Posts Tagged ‘living and life’

Well, we have another announcement post. I got plenty of upcoming events and I want to see if I can get as many people as possible to go to those events. So, as I typically do, I’m making an announcement post. Let’s get into it, shall we?

So, next month, I have two conventions during back-to-back weekends. The first will be Cleveland Concoction in Cleveland, OH. It’ll be at the Bertram Inn Hotel and Conference Center from Friday, March 8 through March 10. I will be hanging out in the Authors Alley, selling books, doing Tarot readings, and possibly speaking on panels (to be confirmed at a later date). If you can stop by, please do, I would love to see you. More information on the event website.

The following weekend, on March 16, I’ll be at ShamROCK, a Pagan Celtic Celebration hosted by the Magical Druid, one of Columbus’s favorite metaphysical shops. It’s being held at the Courtyard by Marriott West Columbus. I’ll be selling books and doing Tarot readings. And then later, I’ll probably take part in pagan rituals, drinking and dancing. I promise I probably won’t do anything I’ll regret in the morning. Anyway, if you’re interested in joining us, please check out the website.

Next, I’ll be at the Wagnalls Local Author Fair at the Wagnalls Memorial Library in Lithopolis, Ohio. It’ll be April 6 from 10 AM – 2 PM, and I’ll be selling more books and doing more Tarot readings (I’m surprised they’re letting me do the latter but I’m not complaining). I have also volunteered my services for a presentation or panel, so more on that in the future.

One month later, I’m returning for my fourth ParaPsyCon on May 17-19 at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. This year, Hearsemania will be joining us, so there will likely be all sorts of wild and wonderful altered hearses to check out. You already know what I’m going to be doing there, so if you’re interested in joining us, please check out the website.

During the summer, it looks like I’ll be taking a break till August 10, when I’ll be joining the Indie Author Book Expo in Terre Haute, Indiana at the Terre Haute Convention Center. This is the same group I did an event with in Iowa back in 2020 (and then afterwards I went to the Villisca Axe Murder House). Hopefully out of the pandemic, we have an even better time than we did in Iowa. If you want to learn more, or about the other events they’re doing in 2024, you can check out their website.

And there will probably be more events in the future. I’ll be sure to let you know. I’ll also be sure to give you a reminder right before the event, in case you forgot.

And if you can’t stop by the events but still want to support me, you can always check out one of my books. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, my work has something for every horror fan. And judging from the reviews, they seem to like it. I’ll leave a link below to my Book Links page. And if you end up reading something of mine and like it, please leave me a review so I know what you thought.

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

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I’ve always felt “the struggle is real” is a weird phrase. I mean, we all have jobs, bills, relationships, school, and a million things that are out to kill you. The struggle is always real.

Lately, I get why people say that. Because at my day job, the struggle is very real right now.

Now, I try not to talk about my day job on my blog. After all, this blog is about my writing. But I need to vent, and I feel like talking about it here. Helps that it’s been a week since I last posted, and that makes me itchy.

Still, I don’t want to go into details, so I’ll just say that it’s been crazy busy. Like, I’ve had to work a couple of late nights, and I probably will be working more of them in the near future. Maybe even a couple of hours on the weekend. I don’t know, it’s still being discussed.

But that’s just the kind of workload we’re dealing with, and it’s a small team doing what I’m doing. Plus, we’re facing pressure from all sides, as well as malarkey that’s only giving us more headaches. It’s enough that, sad to say, I finally get why people say “the struggle is real.”

Now, before you get yourself all worried, just know I am taking care of myself. Maybe I have indulged in a beer or sweets a bit more, guilty as charged, but I am monitoring my mental health, talking to people who are trained to listen to problems, and I am doing self-care. Earlier today, I watched a horror movie with dinner. It was a terrible horror movie, but it did help with the stress (and with not being able to write for two days due to the effects of stress).

And I have scheduled some vacation time in the near future. Not saying when in case stalkers or burglars read this blog, but it’s soon. I’ll take that time to simulate living like a full-time writer, with most of my day spent writing.

And possibly visiting my dad and stepmom. Hey, they live in another city and I don’t get to see them as often as I see my other close family. Also, I may have an appointment at a spa scheduled for that period. And you know I like to watch anime as soon as it’s available to stream.

According to my Tarot, things might be improving next week. I hope that’s true.

But other than that, I am spending the time working on stories and doing other things a full-time writer might do. Hopefully it’ll be good for me, it’ll help me get some good stories out, and help me in my quest to become a full-time writer. I’m really looking forward to that.

And wow, just writing this all out has made me feel better. The struggle is still very real, but it feels a bit less soul-grinding than it did when I got home earlier today. Maybe getting it out will be the start of changing how things are going. It would match up with my Tarot reading for next week. That would be nice.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. If you would like to help me get through this period, just keep doing what you’re doing: supporting me. This could be as simple as reading this blog and leaving a comment, or even reading and reviewing my books (links to which can be found on my Book Links and Excerpts page).

Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

So the other day, I went and made the challenge to figure out whom Hannah from Hannah and Other Stories was inspired by (you can see that post here). I’d been telling people that if they were the first to figure it out, I would write them into a story. And better yet, unlike when that usually happens, it won’t be a punishment.

To my utter delight, quite a few people tried to figure it out. Some got close, some got so far away that I had never heard of their guesses.

And late last night, someone did get the answer right. Congratulations to longtime Follower of Fear and author of cozy Christian mysteries, Priscilla Bettis. Funny thing, she nearly gave up after a few far-off guesses, but after a bit of encouragement, she got it. Good for you, Priscilla. I think I’ve found a role for you in a story I plan to write in the near future. I’ll let you know first if it gets published anywhere.

Now, for the moment you’ve been waiting for. Who is Hannah from Hannah and Other Stories based on? I said she was based on an actual little girl, but which one?

Well, I said the inspiration was an actual little girl, but I never said she was real. You see, Hannah was inspired by Hanako-san, also known as Hanako of the Toilet. Hanako-san is a famous urban legend from Japan about a young girl who haunts the toilets of elementary schools. The legend varies from place to place, but the basic idea is that if you knock on the door of the third stall of the girl’s bathroom on the third floor of the elementary school and call out to Hanako-san, she’ll answer. Or something will answer. Like I said, the legend varies.

Anyway, Hanako-san is one of the most famous urban legends in Japan, and it was the inspiration for Hannah (you can see where I got her name). I had fun adapting the legend to an Ohio setting and exploring what happens when you take Hanako-san out of the bathroom. And now, people are reading the story and are enjoying it. Maybe now they’ll appreciate it more, knowing its origin.

If this has made you curious, you can learn more about Hannah by reading Hannah and Other Stories. I’ll include links below. If you do decide to read it, I hope you’ll leave a review. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me and other readers in the long run.

And once you’ve done that, go look up Hanako-san. It’s a great story, and I’m not the only one finding new ways to tell her story. Hell, there’s a great manga about a male version of her called Hanako-kun that’s currently being serialized. I love it, and you should check it out.

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

I’ve said for a while that Hannah from Hannah and Other Stories is based on an actual little girl. Since before the story was published, if I remember correctly. But more recently, in social media posts and in the occasional YouTube video or convention reading, I have been saying that if someone figured out who Hannah is based on, I would name a character after them. And unlike when I write other people into my stories, this won’t be a punishment, but something to celebrate.

Yes, you’d be happy to have a character in a Rami Ungar story named after you. Won’t wonders ever cease?

Recently, some people have been getting serious in trying to figure it out. I even had someone get really close when I was at ConFusion earlier this month. And if people are going to get serious, I might as well get serious, too.

So, without further ado, I’m announcing the Hannah Challenge! If you are the first to figure out who Hannah from the short story “Hannah” in Hannah and Other Stories is based on and let me know, I will name a character after you (and you won’t be sorry for the privilege). Just download a copy of Hannah and Other Stories using any of the links below and read the story “Hannah” (and the other six stories, of course).

Then, if you don’t immediately figure it out, try to do some research. Reread the story and notice anything that might help you identify whom Hannah is based on. If you figure it out, reach out to me. Email me, comment on my posts on this blog or my social media, whatever. If you don’t slide into my DMs, find my private number, or show up at my home or work, I’ll be happy to hear your guess.

And if your guess is the correct one and no one else has gotten it right so far, you’ll be the winner! I’ll announce your name on this blog and my social media (possibly with a photo) and see about writing a story with a character named after you as soon as possible. I may even let you read a draft before it gets published.

But, of course, you need to start reading, so below are the links for getting Hannah and Other Stories. And whether or not you figure out who Hannah is based on, I hope you’ll read the rest of the book. And if you do, I hope you let me know what you think in a review or a social media post. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me and other readers in the long run.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I have a new story I need to outline. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

You know, last year’s first story I finished in March? I know I was knee-deep in edits at the time, but still, I’m glad I could get this one finished in January!

So, as you can tell, I just finished my first story of 2024. The story, called “Hooty Boy,” (yes, that’s the title I’m going with) is about a young man with an extraordinary relationship with owls, and a girl he meets who’s interested in him. I described it online as a story about two strange owls courting, and that’s not too far off. The first draft is 23,304 words longs, making it a novella.

And you know what? I expect it to be even longer once it’s gone through a few edits. I feel like I could flesh it out a bit more, expand some scenes and perhaps give a minor character a bigger role like I originally planned.

But for now, I’m just happy to get the first draft done. As I said in one of my previous posts, I’ve been owl-obsessed for quite a while now, and I’ve known for just as long that I wanted to write a story around those birds. They’re so powerful and deadly, with sharp talons and beaks and wings that make no sound as they fly. Yet they’re also so sweet to their mates and young, and look so peaceful when they’re sleeping. Why wouldn’t I want to put them in a story?

And when I finally had the idea, I was excited to write the story. But then I finally got around to write it, and so many reasons cropped up to keep me from finishing it as fast as I wanted to. Hence why I spent most of today getting it done. Otherwise, it might never be done.

Well, it’s done now. And I think it has some potential, which I will attempt to bring out in subsequent drafts. Hopefully I can make it darker than it is now. There’s one scene that’s really dark, and I would like to see that darkness spread to the rest of the story. Or most of it, anyway.

For now, though, I’m hitting the hay. After all, it’s well past midnight. And after a day or two to recharge my creative juices, I’ll start a new story. I already know what sort of story I’m going to write. And I have a feeling it’s going to be a fairy–I mean, a fairly fun story.

And after that and maybe a few other projects, I’ll edit “Hooty Boy” and a few other stories, too. Hopefully then we’ll see them in print somewhere.

In the meantime, if you can’t wait, head to my Book Links and Excerpts page. You’ll find all my work there, including some free stories, that will surely entertain you or the horror fan in your life. And if you read them, I hope you’ll let me know what you think with a review. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me and other readers out in the long run.

Well, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I can hear my bed calling to me, telling me to get some sleep before the Ohio chapter of HWA meets tomorrow. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares!

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I love investigating haunted locations. I love visiting them and trying to communicate with the spirits. Sometimes, I get incredible results. And so, I list the places I want to eventually visit before I become a ghost myself. Yes, I’m planning on possibly becoming a ghost after death. It’s one of several options I’m planning. And yes, the result might be out of my hands, but since when have I ever followed the paths everyone else has gone down?

Anyway, here’s the latest addition to my list of haunted locations I want to visit. Hope you find them plenty spooky.

The Ross House, Bellaire, Ohio

Turns out the Bellaire House isn’t the only haunted house in Bellaire, Ohio. In fact, they’re down the street from one another! According to the Ross House’s website, it’s located on a ley line, a vein of supernatural energy underneath the earth that power strange phenomena. Regardless of what you think of that idea, the house reportedly has a lot of spirits and I’ve seen a couple of videos showing weird happenings there. Perhaps I should head there and get some evidence myself.

The Victoria Theater, Dayton, Ohio

Ah, the theater! The art! The stories! The hauntings! According to rumor, this 19th-century theater is home to a few spirits. One is known as Victoria or “Miss Vicky,” and is supposedly the ghost of an actress who disappeared while on her way to her dressing room. Many say that they see her in that dressing room while looking in the mirror. Another spirit is of a man who committed suicide in the theater and is sometimes seen around the curtains.

Who wants to buy a ticket with me for an after-hours show?

Thomas House Hotel, Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee

Built in the late 19th century to take advantage of the boom in resorts centered around hot springs, this beautiful hotel has been featured on several paranormal shows. Room 37 is said to be the most haunted, supposedly by the daughter of one of the hotel founders. There’s also supposed to be a ghost of a man who fell off a horse into a river and drowned. Sounds like a fun road trip, and probably easier to get into than the Stanley Hotel.

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles, California

You’ve probably seen it in a movie or on TV. It has a huge sign on the roof that’s kind of iconic. It’s Los Angeles’s longest continually-operating hotel and has seen its fair share of celebrities. And it’s haunted. The Roosevelt Hotel is rumored to be haunted by some of its famous former ghosts, such as Errol Flynn and Marilyn Monroe, as well as a little girl in a blue dress named Caroline.

If I ever go out to LA, I’ll consider staying there along with the Cecil.

Yankee Pedlar Inn, Torrington, Connecticut

This historic hotel was the set and the setting of the film The Innkeepers, which I highly recommend. And speaking of which, that film is supposed to be based on the actual hauntings in the hotel. The most haunted room is supposedly Room 353, where the original owner, Alice Conley, died.

Sadly, the current owners of the building have let it sit in neglect, so it won’t be taking reservations anytime soon. However, renovations are supposed to start up next month. Maybe in a year or two, I could make a visit and see what the movie got right.

The Ohio Theater, Columbus, Ohio

I have been to the Ohio countless times for ballets, traveling Broadway shows, and local productions. However, I recently heard that the theater may have some spirits. One of the staff members at the ticket booth said they’ve heard mop buckets move on their own, and shadow figures moving around in the basement. And once or twice, I thought I’ve seen shadow figures moving around and disappearing at the very edge of the theater.

Maybe someday I can do an investigation there. Or set a story there. Or both!

The Red Brick Tavern, London, Ohio

Like the name says, this Colonial style building is made of red brick and looks like it would be right at home in a historical village. Built in 1836, it has been an inn, a tavern, a schoolhouse, and a private residence. It is now a restaurant, but some people say that on the upper floors, there’s the spirit of a woman who used to live there. According to legend, after her lover forsook her, she embroidered a handkerchief with the words “Remember Me” and then killed herself. From what I hear, that piece of embroidery is still on the building’s second floor and so is she, making creaking noises and creeping out guests.

Sounds like a place I should go one of these days.

Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, California

Considered one of the top ten resort hotels in the world, the Hotel Del Coronado is a massive sprawling complex centered around the original building, one of the few surviving examples of the Victorian wooden beachfront hotel. Since opening in 1886, it has been featured in books and films and hosted all sorts of famous people. One of those famous people is Kate Morgan, a maid who arrived at the hotel in 1902 presumably to meet a lover. After five days, she took her own life, and is now a permanent resident of the hotel. Her room, which is one of the most requested rooms in the hotel, has been a hotspot for paranormal activity, and she’s been seen throughout the hotel as well.

I want to go there, I want to experience some paranormal activity, and I want to write a book there. Who wants to join me?

Miami Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, Florida

Designed to look like the medieval tower of a Spanish cathedral, the Biltmore Hotel was at one point the tallest building in Florida. It has a massive pool, and one of the best spas in the world as well. It also has a golf course and a beautiful ballroom. It’s a beautiful place, but it’s got some secrets. In its nearly 100-year history, the hotel was also a hospital, a medical school, and was abandoned for a number of years. To this day, it’s supposed to be haunted by the spirit of a dead gangster, a dancing couple in the ballroom, and a woman in white, among others. Plus the 13th floor is just freaky!

I might want to check into one of the rooms. And then include the hotel in a story after experiencing a ghost. It sounds like a good excuse to go to Florida.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta, Canada

Located in Banff National Park at nearly five-thousand feet above sea level, the historic Banff Springs Hotel was original a small, wooden railway hotel. However, it has since grown into a massive complex with multiple buildings, twelve restaurants, multiple event spaces, a ballroom, outdoor activities, and a bowling alley, among other things. Among its amenities: ghosts. Supposedly, the ghost of a longtime bellhop named Sam still hangs around and helps guests, while a bride who fell down the stairs on her wedding day is still seen gliding down the stairs and dancing in the ballroom.

You know, I would like to visit Canada someday. Maybe this is another good reason to go.


Well, there we go, Followers of Fear. Ten locations full of ghosts that I would like to explore before I become a ghost myself. But tell me, have you been to any of these places? Did you experience anything? And are there any places I should put on a future list? Let’s discuss.

And until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Happy New Year, my Followers of Fear. I wasn’t going to do this sort of post, let alone on New Year’s Day. After all, I went over a lot of this stuff in my “Looking Back at 2023, Looking Forward to 2024” post. But plenty of my writer friends were posting their 2023 accomplishments and their 2024 goals on social media, so I thought, “Why shouldn’t I? And why should I limit myself to however many characters?”

Thus, I’m writing a full blog post.

So, with all that said, let’s get into my writing goals and how I plan to keep busy on the writing front.

FINISH THE SHORT WORKS I STARTED

After the Great Editing ended last year, I went through my list of ideas and chose seven story ideas I thought would be fun to work on (and hopefully had a chance of getting published). I’ve already finished two stories: a surprisingly short weird horror story called “White Leaves,” and a Jewish exorcism story called “The House on Lafayette Square.” And at the moment, I’m working on a story about owls under the temporary title “Strigiformes.”

With this particular goal, I aim to finish “Strigiformes” by Martin Luther King Day, and then get the other four stories done by around May. Don’t know if I will, but God knows I’m going to try. I’m already at the halfway point of “Strigiformes,” so assuming nothing messes with my life between now and the 15th, I should be off to a good start.

FINISH CRAWLER

My big project for 2024, assuming nothing else pops up, is to finally return to my mummy novel Crawler and finish it. Hopefully after I finish these last four and a half short works, and around May-ish. I want to go over what’s already been written, then get around to finishing the first draft.

Don’t know if it’ll get published at some point, but I definitely want it to be at least finished. I hate the feeling of it being left undone when I feel it has great potential.

GROW MY AUDIENCE

This one should be pretty self-explanatory. I love my Followers of Fear and how ardent you all can be, but I am a writer. We love having people enjoying our work. So, I’m trying to build my audience and the number of people who I can claim to be Followers of Fear.

Part of this will be done by selling books at events, which are great places to meet new readers, and another part will be some slight changes to how I do things on social media.* With a bit of luck, the right interactions, and sympathetic algorithms, maybe more people will come to love and look forward to my stories when they release.

*BTW, I’ve left Twitter due to Elon Musk going full anti-Semite and have moved to Threads and BlueSky. So, if you want to follow me there, click on the links.

GET SOME ACCEPTANCES

Again, this is also self-explanatory. While I do self-publish some of my work, I still like to get publishers to release some of my stories. There are benefits to going indie and going through a publisher. And all that being said, I hope to have some presses accept my stories and help me polish them up to their most beautiful before letting them out into the world.

And I may self-publish some stuff, as well. If the circumstances are right.

HAVE A GOOD 2024 FISCALLY

Writing is a passion and a calling, but it is also a job and a business. That’s especially true during tax time. And while this past year, I had the most income from writing ever, I also had a lot of expenses. Not enough to overtake my income, but still, a lot. For 2024, I hope to have fewer expenses. Or that my income far outpaces my expenses. It’s something I’ll be working on throughout the year, so hopefully it goes well.

MAYBE ANOTHER COLLECTION?

Yeah, putting together and editing Hannah was difficult at times, but it was gratifying, too. And I’m thinking of maybe putting together another collection. If I do, what stories will be in it, what it’ll be called, if there will be a theme, and if I self-publish it or not, we’ll see. This part of the future, at least, is still up in the air.

MAYBE AN ADAPTATION?

I know, I know. Getting any of my stories adapted into any medium is a long shot. Still, some things happened in 2023 that give me hope that it could happen. (And if you’re lucky, you’ll hear about what later this year.) So, I’m putting it on this list as a goal.

GET THAT MUCH CLOSER TO WRITING FULL-TIME

This is my overall goal for 2024. Granted, this is my overall goal every year. But I feel like I made significant progress this year towards this goal in 2023, and I feel like 2024 will take me even further. I want to get to the point where I can actually see a path to eventually being able to write full-time. Where it stops being just a dream and starts to morph into a reality.

If the majority of these go these goals go well, then maybe, just maybe, I’ll end 2024 with goals towards making dreams reality in 2025. And wouldn’t that be glorious?


That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I hope 2024 treats us all very well (though honestly, I feel like roaring at the year to intimidate it instead of hoping it’s nice to us is a better move). Thank you for all the support you guys showed me in 2023. I hope you continue to do so in 2024. And one way to do that is to read my books and leave reviews, and/or follow my social media. I’ll leave buttons that’ll take you to where you can find both.

Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! RAWR!!!

If you haven’t noticed, the year is ending soon. And there are some things I’ve been wanting to talk or share with you (especially if you’re not on my other social media) before the year ends. The problem is, I didn’t think any of them on their own were worth putting out a blog post for. However, then I had a thought: why not just combine all the random topics into one big post?

As you can see from the presence of this post, I went through on that dangerous idea, so let’s get to it and talk about random topics.

SWORDS

Every little boy dreams of having a sword at some point in their life. To slay the dragon, to fight the evil king, to reap the souls of the good and the damned as the Carnival of the Judges goes into full swing in the city center–oh wait, that last one is just me. But the point stands. And recently, I was able to make that dream come true.

Pretty cool, huh? A friend of mine is downsizing for a move, and he posted on Facebook to see if anyone wanted them. The price was too good, so I bought them. They arrived way earlier than expected, and so I got them hung up in my office on Christmas Eve. According to my friend, he bought them in Spain when he was there as a teenager many years ago. The top sword is an arming sword, and the bottom is a side sword.

Both are awesome, and either one would make an excellent deterrent for burglars and stalkers.

Anyway, my inner child is now very happy. And I promise my friend that I’d take good care of them, so that’s what I’ll do. I look forward to many years with them on my wall.

BANNER

Back in 2021, when I attended my first ParaPsyCon, my dad and stepmom stopped by to see how I was doing, and while there, they noticed another horror author who had a vertical banner behind his booth broadcasting what he wrote. My dad asked me, “Think you’ll get one of those?” I responded, “Someday.”

Someday is today. Thanks to the grant I got earlier this year, I was able to pay for some new author photos, which I then used to design a banner (this was after lots of concept testing that I did in one of my Facebook groups). I then bought the banner and the frame for it. I absolutely love it. And I have a feeling it’s going to help me find and connect with more readers at the events I’ll be attending in 2024. Including ParaPsyCon.

HOW TO BUILD A WRITING HABIT

I wanted to try something different with my YouTube channel, maybe see if doing so would help me to connect with more readers, writers, and horror fans. At the same time, I’ve been wanting to talk about the habits of building a writing habit for some time now. Like a TED talk or at a convention, if anyone would actually let me speak at one of those (given that it’s me, you understand the caution).

So, I thought I would combine the two and put out a video on YouTube talking about building a writing habit. It’s something I hadn’t tried before and I thought people might find it helpful. Who knows? Maybe it’ll help me connect with more writers, readers and horror fans. At the very least, it’s had more views than other videos I’ve posted, so I guess that’s a good sign. Maybe I’ll try a video like this again when I have the chance/inspiration.

But tell me, do you think this is a good video? Did what I discuss make sense or seem helpful? Any feedback you have would be helpful, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment.

OWLS ARE AWESOME

You probably didn’t see this one coming, did you?

For quite some time, I’ve been obsessed with owls. It started when I found this YouTube channel where a nature artist/filmmaker films the daily activities of the owls and other animals living around his British country home. Watching these owls sleep, raise their broods, and occasionally get into scrapes with each other made me fall in love with and then go down a rabbit hole of learning about owls.

And it’s not hard to see why. They fly with wings that don’t produce any noise, they pick up sounds and sights we’re wholly ignorant of (especially at night), and they can be the most loving partners and parents among birds you’ll ever see. No kidding, watch some of that YouTube channel’s videos. It’ll melt your heart and make you believe in love again. All this in these tiny, compact bodies with sharp beaks and talons that can take out both prey and predators. And which predate on each other if the circumstances are right (or wrong).

It’s kind of no wonder I’m obsessed now and want an owl to live near me. For now though, I’ll settle for writing about them. With any luck, I’ll have a great owl-themed story done some time next month. And who knows? If it gets published, you might become obsessed, too. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?

TALKING WITH MY OLD HEADMASTER

Not too long ago, my dad sent me an article from the Jerusalem Post. Someone I used to go to school with had had an article published in the Post, detailing how he, a reservist in Israel fighting in the current war in Gaza, left the battlefield to be at the birth of his son in Jerusalem. It was incredibly beautiful to read, and all I wanted to do was to give his dad, who used to be the headmaster at the school we attended, my sincere congratulations.

Earlier this week, I actually managed to talk with my headmaster. It was a blast from the past, to say the least. I don’t think I’ve seen this guy since I was eighteen. I used to stop by his office to tell him dumb jokes and even phone pranked him a couple of times (don’t worry, he thought it was hysterical as long as he wasn’t in a meeting). And yet we laughed and talked like not even a day had passed since I graduated. I found out how his family is doing (they’re all in Israel right now for the new grandchild) and he found out what I’m doing and how my family is.

I hope he and his family continue to do well and that his son stays safe. These are scary times, but talking with him reminded me that we can still find reasons to smile in the worst of times. At least, that’s how I see it.

GREETING 2024

I don’t know what your New Year’s plans are, but I know what mine are: order pizza, open a bottle of wine, and watch some movies. And when the stroke of midnight occurs, I’m not going to welcome 2024. I’m going to roar at it. Let it know that whatever it throws at me, I won’t let it bog me down or ruin me. Instead, I’ll fight on and give it something to reckon with. Maybe 2024 will be so intimidated, it’ll give me a great year out of fear.

Sounds silly, I know, but so are a lot of traditions and beliefs I could name. And with an election year just around the corner, we’ll need all the luck we could use.

So, if you like, roar with me at midnight on December 31st. We’ll show 2024 who’s boss.


That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. As I said, I wanted to get this all out before the end of the year. If you made it to the end of the post, thanks for reading. And if I don’t catch you before December 31st at 11:59 PM, I wish you all a Happy New Year and pleasant nightmares.

As my publisher said to me earlier this week, “They grow up so fast.”

It’s been exactly three months since my latest book and latest collection, Hannah and Other Stories, was released (and the anniversary even falls on a Saturday!). If you’re unaware, the collection contains seven tales that feature ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses, among other things. It’s the product of a lot of hard work over two years between me and my publisher.

And in the three months since I’ve released it, I’ve been hard at work to ensure it reaches as many readers as possible. Just the other day, I was on a podcast talking about it (should be out next week, I’ll post a link to my social media when it comes out). It hasn’t been easy getting people to read it, partly due to the fact that the book’s still currently available only in ebook, and partly due to the plethora of other writers out there with millions of other books out there. And I’m my own marketing team, so it’s all on me to get people interested.

Still, there have been results. I’ve gotten some reviews and those who’ve read the book have been mostly positive. Just check out this review my friend Allen Huntsman, AKA Death Ground Reviews, left on his YouTube channel about Hannah.

Some things he didn’t care for, but mostly good. And I have to agree: if you want to see if my work is right for you, this book might be a good start. Especially if you enjoy carnivorous horses.

And representation. I try to represent plenty of different kinds of characters and from what I hear, the results have been well received. Then again, when you write about communities you’re familiar with because you’re part of them, it’s probably going to turn out better.

Anyway, it’s been hard work, and I’m hoping that all this work will lead to good things for Hannah. Hopefully a paperback and maybe even an audio book. Maybe someone will figure out whom the character of Hannah is based on. Yes, the character of Hannah is based on a real person. If you guess who it is, I will name a character after you and you will not be dissatisfied with the results.

And if you are at all interested in reading the collection, I’ll leave links below. Like I said, it’s currently only available in ebook, but hopefully a paperback and maybe even an audio book aren’t too far away, so supporting the ebook is a good way to help. And if you decide to read the ebook, I hope you’ll leave a review letting me, and other readers, know what you think.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ve got a big day ahead of me. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and if I don’t catch you before Monday, a Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.

So, a couple of things happened recently, and I thought I would put out a quick post so that you know. Not sure you’ll actually be interested, but I thought I’d let you know anyway.

First off, I have a new event I’ll be vending at. I found out about it, submitted an application, and was confirmed for it yesterday, all in the span of a few hours. The event is called ShamROCK, and is being held by the Magical Druid, the same store that sponsored the Columbus Witches Ball I attended back in 2022. This will be a spring variant, meant to welcome spring in with Irish music and ritual and a cash bar. Sounds like fun, no? Anyway, it takes place on Saturday, March 16th, 2023 from 3 PM – 11 PM at the Courtyard by Marriott West Columbus in Columbus, OH. You can buy tickets using this link.

So, for a quick recap, here are the events I’ll be attending in 2024 as of December 9, 2023:

  • ConFusion SF in Novi, MI. Taking place at the Novi Sheraton from January 19-21, 2024. More information on the website here.
  • ShamROCK in Columbus, OH. Taking place at the Courtyard by Marriott West Columbus on March 16, 2024. Tickets can be bought here.
  • ParaPsyCon in Mansfield, OH. Taking place at the Ohio State Reformatory on May 17-19, 2024. More information can be found here.
  • Indie Author Book Expo in Terre Haute, IN. Taking place at the Terre Haute Convention Center on August 10, 2024. You can find out about Indie Author Book Expo here.

Wow, my schedule is getting pretty busy. And I’m waiting to hear back on a few more, so we could see a longer post in the future.

On another note, I had an article published yesterday in Space and Time Magazine. Yep, that Space and Time Magazine. The article is called “From Mushrooms to Writers’ Minds: How Alice in Wonderland Continues to Metamorphose in Our Imagination.” As you can tell from the title, it explores Alice in Wonderland. Specifically, why we keep using and reinterpreting Alice in Wonderland in our fiction.

And yes, I mention “Queen Alice” in the article. How could I not?

Anyway, if you would like to check it out, the article is in Space and Time Fall/Winter #145. You can buy a copy from Amazon, which you can check out here. I would love to hear what you think. I’m proud of the article.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. If anything comes up in the near future, I will let you know. Until next time, good night, read plenty of horror (not necessarily mine, though I appreciate it when you do), pleasant nightmares, and Happy 3rd Night of Hanukkah!

My silver menorah
My electric menorah in my upstairs window