Click here for your FREE ebook: The SPARREW One-Year Anniversary Ebook!
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SPARREW ISSUE FIFTY-TWO
Welcome to the SPARREW Newsletter!
The newsletter for Self-Publishers, Authors, Readers, Reviewers, Editors and Writers!
Welcome to the May 2026 issue of the SPARREW Newsletter! So glad to have you on board!
It never fails. Every time I type “No part of this work was created with AI in any way, shape, or form” in an email, I have to stop and marvel over how there used to be a time when such a statement was never called for when submitting work to an editor. I was a young adult in college when I made the leap into freelance writing, and during that time (mid-1990s), AI was not an issue. As far as I knew, no one was using AI for writing or creating book covers. So stating that I did not use AI in the writing I was submitting was not needed.
But times have changed. Nowadays, we have authors including a statement in their books that they did not use AI in any way to write their books. Alternatively, there are authors who confess to using AI for interior illustrations or for the self-editing process. We also have authors using AI to generate ideas for new books as well as to help write them.
It's the “writing” part that garners the most controversy. There is a very large crowd who are against using AI in any way during the writing process (I am one of them), decrying any and every excuse for using it by stating that using AI for writing is lazy and uncreative. Using AI for writing is basically relying on a machine to write, not human creativity or ingenuity. Whenever I come across anti-AI statements in writer’s guidelines, the common feeling is that the editors want work by humans, not machines. The magic of fiction that makes it so amazing or inspiring to read is the level of creativity that goes into creating a story, and if that creativity is not there, the story falls flat and readers can lose interest.
A machine doesn’t have the ability to be creative or imaginative; a human does. And it’s the human that can add a personal touch, creative magic, and thoughtful insight to their work. That’s what editors want, and that’s what will help you to get your writing published.
We’ve got a great issue for you this month!
It’s always great to come across another self-published author through social media. I often check out their websites and I was impressed by the work that has been published by Joyce Reynolds-Ward. I reached out to see if she had time for an interview and, fortunately, she was able to make that time. Read all about her experiences as a self-published author in the self-publisher section below!
As someone who spends time on social media every day, I have also been exposed to a lot of authors out there. Sometimes I’m able to connect with them and/or follow them. One such author is Carl Bluesy, whose posts have constantly grabbed my interest. Carl asked me to review his novel The Skin Room, which released this month. He also took some time to be interviewed for the author section.
In the writer section, you’ll get to meet Arindam Kalita, who has written many short stories for a variety of publications and anthologies. Arindam spent some time being interviewed for the writer section of this month’s issue, and you’ll get to learn about his journey towards publication.
This month’s feature article touches on a controversial topic: The use of AI in creative pursuits. Specifically, the use of AI in creating book covers. After Lindsey Goddard shared on Facebook about how there are many non-AI options available to self-published and indie authors looking to create book covers, I reached out and asked her if she was interested in sharing this information in an article. Lindsey put together a fantastic piece titled “Fight the Machine” and if you’re interested in how to create your own covers without using AI, you might want to check this article out!
The lovely Carolyn Howard-Johnson returns with a new article, this time focusing on the care of our smartphone batteries. Check out her latest Tricky Editing Tips column to learn more!
I hope you enjoy this issue! Feel free to drop me a note or connect with me on social media! I'd love to connect with you!
Enjoy this issue!
New post at Dawn Colclasure’s Blog:
Catch up with me online!
Check out archived issues of the SPARREW Newsletter here:
https://sparrewarchives.blogspot.com/
All current issues will be posted on my website here:
https://www.dmcwriter.com/the-sparrew-newsletter
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!
The SPARREW Newsletter is now a paying publication!
If you have an article you think might fight our needs, please send it our way!
We are interested in articles on the following topics:
Self-Publishing
Authors (interviews, articles promoting new releases, book marketing and promotion, website building and pointers, etc.)
Anything to do with books (analysis, reviews, breakdowns, etc.)
Book Reviewing
Editing and Editors
Writing
Each article should be no more than 2000 words. Must include a headshot and bio with your submission. Payment is $10 through PayPal, on publication. Reprints welcome and you retain all rights to your work. You grant SPARREW Books the right to reprint your article in a future ebook edition as well as the right to promote your article online.
Submit your work to Dawn at DMCWriter@gmail.com with "SPARREW Submission" in the subject line. Please submit your article as a .doc or .docx file. No PDFs. Any articles not relevant to the newsletter will be deleted unread. Please send your best work; articles will be published as-is.
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ATTENTION WRITERS OF BOOKS AND ASPIRING AUTHORS!
A new publishing company is in town! This indie press specializes in horror, but it is also open to books in other genres.
Twisted Dreams Press is a brand new independent publisher accepting submissions of short story collections, novelettes, novellas and novels from authors in a variety of genres!
We provide developmental feedback for manuscripts we are interested in accepting. We also provide editing, cover design, and formatting. We will promote your book on our social media pages, our newsletter, through the SPARREW Newsletter, as well as on Dawn’s Substack via interviews and book excerpts. All of this is at NO COST to you.
Check out our website to find out all the details!
Be sure to follow us on our Facebook page and our other social media platforms, which are all easily accessible from our websit.
Please like our Facebook page
Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our news
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MY MAY SUBSTACK POSTS:
Can’t Write? This Solution Might Work for You!
Do Writers Need to Be Everything, Everywhere, All At Once?
How To Get into the Right Headspace in Order to Write
Has Your Publisher Gone Bust? How to Get Your Book Back Out There!
Your Writing Doesn't Have an Expiration Date
THANK YOU…
Thank you, Able News, for publishing my article "Order Up! School Cafés Brew Confidence and Job Skills" in the May 2026 issue! You can read it here.
Thank you, Dark Moon Rising Publications, for publishing my short story "Final Answer" in Teen Screams, a new YA horror anthology. Here is the book’s link:
Thank you, First Chapter Plus Magazine, for including my article "Eight Great Gardening Books for Kids" in the May 2026 issue! My article is on page 22.
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Motivational Quote:
“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.”—Margaret Atwood
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SELF-PUBLISHER CORNER
Self-Publisher Interview with Joyce Reynolds-Ward
1. What can you tell me about your experience as a writer?
I have been writing off and on for most of my life, starting with writing and submitting work to science fiction magazines when I was in high school. Alas, I didn’t sell anything then. I sold a couple of short stories in the 90s, but had more luck placing work in Portland ‘zines and periodicals during that era, doing more journalism and what is now called “creative nonfiction” than fiction. I stopped writing for a while, except for a column in the Portland State Vanguard when I was going to grad school to get my special education teaching certificate. Then I got swept up in teaching work until one day I went into my room, looked at my desk piled high with special education reports I had to write (pretty much technical writing), and said “I want to write fiction again.”
So I did. I’ve sold nearly 30 short stories to assorted markets, and earned a SemiFinalist placement in one of the Writers of the Future quarterly competitions. Then I started submitting my books to traditional publishing, at about the time that self-publishing became feasible. At that point, I moved my book writing over to self-publishing rather than continue to submit work, especially since I had traditionally published writer friends who were starting to run into problems with their series being cancelled, or having to adopt multiple pseudonyms because they wrote across different genres. They all fell into what is called the “midlist”—the non-blockbuster books—and I realized that I wanted to have more control over my work.
I started self-publishing books in 2011. In 2019, a New York Times best-selling author that I workshopped with advised me to try traditional publishing again with a big book. Well, I had a book ready to go, and … sigh. COVID happened. And that big book turned into a quartet (The Martiniere Legacy Quartet) that led to three spinoff series. But I’ve also written a fantasy series, a cyberpunk skiing space exploration series, and several standalones since then.
2. What made you decide to write a book?
I’ve always wanted to tell stories, and started writing books when I was a little kid. I wanted to see people like me—i.e., women—in assorted roles that I didn’t see when I was growing up in the 60s and 70s.
3. What circumstances brought you to the decision to self-publish your book?
Experiences with traditional publishing made me realize that while I write well and can tell a good story, the stories I want to tell are considered to be niche and don’t necessarily fit in a traditional publisher’s line. I like to use Pacific Northwest-type settings in science fiction and fantasy, and I combine unusual things—like cyberpunk and skiing, agricultural technology and mind control technology, fantasy that’s set in a somewhat Pacific Northwest location without castles or traditional European-type structures, and so on. There’s more of that now, but twelve, fifteen years ago? Not so common.
4. What has your experience as a self-publisher been like?
Pretty decent overall. Because of my past experience and connections with people in traditional publishing, I’ve mostly been able to avoid scammers. Not completely, unfortunately! Let me just say this: the Writer Beware blog is your best friend, both for self-publishing and traditional publishing.
It doesn’t hurt that I also have the experience of working as a complex securities litigation paralegal, and developed an awareness of what most of the red flags could be. But … a lot of it depends on networking and connections, even in self-publishing. It helps to be able to do a check-in with others about “is this a red flag? Is this legitimate or not?”
But for me, one of the joys of self-publishing (and sometimes a nightmare, to be honest) is the ability to take control of the whole process, from first draft to release. I can look at my books and be proud that I have turned out 32 works that some people like to read. Any success or failure is squarely on my own shoulders. That’s a big deal for me, and a huge part of the reward for my work.
5. How do you respond to the negative stigma attached to self-publishing and self-published books?
I feel that this stigma is becoming less common these days. Otherwise, I just ignore it. The reality is that traditional publishing puts out bad books with less-than-perfect writing and less-than-perfect editing, too. I have spoken publicly about the business of self-publishing, and, frankly, traditionally published writers need to know about publishing business, as well as self-published writers.
Truth is, the same people who turn their noses up at self-publishing are just as likely to be scornful of commercial genres as well. You’re never going to get completely away from the haters! Plus, there are genres such as romance and mystery that are becoming more and more dominated by self-publishing, as opposed to traditional publishing.
For me, the best response is to turn out the best book that I can write and produce. I’m still learning.
6. What is one very important lesson you have learned as a self-publisher so far?
Always remain flexible and ready to pivot. ALWAYS. And that will look different from one year to the next. What is best practice in one financial quarter may not be best practice in the next quarter. Keep track of your sales data, and keep one eye on trends, not just in what’s popular with readers but what’s happening with covers and publishing formats. Watch what’s happening with distributors, and if something promising and new comes along that’s legitimate—for example, the brief rise of Amazon’s Kindle Vella—jump on it early if you can. If it succeeds, then great! If not, get out before you lose much money. There are lots of little things like Vella that may last for a year or two, but keep an eye on how it’s going because often such ventures may not be lasting. Knowing when to move on is crucial.
7. What do you know now about self-publishing that you wish you knew at the beginning?
I wish I had focused more on building my newsletter and developing my website earlier than I did. That’s a foundation for promotion, and I didn’t spend enough time early on trying to learn about promotion—though I did learn very quickly that Kindle Unlimited was not my market. Not that I was thrilled about KU—I don’t like being tied down to one distributor.
8. A lot of authors of self-published books have reservations about promoting and marketing their book. Some even feel that it is a form of vanity or self-importance. What is your opinion about this?
I’ll be the first to say that I’m a poor marketer. Promotion is a necessary evil. I don’t have reservations about it, but I also don’t want to throw bales of money at advertising. In my opinion, if you spend $9000 to earn $10,000, was it worth it? Did you actually earn anything once you take out the expenses of editing, covers, and possibly audiobook production?
For me, it’s a matter of taking the time to do marketing and promotion when I’d much rather be writing. Paid advertising requires a lot of expense and A/B testing, and … I just don’t have the patience or the desire to throw that kind of money at advertising. Especially when I see publicists for traditional publishing openly admit that they don’t always know what does and doesn’t work for book sales.
I like to hope I’m getting better, but … I don’t know.
9. How do you promote your books and what form of book promotion has worked the best for you?
I currently do most of my promotion on social media. Every time I look at the prices for BookBub, Amazon, or Facebook ads, I choke because I don’t have the confidence that it will pay off. I make promo slides on BookBrush and run my sales links through book landing pages on my website.
Right now, what’s working best for me is participating in bundles on Itch. I’m getting ready to launch a Patreon sometime this summer where I will most likely be serializing some of my projects. Once I wrap up getting my books relisted with distributors after leaving Draft2Digital, I’ll have time to focus on that project.
I’m also putting out themed samplers of my work—corporate weirdness, western, relationships, and dysfunctional families. They’re available through BookFunnel, in the Joyce’s Books section of my Substack, or through links in the onboarding sequence for my newsletter. I’m also planning to distribute those samplers locally in print form. I may add those links to my website, but that’s a work in progress.
10. What are some other important things you have learned as a self-publisher?
I’ve developed multiple software skills including a little bit about graphic design, working with formatting programs, and word processing. And, despite my claims that I’m a poor marketer, I’ve learned more about marketing—and I’ve learned how to create booklets easily.
11. Do you feel that self-publishing is a viable choice for other authors?
It really depends on a person’s goals and the degree to which you are seeking self-validation, as well as your ability to run a small business.
Self-publishing requires an author to be able to step back from the creative side of their work and look at the business side—following trends, keeping tabs on what is happening with publishing overall, managing your financials, plus figuring out what you can do yourself and what would be best off delegated to someone else.
There is no one good answer that covers every situation because each person brings different competencies and varying comfort levels with the many aspects of publishing work to the business. How much time are you willing to put into learning about book production? Marketing? Graphics? How much money and time are you willing to invest in this business?
I spend a bit of time reading books about publishing, not only current day but publishing history. It’s useful to read Anthony Trollope’s books that talk about publishing, for example, because while aspects of the industry were different in his day, there are aspects that I believe we are hearkening back to (deep breath, I need to start looking up Charles Dickens as well). Publishing is a significant subthread in Trollope’s The Way We Live Now, especially since he bases a lot of it not just on his experience as a writer but his mother’s experience. Or read about the Brontës—not just their family drama but the mechanics of their publishing. Or Louisa May Alcott. All of these writers provide a useful perspective for the modern self-published writer, because, well—serials are coming back into play. To some extent writers before the 20th Century published their own work.
I think being willing to do this sort of reading is absolutely crucial for a self-published writer, even more so than for a traditionally published writer.
But the validation piece is just as important as the managing a small business piece. Both traditional publishing and self-publishing are a long game. With traditional publishing, the process of being accepted and paid for your work helps one feel validated. Self-publishing doesn’t necessarily have that particular reward. There are days when the sales dashboards don’t show any movement. Or the reviews suck. There are times when you can feel like an outsider because you are less likely to win major awards in your genre of choice. On the other hand, once you develop followers and fans, that is its own reward. When you are tabling at an event and someone makes a beeline for your table to buy a new book, that’s great.
You have to decide to what degree you are comfortable with managing a small business and how much you desire validation before you make your decision as to whether self-publishing is for you or not.
12. How do you feel that self-publishing their books has helped many unknown authors finally get the recognition their books deserve?
That’s a tough question, in part because I want to refer back to the validation piece I brought up in the previous question. I think it helps for an author to be realistic about recognition. Traditional publishing doesn’t always gain recognition for a writer’s work! Self-publishing can feel like a lot of work for little reward at times.
But I strongly believe that self-publishing works well for writers who don’t necessarily fit the mold of traditional publishing. The reality is that even back in 2012, it was becoming clear that competent, excellent writers who hadn’t broken out of the midlist but who had followings were slowly being eased out of traditional publishing. I think back to one science fiction panel featuring a big New York editor that I attended with a group of my friends, all of us middle-aged women, some of us traditionally published, some of us self-published. It became clear as the editor spoke that we were not the writers that this editor was looking for—and it had nothing to do with the quality of our work, or our ideas. This person was looking for sparkling debut writers—a trend that is noted now, but was less-common then. We all walked out of that panel with the comment that “New York doesn’t want us.”
Despite the claims that reading just isn’t popular these days, I have to wonder. I occasionally drop into a Classic Literature group on Tumblr and see a lot of excitement and energy about books from younger readers. Self-publishing provides an opening for many niche books that traditional publishing would overlook—and I think that is important, in the long run.
ABOUT JOYCE:
Joyce Reynolds-Ward has been called “the best writer I’ve never heard of” by one reviewer. She has published over 32 books that include themes of high-stakes family, corporate, and political conflict, digital sapience, personal agency, realistic strong women, and (whenever possible) horses, frequently in Pacific Northwest settings.
She is the author of six speculative fiction series: The Netwalk Sequence, Goddess's Honor, The Martiniere Legacy Quartet, The People of the Martiniere Legacy, The Martiniere Multiverse, and The Cost of Power, as well as standalones Vision of Alliance, Federation Cowboy, Beating the Apocalypse, Klone's Stronghold: Reeni and Alien Savvy.
Joyce is a Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off Semifinalist, a Writers of the Future SemiFinalist, and an Anthology Builder Finalist. She is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, co-chair of SFWA’s Independent Author Committee, and a member of Soroptimists International.
Social media links:
Bluesky: @joycereynoldsward.bsky.social
SELF-PUBLISHING NEWS:
"Launch Yourself into Launch Mode" by Kim Catanzarite
via Self-Publishing 101 Blog
"Authors! Crummy Covers Crush Clicks!!" by Richard Hoy
via WritersWeekly
AUTHOR CORNER
Author Interview with Carl Bluesy
1. When did you start writing?
Roughly about 10 years ago. I wanted to give writing a go after reading, Stephen King’s The Shining. I wrote a novelette ghost story that heavily featured the winter elements.
That was just for fun.
In 2020, when I had a lot more free time because of Covid, I decided to get serious about my writing. I wrote a lot of short stories that year, and started working on my first novel, The Desire in the Damned.
2. What was your journey towards becoming an author like?
A lot of weird ideas came out of those first four years. That was play time where I was discovering what I wanted to write about.
Then from 2020 to the release of The Desire in the Damned last year, it was about working hard on figuring out how to write well.
I focused on the craft and trying to master all the necessary skills, from showing effectively, notes on dialogue, how to keep the prose tight and direct, and so, so much more.
After I published my first book, I found out about the other steps of being an author. Marketing and talking with readers.
While I’m still trying to figure out the marketing part, the talking to readers part turned out to be far more enjoyable than I ever would’ve expected! It gave me inspiration to get better and give the readers more to talk about!
3. What can you tell me about your latest book? (Feel free to include an excerpt.)
My novel The Skin Room just came out at the start of May!
It’s a story I wanted to write for a long time. I was inspired from taking to people who worked at a homeless shelter talk about their experiences on the job.
I like the idea of my book starting conversations about some important social issues and people from different walks of life.
Of course, I added some extra gore and splatterpunk elements to it. Fictional elements can create great metaphors for real parts of life.
Book blurb:
Kenneth had it all: a life of luxury, fancy cars, rotating women. Now he has lost everything.
At first, he only wanted his home back, but that all changed when he connected with his community. Now he wants to make sure everyone can live without fear of the madman hiding in the shadows.
Once he is captured by the serial killer, he will have to make the hard choice of what he is willing to sacrifice in order to survive, but what do you give when you have nothing left but the skin on your back?
Come peel away the bloody pages of Kenneth’s struggle between what is right and what is needed to survive.
Warning: this story contains graphic scenes and is intended for mature readers only.
4. What sort of methods do you use for book promotion?
Right now, it’s just being present on social media. Talking to readers does wonders and being a part of indie author book events are so much fun!
Once I get a few more books out, I’ll start looking into doing more traditional advertisement and throwing money at the marketing side of things
5. Where do you get your ideas for stories?
Often from questions I want answered or environments I want to explore. For example, with my latest book, The Skin Room, after talking to the workers at a shelter, it became painfully obvious how little I knew about the un-housed and it felt important to learn about it. Then the question came about of what would happen if someone from the top of society was thrown into the bottom.
Writing the book was a way for me to learn answers to these questions. If you have read the book, I think it’s worth noting that part one tackles things in a more literal sense, where part two is heavily metaphoric.
6. What are you working on right now?
My first book The Desire in the Damned is part of a trilogy. Book two is now in the writing stages and I am working heavily on the edits. The soul is there, now it’s just making it good and presentable.
7. Any advice for other authors?
Don’t rush. It’s better to take your time and put something out that you will still be proud of even after you become a more skillful writer, than to write something that you will later cringe at.
ABOUT CARL:
Carl Bluesy has been obsessed with reading and writing horror for as long as he can remember. He finds nothing more enjoyable than reading pages full of good scares.
Carl Bluesy is the author of the novel The Desire in The Damned, The Skin Room, and several short stories. He is constantly writing and has a number of short stories and novels that will be released in the near future!
He lives in Ontario, Canada, with his wife and growing family, where he spends many hours crafting creepy and spine-tingling tales in the cellar.
For more from Carl Bluesy, including other short stories, updates on upcoming books, and more, check out his official website and join his newsletter for updates on his upcoming work.
AUTHOR NEWS:
"Author Fairs: The Hidden Benefits Beyond Book Sales" by LindaKSienkiewicz
via BadRedhead Media, LLC’s All Things Book Marketing!
"How Substack became the new book tour" by María José Gutierrez Chavez
via Fast Company
"9 Myths About Book Publicity That Are Holding You Back" by Marissa DeCuir
via Writer's Digest
"How Authors Can Blog Effectively" by E. S. Foster
via MetaStellar
"Social Media is Redefining the Author’s Job" by Kit Aldridge
via Writer Unboxed
"Meta Lawsuit Over AI Training Should Alarm Every Author and Publisher" by Stuart Conover
via Horror Tree
REVIEWER CORNER
My Reviews:
Dawn Reviews Books:
Horror So Real: Melancholia is a collection of dark poetry reflecting on real-life horrors
Reader Views:
So You Want to Be a Scientist by Linda Soules
The Book of Roisins by Tracy Schuldt Helixon
The Super Seeders by Miles Hillman
Other Book Reviews:
"Faith Turns Fatal in This Riveting FBI Investigation" by Natalia Kavale
"The Final Days of Old Brooklyn in Xochitl Gonzalez’s “Last Night in Brooklyn”" by Y.M. Nelson
"Somewhere Between the Pitt and Deciding Whether or Not to Be Child Free" by Ava Rani
"Dance Upon Demons in Vaishnavi Patel’s New Contemporary Fantasy" by Kiersten Bjork
"New Taipei Night Market Novel Dives Into the Plight of Undocumented Workers" by Linda Hitchcock
"Leonie Swann’s Wickedly Inventive Farewell to Agnes Sharp" by Linda Hitchcock
"Carley Fortune’s “Our Perfect Storm” Captures the Ache of Love and Timing" by Pejuola Ransome
"Epeolatry Book Review: Burns by David Polfedt" by Joseph Pietris
"Epeolatry Book Review: Breathtaker by Mark Wheatley & Marc Hempel" by Luc Dantes
"Epeolatry Book Review: Children of Strife by Adrian Tchaikovsky" by Melody E McIntyre
"Epeolatry Book Review: Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky" by Joseph Pietris
"Epeolatry Book Review: Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky" by Paul StJohn Mackintosh
"Epeolatry Book Review: Brain Fruit by Stephen Oram" by Joseph Pietris
"Epeolatry Book Review: Mimeograph by Eira A. Ekre" by Joseph Pietris
"Epeolatry Book Review: The Girl With A Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean" by Jennifer Griffin
Book Review: Beautiful Venom by Rina Kent (Vipers Book 1)
Book Review: Dungeon Incursions 3 by Adam Bright (Dungeon Incursions Book 3)
Book Review: We Are Legend by Daron Kappanauff
Book Review: A Pack for Autumn by Emilia Emerson (Cozyverse Book 1)
Book Review: Curvy Girls Can’t Date Quarterbacks by Kelsie Stelting (The Curvy Girl Club Book 1)
Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 1)
Book Review: The Phantom Beast by K. B. Broas (The Seers Book 1)
Book Review: The Game Master’s Legacy by Michael D Bridges
Book Review: My Funny Demon Valentine by Aurora Ascher (Hell Bend Book 1)
“The Comfort Prayer Book” by Elizabeth Upton
“Very Little Baby” by Beth Buechler
“Tree of Eyes” by Ann Yihyang Kim
“Timeline: The Tail of the Snake” by Mitchell McClymans
“The Awkward Agenda” by Beth Morton
“Railroad Man: Legacies Son” by Dan E. Hendrickson
“Ronin: The Wolf’s Path” by Robert Nakamura
“In Jake’s Shoes” by Andrew C. Phillips
“A Day with the Dragons” by Raven Howell
“Choosing Herself” by Maureen Reid
“Dazzling Legs” by Ruth Thomas
“You Are Brave, Amy G.” by Jessica Hackmann
“Long Tom: Behind the Woods” by James A. Hillebrecht
“Fertile Ground for Murder” by Stella Sinclaire and Steven Nimocks
“Kyle and His Pal, Jake: What a Duo These Two Make!” by Christian Kueng
“Advent Blue” by Roland Allnach
“A Good Witch” by Beth Christopherson
“Landmarks and Beacons” by Jen Selk
“The Performance Review” by Adrian M. Mompoint
“Being Laramie Buchanan” by Cynthia L. Clark
“Mindful Max and Mouthy Mason” by Mr. Kind
“Diamond Jane A Go Go and Wink” by Catherine Lilai
“Spotlight” by Charles Besondy
“The Procurator Fiscal” by Viktoria King
“Sleeper Code” by Kevin McGuire
“So You Want to Be a Robot Builder” by Linda Soules
“So, You Want to Be a Voice Actor” by Linda Soules
“The Mind, the Machine, and the Professor” by Conde Cagalitan
“All Writers Are Liars” by Nicholas Bruechle
“Rogue Vengeance” by Charles A. Stewart
“Bullet Holes” by Norrin M. Ripsman
“ADHD in D Minor” by Zoé Mahfouz
“What Remains After” by Pauline J. Grabia
“So You Want to Be a Surgeon” by Linda Soules
“So You Want to Be a Toy Designer” by Linda Soules
“So You Want to Be a Singer” by Linda Soules
"Homebound by Portia Elan review – a Cloud Atlas-like puzzle-box novel" by Beejay Silcox
"Young King: revealing book shines light on Martin Luther King Jr’s early days" by Martin Pengelly
"Lady C by Guy Cuthbertson review – how Lady Chatterley’s Lover rocked Britain" by Blake Morrison
"Israel: What Went Wrong? by Omer Bartov review – the long view" by Avi Shlaim
"High and Low by Amanda Craig review – will Britain boil over?" by James Smart
"Uprising by Tahmima Anam review – a fiery novel of female rebellion" by Sana Goyal
"Vocal Break by Lauren Elkin review – a celebration of the female voice" by Fiona Sturges
"Seascraper by Benjamin Wood audiobook review – a shore thing" by Fiona Sturges
"Weimar by Katja Hoyer review – the town that changed Germany" by Alex Faludy
"Said the Dead by Doireann Ní Ghríofa review – lost voices from an Irish asylum" by Brian Dillon
"Offseason by Avigayl Sharp review – wry comedy of a frazzled teacher" by Houman Barekat
"I Want You to Be Happy by Jem Calder review – romance for the terminally online" by Sam Leith
"Caroline Aherne by David Scott review – portrait of a comedy maverick" by Rebecca Nicholson
05/01/2026 Warn's Wrap-up: Dead End Tours: Yardley's Cross by Ashley Lister
05/02/2026 - Danielle's Dark Corners
05/04/2026 Guest Reviews by Kerry E.B Black: HOLLY HORROR by Michelle Jabes Corpora
05/05/2026 Candace Reviews: PERRON MANOR by Lee Mountford
5-7-2026 Latham's Last Words: Moon Dance by SP Somtow
05/09/2026 - Danielle's Dark Corners
5-10-26 Christina Critiques: Early Reviews for Bryan Smith, Jeff Strand, and Emma Osborne
05/11/2026 Guest Reviews by Kerry E.B Black: HUNGERSTONE by Kat Dunn
5-14-2026 Latham's Last Words: Low Spirits and All Their Demons Bow To Me by Kiefer Lane
05/15/2026 Warn's Wrap-up: Disco Rice by Robert Essig
05/16/2026 - Danielle's Dark Corners
5-17-26 — Christina Critiques - Graphic Novels
05/18/2026 Guest Reviews by Kerry E.B Black: ON SUNDAYS SHE PICKED FLOWERS By Yah Yah Scholfield
05/19/2026 Candace Reviews: EVERY WOMAN KNOWS THIS By Laurel Hightower
Extra Book Reviews:
"Swoony Sunday Book Review: "Man O'War"" by Dr. Thomas J. West III
via Omnivorous
via Lachlan's Book Reviews
via Nora B. Peevy
"READ THIS! With Nora B. Peevy: MY DREADFUL DREAMS: 13 TALES OF TERROR" by Nora B. Peevy
via Nora B. Peevy
"READ THIS! With Nora B. Peevy: Reviewing BLOOD RED MOON" by Nora B. Peevy
via Nora B. Peevy
"Book Review: "Water Dressed in Brown"" by Dr. Thomas J. West III
via Omnivorous
via Omnivorous
"Swoony Sunday Book Review: "Fate's Bane"" by Dr. Thomas J. West III
via Omnivorous
"Book Review: The Calamity Club" by Gina Dalfonzo
via Dear, Strange Things
"READ THIS With Nora B. Peevy: Reviewing GOTHIQUE by K.A. Schultz" by Nora B. Peevy
via Nora B. Peevy
"‘Again, Harder’ captures being part of an in crowd made up of those on the outskirts" by Denny
via Xtra Magazine
via Nora B. Peevy
"Book Review: "Beautiful, Once" by Mia Dalia" by Lachie F.
via Lachlan's Book Reviews
Calls for Reviews
I’d love to find reviewers for my books! Contact me at DMCWriter@gmail.com if interested.
READER CORNER
BOOK BLOGS:
NEW IN BOOKS:
"In the Belly of a (Space) Whale" by Elana Gomel
via A Guide to Unreality
"What Makes Readers Believe Unreliable Narrators" by Dan Uselton
via BookTrib.
"The Permanence of Memory in Novels" by Aga Maksimowska
via BookTrib.
"4 Short Story Collections Showcasing Fresh Canadian Talent" by Michael Schmidt
via BookTrib.
"Turning the Page: Books to Gift 2026 Graduates"
via BookTrib.
NEW BOOKS:
Natural Connection: Six Roots of Environmental Wisdom and Action
Joycelyn Longdon
Category: Earth Science
The Sleepless Ape: The Story of Sleep in Human Evolution
David R. Samson
Category: Biology
The Disease of Boredom: From Ancient Philosophy to Modern Psychology
Written by Josefa Ros Velasco, Translated by Kyle Rosen
Category: Neuroscience & Psychology
The Shark Watcher's Manual: A Guide to Species and Where to Find Them
Austin Gallagher
Category: Nature
The Fallen: The Magdalene Laundries and Ireland’s Legacy of Silence
Louise Brangan
Category: History
Zak Cowell
Category: Poetry Collection
Fred Phillips
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Murder at the Yarn Retreat (Maplewood Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 9)
Kaylynn Smith
Genre: Cozy Mystery
The Surprising Thing about Strawberry Pancakes: The Diary of Jessica Harman
Jessica Harman
Genre: Fiction
Look What You Made Me Do: A Novel
John Lanchester
Genre: Literary Fiction
Testimony Therapy: Decolonizing Mental Health for Black Therapists and Clients
Makungu M. Akinyela
Category: Psychotherapy/Mental Health
The Young Will Remember: A Novel
Eve J. Chung
Genre: Historical Fiction
The Family Man: Blood and Betrayal in the House of Murdaugh
James Lasdun
Category: True Crime
Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known
Scott Simon
Category: Essay Collection
Cassandra Neyenesch
Genre: Thriller
Hafeez Lakhani
Genre: Literary Fiction
Kathryn Stockett
Genre: Historical Fiction
Five Weeks in the Country: A Novel
Francine Prose
Genre: Historical Fiction
Dissection of a Murder: A Novel
Jo Murray
Genre: Suspense & Thriller
Elana K. Arnold
Genre: YA
Richard LeDue
Category: Poetry Collection
James Otter
Category: Poetry Collection
Tess Burnett
Genre: Gothic Mystery
Carl Bluesy
Genre: Splatterpunk
Grace R. Reynolds
Genre: Slasher Horror
PASSED OUT IN PACOIMA: a punk as fu*k memoir
Trevor Fairbanks
Category: Memoir
Prime Cuts: A Savory Cannibalistic Horror Anthology
By Various Writers
Genre: Horror Anthology
Bad Lands (The Savage Lands Series - Book 4)
Stacey Marie Brown
Genre: Fantasy
Madi Huffman
Category: Poetry Collection
Can We Still Love (Part of the Without You series)
Uvi Poznansky and Zeev Kachel
Category: Poetry Collection
Mori Quinn and the Coffin Game
S. Alessandro Martinez
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
S. Alessandro Martinez
Genre: Middle Grade Horror
Darek Thomas
Category: Poetry Collection
Holiday at Pemberley: A Darcy & Elizabeth Pride and Prejudice Variation
Kelly Miller
Genre: Pride & Prejudice Regency Romance
Uchenna Awoke
Genre: Magical Realism
Vanessa Hua
Genre: Literary Fiction
Death of the Soccer God: A Novel
Dimitry Elias Léger
Genre: Literary Fiction
Sarah Wang
Genre: Literary Fiction
Spinning at the Edges: A Novel
Elizabeth Poliner
Genre: Literary Fiction
Laura Anthony
Genre: Historical Fiction
Christina Baker Kline
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sarah Gailey
Genre: Thriller
Ann Leckie
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed
Isaac Fitzgerald
Category: Biography & Memoir
Mike Rusetsky
Genre: Urban Fantasy
The Girl, The Witch, and The Princess
Rickey Rivers Jr, Illustrated by Carina Reytblat
Genre: Fantasy
Only Horrible Things, I Promise & Other Stories
Lemmy Winegardner
Genre: Short Story Collection
A SPIDER OF A THOUGHT FELL DOWN ONTO HIS HEAD: AN EXPERIMENTAL EPIC HORROR POEM
Andrew Buckner
Category: Poetry Collection
The Alien Buddha After The Alien Buddha 4
By Various Writers
Genre: Anthology
Amanda Headlee
Genre: Horror
Written & Illustrated by Bruno Zocca, Translated from Italian by Debbie Bibo
Genre: Children's Book
The Kindness of Strangers: A Novel
Emma Garman
Genre: Historical Murder Mystery
A Very Vexing Murder: Harriet Smith Investigates – A Murder Most Austen
Lucy Andrew
Genre: Cozy Mystery
An Ordinary Sort of Evil (A Rip Through Time Novel, Book 5)
Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Mystery
The Temptation of Charlotte North
Camilla Bruce
Genre: Gothic Horror
The Silent House of Sleep (Dr Jack Cuthbert Mysteries Book 1)
Allan Gaw
Genre: Historical Mystery
Sinister Street: A Sinister Scribes Charity Anthology
By Various Writers
Genre: Anthology
Cyan LeBlanc
Genre: Dark Sapphic Romance
Rena Rocford
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Jackie Sonnenberg
Genre: Horror
Gillian Jackson
Genre: Crime Thriller
S. Winterbourne
Genre: Horror
Mark James Andrews
Category: Poetry Collection
Crimson Silence (A Ravaged Skies Novel, Book 2)
Marie Lanza
Genre: EMP Disaster Thriller
Edited by Elizabeth Davis and Gevera Bert Piedmont
Genre: Cthulhu Mythos Lovecraft Anthology
Clare Thompson
Genre: Cozy Crime Adventure
Theresa Derwin
Genre: YA Dystopian Horror
Amanda Skenandore
Genre: Historical Fiction
Walter Mosley
Genre: Romance
Bobuq Sayed
Genre: Literary Fiction
Pretend You're Dead and I Carry You: A Novel
Julián Delgado Lopera
Genre: Literary Fiction
Benny B. Peterson
Genre: Literary Fiction
Written by Philippe Besson, Translated by Sam Taylor
Genre: Coming-of-Age Fiction
Neena Viel
Genre: Horror
Written by Hildur Knútsdóttir, Translated by Mary Robinette Kowal
Genre: Thriller
Jasper Sanchez
Genre: YA Romance
Suzanne Palmer
Genre: Science Fiction
Jacob Ransom
Genre: Horror
Mary Coleman
Category: Poetry Collection
Michael Querin
Genre: Dystopian Science Fiction
Mike Watt
Genre: Horror
Bonewhistle: tales from Ferris Island
S.E. Reid
Genre: Horror Short Story Collection
Steven Manchester
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Angela Arnold
Category: Poetry Collection
Rebecca Griffiths
Genre: Women's Fiction
Sally Kane
Category: Memoir
The Black Death: A Global History of Humanity's Most Devastating Pandemic
Thomas Asbridge
Category: World History
Douglas Brunt
Category: European History
Lost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World
Patrick Wyman
Category: World History
The Last of the Old Breed: An Oral History of the Final Marines from World War II
Scott Davis
Category: History
National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America
Michael Auslin
Category: U.S. History
Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young: A Fugitive Family in the Revolutionary Underground
Zayd Ayers Dohrn
Category: Memoir
Dominic Frisby
Category: World History
Staci Layne Wilson
Genre: Middle Grade Horror
Cults and Monsters (The Monsters series. Book 8)
J. Boote
Genre: Horror
The Undiscovered Country (Paradise Investigations Book 3)
Teel James Glenn
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Just Beneath Your Boat: Tales of Aquatic Terror
Edited by Thomas Folske
Category: Anthology
Jay Bower
Genre: Horror
Brian Bowyer
Genre: Horror
Laura Bilodeau
Genre: Horror
Write, Wreck, Revise: A Practical Guide to Self-Editing Fiction
Jyl Glenn
Category: Writing Reference
The Fear Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to What Holds Characters Back (Writers Helping Writers Series)
Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
Category: Writing Reference
EDITOR CORNER
Tricky Edits from Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Apart from Tricky Edits, We Need Living Batteries
Working Batteries Are an Editor’s
Must-Have
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson,
author of the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers
Including the soon to be released Word by Word: A Vocabulary for Success
Many weeks after I spent way too much on a new smartphone and charger because I wanted to worry less about dead batteries, a few battery tricks came across my desk. I trust the source, and am grateful for these suggestions, because they will relieve some of my stress as I make them part of my frugal approach to helping writers with my blogs, articles, and series of books for writers.
1. Keep your battery at between 30% and 80% for peak performance.
2. Don’t charge overnight. Use short charges that don’t take the charge over 80% and unplug the charge before bedtime.
3. Your battery hates sunlight. Keep it out of directly sunlight but also don’t let it get cold.
4. Use a highly recommended charger. Mine claims to turn itself off before it charges beyond 80% if I forget to unplug it.
5. The platform you’re using for WiFi might offer a battery protection plan. This new gadget already is costing a fortune; why not a spend a bit more for this last bit of protection. At least check it out to see if you think it might be worth it! Ask what the one you’re considering “protects” in addition to your battery before you decide against paying extra for it.
6. Verizon offers their peeps free battery checkups.
ABOUT CAROLYN
Once a month Carolyn Howard-Johnson shares something writer-related she hopes might save some author from embarrassment (or make the task of writing more fun or creative). The third edition ofThe Frugal Editor from Modern History Press includes a chapter on some of the words most misused by the very people whose business it is to know them. It is the second multi award-winning book in her multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers. The Frugal Editor has been fully updated including a chapter on how backmatter can be extended to help readers and nudge book sales.
This article is an excerpt from a new vocabulary book written especially for career-minded authors that WinningWriters.com will give to those who enter their 2024 #NorthStreetBookPrize. Carolyn has been a sponsor since that contest’s introduction. This book is among the several value-added benefits Winning Writers contestants and winners are offered at no extra charge. Carolyn’s book will be released in early 2026 by Modern History Press. Find the entire series on a special Series Page offered by Amazon.
Carolyn blogs sporadically on editing at The Frugal Editor and at her SharingwithWriters blog on other aspects of the publishing world and welcomes guest posts with ample author credit lines and links and welcomes guest posts complete with credit lines and ample links for her guests. She also tweets writers' resources and tips at her Twitter account using #FrugalBookPromoterTips hashtag.
MORE FROM CAROLYN:
I hope some new words you find in my coming book Word by Word to be released in early summer by Modern History Press become tools you can apply to your own success story. Find the entire series on a special Series Page offered by Amazon at no cost to authors who publish their e-books digitally using their KDP.
In the meantime, this new book will be tested in a new pre-release giveaway by those who won WinningWriters.com’s #NorthStreetBookPrize as they continue in their search for ways to help writers build outstanding platforms with their own marketing of their services, contests, free newsletters and more. Many of them are described in my The Frugal Book Promoter, the flagship book that has been helping authors for more than two decades and is now in its third edition, also from Modern History Press.
My thanks to Dawn Colclasure for her support with by sharing my tricky edits in her free newsletter, many of them directly from the pages of my second full book The Frugal Editor in my HowToDoItFrugally Series for Writers, now in its third edition. I have been with SPARREW through thick and thin from its first edition in her generous #SharingwithWriters effort as part of giving back to the publishing industry. It has done a difficult but great job adjusting to the new model presented to us with the advent of the internet and digital printing. Hooray! It is big enough to accommodate all kinds of publishing and most of the preferences of forward-looking authors. Some of those authors—like me—have tried so many publishing models I’ve lost track. Thanks for coming back here and wherever you can so you can keep benefitting from “the more you know.”
New in Editing:
"The Importance of Accessibility Editing in Picture Books" by Dianne Bright
via Publishers Weekly
Is every abbreviation an acronym?
Is this use of “on” really off?
WRITER CORNER
Interview with Writer Arindam Kalita
1. How did you get started writing fiction?
I have loved reading fiction since I was a kid, despite having limited access to books. I thought a writer’s life was amazing: getting to write wonderful stories, earning a living from it, and being celebrated in society. But I was also told how hard it is to become one. Considering there aren’t many writers from where I am, and I have never met a single author in real life, I thought writing fiction was a luxury affordable only for a certain group of individuals. So, I didn’t try writing until six years ago, when I was 21.
That was right before the COVID outbreak. I was a university student, and severely depressed because of personal reasons. I felt lost in my career. I was doing something I disliked because of my circumstances, but I wanted to do something else.
Then I told myself, “You only live once. From now on, I will do what I have always wanted but never had the chance to: create stories.”
That was the beginning of my writing journey. It not only rescued me from that horrible pit of depression and gave me new hope but also allowed me to express myself and showcase my talent to the world. I still remember skipping uni classes just to finish my newest story. Completing a story gave me joy unlike anything else I had ever experienced. Since then, I haven’t looked back. Writing fiction has made me the happiest and most fulfilled I’ve ever been. It was my true calling, and I’m glad I didn’t ignore it.
Despite English being my third language and never having any formal training in writing fiction, I let nothing stop me.
I do regret not writing anything until 2020, as I wasted all those years for nothing. I’m sure I’d have achieved much more success than I have so far. But I’m also content to have finally realized what I’m supposed to do in life. Looking back, I like to think it came to me when it was meant to.
2. What kind of fiction do you enjoy writing? (Such as fantasy, romance, horror, or unspecified)
Primarily, I love writing horror. I believe there’s massive untapped potential in anything horror-related. But I also enjoy working on other genres such as sci-fi, romance, fantasy, literary fiction, and historical fiction. I like to blend different genres and experiment with them.
3. What was it about writing short stories that just seemed to "click" with your writing career?
When I first started writing, I wasn’t into short stories at all. Instead, I decided to write novels like everyone else, thinking it was the best route for ultimate success. However, I was also learning the craft of writing from reading books and blogs, watching YouTube videos, and studying author interviews. I soon understood that short stories were training grounds for every novice setting out on their literary journey, and it’s good practice to try them first before attempting longer projects.
But having barely read any short stories, I was intimidated to work on one. I thought I wasn’t skilled enough for it. Plus, I can never force myself to write anything that doesn’t interest me. My ideas have to come from within.
But one night after going to bed, a story idea suddenly came to mind. It was such a strong epiphany that I had to get out of bed and write the outline in my notebook. It was about one o'clock in the morning, and the entire outline lay before my eyes. First, I thought it was another novel idea, but I quickly perceived it fit perfectly for a short story. After I finally typed the piece on my computer, I thought, ‘Huh, this isn’t so bad.'
That piece filled me with a profound sense of accomplishment and bliss. My newfound confidence allowed me to create many more short stories afterward. I had no idea then how that first short story would put my career on track. It not only introduced me to lots of beta readers but also exposed me to the online writing community. My beta readers taught me some of the most valuable writing lessons. No matter how much self-learning I was doing, it felt like nothing compared to those practical lessons by experienced people. Most of all, it was very satisfying to watch their constructive criticism gradually turn into praise. They helped me immensely to become a better writer.
Since then, I haven't stopped writing short stories, and hopefully, I never will. Short stories keep the creative juices flowing and break writing slumps whenever they occur.
4. Is there a type of short story that you enjoy writing most? Please explain.
I’d say sci-fi/horror, although lately, I’ve picked up an interest in historical fantasy too. Sci-fi is still my favorite genre.
I usually like writing time-travel stories (almost all my novels in progress have some form of time travel element). Despite there being some excellent time-travel books out there, I feel this subject has vast unexplored territory that I'd love to delve into. I’m developing unique ideas to craft riveting and unforgettable stories. My goal is to give the audience the best possible reading experience.
5. What was it like when you sold your first short story?
Oh, gosh! I can’t explain how magical that moment was. I couldn’t believe it when I opened the acceptance email from CreepyPod. It was so surreal and wonderful that I felt like I had finally done the impossible. More than anything, it was the ultimate proof to me that my writing was worthy and I have what it takes.
Signing a contract and getting paid from the USA was so incredible. My mom was the first person I told, and she was the most excited I’ve ever witnessed. I’ll never forget that day.
6. Where do you find short story markets to submit to?
I’m glad you asked that question. I hope my answer will help all the writers reading this. Finding short story markets can be very overwhelming and confusing, especially for beginners. I had to learn everything by myself, from formatting to creating a Submittable profile to keeping track of my submissions, all while doubting whether I got the formatting right or clicked the proper final link. I used to Google all the currently open places and drown myself in an ocean of websites.
But, as I continued submitting more and more, I became familiar with the right places and even the right timing. And now, I’m up to date on all the open marketplaces. Here are the resources I believe every short story writer should be familiar with: “Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity” is a blog that lists the no-fee open magazine and contest calls every month (this is the place that got me my first publication).
Some important newsletters to subscribe to for any new additions throughout the month are “Submission Sunday” and “Scribophile."
If you want another resource, feel free to keep an eye on the site called “Almond Press.” They update weekly.
Those are the places you need to be aware of for short story magazines and contests.
I also run a Substack (titled Arindam Kalita), where I post decent-paying, no-fee calls every month while giving submission tips based on my experience. Feel free to check it out if you’re interested.
7. What is one lesson you have learned as a writer when it comes to writing short fiction?
Every sentence matters and should be carefully crafted, as it is crucial in plot development.
8. How is writing short fiction different from your work as a writer of longer fiction?
Writing short fiction is very different from writing longer fiction. As I said before, I must be extremely mindful of every sentence. The fact that it doesn’t take long to write one makes it fun and rewarding, but also daunting. However, the best part is that I can create prologues for future novels, all while developing a new group of dedicated audiences.
If you ever wanted to try a new genre but weren't sure whether you could pull it off, this is the best way to do so. I enjoy everything from the raw idea to the outline to the finished product. And I plan on turning most of my short stories into novels in the future.
9. What is some of the best advice you have received from other writers or editors when it comes to writing short fiction?
I’ve learned that short fiction is usually more plot-driven than character-driven. You should vary the sentence structure and length to keep it engaging. Instead of restricting yourself to a limited word count, focus on telling the story. Keep expositions to a minimum, especially in the beginning.
10. Do you have any advice of your own to share with other writers?
I just want to say, read a lot of books, and don’t ignore your beta readers. These two are your lifesavers. I’ve come this far in my career primarily through vigorous reading and my beta readers, many of whom have become my closest friends. They helped me grow from the start and acted as mentors I never had. They’re just too good at detecting plot inconsistencies that writers usually gloss over. I’ve met some of the smartest people in my life who have a keen eye for catching even the tiniest issues in my stories, which leaves me scratching my head and wondering how on earth I didn’t think of it myself. It’s even more helpful when they suggest solutions, too.
Facebook is one of the best tools for finding people from the global literary community. I would suggest joining multiple Facebook writing and beta-reading groups. You will find all sorts of groups there based on your needs.
Make sure your cover letter and bio are in good shape. Also, don’t forget to keep updating your resume if you’re applying for fellowships and residencies. Be mindful of the formatting guidelines for each marketplace before you submit.
Self-doubt occurs in all of us, but don’t let it consume you. Just keep in mind this field is extremely subjective, and a rejection does not mean the end of the road. Focus on your writing, and good things will come your way.
Finally, I just want to say rejections are lessons in disguise. Every single rejection brings you closer to your goals by teaching you what each publisher is looking for.
ABOUT ARINDAM:
Arindam Kalita’s work has appeared in CreepyPod, The Brussels Review, The Afterpast Review, and multiple anthologies. He won third prize in the Curious Curls Fiction Contest and was shortlisted for the Minds Shine Bright Writing Competition.
In addition to writing, Arindam offers developmental and line editing for short stories and novels. When not writing, Arindam is often found reading a book or watching a show on his tablet.
You can find more about Arindam Kalita and his work here.
New for Writers:
"Restarting Old Projects / Continuing a Series After a Hiatus" by Joseph Lallo
via Writers In The Storm
"6 Remote Control (RC) Hobby Magazines That Pay Writers" by Michael W. Michelsen
via WritersWeekly
"Q: What are editors talking about when they talk about "voice"?" by Becky Tuch
via Lit Mag News
"The One Big Question We All Work With in Fiction" by Sara Foster
via Writer's Digest
"How to Keep Writing When You’re Grieving" by Kate Clark Stone
via Writer's Digest
"The Emotional Toll on Writers in the Modern Landscape (And Why So Many Are Burning Out)" by K.M. Weiland
via Helping Writers Become Authors
"Good Writing Can’t Be Taught" by Greer Macallister
via Writer Unboxed
"Some students believe they can be writers without reading. This raises many questions" by Sarah Moss
via The Irish Times
"Why Your Inner Critic Lies About Your Writing" by Colleen M. Story
via Master Writer Mindset
"Writing on Solid Ground: Create an Intentional Writing Practice" by Julie Duffy
via Writer Unboxed
"Timespans and Young Children's Stories" by Karen Cioffi
via Writers On the Move
"Change Your Writing Life Through the Science of Habits" by Dr. Diana Stout
via Writers In The Storm
"How Writing Contests Became My Best-Paying Writing Habit This Year" by Bethany Bruno
via FundsforWriters
"A Writer’s Guide to the Post‑Apocalyptic Subgenre" by Ellie Potts
via Tea and Ink
"Assembling a Poetry Manuscript: A Spreadsheet Approach" by Gary D. Grossman
via Lit Mag News
"5 Lessons From Business School Every Poet Needs" by Maria Giesbrecht
via Writer's Digest
"Why Writing Stories For Children is So Much Harder Than Writing Stories For Adults" by Claire Swinarski
via Literary Hub
"Doubt is a Writer’s Friend, Not a Foe" by Michelle Johnson
via Writers In The Storm
"How to Cozy-fy Your Murder Mystery" by Uzma Jalaluddin
via Writer's Digest
"How to Create Complex Character Outlines" by E.S. Foster
via MetaStellar
"How to Effectively Write Business Process Documents for Internal Corporation Migrations" by Wesley Harris
via WritersWeekly
"Microtension in Writing Explained: How Small Details Create Big Tension" by C.S. Lakin
via Helping Writers Become Authors
"Foreshadowing: The Power of Planting Clues" by Alyson Tait
via The Writer's Workshop
"What Your Script's First Pages Are Doing Wrong" by Jo Light
via No Film School
"Third Person Self-Talk for Writers" by Colleen M. Story
via Master Writer Mindset
"4 Guides to a Sustainable Writing Life" by Kathryn Craft
via Writer Unboxed
"Writing Folk Horror: Mixed Relations - Gothic, Mythology, Psych Horror" by Sylvia Kay Rose
via Scribe Vibes
"The Story Heart ~ Tips from a Screenwriter Turned Novelist" by Gwendolyn Womack
via Writer Unboxed
"Writing builds resilience by changing your brain, helping you face everyday challenges" by Emily Ronay Johnston
via News-Herald
"Thoughts on How the Marketplace Is Shaping the Stories We Tell" by K.M. Weiland
via Helping Writers Become Authors
"How to Establish a Character’s Voice" by E. S. Foster
via MetaStellar
"Researching Your Historical Topic: Ways to Find What You Need" by Angel Giacomo
via Reader Views Blog
"When Writing Becomes a Lifeline" by Colleen M. Story
via Master Writer Mindset
"How and Why I’m Creating a Physical Archive of My Writing" by Ratika Deshpande
via Authors Publish
by Lindsey Beth Goddard
Sometimes, it feels like the whole world is arguing about AI. How annoying, right? Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, these arguments have to happen. It's inevitable, as we navigate through a strange new technological realm, where we find ourselves in a reality very similar to our favorite Sci-Fi novels, a reality in which we have inadvertently trained robots to take our jobs from us and hijack our livelihoods.
Hey ... most of us had no clue we were training AI bots every time we used one of those AI-generative apps, games, or fun photo filters. We especially didn't realize that the same AI we accidentally trained (oops!) would start stepping on our very human toes! No creator can stay on top of everything, all the time. So it's okay if some of us aren't familiar with society's most recent hot button issue: AI and what we should and shouldn't use it for. It's okay if you are still learning the dangers of AI, and if some of the information in this article is news to you. That's why I wrote it. If we all do our best to stay informed, we can fight the machine, together. Isn't that what it's all about, anyway?
There is a quote from Maya Angelou that rings true to me here. She said: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better." Such a simple idea, yet such a valid goal. She was right; that's all we can do!
By now, you may have heard how the environment is negatively impacted by the use of AI software. The same software that generates cute digital caricatures of your profile pic and test results for such pressing questions as “What breed of duck would you be if you were a duck?” is also destroying the planet every time we use it, many experts say. Then again, you may not have heard about this yet, since I see plenty of people still posting AI content to social media every day. I assume they either don't know, don't care, or don't believe the facts I'm getting ready to dump on you.
Let me break it down: AI-generative software requires massive amounts of electricity to run. This is energy we should be using to power more important things on our planet than Facebook quizzes. Plus, it's not just electricity that gets wasted to run these AI centers. The water consumption is off the charts! Yes ... water! Massive amounts of water are used to cool the computer software that gets super-hot from constantly running and running. So that social media users can see what they might look like ... as somebody else entirely.
But let's get back to the topic at hand: artwork! More specifically: book cover artwork. Everything else aside, to some of us, AI-generated artwork just feels like the death of art. Those machines steal imagery from real artists on a routine basis. Their AI mining tools search the internet for images from real artists and then mimic that work in a lazy, passionless attempt at being human. So, yes. It's the death of real art.
If someone asks me who did the cover of my book, I would feel ashamed to admit it was a machine. It would dent my pride to let a robot drain the emotion from my creative work. Because that's what it feels like, to me. In my eyes, art is about human emotion at its core. And I don't see much value in it otherwise. Not only would using AI poorly impact the art community as a whole, I would feel no pride or enthusiasm in it.
I have worked really damn hard at my craft. For decades. Being a wordsmith sometimes feels like a thankless position in life, but all the same, I work hard at it, because I care about it. It is my passion. My life's work. My skill. So, when I see an author using AI-generated book covers, I find myself questioning how many other shortcuts they are willing to take. Did they use AI in their writing, too? I have to wonder at that point. And if you think I have a poor opinion of AI book covers, don't get me started on robots writing literature!
So, why are authors turning to AI? One of the excuses I hear over and over again is that book cover art is too expensive. To that I say: No ... it's not.
I have come up with affordable cover art numerous times over the years, and I'll tell you exactly how I did it. I've been in the horror writing community for a couple decades, so I've done book covers several different ways. I've paid everything from $0 to $200, depending on what I was able to spare at the time. Sometimes, I am blessed to have creative friends willing to work for free just to be part of a cool project. Sometimes, I pay an artist what they quote me without hesitation because their skills are worth it to me. And sometimes, I just make the cover myself!
On my first anthology back in 2009, I paid a budding digital artist $30 for the job. She used a human model and built the perfect horror scene around that model using tools in PhotoShop. She was happy to have a paying art gig, and I was happy with the imagery she came up with. It was the perfect partnership, and it was only a matter of asking around until I found the right artist for me.
It was the same for my collections in 2011 and 2012. I paid a different PhotoShop artist the same rate: $30. I was learning PhotoShop at the time, and although I could design a rough cover by then, I still wanted to hire someone with more experience than myself.
But ... perhaps I am fortunate when it comes to finding artists, because I tend to surround myself with creative individuals. I mean, come on, let's face it: Some people just can't find an artist willing to work for a rate they can afford. Sometimes they ask around, and the prices quoted are all out of their budget. Not only that, but maybe there's no one they really trust. Trust is very important, because nowadays, art consumers run the risk of paying for custom art and ending up with AI art regardless. It's a common scam these days.
If those are your concerns, then ... do the cover yourself! I've made book covers, and so can you! About a decade and a half ago, I started teaching myself PhotoShop, and through trial and error and lots of frustration, I figured it out. Mostly. And the good news is ... these programs have only gotten easier over time! If you're willing to take a stab at constructing your own book cover, I bet you can do it! I believe in you!
Shoot, even when I was sixteen years old and printing a 'zine (with a circulation of a hundred copies) from my home computer and stapling each one by hand, I made the covers myself. I drew them with a pencil, or staged scenes for photographs, and scanned them into the computer. I didn't even know what an AI art tool was, but I came up with some covers, I did!
If sixteen-year-old me could do it in the year 2000, why can't these grown adults do it in 2026?
Maybe they're unaware of the options.
So, what are the options for avoiding AI in book covers? The sky is the limit, I promise. There are several options. That's why I don't understand why so many creators turn to AI. It's simply not necessary.
For starters, you could snap a photo, then edit it to your own unique style. Think about the possibilities. You could stage any sort of scene you want with the right model and props, and snap a few shots. Choose your favorite shot, play around with the photo in some basic editing software, and now you've got a custom book cover.
But suppose you don't feel like snapping your own photo. Suppose you think you're a lousy photographer with a crummy camera to boot. Okay! Did you know that everyone (including YOU) is welcome to use the Smithsonian Open Access library? This is a website which hosts millions of digital images that are free for public use. These images are considered “public domain” and they require no payment or permission, no matter how you use them. Throw a rad filter on whatever image you decide on (via a software that is not AI-generative), then add your book title and byline in a user-friendly program like Canva, and you've got a human-generated book cover. No AI whatsoever.
There are also subscription websites such as Shutterstock, Deposit Photos, and iStock, which host images from real artists and photographers. These artists and photographers benefit, because they earn royalties between 15% – 60% per download on photos, illustrations, and vectors, while retaining their copyrights. I have subscribed to both Shutterstock and Deposit Photos in the past, in order to obtain high-resolution images for my book covers, and though I ended up canceling both subscriptions in the long-run, I find this to be a morally-sound resource for book art and will re-subscribe if need be. Still, though, you must filter out the AI! Sadly, the aforementioned websites (Shutterstock and Deposit Photos) do allow AI-generated content in their search results by default, but there is an option to filter that AI out. I always make sure to click that option. According to the research I did for this article, iStock, which I have never tried, remains 100% AI-free to this day, so you can bet I'll be trying them next.
If you have zero interest in purchasing memberships and subscriptions, you could always just find a model. Think about it: Most book covers are really just some gal or some guy, standing there. Or some gal and some guy, standing there together. Well! Social media is full of aspiring models, who might jump at the chance to be featured on a book cover, especially if offered a few free copies of the book. Give it a try!
Maybe, though, you are envisioning a more complex cover. Maybe what I've described so far seems too simplistic. Perhaps you envision a cover with a lot going on, and you don't know how to bring this vision in your head to fruition on your own. My advice is to obtain some high-resolution imagery using one of the routes above, and then use a program such as Affinity Studio to layer different elements together and play around with them. You might be surprised what you come up with on your own. Just make sure to set aside some time to learn the program, and don't get frustrated if it takes a while. Good art isn't easy. But it's worth it.
So, although a lot of us say we are sick of discussing AI (I am guilty of saying this as well), we really have no choice but to get over it. It's a necessary discussion. I have seen creative partnerships dissolve over differences in opinion on this topic. I have seen two anthologies tank because the covers were announced to be AI and too many of the authors backed out as a result. I've seen authors pay for “custom” artwork that ended up being AI-generated instead. It's a scary new world. It really is. But here I am, presenting options, so that you don't get tangled up in your own AI drama, too.
Let's fight the machine together, united as one force, authors and artists hand-in-hand. Don't let the machine divide and conquer us. Take a photo, find a model, play with some image editing software, or just ... pay a flesh-and-bone artist what they deserve. Anything but AI. Please, don't let the robot drain the passion from your creative work. Keep your integrity. Fight the machine!
ABOUT LINDSEY:
Lindsey Beth Goddard is a tortured poet and dark fiction author, living in Missouri, whose short stories have been published in e-zines such as Gamut Magazine and Carnage House, as well as in anthologies such as Error Code and The Asylum of Terror (1 and 2). Her work has been performed on popular podcasts like Creepy Podcast and Chilling Tales for Dark Nights. She is the author of four short story collections, two poetry books, and a novel. For more information, visit her website.
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Thanks for reading! See you next month!