Posts Tagged ‘2025’

Looking Back at 2025, Looking Forward to 2026

Posted: December 14, 2025 in Living and Life, Reflections
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

Well, here we are again, my Followers of Fear. 2025 is nearing its inevitable death, so I’m doing my annual review post. And can I just say, good fucking riddance? This year was fucking rough! How rough, you ask? Well, I would say the amount of swearing I do on a daily basis, as well as much I swear above a whisper or in mixed company, has risen by at least 100%. That rough!

I’m not even going to go into the negative current events of the last year, like I usually do. Because let’s face it, it’s been pretty awful.

And my personal life has had its fair share of troubles. Back in spring, some idiot hit their car with mine, totaling it. Even after their insurance company accepted fault and paid off the value of the car, I still had to pay off the rest of the loan and shell out for a rental! Add in buying a new car, plus the money I lost from the botched trip to Israel, and my finances took a hit I’m still recovering from.

Work was also really stressful. At my company, we were told to go back into the office five days a week, and like the return to three days in office in 2024, it caused my office’s workload to stay three times higher than previous years. Even now, when the workload has gone down again, we’re still dealing with a lot of people angry they can’t work from home (among other things).

Add in a few other things, and it’s no wonder I can’t wait to kick 2025 goodbye. At least it’s keeping my therapist employed.

But you know, 2025 wasn’t all bad. On the current events side, a peace deal was finally struck in Israel, and while there’s still a lot of work to be done, it’s still progress. Plus, here in the US, there has been a tide to fight back against the wave of fascism and authoritarianism that’s sweeping the country. There have been protests and victories in court and even election wins! Again, a lot of work that has to be done, but it’s still progress. Plus, around the world, there were all sorts of victories for democracy, LGBT rights, diversity, and more.

On a personal note, I had my good moments. In my writing career, I got to pitch The Shape of Evil to agents and publishers (and I’m still working towards getting that published, but progress has been made); I broke my personal record for most books sold at an event twice; I published one new book and a few articles, and re-released Hannah and a short story; I wrote and edited a bunch of stories I have high hopes for; and financially, this was my best year since I started keeping track.

Me and my fellow Ohio horror writers at StokerCon this year. Yeah, StokerCon was a definite highlight this year. And not just because of the successful pitch session.

Closer to home, my health has been doing well and work has gotten easier in some respects. I’ve had some wonderful experiences and met some great people. I’m working out more, seeing new places, and hanging out with people I like. I’ve been consistently studying my Hebrew, so whenever I do get to go back to Israel, I should be able to survive. Maybe 2025 wasn’t all bad.

Still glad to see the year change, though.

Now, as for 2026…well, I’m not getting my hopes up too high. Tarot card readings and hopes aside, it’s likely to be another rough year. Still, I’m going to aim for the sky. I’m going to try to get as many stories as possible written, edited, and published, and while I’ll scale back the number of events I’ll attend, I’ll still try to have a great time and get books to good homes. I don’t know if I’ll finally get to the point where I can write full time, but I’ll certainly get closer.

And in my personal life, I’ll hopefully be able to continue to improve health-wise and get my financials to recover. And who knows? Maybe work will finally calm down. Maybe the world stage will be kinder and a lot of what’s plaguing humanity and the Earth will be solved. Maybe we’ll get rid of those tariffs? Any or all of those would be nice.

I guess we’ll just have to take it one day at a time. And with a bit of bravery and a bit of luck, maybe 2026 will be a better year than 2025 ever was.

How was your 2025? Any hopes or plans for 2026? Let’s discuss.

One more thing, my Followers of Fear: we’re still in the holiday season. And if you’re looking for some Christmas horror to read, check out “The Wild Hunt,” one of the stories I re-released this year. Two sisters run away on Christmas Eve and encounter something within a blizzard. It’s a supernatural tale that you can read in one sitting and is perfect for the season. I’ll leave links below.

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads
Kobo

And if you’re looking for some horror for yourself, or a gift for a loved one, or you just want to support me, know that I have plenty of stories available. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and flesh-eating horses, I’ve got something for every horror fan (including some free stuff). I’ll leave a link to my books page below.

Rami’s Books Page

And if you like what you read, please leave a review online. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me and other readers out in the long run.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Here’s hoping what’s left of 2025 is easy on us. And until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

“Hannah and Other Stories:” Two Months Since Re-Release!!!

Posted: November 23, 2025 in Progress Report, Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

Hello humans! Wow, time is really moving along, isn’t it? We’re only 38 days away from the end of 2025! Which will require its own blog post at some point, but right now, we’re hear to talk about something else. And that, dear humans, is the second-month anniversary of the re-release of Hannah and Other Stories!

Now, if you don’t know, Hannah and Other Stories is a collection of original stories that was released back in September 2023. The collection contained seven stories, including tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses, among other things. (You can see those pesky horses on the cover.) Sadly, the publisher I worked with to release Hannah decided not to renew our contract, and the book went out of print. I decided to re-release it on the two-year anniversary of its original release, complete with a new cover and a new edit.

And thus, on September 23, 2025, Hannah and Other Stories was re-released.

And I’m happy to say, people have been reading the book. It helped that the re-release happened right as spooky season was swinging into high gear, and I was attending so many events. Plus, unlike the first time around, there’s a print version of the book (it’s a long story, don’t ask), which definitely helped. No matter how digital we get, more people prefer print books to ebooks.

But like I said, people are reading the book. And that makes me very happy. I wanted to share these stories with as many people as possible and give them a bit of a thrill and fright with the products of my twisted imagination. And even better, a few people have left their thoughts on the books with reviews. Which makes me even happier, because that’s a great way to let both authors and other readers know how much you enjoyed a book!

Did I mention every review so far has been five stars? I would post them below, but even excerpts would be super spoiler-y.

Anyway, if you’re looking for something spooky to read; or if you know someone who might enjoy a copy as a gift this holiday season; or you just want to support me, I’ll include links below. You can check out the reviews and maybe see if the book is right for you. And if you do end up reading it, I hope you’ll share your thoughts. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps both me and your fellow readers in the long run.

And that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m sure the Americans among us all have a busy week ahead of us, what with Thanksgiving up ahead. But I’ll try to get out another post or two before the month is out. And until then, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads
Kobo

Review: “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” by Grady Hendrix

Posted: February 6, 2025 in Novel, Review, Scary Stuff
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
2
The photo I took the day I got my copy from the library. Can you tell I was excited?

We’re only five weeks into 2025, but I may have already found my favorite new book of the year. In fact, at times I got so deep into this book, I had dreams about it! You don’t know how special a treat that was for me.

Set in 1970, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls follows four girls sent to Wellwood House, a home for unwed mothers in Florida: Fern, a young high schooler who wants her old life back; Rose, a rebellious hippie with a bit of a mean streak and a bit of a nice streak; Zinnia, a young musician who plans to marry her baby’s father; and Holly, whose youth and silence hides a dark and terrible secret. Hidden away from the world like shameful secrets and repeatedly told that they are at fault for their condition and that the only good thing they can do now is give up their babies for adoption to a loving couple, the girls seek any way to take back a little control over their lives and bodies. When a mysterious librarian hands them a book that’s full of actual magic, they think they’ve found their solution. But when it comes to magic, everything comes at a price. And the price they have to pay may be bigger than any of them can pay.

So, if it wasn’t clear from the first paragraph, I freaking loved this book! For one thing, the horror is palpable from the first couple of chapters. Not from the witches, but from the people. Through Fern’s eyes, we see how everyone blames her, including herself, for getting pregnant outside of marriage, even though it takes two to tango. From what I’ve been told, that really was the attitude towards unwed mothers back then, and Hendrix does a great job bringing it to life throughout the story, as well as the callous cruelty the girls face as unwed mothers, even after they’ve given birth.

I also really liked the witches of the story. They’re not exactly old school wicked witches, but they’re not entirely good witches or granola-crunching Wiccans, either. They’re their own thing, a group of women with access to power and who are trying to ensure the continuation of their way of life and their freedom, and they’re willing to get their hands dirty to do so.

To list out all the colorful characters would keep us here too long, but some of my favorites included hippie Rose, who grew on me as the story went on and whose experiences midway through the book broke my heart; Hagar, the cantankerous cook at the Wellwood House, who does try to help the girls, if rather reluctantly; Zinnia, who has more sense than most of the other characters in the book; and Fern, who really does learn something from her experience.

All these elements come together into a fantastic story where I struggled to guess what would happen next and was surprised more than a few times by certain developments. It really was amazing.

Hendrix admits in the acknowledgments that he’s probably the last person to be writing a book where nearly every character is pregnant, but given how phenomenal of a job he did, I think we can forgive him. I can’t think of a single flaw in this story, it was just that good. On a scale of 1 to 5, I’m giving Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix a full 5. Grab a copy, put on an appropriately witchy playlist (I hope “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga is on that playlist), and settle down for a read.

Trust me, this is one you don’t want to miss.

My First Publishing Acceptance of 2025!!!

Posted: January 12, 2025 in Living and Life, Non-Fiction, Progress Report, Reflections, Writing
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2
Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com

Oh happy day! Not only is Symphony for Walpurgis is now available on Apple Books (see my last post), but I just got my first acceptance of the year today! God, if only I had ice cream and beer on hand, I would be partying right now!

Maybe I’ll get some when I go to see Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare tomorrow…

Anyway, I’m sure you’re all curious to know what’s been accepted for publication. Well, it’s an essay, and it’s going to appear in Trollbreath Magazine, a speculative fiction magazine that publishes a wide variety of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. They’re rather new, but they already seem to be doing well, and I’m excited to be able to help set the tone for the non-fiction pieces they publish in the future.

You can learn more about, get back issues of, and support Trollbreath Magazine by visiting their website here.

As for the essay they’re publishing, it’s “Being in the Fallout: Options to Take When Your Heroes Reveal a Dark Side.” Inspired by the allegations against Neil Gaiman last year (and which I make reference to in the essay), I look at some of the paths fans can take when their idols turn out to have really disgusting views or have committed horrible acts. The Gaiman allegations really upset me in particular, and wondering how I should treat him and his work in the wake of that inspired me to write the essay.

So, between now and March 1st, when Trollbreath’s spring issue comes out, we’ll edit the essay to make sure it’s up to snuff. I’m looking forward to the creative process and to seeing it in the final product.

You know, despite current events being a total shit show, things have been going mostly well for me. Especially in the writing department! I’ve been making strides in both writing new stories and getting Symphony for Walpurgis in people’s hands. Plus, one of the sensitivity readers for The Shape of Evil has been sending me updates every now and then, and from what they said, they like it so far.

And now this. My first acceptance of the year! All within the first two weeks of 2025. What’s going to happen with the other 50? Actually, don’t tell me. I want to find out for myself. Still, it makes me think that if I keep working hard, things will keep working out for me this year. Who knows? By this time next year, I could be on my way to writing full time.

But in the meantime, I would like to thank Trollbreath Magazine for accepting my essay for publication, and I want to thank my critique group for giving me feedback on my essay. I literally couldn’t have done it without any of you.

Now, if anyone needs me, I’ll be reading before heading to bed. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Putting in the Effort for Those Gains

Posted: January 11, 2025 in Reflections, Writing
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

As many of you know, I read Tarot cards. In fact, I try to do one reading a day, with rare breaks (such as being out of town or just a very busy day). They offer great advice and are possibly capable of forecasting the future. Earlier this week, I asked the cards, “What do I need to know this year for my writing?” This is the result I got using a five card spread.

Now, for those of you who don’t read Tarot, here’s what the cards say: while there’s a potential I’ll face disappointment along the way, if I work hard, my efforts will lead to successful gains, ultimately leading to smooth sailing for the year. The reading also mentioned previous financial successes I’ve had (in 2024, I had a small but not insignificant profit on my writing business, which was welcome), further cementing the cards’ accuracy.

This reading really lit a fire under me, because it wasn’t a prediction. It was a reminder: that only if you put in an effort and work past any rejections, will you have the possibility of things working out for you. And that’s honestly true of trying to be a writer in general. You do face a ton of obstacles, and every writer will face rejection. Even the biggest names have gotten rejected numerous names (Stephen King famously impaled his rejection letters on a railroad spike). But by continuing to give it your all, you can achieve extraordinary things.

I’ve seen this play out in real life just in the days since I did that reading. Instead of waiting for good things to come to me, I’ve gone out to make my own luck, and it’s led to results. I’ve had a few new preorders of my next book, Symphony for Walpurgis (more on that later), added a whole lot to the story I’m working on, got accepted for the Big Ohio Book Con just a little while after applying for it, and just yesterday, I found two sensitivity readers from the trans community who can give me feedback on The Shape of Evil.

Effort pays off.

So, I’ll keep putting in that effort. So that Symphony for Walpurgis and, when it’s ready to be re-released, Hannah and Other Stories, are successful when they’re available. So that The Shape of Evil lands an agent or a publisher. So that all the events I attend are successful. So that any other stories I write and edit this year can find homes as well. And, at the end of 2025, I’ll be that much closer to being able to write full time.

And if you’re reading this, you put in that effort, too. We’re not competition, after all. Authors support other authors. And yes, you will feel frustration. You will suffer rejection and disappointment. But if you push past all that, you can achieve amazing things. Like having several books out and a dedicated fanbase with a fun nickname (whazzup, Followers of Fear?).

Who knows? Maybe if you keep going, things will be smooth sailing for you, too. I know I’m going to work hard so that can be the case for me. And I can’t wait to see what pans out.

Speaking of Symphony for Walpurgis, this new collection of mine contains cryptids, malevolent spirits, and a Jewish exorcism, among other things. It’s releasing May 1st, and it’s already available to preorder as an ebook from Amazon and Kobo, with paperback versions and more stores to be added later on. If you’re at all interested, why not preorder a copy? All you have to do is click the links below, and you’ll have bought your ticket for the Symphony.

Amazon
Kobo

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Events in 2025

Posted: January 9, 2025 in Living and Life
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

Wow. It’s been a kind of crazy this year, hasn’t it? If I’m not careful, 2025 is going to leave me exhausted! Wait, what do you mean we’re not even ten days into January? Oh God, somebody get me off this ride!

Alright, enough kidding around. Besides, I’m not doing too bad so far. I actually feel really good about what I’ve gotten done today, and coming back to work after vacation hasn’t been as bad as it could have been. I just wish I had more time to devote to writing like I did on that vacation!

Well, maybe through meeting readers and other writers at events, I’ll eventually get to that point. And with that rather silly segue, let’s talk about the events I’ll be attending and/or vending at in 2024, because I’ve got a new one I’m going to be in!

First, in a little over three weeks, I’ll be at Akronomicon on Saturday, February 1st at the Emidio and Sons Banquet Center in Akron, Ohio. Formerly known as Monster Mania, this is from what I hear a small but passionate horror con, and I’m looking forward to it. If you can, please stop by. I’ll be signing books and doing Tarot readings and would love to see you. You can grab tickets through the event’s Facebook page.

Then, I’ll be at the Akron Book Festival at the Main Library in downtown Akron on March 8th. It’s being sponsored by their library, and it sounds like it’s going to be quite popular, like the Columbus Book Fest (but hopefully not as hot and humid). Once more, I’ll be there selling books and maybe doing Tarot readings, so if you can stop by, please do. You can find more info on their website here.

Fast forward two months, and on May 10th, I’ll be at the Halfway To Halloween Expo at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This is a very popular event I’ve heard so many things about, so I’m really looking forward to it. Again, I’ll be signing books and doing Tarot readings, so if you can join me there, I would love to see you. You can find out more information on their newly revamped website.

Then in June, I have two events! The first will be StokerCon in Stamford, Connecticut on June 12th-15th. I’m so excited for this! I loved the last StokerCon I was at, and I’m looking forward to this one even more, as I’ll hopefully be allowed on a panel or two, and I’ll be pitching The Shape of Evil to agents. You can learn more about the con from the website.

And last but not least, I’ve just been confirmed for the Big Ohio Book Con in Medina, Ohio on June 28th-29th. This con is hosted by Black Cat Books & Oddities, a bookstore that’s been talked about quite a bit in local horror circles for its leanings towards the dark and spooky. I’ll be doing my thing there, so I hope to see you there! You can find more information on the shop’s website.

And that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. There will probably be one or two more before the year is out, and I’ll be sure to let you know when I’ve been confirmed for any of them.

Again, I hope to see you there. And if I don’t but you’d still like to support me, I’ve got a bunch of books available. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and car-chasing ghosts, I’ve got something for every horror fan, including some free stuff. And in case you haven’t heard, I also have a new book coming out that’s available for preorder! So, be sure to check them out and, if you like what you read, please leave a review! I’ll leave a link for my book page below.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I have a few posts planned in the future, so I’ll be writing and posting those as soon as I can. Until then, good night and pleasant nightmares!

Rami Ungar’s Books

Announcing My Next Book: “Symphony for Walpurgis”

Posted: January 6, 2025 in Novelette, Progress Report, Scary Stuff, Writing
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

Happy New Year, my Followers of Fear! I hope 2025 is treating you well so far. For me, it’s not so bad. Sure, there’s been heavy snow these past couple of days, but I’m indoors and don’t mind it so much.

Anyway, I’m pleased to announce that my latest book is now available for preorder. And what is that book, you’re asking? Why, it’s a new collection called Symphony for Walpurgis!

Not a bad cover, right? I designed it myself based on one of the stories in the collection.

Speaking of which, the collection is made up of nine novelettes, four of which have already been published. Those are “Blood and Paper Skin,” about a group of older teens who end up locked up in someone’s private basement; “Disillusionment and Trauma Sometimes Go Hand-in-Hand,” which features my famous monsters, the dragon bats; “Cressida,” about a mermaid who bears a mysterious resemblance to a girl who supposedly died years before; and “Natural Predators,” about a new pandemic with startling implications for the fate of humanity.

The five other stories will be “The House on Lafayette Square,” an exorcism story with a Jewish twist to it (yay for more Jewish horror!); “Mother of Spiders,” about one town’s dirty secret and the woman who comes to collect her dues; “Famous,” about a wannabe starlet who will do anything to achieve the fame she deserves; “The Little Goddess of Horror,” about a rather famous and unusual actress; and “The Parasite Man,” about a powerful lawyer whose family comes under attack from a relentless spirit.

I’m so looking forward to you all reading this book. I’ve scheduled it to come out on Thursday, May 1st, 2025, the actual date of Walpurgisnacht (think Halloween in spring for witches, if you’re unfamiliar). Currently, it’s only available to preorder as an ebook from Amazon and Kobo. And for some reason, Amazon doesn’t allow preorders for paperbacks published through their platform (yeah, I think it’s stupid, too). But I’m working on getting it available to preorder through Barnes & Noble and Apple Books, and B&N actually allows preorders for paperback books. So, sit tight. As soon as that’s ready, I’ll let you know.

And in the meantime, if you would like to preorder a copy from the stores where it’s currently available, I’ll leave links below. I hope you’ll check it out. And when it releases this May and you read it, I hope you’ll leave reviews online. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me out in the long run.

Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m being allowed to work from home tomorrow, but that doesn’t mean I can slack off. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Amazon
Kobo

“Hannah and Other Stories:” Last Chance

Posted: December 30, 2024 in Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
2

If you read my blog post from earlier this month, you know that my short story collection Hannah and Other Stories will be going out of print on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025. That’s two days from today! So, if you’re interested in getting a copy, there’s a limited time to do so.

Honestly, I’m both sad about this. It sucks that BSC Publishing Group and I aren’t renewing the contract and keeping Hannah on the market. However, this does mean I can put it out again in the new year, and make a couple of changes so that some of the stories better reflect my original vision. And hell, I’ll even spring for a new cover. That should be a lot of fun.

But anyway, if you would like to check out Hannah before it goes temporarily out of print, you can get a copy using any of the links below. It’s a book filled with tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses, among other things, so it’s sure to thrill all of you horror fans out there.

And if you like what you read, please leave a review online wherever you purchased it. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me out in the long run. (Not to mention other readers.)

And with that, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. If I don’t post anything new before the New Year, I hope you have a fun and safe New Year celebration and that 2025 is nicer to us than 2024 was. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and Happy New Year!

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Bertrand
Booktopia
Fable
Goodreads
Kobo
Wook

Events in 2025

Posted: December 22, 2024 in Living and Life
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
2
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.

Rami Ungar’s Books & Stories

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.

An Update on “Hannah and Other Stories”

Posted: December 16, 2024 in Progress Report, Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
4

So, I have an announcement regarding Hannah and Other Stories. If you’re unaware, Hannah and Other Stories is a collection I wrote that was published by BSC Publishing Group on September 23, 2023. The collection contains tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses, among other things.

The collection has been well-received, if the reviews I’ve gotten are anything to go by. Unfortunately, sales have not been as good as they might have been, despite my best efforts, and, with my contract ending earlier this year, BSC Publishing has decided to relinquish the rights to publish the book back to me on January 1st, 2025.

Which means on January 1st, 2025, Hannah and Other Stories will go out of print.

Honestly, I’m going through several emotions at the moment. But the major one is acceptance. It is what it is, and I’ll always be grateful for BSC helping me get Hannah to the level it was. Trust me, I have a feeling it wouldn’t be as well received as it was without their help on the later drafts. Having to go through this kind of sucks, but I know it could be a lot worse.

And I also feel hopeful and determined. You see, once the rights are back in my hands, I can publish the book again, either with another publisher or self-publish. And I think I’ll self-publish. Not immediately, but at some point in 2025. I’ll release Hannah and Other Stories again, and it’ll be the same great book as before.

Well, with some changes. BSC’s business model called for only selling paperbacks if there’s enough demand for the ebook. Now, I’ll be able to publish a paperback, which I’m sure plenty of people who haven’t converted to ebooks yet will appreciate.

I also plan to return the Lovecraftian elements to “What Errour Awoke,” one of the stories in the collection. BSC wasn’t a fan of the Lovecraftian and wanted me to take them out. In the end, we compromised and made it semi-cosmic, but it’s never sat right with me. Now, I have an opportunity to make that story the way it was supposed to be, rather than how it was. (I may make a few more changes, but that’s the big one.)

And I think I’ll shell out for a new cover. Something I think will not only attract readers, but symbolize the book’s rebirth to a tee.

2025 is going to be full of possibilities.

So yeah, Hannah and Other Stories is going away for a while. But it’ll come back sometime in 2025, better than ever and in paperback, too. And if it does well enough? Maybe an audiobook version as well. It could happen.

For now, though, if you haven’t read Hannah yet, you still have fourteen days and about five hours to get an ebook copy. Even if you don’t read ebooks, buying a copy will help me in the long run and show me that there is plenty of demand for this book. And if you do read ebooks, please read it. And then leave me a review so I know what you thought. Not only will I really appreciate it, but it’ll help when Hannah eventually returns.

Hmm…between Hannah and the collection I’ve been working on, 2025 is looking like the year for collections. Maybe I’ll do a third as well? Well, we’ll see. However many I release, I hope they all do well.

Anyway, that’s all for now. Links for the book are below. Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and thank you for always supporting me. It means the world to me.

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Bertrand
Booktopia
Fable
Goodreads
Kobo
Wook
Older Entries