Tag Archives: spider

September 17, 2026 · 12:15 pm

The Arachnas of Arachnall – The Cult of the Spider People )O(

Greetings Darklings:

Mabon is almost here. The leaves are turning and a chill wafts in the air. The Cult of the Spider People is scheduled to be released on October 5th!  That’s three weeks away. Today’s post will focus on creature horror, the creatures from the book The Cult of the Spider People. It has already been published, but Baynam Books Press closed. (Sigh….). Now, Dreamweaver Press is taking on the authors’ books. It won’t be much longer before Cult of the Spider People weaves new thrilling webs on Amazon. 

I am stil not sure what inspired me to create such horrifying creatures. Well, I have a few theories. I distinguished each creature from the other. I wanted to really bring them to life. I even wanted to give them their own distinct language to speak, but I am not Tolkien. He was a master at linguistics and etymology, I am not. I gave each creature individual wants and needs and personality – and distinct markings. 

Roth, the Spider King, is the master of Arachnall, the alternate dimension or underground, where the Arachnas dwell. They crave blood and lure their human victims there to feast on their blood. They trap their hapless victims in these horrifying slimy cocoons that an adult human can fit into. If the moldy dampness of the cocoons is not enough to gross you out, then when they feast on human blood, it brings a whole new level of horror. They weave and repair webs. 

Arachnall is ruled by an overlord, the Spider King, greedy, beyond evil and possesed with a bloodthirst who makes Shelob from Lord of the Rings look like a pansy. Here is an excerpt from the book: 

“She didn’t want to look at him, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away. He was more awful than any she had previously seen. A face carved from death, painted with fresh blood, a body so terrible. Piper hoped to wake from this nightmare and closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them, he was still there and he laughed. Piper’s blouse was damp with sweat and mildew from the slimy cocoon. She cringed from the odor and the clamminess. Roth, the Spider King, bowed his head in greeting to the other creatures. His gaze penetrated through the grisly cavern. He sniffed the air. The creature’s eyes were twin orbs of true pitch-darkness. He wore a black crown of spiders. His cheekbones were sunken, and his hide was charcoal black. Dried blood matted his lower jaw. Eight bristly angular legs protruded from his cephalothorax. His sardonic laughter permeated the cavern.” 

Roth, the Spider King, covets Piper and he plans to make her his new queen. He has chained the Spider Queen, trapping her in her own lair which is even more deadly than the cavern. Aranya, the Spider Queen, refuses to share her pure blood/ venom with Roth and the other Arachnas. Piper has other plans. 

The Spider Queen Aranya is described as a black widow Arachnas. She has the colourings, markings and bloodthirst of a black widow. Her lair and her darkly beautiful but deadly appearance is described here: 

“If the corridor was not evil enough, the lair of the Spider Queen was a hundred times worse. An enormous black web spanned twenty meters swaying like a spectral ghost. The lair was replete with decrepit skeletons. Dead insects, humans and animals hung from the web like baubles. Spiderling Arachnas wove silk cocoons, eager for an unwary victim. The stench of blood permeated the lair. 

Something menacing rested above the web. The cocoons bearing dead and alive prey made her want to scream. Bones of every shape and size riddled the ground beneath the massive web. Blood coated everything. More of the strange Arachnall symbols were etched onto the cave walls. Lifeless eyes stared at her as she passed them. A spiderling crept out from the hollow mouth of a skeleton. Revulsed, Piper turned away and her gut clenched hard. /

The Spider Queen’s gaze pierced through Piper’s soul. Her body was stunning. Her lower body was of an Arachnas. Her black wavy hair hung down her front and her back. Horns curved down her head. Her alabaster skin was flawless.  She wore the symbol of the Arachnas on her forehead, and she bore no clothing. Her cephalothorax was black but bore a single large red spot shaped like an hourglass. Her razor-sharp ebony fingernails were blood-stained. Eight sinewy black legs arched high on either side of her body. The Spider Queen rose to her full height.”

Is that enough to make you scream and run for your life? I would think so. She is beautiful and deadly all at once. Quite fitting for a black widow Spider Queen. 

The creature that dwells in the Pit is not as merciful as the Spider Queen. “The Arachnas prowled to where they climbed the hill,, caught them and threw them to the ground. They yelled and tried to escape from its formidable grasp. A battle -scarred Arachnas loomed over them. She stared at the Arachnas’s scarred hide in disbelief and wonder. His thick horns curved like a ram’s. The beast gazed at them coldly, and his jaws dripped saliva. An iridescent blue streaked across his body. The eight legs were less sinewy than the others. The cephalothorax was bloated, and his face bore a jagged scar. He sniffed them both. Cory drew back in fear.” / “The monster leered, exposing several razor-sharp fangs. His pointed ears twitched, and the black bristles on his legs quivered with anticipation. “Oh, you look tasty, boy,” the Arachnas said as it leered and grabbed Cory by his shoulder. He turned away, unable to look. ” / “The aged Arachnas’s pedipalps twitched. He bent his spidery legs back, crouched low to lunge, and reared, exposing his deadly stinger. He hissed menacingly. Cory dodged the stinger in time and cowered behind the dead Arachnas.” Nightmare inducing, n’est pas?

The Cult of the Spider People was much effort to write, but I knew in my heart it was worth everything. I am glad I made each Arachnas distinct from each other. It made the bloodthirsty and horrifying beasts much more interesting and intriguing. They are terrifying and unstoppable. That makes them scarier. My friend, Nora Peevy, believed that the “Human Centipede would feel right at home”, in her review of my book The Cult of the Spider People. I believe she is quite correct. 

It may mean investing more effort into your own imaginative writings, but I hope you do choose to go that route. That is the difference between a boring, banal story or something brimming with imagination. It is worth it, trust me. I encourage you all to try and create your own underworld of dark creatures or werewolves or a zombie. Write the book only  you can write. Discover your own voice. Believe me, that is what all overworked, weary editors want to see. Something fresh and unique that sets you apart from a million other writers. Your. Story.In.Your. Voice. Only. That is the magical formula! 

Upcoming Releases:
The Cult of the Spider People – 2nd edition October 5, 2026
The Mourning Tide – October 2026.

Where to Find The Cult of the Spider People

The Cult of the Spider People is being republished by Dreamweaver Press, an imprint of Twisted Dreams Press, in October 2026. The new edition will be available through Amazon and other booksellers as it is released.

Follow my blog, The Paranormal Quill, for publication news, updates, and more dark and gothic delights. https://theparanormalquill.blog/

Until then, keep your eyes on the shadows—and whatever you do, don’t look up. 

Heddy Johannesen

Conjuror of Gothic Horrors

Gothic horror and cosmic dread from the ghostly shores of Halifax.

Bio: 

Heddy Johannesen is a paranormal enthusiast and long time student of the writing craft. As the Conjuror of Gothic Horror, she writes about ghosts, monsters, witches, and outsiders, exploring the shadows where fear, mystery, and the supernatural collide.
Heddy has been writing seriously since 2006 and has studied the craft through courses, workshops, and mentorships. Her published work includes horror fiction, short stories, poetry, and paranormal nonfiction.
She has always been drawn to the shadows, where the monsters live and their stories hunger to be told. For Heddy, horror is more than a way to frighten readers. It is a way to explore fear, grief, courage, hope, and the mysteries that exist just beyond what we can see.

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

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August 24, 2026 · 2:31 pm

Four things to know before entering Arachnall

 

Greetings Darklings:

Crows are causing a ruckus outside, perching on tree branches. My cat blissfully sleeps, either unaware or uncaring of them. The sky is overcast, a typical Maritime day. The overcast sky, fog and lively crows hint at fall’s arrival. The next turn in the Wheel of the year is the autumn equinox. Autumn is creeping in…

I updated my writing desk. I measured the length and width of the desk and bought a meter and a half of black broadcloth. I arranged it on my desk and I laid a lovely black spiderweb tablecloth on top. My skull who I call Hamlet, sits on my desk next to my pen organizers and my computer, coffee cup (used! of course), books, gemstones, and my keyboard and mouse pad. The desk looks more gothic now. I love it, and my witch broom from the Ukraine and my black bat figurine hang on the wall next to the window. A very inspiring writing desk area! I love it. 

Two months from now, Aracnhall will come to life again. Dreamweaver Press, the imprint of Twisted Dreams Press, is re-publishing my gothic spidery horror novella, The Cult of the Spider People. I am excited, knowing this horror story will once again be building spiderwebs on bookshelves or on Amazon! 

Before you open those pages, armed with a smoking hot coffee and a comfy spot to read, here are four things to know before entering Arachnall if you hope to leave alive! 

Four Things to know Before Entering Arachnall

Arachnall is accessible by first entering a portal

When Piper and Cory accidentally stumble on the spider-infested and horrifc world of Arachnall, Cory’s inhaler lies just past the portal, the black door. Piper is forbidden to enter the portal. When her father leaves town on a work trip for the weekend, she defies her father and learns the hard way what lies past the forbidden door. Then her and Cory must find a way to escape with their lives. 

Arachnall is a deadly and darkly magical world.

Forget Labyrinth or your favorite Grimm Brothers stories. Arachnall is a world where the Human Centipide may feel right at home. Here is an excerpt from Cult of the Spider People: 

“An enormous black spiderweb, extending twenty feet, reached across the cavern’s roof. Weird spidery creatures crept across the web woven of solid silk. They rebuilt and wove new webs and cocoons. More minor nets fastened to the central one. Viscious cocoons large enough to hold an adult human being hung suspended from the gruesome web. Piper gasped, frozen in fright. “It’s a hive,”. It’s a hellish sight and all I want to do is run.

Here is another excerpt from the book: “Something struggled in a cocoon above their heads. She wanted to run from the cavern but her limbs were leaden. The creatures beat the cocoon with their large, powerful legs. Piper’s heart lurched. Terrified screams rang out from inside the cocoons. She stepped forward but Cory restrained her. He pointed above them to where a cocoon swayed dangerously. She hoped the creatures would miss them. A pitch-black creature appeared above, suspended from a glossy strand of silk. They exchanged fearful glances, frozen in place. Piper held her breath, sure the creature  would hear the hammering of her heart. The monstrous limbs beat the cocoons. Its prisoner howled in terror. The movement rippled through the webbing and the cocoons rocked back and forth. Another cry rang out in the air.” 

Arachnall is ruled by an overlord, the Spider King, greedy, beyond evil and possesed with a bloodthirst who makes Shelob from Lord of the Rings look like a pansy. Here is an excerpt from the book: 

“She didn’t want to look at him, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away. He was more awful than any she had previously seen. A face carved from death, painted with fresh blood, a body so terrible. Piper hoped to wake from this nightmare and closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them, he was still there and he laughed. Piper’s blouse was damp with sweat and mildew from the slimy cocoon. She cringed from the odor and the clamminess. Roth, the Spider King, bowed his head in greeting to the other creatures. His gaze penetrated through the grisly cavern. He sniffed the air. The creature’s eyes were twin orbs of true pitch-darkness. He wore a black crown of spiders. His cheekbones were sunken, and his hide was charcoal black. Dried blood matted his lower jaw. Eight bristly angular legs protruded from his cephalothorax. His sardonic laughter permeated the cavern.” 

Roth, the Spider King, covets Piper and he plans to make her his new queen. He has chained the Spider Queen, trapping her in her own lair which is even more deadly than the cavern. Aranya, the Spider Queen, refuses to share her pure blood/ venom with Roth and the other Arachnas. Piper has other plans. 

No one emerges from Arachnall alive. 

“The lair of the Spider Queen was a hundred times worse. An enormous black web spanned twenty meters swaying like a spectral ghost. The lair was replete with decrepit skeletons. Dead insects, humans and animals hung from the web like baubles. Spiderling Arachnas wove silk cocoons, eager for an unwary victim. The stench of blood permeated the lair.” 

That is enough to give the most jaded horror fan nightmares. 

 Most of the unlucky victims find themselves in the portal and hardly remember how they got there. Then they are confined to cocoons, literally waiting for their turn to die. The way they die is well … you have to read the book to learn more. 

The Cult of the Spider People will be available in October 2026. Follow this blog for more horror and shivery dark delights!

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Blessings, Spiderwitch

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June 26, 2026 · 12:27 pm

Why Spider Horror Thrills Readers

Book Cover of Cult of the Spider People featuring the Arachnas spiders.

Cover art for Cult of the Spider People.

 

Greetings Darklings:

I am quite happy today. Though it was more expensive than I would’ve liked, I purchased the domain for this blog site. Now it truly is mine! The website address is now: theparanormalquill.blog. 

Today’s post will focus on our famous eight-legged friends, spiders. Spider horror thrills readers. Spiders have always scared people and shall continue to. Spiders are uncanny and cause a knee jerk reaction. They have too many legs and eyes. They are quiet and cunning. People are scared of being bitten by them. Horror movies are made about spiders that cause nightmares long after the movies are over. They build webs and are a lethal predator and yet they never make a sound. It’s no wonder they make people nervous. 

Spiders represent the dark side, like bats, snakes, gargoyles, witches, demons, sharks, wolves. The side that most people do not like to think about. Spiders are deadly predators and kill many other insects. We owe a lot to spiders yet people drown them in chemicals like Raid or scream and freak out if a person thinks they walked unwillingly into a web. Yes, spiders make people uncomfortable. 

The webweaving arachnids are misunderstood. They are not portrayed accurately in Hollywood movies. In reality, spiders are generally harmless, they are solitary and just want a quiet space to build their webs and hunt their prey. People are just as frightening to them. Spiders are not interested in humans as prey. Spiders want to hide from humans. If you see a spider in your home, thank it. That means that the eight-legged, web weaving arachnid is hunting insect prey. You may then have fewer pests in your home. The misinformation presented in the media has portrayed spiders as very unfavorable, no thanks to Hollywood. 

I rarely ever harm a spider. They consume a lot of insects. Hopefully, the collective impression of spiders will change for the better. They want to have nothing to do with people. Only a few spiders are actually poisonous such as brown recluse spiders and black widows. The venom of a black widow spider is fifteen times more poisonous than that of a rattlesnake. The venom is a group of potent neurotoxins known as latrotoxins which attacks the nervous system. 

In my horror novella, the Spider Queen possesses the most deadly venom of all the Arachnas. The females are more deadly than the males. Aranya, the Spider Queen, is chained up because the Spider King desires her purer blood/ venom. He only seeks to corrupt it. When she refuses him her venom, he chains her, until she gives in but that never happens. But Aranya resigns to be chained as opposed to what would happen once the venom was corrupted. She reclaims her throne when Piper frees her. 

In general, most spiders are harmless and prefer to hunt other insects. They are quiet and reclusive. They build magnificent webs. Spiders are quiet and cunning. I hope people begin to view these quiet tiny hunters as allies, not enemies. 

I used these same exact psychological triggers to design the shifting, nightmare realm of Arachnall in my book The Cult of the Spider People. 

Blessed Be, Spiderwitch

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January 18, 2025 · 7:23 pm

Winter Crafts )O(

 

Merry meet all,

My heart goes out to those who are caught in the crosshairs of the Los Angeles inferno. I know a few people there and I hope they are safe. 

The Wheel of the year spins again. The next Sabbat is Imbolc, the first of the three spring Sabbats. I can’t wait for spring and I shall soon be poring over seed catalogues. I still turn my compost tumbler. I want to have compost to spread on my garden in the spring. I miss my garden. 

The skies here still darken early. Spring is not that far away. I am counting down the days till spring. I have rescheduled the book launch at Trident Cafe for my debut novel The Cult of the Spider People: Bone Chillers #1. I am excited. This time, I will order my own copies to have enough books for the launch. I am very happy to have a launch! I will bring a cloth for the table, and some props and of course, my copies. I have to market and promote the event and practice reading for it. I hate doing public readings. I am sure I can practice with Penny, my cat. 

I can’t wait to get my sweater I ordered in the mail. The sweatshirt has the cover art of my book on the front. I can’t wait to wear it. It is in transit right now. 

The sweatshirt showing the cover art of my book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to sew a grey chemise type dress. The grey chemise I have is not ankle length. It will be a simple pattern. Besides, I am still worn out from sewing the blue Arwen dress. I love wearing the grey Tauriel dress. It feels so feminine. But it is not ankle length. The fabric is grey. I don’t want to go to the work of dyeing fabric again. I want to work in elastic at the neckline and a long ribbon that I will tie in a bow at the centre neckline. I think it will look nice. I had enough blue velvet remaining to make a shawl. I cut the shawl in a triangle pattern and hemmed the edges. I want to sew a triquetra patch on to the back of the shawl. 

I also plan to sew a lovely scary doll for my friend, Onyx. I have all the supplies. I love doing crafts. It keeps me sane and then I forget all about the craziness the world is going through. I love to create something beautiful. Tomorrow I am painting a block of wood. Im sanding it first, filling in the cracks and holes and then painting it green. I want to set hooks into it and use it as a herb dryer. The herbs will hang from the hooks. I just need to decide where to position it in my apartment. Idon’t have much wall space. I am sure I will find a spot. I was thinking of setting it beneath the window but above my altar. 

The big big BIG project I am inspired to do after all that is to paint my dresser. Yeah I have gone crazy lol. I do want to paint it after I was inspired by something I saw on Facebook. I thought, I have to try that! I hate the way the dresser looks right now. I plan to change that. I want to paint it green. I need the right green shade. I am sure the staff at the paint store will help me select the right shade. I have to clean the entire dresser, scrub it clean with Murphys oil, sand it, prime it and then paint it. Only if I can find the best shade. I ordered floral rub on transfers to adhere to the dresser once all the hard work is done. I want to buy new dresser pull knobs too. I swear by the witchy power vested in me, the dresser will be transformed! I will treat the thirsty wood of the dressers to a coating in hemp oil. That will make the dresser nice too. But oh my gosh the work and how to paint it with a cat around! I will have to get a few paint drop cloths and arrange them around the dresser. One under the dresser to protect the floor and a few covering and protecting everything else. It will be a lot of work but I hate seeing that orange dresser- makes me want to scream! This is what I have in mind for the end result: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It can and will be done. I have researched this and watched a few videos on YouTube of other people transforming furniture. This will call for a lot of elbow grease but I am up for the challenge. That is for the month of February. I will not make the mistake of painting the sides of the dresser drawers like I did with that desk. Oh no, I will make all new mistakes! lol. 

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(

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June 11, 2024 · 2:36 pm

Monsters in the Modern World

Merry meet all,

Today’s post will be about monsters in the modern world. Or, rather, in our stories. We are all familiar with vampires, werewolves, and flesh-eating zombies. The most common tropes in horror movies and fiction have grown rather staid. Readers and audiences have seen everything under the pale blue moon. It is more important to reinvent horror tropes. In fact, it is not just necessary, it is absolutely vital. Creating your own monsters or breathing new life into the monsters that are too common today is the best way to get published. 

I created a new monster for my novella Cult of the Spider People. One way to reinvent a horror trope is to take something very mundane and make it weird. I know many people are scared of spiders but I made spiders my own way for my novella. I gave the spider creatures- the smaller ones – human head on their shoulders. See how I did that? Then once the mortal characters are held captive in the realm of Arachnall, they encounter more spider creatures that are part human, part spider but they are one hundred percent my own creation. 

Be original in your efforts and it will get noticed. We all know that Freddy Kreuger lurks in our nightmares and that other ominous serial killers lurk in shadowy alleys just waiting for an unwary prey. What if one of these monsters gave something instead of taking something away- what if someone was begging to die and was forced to be kept alive then they encounter one of those serial killers who grants them their wish? Or makes them omnipotent. 

Another suggestion is the current state of the world. War, genocide and environmental degradation are rich with material to fill the pages of a novel. The idea of nature turning on us while frightening is not new but maybe you could find a way to put your own spin on it. There are reference books that can help you figure out how to reinvent the horror tropes. 

One good book to refer to is The Horror Trope Thesaurus by Jennifer Hilt. Here is what Amazon had to say about this amazing book:

“Join me as we examine:

1). What is horror? What’s a trope? Some applicable definitions and examples. How to avoid stereotypes and cliches.
2). An extensive look at how the amnesia trope in horror.
3). Fifty plus trope entries with definitions and examples in current horror movies and series.
4). Practice using goal, motivation, and conflict in conjunction with tropes to create unique horror-centric characters. By analyzing tropes in various horror subgenres, you will learn how to identify tropes.

The horror genre is the study of our relationships with monsters. Personally, I can’t think of a better thing to study! Join me as we figure out what goes bump in the night.

From the USA Today Bestselling Author of The Trope Thesaurus comes a unique approach to crafting horror stories.

The Trope Thesaurus has over 200 Amazon reviews. Here is one sample review:

A Customer
Fuel for thought Jan 1, 2022
Forget everything you think you know about tropes. The author does a fantastic job of illustrating that not only do the obvious tropes exist in entertainment media, but if you dig deeper, you see a fast treasure trove of tropes bubbling beneath the surface.

She does a fantastic job of breaking down the bigger genres into their tropes, proving that, honestly, all genres share the same story beneath the trappings of the genre. It’s about characters and tropes and GMC.

With humor and a deft touch, she explains how to find tropes, twist them, wiggle them, jig them to work for you in a story, and, most importantly, that not all tropes are All Important. Many secondary tropes can do some heavy lifting, too, to create compelling stories that readers will lap up like sugar.

This book is going into my writer toolkit.” (Amazon.ca)

Here is the link to the book: https://www.amazon.ca/Horror-Trope-Thesaurus-Jennifer-Hilt/dp/B0BF336ZV8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HIFYCKOE345W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WWmWB5-vK26z4NNpXiXxoQDFUKR2LGRi4-PC38CZCM9i3rUPhueIxaifj38nKFc6s9kj5lgosq5M99taH1n7CjIjQF1o_7ztLmWAyaCBmAtGBobl27zYrUw00p5mQd7S_SzO9j4EEEXWpLRR7j1EOtZr-dJAioaEM9cWquhUFOqXSW3mWPNZ8uNT3fjmbTqm3TWwB_6Y0aFH0STLCdwmi-lStvfGcNS4QWtdGi_tCyTgFoTFDuZctwRwKIRIjdaTZN3reD0WZZ-IMv0YJ6lf0e9P812U2_aDiPHjJWZ7sxc.ySGBNZ-N9OZgU0mEH6TCdfuhDOO-binNLJb7l-DBl8k&dib_tag=se&keywords=horror+tropes&qid=1718126727&sprefix=horror+tropes%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1

I am sure there are other reference books to use while brainstorming a new monster into your fiction. That book is just a start. It is hugely important to create your own tales that only you can tell. That is what makes your fiction stand out from the slush pile. 

The character from the movie Jurassic Park said that creation was an act of sheer will. Let your act of creation be uniquely yours! You may just see your book selling on Amazon and keeping readers awake late at night. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

#horror #horrortropes #horrormonsters #monsters #horrormovies #horrorstories #werewolves #vampires #zombies

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September 21, 2023 · 7:19 pm

Mabon Fashion Magick )O(

Merry meet all,

Mabon is almost here. The leaves are turning. Last night I roasted pumpkin seeds and spotted more pumpkins at the grocery store. A chill hovers in the air, and those are the sure signs of fall. My favourite time of year is here and I am under its spell. I froze the rest of the pumpkin and gave half of it to my Mom who stored some in her freezer. I can’t possibly use it all and sharing is good. 

That is the gift of the fall season. The abundance that we receive in the fall.  The month of October is already scheduled for me. The much anticipated Paranormal Symposium occurs on October 7th and my demonology course begins on October 16th. Also October means Samhain. I have my herbal courses and preparing for Samhain. I will be busy! I just successfully completed Unit 4 of the Advanced Herbalism course. I am so relieved to have gotten this far. Unit 4 was very difficult. Now on to other news…

I am obsessing right now on what I want to wear at the Paranormal Symposium. The hotel where the Symposium is taking place is very prestigious. My witch boots are at the repair shop waiting for when I am finally rich enough to pay for them. I mended the maxi black lace skirt. I want to look amazing. I mean the hotel was swanky and classy. I felt like a hoodlum when I came in asking if that was the correct location for the hotel. It was. OK I need to get dressed!

I spent hours studying witchy outfits on Google and Pinterest. I can waste hours doing that. I have no desire to buy something new to wear. Instead I took my inspiration from Mori Goth and such. The outfits look so complicated, inspired from nature and so effortless. Right. I have cool black clothes from Killstar. I am sure I can put an outfit together for the big day! I shall dive deep into my closet! 

I want to wear an outfit inspired by what I saw on Pinterest. I love Pinterest, it’s one of my guilty pleasures. I have a few options: I mean, black goes with everything. 

#1 My black blouse with drapes sleeves paired with the black lace maxi skirt, a black corset I wore with a black cardigan and wear the blouse and black cardigan under the bodice. I want to show the long lovely drapes sleeves but have the cardigan sleeves pushed up to help with the reveal of the sleeves. I sewed the bodice myself so I will feel comfortable in it. I have a short sleeve black tie front top I can wear with the dress. I think I am liking option #2 more:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2 I wear the black lace dress over the black lace maxi skirt and a cardigan. I want to look alluring, haunting, bewitching. I would still wear the bodice and belt with it. I want to look like I can handle prestigious while being true to myself. I have chosen a few accessories for these outfit options: a witch hat (of course), the black lace up boots, my spider choker, pentacle belt, a shawl, the skull ring and spider tattoo. Oh yeah I can’t wait. I want to paint my nails both silver and black. I have waited months for this so I want to make it all worth the wait. I can get some perfume from the drugstore and I want makeup that doesn’t wear off fast. The black lace dress has pentagrams on it. I love it, so meant for me. I may even add the black lace gloves. Or it may be too much, I will know soon. Or I could wear the gloves there then remove them when I arrive. I have a lovely silver crescent moon necklace to wear too.

#3 I wear the black lace maxi skirt and the black blouse with the lovely drapey sleeves and the short sleeve tie front top. I think I like this option too. I can bring in all the above elements. I think that lace is so bewitching, and best in black. I would still include all the accessories. 

Then I will put my intention into the outfit and empower it with my energy. I have to feel comfortable but alluring at the same time. I have never attended a symposium before but I am sure I will have fun. The photo above depicts my backyard. It conveys the image, like the mood I am in. I have seen videos of women who traded in their signature goth dreads, tattoos and goth clothing look and sacrificed their individuality to look all princess. I know in my heart that is a decision I could never make. I can’t even feel comfortable in a business suit. I need my bohemian witchy look or nothing. It is how I feel my best. October is not a warm month but I will be indoors most of the day. I have to consider that factor too.

I have no issue with telling someone flat out what I think of them. I am sure it won’t come to that. But I have fought long and hard for Witches to be accepted. We are not the monsters depicted in Hollywood movies or deserving to be burned at the stake. We are the healers, the midwives, the lovers, the tarot readers, the herbalists, and the moon worshipping badasses. 

I’ll polish my boots, mend the fishnet tights, and I sprayed a preserving oil on the black purse I am bringing.  It only costs cents to repair something yet it can take you so far. Clear nail polish repairs tights and it is good to have a sewing needle and thread at hand. I may even make a new black slip to accompany the shirts and dresses. Yes I plan to forgo the backpack for a purse. This hotel is ritzy so I want to look as pulled together as I possibly can. This is going to be amazing! I can’t wait. 

Here is a blog link with more helpful tips for you and your costume! https://livinglesh.com/stylish-witch-halloween-costume/

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

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August 30, 2023 · 11:04 am

Horror Novels

Merry meet all,

I feel fall in the air.  The leaves are turning (already? gulp), the air feels crisp and I am just waiting for pumpkins to hit the shelves. The asters have bloomed which is a good sign of fall coming. The bees are busy gathering all the pollen they can. 

I have started chard and beans from seed in small pots. There is still time to grow them and if the frost hits, I can grow them indoors with the grow light kit. I switched the beige table cloth on my kitchen table to my black spiderweb lace tablecloth. I also dressed my altar for Mabon. Much as I am resisting fall, I’m embracing it as well. It is inevitable. I am just angsty for my garden. I’m also working on a corn doll for Mabon. I even made a broom from herb twig stems. A few herbs are soaking in a bowl of water to let the bugs escape. I plan to use them with the corn doll. I will post pictures later when I am finished the corn doll. 

I am also hoping to get elecampane to sprout from seed. I put a few seeds on a damp paper towel in a ziplock bag. Last night, I did a full moon ritual. It felt so good. it has been a long time since I did a full moon Rit and now I plan to get way back into my magic craft. 

Speaking of magic, as I gaze out my window, a spider has caught a big bug in his web. The spider twirled the bug around and around and hangs on tight despite the breeze hitting the web. The poor bug doesn’t stand a chance. It is amazing to witness and yet it repulses me. This is the fascinating twin nature of Mother Nature: life and death twined into one. Every August, there are suddenly so many spiders. The hard part is that the bug is still alive. That is what is hardest for me. I can understand something suffering then dying quick. But this bug in the cocoon at that spider’s mercy is still alive. I can tell by the way it’s upper legs twitch. It has to endure all that. For a reason unknown to me, spiders love to weave their webs at my bedroom/ office window. I am fascinated by spiders though. I know most people don’t feel the way I do. They would likely have a harder time living here. I live near a nature trail where there are lots and lots of industrious insects. The spider tugged his unwilling prey away. I have had enough of that. 

I stored herbs in jars last night. I dried them in my dehydrator all day yesterday and that was when I understood why I bought the dehydrator. It was so easy, so simple and cut out so much drying time. I plan to use my dehydrator a lot more often. I usually dry herbs on a screen or on my air drying rack but that took out all the work for me I usually do. Yup I have officially upgraded to a dehydrator. I love it. I dried lovage, Thai basil, mugwort, goldenrod, lemon balm, red clover, dandelion leaves, chamomile and St. John’s Wort. 

Samhain is sixty two days away! It is time to prepare. I can’t believe that time of year is here. Curl up with a few good horror books. I can’t get enough of it. I have had the privilege lately of reading some damn good horror fiction. The first novel on my list is The Twisted Ones by Kingfisher. I could not put this book down. The suspense killed me, the characters were amazing and the scary creatures were original. If I saw those creatures staring into my window at night and I was alone in the country, I would freak out too. Next on the list is The Devil Takes you home by Gabino Iglesias. Read. This. Book. I had a hard time muscling my way past a few gruesome scenes in the book but it kept me riveted till the end. I cried for Mario. The situation he ended up in was so tragic and I found his predicament very believable. This novel is terrifying. Read it with the lights on! The next novel on my list is My Heart is a Chainsaw. I am not sure if this classifies as horror. I wasn’t that scared. My Heart is a Chainsaw is a brilliant character driven novel. If you want to get deep into the heart and mind of the main character and the mystery in the town, then this is the novel for you. 

Those novels will definitely get you in the mood for a spooky Samhain. The next novel I plan to read is Devil’s Creek by Todd Keisling, and that is another damn good horror book. I plan to keep writing and working on my own projects too. 

I have to get going but I will post soon. Till then, keep writing and stay spooky!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

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