K.C. Grifant's Blog, page 4
December 18, 2023
Top Weird West Books of 2023
2023 was a banner year for weird west fiction, particularly horror westerns. This genre–which blends fantasy, horror and/or sci-fi elements in a western story–has been gaining steam for the last few years. It was an honor to have my debut supernatural western book, Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger, join a truly epic list of 2023 weird western books.
These are a few of my favorite new releases, as well as ones high on my to-be-read list. There are many new weird westerns beyond this shortlist; check out some of the profiles of amazing authors at Weird West Fiction for additional recommendations.
Lone Women by Victor LaValle (One World)
Book Description: Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her wherever she goes. It’s locked at all times. Because when the trunk opens, people around Adelaide start to disappear.
The year is 1915, and Adelaide is in trouble. Her secret sin killed her parents, forcing her to flee California in a hellfire rush and make her way to Montana as a homesteader. Dragging the trunk with her at every stop, she will become one of the “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can tame it—except that Adelaide isn’t alone. And the secret she’s tried so desperately to lock away might be the only thing that will help her survive the harsh territory.
Crafted by a modern master of magical suspense, Lone Women blends shimmering prose, an unforgettable cast of adventurers who find horror and sisterhood in a brutal landscape, and a portrait of early-twentieth-century America like you’ve never seen. And at its heart is the gripping story of a woman desperate to bury her past—or redeem it.
Book Description: Sadie Grace is wanted for witchcraft, dead (or alive). And every hired gun in Kansas is out to collect the bounty on her head, including bona fide witch hunter Old Tom and his mysterious, mute ward, Rabbit.
On the road to Burden County, they’re joined by two vagabond cowboys with a strong sense of adventure – but no sense of purpose – and a recently widowed schoolteacher with nothing left to lose. As their posse grows, so too does the danger.
Racing along the drought-stricken plains in a stolen red stagecoach, they encounter monsters more wicked than witches lurking along the dusty trail. But the crew is determined to get that bounty, or die trying.
Written with the devilish cadence of Stephen Graham Jones and the pulse-pounding brutality of Nick Cutter, Red Rabbitis an epic adventure of luck and misfortune.
Book Description: Gunslingers. Lawmen. Snake-oil Salesmen. Cowboys. Mad Scientists. And a few monsters. The Old West has never been wilder! THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UNCANNY presents sixteen original and never-before-published adventures by some of today’ s most visionary writers who have spun wildly offbeat tales of gunmen, lawmen, magic, and weird science. Saddle up with Josh Malerman, Scott Sigler, Keith DeCandido, Cullen Bunn, R.S. Belcher, Greg Cox, Jeffrey Mariotte, Laura Anne Gilman, Aaron Rosenberg, Maurice Broaddus, John G. Hartness, Carrie Harris, James A. Moore, Marguerite Reed, C. Edward Sellner, Carrie Harris, and Jennifer Brody! These tales twist the American West into a place of darkness, shadows, sudden death, terror in the night, bold heroism, devious magic, and shocking violence. Each story blazes a new trail through very strange territory – discovering weird science, ancient evil, mythic creatures, and lightning-fast action.
Title: Hungers as Old as This Land by Zachary Rosenberg (Brigids Gate Press)
Book Description: The settlement of Grey’s Bluffs is a prosperous town. An independent community dwelling in the shadows of the mountains known only as The Hungers.
Esther Foxman and Siobhan O’Clery have grown up in Grey’s Bluffs, thriving out on the western territories in the aftermath of the Civil War. Devoted to one another and their home, the two set out to complete a regular pact at the Hungers to ensure that Grey’s Bluffs continues to prosper.
Cyril Redstone is a man who knows death well. Becoming a mercenary after the Civil War, Cyril leads the marauding Blackhawks from one slaughter to the next. Hired to destroy Grey’s Bluffs, Cyril cares little for morality, nor that he owes its founder his life.
Esther and Siobhan are left to defend the only home they have ever known from the Blackhawks, their confrontation driving them deep into the mountains.
Where the darkest secrets of the Hungers await them.
Book Description: New Mexico Territory, 1882: She comes to the Klein ranch at sunset, a strange naked pregnant woman dragging a cavalry saber. Annette Klein and her husband have built peace between their marriage and secret relations beyond, but their serenity dies in bloodshed tonight through a cannibalistic demon and a mad preacher. Annette barely escapes the bloodbath to the nearby town of Low’ s Bend, where she might find safety with a shotgun-toting barkeep, two no-nonsense boarding room ladies, and the gunslinging bounty hunter who’s captured Annette’ s heart. But hell is at her heels. If she’ s going to survive until dawn, she’ ll have to forget everything she knows about peace and mercy, and face a hollow malevolence more ancient and ruthless than she’ s ever imagined.
Fae Planes Drifter: Otherworld Outlaws 4 (a Weird West Celtic Mythology Adventure) by Tammy Salyer
Book Description: Back from the dead and armed to the teeth, Lula is about to unleash some fae-fueled fury in a frontier free-for-all!
Book 4 in the Otherworld Outlaws series, an action-packed romp through the Wild West, loaded with living myths, dark magic, and bloodthirsty monsters aplenty.
After narrowly escaping the unbearable lich Brother Havóq and flirting with death herself, Lula finally gets her mitts on the Sleg of Assal. At long last, the key to busting her dad out of supernatural jail! But who would’ve guessed it would be a dirt-loathing, murder-happy weapon with an attitude sharper than its pointy end? As if that wasn’t bad enough, three shady hobgoblins are now hot on her tail, itching to grab the infamous weapon for their unsavory troll of a boss, Motherlode Mankiller.
Meanwhile, Hattie’s in a pickle of her own. A smooth-talking conman and horse thief named Knox has his greedy peepers on her ranch, and there’s a little problem with the deed—namely, there isn’t one. Desperate for some otherworldly help, Hattie discovers the answer to her problem is in Tír Na nÓg. And now that she has the spear, Lula won’t let anything, not even common sense, get in her way from springing her dad from his mystical cell. Ignoring everyone’s warnings, these two stubborn gals gallop headfirst into the Otherworld.
But getting there is a cakewalk compared to the horror show that’s waiting for them. To face a creature too ghastly to imagine (or even get anyone to spill the beans about), Lula and Hattie have to dig deep for their courage and moxie. Can Lula find her father before the Morrígan—or something way worse—catches up with them? And can Hattie snatch the magic she needs to save her ranch from Knox’s sticky fingers? In this potion-slinging weird west Celtic fantasy, the stakes have never been higher, and the chuckles never louder. So grab your hats, grimoires, and six-shooters, and buckle up for one hilariously hair-raising journey through the Otherworld!
Triptych: Three Tales of Frontier Horror by Richard Beauchamp
Book Description: An Outcast Warrior turned bounty hunter has his wits and reflexes tested when escorting a most unusual prisoner across the Mojave…
The Courier is revered and sought after for his reliability and impeccable track record, but when a sordid stranger hires him to deliver a strange artifact to a well known practitioner of the occult, his life changes forever…
Hell hath no fury like a redheaded, pistol toting woman scorned as Maylene Baker navigates a world blighted by a parasitic scourge in an effort to find her husband…This ain’t the west you read about in history books. In Richard Beauchamp’s twisted vision of the pioneer country, the arroyos house abominations.
Best keep that trigger finger limber.
Hell comes at high noon.
Book Description: As always, Floyd Betts rides into town alone. He arrives for his father’s funeral, but he is returning to Galveston, Texas, with two orphaned siblings he has rescued. Nellie, who is descended from a long line of witches, has visions from other people’s minds. Hank, her impulsive younger brother, just wants to break out his outsized revolver.
Along the way home, Floyd, Nellie, and Hank encounter a dubious traveling salesman, Professor Finn, and his henchman, Kentucky Jim. They are struggling to capture a fish-man in order to put him on cruel display. When Nellie taps into the peril of the gentle Charlie Fish, Floyd’s makeshift family expands to include the lost, two-legged amphibian.
With the circus charlatans in pursuit, ominous winds are picking up from an impending hurricane. Meanwhile, all Charlie Fish wants is to return to his home at sea.
Book Description: When George Miller is killed in the mines of Yellow Hill, his wife and children are left to try and piece their lives back together. Tabitha Miller, George’s widow, is thrown into deeper chaos when she discovers that George’s death had nothing to do with the cave’s collapse, but was caused by some terrible predator deep within the earth. His death covered up by the mine’s Proprietor-Jeremiah Hart.
In nearby Big Spring, freed slave-turned-occult bounty hunter Gilbert Ptolemy arrives with his adopted son in search of a murderous vampire. New revelations in Yellow Hill draw the duo toward the struggling Miller family, the strange mine, and the horrors lurking within.
The Miller and Ptolemy families are pitted against mundane and supernatural forces in this Weird West adventure. Family struggles, heart-stopping gunfights, and nightmare creatures from dark realms abound in this award-winning novel from C.S. Humble
Book 2: A Red Winter in the West; Book 3: The Light of a Black Star
Along Harrowed Trails edited by C.R. Langille (Timber Ghost Press)
Book Description: The Old West was a time of lawlessness, violence, and danger. Threat of death could come in the form of bandits, outlaws, and even the very land itself. But what if there was something else? Something that lurked in the shadows waiting to strike when the stars were right?
In this anthology, over 30 authors and poets explore the weird and visceral side of the Wild West with stories of demons, ghosts, and creatures from myth and legend. From haunted towns to mysterious mountaintops, these tales will take you to the heart of darkness.
In the tradition of Stephen King, Cormac McCarthy, and Louis L’Amour, this collection of stories and poems brings the Old West to life in all its bloody, gory, glory. So saddle up and hold on tight, because you’re in for a wild ride.
Book Description: Pinkerton Evelyn Horn has seen her fair share of the weird and dark. But when she arrives in the Utah Territories to investigate the disappearance of fellow a Pinkerton and friend, she finds herself facing something even more sinister.
Strange occult rites, crazed cultists, and ancient prophecies all point to something dark and malevolent lurking in the shadows. Evelyn must use all her skills and experience to survive the horrors that await her in the mountains.
A gritty, action-packed, and bloody horror story, Branches and Bones is a must-read for fans of the genre.
Book Description: Welcome to the Wild West, a time of exploration, independence, and countless opportunities…
for death.
You’ve been to Placerita Town often to sell your father’s ironworks, but never have you experienced a day like this. Jumpin’ John and his gang of outlaws are tearing apart the town, and the Sheriff’s doing nothing to stop them.
You’ll have to steer clear of the gang and brave the dangers of the desert if you’re going to survive in this interactive novel. Watch your back, choose wisely, and be careful who you trust. It’s wits versus might as you try to stay alive in the Wild West!
Book Description: Desperados and yellow-bellies be warned: These ain’ t your typical westerns … Herein find legendary masters of anomalous Western and Horror stories— along with a posse of budding word-slingers— who all bring you an electrifying and frightening collection of extraordinary tales set in the Old West and beyond…Within these pages, the improbable is made real: cowboys encounter a chimeric critter of the night; dinosaurs return as massive poltergeists; Chinese railroad workers are haunted by invisible frights; outlaws experience Cronenbergian body-horror; fallen-light stalks mother and daughter upon a wintry prairie; a headless horseman roams the badlands; otherworldly creatures hunt within our domain; screaming spectral birds nest within the damned; and gunslinging women with murderous skills annihilate foolish notions of a man’ s world. These are just a handful of the offerings in this body of macabre lore.So, mount your saddle-horse and join this gang of rogue authors for a ride down dark trails of terror and unsettling thoroughfares that lead deep into strange, nightmarish territory. Here you gallop through places where law has no dominion and Death constantly deals a grim hand— and where the iron is red-hot and the blood drips ice-cold.
Bad Memories of Buzzard Hill: 8 Tales of the Macabre in the Weird West by C.B. Andrews
Book Description: Recently widowed and alone, Elwood Andcor sits at his Appalachian Mountain homestead remembering his past in the Arizona ghost town of Buzzard Hill. Over thirty years later and the memories of cannibals, werewolves, vampires, the undead, and a nefarious false prophet known as Father Morgan Acheron continue to haunt Elwood.
Seeking catharsis from the nightmares of Buzzard Hill, Elwood begins to pen his story and the stories of others from that long abandoned wicked settlement. As he records these terrifying tales he may find out that the past is never too far behind.
This list is just a sampling of weird western releases that joined MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER in 2023! Check out Weird West Fiction for more recommendations and author profiles.
December 3, 2023
My Personal Gift List for Writers and Readers
If you’re like me, your eyes may glaze over at another book lover/authors’ gift list. Countless of these bookish articles pop up every year, inevitably containing the same items: novelty bookmarks, reading lights, novel-themed candles, furniture, swag and more.
This may not be for you, but I’ve picked a few of my personal favorite book- and writing-themed gifts to offer a simple, curated list to help navigate the seemingly endless possibilities and scrolling. Many of these I have gifted or been gifted in the past so can vouch for them. These are obviously highly subjective and based around my own horror/sci-fi/fantasy interests.
My personal favorites include interesting pen holders; book nooks for those craftier souls; eye-catching book ends; genre subscription boxes; and of course–books!
For the ReadersIndie bookstore certificates and subscription boxes
My number one recommendation for bookish gift-giving ideas is to peruse indie bookstores’ online offerings. Mysterious Galaxy, for example, offers free shipping over $100 and has curated book recommendations. They also have a gift subscription box that I gifted to a friend last year. Many local indie bookstores also have signed books or rare books available, such as Artifact Books in Encinitas.
If you’d rather hand-pick speculative books for gifts, I always recommend browsing the recommended reading lists and recent award winners from organizations like HWA and SFWA to find a unique variety of speculative anthologies, books, novellas, and more. Then head over to Bookshop to place an order.
For more ideas, check out the creatively packaged themed “book dates” on Etsy. Or use the images for ideas to create your own book gift packages.
Bonus book recommendation! For the horror lovers in your life, 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered by Sadie Hartmann is a beautiful and exceptionally well done reference for literary horror. (And it looks great on a coffee table!)
Description: Curious readers and fans of monsters and the macabre, get ready to bulk up your TBR piles! Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann has curated the best selection of modern horror books, including plenty of deep cuts. Indulge your heart’s darkest desires to be terrified, unsettled, disgusted, and heartbroken with stories that span everything from paranormal hauntings and creepy death cults to small-town terrors and apocalyptic disasters. Each recommendation includes a full synopsis as well as a quick overview of the book’s themes, style, and tone so you can narrow down your next read at a glance. Featuring a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Josh Malerman and five brand-new essays from rising voices in the genre, this illustrated reader’s guide is perfect for anyone who dares to delve into the dark.
Bookends
Two of my favorite bookends that have held up to the test of time (and loads of book weight) are the Portal bookends (which always evoke comments from guests) and the raven and skull bookends. A bookend tip: while the solo slanted book holders look cool, in practice I’ve found they do a poor job of actually holding up a book.
Book Nooks
These adorable miniatures are fun to put together and look magical on a bookshelf nestled between real books. I constantly get compliments on my sitting library nook and elfin library nook (check out my TikTok video of the latter here). But be warned – they require a fair amount of basic crafting so these are gifts best suited for your hands-on friends.
Bonus tip! These are the glues I use for mine – Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue (a tad pricy) and Turbo “Tacky” Glue (more economical).
For the WritersPens and Notebooks
Dissertations could be written on pen and journal recommendations, so I’ll keep it simple. I personally like the BaronFig products as elevated gift offerings, both to give and receive. I love the Squire Rollerball Pen and Squire Click Ballpoint Pen, which have been my go-to “fancy” pens for years. Be warned – they aren’t cheap! But they are meant to last for years and are a heavenly writing experience. Pair the pen with one of their elegant writing journals and you have a lovely gift.
BaronFig also offers sleek organizers, cases and a plethora of themed journals.
Pen Holders
Since I enjoy the fantasy genre, these knight and dragon pen holders are some of my favorites. These are both fairly sturdy and look great on a desk. Of course, a themed pen holder should be tailored to your recipient’ interest and genre of choice.
Craft Books
For the short story writer: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders. A masterclass in short story writing; I recommend this to everyone who writes–or wants to write–short fiction.
Description: For the last twenty years, George Saunders has been teaching a class on the Russian short story to his MFA students at Syracuse University. In A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, he shares a version of that class with us, offering some of what he and his students have discovered together over the years. Paired with iconic short stories by Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol, the seven essays in this book are intended for anyone interested in how fiction works and why it’s more relevant than ever in these turbulent times.
For the novel writer: Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maas is an extremely helpful and practical workbook for novel writers both new and experienced. I find it especially useful to help with writer’s block.
Description: This powerful book presents the patented techniques and writing exercises from Maass’s popular writing workshops to offer novelists first-class instruction and practical guidance. Maass also carefully dissects examples from real-life breakout novels so you’ll lean how to read and analyze fiction like a writer. With authoritative instruction and hands-on workbook exercises, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook is one of the most accessible novel-writing guides available.
Bonus book recommendation! I also enjoy Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere) by Lisa Cron. Aside from an excellent title, the book also contains a fresh take on novel writing.
More ResourcesI hope these recommendations were helpful. As you navigate the season’s gift giving, please try to support indie shops and indie creators as much as possible. And if you’re looking for more ideas, here are a few general literary lists:
The Best Gifts for Bookworms (That Aren’t Books): https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-gifts-for-book-lovers.html (NY Magazine)49 gifts that are perfect for the person who always has their nose in a book: https://www.today.com/shop/best-book-lover-gifts-t232859 (Today.com)50 Gifts the Book Lovers in Your Life Will Adore: https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/books/g23110271/gifts-for-book-lovers (Oprah)Uncommon Goods reading gifts: https://www.uncommongoods.com/fun/by-interest/reading-giftsThe Best Gifts for Book Lovers Who Have No Shelf Control: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/the-best-gifts-for-book-lovers-who-have-no-shelf-control/_/N-2v21 (Barnes and Noble)Happy shopping!
October 31, 2023
Free horror books for Halloween – today only!
Happy Halloween! Here’s a treat for you: for today only, the ebook of my debut supernatural western MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Brigids Gate Press) is available for FREE through B&N, Kobo and Apple Books as part of the Terrify Your Tablet book event.
Terrify Your Tablet
The first annual Terrify Your Tablet (previously “Spook Your Kindle Day”) is hosted by Horrorsmith Publishing. Horror and thriller fans can download books from hundreds of participating authors at the link below on Halloween.
MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER is among the many free offerings from fabulous indie press Brigids Gate Press. Snag a copy of this and many more books!
Peruse the full list of authors here – https://www.horrorsmithediting.com/terrifyyourtablet.
Book descriptionBonnie & Clyde + Witcher + Supernatural
When monsters roam the Old West, there is one gunslinging couple who can tilt the odds in favor of humanity.
Stoic sharpshooter Melinda and her easygoing partner Lance are pros at fighting everything from giant flying scorpions to psychic bugs. But wwhen they accidentally release a demon that steals souls, they find themselves caught in a supernatural war. Melinda and Lance must battle a menagerie of monsters and hunt a notorious outlaw to save their friends and stop hell on Earth.
MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGERBonus Read
If you’re looking for a quick short read about horror, check out my new blog post, “Horror is an Arachnid” over at the “31 Days of Horror” blog!
http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/2023/10/31-days-of-horror-day-27-why-i-love.html
August 31, 2023
New weird west story in ALONG HARROWED TRAILS
ALONG HARROWED TRAILS (Timber Ghost Press) is a horror western anthology containing my story “Candelaria and the Red-Eyed Bunch Gang.” This is a prequel, origins story for one of the side characters in MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER. In it, Candelaria must contend with a gang set on double-crossing her as something monstrous approaches.
Learn more or purchase this weird west anthology here.
About ALONG HARROWED TRAILS
The Old West was a time of lawlessness, violence, and danger. Threat of death could come in the form of bandits, outlaws, and even the very land itself. But what if there was something else? Something that lurked in the shadows waiting to strike when the stars were right?
In this anthology, over 30 authors and poets explore the weird and visceral side of the Wild West with stories of demons, ghosts, and creatures from myth and legend. From haunted towns to mysterious mountaintops, these tales will take you to the heart of darkness.
In the tradition of Stephen King, Cormac McCarthy, and Louis L’Amour, this collection of stories and poems brings the Old West to life in all its bloody, gory, glory.
So saddle up and hold on tight, because you’re in for a wild ride.
Featuring stories and poems by: Keith Anthony Baird, Richard Beauchamp, Hank Belbin, Matt Bliss, Deborah Cardillo, Jeremiah Dylan Cook, Aristo Couvaras, Jennifer Crow, Ben Curl, Alycia Davidson, Robert DeLeskie, Rachel Horak Dempsey, David A. Elsensohn, Maxwell I. Gold, KC Grifant, Levi Hatch, Pedro Iniguez, Samantha Kelly, C. H. Lindsay, LindaAnn LoSchiavo, Winston Malone, Morgan Melhuish, LH Michael, Dermott O’Malley, Cygnus Perry, WR Platt, Daniel Powell, Craig E. Sawyer, Kathryn Tennison, Emily Ruth Verona, Adam Vine, Chris Wilder, and Ann Wuehler.
July 15, 2023
An epic tweet
This is outside of my usual posts, but too cool not to share.
After a horror author event I moderated at the lovely indie bookstore Verbatim Books in downtown San Diego last month, I tweeted a picture of the panelists next to a cut-out cardboard of Stephen King.
Imagine my surprise when he retweeted it!!
For those who aren’t on Twitter, King is pretty active and often comments/likes/retweets his audience. As the “patron saint of horror” who paved the way in the genre and is an inspiration to so many authors, it’s a big deal indeed.
July 10, 2023
Free short ghost story, LONELY ARCADE, in Stupefying Magazine
My bite-sized ghost story, “Lonely Arcade,” has published in Stupefying Stories (4-minute read). It’s a ghost story, but also a homage to the many summers I spent in boardwalk arcades.
You can read it for free, along with other short tales, here: https://stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2023/06/lonely-arcade-by-kc-grifant.html
If you enjoyed that one, make sure to check out “The Sighting,” my short tale about Big Foot hunters, also in Stupefying Stories.
About Stupefying StoriesStupefying Stories is an online magazine founded by Bruce and Karen Bethke. Bruce Bethke is the award-winning science fiction writer known for his 1980 short story, “Cyberpunk,” and his 1995 Philip K. Dick Award-winning novel, Headcrash.
May 2, 2023
Book anniversary, events and more May news
Happy May!
I can’t believe it’s been 3 months since MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER debuted from Brigids Gate Press. My supernatural western adventure was more well-received than I’d hoped. Putting a book out there is incredibly vulnerable. Some people will love it, others will hate it. In the end, it doesn’t truly matter. Most of us write as a way to survive/thrive/rebel/reflect/exist in this chaotic, complex world. Nevertheless, I am deeply grateful for everyone–friends, booksellers, reviewers, editors, publishers–who helped make this lifelong dream come true.
One big highlight for me this past month was attending the Los Angeles Times Book Festival for the first time. It was a traffic-filled drive up from San Diego to LA on little sleep, but completely worth it to attend the largest book festival in the country. Tents and vendors stretched as far as the eye could see under a baking sun on the University of Southern California campus. I joined the Horror Writers table to sell copies of MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER and was utterly delighted when writing legend Joe Lansdale and his daughter Kasey Lansdale stopped by to say hi and purchase a book. Check out photos over on my Facebook page or Instagram. Thank you to everyone who stopped by!
May is stacked with lots more bookish events in Southern California, including the Nebula Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers (SFWA) conference in Anaheim. I will be there signing books, moderating panels and diving into all things SFF. I hope you can join one of the events below.
MAY 2023 EVENTS
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Nebula Conference, Anaheim – May 12-14
Panel: The Indie Dilemma: DIY or Hire Out? Fri, May 12, 2023 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Join this panel to hear experienced indie authors will discuss: When time, money, and other resources are limited, how do you choose what to tackle yourself, and when to hire an expert?
*Moderating* Prep Tips for Your Debut Indie Book Launch Fri, May 12, 2023 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Whether publishing a small-press or publishing on your own, the debut novel can be intimidating. Learn about tips for marketing, social media, and “must-dos” to prepare for your book launch.
Signing: MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER Fri, May 12, 2023 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM.
Panel: Control Your Book Promotion Sun, May 14, 2023 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Discover how to navigate the abundance of promotional options for your book, as well as tips, insights, and lessons learned from those who cold-called bookshops.
Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore – Sat May 20, 3pm
MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER Book signing and discussion with fellow author Dennis Crosby
Warwick’s Books – Sun May 21, 12pm
MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER book signing
Mission Valley Public Library – Sat May 27, 1:30-3:30pm
Short story reading for the San Diego Writers & Editors Guild anthology launch
And looking ahead…
JUNE 2023 EVENTSOnce Upon a Book Fair – Sat June 3, 10 am–4pm
Book table, signing, giveaways at the Escondido Center for the Arts with 70+ author tables
Verbatim Books – Sat June 10th, 7pm
Horror authors panel, discussion and book signing
VIRTUAL: Space Cowboy Books – June 13, 6pm PT
Book reading and interview. Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/547947083477
La Jolla Library – Sat June 24, 3-4pm
Horror panel and book signing
Stokercon, Pittsburg – June 16-18
Signing and panel schedule TBD
For details on any of these appearances, please visit https://scifiwri.com/appearances/.
Featured interview: Voice of America panel on horror fiction and AI
Listen to a panel featuring myself and other horror authors discussing the future of horror fiction and AI in Voice of America’s TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION: THE FUTURE IS NOW episode “The Future of Horror Fiction and AI: Scared Yet?”
Listen: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/143486/the-future-of-horror-fiction-and-ai-scared-yet
Watch (Facebook): https://fb.watch/j-RGN8ZR97/
I joined host Dom Brightmon for an insightful and fun conversation about writing and westerns. Listen here: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-654-inside-the-mind-of-a-horror-western-writer-with-kc-grifant-kcgrifant/.
Upcoming podcast interviews-Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality
-Grim and Bloody Podcast
-The Con Hour Podcast
-E-Reads Podcast
-Inside the Minds of Authors Amazon Podcast
Thank you for tuning in and, as always, happy reading! Sign up for my monthly newsletter for free stories, news and exclusives!April 3, 2023
April news – book promo, appearances, free short stories and more
Happy April! I’m excited to share new book promos, interviews, events and more.
Limited time: popular Weird West books available in special promo for readers at StoryBundle
For a limited time, my supernatural western MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Brigids Gate Press) will be available in a “storybundle” together with some of the biggest fantasy and horror western titles available right now.
StoryBundle offers a jaw-dropping deal for readers: for only $5, you’ll receive the four featured digital books:
There is also an upgraded bundle where you can get all 11 weird west stories shown for a deeper discount. This is a fabulous option if you’re looking for new books and want to explore more of the “weird west” (these are westerns with speculative elements, usually combined with fantasy and horror).
Get the bundle, or learn more about it, here: https://storybundle.com/weird. And consider signing up for Storybundle notifications for future scifi, fantasy and horror-themed book deal bundles.
Recent appearances
I was delighted to join the excellent Sley House Presents podcast to talk books, X-Men, short stories, serial adventure and more. Ways to listen:
AppleSpotifyGoogle
I spoke with the Let Fear Bounce last month. Tune in to hear tidbits on imposter syndrome, writing as a side gig, and more. Make sure to check out the other episodes for more uplifting stories about #writing and #publishing: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/PQ9Pk5RHbyb
I was also delighted to be a guest on D.C. Gomez’s The Book Corner Amazon show to talk about MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER. You can watch a recording of the live show here.
Upcoming events and appearancesEvents:
Book Signing: LAT Festival of Books – Sat, April 22, 1-3pmPanels: Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Nebula Conference – May 13 & 14Book Signing and Discussion: Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore – Sat, May 20, 3pmBook Signing: Warwick’s Books – Sun, May 21, 12pmBook Reading and Interview (VIRTUAL): Space Cowboy Books – June 13, 6pm PT Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/547947083477Podcast interviews:A Podcast Without A NameMurder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with MoralityGrim and Bloody PodcastThe Con Hour PodcastE-Reads PodcastInside the Minds of Authors Amazon Podcast
For details on appearances, please visit https://scifiwri.com/appearances/.
Book sightings!
This last month I’ve visited several local bookstores to sign copies of Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger and On social media the book as popped up in bookstore locations ranging Ontario to Kentucky to South Dakota. The book also made its first con appearance (Wondercon), with hopefully many more to come!
Guest articles
You can read my article “How to Create Compelling Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories” in Authority Magazine. This piece includes 5 critical tips for new writers in the genres.
For Women in Horror Month 2023, I shared supernatural western book recommendations from some of my favorite fellow weird western authors. Read more at The Horror Tree: https://horrortree.com/wihm-2023-saddle-up-5-supernatural-westerns-by-women-for-your-tbr/
Bonus article: Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger was featured in a piece for The Line-Up’s celebration of Women in Horror month.
“Welcome to the Weird West” covers an introduction to the genre and why I love to write in it. You can read it for free at the March/April issue of Uncaged Magazine: https://issuu.com/cyreneolson/docs/uncaged_book_reviews-_marchapril23-final/100.
For your reading pleasure: two recent free short stories
If you’re looking for a quick hit of monster fiction, I’ve had 2 short stories out in the last month that you can read for free:
“Just Another Apocalypse” at Two Thousand Word Terrors (Rooster Republic Press) https://roosterrepublicpress.com/just-another-apocalypse-by-kc-grifant/
“The Sighting” at Stupefying Stories: https://stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-sighting-by-kc-grifant.html
To receive monthly email updates, sign up here and, as always, happy reading!March 30, 2023
MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER and more popular Weird West books available in special promo at StoryBundle
Book promo alert! For a limited time, my supernatural western MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER will be available in a “storybundle” together with some of the biggest fantasy and horror western titles available right now.
StoryBundle offers a very appealing deal for readers: for only $5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous), you’ll get the basic bundle of four digital books, details below. There is also an upgraded bundle where you can get **11** weird west stories for a deeper discount!
This bundle showcases books by some of the leading authors of Weird West fiction today. These tales of the Old West fused with horror, fantasy and adventure will sweep you away to another time and place.
Weird West Book Bundle Details
For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you’re inclined), you’ll get the basic bundle of four books in .epub format worldwide:
The Devil’s Revolver by V.S. McGrathGnome on the Range by Tammy SalyerMelinda West: Monster Gunslinger by KC GrifantBodacious Creed by Jonathan FesmireIf you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus seven more books for a total of 11!
On Stolen Land by Stephanie RabigThe Last Stand of Mary Good Crow by Rachel AaronUnicorn Western – The Complete Series (Books 1-9) by Platt and TruantNot Enough Midnights by Michael MerriamThe Flash Gold Chronicles: Vol. I-III by Lindsay BurokerMidnight Agency – Season One: The Obsidian Gate by Ken HooverCurse of the Ancients by Chuck BudaThis bundle is available only for a limited time via http://www.storybundle.com. It allows easy reading on computers, smartphones, and tablets as well as Kindle and other ereaders via file transfer, email, and other methods. You get a DRM-free .epub for all books!
Why StoryBundle?Here are a few benefits StoryBundle provides.
Get quality reads: We’ve chosen works from excellent authors to bundle together in one convenient package.Pay what you want (minimum $5): You decide how much these fantastic books are worth. If you can only spare a little, that’s fine! You’ll still get access to a batch of exceptional titles.Support authors who support DRM-free books: StoryBundle is a platform for authors to get exposure for their works, both for the titles featured in the bundle and for the rest of their catalog. Supporting authors who let you read their books on any device you want—restriction free—will show everyone there’s nothing wrong with ditching DRM.Give to worthy causes: Bundle buyers have a chance to donate a portion of their proceeds to Girls Write Now!Receive extra books: If you beat the bonus price, you’ll get the bonus books!It’s also easy to give the gift of reading with StoryBundle gift cards and timed delivery.
What is the “Weird West?” A message from Storybundle curator Tammy SalyerWho among us didn’t grow up with at least one Old West hero? For me, it was Billy the Kid. Not the lawless, gunslinging psycho killer of real life, but rather the Young Guns movie version: the slick talkin’, fast shootin’, justice seekin’ orphan who along with a band of outcasts used the wilds of nature and chaos of frontier fighting to face down the big bad rancher who tried to kill his mentor. A bit of idealistic bunkum? Sure. But also exactly the kind of delicious mix of ingredients that all good Westerns contain.
Okay, you may be saying, but what do you mean by Weird West? Oh boy, here’s where things get REALLY good. Weird West is a subgenre of speculative fiction that combines bits of traditional Western stories with supernatural, science fiction, steampunk, or even horror elements. In other words, it turns the good ole standby of cowboys and Indians firmly on its head, and throws in a dash of shamans and sorcerers, a spritz of steampower and magic (and sometimes steam-powered magic!), or a sprinkle of zombies and Fae, and nearly every goldurn one of ’em is a gunslinger!
One of the defining features of the Weird West genre is its sense of adventure and exploration, with no frontier too untamed or too strange. This StoryBundle will appeal to fans of Westerns and fantasy and horror, as it offers a unique blend of each of those (and more) genres. It can also be a great entry point for readers who are new to any of those genres, as it offers a fresh take on familiar themes and tropes.
Overall, this Weird West bundle is an exciting and imaginative blend of many different worlds, and it’s a great choice for readers who are looking for something that’s both familiar and unexpected. So get out your Double Eagles and ante up for a game of supernatural faro at the Weird West Saloon today!
– Tammy Salyer, curator of the Weird West Storybundle
StoryBundle was created to give a platform for independent authors to showcase their work, and a source of quality titles for thirsty readers. StoryBundle works with authors to create bundles of ebooks that can be purchased by readers at their desired price. Before starting StoryBundle, Founder Jason Chen covered technology and software as an editor for Gizmodo.com and Lifehacker.com.
For more information, visit our website at storybundle.com, tweet us at @storybundle and like us on Facebook . For press inquiries, please email press@storybundle.com
March 28, 2023
Free sci-fi horror short story on Big Foot – THE SIGHTING in Stupefying Magazine
Artwork by
Dan Wroblewski
My bite-sized, sci-fi horror story, “The Sighting,” has published in Stupefying Stories. This short tale follows the exploits of determined Big Foot hunters and their promising approach to ID’ing the monster.
You can read it for free, along with other short tales, here: https://stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-sighting-by-kc-grifant.html
About Stupefying StoriesStupefying Stories is an online magazine founded by Bruce and Karen Bethke. Bruce Bethke is the award-winning science fiction writer known for his 1980 short story, “Cyberpunk,” and his 1995 Philip K. Dick Award-winning novel, Headcrash.
Excerpt of “The Sighting” by KC Grifant
Read the rest at Stupefying Stories for free.
