This year, I went with a totally metal graphic. You like it?
It probably won’t surprise you that I’m already scheduled to attend some events as an author in the coming year. And because I love it when I run into Followers of Fear at these events (doesn’t happen often, but it still happens occasionally), I try to advertise the hell out of them in the hopes that someone reading these posts will be in the area and want to come and see me.
Plus, I’m doing a lot of new events this coming year, of which most of them are horror cons, so that should be a lot of fun. So, without further ado, let’s talk about what’s happening in 2025!
First, I’ll be getting started early this year with Akronomicon. This horror themed convention, previously known as Monsterfest Mania, will be held at the Emidio Expo Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, which is located in the Akron metropolitan area (hence the name Akronomicon). It’ll be held February 1st, from 10 AM – 7 PM. I’ll be there selling books and doing Tarot readings. If you can stop by, please do. Tickets are being sold here.
Then, I’ll be back in Akron at the Akron Book Festival on March 8th from 11 AM – 3 PM at the Main Library in downtown Akron. I’ll be there with a bunch of local Ohio authors, selling books (and hopefully being allowed to do Tarot readings). If you can, please stop by. You can find out more here.
Skip forward two months, and I’ll be heading up north to Michigan for the Halfway to Halloween Expo! This is an annual event held around when we’re six months away from Halloween (hence the name), and from what I hear, it’s always popular. This coming year, it takes place on Saturday, May 10th, 2025 from 11 AM – 6 PM at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds (now there’s a name!) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I’ll be there selling books and doing Tarot readings, so I hope to see you there. You can find out more on their website.
And finally, StokerCon 2025 will be held in Stamford, Connecticut on June 12th – 15th. This is the Horror Writers Association’s very own convention, with lots of panels, pitch sessions, endless ways and reasons to socialize, and, of course, the Bram Stoker Awards Dinner and Ceremony. I don’t know if I’ll be selling anything there this year, but I’ll definitely be there to enjoy myself, see old friends and make new ones, and possibly get books into people’s hands. I’d be happy to see you there, too, so do come say hi if you’re planning on attending as well. You can find out more about the convention here.
And that’s really all for now, my Followers of Fear. If I am confirmed for other events, I will let you know in case you want to come. In the meantime, I’ll try not to bombard you with reminders of events except right before the events. Unless talking about them more will get people to come? Hmm…something to think about.
Anyway, if you’re unable to come to the events and want to support me, you want to support me anyway, or you just want something to read, why not check out one of my books? From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for every horror fan, so why not check something out? I’ll leave links below.
And if you like what you read, please leave a review online so I know what you thought. Every review helps me out immensely. Not to mention, it helps other readers figure out if the book is right for them.
Anyway, it’s late and I’m tired, so I’m going to head to bed, my Followers of Fear. So, until next time (maybe tomorrow or Tuesday, depending on how things go), good night, pleasant nightmares, and happy holidays.
So, it’s been a bit of a strange week for me. Most of it was work, where my workload somehow doubled this week and a bunch of other things occurred, but the thing that I want to talk about is about Die Hard. As many of you know, there’s a big debate over whether or not Die Hard counts as a Christmas movie. This humble Jew not only counts it as a Christmas movie, but as many of you know, has the tradition of getting takeout and watching the movie every Christmas Eve.
And earlier this week, I was at my chiropractor’s office getting an adjustment and was talking to the receptionist while I was paying my bill. Here’s a reproduction of the conversation:
Receptionist: “Are you doing anything for Christmas?”
Me: “Just getting Chinese food and watching Die Hard.”
Receptionist: “What’s that? Some new TV show?”
Me: “…”
Receptionist: “From the look on your face, this is something I should know about, isn’t it?”
And that was the conversation in a nutshell. And you can imagine how stunned I was. I can understand people having never seen the film (I used to be related to someone like that), but having never heard of it? And no, she wasn’t some youngster, this woman was old enough to be a few years behind my parents in high school! You’d think she would have heard of a major blockbuster that came out in 1988.
Anyway, I explained to her what the film was, and she said she’d consider checking it out (whether or not she does, I won’t know till next month). However, that’s not where the story ends. If it was, it would be amusing, but not enough to warrant a blog post.
No, what happened next was that I posted the conversation on my social media so other people could laugh at it, too. And Followers of Fear, over on Threads (Facebook’s answer to Twitter, if you didn’t know), it went viral! I kid you not, within twelve hours, I had tens of thousands of views on that post! Hundreds of people commenting every minute, talking about how old they were when they saw the movie, incidents where young and old alike were unfamiliar with something that was supposed to be common knowledge, and a hundred other things that, more and more, strayed away from the main topic at hand.
As of writing this, that post has over 189,000 views, 2,700 likes, 1,100 comments, and twelve reposts. And I’ve still no idea why it went viral like that. I mean, I know Die Hard and whether it’s a Christmas movie or not is big around this time of year, but holy shit! If any post about one of my books gets even a hundredth of that sort of attention, I would be in heaven!
So yeah, that happened. As did a post about the Disney Princesses duking it out to the death getting nearly 17,000 views (Mulan and Merida are the favorites to win if you force the magical ones not to use their powers), and over on BlueSky, the director of the movie Suitable Flesh saw my review of it (I found it unnecessarily horny), and was pretty much like, “Oh well, I thought it was horny enough, but to each their own. Thanks for watching.” With a GIF of Elmo shrugging. I was touched.
Like this, but with “OH WELL” over his belly.
And this is only part of what has been a weird, weird week. But this is the part that I’ve been dying to tell someone all week and which I’ve only been able to do now. Really, no deeper reason than that. Thanks for indulging me while I unloaded what’s been rolling around in my head this week.
Anyway, hope you’re all doing well as the year begins to wind down. I’m counting down the days till I’m off for two weeks and working on The Shape of Evil in the meantime (nearly halfway through the second draft). And in the meantime, if you’re looking for a good scary book for yourself or for someone else this holiday season, I’ll leave a link below. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for every horror fan, so be sure to check them out. They’ll make the holiday gatherings that much easier.
Also, if you would like to keep up with me on Threads, BlueSky, or any of my other social media platforms, I’ll include those as well. I post more often there than here, and it’s another way to support me, so please do check me out.
Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.
I know, I know. And just a few days ago, I was talking about how much I was looking forward to going. But today I got an email to call the airline, and when I called, they said they and their international partners were canceling all flights into Tel Aviv for the foreseeable future. This is the second airline to cancel on me. And while I could keep searching, it just feels like I’d just set myself up for more disappointment. So, I canceled.
Again, sucks. And I was really looking forward to going to my friend’s wedding and seeing the country for the first time in nearly fifteen years.
On the bright side, I’m planning on going as soon as things calm down. Don’t know when that’ll happen, but I’ll go. And not hell nor high water will keep me from going! Especially if, by then, I have a lot of vacation time and money saved up. I WILL visit my people’s homeland again someday!
Still, sucks.
On a brighter and more immediate note: a friend and colleague messaged me out of the blue yesterday about joining her and some friends at GalaxyCon Columbus. It’s a convention for fans of anime, gaming, comics, TV, and everything else you can think of, and it’s quite expensive to get a table at. My colleague and some of her friends went in together on a table. However, one of my colleague’s friends dropped out, meaning they needed an extra author at the table (apparently they’re all horror or speculative fiction writers).
And guess whom my colleague reached out to?
Happy Krampusnacht!
A convention, especially a popular one like GalaxyCon Columbus, might just be the thing I need. New readers, new sales, and possibly a run-in with some major celebrities? Yeah, I’m in. And while it’s short notice, if any of you are in the Columbus area and planning on being at the convention, please come find me. I would love to see you, do a Tarot reading for you, or give you a nice, new book. (So long as you pay for it, of course.)
Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. It’s getting late and I have sugar-free brownies I want to indulge in. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of updates for you soon. Until then, good night, pleasant nightmares, and Happy Krampusnacht.
Yes, that’s tonight. And believe me when I say, I hope many, many people get whacked on the butt with a bundle of sticks, because many, many people deserve it.
Well, we’re officially in December. 2024 ends in just 29 days. I would say thank God, but I’m not convinced 2025 will be much better. Still, gotta be optimistic. Gotta keep plugging along. Gotta keep making plans, writing stories, and making things in my mind into realities.
And that’s what I’m doing now. Making plans, writing stories, and making them into reality.
First, my Israel trip. That’s fast approaching. And assuming the ceasefire with Hezbollah holds and nothing else happens, I should still be able to go. It’s been nearly a decade and a half since I was last there, so I’m really hoping things calm down a bit and move towards resolution.
In the meantime, I’ve started on the second draft of The Shape of Evil, AKA the 3D printer from Hell story. In fact, I’m already a fourth of the way through the draft! I’m averaging a chapter every time a night, starting from the night before Thanksgiving. Considering that it took me six months to get through the first draft, moving through the book this fast is a dream come true! I might be done well before I fly out later this month.
I hope so, anyway. When I started thinking up this story, and I realized that my three main characters would each have a disability, with the lead being non-binary, I felt this story would be important. And after the events of last month, I feel like this book could be timely. No, it is timely. And I’m determined to get it in the best shape so that when I pitch in June, I can find a home for it sooner rather than later.
Me every evening, working on the next big thing.
And after the second draft is done? Well, whether I go on my trip or not, I have a plan. I’ll find a beta reader/sensitivity reader for The Shape of Evil, and then work on three goals: writing a bunch of new short stories; editing three novellas; and putting out a new collection in the spring. The first two, I’ll be switching on-and-off working on. First a new short story or novelette, then one of the novellas I worked on earlier this year. Then another short story, then another novella, and then…well you get the idea.
With any luck, I’ll be able to start shopping these novellas I’ve written as a collection at some point, while also have a bunch of shorter stories to submit to every publication I can find.
As for the new collection, I’ll start in January or February by announcing the title, revealing the cover and release date, and getting the marketing machine rolling. I’m honestly very excited for you to learn more about this collection. I have a very good feeling about it.
Looking forward to doing this next year!
And if all goes well…who knows? Maybe I’ll somehow find more time for writing and even–finally!–get back to writing my mummy novel, Crawler. Yeah, I know, I know. I keep saying I will, and then something puts it further down the To Do list. But I will get it done. You’ll see. I’m making it a goal.
In the meantime, if you would like to support me while I work on all these projects, or if you’re in the mood for something scary to read, or if you’re looking for a good gift for the horror fan in your life, why not consider getting one of my books? Not only would it be a great gift for yourself or for someone you know, but you’d be giving me a gift as well.
Besides, plant/human hybrids? Strange gods? Mafia hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses? I got something for every horror fan, including free stuff! So, why not check them out? I’ll leave a button for my Books page below. Look and see what calls to you.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m going to at least try to start on the next chapter of The Shape of Evil (as I recall, this next one is rather long). Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.
Every year, I do this post. Every year, you guys seem to like it. I imagine it’s because I make sure to get good graphics for it. Anyway, with only 36 days and a few hours left in 2024 (yeah, where did this year go?), it’s time for my annual assessment of the year and what I hope will happen in the coming year.
And let’s start by being honest: 2024 was a shitty year.
Yeah, I had hoped roaring at it like a tiger would make the year too scared to fuck with me, but I think it either got mad at me or my roar had no effect. Either way, this year sucked. The war in Ukraine continues on, with no sign of an end anytime soon; the war in the Middle East continues, and that’s not likely to end anytime soon soon, either; the 2024 presidential election ended in a way most people in the world feared it would; riots occurred in England in response to a stabbing in Southport; several countries experienced unrests, coups, and God only knows what else; hurricanes pounded the US and other nations mercilessly; prices have continued to rise on necessities like food, gas, and housing; and do I need to go on?
Overall, a rough year.
Granted, there were some nice things that happened this year. From July till earlier this month, I felt intense hope for the future of our nation thanks to a certain leader whom I hope we haven’t seen the last of. And the solar eclipse, as well as the northern lights being seen farther south than usual, was cool (I only saw one of those, but still cool). But all in all, it was a really shitty year.
On a personal level, yeah, 2024 was also quite shitty at times. The return to the office three days a week at my workplace had a ripple effect which caused my office’s workload to triple, leaving us stressed and struggling to stay on top of it. As a result, several times my performance suffered, which has had far-reaching consequences. I was unable to get Hannah and Other Stories into paperback, which was a major goal for me this year, and because of the economy and some other factors, I did not do as well at certain events as I expected. I was diagnosed with diabetes in August, which was a huge upset for me and has required me to make major adjustments to my lifestyle (don’t worry, I’m doing okay, but it still sucks); and it looks like my trip to Israel is in jeopardy because every airline is cancelling flights into the country due to the war (God forbid I get to visit my people’s homeland!).
Yeah, it’s been bad. I had to actually start attending therapy due to the huge amount of crap and stress I’ve been through this year. And I doubt I’m the only one.
Life was rough, but at least I got some good writing done this year.
Still, there were some highlights, and I try to focus on them:
I wrote some of the best stuff I’ve ever written this year, including a new novel, The Shape of Evil, which I plan to pitch at StokerCon next year; my first adaptation, a radio play of “Hannah” from Hannah and Other Stories, was released on Halloween (you can check that out here); my short story, “White Leaves” was released on the same day on the Tales to Terrify podcast (you can listen to that here); and despite underperforming at certain events, I did very well at others, and will probably make a profit this year instead of a loss.
Also, I started work on a new collection, and I plan to put it out in spring next year. More to come on that later.
Outside of writing, my health has improved thanks to all the changes I’ve made in my lifestyle; I’m still in a well-paying job that allows me to cover my expenses (and hopefully I’ll stay in the job or something similar until I’m able to write full time); I was able to do some traveling and even visited a few haunted locations; I had a couple of vacations over the year that were really restful and relaxing; my sister got married, and we got to do a little celebrating with her and the new in-laws; I got two new, really awesome tattoos; and I might still be able to travel to the Holy Land later this year.
So yeah, shit year, but I still have things to be thankful for (and right before Thanksgiving, too).
And what will happen in 2025? Well, like I said, I plan to release another collection and pitch The Shape of Evil to agents and editors at StokerCon (expect me to start editing later this week); hopefully I’ll get some more stories written and published, and maybe even (finally!) get back to writing my mummy novel Crawler; I’ll be seeing some amazing Broadway shows and a few ballets; hopefully I’ll get closer to writing full time; I plan to get another tattoo in the spring; and maybe I’ll do some more traveling. I do want to go back to Vegas or New Orleans again, if I can afford them, or even go abroad.
And I expect I’ll be resisting certain things from our incoming government, but sadly, life can’t be trouble free.
In any case, I hope 2025 comes with the resolution of certain world conflicts, and that any new troubles are mild compared to what they’ve been these past few years.
How was your 2024? And what are you hoping or expecting for 2025? Let’s discuss in the comments below.
One more thing, my Followers of Fear: as you know, the holiday season is upon us. And if you’re looking for some good horror to read, or you’re looking for a gift for that horror-loving friend in your life, why not try some of my books? From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for every horror fan. I’ll leave a button below so you can check out my bibliography.
And if you like what you read, please leave a review online so I know what you thought. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps other readers, as well.
And until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares.
In recent days and across my social media, as well as on my blog, the number of people following me has grown by leaps and bounds. Why is that? I have my theories, but this post isn’t about theories. Instead, it’s to better introduce myself to my new Followers of Fear, as I like to call the people following me and supporting my writing career.
And since I’m a horror writer, obviously I’m doing thirteen items to get to know me better.
So, without further ado, here’s what will hopefully be a fun introduction to yours truly. And who knows? Perhaps some of my long-time Followers of Fear might learn something that’ll surprise them. It’s happened before!
I’m a writer of horror and dark fantasy with five books under my belt. I’ve been writing since I was a kid, and in college, I started self-publishing books. My first book was a collection called The Quiet Game: Five Tales to Chill Your Bones, which came out in 2013. The next year, I published a slasher novel called Snake about a serial killer hunting mobsters in New York City (think John Wick, Taken and Friday the 13th got smashed into a novel). Both did okay, and continue to get readers today.
Five years later, I published my first novel with a publisher. Rose was released by Castrum Press in summer 2019, and followed a young woman turned into a plant/human hybrid (and that’s just the start of her problems). I followed Rose in 2021 with The Pure World Comes, a Victorian Gothic horror novel about a maid who goes to work for a mad scientist. And last year, in 2023, I published my second collection, Hannah and Other Stories, which was released by BSC Publishing Group.
That’s all five of my books out now. I’m proud of all of them and all I’ve managed to do with them over the years. And I plan to put out more in the years to come.
All five of my currently available books. I love them and am so proud of them (and their awesome covers).
I’m Jewish, queer, and have disabilities. Growing up, my life has been an interesting ride, to say the least. Not only did I grow up in a fairly religious Jewish household, but both my father and mother are rabbis. I went to a Jewish day school for most of my youth, learning Hebrew and Judaic subjects for half the day and then learning normal stuff the rest of the day. I also went to synagogue nearly every week, and attended Jewish teen and college groups until I graduated.
To this day, I still practice a lot of the religious practices I grew up with and feel a strong connection with my faith and heritage.
I’m also bisexual. I figured that out in college, and came out about half a year after I came to that realization. Probably took me that long to get comfortable with it because, even surrounded by accepting people and LGBT family members, I still worried about being persecuted. However, I did come out and it was all good, which was reassuring. And then some years later, I realized I was also aromantic (if you’re unfamiliar, it means I can’t feel romantic desire or attraction). Which, looking back, felt pretty obvious, considering I didn’t care about having a relationship all my life. But when I realized it, it was still a bit of a revelation.
And finally, I’m on the spectrum. Have been my whole life. I also have ADHD, a form of albinism, an anxiety disorder, and most recently, diabetes. Yeah, that last one was only diagnosed a couple of months ago, and it sucks! To say the least, it was a shock for me and I miss not being able to eat sweets or have a drink as much as I used to. But, on the bright side, I’ve improved my health by leaps and bounds since finding out, and I plan to keep it that way. Too much to do in my life, after all.
And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve made it a goal to increase representation of these three groups, as well as their intersections, in my fiction. So far, I’m meeting that goal, and hope to release some of those stories soon.
My writing influences. My major influence is, without a doubt, Stephen King. I read IT as a preteen and it was a formative moment in my life! That whole summer, I was transported to Derry, Maine and, when I finished that book at summer camp, I knew what kind of books I would write for the rest of my life.
I’m also majorly influenced by the ideas of HP Lovecraft and the subgenre of cosmic horror, as well as Anne Rice and a ton of anime and manga. All those creators and stories have led me to writing some really insane stories, such as Rose, which I mentioned above, or “Fuseli’s Horses,” one of the stories in Hannah, which is about carnivorous horses.
But I’m not complaining. People seem to like my work, after all.
I love going to the movies and to the theater. It’s rare that a month goes by without me going to see a movie. Usually it’s a horror film or a new superhero film, but I sometimes go see comedies, fantasy and sci-fi films, and anime films getting theatrical releases. I just love going to the movies! I didn’t get to go as much as I wanted when I was growing up, so starting in college, I went as often as possible. And I still do.
Most people are surprised to learn I like ballet. Then they see how much it appears in my stories.
And now that I have a decent day job, I also go to the ballet and to touring Broadway shows. My interest in ballet started probably in college, and as a working adult, I got really into it. It’s gotten to the point where I’m kind of obsessed and look for ways to insert ballet and dancers into the stories I write! And as for Broadway shows, I think Disney movies as a kid primed me to be a fan of those, though the breadth and depth of musicals out there is far wider than Disney can think up, as it turns out.
Now, I have subscriptions to both the local ballet company and to touring Broadway shows that stop in Columbus. And I have to say, I think I would be just as psyched for one of my stories to be adapted into a ballet or Broadway show as I would be for a movie. Maybe even more.
I have several tattoos. To be precise, I have a chest tattoo of a tiger with a blue Star of David, a full back tattoo of one of my favorite ideas from the horror genre, a wrist tattoo referencing some of my favorite anime, and a Tarot card on my right leg that’s about halfway done. However, while I have my tattoos, I don’t normally share photos of them. That’s partially because I just don’t feel the need to. My tattoos are for me to express myself and to have my body reflect who I am. So, their existence on my body is enough for me.
Still, they’re awesome. And I plan to get more as time and money allows.
My most popular work is Rose. I’ve been publishing for over a decade now, but none of my work has done as well critically or commercially as Rose. And I think I know why: it’s the unusual story of a woman turned into a plant/human hybrid. Very weird, very Kafkaesque, and very fantasy horror. Add in that it’s a short but twisty read with Japanese folklore and mythology mixed in, and it’s not surprising that that book does so well.
Plus, you gotta love that cover.
Anyway, if you would like to check out Rose, you can check out its page HERE. I hope you like it if you read it.
I go ghost hunting at least once a year. I’ve been lucky to go to several different locations to ghost hunt. From famous places like the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, OH and the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River, MA, to lesser known locations such as the Anchorage Mansion in Marietta, OH and the Bellaire House in Bellaire, OH, with the hope to visit and revisit many, many more.
Also, I try my best to get my investigations on YouTube and upload them to YouTube. So, if you would like to check out my ghost hunting videos, you can check out my channel HERE. They’re spooky good!
I make my own wine. Most people don’t realize that you can brew your own alcohol at home, but it is, and there are plenty of people of doing it, including me. I’ve made a batch of plum wine, and I just finished and bottled a batch of pumpkin wine (yes, pumpkin wine). And I’ve been making my wines based on colors of the rainbow: plum wine is red, and pumpkin is obviously orange. Yellow will be dandelion wine, green will be mint, blue will obviously blueberries, and indigo/violet will be elderberries. And I can’t wait to try them all!
The pumpkin wine I made, all bottled up. Looks good, doesn’t it?
I bought my first home two years ago. For millennials like me, it’s hard to find an affordable home, let alone a non-fixer upper that you don’t have to share with a bunch of other millennials. However, I was lucky enough to find and buy a small condo for myself two years ago, and I’ve been living in the Haunted Condo, as I call it, ever since.
Sadly, it’s not very haunted by anything except me. I don’t know why, I’ve done voodoo rituals and everything else to make the place haunted, but so far, no otherworldly dice. At least I can make one hell of a Halloween display every October and decorate the inside as I like!
My yard is the spookiest in the neighborhood every October.
I’m the chapter coordinator for HWA Ohio. The Horror Writers Association is an international organization that supports horror writers and helps them network and grow. Ohio’s chapter is about six or seven years old, and I’m the guy who runs it! Which was never my intention: some other members organized the chapter, and I volunteered to find a venue. Somehow, I kept arranging locations for us to meet, and that morphed into becoming the chapter coordinator. And after the parent organization set a formal election process for chapter coordinators for all chapters…well, I ran without competition. I guess people think I’m doing a good job or something?
Anyway, HWA Ohio has its own website, which lists our members and puts out news about us. If you would like to check the website out and support us, click HERE.
So proud to have a story from this collection adapted into a radio play.
I recently had my very first story adaptation. Remember my collection Hannah and Other Stories, which I mentioned above? Earlier this year, I became acquainted with a producer for WCBE 90.5, a local NPR station who interviews local creative types. He also runs a yearly Halloween show, where a short story is adapted into a radio play, with the roles played by local high schoolers.
“Hannah,” the lead story in Hannah and Other Stories, was this year’s story. It was my first time having a story adapted, and it was so, so good! The kids did really well in their roles, and it was amazing hearing my story brought to life on the radio.
And if you would like to listen to it, you can! It’s available to stream online, and you can listen to it in full HERE. Let me know what you think if you listen to it. The more people who listen, the better for future shows and future students. Plus, who knows? Maybe another one of my stories will get adapted. It happened once, didn’t it?
I tend to break out in song at any provocation. I kid you not, this is something I did daily in high school, and which I do quite frequently these days. In fact, I’m part of a critique group with some of my fellow Ohio horror writers, and they say it’s not a meeting if I don’t burst out in song at least once!
Too bad I sing badly, but hey, why should I let that stop me?
What I’m working on now. I’m juggling a few projects at the moment. For one, I’m putting together another collection of short stories, and I hope to have more on that in the coming days and weeks. I also recently finished a new novel, The Shape of Evil, which is about a 3D printer from Hell, and I hope to have that ready for pitching to agents and publishers by June next year. Finally, I also have a collection of novellas I plan to work on at some point, and I have a mummy novel I started but put aside for other projects that I plan to get back to.
Plus some short stories to send out to magazines and anthologies here and there. Yeah, I’m a busy guy, aren’t I? But that’s kind of the way I like it.
Anyway, that’s thirteen things you need to know about me. I hope you enjoyed learning about me, because I enjoyed writing it. And if you did, be sure to follow this blog and my other social media to keep up with what I’m doing and when I have new work coming out.
And if you would like to check out any of my other work, I’ll leave a link to my book page down below. You’ll find all my published works and then some there, including free stories. And if you like what you read, I hope you’ll leave a review online so I, as well as other readers, know what you think.
Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares.
In the wake of many current events, including current events, especially ones that leave us reeling and afraid and horrified by the state of the world, it’s not uncommon for many writers to wonder something: what’s the point? What’s the point in writing a fiction story when there’s so many horrible things happening out in the world today?
I especially hear this regarding horror. Sometimes from horror writers and horror fans, but more often from people who may not be fans. They may ask, “Who needs horror when all this horrible stuff is happening out in the world?”
And I’m sure we’re going to hear plenty of that in the weeks and months and years to come. What is the point of writing fiction when everything seems to be spiraling in the real world? And isn’t there enough real horror out there without fictional horrors making their way in there?
My fellow writers, and even those non-writers who may be asking these questions: this is exactly the time we need new fiction stories. Over the next several years, and far beyond, past every bad thing that will happen in our future, we’ll need fiction to get through it. Stories heal us. They offer us an escape from the bad things happening in our world and allow our minds to heal. That way, we can face the world, and whatever might happen to us in our lives, with new strength and determination.
Just look at the pandemic. For many people, streaming new shows and movies, or reading new books, or rewatching the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe up until that point (like I did), gave us the means to deal with our anxieties and loneliness. Sure, it didn’t help with everything, but God, did it give us a much needed boost.
That’s the power of story. It heals. So don’t put down your pen, asking what good your story does. It’s doing more good than you would think possible.
And to the horror writers: your work also heals. I did a whole talk on this subject at the Scary Saturday event the other day (you can watch that video HERE), but to summarize my points, horror can be therapeutic for many people. There’s even been studies on the subject, and those studies show that fictional horrors help heal fans by reminding them of how good their lives can be, as well as how bad.
It’s also true for the writers, who can find horror helpful in dealing with their own anxieties and traumas.
Not to mention fiction is a great lens to help you study, understand, and recontextualize the events of the world, with speculative fiction like horror and science fiction doing this especially well. Maybe that’s because those genres are such present and forward thinking genres that we can’t help but look at the world and put our thoughts into the stories we create in those genres.
So, to summarize: WRITERS! Your work is needed now more than ever. AND HORROR WRITERS! Don’t let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t be filling the world up with fake horrors when there are enough real ones. Instead, let those people know that now is the best time for fictional horrors. Because your fake ones will give somebody the strength to fight the real ones. Whether that be on the national or international stage, or just getting through a very rough day.
Thank you, happy writing, and pleasant nightmares. I look forward to seeing what new stories you all produce.
(The following post is a rare political post from yours truly. If you disagree with me on my political beliefs, feel free to skip. I do welcome calm, friendly, and constructive dialogue, so if you want to talk, we can talk. But if anyone gets abusive in the comments, you will not only get deleted, but you may end up in a story. And not in a good way. Not that I expect such a thing. After all, the Followers of Fear are not the type to be abusive online. Not by a long shot.)
I normally don’t get political on my blog. I used to, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve cut back on that. I haven’t even discussed the situation in the Middle East, even though that topic is very near and dear to me. But, as much as I would rather go down a YouTube rabbit hole or something, this is something we need to talk about. This is something I need to talk about.
Right now, many Americans are reeling from the election results, as are many people around the world who are aware of the effect the US (and its leadership) has on the world. Those, like myself, who were rooting for and voted for Kamala Harris are in shock, despair, depression, and yes, grief.
Not to mention we’re also afraid. We’re afraid that our democracy is going to weaken to the point of no return, that our rights are going to get stripped, and that a lot more awful stuff will happen.
And we’re wondering: where do we go from here?
First off, there’s something I want you to know: your feelings are valid and you have every right to feel them. So take your time. There’s still two and a half months till Inauguration Day. Take the time you need to wrap your head around this and accept it.
Because that’s what it means to live in a democratic nation. When we lose an election, we feel the pain, but then we accept and move on. And after we’ve moved on, we prepare for the work.
Yes, there are going to be tough times ahead, and possibly very horrible policies coming from America’s leadership. But that’s exactly why we have to keep fighting. When we see something we don’t like, we protest. We write our elected leaders. We march and campaign and let our voices be heard. If we roll over and let Trump do whatever he wants, then the full Project 2025 playbook goes into effect and everything we value as Americans and patriots is lost.
Again, take your time to process your feelings. Because afterwards, we have to fight to preserve the America we not only love, but want to see: one where everyone is accepted for who they are, where they all enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as citizens, and where those rights and responsibilities are respected and protected. So we may all have our shot at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
And the fight is going to be tough, no doubt about that. And we won’t win every battle. But it’s better to fight and lose, than to never fight and regret doing nothing.
You know, when I got home today, I asked my Tarot cards what I needed to know in light of the election. Here’s the response I got:
Here’s my interpretation for the non-Tarot familiar out there: enjoy what has brought you happiness in the past (Six of Cups, Present Card). The past four years have been a time of hope and healing (The Star, Past Card). Obstacles that we will have to overcome have beset us in the past, they beset us now, and in the future (The Chariot, Cause Card). And yes, there will be strife and conflict for the next four years and maybe beyond, no doubt about that. (Five of Wands, Future Card). But there is still the chance that we will triumph over adversity and create the happy future we wish to see (The World, Potential Card). A new venture for us all awaits (Ace of Wands, Shadow Card).
Sounds a lot like what I’ve been saying above, doesn’t it?
So, one last time: take care of yourself. Allow yourself to feel your feelings and do what you need to do to heal, so long as it isn’t hurtful to your health. Because soon, we’ll have a new fight ahead of us. And while it may not be easy to stand up for what we believe in, it is necessary. And perhaps, someday, we’ll come out of this to a brighter future.
Take care of yourselves, my Followers of Fear. Good night and pleasant dreams.
Happy Halloween, Followers of Fear! I hope you’ve left treats out for all the spirits crossing over from the other side and have dressed up appropriately for the holiday.
And, if you are at all interested, tonight airs the radio play version of “Hannah,” the lead story of my collection, Hannah and Other Stories! It’s my first adaptation, so I’m very excited. I really hope a lot of people tune in to check it out. Especially since it’s a ghost story involving a pair of ghost hunters checking out a haunted school and finding something unexpected in the girl’s bathroom.
Anyway, if you’d like to check out the radio play, it airs tonight at 7 PM EST on WCBE 90.5’s website, which I’ve linked in a button below. It’ll be one story dramatized among others as part of WCBE’s annual Halloween program (not sure what the order is or what the other stories are). And if you aren’t able to tune in live, it should be available to stream on The Craft, the show that interviews creatives I was on recently and which the Halloween show is part of. I’ll be sure to post a link for anyone interested once the stream is available.
I may also do a YouTube or Instagram Live broadcast, but I haven’t done either of those yet, so it’ll depend on interest and if I can figure out how it’s done.
So, if you’re looking forward to the show tonight, the link’s below. I look forward to listening to the show with you and hope it’s as amazing as I dream it will be. And that you’ll let me know what you think when it airs.
Until next time, my Followers of Fear, Happy Halloween and pleasant nightmares.
As I announced in a previous post, my short story “Hannah” is being adapted into a radio play. It will be one of several stories that are being adapted and broadcast Halloween night on WCBE 90.5, a local radio station. And suffice to say, I’m super excited about the whole thing.
After all, it’s the first time I’ve ever had my work adapted into something like this.*
So many authors dream of having their work adapted. Mostly into movies, but also TV shows, comic books and manga, plays, music, video games, and, of course, radio and audio plays. Yet it only happens to so very few, both during and after their lifetimes. So, I feel incredibly honored that one of my stories was chosen to be adapted.
Not to mention, it’s “Hannah,” the titular story of Hannah and Other Stories. I’m really hopeful that this will lead more people to check out the original work.
You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve been approached about adapting one of my stories. I’m not kidding, it almost happened. Last September, an actual production company reached out to me to ask if the film/TV rights for another one of my short stories were free. I won’t say which company, but I will say if I were to name them, you could look them up and find that they’ve been involved in a lot of famous movies and TV shows.
Anyway, I let them know that the film/TV rights for that story were available and sent them a PDF copy. A couple of months later, they let me know that they were going to pass on adapting that story, but thanked me for being willing to work with them. And I thanked them right back, feeling honored to even have one of my stories considered.
And even though it didn’t work out, I felt, given I was approached once about an adaptation, there was a good chance it might happen again. And it did. “Hannah” is going to be in a radio play next week. One week exactly from the time this post is published, at 7 PM EST on Halloween night. And I cannot wait to listen to it live.**
And who knows? Maybe after this, there might be more chances of having my work adapted. After all, it’s happened once. And I’m always happy to work with people to bring my stories to more people. Just send me an email, and we can see about making something happen.
Anyway, speaking of the radio play, I’ll be sure to put out a reminder post on Halloween next week so you guys remember to check it out. In the meantime, you guys can check out both WCBE 90.5 and the interview I did with the radio play’s producer, Doug Dangler, using the buttons below. I hope you’ll check them out.
Also, if you’d like to familiarize yourself with “Hannah” before the show, or you’re just looking for a spooky collection before Halloween, you can check out Hannah and Other Stories using any of the buttons below. And if you do end up reading it, please consider leaving a review so I know what you thought. They help me and other readers out big time.
Well, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I hope you’re excited for what’s coming next week as I am. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and…oh shit! Law & Order’s in an hour! Excuse me, but I gotta go!
*Audio books and stories read aloud on podcasts don’t count, that’s reading with your ears. And before you say, “that’s not reading,” if Braille is reading with your fingers, then audio books and podcasted stories can be reading with your ears.
**And don’t worry if you miss it live. It’ll be archived and available to stream later.
Rami Ungar The Writer 