August 2008 Nominated for the Black Quill Award by Dark Scribe Magazine |
Horror Isn't a 4-Letter Word: “Horror isn’t just a genre of stories but an outlook on life,” Matthew Warner writes in his foreword to Horror Isn’t a 4-Letter Word: Essays on Writing & Appreciating the Genre. In this collection of articles published between 2002 and 2007, the author of The Organ Donor, Death Sentences: Tales of Punishment & Revenge, and Eyes Everywhere challenges us to look beyond the stereotypes associated with a much-maligned type of fiction. Horror empowers us to cope with our fears by teaching us about them, he says, either overtly or through symbolism. It’s not just about blood and guts. The book consists mostly of editorials written for the Horror World website, plus selected articles from venues such as Hellnotes Newsletter. Warner runs the gamut in subject matter—everything from ghost hunting, to gory holiday decorations, to effective writing techniques—in his meditations about horrific things, whether they be fictional or real Contents include some of his most controversial columns: “My Summer with a Book Doctor: An internship at Edit Ink, a Notorious Scam Operation,” “Message Versus Medium: The Agenda of Left Behind,” “Addictive Plotting as Taught by Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and “Obscenity v. The First Amendment: Why the Prosecution of X-rated Films Affects Books.” Praise for Matthew Warner: "Matt Warner is a talent to watch, one of the new crop of hot young writers who will one day rule the school." F. Paul Wilson, author of The Repairman Jack series Witty, edgy, and on-the-mark, Matthew Warner shares an insider’s view of the Wide World of Horror, from writing horror fiction to the misconceptions of outsiders to finding the “fun in morbidity” right in one’s own backyard. Elizabeth Massie, Bram Stoker Award winning author of Sineater, Homeplace, and Wire Mesh Mothers "There's a new gun in town. His name is Matthew Warner, and he's taking on all challengers with writing that crackles with tension, energy, and imagination." Thomas F. Monteleone, author of The Blood of the Lamb Reviews of Horror Isn't a 4-Letter Word: "Warner's prose style is clear and humorous … It's always a pleasure to read a well-written book on the subject of how fiction works … Horror Isn't a 4-Letter Word is a fine introduction to writing even for those who may not be fans of horror specifically." Green Man Review "Kudos to the author and Guide Dog Books for assembling a collection of horror-related articles that are just as accessible to the horror reader as to those who want to write in the genre—and is far more readable than others of its ilk." Somebody Dies "Most of the essays in this book … were written just as Warner was making a name for himself in the horror lit community, which grant them an added authenticity and accessibility … These pieces subtly challenge the mainstream misconception that horror is dangerous, meritless junk food." Rue Morgue "I have to admit that Matthew is, at least in my mind, an undiscovered gem. His prose pulls you willingly and curiously through his books to the end … That's a pretty sharp way for any writer to create fiction, but amazingly it carries over into his non-fiction." Feo Amante "There are few published books that provide this kind of content and approach in the horror genre, so this book is a welcome addition … Highly recommended for large public libraries." Monster Librarian "No matter what the subject … Warner is quite the amiable host. I have no aspirations to write a horror novel, but I found myself reading the book cover to cover anyway." Bookgasm "This is a very welcome addition to any writer’s shelf." Horror World "Warner's short but sweet ponderings are a real pleasure to read. … His love for the horror genre shines throughout the book, and I'm betting you'll finish this in one sitting." Horror Fiction Review "Warner covers a variety of topics that will interest not only genre writers but also fans and those who may be curious about the inner workings of the publishing industry." Dark Scribe Magazine "Warner does a great job throughout the book of tackling articles of interest to everyone with original topics and surprising angles that make you look at Horror and the field of writing in a different way." G-POP |
