Acquired Book By:
I was selected to be a stop on the “Southern Haunts 3: Magick Beneath the Moonlight” blog tour from Seventh Star Press. The tour is hosted by Tomorrow Comes Media who does the publicity and blog tours for Seventh Star Press and other Indie and/or Self Published authors.
I received a complimentary copy of “Southern Haunts 3: Magick Beneath the Moonlight” direct from the publisher Seventh Star Press in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
Why I wanted to read …Southern Haunts 3 and why I haven’t read Vols. 1 & 2:
I cannot remember exactly when the original Southern Haunts anthology dropped into sight, as I was either hosting for TCM or it went live prior to joining the blog team of reviewers and hosts. I do remember live-tweeting the conversation happening on The Star Chamber Show for Southern Haunts Vol. 2 and how despite the fact I knew I’d never read it as it’s not a topic of interest of mine – I respectively enjoyed the hour on the radio talk show! As mentioned in this tweet! If you follow the #SouthernHaunts tag on Twitter, you’ll find more of my older tweets on behalf of that convo and the anthological series as a whole!
Towards the close of 2015, Mr Brown asked me if I might consider reading the next installment of Southern Haunts as he had noticed I’m starting to appreciate the ‘cosier side’ of Horror (i.e. my reviews from World Weaver Press might have been a strong indication last year!) – I asked him a few questions about what I might find inside the anthology, as despite the fact I have a passionate interest in Cosy Horror, I’m still trepiderious about ‘reading’ Cosy Horror as my preferences are not generally the preferences of those who write Horror! It’s a delicate niche I’ve uncovered and like most of my favourite genres to devour, it’s one of those particularly particular genres I am reading as I wander through it!
His responses reassured me to the point where I was seriously excited for a blog tour to celebrate the release – so much so – I did a bit of background research of all three installments, as previously I had been aware of them, moreso during that podcast for The Star Chamber Show, but I hadn’t quite looked into them as a whole. I found out that aside from reading this third anthology, I definitely want to give the first volume a bit of a go as well! Mostly as I recognised that I had overlooked the fact, the original Southern Haunts anthology and this third one walk hand in hand with the types of stories I am appreciating reading whilst happily finding myself residing inside a new genre of joy!
I have my ‘own he shall not be named’ outside of Potter’s nemesis, and as I’m truly not into the darkest shades of humanity nor of the darkest of villains, the second volume isn’t one I am focusing on – however, if you click through the blog tour badge, you’ll find information about it or if you visit Seventh Star Press you’ll be able to pull up enough information about it if your curious.
The biggest draw for me is when I learnt Southern Haunts 3 has a focus on Southern Gothic, folklore and the mysterious suspenseful bits of Urban Fantasy undertones threading through it’s particular palette of Horror selections,… I decided I wanted to try reading this one if only to prove one of the first Indie Publishers I championed as a book blogger can tempt me with their Cosier side of Horror!
![Blog Book Tour | “Southern Haunts 3: Magick Beneath the Moonlight” Anthology [edited by] Alexander S. Brown & Louise Myers](https://i0.wp.com/jorielovesastory.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/73/2016/05/SouthernHaunts3Cover_1200X800.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&ssl=1 "Blog Book Tour | “Southern Haunts 3: Magick Beneath the Moonlight” Anthology [edited by] Alexander S. Brown & Louise Myers")
Southern Haunts 3
Subtitle: Magick Beneath the Moonlight
by (Editor) Alexander S. Brown, (Editor) Louise Myers
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Courtney Vice, Enggar Adirasa
Source: Publisher via Tomorrow Comes Media
Deep within the South, read about the magickal folk who haunt the woods, the cemeteries, and the cities. Within this grim anthology, eighteen authors will spellbind you with tales of hoodoo, voodoo, and witchcraft.
From this cauldron mix, readers will explore the many dangers lurking upon the Natchez Trace and in the Mississippi Delta. They will encounter a bewitched doll named Robert from the Florida Keys, and a cursed trunk that is better left closed. In the backstreets of New Orleans, they will become acquainted with scorned persons who will stop at nothing to exact their revenge.
These hair raising tales and more await you in Southern Haunts 3: Magick Beneath the Moonlight. Read if you dare.
Places to find the book:
ISBN: 9781941706336
Published by Seventh Star Press
on 2nd November, 2015
Format: Paperback Edition
Pages: 382
Published By: Seventh Star Press (@7thStarPress)
Available Formats: Softcover, E-book
Converse via: #SouthernHaunts, #Anthology & #7thStar
About (Editor) Alexander S. Brown
Alexander S. Brown is a Mississippi author who was published in 2008 with his first book Traumatized. Reviews for this short story collection were so favorable that it has been released as a special edition by Pro Se Press. Brown is currently one of the co-editors/coordinators with the Southern Haunts Anthologies published by Seventh Star Press. His horror novel Syrenthia Falls is represented by Dark Oak Press.
He is also the author of multiple young adult steampunk stories found in the Dreams of Steam Anthologies, Capes and Clockwork Anthologies, and the anthology Clockwork Spells and Magical Bells. His more extreme works can be found in the anthologies Luna’s Children published by Dark Oak Press and State of Horror: Louisiana Vol 1 published by Charon Coin Press.
Visit Smashwords.com, Amazon.com, and Barnesandnoble.com to download his monthly short stories known as Single Shots. These are represented by Pro Se Press and they are known as stories that will be featured in the upcoming book The Night the Jack O’Lantern Went Out.
About (Editor) Louise Myers
Louise Myers was born in New Orleans and during her teenage years was uprooted from everything she knew and was replanted in Mississippi. Though the transition was difficult, she is very glad to have the opportunity to have both worlds under her belt. She says this because she knows from living in both places, they are both a world all to their own. She is the wife of a wonderful husband and mother of three beautiful children, as well as the proud parent of a spoiled mutt.
She was assistant editor of Southern Haunts: Spirits That Walk Among Us, co-editor of Southern Haunts 2: Devils in the Darkness, and co-editor of Southern Haunts 3: Magick Beneath the Moonlight.
She is a beta reader, book doctor, editor, and author. Though this is her second story in print, she has been weaving tales for many years for pleasure. She has many thoughts on several topics she’d like to write, mostly surrounding ghost stories.
Reflections on the Introduction:
The parapsychological aspects of the genre are what truly first tempted me to become a Cosy Horror kind of girl, as one of my favourite discoveries of the past years is Ghost Whisperer! Growing up in the Southeast, it’s hard to subtract the paranormal history from the region because it’s been embedded here since writers first began crafting their tales! So legendary, the writers behind The X-Files were forever and a day trying to sort out how to draw their audience to the unexplainable occurrences which took up residence here. And, yes, I was a fan of the series – mostly due to the key plot surrounding Mulder’s sister and the entire dynamic between him and Scully; the subplots which deviated into oblivion vexed me something fierce.
I had a healthy curiosity for NOLA long before I walked it’s streets as a teenager and most of the inspirations for Horror authors can be attached to the city itself; especially the darker arts, as NOLA has it’s own unique history stemming out of both positive and negative threads of interest. I wished I had taken the cemetery tour whilst I was there – although reading Ghost Walk by Heather Graham helped me resolve that bit of guilt! I love her Ghost Harrison series because they are rooted inside the tradition of combining the paranormal with suspense! This was my first entreaty into her series, and having it set in New Orleans was added bliss!
In regards to ‘magic’ in the real world, I appreciated Mr Brown highlighting a brief history on Wicca and how fundamentally this is not a religion to fear but one to acknowledge as having it’s own set of ethics which stipulate how to walk a line of honourable intentions without causing harm. He also moves through a light touching of definitions of the atmospheric elements and the inspirations for each of the stories contained inside this anthology. He’s breaking everything down into simple terms, whilst drawing attention to words that might have the wrong inflections and definitions associated with them if your a new reader of this genre. It’s a way of breaking down the basics of what you’ll find inside whilst giving leverage to educating you on the differences therein.
I appreciated the recapture of the thought that went into the collection of the stories – my readerly heart lies in the stories on the lighter side of the genre as a whole, but what I appreciate about the stories that dig a bit of insight into the darker elements is to root out the sociological effects on the characters – what drew them to make choices that might have endangered themselves or others, and what truly tainted them against the light? I like reading stories which challenge convention as much as which challenge you to read a story which is presented to grant you a new insight into a character who might not make the best choices in life but where there was an underlying reason why their life took the path it did.
Storycrafters of Cosy Horror have the tendency to make you ‘think’ about all aspects of the story – even the ones that you overlooked whilst you were settling inside the short (or novel) itself – if you re-think about everything revealled, the stories take on deeper dimensions and give you something to contemplate. All good literature should be a tipping point towards a discussion and Cosy Horror is definitely akin to granting conversations with it’s readers once the stories are fully absorbed!
My Review of Southern Haunts 3: Magick Beneath the Moonlight:
Anthological Note: There are beautifully lovely sketches before each of the shorts inside this collection – just seeing them gave me a curious nod towards what inspired their images and how their visuals reflect back directly against the story I was about to read! I even recognised more than one author inside this collection, which both surprised me and delighted me! Would I find one of my favourites to be written by an author I previously knew of but hadn’t yet read? Oh the possibilities when you read short story anthologies!
| “Granny Wise” by H. David Blalock |
This story reminds me of the mountain stories I used to love reading whilst I was growing up, as not all of them were rooted in the lore behind the ‘mountain magic’ as much as Dolly Parton’s perennial Christmas favourite of mine: A Smoky Mountain Christmas. I warmed to Granny Wise straight from the start of her story as I recognised her as an apothecarist and natural healer of the mountain people. The mountains of Tennessee, Virginia and the Carolinas have a strong legacy of stories attached to them, but one thing I appreciated about Blalock is how his tale wasn’t motivated by a sinister plot, no, in full effect it was motivated by rooting out the cause behind certain characteristics and motivations of behaviour.
I appreciated the simplicity of this tale and the heart-warming truths which stemmed out of the interventions Granny Wise made on a young couple new to her part of the mountains. Blalock is a regular author releasing stories from the Press of whom I have noticed but never had the pleasure of reading previously. I enjoyed this introduction to his style, as what charmed me most is how gentle he took the inspiration of Granny Wise and how in-tune he was with the lore behind her story as well! The greatest joy was seeing how he envisioned Granny Wise – in her natural spirit and how she could affect change in those she ministered too in the mountains!
| “The Priestess’ Trunk” by C G Bush |
Old rambling houses are some of my favourites because you can feel the history ebbing out of them whenever you walk inside. There are reminisces of past eras and generations etched straight into the woodwork and the little bits of human touches left behind that can be seen in how a house was built and finished. Little reminders of who walked through the space before you did and how life might have been lived as well. Bush takes you into the folds of a secret a house is not yielding to reveal too easily but not restricting it’s access either. A bit of a telling marker towards this would be how everyone in the community is against visiting the new family directly but warmly offers to have them go elsewhere with them instead.
A young teenager whose facing his anger and his anguish over having lost his mother through a tragic accident has taking a liking towards a house he never wanted to live in as it took him away from New Orleans. Strange how certain places can get a hold of you – change your perspective and not always be of a positive influence. The first dark element in the story is how convincingly real the picture is of the young girl – the descriptions of her actions and the subtle ways in which she manipulated his focus were chillingly honest. This supernatural ability reminded me so distinctively of the painting in The Witches!
Another cautionary tale about disturbing things you do not know enough about to fully understand – this time it had dangerous consequences and the ending did not shock me at all! If anything, I knew it would end this way, as there was a good level of foreshadowing happening at the beginning! Oy!
| “The Untold Tale of Wiccademous” by J L Mulvihill |
Such a sombering tale of woe – generationally evoking a historic truth about one woman’s past and the redemption required to set back to rights the wrongs that forever changed two girls’ lives. I have only read one story by Ms Mulivihill in the past, and I must confess, this short story is my favourite of the two due to the resounding depth of setting, time and story! You’re drawn into this one straight-off as it percolates as having something quite dire to share with you – a hidden history, a solemn truth, a past that cannot be undone yet bears being remembered.
The narrative voice is penned with confidence as Mulvihill grants her character the will to keep back a bit from the reader’s eyes until the closing of her fate. It’s a good arc of suspense because your not quite sure how it’s going to take it’s course – you presume, yes, but how the ending reaches back into the past and how the past reaches straight forward into the present is worth waiting to read. Sometimes the innocent are lost and sometimes innocence is blocked by deceit; the consequences of sins in the past can have repercussions in the future, too. Writ with a strong emotional core, Mulvihill will keep you pinned inside her story til the final reveal.
Although not one of my favourites overall, the story within Live Big by Tom Lucas is classically written as a ‘cautionary tale’ with a twist – I was quite happy he did not use strong language in this short, as I felt he might at one point, instead he let his character tell his tale in such a morbid and depressing way to actually paint a light on how ‘not to behave’ and how your actions can have secondary consequences than the immediate ones your expecting. The most horrific thing to happen inside this short is at the very end of it – which brought back to mind that the worst bit of Hitchcock’s Psycho is actually ‘the ending’!
There were a few stories I couldn’t gain traction inside this first reading of mine – The Jar by Robert McGough was due to what could be implied or found ‘inside’ the jar – as my mind was overworking itself to such a brink, I talked myself out of wanting to read this one! Laughs. The Witch of Honey, Kudzu and Coyotes by Diane Ward simply did not bewitch me to read but rather felt to be more traditionally set to the parent genre of Horror. La Voyante by Elizabeth Allen simply didn’t draw me in as it felt like a fight were about to burst out of a writer’s group – mind you, in of itself not always a bad thing depending on the circumstances but it simply wasn’t what I was expecting? The best part was the sketch – I loved how it showed a laptop computer and a brightly lit candle sitting next to it! Now that was brilliant! Cursed by Melodie Romeo shocked me a bit because I wasn’t quite expecting *that!* kind of an opener – I re-read a few sentences and decided to continue moving onward! Again I loved the sketch – this time of an old stately home repleate with decaying trees and heaps of Spanish Moss! I staid with Secrets of the Heart by Louise Myers for most of it – but then decided to stop reading it because it just took such a sad turn! Tell Me Where He Lies by Greg McWhorter, The Shadows by Kalila Smith, In the Dark by Jonnie Sorrow, Without Xango There is No Oxolla by John E. Hesselberg, The Bone Picker by Angela Lucius and Dances with Witches by Alexander S. Brown each had artwork that felt to be warning me the stories would be quite intense and I decided to take a pass. Docta Bones by Melissa Robinson opened with a creepier version of The Sixth Sense in some ways, as it felt like the character could see the dead just after they passed which was a bit much for me as well. The Apartment House by Della West started out on a good note but by the time the old man died, I felt my attention fleeting as for the brief moment I knew the old man, I grieved his death. I could tell there was something quite sinister about this property and decided to let it lie without further knowing of what it entailed.
Vengeance by Linda DeLeon started on such a good footing – but part of me worried if it might be too intense to read at this time. I had a bit of a late start beginning this collection, therefore as the hours waned past midnight and inched closer to dawn, I decided perhaps I’ll keep this one tucked away to read at a future date! I liked how the lead character is approaching the telling of the story as if she had journalled it down for reflection.
What I appreciated the most about this collection of shorts is how character driven each of them were and how honest they were told. The changing perspectives, the intuitiveness towards the human condition, the ache of guilt or remorse or the harder truths behind redemption – each short had such a well of depth inside it you had to think more than twice about the meanings behind their tales. Some were simply cautionary at heart, others were more introspective and pausing on certain themes that are harder to understand and lend themselves well to a story-line where all truths can run out in descriptive narratives centred on the emotional core of their characters.
I was not surprised the Natchez Trace was chosen more than once as a location to set one of the stories because I had previously discovered the haunting and ethereal histories of this ancient trail through my readings of To Live Forever: The Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis by Andra Watkins, which come to think of it could also be considered ‘Cosy Horror’ in some regards!
The best part is how calm the collection reads – very much a Cosy Horror collection of shorts (at least the ones which captured my attention!) any sensitive hearted reader will appreciate reading. I, personally am thankful to finally take a spin and a go at ‘Southern Haunts’ as it lead me to find new authors I hadn’t had the pleasure of knowing otherwise as well as finding a favourite by a writer I wanted to read a new story from – the takeaways keep with you, and the visualisations of how the stories were told were quite brilliant because they anchoured you directly into the scenes in which the stories breathed the most life.
On becoming comfortable with Cosy Horror:
I am sure the visitors who frequent the blog tours featuring Seventh Star Press authors will be quite more than a smidge gobsmacked when they find ‘Jorie’ is hosting the third installment of ‘Southern Haunts’ as previously, the one genre I have shied away from reading via #7thStar is ‘Horror’ as I gave a few titles by this publisher a whirl and sadly, found those stories to simply not be my cuppa! This can happen, but since I’ve diverted my attention to focusing on their Fantasy anthologies (in combination with World Weaver Press, they are my favourites of the genre!), Dragon Fiction, Urban Fantasy novels/shorts, Superhero Fiction and Alternative Historical Fiction selections (with Classic Science Fiction coming up when I get the joy of reading Mr Sullivan’s Red Lotus release) – I’ve been silently biding my time to await and see if one of their ‘Horror’ releases might tempt my fancy with the genre as I’ve cosied up to ‘Cosy Horror’ over the past three years (come Autumn 2016) I’ve been hosting for Tomorrow Comes Media!
Background on Jorie’s cosy attachment to ‘Cosy Horror’:
Interview with Lynn Carthage on behalf of Haunted
Top Favourite Classic Horror Films (surprised?)
Top Series I want to read w/in the range of Cosy Horror
Cosy Horror even made it into Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards!
As I explained how I directly became interested in reading this third installment of the Southern Haunts anthologies, I wanted to extend the focus to include which stories of ‘Cosy Horror’ interest me inasmuch as how I came to call this slice of Horror ‘Cosy’! It’s a terminology of choice on my own behalf to sort my way through a genre I previously not only shied off of reading but ran the complete opposite direction of in the video rental stores! That section just creeped me out of my skull! I was never the girl who read Stephen King much less entertained his films – much to the chagrin of my classmates, who were diehard fans. I grew into appreciating Alfred Hitchcock (minus The Birds!) and other Classic Horror film directors who were focusing more on the ‘psychological suspense’ of the genre than the gore, gruesome and other discomforting bits I was never interested in watching!
One tidbit I never shared on my blog is that I used to adore going to Universal Studios – one of my favourite stops whilst going through the park was the Monster Make-up or was it Gruesome Make-up show (it’s exact name eludes); followed closely by Murder She Wrote Mystery Theatre and the Alfred Hitchcock Art of Making Movies. To be honest nearly each and every closed feature of Universal Studios (see Wikipedia) were my ‘favourites’, sighs, progress for you! Isn’t it odd? The real name of the make-up show isn’t listed? I think they might have renamed it: Horror Make-up Show! Laughs. The point I was attempting to make is that as a sideline joke, one of the times we went there the host at the time took one look at me and thought “I’ll get her!”. He proceeded to encourage me to come up into the show, so I could both participate and be quizzed on the legacy of origins of what made the make-up legendary!
Clearly, I never looked like the ‘Horror’ type if you get my drift! Laughs. Guess who had the last laugh? JORIE! I single-handedly answered the most questions ‘correctly!’ than anyone else he’d ever met! He didn’t phase me with the participation bits either – apparently, I can surprise people! Laughs. The audience loved it too, because they said it just proves you should never judge a book by it’s cover! In my case, sometimes the non-Horror girls know more than you think!
Each Halloween I try to curate new Classic Horror films to watch for the ‘first time’ and I’m slowly making my way through the world of books and short stories – finding my own personal niche of ‘Cosy Horror’ offerings which feature all the lovelies I love reading about (i.e. ghosts are a mainstay obviously!) including Southern Gothic or Traditional Gothic undertones and atmospheric elements which give me a heap of joy to read! Ooh! And, guess who found a ‘vamprie rom’ she found most delish to read!? JORIE!
You see, I love being caught up inside the kinds of stories you’d expect to be featured round Halloween – I have a healthy appetite for Suspense but what I never realised prior to my participation in Horror October 2014, is just how much I fit this side of the genre! I seriously never realised the early origins of Horror were the Psychological Suspense stories and films!? Keeping true to who I am as a reader, what motivates my continued readings of this genre are the elements of suspense inter-threaded with the incredible layers of depth the writers are giving the stories themselves! They are telling powerfully intuitive and visually compelling stories – full of heart whose characters endear themselves to you even for the short bit of time you’ve spent with them! This is why I love Cosy Horror and why I will continue to pursue the genre as a whole.
Due to encouragement from my bookish mates on Twitter, don’t be surprised if one day I write a story to fully inhabit the genre I coined! After all, if a girl can name a genre ‘Cosy Horror’ she might as well see what she can pen out of the inspiration!
If your following this blog tour, don’t be overly shocked Jorie’s a part of it!
Take stock of my literary wanderings below and drop by these reviews to find out what truly gives me a heap of wicked good joy reading Cosy Horror!
Cosy Horror as i Discover the Stories:
The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton (review)
FAE anthology by World Weaver Press (review)
Dance Until Dawn by Berni Stevens (review)
CORVIDAE anthology by World Weaver Press (review)
Darkness with a Chance of Whimsy anthology by R.J. Sullivan (review)
The Haunting of Springett Hall by E.B. Wheeler (review)
Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley (review)
Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis (review)
UPCOMING on the heels of Southern Haunts: my review of SCARECROW Part II of CORVIDAE!
This blog tour was courtesy of:
via
as I am a proud tour hostess for:
I look forward to reading your thoughts & commentary!
Especially if you read the book or were thinking you might be inclined to read it. I appreciate hearing different points of view especially amongst bloggers who gravitate towards the same stories to read. Bookish conversations are always welcome!
Read why Jorie *loves!* #CosyHorror & this #anthology (#SouthernHaunts) by @7thStarPress! Click To Tweet
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{SOURCES: Book Cover for “Southern Haunts: Vols. 2 & 3”, book synopsis for “Southern Haunts 3”, editor photographs and biographies of Alexander S. Brown & Louise Myers, blog tour badge, Seventh Star Press badge and TCM Tour Host badge were provided by Tomorrow Comes Media and were used by permission. Ruminations & Impressions Book Review Banner created by Jorie in Canva. Photo Credit: Unsplash Public Domain Photographer Sergey Zolkin. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Comment Box Banner made by Jorie in Canva.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2016.
I’m a social reader | I tweet as I read
Whilst Jorie is about to #FuellYourSciFi this May by #reading #scifi stories; Next on #JLASblog #SouthernHaunts Antho full of #CosyHorror :)
— Jorie Story 📖🎧 (@joriestory) May 5, 2016
Following on the heels of #SouthernHaunts will be SCARECROW the other half of CORVIDAE (https://t.co/ue3g07Vg3i) #CosyHorror is wicked good!
— Jorie Story 📖🎧 (@joriestory) May 5, 2016
.@7thStarPress Jorie's having a blast introducing #7thStar #readers & #bookbloggers to why she loves #CosyHorror for #SouthernHaunts morrow!
— Jorie Story 📖🎧 (@joriestory) May 5, 2016
I'm #reading an #anthology called: #SouthernHaunts
by @7thStarPress edited by @AlexanderSBrownWherein HDavid Blalock happily surprised me!
— Jorie Story 📖🎧 (@joriestory) May 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/AlexanderSBrown/status/728082816525701122
.@AlexanderSBrown I honestly did love #reading #SouthernHaunts! surprised my favourites were on the shorter side; so good! :) @7thStarPress
— Jorie Loves A Story (@joriestory) May 5, 2016
I am glad you enjoyed Southern Haunts 3. I am honored to be in the company of so many talented authors.