LoginOctober 2022 Notable Author: Edgar Allan Poe
"Lord, help my poor soul." – Last words of Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was born January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts and, after a tumultuous and personally disappointing life, died October 7, 1849 in a Baltimore, Maryland hospital after being found in a gutter, both drunk and barely conscious, and wearing someone else's clothing.
Poe’s life was full of abandonment. His parents died or left before he was three, he was separated from his siblings for a foster family, his foster father frequently abandoned the family for affairs, and his foster mother (whom he got on well with) died when he was 19. His foster father cut him out of his will and then died when Poe was 25, orphaning him again. His fiance broke their engagement and when he finally married his 13 year old cousin, she made him a widower 11 years later. Poe died a year after that. His sad life probably set the tone for his writing as all of Poe's stories take place at night, or on the “bleakest, foulest” day of the year.
Most consider Poe to be the inventor of the American horror story, science fiction, and the detective story. His The Tell-Tale Heart, Masque of the Red Death, The Black Cat, and The Pit and the Pendulum have set the tone for all subsequent American horror writers. His The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841), The Mystery of Marie Rogêt (1942), and The Purloined Letter (1843) are detective story thrillers whose main character Arthur Conan Doyle cited as the inspiration for creating Sherlock Holmes.
He didn’t receive any money for The Raven, his most famous poem, which he had originally titled, To Lenore. However, at a meal with Charles Dickens they discussed Dickens’ pet raven who had died. Poe rewrote the poem with a raven as the central figure.
Every year on the date of his birthday, a mystery man leaves a bottle of cognac and roses on Poe's grave in Baltimore, MD.
Genre: Horror
Fiction that is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten, scare, disgust, or startle its readers or viewers by inducing feelings of horror and terror through an eerie or frightening atmosphere. Horror is frequently supernatural, though it can be non-supernatural.
Sample Reading List: The Tell-Tale Heart, Masque of the Red Death, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Mystery of Marie Rogêt, The Purloined Letter, The Raven
Writer's Prompt - Fun With Words
Fun With Words - Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) invites you to have fun writing horror like Edgar Allan Poe. Using only 100 words place a character in an eerie or frightening atmosphere at night or on the bleakest, foulest day of the year. Title your work and submit to: https://marylandwriters.org/Notable_Maryland_Authors by the 22nd of the month to receive an MWA Fun With Words submission certificate. Selected responses to be published with next month’s article as well as posted on the MWA website.
Submit Your FUN WITH WORDS Prompt
The MWA is a 33-year-old state-wide association (501c3) dedicated to encouraging and mentoring Maryland writers, poets, playwrights, and authors. Go to: www.MarylandWriters.org for more info.
Darius Jones
Oct. 26, 2022The Front Range - Searing coals ruptured in the cabin's fireplace as the wind squalled outside its windows, pummeling a snowy bluster against its crickety old bones. Inside, a butcher’s hatchet slices violently into his querry, a woman in her early 20’s, before a stir from behind prompts the murderer to turn his head. Her once companion, a man, laying duct taped by the mouth, hands, and feet, awakes slowly to the boiling pot chattering on the stove. His eyes swell as bits of his wife are added into the stew making him scream, lunge, and thrust his body before passing out once again.
Linda Dutrow
Oct. 26, 2022The Death Collector (Poem) - Deeply drifting, darkness falls. As heavily I seep. Into a strange dimension made. Within my world of sleep. - I hear the sound of silence, Its strange tranquility, The eerie stillness of the night, Breeds insecurity... - I feel the bite, the icy chill, The edge of sudden fear, I reach to touch the frigid frost. That’s hovering in the air.... - I taste the dank, the tepid dew. Upon each cautioned breath, I smell the reek of rotting soil. The pungent stench of death... - I see a lurking figure, dark. A long, black robe be-flowing. The haunting, hooded silhouette. Of face nor body showing… - With shrouded arm, extended firm, Demands, in silence, he. With whetted sickle, glistening sharp, Commands compliancy… - And points the way to timely death. For all who’ve stirred his wrath. And reaps in harvest. All who’ve crossed the death collector’s path. - In dream, if senses sharp detect. An imminent foreboding. Be trusting of their heightened state. And always heed their warning!
Mackenzie Tate
Oct. 26, 2022Doll’s Room - It was a dark, rainy, cold, fall night. I was knitting by the fire, watching my movie, and sipping hot coffee. I was doing my hoop through the thick, stringy yellow yarn, I hear a bang upstairs. I hear the creaky wood floor moving underneath someone’s feet. I go to the kitchen and grab a sharp knife. I go over to the dark, creaky stairs and begin to walk up. I check the rooms as I hear another bang. I go to the bathroom. Nothing. I go to the creepy, doll infested room and there someone stands in the corner.
Kylee Scott
Oct. 26, 2022Jasper - Jasper was a simple man. Jasper loved his neighbor’s cookies. Last night, Jasper ate a whole tray of his neighbor’s cookies! Jasper felt off… He used the bathroom. Felt off. Drank some water. Felt off. Jasper can’t seem to find what’s wrong with him. Nothing like this has ever happened with the cookies. Jasper went into his room to calm down and watch some TV. The door shut behind him. Locking him in. He felt the room closing in on him. The walls slowly crushing his body so he could feel every bit of pressure. Jasper was a simple man.
Kaylen Brown
Oct. 26, 2022King Killer - While in a dark basement investigating the death of a local doctor, Tyler doesn’t notice the man nicknamed King Killer sneaking up behind him. The man slowly unsheathes his knife, ready to strike again. The wind howls in the distance late at night, Friday the 13th, the night in which 10 people had already been killed by unknown causes. Tyler would be next… How long until Killer would strike? Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Suddenly thunder sounded and lightning struck BOOM! It all went blank.
Macie Singletary
Oct. 26, 2022Find the Key - As I walk through the halls of the abandoned school, I notice that each locker I see has the same exact number. But as I pass the library, I see one specific locker start to shake rapidly. I soon start to hear the same words being repeated. “Find the key, find the key, find the key!” I don’t know what is happening, but I have the sudden urge to run. A few minutes later I’m in the same place and I hear the same words. “Find the key, find the key” All I know is I fall into the floor…
Qwyen Le
Oct. 26, 2022Dark Warehouse - Another night. Dark warehouse. Girl. White dress. Splotched red. Bloodshot eyes. Pale. Unforgiving smile. Devil’s daughter. Pure intent. Death is her aura. I can’t look. Too many bodies. Foul stench. I’m next. She walks. I slowly back away. YOU. ARE. MINE. – her dry, rugged voice. YOU. ARE. MINE. – etched on the corpses. YOU. ARE. MINE. – smeared on walls. Ears hurt. Sound like a dull knife. Right behind me. Like she spawned. Bony hand. Clenched. Neck. Mouth covered. Throat like metallic sandpaper. Can’t scream. Smells like ripe human flesh. Blade softly touching my throat. Sharp. No escape. There is no tomorrow.
Lily Persaud
Oct. 26, 2022Gear Up - It was a breezy day. Perfect time. Gear Up. Brush down, pick hoofs, brush mane and tail. Then it’s time to put the saddle pad on. Then saddle. Make sure it’s the right one though! Grith to secure your saddle. Then the bridal. Before making sure to take the halter off pushing in between the teeth making it slip in. Lift over ears and you're done! Don’t forget to hold and to the lead with 2 hands. Then down to the rank you go. Greeting your other horse friends as you walk down. Into the rank. Shutting the gate behind.
Allahna Brown
Oct. 26, 2022Cold Night - It was cold outside, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. That always happens when its night and cold. I wanted to take a short cut through the corn field so I could get out of this blistering cold. The cornfield had an earthy smell and the moon was my only source of light. I feel like I have been walking for ages. I start to hear rustling behind me. “Hello, if anyone is there then this is not funny.” The cold was unbearable now. The rustling got louder and as I turned behind me, I blacked out.
Eleanor Jones
Oct. 26, 2022The Spider Net (Poem) - Deep in a misty midnight dream, I battled for my self-esteem. Trapped in a silken web so odd, spun by a social arthropod. Threaded lines of lovers' texts. Twisted tales told by exes. I swiped their venom of mendacity and sadness – Unable to control halt delete the madness. Would daylight bring real love to my chamber door? Quote Alexa, "This is it, Bae. Nothing more."
Karen McIntyre
Oct. 26, 2022Catch - Markie and Steve were playing catch in the graveyard behind the church after dinner. In the gathering gloom, Markie missed the ball, and it rolled under the church building which sat 18" above the ground. Some of the oldest graves were set back in that space under the building. Markie knelt down, peering into the darkness under the church. "It's real dark in there, Steve. I can't see nothin'." Steve crouched next to his friend. "Yeah, but we gotta get that ball back or my big brother'll kill me." The boys crawled slowly into the space. They were never seen again.
Kaye Harrison
Oct. 26, 2022FOOTSTEPS - The leaves swirled and the icy breath of the wind blew upon the neck of the young woman walking down the sidewalk. Pulling her coat in closer, she shivered. Not at the cold, but at the fear she felt walking alone in this section of town. Glancing around she had the feeling she was being watched. Shaking her head, she thought it to be pure foolishness. Suddenly her head shot up at the sound of footsteps moving close to her. Frantically, she looked to the left, right, behind – but saw no one. She sucked in a breath willing herself to run, however her feet would not move. And where would she go? It didn’t matter. All she knew at that moment was … escape!
Lawrence McGuire
Oct. 26, 2022A DAMSEL UNDER DISTRESS - Thunder battered the interview room's chicken wire glass and I just about stunk up my chair. The two detectives--some Korean weightlifter and a grandma--returned. Granny acted eager to question me why. "Miss Cage?" Granny said, mama-like. "Minoa, why'd you lure Reed Rendahl to Morwyn Creek where the alligator lurked?" I said, "Gator was starved." The Korean detective hissed in disgust. "Rendahl never knew this girl. His folks said during tonight's storm Reed stopped to help a lady broke down." The detectives judged me with their eyes. Reed's family spoke true. Nobody knew me. But Reed was a man. Reason enough.
Steve Baker
Oct. 26, 2022The Taxman's Ravin' – (Poem) - Hunched at midnight, weak and weary, my back had gotten dreary sore. Searching for many a lost receipt, in my kitchen's bottom drawer. 'Twas the night before an audit; terror was in store. Tossed and turned upon my bed, didn't nod 'till half past four. Then morning dawned with raven screeching, it fraught me to the core. The auditor who saw me in, was an awful, stoic bore. I squirmed atop that seat so hot, tryin' to 'splain that I was POOR. "To jail you're goin' if you be lyin'"; this, to me, is what he swore. Of veiled deductions and fuzzy math, I made a vow: nevermore. 'Twas too late, he cuffed my wrists, quoth the Taxman: "YOU OWE MORE!
Franklin Silberzahn
Oct. 26, 2022Just Trick-or-Treat - Kenny wanted to spend Halloween watching horror films with the guys, but his Mom insisted he take his sister Lauren trick-or-treating. They had hit all the houses in their neighborhood, but Lauren convinced him to cut through the cemetery to get to the houses on the other side. Walking between the grave markers was creeping him out, though, so he turned to Lauren to convince her to head back home. It was then he saw the hand he was holding was nothing but bones and definitely not Lauren’s. He screamed, realizing he was starring in his own horror film.
Abigayle Bergen
Oct. 26, 2022Hello - I walked outside. The mailbox was only a couple feet away but felt like a journey to get to. It was windy. It felt like the sun set thousands of years ago. Dark old pine trees swayed in the wind and aligned the path down the road. You could hear the creaking of the deck underneath my feet as I walked down the driveway, and noises of something in the distance. I was by myself, but I swore there were other souls around. As I took steps, I heard an odd voice from the distance. “Hello” something said creepily.
Amelia Khurana
Oct. 26, 2022The Orange Feline Tale - The scent of the salty ocean wavered over the trail Laura was walking down when something touched her. “Aren’t you adorable!” Laura exclaimed, seeing an orange cat, whose long tail twisted around her legs in a tight lock. Suddenly the cat bit her and began pulling her towards the beach. She fell to the sand, but the cat pulled her into the salty ocean. The water poured into her mouth and lungs. In her last moments, Laura saw the cat’s jaw unhinge into a mouth of uncountable sharp teeth and she was devoured by the creature with the too-long tail.
Beth Smith
Oct. 26, 2022Black Cat - Rain poured. Thunder rumbled. The house lights went dark. Missy wished she hadn’t volunteered to spend the night. Pulling up the window blinds, she glimpsed a large, bedraggled black cat. As she opened the door slightly, the cat darted in. Glancing at the animal, she noticed blood-stained foam dripping from his mouth as he hissed and growled. The cat lunged toward her. Missy stumbled backwards out the door, pulling it closed. Lightning flashed. Suddenly, the house burst into flames. Her heart pounding, she could see the huge cat desperately clawing at the window. She collapsed as fire sirens exploded.
Joshua Einhorn
Oct. 6, 2022Studio 1854 Connie Felice nouveau riche Yearned to enter Studio 1854 Inside dwelled the Marquis, the Marquess, and the Duchess Perhaps I can shimmy through the vent and enter She shimmied but halfway there reached a snare The hem of her dress caught a jagged edge The minutes became hours. She bespoiled herself. The hours became days and her hunger and thirst went unabated. Ants crawled in her nostrils. A rat nibbled gleefully on her earlobe. As the last of life left her body, she thought, “What was it that Poe said as he departed? “Oh yes!” “Lord, help my poor soul!!”
Viola Robinson-Boone
Oct. 6, 2022The Basket The hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention. The dilapidated Remington Mansion was eerie. The closer I moved toward the house, someone turned off the dim light in the living room. The decaying dwelling creeped me out. The porch light was faint. But, I saw the worn basket filled with candy which sat next to the cracked steps. I strolled up the sidewalk, reached in with both hands. Suddenly a highpitched scream surrounded me. One of my hands was caught on something. I dropped to the ground on my knees as my body twisted like a contortionist.
Jon Ketzner
Oct. 6, 2022Ghosts of the Bloody Lane “ I hate night duty.” U.S. Park Ranger Sarah Grice gazed out the Antietam National Park headquarters window . A glow flickered through the fog, like a campfire, down towards the Sunken Road. "The hell?" Ranger Grice slickered against the November night and started trudging toward the glow. Too foggy for the three-wheeler. As she neared the mounded ridge of Bloody Lane, Sarah heard tin plates clattering and neighing horses. And voices. " We gave those blue Yankee dogs all they wanted this day." A chuckle. "We did that. Those curs'll be back tomorrow." Sarah shivered , and it wasn't just the November chill. Her heart trembled and the hair on her nape stood stiff.