50 FOR 50
As my aging, Gen-X body passed the half-century mark this year, I set out to complete fifty bookish accomplishments by the end of 2025. Although I did have some goals pushed back to 2026, I did manage to complete fifty accomplishments before the end of the year. I don’t know if I will accomplish that much in 2026, but I have no intention of slowing down. Looking back, these are the goals I was able to attain over the past twelve months:
1. Created my own YouTube page for all book-related video content.
2. Continued Thor Thoughts each month and found ways to enhance.
3. Researched and carried out new marketing techniques throughout the year.
4. Held Quarterly Indie Book of The Quarter tournament for January.
5. Attended Conn’s Hospitality Group Adult Book Fair.
6. Put together various book signing tour dates and locations.
7. Completed edits and cover design for Hell’s Diner.
8. Completed edits and cover design for STOK3BRIDGE: Extinction.
9. Held Quarterly Indie Book of The Quarter tournament for April.
10. Researched new book event advertising and continued evolving our book event presentation (banners, table cloth, book rack).
11. Held Quarterly Indie Book of The Quarter tournament for July.
12. Published Hell’s Diner with author Kerri Jane (June 13).
13. Attended Pack in the Readers Event (Green Bay, WI June 13-15).
14. Went on Scared Silly Bookstore Tour throughout Indiana and Michigan.
15. Had new covers designed for Welcome to Oblivion.
16. Recorded Welcome to Oblivion audiobook.
17. Re-published Welcome to Oblivion with new edits.
18. Wrote first draft of Midnight Rises.
19. Wrote first draft of Midnight Dies.
20. Designed cover for Midnight Rises.
21. Designed cover for Midnight Dies.
22. Began writing short stories for Hell’s Diner II.
23. Attended Area 66 Haunter’s Market (book signing).
24. Attended Fae Folk Art Festival (book signing).
25. Attended Autumn Authors Encounters (book signing).
26. Attended Coffeen Fall Fest (book signing).
27. Held another 99 cent eBook sale for all books.
28. Finalized Publication Plan for 2026 and 2027.
29. Read at least 90 books from both traditional and indie authors (finished with over 100).
30. Reviewed all books and posted on social media and my website.
31. Published STOK3BRIDGE: Extinction (October 3).
32. Recorded audiobook of STOK3BRIDGE: Extinction.
33. Wrote more blogs on website.
34. Prepared nominations and published voting for EW! 2025 Indie Book Awards.
35. Updated website with new look.
36. Appeared on TikTok LIVE “Pitfalls and Plot Holes.”
37. Designed new covers for PUMMELED and PUMMELED: Submission.
38. Attended book signing at The Magic of Books Bookstore.
39. Attended book signing at Witches Night Out in Vandalia.
40. Held Quarterly Indie Book of The Quarter tournament for October.
41. Published first version of CREEPTASTIC BOOK TOUR 2 schedule.
42. Attended book signing at Wildflower and Rose Bookstore in Petersburg IL.
43. Published Power Novel November writing challenge for authors.
44. Wrote first draft of How to Survive a Serial Killer at Summer Camp (completed Power Novel November challenge).
45. Attended Dark History and Horror Con event (Champaign, IL November 7-8).
46. Began new edits for Dragon’s Blood .
47. Gathered new authors for monthly Indie Author Feature (2026).
48. Held EW! 2025 Indie Book Awards.
49. Completed Midnight Rises (edits promotions, & ebook upload) for 1/1 release.
50. Prepared The Midnight Trilogy for release in paperback, Spring 2026.
SEVEN YEARS OF SPOOKY RELEASES!
Being a horror author and spooky season fanatic, it’s only natural that I release books during the spooky season. That’s not to say I wouldn’t (and haven’t) released books at various other times throughout the year. I certainly have. But releasing something during the season surrounding my favorite holiday became routine before I even realized I was doing it.
𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏’𝒔 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 – 2019
Starting in 2019, I published my first horror novel, Dragon’s Blood. This monster-in-the-woods tale was a fun way to finally break into the horror publishing arena. It was inspired my a dear friend’s creative jewelry business in which she made an item (out of used machine parts) that resembled a dragon’s blood tree. And I wondered how I could incorporate a dragon-like creature with blood…and trees! Anyway, I love the finished product and want to get new eyes on it. So, I will be working soon on rebranding the book with a new cover and new set of edits (much like I did this year on the next book on the list) for some time in 2026.
𝒲𝐸𝐿𝒞𝒪𝑀𝐸 𝒯𝒪 𝒪𝐵𝐿𝐼𝒱𝐼𝒪𝒩 – 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic when we were all quarantined for a period of time, I was working on two different novels. I had started the epistolary novel CLIPPINGS but was also knee-deep into a book I’d begun back in the early 2000s. WTO was inspired by a dream and initially written for the stage. But I quickly realized that my vision for the story was not conducive for the stage, and thus the bulk of what I had written (mostly dialogue and direction) sat stagnant on my computer. Well, after Dragon’s Blood, I needed a new horror project. And remembering how much I loved the WTO concept, I dusted off what I had written, and the rest is history.
𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐊𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐃: 𝐀 𝐂𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 – 2021
Over the next two years, I only published novellas during the spooky season, but hey, it still counts! Anyway, this novella was co-written and set to be the start of a much bigger series of novels and novellas, but unfortunately it did not come to pass for various reasons. The novella is, however, quite compelling for a psychological ghost story. And you can read the prequel short story, “DERAILED: A Cedar Lake Short” as part of Hell’s Diner: 13 Devilish Delectables.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐓 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 – 2022
Do you ever wonder how you’d react if you were awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of heavy footsteps on your roof? How about if it happened every night…at the same time? This was the initial premise of the novella which soon took on a life of its own and brought a new twist to the haunted house trope by putting the ghost on TOP of the house instead of inside. Of course there is much more to this story, and it has now become the start of a novella trilogy, with the other two books releasing in early 2026.
𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑺 𝑰𝑺 𝑯𝑶𝑾 𝑯𝑬 𝑪𝑶𝑳𝑳𝑬𝑪𝑻𝑺 𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑴 – 2023
Whenever I am at conventions and someone takes an interest in this book, I always tell them that this has my favorite backstory. The book was inspired by three dreams I’d had in the months leading up to when I sat down to tear through a first draft in November of 2022. The plot was so complex that I didn’t think I could pull off a first draft in 30 days. I was also thinking about giving up writing altogether. The previous few months had been tough for me personally, but when I started writing this story, I couldn’t stop. It became my therapy, and by my self appointed deadline, I’d completed a (VERY) rough draft that would go through a slew of edits before its ultimate release on Friday, October 13th 2023.
𝚂𝚃𝙾𝙺𝙴𝙱𝚁𝙸𝙳𝙶𝙴 1975 – 2024
From the time I first came up with the premise for STOKEBRIDGE, I knew it would at the very least have a prequel to tell the origin story of what happened in 1975 to cause the total elimination of the town’s existence. Almost as soon as I was finished with the first round of edits for the first book, I was diving into the prequel. Again, the first draft was written during the month of November (2023) during the “Organization We Shall Not Mention” challenge. And for the second year in a row, I was up to the challenge. I had finished two books in the series, with the first being released in June of 2024. Four months later in October, the prequel dropped, and I was ready to tackle the challenge of writing the final chapter…
𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐄: 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧- 2025
Originally it would be two novels. But the idea of a trilogy was intriguing. I’d never done it before, and if it was going to happen, it needed to be with this series because there was so much more to the story that needed to be told in order to answer all the questions still up in the air. So, for the third straight year (actually fourth, but I failed in 2021), I was looking to write a first draft in the month of November. Again, it was extremely rough at first, but with months to edit and revise (and send to my editor), I was able to get it out in October of 2025. And thus ends the trilogy that people have actually told me they enjoy more than anything else I have written.
𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝙺𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚝 𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚛 𝙲𝚊𝚖𝚙 – 2026 (tentative)
I’ve pulled off seven years and counting! My goal is (at least) ten straight years of spooky season publications, so the book I’m about to dive into will represent number eight. This throwback to 80s and 90s era slasher/serial killer movies is an idea I’ve tossed around for a while, and my brain finally came up with a fun story! This will be my 2025 November first draft (Power Novel November, if you follow my social media), and with a strong outline already written, I am going into this project with a confidence I hope to sustain through the 30 days I have challenged myself to write this first draft. I have no idea on a word count, but I know it will be more sizable than my last few novels.
POWER NOVEL NOVEMBER!
October 10, 2025
For everyone who enjoys writing challenges but decided to say NO to NANO over the past couple years, this one is for you! I wanted to create a new challenge for indie authors looking to write the first draft of a new novel (or novella) in one month.
Who wants to be involved in something I’m calling 𝓟𝓞𝓦𝓔𝓡 𝓝𝓞𝓥𝓔𝓛 𝓝𝓞𝓥𝓔𝓜𝓑𝓔𝓡 (patent pending)? I am challenging myself to power through the first draft of a new novel during the month of November (something I have successfully done for the three previous Novembers). I would like it if others would join in on the challenge! There is no word count minimum, so you won’t be stressed out by getting behind on a specific day. The idea here is to challenge yourself to complete the first draft of a new story.
You can post your daily progress and answer some simple questions, such as “What motivated you today?” as well as some fun questions like “What did your MC have for dinner last night?” You can also pick and choose which questions you want to post about or adhere strictly to the schedule!
My November novel is entitled: 𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝙺𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚝 𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚛 𝙲𝚊𝚖𝚙! This will be my take on horror nostalgia, with references to 80s and 90s-style slasher flicks but adding some humor and various twists and turns along the way.
I am super excited for this one as I already have a detailed outline. Keeping with my spooky season publication trend (seven years and counting), I plan for this book to be my October 2026 release. I’m not expecting a ton of participation here, but if you decide to take the challenge, simply put #PowerNovelNovember in your posts.
I must go now, as the resident serial killer (who doesn’t play well with others) wants to have a word with me about my new novel…
Happy writing!
WRITING NEWS!
August 29, 2025
Spooky Season is upon us! Be sure to get out there and have a scary good time! For those of us who like to celebrate all-year round, this time of year is heightened by the extra attention paid to the monstrous macabre of Halloween! So watch those horror movies, read the scary stories, visit your local Halloween stores, plan to take some trips through haunted houses, host or attend Halloween parties, dress up in costumes, and enjoy the best season of the year!
On that note, I’ve been keeping busy on the writing front, with numerous projects in the works over the next few years (yes, I said YEARS). Publishing wise, up next is STOK3BRIDGE: Extinction, the final chapter of the trilogy that began only fourteen months ago! I’m currently finalizing the manuscript based on my editor’s notes, so it will be ready to go on October 3rd, marking my seventh straight year of publishing a horror story during the spooky season!
On the first draft side of things, I have two novellas in the works, both sequels to the 2022 story The Man on the Roof at Midnight. The first one, subtitled Midnight Rises, will drop on New Year’s Day, 2026! The stories pick up three years after the events of the first novella and bring back the surviving characters (and maybe some other familiar characters as well). These will be eBook only releases, with a paperback release containing all three novellas to be published next spring.
While there are no real writing competitions in November anymore, I’m still going to challenge myself to pen the first draft of my next novel, tentatively titled How to Survive a Serial Killer at Summer Camp. This will be my own competition that I’m calling Power Novel November. I will post a new blog about this a little closer to Halloween. Anyone who wants to join me in the challenge is more than welcome!
Finally, while my 2027 and 2028 plans are still in the air, I do have a few ideas planned out. These include a second HELL’S DINER collection (with Kerri Jane) as well as a sequel to Welcome to Oblivion that I have been toying with for years now.
Stay tuned!
July 30, 2025
If I’m not already on some FBI watch list for my Google searches, then I’m clearly doing something wrong.
So, yesterday I found myself needing to look up quite a bit of information for my current WIP. The same thing happened while working on it today. My search included the following:
- How long does it take to exhume a body? Oh, and AutoCorrect initially changed exhume to consume. I’m sure that didn’t make it worse.
- How hard is it to pull a skeleton from the bottom of a lake?
- How to open a coffin after it’s been sealed.
I’m not sure why I’m suddenly needing to look up so many weird facts, but hey, I want to get it right! I’m a horror author, and I want my gruesome scenes to be accurate. If I have some deranged killer stalking people with a knife, I may have to Google “which is the best knife to cut through human bone” in order to arm my antagonist with the best weapon.
Maybe I should write all of these terms down and release a book entitled “A Horror Author’s Google Search.”
April 15, 2025
As the world continues to burn in a sea of idiocy (and the film Idiocracy moves closer to being a documentary), I have been staying perpetually busy taking on one writing venture after another. This has been great for my mental health, as constantly working on fun projects keeps me from overthinking about the things over which I have no control.
FICTIONAL PODCASTING: First off, a little update on 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃. For those who don’t know, I was asked to help write a fictional podcast, and when the series creator sent me his scripts for the first two episodes, I was SOLD! Think Twin Peaks meets The Outer Limits. We have finished recording the first episode with many more to come. I will have further announcements as soon as we want everyone to know more!
RENOVATION 2020: I recently gave my pandemic-year release a makeover. 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗻 (originally released in September, 2020) was re-edited, has a new cover, is now available as an audiobook and a hardcover, and is available through Barnes & Noble’s website (as well as still being on Amazon). This is the first step in an ongoing project to rehaul some of my earlier works in order to clean up some mistakes that have lingered. I also want to make them look more appealing to a newer audience that may have followed me after they were released. The new cover is AMAZING, and I’m jacked to be taking this one with me on the book tours this year.
SEE YOU IN HELL! That’s right, it’s almost time for the release of 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋’𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐑: 13 𝔇𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔥 𝔇𝔢𝔩𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔞𝔟𝔩𝔢𝔰! Publishing along with debut author Kerri Jane, this collection of thirteen creepy tales is sure to make your mouth water! Several of my stories have been previously published in other outlets (anthologies, magazines, my website), but the majority are being published for the very first time. Included is a return to Cedar Lake with “Derailed,” and the novelette “Find Me” which has been a WIP for a few years now.
THE FINAL CHAPTER: Speaking of hell, I am returning for one more blood-filled trip to the pit of hell known as STOKEBRIDGE! This October, 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐊𝟑𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐄: 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 finishes off the trilogy of this haunted ghost town, in which all lingering secrets will be revealed. Be sure to read the first two books in the series so you are prepared for this explosive finale! I am almost through my final round of self-edits and am hoping to find a couple beta readers to check it out early. 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 brings back the survivors from the first two installments who band together to try and take out the evil before it spreads across the world.
NEW MIDNIGHT SNACKS: As for my current WIP, I am working on two sequel novellas to 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙙𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, with the first tentatively titled 𝑴𝒊𝒅𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒔. These will be released separately as eBooks only before a paperback release of the full collection. I am hoping for a late 2025 – early 2026 release for these novellas. The sequels return the professors to the West Carbondale lake house where there’s no shortage of entities wandering the property…
POWER NOVEL NOVEMBER: Finally, I have a brand new novel that I will be tackling beginning in November. Even though I’ve distanced myself from the toxic NaNoWriMo, I’m still psyched about doing a “Power Novel November” in which I write a first draft during the thirty days of the month. A fun idea popped into my head several months ago, and I was so blown away by its potential that I already wrote a massive and detailed outline. This novel will be entitled: 𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝙺𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚝 𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚛 𝙲𝚊𝚖𝚙! This will be my take on horror nostalgia, with references to 80s and 90s style slasher but with humor and various twists and turns along the way. I am super excited for this one and expect that it will be my October 2026 publication.
March 14, 2025
It’s becoming increasingly harder to wake up in the morning and not feel a sense of dread as to the state of the world in general. I honestly don’t think I’d be surprised if I opened up the news one day to see an announcement that “The First Annual PURGE” has been scheduled in this country. Given the clowns in charge, I believe it might be a real possibility.
But what I want to talk about today is the growing number of boycotts going on. Specifically, the one that directly affects me as well as my closest allies-the writing community. Now I am all for a good boycott if it is for the right reasons. Fighting for the rights of certain marginalized groups to simply exist is a good one, as is fighting for livable wages and fighting back against a wannabe dictator who is far and away the dumbest and most incompetent to ever hold office.
But I digress. I don’t want to argue politics. I don’t (nor will I EVER) subscribe to one single political party. I have the ability to think for myself, and that doesn’t work when it comes to the two-party political system. What I want to talk about is the Amazon boycott. I know it was only supposed to go on for a week (and I did my part, by the way), but now people are clamoring at the idea that they will no longer do ANY business with Amazon. And don’t get me wrong, I think Jeff Bezos is a weaselly little suck-up who’d rather buddy up with his billionaire’s club than help those who are struggling. I have also heard the reasons for the boycotts-Amazon exploits workers and keeps wages low as to keep people in a constant state of struggle. They have put many small businesses under and don’t give two shits about it.
I get it. And I detest them for it.
But Amazon has become the lifeblood for independent authors such as me. It is the easiest way for a non-traditional writer to get their work out to the public. Their print-on-demand option is ideal. Yes, I think they screw us over when it comes to royalties. But honestly, the traditional route isn’t all that much better. Plus, as an indie, you get to keep the rights to your work. And it is a simple process to upload to kindle in order to sell eBooks. So, for those of us who need the money garnered from Kindle Unlimited page views, it’s hard to simply walk away. Actually, when you sign up to put your books on KU, you’re stuck for at least three months where you can’t sell your eBook anywhere else. PLUS, Amazon has been known to boot indie authors for no reason at all.
Now, I do have other ways to sell books. I have become more aggressive as it relates to book signing events, I promote buying from my website, and I have begun adding my books to the Barnes & Noble website as well. But until a better option arises, I still need Amazon in order to attract readers. That is the site where online shoppers look the most. Kindle dominates over Nook (B&N). Plus, not everyone is going to go all in on this boycott, and Amazon isn’t going to release its stranglehold on the industry anytime soon. Plus, to date I have recorded ZERO sales from Barnes & Noble since I first put my books there two and a half years ago.
That’s right. Not one sale on Barnes & Noble despite promoting that my books are there.
I can’t tell people where they should and should not shop. You have to make that choice for yourself, and I will always respect you doing what you feel is right. Just understand that most of us in the writing community feel the same way as you do regarding Amazon and the billionaires of this country who wouldn’t piss on us if we were on fire.
But for us, writing and publishing has been our lifelong dream. It took me 43 years before I could call myself a published author. Writing is my passion. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. In has gotten me through some difficult times over the past several years.
All I ask is that you don’t turn your backs on us completely just because we have to sell on a not-so-respectable platform in order to continue doing what we love. Oh and if it helps, if you buy an eBook from Amazon, most of THAT money goes to me and NOT Bezos (unlike paperbacks and hardbacks). Plus, if you are on Kindle Unlimited and read more than 3,000 pages a month, Amazon actually LOSES money. Just sayin’ 🙂
Send your hate mail to ericwoodsauthor@gmail.com.
February 26, 2025
We all have those days where we feel down and depressed for no real reason. But is that really the case? I’m no psychologist (and I don’t play one on TV), but it seems like when you talk about it out loud, even to yourself, you might discover why you are feeling down. I’ve been running the gamut lately of mixed emotions, and I know a lot of it is due to the crappy weather in the Midwest. But then I dig deeper, and I think about how I didn’t want to still be living here at this time. Honestly, just a few short years ago I had a tentative plan to move far away from here and start an exciting new journey. But as is always the case, life had other plans, and here I am, still trying to figure things out.
Over the past several months, I have found myself wanting to do nothing more than hibernate in my house. Sure, I make videos and social media posts, I keep writing (three WIPs and a fictional podcast right now), and I’m reading more now than I ever have. My compilation of new authors in both traditional as well as indie has blown up since 2022, as I have found reading and writing to be the best ways to escape reality and jump into another world where all I have to be in the spectator. But overall, I night at my place (or at my girlfriend’s house) beats going out and “peopling” any day of the week. Part of me wants to get out and socialize more. But when you live in a conservative cesspool where original creativity is frowned upon instead of celebrated, it’s not hard to understand why one might choose to remain in the privacy of their own home.
And I get it—we all have our own mental health issues to deal with. The world is a cutthroat place filled with awful people (most of whom are running the country). This is not a woe is me blog in which I want everyone to feel sorry for me. If anything, I want those who often feel this way to know that you are not alone in going through these times of depression for reasons you don’t always understand.
When I do have these bouts, I think about what is important to me and what I am grateful for – my friends and family, my dog, my girlfriend, my awesome sense of humor and ability to turn anything into a dirty joke. (My girlfriend gave me a “That’s What She Said” button for Valentine’s Day! She’s the coolest!) I know things could be a whole lot worse. And frankly, I think part of this depression is knowing that it probably WILL get worse over the next few years while we continue living through Idiocracy in real time.
I guess the point I wanted to make is that you should buy my books because I am putting two kids through college right now, and tuition is expensive. Okay, maybe that wasn’t my point.
Keep fighting, everyone.
I teased this on Instagram in August, but here is the official announcement! The EW! 2024 Indie Book Awards are coming!
On Friday, December 13th, get ready to celebrate the indie author writing community and shower them with the notoriety they deserve! And it’s going to be the indie author reading community who will get to choose the winners! I will release a ballot toward the end of the year in which you can vote on your favorites!
There will be ELEVEN total categories that will feature the amazing indie author books…but here is the catch: The books nominated are only the books I have read in 2024 (and the last couple months of ‘23). PLEASE NOTE: Most of these books were NOT published in 2024. In fact, the category of BEST NEW RELEASE OF 2024 will feature ALL of the books I read that were actually published this year. I’ve discovered so many wonderful authors over the past few years, and I am trying to catch up and read all of your books from previous years. Hopefully I’ll get a little closer to being caught up next year.
Oh, and to explain the name of the awards, of course they are my initials. But also, whenever I tell someone that I write horror, their response is often “EW!” So there you have it.
AWARDS! Since everyone loves receiving awards, I will gift the winning authors from each category with one of my books! What a prize, right! (Please don’t request to have your book taken off because of my lame attempt at self promotion with the prizes 😜). Winners in the U.S. will receive their choice of a signed paperback or an eBook (or audiobook if applicable). Non-U.S. winners will be gifted an eBook.
SPONSORSHIPS! Are you a small book publisher or an indie artist who’d like to get a mention? You can sponsor one of the eleven categories! Just send me one of your books, and you can sponsor the category of your choice! (Message me for more information).
THE CATEGORIES!
- BEST NEW RELEASE OF 2024
- BEST DYSTOPIAN THRILLER
- BEST FANTASY/SCI-FI
- BEST HORROR ANTHOLOGY
- BEST LGBTQ+ HORROR
- BEST MONSTER HORROR
- BEST NON-HORROR
- BEST PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
- BEST SERIAL KILLER THRILLER
- BEST SHORT STORY/NOVELLA
- BEST SUPERNATURAL THRILLER
STOKEBRIDGE 1975 ANNOUNCEMENT!
July 24, 2025
The prequel to the summer release STOKEBRIDGE will drop on October 25th, 2024 just in time for Halloween! STOKEBRIDGE 1975 journeys back to that horrifying day of August 1st, 1975, in the small town of Stokebridge, Wisconsin. The day where a monster was created, a town was destroyed, and the amalgamation of ghosts past, present, and future shaped a new habitat of hell on Earth.
Pre-order information will be coming soon!
EXPERIMENTS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Following the Vietnam War, a top secret military operation known as Project Stalwart was designed to produce a highly intelligent and powerful soldier. When the test subject showed no immediate effects, the project was shut down. The soldier who agreed to be the guinea pig of the experiment was sent back to his civilian life. Everything returned to normal.
Several years later, on August 1st, 1975, the consequences of Project Stalwart materialized. What followed was the bloodiest and most horrifying twenty-four hours in American history. It’s a day where two hundred people died at the hands of a single man.
It’s a day only a few people remember…
A TRIP BACK TO THE BEGINNING
July 18, 2024
I wanted to go back a few years and talk about not only my debut novel from 2018, but its sequel from 2021. PUMMELED was my breakthrough in so many ways. It was not only my first official publication, but it was the book in which I broke through and figured out a formula for writing a novel that worked for me. Upon its release, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was super proud of the accomplishment, and several people bought the paperback (I hadn’t yet figured out how to format an eBook). But on the other hand, I feel like its release was rushed. It was like, as soon as I figured out how to do the whole print-on-demand thing, I wanted it out there.
Take note, new authors. Don’t rush your novel if it’s not ready. Now don’t get me wrong, the book has received nothing but praise from people who have read it (as the reviews show). But it was not formatted properly, and it was not fully edited. Plus, many of my “friends” on Facebook unfriended/unfollowed me after I published it.
Another note for new authors: when you publish a book, you will discover your real friends from your fake ones. I still don’t understand this one, but I’ve grown numb to it over the years.
Overall, I still feel like this novel is the crowning achievement of my short writing career. The main character (Bree Aniston), is my favorite character creation. She is a Grade-A badass! Oh, and the novel is NOT horror! So, if you’ve avoided reading my work because you’re not into the scary stuff, these two novels have more of an action-packed dramatic feel than anything else.
Now on to the sequel. Almost immediately after PUMMELED was published and people began reading it, those readers told me I needed a sequel. I hadn’t planned on a sequel and instead wanted to cross another item off my bucket list by publishing a horror novel. In fact, my next three novels were in the realm of horror/thriller. But I didn’t forget about people asking for a sequel.
So, when a promising idea popped into my head, I wrote a sequel. At the end of 2021, I published PUMMELED: Submission. I brought Bree Aniston and her friends back for another round of badass fight clubs with a plot that turned out better than I could have imagined. It had action, drama, and some truly disgusting antagonists.
Then what was the problem, you ask? Well, nobody cared. I promoted and promoted. I had special deals on the original so new readers would be ready for the sequel. But it had no effect. Although I do know a select few people who did actually read it, the book still sits at ZERO reviews on Amazon. The fact that I don’t have a single publication that has reached twenty Amazon reviews is disheartening enough, but this one sitting at a goose egg for nearly three years has been the biggest gut punch to my writing journey.
I get the plight of the indie author. I really do. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that we work extremely hard, long hours for very little return. And probably the one reason I haven’t given up writing, despite the setbacks, is that writing is my release. Writing has saved me more times than I care to admit. But I’d still love it if people would read my stuff and let me know their thoughts. (And for those of you who have taken the time to read anything of mine, THANK YOU!)
Soooooo, for those who haven’t read one or both books, I am doing a “PUMMELED BY THE HEAT” summer special on both novels! Get the eBooks on Amazon for only 99 cents each from July 22nd through July 28th on both Amazon.com and Amazon UK!
THE ORIGINS OF STOKEBRIDGE!
May 20, 2024
My seventh full-length novel releases in two weeks from today on June 3rd. STOKEBRIDGE tells the story of a paranormal research group (aka “ghost hunters”) who are informed that there may be a ghost town in Wisconsin that was wiped off the map nearly fifty years ago by the government after one man went through the town and murdered almost every resident in less than twenty-four hours. Their focus is not just on discovering if spirits do haunt this dead town. But they also want to find out just why such lengths were gone to in order to wipe this town off the map as if it never existed, even going so far as to eliminate all roads that lead to the town, gather all information (maps, old newspapers, etc.) that mentioned the town, and silence those who survived the massacre.
Sometimes it’s challenging to pinpoint just how I came up with a certain idea. As you know, three of my novels (Welcome to Oblivion, Clippings, and This Is How He Collects Them) were all inspired by dreams. But what about the ones that popped into my head when I was awake? Where did I come up with some of these demented ideas? Sometimes it’s a simple line that I hear someone say. Or I see an object, and an idea just happens.
With STOKEBRIDGE, I can’t really determine exactly when and how I came up with this brainchild. Back in the late 1990s when I was desperately trying to figure out the formula to writing a novel, I had an idea. I wanted to write about a ghost town, but I wanted to dive into the WHY of the ghost town in general. The thought was that ghost towns die off when something otherworldly wipes them out. I wrote several thousand words but didn’t get all that far. Then I saw the movie Phantoms, and there went my idea.
Well, I never gave up on the idea of writing about a ghost town. They are creepy and the perfect setting for a horror tale if done correctly. For me, I wanted to come up with something more unique than your typical serial killer/ghost story. So I started wondering… What if there are small towns from centuries past just sitting around untouched for years, but they go undetected because deterrents have been put in place that are so effective, that nobody can find them?
It’s entirely possible. (Suspension of disbelief, people.)
Also, I really want to visit a ghost town. Thanks to Kerri, my amazing girlfriend, I’ve recently started going on ghost hunts. I host a “Ghost Walk” but that’s not the same. Unfortunately, I have yet to see or experience anything of a supernatural nature. But maybe subconsciously, that’s where this story came from.
Oh, and just to be clear, I’m not a conspiracy theorist by any means. I see these folks on social media every day spouting off some of the most ridiculous nonsense, and while some are good for a chuckle, it’s hard to take any of them seriously.
As for the future of this series, I have at least two more books to get out about this haunted town. I already have the first draft of STOKEBRIDGE: 1975 completed and am knee deep into the editing process.
THE RISE OF THE AUDIOBOOK
March 27, 2024
It’s the new “IT” thing! And no, I’m not talking about Pennywise. I’m talking about audiobooks. Although they have been around for decades (Books on Tape was mildly popular at one time), the new format of digital audiobooks has exploded in the reading community. So naturally I had to get in on the action.
Just released in audio format on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes is my 2022 novella The Man on the Roof at Midnight. This was my test run, so to speak, to get my feet wet in the audiobook world. And yes, I am doing the recording myself. If all goes well, when I’m done with my titles, I may put myself out there to record for other indie authors.
I have been studying up on the best methods to record my books to audio, and once I had all the equipment I needed, the next step was the recording. Being a shorter piece, I figured TMOTRAM would give me a chance to play around with the equipment and learn the software before I dove into the longer novels. But now that it’s out (you can get it HERE), I’m balls to the wall at recording the rest of my library. Most of it, anyway.
The next title to be released as an audiobook will be the 2023 novel THIS IS HOW HE COLLECTS THEM. That will be followed by my next release, STOKEBRIDGE, in June. Going forward, I plan to release all new titles in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.
“MR. SMILEY HORROR GUY” UPDATE
March 4, 2024
At the first of the year, I came up with 24 Goals for 2024. Yesterday I pulled up the list of goals just to see how far off I was and what I still need to accomplish, as we are already two-plus months into the year. Surprisingly, I did already accomplish a few of the things on the list, and I know some of the other goals can’t be accomplished until later in the year. But one thing I was slacking on was posting a new blog every month. I’m already behind on that one, as all I’ve done so far (beyond the regular reading updates and Featured Author pieces) is book promo stuff.
(By the way, you can pre-order STOKEBRIDGE now if you are so inclined.)
Anywho, to be perfectly honest, this year has become the epitome of “going through the motions.” Yes, I do have goals I would like to accomplish, but it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to keep pushing myself lately. And I know we all go through these periods when we ask ourselves “what am I doing?” and “does anyone care?” and of course, “am I making a difference at all?” For several months, my routine has been simple: work, read, write, play with the dog, and occasionally go out. I look at nonexistent book sales and try not to get discouraged. My kids are grown (both are in college, but one is away), and a good day for me is when I wake up and realize I don’t have to leave the house. Unless of course I have plans with my girlfriend, because she’s awesome and puts up with my shenanigans.
BOOK NEWS: Okay, enough of the self pity party. As for my writing, despite the majority of my Facebook “friends” running away to hide every time I post something about my books, I am hard at work with the STOKEBRIDGE series. The first novel is with the editor, and I am on track to have it ready for release as planned on June 3rd. I am currently 31,000 words into the prequel that I hope to have ready for release in October (or at least before Christmas). The third book is in the initial outlining stage and won’t be released until probably fall of 2025 at the earliest.
I am polishing up several short fiction pieces and am sending them out to numerous publications. So far it’s been mostly rejections, with the exception of one piece accepted to a 2025 anthology. But I’ll keep going because another goal of mine is to get published by someone who actually accepted my work.
Speaking of short fiction, I’m also hopeful of releasing a short story collection in 2025. I need to come up with a good title, though.
I am excited to announce that my books will be catching up with the latest reading trends, as I will be releasing each as an audio book! I have set up a “recording studio” in my basement and will be cranking out each of my novels (as well as The Man on the Roof at Midnight, which will be the first release) and hope to have several ready to go this year. STOKEBRIDGE will be released as an audio book along with the paperback and eBook.
THOR THOUGHTS UPDATE: Despite initial interest, I couldn’t garner any participation in the Indie Author Horror Book Club. But all is not lost! I will now be doing this as the Indie Author Horror Book Review Club on Instagram LIVE. At least once a month (maybe more depending on how busy I am), I will go LIVE on Instagram to talk about indie author books I have finished. Anyone who has also read the book(s) I am discussing is welcome to join in on the conversation (I’ll bring you on and everything!).
FINALLY: My next book signing will be on June 22nd at the Indie Author Book Expo in Peoria, Illinois. If you are in the area, please come on by and check it out!
TOP 10 HORROR MOVIES OF 2023
January 8, 2024
What a year for horror in 2023! This was far and away the best year overall for the movie genre in over a decade!
#10. MEGAN
It took me a while to finally watch this one, and I was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable this movie was. The creepy factor (just look at that thing!) along with the terrifying images of the doll chasing after everyone made this one worth a second watch. Of course there is rumor of a sequel, but let’s hope they don’t run it into the ground the way they did with Chucky.
#9. EVIL DEAD RISE
The deadites are back! Finally a worthy sequel that will help us forget about the reboot from several years back. This film was top two or three in terms of blood and gore, but let’s face it–you don’t go into an Evil Dead movie and not expect copious amounts of crimson red. They aren’t in the cabin out in the woods anymore, but they are still trapped, and I was truly unsure if a single character was going to survive. Plus, they did leave it open for a follow-up.
#8. INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR
Another highly anticipated film, I was excited to see the Lambert family return for what is probably the final film in the series. Although the family is not as happy-go-lucky as you might expect them to be, they are all once again front and center to the evil lurking in The Further. The scares were as strong as ever, and it was nice to see Dalton (the older son) have a prominent role. However, I would have loved to see more of Elise, Specs, and Tucker, but what can you do.
#7. SCREAM VI
I didn’t think a Neve Campbell-less Scream movie would be all that great, but I enjoyed this entry much more than part five. The motives were much stronger this time around, and the big reveal was beyond what I had expected. Bringing in Dermot Mulroney was great to see, and the return of Kirby was a nice touch. The “almost” kills were a little excessive, though, but I could see a direct correlation with Scream 2 (of which they basically called this a re-quel). Given the current chaos surrounding the franchise, this entry may also have been the last.
#6. COCAINE BEAR
OMG what a fun film! And NO, this movie was not based on a true story beyond the fact that once a drug lord dropped cocaine from a plane and a bear got into it. That aspect earned it the “inspired by true events” moniker. This was another in the Bloodiest Film category, with the over the top kills. The humor was well timed, the actors did a great job (R.I.P. Ray Liotta), and the film had a satisfying ending, which for me can make or break a film.
#5. FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S
I didn’t know what to expect with this one. Honestly I did not know anything about this brand except what my kids had told me about the video game. But this movie turned into one of the best films I have seen in years! Matthew Lillard was amazing, the animatronics were cool and creepy, and Fazbear’s Pizza was the perfect setting when all hell broke loose. The ending of course leaves an opening for a sequel, and the after credits scene was fantastically hilarious!
#4. THANKSGIVING
What a high note 2023 Horror ended with! One of the few holidays to never have a true horror movie attached to it (Thankskilling is cute, but come on), this trip back to the 1980s style of slasher/thriller was a fun ride from start to finish. The opening scene in the department store is a frighteningly accurate depiction of people and how they behave in packs. I spent the entire movie trying to figure out who the killer was (I won’t spoil it here), and some of these kills were both shocking and brutal! there is already a sequel in the works, and I will not be missing this one when it hits theaters!
#3. THE BOOGEYMAN
Scary, terrifying, thrilling…what else can I say except THIS is the definition of a solid horror film! Based on a Stephen King short story, the movie adaptation was phenomenal from the opening scene. You expect jump scares from the previews, but even knowing they are coming didn’t stop me from leaping out of my seat numerous times. Too many times, a King adaptation is unable to mimic the source material enough to turn over a good film, but I highly recommend this one and think it’s one of the best adaptations yet.
#2. RENFIELD
One of the funniest, bloodiest movies of the year! Nicolas Cage was born to play Dracula! Nicholas Hoult was perfect as Renfield and played up the suffering servant with charm and humor. This film rivals Evil Dead Rise as the bloodiest of the year, although the kill scenes were intentionally over the top to add to the dark humor. I also enjoyed the William Ragsdale (Fright Night) cameo. Oh, and remember, if you have a WELCOME mat outside your door, you’re just inviting the vampire into your house without even knowing it!
#1. THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER
How did this movie not do better in theaters? This film was dark, frightening, violent, brutal, and it held nothing back. If you know the lore of the Demeter, you know just about everyone dies. That little factoid doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of a movie that epitomizes what a vampire film should be. The Count Orlok (Nosferatu) look for Dracula made the film even more terrifying, and the anticipation that built right up until the end was brilliantly delivered.
THIS IS HOW HE COLLECTS THEM: Why I Wrote It
October 13, 2023
Happy Friday the 13th! Today marks the debut of my sixth novel. My tenth overall publication, counting novellas, collections, and a short story in an anthology. First off, I want to come right out and say it – this book is not for everyone. Horror in general has more of a niche audience, but this book’s deeper themes are a little darker than I have explored in previous stories. The truth is, I wrote the first draft of this novel when I was not in a great mental state.
Going back to the origin of the idea, this book was inspired by three different dreams that I had. The first involved being in a dank elevator with strangers, the gruesome scene that followed (when you read the book, you’ll know), and the idea of being trapped with some strange guy coming over and saying to us “this is how he collects them.” There were other pieces to that dream that made it into the novel as well, but I don’t want to spoil anything. The second dream was similar to one you will read in an early chapter in which a character is being chased by shadows and has to use his telekinetic ability to escape. It was a dream within a dream, as “waking up,” I still had those powers. Dream number three was simply my dad (who passed away in April, 2021) looking at me and saying “face the darkness, fight the darkness, beat the darkness.” The first two dreams happened around the summer of 2022. The last one happened right before I started writing the book when I was unsure of what I was going to do.
In November of 2021, I failed to “win” NaNoWriMo with my Dragon’s Blood sequel. To date, that one still sits on my thumb drive unfinished. I wanted to win NaNo in 2022 but needed an idea. I had This Is How He Collects Them in my back pocket, but the plot was extremely complicated, and I told myself that 30 days was not going to be enough time to push out a first draft. I was making excuses even though it was the strongest idea I had at the time. Soon I was unsure if I even wanted to continue writing.
On September 30, 2022, my novella (The Man on the Roof at Midnight) came out. This release happened on the same day I walked the red carpet for the film premiere of Holes in the Sky: The Sean Miller Story. The combination of the two events gave me some motivation to see if I could put together this complex story for NaNo. I still wasn’t entirely sold on the idea of tackling the project, but I spent a couple weeks detailing the outline before finally announcing the project. Then I spent the remainder of October getting ready to dive in with everything I had.
And then I wrote.
Every day.
For 30 days I wrote the first draft of this complicated tale. I set time aside every night after work and during the day (and night) on the weekends. It was flowing as well as any idea ever had. Certainly it was not perfect, but I was getting the story written, and on November 30, 2022, the first draft was completed at just over 60,000 words. (It would end up around 79,000 when all was said and done).
Writing has always been an incredible outlet for me. But writing this book helped me in ways I cannot explain. It was a major factor in pulling me out of a depression (many factors were contributing, not just one thing). Yes, it is still a complex story with various characters, and like I said, I know that not everyone will like it. Hell, some of the NetGalley review squad have already torched it. But if you know anything about NetGalley, you will understand why I’m not all that bothered.
If you are a fan of horror, please give this novel a try. I really do hope you enjoy it and can follow along with the stories of these characters. This was a novel that really began writing itself once I got going. It is not splatterpunk or extreme horror (I don’t do those), but there are few somewhat graphic and violent scenes present. Those really formed nicely as I went through the editing process. In fact, those are some of my favorite scenes, as I really dug into my creative soul to pull them out.
Thank you for reading this far in the blog, and thank you for reading my books! I hope you enjoy This Is How He Collects Them, and be sure to leave a review when finished (whether you liked it or not)!
Avoiding Distractions When Writing
October 2, 2023
I’m not sure if I am the best person to give advice on this topic. I mean, who am I kidding? I have invented excuses to not write, and honestly, I don’t know why? Part of me thinks it is because I want zero excuses when I sit at my desk and dive into the story. I don’t want anything left on my to-do list as I ready myself to enter a whole different world for a little while.
Last November, I tackled NaNoWrimo for the second time, and low and behold, I got through the first draft during the 30-day event. How did I do that? Well, for starters, I made sure I put time aside to write and didn’ blow it off. My part-time gig as a ghost walk tour guide ended in October, so I had most of my evenings free to sit down and write for as long as I wanted. Usually I tried to get through one chapter a day, although it varied from time to time.
Something else that worked for me was having a completed outline ready to go. Each chapter had a rundown of where I wanted the scene to be, and I did veer off track a few times (which is totally okay, by the way). Basically, just let the story take you where it needs to go. Your outline is there for guidance and is not the be all end all of what your novel will become. It can also help when writer’s block rears its ugly head. Getting stuck is a common reason writers get frustrated and ultimately look for distractions. This is not necessarily a bad thing. If you need to step away from a story, then do it. You don’t want to force something that isn’t there at the time. Just don’t continue to put off going back to the manuscript. Also, having an outline means you can skip ahead to another part of the novel and come back to the blocked scene later on.
Here is something else that can help – make a list! Some of you know how much I love lists, and if you make a list of “chores” you need to complete before you write, then you give yourself at least a fighting chance that you will be able to follow through. Just don’t keep adding to the list in order to have an excuse to put off the writing.
All in all, avoiding distractions comes down to one thing: self-discipline. While it is easy to get distracted in order to put off writing, we are ultimately responsible for sticking to our writing schedule.
August 28, 2023
“You’re going to be doing most of the marketing yourself.” ~ literary agent in regards to traditional publishing
Earlier this year, I took a virtual writing workshop where I was able to hear from numerous writing agents on a variety of topics. I took this class in order to learn a little more about the process of traditional publishing. It’s something that has always been swimming around in my head whenever I think about my publishing options. Let’s face it – the benefits of landing a traditional publisher are plentiful.
- More visibility
- Placement in popular bookstores such as Barnes & Noble
- More $$$ making opportunities
- Chances to make it to the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists
But as enticing as it sounds, this workshop showed me that trying the traditional route also poses numerous hindrances. And for someone as impatient as me, it might not be the best route.
- Getting an agent to even read your query is a challenge. I have seen more than a few authors post about how they have sent out dozens of queries, and not a single one had even been read, let alone accepted or rejected.
- The quote above. This was from an agent who admitted that while you may have an agent and publisher, you are still responsible for most of the marketing of your book. I’m sorry, but … WTF? I’m a writer, not a marketing guru. One of the main reasons I had been considering traditional publishing was the idea that I’d have people who could do the marketing for me. This was quite an eye opening discovery.
- Your book won’t be published for 12-18 months AFTER it is accepted. Again, I’m an impatient person. Not only is it going to take months (or even years) to get accepted, but then it’s going to take that much longer before the book is out there. Hell, by that point, the manuscript might need to be revised again because it’s outdated.
- You will lose most of the rights to your own work. I think we’ve all heard this one, so I won’t rehash it.
Look, I’m not trying to crap all over the idea of traditional publishing if that is the route you want to take. More power to you! But just understand that writing the book is such a small piece of the overall process. And for those of us who love to write and tell stories, the maddening reality of traditional publishing might be more of a hassle than it’s worth.
Now don’t get me wrong. If a real agent (not a scammer) wants to talk, then I am all for it. But I am not going to put my writing on hold for years just in the hope that a manuscript will get considered. According to getaliteraryagent.com, your chances of landing an agent are 1 in 6,000. Now I have no idea how legit this site is, but it sounds more likely to be a true statement than not.
The bottom line is this – you do you. Every writer has different goals and will take different roads to reach those goals. If you want to publish on your own time (and keep all the rights to your work), then go the indie route. If you want to push for that New York Times bestseller list (which I admit, is enticing), then don’t stop pursuing the traditional route.
Most importantly, though, as you contemplate your moves, just make sure to keep writing your stories.
August 7, 2023
If you saw my social media video about the Halloween season (yes, it’s a SEASON!), then you know by now that my favorite time of year is coming up. And since we have arrived in August, we are in official* preparation time for HALLOWEEN!
What does that mean, exactly? Well, I will tell you. August is the month where we see the summer days start to fade away, the nights begin a little earlier, and the spooky times begin to surface (unless they never left at all, which by some accounts is a valid argument).
One thing being worked on this month is the movie viewing schedule and the finalization of which books will be tackled over the next couple months. As of right now, I will be diving into books by Riley Sager, Darcy Coates, Lucy Foley, and the brand new Stephen King novel (let’s hope it’s better than the last one). I will also be taking in indie horror/thriller authors Mike Salt, Joseph Hood, and E. Reyes (among others). As for the movie list, I currently have 86 movies scheduled to ingest over the two-month timeframe (not counting the “Anything Goes” movie binge on Halloween day).
During this time, I will also be continuing my work with the Lincoln Ghost Walk (Tuesday through Saturday evenings in September, Fridays and Saturdays in October), and I will attempt to get around to seeing some haunted attractions (hayrack rides, haunted houses, ghost hunts, etc.). This season also brings back my favorite store, Spirit Halloween! I have lobbied to make this store a permanent fixture where I live, but unfortunately the unadventurous purists that make up this town’s majority would never support anything like that.
As far as summer goes, the entire season has seemingly flown by, and where I’m at, it’s been a mess of everything from nice, cool days to heat and humidity so excessive you could bake a loaf of bread in your mailbox. And then there was the tornado at the end of June which deposited a tree onto my house and car. Fun times. So honestly, I’m rather looking forward to the fall.
Just let us have a full season this year, okay? Let’s not go from 100 degrees down to 30 overnight.
Keep it spooky, everyone!
*official status was made up by me
June 13, 2023
I’ve said this before, and I will say it again: writing is a process.
Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, the finished product does not materialize overnight. The steps you must take in order to reach the finish line (holding that final copy in your hands) are vast and seemingly never-ending.
But while that fact may sound overwhelming, it also means you have multiple times throughout the process where you can (and should) celebrate your accomplishments. And completing each step as you work toward that published book is an accomplishment of its own.
For me, I like to celebrate a finished outline (I’m a plotter if you didn’t already know). If I’m writing a novel, I need to thoroughly outline. Otherwise, I will risk getting stuck in limbo not knowing where the story is going. So to figure out (at least in theory) where my story is headed is something I will always celebrate.
I also celebrate word counts. That might be partly an OCD thing, but I do it nonetheless. Hitting the 25,000 word mark is always wonderful, and then exceeding the 50,000 word mark to make it into the official “novel” category is a major milestone worth celebrating.
Next comes the finished first draft! That milestone is one to be celebrated by every writer, as it signifies that a book is forthcoming. The completed story, no matter how rough the draft, has been written. Now all that is needed is to endure the editing process (all 84 years of it), find some beta (and possibly ARC) readers, edit some more, and finally come up with a finished product. And yes, there’s other steps such as getting a cover designed, finding an editor, etc., but I’m mostly focusing on the actual writing of the book.
Once you finally have that finished product, your next accomplishment is holding that first copy of the book with your name on it! That feeling is unlike any other. Because you completed the process, and nobody will ever be able to take that away from you. Oh, and if you have already done this a time or two (or more), you know that it doesn’t get any easier! Each book you write is its own process filled with its own achievements.
So celebrate.
ARTISTIC TOXICITY
May 28, 2023
I want to talk about something I have dubbed “artistic toxicity.” This is not a term I can find on Google, so I may have just made it up (patent pending). Now what I mean by artistic toxicity is when a writer finds themself surrounded by toxic people who have zeroed in on the artist and what they condescendingly call their little hobby. Now I will focus on writers, but this goes for anyone with a drive to put their creative foot forward.
If you are an adult author, chances are you loved writing as a child. Creating new worlds and characters and telling these really cool stories was so much fun. And I’m sure along the way, you had detractors. People who said your stories were no good, or that it’s a waste of time … or they gave you backhanded compliments (what a neat little thing to do when you’re bored; or, it’s great that you have time for your hobbies). I’ve certainly had my share. I wrote virtually nothing for the better part of two decades because everywhere I went, negative feedback was regurgitated toward me as it related to writing. I live in an area of the world where original creativity is not exactly encouraged.
But when someone sets out to bring you down, or tries to tell you what you should be doing with your time instead of wasting it on any artistic endeavor, those are the toxic people you should cut from your life, or at least limit the time you spend around them.
Never let the detractors bring you down. Yes, you should embrace constructive criticism, especially when you ask for it. We all want others to see our work the way we do, and let’s face it, we are all too close to our own creations, and it is easy to miss even the simplest of mistakes. So yes, find those who will give you honest feedback on your creation in order to better your story. But never let anyone tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t be following this passion for writing.
I have found that the #writingcommunity is one of the greatest groups of which I have ever become a part. In the years since I finally became a published author, I have met some of the most wonderfully supportive authors. These are people who don’t see each other as competition. We are supportive and build each other up. While I primarily write in the scarier categories, I am one hundred percent in support of writers from all genres. I will continue to read indie authors who write drama, historical, romance, comedies, poetry, etc., because I admire anyone with the courage to put themselves out there for the world to read (and judge). It is not easy to write a book. In fact, it’s not easy to write a poem or a short story. It’s a challenge that takes quite a bit of work. But for those of us who spend hours and hours in these alternate worlds, we have a passion and welcome this challenge. And nobody has the right to tell us otherwise.
Have fun like you did when you were a kid.
Write your stories.
Reject artistic toxicity.
DREAMS & WRITING
May 1, 2023
How many writers have taken a vivid dream (or dreams) and immediately written them down, believing they have one hell of a story if they can figure out the missing details? For me, a dream back in the early part of the 2000s would linger for nearly two decades before I put together the basis for Welcome to Oblivion, a novel I released during the middle of the pandemic in September of 2020. The dream involved me walking through a dark, creepy castle with an unknown companion while being followed by shadows. We couldn’t find our way out and felt like we were going in circles. Eventually, I was all alone, except for the shadows that would pop in and out of view. That is all I remember from that dream, and soon after I began writing a stage play named after my favorite line from a Hellraiser movie. Unfortunately, the vision I had for this project was not possible on the stage. Not to mention, getting original stage plays accepted and produced were extremely difficult, especially where I live. So, the project was scrapped for roughly 17 years. It was around the time I wrote my first horror novel, Dragon’s Blood, when I began looking for a new horror idea. I had never forgotten about Oblivion, and so I pulled up what I had written (character sketches, plot details, and several scenes) and began to outline what would become my third novel overall.
Then, only a few years ago, I had another dream. In this one, I was a reporter covering a serial killer, but the killer knew I was trying to uncover his identity, so he was looking for me. I remember hopping from rooftop to rooftop trying to avoid the killer who I could see on the ground below trying to find me. With this dream, I would write the nontraditionally structured novel Clippings in 2021. The story is told in the form of media communications, such as newspaper articles, blog posts, e-mails, press releases, and TV news transcripts.
Now, As I prepare to publish my sixth novel, I am again using dreams to put out something terrifying. This Is How He Collects Them is loosely based on three different dreams I had in 2022. Without giving too much away, the story is darker than anything else I have written, but I feel the story (while complex) is strong, and now I am at the stage where the beta readers will give me their feedback in which I can correct any flaws before it goes to the editor.
This Is How He Collects Them releases on Friday, October 13th, 2023 in hardback, paperback, and eBook.
Eric Woods, Author 