Happy Halloween!

 

It’s finally Halloween! And like every good writer, I’m spending this holiday at the desk, writing!

 

But of course, the celebrations of all things spooky have been going on all month. However, as a writer of horror, I’m all about the spooky stuff all year long!

 

But for this month in particular, I have had quite a lot of writing released, and I’m sharing it here for anyone looking for something spooky to read or anything related to Halloween.

 

It has been quite a month! I have had more of my writing published this month than at any other time. I am extremely grateful for this. And I am very grateful to the publications who took the time to read my work and also edit and publish it!

 

Let’s dig in, shall we?

 

My short story, “Blood Moon,” was published in Sirens Call Magazine’s Halloween issue. You can read it free online here

 

HNDL Mag included a few of my stories from my new book, 30 Flash Horror Stories, in their Halloween issue! You can read it online here 

 

The new horror magazine, Monstrous Femme, published my short story, "Extra Baggage," in their debut issue. Here's the link to the story. 

 

And if you prefer some nonfiction to add to your reading pleasure, Monstrous Femme also published my article, "Turning Real Life Horror into Horror Fiction," in their debut issue. Here's the link to the article.

 

Wicked Shadow Press published my short story “Ding Dong Death” in the first of their series of Halloween anthologies: HALLOWEENTHOLOGY: JACK-O’-LANTERN. You can check out the book here:

Paperback link

Ebook link

 

And over at Androids and Dragons, I have a drabble titled “Boycotting Halloween” published, which you can read for free here

 

Thank you to everyone who published my work!

 

And if you’re interested in grabbing a free copy of the ebook, 30 Flash Horror Stories, go here 

 

Speaking of “boycotting Halloween,” did you know that I really did boycott Halloween once upon a time? This was the year following the Halloween when I caught spinal meningitis from someone. I was a 13-year-old trick-or-treater out with my family and this particular person who answered the door to hand out candy was standing right in front of me, meaning I was directly exposed to his sickness. I became ill the next day and eventually ended up in the hospital. Gradually, I became deaf. I may have lost my hearing at that time, but I’m grateful that I didn’t lose my life! (Sadly, the man who gave me that illness eventually passed away from it.)

 

But because of that experience, I was too terrified to go trick-or-treating again. It was maybe one or two years that I “boycotted” Halloween. One of my sisters eventually talked some sense into me and I slowly began to enjoy the holiday again.

 

These days, Halloween has a special meaning to me. My sister-in-law passed away three years ago, shortly before Halloween, and Halloween was her favorite holiday. So every year, I go all out celebrating Halloween, and it’s all in her memory.

 

However, as every writer knows, there’s another thing to be afraid of on Halloween: The next day is the first day of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)! EEEKKKK!!!!!!

 

While some writers have been spending days or weeks preparing for this month-long writing marathon, some writers dread it because they can’t figure out how to start their story.

 

Which is why I put together a list of 30 fist lines to help them out. And it’s also available as a free download!

 

Of course, that first line may not be what can get the writer to start writing their story, but it can be a good jumping off point!

 

Check out 30 First Lines for Fiction Writers here

 

As for me, I’m excited for next month! I have had YA horror stories published, and now I’m finally getting a YA horror book published as well! Yay! My collection of YA horror stories, The Worst Thing You Ever Did, will be released by PsychoToxin Press in mid-November. I’m thrilled by the prospect of this book’s release!

 

As for horror and Halloween books read this month, I managed to read and finish reading 9 books! That is also unusual, which is why I mention it.

 

Dracula the Un-Dead by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt

October Screams: A Halloween Anthology edited by Kenneth W. Cain

 

The Book of Drabbles edited by Eric Fomley

 

Monster Maelstron: A Flash Fiction Halloween Anthology edited by George Donnelly

 

We Need to Do Something by Max Booth III

 

Wrapped in Plastic and Other Sweet Nothings by Robert P. Ottone

 

Go Hunt Me by Kelly Devos

 

The Screaming Child by Scott Adlerberg

 

Written Tales Chapbook V: All Hallows Eve edited by Kevin Saitta

 

Horror books I am currently reading:

 

Let the Woods Keep Our Bodies by E.M. Roy

 

Curse of the Cobb Man by Robert P. Ottone

 

Kin by Kealan Patrick Burke

 

The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts

 

Lockdown Horror #4 edited by Ben Thomas, D. Kershaw, Maggie Pawsey, and S.N. Graves

 

Haunted by Danielle Vega

 

(Yes, I read several books at once!)

 

Whatever you decide to do during next month, whether it’s participating in NaNoWriMo or writing an insane amount of short fiction, I hope that November is a good month for you. Good luck, and happy writing!