Category Archives: Short Stories
GEN-XER? Show your pride with SWAG ahead of the release of GENERATION X-ED!
Me, rockin’ my GenX-ed T-shirt!
The release date of Dark Ink Books’ Generation X-ed —which contains my short story “Nothing to See Here”—is almost here! Hardcover, paperback, Kindle and Audiobook will be available January 26, and if you want to pre-order the print editions, you can do that here: https://bit.ly/GetGenXed
Since it’s the first (and I think, only) anthology featuring GenX horror stories written by real GenX-ers, if you’re a GenX-er (or even if you’re not and you want to know what it was really like?), then this is a must-own for your shelf (yes, even if you’re not a big reader). It’s chock full of references to all things GenX: from rotary phones to the Challenger, from Satanic Panic to leg warmers, it’s all here.
However—here’s something even cooler: show your GenX pride and get some swag! Beer and shot glasses, coffee mugs, stickers and T’s—fun for you or the GenX-er in your life (because they make great gifts). Check it out on the anthology’s official store here.
You can get a mug with all the writers’ names on it, or you can get a mug with just the logo.
Know a GenX-er hitting 50 this year? What’s better than the book, some swag, and maybe one of those great old snacks we used to have that are still around, like (Jeno’s, now Totino’s) Pizza Rolls, Cool Ranch Doritos, or microwave popcorn? Just a thought!
You can also visit the official Generation X-ed page, which has all sorts of treats like advanced reviews, way-back memories from the writers, links for purchase in several countries, trailers, and other goodies. Check that out here: https://rowlandbooks.com/generation-xed
“Wish Bones” accepted for Timber Ghost Press’ DEAD STARS AND STONE ARCHES: A UTAH HORROR ANTHOLOGY
The beloved trilobite fossil that my husband, Nathan, gave to me the night before we got married. He made special arrangements with the Howe Caverns gift shop to have it ready for me in my Howe Caverns Motel room. There’s actually a whole story behind why this is important, but I’ll save that for another day. Pen and notepad in photo for scale.
I’m beyond thrilled to announce that my short story, “Wish Bones”—a cosmic horror piece set in 1873 Utah—has found a home in Timber Ghost Press’ Dead Stars and Stone Arches: A Collection of Utah Horror!
I don’t want to give any spoilers, so the only thing I’ll say beyond this right now is that this is an anthology you won’t want to miss—especially if you enjoy the burgeoning subgenre that is Old West Horror. I will tell you that this was my very first attempt at writing in this genre, and since TGP specializes in this, I was quite surprised and honored that the story was accepted.
I’m also really happy with how I smashed the state’s early religious history and well-known paleontological discoveries together to create something even I wasn’t expecting. And a very special shout-out goes to my friend Bruce Shillinglaw–my very helpful dinosaur expert, without whom I wouldn’t have had my facts straight.
I will keep you posted on the release date!
Gild the Holiday Weekend with the KINDLE release of COLOUR OUT OF DEATHLEHEM for charity!
Happy Christmas Eve! The Kindle Edition of Grinning Skull Press’ holiday horror anthology Colour Out of Deathlehem, which contains my story “Feeding the Babies” (if you know what Treevenge is, you’ll love this!) is now available—best of all, 100% of the $4.99 purchase goes to The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
This is a very worthy cause, and I worked long and hard on a brand new story just for you in the hopes that you’d all lend a hand!
The true spirit of Christmas is really in giving. If you’ve got $4.99 to spare, have a Kindle or the app on your phone or PC and love scary Christmas stories? Consider treating yourself while giving to someone else.
Edited by Harrison Graves and Michael Evans, here’s what’s in store:
Welcome back to Deathlehem, where… Read the rest of this entry
Give us an hour, we’ll show you new worlds — today at 5pm!
Hello all!
End your work day right — a Strong Women-Strange Worlds Quick Read is happening today at 5pm!
**6 Authors * 8 Minutes Each!** Check out the line-up of fabulous women and non-binary science fiction, fantasy, and horror authors at this VIRTUAL live reading. Bring a beverage, relax, and let them entertain you. There will be prizes/giveaways as well. You won’t want to miss this! The program is FREE via Zoom, but you must sign up here: https://bit.ly/3aOXDuR
I’ll be sharing the beginning of “Attempted Delivery,” which appears in The Shadows Behind.
One randomly chosen winner will get a free copy of Shadows, and anyone who attends and signs up for this blog will get a randomly chosen chapbook–which I only send out to my Holiday mailing list (if you’re already signed up for this blog and you attend, no worries, I’ll send you one too!) All writers are offering prizes, so this is a great opportunity to find something new or grab a gift!
Give us an hour, we’ll show you a new world. Hope to see you there!
34 ORCHARD Issue 4 is LIVE!
Issue 4 is up! You can get your copy here: https://34orchard.com/issues/issue-4/
There is so much fine work in this issue, our largest yet. Don’t miss it!
Announcing the Table of Contents for the Fall 2021 issue of 34 ORCHARD!
We’re thrilled to announce the Table of Contents for the Fall 2021 issue of 34 Orchard, which will be released on November 10, 2021!
This is our biggest issue yet. Here’s what we’ve got in store for you: Read the rest of this entry
A visit to Mystic Seaport’s Figurehead Exhibit
“Carving Grace” has an enormous back story of inspiring experiences. One of them was a visit to Mystic Seaport’s Figurehead Exhibit, which Nathan and I visited in February 2021. At that point, I’d started the story, and I felt I needed a kick.
While vaccinations had started to happen, we wouldn’t be eligible for ours until March. We desperately needed to get away, and because most of the seaport is outdoors, it seemed the perfect place to secure a change of scenery (we’d also gone there in September of 2020 for our anniversary).
Nathan and I on our way to Mystic, CT for a special birthday/Valentine’s Day escape (to also do research for “Carving Grace”). The weather was beautiful. Winter overcast, but definitely not too cold; it was the perfect atmosphere. In my mind, Mystic Seaport itself is what the community of Timber Inlet—to a point—looks like.
“Toxic Snap” is finalist in Crystal Lake Publishing’s Special Halloween Challenge!
Remember the poisoned Halloween candy scare of 1982? I do, and as the already terrified big sister to three siblings, it wasn’t fun. (Read more about it here: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/candy-tampering.htm)
That was the inspiration behind my flash fiction piece “Toxic Snap,” which is one of sixteen finalists in Crystal Lake Publishing’s Special Halloween Challenge for its Patreon supporters!
All 16 stories posted starting yesterday—“Toxic Snap” appears today—and Patreon supporters of Crystal Lake Publishing will be able to vote for their favorites. The three top stories will receive a cash prize and also be published in CL’s 2022 Shallow Waters Halloween anthology.
I’m going to put a plug in here for Crystal Lake’s Patreon, simply because I’ve been a supporter there for a few years now and I love the benefits—while there are tiers for readers, there are tiers for writers especially, and I’ve found Read the rest of this entry
“Mating Call” accepted for parABnormal Magazine’s December issue!
The heath hen. This is the saddest story of all, but right up my alley in terms of romantic tragedy. From the NBS Lost Bird Project brochure: “Heath hens usually only flew to the lower branches of the trees…in 1929, ornithologists witnessed a hopeful male fly to the top of a tree and call out, loudly and repeatedly, across the island. There were no heath hens to hear his plea.” That final male was last seen in 1932.
I’m thrilled to announce that my short story “Mating Call”—written last summer, set on Halloween and putting an urban-legend-esque twist on the sad tale of the extinct heath hen—has been accepted at parABnormal Magazine!
Publication is slated for December 15! I’ll let you know when you can get your copy.
“Incubation” accepted for ANGELA’S RECURRING NIGHTMARES
ANGELA’S RECURRING NIGHTMARES was looking for scary stories involving penguins. I have lots of penguin stuff … here’s my newest T-shirt from my most recent trip to the Bronx Zoo.
Excited to announce that my short story, “Incubation” has been accepted for the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers’ anthology, Angela’s Recurring Nightmares!
This one had an interesting theme: it had to include a person named Angela, and the horror story had to involve penguins.
Release is slated for December. I’ll keep you posted!
