Roses are Red, Carrie Green (5 stars)

From Amazon: A LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP--Drunk, Allan ended an all-nighter of partying with a hit and run that escalates into First Degree murder.

A LUCKY HUMAN--Traveling the Universe aboard a space cruise ship may be the hottest trend, but a young man may be exchanging his life for this privilege.

CASH ONLY--This bounty hunter only cares about the paycheck.

I met the author, Carrie Green, through a Gratitude Blog Hop sponsored by the World Literary Café, then known as WoMen’s Literary Café. Carrie wrote a guest post on my writing blog that changed my view about the horror genre: Thank You, Stephen King.

Thanks to that post and her two short story collections, I now consider myself open to horror—particularly Stephen King.

I read Sugar is Sweet first, reviewed here last Thursday. The author recommended I start with this collection to dip my toe into the horror genre. I really enjoyed it and began reading Roses are Red the same day. I finished it in a few hours, surprising myself. I actually liked the grittier material in this collection a bit more. Who knew?

The first story, A Long Distance Relationship, grabbed my attention with the opening line: “I don’t care. You killed a man. I’m going to call the cops.” Margaret’s conscience spells her doom, but Allan’s not off the hook. Just as he thinks he’s escaped his fate free and clear, his actions haunt him. This story reminded me of my favorite Edgar Allen Poe tale, The Tell-Tale Heart.  I can’t think of a higher compliment to give it.

My favorite piece (from both collections) was the second story, A Lucky Human. I love a story that takes you places you never suspect. To top it off, my favorite character was completely unexpected: a computer with feelings and desires. The story begins with a young man, Evans, who wants to take advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime—travelling on a space cruise ship. Captain Paul Gan sees the boy as his ticket to freedom.

From there, it’s a game of cat and mouse, but with a computer and humans. The whole story played like a Twilight Zone episode in my head. Kudos to the author for such a clever story.

The final story, Cash Only, pits criminal versus bounty hunter. The interesting part: I was drawn to the criminal, even felt sorry for her. The bounty hunter was so focused on the “job” that he lost touch with his human side. But it was “the easiest money that he’d ever made.” My heart went out to Tina. Again, the author managed to create an interesting, sympathetic character in very few words.

Thanks to intriguing plots, well-developed characters, and captivating writing these three short stories gave the same satisfaction as three novels. Not to say I didn’t want more, because I did. But I say that even at the end of a good novel, no matter how long it is.

Readers who love science fiction and horror will particularly love this collection, but anyone who enjoys getting lost in a good story built around interesting characters will appreciate it as well.

Rating: 5 stars

For more about Carrie Green and her books, please visit her Amazon Author page.

Thank You, Stephen King: Gratitude Guest Post by Carrie Green, Author of Roses are Red

This post is running on my Depression Cookies blog today, but I wanted to share it with my Mom in Love with Fiction readers.

PLEASE NOTE: If you would like a free copy of Carrie's novel, see details at the end of this post, you must go to Thank You, Stephen King on my Depression Cookies page and comment.

Enjoy!!

*****

The WoMen's Literary Cafe is very thankful for all the support from readers, bloggers and reviewers during their recent 'Come Back To Me' Book Launch and #99centBookEvent. As a thank you, they organized this Gratitude Blog Hop.

 

I'm thrilled to be participating and welcome author, Carrie Green. She's written a wonderful post about her draw to the horror genre. We hope you enjoy it. Thanks, Carrie, for stopping by.

 

Thank You, Stephen King!

As a writer, there are many people that I'd like to thank—readers, of course, are first and foremost.  Thank you for buying my books and for taking the time to post reviews.  Next, like any good acceptance speech, I'd acknowledge family, friends, teachers, and lastly, a shout out to the super supportive community of authors & bloggers that I have discovered online. 

My deepest debt of gratitude, however, actually goes to the horror maestro, Stephen King. 

King was the author, beyond all others, who showcased the versatility of the horror genre to me, which forever shaped my path as a writer.  At an early stage in every writer's career, it becomes necessary to select a genre.  This is the decision which will define you, as an author, and your books, as a product, from that point forward, as you strive to build an audience.

Throughout my childhood, starting around third grade, I was a voracious reader and I devoured my books, en masse by genre.  I went through periods where I read every book that I could find in a specific genre and nothing else, until I grew bored with repetitive themes, characters and plots.  I would then switch to a new genre. 

In this fashion, I went from reading westerns to spy adventures, mysteries, celebrity bios, science fiction, detective, romance and horror novels.  I'd bravely walk past the main librarian's desk, so that I could enter the Adult section (there was one dour old librarian who'd bark that I should stay in the children's area, if she saw me), passionate on my crusade to explore all the different genres.

There were certainly some great books that I encountered—the hard-boiled detective novels of the 1940's were one particular stand-out, but when I finally embraced the Stephen King collection, it was like a shining beacon went on.  I had avoided King, due to reading Carrie at the tender age of eight (since it kept coming up during recess).  That novel was the bane of my adolescence. 

Whenever a prom or school dance was scheduled, some smart mouth would ask if I was intending to run for prom queen and wouldn't it be funny to toss pig's blood at me.  Ha. Ha.  I recall while reading that book my dismay at finding out that Carrie was such a total social outcast.  She had no redeeming traits—no charm, no good looks, no intellect and she hurt the very people who tried to help her. 

I couldn't appreciate, at the time, the tragedy and horror that was being depicted in this tale of bullies, victims, and the not-so-innocent bystanders who allowed this cycle of abuse to continue.  My main take-away was that it would be fool-hardy for me to ever run for prom queen.  I knew that it would be too tempting for my peers.  After reading Carrie, I hated Stephen King.

Only when I was in college, during a writing workshop where other people kept comparing my writing to King's, did I become curious enough to try his books, again.  It was a revelation.  Once I was no longer reading about characters named Carrie, I found him vastly entertaining! 

King showcased for me the endless possibilities, flexibility, and originality of the horror genre.  A villain can be a serial killer (Firestarter), a loving father and husband (The Shining and Pet Sematary), a classic car (Christine) or a clown (It).  Heroes can be just as unexpected—children, an average joe, or even a prisoner on death row as in The Green Mile series. 

One of my favorites from his more recent works has to be the untrustworthy narrator of Blaze, a petty criminal who kidnaps a baby, who is both the hero and the villain in the novel.  It's an elegant exercise on the duality of human nature.  I also adore Misery.  It is both a great horror novel and a wonderful stand-alone romance (in the chapters that resurrect the character of Misery).  I could not imagine a more unlikely genre coupling, but King appeared to pull it off with ease.

I must sincerely thank King for teaching me, through his published works, that the horror genre, above all others, can be any genre.  It offers the greatest flexibility, since horror can be found in any situation and seen through the eyes of any character.  It offers infinite freedom.  I am only limited by my own imagination!

For more information about Carrie and her books, please visit her Amazon Author page.

Today, Wednesday, November 16th only, leave a comment below and receive a FREE copy of Carrie's collection of horror short stories, 'Roses are Red.' Please provide your email address in order to be sent a PDF link as well as a Smashwords code to download your FREE book.  Thanks!

Please visit these other stops on the Gratitude Blog Hop so that you can win additional FREE books: