Stephanie M. Wytovich's Blog, page 11
February 19, 2019
LOCKED UP FOR WITCHCRAFT: AN INTERVIEW WITH DONNA LYNCH
Hello and Good Morning, Friends and Fiends:
This week in the Madhouse, we're talking witches--one of my all time favorite topics, as most of you know! For the past few years, I've been seriously smitten with the archetype of the witch in literature, not to mention the practice of witchcraft in general. I've been reading book after grimoire, casting circle after hex, and the more I learn, the more I fall in love.
Which reminds me! If you're interested in this topic, I have a handful of podcasts that I would love to recommend to you: The Fat Feminist Witch, The Serpent Cast, The Witch Bitch Amateur Hour, and The Witch Wave.
But I digress! Today we're going to sit down with literal rock star poet, Donna Lynch, my fellow RDSP sister, and chat about her poetry collection, Witches , which is currently on the preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker Award. Donna Lynch is the co-founder, lyricist, and singer of the dark electronic rock band Ego Likeness, and a horror poet, spoken word artist, and dark fiction author. She lives in Maryland with her partner- artist and musician Steven Archer, who you folks may know as the insane talent behind my--and the entire RDSP poetry line's--book covers.
So sit back, relax, and snuggle up with your familiars. It's about to get delightfully dark.
With raven feathers and cat bones,Stephanie M. Wytovich
I know one of the most popular questions for #WiHM is who or what got you into horror, but what I want to know, is what got you into witches/witchcraft?
There’s a meme about how many little girls go through a seriously dark phase where they are all about Ouija Boards and games like “Light as a Feather”, and convinced they possess supernatural abilities. I don’t think I ever outgrew that. When I abandoned ship on Christianity at age 13, I spent many years learning about and practicing Wicca, but as I got older, I abandoned that, too. My personal mythology regarding witches is a philosophy and a mindset, rather than a religion. The witches I revere the most are either inhuman entities from folklore and fiction who feed on fear and bones and curses, or actual people who were accused and persecuted for their independence, mental health, or defiance. I want to believe in magick, but have an easier time believing in strong-willed desire. Maybe it’s one in the same.
Your collection Witches (Raw Dog Screaming Press) is currently on the preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker Awards, and rightfully so! Congrats! Can you tell us a bit about your collection? What gave you the idea to create this book, and in your opinion, what does it represent at its most literal and figurative heights?
Thank you! This book was a chance to honor those characters, embodied ideas, and the spirits of those defiant people—some real, some imagined. Maybe that’s another way I practice magick: offering praises to those entities. When you keep their names on your tongue, you keep them alive and powerful.
Your husband, Steven Archer—who is the best book cover artist in the world (and yes, I said that sincerely and a little bit out of fear)—not only did the cover art for your book, but also did the art for the interior as well. How do you two go about working on a collaboration like this? Do you write to his art? Does he paint to your writing?
While I agree he’s the best, the most he’ll do if you cross him is photoshop dogs giving you middle fingers all over your book cover...or so I hear. I’ve had such good experiences collaborating with him over the years. Daughters of Lilith (RDSP 2010) was our first published collab, but years before that we did a book/ art installation called “Twenty-Six” and then later, The Book of Keys, all in the same format as Witches. Steven gives me the prompts with the painting or illustration and often times a title or a short phrase. It’s my job to find the story. It’s also been an extremely successful method of shaking me out of writer’s block.
There are a LOT of seriously bad ass magical women in your collection. Who was your favorite to write to/about and why? Is there a particular type of witchcraft that you like writing about the most?
My favorites were the ones who were real people or based on real people. I loved implying that their successes, failures, and fame were the result of their otherworldly powers. “Morgan Le Fay and the Algonquin Round Table,” “The True Sight of Mayhayley Lancaster,” “Some Like it Extremely Hot,” “The Father of Crows”—they were the most fun. Tradition-wise, my favorite actual religion to write about is Voudou. It makes the most sense to me and is so raw and graceful, joyous and painful at the same time. Though I really do love extending folklore into modern times. I’ll never tire of writing about terrifying women in the wilderness who eat bones and scratch bloody symbols on your door. One of my favorite movie scenes is in The Blair Witch Project: all of those effigies hanging from the trees. I strive to capture in my writing how that scene makes me feel.
Your poem “Circe & Her Victims” is short, but hauntingly powerful, especially when put up against the artwork behind it. Now for the mythology buffs out there, there are two legends surrounding Circe: 1) that she is the daughter of Hecate and 2) that she is the daughter of Helios (the sun god) and Perse (an ocean nymph). Which lifeline does Circe live in for you? Or do you think she encapsulates them both?
This Circe is the daughter of Hecate, taking care of business as needed.
If you could have one magical power, what would it be and why?
To know things. I don’t know enough things.
As a woman who writes about strong female characters, and in this case witches who were persecuted and executed for their bodies, sexuality, and craft, what takeaway do you hope your readers leave your book with?
One of my main goals in everything I write is to express the importance of pragmatism in a world run by emotion. It seems like—when talking about witches—I have that backwards, but it’s the people ruled by impulse and emotion who persecute those who try to live with reason and rationale. Hysteria doesn’t come from magick—even dark magick, it comes from fear. And my Witches are not afraid.
What books are sitting in your TBR pile?
The Sound of Building Coffins by Louis Maistros, two books by Donna Tartt- The Secret History and The Goldfinch, and Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles & Ted Orland.
What is next in store for your readers?
I have a much larger poetry collection slated for release this year through Raw Dog Screaming Press called Choking Back the Devil, a collection of short stories I may release through Patreon, and someday I will pick up the pace on a novel I’ve been struggling with for a few years. I love the premise, but ever since my brain got thrashed by Lyme Disease and the mental fog that comes along with Fibromyalgia, writing (and reading) in large chunks has become very difficult. I keep pushing, though. I have a character who really needs to tell her story and a terrible creature that has a lot to say, too.
What advice do you have for writers working in fiction?
When I figure it out, I’ll be sure to share, haha! Honestly, the question I get most often is “How do you write a story?” I don’t always know if people are looking for encouragement or if they believe there might be a formula, but the answer is simply “to write”. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just write it. Read a lot. Make connections. Be visible. Be humble and kind and make sure people know your name.
Follow Donna at: www.egolikeness.comPatreon.com/StevenArcher@GeekLioness on TwitterDonna Lynch on FacebookEgo Likeness on Facebook d_note_ on Instagram
This week in the Madhouse, we're talking witches--one of my all time favorite topics, as most of you know! For the past few years, I've been seriously smitten with the archetype of the witch in literature, not to mention the practice of witchcraft in general. I've been reading book after grimoire, casting circle after hex, and the more I learn, the more I fall in love.
Which reminds me! If you're interested in this topic, I have a handful of podcasts that I would love to recommend to you: The Fat Feminist Witch, The Serpent Cast, The Witch Bitch Amateur Hour, and The Witch Wave.
But I digress! Today we're going to sit down with literal rock star poet, Donna Lynch, my fellow RDSP sister, and chat about her poetry collection, Witches , which is currently on the preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker Award. Donna Lynch is the co-founder, lyricist, and singer of the dark electronic rock band Ego Likeness, and a horror poet, spoken word artist, and dark fiction author. She lives in Maryland with her partner- artist and musician Steven Archer, who you folks may know as the insane talent behind my--and the entire RDSP poetry line's--book covers.
So sit back, relax, and snuggle up with your familiars. It's about to get delightfully dark.
With raven feathers and cat bones,Stephanie M. Wytovich
I know one of the most popular questions for #WiHM is who or what got you into horror, but what I want to know, is what got you into witches/witchcraft?
There’s a meme about how many little girls go through a seriously dark phase where they are all about Ouija Boards and games like “Light as a Feather”, and convinced they possess supernatural abilities. I don’t think I ever outgrew that. When I abandoned ship on Christianity at age 13, I spent many years learning about and practicing Wicca, but as I got older, I abandoned that, too. My personal mythology regarding witches is a philosophy and a mindset, rather than a religion. The witches I revere the most are either inhuman entities from folklore and fiction who feed on fear and bones and curses, or actual people who were accused and persecuted for their independence, mental health, or defiance. I want to believe in magick, but have an easier time believing in strong-willed desire. Maybe it’s one in the same.
Your collection Witches (Raw Dog Screaming Press) is currently on the preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker Awards, and rightfully so! Congrats! Can you tell us a bit about your collection? What gave you the idea to create this book, and in your opinion, what does it represent at its most literal and figurative heights?
Thank you! This book was a chance to honor those characters, embodied ideas, and the spirits of those defiant people—some real, some imagined. Maybe that’s another way I practice magick: offering praises to those entities. When you keep their names on your tongue, you keep them alive and powerful.
Your husband, Steven Archer—who is the best book cover artist in the world (and yes, I said that sincerely and a little bit out of fear)—not only did the cover art for your book, but also did the art for the interior as well. How do you two go about working on a collaboration like this? Do you write to his art? Does he paint to your writing?
While I agree he’s the best, the most he’ll do if you cross him is photoshop dogs giving you middle fingers all over your book cover...or so I hear. I’ve had such good experiences collaborating with him over the years. Daughters of Lilith (RDSP 2010) was our first published collab, but years before that we did a book/ art installation called “Twenty-Six” and then later, The Book of Keys, all in the same format as Witches. Steven gives me the prompts with the painting or illustration and often times a title or a short phrase. It’s my job to find the story. It’s also been an extremely successful method of shaking me out of writer’s block.
There are a LOT of seriously bad ass magical women in your collection. Who was your favorite to write to/about and why? Is there a particular type of witchcraft that you like writing about the most?
My favorites were the ones who were real people or based on real people. I loved implying that their successes, failures, and fame were the result of their otherworldly powers. “Morgan Le Fay and the Algonquin Round Table,” “The True Sight of Mayhayley Lancaster,” “Some Like it Extremely Hot,” “The Father of Crows”—they were the most fun. Tradition-wise, my favorite actual religion to write about is Voudou. It makes the most sense to me and is so raw and graceful, joyous and painful at the same time. Though I really do love extending folklore into modern times. I’ll never tire of writing about terrifying women in the wilderness who eat bones and scratch bloody symbols on your door. One of my favorite movie scenes is in The Blair Witch Project: all of those effigies hanging from the trees. I strive to capture in my writing how that scene makes me feel.
Your poem “Circe & Her Victims” is short, but hauntingly powerful, especially when put up against the artwork behind it. Now for the mythology buffs out there, there are two legends surrounding Circe: 1) that she is the daughter of Hecate and 2) that she is the daughter of Helios (the sun god) and Perse (an ocean nymph). Which lifeline does Circe live in for you? Or do you think she encapsulates them both?
This Circe is the daughter of Hecate, taking care of business as needed.
If you could have one magical power, what would it be and why?
To know things. I don’t know enough things.
As a woman who writes about strong female characters, and in this case witches who were persecuted and executed for their bodies, sexuality, and craft, what takeaway do you hope your readers leave your book with?One of my main goals in everything I write is to express the importance of pragmatism in a world run by emotion. It seems like—when talking about witches—I have that backwards, but it’s the people ruled by impulse and emotion who persecute those who try to live with reason and rationale. Hysteria doesn’t come from magick—even dark magick, it comes from fear. And my Witches are not afraid.
What books are sitting in your TBR pile?
The Sound of Building Coffins by Louis Maistros, two books by Donna Tartt- The Secret History and The Goldfinch, and Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles & Ted Orland.
What is next in store for your readers?
I have a much larger poetry collection slated for release this year through Raw Dog Screaming Press called Choking Back the Devil, a collection of short stories I may release through Patreon, and someday I will pick up the pace on a novel I’ve been struggling with for a few years. I love the premise, but ever since my brain got thrashed by Lyme Disease and the mental fog that comes along with Fibromyalgia, writing (and reading) in large chunks has become very difficult. I keep pushing, though. I have a character who really needs to tell her story and a terrible creature that has a lot to say, too.
What advice do you have for writers working in fiction?
When I figure it out, I’ll be sure to share, haha! Honestly, the question I get most often is “How do you write a story?” I don’t always know if people are looking for encouragement or if they believe there might be a formula, but the answer is simply “to write”. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just write it. Read a lot. Make connections. Be visible. Be humble and kind and make sure people know your name.
Follow Donna at: www.egolikeness.comPatreon.com/StevenArcher@GeekLioness on TwitterDonna Lynch on FacebookEgo Likeness on Facebook d_note_ on Instagram
February 16, 2019
Solitary Confinement in Char's Horror Corner
Hello Boys and Ghouls,
It's been a wonderful #WiHM so far, and I've so been enjoying reading everyone's posts and adding a ton of books to my to-read list. If you're looking for some additional blog series to follow, please consider reading Gwendolyn Kiste's roundtable, Sara Tantlinger's WiHM interview series, and Thinking Horror Journal's "What is Horror?" series as well.
Today, I'm looking forward to introducing you all to Charlene Cocrane, more commonly known as @Charrlygirl on Twitter and Instagram. Carlene is a fantastic lady, and someone who I was so happy to meet at the Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival last year. She is a powerhouse reader, and can be found at http://charlene.booklikes.com/ or on the Goodreads Horror Aficionados page.
Please consider giving her a follow before we kick things off, and if you're interested in reading past interviews in this series, you can find profiles on: Sadie Colleen Hartmann, Emily Reed, and Lilyn George (Sci-Fi & Scary).
With Dragon's Blood and horns, Stephanie M. Wytovich
What (or who!) got you into horror?
When I was young my family didn’t have much money so one of the things we did was go to drive-in movies. My dad was a big horror movie fan and I guess that’s what got me started. I could watch all the killing, violence and mayhem, no problem-but if a boob appeared on the screen, I had to lie down in the back seat!
Who are your favorite horror writers, both classic and contemporary?
My favorite contemporary horror authors would include, (of course), Stephen King and Peter Straub. Other contemporary authors that really float my boat are: Christopher Buehlman, (Seriously? THE LESSER DEAD is a KILLER book!), Robert McCammon, Sandy Deluca, Joe Hill, John Langan, Joe Lansdale, Yvonne Navarro, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, John Boden, Chad Lutzke, and Mary SanGiovanni to name a few.
As far as classic horror is concerned, I do love me some Shirley Jackson, Edith Wharton, (some of the things that happen to women in her books are certainly horrific, even if she’s not considered a horror writer), Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Edgar Allan Poe, and so many more. One of my all-time favorites, though, is Michael McDowell. The man was a phenomenal writer and we lost him way too early. I wish he was more well-known.
How did you get into reviewing? Was it always something that you wanted to do?
To be honest, I’m not really sure! I started reviewing for fun on Goodreads and I liked the feedback that I was getting. There’s nothing I love more than to have someone say they read a book I recommended, and they loved it. It’s a warm and powerful feeling- I liked it so much that I started reviewing more often.
What venues/websites do you review for and what can someone expect from you when you read their work?
I started reviewing on Goodreads, but have since started my own blog: Char’s Horror Corner. I also have a Facebook page for Char’s Horror Corner as well. I review on Amazon and also sometimes contribute to : http://www.horrorafterdark.com/
When I read a book that I love, an author can expect me to talk, talk and talk some more about them and their book-I love to spread the word. If it’s a book that isn’t working for me at the time, or if I dislike it, I most likely will not finish it and will quietly move on. Life is too short to read books that I’m not enjoying.
You moderate the Horror Aficionados on Goodreads. How did you get involved in this and what comes along with this role?
Let me clarify that by saying I HELP moderate the HA group on Goodreads. It has nearly 15,000 members now and is the largest group on Goodreads dedicated to horror books. I believe we have a total of 8 moderators now and we have a ball! Our author liaison, Ken McKinley, puts together author involved group reads every month, which are quite popular. And we also have group reads and a group listen every month as well. With hundreds of book discussions, recommendations and buddy reads, if you’re a horror book fan, you cannot find a better place to discuss them than Horror Aficionados.
We got to meet (yay!) at the Merrimack Halloween Book Festival last year. As a horror lover and reader, what was your favorite part of the event, and are there any other horror book festivals that you like to go to on the regular?
It was freaking AWESOME to meet you there this year! My friend Andi and I have attended every year since the festival’s inception. It has enabled us to meet so many authors, (like you), and to meet and make friends in the genre. I don’t really have a favorite part of the event, (though I have enjoyed some of the panels from year to year, and I loved hearing Joe Hill give a reading year before last.) I think the part I enjoy best is just mingling…and of course-buying books and having them signed!I do not attend any other festivals, but if I could afford it, I would definitely attend NECON. So many of the friends I’ve made at the MERRIMACK VALLEY HALLOWEEN BOOK FESTIVAL also attend NECON. It sounds like such a fun event!
I know I certainly have my own habits when it comes to reading, but I’m curious what yours are? Do you like to sit down with coffee or tea? Do you have a favorite reading spot?
I’m not too picky about where I like to read as long as I’m comfortable and it’s not too noisy. My Kindle really helps with that. I read while in line at the grocery store, at the doctor’s office, in the dentist’s office, while I’m eating lunch, dinner and while snacking!
I guess my favorite place is at home on the couch with coffee, iced green tea or a glass of wine, and with a kitty or two snuggling with me.
What are a few books sitting in your TBR pile?
I have so many, including one or two of yours! Also, INSPECTION by Josh Malerman, S.P. Miskowski’s latest: I WISH I WAS LIKE YOU, THE BOOK OF FLORA by Meg Elison, and THE TRIAL OF LIZZIE BORDEN by Cara Robinson.
What small-press/indie publishers should readers be on the lookout for?
I’m not sure exactly what qualifies as small-press or independent publishers these days, but right now Trepadatio Publishing, (http://trepidatio.com/books/), has some great authors on their roster, including (S.P. Miskowski and John Claude Smith to name a few.) Flame Tree Press, (https://www.flametreepress.com/), has impressed me with their line-up of authors lately, featuring John Everson, Jonathan Janz and more. Sinister Grin, (http://sinistergrinpress.com/), has some great things going on and one of my favorites Omnium Gatherum, (http://www.omniumgatherumedia.com/) has been consistently putting out great stuff the last few years.
What books are you looking forward to reading most this year?
I’m excited about Christopher Golden’s latest: PANDORA ROOM. Also, Thomas Harris, author of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and RED DRAGON has a new one coming out this year. I’m excited for Martha Wells’ MURDERBOT novel later this year, and Don Winslow’s THE BORDER, due out next month. Lastly, Mary SanGiovanni’s most recent: INSIDE THE ASYLUM: A KATHY RYAN NOVEL due out in May.
Whoohoo! It promises to be another great year of reading!
Find/Follow Char at:
Find me on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6581119-charFind Horror Aficionados here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... Horror Corner is here: http://charlene.booklikes.com/Char’s Horror Corner on Facebook is here: https://www.facebook.com/CharsHorrorCorner/Horror After Dark is here: http://www.horrorafterdark.com/
It's been a wonderful #WiHM so far, and I've so been enjoying reading everyone's posts and adding a ton of books to my to-read list. If you're looking for some additional blog series to follow, please consider reading Gwendolyn Kiste's roundtable, Sara Tantlinger's WiHM interview series, and Thinking Horror Journal's "What is Horror?" series as well.
Today, I'm looking forward to introducing you all to Charlene Cocrane, more commonly known as @Charrlygirl on Twitter and Instagram. Carlene is a fantastic lady, and someone who I was so happy to meet at the Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival last year. She is a powerhouse reader, and can be found at http://charlene.booklikes.com/ or on the Goodreads Horror Aficionados page.
Please consider giving her a follow before we kick things off, and if you're interested in reading past interviews in this series, you can find profiles on: Sadie Colleen Hartmann, Emily Reed, and Lilyn George (Sci-Fi & Scary).
With Dragon's Blood and horns, Stephanie M. Wytovich
What (or who!) got you into horror?
When I was young my family didn’t have much money so one of the things we did was go to drive-in movies. My dad was a big horror movie fan and I guess that’s what got me started. I could watch all the killing, violence and mayhem, no problem-but if a boob appeared on the screen, I had to lie down in the back seat!
Who are your favorite horror writers, both classic and contemporary?
My favorite contemporary horror authors would include, (of course), Stephen King and Peter Straub. Other contemporary authors that really float my boat are: Christopher Buehlman, (Seriously? THE LESSER DEAD is a KILLER book!), Robert McCammon, Sandy Deluca, Joe Hill, John Langan, Joe Lansdale, Yvonne Navarro, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, John Boden, Chad Lutzke, and Mary SanGiovanni to name a few.
As far as classic horror is concerned, I do love me some Shirley Jackson, Edith Wharton, (some of the things that happen to women in her books are certainly horrific, even if she’s not considered a horror writer), Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Edgar Allan Poe, and so many more. One of my all-time favorites, though, is Michael McDowell. The man was a phenomenal writer and we lost him way too early. I wish he was more well-known.
How did you get into reviewing? Was it always something that you wanted to do?
To be honest, I’m not really sure! I started reviewing for fun on Goodreads and I liked the feedback that I was getting. There’s nothing I love more than to have someone say they read a book I recommended, and they loved it. It’s a warm and powerful feeling- I liked it so much that I started reviewing more often.
What venues/websites do you review for and what can someone expect from you when you read their work?
I started reviewing on Goodreads, but have since started my own blog: Char’s Horror Corner. I also have a Facebook page for Char’s Horror Corner as well. I review on Amazon and also sometimes contribute to : http://www.horrorafterdark.com/
When I read a book that I love, an author can expect me to talk, talk and talk some more about them and their book-I love to spread the word. If it’s a book that isn’t working for me at the time, or if I dislike it, I most likely will not finish it and will quietly move on. Life is too short to read books that I’m not enjoying.
You moderate the Horror Aficionados on Goodreads. How did you get involved in this and what comes along with this role?
Let me clarify that by saying I HELP moderate the HA group on Goodreads. It has nearly 15,000 members now and is the largest group on Goodreads dedicated to horror books. I believe we have a total of 8 moderators now and we have a ball! Our author liaison, Ken McKinley, puts together author involved group reads every month, which are quite popular. And we also have group reads and a group listen every month as well. With hundreds of book discussions, recommendations and buddy reads, if you’re a horror book fan, you cannot find a better place to discuss them than Horror Aficionados.
We got to meet (yay!) at the Merrimack Halloween Book Festival last year. As a horror lover and reader, what was your favorite part of the event, and are there any other horror book festivals that you like to go to on the regular?
It was freaking AWESOME to meet you there this year! My friend Andi and I have attended every year since the festival’s inception. It has enabled us to meet so many authors, (like you), and to meet and make friends in the genre. I don’t really have a favorite part of the event, (though I have enjoyed some of the panels from year to year, and I loved hearing Joe Hill give a reading year before last.) I think the part I enjoy best is just mingling…and of course-buying books and having them signed!I do not attend any other festivals, but if I could afford it, I would definitely attend NECON. So many of the friends I’ve made at the MERRIMACK VALLEY HALLOWEEN BOOK FESTIVAL also attend NECON. It sounds like such a fun event!
I know I certainly have my own habits when it comes to reading, but I’m curious what yours are? Do you like to sit down with coffee or tea? Do you have a favorite reading spot?
I’m not too picky about where I like to read as long as I’m comfortable and it’s not too noisy. My Kindle really helps with that. I read while in line at the grocery store, at the doctor’s office, in the dentist’s office, while I’m eating lunch, dinner and while snacking!
I guess my favorite place is at home on the couch with coffee, iced green tea or a glass of wine, and with a kitty or two snuggling with me.
What are a few books sitting in your TBR pile?
I have so many, including one or two of yours! Also, INSPECTION by Josh Malerman, S.P. Miskowski’s latest: I WISH I WAS LIKE YOU, THE BOOK OF FLORA by Meg Elison, and THE TRIAL OF LIZZIE BORDEN by Cara Robinson.
What small-press/indie publishers should readers be on the lookout for?
I’m not sure exactly what qualifies as small-press or independent publishers these days, but right now Trepadatio Publishing, (http://trepidatio.com/books/), has some great authors on their roster, including (S.P. Miskowski and John Claude Smith to name a few.) Flame Tree Press, (https://www.flametreepress.com/), has impressed me with their line-up of authors lately, featuring John Everson, Jonathan Janz and more. Sinister Grin, (http://sinistergrinpress.com/), has some great things going on and one of my favorites Omnium Gatherum, (http://www.omniumgatherumedia.com/) has been consistently putting out great stuff the last few years.
What books are you looking forward to reading most this year?
I’m excited about Christopher Golden’s latest: PANDORA ROOM. Also, Thomas Harris, author of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and RED DRAGON has a new one coming out this year. I’m excited for Martha Wells’ MURDERBOT novel later this year, and Don Winslow’s THE BORDER, due out next month. Lastly, Mary SanGiovanni’s most recent: INSIDE THE ASYLUM: A KATHY RYAN NOVEL due out in May.
Whoohoo! It promises to be another great year of reading!
Find/Follow Char at:
Find me on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6581119-charFind Horror Aficionados here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... Horror Corner is here: http://charlene.booklikes.com/Char’s Horror Corner on Facebook is here: https://www.facebook.com/CharsHorrorCorner/Horror After Dark is here: http://www.horrorafterdark.com/
February 13, 2019
TIME TO GET SCI-FI & SCARY IN THE MADHOUSE: AN INTERVIEW WITH LILYN GEORGE
Hello and Good Morning, Friends and Fiends,
We're another week into Women in Horror Month, and today in the Madhouse we're hosting Lilyn George, the owner and co-host of Sci-Fi & Scary, which is a site that provides book and movie reviews in the science fiction and horror genres, as well as guest posts, interviews, and original articles. Before we get started on the interview, give Lilyn a follow on Twitter @scifiandscary and Instagram @scifiandscary, and if you want to check out the other interviews so far, you can find Mother Horror here, and Emily here!
With snake oil and sage,Stephanie M. WytovichWhat (or who!) got you into horror?
Nightmare on Elm Street movies, and parents who had skewed ideas as to what was appropriate viewing for a youngling. For booksspecifically, it’d be Dean Koontz.
How do you, as a reader, define horror? And what is your favorite kind of horror to read?
Horror is something written or filmed with the intention to horrify and/or disgust. My favorite kind of horror is paranormal (specifically demonic possession and ghosts), closely followed by creature features.
You are the owner and co-host at Sci-Fi & Scary. Can you tell us a little about the site and what you do/promote there?
Sci-Fi & Scary does book and movie reviews in primarily the science fiction and horror genres. We review works aimed anywhere from middle-grade to adult. There are also interviews, guest posts, and original articles. My favorite part of the site, though, is my ‘Coolthulhu Crew.’ I read Mira Grant’s Feed long before I ever considered becoming a blogger. It made a big impression on me. So, pretty much as soon as I started the site, I knew that I wanted it to grow. I didn’t want it to be a one-person show. I also knew that I wanted it to be more than just a team of people that occasionally contributed stuff. I wanted it to be more like a family. I’ve been lucky in finding the right people to make that happen.
So, a shout out to Graciekat, Nico, Jason, Olly, Tracy, Sam, and Sarrah. Also J.B. Rockwell, V. Castro, and Mike Justman. Without the group I’m working with, the site probably wouldn’t have lasted as long as it did. Chatting with them and supporting each other on a daily basis keeps things going.
In a glorious effect to further support women in horror, the hashtag (and website) #LadiesofHorrorFictionwas born! How did you get involved in this project and what can readers/writers look forward to this year from the team?
Jen, Toni, Laurie and I had an opportunity to realize we worked well together. We each had acknowledged that women were often overlooked and underrepresented in the horror genre at different times. We decided to band together and use our skills in a way that gave back to the community. Thus, Ladies of Horror Fiction was born.
As to what to expect this year: We’ll be continuing to bring you the Ladies of Horror Fiction podcast, keeping you up-to-date on new releases, as well as more interviews and guest posts with women horror authors.
We plan on having quarterly read-alongs. In February we’ll be reading Tananarive Due’s The Between. We invite everyone to grab a copy of the book and read with us! We also have some fun Instagram things planned.
Along with that, Jen’s just started running several writing groups for female horror writers. We’re going to do more to keep you up to date on news in the horror fiction industry. We are also looking to expand a bit and spend some time on horror artists that operate outside the written word.
Who are some of your favorite female characters (monsters, scream queens, final girls, etc.) in literature/film?
Shannon Moss from The Gone World, Georgia Mason from The Newsflesh trilogy, Angela Touissaint from the Good House.
I know I certainly have my own habits when it comes to reading, but I’m curious what yours are?
This question actually stumped me. I don’t know that I have any reading habits, other than always having a book on me. I read on my phone, on my Kindle Paperwhite, and on my computer. I listen to audiobooks during my commute. My downtime is spent either reading or watching bad movies.
Who are some of your favorite small presses?
Grey Matter Press is a stand-out to me for quality reads. Crystal Lake Publishing as well. Gracie puts her vote in for Cemetery Gates Media here. There are others that do a good job, but these are the ‘best of’ to us.
Honestly, though, I like any of them that value quality over quantity. See my ‘Small Press Publishing’ article on the site for more information.
What are a few books sitting in your TBR pile?
The Lake by R. Karl Largent, At the End of the Day I Burst into Flames by Nicholas Day, Vesselby Lisa Nichols, The Invited by Jennifer McMahon, Light by M. John Harrison, and The Enceladus Missionby Brandon Q. Morris
What books are you looking forward to reading most this year?
I don’t have specific books, but I have specific subgenres. This year I want to explore more of what horror has to offer outside my normal paranormal and creature features. I plan on reading some bizarro, splatterpunk, body horror, and more. I know I’m not going to like it all, but at least at the end of the year I’ll be able to say I gave them a good shot.
How can people work to support female writers in the future?
Bookmark www.ladiesofhorrorfiction.com. Remember it whenever you have some money to spend on books. People often say, “It’s so hard to find horror books written by women.” Yeah, it used to be, but that’s not the case anymore.
Read women horror author’s works. Talk about them. Review them. Nominate them for awards! If you run a review site and do interviews, reach out to them. There is quality work being put out by men and women right now, but men get the majority of our attention. That is by choice, especially once you know we exist, and you can make the choice to change that.
You mentioned awards. Could you tell us more about the Ladies of Horror Fiction Awards?
Sure! These awards are open to anything published Jan 1, 2019 to December 31st, 2019. Authors and publishers are welcome to submit for any of our categories. Women horror writers are doing some phenomenal work, and we want a chance to recognize it! You can find out more on our website.
February 8, 2019
THERE ARE BOOKS IN THE MADHOUSE: AN INTERVIEW WITH EMILY REED
Good morning, folks:
I hope #WiHM is treating you well and that you're making your way through some wonderful books by fantastically talented women. If you're still looking for someone to read, here are some options (with links to their work): Christa Carmen, Gwendolyn Kiste, Kristi DeMeester, Damien Angelica Walters, Zoje Stage, Caroline Kepnes, Seanan McGuire, Helen Marshall, Linda Addison, and Mercedes Murdock Yardley. I'll continue to give more recommendations throughout the month, but this should be enough to get you started...
This week in the Madhouse, we're chatting with book reviewer Emily Reed for the second installment of my Women in Horror Month blog series. For months now, I've been following her beautiful #bookstagram photos on social media and anxiously awaiting her reading list recaps so I can keep tabs on my own ever-growing TBR pile.
But before we get started, head on over to Twitter and follow Emily at @BookHappy08 and on Instagram at @book.happy, and if you're interested in checking out last week's installment with Sadie Hartmann, you can do so here.
With graveyard dirt and coffin nails,Stephanie M. Wytovich
What (or who!) got you into horror?
I wasn't really allowed to read/watch horror-related things when I was younger, so I think the thrill of accessing something forbidden really sold me on it. Mainly I remember grabbing Goosebumps books when I could, and trying to sneak Are You Afraid of the Dark & Buffy.
How do you, as a reader, define horror? And what is your favorite kind of horror to read?
I define horror as dark storytelling that can cause a variety of emotions (to include fear, but many others as well) in the consumer. My favorite kinds of horror tend to be haunted house and slasher stories, but I'm open to trying different things.
How did you get into reviewing? Was it always something that you wanted to do?
I found GoodReads in 2012, but I didn't start writing full reviews until 2016. I started reviewing because I realized other bookstagrammers were reviewing. I think it was something I always wanted to do, even if it took me a while to realize it. I loved book reports when I was growing up, and I studied literature in college... technically I've always been writing “reviews” for school, just in a high-pressure format & not always getting to say what I wanted to say. What venues/websites do you review for and what can someone expect from you when you read their work?
I share all my reviews on my GoodReads, Instagram, and Twitter, and then I also have some reviews for Ladies of Horror Fiction & Ink Heist. The main thing that people can expect in my reviews is honesty. I'm not afraid of a negative review when necessary, and I believe that the purpose of reviews is to share your feelings with other readers. I will also do my best to showcase their work with photos when I receive it, when I'm reading it, and when I post my review.
I love following your social media accounts because not only are you constantly reading and talking about great stuff in the horror industry, but your #bookstagram posts are beautiful! How did you get involved in the #bookstagram community, and then where do you get your ideas from, visually, to create such great bookish content?
Thank you! I guess I was looking up some books on Instagram in 2015 & I noticed that people have full book accounts. At first, I spent all my time staring at them & wondering how I didn't think of this. I finally created my own & it was a great decision. I hung out on the edges for about a year & was a little too shy to chat with people. I eventually became friends with Sadie, Mindi, and Ashley (@mother.horror, @gowsy33 & @bookishmommy), and they helped me open up & start talking to people. I get inspired by different things in my house that I can photograph a book with. I also get inspired by other bookish accounts, but change up the backdrops, angles, props, etc. to be my own. Sometimes I match things to a specific book & utilize the plot or colors of the cover to create the picture. I know I certainly have my own habits when it comes to reading, but I’m curious what yours are?
I mainly read at night, and I don't have a ton of other hobbies. I like being on my couch or bed, and with my three dogs. Sometimes I drink wine; sometimes I don't. I have a book in my bag whenever I leave the house & I'll read anywhere. If I'm waiting on anything, I most likely have a book out.
What are a few books sitting in your TBR pile?
Since it's Women in Horror Month, I'm choosing my reads accordingly. Some of my next few are The Bone Weaver's Orchard by Sarah Read, The Between by Tananarive Due, City of Ash & Red by Hye-young Pyun, Without Condition by Sonora Taylor, How to Recognize a Demon Has Become Your Friend by Linda Addison, and Daymares by Kenya Moss-Dyme.
I try to read 100+ books a year, and I know you read 270 books in 2018, so for all the people out there who are constantly telling me that they don’t have time to read, can you share how you fit reading into your schedule?
I do want to say upfront that quite a few of my reads are novellas, poetry books, or graphic novels - these are pretty slim books, so that's part of why I read so much. I do not have children, and I'm also dating a reader, so I have additional free time. I just want to point these out because we all have different lives & amounts of free time, and you just have to fit it into your schedule as best as you can. Like I said in another question above, carry a book with you everywhere & pull it out instead of messing on your phone. Another option - I hate going to the grocery store, so I get mine delivered. A lot of stores also do curbside pick-up now, and this is a practical way to find more time for reading since grocery shopping is so time-consuming. If you really can't find any time, listen to audiobooks while driving, cleaning, etc.What books are you looking forward to reading most this year?
Some of my most anticipated reads are The Worst is Yet to Come by SP Miskowski, Will Haunt You by Brian Kirk, Second Lives by PD Cacek, The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz, Little Darlings by Melanie Golding, and The Toll by Cherie Priest.
If you could sit down to dinner with any author (dead or alive), who would it be and what would you ask him/her/them?
This is probably a weird answer, but Sylvia Plath & I would want to know if she's at peace now. But I would be disturbing her potential peace by asking her that, so I wouldn't ask. I made this more difficult than it should have been.
February 1, 2019
MOTHER HORROR JOINS ME IN THE MADHOUSE
Greetings Friends and Fiends!
As most of you know, February is Women in Horror Month (#WiHM), and as such, I usually like to do a curated blog series celebrating women in the horror genre. This year, I want to shine light on some of the female book reviewers and artists who are working tirelessly year round to support female authors and create a community of horror-loving book worms!
First up in the series is Sadie Hartmann, more commonly known as Mother Horror. I first got in touch with Sadie last year when she kindly agreed to review my poetry collection, Brothel. After that, we've kept in touch on social media, and I love seeing what she's reading, especially because when it comes to beautifully framed #bookstagram posts, hers are some of the best!
So pull up your coffin and get comfortable, and if you want to check out more of Sadie's work, follow her on Twitter (@SadieHartmann) and on Instagram (@mother.horror). I'll also be posting giveaways of my poetry collections on Twitter (@swytovich), and doing lots more fun stuff on my blog throughout the month, so please be sure to check in and out of the madhouse as you as frequently as you'd like!
With stakes and coffin nails,Stephanie M. Wytovich
What (or who!) got you into horror?My mother is the responsible party for my insatiable love of horror. She is a horror lover herself and had a pretty decent collection of it in the house. I read her Agatha Christie books and some other horror classics but also was intrigued by the covers on her Stephen King books. They called to me. At around thirteen years old, I swooped her copy of Salem’s Lot and read it--I was pretty scared and I felt it was pretty mature for me but the combination of fear and the excitement of it being bootlegged was too compelling. I loved the book by the end and thus began my dark descent. You review under the persona Mother Horror, which I so love. How and why did you settle on that name?Oh, I’m glad you love it too! My Night Worms business partner, Ashley dubbed me Mother Horror! She had referred to herself as a “baby horror fan” having just started enjoying the genre in the beginning of 2018 and during the course of many buddy reads she began calling me “Mother Horror.” The name caught on with other friends in the community and so I changed all my social media handles. Who are your favorite horror writers, both classic and contemporary?Classic: Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson and Edgar Allen Poe. Contemporary...oh man. A lot! Stephen King, Joe Hill, Paul Tremblay, Josh Malerman, Nick Cutter, Robert McCammon, Ania Ahlborn, Jonathan Janz, Bracken MacLeod, Ronald Malfi, Kealan Patrick Burke, Grady Hendrix, Chad Lutzke, Tim Meyer, Adam Cesare, Stephen Graham Jones, Kristi DeMeester, Damien Angelica Walters and a host of others but I’ve only read like one book from them, so I’ll wait until I’ve read some more in order to call them a true “favorite” How did you get into reviewing? Was it always something that you wanted to do?I want to give credit to Goodreads for that actually and also bookstagram (the instagram community dedicated to books). I signed up for Goodreads a long time ago and would give star ratings to everything. Then a year or so into it, I would put a little more effort into my feelings for the book, so I’d write a brief paragraph or so--when I created a dedicated bookstagram account, I began pimping my favorite books in my photo captions, which then turned into writing more detailed, lengthy reviews on Goodreads. I gained friends and followers on both social media sites. Last year I was approached by both Cemetery Dance and Scream Magazine to write reviews for them and everything changed after that. I never in a million years thought I would get paid to write book reviews so this is literally a dream come true for me.What venues/websites do you review for and what can someone expect from you when you read their work?The aforementioned
Scream Magazine
in their actual print publications bi-monthly (so six issues),
Cemetery Dance Online
,
InkHeist
and
High Fever Books
, at the moment. I also have my own blog:
Mother Horror/Sadie Hartmann
Can you tell us a little about #nightworms and how you got started/involved with this project?So Night Worms started as a reading & reviewing group of several friends. We were getting the same ARCs and kept buddy reading them together so Ashley and I decided to just form an actual posse or street gang called the Night Worms. Ha! Well, it’s way less exciting than that. But we did start a #promotehorror movement that gained a lot of traction in the horror community. Ashley and I decided to grow the brand into a horror book club that ships curated, quality horror to rabid fans in the US. They get 2-3 books handpicked by us plus some original artwork and goodies to enhance their reading experience. We put all the emphasis on reading and reviewing horror offering rewards for reviews and such. I’m happy to report that authors have come to us saying that having their books in our packages has really boosted their sales and generated new fans for them. It’s like my main goal in life to celebrate horror and shine a bright light on the industry.I know I certainly have my own habits when it comes to reading, but I’m curious what yours are? In daytime reading, I love a hot beverage like cocoa or coffee, a warm blanket, and quiet. I live in the PNW, so the weather here really lends itself to an introverted, reader’s lifestyle. At night, I love reading in bed and do most of my large stretches of time while everyone is sleeping. I’m a Night Worm. Wink.What are a few books sitting in your TBR pile?I am going to write up a review of DEAD OF WINTER by Kealan Patrick Burke. I read everything he puts out. I read the first story in an Israel Finn collection and I just loved it! That book is called, DREAMING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS. I’m finishing COYOTE SONGS by Gabino Iglesias this weekend. I’m reviewing SAVAGE SPECIES by Jonathan Janz for Cemetery Dance so I need to get going on that. Also, CREATURES OF WANT AND RUIN was in our January package for Night Worms and I want to do a big group read of that--plus about 100 more titles that are threatening to topple over and kill me. What small-press/indie publishers should readers be on the lookout for?You know I love my small presses! Word Horde, Apex, Sinister Grin, Cemetery Dance, Bloodshot Books, Grindhouse, InkShares, ChiZine, SST, Deadite, Raw Dog Screaming Press, Broken River Books, Dark Moon, PS Publishing, GreyMatter Press, and so many more!What books are you looking forward to reading most this year?SO MANY!! I already read Josh Malerman’s INSPECTIONand you can read my review of that on Goodreads as well as Paul Tremblay’s GROWING THINGS, which I also reviewed and should be out soon on Cemetery Dance. But I wrote a blog post of all my most anticipated 2019 reads if people would be interested in that? You can read that HERE.
December 29, 2018
2018 Reading Challenge Wrap Up
Hi Readers, Writers, and Caffeine Junkies:
Every year, I hold myself to a pretty strict reading challenge where I usually aim to read 100 books a year. This time around the sun, I didn't meet that goal, but I'm very impressed with my bookish intake, nevertheless. To some degree, this year was a little different because I read way more novels than I usually do, and I also read more short stories and critical work because I started teaching literature this year (yay!).Below is my reading list, in case you're interested in seeing my reading history. When it comes to poetry, I absolutely fell in love with Nothing is Okay by Rachel Wiley, and I will from here on out read everything she writes. She has such a beautiful authentic and real voice, and I really resonated with her poetry.
When it comes to fiction/nonfiction, it's really quite hard for me to pick a favorite. I thought Final Girls by Riley Sager was fun, and I just picked up his other book The Last Time I Lied the other day at the library, so I'm very much looking forward to that. I also started getting into Ruth Ware more. Her first two books left me wanting, but I adored The Lying Game and loved The Death of Mrs. Westaway. It's been fun watching her grow as an author, and I'll certainly be picking up her next when it drops.
For horror....let's just saw we had a totally kick-ass year and I loved every minute of it. I got to get my copy of My Best Friend's Exorcism signed by Grady Hendrix, and I'll be teaching it next semester alongside Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage (which I absolutely loved!). Other big players for me were Providence by Caroline Kepnes (if you haven't watched the adaption of her novel YOU on Netflix, you'll want to remedy that fast. Trust me!), Unbury Carol by Josh Malerman, and The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay.For nonfiction, I absolutely loved From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty, and I'm pretty sure I've made Witches, Slut, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive by Kristen J. Sollee my new mantra in life. Highly, highly recommend all three of these books.
I'm also happy to report that I finally managed to get on the Saga train, and holy hell...why did it take me so long to read this series? I have the ninth volume on request at the library now, but I'm so impressed with it. My husband devoured it, too, so it was fun to experience that read together. Oh, and that reminds me: if you have any graphic novel series that you're a fan of (mostly looking for horror recommendations), please let me know! I'm thinking of revisiting Lucifer again, and I've read the first volume of Clean Room and liked what it was doing, so I'll probably continue with that, but I'm always looking for new stuff as the comic/graphic novel world is still relatively new to me.As for next year on the fiction front, I'm very much looking forward to Inspection by Josh Malerman (seriously, I'll read anything he writes!), In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire (I'm obsessed with her Wayward Children series...as in I screamed when I saw this has a January 8th release date), The Migration by Helen Marshall (I'm a big fan of her short story collection Hair Side, Flesh Side and her poetry collection The Sex Lives o Monsters), and Will Haunt You by Brian Kirk (and because he's one of my best buds, I got to read an early version of this book, and I'm still having nightmares about it so I CAN'T WAIT).
What are you folks looking forward to? Tell me in the comments below!
Happy bleeding, Stephanie M. Wytovich
Poetry
Our Numbered Days by Neil HilbornThe Future by Neil HibornOrdinary Sun by Matthew HenriksenA Guide to Undressing Your Monsters by Sam SaxI Am Not Your Final Girl by Claire HollandHorror Film Poems by Christoph PaulTo Bedlam and Park Way Back by Anne SextonSadness Workshop by Stevie EdwardsNothing is Okay by Rachel WileyLove for Slaughter by Sara TantlinerPopular Music by Kelly Schirmann Books/Collections: Fiction/Nonfiction The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth WareFinal Girls: A Novel by Riley SagerHe Digs a Hole by Danger SlaterHidden Bodies by Caroline KepnesProvidence by Caroline KepnesA Father’s Story by Lionel DahmerMy Best Friend’s Exorcism by Gary HendrixThe Vagina Monologues by Eve EnslerWitch: Unleashed, Untamed, Unapologetic by Lisa ListerLiterary Witches: A Celebration of Magical Women Writers by Taisia KitaiskaiaWitches, Slut, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive by Kristen J. SolleeMen Explain Things to Me by Rebecca SolnitThe Poetry Lesson by Andrei CodrescuYou’ll Never Know Dear by Hallie EphronScary Stories to Tell in the Dark #1 by Alvin SchwartzMore Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark #2 by Alvin SchwartzJust Kids by Patti SmithShock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror by Jason ZinomanSpeak by Laurie Halse AndersonFrom Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin DoughtySmoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin DoughtyWidow’s Point by Richard ChizmarAnd Her Smile Will Untether the Universe by Gwendolyn KistePretty Marys All in a Row by Gwendolyn KisteThe Program by Suzanne YoungThe Treatment by Suzanne YoungFahrenheit 451 by Ray BradburyFlowers for AlgernonThe Complete Stories of Leonora Carrington by Leonora CarringtonSomething Borrowed, Something Blood-Soaked by Christa CarmenDown Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuireBeneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuireThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas AdamsThe Metamorphosis by Franz KafkaHow to Write and Sell True Crime: How to Spot Local Stories and Turn Them into Gripping National Bestsellers by Gary ProvostFrom Cradle to Grave: The Short Lives and Strange Deaths of Marybeth Tinning’s Nine Children by Joyce EggintonThe Hunger by Alma KatsuThe Cabin at the End of the World by Paul TremblayBaby Teeth by Zoe StageUnbury Carol by Josh MalermanGirl Like a Bomb by Autumn ChristianThe Couple Next Door by Shari LapenaThe Lying Game by Ruth WareCarmilla by Sheridan Le FanuThe Death of Mrs. Westaway by RuthWareElevation by Stephen KingHow to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather
Graphic Novels/Comics Blue Is the Warmest Color by Julie MarohBody Music by Julie MarohSkandalon by Julie MarohMy Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Nagata KabiShiver: Selected Stories by Junji ItoFrankenstein by Junji ItoMonstress, Vol. 1 Awakening by Marjorie M. LiuWinnebago Graveyward by Steve NilesKrampus! by Brian JonesClean Room, Vol 1 by Gail SimoneSaga, Vol 1 by Brian K. VaughanSaga, Vol 2 by Brian K. VaughnSaga, Vol 3 by Brain K VaughnSaga, Vol 4 by Brain K VaughnSaga, Vol 5 by Brian K VaughnSaga, Vol 6 by Brain K VaughnSaga, Vol 7 by Brian K VaughnSaga, Vol 8 by Brian K Vaughn Short Stories “The Yellow Wallpaper,” “Turned,” and “The Giant Wisteria” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman“The Lottery,” “The Daemon Lover,” and “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson“The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates“A Good Man is Hard to Find” and “The Life You Save May Be You Own” by Flannery O’Connor“The Rocking-Horse Winner” by D.H. Lawrence“The Necklace” and “The Hand” by Guy De Massupant“Young Goodman Brown,” “The Minister’s Black Veil,” “The Birthmark,” “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” “The Ambitious Guest,” and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” by Nathaniel Hawthorne “Bernice” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “Ligeia,” “The Oval Portrait,” The Masque of the Red Death,” “William Wilson” and “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe“Click-Clack the Rattlebag” by Neil Gaiman“A Haunted House” by Virginia Woolf“Horror Story” by Carmen Maria Machado“The Music of Erich Zann,” “The Thing on the Doorstep,” and “Pickman’s Model” by H.P. Lovecraft“Dracula’s Guest” by Bram Stoker“Vampyre” by John Polidori“True Crime” by M. Rickert“Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington IrvingThe Handless Maiden (aka The Girl Without Hands), Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1812-1858)Baba Yaga, Vasilisa the BeautifulClockwork by Laura McCaffrey
November 2, 2018
NEW FICTION IN CRYSTAL LAKE PUBLISHING ANTHOLOGIES: FANTASTIC TALES OF TERROR AND TALES FROM THE LAKE, VOL 5
I'm excited to announce that I have two short stories newly out from Crystal Lake Publishing: "The Girl with the Death Mask" (a Frida Kahlo-inspired story) in Fantastic Tales of Terror and "The Monster Told Me To" (a purgatory meets Freud story) in Tales from the Lake, Vol 5. As an extra bonus, my poem "From the Mouths of Plague-mongers" is tucked side the latter, too!
Here are the announcements for both anthologies. I hope you'll consider picking them up.
Fantastic Tales of Terror :
Includes short stories by Christopher Golden, Richard Chizmar, Tim Waggoner, Neil Gaiman, Mercedes M. Yardley, Kevin J. Anderson, Jonathan Maberry, Michael Bailey, Elizabeth Massie, Bev Vincent, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Michael Paul Gonzalez, John Palisano, Lisa Morton, Jess Landry, Cullen Bunn, Vince Liaguno, Joe R. Lansdale, Bentley Little, David Wellington, Jessica Marie Baumgartner, Mort Castle, Paul Moore, and Jeff Strand. With an introduction by Tony Todd.
“More than fantastic, more than terror. These are tales of wonder and heart, stories of untapped mystery and unbridled imagination, fables of fiction with no bounds. Dream free with these amazing masters of the macabre and marvelous! Because these are truly Fantastic Tales of Terror!”—John Everson, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The House by The Cemetery
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing – Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2ykEAVzAmazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Cv3u9vUniversal Link: http://getbook.at/FantasticTales
***** Tales from the Lake, Vol 5
The Legend Continues…
In the spirit of popular Dark Fiction and Horror anthologies such as Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories and Behold: Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders, and the best of Stephen King’s short fiction, comes Crystal Lake Publishing’s Tales from The Lake anthologies.
Where are the real horrors? Whether they be a family member returning from the dead, exploring the depths of depression or the deterioration of the mind, you’ll find them here.
This anthology contains twenty-two tales and three poems to elicit unexpected emotions, to bring you into the story. Welcome to my lake, where dreams really do come true… as nightmares!
“With any Tales from The Lake volume you're guaranteed a great product––quality stories, smooth editing, gorgeous production values. It's a series I'm proud to be part of, and it's heartening to see it going from strength to strength. Long may it continue!” – Tim Lebbon, author of Relics
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing – Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2q8EdtzAmazon UK: https://amzn.to/2O01VBxUniversal Link: http://getbook.at/Lake5
Here are the announcements for both anthologies. I hope you'll consider picking them up.
Fantastic Tales of Terror :
Includes short stories by Christopher Golden, Richard Chizmar, Tim Waggoner, Neil Gaiman, Mercedes M. Yardley, Kevin J. Anderson, Jonathan Maberry, Michael Bailey, Elizabeth Massie, Bev Vincent, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Michael Paul Gonzalez, John Palisano, Lisa Morton, Jess Landry, Cullen Bunn, Vince Liaguno, Joe R. Lansdale, Bentley Little, David Wellington, Jessica Marie Baumgartner, Mort Castle, Paul Moore, and Jeff Strand. With an introduction by Tony Todd.“More than fantastic, more than terror. These are tales of wonder and heart, stories of untapped mystery and unbridled imagination, fables of fiction with no bounds. Dream free with these amazing masters of the macabre and marvelous! Because these are truly Fantastic Tales of Terror!”—John Everson, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The House by The Cemetery
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing – Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2ykEAVzAmazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Cv3u9vUniversal Link: http://getbook.at/FantasticTales
***** Tales from the Lake, Vol 5
The Legend Continues…
In the spirit of popular Dark Fiction and Horror anthologies such as Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories and Behold: Oddities, Curiosities and Undefinable Wonders, and the best of Stephen King’s short fiction, comes Crystal Lake Publishing’s Tales from The Lake anthologies.
Where are the real horrors? Whether they be a family member returning from the dead, exploring the depths of depression or the deterioration of the mind, you’ll find them here.This anthology contains twenty-two tales and three poems to elicit unexpected emotions, to bring you into the story. Welcome to my lake, where dreams really do come true… as nightmares!
“With any Tales from The Lake volume you're guaranteed a great product––quality stories, smooth editing, gorgeous production values. It's a series I'm proud to be part of, and it's heartening to see it going from strength to strength. Long may it continue!” – Tim Lebbon, author of Relics
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing – Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2q8EdtzAmazon UK: https://amzn.to/2O01VBxUniversal Link: http://getbook.at/Lake5
October 27, 2018
LIGHT AS A FEATHER, STIFF AS A BOARD: LITERARY AND HISTORIC REFERENCES IN THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA
I—like so many of you, I’m sure—have been watching Netflix’s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Now I’m not even halfway through yet, but I have to say, the literature and history nerd in me is totally alive and well as I jump into Greendale and hang out with the Spellman family.
After a quick spell in Salem, MA a few weeks ago, the history and ghosts of the men and women involved in the Salem Witch Trials is still whispering to me at night. Couple that with the fact that I’ve been teaching Nathaniel Hawthorne, Shirley Jackson, and Henry James the last few classes, and it’s easy to see why the occult has been brewing in my head.
What I love most about this series so far is how much the writers are pulling from literature to build their characters while still managing to pay homage to the past. Some of the examples I’ve seen so far:
Principal Hawthorne : This is a nod to either one of two people: (1) Nathaniel Hawthorne, who is a famous American writer who wrote about witchcraft in an effort to assuage the crimes of his ancestors, who were directly involved in the Salem Witch Trials. (Side note: He was so ashamed by his family’s actions that he even added a “W” to his last name in an effort to remove himself from them. My recommendation for those interested in checking out his work: “Young Goodman Brown”) OR (2) John Hathorne, who was one of the judges for the Salem Witch Trials who took on the role of prosecutor and became the only judge not to repent for his actions.
“The whole forest was peopled with frightful sounds--the creaking of the trees, the howling of wild beasts, and the yell of Indians; while sometimes the wind tolled like a distant church bell, and sometimes gave a broad roar around the traveler, as if all Nature were laughing him to scorn. But he was himself the chief horror of the scene and shrank not from its other horrors.” - Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Salem the Cat : This one is a pretty obvious choice what with the witch trails happening in Salem, MA and all, but for those of you interested in reading more about what happened there in 1692, I recommend the book A Season with the Witch by J.W. Ocker.
The Weird Sisters : The Weird Sisters are the three witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and if you look closely, they have a striking similarity to the Fates (Past, Present, and Future) of Greek Mythology. These are wise women, fortune tellers, masters of divination. In Macbeth, they act as beacons of Macbeth’s future, and in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, they act as entities trying to control Sabrina’s fate. I don’t need to say that I’m a fan of the feminist twist that's happening in this show, but what’s worth noting here is how Sabrina takes control of her life and focuses on the embodiment of free will.
“What are these,
So withered, and so wild in their attire,
That look not like th'inhabitants o'th' earth
And yet are on't? - Live you, or are you aught
That man may question? You seem to understand me,
By each at once her choppy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips. You should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.” ― William Shakespeare, Macbeth
Susie Putnam : Susie Putnam is one of Sabrina’s closet friends in the show, and she’s someone who Sabrina is constantly trying to protect as she’s become a target of sexual abuse / gender shaming. She tells Sabrina at one point that four football payers lifted up her shirt to see if she was a girl, and when Sabrina took this to Principal Hawthorne, he asked her if the two of them were trying to start a witch hunt. How this relates to history is that Ann Putnam, who was a child at the time in Salem, MA, was friends with the girls who helped to start the witch hysteria in 1692, and who also claimed to be afflicted by witchcraft herself. Unlike some of the others, Ann made it out alive and apologized for her actions years later.
Quentin
: Quentin is a ghost child who watches over Sabrina when she first enters The Academy of Unseen Arts. We find out that he is a victim of The Harrowing and that he—and the others—want revenge (thank you Auntie Hilda!) on those who are continuing this dangerous hazing ritual at the school. While this one is a bit of a stretch, it reminded me of Quint from “The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James. Quint’s character is also a ghost who is attached to Bly and seems to have his heart set on Miles. Again, this would be another example of flipping the character’s intent as Quentin in the show is there to help Sabrina, rather than act as her undoing.The references I’ve listed above have made my own adventures with the show a lot of fun, and when you couple that with the feminist overtones and how the women are supporting each other throughout the series (seriously, that WICCA club made be so happy), it’s easy to see why I’ve so quickly become a fan. I plan to write more as I make my way through the series, but in the meantime, I’m curious: what references have you folks picked up on so far? Leave them in the comments!
With star dust and fire,Stephanie M. Wytovich
October 20, 2018
Season of the Witch: Wytovich Heads to Salem and the Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival
Last week/end, Dennis and I drove up to Massachusetts for the 4th annual MerrimackValley Halloween Book Festival, but before that, we made a pit stop in Salem for some witchy fun. Now Salem, MA has been on my travel-list for, quite honestly, as long as I can remember. I’m a huge Nathaniel Hawthorne fan, and obviously I feel a pull there for spiritual reasons as well, so when we rolled into town Thursday morning, I was beyond excited (despite the rain).
Thursday
I was a tad bit afraid that the commercialism for tourists (like myself) would ruin the experience for me, but honestly, I loved it. All the witches running around, the black/orange streamers and banners, the apple cider donut stands, etc. made it a beautiful fall event, and I was happy to grab a drink at one of many bars that lined Essex Street…which reminds me! If you folks like pumpkin beer, you totally have to try this drink It’s Shipyard Pumpkin with a cinnamon sugar rim and a shot of rum. Delicious!
On our first day there, we tackled the Salem Witch Museum, the Witch Memorial, saw the Hawthorne Statue, the Bewitched Statue, and the Roger Conant statue (the founder of Salem in 1626). Looking back on the trip, the Witch Memorial was easily one of my favorite parts because no matter how much you read or study something, there’s nothing like standing in history. There were individual stones for each person who died as a result of the Salem witch trials, and lots of people were leaving roses and offerings in memory of them. It was surprisingly emotional, and the graveyard itself (The Old Burying Point) was stunningly beautiful. I saw stones from the early 1700s, and more that had no dates and more wear, so I suspect they were probably older. After that, we did some shopping and grabbed some snacks. I even finally got to get a past-life reading, which was eye opening on a lot of levels, some of which are too personal to write about here, but I suspect they'll end up in my poetry sooner or later. I will say that after hearing everything, certain aspects of my life make a lot more sense, and the themes of my books are obviously trends that have been passionate to me in past lives…particularly Brothel . Wink-wink.
Friday
We spent the night at a lovely Aribnb in Manchester-by-the-Sea and had a fantastic seafood dinner (if you ever are near Lobstaland, definitely check it out!). The next morning, we traveled back to Salem for more shopping and relaxation, and by the time we left, I had a bag full of herbs and bones, which honestly, seems just about right. I also got to stop at The Witch House, Count Orlock's Monster Museum, and The House of the Seven Gables, which made my literary heart smile. Also, as a quick aside, my favorite book shop that I visited there was Pyramid Books, and my favorite witch store was easily The Coven's Cottage.
Saturday
We got up early Saturday morning and headed to the Haverhill Public Library where I got to see my writing tribe, hug lots of friends (and people I consider family), sell books, meet new friends and colleagues, and chat about Halloween. The event itself is huge, and Christopher Golden did a fantastic job (as usual) organizing everything and championing our writing. I sold a ton of books, got to sit on a Halloween reads panel (hat-tip to James Moore, Kat Howard, Thomas Sniegoskii, and Glenn Chadbourne), and get some books signed, too. Afterwards, we all headed over to The Loft where we shared a meal and got to chat some more, and by the end, hugs and drinks were had all around and we called the day a success!
SundayI’d like to say that we finally got to sleep in on our trip today, but that’s not how I roll when I travel. Dennis and I got up and ready, and after a quick breakfast, we drove to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where I got to pay my respects to NathanielHawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Louisa M. Alcott. I spent some time at each of their headstones, thanked them for their art, and left offerings at the grave.
All in all, this trip was everything that I could have wanted and more. I left with some beautiful memories and some great art and herbs, and I’m happy to have checked another place off my bucket list. I very much expect that Dennis and I will be returning to Salem (and MA in general) sooner rather than later, but until then, I have enough bones, writing, and spellwork to keep me busy.
With graveyard dust and lotus pods,Stephanie M. Wytovich
October 8, 2018
SEX AND DEATH IN THE MADHOUSE: AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH AUTUMN CHRISTIAN
Hello Friends and Fiends!
Today in the Madhouse, I have the pleasure of chatting with Autumn Christian about her upcoming novel, Girl Like a Bomb. Christian is a fiction writer from Texas who currently lives in California. She is the author of the books The Crooked God Machine, We are Wormwood, and Ecstatic Inferno, and has written for several video-games, including Battle Nations and State of Decay 2. When not writing, she is usually practicing her side kicks and running with dogs or posting strange and existential Instagram selfies.
Girl Like a Bomb, coming soon from Clash Books, is a novel of self-discovery, an existential labyrinth of love, sex, and self-actualization where the only way out is through. When high schooler Beverly Sykes finally has sex, her whole life changes. She feels an explosion inside of her that feels like her DNA is being rearranged, and she discovers a strange power within. After chasing that transcendent feeling and fucking her way through the good, the bad, and the dangerous boys and girls that cross her path, Beverly notices that all of her ex-lovers are undergoing drastic changes. She witnesses them transcending their former flawed selves, becoming self-actualized and strong. Beverly gives herself over and over to others, but can she become who she is supposed to be, with the gift and curse that nature gave to her?
I recently had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of the book, and I found myself engrossed in a world of sex, death, and self-discovery. I loved how Beverly lived her life by her own rules and how she embraced who she was without shame or regret. As such, I wanted to sit down with Autumn and chat a little about the process behind the book as well as some find out some of her favorite parts of it now that it's finished.
I hope you enjoy the interview, and if you're interested in pre-ordering the book, you can do so here. Also, I encourage you all to join her newsletter to stay up-to-date with her writing.
With Glitter and Perfume,Stephanie M. Wytovich
Tell us about your book. What gave you the idea to create this story, and in your opinion, what does it represent at its most literal and figurative heights?
GIRL LIKE A BOMB is the psychosexual journey of a girl named Beverly Sykes. Beverly just wants to have sex. A lot of sex. But she soon discovers that she can heal people’s mental wounds and help them achieve self-actualization through sex, and soon sets out to save the world. It represents the labyrinthine journey to the center of the soul, with all its confetti and magma and what it takes to become the best version of yourself.
I wanted to write this story because it was unlike anything I’d ever written before. I normally write about things like plague machines, horrific demiurges, and brain implants that turn people into philosophical zombies. I wanted to expand the mythology of my writing and try something a little different.
What I loved most about Beverly’s character is how sex-positive she is. What other books and authors inspire you when it comes to sending this message, i.e. what books can readers run to for more body-positive brain food?
It wasn’t my intention to make it a sex positive book, but Beverly knows what she wants and isn’t shy about it. The positivity comes out of her character, not my inherent desire for positivity. I was more inspired by books about bad girls, by books of people who lived on the outskirts, like authors Henry Miller, Bukowski, Kathy Acker, and Jean Genet. I chose sex as the method of her magical transference because sex is so integral to who we are as human beings, and our feelings about sex are also how we in general feel about our interactions with others. I used to go around jokingly saying that I was the female Bukowski, but I always felt role models for rebellious women were lacking.I was also inspired by the movies “Kids” and “Nymphomaniac Vol 1,” which showed a rowdy, sometimes excruciating, life on the edge of experience.
Some inspiration:
The Collected Stories of Colette - ColetteThe Torn Skirt - Rebecca GodfreyAnything by Kathy AckerDelta of Venus - Anais Nin
Beverly’s character, while based in reality, encompasses a hint of magical realism in regard to her sexual powers. While I don’t necessarily like placing books in a genre label, I’m curious what you would pick if you had to pick one.
I’d say GIRL LIKE A BOMB is part literary fiction, part YA, part fantasy, part horror. I’d best categorize it as a hybrid, but if I had to place it in a single genre I’d say literary fiction. (The vaguest of the genres!)
When readers talk about the hero’s journey, they reference the three stages of development: separation, initiation, and return. For you, which was your favorite part to write, and do you consider Beverly a hero? Or does she represent something else to you altogether?
Every single one of us is going through a hero’s journey, which is why it’s such a universal story. We’re all shuttled into the world without a fucking clue as to who or what we are and are fumbling through a dark tunnel that billions of other people have traversed, also alone. A hero is someone who elevates the human race. Heroes slay the dragons and invent rockets and make sure there are federal highways, so you buy your toilet paper and grape juice without struggle. Beverly is a hero too, in her own way.
My favorite part to write was the first half of the book, when she’s just discovering her powers and coming into her own. But beginnings are always fun. It’s when reality sets in and you realize that you have to live with the choices that you previously made that fun becomes a complication. That’s also when the writing gets more difficult, when you have to take all the threads you’ve created and do something wonderful (or terrible) with them.
If Beverly was going on a first date, what would she wear?
It depends on the stage of her life, but in her early twenties: Crop top, designer leather jacket, black skinny jeans, glitter eyeshadow, red high heels. She’d have her hair curled and be wearing her favorite red lipstick. She’d be carrying a loud and expensive purse like Chanel or Balenciaga. She’s there to make an entrance and get noticed.
Can you give us an insight into your writing process? Any habits when you sit down to write?
Coffee, loud music, headphones, a dash of optimism and a death wish. I sometimes feel like I’m hanging off the edge of the world and barely grasping onto my keyboard. Sometimes I like to write stream of consciousness, and then later go back and refine it with a more critical eye. GIRL LIKE A BOMB went through about five rewrites with Christoph editing. To me, writing is a constant process of refinement, and Christoph is a very analytical, in-depth editor.
What takeaway do you hope your readers leave your book with?
A book is a very personal thing. I want people to connect it to their own lives and make their own conclusions.
What books are sitting in your TBR pile?
I read a wide variety of books, and the TBR pile is never-ending. Here’s a few of them:
Microworlds - Stanislaw Lem Cybernetix - Carlton Mellick IIIBlack Chamber - S.M. StirlingMaps of Meaning - Jordan PetersonThe Death of Vishnu - Manil Suri
What is next in store for your readers?
I’m currently working on two projects. Both are horror, but in much different ways.
What advice do you have for writers working in fiction?
Have some fucking fun with it. People take writing so seriously. It’s art. it’s supposed to be entertainment. It’s an expression of being alive. It’s a testament and a celebration of being human. If you’re not having fun, what’s the point? If you’re in it for the secondary rewards, you’re probably going to be disappointed.
Also - it’s all about the work. Everything else - publishing, writing friends, marketing - is all secondary to the work. And the work needs to be driven by passion. By fun. You’re going to be spending 98% of the time in a room alone by yourself, and you need to be driven in order to do that.Drink whiskey and laugh. Dance to techno. Do four espresso shots in a row and buy the loudest keyboard you can off of Amazon. Write what your little heart desires. Write silly things that you don’t think will ever be published. Write the crazy characters that dance around in your head. Create outrageous metaphors. Write like you’re racing against death to finish your book.
