Coming October 5, 2026!!!!
“A creepy web of worldbuilding sending shivers down young adults’ spines… What would you do to save the people you love and what part of you identifies you as human? These are two of the biggest philosophical questions Johannesen tackles with grace and suspense.”
— The Horror Review
“An odd world where H.R. Giger, Stephen King, or The Human Centipede would feel right at home… I can imagine discovering her book right next to Christopher Pike’s.”
— Horror World
Link: https://theparanormalquill.blog/2026/06/25/origins-of-the-cult-of-the-spider-people-o/
The Plot:
Seventeen-year-old Piper and her boyfriend Cory are trapped in Arachnall, a savage dimension ruled by horrifying spider cryptids.
The Spider King wants Piper for his queen and will stop at nothing to possess her. Worse, he has stripped Cory of his soul and transformed him into a mindless slave.
To escape, Piper must make an impossible choice: join forces with the beleaguered Spider Queen and help overthrow the Spider King—or surrender to the darkness and become one of the bloodthirsty monsters herself.
In Arachnall, survival may come at the ultimate price: her humanity.
Review Quotes:
“A spine-tingling masterpiece of YA horror that masterfully combines eerie urban legends, relentless suspense, and characters you’ll root for until the end.
— Crystal Baynam
With its small-town charm turned sinister and its spine-crawling creatures, this book perfectly blends nostalgia and nightmare.
— Crystal Baynam
I can imagine discovering her book right next to Christopher Pike’s when I read YA novels.
— Reader Review
What would you do to save the people you love and what part of you identifies you as human?
— Reader Review
Just be prepared—this one will leave you looking over your shoulder for webs in the dark.
— Crystal Baynam”
Merry meet all,
It’s been several months since my novella was published. I am happy to announce that since The Cult of the Spider People has been published, I had an awesome book launch at Trident Cafe, the book is now in audio format, and is available at the local library in Halifax, NS, and the local bookstores here – Trident Cafe and Bookmark bookstore.
Now I am partaking in the Crystal Lake’s Publishing 13-week The Author’s Journey workshop. My goal is to complete the sequel to The Cult of the Spider People. This workshop will be very helpful. I am happy to partake in it.
I love the narration of the audiobook. Glenn Alan narrated the book and he did a great job. The book is available on Amazon in paperback, Audible and epub format! Here is the link: https://www.amazon.ca/Cult-Spider-People-Bone-Chillers/dp/B0F63YM2JX/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0
I’m excited for the upcoming publication of my novella, The Cult of the Spider People. It’s slated to be published on October 25, 2024. That is only a few months away. I am so excited and grateful for this opportunity. I shall update this page regularly with news, interviews, reviews and whatever else strikes my fancy in relation to my novella. So stay tuned!
Click on the above link to see the video!
Unveiling Nightmares is my publisher. They are a relatively new indie company. Here is the link to their website: https://unveiling-nightmares.com/
I have the pdf and e pub formats! I can now send out advance reader copies out to potential reviewers.
I have learned so much on my journey to publication. I can say honestly it was not easy. Rather, it is one of the hardest things I have ever done. My novella, Cult of the Spider People, was heavily edited. I thought I knew what editing was and how it was done. Stephanie Ellis, who helped me edit it to near perfection, taught me the grittier details of editing/ revision I so desperately needed to know. It was an eye opening experience. I will mention her in the acknowledgements section for sure!
I’m still waiting for edits from my publisher/ editor. However, I hope I can generate enough excitement about the book now. I am so ecstatic to be on the ‘other side of the fence’. I still get emotional thinking about it. I can’t wait to see the book cover, the layout and design. I know it is a wait for that yet but it is certainly exciting!
I suspect that the publisher/editors are keeping my title that I picked for my novella. I am very happy about that. I thought that they would have picked a better title. If they are happy with that, then that’s fine. I am fine with it. I am in love with the title myself. I can’t wait to see the book covers and layout- and of course, hold my published book in my eager little mitts!
I think back to all the rejection letters I received, the hours I spent writing and revising seated alone at a computer, all the years and hours of doubt and all the times I wanted to quit and do something more sane with my life. I especially think back to that specific evening when my mother was told by a nasty teacher I would never be able to read. I bet that teacher never imagined I would now sign publishing contracts!! Thank the dark pagan gods we never heeded her cruel words! I never gave up. It obviously paid off!
I was at school on one of those silly PTA meetings or whatever years ago with my Mom. The bitchy teacher told her I would never be able to read. My older bro was so angry he taught me how to read that night. By the time I was in grade 6, I was reading at a high school level and I am the only one of 4 siblings to have completed a Bachelor of Arts degree. I have 2000 books here. The shelves are so stacked I can’t fit all the books. I want to say that I was diagnosed with a nonverbal learning disorder and I hope that other people who are like me are not discouraged, or feel unheard or ignored in favour of the preppy A+ students. I hated school. Teachers and students were so mean to me. I hope now that things have changed for the better for those who are neurodivergent. For everyone. Blue skies ahead, hopefully 
Don’t be discouraged, don’t give up and do everything you can to make your dreams come true.
Blessings, Spiderwitch
