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Stephanie Fairdays Blog's avatar

I love Poe. Perfect for this time of year. I just got a collection of his short stories (though I have read all or most of them). But I am excited to dig in and read them again!

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Olga Godim's avatar

I never read this story by Poe you mention, but then I'm not really a reader of horror. But I read some marvelous ghost stories that are not horror. I would classify them as paranormal mysteries or urban fantasies. I'll talk about those in my own post this coming IWSG Wednesday.

I never knew you wrote MG ghost stories. I'm tempted to try them.

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

If you do read those ghost stories, let me know what you think!

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DENISE's avatar

Poe is always good value. Great choice.

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Nick Wilford's avatar

I think this story is just as good an example of suspense as it is horror. Great choice for the month.

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Beth Camp's avatar

Lovely post, just right for October! I remember reading Poe so long ago, but generally don't ready those scary stories these days. And congratulations on your Green Dragon books. Even for MG, that looks scary . . . even if the video is intriguing! My grandkids are just the right age . . . but I'm going to read it first!

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Janet Alcorn's avatar

I love The Tell-Tale Heart! It's an outstanding example of a strong voice and unreliable narrator used to perfection.

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Reading a book by someone who knows his/her craft and magically creates a lasting story, is--IMHO--better than taking classes.

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joylene's avatar

"Evil has only the power that we give it." I love that quote! I've tried to live my life by this. Happy almost Halloween, Lee!

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

May you have a perfect Halloween, Joylene.

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Sandra Cox's avatar

I must be the only person in the world who hasn't read that story by Poe.

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Oh, no. There are a lot who haven't. It isn't for everyone, but it does teach a lot about writing good, suspenseful stories.

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Toi Thomas's avatar

Thanks for stopping by my blog fellow Poe fan. You really get into the spooky spirit (he he). I really enjoyed Sign of the Green Dragon and agree it is s a good read for this time of the year.

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Thanks, Toi. Glad you enjoyed the boys' adventure.

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Loni Townsend's avatar

Sounds like spooky is right up you're haunted alley!

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Oh, yes. Love it. Love it. Love it.

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M. Louise Barbour's avatar

I wish I lived in an area that had trick-or-treaters, Lee! I had 25 years of Halloween fun as an elementary teacher. I do miss that. Enjoy your favorite holiday!

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

I have to go into town to enjoy the Trick and Treating kids, Louise. I live in the mountains where kids don't go out after dark very much. Fortunately, I have friend who lives in a neighborhood, so I go there on October 31 and have fun with her.

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L. Diane Wolfe's avatar

Lee, I'm not sure why I'm not getting notifications of your posts. I'll try to fix that.

Your books do have a creepy edge to them.

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

It could be a Substack issue. I'm still working on learning all its ins and outs.

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Tyrean Martinson's avatar

Poe's stories are terrifying, but my favorite ghost story is Ghostbusters. :)

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Was there a book? I enjoyed the movie. It was fun with a hint of scary!

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Joyana Peters's avatar

Agree with pretty much everything you said lol. Halloween is also my favorite holiday and I love all the activities you described. I also LOVE Edgar Allan Poe and The Tell Tale Heart! I used to have an Edgar Allan Poe bobble head on my desk when I taught 8th grade English. Unfortunately, many of my students gave him a little too much love and by the end of the year he was sort of dangling, near decapitated. Honestly, it kind of upped his creep factor!

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

Perfect. An almost decapitated Edgar Allan Poe! Thanks so much for this.

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Tell-Tale Heart is my favorite from Poe! Yeah, all the spooky ghost stories this month!

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

I've really enjoyed reading the different posts to find out what stories were included.

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H. R. Sinclair's avatar

Me too and I started a list of some I hadn't even heard of -- and they sound super scary!

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Rebecca Douglass's avatar

I think I'll stay far away from your story-telling on Halloween! I do like the idea of giving out books--kind of an expensive approach, though. Maybe a bonus gift for just a couple of the kids--could let them draw a slip to see if they win one... hmm. Assuming I'm home on Halloween (not sure at this point) it could work.

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C. Lee McKenzie's avatar

What? Too scary for an outdoor woman like yourself? I don't believe it. :-)

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