Click here for your FREE ebook: The SPARREW One-Year Anniversary Ebook!
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SPARREW ISSUE FIFTY
Welcome to the SPARREW Newsletter!
The newsletter for Self-Publishers, Authors, Readers, Reviewers, Editors and Writers!
Welcome to the March 2026 issue of the SPARREW Newsletter! So glad to have you on board!
If you are on social media and follow other writers/authors, you may have noticed the occasional post where the writer or author lashed out at a writer/author/publisher for some reason or another. While the OP’s reasoning may be that they don’t care how others may perceive their rants, it must be said that they SHOULD care. They really should.
How you conduct yourself on social media can really affect your work, as well as who agrees to work with you. As it is, I made the decision not to work with someone after this person publicly cussed out an author and wished harm upon him.
Writers, no matter how angry you are at someone for some thing or another, PLEASE keep your ranting and anger at them private. Take your grievance up with them privately, not out in the open with expletives where everyone can see it. Like it or not, you will be judged for this. And you may end up losing readers.
Always be professional. This is my #1 rule when conducting business with others, as well as how I conduct myself online. If I’m really angry at someone, I won’t go online and verbally “rip them a new one.” I won’t make my drama with them public. Sure I can block people and refuse to do business with them, but that’s about as public as I’ll get in acting on my grievances with them.
As a writer and/or author, you owe it to yourself to present your online image in a professional manner. If you become known for lashing out at people who get on your nerves, publicly wishing them harm, or making threats to them through social media, you will not only become known as an overly aggressive ticking time bomb, but you’ll also be someone many people will start to avoid. It’s not worth that kind of risk. So check yourself before posting something publicly on social media and remember that it’s better to try to keep things professional.
We’ve got a great issue for you this month!
We’ve got a great issue for you this month!
I have been following the author Eva Bielby for some time, but it was only recently that I learned that she is a self-published author! So I reached out to Eva and asked her if she had time for a self-publisher interview for this newsletter. Thankfully, she did! Check out her hard-earned wisdom about self-publishing books in the interview below!
Eric Butler is another author I connected with through social media. I’m always looking for his latest pictures of his dogs! (They are beauties.) But I’ve definitely taken interest in his posts about his books, especially for his latest release that came out this month! Eric was able to set aside some time to be interviewed for the author section of this newsletter and share more about his latest novel, The Bargain.
I recently connected with writer Christine Rifkin after we were included in an anthology call. I checked out her website and I was impressed by all of her writing credentials. How could I have not known about this prolific writer until now? Well, I got the chance to learn more about Christine when I interviewed her for the writer section of this newsletter. Check out her interview below!
In this month’s feature article, writer Heddy Johannesen shares some advice, tips, and recommended books for writers of horror. Some of these books are recommended reading for all writers regardless of genre, as well as anyone who enjoys reading classic fiction. Whether you’re looking for ideas on how to enhance the mood for your next writing session or advice on boosting your creativity, there is something for everyone in Heddy’s fantastic article. Don’t miss it!
The lovely Carolyn Howard-Johnson returns with a caution to watch out for the “nyms” in your writing. 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 MARCH SUBSTACK POSTS:
Focus on the Process of Your Writing, Not the Progress
How to Keep Writing Your Story When You Can’t Figure Out What Happens Next
Thank you, Able News, for publishing my article “Sensory Rooms Provide Specialized Care to Students” in the March 2026 issue. You can click this link to download that issue or read it online.
Thank you, First Chapter Plus Magazine, for publishing my article "Readers Share About Their Favorite Sports Memoirs" in the March 2026 issue. My article is on page 19.
Thank you, Alien Buddha Press, for publishing my short story “Changing Bosses” in The Alien Buddha Talks to Animals.
Thank you to Alien Buddha Press for publishing my short story "A Girl's Best Friend" in the Alien Buddha Zine #85.
Check it out here.
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Motivational Quote:
“No matter how educated, talented, rich, or cool you believe you are, how you treat people ultimately tells all. Integrity is everything.”—Gary Goodridge
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SELF-PUBLISHER CORNER
Self-Publisher Interview with Eva Bielby
1. What can you tell me about your experience as a writer?
Where do I even begin to answer this? It’s not been just one experience, the journey has had lots of experiences. I’ve done several all-night writing sessions until 7.00am, got in the shower, make-up on, and out to the full-time day job (until I retired, that is). Like many before me, I’ve had writer’s block for several months at a time. Then comes the big thrill when you finally write ‘the end.’ The ultimate in excitement has to be when you finally get to unpack your first delivery and hold your physical books in your hands.
2. What made you decide to write a book?
Back when I was in school and getting excellent grades in English, I knew I would write a book one day. However, life tends to get in the way. You’re a teenager one minute, studying, then working full-time, going out socialising with friends most nights. The next minute, you’re busy organising your wedding. After a couple of years, the kids arrive, and there’s no real peace until they’ve moved out. Eventually, they get married and the grandchildren start arriving. Your babysitting services are now required.
It was the death of my brother that got me thinking about how he didn’t get to do all the things on his bucket list. I had already done lots … holidays abroad, etc. One of the several things remaining on my list … write a book … that is, ‘A’ book (as in, ONE book). Little did I realise, that halfway through writing my first book, it was destined to become a trilogy. And so it continues … book four (a collection of my short stories) will be published within the next 4/5 weeks.
3. What circumstances brought you to the decision to self-publish your book?
I think it was mainly my impatience. I’ve never been blessed with patience. Halfway through writing the first book, I asked myself if I had the patience to send out dozens of query letters to agents and subsequently receive rejection letter after rejection letter. The answer was, a big NO! I was writing a book, therefore, I wanted people to read it. I wanted to get my story out there immediately. Hence, I quickly made the decision to self-publish.
4. What has your experience as a self-publisher been like?
I’m still on that journey, and loving every minute of it. I actually had a publishing contract with a small independent US publisher for a year. When the contract came up for renewal at the end of the first year, I didn’t renew it. The publisher had done nothing that I couldn’t do myself. All the marketing was left to me anyway, so I didn’t see the point of continuing with it.
5. How do you respond to the negative stigma attached to self-publishing and self-published books?
I don’t let negative stigma bother me at all. Prior to writing my first book, I was a great fan of Dean Koontz, James Herbert, Agatha Christie, J.K. Rowling and many others who were all traditionally published by the ‘big 5’ top publishing houses. Since making the decision to self-publish, I started to read lots of indie authors’ work and I was blown away. Just because we are not with big traditional publishing houses, it doesn’t mean there isn’t any genuine, talented indie authors. Self-published and proud!
6. What is one very important lesson you have learned as a self-publisher so far?
We all tend to get ‘imposter’ syndrome from time to time, but I have learned to believe in myself, and that is of utmost importance. If you get a bad review, let it go over your head. What appeals to one reader might not appeal to others.
Something else that is extremely important to me, we should be kind to other authors. Let’s do what we can to lift them up instead of bringing them down.
7. What do you know now about self-publishing that you wish you knew at the beginning?
I was always of the belief that writing a book was hard work. I quickly came to realise that the writing of the book is the easy bit. The hardest part of the whole self-publishing process is the marketing and promotion, which needs to be carried out daily, and to as many social media platforms as possible.
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?
It’s definitely NOT a form of vanity or self-importance to promote and market one’s own books. Every book we write and put our heart and soul into … well, it’s our baby! And what do we want to do with our newborn? We want to be proud and show our baby to the world. It’s exactly the same thing as self-publishing our novels!
9. How do you promote your books and what form of book promotion has worked the best for you?
I promote my books to all my social media platforms – X (Twitter), BlueSky, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube and, of course, Facebook groups. Last year, I started attending book fairs, and I’ll be doing even more book fairs this year. Book fairs have worked well for me, but the footfall can, of course, be affected by the weather, or any other major events in the area.
10. What are some other important things you have learned as a self-publisher?
Edit, edit, edit … both before, AND after it’s been edited by a professional. Take your time. Self-publishing is not a process which should be rushed. Also, very important … it is YOUR work. Don’t let anybody change your voice.
11. Do you feel that self-publishing is a viable choice for other authors?
I feel that self-publishing is a viable choice for all authors. If your aim is to get rich, then perhaps self-publishing is not for you, and you should try to find an agent and, hopefully, a publishing contract with the big boys. However, if you see writing as a hobby and you just want to get your books out there and perhaps earn a little bit of money in the process, then by all means, self-publish. I wouldn’t ever go down the route of using a vanity publisher.
12. How do you feel that self-publishing their books has helped many unknown authors finally get the recognition their books deserve?
Trying to get a traditional publishing contract with the bigger publishing houses is hard. Many people get rejected time and again, yet this doesn’t mean that their work is not worthy. They couldn’t possibly take on every manuscript that is sent to them. Self-publishing has given many authors the recognition their work deserves. Without the ability to self-publish, many of us would have a collection of manuscripts that would never be seen.
ABOUT EVA:
Eva Bielby was born and raised in North Yorkshire in the North East of England. From the age of seven, she became a member of her local library, and was backwards and forwards perusing the children’s section at least twice a week. Eva still lives in her birth town. Her son and daughter, and their respective families, live in close proximity.
Having worked in accounts offices since leaving school, Eva passed her accountancy qualifications when her children were very young. She spent over thirty years of her working life as a company accountant.
Eva has always been interested in writing and has written many poems over the years. She started writing seriously in 2014 when she completed the first part of the erotic ‘Goings On’ series. Book 2 followed in 2015. These two books have now been revamped and given new titles, The Hurt and The Healing. Book 3 was completed and published in 2023 and forms the final part of The Hurt trilogy - The Scars. Being a reader of many genres of novels, Eva would also love to write a suspense thriller in the future, and possibly a comedy. She also enjoys writing short stories and flash fiction stories. Her fourth book, A Little More Of Me… will release on 25th April, 2026. It is a collection of short stories and flash fiction.
Eva has many hobbies, which include playing badminton and going on long country walks. She has a keen interest in spiritualism/mediumship, and has attended the Arthur Findlay Spiritual College and many other courses/workshops to develop her skills further.
Now retired from accountancy, Eva loves nothing better than writing and hosting guest authors on her website blog. She also enjoys swimming with her son and her three youngest granddaughters. During quieter moments, she enjoys a cryptic crossword, sudoku, and gardening.
SELF-PUBLISHING NEWS:
"The Self-Publishing Timeline No One Tells You: From Finished Draft To Launch" by Ellen Frances
via Vocal
"Dreams of publishing a book can leave people vulnerable. Here's what to know." by Tamia Fowlkes
via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"Why self-publishing is the future (and why now’s the time to start)" by Patric Morgan
via The Indie Book Club
"Self-publish and be scammed: Jon’s tale of heartbreak highlights boom in fraudsters using AI to supercharge book swindles" by Kelly Burke
via The Guardian
"I wrote a book about theft and deception – and now AI scams are flooding my inbox" by Walter Marsh
via The Guardian
AUTHOR CORNER
Author Interview with Eric Butler
1. When did you start writing?
I started writing when I was very young, like 6 or 7. My mother was big on reading, so I started that young, which naturally morphed into me telling my own stories. I’ve always enjoyed making up stories and sharing them with my friends and family.
2. What was your journey towards becoming an author like?
Once I got out of school, I kind of stopped writing. I would have small bursts when the need to tell a story bubbled up, but it wasn’t something I did daily or even weekly. I released my first novel, The Shadow Within, in December 2019. I had been working on it, one way or another, for about 8 years. I decided to complete the first draft and present it to my wife for Christmas in 2017. She had always wanted me to write a book, and it felt like the perfect way to present it to her. I then worked on it for a few more years until I got it to a point where I felt like it was acceptable to release.
3. What can you tell me about your latest book? (Feel free to include an excerpt.)
My latest, The Bargain, is a mashup of backwoods witches and Greek Mythology. I love including monsters in my stuff, and this time I focused on some of my favorites from the genre. I wrote it so folks with some knowledge of the myths would see the Easter Eggs, but if you don’t know them, it won’t take away from the horror of the situation. The blurb from the back of the book …
Seventeen years ago, Zeke made a deal with Mama Faye.
A deal that provided his barren sister with the baby she always wanted.
In exchange, on the girl’s seventeenth birthday, she will be wed to Mama Faye’s beloved son.
Now desperate to save her daughter from a fate worse than death, Zelma strikes a new bargain ...
And all it will cost is her humanity.
4. What sort of methods do you use for book promotion?
I’m still working on that. For the most part, I do social media. In the past, I have used different services to get my book on mailing lists when I have sales or give a book away. Something I’m trying this year is doing more events. I’ve also noticed that being consistent and supportive of the horror community helps as well. I’m a strong believer in the idea we all win together.
5. Where do you get your ideas for stories?
They come from all over the place. I am a fan of urban legends and myths, so I will often take something and place it in a new or odd place to make it my own. I also get ideas watching other genres, TV shows or movies. Often, I’ll be watching something with the wife that is no where near horror, and I’ll suddenly have a “what if they did X” moment. I’ll jot it down and revisit it later to see if it’s something that can work as a tale of horror or if it was just a “in the moment” kind of thing.
6. What are you working on right now?
Right now, I’m working on a few anthology stories, and a new series focused on one of my most popular characters, The Kentucky Goatman. I also have a sequel for Sins of the Past in the works, and the third chapter to my Rest Stop series.
7. Any advice for other authors?
Read. A lot. Read other genres. I also say write as much as you can, when you can, but don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day or two. Sometimes taking a break is the best thing you can do.
ABOUT ERIC:
“I'm an indie Horror writer who lives deep in the heart of Texas. When I'm not writing novels and stories for anthologies, I'm doing the bidding of 3 adorable huskies. I've been married for over 20 years and have a teenager in the house, so I won't be running out of horror material for quite some time.”
AUTHOR NEWS:
"I Hired a Book Publicity Firm for £1,800. Here’s What Went Wrong." by Kirsten Bell
via Jane Friedman
"Thousands of authors publish ‘empty’ book in protest over AI using their work" by Dan Milmo
via The Guardian
"7 Things No One Tells You About Becoming an Author" by Rachel Warmath
via Writers In The Storm
REVIEWER CORNER
My Reviews:
Dawn Reviews Books:
Where the Crows Sing: Chorus of Crows is a chilling story of ghosts on the homestead
A Different Kind of Love Song: Rock My Stars is a story of an unlikely romance
Reader Views:
“Thirty Years Without You” by Vernette V. Ayers
“The Golem’s Holocaust” by Scott Eveloff
“The Boy Who Growled at Thunder” by Edd Tury
Other Book Reviews:
"When Revenge Collides with Duty in “Missing Sister”" by R.G. Belsky
"M.L. Stedman’s “A Far-flung Life” Is a Sweeping Saga of Grief and Endurance" by Krysti Ostermeyer
"Pasadena’s Historic Japantown Brought to Life in New Hirahara Mystery" by Linda Hitchcock
"Village Gossip Fuels a Chilling Death in Tana French’s “The Keeper”" by Jodé Millman
"A Town of Secrets Faces the Tempest in Rachel Hawkins’ “The Storm”" by Linda Hitchcock
"Heartpounding Sapphic Romance in Kiersten White’s New Gothic Fantasy" by Kiersten Bjork
"The Cost of Secrets in Ren DeStefano’s Twisting Spy Thriller" by Natalia Kavale
"Historical Coming-of-Age Tale Explores the Dawn of the Human-Horse Bond" by Cynthia Conrad
"Rising Stars, Falling Shadows in “Darkening Song”" by Krysti Ostermeyer
"Caitlin Rother’s “Hooked” Dives Into the Dark Side of La Jolla" by Linda Hitchcock
"A Fever-Dream Journey in “Westward Women”" by Elizabeth Konkel
"A Love Story That Slowly Steeps in “A Latte Like Love”" by Ashley Ivey
"Epeolatry Book Review: Pig Wife by Abbey Luck" by Luc Dantes
"Epeolatry Book Review: Visions of Grace by Alison Littlewood" by Jennifer Griffin
"Epeolatry Book Review: The Verdant Cage by Jess Lourey" by Joseph Pietris
"Epeolatry Book Review: Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth" by Joseph Pietris
"Epeolatry Book Review: Maria the Wanted by V. Castro" by Amie DeStefano
Book Review: Dueling Flames by Calia Wilde (Destroyers MC Book 6)
Book Review: The Tomb of the Black Pharaoh by Christopher Michael
Book Review: Shakin’ by Sloane Castle
Book Review: Crime Lord’s Captive by Mia Knight (Crime Lords Book 1)
Book Review: Pumpkin Spice Café by Lauren Gilmore (Dream Harbor Book 1)
Book Review: Star Cursed by Elizabeth Briggs (Zodiac Wolves Book 2)
Book Review: Hex, Love, and Rock & Roll by Kat Turner (Coven Daughters Book 1)
Book Review: X by Mandy Lee (X, Y, Z Trilogy Book 1)
Book Review: Fear Farm No Trespassers by S. J. Krandall
Book Review: The Best Friends (to Lovers ) Bargain by Lili Valente (The Virgin Playbook Prequal)
Book Review: The Baby Dragon Café by A. T. Qureshi (The Baby Dragon Series Book 1)
Book Review: Drone Ensign by Kyle Johnson (Drone Rising Book 1)
Book Review: Sparked by Lili Valente (The Virgin Playbook Book 4)
Book Review: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (Assistant and the Villain Book 1)
Book Review: Psycho Devils by Jasmine Mas (Cruel Shifterverse Book 5)
Book Review: Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas (Villains of Lore Book 1)
Book Review: The Vixen and the Vet by Katy Regnery
Book Review: Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas (Villains of Lore Book 2)
“A Candle Snuffed” by Diane Green
“The Winter Verdict” by Dan Buzzetta
“A Planetary Vision” by Verlaine Crawford, Ph.D.
“A Child for Christmas” by Diane Green
“JR Versus Stinky Dumping Ground” by R. Ellis Brown
“Balance of Evil” by Kim Rozdeba
“The Abnormal Gumshoe” by Tamar Anolic
“China’s Master Race for World Domination” by Jack Cox Williams
“Freedom: From Trauma to Conscious Power” by Aiyahla Lo’Qtus
“Another Havana Hangover” by Randy Richardson
“Hiking Through History” by Kirk Ward Robinson
“A Nest of All Kinds” by Michael C. Reid
“The Thingy That’s Stringy” by Paul Kaplan
“A Soldier’s Burden” by Natia Khaduri
“Harmonies of Hope” by Alexandra Palchak
“A Step Too Far” by Dell Brand
“Hello, Rest of My Life” by Rick Lenz
“A Nest of All Kinds” by Michael C. Reid
“Thornberry Manor: The Ruby” by Anne K. Hawkinson
“A Treatise on Martian Chiropractic Manipulation” by Lisa Fox
“Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil” by Michael J. Bowler
“All That We Burn” by Marisa Billions
“D.O.L. City Lights” by Jason Logan Maxwell
“Nemesis Rising” by Adam Golob
"They by Helle Helle review – a novel to make the reader slow down and take notice" by Jude Cook
"The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski review – a delicious comfort read" by Ella Risbridger
"Big Nobody by Alex Kadis review – groovy and Greek in 70s London" by Suzi Feay
"In Bloom by Liz Allan review – an electric debut of grunge and teen spirit" by Madeleine Feeny
"Light and Thread by Han Kang review – a tantalising book of reflections" by John Self
"Hooked by Asako Yuzuki review – follow-up to global hit Butter" by Catherine Taylor
"Howl by Howard Jacobson review – a tragicomic portrait of a Jewish man’s despair" by Alex Clark
"The Delusions by Jenni Fagan review – an afterlife of queues and bureaucracy" by M John Harrison
"Mare by Emily Haworth-Booth review – profound story of a woman’s love for a horse" by Sandra Newman
"The Minstrels by Eva Hornung review – an audacious, confronting epic" by Nigel Featherstone
"Chain of Ideas by Ibram X Kendi review – anatomy of a conspiracy theory" by Arwa Mahdawi
03/01/2026 Guest Review! Sue Rovens Movie Night-The Initiation of Sarah (1978)
3-5-2026 Latham's Last Words: Flowers For The Sea
03/06/2026 Warn's Wrap-up: PINK NEON by Megan Stockton!
03/07/2026 - Danielle's Dark Corners
03/10/2026 Besonen Breakdowns: Eric Butler double feature
03/11/2026 Candace Reviews: THE WILD DARK by Katherine Silva
3-12-2026 Latham's Last Words: Keeping Adam's Secrets
03/14/2026 - Danielle's Dark Corners
3-19-2026 Latham's Last Words: Books by Nat Whiston
Extra Book Reviews:
via Blue Mood Cafe
The Family Friend by Claire Douglas
via Jen Med's Book Reviews
"A Good Day To Die by Amen Alonge”
via Jen Med's Book Reviews
Book Review: Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead by Taneet Grewal
via truth telling with taneet
Book Review: "The Second Death of Locke" by Dr. Thomas J. West III
via Omnivorous
Book Review: "A Better Life by Lionel Shriver" by Lachie F.
via Lachlan's Book Reviews
"In the Book Nook Reviews "The Lediar Monster" by Bethany Russo" by G. Lawrence
via Gemma's Substack
"Swoony Sunday Book Review: "One Week to Win the Chocolate Maker"" by Dr. Thomas J. West III
via Omnivorous
"Book Review: ‘Sidework,’ Sasha Hom" by K.C. Phipps
via Seven Days
"Swoony Sunday Book Review: "My Funny Demon Valentine"" by Dr. Thomas J. West III
via Omnivorous
"Book Review: Single Ever After" by Gina Dalfonzo
via Dear, Strange Things
"Veteran Educator Reviews Joy V. Smith’s Newest Sci-Fi Novel " by Carolyn Wilhelm
via The New Book Review
"Swoony Sunday Book Review: "Game Changer"" by Dr. Thomas J. West III
via Omnivorous
"Book Review: "Hemlock and Silver"" by Dr. Thomas J. West III
via Omnivorous
"Book Review: Mona's Eyes" by Gina Dalfonzo
via Dear, Strange Things
via Jill's Book Blog
"BOOK REVIEW: Usurper: Essays on the Death of Reality by D. Harlan Wilson" by Ben Arzate
via the feel bad dispatch
"Book Review: "I, Medusa"" by Dr. Thomas J. West III
via Omnivorous
Calls for Reviews
I’d love to find reviewers for my books! Contact me at DMCWriter@gmail.com if interested.
READER CORNER
BOOK BLOGS:
Tudor Blogger: The History Notes
NEW IN BOOKS:
"The Death of Narcissus" by Elana Gomel
via A Guide to Unreality
"What We Lose When We Gamify Reading" by Marissa Levien
via Literary Hub
"Pandemic Pros(e): Books That Tackle Real and Imaginary Pandemics" by Michael Woodson
via Writer's Digest
"Five Great Science Fictions by Women Writers" by Elana Gomel
via A Guide to Unreality
"House Committee Advances National Book Ban Bill" by Nathalie op de Beeck
via Publishers Weekly
"Amazon pulls sponsorship from Paris book festival after booksellers’ association boycott" by Emma Loffhagen
via The Guardian
"Quiz books are the answer to falling non-fiction sales, data shows" by Harry Taylor
via The Guardian
"Hachette pulls horror novel Shy Girl after suspected AI use" by Emma Loffhagen
via The Guardian
NEW BOOKS:
George Washington and Frederick the Great: Parallel Lives
Written by Jürgen Overhoff, Translated by Patrick Baker
Category: History
The Future That Was: A History of Third World Feminism Against Authoritarianism
Durba Mitra
Category: History
Venice and the Mongols: The Eurasian Exchange That Transformed the Medieval World
Written by Nicola Di Cosmo and Lorenzo Pubblici, Translated by Sylvia Notini
Category: History
The Making and Breaking of the American Constitution: A Thousand-Year History
Mark Peterson
Category: History
Emily Ruth Verona
Genre: Horror
The Walls Are Closing In On Us
Joshua Trent Brown
Genre: Historical Fiction
Wild Lands (The Savage Lands Series - Book 2)
Stacey Marie Brown
Genre: Horror
Buried Dreams (The Dream Series - Book 3)
Natasha Madison
Genre: Contemporary Romance
The Only One Who Knows: A Novel
Lisa M. Matlin
Genre: Suspense & Thriller
The Hadacol Boogie: A Dave Robicheaux Novel
James Lee Burke
Genre: Crime Fiction
Alex Rose
Genre: Crime Thriller
Eric Butler
Genre: Horror
Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
Genre: Literary Fiction
Rachel Hochhauser
Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling/Historical Fiction
Cave Mountain: A Disappearance and a Reckoning in the Ozarks
Benjamin Hale
Category: True Crime
The Library of Amorlin (The Age of Beasts)
Kalyn Josephson
Genre: Fantasy
Making America Sad Again: Trump and the Sycophants
g emil reutter
Category: Poetry Collection
Victoria Shorr
Genre: Literary Fiction
The Pie & Mash Detective Agency
J.D. Brinkworth
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Andrew Martin
Genre: Literary Fiction
Nathanael Lessore
Genre: YA
Karan Mahajan
Genre: Literary Fiction
Patricia Finn
Genre: Literary Fiction
No Friend to This House: A Novel
Natalie Haynes
Genre: Literary Fiction
Jo Kaplan
Genre: Horror
A Lady for All Seasons: A Novel
TJ Alexander
Genre: Historical Romance
Mark Oppenheimer
Category: Biography & Memoir
Charlotte Stevenson
Genre: Psychological Thriller
A Ghastly Catastrophe (Veronica Speedwell Mysteries Book 10)
Deanna Raybourn
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Charlotte Barnes
Genre: Psychological Thriller
The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives
Elizabeth Arnott
Genre: Suspense & Thriller
M.L. Stedman
Genre: Literary Fiction
René Peña-Govea
Genre: YA
Saba Sams
Genre: Literary Fiction
Susie Nadler
Genre: YA
Jordy Rosenbern
Genre: Literary Fiction
Written by Álvaro Enrigue, Translated by Natasha Wimmer
Genre: Historical Fiction
Gin Phillips
Genre: Mystery & Detective/Historical Fiction
Cliodhna O'Sullivan
Genre: YA
El Paso: Five Families and One Hundred Years of Blood, Migration, Race, and Memory
Jazmine Ulloa
Category: U.S. History
The Healer's Magic (Beads of Bone, Book Three)
C.J. Hosack
Genre: Fantasy
Menopause and Mandrakes: Loose Ends in Pendle-Stitch
Lenora Black
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
THE BEAUTY IN THE WRECKAGE: OR THE BIBLIOTHECA TREATMENT: AN EXPERIMENTAL HORROR NOVELLA
Andrew Buckner
Genre: Experimental Horror
S.E. Howard
Genre: Horror
Cold Snap (The Frost Bite Series, Book 2)
Angela Sylvaine
Genre: Horror/Science Fiction
Written Tales Chapbook XVI: What Remains
By Various Writers
Genre: Anthology
Essie Redcup Knows Too Many Secrets...
Sarah Carey
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Izzy Broom
Genre: Women's Fiction
Nancy Foley
Genre: Literary Fiction
Jade Song
Genre: Literary Fiction
Elizabeth Berg
Genre: Women's Fiction
J.R. Thornton
Genre: Crime Fiction
Wayne Koestenbaum
Genre: Literary Fiction
Hannah Lillith Assadi
Genre: Historical Fiction
Karma Brown
Genre: Gothic Horror
Casey Scieszka
Genre: Historical Fantasy
The Feather Wars: and the Great Crusade to Save America's Birds
James H. McCommons
Category: Birds/Ecology/History
Mary Thorson
Genre: Short Story Collection
T Kira Madden
Genre: Literary Fiction
The Dark Time (A Peter Ash Novel, Book 9)
Nick Petrie
Genre: Suspense & Thriller
Ani Katz
Genre: Suspense & Thriller
Ren DeStefano
Genre: Suspense & Thriller
Lisa Unger
Genre: Suspense & Thriller
The Delicate Art of Brute Force: How to Compute It When You Can't Solve It
Paul J. Nahin
Category: Mathematics
Edited by Bryce Seligman Dewitt and Neill Graham
Category: Physics & Astronomy
Sarah Edghill
Genre: Romance
All the Tea in China (The Orchid Hunters series - Book 2)
Timothy David Mack
Genre: Historical Fiction
Written by Asako Yuzuki, Translated by Polly Barton
Genre: Thriller
Python Practice Lab: Learn How to Code through Interactive Examples
Angelica Lim and Victor Cheung
Category: Computer Science & Electrical Engineering
The Irrational Decision: How We Gave Computers the Power to Choose for Us
Benjamin Recht
Category: Computer Science & Electrical Engineering
Vanished in the Crowd: A Molly Murphy Mystery (Molly Murphy Mysteries Book 22)
Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles
Genre: Mystery
A Day of Judgment (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries)
Charles Todd
Genre: Mystery & Detective
Allison Pataki
Genre: Historical Fiction
The Star from Calcutta (Perveen Mistry Book 5)
Sujata Massey
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Darcy Tindale
Genre: Noir Thriller
Jerry Blaze
Genre: YA Horror
Written by Thomas Jefferson, Edited by Annette Gordon-Reed
Category: History
The Four Heavens: A New History of the Ancient Maya
David Stuart
Category: Anthropology
Constance Brewer
Genre: Epic Fantasy
The Alien Buddha Talks to Animals
By Various Writers
Genre: Anthology
Jeff Boyd
Genre: Crime Fiction
Mia Dalia
Genre: Dystopian Survival Thriller
J C Murphey
Genre: Mafia Shifter Dark Romance
Close To Fear (A Kari Blackhorse Mystery—Book #10)
Blake Pierce
Genre: Mystery
M Ennenbach
Genre: Cyberpunk
Llewellyn's Little Book of Pendulums
Richard Webster
Category: Tarot & Divination
The Death of Joey Speight (An Evebiter Novel)
Jay Bower
Genre: Horror
Lincoln Peirce
Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel
Kealan Patrick Burke
Genre: Horror
Threat Level: IceStorm (FBI: Magical Threats Division Book 5)
TR Cameron
Genre: Paranormal & Urban Fantasy
Outside The Window (An Isla Rivers Mystery—Book #8)
Blake Pierce
Genre: Mystery
Michelle John
Genre: Dark Fantasy
James Kaine and Timothy King
Genre: Horror
Michael Pickard
Genre: Supernatural Mystery
Wrong Move (A Miles Sterling Mystery—Book #5)
Blake Pierce
Genre: Mystery
Cold Memory: Tales of Memory and Science Fiction
Eric Fomley
Genre: Short Story Collection (Science Fiction)
Borrowed Time (House of Gray Book 3)
Isabel Campbell
Genre: Paranormal & Urban Fantasy
N.J. Gallegos
Genre: Psychological Horror
Bryce Thayne
Genre: Horror
Fallen: Stories of Descent and Damnation
Various Authors
Genre: Anthology
Liam Kerry
Genre: A collection of one hundred 100-word stories
Dan Shrader
Genre: Horror
Persevere in Your Writing (The Write Boost Writer Series)
Karina Fabian
Category: Writing
Develop Your Author Voice (The Write Boost Writer Series)
Karina Fabian
Category: Writing
Fun With Worldbuilding (The Write Boost Writer Series)
Karina Fabian
Category: Writing
Ken Lizzi
Genre: Science Fiction
Mary Costello
Genre: Literary Fiction
Written by Eka Kurniawan, Translated from Indonesian by Annie Tucker
Genre: Literary Fiction
Marie Benedict
Genre: Historical Fiction
In The Fields of Fatherless Children: A Novel
Pamela Steele
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rebecca Lehmann
Genre: Historical Fiction
Robbie McNeil's Hit List: A Mystery
Brianna Heath
Genre: Queer Cozy Mystery
Delali Adjoa
Genre: YA
Chasing Freedom: Coming of Age at the End of Empire
Simukai Chigudu
Category: Biography & Memoir
Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment
Rhae Lynn Barnes
Category: African American & Black History
How Flowers Made Our World: The Story of Nature's Revolutionaries
David George Haskell
Category: Science & Technology
The Best Dog in the World: Essays on Love
Alice Hoffman
Category: Essay Collection
Chain of Ideas: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age
Ibram X. Kendi
Category: Politics
Written by Han Kang, Translated by Maya West, e. yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris
Category: Essay Collection
The Story of Stories: The Million-Year History of a Uniquely Human Art
Kevin Ashton
Category: Language Arts & Disciplines
The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change
Rebecca Solnit
Category: Essay Collection
War Hunt (The Empire Wars Series - Book 2)
Akana Phenix
Genre: YA
Joe Maldonado
Genre: Murder Mystery
Edited by Sylvia Kay Rose
Genre: Anthology (Weird Horror)
Edited by Charlotte Cosgrove
Genre: Poetry Anthology
Ivy Grimes
Genre: Folk Horror
Sister Agatha at the Pearly Gates
Domhnall O'Donoghue
Genre: Humor & Satire
Jack Houghteling
Genre: Historical Fiction
Poems by Amalie Flynn, Paintings by Pamela Flynn
Category: Poetry Collection
How to Survive in the Woods: A Novel
Kat Rosenfield
Genre: Thriller
Nadine Matheson
Genre: Thriller
Soak, Steam and Scream: A Bumble Bay Cozy Mystery Series
Savannah Rainn
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Jes Hart Stone
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Sam Moe
Genre: Short Story Collection
Murder at Monarch Manor: A Wander & Wonder Cozy Mystery
D.A. Sweeten
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Parades, Perennials, and Premeditated Murder (A Pupcakes and Paws Cozy Mystery Book 5)
Krista Sawyer
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Girl, Unraveled (An Ella Dark Mystery—Book #32)
Blake Pierce
Genre: Mystery
By Various Writers
Genre: Anthology
EDITOR CORNER
Tricky Edits from Carolyn Howard-Johnson
It’s About Keeping Creative Juices Going
Saving Homonym Worries ‘till Last Edit
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
Today is a quickie and tricky—slightly altered for Dawn’s prodigious SPARREW newsletter subscribers. It’s on the editing process that will save you time and yes, keep you from interrupting your creative juices when you need them most:
I suggest to my editing clients they pay little attention to nyms words—Google lists some seventy of ones still being used today.
They’re words like antonyms, acronyms, etc. I call them the Terrible, Horrible nyms. I don’t want them to interfere with my clients’ creative process at a time when it’s most needed — nor yours.
Editing is not that time. That’s where one of my mottos, ‘the more we know…’ comes into play. The ‘bewares and cautions’ I give writers throughout [my soon-to-be released Word by Word book], will make you glad to have them on your side just as you face the publishing process per se. That’s a time when you’ll need them fresh in your memory banks, too!
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 of The Frugal Editorfrom 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:
'Backseat' bucks a trend to become 'back seat'
Let’s go down the ‘rabbit hole’
WRITER CORNER
Interview with Writer Christine Rifkin
1. Have you always been a writer?
I’ve been a writer for most of my life. I started writing as a young child and just kept with it through college and adulthood.
2. When did you realize that maybe writing was actually a "thing" you could do, get published and even sell?
When I was in the 7th grade, I won a “Consequences of Crime” essay contest. I got a $100 gift card to the mall and thought that was the most money I’ve ever had at one time. Prior to that contest, I thought writing would just get me A’s, I had no idea I could get paid for it.
3. What was your first sale as a writer and how did it feel to sell your work?
My first official sale as a writer was when I sold one of my stories to be featured in a chapbook when I was in college. Though the pay wasn’t much, it was nice to be considered a published author and have my writing featured in a physical book.
4. How has writing helped you in other areas of life?
Writing has made me more creative in other areas in my life but it also has made me more analytical and careful with words. As a writer, you spend a lot of time editing and reviewing words and it starts to become second nature to edit on the spot for things as simple as a text message or an email.
5. What was your biggest accomplishment as a writer?
My biggest accomplishment as a writer was winning Best Short Screenplay at the Freak Show Horror Film Festival in Orlando in 2023. I was selected as a finalist and invited to the festival and had a wonderful time networking and talking with other horror fans. When I was called up as a winner, I was thrilled and having my husband there to cheer me on made it even better. I love writing stories and to have my screenplay selected as the best meant a lot to me.
6. Who has inspired you the most in the writing field?
I’m inspired by several authors but I think the one I most relate to is the director, Kevin Smith. I love that he writes and makes movies that he loves and enjoys, regardless of its popularity or box office success. Writing should be about telling your stories, not the stories that you think other people want.
7. What are some of the challenges you have faced as a writer and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I’ve had with being a writer is trying to get people to read my writing. Of course, you’ll have people in your life that will read your stories no matter what but when you release something to the greater world, it’s hard to get people to buy into you as a writer without any social media presence or marketing team behind you. The way I’ve tried to overcome this is to just keep going, even if it seems to still be a struggle, because just having one or two more readers is awesome. Building a dedicated fanbase is more important to me than being on any bestseller list.
8. What is the best writing advice you have ever received and why do you feel it is important?
The best advice I have ever received is to just keep writing. Even when it seems like you’ve hit a wall or have writer’s block, the best way out of it is to write your way out. Even if it’s just journaling or writing notes to yourself, writing is cathartic and it will always return you to that creative place.
9. What sort of writing do you do now?
I stick mostly to writing horror short stories but I have also been working on developing a musical stage play with a friend of mine. I do have plans to publish a few horror novellas in the next coming years.
10. Where can we find some of your work online?
Most of my published work can be found via my website.
11. What advice do you have for aspiring writers thinking of taking the leap of getting their work published?
Don’t be afraid of rejection. Every writer has been rejected at least once so try not to take it personally when it happens. The best thing you can do is keep learning about yourself and your writing and improve where you can.
12. What are your final thoughts about being a writer?
If you’re a writer, you should never be done learning. Most days I’m either reading other writers’ work, studying techniques, or trying new genres just to see what else I can do to improve my work. Being a writer has been rewarding for me but it has also been very challenging, but anything worth doing, is worth doing right.
ABOUT CHRISTINE:
Christine N. Rifkin is a Florida-based horror author and screenwriter whose short stories have appeared in the Black Hare Press anthology Eerie Christmas 3 and the Creepy Podcast. Her short script "Right Hand Man" was the winner of Best Short Screenplay at the 2023 Freak Show Film Festival and her short story “Alternates” was chosen as an honorable mention for Season 5 of the Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay competition. When she isn't writing, Christine spends most of her time on adventures with her husband, Scott, or at home lounging with their two cats, Covie and Dr. Victoria Frankenstein. You can see more of her work at her website.
New for Writers:
"Writing Goals: Front and Center" by Karen Cioffi
via Writers On The Move
"Embodied Writing: How to Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Story" by K.M. Weiland
via Helping Writers Become Authors
"In 1,000 Words or Fewer: Writing Great Flash Fiction" by Lou Orfanella
via Lit Mag News
"Benjamin Hale on How to Expand a Magazine Article Into a Book" by Benjamin Hale
via Literary Hub
"Base Your Story Structure on Principles, Not Systems" by Tiffany Yates Martin
via Jane Friedman
"How to Write Believable Dialogue" by E. S. Foster
via MetaStellar
"Collecting Golden Writing Guidelines" by Alex Coyne
via FundsforWriters
"Practical Ways to Keep Your Query Pipeline Full" by Rachel Carrington
via FundsforWriters
"Be Frankenstein: 5 Tips on Resurrecting a Dead Draft" by Kirsten Kaschock
via Writer's Digest
"Play Isn't the Opposite of Discipline" by Susan Watts
via Writers In The Storm
"Too Many Story Ideas? Try This" by Colleen M. Story
via Master Writer Mindset
"7 Reasons We Writers Need Human Interaction" by Kathryn Craft
via Writer Unboxed
"The Ins and Outs of Freytag’s Pyramid" by E. S. Foster
via MetaStellar
"9 Tips for How to Write Dark Stories Responsibly (And Make Hope Feel Earned)" by K.M. Weiland
via Helping Writers Become Authors
"How to Fix a Weak Novel Midpoint" by Jenn Windrow
via Writers In The Storm
"What you need to know about pitching your book" by Allison K. Williams
via Adventures in Writing
"Back to Basics: Embracing Revision" by Izhan Arif
via The Writer's Workout
"Writing to Be Read" by Karen Scott
via The Writer's Workout
"Know Thy Reader: Target Audiences for Fantasy" by Kate Schuyler
via The Writer's Workout
"Reach Your Writing Goals with Your Personal Writing Calendar" by Tatiana Claudy
via FundsforWriters
"Writing About Another Art Form in a Novel" by Sophie Masson
via Writer Unboxed
"03/16/2026 Professionalism Within the Writing Industry." by Candace Nola
via Uncomfortably Dark Horror
"8 Tips for Writing Military History Articles" by Matthew Adams
via Writer's Digest
"What Hope Looks Like Now: Hopepunk and Stories That Refuse to Give Up" by B.R. Kang
via Writer's Digest
"How Birding Can Train a Writer’s Attention" by Ragan Sutterfield
via Writer's Digest
"Publishing Is an Endurance Sport: What Elite Athletes Can Teach Writers About Publishing" by Blair Northen Williamson
via Writer's Digest
"How to Plant Clues Without Giving Away the Ending" by Jen Craven
via Writer's Digest
"What 19 Years Taught Me About Publishing a Memoir" by Alexandra Grabbe
via Writer's Digest
"Why Aaron Sorkin Acts Out Every Scene Before He Begins Writing (And Why You Should Too)" by Jason Hellerman
via No Film School
"Genre as Delight, Not Dictator: How Learning About Genres Helps You Write Better" by Andromeda Romano-Lax
via Jane Friedman
"Is Your Subconscious Messing with Your Writing Identity?" by Jenny Hansen
via Writers In The Storm
"More on Increasing Your Productivity" by Terry Whalin
via Writers On The Move
FEATURE ARTICLE
By Heddy Johannesen
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.
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.
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Thanks for reading! See you next month!
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Thanks for reading! See you next month!