Surprise! A Giveaway!

Hi ghoulies!
This post is going to be fun...as of June 7th the Terrible Toy Chest has 842 views (and I am so thankful for each and every one of them!). So as a thank you, I'm going to be holding a giveaway when my blog hits 1,000 reads.
Do you think we can do that within the next week?! I hope so!!
Here's how it'll work: to enter, leave a comment on this post- your email included (you'll have from June 9th until June 16th, when I make another post). You'll be automatically entered, and I'll announce the winner on the 16th as long as we hit 1,000 views!
I'll also email you just in case you don't read the post on the 16th...but hey, you'll get a cool shoutout.
You'll be getting a handmade Freddy Kreuger soap from Bastian's Boutique on Etsy (orange creamsicle scented, mmm) and a horror book from my collection with a personalized note inside :)

So what do you say, my ghosts?! Are you up for the challenge? I am!
Get to commenting, get to sharing, and get to winning!

And again, all of you, thank you so much for supporting my crazy horror obsession. You've validated that I've found my niche in the world, and being in love with ghosts and gore isn't as weird as I always thought it was. I love each and every one of you very, very much.

See you on the 16th!!
Taylor Terrible <3

Speaking to Cody Meirick of Scary Stories: A Documentary

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a collection of folklore that has haunted children and adults all over the world. It has sold over 7 million copies...that's a lot of terror to spread. If you didn't read these books as a kid, you either need to get yourself to a bookstore this instant, or you're lying to me.

The books have been picked up for an adaptation for film, and I don't think I could be more excited. Heck, that's what got me started here in the first place; the fact that these books are one of the reasons that horror has become more than my little hobby, but my lifestyle and my obsession.

But did you know that this incredible book series has acquired so much attention scaring the living daylights out of people, that schools and libraries all over the world are banning them? They're suppressing childrens' abilities to enjoy the spooky stories and disgusting drawings by taking them away from them.

Now, if you really read these books, you know that the stories were absolutely creepy, but it was the illustrations by Stephen Gammell.

These illustrations haunted our dreams for decades. But what is the draw to these books? I got the opportunity to speak with Cody Meirick, the director and producer of Scary Stories: A Documentary. (YES, THERE IS GOING TO BE A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT ONE OF THE BEST BOOK SERIES IN THE HISTORY OF LITERATURE. ARE YOU AS EXCITED AS I AM.) We talked via email, and we got to talk about some of the things he's researched for his documentary. This documentary covers vital investigations into what draws us to all things creepy, the folktales and urban legends that are told in the books, literature of gothic nature for children, and artists inspired by the drawings of Stephen Gammell, to name a few.

So what did Cody have to say about this documentary?

Taylor: What sparked you interest in creating a documentary about these stories? Is there another documentary that influenced your decision to make your documentary in any way, whether it be in style, or topic?

Cody: It started with my interest in children's literature in general. My background is in children's literature, both academic and with Erikson Institute. Of course I loved the books growing up like a lot of people, but what really started to take shape are big topics related to the books that really lent themselves to documentary form. I saw how much people gushed over them, liked them on social media, upvoted them. I'm sure a lot of other people have noticed the same thing. But along with the interest, you're talking about a series of books that inspired generations of children to open a book and read, as well as spark an interest in art and illustrating, while also being one of the most banned books of the last 30 years. Those things add up to being a really fascinating story.

TK: On your website, you have a list of topics that may be covered in the documentary. Which was your favorite topic to explore (up until this point) and why?

CM: Although I talk about the banned books topic and the illustrations as art, some of those topics that I know we will explore which are really interesting topics, I guess in my heart of heart my natural inclination is towards folklore and connections to traditional children's literature. My degrees are all in English Literature, so I like to sit down with a professor or folklorist and talk about those things. But again, all topics interest me quite a bit.

TK: I know that personally, these books helped shape me as a person in my childhood, allowing me to delve into outlets other than what was considered "the norm" in reading. I grew up to be a horror fanatic with a love of all things dark and creepy. Do you feel that the reason parents steer their children clear of these books is because they believe that they will enjoy it? Or do you feel that parents think their children will be scared? To put it briefly...why do you think parents keep their children from enjoying dark, scary things?

CM: These are the types of questions I want to explore. Just to throw a few of my own thoughts. I'm sure it varies a lot. I'm sure there are some parents who actually believe these can be "taught" to children... as if reading about death or murder will give a 12-year-old the idea and suddenly they become a sociopath. There are probably a few parents out that like that. But by and large I imagine it is a bit more tame and not quite as extreme as that. They just want them to be a bit older until they are reading certain things. The problem is, the act of banning in an entire school determines that other kids that maybe are ready for it, and could benefit from it, don't have access. So there are a lot of dimensions that I think people could delve into.

TK: What do you think draws children to such dark topics?

CM: I think similar reasons to why I enjoy a good scary movie. I don't know that I could accurately describe my own desire. But I wouldn't mind talking with a few experts who could posit some theories about why that is. Why do I like Freddy Krueger so much?

TK: How did you come across the people to interview for your documentary? What about the crew for the production?

CM: Research, research, research!

TK: Tell us about Open Books! It seems like an organization that you're passionate about, how did you get involved with them?

CM: Erikson Institute where I work isn't too far and I sometimes wonder over there to browse. I love their model. Used bookstore and the proceeds go towards literacy programs. I love it.

[Open Books is an organization featured on Scary Stories: A Documentary's indiegogo page. If you donate to the documentary, a part of the proceeds go to Open Books! It's all about children's literacy!]

TK: What is your ultimate goal for the documentary? What do you want it to accomplish?

CM: I want to pay tribute to this book series that was important to a lot of childhoods while also exploring important aspects of children’s literature. The early years are so fundamentally important. What is put in front of our eyes and processed through our minds during those key developmental years goes to shape who we are. Examining what it is that draws us, inspires us, interests us when we are young I think says a lot about the human condition. Looking at just this particular example I think can be both fun for a lot of fans but also enlightening.

TK: There have been talks about a film adaptation of the stories; are you excited to see those childhood stories we know and love become a reality on the big screen?

CM: I'm intrigued of course. I'm a big John August fan, so that really piqued my interest. We'll see.

TK: The illustrations of Stephen Gammell in the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books have been iconic over the years. If you could have yourself drawn into any of the illustrations, which would it be and why?

CM: I'll play along. I've always loved the illustration for Oh Susannah. I have no idea what dimension or reality that is, but I'd be interested in exploring.

I'm honored to be able to help such a cool cause gain exposure. You guys should check out Cody's documentary's progress, if you haven't already! Help fund his campaign, too, and get our love of horror out there! Until next time, ghosts and ghouls. Stay spooky!

A Good Marriage: A Review

This is a review of the film, not the short story by the ever-so-incredible Mr. Stephen King.

I went into watching this film with absolutely no idea as to what it was about, so I went in with a clean slate. Normally, I judge a film way before I watch it and that's how I decide whether or not it's worth watching (I typically check the first website that comes up when you type the name of the film, because, you know, that's the most reliable source of information as to what a film is about...kidding...) but this one, I went in completely clueless. I read the synopsis on Netflix, and jumped right in.

The story is about a wife who learns that her husband has been keeping a major secret from her throughout their 25 years of marriage, and she has to decide whether or not to stay with him, even though she knows what he's doing when he's on "business trips".

I'm personally a huge Stephen King fan; I dig into his books and I don't come out until I'm completely done. I'm sure A Good Marriage was no exception as a short story, because his writing is so complex and enthralling.

But the film. I honestly don't have words for how awkward the film was...it was completely anticlimactic. I was really disappointed about the lack of thrill;  I was pretty much counting the minutes until it was over.

The acting was mediocre. The story was great, and I give credit to the story that the script came from because the potential was absolutely there, but the only acting job worth noting was Darcy, played by Joan Allen. She was great, the rest of the cast lacked in enthusiasm and skill. To be honest, Kristen Connolly was probably the worst part of the film, and I adored her in Cabin in the Woods, but watching her in this film, she constantly looked like "I don't want to be here".

The chemistry between the characters was so awkward, and it ended so abruptly with no explanation or resolution.

If I could give this film a rating out of 5 stars, I would give it a 1.

Sorry, A Good Marriage, I think this might be my first negative review! Oops!

Dirt Lullabies: A Novel Review!

I had the privilege of reading the new novel by author Jeremy Megargee, Dirt Lullabies.
Honestly, the opportunity came about in a pretty cool way...we've been following each other on Instagram for some time, when suddenly, a message appeared! Jeremy asked me to read Dirt Lullabies and I agreed, hence where we are now!

Let me tell you, guys, I ripped through this book. 5 hours, and I was finished with the whole thing. It was a snowy day here in New York (I'm writing this on Thursday night, but you guys will see this on Tuesday) so I had a little time on my hands to sit down and truly get involved in a book.
Well, I didn't exactly expect that I would be so immersed in this book that I would finish it in one sitting. I also didn't know I could sit still for 5 hours.

Let me give you a quick synopsis:
Roman Merrick lives in West Virginia with his parents, and the family is just barely scraping by. He discovers a crack in the ground in the root cellar beneath his home that could just be the answer to all of his family's problems...when a melodic voice calling itself M drifts up from the crack promising a way out, Roman is faced with a life-altering decision.

I KNOW, even the synopsis is awesome. The story is very original, and I found myself slightly crushing on the antagonist, M, which is pretty disturbing. I mean, you're going to have to read it to find out why.

It's gory, it's gripping, it doesn't let you go, and I was turning pages like a madwoman. I probably looked insane reading it. Good thing I was curled up in a ball under the blanket to read it during this insane weather. The characters are awesome and memorable, and I absolutely love their stories. It just feels so complete- you don't finish reading with any questions like "wait why did that happen?" or "who was that?" or anything like that, it's completely full-circle and cohesive, which is nice. Also, there may or may not be an awesome goth girl that reminds me a lot of myself.....she's my favorite.

I honestly don't have enough good things to say about this novel. I loved every second of reading it and I am so honored to have been asked to give it a read. If you're looking for a novel to really grab your attention, Dirt Lullabies is absolutely a great place to start. Also, you'll be supporting Indie writers, which is even more awesome, because their talent needs to be exposed!

Let me know if you decide to read Dirt Lullabies, you're really missing out until you do!!

Empty Bodies: a Review of a New Novel!

Hey guys! I'm really excited about this post for so many reasons. One, you know how much I love books. Two, this is a review of a book by one of the authors in my "Favorite Horror Books" post!

I had the privilege of becoming friends with an author, the ineffable Zach Bohannon, when I won a giveaway on his mailing list because I wanted to check some of his work out. A few weeks later, I had read through his book of 4 short stories and loved them.

Cut to about a month ago. I was lucky enough to receive an email from him that he wanted me to be a beta reader for his newest novel, Empty Bodies. I had never been a beta reader before, but I was excited to be trusted with such an important job. Essentially, I was sent a copy of the book early to read and give notes on. But let me just tell you guys, I never expected it to end up like this.

I finished Empty Bodies in less than 48 hours. That's in the middle of a crazy work week. Like, I was at work on my lunch break with my phone in my hand reading the PDF file. Let me give you the synopsis:

If you like zombies, this is going to be a great novel for you. It's about a group of survivors in the middle of a post-apocalyptic world trying to survive with hoards of "Empties" running around craving flesh and blood. Yummy. All of their stories are told separately, but you slowly but surely find out that they're all connected...
But what really got me hooked on this story: the characters are so memorable. I frequently caught myself reading with my hand over my mouth because so many moments were surprising, and honestly, really grotesque. It's very detailed, and very gory. I crossed my fingers at multiple points because I was scared my favorite characters were going to die. Basically, this story ties you up from the first page and doesn't let you go until the last sentence. It's enthralling.

I was so honored to read this story, and now I highly encourage all of you to do the same. It's really cool knowing that you can support an indie writer, so if you want to grab yourself a copy of Empty Bodies, click here!
If you guys decide to read it, leave me a comment below and let me know what you thought!
Until next time, my ghoulies...I'll be doing an unboxing of my HorrorBlock!

My Top 4 Horror Books

Books have held a very special place in my heart since I was super, super young. They were always my outlet when I was having a rough day, or when I used to get in trouble and my parents took my television remote away so I couldn't watch anymore...they thought I didn't like reading so it was always awesome getting some peace and quiet where I could just go through my book collection.
My horror obsession started with a Goosebumps book that I read when I was in kindergarten.

It was this one, you guys! I'm so excited! I couldn't remember the name of it, and it's all coming back to me now! It had all of the alternate endings, so that's why it was called one of the Give Yourself Goosebumps books. Ah, my childhood.

Anyway, as I grew up, my taste in horror changed, and Goosebumps wasn't so scary anymore. I needed something to give me my fix of terror, but I desperately needed it in book form. There's just something about turning pages that's so satisfying.

I went through tons of books, none of which every stuck out to me. It took me a long time to really discover what I loved where horror was concerned, and I found some wonderful books in that time. 

Here are the favorites I found:

4) The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

Not necessarily a book, it's actually a short story, but it's wonderful and so classic. This one gave me such anxiety as a kid when I read it. I used to carry around what looked like a textbook with Poe's complete works in it, and this one was the one that I read over and over, followed by the Cask of Amontillado.

A synopsis:

The narrator of the story commits a murder, and essentially has to convince himself he isn't going completely insane as he hears what he believes to be his victim's heart still beating under the floorboards. (He hacks up the body, for those of you that like gore.) 

I was always terrified of the fact that I truly believed that maybe the body was alive under the floorboards, and always somehow found myself hoping that the narrator wouldn't ruin it for himself. If you haven't read this one, I highly suggest it, along with all of Poe's work. He's classic.

3) The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

I only read this one recently, but it shot up my list to my top 4. I couldn't put this one down, I finished it in 48 hours and I was at work when I read it. I got really lucky, actually, because I went to a comic book store close to me that had a bargain bin full of old, used books. I got this one for $2, it's beat up and falling apart, and that makes me love it even more.
This one was one of my favorite films before it was one of my favorite books, as you guys know. I talk about it all the time. But there's something so terrifying about reading it because you picture it in your own way, and I like to create the scariest scenarios possible. I won't even give a synopsis, because I hope most of you have seen the film (or at least know of it). But I highly recommend reading the book. It's amazing. Good job, WPB.

2) The Dead Zone by Stephen King

This is another one I got from that bin at the comic book store! $3! What a steal! I had no idea what the deal was with this book, I saw Stephen King on the cover, and I knew I loved his work (no one is going to be surprised when they see my number 1) so I went for it, and as it turns out, I absolutely loved it.
There's a film adaptation with Christopher Walken in it, I still haven't seen that one though.
A synopsis:
Johnny Smith is injured in a car accident and wakes up from a coma 5 years later with the ability to see things in other people's lives by touching them, like their family history, and future things they're wondering about.
This thriller is incredibly entertaining; I wasn't sure how I was going to like it until I got a chapter in and really got addicted to the story. There was something about Johnny Smith's character and the turmoil he goes through that is so captivating, plus there's a second story that is going on during all of that that's even more disturbing and strange.
Basically, what I have to say about this story, is it's gripping to the point where it's near impossible to put the book down until you know exactly what happens at the end...I should reread this one.

1) No one is going to be surprised...it's Stephen King's IT. Duh.

Alright, I'll be honest. When I read this one the first time, I totally hated it. I was about 200 pages in and I completely stopped and told myself I'd never pick it up again. I remember where I was at that exact moment. I was waiting for my sister to have her hair cut, and I shut my Kindle off and stared into space, shook my head, and said "nope".
But, something that summer told me to try it again. I was working, but not enough. I had a decent amount of time on my hands. So why wouldn't I try reading something so classic?

And so it began. I sat, I sighed, and I powered my Kindle on. I clicked the title. I sighed again. I read two sentences. Then I sighed again. There was a lot of huffing and puffing in the beginning...but I've come to learn that sometimes, Stephen King likes to start things off slow. That explained so much! And so I dove in headfirst.
About a week later, I was finished, and I was obsessed. In love. Infatuated. Pennywise was always a favorite of mine but that secured him (or her, for those of you that know the real deal that they never explain in the film...you have to read it if you're a fan of the movie. It'll change everything.) as my number two favorite villain.
I feel like this one doesn't require a synopsis because the story is so well-known, but what I DO have to tell you, is if you've seen the film and you've enjoyed it, read the book. If you saw the film and hate it, read the book. If you saw the film and you're indifferent, read the book. The film is long, but it leaves out incredible and insanely important details that change everything. Read it. Seriously. Then report back and let me know how much you love it.

I'm thinking next on the list are some works by Clive Barker. You guys know me and my Hellraiser...Hellbound Heart is probably next.

I also just recently finished some works by my good friend Zach Bohannon called Dark Reveries. It was a collection of 4 short stories were completely wonderful. I won it in a giveaway, and it turns out I loved it so much that I emailed him in a panic about needing more of his work. Check him out, he's awesome.

I'm always very open to book suggestions, let me know in the comments if there are any I've been missing and/or overlooking all this time!
Thanks for reading, my ghouls, see you next time!