DESPERATION HOLLER

ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS
of the

DESPERATION HOLLER
2015 HALLOWEEN CHALLENGE

Thank you, to all the wonderful writers who participated in my Halloween Interview and Flash Fiction Challenge. I enjoyed reading all the interview answers, and gaining insight into each author's horror background and Halloween secrets.

But my favorite part was the flash fiction challenge that required them to use the same 100 word begining to write their stories. They then took the character of Jerry and gave us a Halloween tale of horrific dimensions, and Jerry found himself in hot water quite a few times. Thank you, for your excellent flashes!

Thom Futrell, author of Empty Graves made Jerry an Arch Bishop, did that save him from the evil of the night?

Christine Rains, the author Of Blood & Sorrow had Jerry's mother, a truly evil witch needing a soul to release the fiends of Halloween. Would Jerry escape her clutches?

Julia Press Simmons, author of The Bloody Mary Coven made Jerry an avenging angel, and he fought evil with a smile, and I think a cigarette in his mouth, but did he succeed?

Shannon Lawrence the author of The Blue Mist insisted Jerry was the "one soul to lead them all." What did she mean by that?

Cathrina Constantine author of Don't Forget to Breathe had Jerry ready to take his revenge on the witches, but did he succeed?

DeAnna Knippling, author of Alice's Adventures in Underland had a treasure hunting Jerry descending into the darkest of basements. Did he find his treasure?

Tara Tyler, author of Simulation had Jerry planning vengeance on the witches using all the rules, but did following the rules work in his favor?

Nancy Lynn Jarvis, author of The Widow's Walk League had Jerry providing the children for the witches pies, and fulfilling her deepest desire for mincemeat pie.

Ann M. Noser author of Dead GirlRunning had Jerry trying to turn his witch of a sister straight, but was she willing?

A special thank you to Walter P. Honsinger who sent a ghostly tale, The Tomb, based on a true story. The Tomb is set in New Orleans and a graveyard where the characters spent the night during a Voodoo ritual.

~~~ ~~~
INTRODUCING JUDGE 
WENDY ELY

Today I'm also excited to introduce editor, Wendy Ely. The judge for my Halloween flash fiction contest. I knew I couldn't choose a winner, I loved them all, but Wendy volunteered and I was delighted. I met Wendy on Facebook and she's done a beautiful job on several of my writing projects.  Thanks, Wendy!

Wendy started her writing and editing career in January of 2008. Since the start of her career, her passion for the craft has only grown stronger. Not only does she have the drive to perfect her own books she wants to help other busy authors as well. She has several years of freelance editing experience, and recently attended advanced grammar classes in college. Wendy has extensively studied the craft of writing, and is a USA Today bestselling author.

Wendy feels she succeeds when her client succeeds. And claims that editing should be as creative and as enjoyable as possible. Her goal is to provide fast, friendly, and efficient service while working with her clients. 

I can attest to her speed!

She also knows that no author is the same, so she'll tailor an editing plan specifically to you. Wendy uses her passion for the craft along with her education to give all her clients the best editing experience that she can.

I highly recommend Wendy's services!

Check out her website

http://creativemanuscripts.blogspot.com/

or send her an email:

creativemanuscripts@gmail.com

~~~~~ ~~~~~

And now without further delay

the winners of the

2015 Halloween Flash Fiction Contest are:

1st place & the winner of a $10 Amazon Gift Card

Shannon Lawrence

The Blue Mist

Wendy says, "The author used great imagery in her writing. It had a great mixture of humorous dialogue and an interesting twist."

CONGRATULATIONS SHANNON!

2nd place & the winner of a $7 Amazon Gift Card

Thom Futrell

Empty Graves

Wendy said, "The story flow was well done. It kept me entertained and the ending was a shock."

CONGRATULATIONS THOM!

3rd place & the winner of a $5 Amazon Gift Card

Christine Rains

 Of Blood & Sorrow

Wendy said your piece showed, "Clever writing and was enjoyable!"

CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTINE!

For all authors who participated Wendy is kindly

offering a discount on her editing services –

$25 off any manuscript over 100 pages.

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!

AND THANK YOU AGAIN

YOU MADE MY HALLOWEEN A REAL TREAT!

DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE!

MY NEXT VICTIM THIS HALLOWEEN

IS CATHRINA CONSTANTINE!

Thanks, Cathrina, for agreeing to be part of the fun.

Presenting Cathrina's

Halloween Interview & Flash Fiction Challenge

         1. You're born on Halloween and have the ghostly evil super powers of one of the following: The Ghost from Poltergeist, The Frankenstein Monster, The Mummy, The most Evil of Witches, The Devil himself, Freddy Kruger, Pumpkin Head, Michael from Halloween, or Jason from Friday the 13^th. Alternatively, if you prefer, pick one of your own. Otherwise, tell us which one you would choose and why? No friendly ghosts allowed! You're to wreak havoc in this scenario!

Call me Crista, a cute name for a wicked witch. I like being in control of those around me, and my potent incantations radiate from the pits of hell. I demand to be pampered and seduced by those of my choosing. It’s fun to watch as boys and even girls bend to my every desire. But once, Dredal tried to take what was mine. Poor Dredal.

    2.   The Zombie Apocalypse is going to occur this Halloween and for 48 hours, the world is thrown into chaos. Live through it and consider yourself lucky, you've been warned. What is your first step, especially as no one else knows or believes you? Do you leave family behind and seek shelter to ride it out, or do you try to save your family? How and why?

Even though me family doesn’t believe me, I love them and can’t leave them behind. They argue, but I convince them it’s only for two days. Think of it as a mini vacation, hahahaa. And to pacify my insanity, they agree and we pack up the SUV with life saving supplies, food, water, guns, and ammo to last for 48 hours. Then we hightail it up to the remote section of the Adirondack Mountains. Hopefully away from deadly seeking Zombies. We barricade ourselves into a safe house for the long haul. We make a pact. If one of use is turned, we know what we must do. Will we live through the Apocalypse? Who knows for sure. But we’ll live and die together.

      3.  Because of the time of your birth, (see the 1^st question) the angels have decided to forgive your sins and are offering to remedy one evil that now exists in the world, but only one! Which would you choose and why?

Hatred. Being the most evil of witches, and seeking repentance, the angels have allowed me to cast a Unity Spell of Love and Peace. If hatred is banished from the world, I believe people may actually live in somewhat harmony.

     4. Why is Halloween a favorite holiday, or not a favorite, and if it isn't why did you participate in this query? Come on; tell us your biggest most secret Halloween fantasy!

I love Halloween and all its scariness. Not precisely the bloody knife in my gut kind of gore, but suspense and spooky tales. I’d be awesome to witness a paranormal event, as long as I didn’t have a heart attack in the process.

     Now the fun part: Finish the story. I've given you the first 100 words. Provide us with the rest, but please hold the number to 750 words or less. The winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card. The contest will be judged by another lover of the horror genre, the person to be announced later. The winner will be posted no later than a week after Halloween!

DESPERATION HOLLER

Jerry sauntered along Desperation Holler Road that earlier echoed with the excited shouts of ghosts and ghouls as the children scrambled from house to house in colorful and frightening costumes.

Dusk dissolved into the blackest of nights as the little monsters disappeared into the shelter of the brightly lit houses with their chocolate goodies.

Jerry smiled, even suppressed laughter, because he knew there was no refuge, not in Desperation Holler on this most evil of Halloweens.

Concealed by the dark limbs of deformed trees and invasive ivy, the innocuous little cabin looked abandoned, but Jerry knew better. 

The witches abode oozed ghastly spells. Seeping through the cracks and crevices of the weathered planks and windows. Jerry walked through the mist and breathed in evil like a tantalizing spice.

His every nerve ending fed on the despicable incantations, filling him with power. Jerry turned to look at the innocent road where families struggled to get their sugar-high monsters into bed. Again, his mouth tweaked in an untoward grin. Little did they fathom what was coming to devour them.  Although, not their souls. Souls must be freely given.

Jerry inhaled the mists fragrance to determine what was expected of him.  His body shuddered in anticipation, for the night had just begun. He mutely chuckled deciphering the intricate spells. Estelle, Crista, and Bettina planned on binding Desperation Holler: To pluck out naive children’s spirits to keep them young and immortal.

“Knock, knock. I’m here.” Jerry stood outside the door. He heard shuffling and gasps. “My lovely ladies. Please invite me in.”

“We don’t need your help this year. Go away.” He recognized Estelle’s voice.

“Estelle, dearest. It’s been centuries. I miss are little scuffles.”

Silence.

The door whipped open and Jerry was immediately speared in the chest. His hands wrapped around the lance as the witches dragged him inside.

“We were expecting you.” Cackled Estelle. “Don’t fight the potion that just entered your blood stream. Soon you’ll be all mine.”

“Not fair, Estelle,” said Bettina with disdain. “He’ll be all ours.”

“Very clever.” He gritted his teeth trying to pull out the cumbersome lance. On the floor laid skeletal remains, withered and grizzled. The clothes clearly made them teenager. “I see you’ve already started. And without me.”

“Be a good boy, Jerry, and we’ll leave you a little treat,” Crista said. The provocative witch with flowing red hair drew new. She latched onto his blood spewed lips. “Mmmm…you taste divine.” Her tongue lapped over his mouth, rinsing the blood.

“These teenagers came knocking, looking for a trick or treat. We gave them both.” Estelle chortled. “But it’s not enough to keep us in the lifestyle we’re accustomed to. You’ve been stingy, Jerry. Not letting us stay and play. This Hallows Eve, we’re prepared.”

Jerry’s knees buckled to the floor.

“Soon the children on Desperation Holler will be walking through that door and we’ll have a feast,” Estelle said over her shoulder as she scuttled to a bubbling cauldron. “One final ingredient is needed. Jerry’s head.” The witches each stirred the boiling pot while chanting. “Who wants to do the honor?”

“Me, me!” Crista jumped up and down like an exited child.

“I’m the oldest,” Bettina said. “Besides, it’s my turn.”

Crista’s bottom lip turned down into a pout.

“Why don’t you both indulge,” Estelle said, a nefarious smile carved into her face.

Bettina and Crista walked to the back of the cabin and grabbed a sickle, used for harvesting wheat in days gone by.

“Isn’t it ironic,” Estelle said, “the grim reaper will get beheaded by his own sickle.” They snickered.

“Thank you girls. I’ve been looking for that,” he said, dripping with sarcasm.

“Such a waste of man flesh,” Crista said, hauling the heavy blade. “This weighs a ton.”

“It will take the three of you to swing it.” Jerry looked up to where Estelle seemed intent to watch the furling charms flow out the windows. Blood laced his hands and again painted his lips. He didn’t know how much longer he could stay in this human condition. 

The three witches toted his sickle and hewed it towards his head. The blade spliced through his neck in one ugly stroke.

But his head remained intact.

“What kind of farce is this?” Crista spat.

Suddenly the lance melted from Jerry’s chest, he straightened with a shit-eating grin. “Ladies, it’s always a pleasure. Thank you for letting me feed off your wickedness. See you in hell.”

He raised his arms and the cabin exploded to smithereens.

*****
Thank you for your participation, Cathrina! 

Love your answers and your flash was amazing. 

Once again, Jerry had the last word. 

Readers one comment could win YOU a copy of

DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE!

Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Leocadia arrives home from school to find her mom's body. Unaware that the killer still lingers, she rushes to her mother's side, only to be grabbed from behind and then everything fades to black.

After a year of retrograde amnesia and battling personal demons, Leo's dreams are getting worse--she's starting to remember. More bodies are discovered and they seem to be oddly linked to her mom's unsolved homicide.

When Leo allows her friend, Henry to drag her into the haunted Lucien Mansion, misty ghosts appear, ghosts that just might lead to her mother's murderer.

Will Leo let her memories threaten her into a relapse or, will she fight to find her mother's killer - only to become his next victim?

*****

Cathrina Constantine resides in Western New York with her husband, five children, two Labrador Retrievers and two cats. When not with her family, reading, or stationed at the computer, you will find her walking in the backwoods with her dogs, conjuring up a new tale.

You can find Constantine here:

https://www.facebook.com/wickedly333

www.cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com

www.goodreads.com/cathrinaconstantine.com`

Amazon Authors Page: http://www.amazon.com/Cathrina-Constantine/e/B00EPENYGE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1415978225&sr=8-1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cathconstantine

*****

CONGRATULATIONS!
MADILYN QUINN
YOU'VE JUST WON A COPY OF
DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE!

*****

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