gang of insane sorcerers who will do anything to get a hold of the key.  His only chance for survival rests with Skulduggery Pleasant and his teenage partner, Valkyrie Cain, and we all know how things work out when Skulduggery gets involved.

This short Skuduggery adventure packs the same punch as the longer stories and is full of the magic, action and humour that you love about the Skulduggery books.  The coolest thing about this story is that it kicks off in a library.  Imagine, you’re choosing your books or reading quietly in a corner when fireballs start being thrown around, shelves go flying and Skulduggery and Valkyrie come storming into the library!  That would be the BEST DAY EVER!  As well as the main story, there’s also a bonus short story featuring the winners of the Australia/New Zealand character competition.

Derek Landy is coming to New Zealand in August so don’t forget to enter the competition to go in the draw to meet Derek in person.  Also, make sure you enter our Free Book Friday competition this week for the chance to win a copy of The End of the World.

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Are you Skulduggery’s biggest fan?

March 10, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Ghosts, New Zealand, Scary · Tagged , , , , ,

If you answered yes to the question above you just might have the chance to meet Derek Landy, the creator of Skulduggery Pleasant, when he comes to New Zealand for his 2012 Down Under Tour in August.  If that isn’t enough, you’ll also get a complete set of Skulduggery books, signed by Derek.  All you have to do to have the chance to meet Derek Landy is go to his website and answer these two questions:

  1. Gordon Edgley is, amongst other things, a horror writer and uncle. He is also dead. Stephanie, his beloved niece, is saddened by this unexpected event. In the first Skulduggery Pleasant Book you are introduced to the rest of Gordon’s family. Name the other family members who make an appearance in the sample chapter on the website.
  2. Tell them in 25 words or less why it should be you meeting Derek Down Under.

What are you waiting for?  Go to www.skulduggerypleasant.co.uk to enter.  You can also listen to a FREE audio book of the very first Skulduggery Pleasant book on his website.

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Why Horror?

March 7, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Scary, Star Author, writers · Tagged , , ,

Whenever I do a school event, I always ask this question: “How many of you have watched films your parents don’t know about/would disapprove of?” And you know what? Every time I ask it, I get a sea of hands in the air!

Horror is kind of dangerous, isn’t it? Whether reading it or watching it, we’re scared to find out what happens next, but we can’t help ourselves. I can imagine it’s been like this since we humans first started telling stories round fires outside caves. Why? Well, if you’ve just hunted a mammoth and barely survived with your life, you’re going to tell a great story and have loads of listeners on the edge of their seat! But if you come back and say, “Yeah, well, it was easy really,” and that’s about it, no one’s really going to want to listen, are they?

We like a good tale. We also like one that’s exciting, scary, dangerous, weird, exhausting… And I’ve always preferred books that make me nervous to find out what’s going to happen to the point where I’m breathless as I turn to the next chapter.

I remember as a kid creeping downstairs in the middle of the night, so as not to wake the parents, to watch a horror movie on TV, because I really don’t want them to know that I’d just seen a head explode in full-blown technicolour, and some terrifying demon launch itself at the next hapless victim, claws dripping in blood…

So that’s why I write horror. I want to write the kind of stuff that you hope to god your parents don’t find under your bed or in your school bag because, at heart I’m still 12, sitting up watching late-night splatter fests, and hoping my parents don’t find out. And you know what? I’m just fine with that.

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Where do YOU write?

March 5, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Star Author, writers · Tagged , , , ,

I’ve been writing, writing, writing, for years and years and years. And in all that time, I’ve written in all kinds of places. I once wrote a whole novel (70,000 words!) on the train to and from work over a period of about five weeks. I was surrounded by commuters, squashed into a little seat, yet somehow I managed (and got lots of very odd looks!) I’ve written in airport lounges, cafes, front rooms, dining rooms, libraries, under trees, in churches…

The thing I’m wondering is, does where you write affect what you write? I think it’s a bit of both. As writers, and as people, we’re affected utterly by our surroundings. After all, much of where I get my ideas from lies in all that I see/do/hear/smell/read/watch/experience (etc). When I look back at all those different places I’ve scribbled in, each one has only really been possible because I’ve managed to shut myself away, often with music and headphones.

I’m currently looking at getting myself a writing shed. This is very exciting, even though it doesn’t sound it! Imagine though, a place all to yourself to just go and sit and think and write and invent crazy new worlds and ideas and monsters and heroes and heroines and adventures. How ace is that?

So where do you go to get creative or to read or think or write or just “be”? And if you haven’t got anywhere, is there some way that you can change that?

I’ll keep you posted on the shed…

Dave

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March Star Author – David Gatward

March 1, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Scary, Star Author, Young Adults · Tagged , , , , , ,

Our magnificent March Star Author is British author, David Gatward.  David is the author of three incredibly creepy horror stories called The Dead, The Dark, and The Damned, as well as a stand-alone book called The Cave.

He had his first book published aged 18 but it’s taken many more years and life experiences to lead to writing The Dead. Seeing two ghosts, being mistaken for a homeless person and almost drowning have given David plenty of food for thought, but it’s his family who’ve been a big inspiration. Now living in rural Somerset with his wife and two boys, David writes full-time and hopes to see ghost number three very shortly.

Thanks for joining us David!  We look forward to reading all about you and your books.

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March Star Author Competition

March 1, 2012 · Filed under Authors, Books, Christchurch, Competitions, Star Author, Young Adults · Tagged , , , , , ,

Our March Star Author, David Gatward has been telling us about his book, The Dead.  It’s the first in a series of 3 seriously creepy books and this week we a set of David’s books to give away.  Please note: the books are aimed at age 12+ so they are not ideal for younger readers.

To get in the draw to win all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us ‘What is your scariest moment?’ Leave a comment with your answer, your name and email address (so that we can contact you if you win).

Thanks to everyone who entered the March Star Author Competition.  The winner of the David Gatward book pack is:  Connor.  Please check your email to find out how to claim your prize.

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Seriously Spooky Guest Post: Barry Hutchison

October 19, 2011 · Filed under Books · Tagged , , , , , ,

I have a confession to make. I always hated horror.

That might seem like a strange thing for a horror author to say, but stick with me here. I don’t hate horror now. But I did for a long time, and for two very different reasons.

As a kid, between the ages of about 5 and 11, I lived in a near perpetual state of terror. I was scared of dogs, cats, birds… goldfish. You name it, it scared me senseless. I was afraid of being in high places, wide open spaces, narrow spaces. I was terrified of being on my own, but equally alarmed by large groups. When my friends came to the door to ask if I wanted to go out, I’d refuse, suspecting that I’d probably drop dead the moment I stepped outside. Then be mauled by a tiger. And picked clean by vultures.

That was why I didn’t read horror when I was young. I was constantly terrified as it was. The last thing I wanted was to add fuel to the fire by picking up a Clive Barker or Stephen King or whoever. It took me all my courage just to open the fridge, fearing as I did that some sort of cheese creature might be waiting to leap out at me.

The second reason I used to hate horror is a bit more complicated.

When I was 11, there came a moment when I knew I had to overcome the fears that threatened to cripple my life. That moment came when I returned home from school one day to find my house empty. Usually my mum was at home after school, but on this particular day there was no sign of her. Immediately I was on the defensive. I could feel my heart speeding up. Something was out of the ordinary. Something was wrong.

But I had a more pressing worry. I was too scared to use the toilets in school, and so I would always arrive home desperate for a pee. This day was no exception, and my bladder was fit for bursting when I arrived at the house. The problem was the bathroom was upstairs in my house, and as far as I was concerned, there were monsters upstairs just waiting for the opportunity to eat me alive.

So I had a dilemma. Be eaten by monsters, or wet myself?

And then a third option presented itself, when I spotted the kitchen sink.

“This is it!” I thought. I could pee in the sink, run the tap for a minute, and no-one need ever know. Unfortunately I wasn’t quite as tall then as I am now, and I couldn’t quite manage to reach the sink. So I came up with a plan where I would jump up, prop myself up on my arms, quickly pee in the sink, then jump back down. Everything was going to be OK.

So, I got myself primed and ready. I took up my position by the sink. I bent my knees, straightened my arms, and I jumped.

What I had failed to take into account was that above the kitchen sink in my house was a row of kitchen cabinets. As I leaped, I cracked my skull on the bottom of the cabinets, and I woke up on the kitchen floor five minutes later. In a puddle of pee. With blood pouring from my head, and I thought, “This can’t go on.”

So I set about training myself not to be scared of things. I analyzed things that worried or frightened me, figuring out why I was scared and finding ways to overcome each fear in turn. Eventually, I trained myself out of almost all of my irrational fears and after that life started to feel a bit boring. I missed the constant adrenaline rush that came with always being afraid, and so I began reading horror books to try to claw that feeling back. It never worked. No matter what I read, none of it was able to scare me to the extent my own imagination had for years. The thoughts in my head were scarier than those in Stephen King’s or Clive Barker’s, and that was when I decided that I should really try writing a horror book some day…

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Win a set of Invisible Fiends books by Barry Hutchison

October 17, 2011 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, Scary, Seriously Spooky Month · Tagged , , , , , , , ,

This week we’ll be joined by seriously spooky author, Barry Hutchison, author of the creepy Invisible Fiends series.  The series is about a boy called Kyle whose invisible friend he had when he was younger comes back to try and kill him.  They’re some of my favourite seriously spooky books and are great for anyone who likes the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy.  On Wednesday Barry Hutchison will be joining us on the blog to talk about what he was scared of when he was a kid.

We have a set of the first 3 Invisible Fiends books (Mr Mumbles, Raggy Maggie and The Crowmaster) to give away this week.  To get in the draw to win all 3 books, all you have to do is tell us: If you had an invisible friend what would its name be?  Leave a comment on this post with your answer, your name and email address (so that we can contact you if you win).  Competition closes Friday 21 October.

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My favourite seriously spooky authors

October 5, 2011 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Ghosts, Scary · Tagged , , , , , ,

Some of my favourite stories are ones that creep me out and send a chill down my spine.  When I was a kid there weren’t many authors who wrote horror stories or ghost stories.  R.L. Stine’s books were about the creepiest I could find and he’s still writing them today.  If you look up R.L. Stine in the library catalogue, you’ll find we have 113 of his books in the library!

If you like horror stories, ghost stories or stories about the supernatural there are now lots of authors who write these stories. Some of my favourite seriously spooky authors are:

Throughout October we’ll be highlighting some of these seriously spooky authors and their books.  You’ll also have the chance to win some of their books.

Who are your favourite seriously spooky authors?

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Skulduggery Pleasant: Death Bringer by Derek Landy

September 12, 2011 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Scary · Tagged , , , , , ,

If you’re a huge fan of Skulduggery Pleasant like me, you’ve been waiting a whole year to find out what happens next to Skulduggery Pleasant and his side-kick Valkyrie Cain.  We were left wondering whether Valkyrie’s dark side would show her head and there was a feeling of impending doom.  Death Bringer doesn’t disappoint and there are plenty of thrill, chills and surprises to keep you on your toes.

Even before I started the story, Derek’s dedication made me crack up so I knew this book was going to be great.  The story starts with you meeting Melancholia St. Clair, a young Necromancer who Craven has chosen to be the Death Bringer.  Who and what the Death Bringer is is revealed throughout the book.  We’re reunited with Skulduggery and Valkyrie when they question a reporter who has been trying to dig up information about some strange disappearances that have occurred recently.  It appears someone is trying to cover up the truth about the Death Bringer and The Passage, and Skulduggery and Valkyrie are determined to get to the bottom of it.  When they discover the truth they must do anything they can to capture Melancholia and stop The Passage.

Death Bringer is a huge book with so much packed into it and I didn’t want it to end.  Skulduggery and Valkyrie face some terrible truths in this book and the line between good and evil is blurred.  You discover more about Skulduggery’s past and get inside Valkyrie’s head.  Because we’re getting close to the end of the series (only 3 more books to go), the story is getting darker and there’s less focus on some of the minor characters.  There’s still plenty of Derek Landy’s humour shining through though and a couple of parts had me laughing out loud, especially this part when Skulduggery meets a family travelling through Roarhaven.

“Ah,” Skulduggery said, “yes.  Very rude man, that shopkeeper.  All’s well, though?  No harm done? Excellent.”  He crouched at the car window and looked in.  “What a lovely family you have.  What a charming family.  They’re all lovely.  Except for that one.”  His finger jabbed the glass.  “That one’s a bit ugly.”

One of my favourite parts has to be the fight between Fletcher and Caelan.  It’s shows you exactly what Derek thinks of Twilight and some of the insults they throw at each other are classic.  Some of my favourite characters are back too, including Vaurien Scapegrace, the decomposing vampire and his follower, Thrasher.  There are also some great new character names including Dexter Vex, Melancholia St Clair and Oblivious.  If you’re a fan of Skulduggery Pleasant make sure you reserve your copy of Death Bringer at the library now, or if you haven’t read any of the series make sure you get your hands on the first Skulduggery Pleasant book.   Recommended for 9+      10 out of 10

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Win Skulduggery Pleasant: Death Bringer

September 1, 2011 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Competitions, Scary · Tagged , , , , ,

The thrilling sixth book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy, Death Bringer, has just been released in New Zealand.  Skulduggery is one of my favourite characters and the series keeps getting better and better.  If you haven’t already read the first 5 books you should rush to your library or bookshop and get them right now.  Each of the books in the series are packed with thrills, chills, action, battles and plenty of laughs.

Thanks to HarperCollins New Zealand we have 2 copies of Death Bringer to give away.  All you have to do to get in the draw to win a copy is to tell us what you love about the Skulduggery Pleasant books.  It could be a particular part of one of the books, a favourite character, or even your favourite quote.  Leave a comment on this post with your answer, your name and your email address (so that we can contact you if you win).  Competition closes Friday 9 September.

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Countdown to Skulduggery Pleasant: Death Bringer

August 22, 2011 · Filed under Book Trailer, Books, Children, Ghosts, Scary · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Skulduggery Pleasant is one of my favourite book characters and I always look forward to his latest battle against the forces of evil.  Luckily I only have to wait a few more weeks as the sixth book, Death Bringer is due out in New Zealand on September 1.  I can’t wait to be reunited with Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Ghastly and Tanith.

If you haven’t read any of the Skulduggery Pleasant books by Derek Landy I highly recommend them.  They’re filled with action, mystery, thrills, chills, brilliant characters and perfectly-timed humour.  If you want a taste of this awesome series, here’s the book trailer:

You can reserve your copy of Death Bringer at your local library now.

Keep your eye on the blog for your chance to WIN a copy of Death Bringer!

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Monster Matsuri cover art….revealed!! What do you think?

July 20, 2011 · Filed under Author Interview, Authors, Books, Ghosts, Holidays, Star Author, writers · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Hi! I’m Cristy Burne, author of the Takeshita Demons books and Star Author for July.

This week has been an exciting one in the world of Takeshita Demons…

Why? Because the cover for Book 3, Takeshita Demons – Monster Matsuri, has been revealed!!! Woo hoo! What do you think?

Takeshita Demons: Monster Matsuri coverMore demon stuff to do…

- Read the first page of Monster Matsuri at my blog

- Read an interview about writing the Takeshita Demons books here on the My Favourite Books blog

- Try this quick quiz: IS YOUR PERSIMMON HAUNTED?

- Check out some demon-themed activities for the holidays or the classroom (make a papier mache Daruma; try a hiragana word search; test your memory with a demonic game, and MORE!)

- And a Japanese language question: Does anyone know what “matsuri” means in Japanese? What do you think a monster matsuri might be?

- Enter the Make a Monster competition and win a copy of Takeshita Demons! We’ve had some awesome entries so far!

Happy writing and reading!

Cristy

–
Cristy Burne
Author of the Takeshita Demons series

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BEWARE: 8 spooky Japanese proverbs – Cristy Burne

July 14, 2011 · Filed under Adventure, Authors, Books, Fantasy, Fun, Humour, Mystery, Star Author, writers · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

A great place to find superstition is in proverbs. Here are a few you may recognise:

- Step on a crack, marry a rat
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away
- Cross my heart and hope to die
- Don’t judge a book by its cover
- Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight

Let’s check out some awesome Japanese proverbs.
(and don’t forget to enter our Make-a-monster Competition: invent a demon and win a prize!)

1) If you give a boy’s name to a girl, or a girl’s name to a boy, they will grow up healthy and strong
You may wonder why your parents gave you such a weird name. Well, maybe this is the reason? Switching boys’ and girls’ names is a way to confuse (and hopefully avoid) the demons who bring disease and bad luck.

Lined sole fish

Do you want to look like this?

2) If you scowl at your parents, you will turn into a sole.
You know the old saying “If you make a face, the wind will change and you’ll be stuck that way”? Well, this is the Japanese equivalent. Basically, it’s a warning to be nice to your mum and dad. Because if you don’t, you’ll turn into a flat fish with both eyes on one side of your face. (Don’t worry: you will still taste good served with chips!)

3) When a weasel cuts across your path, he will bewitch you if you don’t throw a stone at him.
In Japanese culture, animals like weasels, foxes and badgers are known to have magical powers over humans, including the ability to shape-change, and they love to trick you out of your money. Throwing a stone is a quick, easy way to make sure you stay safe.

4) If you put spit in your eyebrows, the fox will not bewitch you.
Here’s another simple way to stay safe from demon foxes: simply spit into your own eyebrows and mix well. (This belief comes from the idea that saliva is powerful and can help your eyes to see the truth behind magical  spells)

5) If you kill a cat, it will haunt you and your family for seven generations.
Yikes! Better be nice to your cat! In Japan, cats who grow very fat and very old are also thought to turn into giant, man-eating cat demons. So your only hope for survival is to own a dog instead. :-)

6) If your sandal strap breaks, evil is heading your way
This is a great reason to check your shoes and shoelaces before you head out on a dangerous mission. (If you’ve read The Filth Licker, you now know the secret double meaning behind Cait’s broken shoelace…)

7) If you pick up a comb, you will pick up suffering.
This superstition comes about because the Japanese word for comb is “kushi”, which is made up of two sounds: “ku” (the Japanese word for “suffering”), and “shi” (the Japanese word for “death”). So, instead of bending straight down to pick up your dropped comb, it’s better to stand on it first. Standing on the dropped comb drives out any evil spirits that are in it, making it safe to pick up. Phew!

8 ) A person who uses red things will only suffer a light case of smallpox

Takeshita Demons cover

Carry this lovely RED book at all times, if you want to stay safe!

This proverb was around before the smallpox disease was eradicated thanks to vaccination, but it shows clearly that red was a colour of protection in Japan. Why red? It’s the colour of flushed, healthy cheeks. It’s the colour of warmth and cheerfulness. And it’s also the colour that many sick people wore in old Japan, to protect themselves from disease. (Red is also the colour of the first Takeshita Demons book…no coincidence there! Miku needs all the help she can get!)

What do you think?
Do you know any spooky or strange proverbs or superstitions?
Would you walk under a ladder?
Go out on Friday 13?
What would you do with a 4-leaf clover?
Do you believe in superstitions?

Let me know in the comments (and watch out for shape-changing foxes and cats!)
And….don’t forget to enter our Make-a-monster Competition: invent a demon and win a prize!

Happy writing and reading!

Cristy

–
Cristy Burne
Author of the Takeshita Demons series

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Check out my blog
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5 Japanese demons you may know from books and movies – Cristy Burne

July 8, 2011 · Filed under Adventure, Books, Cultures and People, Fantasy, Ghosts, History, Mystery, Star Author, writers, Writing Tip of the Week · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

cristy burne and headsHi!  Cristy Burne here, author of the Takeshita Demons books and Star Author for July.

I hope you like scary stories, because that’s exactly what I like to write. And believe it or not, the Takeshita Demons books are based on truth.

That’s right! All the Japanese monsters I write about are real…I didn’t make them up! In fact, I was only inspired to write Takeshita Demons after I started studying the history and mythology of Japanese monsters (or yokai in Japanese).

The Filth Licker and more…

Monsters in Takeshita Demons (like the Filth Licker (aka-name), the Snow Woman (yuki-onna) and the  Cut-throat Demon (nuke-kubi)) have been part of Japanese mythology and stories for hundreds of years.  They’re much the same as vampires, werewolves and fairies in Western culture.

Many of Japan’s demons are very unusual, but here are some you may recognise…How many do you know?
Don’t forget to enter our Make-a-monster Competition: invent a demon and win a prize!

5 Japanese demons you may know from books and movies

Hanako of the toilet1) Toire no Hanako-san

‘Toire no Hanako-san’ means Hanako-of-the-toilet. Hanako is the ghost of a young girl and she haunts particular toilet cubicles, usually at school. Remind you of anyone you might remember from a certain school for wizards?

In Japanese legend, Hanako is usually shy…

BUT…if someone is mean to her or teases her, then…watch out!

If you want to meet Hanako, you need to knock three times on the door of her haunted toilet and call out: “Are you there, Hanako?”.

Why don’t you give it a try next time you’re in the school toilets?

2) BentenThe goddess benten

Aha! I bet you thought Benten was a boy with a really cool wrist watch! You did, didn’t you?

Well, think again. Benten is actually a woman with eight arms and a whole bunch of dragons as friends. In Japanese mythology, Benten is one of the 7 lucky gods, and she’s around 1500 years older than the Benten you might know.

Still, the goddess Benten is a good person to befriend: she can help make you rich and give you good grades at school (she’s also the goddess of wisdom and prosperity).

yagyo-san3)  The headless horse

You’ve heard of the headless horseman, right? He’s a famous legend that grew from a character in a story published in America nearly 100 years ago.

But…have you heard of the headless horse?

The headless horse is the favourite method of transport for a Japanese ogre called Mr Yagyo, or Yagyo-san.

Yagyo-san has been around for hundreds of years, coming out only once a year to wreak havoc on the human population. On this one day — the day before Japan celebrates Setsubun, the beginning of spring — Yagyo-san roams the streets tossing spiked soybeans at people.

According to Japanese stories, the only way to escape is to lie face-down on the ground with a pair of sandals on your head.

ningyo_japanese_mermaid4) Mermaids

When I say ‘mermaids’, do you think of beautiful half-fish, half-woman creatures with long golden hair and perfect skin?

Well…that’s not the only kind of mermaid in the sea!

Japanese mermaids are called ningyo and although they are half-fish, half-woman, they’re not exactly what I would call beautiful.

I’m researching ningyo now as part of the next Takeshita Demons book… Apparently, eating the flesh of a Japanese mermaid can make you immortal, and even just seeing one can add three years to your life. Pretty cool, huh.

(Japanese mermaids also have some unfriendly friends, like the sazae-oni, a poisonous demon formed when a very old sea snail mutates into an ogre.)

tengu5) Tengu (or the tengu’s invisibility cloak, at least)

Tengu are a half-bird, half-humanoid Japanese demon that live in the mountains. You often see tengu masks in Japan and they feature in traditional Japanese stories and theatre.

But, you probably know the tengu’s cloak more than the tengu.

Tengu have many special powers and own many magical objects, not least of which is the invisibility cloak.  This is a cloak that makes you totally invisible when you wear it. Ring any bells?

There is another story of a tengu who owns a magical fan that can make your nose grow. In the story, the tengu accidentally fans himself… Maybe that’s why he looks how he looks!

So what’s my point?

My point is that you don’t always have to invent everything when you’re writing a fantasy or horror story.

Some of the craziest things you can imagine happen in real life (just read the newspaper sometime!). Some of the most unbelieveable things ever are actually true (700 million people around the world have blood-sucking hookworms in their guts). And some of the best writers and books use little bits of history and science and real-life-fact to inspire their incredible stories.

So, when you’re writing your own stories and books, take some time to research some real-life topics that might be relevant. The Christchurch library has a huge non-fiction section filled with heaps of fascinating facts and stories…. Check it out and you will be amazed!

How many of the demons did you know?
Any fascinating facts you’d like to share?
Drop us a comment!

And don’t forget to enter our Make-a-monster Competition: invent a demon and win a prize!

Happy writing and reading!

Cristy

–
Cristy Burne
Author of the Takeshita Demons series

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Introducing Cristy Burne: Star Author for July

July 1, 2011 · Filed under Author Interview, Authors, Books, Star Author, writers · Tagged , , , , , , , ,

cristy burne and headsHi! I’m Cristy Burne, author of the Takeshita Demons books and Star Author for July. Nice to eat you!

I was born in Tauranga, but now I live in Australia (my dad is from New Zealand and my mum is from Australia so we moved to Australia when I was 13).

Below I’ve answered my Top 5 questions to myself. Since it’s a bit sad to interview yourself, please ask me your own questions by commenting at the bottom of this post: I’d love to answer them for you.

But for now…

My Top 5 interview questions for me : Cristy Burne

1) Why did you become a writer?
Because I love making stuff up. When I’m writing, I can do whatever I like. I can introduce new characters, kill off old characters, make something really terrible happen to my favourite characters and then rescue them again. It’s like having a videogame inside your head. It’s like being the director of your own movie. There is seriously nothing cooler than inventing a whole pile of stuff and seeing it come to life.

2) Do you like reading?
Yes! When I’m reading, I can do anything. I can slay dragons, fight aliens, climb mountains, win races, explore new countries, fall in love… I can get inside someone else’s head and have an idea of what it feels like to be them. So yes, I love love love reading, especially in bed at night, when everything else is quiet and it’s just me and my book and the adventure.

3) How many books have you written?
Takeshita Demons and The Filth LickerTakeshita Demons was my first published. Before Takeshita Demons I wrote heaps of other things: articles, short stories, diaries, poems, riddles…plus three other books that have never been published because they’re hidden in my bottom drawer.

There are at least three books in the Takeshita Demons series: Takeshita Demons, The Filth Licker (out now!) and Monster Matsuri (out next year!). I’m writing the next Takeshita Demons book right now!….

4) Has Takeshita Demons won any prizes?
Yes (and thank you for asking ;-) ). Takeshita Demons won the 2009 Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children’s Book Award. This prize is awarded to a story that features a character or a culture whose voice might not otherwise be heard. In the case of Takeshita Demons, that’s the voice of Miku Takeshita, the star of the story. Miku is a Japanese girl who has moved with her family to live in England. She and her best friend Cait end up having to break into their school in the middle of a snowstorm to fight a headless demon who’s pretending to be their supply teacher. Spooky!

5) Is it true that you’re incredibly good-looking and intelligent?
Well, I don’t like to comment on that (blush).  But thank you for asking. ;-)

(So, as you can see, when you’re writing you can make up whatever you like! It’s fabulous fun.)

And don’t forget…if you have any other questions, put them in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Happy writing and reading!
And…don’t forget to enter our Make-a-monster Competition: invent a demon and win a prize!

Cristy

–
Cristy Burne
Author of the Takeshita Demons series

Follow me on Twitter
Check out my blog
Like The Filth Licker on Facebook!

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A Fiendish Guest Post – Part 2

May 11, 2011 · Filed under Authors, Books, Children, Ghosts, Reading Crusade 2011, Reading Crusade Challenge, writers · Tagged , , , , ,

The first few books in my Invisible Fiends series are pretty scary, but it’s not until the fourth book that the frights go into overdrive. Book four features Doc Mortis, a deranged imaginary friend who hides in an old abandoned hospital and likes to think he’s a surgeon. He kidnaps children and performs operations on them while they are still awake, turning them inside out, giving them the heads of dogs, and much, much worse.

And here is the exclusive, never-before-seen artwork for the Doc Mortis character. I haven’t even posted this on my own blog yet.

That’s him. Notice the tools in his pocket there? He does some very unpleasant things with those tools, so it’s probably best you steer well clear of them. Or at least wash your hands, afterwards.

Want to keep up with all the latest on me and my books? Then check out my blog at BarryHutchison.com!

Thanks for listening. I now return you to your regular programming.

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