Tuesday 10 May 2016

On Funerals - Somer Canon



Somer Canon is an exciting new author who has hit the horror scene with a most unusual, exceptional novella. Here she gives a clue as to one of her influences:

          
I have a hazy memory of being not long out of my toddler years and attending my first funeral.  My grandmother had me for the weekend, as she often did, but she needed to attend the viewing of her recently deceased elderly neighbor.  I knew the woman vaguely in that to my young mind, she as a gifter of an endless supply of colorful hard candies.
             It was an uncomfortable experience, seeing that kind lady looking to be asleep surrounded by her weeping family.  I remember my grandma telling me not to look at her and when I asked why, she said that I was too young, a catch-all explanation that I loathed.  

             “If I’m not supposed to look, why is she out for everybody to see?”  I asked.
            My grandma had no answer.
            The experience was vastly different when my grandma passed.  Drowning in the grief of losing someone who had always been so important to me, I was still able to be confused that my mom and my aunt bought my grandma a new dress and jewelry for her viewing.  The funeral home styled her hair in a way different from how she wore it and they put too much makeup on her.  All of that toiling away to create the illusion that she was merely sleeping ended up looking gruesome to me.  I, like everyone else who knew and loved her, preferred her how she had looked when she was alive, not overly painted and wearing clothes she’d never have picked out for herself. 
            Seeing her like that caused me to make up my mind that I did not want that for myself. 
            Vicki, a character in my novella, Vicki Beautiful, agrees with me.  She has serious concerns about how her last showing to her loved ones would be carried out. While I want to avoid causing distress to my loved ones by creating a poorly executed illusion, Vicki wants to avoid looking anything other than beautiful perfection.



One last taste of perfection… 
Sasha and Brynn descend upon the showplace home of their girlhood friend, Vicki, planning to celebrate her surviving cancer to reach her fortieth birthday. As they gather around Vicki’s perfectly set dinner table, though, her husband shares devastating news. The cancer is back, and she doesn’t have long to live.

Her life is cut even shorter than Sasha and Brynn expect—the next morning, their friend is found dead, her flawless skin slit at the wrists. But a tub full of blood is only the beginning. Before the weekend is through, they are forced to question how far they’re willing to go to fulfill Vicki’s last wish.

A very specific, very detailed recipe that only the truest of friends could stomach…
 Praise for Vicki Beautiful
 “ I read this at one gripping session and I shall read more by this author. Excellent, original and worth every one of my five stars.” –Catherine Cavendish, Author of The Devil’s Serenade

“At times it reminded me of the cult classic "Eating Raoul" and others "The Big Chill". Suffice to say, Canon has created an intriguing tale that will not only have you caring about characters put into an awkward, unsettling situation but also wondering how they'll react to it every step of the way. I highly recommend this unique and entertaining story.” –Matthew Franks, Author The Monster Underneath

“This is not the normal type of book that I would read, but the cover sold it to me, and I like reading new authors and genres. This book is beautifully written, the writing flows and you feel you really understand what the character’s are feeling…” Rebecca, GoodReads Reviewer

“The ending of this story was truly horrific. I am an old school horror fan, and have been indulging in the genre since I was old enough to hold a book. I also adore and enjoy the sub-genre splatterpunk, I read Jack Ketchum as a bedside book all the time. It takes a lot to phase me, but even I was turning my head in repulsion at the end. What a wonderful debut story for Somer Canon.” –Badseedgirl, GoodReads Reviewer

“A simple story, but all the more powerful for its simplicity. Four stars. The author has guts and skill.” –Outlaw Poet
 Biography 
Somer Canon is a minivan revving suburban mother who avoids her neighbors for fear of being found out as a weirdo.  When she’s not peering out of her windows, she’s consuming books, movies, and video games that sate her need for blood, gore, and things that disturb her mother.
Vicki Beautiful is her debut novella.

Find out more about Somer and her upcoming works at her website http://www.somercanon.com. You can also connect with Somer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SomerM.

6 comments:

  1. Lovely to hear about your book Somer, and a recommendation fro Cat is always worth following up too.

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    1. Thank you, Shey. Somer's book is so original. I really enjoyed it.

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    2. Thank you so much, Shey!

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    3. Thank you so much, Shey!

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  2. Hmm... I have a friend who doesn't regard me very highly. There is no one else to carry out his last wish. You have to do stuff.

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