Tag Archives: novel

February 11, 2026 · 3:44 pm

The Mourning Tide Update

Merry meet all,

I am so thrilled that Twisted Dreams Press is publishing my novel, The Mourning Tide, in October. October is already my most fave magical month of the year and now I have one more reason to love that magical month of death made beautiful.

I came up with the idea for the novel via a flash of inspiration years ago. I’m so happy it’s being published now. I could not get an agent for the book, but it is still being published and I am over the moon happy. Twisted Dreams Press is an indie publisher. 

Everyone loves a good ghost story. My novel The Mourning Tide rejects all tropes and exhausted expectations and old ideas of ghost stories. Yes ok the idea of a woman all alone in a haunted house has probably been done before. In my story, Rosemary Bell has to heal her own broken, grieving heart while dodging danger and a creepy house that disturbs and unsettles the reader. I created a ghost trapped in his own cursed darkness, and may enslave a hapless soul or two into the ghost’s seaweed mired darkness for eternity. That and a town that tries its very best to reject a dark, cursed secret they will do anything to keep hidden. They ostracize anyone steers from their oppresive sense of normal. That outcast happens to be Rosemary. It’s Jonathan Fraser, the ghost who motivates Rosemary to save him and heal her own heart. 

Haunted Woods in the bog – Pleasant Bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The small town of Windswept Bay, (town name changed for the story), is a character of the story on its own. The icy ocean waves, creaking trees, haunted woods and the endless misty fog may give an unwary reader the chills. I love my story and I hope new readers will love it too. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The story is based on an actual historical event that happened decades ago yet has left a lasting impact on the residents of the town of Pleasant Bay. Two campers forgot to put out their campfire. Since Pleasant Bay has a milion trees and it was hot summer, the fire spread like crazy. A young woman did drown in her efforts to escape the fire. I researched that in the Nova Scotia Public Archives. Pleasant Bay is the town I used for the story. It’s stunningly beautiful there. My grandfather was born there, Alfred Timmons, and the two room schoolhouse that my mother attended when she was young is still there. The village has never changed, it’s as if time stands still. There is a Buddhist colony there, but I love the wild, untamed beauty of the cliffs, trees and the restless ocean. It’s paradise for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope to visit Pleasant Bay soon, maybe in late spring. That will really help me perhaps get inspired to write a new horror story. I haven’t been there in years and I do look forward to visiting there again. Pleasant Bay is 450 kilometres from Halifax. But the long drive is sure worth it. Moose, eagles, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, bears, rabbits, and pheasants roam there freely. The nature and wildlife are sure to capture your imagination. I very much look forward to editing my novel with the team at Twisted Dreams Press! I can’t wait to hold the author copy in my hands. It’s been ten years in the creation of this story. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just wish my grandparents were still alive to see the book and hold it in their hands. Maybe they are watching over me and are proud of me. I certainly hope so. I’m dedicating the book to them. The photos that you see in this post were taken in Pleasant Bay. For me, the most worrisome part of visiting there is not the blind spots on the winding road through the mountains, being swept out to sea, being attacked by a bear or eaten alive by mosquitoes- it’s the moose. They are very imposing and huge and smelly and just … huge… especially the bull moose, who climb over a guardrail as if it is not even there, roam the woods and roads at night and could kill you if they wanted to. 

Blessed Be, Spiderwitch

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April 6, 2025 · 2:40 pm

Canadian Pride )O(

Merry meet all,

Dark and uncertain days are ahead of us. The tariffs are now imposed on the world thanks to the American presidency. I refuse to say his name in my blog post.  I do not hate the American citizens, I know it is because they voted a certain orange-haired lunatic in and now they are suffering the consequence of that action. The tariffs bring disaster and uncertainty with them. Now jobs are threatened and the auto industry and very likely other industries are threatened. This is unbelievable. He is in power for four years and that is enough time for him to ruin the world. That’s exactly what will happen. 

Today the rain’s pouring hard on the grey streets of Halifax. The whole world has plummeted into uncertainty, now more than ever before. I am extremely glad to say I am Canadian. I have never been so proud to be Canadian as I am now. We are standing strong in response to the pointless and vapid tariffs the orange haired president inflicted upon us. I will never stop being proud. I will support Canadian businesses. I know we as a nation will always stand strong, defiant and united against these threats. 

In other news Wicked Shadow Press published my flash fiction story, Cat Tales, in their anthology Who Let the Gods Out? My flash fiction story is in the anthology Cosmic Hunger. They had so many stories to publish that they created two anthologies at the same time. That is a lot of talent. I am proud and grateful to be included. 

From the dusty depths of ancient myths to the shadowy edges of modern horror, “Who Let The Gods Out?!” is a double-volume anthology that unleashes the darkest gods ever imagined. Edited by the dynamic collectors of dark fiction Parth Sarathi Chakraborty and Rasiika Sen, this collection brings together haunting tales from both veteran authors and rising stars, each story a testament to the power—and peril—of divine intervention. Step into worlds where gods are not saviours but predators, where cosmic entities toy with mortal lives and where the line between worship and damnation blurs. Witness a mage bound to an alien entity, a woman haunted by a vampire god, and a man who bargains with ancient forces for love—only to lose everything. From the blood-soaked rituals of forgotten deities to the eldritch horrors lurking in the deep, these stories will grip you, terrify you and leave you questioning the very nature of divinity. AUTHORS FEATURED IN Who Let the Gods Out?!: COSMIC HUNGER Andrew Davison, Bill Diamond, Bissme S, Bob Moore, Chad Anctil, Chris W. McGuinness, Don Money, Donovan Thiesson, Dr. Jaswinder Challi, Eric Fritz, Heddy Johannesen, Irfaan Syyed, James Dorr, Jasiah Witkofsky, John R. Ancka, Kareem Miskel, Kay Groft III, Kaylee Petersen, Leah Sage, Lee Montgomery-Hughes, Linda M. Crate, Linda Sparks, Lucia Starkey, Lynne Phillips, Robb White, Samantha Esmond, Sarah Das Gupta, Sergio Palumbo AND William J. Connell Cover art: MythologyArt (Pixabay) “Who Let The Gods Out?!” is not just a collection of stories—it’s an invitation to confront the gods we fear, the gods we create, and the gods who were never meant to be awakened. Perfect for fans of Lovecraftian horror, dark fantasy, and mythological retellings, this anthology will leave you breathless, haunted, and utterly enthralled.

I can’t wait to read the anthology! I plan to buy a copy soon and the other anthology too. I signed up for a novella writing workshop Author’s Journey with Crystal Lake Publishing. This will guarantee I write the novella – the sequel to The Cult of the Spider People: Bone Chillers #1! I don’t want to lose my momentum. This will be a good thing. The course is expensive but I see the value. I haven’t done this type of thing before but I am sure that I will survive. 

I wrote the Cult of the Spider People: Bone Chillers #1 by hand. I am not sure how I will get the story down. I could hand write it then transcribe it to the computer. I have deadlines to meet but I am sure I can handle it. I just have to write it. This will definitely be challenging! 

I am proud that my novella The Cult of the Spider People: Bone Chillers #1 is now available at my local library. This librarian was a real bitch to me. She believed that no one would borrow my book. I will prove her wrong. She didn’t think I would even get my novella into circulation. Well she is now wrong. My book is entered into circulation. It shows up when I do a search on the library website. It makes me proud to see my book there! The novella is still being put into audiobook format. Wow I just checked with my publisher and the book is done being put in audio format! I am so excited. 

I have more good news: Jill Girardi has interviewed me for her blog. I am very happy about that and I shall post the link here when it goes live! I never expected all this success but it does warm my heart! 

I want to sew a Viking dress. I am just waiting for the green sewing fabric to arrive. I bought the fabric on Etsy and it is going to take a while. It hails from Latvia! That should be interesting. The pattern is a pdf which I have never done before. I figured out how the pattern is assembled. That was a real brain scratcher! I always find a way. 

I have to buy milk today. I don’t want to go out in that maelstrom but I need to. I need a giant umbrella/ poncho thing to keep me dry. Or maybe a yacht or an ark.! I wish you all a magical weekend! Mercury goes direct in the next day or two. That’s good news! 

A lot of horror novels and movies are saturating the media right now. We all know though that truth is stranger than fiction. We can close a book or turn off a Netflix movie if we don’t like it. The reality we all face in the next several years on this planet is the scariest horror of all. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

 

 

 

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February 26, 2025 · 1:25 pm

Book Launch Success )O(

Greetings darklings:

Today I want to post about my book launch. So grab a cup of coffee or tea and let’s dive right in!

I rehearsed the section I wanted to read aloud over and over. I found a video on YouTube that helped me to do a much better reading. The effort paid off. The weather was great. I do believe the gods wanted me to have the book launch because the temperature was so warm it felt like spring. 

I wore my spider web lace dress with my black overdress, my spider web lace shawl and black lace gloves. I wore a pair of black boots, leggings and lots of jewelry, including a spider choker. I polished the spider choker the day before. I did my makeup really nice. I felt great. I arrived at the cafe with my man and my Mom. We found a table to sit at and enjoyed a coffee. I was so nervous. The cafe bustled with people. 

Eventually the music was turned off. I arranged the copies of my book on the table. I also set up two spider figurines with the books. The owner of the cafe introduced me and gave the audience my bio. Then it was time for me to do the reading. Yes I totally broke out in a sweat and my face was several shades of fire engine red. But to my own shock, I did it! I even enjoyed it. 

The audience was so quiet. That made me more nervous. I threw myself into it. It was over before I knew it. Then it was time for the question and answer period followed by the book signing. I answered their questions and signed books. I had hoped that more friends would show up for the launch. However my friends did come which made the night amazing. I felt so good answering their questions and signing the book copies for them. I felt like all that hard work paid off. If I got to this point, dear readers, then you can too. I wish I could have signed and sold more copies but that does not have to be the last launch for this book I do. I signed the six copies ahead of time that we left at Trident. I hope those sell too. 

After that, I packed up my spiders and my spidery books. We all chatted with each other for a while and then left. I was treated to a nice dinner. I was so tired afterwards. A rushing train would not have woken me. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was so tired that I even got emotional. 

That’s because……

I am so grateful for all the support I received from my online friends and my local friends, from everyone. The amount of support that I was shown has blown my mind. I could not have done it without that support. I never suspected and I do believe that I shall let them know how much I appreciate it. Wow. Thank you to everyone. 

We dropped my Mom off at home. Then it was time for home and a more casual outfit. I barely even remember falling asleep. I was so tired after all the anticipation. 

The book launch was a smashing success. I am blown away by all the kind support I received. I hope to host another book launch in the future and put myself through all that torture- kidding!, all over again. 

Blessed Be, Spiderwitch

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February 19, 2025 · 4:06 pm

Upcoming Book Launch- The Cult of the Spider People!!! )O(

Greetings darklings:

I am so excited and nervous at the same time. Today’s post will focus on my upcoming book launch. This is my first book launch, which explains why I am nervous and excited. The launch is happening at Trident Cafe on February 25th. It is one week away!

I have promoted my novel The Cult of the Spider People: Bone Chillers #1. I have promoted it on social media. I remembered to include the relevant hashtags. I asked a friend of mine to create a video to use to promote the book. I created an event page on Eventbrite. I created an event page on Facebook for the book launch and I invited everyone that I knew and that I knew would be interested. I advertised the event at the library and online. 

Here is the video for my novel! Enjoy 

The one main thing I have to do is to practice reading my story aloud. I dread that part of the launch. I know the reading sells the book. I suck at reading my fiction aloud. Always have, always will. I shall persevere. I just have to practice. I want to make my own video on Youtube to help promote my novel before the book launch. I watched a few videos on Youtube for ways to improve reading a story aloud. 

I know what I want to wear to the event, a hot dress from Killstar. But I do believe that mastering how to read my story aloud has to come before my outfit. I am so nervous because I hate reading aloud. I know I already said that but it is the truth. 

I hope there is a big turnout of people at the launch. I have several copies to share. I would love to come home with few books that made everyone happy. That is the whole point: that everyone liked my book enough to keep a copy for themselves. That they want to tell everyone else about it. I just wish the book was available in bookstores. If the copies don’t sell and I certainly hope that they do, then I shall use those copies for consignment with my fave bookstore. 

I also hope that the weather will cooperate. The last thing I want is to have no turnout of people because Mother Nature refused to cooperate. I hope the big storms are past us. I want lots of people to show up and that can only happen if the weather is cold but friendly. I know it is the middle of winter but I can’t reschedule this launch a third time! 

Yes I want all the stars aligned, I want everything to go perfectly and I want the weather to cooperate. People would be warm and could enjoy a coffee once they are at the cafe. The weather is my biggest concern, aside from my nerves for reading aloud. I know I will be a nervous wreck. 

I am excited too that my novel will soon be available in audio format! I hope the narrator does a good job of narrating my book. I wasn’t sure and so I passed on my concerns with the publisher. I am excited. This may boost sales! 

In other news, I felt a creative spurt to fix up a few items. I painted a lampshade black using acrylic paints. Then I dried the paint using a hairdryer. The lamp shade looks much better. I also spray painted a basket outdoors. My hands were black. I had a hard time getting the spray paint off my hands. Next time I shall wear gloves. I just came in from refilling the bird feeder and turning my compost tumbler. I still turn the tumbler even in winter when everything is frozen. The compost has to be turned or it won’t decompose correctly. I want everything ready for my gardening and that includes the compost. 

We are halfway between winter solstice and spring equinox. I do love the dark half of the year. I want to paint my dresser green. I bought these cool beautiful dresser drawer pulls. I bought a nice furniture wax and all the paint equipment I may need such as a paint tray, tinfoil to line the tray and make the cleanup easier, roller brushes, paint brushes and drop cloths. I’m waiting till March to paint the dresser. I will let Penny visit my Mom for a week. My cat Penny loves it there. I just want to avoid Penny getting green paint on her fur. Best if that is avoided! I can’t wait to see how it turns out. I know someone who has the special equipment to sand the dresser and thereby make my job much easier. I am so eager to get on with that project. I just don’t have any primer. But there is time for me to get a can of primer. I only need to have enough primer for the job. I do believe that the dresser will benefit from this care and attention and a new paint colour. It will look beautiful! 

I shall keep you posted about my book launch! Till then, stay warm and stay safe. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

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January 31, 2025 · 11:09 am

What I learned about publishing my novel )O(

 

Greetings darklings:

Today’s post is going to be about what I learned about the writing/ publishing world in the last year. I have learned a great deal and I am happy I get to share that with you, dear readers. I know a lot more now than I did before. Writing is creation. Publishing is a business. 

First off, you need a manuscript, a typed or handwritten copy of a novel, novella or short story. Nothing gets published without that. That means that you have to persevere and actually write something. You have to write a lot and make mistakes and learn and be brave enough to spill your soul, blood, heart and tears onto the page. Do not edit it until you write the whole thing. Once you have, then you can take some space from it. That could be a night, weeks, months. Then you go back to it and cast as cold an eye on it as you can. You have to have some distance from your story because now you have to edit it and here is the real test. But if you do complete a whole novel or novella, congrats. You have achieved something where most other people would have quit. 

Now, once you have achieved objectivity to your story, you have to be cruel to it. In other words, you have to edit and make changes and gnash your teeth and now make it marketable. And the only way you do that is to edit it until it gleams and you have checked not just your spelling and grammar but that there are no repeat scenes, no two characters sounding the same or doing something that would not make sense. Your plot is tight, your pacing is brisk and you have checked and rechecked the dialogue of your characters. I recommend looking at your characters hard and making sure that you captured their ‘voice’. They can’t all sound the same and they have to talk the way that they would if this story were true. I took every single character’s lines of dialogue and put it all in different documents. Then I read each line of their dialogue for the characters in my novel The Cult of the Spider People. By the time I was done with editing their dialogue, no two characters talked the same and truly sounded unique. It was a lot more effort but it was worth it. 

Also, check the tone of your novel and make sure it is consistent. Sometimes a novel or a few scenes need a complete rewrite. These days, editors, agents, publishers and readers have seen and read everything. You have to be truly unique and persevere in this field. Publishing is a business. Remember that. But the more unique you are, the better. Write the story that not only you could write but that you would want to read. Polish, polish, polish your writing. Make sure your character’s eyes don’t change colour for no reason at a later scene in the story. Their actions must make sense. 

It does not matter if you write romance or horror or westerns, editing has to be done. By the time my manuscript for The Cult of the Spider People was published, there was not much editing the editor needed to do. I had done all the hard work already. We just made a few changes. Editing and revising is a lot of work but it is a necessary evil. 

So let’s say your novel/ novella or short story is accepted for publication. There is traditional publishing and there is indie publishing. Personally I recommend that you try for trad publishing. It opens a lot more doors for you. Congrats! You have gotten this far and still have a long way to go.

This is what I learned the hard way:

Indie publishers tell you they will get your book into bookstores but only if the bookstore managers go through Ingram to acquire the books. It is in my contract that my books would be in bookstores worldwide. However, that never happened. Bookstores are reluctant to take in books that are self-published. If you still want to go that route, you have to do it through consignment which is a whole other ball game, so to speak. Make sure that you have a legit publishing contract and that you have a thorough understanding of the terms in the contract. Yes you can get a lawyer to read through the contract with you if this is your first or second contract. 

Indie publishing means self-publishing. I was fortunate that the publisher never expected a payment from me. But do not be too difficult for a publisher to deal with. The publishing world is small and everyone knows each other. Be professional. You do not want to earn a bad reputation of being too aggressive or hard to deal with. Everyone is dedicated to books being made, and no one will want to deal with that. That goes for whether you are indie publishing your book or trad, be nice to everyone. The editor lives in North Carolina. That state was affected by a huge natural disaster when my book was ready to go print. The publisher stepped up to the ‘helm’. Be understanding that these things happen. It is beyond anyone’s control. 

I was lucky. The person in charge of creating the cover art of my book truly had the gift. Wow. She did a beautiful job for my book cover. I am very grateful. That leads to my next point. Be grateful for the contract you get. It is a mixture of perseverance and good luck that you get a contract, so be happy with it. It’s not just talent or who you know in the publishing world. If you follow what I am sharing here, it may just happen. 

Publishing a book and everything included with it takes time. Be patient. It will happen and you just have to wait. While you are waiting, and it looks like they forgot you but they didn’t, write something else. Work on your blog, practice your writing, and try to improve it always. I still take workshops and read and read. I read a lot. 

Be open to the changes. The editor Stephanie Ellis who helped me shape my book The Cult of the Spider People completely rewrote my book. The manuscript will be changed anyway so be open to it. Don’t refuse any changes. They are trying to improve your book to make it better and that can only happen if you are not a stick in the mud. Be more like putty or clay, something they can mold. They want your story to shine and make sales and that can only happen if you leave the diva attitude at home- in your drawer. Improve your writing all the time!

Go ahead and host a book launch in your own hometown. Promote and market your book like mad. Use ads or Amazon ads and anything you can think of to make sure the world knows that your book exists. Remember, the publishing team is still at your side to help you champion your book. 

If you get one book out, write your second one, and your third or your tenth book. Keep writing, keep improving yourself. Write what you would want to read. Be original. Keep trying. Mention the people who were helpful to you in your acknowledgements. Yes you can mention a concern to an editor. They are there to help you. You can take two months to three months to six months to write a book. Editors and publishers will wait. They will wait for a great book. There is no room for mediocre here. Be the best you can be. 

 

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

 

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October 15, 2024 · 10:18 am

The Cult of the Spider People pre-order )O(

Greetings darklings,

I am so happy! My debut horror novel is out for preorder. I am so happy and grateful to have made it to publication. There are many perks to this as well. One, I have an Amazon author page now. Two, it means I have arrived. I am so happy. I will include the link here to the page on Amazon where my novel is listed. The book is released on October 25th. It feels so good to have achieved publication. My novel is also the first in the Bone Chillers series. I am so proud of that. I hope my novel gets good reviews. 

The editor for Unveiling Nightmares and the imprint Bone Chillers had to step back from editing to take care of matters in North Carolina. Now Nora Peevy and I are reading submissions for the publisher. It’s been cool so far. I can’t wait to sign books for eager readers. I want to do a book signing at a local bookstore. I know I can’t have a big tour like  some authors but I am still over the moon happy. 

Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Spider-People-Bone-Chillers-ebook/dp/B0DJYJWKXQ?ref_=ast_author_mpb

I hope that you will consider buying a copy or leaving a review, my dear readers. I believe that I will now write the sequel to Cult of the Spider People. The publication of my novel now leads to new and better opportunities. I can try for a Bram Stoker award. I doubt I would win but it doesn’t hurt to try. There are other awards and honours I can apply for.  I can get used to this. 

I strolled down the nature trail yesterday on my way to my Mom’s for a thanksgiving meal. The nature trail was lovely. The trees were resplendent in many autumn colours. It was misty and overcast. It was perfect. I took a lot of pictures of the fiery coloured trees. 

My Arwen dress is slowly coming along. I figured out to work the sewing machine a friend of mine gave me. I have to buy more interfacing and finish the collar and then sew the sleeves next. Then I set in the sleeves and hem the dress and add the trim! I donated a Witch dress I had but I kept the bodice details and the ribbon. I want to make the bodice that goes with the dress and I might use the bodice trim for it. I am not lining the dress. I have the Tauriel grey dress from Holy Clothing. I am wearing that with it. Now I don’t need to line the dress. I want to complete sewing the dress by October 31st. I sewed the dress using knits and chiffon. I am never sewing a dress in satin or velvet because they are difficult fabrics to work with. Using the knit material means I can wear it more often. I will post photos of the dress once completed. I’m buying a dress form too. That will be a huge help!

The dress will be lovely. I took care to cut and sew carefully. The more care I take with it, the more beautiful it will turn out. I just can’t wait to have a dress form. That will make a huge difference. 

I will post more here about my novel and its success! I have to prepare for Samhain too. Till next time, my dear readers

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

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October 11, 2024 · 11:49 pm

The Cult of the Spider People path to publication )O(

Greetings darklings!!

I am so excited! My novel The Cult of the Spider People is all set for release to the big wide Amazon jungle! This is more than I ever dreamed of. I was on the bus when I received the acceptance email from the publisher in May. I was on the bus tonight when I saw my book covers six months later. Today’s post is about my reflection on my path to publication. 

A lot has changed since then. I have changed since then. My book has changed so much since then. Everything has changed. For the first time in my life, everything that I wished for came true and fell into place.  I am so happy I followed my intuition and decided to submit to Unveiling Nightmares, a publishing company that I never heard of before.  I took the risk which clearly paid off as we can see here. 

I have often asked myself what made me create such a terrifying story. I have reflected on it many times. The only thing I can assume is that it has much to do with my narcissistic ex-boyfriend, a vampire and Satanist. He really broke my heart and I never planned on the witch coven I was a part of to betray and ban me from the coven. I was so hurt and I like to think it is what led me to write The Cult of the Spider People. I am convinced he is the villain Roth, leader and master of the race of the Arachnas in my novel. I am sure I am not the first author to pen a novel based on total heartbreak or passion. Wuthering Heights comes to mind. Great book. Jane Eyre does too. 

Wuthering Heights is still considered a classic to this day. My novel has themes of body horror and monsters but it has themes of love, hope and good overcoming evil, sort of. Looking back, I can’t believe that I penned a love story considering the heartbreak I endured. If I hadn’t endured all that, I may not have written this book. I don’t have too many regrets. 

Heartbreak aside, I have now arrived at this stage: waiting for my book to be released on Amazon and worldwide in bookstores. I can hardly believe it. It is a dream come true and it has been a dream of mine for a long time. I have to now look to the future because I have to help with promotion and marketing. I want my book to win awards too. That would totally rock. 

I printed a copy of my beautiful and sinister book cover art and I laminated it. It looks beautiful. I even printed out the pdf ARC copy of my book and bound it. I just want it to be special which of course it is. Seeing the book on Amazon is going to blow my mind. I have to wait for approval. 

My editor who I won’t name here endured a major disaster: a hurricane and flooding in North Carolina. I felt very upset for him and his family and all the people who live there and are still suffering and just trying to survive. The water is now toxic from the flooding and the hurricane. His boots even melted from the toxic compounds in the water. I feel a mix of joy that my book is published and guilt for knowing what he is enduring. The publisher took the reins, so to speak. That means that she has a lot of work to do. He even worried about my book being out by the release date. I really don’t want him to worry. 

It is unfortunate that some sadness was involved in the creation of my book. The editor is safe and well and so is his family. That is a huge relief. Knowing he is safe helps me to focus more now on the marketing and promotion which is the next step. 

I couldn’t have written this novel without the awesome and amazing support of my friends and people who are in the publishing industry: their wisdom and patience and always being there for me as I navigated my way around getting my book published. They are the ones who really should get all the credit for my novel. My acknowledgements page credits them all. I credit Stephanie Ellis, the editor of Bone Chillers, Fred Rayworth, the Horror Writers Association, and many other people. 

Now having a novel published changes the whole game. This opens a door for me which I was accustomed to being slammed in my face. I worked hard for it and earned it. I have much to do. One thing I know for certain is that I am ready for it. I am ready for change. For the longest time, I felt like I was not shedding an old snake skin but I felt trapped in it. I can throw that husk away, take a deep breath and now feel like I no longer have to secretly envy other published authors now that I am one of them. It must be why I keep crying. This truly is a game changer for me. But I say bring it on!

Dawn Wilson interviewed me for my book. I’m excited to see that when it goes live. Nora Peavy did receive her gift of the beautiful bewitching Witch House and is totally happy with it. I hope it is the first of many interviews, reviews and new opportunities to come my way. 

Tomorrow I am sewing my Arwen dress. I can’t wait to get started on that. I plan to leave the house very early to start sewing at my Mom’s. Sewing will maybe prevent me from checking to see if my novel is uploaded to Amazon every 5 seconds of the day. I need something to focus on and that is perfect. I must be distracted or I will drive everyone around me and myself to distraction. 

I had to improve the quality of my writing and the way I write. I took the time to improve my writing and yet it worked out. I am glad I did. I can’t afford to self-publish which means one thing: improve my writing. That is why I am so grateful for all the wonderful assistance I received. That includes my cat! 

Here is the book blurb:

‘Seventeen- year old Piper and her boyfriend Cory are held captive by horrifying spider cryptids in the savage dimension, Arachnall. The Spider King  tries to seduce her into ruling with him as his queen and makes Cory a soulless slave. Piper must make an impossible choice: help the beleaguered Spider Queen dethrone the Spider King and escape or turn into one of the bloodthirsty monsters.’ 

The Cult of the Spider People is listed as 2.99 for the Kindle and 6.99 for the paperback version. I think that’s reasonable. Oh I can’t wait to see my book on Amazon. This has all been such a dream come true. I am so happy. Clearly being neurodivergent didn’t prevent me from publishing a novel. Nothing will. 

This is only the beginning! 

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

#horror #halloween #horrormovies #art #horrorfan #scary #creepy #horrormovie #horrorart #movie #spooky #film #horrorcommunity #horrorfilm #movies #horroraddict #terror #dark #s #goth #thriller #gore #cosplay #horrorcollector #cinema

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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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June 17, 2024 · 5:48 pm

The true value of a Writing Community )O(

Merry meet all,

The Wheel of the Year has spun again. The Summer Solstice is a few days away. My garden is so beautiful and lush. I love the sun and the summer heat. I saved a beautiful arugula stem and flower and pressed it in my Introductory Herbal Course. 

Today’s post is about the wonderful support I have for my novella. I know that I couldn’t have written my novella without them. I owe them everything and I am certainly mentioning them in the acknowledgements. It is so important to have a support system and to be a positive, friendly person with EVERYONE in the publishing world. The publishing world is smaller than you think. Everyone knows everyone. Everyone will remember you if you are pleasant. Everyone – and this also means agents, editors and other more successful authors will remember you if you are totally impatient and toxic to deal with. In other words, they won’t deal with you. You can still be honest but you have to do it the right way. It is NEVER cool to send an editor who rejected you a death threat. You will be excommunicated from the whole publishing world, not just that one editor. That’s because they will talk about you to anyone who will hear. So send the honey, not the vinegar. 

My friends are so awesome. I could not live without them. I could not exist as a writer without them. Alice Walsh and Dave Rimmington are awesome and they live in the same hometown as me. We have all known each other for years. Dave R has interviewed me and supported me. Alice Walsh has helped me edit my writing. My other awesome friends on Facebook and social media are too numerous to mention here, so I will focus on a few. 

Stephanie Ellis helped me shape and rewrite, to refine my entire novella. One great thing about today’s technology is tracking changes. We worked on each chapter and passed the story between us using tracking changes. I love tracking changes now. I have adjusted to tracking changes and now I believe it is the easiest way to edit. Other than red pen on paper. I cannot believe the transformation of my story. I learned how to finally improve my writing and overcome a bad writing habit. This is necessary for a writer to change and grow. 

Fred Rayworth is now helping me with a line edit. Again, I am learning a lot from him. I value all this help and support. I like the expression that it takes a village. It’s true. Even rejection letters can be a good thing. If you do try to keep improving as a writer, then if you are lucky the rejection letters begin to get friendlier, and they invite you to write for them again, take them up on it. They are basically saying: we don’t want this submission but we may take your second story! Few writers take editors up on that opportunity. Editors are human and they may seem like lava snorting demons but at the end of the day, they are human. 

The best advice I can give is be professional, be yourself and be confident. You can’t be shy in this business. You don’t want to be toxic either. Just be yourself and everything falls into place. I have attended many writers book launches and readings long before I had a book published. I attended them to show my support, make friends and get free books!!! They remember you when you show support. They will do the same for you someday. It’s a win win all around. 

I have also lived in Halifax for many years. I know the bookstores and the bookstore staff here at my fave bookshops. I value their friendship. I have visited those fave shops for years now and a certain camaraderie develops between me and the managers. They will sometimes go well out of their way for you. Libraries are also a value to a hopeful writer. I can’t believe how hugely helpful librarians have been to me, whether that has been helping me find books or in printing out sewing patterns. I love books and I love libraries and I value the staffs’ help to me over the years.

I also credit the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia and the hugely helpful horror loving Horror Writers Association. Again, I have been part of them for years. It has taken me a long time to get a book published. I never did it alone. I had all that support not behind me, but beside me. It takes a village! So cultivate those friendships and be good to them and they will be good to you. When your awesome time comes, look at all the friends you will have to celebrate with! I know for myself personally, I plan to have a huge party on the release date here in Halifax- and virtual in October. Better than a sad glass of wine alone. Where’s the fun in that? You tell me. 

Good fences make good neighbours. At least, I think that is how the expression goes. Be nice and be in it for the long haul. Do it for the love! 

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

 

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October 5, 2023 · 2:52 pm

Spooky reads, horror movies and lollipops oh my!

Merry meet all,

October is the most magical month! Today’s post is all about how to enjoy this insanely magickal month! Whether that be which movie to watch, which horror novel to read and more!

I am a member of the Horror Writers Association as most of my darkling readers know, and that means that I sometimes get sent free PDFs to read from them. If I like it, then I nominate them for a Bram Stoker Award. That is a great reason right there to become a member of the awesome organization. I get to read the honking’ huge October issue newsletter and with that, are many goodies. So let’s dive in to the good gory horror stuff, shall we? You will only get the best of the best here!

First up, books!

Come on, reading won’t kill you. Sit down with a hot cup of cider or coffee and enjoy!

London native C.C. Adams is the horror/dark fiction author behind books such as But Worse Will Come, Misery And Other Lines, and Downwind, Alice. A member of the HWA, he still lives in the capital. This is where he lifts weights, cooks—and looks for the perfect quote to set off the next dark delicacy.

Adams has a story in The Black Beacon Book of Horror anthology releasing Friday, October 13, 2023 (yes, you read that right, Friday the 13th). The anthology features dark and disturbing tales of psychological, supernatural, folk, gothic, and cosmic horror that you might want to read with the lights on (or off). It’s big horror fun! You can read interviews with the authors at https://blackbeaconbooks.blogspot.com/.

Lydia Peever

September brings a full semester of reading to our desks, with a little nonfiction on the reading list, too! Short stories abound, so our backpacks and brains won’t get too overloaded with page count; though there are many new authors’ names to learn. Worth studying up in case there is a quiz!

+++++

Midnight Masquerade
Greg Chapman
IFWG Publishing
2023-10-31
https://ifwgpublishing.com/title-midnight-masquerade/
Midnight Masquerade, a collection of Greg Chapman’s acclaimed and original fiction. In these stories, you’ll discover how the masks we all wear hide our innermost fears, and how our choices can expose true horrors. Also included are Chapman’s acclaimed novellas, The Last Night of October and Vaudeville, and the short stories, “Octoberville” and “Left on October Lane.”

Christmas and Other Horrors
Ellen Datlow, editor
New York Chapter
Titan Books
2023-10-24
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/727016/christmas-and-other-horrors-by-ellen-datlow/
Hugo Award-winning editor and horror legend, Ellen Datlow presents a terrifying and chilling horror anthology of original short stories exploring the endless terrors of winter solstice traditions across the globe, featuring chillers by Tananarive Due, Stephen Graham Jones, Alma Katsu, and many more.

Abject Fear
Paul Carro
Tether Falls Press
2023-10-20
https://paulcarrohorror.com
Dr. Mitch Trager, a brilliant but tormented scientist, is haunted by an unspeakable tragedy that shatters his world. In a desperate bid to save humanity from the shackles of terror, Trager assembles an eclectic team of scientists, each burdened with their own agonizing phobias. Together, they plunge into the abyss of the human mind seeking a cure for the most elusive disease of all. Fear.

The Weird Cat
Katherine Kerestman and S.T. Joshi
WordCrafts Press
2023-10-18
http://www.creepycatlair.com
A well-told horror story has much in common with your own cherished puss. Kitty jumps upon your lap and purrs, and you turn the page of your book. You are mindful that cats dwell in a larger world than our own, the gulfs and abysses of which we can obtain but a shadowy glimpse, through their eyes. In The Weird Cat you delve into that larger realm through more than three dozen classic and contemporary short stories, poems, and essays by masters of the craft.

Deathrealm: Spirits
Stephen Mark Rainey, editor
Virginia Chapter
Shortwave Publishing
2023-10-17
https://shortwavepublishing.com/catalog/deathrealm-spirits-horror-anthology
Editor Stephen Mark Rainey is thrilled to announce the release of Deathrealm: Spirits, a new horror anthology from Shortwave Publishing. This volume includes fiction and verse by authors such as Linda D. Addison, Meghan Arcuri, Larry Blamire, Maurice Broaddus, Brian Keene, Ronald Kelly, Joe R. Lansdale, Elizabeth Massie, Jeff Oliver, and many others.

Tomorrow & Tomorrow
Lillah Lawson and Lauren Emily Whalen
Sword & Silk Publishing
2023-10-17
https://www.swordandsilkbooks.com/post/cover-reveal-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-by-lauren-emily-whalen-lillah-lawson
A dark and twisted retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, featuring an all-girl rock band straight out of Athens, Georgia; witches; ghosts; and murder most foul.

Along About Midnight
Dorian J. Sinnott
Raven’s Hollow Books
2023-10-16
Like every small town, Oakridge has its secrets. When October falls, Peter Harlow and his friends seek to uncover them at the Chapel Hill Cemetery—surrounded by jack-o’-lanterns at midnight. But what starts off as a fun scare for the season, an attempt to wake the Devil, turns into something far more than they bargained for.

We Used to Be Different: a collection of stories and miniatures
Elle Mitchell
Oregon Chapter
Little Key Press
2023-10-13
https://emitchellwrites.com
Sixty-two eclectic stories and flash fiction pieces with sixty-two miniatures to match. Take a journey through the unexpected in We Used to Be Different, the latest mixed-media collection from the creative and twisted mind of dark fiction and crip-fic author and multi-disciplinary artist Elle Mitchell.

The Devil Thinks I’m Pretty
Charlene Elsby
Ontario Chapter
Apocalypse Party
2023-10-13
https://www.apocalypse-party.com/devil.html
A teenage girl can sense the devil in the trailer park. A devil’s threesome allows him to fully possess her. She can see her boyfriend’s mind is wandering. The new girl will suffer enough for everyone.

Chasing Shadows: Convocation
Zachariah Jones
Water Sign Books
2023-10-10
http://www.thezachariahjones.com
The second installment of the Chasing Shadows trilogy. The story follows Jarek Videni, a young intuitive whose next step in his journey has brought him to Deadwood, South Dakota circa 1924. Nearly 50 young women have gone missing, and it is up to Jarek to try and uncover the sinister darkness tied to the missing women … and himself.

Foxfire
Rowan Hill
Bayou Wolf Press
Virginia Chapter
2023-10-10
http://www.writerrowanhill.com
Eight potential investors and acquaintances gather at the site of a future hotel in remote Lapland. It is polar midnight in the cold ancient forest, the sky is full of the flaming aurora, and the guests begin dying at an alarming rate. As the dwindling survivors rally against the spectre stalking the forest, an ancient force connected to the land wants them off and will leave only one alive.

Let Me Tell You a Story
Tim Waggoner
OH Chapter
Raw Dog Screaming Press
2023-10-05
https://rawdogscreaming.com/books/let-me-tell-you-a-story
Partly autobiographical, partly tutorial and diagnostic, each chapter in this book features one of Waggoner’s stories followed by reflection on the historical context of publication, insightful commentary, and exercises for writers who are just learning their craft as well as those who have already made a name for themselves.

Songs in the Key of Death
JG Faherty
New York Chapter
LVP Publications
2023-10-03
http://www.lycanvalley.com/2023/05/new-release-songs-in-key-of-death-by-jg.html
JG Faherty‘s first poetry collection explores a wide range of subjects, including technology, love, fear, death, the afterlife, and insanity. There are evil dentists and surgeons, parasites, cryptids, monsters, mad scientists, maniacs, aliens, evil plants, sentient tumors, ghosts, prisoners, serial killers, and more.

Spirits of the Dead
Keith Gilman
Severn House
2023-10-03
http://www.keithgilman.com
Spirits of the Dead is a masterpiece of supernatural horror, a tightly woven tale of possession held together with fraying threads of human emotion. Readers will be scared. They will also be moved.

The Devil’s Promise
Celso Hurtado
Inkshares
2023-10-03
https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Promise-Ghost-Tracks/dp/195030163X
San Antonio is full of secrets, and seventeen-year-old Erasmo Cruz investigates the strangest of them. After gaining renown for surviving the city’s legendary Ghost Tracks, he has set up shop as a paranormal investigator. But helping exorcize other people’s demons doesn’t seem to relieve his own; his best friend has abandoned him, his grandmother is nearing death, and his own health has taken a sudden decline. A new case hurls Erasmo into a dark web of cults, bargains, and broken pasts. Only one thing is certain: the Devil keeps his promises.

Thin Places
Barbara Cottrell
Vanishing Edge Press
2023-10-02
http://www.barbaracottrell.com
Bodies falling from the sky, a serial killer on the loose, and endless bureaucracy. Winter quarter has begun at Miskatonic University.

Blood in the Holler
David Sangiao-Parga
Woodhall Press/Penguin Random House
2023-10-02
http://www.davidsangiao-parga.com
A group of pro wrestlers run afoul of some meth dealers in West Virginia on their way to a show. Their only hope for survival lies in the hands of current company champion and former U.S. Marine Brick Lamar, who’s in a race against time to find them before it’s too late.

Impulses of a Necrotic Heart: and Other Afflictions
Red Lagoe
Virginia Chapter
Death Knell Press
2023-09-29
https://redlagoe.com/impulses-of-a-necrotic-heart
The heart rots with every trauma and every wrongdoing, and if we’re not careful the necrosis invades. It has spread across these fifteen tales of horror, ranging from sci-fi to supernatural, psychological to body horror. None of which are for the faint of heart.

Cold, Black & Infinite: Stories of the Horrific & Strange
Todd Keisling
PA Chapter
Cemetery Dance Publications
2023-09-26
https://www.cemeterydance.com/coldblackinfiniteKeisling
Down here in the dark lies a vast and twisted landscape where the wicked, wistful, and profane coalesce. This is where the lonely and lost face their demons, where anxious paranoias are made manifest, and where mundane evil wears a human face. For readers, the sixteen stories found within Cold, Black, & Infinite serve as a harrowing glimpse into the nightmarish imagination of Todd Keisling, Bram Stoker Award®-nominated author of Devil’s Creek and Scanlines.

Pre-Approved for Haunting
Patrick Barb
Keylight Books
2023-09-26
https://turnerbookstore.com/products/pre-approved-for-haunting
In this new collection, Patrick Barb explores themes of family found and lost, media consumption and the dangers of runaway nostalgia, the supernatural in our lives, and the impact of violence in both the long- and short-term.

Crawling: A Horror Anthology
Cat Benstead, editor
New South Wales Chapter
Hear Us Scream Press
2023-09-23
https://www.hearusscream.com/store/p/physical-preorder-crawling-a-horror-anthology
Prepare to witness grotesque metamorphoses that distort the human form, blurring the lines between flesh and monstrosity. This anthology dares to push the boundaries of the body-horror genre, immersing you in a world of dread and dreadfulness, delivering an unparalleled reading experience that will linger in your nightmares. With: Elecia Page, Danny Shaw, A.E. Santana, Elou Carroll, E.J. Bramble, Chloe Spencer, Caroline Barnard-Smith, A.R.C Mitra, Katharine Pollock, Tinamarie Cox, Kourtnea Hogan, Samantha Arthurs, August Blaine, Centauri.

Ascent of a Vengeful Woman
Ashon Ruffins
Dreadful Times Press
2023-09-22
http://www.DreadfulTimesPress.com
The town of Dalyville’s history of wickedness is catching up with its residents as an evil force that simmers beneath the surface boils over with blood-thirsty intent. The past never dies. It festers. It cultivates in pain, waiting to rear its ugly head and inflict suffering, terror, and vengeance, bringing everyone around it to their knees.

On the Subject of Blackberries
Stephanie M. Wytovich
PA Chapter
Raw Dog Screaming Press
2023-09-21
https://rawdogscreaming.com/books/on-the-subject-of-blackberries
On the Subject of Blackberries is a poetry collection that meditates on female rage, postpartum depression, compulsion, and intrusive thinking. Inspired by Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and under the influence of found poetry and bibliomancy, Wytovich harnesses the occult power of her imagery and words and aligns it with a new, more vulnerable, darkness.

October Screams: A Halloween Anthology
Kenneth W. Cain, editor
Maryland Chapter
Kangas Kahn Publishing
2023-09-19
https://kkpublish.com/
October Screams brings you twenty-seven tales of the greatest holiday of all, Halloween! Featuring stories from authors like Brian Keene and Richard Chizmar, Kealan Patrick Burke, Steve Rasnic Tem, and many others.

Hollow
Davide Tarsitano
DT Author
2023-09-19
https://www.dtarsitano.com/
The world of Peter Hanson, emerging true crime writer, is about to fall apart. His parents have been found dead in their bed. The case is quickly closed as an accident, despite the doubts of the homicide investigator in charge of the case. Peter realizes that sanity and logic have very little to do with the events unfolding. A dark force is at play: an ancient and insatiable evil that feeds off negative human emotion is on the hunt for a new prey.

Never Whistle at Night
Shane Hawk Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Penguin Random House
2023-09-19
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707468/never-whistle-at-night-by-shane-hawk-and-theodore-c-van-alst-jr-editors/
Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night: it can cause evil spirits to appear—and even follow you home. These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge.

A Thin Veil of the Cosmos
Thomas Michael Thomas
Florida South West Chapter
Insomniac Cat Publications
2023-09-16
http://www.thomasmichaelthomas.com
An occult curious, small-town goth teen, Abagail Gibson, stumbles upon an obscure book that enables her to send her voice across the universe and connect with intelligent life.

The Caretaker
Cass Clarke
Hear Us Scream Press
2023-09-15
https://www.hearusscream.com/store/p/physical-preorder-the-caretaker-by-cass-clarke
Cara, an exhausted ICU nurse, reluctantly finds herself sifting through her deceased mother’s house, a task she never anticipated. While doing so, she unexpectedly uncovers her mother’s hidden secrets, including a mysterious haunted hospice bed. In a bid to confront these eerie revelations, she enlists the help of her loyal cousin Dylan and her enigmatic ex-girlfriend Beth, unwittingly leading them all into a nightmarish ordeal.

Darkest Days and Haunted Ways
Ashley Dioses
Los Angeles Chapter
Jackanapes Press
2023-09-13
https://www.jackanapespress.com/product/darkest-days-and-haunted-ways
Darkest Days and Haunted Ways is a collection of horror poetry that focuses on psychological horrors and terrors of the mind.

Girl, Incorrupted: a love-horror story
Megan Bledsoe
Arched Brow Books
2023-09-12
https://meganbledsoe.com/girl-incorrupted/
While trying to become the kind of girl her boyfriend says he’d marry, college senior Daphne James entangles herself with the local vaudeville star, an incorrupt corpse who thinks that Daphne can help reanimate her body. A love-horror story.

Never Wake: An Anthology of Dream Horror
Kenneth W. Cain and Tim Meyer, editors
PA Chapter
Crystal Lake Publishing
2023-09-08
https://www.crystallakepub.com/product/never-wake-an-anthology-of-dream-horror/
Where do we go when we dream? Since the beginning of time, people have argued the meaning of dreams. Are they symbolic visions that hold great meaning and personal significance? Are they portals into other worlds? Or are they just a series of random events our mind shows us when we fall asleep? Whatever the case, this much is true—the mind can be a scary place to venture, even for a few hours.

There’s No Way I’d Die First
Lisa Springer
New York Chapter
Delacorte Press
2023-09-05
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714580/theres-no-way-id-die-first-by-lisa-springer
A spine-tingling contemporary horror-comedy novel that follows a scary-movie buff as she hosts an elaborate Halloween bash but soon finds the festivities upended when she and her guests are forced to test their survival skills in a deadly game.

The Eerie Brothers and The Witches of Autumn
Sheldon Higdon
Pittsburgh Chapter
Scary Dairy Press, LLC
2023-09-04
http://www.sheldonhigdon.com
Twin brothers, Horace and Edgar Eerie, must travel back to 1692, Salem, to stop Hex, a judge and powerful witch, from entering the present world. He’s after the Four Seasons, totems that hold the seeds to the seasons, and once obtained, he’ll control all magic, the Hidden Ones, humans, and Mother Nature. However, dark family secrets are revealed, and they could destroy the brothers’ family, friends, and their future before they make it back home.

Who Haunts You
Mark Wheaton
Off Limits Press
2023-09-02
https://www.offlimitspress.com/mark-wheaton
High school senior Rebecca “Bex” Koeltl is just trying to make it to graduation. But when her fellow seniors begin dying in seemingly unrelated incidents, Bex uncovers disturbing connections between their deaths, including that the teens believed they were haunted by long-dead relatives their own family members swear never existed. After Bex is visited by a malevolent specter of her own, she realizes she has to get the bottom of this horror before she’s its next victim.

Vampire Dentist
Christine J. Whitlock
Ontario Chapter
The Elite Lizzard Publishing Co.
2023-09-01
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH3Q5HWK
Meet Dr. Moe Lars, a struggling young dentist with dreams as vast as the night sky, confined to a dilapidated warehouse as a last-ditch effort by his devoted Auntie Mae Lars. His unconventional journey from the bottom of his class to the heart of dental darkness results in a clinic quite unlike any other; one bustling with fanged patients and unconventional procedures.

Nightmares
Sandra Becerril, editor
Gauntlet Press
2023-08-31
https://www.gauntletpress.com/product/nightmares-an-anthology/
Sandra Becerril, the most renowned horror writer out of Mexico, brings together for the first time three Hollywood masters and legends of the genre, with thought-provoking introductions each author wrote to their stories.

The Foot Doctor
A.J. Spencer
Psychotoxin Press
2023-08-29
https://www.amazon.com/Foot-Doctor-J-Spencer/dp/B0CGL9T5VB
Gambling addict and criminal Chris Hawthorne gets injured on a job gone wrong and crosses paths with a doctor that has a grotesque hobby.

The Dead Shall Rise: Zombie Zombie Zombie
Jay Wilburn, Armand Rosamilia, and Erin Louis
Crystal Lake Publishing
2023-08-25
https://getbook.at/DarkTide10
They’re coming to get you, Brave Reader. Crystal Lake’s Dark Tide series will continue soon with more tales after this installment spotlighting three authors’ tales of the undead.

A Shadow of Your Former Self
Amy Grech
NY Chapter
Alien Buddha Press
2023-08-20
https://www.crimsonscreams.com
A collection of poetry and prose that “… takes us on an excursion of life through the eyes of a New Yorker, from 2020’s forced isolation and displacement, through facets of personal loss, to the devastating impact of guns on our lives …” – Linda D. Addison

Shallow Waters, Vol. 9
Joe Mynhardt, editor
Crystal Lake Publishing
2023-08-17
https://getbook.at/SWaters9
With 19 dark fiction and horror tales diving beneath the surface of life, death, and the mystery that lies beneath.

Bride of the Tornado
James Kennedy
Chicago Chapter
Quirk Books
2023-08-15
https://jameskennedy.com/books/
Every generation, a small midwestern town comes under attack by sentient tornadoes, and the only defense is a strange boy known only as the tornado killer. A high school girl finds herself drawn to the tornado killer, and she discovers the unnatural connections between them. But the adults are hiding a secret about the origin of the tornadoes and the true nature of the tornado killer—and our heroine must outrun the primeval power that binds them all before it can claim her.

Curse Of The Barrens: An Ameri-Scares Novel
David Simms
VA Chapter
Crossroad Press
2023-08-01
https://www.amazon.com/Ameri-Scares-New-Jersey-Curse-Barrens/dp/1951510143
The legend of the Jersey Devil takes a wild turn in the newest installment of HWA legend Elizabeth Massie‘s AMERI-SCARES series. Dominic Riley moves to the outskirts of the Pine Barrens where he meets a friend whose family harbors dark secrets, ones that could have monstrous, devastating effects on the town. This tale tackles bullying, acceptance, and dysfunctional families in a frightening story for middle grade and teen readers.

Shadows on Glass and Other Stories
Jamie Lackey
Pittsburgh Chapter
2023-07-28
https://www.jamielackey.com/shadows-on-glass-and-other-stories/
Shadows on Glass and Other Stories collects 45 fantasy stories, including three previously unpublished tales. Set in worlds only a few steps removed from our own, pushing at the border between the real and the imaginary, Jamie Lackeydeftly leads readers down paths just twisted enough to get lost on. From sentient stuffed animals to haunted terpsitones to friendly toasts, this whimsical and unsettling collection of weird little stories contains something for everyone.

Monsters Are Real
V.L. Jones
2023-06-28
https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Are-Real-Collection-Jones/dp/B0C9SNDRLM
You will love these stories if you love cryptids, monsters, and urban legends. Monsters Are Real is a collection of stories about things that lurk in the darkness, waiting.

Bloofer
Cathleen Allyn Conway
London Chapter
Broken Sleep Books
2023-05-31
https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/cathleen-allyn-conway-bloofer
Bloofer is an intoxicating mix of the playful macabre and elements of dark academia. Conway’s illicit obsessions creep through like the full moon on a cloudy night: Bram Stoker, Plath in thrall to the occult, dark alleyways and haunted libraries. Bloofer hides razorblades between the pages that give a keen edge to this thrilling and mischievous collection of poems that disarm you with humour before they bite you.

Now on to other forms of spooky entertaining media!!! So grab your popcorn and cider/soda and sit here with the latest and scariest!

DVD

BOOGEYMAN—Tuesday, October 10. Rated PG-13. This film, based on the Stephen King story, concerns a grieving father, his two teenage daughters, and the monster his new patient has brought into their lives. Produced by Shawn Levy (STRANGER THINGS), it stars Sophie Thatcher and Vivien Lyra Blair.

The Exorcist movie is out and this looks to be a good one! Following that is Saw X & the Nun 2, A Haunting in Venice, Talk to me. You have a lot to choose from. The above selections were from the Horror Writers Association October newsletter. For those who are brave enough, then feel free to peruse those titles and/ or catch a horror flick or two! 

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

P.S.  Have a sweet tooth? Of course you do. It’s October. I have already been through a package of candy corn myself. Read on how to make your own herbal goodness candy.

This recipe is two-fold, a little aromatic coffee brewing and a little candy boiling. Combined, they come together to form a delicious and unique herbal lollipop treat! 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons ground coffee
½ teaspoon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) bark
½ teaspoon fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed
½ teaspoon cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) flower bud
8-12 ounces hot water
1 cup sugar
½ cup raw organic honey

Directions

  • Using a french press, add 2 tablespoons of ground coffee
  • Add in the cinnamon, fennel, and cloves; you can use either ground or whole dried spices for this recipe since they are going to be filtered out. However, do give your fennel seeds a little crush to release those volatile oils for an extra kick!
  • Add in 8 – 12 ounces of hot water to your french press, water amount depends on how strong you’d like your brew to be. 
  • Brew coffee mixture for about 5 minutes. Plunge and pour your coffee into a cup. 
  • Reserve this coffee liquid for the lollipops.
  • The next step is creating the herbal lollipop mixture.
  • Using a large pot, (this is important because your liquid is going to bubble and rise quite a bit) clip a candy thermometer to the inside of the pot. 
  • Place the sugar, coffee liquid, and honey into the pot and cook on medium heat to watch your candy creation form.
  • Stir and watch your mixture boil until it reaches 300 degrees, which is considered a hard crack. This takes about 20 minutes. 
  • Once the desired temperature is reached, carefully pour the hot liquid into a large measuring cup. This will allow you to pour with more precision into the silicone lollipop molds. 
  • Working as quickly as possible, fill the silicone molds before the candy hardens. 
  • This next step is more of a housekeeping tip, but it’s an important one. Quickly clean your pots and supplies. HOT, hot, soapy water works well. Sometimes I have to boil water on the stove to get out some of the remaining candy that gets stuck to my supplies. It’s a little bit of a messy clean-up, but nothing a little soap and hot water can’t fix. 
  • The lollipops will harden in the silicone molds. When they are no longer warm to the touch, they are ready! 
  • Gently peel them out of the molds to reveal delicious Halloween herbal lollipops.

To Use:

These would be perfect for a Halloween carving party. A unique treat that you typically are not going to find in the candy aisle at the stores. If you’re not serving them at a function, store any leftover lollipops in an airtight container in the fridge. These get pretty sticky, use parchment paper to keep them from touching and sticking together. 

 

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