Blogger Virtual Zombie Walk 2012: Books - Zombies: 'The Complete Guide to the World of the Living Dead' by Zachary Graves

So, the Blogger Virtual Zombie Walk is finally here! Last year, I decided to let some zombies make a cake, but their tastes seem to have changed to my brains and so simply writing about a zombie book seemed like a better option for 2012 (yes, shocking as it is, I do have brains :P).

"They have always lurked in the shadows, soulless and terrifying, but now zombies have come lurching back into our hearts."

Zombies: The Complete Guide to the World of the Living Dead (2010) by Zachary Graves is 192 A4, full-colour pages of everything from the origins of zombie mythology to the evolution of horror zombies to zombies in pop and more. The sections included are: The Voodoo Zombie (Haitian Vodou, The Bokor, Zombie Powder, Zombie Magic etc), 'Real' Zombies (The Zombie Myth, Zombie Sightings, Felicia Felix-Mentor, Clairvius Narcisse etc.), and The Horror Zombie (Zombie Apocalypse, The Romero Zombie, Evolution of the Horror Zombie I & II, Zombie Comics etc.). 

It's a very entertaining read and whilst, as with anything that references popular culture, it will probably be out of date quite soon it still serves as a good introduction to the history and origins of modern zombies in various media formats. Obviously, none of the subjects covered are discussed in huge detail, but the author does try to give various, balanced points of view and approaches to each topic, rather than simply stating his opinions. This is particularly evident in the sections about Vodou, Voodoo, necromancy etc.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in zombies, zombie-related mythology and zombie pop culture. While it may not be as in depth on each subject as some books, as an overview of everything zombie it's a great book!

Don't forget that you can also win the Zombie Prize Pack as part of our Halloween Giveaway!

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↓Now you've finished here, you can shamble your way over to the other blogs taking part in the Virtual Zombie Walk below!↓

Zombies Everywhere
[Retro-Zombie]
Halloween Blues
The Southern Northerner
Martha's Journey
Annie Walls
GingerRead Review
App'y Talk
Kweeny Todd
Jenny's House of Horrors
Bubba's Place
Fictional Candy
herding cats & burning soup
Author Sherry Soule Blog
Paranormal research Group Blog
Adult Urban Fantasy by Sherry Soule
Moonlight Publishing Blog
Candid Canine
Ghost Hunting Theories
Above the Norm
A Dust Bunny In The Wind
Faith McKay
Zombob's Zombie News & Movie Reviews
Flesh From The Morgue
The Living Dark
Some One Else's Cook
Stumptown Horror
Forget About TV, Grab a Book
Zombie Dating Guide
Strange State
The Paranormalist - Renae Rude
Idée Fixe
Random Game Crafts
WhiteRoseBud's Tumblr
Gnostalgia
Book Me!
Carmen Jenner Author
Sarasota Zombie Pub Crawl
Not Now...Mommy's Reading
Love is a Many Flavored Thing
Its On Random
Ellie Potts
Attention Earthlings!
Horror Shock LoliPOP
The Spooky Vegan
The Story In...
DarkSide Detectives Blog
Something wicKED this way comes....
Julie Jansen: science fiction and horror writer
Author/screenwriter James Schannep
The Zombie Lab
Creepy Glowbugg
Pickleope
Sharing Links and Wisdom
Midnyte Reader
This Blog Has A.D.D.
Carol's Creations
Jeremy Bates
Vanessa Morgan

Blog Events: Blogger Virtual Zombie Walk 2012

Don't forget, the annual Blogger Virtual Zombie Walk, started by Autumnforest of Ghost Hunting Theories, is back again this year on October 19th. The reins have been handed over to the excellent Zombies Everywhere blog this time, so get ready for the undead fun! You can sign up at Zombies Everywhere, right up until October 17th. Better get shambling over there, zombies!

Blog Events: Death Books & Tea: Month Before Halloween Event

The gory girls over at Death, Books and Tea are running a great event for all the book-lovers out there in the lead up to Halloween this year. The aptly titled The Month Before Halloween event will have interviews, reviews, giveaways and more!

"What I'm proposing is a month long event full of...stuff. Guest reviews, posts, interviews with people (bloggers, authors and publishers) on what, if any, scary books they like. A month full of this stuff here.  As long as it's scary to some degree, it's welcome. 

Oh, and then a giveaway. Lots of them.  On all your blogs. For the last week on October, everyone who's taken part (and wants to) will host a giveaway for anything of your choice-obviously related to spooky books."

Anything related to scary / spooky books is welcome and, obviously, the more bloggers taking part, the better it will be! If you want to join in, you can do so by visiting THIS PAGE and signing up by September 1st 2012. (And yes, we are taking part here at HSL too ;D)

Hug A Monster Day!

The people (and monsters) over at the excellently named StuffMonstersLike.com are once again running their annual 'Hug A Monster Day' this year. A day when you can show the world just how much you love your favourite monsters! All you need to do is send them a photograph of you cuddling your creature by the end of the day on July 27th and you could win a Stuff Monsters Like t-shirt and be featured on the SML site.

The 2011 Hug A Monster Day Flyer

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 1, 2012 

Grab your monster toys, hug them, win prizes. It’s so easy.

Across the Earth and for millions of miles around it, countless life forms gather to celebrate Intergalactic Hug A Monster Day on July 27 (Earth Standard Time). 

Intergalactic Hug A Monster Day is the only holiday reminding all of humanity and peace-loving extraterrestrials to embrace the monsters in their lives – whatever they may be. Participants are encouraged to grab their best monster friend, evil lawn gnomes, and other minutia of the macabre and give them a big squeeze. Hug them in public, in private, in front of cameras, and share with the world. 

It’s so easy. On July 27th, find your favorite horror toys, embrace them, make a photo, and send the pics to stuffmonsterslike@gmail.com. Also, post the pics to Facebook, Tweet them [#HugAMonsterDay], and let your friends see the fun they are missing. 

The holiday is sponsored every year by Stuff Monsters Like.com, the blog that reminds everyone that it’s okay to be afraid, as long as you are laughing. 

Not everyone owns a monster toy. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. You can download, print, and fold papercraft monsters from the website stuffmonsterslike.com. You can create your own friend, or even a full monster hoard. 

The authors of Stuff Monsters Like.com, who just tried  to purchase the moon through Kickstarter, are available for interviews. Please contact them at stuffmonsterslike@gmail.com.

If you need a little inspiration, take a look at some of last year's entries.
Come on, you don't want your monsters to be left out and sad do you? Well, DO YOU??

A sad, un-hugged monster
Drawing by Madame Luciel

May Monster Madness: The Wellcome Collection

From May 1st - 7th we're taking part in the May Monster Madness blog hop! It's kindly being organised by Annie Walls, and the goal is to post about something spooky or monster-related every day for seven days. Obviously, that's what we always post about here, but the event is open to bloggers of all genres too!

I'm a little monstered-out today (shocking, I know!), so for the first post I'm going to share some of the spooky and strange exhibits on show at the Wellcome Collection in London! It's a museum filled with tons of unusual and fascinating items relating to medicine over the ages. I hadn't heard of until last year when Kei, of Unfortunately Oh!, suggested we should visit it during a trip to London. It's such an intriguing place and many of the exhibits are interactive, providing yet another layer of interest.

There's much more than just creepy crawlies and oddities - artificial limbs, paintings, glass eyes, masks, folk art, mirror etchings, a table full of all the pills a person takes in their life, exhibits about the human genome and DNA, figurines, torture devices and so much more! They also have temporary exhibits that change every few months as well. However, since this is for May Monster Madness, I'll leave out the other photos this time.) Oh, and did I mention that it's totally free to get in?

The above exhibit was a little larger than life-size (the transparent figure in the background was a cross-section of a real human body) and when you press the buttons on the podium, the part of the body listed next to them lights up on the model. We noticed that compared to all the other parts of anatomy, the brain was not very bright!

There were also a few blocks of shelves filled with anatomical models of assorted human body parts nearby as well (pictured above). 

The above wonderful pair were in one of the displays in the 'End of Life' section of the 'Medicine Man' area. As was the gorgeously intricate sculpture made out of wax and cloth:

And these Egyptian canopic jars (jars used to house the internal organs of the dead being prepared for mummification):

In a different area of the same room there was a Peruvian mummy. There was a drawer you could pull out underneath, with a cast of his hand inside, which you could touch. It was pretty strange really.

Those of you out there among the zombie population might also be pleased to know that they currently have an exhibit running (29th March - 17th June, 2012) called 'Brains: The Mind as Matter'.

"Our major new free exhibition seeks to explore what humans have done to brains in the name of medical intervention, scientific enquiry, cultural meaning and technological change. 

Featuring over 150 artefacts including real brains, artworks, manuscripts, artefacts, videos  and photography, 'Brains' follows the long quest to manipulate and decipher the most unique and mysterious of human organs, whose secrets continue to confound and inspire. 

'Brains' asks not what brains do to us, but what we have done to brains, focusing on the bodily presence of the organ rather than investigating the neuroscience of the mind."

Personally, I would love to see that one too! For now, however, I'll leave you with...the torture chair...

Looks comfy, eh? o.O;

This post is part of the May Monster Madness blog hop!

Vampire's Day Soiree - Part 1: 5 Vampire Verses

Vampire's Day Soiree

Hello dear devils and devious dolls! In honour of today being February 14th, HSL is taking part in the Vampire's Day Soiree, being run by Holly at Holly's Horrorland! So, instead of cheesy, sickly sweet, love-themed posts, you'll be getting some amazing, blood-drenched, vampire posts. Okay, so the posts here will probably be just as cheesy, but I'm sure some of the other participants will be able to give you something a little more sophisticated and refined ;) You'll find a list of the other participants and links to their blogs at the end of each Vampire's Day post here. That done with, on with the sanguinary fun!

Part 1: Vampire-themed Poems, Verses and Rhymes

A random selection of poems, verses and rhymes about blood-suckers. 

Some are serious, some are silly, but all feature vampires and are relatively short.

Der Vampir 

My dear young maiden clingeth
Unbending, fast and firm
To all the long-held teaching
Of a mother ever true;
As in vampires unmortal 5
Folk on the Theyse's portal
Heyduck-like do believe.
But my Christine thou dost dally,
And wilt my loving parry
Till I myself avenging
To a vampire's health a-drinking
Him toast in pale tokay.
And as softly thou art sleeping
To thee shall I come creeping
And thy life's blood drain away.
And so shalt thou be trembling
For thus shall I be kissing
And death's threshold thou' it be crossing
With fear, in my cold arms.
And last shall I thee question
Compared to such instruction
What are a mother's charms? 

- Heinrich August Ossenfelder

The Tale of the Hungry Vampire  

Biting a neck isn’t all that much fun
It’s messy, it’s crude, and it leads to the shun-
ning of most folk
when you really crave Coke
And honey and cake
Fangs are a mistake
On chocolate I brood
I’m not in the mood
For more dark thick blood
Masquerading as food

- Brenda McKenna

Illustration by Craig Smith

Untitled 

The vampire said: "My name is mud
Because I have a taste for blood
And there are those who think I'm horrid
For nipping victims on the forehead.
But, on this matter I won't hedge.
What really sets my teeth on edge
And scares me even more than rabies
Are children biting jelly babies."

- Max Fatchen

Technically, the next one isn't about vampires, but...imagine that it is and it still makes sense :P

Come to Me 

Come to me my little dearie,
Come to me my little child,
Do not sleep but lift your weary
Head and hark to me a while.
Look, my lovely, look, my treasure,
See, your granny's eyes grow dim.
This, dear, is no human pleasure -
Hold my hand, I'll take you in.
Can you see them, coldly waiting?
Drift and chill or breath and bone?
Dear, they move like silence skating
Past an icy, shivered moan.
Ah, my love, their red eyes brighten,
See, they like your sweet red cheeks...
The seem, you say, rather hungry?
Treasure, they've been starved for weeks!
Now they drift like smoke towards you,
Now they fasten to your skin,
Child, your manners, I should warn you,
No complaints when the teeth go in!
There now, it was all quite simple,
Over now, my deathless dear.
Sweet, your cheeks acquired a dimple,
Those fangs, now, what a charming sneer!

- Verity Laughton

Le Vampire 

You who, like the stab of a knife,
Entered my plaintive heart;
You who, strong as a herd
Of demons, came, ardent and adorned, 

To make your bed and your domain
Of my humiliated mind
— Infamous bitch to whom I’m bound
Like the convict to his chain, 

Like the stubborn gambler to the game,
Like the drunkard to his wine,
Like the maggots to the corpse,
— Accurst, accurst be you! 

I begged the swift poniard
To gain for me my liberty,
I asked perfidious poison
To give aid to my cowardice. 

Alas! both poison and the knife
Contemptuously said to me:
“You do not deserve to be freed
From your accursed slavery, 

Fool! — if from her domination
Our efforts could deliver you,
Your kisses would resuscitate
The cadaver of your vampire!”

- Charles Baudelaire

If you're in a creative mood, feel free to comment with your own rhymes about the children of the night!

Others Participating in the Vampire's Day Soiree:

• Emma of Little Gothic Horrors
• Nicole of Artwork By Living Dead Girl Nicole
• Lorelei Bell of Lorelei's Muse
• Lady Bethezda of Bethezda's Preoccupations
• Justine of Justine's Halloween
• Jason of HalloweenOverkill
• Jeremy [Retro Zombie] of iZombieLover
• Althea of Blue Sky Gazing
• Jen of Zombies are Magic!
• Pensive Pumpkin of Pensive Pumpkin
• Greg of Rise and Fight
• Matt of Spooky Halloween Arts
• Dalestair Kidd of The Nightmares of Zodiac
• Sary Walrus of The Walrus Room
• Amy of Stripy Tights and Dark Delights
• Charlotte of Lady Charlotte's House of Delirium
• Alexandria Web of Queens of the Wild Frontier
• Annie Walls of Annie Walls
• Cayce of Fighting Dreamer
• Luna of Turkce Gotik
• Jessica of The Halloween Ladybug
• Sheridan of The Zombie Moshpit
• VictorianKitty of Sophistique Noir Gothic Fashion Blog
• Jo of Time Is Poisoned
• Niamh of Thoughts Of Smashed Doll
• S. L. Hennessy of Pensuasion
• Amber of The Aspiring Goth
• DuskRose of The Midnight Ballroom
• Carolin the HouseCat of Domesticated Goth
• Lynoire of Milking The Rolling Cow
• Angie of Lariats and Lavender
• Chris of The Toxic Void
• Mira of Detectives and Dragons
• Nightwind of The Gothic Embrace
• Alastair of App'y Talk

Blog Events: Vampire's Day Soiree

What do you think of when you hear the date "February 14th"? Valentine's Day? Slushy cards? Candy hearts? Flowers? Blood-sucking vampires? What? You don't think of blood-sucking vampires? (I'm ignoring Erinia's answers here ;D) Well, you should, because as well as being Valentine's Day, February 14th is also Vampire's Day! At least...thanks to Holly at Holly's Horrorland it is! 

The Vampire's Day Soiree is a virtual event, in which those of us who would rather watch a horror than a romantic comedy, can immerse ourselves in everything dedicated to the scary sanguines and have fun viewing the offerings of the other participants too! All you need to do in order to take part is visit the sign up post at Holly's Horrorland (click the picture above), comment with your Name, blog name, and URL, and place a link from your blog back to the event page. Oh, and remember to make a vampire-themed post on February 14th of course!