The Fear Of Things You Know Don't Exist by William Tooker

 The Fear of Things You Know Don't Exist

Now obviously when you write horror what you're shooting for is a fear reaction from the reader. I take it as a compliment when people get immersed enough in what I've written that the impossible seems plausible. But I do expect that the average reader to be able to put the book down and know that its safe, or at least safe from whatever hobgoblins are on the page. Now, a child could be reasonably expected not to not be able to distinguish between reality and a well crafted fiction because of their inexperience. Realize that I don't write religious horror: meaning no demon possession, no "realistic" devil fiction that might make you wonder based on your beliefs.

When Pain Eaters was originally written some years ago I was having it read by some friends of mine in Florida because I had just moved to Denver and hadn't really made too many friends right away. Now a friend of mine I had grown up with had shown it to his girlfriend and a couple folks that I used to work with. One of those people was an early 20's college student named Beth. Beth went outside to have a cigarette on her break and saw that there was no one else outside and ran back in on tip toes because she thought that there was a real chance encounter with barbed wire wrapped zombies in her business complex. My mother, bless her soul, would never watch a horror movie with me because she was afraid she couldn't sleep.

I have had the conversation with adults who have similar inclinations that revolve around...you KNOW it’s not real. You know that Sam Neil isn't really the antichrist and that Kane Hodder is not a supernatural, regenerating, slutty teenage killer. Why are you haunted by these fictions? What causes the cognitive dissonance that you are in danger from someone or something that you can easily categorize as not real?

And yes, I'm talking to YOU! I'm looking for real answers here. If you experience fear over things you know don't exist and can't hurt you, I am interested in your thoughts on this matter. Please leave a comment.

William Tooker’s Amazon Author Page : http://www.amazon.com/William-Tooker/e/B005NU588G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_p...

Here is the link for all his work on Barnes & Noble Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/william-tooker?keyword=william+took...