Enter the Rabbit

"Can you face horror’s greatest monsters? Will your fears ever be conquered?"

I dare you to listen to this incredible new song called “Enter the Rabbit” by Terribly Happy and NOT catch yourself singing those lyrics later. 

Terribly Happy is a pop punk band out of central Illinois. They have an electrifying and contagious energy that fires up the increasingly larger crowds at each of their performances. I previously wrote an article about the band and each of their members, Kyle, James, and Logan, and if you haven’t checked that out, you can read that here. 

This weekend, Terribly Happy released a brand new single, and it’s my new favorite song. Naturally, I’m a bit biased (it’s based on my book Rabbit in Red), but if you give it a listen, you’ll fall in love with the unique sounds. The song embraces passion as well as horror, and you can actually hear the changes in vocal and instrumental styles as it shifts from fun to fear.

The intense vocals of Kyle and James complement one another, no doubt one of the many things that makes Terribly Happy such a great band. After the first time you hear James sing the chorus, Kyle jumps in and sings, “an axe awaits to break the chains . . .” You immediately here a shift from the adrenalizing, “I want to rock!” kind of song to something more haunting. It pulls you in, making you wonder what the song is about, and you feel the emotion in Kyle’s vocals. Then it shifts again, much like you’re walking through a haunted house. One moment, you’re looking around, wondering when something is going to pop out at you. Then it does, and you scream!

Speaking of screaming, if the way Kyle sings “stab you in the back with a metaphorical dagger” doesn’t send chills down your spine, then I’m not sure you’re human.

As you listen, you feel that back and forth, the pull into a dark, paralyzing nightmare, and then a push into an adrenaline-pumping sprint (run away from those monsters!).

And let us not forget the remarkable Logan and his passionate drumming. Those beats, from the moment the song begins to play to the exhilarating, heart-pounding ending where Kyle and James’ vocals coalesce in an ultimate musical climax, perfectly capture the energy and talent that is Terribly Happy.

At the very end, the listener is left with just a few electric notes from the guitar. The ride through your greatest fears and nightmares has ended, and you’re left with your own thoughts as you try to recover from an emotionally stirring journey.

The lyrics are inspired by the novel Rabbit in Red. I hope you’ll check out the book, as the energy of the song perfectly captures the story of Rabbit in Red.

Give Terribly Happy a like on Facebook. Share this incredible creation with your friends.

Listen to full song here. Congratulations, James, Kyle, and Logan, on a beautiful, unique, and absolutely artistic creation!

Below are the complete lyrics.

“Enter the Rabbit”

Can you face horror’s greatest monsters?

Will your fears ever be conquered?

That monster in your closet makes you shiver

It’s not as scary as the one in the mirror

An axe awaits to break the chains

It opens a world of twisted games

Evil saunters without and within

Not even heroes live without sin

Enter the Rabbit, the rabbit in red

It’s a celebration with a splat of dread

Passion turns to panic, fun turns to fear

The rabbit cheers, the horror will never disappear!

Can you face horror’s greatest monsters?

Will your fears ever be conquered?

That monster in your closet will make you shiver

But it’s not as scary as the one in the mirror

Have you been haunted, haunted by the past?

A lasting image sealed in a mental cast?

Our nightmares open a dangerous portal

It’s a reminder that we are all mortal

The bruises of childhood, they linger on

Far after the black and blue are gone

Locker room jokes and mean girl swagger

Stab you in the back with a metaphorical dagger

Can you face horror’s greatest monsters?

Will your fears ever be conquered?

That monster in your closet makes you shiver

But it’s not as scary as the one in the mirror

A buzzing of bees on a summer afternoon

Trigger a memory, a loved one gone too soon

The rope curled like a snake hides a secret

It will tear you apart into a thousand fucking pieces

There are memories that always seem to haunt

They are buried deep, buried but not forgot

Can you face horror’s greatest monsters?

Will your fears ever be conquered?

That monster in your closet makes you shiver

But it’s not as scary as the one in the mirror

Enter the Rabbit, the rabbit in red

It’s a celebration, a celebration of dread

Passion turns to panic, fun turns to fear

And the rabbit cheers that the horror will never disappear!

Lyrics by Joe Chianakas
Music by Terribly Happy
Produced by William Swearinger

Listen to the song while you read Rabbit in Red. Get the book here and the song here.

Be sure to follow the author on Facebook, too.

Happy Early Release, Rabbit in Red!

Rabbit in Red’s official release day is Tuesday September 29, but guess what? The Amazon and Smashwords links have been made available early! Please grab a copy while the book is on sale for 99 cents (and don’t forget to go back and leave a review!).

My friends, family, colleagues, followers here: You’ve all been incredibly supportive! Let me tell you all about how to get the book now and a final “what’s this book about” post from me. I’d sure appreciate if you want to share this with your friends and family, too.

What’s the book about?

Bill Wise has blood in his past, so he turns to horror films to wipe it clean. Jaime Stein has felt the betrayal of death, so she too takes refuge in the on-screen deaths of others. Now Bill, Jaime, and seventeen other horror-loving teens have gathered at Rabbit in Red Studios, the brainchild of eccentric horror producer Jay “JB” Bell, for the terror-filled, blood-drenched contest of their lives.  

JB has presented this competition as a race between the best of the best that will reward the winners with cash, internships, and a career making the movies they love. But things aren’t always as they seem at Rabbit in Red, and soon life starts to imitate art. Will Bill and Jaime be strong enough to confront real horror to save their friends, or will they all fall victim to JB’s twisted plans?

I prefer print. When is that coming out?

I love the feel of print, too. Honestly though, what I ask of my best supporters is to buy the e-book first. It’s only 99 cents if you get it during our release celebration! Why? For new authors like me, it’s the sales of e-books that get noticed, not the sale of my print. So if you want to help me climb those charts and get my name out there, get the e-book, please. Then come get a nice collector’s edition of the print book at a couple of special parties in central Illinois. Out-of-towners will be able to order print online next month, too.

Why did you write this book?

I love horror. I was most inspired by Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One, which is not a horror story by the way. But Cline took pop culture and made a story out of it. When I first read that book, I wanted to do the same, but with horror. I used to eat, sleep, and breathe nothing but Stephen King. So I got the idea of making an adventure of the stories I love.

But it’s A LOT more than that. This book started out as pure fun. It’s the adventure I, as the self-proclaimed #1 horror fan in the world, would love to do! But this is my art, too. I wanted meaning behind it. I wanted to explore fear, loss, love, death, coming-of-age, and more from my own perspectives and experiences. That’s all there. I hope you love it.

I do love it. What can I do?

Reviews will make or break authors. PLEASE leave a review on Amazon (even if you read it elsewhere). Consider posting that review on all of the other sites where the book is available.

Share this blog, the book, and whatever else you’d like with friends and family. We live in a world where today, I would argue, most people observe and don’t comment/share. You might think that’s crazy, but someone is reading this (and possibly enjoying it) with absolutely no intention of sharing or commenting. It’s just not what some do. But I’m asking you to change that, and help us spread the word. Share, comment, and tell the world about it, if you love it!

Okay, where do I buy it again?

Go here to get it on Amazon.

Go here to get it on Smashwords.

As more sites and places become available, I’ll update this section.

How do I follow you for the latest Rabbit in Red updates?

Please do follow me. Who knows? Maybe this will be a movie someday! Or maybe—even for just one day—I’ll hit number one on a bestseller’s chart. And of course you know that this is only book one, with at least two more Rabbit in Red books coming out! To get all that info and more, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Tumblr, whatever you prefer.

You can also stay up-to-date by visiting my official webpage at www.joechianakas.com.

Now, get to reading, and enjoy!!!

Download Your Free E-Reader & Prepare to Follow the Rabbit

One question several people have asked me is “how do I read an e-book without an e-reader?”

UPDATE: THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE NOW. GET IT HERE!

You can download the Amazon Kindle App for your smartphone, PC, tablet, and mac, and it’s completely FREE. Basically, if you can read this blog, you can download the free Kindle app on the same device in which you are reading this post! Go here to learn more.

Of course, you can do the same for the Nook if you’re more team Barnes and Noble.

Rabbit in Red releases in TWO WEEKS. It will be available via e-book first, so if you want to prepare for that release and you don’t have an e-reader, download the free Kindle or Nook app today so you’re ready! Distinguished Press also makes the book available on other sites like Smashwords, too, so you’ll have plenty of options come release day on Tuesday September 29. 

Don’t forget there will be a print book party on October 17 at 4:00 p.m. at I Know You Like a Book in Peoria Heights, IL! You’ll be able to get a signed copy of the book then, and there will also be an optional costume contest and live music from Terribly Happy, who have a song for the book called “Enter the Rabbit.” You’ll get to hear it live that day! I have a growing list of dozens of events planned in Central IL this fall, and you can check out all of those events here. 

To celebrate the release of Rabbit in Red, Distinguished Press makes the e-book available for only $0.99! I hope that everyone will get online Tuesday September 29 and get a copy of the e-book. While I’m still a traditional reader (I love the feel and smell of books), your online purchases and online reviews will build a foundation for the book’s success! Oh yeah-- don't forget to leave a review after you read it! Reviews are so important, especially for new authors! 

So please—get ready by downloading the free app, and get ready to follow the rabbit!

If you want to further support the release day of Rabbit in Red, I hope you’ll join my Thunderclap. Thunderclap is a platform that sends a mass message via social media at the same time. At the time of this post, I have 115 people who have committed to helping announce Rabbit in Red on its release day. Will you add to that number? The more who commit, the further our reach! Go here and click support!

This week you’ll get to see the first official trailer for Rabbit in Red. It’s amazing! You should also join my publisher's September new release party on Facebook to further celebrate Rabbit in Red. Go here! 

If you're just learning about Rabbit in Red and wondering what it's all about, check out the newly revised back-of-the-book blurb below. Doesn't it sound great? And no, of course I'm not biased! :)

Bill Wise has blood in his past, so he turns to horror films to wipe it clean. Jaime Stein has felt the betrayal of death, so she too takes refuge in the on-screen deaths of others. Now Bill, Jaime, and seventeen other horror-loving teens have gathered at Rabbit in Red Studios, the brainchild of eccentric horror producer Jay “JB” Bell, for the terror-filled, blood-drenched contest of their lives.

JB has presented this competition as a race between the best of the best that will reward the winners with cash, internships, and a career making the movies they love. But things aren’t always as they seem at Rabbit in Red, and soon life starts to imitate art. Will Bill and Jaime be strong enough to confront real horror to save their friends, or will they all fall victim to JB’s twisted plans?

Thanks for your support and enthusiasm! 

Karate Kicking & Karate Writing

These long, hot summer days ignite my goal-setting nature and simultaneously enhance my nostalgia.

With less than two months until Rabbit in Red, my first novel, joins the world (and hopefully your book shelf), I’m looking back today at past writing adventures and exploring new ideas. Whether it’s journalism, novels, poetry, or even blogging, there’s something rewarding about seeing your name in print. It’s a deliberate effort to contribute to the world around you—perhaps to inform, or to inspire, or simply to entertain.

My fav karate pic: My flying side kick!

My first paid writing job—nothing fancy, but I collected a check for a few hundred bucks every month for over a year (that sounds really good today as the internet kills the journalist)—was for Black Belt Magazine. I started training in various martial arts when I was about 12 years old. When I landed a job at Metamora High School—teaching English—I launched an after-school martial arts program. For ten years, I—and eventually an incredibly talented group of young adults—trained teenagers, children, and parents. We even earned a national award, the Best Children’s Program in ALL of the United States in 2008! How cool is that?

That program was Metamora Martial Arts, and although it’s no longer an after-school program, it still exists on the web as a great resource for news, events, and entertainment. The site is maintained by Adam Bockler, who not only took over the program for me when I left Metamora but also earned Karate Black Belt of The Year in 2014. Bockler runs a personal blog-- give his Facebook page a like.

Today, I run a similar program at the college where I now teach: The Cougar Karate Club. It’s a free martial arts program for the Illinois Central College community.

It’s funny how many of past events in our lives coalesce to shape who we are today. If I hadn’t taken martial arts lessons, I certainly never would have opened a program. Had I never opened a program, I never would have started writing these articles. And these articles led to an even deeper love of writing.

If you may be interested in any of my martial arts stories, I’ll be sharing some on this blog over the next few months. I have some great stories: the first time I got knocked out, the time I broke my hand, the time I accidently knocked out a student, training with the Blue Power Ranger and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, training multiple students who became world champions, competing in the world championships myself, winning grand championships at black belt level divisions, and just generally having an amazing time.

Although I don’t devote the hours to my martial arts training and teaching like I used to, it’s still a regular part of my life. I think if you’re good at something—and this isn’t me trying to be arrogant, but I think I have some talent for teaching—then you should give back your talents.

I hope people will feel the same way about my writing when Rabbit in Red comes out!

Please follow me on Facebook or Twitter for these stories and more, and it would be pretty cool if you subscribed to my blog, too (from a mobile device, you have to “view web version” or just come back to this article when you’re on your computer).

“Killer Klowns” and Haunts for History

Who doesn’t love killer clowns, especially if they are chasing you? 

This Saturday, July 25, come experience the Evil Circus Horror Vortex presented by Insane Women Productions! The clowns are waiting for you in the trails, and they are hungry for human flesh. Are you brave enough to experience Halloween in July? For only a small fee-- $3 per person or $5 for two-- you can join the Evil Circus Horror Vortex! And moreover, all of the money goes to support the Peoria State Hospital Museum!

The haunt entrance is located off of Enterprise Drive in Bartonville, and the vortex opens at dusk.

For more information, visit Insane Women Productions on Facebook, and like their page while you’re there!

On the opposite side of the trail, you can also catch the cult horror classic Killer Klowns from Outer Space to benefit the Limestone JFL. Experience the horror of the evil circus, and IF you survive, then you can relax and watch as alien clowns invade Earth to feast on human blood. 

The movie entrance is on South Becker Drive and also starts at dusk. Bring your own lawn chair or blankets. Concessions will be provided by the Limestone JFL.

This is a one-night only event. Don’t miss out!

Haven’t seen Killer Klowns from Outer Space? RottenTomatoes.com critic’s score gives it a 71% fresh rating, saying “Killer Klowns from Outer Space's title promises darkly goofy fun -- and more often than not, the movie delivers.” The movie lives up to its title, as alien clowns come to Earth to eat humans. It’s an absolutely delightful treat for horror fans, and there would be no better way to enjoy it then by first experiencing the Evil Circus Horror Vortex!

If you missed my previous blog post on Insane Women Productions and the Haunted Infirmary- Bartonville Asylum, check out this article!

Cat Moon by Jennifer Gadd, a Must-Read!

Cat Moon, the first book in The Were Children series by Jennifer Gadd, releases this Friday, July 24 through Distinguished Press. I was fortunate to have read an advanced copy, and I cannot recommend this book enough! Get it here, now!

Gadd builds her characters so that they become a part of the reader’s life. The children in the story could be one’s own (or one's best friends), and although the book is written for a middle school to young adult audience, this thirty-six year old man absolutely fell in love with the story. I cheered along with the characters’ victories, and I cursed at the villains. There are multiple mysteries, and you’ll find yourself thinking of dozens of possibilities. In the end, Gadd gives readers an incredibly rewarding conclusion while simultaneously building a ravenous hunger for the next book in the series.  

More than a thrilling story, Gadd tackles themes of acceptance and chasing one's dreams in uniquely powerful ways. It's a great read for all audiences. 

Check out a podcast with Jennifer Gadd on Cat Moon!

Check out this synopsis of Cat Moon:

Emma has big problems. She has no family and no home. She wanders the streets of The Warren, scavenging for her next meal and trying to keep warm. Haunted by the memory of a mother she barely recalls, Emma dreams of being a part of a real family. She is helped in her search for belonging by an assortment of eccentric characters: a friendly shopkeeper and his cranky uncle, the nice woman who runs the local mission, a ditzy cat lady, and a good-natured prostitute with a drinking problem. 

Her biggest obstacle, however, is that every full moon, she turns into a feral cat! Emma is one of the Were. She and those like her are ruthlessly hunted by the captain of the Were-Guard, whose religious zealotry makes him especially dangerous. When the sinister Bram Fitzwilliam enters the picture to assist the Guard, Emma is in more danger than ever. Before she finds what she’s looking for, Emma must find a strength and courage she never knew she had. Her journey will teach her that dreams don’t always come true the way you want them to, that people aren’t always what they seem, and that real families can be chosen. 

At the time of this post, you can get it for just $0.99 on Amazon!

Give Jennifer's Facebook page a like! She has some exciting giveaways and news related to the release of Cat Moon. Be sure to check it out!

Gadd made a terrific book trailer for Cat Moon. Check it out below!

Excerpt from the beginning of Cat Moon: 

She’d had no idea what was happening to her when the first shift came. She remembered screaming, and she remembered watching in terror as the bones in her arms and legs began to change shape under her stretched skin, as chocolate-brown fur itched its way out of her very pores. She remembered the burning in her eyes as her pupils opened and became vertical slits. She remembered how her vision had sharpened in the moonlight. She even remembered the prickling on her face as the sensitive whiskers sprouted and the intense pain in her lower back where the tailbones had started growing. She had never in her whole life experienced such excruciating pain before, but she certainly would again — again and again and again.  

She remembered something else, too. As she’d started screaming, someone had grabbed her, covered her mouth with a rough, hairy hand, and dragged her down into an alley and deep into the Warren. A voice had growled in her ear, “Shut up, you stupid girl, or they’ll find you!” The growling intensified, then there was an injured whimper, and Emma had been thrown aside. She’d landed on soft paws with a hiss that was a shock to her new fur-lined ears. Then the animal mind took over. The next thing she knew, it was morning, she hurt all over, and she had a suspicious taste coating her tongue that she desperately hoped wasn’t rat.  

Join Jennifer, me, the Distinguished Press team, and several guest authors this Saturday, July 25 for an online celebration here of Cat Moon. We'll be playing games and giving away prizes!

Quotes from Cat Moon: 

There was nothing between her and the pavement, and if the banister were to collapse, she would surely plummet to her death. It would be the simplest way to solve a lot of problems. 

________  

She stopped abruptly as she surveyed the scene. “Mother, is there a problem?” she asked.  

“Yes, Margaret. There is indeed a very grave problem. These . . . these—”  

“Children, Mother?” 

________  

If her mind later blurred many of the images unrecognizable, what Margaret remembered most clearly were the sounds: bones cracking like kindling, sinews snapping like whips and wrapping themselves around the new structure with a hiss, skin tearing and raw, and Emma’s hideous and helpless screams.” 

________ 

The old man sat up, challenging. “Tell her what, Giles?” he said flatly. “Tell her that I killed her mother?” 

________  

As she walked out of the sitting room, she turned back to see if he was still watching her. The fire reflecting in his hard eyes glowed red and demonic. He never even blinked. 

Author Bio: 

Jennifer L. Gadd is a life-long reader and writer who holds a deep interest in writing quality literature for children and young adults. She writes mostly science fiction and fantasy, as well as hi-lo books for struggling readers. Her favorite authors are Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Agatha Christie, Candace M. Robb, Ellis Peters, and Anne Perry. She has lived in Texas, Illinois, and Alaska, and currently resides in Kansas City, Kansas, where she is a reading interventionist at an urban middle school.  

Be sure to like her Facebook page here, and you can visit her author webpage here. 

Five Facts about this Book, by Jennifer Gadd:

1. I got the idea for the book when all the vampire books exploded onto YA fiction, and I wanted to do something different. 

2. I finished the rough draft at a Borders in Overland Park, Kansas. I hope that’s not the reason they went bankrupt. 

3. The story was initially vetted by my younger daughter and her best friend, and after they read it, they created a role play game based on it. 

4. All of the herbal medicine lore in the first book is researched and accurate (but not intended to take the place of advice from your medical practitioner.) 

5. My own daughters’ names are Rachel and Margaret. 

Five Things About Emma 

1. She isn’t sure, but she thinks she’s about twelve years old. 

2. She learned to read a very early age. She can’t really remember not ever knowing how to read. 

3. The shift back and forth from human to animal mind causes sporadic memory losses, so she doesn’t know if her memories are real or imagined. 

4. She has a deep moral conscience, but homelessness has made her do things of which she is ashamed. 

5. For all her street smarts, she is essentially naïve and innocent. 

Five Things About Margaret Spencer 

1. She misses her sister terribly. 

2. She has always felt she was second-best in her mother’s heart. 

3. She deeply and truly loves Stephen Devlin and tries to see only the best in him and his actions. 

4. She chafes against the religious faith in which she was brought up. 

5. She is a terrible cook. 

Five Things About Stephen Devlin 

1. He has a terrible temper and has a compulsive need to be in control. 

2. His actions are the result of deeply-held religious beliefs. 

3. He is an expert archer. 

4. He feels as if he had always been a failure in the eyes of his deceased father. 

5. He deeply and genuinely loves his sister and brother.

Three 'Insane' Women Dish Out History and Haunts

Meet three women who are changing the horror industry and putting Bartonville, IL on a national map.

Christina Morris, Jackie McDowell, and Salina Porter run Insane Women Productions, an organization that promotes the true history of the old Peoria State Hospital, commonly known as the Bartonville Insane Asylum. They also work for the Haunted Infirmary at Bartonville Insane Asylum, where they host scary movie nights and spooky attractions year-round to preserve the historical integrity of the old hospital.

Jackie McDowell, Salina Porter, & Christina Morris at the Firehouse.

And they have a great mission: to not only save and teach the authentic history of the hospital but also to change horror and haunted attractions for fright enthusiasts. “History will not save the Hilltop. Haunt money will save it,” says Christina Morris, owner at Insane Women Productions. The true history of the old asylum is mostly innocuous—there was no torture of patients, for example. Of course, there were bad people hospitalized there, such as a rapists and all sorts of convicts. Although Insane Women Productions provides historical tours of the old hospital, it’s the haunted attractions that bring in the money to save it. 

“We give the people what they always thought the hospital was. We create something spooky to save what is really good,” Morris says.

Morris, McDowell, and Porter are part of a team that is changing haunted attractions, and they have a contagious passion that will spread—like a zombie plague, perhaps—and inspire fright-lovers nationwide. People have driven from hours away to see their haunts, and some travelers come from all parts of the country. Insane Women hopes to have monthly haunts throughout the year, not just during the month of October, and they’ve got some incredibly unique ideas. They host movie nights at dusk outside of the Pollock Hospital. On a giant blow-up screen, anyone can watch a horror film in an exceptionally eerie atmosphere, but there’s more to it than a movie! They create a special haunted attraction, unique to each film, for the audience to experience. This month, the movie is The Army of Darkness, and then the crowd can enjoy their Horror Vortex, a haunt inspired by Ash and The Evil Dead!

Insane Women Productions rents a building near the hospital for their work. They operate out of the old Firehouse, which is actually the oldest building on the grounds. The Firehouse is one of the 13 original structures out of 63. The first floor of their home is a museum, the second floor is pure insanity, and you don’t want to go in the attic! They use the second floor to create and store all of their horror props, which are all original. They don’t want to purchase products from Wal-Mart that anyone would recognize, and they frown upon universal animatronic props used by chain haunts that take over other horror-themed attractions. Everything they create is original, and each haunt is a story. It’s about an experience, as if the guest were the lead character in a movie living out his or her ultimate fears. (Note: the author got a private tour of the attic, and . . . so many bodies! That’s all he’ll say about that.)

IWP hosts more than haunts. They also have great historical events!

Each has a terrific story about her love of horror. McDowell, partner at Insane Women Productions, has fond memories of watching scary movies with her dad and attending haunted attractions ever since she was a young girl. Porter, Insane Women Productions’ marketing director, grew up watching every horror film one can imagine and devouring Stephen King books. Ironically, Porter never was a fan of haunted attractions as a child because of a frightening experience at Six Flags where an axe got a little too close for comfort, but she got involved here for the movie nights. Now you can find her clutching a baby still attached by his umbilical cord with bite marks on his face as Porter walks the haunted attractions. It’s great fun.

Most people who grew up in central Illinois know of the Bartonville Insane Asylum. As kids, many would explore the dilapidated halls and spine-chilling rooms late at night, even if it was illegal. Morris always had a desire to preserve the building. She’s been studying the hospital’s history for twenty-five years. When she was a little girl, she used to visit it with her grandfather because they had family there. Her grandfather called them “special people,” and Morris thought he must have meant giants because the place is so big. She’s always felt a special energy from the place and a desire to protect it. As a teen, she’d hide in the empty building to scare away other people who were only there to vandalize or harm the facility. And now as an adult, she’s still scaring people who visit!

The three also team up with others, too, for their haunted attractions, including some men and other women, about 30 other staff, and over 200 volunteers! It’s obvious that the other staff and volunteers become a part of a family and, for many volunteers, it can be a place in which they fit and are welcomed. McDowell, Porter, and Morris also like to think of original haunts, not just slashers chasing after someone, but mind games to really mess with participants. If there’s an energy to the Bartonville Asylum, there’s also a terrific passion at the Firehouse where these three ambitious and creative minds spend their days working on everything from historical documentation to painting the most gruesome blood and guts on new dolls. Their ideas are limitless, and it’s exciting for any fan of haunted attractions or macabre tales to follow along. Down the road, central Illinois residents will recognize Insane Women not only for original and terrifying haunts but for helping save one of the most iconic and interesting parts of our community. And the world of haunted attractions and horror is paying attention, too. 

For everything they do, you can follow them on their Facebook page, and for just the horror and haunting information, you can also follow them here.

This Saturday, come check out their movie night and haunted vortex! Keep following along on this blog, as there are plenty more tales to tell and people to interview! They also told me of an upcoming adventure that absolutely NO ONE has. That will be a great story, so be sure to follow along.

Author’s Note: “The horror fan wants to be his or her favorite characters,” Morris said when I talked to her today.  I smiled wide at this comment and told all three that I couldn’t agree more. It’s that concept that inspired my own horror novel, Rabbit in Red, which releases this fall. I’ll be interviewing the men who work at the attractions, too, for other unique perspectives, as well as covering some special events and other news from Insane Women and the Haunted Infirmary. To get all the latest updates, please like my author Facebook page here! You can also subscribe to the blog and visit me at my official author webpage.