Tag Archives: fantasy

September 1, 2024 · 11:02 am

Interview with horror author Todd Zack )O(

 

 

Merry meet all,

I am happy to let you all know that Unveiling Nightmares wants to make my book The Cult of the Spider People the first in their Bone Chillers series. They believe that my book reads like a Goosebumps book. I just love that because I think that is a great compliment! I love the Goosebumps books!  

That’s a real compliment! I do enjoy the Goosebumps books by celebrated author R.L Stine. 

I have harvested plenty of raspberries, ground cherries and chamomile from my garden. The big harvest is yet to come: potatoes, tomatoes, cucumber and squash hopefully. My garden is so lush and beautiful. I keep working the tumbler, spinning it and adding more matter to the compost tumbler. I love hearing the tumbler spin. I love watching my garden grow!

In today’s post, we are joined by horror author Todd Zack. He has just released his debut novel with Unveiling Nightmares. So let’s clear the creepy cobwebs and enjoy a cup of coffee while we learn more about him. 

 

Why horror? Do you have a favorite subgenre in horror?

I tend to mash up genres, horror, psychological thriller, noir, detective caper- but, to me, horror provides immediate fission. There’s an expectation baked in to the horror genre (scare me!) that the author has to rise up to with little room for error or half-measures. Horror also, unlike say fantasy or sci-fi, can come across as a very plausible fictional world. Horror is everywhere. It’s too close for comfort right from the get go. As for subgenres, I enjoy slow burning, psychologically aimed material far more than slasher type stuff, but I also like the absurd and the dreamy. Cryptids, lycanthropes. When we’re talking about monsters on film, I far prefer both old-school animatronics and pure cartoon animation to CGI.

 

Which other horror authors influenced you the most and why?

I’m inspired by the works of Ray Bradbury, JG Ballard and Thomas Ligotti, in so far as they inspire me to remain true to myself and my own visions. My biggest direct influence, however, would be the comic writer, Bruce Jones. That he is not widely known outside of the comic world makes his influence that much easier to disguise, but he is the top of the totem pole for me. My penchant for ‘twist’ endings is derived from my love of his work. His story, ‘Jennifer’, is as good as it gets.

Tell me about your writing/ editing process

I generally write one scene per day, which amounts to roughly six to eight hand-written pages. Three hours work. When I edit or redraft something, I write for longer periods. Editing is harder work, but less energy consuming, interestingly.

What inspires you to write horror?

Horror writing is fun writing. There’s an absence of censoriousness to one’s imagination. Unlike with literary fiction, or most other types, you don’t have to ask yourself– would this person r e a l l y do this? Would this person r e a l l y say this? Because, obviously, yes. Of course they would.

What do you love about indie publishing?

Indie publishing bypasses both the PC brigade and the numbers counters. It’s like the cool punk rock club at the edge of town where you can actually network with other passionate people; writers, artists, publishers, designers and readers. The art comes first for most everyone.

Which is your favorite horror movie or book? Which movie or book impressed and inspired you the most? My favorite pure horror films are Creepshow (1982), The Hitcher (1986) and Nightwish (1990). My favorite horror novel is Carrion Comfort (1993) by Dan Simmons, for its scope, its mood and its hybrid styling.

Is there any music that helps you to write?

Rain sounds (medium rainfall) by Alexa.

Do you have any special projects you want readers to know about?

Sometime in November of this year I will have two books out with Unveiling Nightmares, ‘Madeline’s Cane’ (out now!) and ‘Night of the Star Demon’. ‘Madeline’s Cane’ is an ambitious, dark psychological thriller set half in the 1990’s, half in the more present day. ‘Night of the Star Demon’ in a far bloodier, occult-themed adventure novella that I would describe as a cross between the movies ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘The Wicker Man’ served with a shot of 151 proof Lovecraft. 

Where can readers find you on social media?

They can find me on Twitter (X), Goodreads and Facebook.

https://twitter.com/iamthatami

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18176243.Todd_Zack

 

 

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July 21, 2024 · 4:34 pm

Interview with horror author Zack Ellenberger

 

Merry meet all,

 

Welcome everyone. Today, we are joined by Zack Ellenberger. So settle in with a dark rich cup of java and let’s clear a space amongst these spiderwebs. 

 

Why horror? Do you have a favorite subgenre in horror?

If I’m honest, I don’t really know. There’s something very visceral about the emotion of fear that differentiates it from other emotions. I guess part of it is a lack of discomfort in my own skin and trying to portray/share those discomforts through fictional narratives. I also think we too often tend to stay inside our comfort zones nowadays and if there’s any impact that I’d hope for my stories to have on others, it’d be to encourage them to step outside their comfort zones more often. Plus, I had an older sibling growing up that tormented me with watching old slasher movies as kids. 😊 I’d say my *current* favorite subgenre would be historical horror. I love seeing horror throughout and how fear was manifested at different points in time. Cosmic horror would a close second. Fear of the unknown is what gets under my skin!

Which other horror authors influenced you the most and why?

I’m really into the early Romanticism/Gothic fiction period, of course writers like Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson who did Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde, and even Ambrose Bierce. But also, Lovecraft and his cosmic horror were big influences as well. I think what caught my attention most in those types of stories was the isolation – inward reflection of the storytelling and a single narrative throughout. There’s something very dark and terrifying about the 19th century that lends a particular spookiness to storytelling.

Tell me about your writing/ editing process

Although I try to retain some structure to my writing and editing process, it is sometimes spontaneous. I keep a list of ideas I’ve accumulated, anything from story plots to character backstories, etc., choosing whichever idea grabs my attention. Then, I like to outline while I marinate on the idea, develop a few different story plots and choose from what I like best. Editing is always the toughest. You can edit your own work as many times as you’d like, but you’ll never get it to where it needs to be without getting another pair of eyes on it. I’ve learned that the hard way.

What inspires you to write horror?

I’m a big fan of history. If I’m not writing horror, I’m writing history… OR reading it. I always felt that history had the best stories to tell and there was never a shortage of inspiration found within history for any genre. There are so many stories in history that portray real horror outside the realm of fiction. The intent is not to glorify such events within history, but as a reminder that history is doomed to repeat itself in the most horrifying ways if we don’t keep up with our history.

What do you love about indie publishing?

What I’ve found most rewarding and have come to love about indie publishing of having full ownership of everything you do. The idea of being responsible for every aspect of your story – from editing/revising, to marketing, to publishing – can seem a bit daunting at times. But that amount of control is something you won’t ever come across elsewhere. If you’re willing to put in the effort of being part of every aspect of your book coming to life, then why not self-publish. I say that knowing full well that it is not an easy task.

Which is your favorite horror movie or book? Which movie or book impressed and inspired you the most?

I watch a lot of movies…. after much consideration, I’m going to have to give it to Apostle. It’s a period piece on Netflix with a touch of everything, starring Dan Stevens, Michael Sheen, and Lucy Boynton. Fantastic performances all around, would strongly recommend! Book-wise, I always had a soft spot for Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” short story. It seemed very ahead of its time in terms of narrative twists.

Is there any music that helps you to write?

I actually don’t listen to music while writing. I used to listen to instrumental music, but I wanted to try my writing from a place that was completely void of influence. Until I know what kind of emotion I wish to put forth, I avoid music. But if I do, it’s mostly instrumental.

Do you have any special projects you want readers to know about?

My story with Unveiling Nightmares, “Past Lives,” is going to be released in February of next year. I also have an audio story coming out soon on Audible based on my short “Blood Vengeance” which was released with Savage Realms Magazine back in 2022. I’ve recently started a podcast with some of our fellow writers at UN called “Dread-Libs” where we trying to ad-lib a horror story within in an hour based on submitted suggestions from listeners. You can find it on YouTube and you can find all my other information on my website http://www.zachellenberger.weebly.com.

Where can readers find you on social media?

You can find me on Tiktok/Twitter at @zak4prez911. I’m on Instagram at @words_of_the_bergermeister and search me on Facebook as Zach Ellenberger.

 

Thank you Zack Ellenberger for sharing this with us today. I look forward to learning more about your successes in the future. 

 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

https://unveiling-nightmares.com/

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June 13, 2024 · 12:16 pm

Summer Reads

Merry meet all,

I am loving the sunshine. A deer has been visiting my garden but I don’t see any signs of damage yet. Summer Solstice is almost here! I love summer. I just hope the deer doesn’t eat my plants. 

I’m enrolled in the upgraded Advanced course at the Herbal Academy. I’m waiting for the textbooks via owl mail. I will study my heart out once the books do arrive. I have lifetime access now which is a huge relief because it is such a hard intense course. But I know I will love every minute of it. I am really enjoying studying herbalism. It is not what I thought it would be. That is what is so great about it. There is so much to learn it will take a lifetime. I have stickers to put in the textbooks once they arrive. I can’t wait. Also, studying with textbooks is much much easier because I am better with print than online. 

Jonathan Maberry is a favourite author of mine. The book Necrotic has just been released. I will provide the link to it below but I hope you all grab this book off the shelves or from Amazon as fast as you can!! Read this book!!! Here is the link: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0CLF7528S/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1  

If you achieve nothing else in life, then do read that book!! You won’t be sorry. Stephen Graham Jones is a great writer, too. He is also worth checking out. 

Then once my book is published, you can get that on Amazon as well too! Of course, that won’t be till October but yeah. I will definitely post more about that when I know more about what’s going on. 

The publisher of Psycho Toxin Press wants me to write something for her. The publisher is a little under the weather now. I have to dream up another novella. It’s not that simple but I shall do my best. I imagine it would have to be quite different from Cult of the Spider People. However I do have something in mind. 

It is so hard to write a horror story when the sunshine beckons me outdoors and my cat begs for food. Well she does that year round but she’s a cat. A few things that have helped me to get into a dark space to write horror is music. I like to listen to dark music, of course. The soundtrack for the movie Alien was a huge help. My book Cult of the Spider People is very dark, and so that helped me a lot. I kept playing it as I wrote and edited. The darkness of the story was in my imagination. The dark soundtrack helped me bring the story to life. You can’t get any darker or unsettling than Alien. Great movie, too. 

I hope you all have a wonderful summer. Perfect time to relax on the beach and curl up with a good book!

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

 

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May 8, 2024 · 12:54 pm

Publication of my novella!!!! )O(

Merry meet all,

I am over the moon with the good news! Unveiling Nightmares is publishing my YA horror novella! I am so excited and happy about this. I never thought it would happen to me. It took a few days for the shock to wear off. I am stunned. I am so happy because the novella was so much work to edit. 

I am luckier than most! I had help with edits on the novella. Stephanie Ellis helped me edit it and she breathed new life into the manuscript. She totally understood that I am neurodivergent and while I am not an amateur, I did have to seriously improve my writing in order for it to become publishable quality. I had to overcome bad writing habits but now I am more confident in my writing skills. 

Also, another friend of mine Fred Raworth helped me with a few line edits. The initial draft of the manuscript looks nothing like the manuscript now. The manuscript and my other writing has received so many rejections and now it has been accepted! This is a dream come true and opens so many doors for me. They are already drafting up a book cover for me. That seems a bit fast but I can’t wait to see the book cover. I have been published before in anthologies, magazines and Ezines but this is my first book. 

I don’t know if they will keep my title. I have a strong feeling they will. I am not a pro by any means at choosing a marketable title. I must say Cult of the Spider People is the best I have created this far. 

Unveiling Nightmares is a new indie publisher! Here is the acceptance email I received from them. 

Copied and pasted:

“Dear Heddy,

I hope you’re doing well. It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you that we have decided to accept your manuscript, “Cult of the Spider People,” for publication. Congratulations! 

Your work impressed us with its compelling narrative, well-developed characters, and overall literary merit. We believe that your manuscript will captivate readers and make a valuable addition to our publishing list. 

We are excited about the prospect of collaborating with you on the publication of your book. Our team is committed to supporting you every step of the way, from the editorial process to marketing and promotion. 

Once again, congratulations on this significant achievement. We look forward to working together and bringing your manuscript to life. Thank you for choosing us as your publishing partner. 

Crystal Baynam

Publisher
Unveiling Nightmares Ltd
Wow right? I read the email on the bus going home and I could hardly sit still! I was stunned! I was elated! All my hard work has finally paid off and all my suffering was not for nothing. I can’t wait to see the final book cover. They are going to make sure I fall in love with it! I could get used to this nice treatment! 
I believe that the originality of my manuscript made it stand out from the thousands of other books out there. The underworld realm of Arachnall with its ferocious and horrifying race of human spider creatures sprang from my imagination. I am sure there are other similar stories out there but I did my very best to break out of the standard tropes in horror fiction. I am sure it also helped that I have a good track record as well. 
I have joined the Facebook chat group for Unveiling Nightmares. The people there – the team of writers and staff all seem happy. That is a good sign. I have had success but I can honestly tell you, dear readers, that is was never handed to me on a silver platter- or silver pen! Ha! I earned it every step of the way. I will be happy to create a hopefully creepy and engaging horror story, a work of art, not just for publication but for readers to enjoy! 
If this inspires you to pen your own work of horror or dark fantasy, and I sure hope that that is the case, then here is some advice!

Never give up! I was so discouraged before I received the acceptance email, I wanted to quit. I am so glad now that I ignored that nagging voice in my head. Quitters never win. You will never know if you can get ahead if you quit. You never get anywhere and the thousands of other hopefuls are quick to take your spot. 

Keep improving at your craft. Even my writing needed improvement. So yes, learn about how to use adverbs and adjectives. Practice, practice, practice. 

Be nice to everyone in the writing field. It is a small world. Word gets around and you want to be known as professional and nice. 

Keep sending your writing out. Send your writing out to agents and editors but also the editors who want flash fiction and short stories. 

Track where you send your writing. You can use spreadsheets or Google Docs or a word document. That way you won’t send the same story to an editor twice. 

Learn everything you can about the publishing field. Get professional advice before signing a contract. Don’t rush into it. Don’t worry they won’t forget you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. 

Publishing is a business. Don’t ignore your gut feelings or intuition. Avoid publishing scams and editor scams like the plague. They pay YOU not the other way around. 

Be original. I used to believe that editors didn’t want an original horror story. I have happily discovered that they DO! There are so many worn out horror tropes that desperately need new life breathed into them. It’s alive, alive! Yes do write a gut clenching, original horror story that is sure to keep readers up at night- all night cursing you because they can’t put your book down. Write the book that only YOU can write. 

Support your fellow writers. I have not had a book published for many years. I still showed up to rally for my fellow authors. Besides, I get great books that way. Grab a coffee and attend local book launches. You can’t go it alone and  a community of fellow authors is invaluable. They know the publishing business, they know contacts and they will appreciate you. 

If you follow all that advice, I am sure you will finally see that acceptance email or phone call! I wish you all the best, dear readers. I will keep blogging and keep you all posted on the process – editing, marketing of my novella! 

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

 

 

 

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May 2, 2023 · 9:50 am

Bewitched Bookcase )O(

Coltsfoot in spring

 

Merry meet all,

Hello my dear readers! I have been so busy the last two days. I decided that since it’s spring, I needed to spruce up my kitchen. The bookcase was so much work to put together but it was so worth it! I am here to tell you how I created my beautiful spring bookcase. So sit back, have a cup of tea and read on…

I found the bookcase I liked on IKEA. The one catch was that the shelves aren’t wooden. I found a way around that. I might buy green placemats at the Black Market if they have them. The shelves are white steel, Epoxy/polyester powder coating. The bookcase is also made of wood. I got my Mom’s help to assemble the bookcase. We then realized I couldn’t paint the bookcase after it was assembled. Ok. So I had to paint the wood before we put it all together. I already had the perfect shade of moss green paint ready to go. So after she left, I set about preparing to paint. I gathered paint brushes, patience, the paint, a drop cloth and black garbage bags. The bookcase is an open shelf unit. 

It is still freezing outside. But I had to entertain a cat and paint a bookcase. Anyone who has a pet cat or dog knows how hard that can be. I barricaded myself in my bedroom with the bookcase and the paint supplies and got to work. First I cut up an old bedsheet, and 5 or 6 black garbage bags. I taped the garbage bags to the bedroom furniture and to the office chair to avoid paint stains. I put down the drop cloth. The drop cloth was so aggravating. The shelving sections kept sliding on the cloth. There was some paint on the floor by the time I was done. I did my best to avoid a big mess. The back door was open all day to let Penny see out the screen window. Eventually I finished and let the shelving units dry. I had taped a small section on the shelving units so I could turn them around and avoid paint on my hands which happened anyway. The next morning, I had to clean up my apartment which resembled a war zone because Mom was coming over to finish assembling it. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ugh. I made myself some coffee and tidied up the apartment. I touched up the shelving units and checked them over. They looked great. I washed the floor, threw away the garbage, and cleared an area to work in. We assembled the bookcase. We enjoyed tea and lemon bread as we worked. Penny stayed out of my way as we assembled and I painted the bookcase, which I really appreciated. She returned home. Now I was ready for the final and most fun step: decorating it!

I gathered the artificial moss, butterfly and insect stickers, hot glue gun and glue sticks, the pinecones I found outside, bird feathers, the birdhouse I painted and decorated, acorns, white glue, paint brushes, etc. I used the hot glue gun to adhere the moss to the bookcase. The colour of the shelving unit is perfect for the moss, which is why I selected it. Here is a sneak preview of how it looks: 

 

 

 

 

 

I have finished gluing the moss to the bookcase shelving units. It was the most time consuming part of the project. I am currently preparing the pinecones for the bookcase. I soak them in a solution of vinegar and water for half an hour then bake them to kill the mites and pests for a few hours. This is done to avoid having an infestation in your home. I also clean my paintbrushes when I am done using them. These extra steps go a long way in taking care of your crafting tools. 

I hung a hook from the bookcase. I hung the birdhouse up on the hook. The birdhouse is now accepting winged/ feathered occupants. I will glue the pinecones to the moss once they are dry. I use the timer on my phone to keep track of how long something is in the oven. Cellphones are so useful!

I still have to add the leaves and the fairy lights. I am so happy with it all so far. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love it and I think it looks great! I installed a paper towel holder under the kitchen sink, have stocked the new beautiful bookcase with the books and what I had stored there before. I love how it looks. I still have a lot of moss to glue on and more pinecones, acorns, feathers, butterflies and the birds. I love how it looks. I would love to hear how you are all celebrating Spring!

Enjoy Beltaine!

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

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