April A. Taylor's Blog, page 5
March 6, 2018
Rave Reviews for Vasilisa the Terrible: A Baba Yaga Story
The past week has been a whirlwind of activity surrounding my first Kindle Short Reads book, Vasilisa the Terrible: A Baba Yaga Story. I’m grateful for all of the support that helped my book land on two of Amazon’s ‘Hot New Releases’ lists (Fairy Tales and 90-Minute Literature & Fiction Short Reads). The reviews from readers have also been very rewarding.
Many believe that the lifeblood of an author’s career is sales, and that is undoubtedly a huge part of it. In today’s world, though, reviews and Kindle Unlimited page views are equally important. Here’s a few of my favorite reviews from the past week. If you’re read my story, please post a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Thank you for your support!
February 28, 2018
Vasilisa the Terrible: A Baba Yaga Story
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Available now in the Kindle store – Vasilisa the Terrible: A Baba Yaga Story. This is my first Kindle Short Reads book. It’s also book one of the Midnight Myths and Fairy Tales series.
This reimagining of the classic Russian fairy tale Vasilisa the Beautiful looks at what might have happened if Vasilisa was actually the villain and Baba Yaga was ostracized for daring to be a strong, independent woman.
Get your copy today for only $1.29! Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this book for free!
Don’t have a Kindle? No problem! The Kindle Reading App makes this book available on almost any mobile device. You can also read Kindle books via your laptop or desktop browser.
REVIEWER NOTE: Do you run a book review blog? Contact me for a free reviewer copy!
October 3, 2017
Horror and Paranormal Mysteries, Photography, and Horror Non-Fiction by April A. Taylor
Welcome to the online home of writer and photographer April A. Taylor. I write everything from light paranormal mysteries to hardcore horror. I also have a line of Dark Art and Fine Art photos that explore the creepy side of life.
UPCOMING NOVELS:
Missing in Michigan: Alexa Bentley Paranormal Mysteries Book One – (STYLE – Paranormal mystery, witty humor, light romance, and the slightest touch of horror)
The Haunting of Cabin Green – (STYLE – Modern Gothic upmarket horror novel that includes some graphic gore, profanity, and sex)
Both of these books are expected to be out by the end of 2018. Updates regarding their release dates will be posted here.
NON-FICTION GENRE WORK:
My non-fiction horror writing has been featured by many sites, including Graveyard Shift and Bloody Disgusting. Over at Graveyard Shift, I’ve amassed more than 3.5 million by crafting original pieces about topics such as children’s horror literature, extreme haunted houses, cryptids, true crime, horror movies, and things that are just plain creepy.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
My horror and dark art photography has been included in multiple media formats, including several books, magazines, and the short horror film CathARTic. In total, my photos have been published and exhibited in more than 100 places worldwide. Numerous pieces are available for licensing for everything from book covers to haunted attraction promotional pieces.
I’ve been providing high quality content writing for websites, magazines, eBooks and white papers since 2010. Although my primary focus is on horror, I have also ghostwritten pieces about almost every topic imaginable for high traffic sites such as Huffington Post.
GENRE NON-FICTION AND FICTION WRITING FOR YOU:
Do you need a skilled and passionate writer to handle content about horror, Halloween, dark art, haunted attractions, cryptids, urban legends, or anything else that’s just plain creepy? Are you in need of an original short horror story for your online or print publication? Contact me today to receive a quote! Be sure to provide details about your project, including an estimated word count and the deadline, so I can get back to you quickly with a personalized quote.
Looking for more information on my writing and photography background/credits? Click here!
October 2, 2017
Byline: These 13 Terrifying Children’s Books Will Still Scare You As An Adult
Children’s horror literature is a passion of mine. Some of the best macabre kids books helped introduce me to the world of horror at a young age, and I’ve always remembered them fondly. In fact, I have a huge collection of children’s horror lit that includes books from all over the world. Therefore, it was a natural fit for me to write a piece for Ranker about some of the absolute best books in this specific genre. Check out which ones made the final 13 and be sure to vote up your favorites – there’s no account required to do so!
Are you interested in having similar content for your horror, haunted attraction or Halloween related website? Contact me today for a quote!
September 29, 2017
Byline: The Right Way To Celebrate An Authentic Pagan Halloween
Have you ever wondered how the Western World altered the Pagan holiday of Samhain and ended up with modern Halloween? This byline of mine at Ranker.com explores what a traditional Samhain looks like, including a ritual bonfire, costumes, apple bobbing and getting drunk.
Interested in similar content? Be sure to check out my extensive collection of horror and true crime articles! Follow this blog to receive updates about my non-fiction horror pieces, along with news about my upcoming debut novel, The Haunting of Cabin Green.
August 28, 2017
Hunt a Killer Brings Horror Subscription Boxes to a New Level
Horror subscription boxes are a viable way for horror lovers to get a nice variety of items, ranging from toys to t-shirts. Despite this, there’s rarely anything truly exciting in these boxes (aside from a few exclusives and, in one of my personal experiences, the stunning artwork of Lee Howard).
Fortunately, Hunt a Killer offers something that goes well beyond the typical subscription box. Think of this service as being more like a combination of CSI and an escape room that comes with a nice Hannibal Lecter twist.
In a nutshell, each box contains clues that are meant to help you figure out who the killer is and what they’ve done. I’ve received the first two boxes and am pleased to report that they contain lovingly detailed, high quality items that are very engaging.
This subscription service isn’t for everyone. If you need an answer immediately and want every item to have an alternate, real-life practical purpose, you’re out of luck. However, if you enjoy some mystery and want to pour over seemingly innocuous clues as if you were a real homicide detective, then Hunt a Killer should be right up your alley.
I recommend Hunt a Killer for true crime and horror lovers who have the time, patience, energy and money required to commit to a monthly faux murder investigation.
It definitely sucked me in, and I loved going over the clues with my partner-in-crime (solving). If you’re not expecting something flashy, fast and overly obvious, there’s truly a lot to love about Hunt a Killer. Can you catch a killer?
July 23, 2017
Byline: OCCK Case Still Unsolved After 40 Years
The Oakland County Child Killer (OCCK) claimed the lives of at least four children in the 1970s. No one has ever been charged in the case, and the most compelling suspect can no longer be convicted. Learn more about the many disturbing twists and turns in this case by checking out my true crime Oakland County Child Killer article on Ranker.
July 13, 2017
Latest Byline: The Horrifying Consequences of Drinking Human Blood
Ranker.com’s Graveyard Shift recently posted this piece by me about the very real potential consequences of drinking human blood, including an increased risk of contracting multiple diseases, becoming incarcerated and accidentally murdering someone. Check it out to learn about clinical vampirism, the modern vampire lifestyle and the health problems bloodsuckers could end up facing.
Are you looking for high quality written horror content for your website or blog? Contact me for more details!
July 9, 2017
Planned Scream TV Show Reboot a Disservice to Fans
Many fans were unhappy when MTV first announced plans to create a TV show based on the popular “Scream” series, but the first two seasons were actually surprisingly solid. In fact, the mythology that was woven throughout the initial 23 episodes was intriguing enough that fan reviews on IMDb have averaged a respectable 7.3/10 stars.
One of the main threads that kept people tuned in was the mystery of whether or not Brandon James was really dead. Many guesses were also made about the exact role that Emma’s mother, Maggie Duval, played in the events surrounding the murder of several teens 20 years ago.
The Halloween special that aired last year didn’t resolve any of these mysteries. Instead, it made them much more tantalizing, even if most of the rest of that double-length episode could have been skipped.
Now, we have a shortened third season on the horizon. Unfortunately, instead of using the planned six episodes to provide some resolution for the show’s many loose threads, MTV has opted to reboot everything. This means there will be a new city, new teens and, presumably, a new killer.
Reboots, remakes and sequels are a big part of the horror genre. Without them, the “Scream” TV show wouldn’t even exist. Still, it’s a big disservice to the fans to pull the plug on everything that was set up during the first two seasons in order to start all over again somewhere else.
MTV may not have been getting the ratings they wanted, but “Scream” has been doing well on Netflix. With a little more faith in their product, MTV could be producing the satisfying conclusion that fans were looking for. Sadly, it sounds like we might never find out what really happened to Brandon James.
Are you looking for a horror content writer for your horror site or haunted attraction blog? Contact me for details!
July 8, 2017
Recent Byline: Bloody Disgusting.com
Bloody Disgusting recently ran an editorial by me entitled 10 Most Important Horror Movies Directed by Women. Some of the movies discussed include Pet Sematary, Near Dark and The Babadook. Be sure to check it out!
If you’re looking for horror content or copywriting for your website, contact me today. I offer reasonable rates and have knowledge on a vast array of topics. My specialties include horror, Halloween, urban legends, true crime, the paranormal, haunted attractions and things that are just flat out creepy or weird.
I also provide copywriting services for non-horror related industries. Current clients include a senior care service, a massage therapist, a pest control company and a professional photographer.
