Thriller author, Chelsea Cain will read from her new book on Nov 5. Photo by Laura Domela.

So, who is Chelsea Cain and why does she write gory thrillers?

New York Times Bestselling author Chelsea Cain will read from her latest book The Night Season at 7 pm Saturday November 5.

Caine’s Portland-based thrillers, described by The New York Times as “steamy and perverse,” have been published in over 30 languages, recommended on “The Today Show,” appeared in episodes of HBO’s “True Blood” and ABC’s “Castle,” named among Stephen King’s top ten favorite books of the year, and included in NPR’s list of the top 100 thrillers ever written. According to Booklist, “Popular entertainment just doesn’t get much better than this.”

So how did this “Queen of serial-killer fiction” (Kirkus Reviews) get into writing gory books? Here’s the start of an explanation.

“In retrospect I always had a fascination with the macabre.

It started with the pet cemetery. A kitten of mine was hit by a car and I buried her in an elaborate ceremony under the Rhododendron bush in our front yard in Bellingham, Washington. Months later, I came across a dead bird. I picked it up, put it in my lunchbox, carried it home and buried it under the Rhododendron.

Eventually kids in the neighborhood started hearing about the cemetery and would appear at my door cradling their dead pets. By the end of that year I had buried fifteen birds, three cats, a hamster, a rabbit, a chicken, and about a dozen gold fish. Each corpse was laid in a shoebox, cushioned with toilet paper, and presented with a piece of costume jewelry from a collection that someone had given me. I would then bury the box and say a few words to whoever was present. I had a special vintage ladies hat I would wear for the occasion. It was black, with white silk flowers piled on it, and a torn black net veil.

I was not an ordinary child.”

Get the idea that Cain won’t be an “ordinary reader?” To find out more about how the Green River Killer, Nancy Drew and TV cops shows headed Cain down the path of gory thrillers join us on November 5.

After Chelsea’s reading and Q&A we’ll have our popular Open Mic focused on the theme of “It was a dark and stormy night” at the Hoffman Center in Manzanita.

Admission for the evening is $5.

The weekend is a joint event of the Manzanita Writers’ Series/Hoffman Center and the Manzanita Business Alliance, and is made possible in part by a grant from the Tillamook County Cultural Coalition.

Jennifer Lauck to lead Memoir Intensive Workshop in Manzanita

A handful of select writers will be fully immersed in instruction and inspiration with Jennifer Lauck, New York Times Bestselling author of Blackbird, Still Waters, Show Me the Way, and Found.

• Learn the three main components of memoir writing:  scene, summary & rumination so you can write a book that is compelling and sellable.
• Learn Jennifer’s method for finishing a full-length manuscript in less than three months so you don’t waste time.
• Learn how to set and keep writing goals so you can actually finish your book.
• Learn what it takes to get published so you can realize your dream of being an author.

Dates/Times:  Aug 26, 27, & 28th ~ Fri 6-10pm, Sat/Sun 10-4

Location:  Manzanita (Saturday and Sunday at the Hoffman Center, 594 Laneda Ave)

Limit:  12 writers

Details/availability/schedule/cost:  503.235.5254 or jclauck@gmail.com

jenniferlauckmemoirwriting.com

Check the gallery for some photos of the big day.

Note: The showing is on a new night – Friday — rather than the usual Saturday evening.

Directed by Spike Jonze, the R-rated film tells the story of a tortured writer trying to turn a non-fiction book – The Orchid Thief — into a screenplay. Not having much success, he turns to his less talented but much happier twin brother for help.

Charlie Kaufman, who also wrote the award-winning “Being John Malkovich,” wrote “Adaptation.” It stars Nicholas Cage, Tilda Swinton, Meryl Steep and Chris Cooper.

Film Series leader Jonathan Feder will offer commentary on the feature before and after the presentation.

The Hoffman Center is located at 594 Laneda Ave. in Manzanita.

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