Intriguing Observations ~ Blood-Curdling Scream Park
The Intriguing Observations series was created to gather some of the greatest supporters and bloggers to provide their own insight on all things creative both in their ventures and their techniques. This week on the guest series is paranormal horror author, Mark Tufo.
Hello All, My name is Mark Tufo, I am the author of The Spirit Clearing. My newest release being Zombie Fallout 6: ‘Til Death Do Us Part which was released on October 1st.
Why the horror genre? Hell why not? Who doesn’t like a good scare? Ever seen some of those roller coasters? They might be called amusement parks, but if they could get away with it, I bet they’d go with something more along the lines of Blood-curdling Scream Park. That would be way cooler.
Alright but I’m digressing, if you’ve read any of my books you’d know I do that a lot. There really is something about a good scare, about pulling your legs up to the rest of your body and making sure that your blanket covers you completely, (because I’m sure that will stop the sharp toothed clown with claws for hands from being able to get at the tender meat that surrounds your throat, sorry I had to) as you watch or read your favorite scary story.
The exhilaration of your heart pounding as the hero or heroine runs for their life, with the vampire (not the sparkling variety), zombie, werewolf, or even the guy with crazy knives hands chases them invariably through the darkened, wet and lonely forest. It’s always a forest maybe because of the innate fear we feel when we’re alone amongst those silent sentinels. What’s behind that tree up ahead?
Did you see it? It could be anything.
Couple that with Halloween and you easily have my favorite time of the year. The thought of curling up to a good book as I stare out my rain soaked window, leaves lazily making their way down in the cool crisp bite of autumn air I can think of no better time to relax and let a wave of fear wash over me. Maybe it’s nostalgia, I read Stephen King’s IT way back when in the days leading up to Halloween. And something took root I’ve just always associated a good scare with the fall.
So when most folks are waiting for the buds to form on trees so that they can pull out of the dark season of winter, I am briskly rubbing my hands together happy to be rid of the yolk of heat. All of my books from the Zombie Fallout series, to the Indian Hill trilogy, Timothy, The Spirit Clearing and The Book of Riley all have one common element, in one shape way or form they deal with horror, some internal, some external. They are meant to evoke feelings of tension, fear, maybe even trigger a flight or fight mechanism in you (if that happens I’ve really done my job!). I’ve had folks tell me that at certain parts of my stories they’ve had to read while they are peeking through their splayed fingers, I could think of no higher compliment with which they could tell me!
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to post on your blog and Happy Halloween!
www.marktufo.com
Review~
Image Copyright Amethyst44The Spirit Clearing is an interesting horror novel with a surprising twist at the end. I read the novel in the span of an evening, and it was definitely a read that made me want to know what happens next.
The strongest aspect of the Spirit Clearing was the overall plot of the novel. The pacing of the novel- stretching it over the span of multiple years- often times seemed unnecessary, but the overall plot kept the tension at a compelling level.
Along with the pacing problems, the only other detractor from the overall coherence and success of the book was the main character. Mike Talbot has an interesting ability, in that he can see things that aren’t there as well as auras, however he often does not react to situations in a realistic manner. When he first discovers his special ability, he seems to accept this ability without much questioning. This cannot be confused with coming to terms with his new ability, as his response is to avoid it as much as possible, but throughout the beginning chapters of the novel he is not at all concerned about the results of the car accident, his thoughts being more focused on his gradual alienation from those who surround him.
An additional characteristic of the main character, which made me feel incredibly removed from him, is his lack of agency. As a reader, I should be feeling for the main character, and even if I can’t personally understand his motivation or responses, they should feel like they fit in with the overall character. In some situations, Mike was very questioning, almost pushy, yet in others he was very accepting of everything that went on around him. As the book progresses, things start to get stranger and more terrifying, and Mike never seems to be fazed by these events. Mike’s thoughts and his reactions seem to be completely disconnected from any situation he finds himself in. For example, in a situation where he is hearing unexplainable noises, his thoughts indicate a level of fear that his actions don’t carry out.
However, after finishing the book, I began to wonder whether this disconnect from his emotions, the people around him, and his overall environment were conscious choices on the part of the author. Without ruining the twist ending (which was completely unexpected), this disconnect and lack of agency made sense.
Overall, I would give this book a4 out of 5.
About the Author:
Mark Tufo was born in Boston Massachusetts. He attended UMASS Amherst where he obtained a BA and later joined the US Marine Corp. He was stationed in Parris Island SC, Twenty Nine Palms CA and Kaneohe Bay Hawaii. After his tour he went into the Human Resources field with a worldwide financial institution and has gone back to college at CTU to complete his masters.
He has written the Indian Hill trilogy with the first Indian Hill - Encounters being published for the Amazon Kindle in July 2009. He has since written the Zombie Fallout series and is working on a new zombie book.
He lives in Maine with his wife, three kids and two English bulldogs.
Visit him at www.marktufo.com or http://zombiefallout.blogspot.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Tufo/133954330009843 for news on his next two installments of the Indian Hill trilogy and upcoming installments of the Zombie Fallout series.