What is "Xmas Carol" about?

Amazon supplies a small space for authors to describe their books -- a very small space. There is room for the author to write a few lines and that's it. It's much too confining. (Hey, Amazon. We're in the ebook age; we don't have to limit descriptions to a space that would fit on the back of a "book". There are no books anymore. See how that works?)

Here's an extended description of the story:

Xmas Carol is a sci-fi/horror novel that takes place in New York in the year 2030. The story ranges from the art and entertainment worlds of Manhattan to a stately horse farm in upstate New York.

The world has changed. For one thing, technology has advanced in ways we can hardly imagine. Critically, one simple device has changed the life of every American. Called Visors, it is a pair of glasses that allows people to access information, lots of information. You can do almost anything with Visors, including visiting faraway friends in full 3D. And in one's home, TV has been replaced by 3D, which provides a life-size image of shows and movies. All the world is a stage. And as technology enhanced the lives of its citizens, America itself changed. In 2030, gay marriage is legal and so is marijuana.

This is the backdrop for Xmas Carol, a suspenseful tale about a mother who lost her four-year-old daughter in a brutal accident. Maria Kennedy was almost destroyed by her loss. But with the help of her brother Liam, she fought her way back and reclaimed her life. Through a sperm donation from her brother's husband, the world-famous artist, Joe Rock, Maria bears another child, a beautiful daughter named Jennifer.

All seems well as the book opens. Jennifer is now four years old and Maria has another chance at protecting her child and ensuring that she has a long, safe life. But as Halloween arrives at the bucolic horse farm where they live, something goes awry. Jennifer is in danger -- though no one in the family is aware of this.

Evil, enhanced by science, is coming to claim little Jennifer Kennedy. Will Maria, her brother Liam and his husband Joe figure out what's happening in time to save Jennifer? The countdown to Xmas is on. And there's far more at stake this year than a simple holiday.

Come one, come all

Male gharial. Image: Wikipedia Commons.

Consider this post an open thread where readers can comment on "Xmas Carol". Actually, anyone can comment whether they've read the book or not. You're all welcome. Tell me what you're looking for in a horror novel. Or let's talk about why horror is losing its punch these days. Jason? Zombies? Demons? Where's the fear?

In my opinion, horror only works when the reader (or viewer) can see themselves in the story. This has been the downfall of sci-fi, in particular. It usually takes place so far in the future that people can't relate. In my books, I try to avoid this pitfall.

For another thing, horror has to be possible. And that means it must be based on real life. As an example, let's use a movie rather than a book (I do this because we've all seen the same movies; not so with books). The reason why "Alien" is such a scary movie is that its premise is reality-based. Placing your young inside a body to gestate? Wasps do this every day, and pity the poor caterpillars into which they thrust their babies. They eat their way out -- just like in "Alien". And those jaws that contain so many teeth in a long, almost tube-like structure? Look at a gharial. It's the same mouth and teeth that we see in "Alien" (though the gharial's teeth are external). So "Alien" is based on things we already know from real life. Something inside you says, "this could really happen!" That's why it's scary.

What are you looking for when you pick up a horror or sci-fi novel? Let me know. And if you've read "Xmas Carol", please consider commenting and telling me (and others) what you thought of the book.

Blogs are interactive. So interact.