We Will Return After These Brief Messages

Yeah I know, believe me I know, it's that time again when The October Country is going off the air for a short period of time (it seems like it is always something). Not too long mind you, but I felt that I should acknowledge the lack of updates by now. Your humble host has fallen on hard times of late (I suffer from a pretty crippling anxiety / panic disorder and we'll leave it at that). So, for the better part of this last month the method of approach to combating this issue has been (in conjuncture with new meds), lots and lots of rest and relaxation and the minimizing of stress however possible. And yes, running The October Country, as much as it is a true labor of love, is often times stressful (pulling ones hair out because an article or review isn't going as intended is certainly not a walk in the park). The bottom line right now for me is getting better as quickly as possible. I miss contributing to the genre in my own little way. I miss this little home away from home. I miss you, dear readers. I miss the whole experience of being a horror blogger.

But before I go, I have just a few more things to address quickly. First and foremost, I must send a big heartfelt thank you to Billy Loves Stu's Pax Romano. Actually, I can't thank him enough. Besides all the other amazing things the man has done for me and this site, amidst a very public breakdown online over the aforementioned anxiety, Pax took me aside and talked to me and listened and listened and listened some more. His advice, his concern and his general support was immensely appreciated. In fact, I credit him along with a few other close friends with giving me the support I needed to finally get some help and get my conditioned treated. You're a great man Pax Romano, and I shall not soon forget it.

The other two small pieces of business concern The October Country on Facebook. While not wanting to remain completely static nor wanting to just post filler here until I can get back to writing, I tried to keep some momentum by starting a little October Country page on Facebook, which you can "like" by going here. Also, I have a public profile connected to all this horror business that you may visit here if you so wish. Feel free to friend me and say hi. Okay, I think that that is all. So wish me luck. Hopefully I'll be all better soon and back to business before you know it. See ya then.

We're Back...Again

Our apologies dear readers for the lack of posts throughout the entirety of May. It was a tough call to make, but I reasoned that I truly needed to get out of the house and get some sun for awhile. I've found this site more than easy to maintain during the long, cold stretches of our Midwest winters; seeing as how I absolutely deplore the cold and I suffer from a pretty severe bout of seasonal depression every year which in turn only heightens my anxiety disorder I've been battling. In short, from November until March, The October Country is my lifeline. I have no qualms with shutting the snowy world out behind our thick, heavy curtains and sitting here and banging out reviews and articles of every stripe, one after the other. However, as spring blooms into the sweltering summer, I feel as though I owe it to my mental health to go get as much fresh air as I can and attempt to be as sociable as possible before Jack Frost starts scratching at my windows again. It's been a lovely little vacation (a vacation that extended no further than the same city blocks I see year in and year out, but still) and I'm feeling a tad more refreshed. In essence, we're back even if we'll be operating on a more sporadic level for the next few months. Until summer winds down though, we do have some pretty stellar features up our sleeves. Coming very soon is an October Country exclusive interview with A Nightmare on Elm Street 2's Mark Patton (Jesse Walsh). Billy Loves Stu's always amazing Pax Romano (and oft-mentor to yours truly) recently nominated me as one of queer fear's many future voices of horror and I'll be doing a nifty little interview for him as a result (really, I'm wholly undeserving, but I couldn't be more flattered about the invitation to participate). Additionally, this month is national Gay Pride Month, and though me and queer culture have had an uneasy alliance for the majority of my existence, there is no denying that some of my horror heroes have been proud gay men and women, and celebrating their contributions to our beloved field is surely right around the corner. Also, a wealth of rumored-to-be-amazing works of beautifully realized screen scares have recently become available for viewing; Franck Richard's The Pack, Jim Mickle's Stake Land, Jon Knautz's The Shrine, Gregg Holtgrewe's Dawning and Lucky McKee's controversial The Woman, and you can rest assured we'll be bringing you the tasty tidbits on them all soon. A big thanks to everyone who's stuck with us (and a warm welcome to our new followers), it's great to be back and quite honestly, we've missed you. A lot.

We're Back...I Think

Or, I hope. After an entire month of stops and starts and unexpected delays, The October Country is back in business. I know if one were to look at the amount of posts we've made in March, you'd probably wonder why it is that we're drawing attention to the fact that we haven't been around in a week. Surely, we post more often than some better known, more frequented websites out there and they never feel it's necessary to apologize for their occasional absence. Well, the truth of the matter is that it bugs me. If I had it my way, we'd post 10 -15 articles or items a day. Unfortunately my aspirations for what I want The October Country to be outweighs my ability to realize those goals, currently. Life just has a habit of getting in the way like that. Marriage, work and the unfortunate need for sleep, there is always something. Though occasionally I have help from outside sources every now and then, I am just one guy desiring to do the workload of 10. I've have been asking potentially worthy parties if they might be interested in occasionally contributing to our site and though the response has been positive, their follow through has been...lacking. So we'll see what becomes of additional contributors in the future I guess.

The reason we've been absent this week is because our sole computer caught a nasty virus (Antimalware Doctor) and despite all of our efforts to save it, ultimately we had to completely wipe it clean and start anew. Yes, I'm still fuming. Long gone and lost forever or multitudes of items that I had written or was intending to write about for The October Country. Long gone and lost forever are very important links to information for future posts that I'll likely never track down again, so numerous were their numbers (there were tears). However, we are attempting to pick ourselves up by our bootstraps and soldier on. So enough moaning and groaning eh'? On with the show!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Even though honestly I have no idea why I am going out tonight to celebrate the occasion. I look awful in green and I am neither religious nor I am Irish. Though I remain certain that my as of yet unmet second husband, Callum Oisin O'Brian , will be. Possessing not only fiery red, moppy locks but a thick Irish brogue in addition to naturally pale, freckled skin that smells of the sea, seeing as he works on a fishing vessel right off the small, cobblestoned Irish village we reside in and...oh hell, I could go on. Anyway, I suppose I'll be getting wasted tonight for no other reason other than today is (blessedly) the day where it is acceptable to start drinking at 9am. Three cheers to that. We here at The October Country hope you, dear readers, have a happy and safe holiday. Drink responsibly and for fuck's sake get a designated driver.

In personal news, an apology that we've been so bereft of updates this week. The past few days have been spent with my husband and mother-in-law who just concluded her visit with us. It's been three whopping years since Daniel has seen not only her but anyone from his country, friend or family alike. Their parting last night was bittersweet and hard, full of smiles and too many tears. Additionally, the next couple of days are going to be spent being there for him, so we are likely to remain sparse in the posting department but we'll be back in business when things return to normality around here.

My Head...Is Not Here

Nor is my mind for that matter. They've been drowned away into oblivion with a heroes helping of cold medicine (that's actually a self-portrait above I took of myself not 5 minutes ago, seriously). Yes, I've managed to get sick again, in what must be some new record I've set for myself in regards to wintertime illness. Though this time, I have a lovely, super considerate friend to thank for the stomach heaving, shit churning occasion. Last week, he who shall remain nameless (hint: he likes to argue about the "artistic merits" of Claudio Fragasso's Monster Dog, which should narrow the list of suspects down to two people...in the whole world), knowingly attended my birthday rendezvous with the flu, and proceeded to eat from the communal tortilla chip bowl at the Mexican restaurant we ate at and talk inches from my face for the majority of the night. No news on whether he spread his plague to the rest of the party guests, but he certainly knocked me up with it. As a result, my husband and I's wedding anniversary was a bust and I've been good for absolutely nothing this week but attempting to keep my eyes open watching scary movies in bed but mostly only succeeding at dozing in and out of restless, NyQuil induced slumber. Which dear readers, really chaps my ass. Twas to be the week when I finally made a go at celebrating Women In Horror Appreciation Month full throttle, something I've been irked about not being able to get to. Between birthdays and anniversaries and work and a host of other things I've been tooling on for the site, it just kept getting pushed back. I'm sorry ladies, you lovely lasses of horror, you deserved much better than this. I'll bend over and take my licks like the insolent, irresponsible chode that I am. I suppose we'll return when my nose isn't leaking all over the keyboard or I'm not coughing up a lung all over the monitor. Until then, feel free to catch up on anything that you may have missed here or visit any of the spectacular blogs linked to the right. Wish me well dear readers, so that I may get back to work at bringing you all the goods.

It's My Birfday!!!!

I've turned the big 3-0 today, something I use to be looking forward to but now find myself greeting the occasion with suspicion and weariness. Last night, I spent my last hours as a twenty-something in bed reading the latest issue of Horror Hound (what's with all the typos this month) and started off this new leg of my life's journey by over-stuffing myself with stir fry leftovers when the clock struck 12 midnight. Being a geek and having an I-ate-too-much tummy ache, initially two things I found rather anti climatic until I reflected that no, they were completely keeping within my character. Anyway, this means that I am also overdoing the cheesecake for breakfast, having dinner with friends (at Las Lomas, mwah!) later on this evening and then hosting the aforementioned peeps back here at the house for a horror movie marathon (the movies of which, have yet to be finalized...Bad Biology, Street Trash or maybe Piranha 3-D in glorious 2-D, I'm going for crowd pleasers here, suggestions?). This also means that due to the weekend's festivities, I probably won't get to too many updates for The October Country, but we'll be back in full swing before ya know it. Until then, take care dear readers and we'll see you soon!Your too-excited host, who really likes gifts.

Bed Rest

Another break. I know, I know. But I feel as though I am on my death bed, having come down with a serious sinus infection / head cold / ear ache or something to that ghastly effect. So The October Country will return to it's regularly scheduled preoccupation with all things nasty when I recuperate. Until then, lots of bed ridden time spent re-watching some fave horror films. See you soon dear readers.