Creative

No Sweetie. Vampires Aren’t Sparkly

5 Reasons Why Bram Stoker’s Dracula is the Best Version of Himself

© Dusan Kostip – Stock.Adobe.Com

Sparkly, but sullen teenage vampire hunks. Cutesy fanged monster toddlers. Friendly blood suckers who own hotels and throw parties. The entertainment industry has taken a classic horror icon and defanged him.

I’m a Dracula purist. Nothing evoked more fear in my childhood than the mere mention of the legendary vampire. Bram Stoker’s book haunted my imagination and inspired me to write tales of dark fantasy and horror.

Here are 5 reasons why Bram Stoker’s Dracula is the best version of himself:

 

  1. He is “The Count.” While Polidori penned “The Vampyre” decades before, Bram Stoker made Dracula an unforgettable classic character.
  2. His story is weaved with mysteries that keep the reader enthralled.
  3. Stoker’s book contains the common elements of Horror with a terrifying villain, elicits feelings of fear and dread, immerses the readers in a macabre world.
  4. His intelligence and power over his victims add a psychological terror element many of the other horror classics lack.
  5. Dracula is iconic. Put on a cape and fangs for Halloween. Everybody will immediately recognize your costume.

Dracula is my favorite monster of all time. If you’re looking for a horror classic to read during the Spooky Season, give it a try.

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.Be Spooky. Be Gruesome. Be Goofy.

 

Advertisements

Are You Ready for The Zombie Apocalypse?

They’re coming, and they want your brains!

© mike silent – Stock.Adobe.Com

Be warned, Dear Reader. A pestilence is chewing its way toward your home town. The chilly fingers of October herald their coming. Summer gardens wither under their rotting feet. Look for them in the darkened skies of All Hallows’ Eve.

You can’t run. Their lumbering bodies will infest the streets, making it impossible to navigate toward the safety of open country. You’ve been warned. Be prepared to ward these Zombies off with brightly illuminated Jack O’ Lanterns and the “Good” chocolate.

What to do if you’re away from your fortress and surrounded? Prepare in advance. Learn from Master Zombie Hunters. Here is a list of essential Zombie Fighting Guides:

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.Be Spooky. Be Gruesome. Be Goofy.

What Tales of Terror Are on Your Book Shelf?

The Spooky Season is upon us! It’s time for warm cider, pumpkin cookies and scary stories. Whether you indulge your ravenous appetite for ghosts and ghouls on the screen or in hard copy print, nothing is better than being captured in the pages of a book.

Looking for some “scare the pants right off you” ideas? Here are a few great places to check for suggested reading:

© Sergey Nivens – Stock.Adobe.Com

Goodreads Lists– Here you can find a list of reader favorites for every genre. Try Horror and Paranormal in October for perfect Spooky Season suggestions.

Horror Writers Association– Why not look to the experts at Horror.org? As a member of HWA, I’ve had the opportunity to meet several of these gifted authors. You may recognize some of the Bram Stoker Award Winners on their website.

Grab a book or better yet, let a book grab you!

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.

Are You Prepared for The Dreary Times?

Being a Northern Dweller, I have my “To Do” list of cold weather preparations I tackle each Fall. Clean the gutters. Have the furnace serviced. Pick out my inside projects, so I’m not bored out of my mind during the dreary weather. Winter can be cozy and fun looking outside through the window of a warm house. Don’t prepare correctly and Jack Frost can make things down right bleak.

© Matic Štojs – Stock.Adobe.Com

Our lives can be reminiscent of the changing seasons. Grief or misfortune can bring about the Winter within our souls. Every life experiences the chill and barren ice fields. Nothing can prevent our dreary times. If we prepare during our Summers and Springs, however, the internal Winters will be bearable.

Preparations for the Dreary Times:

  • Cultivate Good Friends
  • Allow Yourself to be Loved
  • Jealously Guard Your Time. Don’t Waste it on Negative Things
  • Diligently Pursue the Positive in Your life

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.

Are You at A Fork in The Road?

© James Steidl – Stock.Adobe.Com

Choices. They can be overwhelmingly difficult sometimes. Do you take that job in another city or stay in your home town? Should you buy a house or continue to rent? Crème brûlée or Mud Pie? Hint: Crème brûlée. Always.

We live in an exciting time. So many options to choose from! How can you pick the best one for you?

© garmonbaziya – Stock.Adobe.Com

List out the pros and cons for each option

Carefully evaluate your lists

Do the cons outweigh the pros?

Take your list to a trusted friend or mentor

Still Stuck?

Meditate on the options for a time. Your subconscious knows the right path.

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.

 

Sometimes Doing Nothing Is the Right Thing to Do

I’ve been a project manager almost two decades. Every time a problem or new situation arises, my first impulse is to assess and plan. What is the best approach? Are there any risks? What will I need to do? How much will this cost in time, money and other resources.

The project manager’s mindset of asking these very reasonable questions has given me a successful career. Unfortunately, not all choices are quick and easy wins. Sometimes the big life choices take more.

© sborisov – Stock.Adobe.Com

Quiet Contemplation – What does Nature whisper as you take a peaceful walk in the woods?

Look Inward for the Answers – What do you really want?

Destiny – Are you seeking the path you’re meant to walk?

Sometimes doing nothing is the right thing to do. Remember, however, don’t wander in nothingness for too long. Contemplation leads to decision which finally leads to action.

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.

Suffering from A Case of the Ruts? Risk Taking May Be the Cure

Fortune Favors the Bold

© Photocreo Bednarek – Stock.Adobe.Com

We’ve all stood at the precipice. It’s high up here and we have no idea what’s at the bottom. Fear tells us to stay where we are. Why should we take the leap? It’s safe and comfortable here in our rut.

Heart pounding, we hold our breath and jump. Here it comes! This unbridled excitement can only come when we take a risk. Sometimes we hit the target and land like an Olympic gymnast on our feet. Nailed it!

Sometimes we bounce on our backsides, missing the mark completely. Now what? We get back on our feet, brush ourselves off and try again like a boss! Go ask the barista you’re crushing on for a date. Speak to your boss about a promotion. Run that marathon. Okay. Start with the 5K, but don’t be afraid to train for the marathon.

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.