Drawn to the Dark

"not just a hugely entertaining travel memoir or a delightfully dire catalogue of horrors; it's first and foremost an insightful, personal exploration of humankind's global fascination with the monstrous." -Lisa Morton, author of Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween Inspired by a fascination with fear culture, writer Chris Kullstroem left her job and home to experience firsthand some of the world's most legendary scare shows. Under the guidance of locals, she saw it all: attractions like the Day of the Dead, the haunts of New Zealand, and even the mythical Krampus brought to life in the streets of Austria. Each eerie enactment evokes a sense of wonder, demonstrating powerful emotions that transcend language and culture to reveal a connection we all share. Chris Kullstroem is a lifelong Halloween, horror, and dark tourism enthusiast. She holds seminars on how scare venues blend history, theater, and social interaction, and she enjoys exploring what these shows can teach us about our society and the people around us. Kullstroem worked as a traveling correspondent on the radio show Paranormal Talk and received her master's degree in philosophy from the University of Illinois at Springfield. She is also a Couchsurfing.com enthusiast!