M.M. Schreier's Blog, page 3

Collection: Bruised, Resilient

I’m an angry feminist.

A (male) friend once asked, “Why are feminists always so angry?” I told him, well, there’s a lot to be mad about.

Sure, it’s not the 1950s anymore. My own mother had been a mother herself for years before she could legally have a credit card in her name. Yes, we can now vote and own property and have careers and live independently.

However, the social rules are different for women. There’s still a demonstrated wage gap. We can’t walk alone at night. We’re 47% more likely to sustain severe injuries in car accidents because the safety features are designed for men. Our bodies, appearances, and personalities are judged far more severely. If we dress down, we’re told to be more feminine. If we dress up, we’re told to stop looking so slutty. We are called bossy, when men are lauded as assertive.

Stories about men are called “fiction.” Stories about women are called “women’s fiction.“

It’s exhausting.

Today, my new collection–Bruised, Resilient–has entered the world. This is a multi-genre book (both mainstream and speculative) that focusses on the collective experience of being a woman. I tell tales about everything from dating, motherhood, and aging to social expectation, abuse, and double standards.

There’s also strength and empowerment. We are both bruised and resilient.

Regardless of gender, no matter how you identify, I believe these are stories that everyone should read. It was important to me to tell these tales. It’s important that women’s experiences are acknowledged, celebrated, mourned, seen.

BUY ebook at: Apple, Kobo, Smashwords, and more
BUY paperback & ebook at Barnes & Noble
BUY paperback & ebook at Amazon
or countless indie retailers.

Contests: NYCmidnight Short Story 2024

I have been participating in NYCmidnight contests since 2016. In fact, I entered their Flash Fiction contest on a whim at a time I was reinventing myself and it was what got me started on this whole writing journey in the first place.

It’s probably fair to say that NYCmidnight is one of the largest and well-known venues in the writing contest sphere. It draws competitors from all over the globe, ranging from brand new writers and hobbyists, to published authors, MFA and creative writing professors, mastheads for literary magazines, and professional editors.

Short Story consists of four single elimination rounds where participants are assigned prompts and asked to write a word-limited story in a restricted amount of time. Each round the amount of words allowed and the time limit shrinks, making each challenge just a wee bit harder.

I’m beyond honored to find out, that in a field of over 6,100 contestants, I managed to place second for the Short Story competition this year. The prompts were to include a character who was a “power walker” and a subject/theme of “fake it ’til you make it.” Genre was left up to the individual writer.

My story–She, I, You, We; Every Woman–was a bit of contemporary fiction with a healthy dose of social commentary. If you’ve been following along, my new collection that releases at the end of the month, Bruised, Resilient, is a book filled with stories about women, so obviously that theme was on the mind. She, I, You, We; Every Woman is a tale with a shifting POV that talks about how women discover their worth over time. I loved writing it and it is close to my heart, so I am delighted it resonated with the judges.

I’m also pretty chuffed that my good friend Charlie Rogers also landed in the top ten. You should definitely go check out his work. His recent novella, Butcher the Doll, is one of my favorite reads of 2024!

Publication Alert: Literary Namjooning

I do not often publish creative non-fiction, however when the ever amazing Hema Nataraju, joined forces with two other talented writers to create a literary journal about namjooning and self-care to honor her late sister, I knew this was a story I wanted to share.

For me, “A Keepsake Afternoon” is truly a cherished memory. It’s a short tale (all the stories at the magazine are 500 words or less) but it reminds us to slow down, and experience the beauty in the world. I think we all could use a little more of that these days.

Enjoy!

Writing Flash Fiction

I am a huge fan of flash fiction. Flash is typically defined as stories around 1,000 words. To the uninitiated, that seems like it should be an easy endeavor. It’s not that many words to put on paper, especially when we consider the average novel is around 80,000 words.

Surprise. Flash is actually really hard. Good flash is not a vignette or a scene, but a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end. It requires a complete plot, conflict, stakes, character arc, backstory, world building, and all the other things that make an engaging story.

So how the heck to you squish all that in 1,000 words?

I recently had a chance to offer some thoughts about writing flash alongside some absolute juggernauts of the form: Ai Jiang, Matt Tight, Lisa Fox, Andrea Goyen, Kai Delmas, Myna Chang, and Sumitra Singam.

Check it out here: Flash Fiction: the what, the why, and the how with tips from the experts. with Pauline Yates. (Pauline is an accomplished writer herself, so take the opportunity to check her out while you are there!)

New Collection: Sepetmber 2024

I’m delighted to announce that my newest collection, “Bruised, Resilient“ will be released this fall.

This is an eclectic collection with stories spanning multiple genres: magical realism, science fiction, horror, historical fiction, as well as a number of contemporary pieces without any speculative elements at all.

Despite their disparate genres, the stories come together in “Bruised, Resilient” under a single theme. These are women’s stories. Whether speculative stories told through metaphor, or mainstream realism, this is a book that showcases the collective experiences of real women as we navigate the world.

There are narratives about relationships, motherhood, the stigma of not wanting to be a mother, loss, societal expectations, fat shaming, wedding culture, aging, and more. There are some pretty heavy tales in this, for it is impossible to talk about women’s lived experiences without talking about the horrific things men do to us. However, there’s also wry humor and tales of love and empowerment in this, too. Women are complex creatures. The stories are as well.

While these are women’s stories, I’m loath to call it women’s fiction. I spent my youth reading speculative fiction, in a space where much of the material available to me was written by men, about men. If women can read and enjoy stories about men without calling it men’s fiction, the reverse should be true as well.

I hope my women readers will put down the book and feel seen. I hope men read it as well, and get a little taste of what it’s like to walk in our shoes.

I can’t wait to share “Bruised, Resilient” with you! Stay tuned to my socials for a cover reveal in the next few weeks!

(Also, shameless plug that the ebook of “Monstrosity, Humanity” is available at half price at Smashwords. July only!)

Publication Alert: Electric Spec

If you knew the world was about to end, how far would you go to save the one you loved?

Today, I have a new science fiction flash piece out at Electric Spec called “Maybe You’ll Sleep In” that explores just that.

I’m a really big fan of this venue, so I’m quite excited to be included in this issue. They only publish a small handful of stories per issue, so check out the other pieces as well. You won’t be disappointed.

(Cover image Image © Barbara Candiotti)

Women in Horror Interview – Kandisha Press

More than once, I’ve been told women can’t–or shouldn’t–write horror. (or SciFi, but that’s a different topic.)

If you’ve been following along, you know that I do in fact enjoy the creepy and the macabre, and often write things that fall in the horror and dark speculative realms. I even have recently published a collection of ghost and monster tales. So thhhbpt to the naysayers.

Today, I’m honored to have a conversation up with Kandisha Press for their Women in Horror series. If you are not familiar with them, I assure you they know what they are talking about as they are a women-owned independent horror press.

Take a look at our conversation here. And don’t forget to check out some of the other interviews in the series. There’s a lot of fantastic women horror writers featured on their site. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a new favorite!

New: VIP Club!

Introducing the VIP Club. What’s that, you say? I’m glad you asked.

The VIP Club will get a quarterly newsletter giving members access to early announcements, book covers, insider news, and special club-member only discounts and deals. Occasionally, there will be club-exclusive content and bonus stories, as well as contests and deals.

Sign up now to be eligible to win a signed paperback copy of “Monstrosity, Humanity.” The winning name will be drawn on May 1st!

Membership costs you nothing but your email address. What are you waiting for?

(Members will never be spammed, and names/email addresses are private, never sold or shared.)

Interviewed by Myna Chang

Myna Chang is the extraordinarily talented and accomplished author of The Potential of Radio and Rain, an award-winning collection of flash and micro stories set in the shortgrass prairie. I’ve been following her work for years, and am always so impressed by the authenticity that she brings to the page, whether she’s writing heartfelt drama, poignant historical fiction, or lighthearted and fast-paced scifi.

When she asked me if I wanted to talk about “Monstrosity, Humanity” with her at Myna’s MicroVerse, I jumped at the chance. Take a look! Myna is a huge fan of flash fiction and micros (and has published many of her own) so this is quick read interview, where she asks the right questions to cut into the heart of things.

Enjoy!

Preorders Available!

PREORDER: ebook at Apple, Kobo, Smashwords and more
PREORDER: ebook & paperback at Barns and Noble
PREORDER: paperback at Amazon

Monstrosity, Humanity is MM Schreier’s debut collection of 25 stories that push the boundaries of what it means to be human or monster. From gothic, psychological, and literary horror, to macabre humor this speculative collection explores the humanity in monsters, and the monstrosity of humans, coming together in that liminal place where the lines between them blur.