Category Archives: horror short stories
“Beware Burning Snow” accepted for THE SIRENS CALL #58!
This oil lamp, made of Mount St. Helens ash, was given to me in 1982 by my babysitter at the time, whose family had gone out to Washington State for vacation that summer.
I’m excited to announce that my short story “Beware Burning Snow” has been accepted to appear in The Sirens Call Summer 2022 Issue #58, due out soon!
In 1980, ash people warned ten-year-old Sissy of the imminent eruption of Mount St. Helens. But there’s a natural order to things, and now they’re back. Sissy’s not only driven to keep one eye on the mountain—she’s compelled to keep the ash people from haunting her teenaged daughter, too.
I’ll let you know when the issue is available!
Time to celebrate! ANNE RICE TRIBUTE ANTHO is here and gets awesome reviews!
IT’S RELEASE DAY FOR DANCING IN THE SHADOWS: A TRIBUTE TO ANNE RICE! Don’t miss this one—fabulous gothic stories, 100% of proceeds goes to Animal Rescue of New Orleans. No one in this antho has made or gets a dime. Help us help them!
In addition, this volume, which includes my short story “Haint Gonna Happen,” has been getting rave reviews—The World According to Jay! calls it “a party for Anne Rice,” and Ginger Nuts of Horror says it “gives you that proprietary Anne Rice blend of gloom & thrill in spades.”
World According to Jay YouTube Review
“Haint Gonna Happen,” because it’s for charity, will NOT be appearing in any of my future collections as long as this volume is available, which means this is the only place you’ll be able to read this story.
Love animals? Love Anne Rice? Thrilled to announce “Haint Gonna Happen” in ANNE RICE BENEFIT ANTHO on May 22!
I’m proud to announce that I can finally let the proverbial cat out of the bag: my story, “Haint Gonna Happen,” is coming MAY 22 in Dancing in the Shadows: An Anne Rice Tribute Anthology! ALL PROCEEDS—100%—will benefit ANIMAL RESCUE OF NEW ORLEANS, which was founded within days of Katrina and saved thousands of animals post-disaster—kitties and puppies lived because of these fine volunteers, and their work continues today.
Excited? The publisher’s got a page with fun supplemental materials here.
Edited by Elaine Pascale and Rebecca Rowland, many amazing writers contributed to this project because we believe in supporting our community, and we received no compensation for this. It’s the only place you can read “Haint Gonna Happen,” get great horror by some of my favorite writers (a couple of whom appearing in 34 Orchard in the fall)—and help lots of distressed adorable animals. Please help—this organization is close to my heart!
For more information on Read the rest of this entry
34 ORCHARD ISSUE 5 has arrived!
It’s time … twenty-five artists focus on the things we refuse to see. Lovecraftian crazy in the Old West, Kerouac-style bummin’ with a morbid twist, Poe-esque madness on the open sea, Nin-inspired snails and more await. There are seven heartbreaking, chilling poems, a nightmare-inducing tale from Poland, and an exclusive excerpt from a forthcoming speculative memoir. A few familiar favorites, like Ali Seay, Die Booth, and Patricia Bettis, and some fresh new voices. You’ll want to get your eyes on this issue.
The downloadable PDF is designed so that it can be printed on double-sided paper for easy reading like a print magazine. As always, the issue is free, but there is a donation link should you choose to contribute.
If you like what you’ve read, spread the word! We’re also starting up some resource content for both writers and readers on our blog, so consider signing up to get those posts right in your email.
HORROR LIBRARY VOL 7 – a solid collection which includes my story “February Thaw” — is here! Plus: see rare personal video of the REAL Yellowknife)!
My short story “February Thaw” is now available in Dark Moon Books’ Horror Library Volume 7—and this Table of Contents is so stellar, I promise it’s a volume you’ll be glad you own.
“February Thaw”—about a woman who flees Miami to confront her past near the Arctic circle—is inspired by my friend MJ Preston, a writer whose novels, like The Acadia Event, are inspired by his days as an ice road trucker (he’s the real deal!) who in 2016 actually sent me a 45th birthday wish from his stop in Yellowknife—and here it is! Read the rest of this entry
Announcing the TOC for 34 ORCHARD’s Spring 2022 Issue 5!
In wall-bound creatures, leucistic birds, and murderous gardens and forests; in natural disasters and terrifying hauntings; in everywhere from modern-day skyscrapers to the Old West, the upcoming issue of 34 Orchard’s twenty-five artists focus on the things we refuse to see, and what that might mean.
I’m excited to announce 34 Orchard‘s Table of Contents for the Spring 2022, which will be released on April 25—and thanks to several generous donations, this issue is even larger than our last one! We’ve even arranged for an exclusive Read the rest of this entry
Fan of RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER? My short story “No Sweet Bird” now available!
I actually scared myself writing my contemporary gothic ghost story, “No Sweet Bird,” which is now available to read for free over at Crow & Cross Keys! See below for link to the story.
I read this and all I could think of was ‘WTF—didn’t these guys read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner?
Every one of my tales has a story behind it. This one is about what happens when you spit in fate’s eye. I’ve recently seen this happen to someone—if you believe in that sort of thing—and I think it’s interesting that a story I wrote two years ago saw it coming. It seriously is weird that, metaphorically, I described what would happen.
While the brain’s a really amazing thing, the moral of story? Karma’s a bitch. When the universe gives you a gift, you don’t throw it back.
And for God’s sake, don’t be dumb enough to kill an albatross. After all—the Franklin Expedition actually did this, and look what happened to them.
You can read “No Sweet Bird” free online over at Crow & Cross Keys here: https://crowcrosskeys.com/2022/02/02/no-sweet-bird-kristi-petersen-schoonover/
I’m incredibly honored to have this story featured in this publication. They publish some stuff that’s in my wheelhouse, so be sure to check out the other stories, as you might like them, too (no really, if you do enjoy my stories, you will definitely enjoy what they’ve got going on over there).
Free Facebook Live Writing Craft Discussion THIS Thursday night, February 3
Grab your favorite beverage for a special cocktail hour! Author Katherine Silva and I will be discussing Character Driven Horror at 8 pm Thursday, February 3, on Facebook Live. The discussion will last about an hour. It’s free and open to the public.
If you’re not familiar with a Facebook Live event, it’s the easiest thing out there—it’s just like watching television. If you’d like to attend, you simply click on this link at 8pm ET on that day, and the video will play right on the page—you do not have to register, sign up, or login to anything except your Facebook (and most of us stay logged in to that anyway). You will not see yourself on screen, and no one will know you’re there.
W-interview Series 1: Episode 4 – Character Driven Horror with Kristi Petersen Schoonover
https://www.facebook.com/events/532611934501325/?ti=ls
I hope you can join us for what promises to be an interesting chat!
“Floor Song Tango” accepted to OUT OF TIME: TRUE PARANORMAL ENCOUNTERS!
My house from hell.
I’m thrilled to announce that my piece, “Floor Song Tango”—a short memoir about the powerful grip the haunted house I grew up in had on me for most of my life—has been accepted to and will be published in Timber Ghost Press’ upcoming anthology Out of Time: True Paranormal Encounters!
As painful as this was to write–talk about things you’d rather forget? Um, yeah–this was cathartic. I was finally able to get this place to stop haunting me and put it where it belongs: in the past.
I’ll keep you posted on the publication date, which will be later this year.
“Mating Call” now available in PARabNORMAL
It’s here! How pretty are these copies of parABnormal Magazine’s December 2021 issue? The issue contains my story “Mating Call”—I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say there are angry bird ghosts involved!
This is the only place you can get this story, so if you’re on the hunt for something new of mine, you can order a PDF or print direct from the publisher.
PRINT–$12.00– https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/parabnormal-magazine-december-2021-edited-by-h-david-blalock
Or on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3Kx4h9H
(Note: You’re better off ordering from the publisher’s website. They are faster and more efficient, in this case, and the printed books come beautifully packaged in nice brown paper—at least, my four that I ordered did. It was really a nice experience).
My copies arrived professionally-wrapped in sturdy, high quality brown paper. It was like receiving an antique book. Beautiful!
