Another year has passed … for me, it’s “Already?” Well, they say time flies when you’re having fun, and quite honestly, my 2021 was pretty awesome. I went to or held a few really fun virtual parties (including my 50th birthday!), and got to visit some favorite and new places: twice to Mystic, a few times to Portsmouth, Rhode Island, to a retreat on Cape Cod, and to Salem for the first time. I attended two virtual Cons–StokerCon and the HP Lovecraft Film Festival–and, with my co-chair David Griffith, got the Horror Writers Association’s Connecticut Chapter off the ground. Horrorfest with my cousin returned. I read some amazing books, both issues of 34 Orchard were successful, and I was honored to participate in two online readings as well as be a guest at a few online high school and college classes. And me and Nathan got to spend many an evening watching movies in the comfort of our living room–something we have always enjoyed, but never seemed to have much time to do pre-pandemic.

But it was the writing front that really made this year superior.

I wrote eleven short stories in 2021 (this means I went from total blank page to a polished piece ready to submit), completed revisions on three (this means they were stories that were mostly written, but needed a scene or two or clean-up), and started six, five of which may or may not ever see completion. I sold or placed thirteen pieces, and I’m still waiting for news (this means was it accepted or rejected?) on three (one is shortlisted, fingers crossed!). Eight pieces were published, and five will be published within the next few months. And as far as undeveloped ideas for stories—I lost count. Twenty or thirty at least, just sitting in a file, waiting to be developed (if ever. Lots of ideas just never go anywhere, but some do eventually see the light of day).

All of this was in addition to two issues of 34 Orchard and work on my novel-in-progress, Tidings, as well as several chapbooks and mailings to readers and friends.

What a year!

So, for 2022, my goal is simply this: keep going. I’m hopeful the muse will continue to inspire me, because there’s nothing more fun than avoiding the real world in the ones I create. And also? Dude, get keeping up with this blog!!

Frequently Asked Questions

Along with setting my goals for 2022, I’d like to take a moment to answer some questions I frequently get. I’m hesitant to put specific timelines on any of these things, but I wanted to let you know what’s really in the works, and what’s not.

Will Tidings ever be complete and available?

YES! Looking at finishing it this year. I plan to tackle the rest of that book in the summer, if all goes well. Do I know how it will end? Well … yes. Yes, I do, although there may be an additional death I hadn’t initially planned on. That’ll be interesting to watch play out.

Will there ever be a sequel to This Poisoned Ground?

Even though that story seems like it has a pretty definitive ending, I’ve gotten this question a lot. In prior years, I’ve always said, “no,” but … this year, I finally got that inspiration I was waiting for. Turns out that yes, there can be a sequel, and I’m hoping it’ll be released, for the first time ever, in print as a double-sided edition with TPG (which I promise is going to look pretty freakin’ cool, and you’ll want to own it). The sequel is, as of now, entitled These Wicked Walls.

Will you ever release another collection of short stories?

YES! Possibly in 2024 if I keep crankin’ out the work. I have a solid base going, but I always like to include never-before-published pieces—in the new collection, I hope to have more new pieces rather than reprints. The muse takes her time!

What about that thing you were working on with your husband Nathan—the Candlewood Project?

That’s been sleeping for several years, but it’s certainly not dead, and, in fact, we talk about it often. We’ve both had a lot of craziness in our lives, and honestly just haven’t had the time to sit down and work on it together. We’re hopeful this will happen soon. It was a television series, but I’m thinking about writing it as a novel.

Will there be more Disney Parks stories, like in Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole?

All I have to say about this is that I am disgusted by the changes in Disney Parks—the magic is gone, as they’ve lost sight of Walt’s original vision and have destroyed so much that made it special in just the past three years; this once-a-year girl has no desire to even go back. I have old stories in draft form, but my heart is not in any of them right now. So that answer—at least at the moment—is no.

Whatever happened to the sequel for Bad Apple?

This is the number one question I get year in and year out. I’m so pleased that this book touched so many people, but right now, I have no plans. At its core, that book was a metaphor for my own childhood trauma—and that’s a hard place to go back to. I had a fantastic idea for a spin-off series—a sort of ghostly mystery series—but that died on the vine. So what’s the best answer I can give you? At this time, there will be no sequel to Bad Apple.

How you will start off your 2022?

In January, I plan to finish mailing my annual New Year’s chapbook. Several copies of that went out already to get a jump on it. If you’re on my mailing list (as in, postal mail) and haven’t received yours yet, you should have it by the end of January, first week in February at the latest. If you’re NOT on my postal mailing list and would like to be, drop me a line! I DO send out goodies throughout the year.

I have a story called “Tinsel Linings” that’s in the middle stages (which will likely be for a forthcoming collection). I am finishing up another piece for a very exciting invite-only project. Then, after that, I plan to finish two other stories I started a couple of months ago and get to work on These Wicked Walls.

If you’re a writer, I wish you a productive year full of growth in the craft. If you’re a reader, I hope you find some wonderful worlds to explore inside whatever pages you decide to pick up!