Everyone is Critic: “The Faculty”

The Faculty is a 1998 science fiction/horror movie which I somehow missed until now. Reminiscent of horror classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the faculty and most of the student body at Herrington High School are being taken over by aliens, and it’s nearly impossible to tell who is still human. One group of industrious, survival-minded students has figured out what is happening, how to detect the aliens, and how to destroy them. Now they just have to find the head alien and destroy it before the whole school, and then the town, is taken over.

Although, not an original plot, it is fashioned after a classic. At least the aliens didn’t scream at each other whenever a human was detected. When the queen alien is revealed, I have to say I saw it coming, but they placed enough red herrings, so that I couldn’t be one hundred percent certain until the truth is unveiled.

Right to left: Elijah Wood (Casey), Clea Duvall (Stokely), Shawn Hatosy (Stan), Josh Hartnett (Zeke), and Laura Harris (Marybeth)

The special effects seem a bit primitive in this dawning age of technology, but for 1998, they’ve got a pretty cool queen alien monster. While some things, such as the method of beating the aliens, seemed a bit too convenient, horror movies, in general, are pretty formulaic, so perhaps that’s to be expected. At any rate, it held my attention, and I had to see how things turned out, which is basically the point, right?

The Faculty is everything a horror movie should be, using the aliens to keep our heroes boxed in, misdirection to keep viewers guessing, and plenty of tension to keep our attention. What more could you want from a horror movie?

About Kaye Lynne Booth

Author Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.

Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” is sponsored by the Time Travel Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.

When a Girl with a Guitar Meets a Man with a Gun, It’s Time to Travel

The Rock Star & The Outlaw: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Star-Outlaw-Time-Travel-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0CJBRRCN1/

The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Seeing Doubles: Coming in 2026


“Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares” is Available For Pre-Order

Volume 3 of the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series is now available for pre-order.

To be released October 28th, 2025.

Book Cover: Midnight Oil A candle lit lantern sitting in a garden at night with an owl perched on a branch. Text: Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares, A WordCrafter Midnight Anthology, Edited by Kaye Lynne Booth

14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare.

Contributing authors include Mario Acevedo, Joseph Carrabis, Jon Shannon, Rebecca M. Senesse, DL Mullan, Zack Ellafy, Christa Planko, C.R. Johansson, Kaye Lynne Booth, Robert White, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Chris Barili, Paul Kane, and author of the winning story in the 2025 WordCrafter Short Fiction Contest, Denise Aparo.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil

Reserve Your Copy Today.


“Curses” & Joseph Carrabis Again on “Joseph Carrabis”

Book Cover: Curses Three women with horned headdresses , and flames above their heads. Text: Curses: Chronicles of Darkness, Edited by Kaye Lynne Booth

Meet the contributing authors and learn about their stories in Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.


“Curses” & Joseph Carrabis, on Joseph Carrabis

Book Cover: Curses Three women with horned headdresses , and flames above their heads. Text: Curses: Chronicles of Darkness, Edited by Kaye Lynne Booth

Meet the contributing authors and learn about their stories in Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.


“Curses” & Danaeka Scrimshaw on “Joseph Carrabis”

Meet the contributing authors and learn about their stories in Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.


“Curses” & Robert White on “Joseph Carrabis”

Book Cover: Curses Three women with horned headdresses , and flames above their heads. Text: Curses: Chronicles of Darkness, Edited by Kaye Lynne Booth

Meet the contributing authors and learn about their stories in Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.


WINNERS: The WordCrafter “Curses” Book Blog Tour

Curses book in center of dark dungeon background. Text: WordCrafter Book Blog Tours Presents Curses: Chronicles of Darkness, A WordCrafter Anthology, Contributing Authors: Kaye Lynne Booth, Molly Ertel, C.R. Johansson, Robert White, Joseph Carrabis, Paul Kane, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Abe Margel,and Denise Aparo

We had a great tour for the release of Curses: Chronicles of Darkness last week, with readings from Joseph Carrabis of both his stories “It’s a Man’s World” & “Grafton’s Ghost-Child”, a video from Molly Ertel about the inspiration of her story, “Clover’s Mirror Box”, and guest posts from Paul Kane on “The Weeping Man”, Robert White on “The Longspeth Curse”, Denise Aparo on “Mohawk Monster: The Curse of the Herkimer Diamond”, and me on both of my stories, “The Death Clock” & “Caverna Del Oro (Cave of Gold)”. And, of course, there was a giveaway for all of those visitors who commented and supported the tour, the anthology, and all of the contributing authors for one of five digital copies of Curses. So, without further ado,

(Drumroll please…)

And the winners are:

  • Teagan Genevieve
  • Meelosmom
  • Author Jan Sikes
  • Liz Gaufreau
  • D. Wallace Peach

Tour Schedule

In case you missed out on all the fun, you can visit each stop through the links in the schedule below. I hope you’ll take the time to stop in and check it out.

Day 1

  • Stop 1 – Writing to be Read – About the Curses Anthology & Meet Kaye Lynne Booth and Denise Aparo
  • Stop 2 – Undawnted – DL Mullan Interviews Denise Aparo

Day 2

  • Stop 1 – Robbie’s Inspiration – Meet Kaye Lynne Booth & Joseph Carrabis with readings of “It’s a Man’s World” & “Grafton’s Ghost-Child”
  • Stop 2 – Undawnted – DL Mullan Interviews Joseph Carrabis

Day 3

  • Stop 1 – Poetry by Mich – Meet Abe Margel & Paul Kane with a guest post about the inspiration of his story “The Weeping Man”
  • Stop 2 – Undawnted – DL Mullan Interviews Paul Kane

Day 4

  • Stop 1 – Roberta Writes – Meet C.R Johansson & Robert White with a guest post about the inspiration for “The Longspeth Curse”
  • Stop 2 – Undawnted – DL Mullan interviews Robert White

Day 5

  • Stop 1 – Writing to be Read – Meet Danaeka Scrimshaw, and Molly Ertel & Inspiration Video about “Clover’s Mirror Box”
  • Stop 2 – Undawnted – DL Mullan interviews Danaeka Scrimshaw

Joseph Carrabis Promotional Posts

In addition, each of our contributing authors are being featured on the Joseph Carrabis blog through the 8th of October. You can access all of those posts through the links below, but please note that the links will not work until the post has gone live.

29 Sept 2025 Abe Margel’s “Uneasy Spirit” – https://josephcarrabis.com/2025/09/29/abe-margels-uneasy-spirit-in-wordcrafter-press-curses-anthology/

30 Sept 2025 Denise Aparo’s “Mohawk Monster: The Curse of the Herkimer Diamond” – https://josephcarrabis.com/2025/09/30/denise-aparos-mohawk-monster-the-curse-of-the-herkimer-diamond-in-wordcrafter-press-curses-anthology/

1 Oct 2025 Molly Ertel’s “Clover’s Mirror Box” – https://josephcarrabis.com/2025/10/01/molly-ertels-clover-in-wordcrafter-press-curses-anthology/

2 Oct 2025 Paul Kane’s “The Weeping Man” – https://josephcarrabis.com/2025/10/02/paul-kanes-the-weeping-man-in-curses/

3 Oct 2025 Kaye Lynne Booth’s “The Death Clock” – https://josephcarrabis.com/2025/10/03/kaye-lynne-booths-the-death-clock-in-curses/

4 Oct 2025 Kaye Lynne Booth’s “Cavern Del Oro (Cave of Gold)” – https://josephcarrabis.com/2025/10/04/kaye-lynne-booths-cavern-del-oro-cave-of-gold-in-curses/

5 Oct 2025 Robert White’s “The Longspeth Curse” – https://josephcarrabis.com/2025/10/05/robert-whites-the-longspeth-curse-in-curses/

6 Oct 2025 Danaeka Scrimshaw’s “The Lamp” – https://josephcarrabis.com/2025/10/06/danaeka-scrimshaws-the-lamp-in-curses/

7 Oct 2025 Joseph Carrabis’ “It’s a Man’s World” – https://josephcarrabis.com/2025/10/07/my-its-a-mans-world-in-curses/

8 Oct 2025 Joseph Carrabis’ “Grafton’s Ghost-Child” – https://josephcarrabis.com/2025/10/08/my-graftons-ghost-child-in-curses/


“Curses” & Kaye Lynne Booth on Joseph Carrabis Again

Book Cover: Curses Three women with horned headdresses , and flames above their heads. Text: Curses: Chronicles of Darkness, Edited by Kaye Lynne Booth

Meet the contributing authors and learn about their stories in Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.


“Curses” & Kaye Lynne Booth on Joseph Carrabis

Book Cover: Curses Three women with horned headdresses , and flames above their heads. Text: Curses: Chronicles of Darkness, Edited by Kaye Lynne Booth

Meet the contributing authors and learn about their stories in Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.


Wrapping Up the WordCrafter “Curses” Book Blog Tour

Curses Tour Banner - Dark dungeon walls with Curses in the center. 
Text: WordCrafter Book Blog Tours Presents Curses: Chronicles of Darkness, A Dark Fiction Anthology, Contributing authors: Kaye Lynne Booth, Molly Ertel, C.R. Johansson, Robert White, Joseph Carrabis, Paul Kane, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Abe Margel, Denise Aparo

Today we’re wrapping up the WordCrafter Curses Book Blog Tour. I want to thank each of you who have joined us by following the tour and commenting to enter the giveaway, to help us send-off this themed dark fiction anthology, Curses: Chronicles of Darkness. We’ve had a great time meeting the contributing authors and learning about their stories. I hope you’ve learned enough about the stories in this collection to entice you to buy the anthology, and maybe found a new favorite author or two along the way. If you missed a stop, you can go back and check them all out through the links in the schedule at the bottom of this post.

Today we bring you a brief guest post by Danaeka Scrimshaw and a video post about their story inspirations her on Writing to be Read. Then over at Undawnted, DL Mullan will bring use her interview with Danaeka, as well. Don’t forget to leave your comments and questions for both stops on the first blog stop. We still have one more digital copy of Curses to giveaway.

Giveaway

We’re giving away 5 digital copies of Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.

All you have to do to enter is

follow the tour and leave a comment.

About Curses: Chronicles of Darkness

Book Cover: Curses Three women with horned headdresses , and flames above their heads. Text: Curses: Chronicles of Darkness, Edited by Kaye Lynne Booth

There are all types of curses.

Cursed places, cursed items, cursed people, cursed families.

Curses that last throughout time. Curses which can’t be broken. Curses which are brought upon ourselves. Curses that will kill you and those that will only make you wish you were dead.

Eleven tantalizing tales of curses and the cursed. Includes stories by Kaye Lynne Booth, Molly Ertel, C.R. Johansson, Robert White, Joseph Carrabis, Paul Kane, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Abe Margel, and Denise Aparo.

Pre-Order and Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/CursesChroniclesofDarkness

Meet Author Molly Ertel

Author Molly Ertel

Molly Ertel’s short stories have appeared in Akashic Books, Jerry Jazz Magazine, the Midnight Garden anthology and the Dark City Crime and Mystery Magazine among other publications. Additionally, she worked as a reader/editor for the Silver Blade Anthology. Her character-driven stories came out of her days as a photojournalist at the Airway Heights Corrections Center where she interviewed and wrote about the lives of inmates and the work of correctional officers.

Current projects include editing her second historical fiction novel for middle grade (8-12 year olds) that takes place during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 and possibly delving into the world of creative non-fiction for children. Animal Olympics anyone?

Molly’s story, ” Clover’s Mirror Box”, is about a woman cursed with bad luck and her quest to break her curse. How do you break a curse? Well…, Clover uses a mirror box to break her curse. If you want to know how, you’ll have to read the story.

Inspiration Video for “Clover’s Mirror Box”

Meet Author Danaeka Scrimshaw

Danaeka Scrimshaw is a speculative fiction author writing novel length and short form for the past seven years. Between short stories, they’re working on the first book of a new trilogy called Ghedia of Duisternis.

Danaeka’s story, “The Lamp”, is about a cursed object; a lamp handed down through generations with a curse locked within.

Inspiration for “The Lamp”

My story, The Lamp, came to me subtly last October when my writing group wanted to do Halloween stories. It started with the memory of my great grandma’s old wicker lamp when I was seven. This one was ordinary, and we got to light it sometimes and watch the orange flames flicker as we blew across the open top, casting shadows on the walls. 

While I was still going through my divorce, I had lost the muse and didn’t finish in time, stopping when Sebastien discovered the lamp was open. About a month after I started living alone, I felt invisible, just as this anthology opportunity came up. I had felt invisible throughout my childhood as well. This idea of being the forgotten child made its way into the story. 

You can learn more about Danaeka and her story, by visiting the second stop on today’s tour, over at Undawnted, where you can catch Danaeka’s interview with DL Mullan.

Don’t forget to leave your comments and questions for both tour stops here for a chance to win the final copy of Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.

Tour Schedule

Day 1

  • Stop 1 – Writing to be Read – About the Curses Anthology & Meet Kaye Lynne Booth and Denise Aparo
  • Stop 2 – Undawnted – DL Mullan Interviews Denise Aparo

Day 2

  • Stop 1 – Robbie’s Inspiration – Meet Kaye Lynne Booth & Joseph Carrabis with readings of “It’s a Man’s World” & “Grafton’s Ghost-Child”
  • Stop 2 – Undawnted – DL Mullan Interviews Joseph Carrabis

Day 3

  • Stop 1 – Poetry by Mich – Meet Abe Margel & Paul Kane with a guest post about the inspiration of his story “The Weeping Man”
  • Stop 2 – Undawnted – DL Mullan Interviews Paul Kane

Day 4

  • Stop 1 – Roberta Writes – Meet C.R Johansson & Robert White with a guest post about the inspiration for “The Longspeth Curse”
  • Stop 2 – Undawnted – DL Mullan interviews Robert White

Day 5

  • Stop 1 – Writing to be Read – Meet Danaeka Scrimshaw, and Molly Ertel & Inspiration Video about “Clover’s Mirror Box”
  • Stop 2 – Undawnted – DL Mullan interviews Danaeka Scrimshaw