Spooky Legends 2011 is on! And what better way to kick things off than with a regular guest author whose series we collectively love here on ATUF: Jennifer Estep. Jennifer is celebrating the release of her fifth Elemental Assassin novel, SPIDER’S REVENGE (out now from Pocket Books). Julia got to review it just last week and noted that ‘emotional focus…makes SPIDER’S REVENGE so accessible for new readers. Strangers to the Elemental Assassin series could jump in with book five and come up to speed very quickly.’ That’s especially good news since in addition to giving us Gin’s perspective of The Hook urban legend, Jennifer is giving away a copy of SPIDER’S REVENGE! See details below.
Click to see the Spooky Legends Master List with links to all the previous posts and giveaways
Gin Blanco on The Hook
by
Jennifer Estep
Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to Abigail for having me on the blog again today. Thanks so much, Abigail!
So I’m here to kick off the Spooky Legends event, which I’m really honored to do. Today, I thought I would let my assassin heroine Gin Blanco tell you what she thinks of some urban legends involving hooks, chainsaws, and stranded couples. Take it away, Gin:
We’ve all heard the story. A young couple is driving down a deserted country road late at night. Their car breaks down, and they’re stranded. But things are okay – until they start hearing these weird noises. The guy goes to investigate, leaving the girl alone, until he runs screaming back to the car yelling that the noise is really … a guy with a hook for a hand (or a chainsaw, axe, or some other sharp weapon). Anyway, a few minutes later, both the guy and the girl are dead, and the guy with the hook is off to find a new pair of victims.
Tell me – am I the only one who is not scared in this scenario?
Oh, sure. I suppose some folks would find it creepy to be stranded all alone in the dark in the middle of nowhere. I guess it would be a bit disconcerting to hear some strange noises out in the woods, and I might be mildly concerned if someone jumped out of the shadows at me wielding a weapon.
But a hook? A chainsaw? Really, guy? That’s the best you can do?
Seriously, do you know how hard it is to kill someone with a hook? Or how unwieldy chainsaws really are? Not to mention the noise factor. The sound would carry for miles.
Me? I like to be quiet about such things. Then again, I spend my nights as the assassin the Spider, doing pro bono jobs for the good folks of Ashland and taking on bad guys that the law can’t handle. A guy with a hook would hardly be a challenge next to the giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals that I battle on a regular basis. Even if the guy with the hook managed to get close to me, I’d just use my own Stone magic to make my skin as hard as marble so that nothing could hurt me, especially not a puny little bit of curved metal.
As for the chainsaw, that would be a bit more worrisome than the hook, but I’d probably be able to take out the guy with one of the five knives that I usually carry before he even managed to fire up that chainsaw. And if my knives couldn’t get the job done, then I’d just blast the guy with my Ice elemental magic until he was frozen solid. Problem solved.
No, I really don’t understand what folks find so spooky about this scenario …
Um, thanks for sharing, Gin. What about you guys? What are some of your favorite spooky or urban legends?
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About the author:
|
USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone. Books in the series are Spider’s Bite, Web of Lies, Venom, and Tangled Threads. Spider’s Revenge, the fifth book in the series, was released on Sept. 27. Jennifer also writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. Touch of Frost, the first book in the series, was released in August. First Frost, a prequel e-story to the series, is available as a 99-cent download. Kiss of Frost, the second book, will be released Nov. 29. For more information, excerpts, and more, visit Jennifer’s website at www.jenniferestep.com. |
| Visit Jennifer Estep online: Website|Blog |Twitter |Facebook Want to read more from Jennifer Estep? |
Giveaway provided by Jennifer Estep
One copy of SPIDER’S REVENGE by Jennifer Estep
Available now from Pocket Books
Description:
Old habits die hard. And I plan on murdering someone before the night is through.
Killing used to be my regular gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, assassin-for-hire. And I was very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly matters: Mab Monroe, the dangerous Fire elemental who murdered my family when I was thirteen.
Oh, I don’t think the mission will be easy, but turns out it’s a bit more problematic than expected. The bitch knows I’m coming for her. So now I’m up against the army of lethal bounty hunters she hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister’s head. Keeping Bria safe is my first priority. Taking Mab out is a close second.
Good thing I’ve got my powerful Stone and Ice magic — and my irresistible lover Owen Grayson — to watch my back. This battle has been years in the making, and there’s a chance I won’t survive. But if I’m going down, then Mab’s coming with me...no matter what I have to do to make that happen.
Read an excerpt|Read our review
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I LOVE Gin!! I honestly dont know a lot of spooky or urban legends to be able to tell you what my favorite is but I do enjoy reading them.
ReplyDeleteI love Gin's take on the hook. It was a lot of fun to read.
ReplyDeleteThe version of The Hook I know takes place in a lovers lane. When the story was told in a suitably scary manner, it was almost guaranteed to make a girlfriend jump, shrieking, into her boyfriend's arms by the time the hook started scratching on the car door.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes - the good old days!
Mickie T
mdturett at juno dot com
I want to read this series sooo bad! What a way to kick off a contest. :)
ReplyDeleteJennifer K Jovus
kjovus at gmail dot com
What are some of your favorite spooky or urban legends?
ReplyDeleteI honestly can't think of many spooky/urban legends, except the one Gin mentioned (And then only once reminded). Although I never heard about a hook for a hand (or a chainsaw, axe, or some other sharp weapon). So here is the twist I'm familiar with...
The boyfriend goes to check; the girlfriend hears a noise, then silence. She gets out to check, and the boyfriend is hanging dead above the car.
Wait, does the Legend of Sleepy hollow count? If so, that's my fave.
I'm with Mickie T, the version of the Hook legend that I know, is the couple on Lover's Lane. Sorry, I love that one! I also love Legend of Sleepy Hollow. How about Bloody Mary? Well one thing for sure, is that I love Gin! Thanks for the awesome contest, count me in on this one. bpatrick64113@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteGreat contest, and I guess one of my favourite spooky legends, is about the ship The Flying Dutchman, abondened and still sailing the seven seas ... or is it really abondoned ...
ReplyDeleteauriansbooks at gmail dot com
Sorry, saw too late that it is US only ... so I can't participate.
ReplyDeleteBloody Mary is one of my favorites
ReplyDelete(Velvet Hubler)
velvethubler at yahoo dot com
Yea I can see a hook being a crapy weapon, that's why I carry pepper spray. I would love to see capt Hook start a chain saw. Thanks for the giveaway, I love tagging along with Gin on her adventures.
ReplyDeleteJnmt3@hotmail.com
I love the Elemental Assassins series. Gin is an amazing heroine I cannot wait to read this latest book. Thank you for that Gin moment in the post ;)
ReplyDeleteAwesome post. Gin is a really neat urban legend. I can't think of others off the top of my head. Thanks for the giveaway. I've really been wanting to get into this series.
ReplyDeleteLa llorona I grew up hearing that tale and every halloween we have a marathon of scary movies this year where watching blair witch project.
ReplyDeleteelizabethcerna2011@gmail.com
Loved the post, and can't wait to read Gin's latest. Happy Halloween Everyone!
ReplyDeletecathy m
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
I love Gin Blanco, and her outlook on the hook, was fun to read
ReplyDeleteRachaelM
ReplyDeleteThe spooky urban legend that I remember the most from school was when you meet a car at night without the headlights on and you blink your lights to let them know, they would chase you. We actually had a instance in our town where this happened and it turned out that it was a part of a local big city gang's incination.
Thanks for the giveaway.
rachaelmccully@yahoo.com
Stacy -- Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the books.
ReplyDeleteJasmyn -- Thanks! Glad you liked the post.
Mickie -- That's another creepy version of the story.
Jennifer -- Thanks! Hope you get a chance to check out the books.
Jo -- I like Sleepy Hollow too.
Barb -- Sleepy Hollow is another scary story.
Aurian -- That's a spooky story too.
Velvet -- That's another creepy legend.
Rain Maiden -- Thanks! Glad you liked the post.
Teril -- Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the series.
Julie -- Thanks! Glad you liked the post.
Elizabeth -- That sounds like a fun way to spend Halloween.
Danielle -- Thanks! Glad you liked the post.
Rachael -- I haven't heard of that one, but it sounds spooky.
Love these books! Gin is one of my favorite people to read about these days.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite urban legend is about the guy that hides in the backseat of your car while you are getting gas... Although, it's not nearly as easy to see happening with all the pay at the pump stations around today.
I love the one where you pass a car with no headlights on. You flash your lights to let them know. They then chase you flashing their lights in your mirror until you crash.
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing so many great things about this book. I've been looking forward to it for a while. I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeletemiztik_rose@yahoo.com
I'd have to say Legend of Sleepy Hollow, especially if Johnny Depp is involved. :D
ReplyDeleteI loved Gin's version of The Hook, I think her attitude is fantastic. What's a hook compared to what she can do.
*snort* And that's why I love Gin Blanco. Love the take on one of my favorite urban legends.
ReplyDeleteI like the legend about the girl who has her dog sleeping under the bed who licks her hand at night. Then she finds that her dog has been killed and it was the killer in her room that licked her hand. Creepy.
ReplyDeleteEvery Halloween, I always think of "The Headless Horseman" A couple or three decades ago, there was a pumpkin patch in the valley. Every Halloween, they would have a whole bunch of people spending the day carving pumpkins. Then when it got dark, they would light candles in these rows and rows of Jack-O-Lanterns. A few guys would dress like gorillas and such and distract any children that got too rowdy away from the pumpkins. And, the Headless Horseman rode around the area. I loved it! Took my boys there every year until they quit doing it. I loved that horseman.
ReplyDeleteI guess Gin has a point about Mr. Hook hand ;). My favorite Urban Legend is Bloody Mary. You know where you stand in front of your mirror in the dark and say her name 3 times, I never had the guts to make it to 3.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read Gin's latest installment, I read the chapter of it that was in Tangled Threads and I got to say "Whoa Gin has her hands full, even more full than usual and that's saying a lot". Can't wait ;).
eckstein99@comcast.net
Leve it to Gin to break down The Hooks weapon of choice, ha!
ReplyDeleteLove Elemental Assasin series, can't wait to read the newest one!
The legend of Bloody Bones has always freaked me out if I'm honest.
ReplyDeleteCory -- Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the series.
ReplyDeletePam -- That's a creepy story too.
Mary -- Thanks! Hope you get a chance to check out the series.
Barbara -- I like the Legend of Sleepy Hollow too.
Jen -- Thanks! Glad you liked the post.
Jennifer -- That is creepy.
Lingeorge -- That sounds like a fun way to spend Halloween.
Stephjx -- Thanks! Hope you enjoy the book.
Lexi -- Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the series.
My favorite has to be the one about the guy who escapes from the mental hospital. He tries to attack a couple of kids parking and they freak and drive away, but his hand gets stuck on the car door, where they find it when they get home. I think parents would tell that to the teens just to discourage them from parking LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post on The Hook. I remember seeing a Supernatural episode based on that and it was so scary. Some of my favorite urban legends are Bloody Mary, Friday the 13th or the number 13.
ReplyDeleteangeldream3[AT]gmail[DOT]com
I love the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteMine is definitely legend of Sleepy Hollow.
ReplyDeleteVivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
I have read the online stories and I am reading Spider's Bite. I am hooked on it.
ReplyDeleteusignolc(at)yahooDOTcom
i cannot remember the name of it, but i like when you flash ur lights to a car and they follow you
ReplyDeletecourtnut1990 at yahoo dot com
My favorite urban legend is the Japanese one about the slit mouthed woman, who comes up to you wearing a surgical mask and asks if you think she's pretty. If you say no she kills you. If you say yes, she takes off the mask and shows that her mouth is slit up to her ears, and she asks if you still think she's pretty. If you say no, she kills you. If you say yes, she follows you home and kills you there.
ReplyDeleteMy family actually tells a story similar to this one to all of us when we're little (it started with my grandparents and great aunts/uncles) but they always say it happened close to a place were they grew up. Always makes it scarier when you know the place they're talking about.
ReplyDeleteMy fave urban legend was already mentioned but it's the one where the guy is hiding in the back of the car waiting to kill you.
ReplyDeleteI've heard great things about this series and it is on my TBR list.
adsanders77 at gmail dot com
Denise -- That's a creepy story too.
ReplyDeleteAmy -- Those are all scary stories.
Victoria -- That's another scary story.
Vivien -- That's a classic legend.
Cait -- Thanks! Glad you liked the short stories, and I'm glad you are enjoying the book.
Courtney -- That's another scary story.
Sablelexi -- That's a creepy story.
Paranormal Haven -- That's true.
Library Lady -- Thanks! Hope you get a chance to check out the books.
I know I am going to get Booed for this, but I am not a fan of Halloween. At least not the scary part. I like the cute little Halloween stuff. I am a major scaredy cat when it comes to spooky and horror. I leave the room if a horror movie come on...LOL
ReplyDeletekoonie2888 at yahoo dot com
I'd say the perfect scary story has to have a good amount of suspense. Weapons don't really contain any suspense. Take Gordon Ramsey's Kmart commercial, it is more hilarious than anything else...even though the dude does look scared.
ReplyDeletepatronus89013 at yahoo dot com
I have your book Spider's Bite though haven't had a chance to read it yet. I have to say my favorite is The Legend of Sleepy Hallow
ReplyDeletesacredmoon1(at)gmail(dot)com
I have a few favorite urban legends. One has been mentioned already, the no headlights on the oncoming car. I also like bloody Mary, facing into a mirror and say her name 5 times.
ReplyDeleteAreeths at new dot rr dot com
KPOPGRL -- I'm not a huge horror movie fan either. To me, the best part of Halloween is the candy.
ReplyDeleteMarianna -- I think suspense is important in any story.
Sacredmoon -- Cool. Hope you enjoy the book when you get a chance to read it.
Anne -- There are a lot of creep legends out there.
Not sure what it's called but the one where there is someone hiding in your backseat. I always check mine, even during the day. LOL
ReplyDeletelove the blog post =) I haven't heard of the hook urban legend ... I suppose I should be happy =D
ReplyDeleteI like the choking dog that gets taken to the vet in the middle of the night...and a finger (or hand, depending on dog's size) is removed from throat...people return home and learn dog has saved them from killer/burglar!
ReplyDeleteOh, and to answer the question, I actually don't know a lot fo urban legends ... I probably would go with the "roommate in the dorm" one.
ReplyDeleteJennifer -- I do that too.
ReplyDeleteShanella -- Thanks! Glad you liked the post.
Elf2060 -- That's a creepy legend too.
I don't have any kids and urban legends and spooky stories are a dim memory to me. The one I remember the most is the girl hitchhiker who turns out to have died in an accident along the road where she is picked up.
ReplyDeleteAll I can think of is the one with the babysitter and the creepy guy calling, you know ending with 'I'm calling from inside the house.' It was creepy...until cell phones. Now it's way more plausible. Which maybe makes it more scary?
ReplyDeleteb(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
Bloody Mary is also one my favourite Urban Legends, and the one about microwaving your pet... who would actually do that?! Thanks for the awesome post!
ReplyDeleteI would have to say the one about the girl buying a dress at the goodwill store and then dying after she wore it to the dance because someone stole it off a dead person that was about to be buried and it was covered in embalming fluid and it soaked into her skin. I'm saying this because my son brought home the Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark book and I just read this to my kids. Makes you think about the stuff you get at second hand stores :)
ReplyDeleteThe version of The Hook with the couple at lover's lane was always one of my favorites when I was a kid. Now it's pretty laughable because it's utterly ridiculous. It did scare me moreso back then because I had seen a man with a hook in the grocery store when I was little enough to find it freaky though.
ReplyDeleteThe one Jolene and Family mentions about the dress is another good one!
Pumpkin Head is the one I always remember. I also grew up hearing a lot about La Lorona. I think its way scarier when told in spanish lol.
ReplyDeletelove this series. Love the take on the hook. We always tried to scare each other with this one when we went camping with the girl scouts lol.
ReplyDeleteI loved Gin's take on the hook man. I have been wanting to read this series. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletesab5723 at hotmail dot com
There's a spooky legend about a catholic church around here where the nuns all died. Which is funny, since we don't have any old catholic churches around.
ReplyDeleteshera.bookwhispers at gmail dot com
Bloody Mary comes to mind as a favorite ledgend. My kids now talk about it...which really makes me feel old!
ReplyDeleteAnne -- That's a creepy story too.
ReplyDeleteBethany -- I think it's creepy either way.
Whitewolf -- Bloody Mary seems to be a popular legend.
Jolene and Family -- That's a really creepy story.
Rhianna -- Lots of stories seem scarier when you're a kid, don't they?
Amy -- That's another creepy story.
Pam -- Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the books.
Susan -- Thanks! Glad you liked the post.
Shera -- That does sound spooky.
Maria -- That seems to be a popular legend.
I LOVE the one about the hitchiker who disappears as soon as they get to the graveyard - I adore ghost stories and Urban Legends - reminds me of sleepovers when I was a girl
ReplyDeleteReading A Touch of Frost right now - loving it so far
mountie9
contestmom AT hotmail DOT com
I really can't wait to read this book! I am really loving Jennifer Estep! =DDDDDD
ReplyDeleteSleepy Hollow is one of my favorites! Thank you so much for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteBloody Mary scared me when I was younger. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletetruebloodfan AT rock DOT com
The Urban Legend that has always frightened me the most is the killer in the backseat. After hearing that, it was years before I stopped checking my back seat before getting into the car. Luckily there was never anyone there but I kept checking.
ReplyDeleteGin is great! Beware of the Hook :)
ReplyDeletetytysmommy21(at)hotmail(dot)com
Loved the post! My fav is about the hitchhiker..ohh creepy..i still wont drive down old deserted roads at night by myself!
ReplyDeletekristinaparmenter51(at)gmail(dot)com
http://kcs-books.blogspot.com/
one of my favs is Sleepy Hollow.
ReplyDeletekatie_tp@yahoo dot come
I think my favorite is the hitchhiker legend. A man picks up a woman hitchhiker at night and when they arrive at the place she ask him to take her to he turns around and she has disappeared. He goes up to the house to ask if they know her and finds out that she died a few years before.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance to win!
methom@earthlink.net
What are some of your favorite spooky or urban legends?
ReplyDeleteI'm a sucker for the you'll die if you eat pop rocks candy and drink a coke or the dead boyfriend hanging above the car. Or ya know, even that ol' hitchiker legend. I just love them all. :)
Thank you, for this fantastic giveaway.
Suz @ A Soul Unsung
susanhaugland@att.net
Thanks for the giveaway! My all-time favorite spooky story is "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". I've seen the movie (the Johnny Depp version) about 100 times and have read the book several times. It's a great read for this time of year.
ReplyDeleteBornajhawkATaolDOTcom
When I was younger I had a friend sleep over at my house. She told me she saw a ghost in my bedroom and freaked me out!
ReplyDeleteI love Jennifer Estep! I have all her books and i think all urban legends are scary they are most definitely my thing but the hook in the door is creepy.
ReplyDeleteI love this series. My favorite urban legend would have to be bloody mary. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletejennifervallier82@yahoo.com
I did find the dude with the hook in I Know What You Did Last Summer kind of implausible. You'd have to be a fictional teenager to die via old man with hook.
ReplyDeleteI was always freaked out about Bloody Mary. Or anything involving dolls or ventriloquist dummies.
I don't feel very original but my favorite urban legend was Bloody Mary b/c we tried it so many times in elementary school in the girl's bathroom.
ReplyDeleteI'm jumping on this giveaway so late b/c Jennifer is on my TBR list and although this is so far in the series, well, I'll need it eventually :-)
Candy Man and Bloody Mary are my favorites...well really they are the only ones I can really remember!
ReplyDeleteDoes Freddie count? He completely ruined the dark for me when I was a kid, lol. Or Bloody Mary... stupid kids and peer pressure =/
ReplyDeleteOh that's easy none. I am a real chicken (bleep) so urban legends and ghost stories scare me. But paranormal books with ghosts I can read and I love the show Supernatural. But the Paranormal Activity movies nope I can't do it, I guess it's the "realness" of it that gets to me.
ReplyDeleteMy fav urban legend is bloody mary, you can't pay me to say it 3 times! Love this series!
ReplyDeletelakishaajones@yahoo.com
I don't really have a favorite urban legend. Regarding these books, I have been wanting to read them but have not tried them yet. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLol! I Love Gin! I'm a big scardy cat so I try and stay away from any of those urban legends.. The less I know, the less they can bother me.
ReplyDeleteI keep wanting to read this series but i have no time hopefulyy next year.
ReplyDeleteelizabethcerna2011@gmail.com
My favorite urban legend would have to be bloody Mary always gave me a fright.
ReplyDeleteUh, I just can't handle scary or spooky stuff. I get nightmares! I can't wait to read this series, this book sounds like the best one!
ReplyDelete