Monique Snyman's Blog, page 11

What’s New Wednesday #35: Pimpin’ Like a Pro

It’s time for a brand new What’s New Wednesday! 💃 This week I have some great stuff to share, which revolves around me pimpin’ like a pro—and that means talking about books and fellow authors. Yes, I know it’s kind of in the heading of this post, but hey, it doesn’t hurt repeating. Well, at least it doesn’t hurt my blog’s SEO … *sniggers*  🙂

I’m sorry if the first part of my post is a little ‘me-me-me’, but there’s a little something-something for you to get involved in, too. 😉 Also, it’s not just ‘me-me-me’ (scroll down and you’ll see). I have some great news from other writers that gets highlighted, too. Unfortunately, this is the life of a writer—no pimpin’, no pay. *shrugs*

So, are you ready for me to get on with it? Yes? Okay, let’s go!

Pimpin’ MyselfThe Classic Monsters Unleashed Kickstarter

The Classic Monsters Unleashed Kickstarter launched 9 days ago and PHEW! I am astounded at the amount of support it’s been getting from readers and horror fans. Granted, there are some fabulous perks for backers, and some heavy-hitters are involved in the project, so this is definitely something you want to check out.

Want to know more?

Well, here you go: Check out my previous post where I revealed the cover art and the TOC for Classic Monsters Unleashed. The art is gorgeous, the writers are legendary, and the perks are simply drool-worthy. Oh, and submissions will open for it on April 8th, 2021 if you were thinking of getting involved on this deliciously dark project.

Poetry

Okay, so first off, I have never seen myself as a poet. I mean, yes, I do write poetry, but it’s usually meant for my eyes only … You know, a little practice to get into the writing mood before I start a new story. Well, I was coerced—*clears throat*—asked nicely to submit something. 😜 Seeing as I’ve been trying to step out of my comfort zone a bit, what with the baby coming and all, I decided to give it a shot. And whaddayaknow?! My poem was accepted into Black Spot Books‘ upcoming poetry showcase, Under her Skin!

AHHHH!

Here’s the kicker, though, submissions are still open if you’re looking to submit something. 🙂

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT

Writing

So, I’ve been scrambling to get all my writing obligations done before the baby comes (we have 8 weeks left … Oh gosh … *tries not to panic*).

One project I’m working on has sent me down some rabbit holes I rather wish I didn’t know existed (seriously, I’m baffled as to why Q-Anon exists and why people believe in it so vehemently). Anyway, I’m already halfway done with this book and will have it submitted before baby arrives, so you’ll probably get to read it later this year. WHOOHOO! It’s a shared-world project, and although I still can’t divulge all the juicy deets, I can say I’m hella excited to be part of it. So many great writers are going to be featured, and … Heavens, I better stop talking before I give anything away prematurely. 😂

On a more serious note: I’m still working on Book #3 in The Night Weaver Series. Yes, yes, I know, it should’ve been done ages ago. I’m sorry for the delay, but if I can get the previously mentioned book written by the end of this month—*holds thumbs*—I’ll hopefully make a dent in my writing for this one during April. Again, I’m halfway finished with the book, so it’s really just about finding time to hammer out the last few chapters.

There’s no way I’ll be able to get to the second book in the Dark Country series before baby comes, but it WILL be completed by the end of this year. The research was done years ago, so it should be smooth sailing. I don’t know why I’m stressing about this one now, seeing as you’ve not gotten your hands on the first book, but apparently I am.

*inhales deeply*

I’m missing something in this segment … Gah! I blame my baby brain. I’ll remember it eventually and add it to my next post. LOL!

Pimpin’ Some PeepsPre-Order

If you’re into reading horror, you’re going to absolutely love Jonathan Winn’s exciting new horror collection, Eidolon Avenue: The Second Feast. It’s got everything you could possibly want in a horror collection—intrigue, memorability, creativity, and creepiness. I should know … I had the privilege of editing this bad boy (and it’s still fresh in my mind). The book is up for pre-order if you’re ready for an escape into the terrifying mind of Jonathan Winn. You won’t be disappointed.

COMING MARCH 26th, 2021

Audiobooks

I recently saw that both Midnight Horror Show by Ben Lathrop and Doll Crimes by Karen Runge are available on audiobook! These books differ completely from one another but both have such wonderfully dark premises that I simply couldn’t help sharing the news … What’s more, these stories are unforgettable for a variety of reasons. So, if you’re looking for some proper listening material, go ahead and give these ones a try. 😉 I know you want to.Award News

I’m thrilled to announce that The Magic Ingredient by Lindy Miller has been getting a lot of recognition in the romance world and I’m just so proud of having had the opportunity to work on this sweet book. 🙂 So far, The Magic Ingredient’s made it onto The 2020 Chatelaine Book Awards for Romantic Fiction’s Long List, has won the bronze medal for Romance in the 2021 Feathered Quill Book Awards, and has been named a finalist in the da Vinci Eye Book Awards. Pretty impressive, huh? If you want to get your hands on a copy of the first Bar Harbor Holiday book, click here. It’s a fun read, full of sweet romance, and is perfect to unwind to after a long day of having to deal with reality.

This was a bit of a different What’s New Wednesday, I know, but I just had so much news to share. Hopefully, next week, we’ll get back to the usual obsessions. In the meantime, though, I’ll be packing the hospital bags and trying to catch up on all the work I still have left to do.

Have a great week, stay safe and healthy, and check in again soon!

Monique

Classic Monsters Unleashed: Cover Reveal

It’s cover reveal time! I hope you’re ready, because I’ve seen some teaser images and they were amazing, but this … I never expected to see a cover like this. It’s GORGEOUS! But before I show it to you, let me give you some background info on this highly-anticipated anthology by Crystal Lake Publishing.

The Classic Monsters Unleashed anthology, edited by James Aquilone, has been revealing one helluva TOC over the past few weeks, in preparation of its Kickstarter Campaign that’s launching on Monday.

Story Contributors– Joe R. Lansdale (Jack the Ripper)– F. Paul Wilson (Frankenstein)– Jonathan Maberry (Dr. Moreau)– Ramsey Campbell (Count Magnus)– Richard Christian Matheson (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)– Lisa Morton (Headless Horseman)– Tim Waggoner (a character inspired by The Wolfman)– Owl Goingback (Dracula)– Linda Addison (a character inspired by The Blob)– Seanan McGuire (Mad Scientists)– Maurice Broaddus (Invisible Man)– Dacre Stoker & Leverett Butts (Dracula)– Alessandro Manzetti (Mina Harker & a Classic Monsters poem)– John Palisano (a character based on Creature From the Black Lagoon)– Rena Mason (a character based on The Mummy)– Mercedes M. Yardley (Dorian Gray)– Monique Snyman (a character based on The Fly)– Lucy A. Snyder (Phantom of the Opera)– Gary A. Braunbeck (a story inspired by Cat People)Other Contributors

Through the Kickstarter, by a special arrangement with the Frazetta Estate, there will be an exclusive, limited-edition print of the iconic artwork ‘Creatures of the Night’ by Frank Frazetta offered. AND there will be an original Classic Monsters poem by Alessandro Manzetti.

Oh! And you can also expect artwork by Sam Shearon and others.

Classic Monsters Unleashed Cover Reveal

Now, without further ado, it’s with great pride that I can officially reveal the cover art for Crystal Lake Publishing’s most anticipated anthology of the year! I’m honored to be part of this impressive project (and to see my name amongst such legends’ names!) 💃

Just look at this breathtaking cover by Colton Worley, and the design by Shawn T. King …

Isn’t she just absolutely beautiful?

Remember to sign up for an alert on the Kickstarter Campaign for some great kickbacks. Oh, and if you want to be part of this anthology, you still can. The submission period will open soon.

Classic Monsters Unleashed Submission GuidelinesPayment: 5 cents a wordLength: 1500 to 5000 words (flexible)Reading Period: April 8 to May 30, 2021 (don’t send before April)Expected Release Date: October 2021Kickstarter Launch: March 8, 2021No reprints, multiple subs or simultaneous subsKeep an eye on the Crystal Lake Publishing Facebook page for more details.

What’s New Wednesday #34: Dreaming of Fall

While the Northern Hemisphere is now finally warming up, down South we’re already dreaming of fall. Yes, okay, so technically autumn doesn’t start until March 22nd here, but with the baby on the way I have to think ahead. Also, it doesn’t help that the nights have already got a nippiness in the air. I’m so looking forward to the brrrrr-factor. This summer was brutal at times, so I’m really holding thumbs for a proper frosty winter.

Sorry, in advance, to readers who’ve just gotten out of a blistering cold season, but this What’s New Wednesday has got a bit of an icy vibe to it.

Dreaming of FallBooks

 
I’m currently in a bit of a reading slump, so I don’t have quite as many books to occupy my time with. That being said, I do have The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon waiting on my nightstand. I’m in the mood for some horror reading, so this one will hopefully curb the horror and wintery cravings a smidge.

The other book I’m going to read right after The Winter People is a bit more post-apocalyptic in nature. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice is completely unknown to me, but I’ve read some reviews and it looks AMAZING. So, keep an eye on my Goodreads for a review. 😉

TV/Film

 
Keeping up with the icy theme of this week’s What’s New Wednesday, we started watching the Season 2 of Snowpiercer recently. So far, it’s … okay. I’m not entirely convinced on how long this “war” will be able to carry the show. We’ll have to see. Still, it’s something to watch.

Season 2 of For All Mankind has also started recently and it is sooooo good. I’m really enjoying this show’s premise and the acting is really stellar. 🙂 Definitely give this one a watch if you’re into alternative history.

Tonight, we’re watching Wrong Turn, which I’ve seen some mixed reviews of online. I liked the original film, so it’ll be interesting to see how this new movie holds up. It doesn’t look like a complete reboot or a remake, so that helps, at least.

Another horror flick I’ve seen some good reviews of online is The Dark and the Wicked. The trailer gave off some wickedly creepy vibes and I simply can’t resist. So, hopefully sometime this week we’ll find some time to watch it, too.

Music

I’ve been listening to some female rock music lately, just because. 🙂 Dorothy‘s RockIsDead has been keeping me company while I work for the most part. I also have Adona‘s Bad Things and New Medicine‘s Breaking the Model on my current playlist, so there’s definitely been a bit of a theme going on. I’m not complaining. The music is good and the writing is happening, so it’s a win-win for all parties involved. LOL!
 Cravings

Okay, so I’ve not had  any super weird cravings (yet). The weirdest one I’ve had was a 2 Minute Noodles and Sweet Chili Sauce combination right after I got out of the hospital. Lately, though, this baby’s had a hankering for none other than Willards’ Cheese Curls (I don’t usually eat it) and Maynards’ Sour Jelly Teddies . I can’t seem to get enough of these (probably not the healthiest) snacks … I’ve tried ignoring the cravings, but it’s useless. Baby wants what she wants, which is apparently all the sour and cheesy stuff I can handle.

Being pregnant is weird. LOL

And that’s it for this week’s What’s New Wednesday. 🙂 It’s a LOT shorter than last week’s post and a little devoid of any announcements, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have some other stuff to share later on in the week. So, check back soon. 😉 You never know what you’ll miss if you don’t visit the site again.

In the meantime, I have some sour jelly teddies screaming my name.

Chat soon!
Monique

What’s New Wednesday #33: Announcements and Updates

It’s been quite a while since I’ve had the strength to do a What’s New Wednesday post … Better late than never, right? 🙂 This week, I have some great recent bookish announcements and updates for you, and because I’ve been pretty absent, there are some other things I need to share that came out a few months ago. Whoopsies! Other than that, I delve into some of my current obsessions (although, I won’t go into too much detail). So, this post will be short-ish, but chockful of info. I think. Let’s see where it takes me …

Announcements and UpdatesBram Stoker Awards®

First off, I just need to tell the world (again) about the fact that The Bone Carver made it onto the 2020 Bram Stoker Awards® Final Ballot! I’m so excited about the news—excited and happy and just incredibly honored. 😀 And to see my name amongst such talented authors is … WOW! Just thinking about it leaves me speechless (and a teensy tiny bit intimidated). It truly is such an honor and privilege to be nominated a second time, though. So, thank you to everyone who voted for my book. I really appreciate it immensely. 🙂

Check out the entire final ballot here.

Classic Monsters Unleashed

Last year, before all hell broke loose with this pregnancy, I was invited to take part of a super cool anthology called, Classic Monsters Unleashed, edited by James Aquilone! Now, I know I’ve not been quite as productive as I should be, but I pushed myself as hard as I could to get better in order to take part of this fabulous horror anthology.

Thus far, the all-star roster includes some of the biggest names in horror, and features: Jonathan Maberry (Dr. Moreau), Ramsey Campbell (Count Magnus), Lisa Morton (Headless Horseman), Richard Christian Matheson (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), Linda Addison (a character inspired by The Blob), Tim Waggoner (a story inspired by The Wolfman), Maurice Broaddus (Invisible Man), Dacre Stoker (Dracula), John Palisano (a character based on Creature From the Black Lagoon), Rena Mason (a character based on The Mummy), Alessandro Manzetti (Mina Harker) and Mercedes Yardley (Dorian Gray), Owl Goingback (Dracula), Seanan McGuire (Mad Scientists of the classic monsters universe), and yours truly—Monique Snyman (a character inspired by The Fly). 💃

The lineup is still being revealed and there are a lot of things you don’t want to miss out on seeing: the cover art, illustrations, and a whole lot of things. But WOW! It’s an impressive anthology already and I’m thrilled to see my name in a book with some of horror’s finest writers. It’s gonna be so freaking cool. EEEEP!

What’s more is that there will be a submission period for those who’d like to submit their own monster stories! So, if you think you have what it takes, keep your eye out for more news on the Crystal Lake Publishing Facebook page.

OH! And there’s a Kickstarter campaign launching on March 8th. Sign up for a campaign alert. (Subs will open once funded). 🙂

Dead of Winter

On January 26th, 2021, another great horror anthology hit the shelves, but I wasn’t able to pimp it as much as I wanted to … Now that I’m a little better and trying to catch up on life, though, I thought I’d give all my lovely readers a head’s up on getting their hands on Dead of Winter, edited by Lindy Ryan and published by Blackspot Books. If you need some cold in your life, this is the book you want. 😉

DEAD OF WINTER

Eight Chilling Tales to Read Under the Cold Moon

A tinker’s son acquires a cursed soul.

A dying woman is haunted by her own reflection.

An uninvited presence haunts a Christmas seance.

A festive holiday turns macabre.

Despite the twinkling lights and steaming cocoa, the end of the year is the darkest time of the year—a season of short days, long nights, and cold skies. In this special anniversary anthology, the authors of Black Spot Books mix Ye Olde Yuletide hauntings with modern-day holiday horrors to weave a chilling new collection of dark winter tales. From frozen forests stalked by eerie Christmas ghosts to rotting gifts of winter malice, the spirits of Christmas come home for the holidays in the Dead of Winter.

 

GET YOUR COPY TODAY! New Contract Signed

Whoohoo! 🥳 In January, I signed a new contract for another project I can’t really discuss yet. It’s big, though, and it features authors from across the world! I’m both hella excited and nervous about this one … Nervous because the first draft needs to be signed off on by the publisher before the baby comes 😱😱😱, but excited because this project is different to anything I’ve done in the past. I’ve seen the cover (EEEEP! It’s gorgeous), the website (AHHHH!), and it’s going to be freaking awesome. I can’t wait to show you guys EVERYTHING. Keep an eye out for more details as they become available. 😉

Website Updates

In between everything book-related and getting ready for the new addition to our family, I’ve been updating the website here and there. For example: I’ve added a Titles I’ve Edited section to the Other Books page on the site, in order to celebrate the books I’ve worked on in the past. I’m sure I’ve missed some books, so please do get in touch if you’re an author I’ve edited and don’t see your book there. Also, because I’m sure some readers would love to get their hands on some of those books. 😉

Furthermore, I’ve seen that some of my links were broken around the site, which I’m systematically fixing. Right now, all the Extras on The Night Weaver Series page is in working order (I’ll add more extras when I have time), and I’m busy putting together some cool stuff for the Dark Country Series page (which will be revealed as we get closer to the publishing date).

There are more books going to be added, so more pages will eventually arrive. Also, I have some interesting ideas I’m trying to incorporate into the website to make it even more fun for readers. 🙂 It’s a work in progress, so we’ll see what happens when. In the meantime, you’re welcome to browse around.

This Week’s ObsessionsTV Shows

Clarice , which is based on the Silence of the Lambs film, starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, released a couple of weeks ago and it’s so good! I have to say I really enjoy it and would highly recommend the show to anyone who’s in the mood for something “police procedural” but not completely “police procedural”. It’s just fun.

The second season of Prodigal Son released in January and it’s really fun. I love the dark humor that the writers incorporate into this show, and Michael Sheen and Tom Payne’s characters really feed off each others’ energies. Definitely give this one a watch if you haven’t already. 🙂

On Saturday mornings, I now watch Jared Padalecki’s new show, Walker, while I’m eating my cereal. The first couple of episodes showed some growing pains, but it’s getting really good now, especially if you need something a little lighter when it comes to cop(-ish) shows. Also, and I hate to admit this, but I was kind of a fan of Walker: Texas Ranger as a kid, so …

Music

I seem to have a hankering for dark Southern type of music lately, which I don’t mind whatsoever.

The Dark Country albums are just that—darker country music by various artists. It’s what I like to call “perfect driving music”. Also, husband likes it, so that works in my favor. 🙂

I have always enjoyed the True Blood OST, because it encapsulates that Louisiana magical music for me. Whether I’m correct in that assumption or not, I don’t know. I’ve never been to Louisiana (I want to go … badly).

This leads me to King Britt Presents: Sister Gertrude Morgan … I’ve been fascinated with Sister Gertrude Morgan—a poet, artist, musician, and preacher—for years now. I was introduced to her art at first (which I love) and then her music followed, her history came next, and I just find her to be an interesting person. So, of course, I needed to add this older album to my current obsessions, because hey, if you’re in the mood for “folksy”, you gotta add some Sister Gertrude Morgan. 🙂

Wow, that was quite a lot of information!

If you’ve made it this far, thank you! As always, I appreciate it a lot. 🙂 I’ll check in again soon, but for now, I have quite a bit of editing to attend to.

Have a great week, folks,

Monique 🖤

Crystal Lake Publishing’s Women in Horror Month Sale!

With Women in Horror Month coming to an end soon, Crystal Lake Publishing has decided to put some of their eBooks by women on sale for the duration of February. There are some superb books for ya’ll to choose from AND they’re only 99c each! If that’s not a bargain, I don’t know what is …

99c eBooks on Amazon

First off, we have some 99c eBooks on Amazon for those of you who’re looking to stock up for your Kindle reading. 😉 (Click on the book covers to be transported to the Amazon page!)

99c eBooks on the CLP Website

And for those of you who want to give the finger to big corporations, well, now you can buy some 99c eBooks directly from the publisher! Crystal Lake Publishing has a webstore that cuts out the middle man and sends you your horror fix directly to your door! 😀 (Click on the book covers to be transported to the book’s webpage!)

Get your Horror Fix Today!

So, now you can celebrate Women in Horror Month in style (without breaking the bank), and the best part is: There’s something for everyone. 🙂 Anthologies, poetry collections, novellas, full-length novels, and each book has its own voice. You’ll love it. But remember, the sale ends at the end of February 2021, so if you want these books, you need to get them soon.

The 2020 Bram Stoker Awards® Final Ballot

Yesterday morning, while I was at the hospital getting a glucose tolerance test, the Horror Writer’s Association released this year’s Bram Stoker Awards® Final Ballot, and I am so incredibly happy to announce that THE BONE CARVER is nominated for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel!

I never expected to be nominated this year, mostly because the other books were so freaking good and I’ve been a teensy bit absent. Nevertheless, it’s such an honor to have my name recognized alongside such talented authors, and seeing as this book is so dear to my heart, I’m just … stoked!

Thank you so very much to everyone who made this a reality for me.

I would also like to say CONGRATULATIONS to all the other nominees on this achievement! I’ve read many of the books on this list and I have to say it’s one of the strongest final ballots I’ve seen in years. So, dear readers, if you’re looking for a horror fix to keep the cold at bay, then look no further than this list. 😉

The 2020 Bram Stoker Awards® Final BallotSuperior Achievement in a Novel

Jones, Stephen Graham – The Only Good Indians (Gallery/Saga Press)

Katsu, Alma – The Deep (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

Keisling, Todd – Devil’s Creek (Silver Shamrock Publishing)

Malerman, Josh – Malorie (Del Rey)

Moreno-Garcia, Silvia – Mexican Gothic (Del Rey)

Superior Achievement in a First Novel

Hall, Polly – The Taxidermist’s Lover (CamCat Publishing, LLC)

Harrison, Rachel – The Return (Berkley)

Jeffery, Ross – Tome (The Writing Collective)

Knight, EV – The Fourth Whore (Raw Dog Screaming Press)

Reed Petty, Kate – True Story (Viking)

Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel

Archer, Steven (author/artist) – The Masque of the Red Death (Raw Dog Screaming Press)

Brody, Jennifer (author) and Rivera, Jules (artist) – Spectre Deep 6 (Turner)

Douek, Rich (author) and Cormack, Alex (artist) – Road of Bones (IDW Publishing)

Holder, Nancy (author), Di Francia, Chiara (artist), and Woo, Amelia (artist) – Mary Shelley Presents (Kymera Press)

Manzetti, Alessandro (author) and Cardoselli, Stefano (artist/author) – Her Life Matters: (Or Brooklyn Frankenstein) (Independent Legions Publishing)

Niles, Steve (author), Simeone, Salvatore (author), and Kudranski, Szymon (artist) – Lonesome Days, Savage Nights (TKO Studios)

Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel

Cesare, Adam – Clown in a Cornfield (HarperTeen)

Kraus, Daniel – Bent Heavens (Henry Holt and Company/Macmillan)

Snyman, Monique – The Bone Carver (Vesuvian Books)

Thomas, Aiden – Cemetery Boys (Swoon Reads/Macmillan)

Waters, Erica – Ghost Wood Song (HarperTeen)

Superior Achievement in Long Fiction

Iglesias, Gabino – Beyond the Reef (Lullabies for Suffering: Tales of Addiction Horror) (Wicked Run Press)

Jones, Stephen Graham – Night of the Mannequins (Tor.com)

Kiste, Gwendolyn – The Invention of Ghosts (Nightscape Press)

Landry, Jess – I Will Find You, Even in the Dark (Dim Shores Presents Volume 1) (Dim Shores)

Pinsker, Sarah – Two Truths and a Lie (Tor.com)

Superior Achievement in Short Fiction

Arcuri, Meghan – “Am I Missing the Sunlight?” (Borderlands 7) (Borderlands Press)

Fawver, Kurt – “Introduction to the Horror Story, Day 1” (Nightmare Magazine Nov. 2020 (Issue 98))

Malerman, Josh – “One Last Transformation” (Miscreations: Gods, Monstrosities & Other Horrors) (Written Backwards)

O’Quinn, Cindy – “The Thing I Found Along a Dirt Patch Road” (Shotgun Honey Presents Volume 4: Recoil) (Down and Out Books)

Ward, Kyla Lee – “Should Fire Remember the Fuel?” (Oz is Burning) (B Cubed Press)

Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection

Koja, Kathe – Velocities: Stories (Meerkat Press)

Langan, John – Children of the Fang and Other Genealogies (Word Horde)

Lillie, Patricia – The Cuckoo Girls (Trepidatio Publishing)

Murray, Lee – Grotesque: Monster Stories (Things in the Well)

Taborska, Anna – Bloody Britain (Shadow Publishing)

Superior Achievement in a Screenplay

Amaris, Scarlett and Stanley, Richard – Color Out of Space (SpectreVision)

Green, Misha – Lovecraft Country, Season 1, Episode 1: “Sundown” (Affeme, Monkeypaw Productions, Bad Robot Productions, Warner Bros. Television Studios)

Green, Misha and Ofordire, Ihuoma – Lovecraft Country, Season 1, Episode 8: “Jig-a-Bobo” (Affeme, Monkeypaw Productions, Bad Robot Productions, Warner Bros. Television Studios)

LaManna, Angela – The Haunting of Bly Manor, Season 1, Episode 5: “The Altar of the Dead” (Intrepid Pictures, Amblin Television, Paramount Television Studios)

Whannell, Leigh – The Invisible Man (Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Goalpost Pictures, Nervous Tick Productions)

Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection

Manzetti, Alessandro – Whitechapel Rhapsody: Dark Poems (Independent Legions Publishing)

McHugh, Jessica – A Complex Accident of Life (Apokrupha)

Pelayo, Cynthia – Into the Forest and All the Way Through (Burial Day Books)

Sng, Christina – A Collection of Dreamscapes (Raw Dog Screaming Press)

Tantlinger, Sara – Cradleland of Parasites (Rooster Republic Press)

Superior Achievement in an Anthology

Bailey, Michael and Murano, Doug – Miscreations: Gods, Monstrosities & Other Horrors (Written Backwards)

Murray, Lee and Flynn, Geneve – Black Cranes: Tales of Unquiet Women (Omnium Gatherum Media)

Kolesnik, Samantha – Worst Laid Plans: An Anthology of Vacation Horror (Grindhouse Press)

Tantlinger, Sara – Not All Monsters: A Strangehouse Anthology by Women of Horror (Rooster Republic Press)

Yardley, Mercedes M. – Arterial Bloom (Crystal Lake Publishing)

Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction

Florence, Kelly and Hafdahl, Meg – The Science of Women in Horror: The Special Effects, Stunts, and True Stories Behind Your Favorite Fright Films (Skyhorse)

Heller-Nicholas, Alexandra – 1000 Women in Horror (BearManor Media)

Keene, Brian – End of the Road (Cemetery Dance Publications)

Peirse, Alison – Women Make Horror: Filmmaking, Feminism, Genre (Rutgers University Press)

Waggoner, Tim – Writing in the Dark (Guide Dog Books/Raw Dog Screaming Press)

Wetmore, Jr. Kevin J. – The Streaming of Hill House: Essays on the Haunting Netflix Adaption (McFarland)

Superior Achievement in Short Non-Fiction

Jackson Joseph, Rhonda – “The Beloved Haunting of Hill House: An Examination of Monstrous Motherhood” (The Streaming of Hill House: Essays on the Haunting Netflix Adaptation) (McFarland)

Pelayo, Cynthia – “I Need to Believe” (Southwest Review Volume 105.3)

Robinson, Kelly – “Lost, Found, and Finally Unbound: The Strange History of the 1910 Edison Frankenstein” (Rue Morgue Magazine, June 2020)

Sng, Christina – “Final Girl: A Life in Horror” (Interstellar Flight Magazine, October 2020)

Waggoner, Tim – “Speaking of Horror” (The Writer)

 

I’m Still Alive: Dealing with Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) sounds like a spell from Harry Potter, but it’s more like something out of a Japanese horror movie. Imagine excessive nausea, extreme vomiting, unnatural fatigue, weight loss, dehydration, malnutrition, and a whole array of other stuff that stems from the abovementioned primary symptoms. You can die from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (not kidding) if it’s left untreated or gets misdiagnosed, which happens often. Don’t worry, though … Hyperemesis Gravidarum only affects a small number of pregnant women (surprise, I’m pregnant!), which means very little research is being done to help women suffering from this rare illness, especially since HG brings in some big bucks for hospitals, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and so on.

Anyway, so here’s my story of why I’ve been M.I.A. as of late and how I’ve been dealing with HG.

My HG Story

Husband and I had been trying to start a family since we got married in 2017, but obviously things weren’t going the way we wanted. In August 2020, we decided together, we’ve had enough of the emotional rollercoaster. If it wasn’t meant to be, then we weren’t going to force things. I don’t know what happened, but late September 2020 we were finally blessed with that positive pregnancy test! I was pretty shocked, considering we had made peace with the fact that kids may not be in our future literally a month earlier. Shocked or not, though, we were happy.

At that point, I already started having morning sickness. It wasn’t that bad, though. Normal morning sickness isn’t that bad. You throw up once, twice, maybe three times a day and voila. At that point, I was more concerned about my excessive fatigue (I could sleep 18 hours without trying), but that was the extent of my pregnancy symptoms. Doable, almost easy, right? It would pass. Well, let’s fast forward to early October 2020 and there we are at our first OBGYN visit, where I was prescribed some fancy-smhancy pregnancy multivitamins, which I took religiously. I mean, every mom-to-be wants what’s best for their growing baby, which means we listen to what our doctors tell us to do. Well, nobody (not I, my husband, or the OBGYN) expected what came next …

By mid-October, my morning sickness had already gradually increased from twice a day to four, six, then ten times a day. I couldn’t figure out what was happening to me. I still ate often, even though very little stayed down, and I tried all the “remedies” to help alleviate the so-called “morning sickness”—ginger, crackers, peppermint tea, vitamin B6, you name it. Nothing helped. By the end of October, I already felt like death, but my sense of humor was still in tact. I tried to be normal me, although we had to cancel quite a few engagements with friends and family (and I already hadn’t been able to work much).

When November rolled in, things escalated fast. The vomiting was already up to twenty times a day (we were keeping a diary of when I’d eaten and drank something and when I’d vomited, so the doctors wouldn’t think I was exaggerating my symptoms). I was throwing up blood, because I’d torn my esophagus, and I’d lost 14kgs (30lbs) of weight. When I started crying in front of the fridge due to hunger and thirst, my husband convinced me to go to the ER the first time. Once there, I was treated for severe dehydration via IV. They also found my heartbeat to be irregular, my blood pressure to be low, and a bladder and kidney infection I didn’t even know I had. I was in and out of there without a diagnosis, but I was able to eat and keep food down … well, for a whole two days I could keep food down, at least.

By the end of November, I was throwing up between thirty and thirty-five times a day, but my OBGYN had diagnosed me with HG then and he’d given me a letter so I could be treated at any hospital without being questioned. I headed back to the same ER, hoping to get another IV to alleviate my symptoms just long enough to eat something. By then, I’d already lost 18kgs (39lbs), torn a muscle between my ribs, and was still vomiting blood constantly. My second visit to the ER wasn’t pleasant, even with my “golden ticket” from my OBGYN. Outside the curtains of the room they’d stuffed me in, I heard the ER doctor say to the nurse that I was a hypochondriac and “to keep an eye on me” for some reason or another. They brought me one of those customer review slips (you know, the ones where you rate the place and staff) before I was even given the IV with a 250ml saline bag (yes, they treated me with a mini saline bag this time).

That visit to the ER broke me in ways I didn’t think possible.

You read about other Hyperemesis Gravidarum survivors’ horror stories, how they were treated by medical staff, and it blows your mind. Then it happens to you and you’re wholly unprepared on how to deal with it. There I lay in the ER with a torn esophagus, a torn muscle between my ribs, barely able to lift my own head, constantly crying because my body can’t handle the trauma it’s being put through, and they call me a hypochondriac. WTF?

Nevertheless, two days later, I was admitted to a different hospital for the first time. My body had gone into shock. I was dehydrated, malnourished, and renal and heart failure was a real possibility. They allowed my husband to enter the isolation ward “just in case”, because this was a “just in case” situation to them. All the doctor could do was try to stabilize me while experimenting with drugs that could maybe help. Clopamon, Zofran (an anti-nausea drug they prescribe to chemo patients), Valoid, etc. None of the usual HG drugs seemed to work. I couldn’t get pain medication, because when you’re pregnant all you’re allowed is paracetamol and my kidneys weren’t doing well enough to cope with that yet. I threw up blood constantly, which actually helped the doctor in the end, but more about that later. Anywho, twelve IVs later, everything suddenly stopped. No vomiting, no nausea, I could eat. We thought we’d beat the HG. Ha! HAHAHAHA!

I relapsed two days after being discharged from the hospital the first time. Honestly, I can’t remember much of the three days that came after that, when we tried to stabilize me at home. Apparently I was constantly crying, telling my husband I want a divorce, saying I could feel my organs shut down, and vomiting nonstop. The last straw was when Husband counted my vomiting forty-four times in 24 hours. I couldn’t even brush my own hair, bathe, or walk without his help to the car. I was re-admitted that morning, where my OBGYN treated me with 15 IVs of fluid, for a potassium shortage, and then we found the only drug that has given me any relief to date … Nexium 40g, because my stomach lining was disintegrating.

Throughout all this, though, the baby remains in perfect health.

The Bone Carver: Exploring Stalkers and their Habits

ALERT: This post may contain spoilers of The Bone Carver (The Night Weaver #2). That said: If you currently find yourself in a situation where you think you may have a stalker or you’re curious about stalkers in general for safety reasons … Screw the book. READ THIS POST. Your safety is far more important to me than a possible spoiler.

With The Bone Carver finally released, I thought I’d delve deeper into the twisted psychology of the villain in this book. Yes, I’ve gleaned over what inspired my villain before, but I didn’t quite get into the nitty-gritty details because … phew! The research will take you to some truly disturbing places on the internet. What’s more: The Bone Carver’s brain is a minefield I had to tone down for a Young Adult audience. So, a lot of what you’ll read in the actual book is surface stuff. I mean, it’s a YA book, so it has to be kind of kid-friendly, you know?

Nevertheless, I know there are some readers who may be interested in learning more about certain aspects of the villain and how his behaviour relates to real life. Because yes, these things do actually happen in real life and I want you, my wonderful readers, to be as safe as possible.

Don’t worry, I’m gonna tone things down a lot so you get the facts and not the gore.

What’s New Wednesday #32: The Bone Carver has been Unleashed!

It’s time for another What’s New Wednesday, but first … The Bone Carver is here! After months and months of waiting, he’s FINALLY been unleashed on the world … I sincerely hope you’re ready for the chaos he’s about to inflict, because he’s more than ready to make you suffer.

Another Glimpse into The Bone Carver

With only 6 days left until release day, I thought I’d give you guys another glimpse into The Bone Carver. Last time, I got all chatty about what inspired me while I crafted my villain in this book. This time, though, I’m giving some sneaky peeks into the story with some of my favorite quotes from the book. I also want to show off the gorgeous, super Halloween-y formatting.

So, please sit back, and enjoy the ride with another glimpse into The Bone Carver.