J.A. Hernandez
Bio
J.A. Hernandez enjoys horror, playing with cats, and hiding indoors away from the sun. Also, books. So many books—you wouldn't believe.
He runs a weekly newsletter called Into Horror History and writes fiction.
https://www.jahernandez.com
Stories (113/0)
Shaman's Portal in Oklahoma
Have you ever been to a place that just feels creepy? Maybe it was a specific side street in a city, a suburban cul-de-sac, or an isolated forest trail. These types of places are all over if you know where to look. Some of them even have strange stories surrounding them, legends of weird events that make you think twice about venturing into the area.
By J.A. Hernandez8 months ago in Horror
Templo Mayor, Human Sacrifice, and Cihuateteo of Mexico City
When we think of vampires today, the most common image would likely be pale skin, long fangs, maybe a cape, and Victorian garb. That's popular media talking, though, that can be traced back to places like the penny dreadful Varney the Vampire; or, the Feast of Blood. But the concept of vampires goes much farther back than the 1800s and is present in nearly every part of the world.
By J.A. Hernandez9 months ago in Horror
Rodney Alcala, aka The Dating Game Killer
What is it about serial killers that people find so fascinating? And, even more broadly, true crime? From Dexter and You to Ted Bundy documentaries and Jeffrey Dahmer dramatizations, true crime now captivates audiences in a way it never did before. As for why true crime is so popular these days, plenty of theories exist, but there's no general consensus on the matter.
By J.A. Hernandez9 months ago in Criminal
The Butterfly Murders (1979)
I've written before about the collision of horror and science fiction, like in The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein and Son of Frankenstein (1930). But science fiction isn't the only place you can find horror elements. Sometimes, they can be found in unexpected places, like martial arts films and butterflies.
By J.A. Hernandez9 months ago in Horror
Green Clawed Beast of the Ohio River
Every time I learn something about the 1950s, it adds to my already bizarre image of it. The Second Red Scare was in full swing in the United States, and its effects appeared everywhere, like in science fiction novels. By the mid-1950s, there was a huge ongoing UFO craze leading into the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, the last of the Universal Classic Monsters had debuted in Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Florida was panicking from stories of a killer pink cloud.
By J.A. Hernandez10 months ago in Horror
Ghosts of Charleville Castle in Ireland
I don't know about you, but when I think of castles, it's not the inhabited fairy tale or fantasy film variety. Instead, I picture the dimly lit halls with faded portraits, antique furniture, and vast estates—like some castles tucked away in the Irish countryside, where the air itself carries a sense of tranquility.
By J.A. Hernandez10 months ago in Horror
The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein. Top Story - September 2023.
At the time of writing this, the year is 2023. Seventy-three years ago, way back in 1951, an author named Robert A. Heinlein released a book titled The Puppet Masters. It's known as a science fiction novel, which is no surprise considering Robert A. Heinlein was a science fiction writer. He was a pioneer in science fiction, specifically hard science fiction.
By J.A. Hernandez10 months ago in Horror
The Tale of Père Fouettard
In Northern France, there's a story about a companion of Santa Claus. If your mind jumped to singing elves, flying reindeer, or a jolly abominable snowman, then clearly you didn't grow up in that part of the world, and you've also probably forgotten who wrote what you're reading right now.
By J.A. Hernandez10 months ago in Horror
Hydrus of Medieval Bestiaries
The term "cryptid" may sound like a relatively new concept, and the word itself might make you think of something like the Loch Ness monster or Bigfoot. Modernly, the concept is essentially a creature undocumented by science, perhaps from folklore, that may or may not even exist.
By J.A. Hernandez11 months ago in History