Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Guest Blogger: JOEL M. ANDRE

I'd like to welcome an exciting new guest to my Fantasy Pages this week, author Joel M. Andre. The book looks wonderful, and I'm sure you're going to love this amazing author....

Horror is so romantic. There is passion intertwined in the story line, and sensuality abounds. You probably are either thinking, freak, or dude has finally lost it. But maybe, you are that one person who is thinking, let’s see where this goes. Well, come hold my hand as I walk you through, the romantic realm of Horror.

I’m going to get rid of vampire’s right off the bat. Mostly, because I think they have become so cliché and have become mainstream and much humanized lately. Now vampires fall in love, walk in the light, and laugh at crosses.

Now Dracula wouldn’t have put up with any of that stuff in his day. He was dark and seductive, and although evil. You could sense the passion as he bit into Lucy Westenra, which opened her soul to her very own passionate emotions. The sensuality of the biting of the next, and in a sense transferring her soul to his, is a very romantic idea. He in turn brings her eternal life.

Next, we can take a quick look at Frankenstein. A tale often thought to be more along the lines of Childhood Innocence. When actually it is a tale of the passion to be loved and accepted. Through the book, the monster of Frankenstein is looking towards the purest form of love and acceptance from someone.

Another classic creature is The Mummy. After centuries of being dead and buried, he returns to a modern time, and falls smitten with the woman he believes was his queen. Through death and the after life, nothing made him forgets his beloved queen who he wants to reconnect with, and love again so desperately.

Then there is the ultimate tale of love, Beauty & the Beast. No, not the Disney tale, the original tale is one of corruption, and with a sadder and deeper ending. But the main theme remains true, a vile beast, and the most beautiful woman in the world butt heads, she finds him insincere and dark and sinister, until he releases her to her dying father for one week. She then is subject to the trickery of her sisters, resulting in the ultimate sacrifice, and finds she in turn loves a monster.

Horror remains to this day a very romantic and passionate genre. I urge you one of these days, and pull a classic off the shelf, and read it with an open mind. It will likely inspire you, and may even fall in love.

Visit Joel's website here: http://www.joelmandre.com/

31 comments:

  1. Wow, he makes some interesting points, doesn't he? I always wondered how Fay Rae could have loved King Kong the way she did, but maybe he excited her, who knows, lol. Great guest post, Joel, and thanks goes to you, Denyse, for hosting him on his virtual book tour today. For anyone following his tour stops, tomorrow he'll be appearing at www.publishishingsecretsofauthors.blogspot.com! Leave a comment on this blog stop and you could win a FREE virtual book tour if you're a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate. Good luck!

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  2. Hi, Dorothy, and Joel. It's my pleasure to host this author, the book sounds wonderful, and the post is fascinating!! I hope we can get some great interest stirred up by this one, too!!

    Blessings,
    Denysé

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  3. I thoroughly agree! I love the suspense and surprise of horror... and the suspense and surprise of romance isn't too far off on the spectrum! ;)

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  4. Wow, I never thought about it, but I completely agree with you. Most of the "heroes" of horror novels and/or movies are tortured and lonely, sympathetic to the reader/viewer because it seems most of them develped a dark heart because they felt wronged, slighted - or lost a love in an unjust manner.

    Hmm, intriguing post. Thanks!

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  5. Great points. The world of vampires has certainly changed, and there are many books that focus on them. I think each author tries to put a different spin to the vampire world - some work, some don't. Interesting topic. :o)

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  6. I think that Joel might be right
    about horror being about romance. Everyone would like to love and to have someone love them. Except Dracula.

    loretta

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  7. That's quite an interesting take on horror. I love it! Great post, Joel!

    Blessings,

    Jenny Gilliam

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  8. the classic horror stories, I like...the new ones not so much. I really don't like the horror erotica

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  9. I love horror. I really like it when horror is mixed with a little bit of romance. Thanks for the great post.

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  10. I enjoy the more classic styled horror myself. Interesting point; horrorand romance.

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  11. Thanks to everyone for stopping by, and thanks to Denysé for letting me write my rambling here. Those who are following my tour, check out the rest of Denysé's site, very good posts, and she runs a top notch site. Be sure to spend lots of time here. :)

    Much Love,

    Joel M. Andre

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  12. Hey everyone! Nice to see so many positive comments and great input. It's been a pleasure hosting so many talented people recently, and Joel is certainly among the most interesting. I hope you are all enjoying this as much as I am, and that we can continue to discover wonderful new talents to share!

    Blessings & Hugs,
    Denysé

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  13. Hi, this is my introduction to you and your works. I am going to be looking for more. I enjoyed reading the post and learning.

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  14. Definitely, an alternate view of the horror genre...I can enjoy some horror but usually if it is mixed with another genre a bit of romance or mystery....

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  15. Debby-

    I am happy to hear I raised your ears a bit. If you have an authors den account, I have short stories, and poetry there as well. You might take an interest to some of that, it is free to register and read.

    Michelle-

    I am the king of alternate views. But all good stories, have more than one genre they can fall in. Makes then universal in appeal. C.S. Lewis, or even Lewis Carrol are good examples of that.

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  16. I have seen sadness behind every horror story - and the horror behind every sad story.
    It is good to know I'm not the only who sees these 'alternative angles' to this type of story!!

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
    Lisa xx

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  17. Horror was always my first love in reading but romantic horror would be a great combination - thanks for the insights.

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  18. I'm not sure about horror if the story involves gruesome killings. I do like a good solid mystery with lots of twists and turns and red herrings. A murder or two to kick off the story sets the tone. I have just read A Distant Echo by Val MacDermid. She really had me on the edge of my seat until the last few pages.

    Thanks for the interesting post.

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  19. What fun points to rais
    e. There are so many different ways to look at things. I really enjoyed reading your take. I have always been a big fan of horror and probably always be!
    Drea

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  20. Joel, you make some interesting points--I definitely would not have considered horror romantic before! Although I suppose that both genres can get one's blood moving ;)

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  21. Great interview. A man after my own heart. I love the books that have a combination of horror and romance. The original fairy tales were full of it. I am so going to look for his books.

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  22. You guys are too kind. Hopefully you all voted today! Doesn't matter who yall are voting for, just make sure your voice is heard!

    Deb are we talking Grimm's Fairy tales? You are too cool! All of you have been awesome and warm today!

    I am doing to have to haunt the Fantasy Pages more often.

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  23. Interesting take here. I never considered Beauty and the Beast a horror story but can see how it would be. At one time I'd never have read horror, but find myself reading more over the years.

    Linda
    www.lindalaroque.com

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  24. Sorry I'm late to the party. (Story of my life lately)

    Amazing points, Joel! And so true. I've never much chased the vamps, but I did sooo love Frankenstein and the original beauty and the beast.

    You should most definitely visit the fantasy pages! Lots of beauty, very little beast...aside from me. LOL

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  25. As a child I had a security book in hand rather than a security blanket - and if you guessed that the book I carried was Grimm's Fairy Tales you would be correct.

    It was an older version and contained more violence than the fairy tale books of today. I read it and had my Mom read it to me so often that it disintegrated.!!! The cover was starting to come off but all the pages were intact.

    I also saw all the black and white horror films - back in the 50's so I am giving my age away here - but horror has always enthralled me.

    My favorite genres to read are historical, suspense, horror and true crime - I know I am a bit weird - go figure.

    I really agree with your viewpoint in your post. Life is not all wine and roses - there are many bumpy roads and unsavory things in this world.

    I now enjoy "fractured fairy tales - I guess I'm just a child at heart. I'm not in my second childhood - I never grew out of my first.!!

    On an old cartoon show they even had Fractured Fairy Tales, which just happened to be my favorite segment on that show.

    Looking forward to reading some excerpts of your book.

    Have a GREAT evening everyone.!!

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  26. Great article! I love your thinking.

    Cheryl

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  27. I always thought The Mummy was an ultimate love story.
    Their love enduring for thousands of years and him dying for her. Even The Creature From the Black Lagoon has sort of a love story in it...the Gill Man 'falls' for the woman and takes her for his own

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  28. I love the way you think. Because of how the movies are, I have judged the genre of Horror as blood and guts. You have refocused me to see a different view and to try the genre again.

    It is so true that romance is is the stories that you have mentioned. I can't wait to go to the horror secton and start reading.

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  29. It is amazing that so many people can read the original classic horror stories and not see the beauty in the words that are written. The monsters are really just tortured souls looking for love and acceptance. Can't wait to read your book and see your take on everything.

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  30. Wow, you guys are still showing some great love here!

    Okay, so many of you to address, but all worth it, so here we go!

    Linda L-

    Isn't it amazing how our taste's change over the years? Sometimes it takes a little peek into the world behind the closet to realize what all we have been missing. I would love to know what you are reading now.

    Lainey,

    You arrived fashionably late! Always good to have another visitor here! A person who can sense more of a depth behind anything is truly a remarkable person. A fan of Frankenstein is a good person in my book.

    Ruth,

    Anyone who uses Grimm's Fairytales as a security blanket, is okay in my book. Barnes & Noble releases a gold leafed leather bound edition for $19.99 very nice, I picked up a copy of that and the complete works of poe in the same style this weekend.

    Jeanette- Exactly! You get it!

    Kimberly- Modern horror movies are Gore Porn. At times I am disappointed at the exploitation they deliver. I am nervous about the Wolf Man remake coming out this December, hopefully they don't do the Van Helsing mistake with it. At 27 I know how to respect the classics. Hopefully they can too.

    Ore-

    I hope my books don't disappoint, however, I will admit Kill 4 Me has a strong focus on rage and revenge, if you are looking for love, redemption and personal growth I would steer you towards my book A Death at the North Pole.

    Thanks to everyone again!

    Much Love,

    Joel M. Andre

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  31. I hadn't thought about this before. Very interesting! Thanks.

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Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.