Tag Archives: writing

May 26, 2026 · 1:29 pm

Dos and Don’ts of Getting Published Part Two )O(

My Mom’s pot of nasturtiums!

Merry meet all,

Today’s post is about more advice on getting your writing onto bookshelves in major retail stores across the country. Don’t we all wish it was so easy? I do. 

The road to success in publication is hard. It was never intended to be easy. There is no such thing as overnight success. If this is the path that you -and me, want, then plan to be working very hard at it. Very hard. Grab a coffee and settle in. It is daunting and may seem impossible, but millions of other more established writers had to start somewhere, right? Right. 

 

I just signed up for the Autocrit Novel90 Writing Challenge! A new horror novel idea is swimming like a (imagine scary fish) in your head. It won’t leave me alone. That is how I know that is what I should write. I have to write a novel in 90 days. I am up for thchallenge! This is one great way to get that novel written, by signing up for these challenges. The challenge forces you to write. I really want to write my new novel so this ensures it will be done! 

  • Do not use AI to help you write your novel or screenplay. Ever. Nope. Nil. Don’t do it. AI is a flashy siren song, sure, but these days, publishers, editors and literay agents can test your writing upon submission and automatically reject your submission/s. It won’t even get a chance, not even a tiny chance. If you want, you can even test your own writing for AI detection prior to submission. So you do still have to write it and edit it YOURSELF. 
  • Instead, do this. Once you have written your draft and taken some time from it, then looked at it with fresh eyes ( and that is all highly recommended, btw), enlist a trusted team of beta readers to help you where you may have overlooked theme, dialogue, plot or setting issues that need revision. I would never send out my writing without asking for a second or even third set of eyes on it. Beta read for them too. This is what I mean by building a support network of fellow writers. You can rally for each other when the going gets hard. And it will. But don’t give up!
  • Branding. Build a brand for yourself. First, decide which genre you love to write in. Look at which authors you love to read, which movies you most love to watch or your favorite podcasts. Do they all have something in common? Do you like westerns with a smidge of sci-fi? Do you prefer gritty grim dark? Or do police procedurals, mysteries or thrillers catch your eye? My brand is Conjuror of Gothic Horror. Publishers, editors and readers all know what to expect from me. I love gothic stories and I love to read them. I love the movies The Woman in Black, The Conjuring, Alien, the Grimm series, the Stranger Things series, Practical Magic and my favourite all time podcast is Lights Out Podcast. Now you get an idea of the genre I write in and enjoy. That’s an example of branding. 
  • Read what other authors have written. I have an unquenchable thirst for the written word. I devoured Necrotek by Jonathan Maberry, The Relic by Tim Lebbon, My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones, and countless other books. If you want to be a writer, read. Read in your chosen genre so you can see how other authors have done it, and read everything you can. Read anything you can get your mitts on. 
  • Find and read or subscribe to magazines for writers such as Writers Digest. Take the courses they offer. I’ve been reading Writers Digest magazine since I could stand. I love their magazines. I get a new issue every time it comes out. I also read Rue Morgue, magazines about the paranormal. I have about fifty magazines on the paranormal. I read, read, read. It has helped improve my writing a thousand times over. 
  • Take writing courses or join a mentorship. Participate in writing conferences or conventions. Just don’t expect to automatically score a lit agent on a novel at the convention asap. But those writing programs and conventions are a great way to meet people, meet professionals in the industry and learn so much more. Keep an open mind, leave your writing – and ego – at home and enjoy the experience. Do bring a blank journal if you wish and scribble in notes, names or maybe any inspirations you dream up. Some courses offer monthly payment options if money is tight. You can learn a lot from those opportunities. 
  • Be patient. Develop a thick skin for rejection letters and have patience. Nothing in publishing is instant. It takes time to be able to be good enough to have your writing published and it takes even longer from book contract to actual publication. Be grateful for what you do get and be nice to fellow authors and editors. Learn from the professionals. Rejections are inevitable. It just means that your writing was not right for that market. I get them too. I keep sending out my writing. Eventually with effort and luck, you can find the right markets for your stories too. 
  • This next tip ties in with what I was saying above. If you choose the paranormal- this is just an example, learn everything you can about it. I have learned all about the different famous hauntings in the world, read lots of magazines, and listened to a ton of podcasts on that subject. It is as deep as it is wide. 
  • The best tip I can give you is: Don’t Quit. You are not doing yourself a favor. If you quit, you will never know if you could have been your best self. You will be replaced by thousands of other writers who will be more than happy to take your place. This field suffers no fools. If you quit, you will never get that contract. So sit your butt in the chair and type. No one sees you writing, no one sees you editing except for Fido your cat, no one sees you rip that rejection letter to shreds. I know. It is hard work and there will be days when you will want to quit, but DON’T! The way ahead is hard and paved with very litte reward, especially at first when you get started. You need to be deeply dedicated to your craft. Like I said earlier, agents and publishers get tons of submissions all the time. Very few succeed in the ways we all dream about. But I can tell you if you quit, you will never know what you are capable of achieving. Look at me, a teacher once told my mother I would never be able to read. Flash forward to the future. Here I am, with a publishing contract, about to have my novella republished, written a thousand + blog posts, and had lots of short stories, poems and nonfiction published. It can be done! 
    • YOu just have to put in the effort. Believe in yourself! Perseverance is more important than talent! 

 

Blessed Be, Spiderwitch )O(

 

 

 

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March 31, 2026 · 10:49 am

Horror Musings by Heddy Johannesen

 

Greetings darklings:

Today’s post is about my blog post to Dawn Wilson’s amazing newsletter. So grab a latte, sit back and enjoy.  

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About

Horror Musings

By Heddy Johannesen

ABOUT HEDDY:

Heddy Johannesen writes gothic horror and paranormal nonfiction and is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her published works include The Cult of the Spider People and a variety of anthologies such as Wicked Shadow Press, Horror Zine, HellBound Books. She’s a member of the Horror Writers Association and co-chair of the Horror Writers Association chapter for Atlantic Canada. Heddy Johannesen has over thirteen years of experience as a freelance writer. She has a background in managing her own freelance writing business, promoting her writing on social media, and developing her writing proposals for publication.

Horror has a seductive hold on us. Horror is like a tentacle crawling from the crypts of our darkest dreams to suck us into horrific nightmares. If done properly, it casts a dark magic, sending chills down readers’ spines.

Now is the time, now is the hour. In my opinion, horror movies such as Insidious 1-2, The Possession of Hannah Grace, and Sinister don’t scare me. I am an avid writer of horror fiction and well read. In order to give readers or viewers the fright royale, readers should be too afraid to not leave the lights on all night and hide under the covers. And curse the writer because they can’t put the book down.

The writer must make extra effort to horrify today’s jaded readers. There is a difference between horror and terror. One of the two you experience more deeply. Terror is more potent. I won’t watch The Exorcist, which deals with similar themes as the movies mentioned above. The Exorcist doesn’t turn away from the revolting horror, it stares it in the eye. It makes you look too, when you don’t want to – and doesn’t let go. The same can be said for Silence of the Lambs. It doesn’t need to gross readers necessarily to scare audiences or readers.

Novels such as Dracula and Frankenstein reflected the time or era in which they were written. In Victorian times, darkly romantic fanged noblemen were scary because the society had different fears and beliefs about death than now. Those fears wouldn’t faze us today. Anne Rice made vampires intimidating and sexy. That is why the novels succeeded. Today, writers like Suzanne Collins draw from what they view in the world. We are more sophisticated now yet desensitized at the same time.

If you want to pen a horror story, I suggest the following tips:

Get out of your own comfort zone. Change the environment where you write. Bring your writing pad, coffee, and lurk in a cemetery, visit a haunted location or a morgue, or research the folklore of your hometown. You might create something original, which can be helpful. Go on a trip to a quiet seaside town that has a paranormal history. Be safe as you explore cemeteries or towns. Getting out of your comfort zone breathes new life into your writing. Buy a tarot deck to inspire you and read dark poetry by a poet you never heard of to give you a fresh perspective on your own writing.

Trust in yourself. If you’re fearful while writing the story, there’s a good chance your reader will be too. Heed your dreams. Often, dreams reflect our daily lives and what is hidden in our subconscious. Heed your insights and flashes of inspiration. I penned a dark novel based on a flash of inspiration that I would never have dreamed up otherwise. Learn all you can and be open minded. Then, when you have created your villainous monster, make him or her or it the main character. Be true to your creation, your own monster. Your readers will recognize the true effort you put in.

Be consistent about the traits, superpowers, or awesome abilities your monster has. We all know vampires hate garlic and sleep in coffins, but maybe a coffin-shaped bookcase could be their nesting spot during the daytime.

Keep a routine when you sit down to work on your story. Reach into the deepest, darkest part of your imagination. Free write a scene of confrontation between your protagonist and your monster. Or the monster is the protagonist? These days, your demon or ghoul needs to be ORIGINAL. Everything in the paranormal novel realm has been done … or has it? That part is up to you. Know your monster! Make it consistent and believable. It must be original.

Clean your writing/office space. Light some sage and clean the energy to allow for the creative energies to flow unimpeded. Light a candle or incense. Play music that inspires you as you create your ghoul or axe-wielding maniac. Create a special playlist and soundtrack. Buy a new set of highlighters, pens, white out, a binder, paper, and a fresh bag of coffee. Do what it takes to make you commit to the writing for the long haul.

If you are seeking more inspiration, clip and keep newspaper articles. Read widely in your chosen genre. That will let you know what has already been written by other authors.

Allow yourself to imagine, you may invent something that no one has done before. That is a huge advantage in the field of writing and publishing. Being original and true to your monster is extremely important. The world wants to read a story that has never been written before. They do not want thirty knockoffs of It or The Babaduk. For example, I published a short story about pumpkins that can eat people. The vines can extend themselves and the pumpkins were toothy and bloodthirsty. Talk about a real twist on our favorite squashes!

The Horror Writers Association has helped me as a writer and helped many other authors.

Audiences and readers today have seen everything. A novel can be successful still, but writers must be unabashedly original to truly terrify their readers. Look at what is happening in society. The monsters of yesterday are not the monsters of today. It worked for Stephen King and Thomas Harris and with luck, it can work for you too. It might spark an idea or two, and you would then be on your way to writing a Gothic novel like Northanger Abbey or something like the Pit and the Pendulum by Poe.

Required Reading

The following books such as On Writing by Stephen King, On Writing Horror- the collection of essays by the Horror Writers Association, The Horror Writer by HellBound Books, Writing Monsters by Phillip Athans, and Writing the Paranormal Novel- Techniques and Exercises by Steven Harper. These books go into real detail about writing about the paranormal. There’s more freedom to create what you want whether that be a sparkly vampire, toothy werewolf, or chain rattling ghost.

After you read these books, highlight the advice, and incorporate it into your writing. For a good story about a ghoul of choice to be believed, it must be believable and written well. All stories benefit from good writing.

Classic horror novels such as Dracula by Bram Stoker should lurk on everyone’s bookcase who want to write a horror novel. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Best Ghost Stories by Stephen Hrennan, Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin and The Amityville Horror. Pay attention to the writers’ craft and develop your own original voice. Read widely in the genre you have chosen to write in. Read Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. Watch the movie of Something Wicked This Way Comes.

Get a good dictionary and thesaurus. Learn your grammar. Don’t be afraid to set a story in a region you are fond of. That can make your story original! You want to be original. 

The First 50 pages by Jeff Gerke
Writing the Paranormal Novel by Steven Harper
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Dave King
On Writing Horror by the Horror Writers Association
Oxford Canadian A-Z of Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation
Formatting and Submitting your Manuscript by Chuck Sambuchino

That may seem like a lot to read, but it is important to get the basics down. I hope this inspires you to pen your own great story.

Writing Tools

Through the centuries, authors used a quill pen and a notebook or a typewriter to create their inspired musings. Today, we have laptops and tablets. Laptops are popular, but I hope to encourage you to try writing using a notebook and pen. This method might seem antiquated, but they worked for Mary Shelley, Emily Dickinson, and other writers of the past. Writing by hand slows you down, makes you reflect more on what you write. I want to share ways to make your writing sessions fun.

I sometimes use a quill pen and write in a journal before storing it on the laptop. Quill pens convey a slower, romantic time. If you wish to use a typewriter, go ahead. I think the quality of writing was better when we used typewriters than laptops because it took more effort. Now we print something off and think it is complete. Nope. I still edit with a red pen on paper. I find reading the works of other writers helps me to write better. I have many books to study and learn from. I don’t just read for enjoyment.

Burn a candle as you write. Essential oils release tension and get you in a writerly state of mind. The oils can be lavender for relaxation, bergamot for spice, and rosemary oil for memory.

Bat wing clothespins are a cute way to organize your musings. Use cool mugs to organize your pens, pencils, CDs, and markers. Use color-coded file folders to store your stories or poems. If you do print out to review and edit on paper, your writing will be stronger. When you read your writing on paper, especially that’s been put aside for a few days, you edit with more clarity.

If you want a magickal-looking notebook, here is a good idea. Peruse through a tarot deck. Find an image you like. Scan it in, print it out in color, and glue it to your notebook cover. Scribble and draw spiders, pentacles, bats, or moon crescents on the plain pages. Before you know it, it will be as magickal as a tome from a witch shop and half the price.

Meditate every time you sit down to write. Glowing scented candles, mystical tarot cards, and your hard-earned words add magic to your life. Your writing space can be a sacred space. It is your space and should be personal and welcoming to you.

Visualize yourself being successful, never a failure. It ensures you will keep trying.

Make sure your desk and computer are ergonomic and that you are seated comfortably. Take breaks and go for a walk to relax your body. Take care of your health. Drink water and get plenty of exercise. Be sure to eat healthy. It is important to practice self-care. There’s nothing cool about being unable to move due to muscle pain. Don’t let this happen to you.

It is important to protect your health from computers. The blue lights can be harmful to your health. Staring at your iPod five seconds before bedtime can seriously affect your health. But we could use cool cover cloths on laptops for nighttime. My laptop is decorated with cool moon phase stickers.

I use tarot cards to spark creativity. I own a ghost tarot deck and it was perfect for when I wrote my novel. The images were spooky and eerily beautiful. There is a good book to help you use tarot cards to help you write. It’s titled Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner. The book is packed with excellent methods on how to use tarot while writing.

I hope this inspires you and encourages you to try your own hand at writing. Creativity is vital and never more so than now. The whole world is in chaos. Creative outlets offer an escape from that. With practice, patience and effort, you can pen your own horror novel. Seeing it on the bookshelf in a shop next to Stephen King or Stephen Graham Jones is an amazing feeling. All you have to do is take that first step.

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Blessings, Spiderwitch

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April 22, 2025 · 11:37 am

The Magick of Spring )O(

Merry meet all,

Beltaine is almost here! Signs of spring are everywhere. Crocuses are blooming and birds chirp to welcome the return of spring. It is a time of renewal. The chill in the air feels invigorating. The frost will change to the warm beckoning days of summer. It is a time of change for me personally. 

I’m moving out of my apartment. The conditions there are so bad it is impossible to live there. I am so excited. I will miss having my own garden but my mother is willing to care for my plants. That’s not a real loss. 

I am excited to participate in the Author’s Journey with Crystal Lake Publishing. Here is a description of the workshop from the website:

Unleash Your Novella in Just 13 Weeks!

Crystal Lake Academy presents our fourth Author’s Journey workshop (all online), and we’re proud to say that many of our students have gone on to receive publishing contracts.

Dive into the thrilling challenge of crafting your own novella with direct guidance from Joe Mynhardt, founder and CEO of Crystal Lake Publishing (as well as an award-winning editor and story coach), and a professional editing team by your side. This 13-week workshop is designed to transform your eerie ideas into a gripping novella, ready to chill the spines of readers worldwide. Preferred genres include Horror, Thrillers, Dark Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, and Suspense.

What You’ll Get:

  • You’ll start off with a one-on-one story coaching session with Joe before the course launches May 1st. You’ll receive personalized guidance from a publishing/marketing veteran to help you navigate the challenges of novella writing.
  • Each editor will present a Zoom session throughout the 13 week workshop covering everything from opening scenes and plot development to character creation and building suspense.
  • We’ll have voluntary check-ins every second Saturday via Zoom to keep you motivated and on track. There will be deadlines for your first 10k words and so on.
  • Accountability deadlines, which is so important for any author’s journey.
  • Benefit from multiple rounds of feedback on your second draft, with input from at least two different editors and a fellow author/student during the peer assessment.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or need help finishing your first novella, this workshop is your gateway to bringing your stories to life. Secure your spot and start your journey to novella success today!

I plan to write a sequel to the Cult of the Spider People: Bone Chillers #1. This workshop will help with that. This will force me to write it! That push is sometimes just what I need to motivate me to write. I’m also editing my other horror novel, The Ghost of Windswept Bay and I have to write a true crime book about Ed Gein. I may change that though. He was a truly horrid monster. 

I will be busy, that’s for sure. I have more good news: Wicked Shadow Press published my sixth flash fiction story, Mandrake Potion, for their Flash of the Dead: Reloaded anthology. I am very happy about that. They gave me a complimentary digital copy.  

I will be back with more good news and updates on the workshop. I hope you are all enjoying spring. 

Blessed be, Spiderwitch 

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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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September 1, 2024 · 11:02 am

Interview with horror author Todd Zack )O(

 

 

Merry meet all,

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

Which other horror authors influenced you the most and why?

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

Tell me about your writing/ editing process

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

What inspires you to write horror?

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

What do you love about indie publishing?

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

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

Is there any music that helps you to write?

Rain sounds (medium rainfall) by Alexa.

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

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

Where can readers find you on social media?

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

https://twitter.com/iamthatami

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

 

 

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July 29, 2024 · 8:44 pm

Interview with horror author Shaun Avery )O(

Merry meet all,

Welcome everyone. Today we’re chatting with Shaun Avery as he shares his passion for horror with us. 

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

 

Why horror?  Because it’s my favourite genre, of course!  Also because it’s the most versatile – you can tell a great horror story in 100 words and you can tell an equally great horror story in 1000 pages.  Plus it’s the most malleable for mashing up genres – there’s sci-fi horror, fantasy horror, noir horror, just to name a few.  My own favourite subgenre has to be body horror – blame seeing Hellraiser at an early impressionable age.

Which other horror authors influenced you the most and why?

 

The one that blew me away the most was definitely the late, great Richard Laymon – before him, the only horror I’d encountered was small town-set, Stephen King-inspired sort of stuff, and I was completely unprepared for the savage, unrepentant splatterpunk of that much-missed master.  To this day, the best book I’ve ever read is one of his, Island.  I’d encourage anyone with a strong stomach and a sick sense of humour to go check it out.  Also Bentley Little, Ed Gorman, Jack Ketchum, Brian Keene, Edward Lee, Bryan Smith – all the extreme guys for always pushing it to the limits (and often beyond).

Plus, in comics, Garth Ennis.  I’m such a massive fanboy of his.

Tell me about your writing/editing process.

 The first draft is always just the bare bones of the story – he went here and this happened, she went there and thathappened, that sort of thing.  This allows me to find the feel of the story, to get an idea of what it’s trying to say.  Then the next draft is smoothing it up, fleshing it out.  Next comes the really fun part, where you get to add all the extras, embellish the themes, make it sing . . .

That description makes it sound a whole lot simpler than it sometimes actually is!

What inspires you to write horror?

 It’s kind of the same as why I said I like it – it’s so versatile.  You can deal with any and all issues with horror and that’s why I keep going back to it both as a reader and writer – tales of terror can tell us so much about our lives and ourselves.

What do you love about indie publishing?

 The friends I’ve made and the lessons I’ve learned that have helped me become a better writer.  Mainly the former, though – there are so many cool people I would never have encountered had I not picked up a pen (another part of the editing process – when I’m writing prose, I do everything in handwriting first and then type it up) and hit a ‘send’ button sometime later.  That still kind of blows my mind sometimes.

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

Damn, I already spoilered my answer for the book above!  As for movies, within the horror genre it’d have to be The Evil Dead and American Psycho, that latter one officially the most quotable film ever.  My all-time favourite movies, though, are the Zack Snyder DC Comics trilogy, especially Batman VS Superman.  I went to the midnight screening for that one.  That was a fun time!

Is there any music that helps you to write?

 I have such an eclectic taste in music, my YouTube algorithm must sometimes think I am several different people.  It’s usually punk or metal when I’m writing, though, Green Day and The Offspring for the former, Metallica and Megadeth for the latter (amongst many, many others!)  The heavier stuff tends to go best with the often gross-out things I write.

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

 Comics are the medium I love most, both as a writer and a reader, so this self-published, co-created work will always have a special place in my heart: http://www.comicsy.co.uk/dbroughton/store/products/spectre-show/

Where can readers find you on social media?

On Facebook, under shaun.avery.50 – I’m something of a luddite, so Facebook is as far down the social media rabbit hole as I wish to go.

 

Brian Smith who I interviewed on this blog recently has cause to celebrate. His short story collection is released into the wild today. Read more about it here:

Strange Discovery and Other Strange Discoveries

It’s been six years since Brian J. Smith, the author of such novels as Bad Allergies, Dark Avenues and Dead River, has gathered a fright fest of stories to whet any horror fan’s appetite for the weird, dark tales with his first short story collection “Dark Avenues”.
Now, he returns with a brand new collection featuring seventeen dark tales.
A private eye searching for a missing teen discovers a strange town ritual…
A weary traveler discovers that the darkness harbors more than just shadows…
Two brothers discover that disturbing a demonic ritual has consequences…
When something crashes outside of a local radio station, a DJ discovers that it is just more than a meteor shower…
These stories are more are just waiting to be unraveled and read with the lights on.
As we said the last time you read a Brian J. Smith collection, don’t say we didn’t warn you.
“Phenomenal storytelling that will make you wish each story would go on and on. Brian is one to look out for.”
-Shannon Bradner, Curb Stomp
“From nostalgic, slasher-type tales and urban legends to a glimpse into an afterlife at the Infinity Drive-in, Brian J. Smith serves up horrific, bite-sized helpings of terrifying sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Brian’s love of the horror genre comes through with every word”. -Kerry E.B. Black, author of CarNex: Storm

You can catch Brian Smith in an interview here at this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/k5-DrodEvN4?si=KiJ-grJInv9C20iP

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

 #horror #horrorfiction #horrormovies #author #supernatural #paranormal 

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July 21, 2024 · 4:34 pm

Interview with horror author Zack Ellenberger

 

Merry meet all,

 

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

 

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

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

Which other horror authors influenced you the most and why?

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

Tell me about your writing/ editing process

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

What inspires you to write horror?

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

What do you love about indie publishing?

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

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

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

Is there any music that helps you to write?

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

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

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

Where can readers find you on social media?

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

 

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

 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

https://unveiling-nightmares.com/

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July 20, 2024 · 2:53 pm

Interview with horror author Ashley Fox

Merry meet all,

Today we meet to chat with Ashley. Let’s settle in with our rich dark coffees and clear a few cobwebs here. Read on if you dare! 

 

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

 

I love the feeling it gives me. The heart pounding in your chest feeling when you don’t know what is going to happen or what is going to jump out and scare you. Anything could happen and you never know which way things are going to go. I love horror of all kinds. Slashers are my favorite and have been since I was a kid. I love the extreme horror side. The gorier the better!

 

Which other horror authors influenced you the most and why?

 

When I started out in the horror community it was as an editor. A few people had trusted me with their projects and I thought it was so cool that they got to do this and put their work out there for everyone to read. Stuart Bray was the one who gave me the shove to publish my first book. He helped me through the process, plus he writes one hell of a book! He is always an automatic buy for me. He inspires me to dig deeper and work harder on the things I love. Chuck Nasty is another inspiration to me. He encourages me to write, has shown me new ways to look at what I am writing, and has made me a better writer.

 

Tell me about your writing/editing process.

 

I hand write a lot of things before I get them on my computer. I have a full notebook from when I wrote Little Glass Jars. Some pages are writing, others have lists of potential names for characters, and some have drawings of things like floor plans of the homes I am using as settings so that I can get it all just right. The hand writing process helps me to be able to re read what I have as I type it out, and to be able to flip through the pages and see what I have without scrolling up and down my document. I then print everything and edit with pen on paper. With self publishing I order an author copy so that I can go over it again and put tabs in pages for any fixes I need to make before telling everyone it is available to order. It sounds like a lot of work but I feel like it’s worth it to me to make what I am putting out there as close to perfect as I can be. There will always still be mistakes but this process helps me cut down on a lot of them. 

 

What inspires you to write horror?

 

I have always been a horror fan. I am also the person who guesses the endings to shows and movies way before the twist happens. I started writing because I wanted to put something out there that not many people would see coming. Not all books have that big twist and I have since started going back to the things that drew me to horror in the first place, the old slashers, the gore, and all things campy. 

 

What do you love about indie publishing?

 

The support in the indie publishing circle is phenomenal. Everyone encourages one another and shares the work of other people. We have all been through the same process and know that it is something worth cheering for. 

 

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

 

Scream is my all time favorite horror movie. It combines so many of my favorite elements into one film. There are creative kills, blood and gore, and the twist at the end. I have seen it a million times, but the look on Billy’s face as he turns for the big reveal is just the perfect scene. I am a sucker for old horror. I love everything by Edgar Allan Poe, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, that kind of thing. I also love zombie books, Stephen King, and mysteries like the ones Kathy Reichs writes. I feel like I mash them all together for inspiration. It’s not just one thing, it’s a combination of so many. 

 

Is there any music that helps you to write?

 

I can’t listen to music when I write. I love music too much and I would be distracted by the songs and not get anything written. I will often put on a show that I have seen multiple times so that I don’t feel like I have to pay attention, it’s just on in the background. Something like Supernatural, The Walking Dead, Dexter, or Nip/Tuck.

 

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

 

I have a few things going right now. I bounce around from one to the other so it could be a while before any are ready to go. I have been working on a slasher book, a revenge type extreme horror story, and I will be in an anthology in the fall so keep your eyes open for that one. I have also started work on a follow up to my debut Little Glass Jars. 

 

Where can readers find you on social media?

 

I post everything about upcoming projects on Instagram under Ashley Fox Author. I don’t have a website yet, but maybe one day! For now you can pick up my books on Amazon, and my short story collection Heebie Jeebies is also on Godless.


Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

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July 14, 2024 · 1:33 pm

Interview with horror author Brian Smith )O(

Merry meet all,

Welcome, everyone, to a very special blog post. Today we are discussing horror with successful author Brian Smith. Brian has agreed to chat in my dark cobweb ridden corner of the web, so let’s get started. 

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

As a kid who grew up in the 80’s, as a part of Generation X, horror was everywhere. Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and slasher films in general but I was mostly interested in bug movies like Kingdom Of The Spiders, Island Claws, Frogs and such.

It’d have to be a supernatural horror because there’s so many things ghosts can do some really fucked up shit like change your Wi-Fi password or chase you up the stairs after turn off all the lights in the house.

Which other horror authors influenced you the most and why?

Edgar Allan Poe got to me first, then Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, Richard Laymon, Jack Ketchum, Brian Keene, Edward Lee, Bentley Little and H.P. Lovecraft. 

What inspires you to write horror?

On top of growing up with slasher and bug movies, I also grew up with Stephen King movies. I checked out Stephen King’s Night Shift from the local library when I was twelve and then I fed myself every Dean Koontz book I could get my hands on. I’ve always enjoyed the fact that authors can turn the everyday lives of an everyday person by throwing them into a panicked and harried situation.

Tell me about your writing/ editing process

My writing process is as fucked up as my editing process because I’ll sit down and get the bare bones of the story out of my head and then I’ll print it out and go through it as best as I can and edit the entire book by adding new paragraphs and scenes into the book and as the meme says, “I do all of my best editing after I hit SEND”.

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

Everyone goes through a horror at some point in their lives whether its an abusive spouse or family member or some life-altering shift in their young and impressionable life at one time or another.

I write horror because it’s real. I write horror because we welcome unknown horrors every time we change our lives for the better and yet we don’t realize that until it’s too late. It’s how we overcome them that matters. We have more free range when it comes to indie publishing. We can put whatever we want in our books, publish them whenever we want and make them as long as we want them to be.

The original Night Of The Living Dead and Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. They inspired me to write horror and although I haven’t done a vampire novel yet but the former inspired me to write my novel “Dead River”.  It depends upon what I’m writing.

Is there any music that helps you to write?

If I’m writing horror, I listen to a dark lo-fi hip-hop playlist. If I’m writing a crime noir, then its’s something like jazz noir or dark noir music.

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

I’m writing the second book of a trilogy featuring two “supernaturalists” who investigate supernatural locations. I’ve written the outline of a body horror novella and I’m always writing short stories.

Where can readers find you on social media?

Facebook under Brian J. Smith

 Threads and Instagram under horrorauthor9

About the author

Brian J. Smith is the author of Dark Avenues, 1342 Lindley Road, The Tuckers, Consuming Darkness Abbie’s Wrath, Bad Allergies and Dead River. His short fiction has been published in The Horror Zine, Dark Horses: The Magazine Of Weird Fiction and The Drabblecast. He resides in southeastern Ohio has too many books and buys more, thinks that Valentine’s Day should be replaced by Second Halloween and doesn’t drink enough coffee. He is an affiliate member of The Horror Authors Guild and can be found on Facebook under Brian Smith, Twitter under BrianJS913 and on Instagram under horrorauthor9.

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May 18, 2024 · 6:43 pm

My author interview )O(

Merry meet all,

 Today’s post focuses on an author interview I am part of. I hope you enjoy reading the interview.

Interview With Author Heddy Johannesen

Posted on by

Q: If you could have a fantasy pet, what would you have and why?
A: A black shiny raven that talks. I already have a cat. The raven would be my eyes and ears
to the world, and report back to me!

Q: What type of music best describes your writing?
A: I listen to scary music to get into the mindset. When I wrote Cult of the Spider People,
listening to the Alien soundtrack helped me write the dark morbid parts of the story. I
also listen to Heilung, Viking music which is a part of my ancestry.

Q: Tell us about your writing office/space and why it’s special to you.
A: My writing space is in my small bedroom in my small apartment. Cozy, well lit, with tons of
books and files, writing supplies, cat hair. I feel like I can be my most creative self in my
little nook. It’s special because it is full of cool knickknacks like I just went shopping at
Hogwarts. It feels comfortable. I brought nature indoors. Leaves, vines, flowers, crystal balls,
candles, cauldrons.

Q: What is your favorite piece of visual art that has inspired a story or two?
A: I like skull art. I really like skulls. I have skulls on dishes, journals, jewelry. I think they
are like a representation of someone’s life, used to be in a shell of a living human body.
Skulls are beautiful and yet dark, because they are a part of death and yet if clean, intact,
like they go on after death.

Q: If you didn’t write full-time what would your day job be? Is writing a hobby for you?
A: I love to write. I love to read. I am studying to be a professional herbalist. I would be
holed up drinking coffee, poring over ancient herbals and making tinctures and syrups.
Writing is not a hobby. I love to write but I have to find a way to support myself so I can
write.

Q: What is your writing schedule and how many words do you write in a sitting?
A: I write on my blog. I write about a few thousand words in a sitting. It depends on the
project. I like to write flash fiction, stories. I am also writing a ghost nonfiction book.

Q: How do you celebrate publishing a new story?
A: I pet my cat, maybe have some wine, treat myself to something nice.

Q: How do you balance your outside life with your writing life?
A: I try to blend both. I love to visit cemeteries. I take photos in cemeteries for the HWA
newsletter. I do find it challenging sometimes to work on my horror writing and my
herbalism course studies. But I do the best I can. Cemeteries inspire me too. Sometimes I
write there in a cemetery.

Q: Write your eulogy in three sentences.
A: Here lies a dead poet. Her horror stories live on beyond the grave. She wished to be buried
with her books and pens to pen more morbid novels and short stories in her coffin.

Q: What project are you most proud of completing?
A: I believe that I am most proud of completing Cult of the Spider People. It was not like
any story I have ever written before. It was extremely challenging. I grew as a writer. I
will not ever be the same. It brought me out of my comfort zone. I learned so much, had
to improve my writing, realize when a manuscript is and is not ready to be submitted and
overcome a nasty scam editor. Everything was thrown at me but I am happy that I sailed
past those conflicts. I am proud that my short story, The Grimm Pumpkin, was published
four times. I completed a small book of poetry and I am happy about my novella, Cult of
the Spider People.

Q: Do you have any projects you would like to tell your readers about?
A: I have had a few flash fiction stories published in anthologies by Wicked Shadow Press. I
have a few pieces published in the Horror Zine.

Q: Who is your favorite character from any of your stories and why? If you had to choose a
popular author to continue writing this character in another book who would you choose
and why?
A: I would say that Piper Marshall, the main character from Cult of the Spider People is a
character I would continue to write in another book. She is not like me at all. She is great
but impatient and stubborn and young and brave. She was a lot of fun to write. She loves
and cares about those closest to her. She would make a huge sacrifice for someone she
cares about and goes through all these dangerous experiences in the novella.

Q: Where can your readers find you on social media?
A: I am on Facebook and Twitter. My cat is on Instagram at #pennygingercat. I can be found on
Twitter at magicka66, on Facebook where I have a page – the Paranormal Quill. I also
have a blog titled The Paranormal Quill.

Bio: My fiction has appeared in The Horror Zine, Yule Cat Codex, Halloweenthology: Trick or Treat, Polar Borealis, Wax and Wane: A Gathering of Witchy Tales, Ghosts, Spirits and Spectres Volume 2, Handbook of the Dead, Samhain Secrets, One Night in Salem, Feminine Macabre, Paranormal Chronicles and Untimely Frost: Poetry Unthawed. I’m a member of the Horror Writers Association and co-chair of the Horror Writers Association chapter for Atlantic Canada. I’ve attended the virtual Horror Writers Association Annual Convention StokerCon, in 2021, 2022 and 2023. I participated in the online From Idea to Finished First Draft Masterclass with Jonathan Maberry in June 2023, the Three Prime Rules of Writing Horror Webinar with Mort Castle in October 2020 and a mentorship with Tim Waggoner. I graduated from a Copy-Editing Certification Training at Writer’s Digest in July 2020 and a Bachelor of Arts degree. I’m a writer with a fascination for the paranormal.

Related

Author Interview with Desiree HortonIn “Author Interview”

Interview With Author Eric OteroIn “Book Reviews”

See What Toshio Cat Has To SayIn “Book Reviews”

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

Interview With Author Heddy Johannesen

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