Recently a friend said to me, “I’d like to read your books, but I don’t like to be afraid.”
I suppose she might have thought it odd if I’d gasped and replied, “I know what you mean!”
After all, the characters in my books get themselves into some pretty harrowing predicaments. But I do understand her point. It’s no fun being afraid in real life. And as the owner of a vivid imagination, I’ve been known to jump at the sight of my own shadow.
I think my mother discovered my imagination problem when I was in grade school. An R.N. who worked till five during the week, her first words to us every day were, “Do your homework,” and “You may NOT watch Dark Shadows.”
“Right, Mom,” we’d say. Then promptly at 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, my little sister and I turned on the tube to watch Barnabas, Julia, Angelique, Quentin and the whole Collins’ gang. I was terrified—and intrigued.
And it didn’t help much when one night I awoke to find my sister staring over me, hands curled, teeth bared, ready to pounce. I fixed her, though. I got up, wrapped a scarf around my neck and went back to sleep.
I never outgrew my over-active imagination or my love of watching scary movies. Growing up, my town had two theaters – the Allen and the Totah. Down the street from one another, the Allen was the place that showed G movies and Disney. The Totah was the place that showed the PG movies and the scary movies.
Around this time (junior high, I’d guess) most of my friends had visited the Totah. But my mom? Oh no, she remained adamant. “No, you may not go see those kinds of movies. They will scare you to death.” When I knew the truth—she was only concerned about her electric bill.
Anyway, I was a kid whose friends were being allowed to see films I was not. And I was like Eve in the Garden of Eden, desperate to taste from the Tree of Knowledge.
Vincent Price, legendary radio and screen actor
One afternoon, my mom dropped us off at the Allen. We waited until she drove out of sight and promptly ran down Main to the Totah. To this day, I remember the movie playing, “Scream, Scream Again.” Then the one after that starred none other than Vincent Price!
I tell you, I was in my element. If I wasn’t screaming, (I mean, the poor actor kept losing his body parts) I was covering my eyes or diving under my seat. I felt so wicked as we walked back to the Allen to await one of my friends’ parents for the ride home. My parents never mentioned the additional expense of their electric bill. But I’m sure they knew.
I’ve never outgrown my love of suspense, but I do understand why someone might not enjoy that type of adrenaline rush. I’d like to say I write these types of stories because I’m brave and fearless. The greater truth is I’m obsessed.
And while I don’t write gratuitous anything, I still enjoy mystery, romantic elements 
and bringing a killer to justice. Things you can be sure occur in book one of my soon-to-be-released cold case investigation series. Now available for preorder!
So tell me, do you like scary movies?
Oh no, oh no, not scary horror movies. It’s funny how murder mysteries don’t bother me. My mom wouldn’t let us watch Dark Shadows as we had to do our homework first. Oh well.
Your Mom sounds like my Mom, Vicki. Very wise! xo
Love the cover of BLACK PEARL: it’s scary and intriguing. They go together!
Great post about terror movies. There are some children’s mysteries and thrillers
I only read during daytime hours. Mary Downing Hahn once told me, “I don’t know where
that scary witch character came from. But my publisher keeps requesting more ghost stories!”
TOOK is the scariest book I ever read and it is marketed to the Middle Grade market!
Beth Schmelzer
You’re very wise, Beth! I read all hours. Hmmm. ::looks over her shoulder:: What was that noise?
Thanks for commenting; I’ll have to check out your ghost stories!
Not a horror movie fan – Thanks to Friday the 13th making me race by the front door’s side windows on dark mornings. But, I do like ones with scary, edge-of-your-seat battles for love or to save the galaxy. (If you haven’t seen Guardians of the Galaxy, I highly recommend it.)
I have no problem reading “hard-boiled” mysteries.But I do not do scary movies. Not ever. Go figure. lol
Cheryl, I understand. I think the sound effects and music among other things provide sensory overload. Reading contains. You can put the book down and take a breath if need be:)
I loved Dark Shadows! And, I watched it every day with my mom. LOL My grandmother (maternal) also loved horror. I spent nearly every weekend with her and we’d watch all the old classic horror movies. I cuddled up next to her with a pillow within easy reach so I could cover my eyes if necessary. But, I loved those movies and the time I spent with her. It’s no wonder my writing turns to the dark side more often than not. 🙂
Rhonda, that’s an amazing story:) it runs in the family:)
We were banned from Dark Shadows too! It is about as scary as I can do. I watched Carrie, The Last House on the Left, and the Exorcist between my fingers that covered my eyes. After weeks of no sleep I finally got it through my head that scary movies were not my cup of tea. Scary books? I can read most of them, but still not my favorite. Give me a cozy mystery and you’ll have me curled up all night reading.
Kathie, I’m with you all the way. I think with watching media, we’re on sensory overload! Insert scary music and cameras panning in from all angles and then zooming in and out. While reading we can take a breath and set the book down if it gets to intense. And we need two sets of hands. One to cover our eyes AND our ears! 🙂 Great comments.