Well,
maybe I will accomplish those goals in 2025.
But
now, let’s talk books!
When
I was self-publishing books, I was gung ho to publish a book in January. But
this year, I took a break from self-publishing my books, so my first book
published this year was not released until March. At first, I saw this as a
sign that maybe I won’t get that many books published this year. (Yeah,
self-publishing spoiled this author into getting used to having a lot of books
published in a year!) There was one year that I self-published books when I had
a book out every month and managed to get 12 books out in 12 months.
Well,
I managed to do that this year, too – and WITHOUT self-publishing!
I
guess you could say that it helps that I have more than one publisher. And that
I had a contract for books to be published by a publisher that changed hands in
ownership!
Yes,
there were a lot of ups and downs this year. Two very big downs happened when two
of my publishers shut down this year. (And I was aware of other indie
publishers also shutting down this year. RIP) But that didn’t sour the rest of
the year! And it did not mean that all authors were doomed to have their newly
unpublished books left to collect dust on their hard drives.
Nah,
we authors are resilient! We picked ourselves back up and found something else
to do with our books!
Either
way, I ended up with 12 books published this year. Yay! More are slated for
2025.
Here
are my 2024 books:
The Worst Thing You Ever Did (YA horror short story collection)
Within
the pages of this book are tales of possession and terrors too evil to imagine.
An
urban legend about a demon-possessed killer in the woods is put to the test by
a group of teens who will face the most terrifying of their lives.
A
cursed comic book turns a young boy into a monster's pawn, all the while
transforming him into an evil artist whose creations come to life.
A
ghoul's gifts to children come with a heavy price.
A
group of teens celebrating the last day of school awaken the next day haunted
by ghostly images of their victims from cruel and horrible events from their
past.
And
a teen boy is tricked into exploring the haunted hallway of an abandoned house,
unaware of the evil that lurks within.
Just
before you think you can walk away from the worst thing you ever did, getting
away with a crime no one could ever hold you accountable for, think again!
These five stories will send shivers down your spine! Think twice before
crossing paths with the unknown, for it will lead you to horrors lurking in the
shadows.
All the Beautiful Things
(psychological horror novella)
QL
likes to collect heads. Not just any heads, mind. The heads of the things he
loves. And he likes to keep them all on his special wall of beautiful things,
so that even in death, they can still be his forever.
QL
Buscemi grew up with a hard life. Abandoned at birth, he was raised by his aunt
and uncle in an abusive home. That was until his fixation for collecting the
heads of dead animals became a problem. Soon he started talking to a voice in
his head and acting strangely around other people. Fed up with his issues, his
aunt and uncle place him into a home for "special children," despite
its reputation for neglecting patients. There, QL encounters even more abuse,
neglect and intolerance for his mental health issues, which only get worse
since he refuses to take his medication. He finally leaves "the
center" after twenty brutal years.
Finally
free to live on his own at last, a 31-year-old QL becomes infatuated with his
pretty neighbor who lives across the street, 20-year-old Danielle Pinota, who
is herself finally free of a home where she was a "second mom" to her
kid brother. As QL's attachment to Danielle grows, he wants to get to know her
better. And keep her close to him forever. But he has to be careful. He always
hurts the things he loves. At least if he hurts Danielle from loving her too
much, just like he had with his pets, she could still be his forever ... on his
wall of beautiful things.
Watch This Space
(poetry)
Through
a captivating blend of evocative language and vivid imagery, Colclasure takes
readers on a journey through the myriad landscapes of COVID and its impacts on
society. From the darkest depths of despair to the radiant heights of joy, each
poem in "Watch This Space" is a testament to the resilience of the
spirit.
With
profound insight, Colclasure delves into themes of health, love, loss, hope,
and redemption. Whether reflecting on personal struggles or advocating for
social change, her words resonate with authenticity and compassion, leaving an
indelible impact.
"Watch
This Space" transcends being a mere collection of poems; it is a profound
exploration of the experience amidst a pandemic. With each turn of the page,
readers are drawn deeper into the labyrinth of emotion, emerging with a
newfound appreciation for the beauty and complexity of a sickness.
Shadows (collection of flash
fiction stories)
What
sort of horrors lurk in the shadows What monsters are waiting to attack?
Shadows
is a collection of 20 flash fictior stories bringing our worst nightmares to
life.
From
Halloween scares to Christmas creepers, these terrifying tales will take you
into worlds of fright.
Shadows
offers stories of ghosts, zombies demons and werewolves. But not all monsters
are creatures of the imagination Be careful who you trust; within these pages
are people just as monstrous and evil.
Nature Therapy
(poetry)
A
gentle reminder of the solace and inspiration that nature offers, and a perfect
escape from the noise.
In
"Nature Therapy," Dawn Colclasure crafts a collection that's both raw
and refreshingly earnest. Her poetry, like a breath of crisp morning air, taps
into an almost primal connection to the natural world. Colclasure's verses
offer a genuine experience of the seasons shifting and the earth's quiet,
persistent rhythms.
Reading
this collection feels like wandering through a serene, untouched landscape—each
poem is a snapshot of the simple yet profound beauty that often goes unnoticed.
Colclasure doesn't just write about nature; she invites you to feel it, to
revel in its purity and to recognize its relentless resilience.
"Nature
Therapy" is more than just a series of poems; it's an invitation to
reconnect with the world outside our windows.
Monsters
and Mayhem: Stories
(short collection of micro fiction and one flash fiction story)
Beware
of the monsters who will strike at every turn! They are on a rampage through
neighborhoods, hiding on top of roofs, or lurking within your dreams just
waiting to materialize. Beware the scary creatures that could tear you from
limb to limb or steal you away into the night! These seven flash and micro
fiction stories offer new tales of monsters and the destruction they leave in
their wake.
Triggered:A Collection of Young Adult Horror Stories (YA horror short story collection)
Ten
girls have been tormented by people who thought it was okay to hurt them. They
never expected them to fight back.
But
they do.
Not
only do they fight back, but they delight in freeing their inner monsters on
anyone who hurts them.
Ten
girls who have been wronged. Who have been forced to conform. Who have been
laughed at one too many times.
These
girls find the power within themselves to fight back and get their revenge. And
make their tormentors pay.
Other (poetry)
Woman.
Asexual. Disabled. Neurodivergent. Witch.
Take
your pick. Any one of those labels can mean rejection, punishment, judgment and
even death.
We
live in a society where women's bodies are no longer their own to do with as
they please. Where religious fanaticism continues to persecute and even murder
anyone who is not of the same faith. Where people with disabilities are
constantly looked down upon while fighting against an ableist society. Where a
highly sexualized population harasses and shames anyone who does not wish to
have sex.
other
is a short collection of poems from one such person who is all of those things,
who speaks with a voice crying out for equality and acceptance.
Vengeance from Beyond
(Collection of related horror stories)
Halloween
is a time when the veil is at its thinnest between the living and the dead.
When
a vengeful spirit makes contact with forensic psychologist, Essie Histor, the
floodgates open for other ghosts to come through as well.
As
Essie moves from one case to another, she realizes that if a ghost is set on
revenge, nothing can stop it from making sure its attackers are delivered
vengeance from beyond.
I'll
Be Ghosting You
(magical realism novel)
Warren
Beauchamp wakes up one morning not realizing he’s dead.
He
can’t figure out why most of his stuff is missing.
He
starts rummaging through his neighbors’ personal effects and discovers their
dirty secrets.
His
frolicking comes to a screeching halt when his angel guide, Floyd, shows up.
Floyd was sent to haul Warren back to “Headquarters” to stand trial.
Warren
is given a chance to go back to Earth to fix things, and during that time, he
adjusts to being a ghost.
When
it’s time for him to return, however, he has other ideas.
Home for the Holidays
(extreme horror novelette)
Mona
Townsend was five years old when her mother tried to kill her father.
This
crime cost her and her brother, Colton, 23, twenty years with their mother.
Finally
reunited on one December morning, the siblings are willing to forgive all and
create a fresh start with their mother.
With
Christmas coming up, Mona wants to make the occasion extra special.
Knowing
that her mother has had a long-term rift with her own mother, she and her
brother hatch a plan: Why not surprise their mother with a family reunion so
that the two women can bury the hatchet and have a relationship again? After
all, if she was capable of forgiving her mother for the past, why wouldn’t her
own mother want to set things right with her mother too?
It
was Christmas, after all. A time for miracles and family.
But
what Mona and Colton don’t know is that their mother had a very good reason for
severing ties with her own mother, and that some families are too toxic to
appreciate the holiday spirit.
Christmas Frights
(poetry)
Christmas
is a time for cheer, joy and good memories.
Or
is it?
Within
these pages, you'll find a different type of Christmas, with very different
Christmas characters!
There
is the evil elf who goes on a murder spree, a homicidal snowman that comes to
life on Christmas morning, and a Santa that will seek revenge on families who
don't leave cookies out for him!
These
25 poems range from the bizarre to the horrifying. If you enjoy reading
Christmas horror, check out these Christmas horror poems to add some scare to
your holidays!
Thank you to all of the beta readers, editors, cover designers, publishers and members of the writing community who were all a part of helping me to put together these books, write them, polish them, and get them published! You are ALL rock stars!!
