Phil Giunta's Blog, page 15
October 17, 2021
The Crossroads by James Gallahan
You’ve come to a place where ghost stories, whodunits, and tales of vengeance and suspense meet in new and terrifying ways.
In this unique collection of short stories in English and Spanish by James Gallahan, the reader is taken on a journey to the crossroads of good and evil, life and death.
If you enjoy tales with twists and unexpected endings that make you want to sleep with the light on, then this nail-biting collection is for you.
Ready to take on the unknown? Prepare yourself for The Crossroads premiering October 24!
While you’re at it, check out James Gallahan’s debut novel, Dead Man’s Cave.
A crew of pirates and a famed treasure ship. Can a gifted captain steal a fortune, and then keep it against impossible odds?
It is 1695, and a fleet of pirate ships led by Henry Avery captures the Emperor of India’s treasure ship, plundering it of a fortune in money and jewels. This amazing heist makes Avery the richest pirate in the world.
The emperor’s soldiers will do anything to reclaim the treasure, and now Avery is a man on the run. He is chased up one coast and down another, ending up in New York fighting against great odds to keep his ill-gotten fortune.
A sinister enemy with wide underground connections is poised to attack and destroy Avery and everything he cares about. Plus, the cave where Avery attempts to hide his loot is protected by fierce creatures the indigenous people call Mhuwe.
Dead Man’s Cave is filled with astonishing twists and captivating action. If you like reading adventure stories, tales of horror set in dark caves, and endings you didn’t see coming, then you’ll love James Gallahan’s debut novel.
Get Dead Man’s Cave today and be swept away on the adventure of your life.
October 3, 2021
About This Writing Stuff…
This week’s lineup bring us several “how-to” articles including writing diverse and developed characters, marketing your book without social media, and outlining your novel (or not).
Is writing for TV better than writing feature films? Ken Miyamoto discusses. Confused about when and how to use a Framing Device in your story? Britton Perelman explains.
Jennie Nash explores the importance of asking yourself why you feel compelled to write that story that’s been bouncing around in your head. Over at Sidebar Saturdays, Matt Knight delves into estate planning for writers while at the Kill Zone, James Scott Bell argues on behalf of going exclusive with KDP and Kindle Unlimited.
All that and a little more. Enjoy!
Elevator Pitching: How to Grab Someone’s Attention in 30 Seconds or Less by David Young
How to Write Diverse Characters (And, Also, Are You Qualified?) by Joiya Morrison-Efemini
How to Create Characters by Kristen Overman
Why Writing TV is Better than Writing Feature Films (and Why it’s Not) by Ken Miyamoto
Everything You Need to Know About Framing Devices by Britton Perelman
Sequencing and Layering: Advanced Techniques That Will Improve Your Writing by Kevin Nelson
Why Write This Book? by Jennie Nash via Jane Friedman
How to Market Your Book Without Social Media by Carol J. Michel
Warning to Writers: You Won’t See This New Publishing Scam Coming by Anne R. Allen
How to Outline Your Novel. Or Not by Hank Phillippi Ryan
On Going Exclusive by James Scott Bell
Estate Planning for Writers by Matt Knight
Estate Planning for Writers Part II – Transferring Intellectual Property to a Corporate Entity by Matt Knight
World-Building Through Architecture by Dave King
September 28, 2021
It’s Hip to be Square!
September 25, 2021
Givin’ Ya the Shivers!
Coming November 15,
Fae Corps Publishing
‘s two-volume horror anthology, Fae Shivers, includes Forgotten Horrors and Remembered Nightmares. 
My demonic possession story, “Break and Enter,” will be featured in Remembered Nightmares. After a fugitive breaks into an old country chapel, the pastor learns that he’s running from something far more terrifying than the death penalty. 
Available in paperback in November.
Pre-order on Kindle here...
or on Nook here.
Check out
Remembered Nightmares
on Books 2 Read.
September 16, 2021
Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity Recap
A busy week resulted in a delayed after-action report of my first experience with Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity (C3). While this annual writers conference in Columbia, MD is geared toward crime fiction, mystery, paranormal, fantasy, and science fiction, all genres are welcome. This year’s keynote speakers were Hank Phillippi Ryan, NYT bestselling author and 37-time Emmy-award winning journalist and Sherrilyn Kenyon, NYT bestselling author of over 80 novels. Sherrilyn’s inspiring, poignant speech damn near brought many of us to tears.
With Vaughn Jackson and Sherrilyn Kenyon at Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity Con (C3).Special guests included Kathleen Barber, whose novel Are You Sleeping was the basis for Apple TV’s Truth Be Told, and James Grady, author of Six Days of the Condor, which was made into the classic 1975 Robert Redford film, Three Days of the Condor. I suspect the other three days were victims of Hollywood budget cuts, but I digress.
With James Grady at Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity Con (C3).The conference delivered a fun and edifying variety of discussion panels and presentations on various aspects of writing and publishing, ranging from creating captivating characters and writing believable fight scenes to the value of deep listening and the elements of world building. I participated in the latter panel as well as another on writing in the paranormal and speculative fiction genres.
It was a joy to meet and chat with several amazing writers such as Lanny Larcinese, Ef Deal, Glenn Parris, Vaughn Jackson, F.J. Talley, Frank Hopkins, Sharon Buchbinder, and former MMA fighter, J.R. White. A special shout-out to Weldon Burge on the debut of his first novel, Harvester of Sorrow. Weldon is also the owner of Smart Rhino Publications and had published my ghost story, “Bottom of the Hour,” in his anthology A Plague of Shadows in 2018. He and I have stories in about four different anthologies, each from different presses.
Speaking of anthologies, C3 produces a limited edition anthology available only to attendees of the conference each year. Although the book is not available to the public, it was no less exciting to see my Sherlock Holmes and Johnny Watson tale, “The Five-Day Killer,” in print for the first time since I wrote it six years ago. Perhaps it’ll become a valuable collector’s item if I ever hit the big time.
I carpooled to the con with fellow speculative fiction writer, Chris Ochs, who also happens to be the president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. After the con ended on Sunday, Chris and I drove to the Common Kitchen in Clarksville where we met several local friends for lunch before heading home.
My deepest gratitude and admiration to redoubtable C3 organizers Austin Camacho, Denise Camacho, Cynthia Lauth, Susan Henry McBride, and Jodi Schwartz for their Herculean efforts to make the conference a success!
The C3 Team! (L to R): Jodi Schwartz, Cynthia Lauth, Austin Camacho, Susan Henry McBride, Denise Camacho
September 2, 2021
About This Writing Stuff…
This week, Ruth Harris offers sage advice on writing that ever daunting blurb. Over at the Kill Zone, James Scott Bell carves out a middle ground for plotters and pantsers while PJ Parrish ponders what comes first, plot or character.
Speaking of characters, Donald Maass encourages us to create fully realized characters by first being real with ourselves. Rebecca D’Harlingue offers advice on dual-timeline plots, Steve Myers argues that our protagonist’s outer journey is fundamentally an inner journey, and Barnes and Noble’s restructuring might be the comeback story of the year.
All that and little more. Enjoy!
How to Improve Your Writing Skills: Take Your Writing from Good to Great by Nicole Dieker
How to Write the D*mn Blurb by Ruth Harris
Writing About the Pandemic—or Not? by Paula Munier
Plot or Character: What’s Your Starting Point? by PJ Parrish
Five Questions to Ask Before Starting a Dual Timeline Novel by Rebecca D’Harlingue
Plotting for Pantsers and Pantsing for Plotters by James Scott Bell
B&N Rides a Wave of Positive Trends by Jim Milliot
Have Print ARCs Become a Hot Commodity? by Weronika Strzyżyńska
The Inward Path of the Protagonist’s Journey by Scott Myers
Purple Prose and the Word Surgeon’s Scalpel by Tom Bentley
Creating Character Safety Zones by Donald Maass
August 28, 2021
Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity
I look forward to attending my first Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity Con in Columbia, MD the weekend of September 10-12.
In addition to the book signings from 5-6PM on Friday, 9/10, and 4:30PM – 6PM on Saturday, 9/11, you can find me at these two discussion panels:
Saturday, 9/11 at 3:15PM: Speculative, Paranormal, Supernatural! With Sherrilyn McQueen, Carol Gyzander, Phil Giunta, and Glenn Parris (moderator)
Sunday, 9/12 at 9:15AM: World Building with Vaughn Jackson, F.J. Talley, Sherrilyn McQueen, Mike Mollman, and Phil Giunta (moderator).
The full conference schedule can be found here.
August 24, 2021
About This Writing Stuff…
This week, Shanee Edwards offers advice on creating a powerful antagonist while James Scott Bell teaches us practical thaumaturgy for conjuring short stories.
Brian Andrews explains the importance of self-editing and developmental editing, while mythcreant Chris Winkle delves into crafting effective descriptions.
Joslyn Chase steps us through ten ways to add foreshadowing, and Porter Anderson discusses the dangers of self-censorship.
All that and little more. Enjoy!
5 Tips for Negotiating Your Author Agreements by Joseph Perry via Anne R. Allen
Writing Rising Action by Linda S. Clare
A Love of Mystery is Woven into Our Biology, and Edgar Allan Poe was the First to Find the Formula for a Very Specific Dopamine Hit by Jonah Lehrer
7 Tips for Writing Bad Ass Antagonists by Shanee Edwards
The 3 Pass Rough Draft—Embracing Editing (Part I) by Brian Andrews
Developmental Editing —Embracing Editing (Part II) by Brian Andrews
Dialog and POV by Philip Athans
Creating and Resolving Conflict in Your Novel by Clare Langley-Hawthorne
The Alchemy and the Craft by James Scott Bell
What Do Writers Need to Describe? by Chris Winkle
Flights of Self-Censorship by Porter Anderson
Foreshadowing: 10 Clever Methods to Write an Engaging Plot Twist by Joslyn Chase
August 15, 2021
Halloween Party 2021
Thrilled to share the official press release from Gravelight Press announcing the September release of their latest horror anthology, Halloween Party 2021. The book includes my South Korean ghost story, “Before She’s Gone Forever.” Click on the image below to enlarge.
August 14, 2021
About This Writing Stuff…
This week, James Scott Bell offers practical advice on crafting stronger scenes. At Writer Unboxed, Donald Maass examines what it means to write authentic characters while Kathryn Craft urges us to elevate our descriptions from the prosaic to the extraordinary.
Lincoln Michel sheds light on nearly every facet of being a professional writer, Janice Hardy discusses character agency, and over at TIME, Megan McCluskey exposes the career-damaging extortion and fraudulent book reviews running rampant on Goodreads.
All that and a lot more. Enjoy!
Everything I’ve Learned About Being a “Professional” Writer in One Post by Lincoln Michel
How Extortion Scams and Review Bombing Trolls Turned Goodreads Into Many Authors’ Worst Nightmare by Megan McCluskey
Three Easy Ways to Strengthen a Scene by James Scott Bell
4 Ways to Develop Character Agency by Janice Hardy
Aim for the Extra in the Ordinary by Kathryn Craft
6 Twisty Ways to Trick Your Reader by Dana Isaacson
How to Avoid Repeating ‘I’ in First Person Writing by Louise Harnby
How to Bring History Alive in Your Fiction by Dana Cameron
The Walking Stick by Donald Maass
From Mary Shelley to Carmen Maria Machado, Women Have Profoundly Shaped Horror by Danielle Binks
