The fleshy severed thumb on the table in the hall looks too real. So does the cleaved ear, blood red, ragged around the edges, and detached from a carved head.

But the thumb is a thumb drive and the ear is a keychain, brought to you by exceptional artists who make terribly realistic detached body parts for horror movies.

I compliment the carnage creators and turn to walk away when I notice two guys sitting at a table looking at me. I’m interested.

“What do you guys do?”

“I make movies,” says the man in the Hawaiian shirt and hat.

Funny you should mention that.

So I launch into a calm, tight description about “Blood Red Syrah,” a brief synopsis about how my novel would make an instant cult classic, how this “gruesome California wine country thriller” would be better than ramen noodles with ketchup – even in Japan.

Nice pitch, he says.

I tell him I don’t like the word but a pitch is a pitch.

We exchange cards. He’s John Johnson of Darkstone Entertainment. I give him my best Buddhist dojo bow and walk away.

Easy as that, huh? No way, but it’s a start. Trying to sell a movie is not my strength but I’m quick on my feet and can talk.

At least I think I can talk until I meet Garetta Garetta, known in the independent horror movie world as a former super scream queen and star of a number of classic Italian horror films, including “Rats” and “Demons.”

Black, tall and striking with vivid killer eyes, Garetta is busy signing posters and taking pictures with fans. But she takes time to talk with me, letting loose with a rush of guidance and advice. Rapid-fire talk of shopping the book, Sundance and a screenplay takes me a little bit by surprise. Garetta is smart, confident and likes the gruesome California wine country thriller description I provide. She says the book should get picked up pretty quickly. We talk a little about “Sideways,” the 2004 wine country blockbuster filmed where I once lived and worked on the Central Coast where my novel is set.

Garetta doesn’t have time to waste so she loses patience when she senses I’m not listening closely enough to her advice on how I should proceed. I repeat some of what she said to show her I’m listening and step away.

I head back to my table at the recent Creature Feature Weekend in Gettysburg where we’re selling and signing copies of “Blood Red Syrah” and learning more about the world of professional horror make-believe than I ever knew existed.

The land of the undead is big business.

Then here comes actor and model Rita Christine, who plays Detective Campbell in “Return of the Slasher Nurse.” Rita makes friends easily as many of the people in this tight-knit bloody boutique industry seem inclined to do. We talk about her career. We talk about my book. She knows John Johnson from Darkstone and speaks highly of him.

I’m thinking Rita could play Rose.

Garetta could play Syrah.

Uh-oh.

Here comes the slasher nurse carrying an ax.

What will Wally think?