Showing posts with label A Bloody Valentine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A Bloody Valentine. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Bloody Valentine Pics

I mentioned last week that I had some pictures from our A Bloody Valentine event on Valentine's Day. Since I'm in the middle of formatting my collection for release in March (squeeee!), I figured I'd keep today simple and post those pictures!

The event consisted of readings by women in horror (including moi). We had such a fantastic audience! They laughed and gasped in all the right places, interacted with us, etc. It was a great night.





We'd planned on having dual programming going on, with recordings by authors around the country playing in the theater upstairs at Cottonwood Center for the Arts, and live readings on the main floor, adjacent to the author book signing area. Unfortunately, there were so many issues with the wi-fi that we ended up having to scrap the recordings upstairs and just focus on the live programming. We will be putting those recordings up on our Facebook page in the near future, so I'll be sure to post a link here when we have them up! We're actually hoping to do a live event on the page in order to do a final giveaway.



I read a story called "Stuck With Me," originally published in Twice-Told: A Collection of Doubles (it will be in my upcoming collection, too!). I figured this one was appropriate since it had to do with sisters. But that's all I'll tell you.



We had phenomenal giveaways, mostly courtesy of Carina Bissett and the participating authors, who sent us goodies to give away.





Hillary Dodge made a personalized Valentine for each giveaway, which was so fun. They were all dark and twisted in some way.


Cottonwood provided a cash bar, and they even made specialty drinks to go with the event.



Everybody got two tickets, because we had sooo many things to give away, so a bunch of people ended up with two items. There were tons of books, WIHM trading cards, and a variety of other fun goodies.




Angie Hodapp


PL McMillan


Carina Bissett

Angie Hodapp

DeAnna Knippling

Angie Sylvaine

Hillary Dodge






J.A. Campbell


PL McMillan

In the end, it was a successful event, and a lot of fun.

The Hosts



It's not too late to read a new woman in horror during the month of February! Check out last week's post for recommendations. The Stoker ballot is out, and there are plenty of women on there, as well!

I only got one book read this past week: Cinder, by by Marissa Meyer


This one's a sci-fi/fantasy YA story that takes the story of Cinderella and changes her to an android, who happens to be immune to a major virus wiping out the citizenry of Earth. The mystical beings living on the moon are immune, as well, but they're conniving, and have no interest in helping Earth unless it benefits them in some way.

It was good, but not my usual flavor, so I likely won't read on in the series. I was frustrated when I reached the end and realized there was no resolution, as it was the beginning of a five-book series. That was my own ignorance (by the time I get around to reading the books on the TBR pile, I've often forgotten what they're about and details like whether they're part of a series), so I can't hold it against her, but I tend to like series that resolve the main issue at the end of the book and address a different issue/arc in the next book. None of the arcs were concluded at the end of this one.

I will say that the creative ways the fairy tale is incorporated in this story were a pleasure.

I'll be posting about a Friday the 13th blog hop next week, so I hope you'll stop by and sign up!

Have you read any female horror authors this month? Gone to any fun events in February? Have you read Cinder or anything else by Marissa Meyer.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

IWSG - Coming Along, News, & Trading Card

It's time for the February Insecure Writer's Support Group post!


Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the IWSG servers to support insecure writers. We post our insecurities or our reassurances. Anyone is welcome to join. Just click on Alex's name and sign up on the IWSG tab. Then post and hop around to your fellow IWSG'ers to drop a note.

The co-hosts this month are:

The optional question this month: Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What is it and did you finish it?

I love to write off prompts, including images, but I don't remember having a finished, published story based on a photo/work of art. At least not off the top of my head.

Things are coming along for me in getting back to writing! I've started a spreadsheet to keep track of words written and edits done, so I can keep track. I always find it interesting when people post their words written at the end of the year, so I figured I'd try that out. Given, I just started that two days go, so there's a full month missing. Still! It will be fun to track.

The next collection is coming along. I've given a list of visuals/subjects to my husband so he can start playing with the cover. The Table of Contents is finalized. Now for final edits and formatting. I'm still hoping for a mid-March release.

If you've signed up for my newsletter (link in sidebar), you'll be the first to see the cover and TOC!

I had a new release this week!


Hello my Earthling! Hello my starling!
Hello my space-time alien gal!
It Came From Outer Space! is a baker’s dozen of tales about creatures from outer space who may or may not have boldly gone where they really shouldn’t have. Tales of aliens who test the creatures of Earth…tales of Earthlings who test the creatures from other planets…aliens who attack…aliens who defend…and aliens who are a little too close for comfort.
Prepare to discover realms at the furthest edges of human imagination.
From the depths of outer space…
To the depths of the sea…
To Portland…and beyond!
AmazonBarnes and NobleKobo • Apple Books • Universal Book LinkGoodreads

I'll be reading at a Women in Horror Month event on Valentine's Day: A Bloody Valentine. Cottonwood Center for the Arts is hosting us that night. I'm also a host and planner on the event. More information available on our Facebook event page.



Finally, I was interviewed at Superficial Gallery for Women in Horror Month, and I have another trading card! This is such a fun thing they do to support women in horror.


I haven't done stats in a while, because I was figuring out what stories to pull from submission, so here's the first one of 2020. January stats:

5 submissions
2 rejections (one that had been short listed)
1 withdrawn (magazine appears to be defunct)
1 acceptance
7 currently on submission
1 currently short listed

I'd like to get back up to 10 stories on submission (and above), so I'm jumping into edits. I've got several stories languishing as they wait for edits.

What are your insecurities? Are you working to improve on any of the causes of insecurity? Are you submitting? How are you celebrating Women in Horror Month? Any news to share?

May you find your Muse.