Consumed

Author’s Notes

I’ve always enjoyed horror movies. I’m not sure why, really, considering the rest of my family don’t really rate them that highly. If anything, they go out of their way to avoid them. I guess, if I had to give it a reason, it’s because there’s some faulty wiring going on somewhere deep within my little brain.

The problem is, lately, people seem to be leaning more towards horror films which rely on gore as opposed to genuine scares. Now, although I don’t mind gore (unlike my brother who faints at the slightest hint of blood), I do prefer my horror to play more on my imagination with creepy imagery and things you don’t see as opposed to in your face blood and guts. However, going by what some people have said on my author page (facebook search ‘mattshawpublications’ will take you there) it appears there is a place for gore in horror.

By writing “The Cabin” and “The Cabin II: Asylum” I gave people the horror stories which scare you by playing with your mind as opposed to overloading your senses with blood and guts. The book came out with people raving and a number of five star reviews being awarded to it so I felt as though I had done my job well.

I didn’t, though, give anything to the people who enjoy ‘blood and guts’ with their horror and that’s where ‘Consumed’ comes in. This is my nod to the classic horrors I grew up with: “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “Braindead”, “The Last House on the Left” and “I Spit On Your Grave” to name but a few.

I won’t lie, I had great fun writing this piece but I do still prefer my horror with genuine frights as opposed to shocks and moments of disgust. I only hope it goes some way to satisfy the more bloodthirsty of my readers.

Enjoy! BUT… I warn you now. The sole purpose of this book was to shock and disgust the most extreme of gore-hunters whilst all the time giving them my usual entertaining storytelling style.

You’ve been warned.