Introducing Our New Review Coordinator – Catherine Jordan

Welcome sign on towel food

A friend recently debated me over the difference between horror and thrillers. Well, there’s a fine line between certain genres. Take erotica and romance, for example. Romance uses a feather; erotica uses the whole chicken. Thriller send a shiver down your spine. Horror opens your back and twists that spine into something sinister. (ie, Zelda in Stephen King’s Pet Sematary)

My name is Catherine Jordan. I hope you’ll welcome me as the new review coordinator for Horrortree.com. I’m a horror novelist, although I edit and write in many genres. I’ve been featured in a variety of anthologies, on-line publications, and print magazines. It was my pleasure to serve as judge for the Bram Stoker Award and for the ITW Young Adult Award. I also facilitate writing courses and critique groups.

I’m a petite harmless blonde and mother of five children. Oh, and we have a cat, too. I’m often asked why I write horror since I look more like a Hallmark romance writer. Well, I do have 5 kids. Haha. No, really I think it’s because I was raised Catholic, and Catholicism is filled with the supernatural. There are so many cautionary tales about how to deal with helplessness and horror and fear. Confront it and embrace hope. Hope is the key word. Be forever hopeful.

I reflect back on the haunted houses my sister and I walked through (I hate jump scares), the rollercoasters my children asked me to ride (I loathe heights), and the planes my best friend and I have flown (turbulence scares the shit out of me). I wouldn’t say I conquered any of those things. I’ll still down an Ativan whenever taking on the aforementioned phobias, but I do tackle them. I don’t let fear hold me back; trepidation challenges me, and when overcome, it raises my confidence. The ole ditty rings true: “I did it before and I can do it again.”

Scary situations teach focus when deciding whether to fight or flee. And know that there’s another F word—flight!  You see, some people fear change. In my opinion, change brings opportunity, and opportunity leads to success. You can’t soar like an eagle if you let the turkeys keep you grounded. So, challenge yourself to spread your wings and fly.

Tell yourself it’s okay to be afraid. Everyone has fears. Fear builds character. Hey—isn’t that what we writers do for a living—build characters?

On that note, I’d like to appeal to you horror lovers—we need reviewers. I have a list of 10 books ready. Opinions matter and here’s an opportunity to share yours! Our writing community depends on readers and their honest reviews. If you’re a writer, you may be tempted to say you’re too busy. I used to think the same thing, until I realized that the more I read, the better I become at writing. I can help by sending a review sheet for areas to consider. If you like the book, tell the world. If you don’t, tell the writer.

Thank you!

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3 Responses

  1. Great post Cathy. Best of luck in your new position. I’m sure you will be excellent, as you are with all you do.

  2. Such an entertaining, well-written post! All the best in your role as review coordinator.

  3. Rachel says:

    Hi Catherine: I might be interested in being a book reviewer. How would I get the books?