I’ve been MIA. Appointments, writing, health stuff. And now starting grad school. But I finally started meds after numerous tests etc. And I daresay I’m starting to feel slightly better? It’s kinda a process of elimination. I’ve got more appointments lined up but.. is that hope? Reprieve? Maybe?

We fiction writers and artists are a strange lot. I’m talking super strange. Well. I’m glad.

Now reading 🗡️ The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne. I’m late to the party, as usual. And not even fashionably so. But let’s go!

If you want to read a strange creative nonfiction, please, help yourself to my post. It’s not a story. Nor is it a poem. It’s more like a lyrical essay. A lyrical.. list? I don’t know. Maybe somebody wiser knows. Enjoy! Or block me. Both will be understandable.

Hemingway: The Mask of Masculinity and Revelations in The Snows of Kilimanjaro open.substack.com/pub/annotati...

A rundown of Hemingway and his public persona. youtu.be/K44kg6jMYj8?...

I'm doing some read-alongs over on Substack for the first part of the year, if anyone is interested in any of them! Specifically, I'll be noting observations on "identity" within each work. Read more about it: open.substack.com/pub/annotati...

I’ve felt horrid. Stress seems to make everything worse tenfold, so I’ve been mostly avoiding the internet like the plague. But I’m so thankful for books. I dunno what I’d do without them.

I’ve a book coming out this month! It’s a fantasy novella about a bridegroom who brings an unwelcome guest to his wedding. It’s full of snow and massive animals. Perfect for this time of year. It’ll be available as a pocket sized paperback too, complete with my illustrations. 📢📚 #Booksky

Oh, I’ve been MIA. But for those who have followed my whining about my health… I did finally see endocrinology. Next week, I have my thyroid checked again since hashimotos is a bitch. But also checking for potential Addison’s. I’m supposed to get a salivary gland biopsy to also check for ⬇️

Watching Godzilla 2014 for 846th time. There is not a Godzilla movie that I don’t love. Even the 1998 one. Might watch Godzilla Minus One after. Now that one- phew. What a great movie.

#Writer Sorry to use the tag outside of its intended purpose, but I wanted to wish a very lucky #NewYear to the hosts and participants of #HorrorWritersChat and my fellow creators of The #ShadowBoxArchives. I know 2025 was a lot, to say the least, but hopefully 2026 makes up for it and then some.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2026 is full of FIRE and TOGETHERNESS!

Finally get to watch Wicked For Good! So excited!!

My stepson (19) got this for me for Christmas and it’s a perfect gift. :)

Merry Christmas everyone! It’s belated but was busy. Hope everyone was able to find a form of joy!

Basically surviving chaos and extreme fatigue via coffee. Hopefully my appointments in Jan give me some answers for my health. 🫠

It seems there is always something to do. But, before I run myself ragged, I shall watch Frankenstein (Netflix) tonight. Tomorrow, I'm reading Dickens's A Christmas Carol for the very first time. Which is insane considering I've seen 75 million adaptations and read much of his other work!

Ive been MIA thanks to doc appointments and other responsibilities. But yeah! Thank hades for Friday. Also: www.instagram.com/reel/DSLCdcf...

Read “Songlight” and then immediately read “Torchfire”, the first two books of The Torch Trilogy. Loved it! It’s labeled as YA, but it doesn’t read like most pop fiction YA so don’t let that deter you. It’s really good!

Made a video while I feel not completely like death. www.tiktok.com/t/ZTrmKgRWA/

Been dealing with my autoimmune shit, so unimportant tasks are not only deprioritized but completely forgotten. That includes socializing. But today’s horror chat was great (as always). The thoughtfulness, humor, reminiscing, vulnerability… it was really nice.

#Horrorwriterschat Q2: So many things! I think, in the spirit of both Matt & the chat, so much of it comes down to community and friendship. There's a lot the genre *does* and allows us to explore, but fundamentally, like most human art, it's about sharing with one another and expressing something

My dream is to be able to pay rent 😅 but also have my characters & situations feel real & authentic to the readers. Like if they can come out on the other side feeling as though they can defeat their own monsters, that would be amazing. #HorrorWritersChat

Thanks Mary. #HorrorWritersChat, I wrote this blog post in memory of Matt. I hope you'll take the time to look at it and maybe look at Matt's books as well. ramiungarthewriter.com/2025/11/30/a...

the transition period going from Thanksgiving to Christmas in the US. You can find that below. The second thing is our Thirstday chat which is being held tomorrow. Anyone can participate as long as they are subscribed to us. The rules are on our About page. open.substack.com/pub/shadowbo...

Great chat this week. Matt will be sorely missed. No wins yet, but I'm always happy to promote my work! Paperbacks and eBooks in my linktree. So far I only have two titles, but I'm working on 2-3 more simultaneously (I am insane) linktr.ee/Michelle_Hel...

My collection is out now. Lots of goodies in there, if you like horror, iiiiiit's in there, along with some tamed down horror. You can skip the gory stuff if you gotta. Anyway, if you do read it, I hope you enjoy. Thank you. x mybook.to/AllsWell

For promoting, I feel like tonight I have to go with the story that started it all for me. The one Matt encouraged me to see through to publishing; A Survivor's Eye. Thank you Matt, for everything. books2read.com/b/mZqWwD

By the Blood Ursula's new governor, the mysterious Fr Marcellus, must defend her from accusations of vampirism. He knows they're false. He should know - he's a vampire himself. But the stakes soon rise when the undead also take interest in Ursula. 💙📚 #booksky ko-fi.com/s/6793e39b5b

Thanks, Mary! Lemon Balm is my only release for now. Where to get it: www.vampireantihero.com/the-night-garden/lemon-balm First chapter: www.vampireantihero.com/short-storie... I also have merch in my site's store, and extra content on Patreon - www.patreon.com/3922566/join #HorrorWritersChat

First, let's share this because we are all here because of Matt. I hope he is writing something epic in another realm. 🕯️ www.justgiving.com/page/mattmas...

Thanks for hosting this 🖤 I have to give a shout out to Matt's work. He was such a creative writer and I can't recommend checking out his books enough #HorrorWritersChat #booksky

Thank you for organising this week, Mary. And thank you all for joining - I know Matt would have loved your answers this week. 💝 Before I promote anything of my own, first, the Macmillan charity that has been raised in Matt's honour. www.justgiving.com/page/mattmas... #HorrorWritersChat

HORROR SUBMISSIONS OPEN 🔥 An anthology to honour the creator of #HorrorWritersChat, Matt aka MG Mason, is in the works. Theme: CAMPFIRE HORROR FOR ADULTS Deadline: December 31st, 2025 See attached FAQ for details --- Please direct questions about this anthology to @thatwilliambeck.bsky.social

Thank you #HorrorWritersChat, and thank you, Matt for bringing us all together ❤️ We will miss you. Free promos for this week FREE Yuletide Terror books.bookfunnel.com/midnightwhis... Stories for All claims.prolificworks.com/gg/UtIUqsxSJ... ALL THINGS CREEPY books.bookfunnel.com/allthingscre...

My press debuts with a very special edition of a classic (see my pinned post). 'Blood Garlands' —my new collection of short fiction—is out late 2026. I'd like to recommend 'We Are Always Tender with Our Dead' by @ericlarocca.bsky.social . A beautiful and terrible new masterpiece. #HorrorWritersChat

I missed the Thanksgiving Week because I had to work on Wednesday so I wouldn't have to on Thursday, but my Thanksgiving horror novel QUESTION NOT MY SALT is short, mean, a little funny, a little flirty, and a lot gross. geni.us/Question

To Matt. www.justgiving.com/page/mattmas...

#HorrorWritersChat Thanks Mary, couldn't have been easy to do but you did great I'll leave ye all with my latest, KILLER KAGAMI Talk about venting, this book got you covered AN ADULT FILM STAR IS FOUND UNALIVED ON A SPACE STATION. HILARITY ENSUES!!! www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

I'll leave you with this possibly true conversation with Matt, #horrorwriterschat.. "Martin..." "Shhh. Remember when you found the holy grail and used it to save Sean Connery?" "I didn't do--" "Yup, and that time you stopped the T-1000 from killing John Conner?" "I... I was kinda bad ass." "Always."

#HorrorWritersChat My book CAPTURE SPIRAL is available for preorder. Capture Spiral is a user's guide for a night gallery of childhood-origin neuroses, and a celebration of the "great escape" we call imagination." (Stephen ‘Ghostwatch’ Volk) temporalboundary.bigcartel.com/product/capt...

#HorrorWritersChat I'm not sure if I'm the right person to do this, but I can't imagine a better way to remember Matt than through his work. So, for anyone who hasn't yet, check it out: mgmasoncreative.com/all-my-books/

Thanks again to Matt who brought us all together in #HorrorWritersChat My first indie horror in debuted in October, and I could use reviews. Check out my collection of weird suburban horror stories, all set in a neighborhood suspiciously similar to the one I live in: books2read.com/ShadowHill

Thank you for hosting tonight Mary. It couldn't have been easy holding such a heavy session for many of us but it's been lovely remembering Matt tonight. I never got to finish The House on Finvoy Road 2nd edition for Matt to read, but I will continue it in his memory ❤️‍🩹 #HorrorWritersChat

Writing is hard sometimes. Getting published is even harder. I did it and I hope maybe some of you check out my first collection. Thank you. xx #HorrorWritersChat mybook.to/AllsWell

I have a collection of Christmas stories called YULETIDE THRILLS. Starts light and gets dark. I tell everyone else to start at the beginning and stop when it gets too dark, but y'all should start at the end and stop when it gets too light. www.rebeccacantrell.com/books/yuleti... #horrorwriterschat

#HorrorWritersChat Unfold is my second book and first horror. It is a slow burn workplace thriller that escalates into a gory creature feature. Releases on December 15 for paperback and Kindle www.amazon.com/Unfold-Trist...

#HorrorWritersFantasy Well, you can sign up to receive the first chapter of my dark fantasy (the second chapter arrives via email a couple days later). It’s free for my email list. The pdf has content warnings but I’ll list them below too. vpwrites.kit.com/chapter1