In January, I was a freshly agented author. I’d written two whole manuscripts, and my agent had both out with separate batches of acquiring editors. I was at the top of the world. Now was the moment! Finally, I could spare a few months to focus on my online presence. It was time for social…
Tag: Writing
An Author Abroad: How to Build Community Across Countries
I grew up in Kentucky, but I’ve lived in Lima, Peru for about a decade now. Thanks to my husband, who was born and raised in Lima, this city has become “home” in my heart, right alongside Kentucky and Ohio. But living as an author abroad has its challenges, especially when it comes to networking….
Haunting Reads for Ghost Pokemon: Lavender Town and My Love of Writing
I’ve played Pokemon since I was about 10 years old. I remember hiding under my blankets at night with a flashlight and a Game Boy Color, burning my batteries down. When I played, I didn’t just see pixels. I could smell that knee-high grass, and the caves had dank, sticky air like the storage unit…
MANAWAKER STUDIO
My flash fiction piece “The Old Observatory on the Hill” has been acquired by Manawaker Studio’s Flash Fiction Podcast! This long-running podcast posts a story a week, give or take, with a strong lean toward the speculative (sci-fi and fantasy). CB Droege does a beautiful reading. You can also find the podcast at Podcast Addict….
Finding an Editor Is Easy: Deciding What You Need (and Finding a Good Fit) Is the Hard Part
I’ve been an editor since 2011. I kicked off my career with nonfiction, especially academic essays and reports, before transitioning into fiction editing. I’ve also been taking my creative writing seriously since about 2018, when I started submitting short stories and poetry. As an agented author out on submission with two books as of August…
Introducing Haunted Houses in Writing
I love haunted houses. I love their mystery, their poetry, the way they stand in for how we’re haunted ourselves. One of my favorite moments is when we “meet” the haunted house. Go on, give me mile-long, absurdly detailed descriptions. Use adverbs. Use “too many” adjectives. Tell me exactly what those gutters look like and…
CAVES: Scary Books and Old Art in Dark, Deep Places
Another month, another themed list! Thanks in particular this month to the “Spooky Book Club” and “Horror Books” Facebook groups for caves-themed book recs. If you like what you find here, sign up for my newsletter! I always include a little extra for subscribers. Got any theme-related stories? Books or games set far underground? Music that…
MUSHROOMS: Fungi in Scary Books, Art, and Weird History
Every month, for my newsletter subscribers, I do a themed list of book recs, art, music, video games, etc. The newsletter always includes a little extra, but here are some highlights! Do you have any mushroom-oriented books you’ve loved? Any games or music steeped in shroomy goodness? Just a favorite mushroom? If so, drop a…
NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED
This January, I launched an author-oddity newsletter! What’s it about? First and foremost, it’s a way to boost other creators, especially small ones still trying to find their audience. If you like the odd and eerie, subscribe! On the 5th each month, you’ll learn what the month’s theme is. On the 25th, I’ll send a…
Snow Horror That Will Make You Shiver
Snow horror embraces the cold. Isolation. Howling winds. The stark silence of a white, winter landscape. It forces protagonists to take shelter or brave the bleakest weather nature has to offer. This oddity list from the Author-Oddity Newsletter thrusts you into a frozen lake of horror book recs and other uncanny content. Mind your firewood….