Why am I passionate about this?

Not only have I been a fan of the genre since my early childhood, I’ve also submerged myself from an author's perspective. I've honed my craft through several courses, research, and networking so that I know what I’m putting out is the best work I can produce. I love the familiar style of description and a plot woven into a well-versed tale of good versus evil, especially if the reader is left questioning whether it really was good that won in the end. My love for horror started young when I delved into Stephen King’s Bag of Bones, and I have devoured a lot of classic horror fiction since then.


I wrote

Buried

By Sian B. Claven,

Book cover of Buried

What is my book about?

A classic horror haunted house tale with a twist. Buried follows a paranormal investigation team as they try disproving rumors…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Shining

Sian B. Claven Why did I love this book?

There is nothing that screams Classic Horror Fiction quite like a good haunting story. Stephen King’s impeccable style of a slow-burn story with soft hints of horror until it builds into a crescendo of wild visuals and horrific happenings certainly hit home. There is a fabulous cast of characters, that even in the modern age can be related to. That’s the thing about King, despite being written years ago, his books hold relativity because you connect with the characters, not the things they have and do. His graceful way of incorporating back stories for both his main characters and his ghosts just makes the story more chilling. After all, what’s more terrifying—a ghost or a man possessed by addiction?

I felt full emerged and terrified from the first time I read it, and every time I reread it.

By Stephen King,

Why should I read it?

26 authors picked The Shining as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Before Doctor Sleep, there was The Shining, a classic of modern American horror from the undisputed master, Stephen King.

Jack Torrance’s new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he’ll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote . . . and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around…


Book cover of The Silver Eyes

Sian B. Claven Why did I love this book?

While on the shorter side of horror, Five Nights at Freddie’s has the classic jump scares that you’re looking for in a punchy horror book. Some might not consider it classic fiction as such, but it has its roots in the old adage of something lurking around the corner waiting for you—a timeless story motif. With a harrowing twist in the end, this book gives all the right chills at the right time. You hang onto the edge of your seat while you follow the main character and the ‘things’ that are haunting her. Despite it having a clear motif, I still found it a bit unpredictable and enjoyed it thoroughly. Suitable for younger audiences. 

By Scott Cawthon, Kira Breed-Wrisley,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Silver Eyes as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

Ten years after the horrific murders at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza that
ripped their town apart, Charlie, whose father owned the restaurant,
and her childhood friends reunite on the anniversary of the
tragedy and find themselves at the old pizza place which had been
locked up and abandoned for years. After they discover a way inside,
they realize that things are not as they used to be. The four
adult-sized animatronic mascots that once entertained patrons
have changed. They now have a dark secret . . . and a murderous
agenda.


Book cover of The Witching Hour

Sian B. Claven Why did I love this book?

What can I say about Anne Rice that hasn’t already been said? She is the Queen of the genre, especially with how Gothic and historical her tales are. She always incorporates such rich descriptions and historical background that you fully immerse not only into the story, but in the world it is taking place in. In the case of this book you’re taken on a mesmerizing journey through New Orleans. A huge fan of the area, Anne Rice brings everything to life from the magnolias growing in the garden to the wrap-around porches. This story was a ghost/demon feature story, but done in such a way I haven’t seen before. I was hooked from start to finish with this book, picking it up any chance I could, and finishing it within a few days. It is a long book and Rice prefers to go into thorough detail, which might bother some, but I find that’s a marker of a good Classic horror fiction—the details. 

By Anne Rice,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked The Witching Hour as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

SOON TO BE A MAJOR TV SHOW, FROM THE NETWORK BEHIND THE WALKING DEAD

'[W]hen I found Rice's work I absolutely loved how she took that genre and (...) made [it] feel so contemporary and relevant' Sarah Pinborough, bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes

'[Rice wrote] in the great tradition of the gothic' Ramsey Campbell, bestselling author of The Hungry Moon

On the veranda of a great New Orleans house, now faded, a mute and fragile woman sits rocking. And the witching hour begins...

Demonstrating once again her gift for spellbinding storytelling and the creation of legend, Anne Rice makes…


Book cover of An Insatiable Thirst for Murder: Serial Killer Henry Holmes - The Novel

Sian B. Claven Why did I love this book?

I went into this book blind, I can’t remember the exact circumstances but if I’m not mistaken it was when I was advertising myself as a reviewer for indie authors. This takes the serial killer theme to all new levels as based on a truth fiction tale. Hammott has an enjoyable writing style that flows and draws the reader in. It is an excellent retelling that kept me wanting to know more about Holmes. I have subsequently researched the killer and found Hammott's accounts to be factually correct which just makes the story that much more chilling. 

By Ben Hammott, Bill Wilkinson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked An Insatiable Thirst for Murder as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

If your hear him lock the door, you are already dead!

"An atmospheric dramatization of a true crime mystery using source documents and the investigations carried out by detective Frank Geyer to portray a believable and disturbing account of the heinous murders and crimes of the serial killer, Henry H. Holmes."

"Insightful thoughts of some characters during their impending death make it too easy to identify with the horror of what they experienced. By the time I got to the end of some parts, I was out of breath, literally!"

"Grabs your concentration by the throat with every horrific and…


Book cover of Rosemary's Baby

Sian B. Claven Why did I love this book?

Now this is definitely a cult classic. The devil, a woman, the baby she wants desperately, and a deal that haunts everyone involved. I don’t have much to say about this book's style, it was good but nothing to write home about. The story, though—the very concept—was brilliantly done. Sharp twists and turns keep you gasping, which is nice for a read. I loved the imagery in this book and lost some sleep over it. Definitely recommended. 

By Ira Levin,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Rosemary's Baby as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'The Swiss watchmaker of the suspense novel' Stephen King

Rosemary Woodhouse and her struggling actor-husband, Guy, move into the Bramford, an old New York City apartment building with an ominous reputation and only elderly residents. Neighbours Roman and Minnie Castavet soon come nosing around to welcome them; despite Rosemary's reservations about their eccentricity and the weird noises that she keeps hearing, her husband starts spending time with them. Shortly after Guy lands a plum Broadway role, Rosemary becomes pregnant, and the Castavets start taking a special interest in her welfare.

As the sickened Rosemary becomes increasingly isolated, she begins to…


Explore my book 😀

Buried

By Sian B. Claven,

Book cover of Buried

What is my book about?

A classic horror haunted house tale with a twist. Buried follows a paranormal investigation team as they try disproving rumors of an underground mansion being haunted. It’s all great fun until they can’t get out, and the ghosts they don’t believe in start coming for them. 

Book cover of The Shining
Book cover of The Silver Eyes
Book cover of The Witching Hour

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At What Cost, Silence?

By Karen Lynne Klink,

Book cover of At What Cost, Silence?

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Why am I passionate about this?

I am a child sexual abuse survivor who struggled for years with the help of therapy to become the person I am today. My sister, my mother, and I suffered years of emotional abuse by my father. When I was a child, my best friend (who also suffered abuse by her brother) and I made up stories that helped us navigate the situations in our families. I read, hiked, backpacked, and traveled alone for years in order to take risks and develop strength before attempting to write at age sixty-one. I love books that put me solidly in time and place and deeply empathize with characters who struggle and grow to become their genuine selves.

Karen's book list on strong emotion, excellent plotting, and vivid descriptions that put me securely in time and place

What is my book about?

Secrets, misunderstandings, and a plethora of family conflicts abound in this historical novel set along the Brazos River in antebellum Washington County, East Texas.

It is a compelling story of two neighboring plantation families and a few of the enslaved people who serve them. These two plantations are a microcosm of a country on the brink of war, encompassing a variety of issues: love and friendship between men, relationships between fathers and sons, sibling rivalry, slavery, and the position of women in society.

At What Cost, Silence?

By Karen Lynne Klink,

What is this book about?

Adrien Villere suspects he is not like other boys. For years, he desperately locks away his feelings and fears-but eventually, tragedy and loss drive him to seeking solace from his mentor, a young neighbor Jacob Hart. Jacob's betrayal of Adrien's trust, however, results in secret abuse, setting off a chain of actions from which neither Adrien's wise sister, Bernadette, nor his closest friend, Isaac, can turn him.

At What Cost, Silence presents two contrasting plantation families in a society where strict rules of belief and behavior are clear, and public opinion can shape an entire life. Centerstage are the Villeres,…


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