How do authors hook and hold readers?

- Some authors hook their readers by following "7 rules" The Inciting Incident – getting the story rolling by nailing the readers curiosity and interest. The Rule of the First Third – eliminating the dull background in the first third of the first draft. Beginning with the End in Mind - hooking readers into reading the entire book. Uncover the Big Idea – get to the big idea of your book, quickly. Embody the Big Idea – with compelling mental images and visual actions. Choose the perspective carefully – who can tell this story most effectively? Experiment with how much to leave out – allowing readers to fill in the gaps with their own imagination is powerful.

(Adult Reading Round Table)

Question 6: What are the different types of horror?

• When looking at horror, it is easy to become overwhelmed at its vastness. Horror has been divided countlessly into sub and cross genres. three possible groups, one could start by categorizing it in general as either psychological, allegorical, or sociological, although many stories contain heavy combination or mixture of either two or all three elements.

• Psychological horror indicates just that - an element of horror that toys with the mind and targets the psyche. Generally, this type of horror is internal and deals with the inner darkness of human thought. Sociological horror generally serves to comment on a specific aspect of society - cultural traditions, values, social issues - and is often externalized into something monstrous. Corruption is often a centerpiece in this type of horror.Allegorical horror is largely symbolic and may hold a deeper or almost hidden meaning, drawing on both internalized and externalized horrors. It is the Big Bad Wolf, the Witch in the Gingerbread House, the bill collectors at your door. Horror can also be divided as supernatural, gory, and/or intellectual, although the initial three seem to better capture the essence of placing a story in terms of contained style and subject matter. An allegorical horror story can easily be gory and supernatural, but the blood and ghosts are really surface items; it's what the story and its elements would symbolize that would better help us determine the purpose of the gore and the supernatural.(Adult Reading Round Table)

• Horror can also be divided as supernatural, gory, and/or intellectual, although the initial three seem to better capture the essence of placing a story in terms of contained style and subject matter. An allegorical horror story can easily be gory and supernatural, but the blood and ghosts are really surface items; it's what the story and its elements would symbolize that would better help us determine the purpose of the gore and the supernatural. (Davis, Justin )

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Question 3: How has horror changed over time?

• At first it started as something new and unthinkable Over time it began to turn into true events. Later they were made to make you think

• Recent trends have been leaning towards extreme however, especially with the surge of Edward Lee and James Wrath and others with their ever popular horror books like The Golem.

• (Hamilton, John)• Mediums like the internet that's sure to keep growing. And let's not

forget about digital books or e-books. This opens up a whole new avenue for and writers to share their work without the hefty middle man of a publisher

•Writers have changed the way monsters and villains are perceived by the viewers in dramatic fashion. Take one of the most popular horror icons of all time -Vampires. They have been portrayed as evil rat like creatures in one instance all the way to the other extreme (Horror Has Always Changed)

Question 4: What are some popular horror authors?

• Recent popular horror authors are Brian Lumley, Stephen King- Secret Windows , Ramsey Campbell- The Darkest Part of the Woods, Douglas Clegg, Dean Koontz- Relentless, John Saul (Adult Reading Round Table) Michael Laimo, Sarah Langan, David Searcy, John Shirley

Question 5: Why do people read horror books? • Whether readers enjoy the horror popularized by Stephen King, with evil invading a

normal life, or that exemplified by Clive Barkers early novels, characterized by explicit violence from the early pages, they expect an atmospheric tale with haunted protagonists stalked by evil monsters and attacked randomly. Horror is appreciated for the level of fear it produces in the reader. In addition, an inescapable feeling of dread throughout heightens emotional reaction to these disturbing stories. (Adult Reading Round Table)

Question 7: What kind of audience does horror literature have?

• Horror fans span a wide range of readers, male and female, young and old. Horror seems particularly attractive to teen readers, who appreciate these out-of-control worlds and emotions, with monsters of every type. Readers read horror to be surprised and frightened; they expect the unexpected. Many fans come to horror fiction from movies and television shows. Others cross over from dark fantasy and the thriller and suspense genres. Short stories provide a good introduction to popular horror authors, for readers and librarians interested in exploring the genre. While readers are often looking for newer authors, many

appreciate the classic tales of established masters as well. (Adult Reading Round Table)

Question 8: How are best horror writers awarded every year?

• The Bram Stoker Award, been around since 1987 and The International Horror Guild Awards started 1994

• (Janson, Tim)