Midnight Garden stories now on Joseph Carrabis: “Drip Feed”
Posted: October 8, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Book Release, Dark fiction | Tags: "Drip Feed", Midnight Garden, Paul Kane | 1 Comment
Day 2 of the WordCrafter “Midnight Garden” Book Blog Tour
Posted: October 8, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Audio Excerpt, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: "Jack Moon and the Vanishing Book, "The Fae Game, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Denise Aparo, Midnight Anthology Series, Midnight Garden, Roberta Writes, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Leave a commentIt’s Day 2 of the WordCrafter Midnight Garden Book Blog Tour and we’re over at Roberta Writes with contributing authors Danaeka Scrimshaw and Denise Aparo. Join us in the lauch for volume 2 of the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series from WordCrafter Press, Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow with guest posts on inspiration and excerpt readings from their stories, and a giveaway where you could be the winner of a free digital copy.
Midnight Garden stories now on Joseph Carrabis: “Kurst”
Posted: October 8, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Book Release, Dark fiction | Tags: DL Mullan, Kurst, Midnight Garden | 3 Comments
Welcome to the WordCrafter “Midnight Garden” Book Blog Tour
Posted: October 7, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Audio Excerpt, Author Interview, Blog Tour, Books, Dark fiction, Giveaways, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: "The Seagull Man", Anthology, M.J. Mallon, Midnight Garden, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | 25 Comments
It’s day 1 of the WordCrafter Midnight Garden Book Blog Tour, and we’ve got a great tour scheduled with with guest posts and readings from contributing authors at every stop, and a fantastic giveaway, so stick with us.
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow is the annual WordCrafter anthology, and book 2 of the Midnight dark fiction anthology series. This year’s winning story is “The Seagull Man”, by M.J. Mallon. Also featured are stories by contributing authors Paul Kane, Ell Rodman, DL Mullan, Joseph Carrabis, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Paul Martz, Denise Aparo, Jon Shannon, Julie Jones, Abe Margel, Robb T. White, Molly Ertel, Zack Elafy, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Kaye Lynne Booth, and Alex Constance.
About Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow

17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest Midnight Garden… if you dare.
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/MidnightGardenAnthology
Giveaway
Three lucky winners will receive a digital copy of Midnight Garden in a random drawing following the tour. All you have to do to enter is follow the tour and leave a comment at each stop that you visit.
If you miss a stop, you can go back and visit through the links in the schedule below. (Links won’t work until the stop goes live).
Schedule
Monday – October 7 – M.J. Mallon: Interview & Reading from “The Seagull Man” – Writing to be Read
Tuesday – October 8 – Danaeka Scrimshaw: Inspiration for “The Fae Game” & Denise Aparo: Reading from “Jack Moon & the Vanishing Book” – Roberta Writes
Wednesday – October 9 – Joseph Carrabis: Reading of “The Last Drop” & Inspiration for “Striders” – Paul Martz
Thursday – October 10 – Paul Martz: Reading & Inspiration for “The Blackest Ink” – Writing to be Read
Friday – October 11 – Molly Ertel: Inspiration Reading from “Antipenultimate” & Abe Margel: Inspiration for “My Balance” – Kyrosmagica
Saturday – October 12 – Paul Kane: Inspiration for “Drip Feed” & Joseph Carrabis: Reading of “Grande Ture” – Undawnted
Sunday – October 13 – DL Mullan: Reading from “Kurst” & Ell Rodman: Inspiration for “The Drummer” – BookPlaces
Monday – October 14 – Joseph Carrabis: Reading of “The Exchange” & Inspiration for “The Tomb”) – Writing to be Read
Today’s stop features an interview with the author of the winning story, M.J. Mallon, and an excerpt reading from “The Seagull Man”.
Interview
M.J.: Thank you so much Kaye for such wonderful questions and for featuring me.
Kaye: What inspired you to enter the WordCrafter 2024 Short Fiction Contest?
I enjoy being part of anthologies especially around Halloween time when I can flex my dark fiction tendencies. And the bonus of winning, which this time I did, is so inspiring!
Kaye: What inspired your story entry, “The Seagull Man”?
M.J.: Bird and people watching! I’ve witnessed four curious bird episodes, three with seagulls, either acting strange or amusing and one more recently with a large swan and pigeons being fed by a curious-looking man. Getting back to the seagull story that inspired me, I saw a man surrounded by seagulls who appeared to be dressed like them. They flocked around him, obsessively, camouflaging him, and then followed him when he drove off on his bike. He disappeared with them, as if he was one of them, dressed in seagull colours of white and grey.
Kaye: Where were you when you received the news that your story had been chosen as the winner?
M.J.: I was in Tavira, Portugal, enjoying the June sunshine. Imagine my delight to hear that I was the winner. An excuse for some celebratory wine, some vinho verde!
Kaye: You’re a YA author. In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between YA and adult fiction? Why do you choose to write for young adults?
M.J.: With YA fiction, you must have the right mindset, a youthful one. And be mindful of the audience you are writing for. So, I include mental health, etc, trigger warnings, (mild ones, albeit.) I am currently writing book three in the series and there is one creepy scene, (which I’ve had some concerns about. How far is it okay to go?) How much do I include for a younger readership? What is acceptable? Whereas, if you write for adults, there are fewer restrictions in that way. I write YA because I have a young mindset, and I like to keep as youthful in mind and body as I can.
Kaye: What is the biggest reward you get from your writing?
M.J.: The readership, when you get feedback that your writing means different things to different people. No one has the same opinion. And when someone truly gets your story and relates to what you are trying to portray that is the biggest reward.
Kaye: How does your love of crystals play a role in your writing?
M.J.: I collect crystals have done for years. My first was a malachite, which is a green crystal and a stone of transformation! Crystals are a crucial part of the Curse of Time series, Bloodstone and Golden Healer, and will also be in the third book, still to be named. Crystals are magical! The main protagonist, Amelina, learns about her magical ancestry and how to wield magic to protect her family and her friend Esme, the vulnerable mental health protagonist, the mirror girl, from harm.
Kaye: Books 1 & 2 of your Curse of Time series are Bloodstone and Golden Healer, respectively. Would you like to tell about this series?
M.J.: The story setting is Cambridge, England, where I used to live.
It is inspired by:
The Corpus Christi Chronophage clock on King’s parade and its three creatures: the grasshopper, the mythological midsummer fly, and the dragon, (invented by Dr. John C. Taylor, OBE who I had the pleasure of meeting!)
Juniper Artland’s sculptural park, crystal grotto, (crafted by artist Anya Gallaccio,) in Wilkieston, near Edinburgh, Scotland.
It is a light (crystal magic,) and dark tale of a girl’s transformation, her discovery of who she is, who she can trust and how to cure her father of a debilitating aging curse. As the series continues, the storyline of all the characters evolves. In this process, we learn more about the antagonist, Ryder, who is a dark demon, a shadow sorcerer, with a creepy panther. And book three has the extraordinary dragon clock timepiece! A dragon like one you have never met before!
Kaye: In addition to your novels, you’ve had stories published in several short fiction anthologies, including Nightmareland, in which I also have a story featured. (I didn’t realize that until I visited your author page on Amazon.) What is your preference: writing fiction in short or long form? Why?
M.J.: Yes, I began writing short fiction horror/dark fiction through the training ground of Nightmareland!
My preference… long form is so rewarding when I write that final chapter. I always feel such a sense of accomplishment. But it is so difficult in its production, because of its size, the sheer volume of the project. And a series is even harder.
Short form is easier to get to the nugget of the story. I love that about short form. Both are wonderful. I’m not sure which I prefer… I love them both, but for different reasons!
Kaye: If you could meet and talk with one literary figure, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
M.J.: Ah, just one? Oscar Wilde, as I’d love to ask him about his portrayal of Dorian Grey, in the Picture of Dorian Gray. The antagonist, Ryder, in the Curse of time series was based on him. Dorian’s narcissistic vanity, his longing for beauty, for youth, his charm, and his excesses that is Ryder.
Reading from “The Seagull Man” by M.J. Mallon
Midnight Garden Book Trailer
Excerpt From “The Peddler”, by Alex Constance

Excerpt From “Fire Sale at the Burdock Family Business”, by Robb T. White

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Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!
Midnight Garden stories now on Joseph Carrabis: “Antepenultimate”
Posted: October 6, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Book Release, Dark fiction | Tags: Antepenultimate, Midnight Garden, Molly Ertel | Leave a comment
Midnight Garden stories now on Joseph Carrabis: “Jack Moon and the Vanishing Book”
Posted: October 6, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Book Release, Dark fiction | Tags: "Jack Moon and the Vanishing Book, Denise Aparo, Midnight Garden | 3 Comments
Midnight Garden stories now on Joseph Carrabis: “The Seagull Man”
Posted: October 4, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Book Release, Dark fiction | Tags: "The Seagull Man", M.J. Mallon, Midnight Garden | 2 Comments
Midnight Garden stories now on Joseph Carrabis: “My Balance”
Posted: October 4, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Anthology, Book Release, Dark fiction | Tags: "My Balance", Abe MArgel, Midnight Garden | Leave a comment
The D.I.Y. Author is in the 2024 Novel Writing Tools Bundle!
Posted: October 3, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Books, Story Bundle, Writing, Writing Business, Writing Reference | Tags: 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle, The D.I.Y. Author | 6 Comments
The exciting news is that The D.I.Y. Author is included in the 2024 Novel Writing Tools Bundle. You can get this great writer’s reference along with other great referencce books which should be in every author’s library for one really great price here: https://storybundle.com/writing. Here’s a guest post by bestselling author and currator, Kevin J. Anderson to tell you more.
THE 2024 NOVEL WRITING TOOLS BUNDLE
The 2024 Novel Writing Tools Bundle – Curated by Kevin J. Anderson
This year’s Writing Tools StoryBundle, curated by bestselling author and publisher Kevin J. Anderson, is another treasure chest of vital handbooks covering aspects of the writer’s craft, business, and way of life. We have thirteen titles on a range of subjects, plus a 12-month subscription to Indie Author Magazine, your best source to stay up-to-date on the industry.
On writing craft, there’s The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing, Vol. 1—Wulf Moon’s award-winning system on how to write stories and does so with creativity, fun, and humor. Tara Grace Ericson presents Romance
Character Tropes—far more than your average trope list; this is an encyclopedia packed with info to help you use and leverage each trope successfully.Freelance editor Joshua Essoe teaches about Mood and Atmosphere in his series of special-edition writing guides, each examining the most-common issues he encounters from writers he works with. Word by Word by award-winning author Kerrie Flanagan, shows you how to unlock your creativity
and transform your writing. This is an essential guide for writers that offers inspiration, genre-specific strategies, and practical tips. Jana S. Brown gives you Steps to Self-Editing. You’ve finished your novel! Now learn the self-editing steps to smooth off the rough edges and really make it shine! And in the new revised edition of On Being a Dictator: Revised Edition, by Kevin J. Anderson, Martin Shoemaker, and Greg Vose—available exclusively in this StoryBundle,—you’ll learn how to use dictation to increase your productivity. One of the foundational books on a popular writing method, On Being a Dictator will help you think outside the box and up your game in the fast-paced ever-changing world of publishing.
Now, on to the writing business. Dollar by Dollar by Kerrie Flanagan is a comprehensive guide packed with proven strategies to help writers boost book sales, increase income from writing, and succeed in both traditional and self-publishing. Mark Leslie’s Author’s Guide to Branding for Success shows you how to make your Author Brand into one of your best long-term Intellectual Property assets! Matty Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn provide guidance and inspiration to share your message with the world from the stage in Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker. And Booking the Library by Jessica Brawner is tailored for authors, speakers, storytellers, musicians, puppeteers, and all living-wage entertainers. This guide is your key to unlocking fresh markets, cultivating a dedicated fanbase, and revolutionizing your livelihood.
And finally, on the writing life, these titles will help you stay inspired and remain strong as a creative.
The D.I.Y. Author by Kaye Lynne Booth shows you the ropes in the business of being an author. Wit and Wisdom by Craig Martelle—exclusive first release in this StoryBundle—is chock full of quips and snippets to help authors stay
focused on the right things to accelerate their business. And Falling to Fly by Todd Fahnestock is a deeply personal exploration into the creative process and the publishing industry. This is truly the book to read before you give up on your writing dreams.
In addition in this StoryBundle, you will receive full year’s subscription to Indie Author Magazine, your go-to resource for news, tips, and advice on self-publishing. Stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry.
A note on the designated charity for this StoryBundle, the Neil Peart Brain Cancer Research Fund from Cedars Sinai. In 2020 we lost Neil Peart, legendary drummer and lyricist for the rock band Rush, to glioblastoma. He
was my mentor, friend, and collaborator on numerous books, and his loss affected me deeply. Neil’s friends and colleagues and fans worldwide have contributed to this glioblastoma research fund in Neil’s name, and we are
proud to add our efforts on this Writing Tools StoryBundle as well. – Kevin J. Anderson
For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous), you’ll get the basic bundle of four books in .epub format—WORLDWIDE.
Romance Character Tropes by Tara Grace Ericson and Jessica Barber
Dollar by Dollar by Kerrie Flanagan
Essoe’s Guides to Writing: Mood and Atmosphere by Joshua Essoe
Booking the Library by Jessica Brawner
If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus 9 more books, for a total of 13 (with 3 StoryBundle Exclusives), plus a year’s subscription to Indie Author Magazine!
Super Secrets: Illustrated by Wulf Moon
Falling to Fly by Todd Fahnestock
From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker by Matty
Dalrymple and Michael La Ronn
A Writer’s Guide to Branding for Success by Mark Leslie
Lefebvre (StoryBundle Exclusive)
On Being a Dictator by Kevin J. Anderson (StoryBundle Exclusive)
Word by Word by Kerrie Flanagan
The D.I.Y. Author by Kaye Lynne Booth
Steps to Self-Editing by Jana S. Brown
Wit and Wisdom by Craig Martelle (StoryBundle Exclusive)
Indie Author Magazine: One Year Subscription by Indie Author Magazine
This bundle is available only for a limited time via http://www.storybundle.com . It allows easy reading on computers, smartphones, and tablets as well as Kindle and other ereaders via file transfer, email, and other methods. You get a DRM-free .epub for all books!
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Why StoryBundle? Here are just a few benefits StoryBundle provides.
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StoryBundle was created to give a platform for independent authors to showcase their work, and a source of quality titles for thirsty readers. StoryBundle works with authors to create bundles of ebooks that can be purchased by readers at their desired price. Before starting StoryBundle, Founder Jason Chen covered technology and software as an editor for Gizmodo.com and Lifehacker.com.
For more information, visit our website at storybundle.com, tweet us at @storybundle and like us on Facebook .
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This post is sponsored by The D.I.Y. Author and WordCrafter Press.
Being an author today is more than just writing the book. Authors in this digital age have more opportunities than ever before. Whether you pursue independent or traditional publishing models, or a combination of the two, being an author involves not only writing, but often, the publishing and marketing of the book.
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Topics Include:
And more…
Becoming Prolific
Writing Tools
Outlining
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Publishing Models & Trends
Marketing Your Book
Book Covers & Blurbs
Book Events—In Person & Virtual

Purchase your copy today: https://books2read.com/The-DIY-Author























