Why Polite Horror Matters | Tabling at Pride and StokerCon | Book Recommendation
WHY POLITE HORROR MATTERS
Initially, “polite horror” might seem like a contradictory phrase. But not all monsters appear with gnashing teeth. Sometimes they smile, their teeth too perfect, and the horror they incite simmers just under the surface, creeping and oppressive. This is the essence of polite horror.
Polite horror is the charismatic politician who commits war crimes and sleeps just fine at night.
It’s the abusive boss you can’t talk back to if you want to keep your job.
It’s the middle-class values that define “acceptable behavior” and shun those who fail to obey.
In No Trouble at All—Cursed Morsels’ latest book release—fifteen brilliant authors present their unique tales of polite horror, ranging from the subtly unnerving to the in-your-face grotesque, the heartbreaking to the hilarious. Grab your copy from the Cursed Morsels Press store—available in both paperback and ebook. Or, better yet, request one at your local library!
Interested in reviewing the book? Request an ebook copy from BookSirens.
TABLING AT PRIDE AND STOKERCON
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of tabling at Star City Pride. It was great connecting with queer Nebraskans about all things horror. Here were a couple big takeaways:
Lots of young folks love to read. As a former high school English teacher, I was delighted to witness this enthusiasm firsthand.
Lots of queer folks are frustrated with a perceived lack of queer horror. I say “perceived” because, as I was talking with people about this issue, dozens of queer horror books and movies were spinning around in my head. It’s possible some people just don’t know where to find queer horror, but I think mainstream horror tends to be less explicitly clear than horror in the indie world. I’m grateful for all the queer indie horror writers, filmmakers, and artists out there putting out rad shit!
All in all, Star City Pride was a blast, and I can’t wait to table at pride events again!
Speaking of tabling, I’ll be in Pittsburgh this week for StokerCon. Cursed Morsels Press will be tabling alongside Hungry Shadow Press and Dread Stone Press at what we’re calling the Stoned, Hungry, and Cursed table. If you happen to be there, come visit us! We’d love to talk horror, sell some books, and make new friends.
Book Recommendation
Strangely, most of my reading this year has been nonfiction. A recent title I’ve enjoyed and learned a lot from is As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice from Colonization to Standing Rock by Dina Gilio-Whitaker. I’ve been interested in environmental issues and histories of resistance for a long time, so this book was the perfect read for me. It brilliantly examines how entrenched colonial structures complicate the fight for environmental justice. It also offers a detailed history of this resistance has looked like over time in a wide variety of contexts. Highly recommended!