Books 1 and 2 in the “Monster Girl” series are only $.99!

Happy Halloween, Monster Readers! For a limited time, the “Monster Girl” series is on sale in the Kindle store for $.99!

Kindle – Monster Girl / Monster Girl: Ghost in the Attic

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ABOUT THE SERIES

“Monster Girl” – Book 1

A young girl, obsessed with monsters and the supernatural, befriends the ghost of her grandfather and, with his help, learns valuable lessons while dealing with a bossy older sister, parents who ignore her, and a school bully.

Viki Mitchell is being bullied.

All Viki wants is to fit in at her new school and join the art class. When she and her family move to a new house in Draxon Hollow, she makes both a new friend and enemy.

During a Halloween celebration, Viki is humiliated in front of all of Draxon Hollow Elementary by a mean girl at her school. With the guidance of her ghostly grandfather, she devises a plan to teach the bully a lesson.

Will she take the darker road and seek revenge?

What she does next may be surprising … for a Monster Girl.

Get “Monster Girl” on Kindle! 

“Monster Girl: Ghost in the Attic” – Book 2

Following the events of the first book in the “Monster Girl” series, Viki and Herman find clues that take them on a mysterious journey as they try to discover the identity of the ghost in the attic.

When Viki defies her parents by sneaking out of her house, she witnesses her sister, Suzy, in a compromising situation that puts Suzy’s life in danger. But if Viki speaks up, she’ll be ratting on herself as well.

Does Viki do the right thing and tell the truth before it’s too late to save her sister? And just how will the mystifying ghost in the attic play a part in what Viki ultimately decides to do?

Get “Monster Girl: Ghost in the Attic” on Kindle!

**The “Monster Girl” series is also available in Paperback!

Monster Girl / Monster Girl: Ghost in the Attic

Val O. Morris

Val O. Morris likes to pretend the monsters aren’t real. She is a filmmaker turned author who writes Urban Fantasy, Horror, and YA. A Monster Kid since birth, she loves all things ghosts, goblins, slashers, demons, monsters, zombies, madmen, werewolves, vampires, and freaky little kids who live in the corn. She invites you to come for the monsters and stay for the story.

Get Your FREE Book!

Happy Halloween! This is a story I wrote several years ago about a writer who is having difficulty capturing the essence of his villain. Originally, it was to be turned into a short film. Reading this story again, I can’t help but cringe. It’s a little rough around the edges and it was tempting to spruce it up before releasing it again. But I think it’s important to let the art live on its own as is. It was a learning experience just like the next thing I write will be. Rough or not, it’s still one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it. *evil grin*

“Murders In the Closet”

by Val O. Morris

Glen sat at his desk trying to will the words onto the page. They weren’t cooperating. The pitter-patter of the rain draining down the gutter spout numbed his thoughts. Motivation was rare these days and his latest horror piece was suffering. If he didn’t meet his deadline it would be the end of his so-called writing career.

His head turned slightly as his wife entered the room. He felt her arms curl around his neck then drape down his chest. His tense muscles responded to her warm touch. The fragrance from her perfume drifted over him like a soft summer breeze begging to take away the cold. He breathed in hoping the familiar scent would calm him.

“Have you decided how to detail the murders?” Her breath was soothing on his skin.

Glen loved his wife. She was the most beautiful being in the world to him and she was the one person whom he could always count on. Claire was a constant support for Glen and his career.

He shook his head, “I’m at a loss. My killer must be demented beyond logical thought. Beyond what the brain could comprehend. His killings must be more gruesome than the world has seen or it won’t work.” He threw up his hands. “Maybe my imagination isn’t as twisted as I thought.”

Claire thought for a moment. “Would you consider an outside source?”

He replied with what he felt was the only worthy response. “I prefer my ideas to be my own.”

“What if you were… encouraged? Free of charge.” The whole thing sounded more like a statement than an offer.

“From whom?”

“Me.”

She had him now.

“Go on.”

“I have never told anyone, but I’ve got a very detailed account of some murders that I was going to use as a story idea.” She shrugged a little on that last bit.

“You do?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “That’s great, honey! Why have you never told me?”

Claire shrugged, “I guess I was saving it for a rainy day.”

*********

The crackling fire warmed the den where Glen sat waiting on his bride to divulge her great ideas. The rain was still soaking the world outside. She entered the room carrying two mugs filled with hot chocolate.

Glen couldn’t take the waiting any longer. He eagerly reached for the mug and patted the spot next to him. “Alright, let’s hear it!”

“Alright. But this is for your ears only. As far as anyone knows, these are your words, your thoughts,” she said before taking a sip.

He nodded. Worked for him.

Claire took a deep breath and began detailing her story bits to her husband. She was careful to go slow, taking a deliberate pace and tone.

When she finished Glen looked like a kid in a candy store, wide-eyed and excited. “Honey, that’s fantastic! I am a little surprised that you wrote something so dark, but I love it!”

Claire sat there smiling, “It’s yours if you want it.”

“You bet I do! But this is so great, why don’t you finish it? Use it for yourself?”

“In my mind it is finished. I’m at peace with where it is now,” she said.

Glen didn’t share her feelings, but he respected her stance. As a writer, he felt nothing could be kept quiet. The story must always be told and there is always a story to tell. Every good writer knew that.

*********

A breeze gently blew through an open window. Soft, sheen drapes wisped around recklessly. Summer had come and gone and the autumn leaves had begun falling. The country atmosphere was sometimes so quiet the leaves could be heard landing on the ground. There was a tinge of coolness in the air, but the sun continued to warm the late afternoon hours making it perfect southern weather for lounging around the back porch or tossing around the football. However, Glen was not outside. He was buried deep in his closet.

His book was released in early spring and had hit the best seller’s list. He was relieved that it was well received by both critics and fans. Claire was visiting her mother in Memphis which gave Glen some alone time. He was already hard at work on a new story. However, his attention was waning and he hoped searching through his old notes would give him renewed inspiration.

A sea of writing books and spiral notebooks surrounded him as he sat sorting through various boxes. Glen wasn’t sure what it was he was looking for, but he felt he would know it when he saw it. His intuition was right. He pulled out a leather bound book that was not familiar.

The corners of the book were old and worn yet somehow the brown leather still retained a mysterious beauty. Glen looked it over taking in its mystique. He fought the urge to tear through the aged yellowish pages and instead delicately opened the cover. The first page took him by surprise.

“What the….?”

Bold words, a title, were splashed across the paper in black ink. Suddenly things weren’t quite so unfamiliar. Glen swallowed, forcing down the lump in his throat. He was timid, but he took the plunge. Word by word he felt his gut tighten.

After another few pages he allowed the truth to sink in. He dropped what he now knew as a journal like it had burned his skin. It seemed his wife didn’t just keep a very detailed account of any murders, but rather her murders. Glen scrambled to his feet. Panting, heart pounding. The room began to spin. The walls closed in around him. Deep breaths came by force. Composing himself grew difficult.

“This isn’t happening. It’s not possible.” He plopped down on the edge of their bed. Hands ran through his hair.
Glen stared at the journal. Suddenly, he strode back over to the closet where the journal lay and scooped it up. Turning around he jumped back. The visual was startling. Even more so than any detail he had ever described in his writing. He stood there with mouth agape and eyes wide. The journal met the floor again. He stared into the dark eye holes of a goat head mask. He heard a voice, evil and raspy.

“Miss me, Honey?” Staring back at him through those same holes were the black eyes of a killer.

“Claire.” He could barely get a breath out.

“Success wasn’t enough. You had to know more,” she taunted.

The sun caught a shiny object behind her back and reflected in Glen’s eye. “No, it wasn’t like that! I was searching through my old notes for inspiration and found…”

“Save it. I told you those words became yours.”

But it was too late. Claire couldn’t have her secret get out. “You know what comes next. How this story ends, right? Now that I’ve told you, I have to kill you.”

She raised the ax she had hidden behind her back.

Glen screamed.

The cold metal shined for the last time as it made contact with Glen’s flesh, hard and deadly. Once, twice more. The ax was familiar in her hands.

Blood splashed across the closet splattering clothes that hung innocently inside. Even the sheen drapes were assaulted. Stepping over Glen’s dying body, Claire stashed her journal in the closet, out of reach once again. The tragedy would be filed as a deranged fan attack. And Claire would escape conviction of a murderess once again.

However, little did she know that Glen also kept a journal. He always told her every good writer did.

The End

Happy Halloween! Thank you for reading! I’ll have an announcement soon about my next book release!

Val O. Morris

Val O. Morris likes to pretend the monsters aren’t real. She is a filmmaker turned author who writes Urban Fantasy, Horror, and YA. A Monster Kid since birth, she loves all things ghosts, goblins, slashers, demons, monsters, zombies, madmen, werewolves, vampires, and freaky little kids who live in the corn. She invites you to come for the monsters and stay for the story.

Get Your FREE Book!

What does Halloween mean to me?

To a horror fan or Monster Kid, Halloween isn’t just a day at the end of October; it’s a month long celebration of our year round love affair with all things spooky. While I enjoy horror movies every day of the year, I ramp it up during October, and I also throw in visits to local haunted attractions and parties with friends.

Halloween got its start as a Celtic holiday when people celebrated their deceased loved ones at harvest, and would dress up in monster costumes to walk among the dead and not scare them away. While I don’t celebrate the holiday in the same fashion, I do appreciate its history. Halloween is a time for fun, and I enjoy keeping the Monster Kid in me alive by dressing up in my favorite monster costume and celebrating with friends and family.

What does Halloween mean to you?

Don’t forget: Today is also the last day to buy “Monster Girl” on sale – it returns to full price tomorrow, November 1st.

Earlier, I posted a list of 31 horror movies as suggestions for what to watch to get into the Halloween spirit. I didn’t get to nearly as many scary movies as I wanted to, but I did a see one new one that I LOVED – “Exists“, directed by Eduardo Sanchez (co-creator of “The Blair Witch Project”). It’s a found footage horror movie, which I’m not a big fan of, but it was well made and very INTENSE!

What did you watch this scary season?

Val O. Morris

Val O. Morris likes to pretend the monsters aren’t real. She is a filmmaker turned author who writes Urban Fantasy, Horror, and YA. A Monster Kid since birth, she loves all things ghosts, goblins, slashers, demons, monsters, zombies, madmen, werewolves, vampires, and freaky little kids who live in the corn. She invites you to come for the monsters and stay for the story.

Get Your FREE Book!

Today is the last day to buy it on Kindle for $.99.

After today, it will continue its Kindle Countdown Deal increasing incrementally until Halloween. It will return to its full retail price of $2.99 on November 1st.

Don’t delay! Take advantage of the $.99 deal today!

Val O. Morris

Val O. Morris likes to pretend the monsters aren’t real. She is a filmmaker turned author who writes Urban Fantasy, Horror, and YA. A Monster Kid since birth, she loves all things ghosts, goblins, slashers, demons, monsters, zombies, madmen, werewolves, vampires, and freaky little kids who live in the corn. She invites you to come for the monsters and stay for the story.

Get Your FREE Book!

Halloween is just around the corner and there’s a chill in the air. Perfect for wrapping in a blanket and reading a book!

Have a young reader who enjoys reading?

Great! “Monster Girl” is for ALL ages!

“Monster Girl” is about a young girl who, obsessed with monsters and the supernatural, befriends the ghost of her grandfather and, with his help, learns valuable lessons while dealing with a bossy older sister, parents who ignore her, and a school bully.

THANK YOU to everyone who has supported “Monster Girl” since its release. Your reviews have been helpful and I’ve enjoyed you sharing your stories of reading. You guys rock! Please consider sharing with a friend!

See what others are saying!

“Hoping for a sequel!” – Lori Mills

“The charming relationship between Viki and her grandfather really shines as Morris navigates Viki through childhood trials and tribulations, having her stumble yet grow along the way.” – Jess

“I ordered this book thinking my 9 year old grandson would enjoy it. I read it myself first and what a good story!” – Vlenay

“…filled with imaginary characters that suck you into their reality and entice you to turn the page again and again until you reach the back cover and are left wanting more.” – RNCotton

“The characters are real and kept my interest piqued.” – Susie D

Act now! $.99 sale ends Tuesday!

Val O. Morris

Val O. Morris likes to pretend the monsters aren’t real. She is a filmmaker turned author who writes Urban Fantasy, Horror, and YA. A Monster Kid since birth, she loves all things ghosts, goblins, slashers, demons, monsters, zombies, madmen, werewolves, vampires, and freaky little kids who live in the corn. She invites you to come for the monsters and stay for the story.

Get Your FREE Book!

Since Halloween is both my favorite holiday and Viki’s (from “Monster Girl“), I thought we’d have some fun. To celebrate the holiday, I love to watch 31 horror/Halloween movies during the month of October. I watch horror movies year round, but I really ramp it up during this month. This year I thought I would offer my own Halloween viewing schedule for your enjoyment. You’ve probably seen your friends doing those “31 movies in 31 nights” challenges, and this is basically my list of some of the best movies to watch during Halloween. You can also follow me on Instagram @valmakesmovies to see daily posts of what I watched!

We start out with something light in “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” to really set the tone for the season ahead. Think you can hang with all 31? Remember: When you call it a night, be sure to check under the bed and in the closet, for you never know what might be waiting in the shadows. Muahahahahaha!

[Note: Not all of these are kid-friendly, so please be advised.]

October
1. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
2. Creature from the Black Lagoon
3. Puppet Master
4. Dracula
5. Child’s Play
6. Frankenstein
7. Gremlins
8. Young Frankenstein
9. Ginger Snaps
10. The Thing
11. Children of the Corn
12. A Nightmare on Elm Street
13. Poltergeist
14. Jaws
15. Insidious
16. Pet Semetery
17. Pumpkinhead
18. Sleepy Hallow

- 13 Nights Countdown -

This is where the fun really begins! I’ve selected some excellent movies with either the Halloween-theme or a monster-theme for the last 13 days of the season.

19. The Monster Squad
20. ParaNorman
21. Donnie Darko
22. Hocus Pocus
23. Silver Bullet
24. E.T.
25. Satan’s Little Helper
26. Night of the Demons
27. Idle Hands
28. The Nightmare Before Christmas
29. The Crow
30. Trick ‘r Treat
31. Halloween

I’ll check back with you on Halloween to see if the ghosts and goblins got you or if you survived the 31 nights of terror. Share your experience below and if you watched something other than what’s on this list, do tell!

Val O. Morris

Val O. Morris likes to pretend the monsters aren’t real. She is a filmmaker turned author who writes Urban Fantasy, Horror, and YA. A Monster Kid since birth, she loves all things ghosts, goblins, slashers, demons, monsters, zombies, madmen, werewolves, vampires, and freaky little kids who live in the corn. She invites you to come for the monsters and stay for the story.

Get Your FREE Book!