5-16-2024 12:06pm

Karl Melton's Kids Books Dabble in the Occult, Rep Lord and Block Vote to Allow Book Bans that Could Impact Melton's Books

Otero County Candidate for Treasurer Karl Melton writes books of the occult

Candidate for Otero County Treasurer, Karl Melton's domestic partner, Rep. John Block and "bestie" Rep. Lord voted against legislation HB123 protecting libraries from book bans. They each voted against protections of candidate Karl Melton's style of books and those of Melton's favorite author who is a target of many book ban lists.

According to a bio published online by Alamogordo's Otero County Treasurer candidate Karl Melton, is also an author, "Karl Melton writes horror stories for kids... His tales often involve the outdoor and finding inner strength, and supernatural forces that dwell in dark and remote settings."

"Karl has been featured in several publications, including The NoSleep Podcast, Mother Ghost’s Grimm: Vol. 2, and four different volumes of Scare Street’s Night Terrors Series."

The NoSleep Podcast comes with a warning label across the top of the page that reads: WARNING: This is a horror fiction podcast. It is intended for mature adults, not the faint of heart. Join us at your own risk...

In a podcast that begins with an advertisement for online mental health assistance, then contains a story of the occult, at minute 48:20 of the podcase written by Karl Melton titled the Morning Caverns. The story discusses human remains, refers to a bashed in skull and refers to the finding a death pit with supernatural elements. The podcast has a warning that specifically list's Karl Melton's work with a "trigger warning, "Some of our listeners may find the content of certain stories disturbing because of trauma or bad experiences in their lives. This section allows you to get some information about stories that have content which may "trigger" emotionally disturbing memories."

And yet the candidate for county treasurer, Karl Melton, who along with his LBGTQ partner, John Block, espouses traditional family values and his deep conservative Christian faith lists in his bio his inspiration author is tied to the occult and controversial and books targeted to be banned:

"Growing up, Karl devoured all of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series. Now he wants to write stories that will make the next generation fall in love with the horror genre. He currently lives in Alamogordo, New Mexico with his boyfriend John."

We certainly stand against book banning and support all genres of writing, and yet his partner SUPPORTS BOOK BANS.

What must be exposed is the hypocrisy of the Melton/Block duo in yet another segment of duplicity.

While Block's partner writes dark children's books of the occult that indeed are entertaining, his partner John Block voted against legislation that protects libraries from book banning efforts that could include banning Melton's books.

As a matter of a fact Karl Melton's inspiration per his own biography is R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series an author targets with multiple book ban efforts nationwide.

The Goosebumps series, created by R.L. Stine, has faced controversy over its content and faced being banned. Some parents objected to the books, claiming they were too frightening for children and contained satanic and occult themes. Some parents have argued that the Goosebumps books violated zero tolerance policies on violence in schools; other parents, and even some school officials, around the country have alleged that the books might provoke harmful thoughts or behavior and encourage disrespect for people and property. The claims went so far as to accuse Stine of having an ulterior motive of hooking young children with the collection as a prelude to more graphic and perverse books like the “Fear Street” series. In January 1997, a Minneapolis, Minnesota parent sought to have Goosebumps banned in schools because she felt it was “too scary” for children.

On September 15, 2011, the ACLU of Texas released their annual report on books banned in the State’s school districts. The list included R.L. Stine, a Gossip Girl novel, and a previously covered story, “And Tango Makes Three.”

To let these books be banned would be a horror more terrifying than anything written on their pages, and yet Karl Melton's partner, John Block voted AGAINST legislation protecting libraries from book bans. He voted against the interest of his own partner Karl Melton's favorite author and actually as a result voted against protection of Karl Melton's books being available in New Mexico libraries.

Both Melton supporters Rep Lord and Rep Block voted AGAINST legislation protecting the libraries from book bans.

Why does Rep Block and Rep Lord, so actively support Karl Melton for Otero County Treasurer yet while in Santa Fe, vote in favor of book bans that could impact and ban Karl Melton's books from New Mexico public libraries?

Melton's books are not the of the style we would encourage for young readers. However we applaud his efforts of artistic expression, and believe in the right for his books to be available to readers, (if a parent so chooses), to allow their children to read stories of the occult.

What we find odd, is given the partnership of Block and Melton, why would Block vote against his own partners interests?

Again, the duplicity of Block and Melton is on display.

Voters for Otero County Treasurer show ask…Is there a dark side or an undercurrent to Melton's writings? What triggered Block and Lord to support book banning and voting against Melton’s and other authors books with NMHB123?