R. Saint Claire's Blog

Call for Submissions for our Halloween Issue!

Theme: Folk Horror

For our next issue, Book Worms is venturing deep into the twisted roots of folk horror—that uncanny space where ancient legends, rural isolation, and old-world rituals fester just beneath the surface of pastoral charm.

Think of it like this: you and your partner leave the city behind for a peaceful life in a quaint countryside village. The air is clean, the neighbors are… unusually welcoming. Then one night, you hear drums echoing from the forest. You follow the sound. There’s firelight flickering through the trees. Chanting. Masks. A circle. And just like that, you realize you’re not the guest—you’re the offering.

Folk horror thrives on the uneasy tension between tradition and terror. Classic examples include Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon, Starve Acre by Andrew Michael Hurley, and The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones. On screen: The Wicker Man, The Witch, and Midsommar.

That said, folk horror is fluid—so stretch the boundaries. Invent your own cursed villages, pagan rites, or ghost-haunted fields. Just keep it eerie, keep it folkloric, and above all, make it scary.

This Halloween, Book Worms wants stories that chill, not just charm. We’re still suckers for “fun” horror, but this issue? We’re going full nightmare.
Ready to scare us?
Send us your tale.

Deadline: September 10, 2025 (must be received by deadline, so please mail early).

PAYMENT: 8 cents a word for fiction (1500 words or less). $25 flat fee for poetry (20 lines or less)

No reprints or multiple submissions, please. Exclusive rights for six months after publication.

ACCEPTING MAIL-IN SUBMISSIONS ONLY! (*see exception below)

Mail your submissions to: La Regina Studio/Grundy Commons/925 Canal Street/Bristol, PA 19007

Decision notices are sent through email so there is no need to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Please include your email address and your mailing address with your submission. All submissions must be typed (cover letters preferred but not mandatory) and be properly formatted.

A few new things to know:

Send only one submission, meaning don’t send multiple short stories or poems or a combination of both. Send only one piece and send your best.DO NOT send your submissions using registered mail or any kind of correspondence requiring a signature. It probably won’t get to us and you’ll be wasting your money. If you’ve had work previously published in Book Worms (you know who are) you may email your submission to bookwormssubmissions@gmail.com (same deadline) Please write Halloween Submission in the subject line. Please use the EXACT mailing address listed above. Please don’t write Book Worms on the address. This is a side project and our mailman might get confused. The mailbox is in a huge industrial complex and unfortunately, letters have gotten lost in the past, so please follow the instructions and mail as early as you can.

And finally, please don’t be discouraged if your story isn’t selected for this issue. We receive many submissions for each zine and can only accept a small handful. If your piece isn’t chosen this time, we still encourage you to keep writing and submitting—your voice matters, and we’d love to see your work again.

Book Worms Summer Issue!

The Summer Issue of Book Worms is here—and it’s our biggest, boldest, most jam-packed zine yet! We’ve gone all out this time, with our very first full-color cover to kick off the season in style.

Since summer is all about camping trips, lakeside adventures, and spooky stories by the fire, we thought: why not go full cryptid? From lake monsters to forest beasts, this issue is crawling with strange sightings and spine-tingling tales.

We’re thrilled to welcome back some of our favorite contributors—like Clay McLeod Chapman and Angelique Fawns—along with a new crop of rising horror stars who are bound to blow your mind.

Book Worms has everything you need to unplug and escape: creepy reads, quirky puzzles, eerie games—anything to keep you off your phone and in the moment.

So go ahead, order your copy today. Toss it in your backpack next to the marshmallows and bug spray. You won’t regret it.

Click on the cover to order your Book Worms Horror Zine!

Summer Reading & Writing

Cabin in the Woods

I just returned from my first summer getaway—and it was lovely. I’ve been renting this cabin on Lake Nockamixon for the past few years, sometimes as a solitary retreat in the dead of winter (which is actually one of my favorite times to go). But this year, it was more of a family affair.

I grew up in the country, so it’s in my soul. Coming from a large family that could, at times, feel chaotic, I used the woods—and climbing tall trees—as my emotional escape. Nothing soothes my nerves quite like a deep, quiet forest.

Honestly, I could easily become a hermit. I dream about it constantly. Maybe my dream doesn’t include the insects or the occasional field mouse, but I’d still take that kind of pest over the human kind any day.

Am I confessing to misanthropy? Not at all. I love people—but I love solitude more. It’s just the way I’m built. We all need to honor our natures, and mine craves quiet, natural spaces for comfort and restoration.

My childhood home

Perhaps this is one reason I became an avid reader as a kid—often perched up in a tree. Escaping into fantasy might not be the healthiest coping mechanism, but it’s far less destructive than many others. Writing, self-expression, creating plays and stage personae—none of that’s really changed. They’re all ways of coping, I suppose, if you dig in a bit deeper, but I’ll save that for my therapist.

Naturally, I brought books with me to the cabin, along with my sketchbook to indulge my latent (yet still sadly undeveloped) drawing talent, and my guitar—which I barely strummed the entire time. I have a notebook full of unfinished songs, but since I’m too shy to play around anyone, so finishing them will have to wait for the next solitary retreat.

But I did read. I’m currently indulging in a Richard Laymon read-a-thon I’m hosting on my YouTube channel with some BookTube pals. Extreme horror/splatterpunk is a genre I only dip into occasionally—for obvious reasons. It’s often gross, absurd, and, yes, frequently misogynistic. So, why was I the one to suggest this read-a-thon in the first place? LOL! Who knows. Go with it. I love a good gory drive-in movie in the summer, so Laymon it is. I’m on my fourth novel this month. I’d love a dollar for every “rump” and “turgid nipple” I’ve come across, but hey—I’m having fun. I may need to cleanse my palate with a cozy mystery when it’s all over.

Long summer days tend to bring out more focused writing in me. As a lifelong early riser, I try to knock out at least a thousand words each morning on my current work-in-progress. I recently released two YA romance novellas, and I’m now finishing up Book Two of an epic fantasy series that I still can’t believe I challenged myself to write. But here we are.

That’s my summer so far—and my summer plans. But as we know, life can change in an instant. All we can do is enjoy the day we’re blessed with.

Hope yours is a good one.

New Fiction – Click to View

Call for Submissions!

Book Worms Horror Zine Issue #8

Call for Submissions: Cryptid Horror – Summer Issue

This summer, we’re hunting monsters—and we want you to join the chase.

Our upcoming issue is diving deep into cryptid horror, where folklore meets fear and the shadows are never empty. From the fog-drenched hollows of Appalachia to the eerie stillness of primeval forests, we’re looking for stories that stir that ancient dread—the kind that makes you glance over your shoulder… just in case.

Whether it’s beasts from local legend or psychological horrors born from the depths of your own personal wilderness, we want your weirdest, wildest, and most chilling creations.

Think: backwoods folklore, eerie encounters, survival nightmares, and twisted myths.

Unleash your inner cryptozoologist and show us what’s hiding just out of sight.

Deadline: May 31, 2025 (must be received by deadline, so please mail early).

PAYMENT: 8 cents a word for fiction and essays (1500 words or less). $25 for short poems (ten lines or less), $50 for longer poems. Includes one contributor copy.

No reprints or multiple submissions, please. Exclusive rights for six months after publication.

ACCEPTING MAIL-IN SUBMISSIONS ONLY!

Mail your submissions to: La Regina Studio/Grundy Commons/925 Canal Street/Bristol, PA 19007

Decision notices are sent through email so there is no need to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Please include your email address with your submission. All submissions must be typed (cover letters preferred but not mandatory) and be properly formatted.

Frequently Asked Question: What kind of stories are you looking for?

We generally enjoy “fun”, “80s style” horror reminiscent of the zine’s old-school vibe, but we’ve also been blown away by fresh voices that take the genre in a new direction. That being said, the best chance for your story being accepted by Book Worms is to follow the submission guidelines. Make sure your story is of the horror genre, mail in your submission versus email, meet the deadline, and don’t exceed the word count limit. And if your story doesn’t make it, please keep trying. We’ve had to turn down many excellent stories due to space constraints alone. A good way to get an idea about what we’re looking for is to read our current issue or one of our back issues that are still available.

A Few Tips:

Mail early. Unfortunately, we’ve had a few submissions lost in the mail and that didn’t arrive until weeks after the deadline.Consider writing shorter stories. Sometimes we have just enough room to a 500-800 word flash fiction piece.

It might also be helpful to explain what we don’t want.

Paranormal romance (Love the genre. It’s not right for Book Worms.)Beyond the pale violence or pornographic material. Keep it fun, kids.Overtly political themes.

Writing Resolutions 2025

So Long to the Year of Deaths

I was thrilled to see two of my novels, Carni and Final Dress, included in two of my favorite BookTubers’ Best Books of the Year videos! What a lovely gift after a year of more than usual personal tragedies. A year ago, after I’d heard the awful news that one of my best friends had died, I wrote in my diary, “I think this will be the year of deaths.” I had no idea how prophetic those words would turn out to be. By the end of 2024, I had lost two aunts, my mother-in-law, my mother, and my beloved dog Lilly. On top of that, my older brother nearly died from a sudden illness. While I’m relieved to say he’s recovering, it was yet another heartbreaking challenge in a year marked by tragedy. To add to the misery, a few days after Lilly passed, I crashed my bike in a freak accident involving a swat from the Witch’s Wind of November, and broke my collarbone. Weeks of pain rolled into the holiday season which felt more forced than usual, although of course highlights with friends and family ensued.

I’ve always said my favorite holiday ritual is dragging the Christmas tree to the curb. It might sound cynical, but to me, it symbolizes a fresh start. Once the tinsel is gone, I feel like I can begin again with a clean slate. Now, with my broken bone healing and much of the physical and emotional pain behind me, I find myself reflecting on what truly matters. I also took a hard look at my writing, adding up the credits and debits, and came to the painful but honest realization that, for now, it’s amounted to little more than an expensive hobby. But that’s okay. Painful truths are good for the soul. As I move into this year, I’ll continue to write, but I’m releasing the pressure to make a living from it. If one of my books takes off, great. If not, that’s fine too.

I think having a goal of writing and releasing at least one novel a year is a doable goal. In the meantime, I have several files filled with completed or started writing projects. After vacillating about what to do with my first foray into fantasy (a so far two-book series called Starlight Over Oran), I decided to publish it on RoyalRoad and see what kind of feedback it gets over there. I’ll never stop writing, but my expectations may need an adjustment. So, moving forward into a new year, I’m keeping an open mind and an open heart. If I survived 2024, I think I can survive just about anything.

Do check out Lydia’s and Jason’s videos below. They’re both excellent sources for horror lit. Happy New Year!

New Horror Novel Release!

It’s curtain time for FINAL DRESS, my latest adult horror novel set in my favorite world- the theater! Having worked in the theater my entire life and continuing to work part-time at my local regional theater, it was a thrill to explore this environment in a slasher story. I’ve been thinking about writing a horror story set in the theater since the 80’s when I was a young Thespian experiencing the thrill of my first starring role. The play was Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, and I played the role of Miss Casewell to the hilt, complete with a man’s suit and tie and fedora, a cigarette dangling from my lip. I’m sure my English accent was dreadful, but I know I gave it my all and had a blast doing it.

The author as a young Thespian, making the most of her role.

The theater was in an old barn on a country road; as far as I know, it’s still standing. As a young Thespian, I recall navigating the backstage environs, including the costume stock stored in the old hayloft, and thinking it would be a perfect location for a horror movie. My older sister, a fellow Thespian, and I discussed, over many clove cigarettes, writing a screenplay called Horror at Summer Stock. The story had some hilarious scenes, including a runaway killer forklift as the ultimate Deus ex machina.

Our fantasy screenplay vanished with the summer winds, and the forklift didn’t make it into Final Dress, but a backstage Genie lift did, along with some other theater “inside jokes” that my theater friends will giggle at, but which any reader can hopefully appreciate. Final Dress, along with my hillbilly vampire romp, CODE RED, definitely lands under the category of “fun” horror, in the same way those old 80s slasher classics are good for a laugh but never fail to give a thrill.

So, buy a ticket to FINAL DRESS, and try to survive till the curtain falls!

Seeking Submissions!

Book Worms Horror Zine Issue #7

Seeking original short stories, essays, and poems for our Winter 2025 issue.

THEME: Space and Science Fiction Horror (must have horror elements, not just sci-fi.)

DEADLINE: December 15, 2024

PAYMENT: 8 cents a word for fiction and essays (1500 words or less). $25 for short poems (ten lines or less), $50 for longer poems. Includes one contributor copy.

No reprints or multiple submissions, please. Exclusive rights for six months after publication.

ACCEPTING MAIL-IN SUBMISSIONS ONLY!

Mail your submissions to: La Regina Studio/Grundy Commons/925 Canal Street/Bristol, PA 19007

Decision notices are sent through email so there is no need to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Please include your email address with your submission. All submissions must be typed (cover letters preferred but not mandatory) and be properly formatted.

Frequently Asked Question: What kind of stories are you looking for?

We generally enjoy “fun”, “80s style” horror reminiscent of the zine’s old-school vibe, but we’ve also been blown away by fresh voices that take the genre in a new direction. That being said, the best chance for your story being accepted by Book Worms is to follow the submission guidelines. Make sure your story is of the horror genre, mail in your submission versus email, meet the deadline, and don’t exceed the word count limit. And if your story doesn’t make it, please keep trying. We’ve had to turn down many excellent stories due to space constraints alone. A good way to get an idea about what we’re looking for is to read our current issue or one of our back issues that are still available.

A Few Tips:

Mail early. Unfortunately, we’ve had a few submissions lost in the mail and that didn’t arrive until weeks after the deadline.Consider writing shorter stories. Sometimes we have just enough room to a 500-800 word flash fiction piece.

It might also be helpful to explain what we don’t want.

Paranormal romance (Love the genre. It’s not right for Book Worms.)Overtly political themes.Beyond the pale violence or pornographic material. Keep it fun, kids.

Halloween Haunts and More!

New Release!

Halloween has turned into a holiday as bustling as Christmas, which is probably why I’m finally getting around to sharing my thoughts on the new collection I launched at the beginning of October. At least I managed to release it just in time for Halloween! I’m thrilled to share that the collection, which includes five short stories and a novella, hit the number one new release spot on Amazon in its category. That’s definitely encouraging! This collection is designed for teens and young adults, focusing on all the fun chills without diving into anything too gory. If you’re on the lookout for some cozy companion stories for those chilly October nights, I’d love for you to check out Halloween Haunts, only 99 cents for the ebook during the month of October!

Too Much Exposure?

If you’re an artist or a creative individual, you won’t want to miss the latest episode of The Right Brain Café podcast, produced by my Book Worms partner, James DeFeo, and me. This week, we dive into a crucial topic: the ongoing pressure artists face when deciding between working for exposure versus earning money. Is exposure truly beneficial, or does it undermine the value of your craft? Join us for an insightful discussion that could change your perspective on the choices you make in your creative journey.

While you’re busy with your Halloween shopping, don’t forget to pick up our Halloween issue of Book Worms Horror Zine! It features stories by Grady Hendrix, author of “Paperbacks From Hell,” and popular horror writer Clay McLeod Chapman. Issues are selling out quickly, so be sure to get your copy today!

Finally, please leave a message about how you plan to spend Halloween. Do you dress up, attend parties, or turn off the lights and hope to avoid any mischievous tricks? Whether you celebrate (or not), please have a haunted good time!

Season of the Witch!

Our Halloween issue of Book Worms is now on sale! Our mail-only zine with a limited print run continues to impress with stories by Grady Hendrix, Clay McLeod Chapman, and more! The zine is available at Big Cartel and select indie bookstores.

Issues are selling fast, so get your worms today!

Happy Vamptember

This summer has been Hellish in many ways I’d rather not enumerate. I’m just glad September is here at last. I welcome crisp autumn days and cooler temperatures, and my way of celebrating the welcomed change of season is Vamptember, a reading challenge I participate in with some BookTube buddies every year. Vamptember, for me, is always a warm-up (or should I say cool down) to Halloween.

As someone who consumes- and writes- almost exclusively horror books throughout the year, this month, I’ll focus solely on vampire lore and legend. I’ll start by revisiting a classic I loved as a teenager and have reread at least twice since. The TV mini-series terrified me. Give up? Of course, it’s ‘Salem’s Lot, probably my favorite King. The book is a wonderful combination of literary ambitiousness and pulp horror conventionality–King at his best. As a warm-up to reading the rather dense novel, I listened to the BBC’s radio drama, and what a pleasant surprise! That Doug Bradley plays Barlow is icing on a black velvet cake. yum.

I’ll be reading and discussing sections of the novel on my YouTube channel, Regina’s Haunted Library, each week and offering additional vampy challenges along the way.

So, let’s embrace fall with Vamptember. Check out my new video for all the deets and be sure to follow my co-hosts.