Each Monday, until the end of the year, a new horror story, free to read online, will be published at the following link: https://roosterrepublicpress.com/two-thousand-word-terrors-table-of-contents-introduction/
My short horror story “Go, Marge, Go” is included in this anthology and will be published August 21st, 2023.
It’s a fun one. I hope you like it.
Don’t tell anyone I snuck into this reading with these amazingly talented writers…okay, tell everyone. Come hear them read, and then stick around and listen to me too. I’ll read a few horrifying poems and a scary little tale. Free registration through Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fright-fest-horror-readings-thurs-oct-27-noon-1-pm-est-tickets-401426125347
September 1, 2022 by HWAWeb
Roni Stinger
Willamette Writers is a community of writers based in the Pacific Northwest. Like many organizations, much of their offerings have gone online since the pandemic, and while we all miss in-person events, going online opens the door to writers from all over the world.
This year’s conference was a hybrid event with both in-person and online offerings that drew over 300 attendees. It also happened to be my first in-person conference, and I’m hooked. My anxiety has kept me from doing these things, but now I’m ready for StokerCon™ 2023. I need to see my Halloween people! But, back to the WW conference.
The in-person conference kicked off with a silent auction boasting signed Dean Koontz novels, wine baskets, and much more, along with a Writer’s Fair featuring many local and national organizations. These were open to the public and brought in a nice-sized crowd.
The conference hosted master classes, workshops, pitches, critiques, and panels with over fifty industry professionals. Keynotes from Laura Stanfill (publisher of Forest Avenue Press and author of Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary) and Mark Oshiro (author of Anger is a Gift and Each of Us a Desert) were interesting and inspiring, as were the delicious appetizers, desserts, and brunch. The fledgling juncos hopping around on the patio were adorable, too!
The highlight this year, for us horror folks, was a panel with Wendy Wagner (Editor-in-Chief of Nightmare Magazine and author of The Deer Kings), Kelly McWilliams (author of Agnes at the End of the World and Mirror Girls), moderated by Mark Teppo (Underland Press). The full-capacity attendance attested to the fact that our genre is going strong.
Here’s a few of the subjects discussed at the panel:
– The need for more middle-grade horror and the value of giving kids the opportunities to inhabit experiences that aren’t theirs to provide empathy, insight, and understanding of the world beyond them.
– The vibrancy of the small-press horror market. Wendy Wagner said, “Be a freak. Somewhere out there are a dozen people who want to read that.” Will do, Wendy!
– And, how marketing for horror at the agent/editor/publisher level and the bookstore level are different. A book can be as “upmarket, buzz-ready, contemporary classic, genre-buster” as it likes, but, if it has monsters, it goes on the horror shelf, because horror fans show up for the monsters, whereas everyone else wants buzz words but are freaked out by monsters.
I had an amazing conference experience, and loved making new writer friends, as well as connecting with those I’d only known online. Next year, we’ll have an HWA booth at that writer’s fair!
“Fall Preserves” my dark story about dissociation, trauma, and healing is in Rewired: Divergent Perspectives in Horror dropping September 2022.
Look at this beautiful cover!
Available for preorder in E-book and paperback at Ghost Orchid Press.
I am so excited for this release. It includes my story, “The Ground Shook”. This is one of my favorites. Meera arrived on the page and insisted her story be written. She’s determined to bring back her daddy, no matter what it takes or what might be happening in the world around her. Meera’s story is a dark, creepy, and emotional one, but not without love and hope.
A sample of Issue 009 is available here: https://darkmattermagazine.com/issues/issue-009/
Honored to share a table of contents with these amazing writers, Noah Codega, Andrew Sullivan, R.L Meza, Monte Lin, Rich Larson, Ai Jiang, Mark Joslyn, Warren Benedetto, Alex Woodroe, and Christi Nogle. As well as, incredible artists Asher, The Art District’86 and cover artist artofolly. Art features and editorials by Rob Carroll are always fantastic. And, there’s an author interview with Anne Heltzel by Jena Brown and upcoming submission news by Anna Madden. Dark Matter Magazine is one of the best out there, and it’s exciting to watch the press grow.
You can order digital issues and preorder print issues here: https://darkmattermagazine.shop/collections/issue-009
April was National Poetry Month and to celebrate I set out to write a poem a day. I finished my 30th poem of the month today, April 30th. These are all first drafts. They will need a bit more refining before I submit them to markets. Nevertheless, I have 30 new poems.
Three of the thirty, I polished and submitted to Under Her Skin: A women in Horror Poetry Showcase. I’m honored that they were accepted and will be included in the showcase slated for release in April 2022.
I also enjoyed reading a few poetry collections this month: A Collection of Nightmares by Christina Sng, Cradleland of Parasites by Sara Tantlinger and Brothel by Stephanie M. Wytovich. All wonderful reads by fantastic horror poets.
For more poetry inspiration, though the women above provided plenty, I read two books on the craft of poetry: The Triggering Town: lectures and essays on poetry and writing by Richard Hugo and Poemcrazy: freeing your life with words by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge. I learned something, or several somethings, from both of them and would recommend.
The above are my reads for this month. There are many more amazing poets and craft books I’d recommend, as well. Perhaps I’ll do some future blog posts on them, or feel free to email for personalized recommendations.
So, I’m figuring these out as I write this. Not the way I’d recommend setting goals, but I don’t want to go into February without a plan.
Today I submitted the first 3,000 words of my novel to Futurescapes workshop. I was thrilled to be accepted and am both excited and nervous about workshopping my novel in March. My main goal this year is to have my novel ready to submit by June 1st.
Secondary goals are:
Write a poem a day in April for National Poetry Month.
Write, revise, and submit 12 new flash or short stories this year.
Revise and submit any previous stories that are worth developing.
Read 20 books. I’ve reduced this goal from previous years due to the hours of reading I do each week for Flash Fiction Online.
Still aiming for 100 rejections, and a handful of acceptances would be nice, as well. 🙂
Think that’ll do it for my writing life this year. Wishing everyone a productive and peaceful 2021!
I’m delighted to share another Q&A with The Storied Imaginarium. This one on my story “Wolf’s Bane” published in All World’s Wayfarer: Through Other Eyes anthology.
You can check it out here: Q&A on Wolf’s Bane with The Storied Imaginarium
Roni Stinger 