WordCrafter News: November Release: “DEEP CITY in Times Roman”, wide release of “Coming Home” & the Winners of the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour Giveaway
Posted: October 26, 2026 Filed under: Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Drama, Fiction, Giveaways, Humor, satire, Self-Discovery, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press 2 Comments
NaNoWriMo may be gone with the wind, but November is still National Novel Writing Month. Last November gave me a start on Marta, Book 3 in my Women in the West Series, when I wrote over 50,000 words+. Now, it sits at almost 90,000 words, but it still isn’t finished. Book 3 differs from the first two books not only in length, but also in the fact that it hosts a full cast of colorful characters all the way through to try my skills. I truly believe this book will be my best Women in the West book yet, and I’m planning for it to be released next March, along with the Special Illustrated Editions of all three books. However, this November, two releases by other authors have made their way into the month and will be taking up the spotlight, so I won’t be doing the novel thing in any type of focused effort. Next November, I hope to be back in the writing saddle again, but for now, I’m excited to tell you about the exciting new books coming your way.
Announcing the Winners of the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour Giveaway
Last week was the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour with guest posts and excerpt readings from contributing authors and an interview with the 2026 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest winning story author, Mark Milstead. The final thing to do to wrap this tour up is to announce the winners of the giveaway, so without further ado…
And the winners are…
(Drumroll please)
- Priscilla Bettis
- D.L. Finn
- T.W. Dittmer
Congratulations to the winners. If you haven’t already heard from me, please drop me a line at KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com to collect your free book.
New Release: DEEP CITY in Times Roman, by Lindsey Martin-Bowen
I’m pleased to announce the release of Deep City in Times Roman, by Lindsey Martin-Bowen on September 29, 2026. A spoof on the cult followings of the nineteen-eighties, this novel has a plot that will keep you guessing all the way through. Previous titles released through WordCrafter Press for Ms. Martin-Bowen include The Dark Horse Waits in Boulder (May 2026).
About DEEP CITY in Times Roman
Deep City in Times Roman is a tongue-in-cheek novel about the cult movements in the 1970s and 80s, a roman à clef, (French for novel with a key), which spoofs those movements which are designed to dupe persons into supporting the leader and building his wealth.
Two friends, Lynette and Shirley, are quite angry at the Reverend Yun Sung Ghunne, who has separated their husbands from them as he forms his movement. Their husbands serve the movement working at The Washington LINES, a Uni run newspaper, with a stipulation that movement members be chaste, not even touching, for three years before consummation of their marriages, even though they were married before the good reverend came along. Together with a full cast of colorful characters, who seem destined to meet, Lynette sets out on a crazy quest to take down the Unis, stop the reverend, and save her marriage.
WordCrafter DEEP CITY in Times Roman Book Blog Tour
The WordCrafter Deep City in Times Roman Book Blog Tour will run September 28 – October 2, 2026. We’ll be sharing an interview with the author, as well as guest posts and excerpt readings. As always, there will be a giveaway for digital copies of the book, so don’t miss out. We want to sendoff this satiric spoof in style.
Wide Release: Coming Home, by Smitha Vishwanath
Although Coming Home, by Smitha Vishwanath is already available on Amazon in both ebook and print, I’m happy to announce the wide release of the ebook from WordCrafter Press on November 3.
About Coming Home
Twenty-six-year-old, Shaynaya’s world is shattered at the death of her beloved mother. In spite of career achievements, there’s a vacuum in her heart caused by the questions raised by her mother’s sudden death which remain unanswered.
In her quest for peace and the need to hold her family together, she leaves her job in the Middle East and moves to India; journeying across geographical planes and inner landscapes to finally reach ‘home’.
Coming Home is a heartwarming story about self-discovery, relationships, loss, love, destiny, the choices we make, and how these choices eventually lead to what we are destined for.
Coming Home Trailer
WordCrafter Coming Home Wide Launch Party
WordCrafter Book Blog Tours invites you to join us for the wide release party post, right here on Writing to be Read to learn more about the book and the author. On November 3, we’ll be sending a digital format of Coming Home wide, into the hands of the global reading community beyond Amazon and KDL.
Celebrate Halloween with WordCrafter Press and Sonoran Dawn Studios
Join us on Halloween for the Once Upon a Midnight Dreary Facebook Book Event. There will be music and games and spooky reading choices. Come join in the fun. And if you are an author, you can sign up for an author takeover slot to promote your work by contacting host DL Mullan. Check it out.
https://www.facebook.com/events/3090905771300783
WordCrafter’s Spooky Special
There’s still time to take advantage of October’s Spooky Special. Just click the links below to take advantage of our great prices on the books in the WordCrafter Narrating the Paranormal series. But be sure to do it before the witching hour on Halloween night, because this sale ends on October 31st.
October 1 – 31, WordCrafter Press’ Narrating the Paranormal Series is on sale. Volumes 1-3 are only .99 cents each, or you can get all three volumes in volume four for only $2.50. Get your copies at the links below.
Volume 1 – Whispers of the Past: https://books2read.com/WhispersPast
Volume 2 – Spirits of the West: https://books2read.com/SpiritsoftheWest
Volume 3 – Where Spirits Linger: https://books2read.com/WhereSpiritsLinger1
Volume 4 – Lingering Spirits Whisper (3 in 1): https://books2read.com/LingeringSpiritWhispers
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Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
Stop by and see what we have to offer today: https://writingtoberead.com/readings-for-writers/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services/
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Final Day of the WordCrafter “Midnight Madness” Book Blog Tour
Posted: October 23, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Horror, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: "Apocalypse Family", "The Shape of Denial", Abe MArgel, Books, Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series, Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press, Zack Ellafy 2 CommentsThis is the final day of the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour, and we’ll be wrapping things up today, with a brief guest post from contributing author Abe Margel about his story, “EV Driven”, brief excerpts from “The Shape of Denial”, by Paul Martz and “Apocalypse Family”, by Zack Ellafy. We also share a link to the new Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series site, designed by DL Mullan of Undawnted, and we’ll tell you how to join in for our Once Upon A Midnight Dreary Facebook Book Event and purchase Midnight Merch.
About Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares
Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares contains fifteen stories which explore the fears that keep us awake at night. Featuring the winning story in the 2026 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest, as well as stories by veteran story tellers, Kaye Lynne Booth, Joseph Carrabis, Chris Barili, Rebecca M. Senese, C.R. Johansson, and more. The darkness in these stories touch on that which we fear most.
From a last big college prank gone awry, to an invisible beast none-the-less deadly, to a potion which makes you move faster than the eye can see, these stories showcase humanity’s deepest, darkest fears, how they shape our behaviors and their consequences they carry.
Everyone fears something. No one is immune. A sphere that drives men insane, apocalyptic zombies filled with sparkling dust, and even what happens when an electric car short circuits in the worst way are what make this story collection one you won’t want to miss.
Book Trailer
“EV Driven”, by Abe Margel
The story ‘EV Driven’ grew out of a recent experience of mine buying a new car.
Julian Duran likes gadgets, all kinds of gadgets and is willing to part with a large slice of his pay cheque to get them. New gizmos are particularly fascinating to him. Luck comes knocking on his door. A relative of his wife dies and leaves her a tidy some of cash which she shares with Julian. He quickly goes out and replaces his old, tired car with a new, technologically advanced vehicle, something he never dreamed he’d be able to afford. His wife is very annoyed with him but he rationalizes the extravagant purchase. The new car is wonderful at first, even better than he had hoped but then it steers him in an unexpected direction.
About Abe Margel
Abe Margel worked in rehabilitation and mental health for thirty years. He is the father of two adult children and lives in Thornhill, Ontario with his wife. His fiction has appeared in Chewers, The Hemlock Journal, Yellow Mama, Brief Wilderness, Freedom Fiction, Ariel Chart, Mystery Tribune, etc.
“The Shape of Denial”, by Paul Martz
“Apocalypse Family”, by Zack Ellafy
Wrapping Up
That wraps up the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour, as well as this stop. There’s still time to visit each stop through the links in the Tour Schedule below to leave comments and gain entries in the giveaway. I will get out my hat and do the random drawing on Sunday.
Also, we hope you will visit our new Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series site and join us in our Halloween celebration with our Once Upon a Midnight Dreary Facebook Book event.
Until next time.
Happy Hauntings!
Giveaway
Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment at each stop you visit, for a chance to win.
Three lucky readers will receive a free digital copy of Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares, volume 4 in the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series.
Winners are chosen in a random drawing after the tour ends and will be announced in the “WordCrafter News” post on Monday, October 26, here on “Writing to be Read”.
**NOTE: “Writing to be Read” seems to be having technical difficulties with comments. If you are unable to comment here, you can still enter the drawing by sending your comment to KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com with MM Giveaway in the subject line. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Tour Schedule
Mon. 10/19 – Interview with Mark Milstead & Guest post from Christian De Matteo & promo for “Shadowmancer” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74385
Tues. 10/20 – guest post from Robb T. White & Reading from Kaye Lynne Booth –
Poetry by Mich: https://michnavs.wordpress.com/?p=16503
Hotel by Masticadores: https://hotelmasticadoreshouse.wordpress.com/2026/10/20/midnight-madness-book-tour-day-2/
Masticadores Phillipines: https://masticadoresphilippines.wordpress.com/2026/10/20/midnight-madness-book-tour-day-2/
Wed. 10/21 – Reading from “Headmaster Burns” & guest post from Lindsey Martin-Bowen & Promo for “L’Bonhomme Sept Heures” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74390
Thurs. 10/22 – Reading from Joseph Carrabis & guest post from C.R. Johannson – Roberta Writes: https://roberta-writes.com/2026/10/22/roberta-writes-book-blog-tour-about-midnight-madness-a-carnival-of-nightmares/
Fri. 10/23 – Guest Post by Abe Margel & promo for “The Shape of Denial” & Promo for “Apocalypse Family” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74393
Learn More About the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series
Visit the new Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology site: http://www.midnightanthologyseries.top
Once Upon a Midnight Dreary Facebook Event
The celebrations have only started. Join us for the Once Upon a Midnight Dreary Facebook Book Event on October 29th: https://www.facebook.com/events/3090905771300783. There will be plenty Halloween fun to go around: more Midnight Madness and the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series, plus other WordCrafter Press dark fiction releases and other works from contributing authors, music and storytelling all around.
Get Your Midnight Tee-Shirts
Midnight Roost: https://www.zazzle.com/midnight_roost_t_shirt-256463603840988378
Midnight Garden: https://www.zazzle.com/midnight_garden_t_shirt-256018093354343924
Midnight Oil: https://www.zazzle.com/midnight_oil_t_shirt-256701322171498236
Midnight Madness: https://www.zazzle.com/midnight_madness_t_shirt-256053338820100431
Midnight Shift: https://www.zazzle.com/midnight_shift_t_shirt-256886505305587799
Midnight Marauder: https://www.zazzle.com/midnight_marauder_t_shirt-256566127281249020
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Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!
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Day 4 of the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour
Posted: October 22, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Audio Excerpt, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Horror, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: "Lessons Learned", "Sphere of Solss", Anthology, C.R. Johansson, Joseph Carrabis, Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press Leave a commentFor Day 4 of the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour, we’re over at Roberta Writes, with host, Robbie Cheadle and a guest post from contributing author, C.R. Johansson and an excerpt reading by Joseph Carrabis from his story, “Lessons Learned”. Join us and get in on the giveaway, simply by leaving a comment.
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Day 3 of the WordCrafter “Midnight Madness” Book Blog Tour
Posted: October 21, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Audio Excerpt, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Horror, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press 2 CommentsThis is Day 3 on the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour. Today we have a excerpt reading from Chris Barili’s story, “The Headmaster Burns” and a guest post from Lindsey Marting-Bowen about her story, “Lounge Act”.
About Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares
Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares contains fifteen stories which explore the fears that keep us awake at night. Featuring the winning story in the 2026 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest, as well as stories by veteran story tellers, Kaye Lynne Booth, Joseph Carrabis, Chris Barili, Rebecca M. Senese, C.R. Johansson, and more. The darkness in these stories touch on that which we fear most.
From a last big college prank gone awry, to an invisible beast none-the-less deadly, to a potion which makes you move faster than the eye can see, these stories showcase humanity’s deepest, darkest fears, how they shape our behaviors and their consequences they carry.
Everyone fears something. No one is immune. A sphere that drives men insane, apocalyptic zombies filled with sparkling dust, and even what happens when an electric car short circuits in the worst way are what make this story collection one you won’t want to miss.
Excerpt Reading from “The Headmaster Burns”
About Chris Barili
Chris Barili will retire later this year after forty-two years in the US Intelligence Community, so he can write full-time. He writes all kinds of stories, and has published fantasy, science fiction, horror, western, paranormal romance, and crime. He is author of the weird western Hell’s Butcher series, and also writes under the pen names B.T. Clearwater (Supernatural romance) and T.C. Barlow (western). Chris holds a degree in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Genre Fiction) from Western State Colorado University.
“L’Bonhomme Sept Heures”
About “Lounge Act”
Visiting Las Vegas and its casinos with my sisters and mother, who knew how to beat both the dealers and slot machines, brought a bit of levity to my life. But those light-hearted feelings arose more frommy company than from casino tables or slot machines.
Indeed, I enjoyed strolling through Caesar’s Palace, which emulated ancient Rome, watching those shows with the smoke-bellowing manikins in the town square and later in the lounge areas, but my family was the main source of levity.
Yet Bobbi Jo, the main character in “Lounge Act’’ doesn’t experience levity from either family members or gambling. Instead, her alcoholic husband likely makes her feel even more alone than sitting late at night among the slot machines. Bobbi Jo’s memory of an old man who might have intended to assault her and her marriage to an alcoholic are the sole portions in this tale that I took from my experiences. Other than those, and, of course, the setting in Vegas are based on memory.
From them, this story just appeared in my head one night—complete with symbolic characters and layers of meaning. I worked on it a few days until it seemed “ripe” with an unusual, but sad theme and what I hope is a tense, surprise ending.
—Lindsey Martin-Bowen
About Lindsey Martin-Bowen
On Halloween 2023, redbat books released Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s 7th poetry collection, CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison. Her 4th collection, Where Water Meets the Rock, was nominated for a Pulitzer; her 3rd, CROSSING KANSAS with Jim Morrison was a finalist in the QuillsEdge Press 2015-2016 Contest. In 2017, it won the Kansas Writers Assn award, “Looks Like a Million.” Writer’s Digest gave her “Vegetable Linguistics” an Honorable Mention in its 85th Annual (2017) Contest. Her Inside Virgil’s Garage (Chatter House Press 2013) was a runner-up in the 2015 Nelson Poetry Book Award. McClatchy Newspapers named her Standing on the Edge of the World (Woodley Press/Washburn University) was one of the Ten Top Poetry Books of 2008. It was nominated for a Pen Award.
Short Promo
Wrap Up
That’s all for today’s tour stop. Tomorrow will find us over at Roberta Writes with host, Robbie Cheadle, sharing an excerpt reading from contributing author Joseph Carrabis from his story, “Lessons Learned” and a guest post about the inspiration for Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s “Lounge Act”. Please join us, and don’t forget to leave a comment to enter the giveaway.
The Giveaway
Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment at each stop you visit, for a chance to win.
Three lucky readers will receive a free digital copy of Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares, volume 4 in the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series.
Winners are chosen in a random drawing after the tour ends and will be announced in the “WordCrafter News” post on Monday, October 26, here on “Writing to be Read”.
**NOTE: “Writing to be Read” seems to be having technical difficulties with comments. If you are unable to comment here, you can still enter the drawing by sending your comment to KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com with MM Giveaway in the subject line. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Tour Schedule
Mon. 10/19 – Interview with Mark Milstead & Guest post from Christian De Matteo & promo for “Shadowmancer” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74385
Tues. 10/20 – guest post from Robb T. White & Reading from Kaye Lynne Booth –
Poetry by Mich: https://michnavs.wordpress.com/?p=16503
Hotel by Masticadores: https://hotelmasticadoreshouse.wordpress.com/2026/10/20/midnight-madness-book-tour-day-2/
Masticadores Phillipines: https://masticadoresphilippines.wordpress.com/2026/10/20/midnight-madness-book-tour-day-2/
Wed. 10/21 – Reading from “Headmaster Burns” & guest post from Lindsey Martin-Bowen & Promo for “L’Bonhomme Sept Heures” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74390
Thurs. 10/22 – Reading from Joseph Carrabis & guest post from C.R. Johannson – Roberta Writes: https://roberta-writes.com/2026/10/22/roberta-writes-book-blog-tour-about-midnight-madness-a-carnival-of-nightmares/
Fri. 10/23 – Guest Post by Abe Margel & promo for “The Shape of Denial” & Promo for “Apocalypse Family” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74393
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Day 2 of the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour
Posted: October 20, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Audio Excerpt, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: "In a Single Second", "The Pranksters", Anthology, Dark Fiction Anthology, Kaye Lynne Booth, Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares, Robb T. White, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press Leave a commentToday we’re over at Poetry by Mich, Hotel by Masticadores, and Masticadores Philippines celebrating the release of Midnight Madness: Carnival of Nightmares on the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour. Join us for a guest post from Robb T. White, and an excerpt reading from me, and leave a comment to get in on the giveaway for the free digital copy.
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Welcome to the WordCrafter “Midnight Madness” Book Blog Tour
Posted: October 19, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Author Interview, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Guest Post, Horror, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: "The Hopper Job", "The Mist on the Moors", Christian De Matteo, Mark Milstead, Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press 2 CommentsWelcome to the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour and the send-off for Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares, volume 4 of the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology series. We have a great tour planned for you, with guest posts from contributing authors, audio excerpts from their stories, promo excerpts, and of course, a giveaway that’s easy to enter; all you have to do is leave a comment at each stop.
We’ve got a great crew of 13 contributing authors for Midnight Madness, with a total of 15 stories, and on this tour, you’ll be introduced to several of them and you learn about their stories. Today, we bring you an interview with Mark Milstead, who the author of the winning story in the 2026 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest, “Mist on the Moors”, and a guest post from another newcomer to the WordCrafter author tribe, Christian De Matteo, about his story, “The Hopper Job”.
About Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares
Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares contains fifteen stories which explore the fears that keep us awake at night. Featuring the winning story in the 2026 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest, as well as stories by veteran story tellers, Kaye Lynne Booth, Joseph Carrabis, Chris Barili, Rebecca M. Senese, C.R. Johansson, and more. The darkness in these stories touch on that which we fear most.
From a last big college prank gone awry, to an invisible beast none-the-less deadly, to a potion which makes you move faster than the eye can see, these stories showcase humanity’s deepest, darkest fears, how they shape our behaviors and their consequences they carry.
Everyone fears something. No one is immune. A sphere that drives men insane, apocalyptic zombies filled with sparkling dust, and even what happens when an electric car short circuits in the worst way are what make this story collection one you won’t want to miss.
“The Mist on the Moors”
Interview with Mark Milstead
Kaye: What prompted you to enter the 2026 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest?
Mark: Basically, I had a career change and am now retiring. I always wanted to write, but never had the time to focus. Once I finally had that time, I wanted to see if others would be entertained by my writing. I found the contest online, gathered my nerve, and submitted it.
Kaye: How did you make the jump from patent attorney to author?
Mark: I began my career as an organic chemist, then switched paths to become a patent attorney. I ended my patent attorney career at the end of 2025. I wanted to return to the creative side of myself that I left behind in high school.
Kaye: What’s the best piece of writing advice you have been given?
Mark: I am an avid reader of Stephen King and read his On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. I was impressed by his work ethic. “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” I have always read, so now it is time to write.
Kaye: That is an excellent book and writing resource. I read it back in graduate school. Highly recommended and great advice to follow. Where did the inspiration for “The Mist in the Moors” come from?
Mark: This story had its beginning in high school. It was a short story for a creative writing project. It won an award and terrified my teacher. The original story was much shorter—just a traveler on the moors at night with someone or something following him.
Kaye: What was your biggest challenge in writing, or in revising this story?
Mark: Making Ridge Kane real. He needed a backstory and a reason to be in Scotland. I also had to figure out how to convey that what is happening is real and not just his imagination. It took many rewrites to discover who Ridge Kane is. I wanted the audience to identify with him.
Kaye: What was the most difficult part of the story to write? Why?
Mark: Expanding the story so the reader could understand what my mind was seeing. I had to step back and read it as the audience would experience it. Law school helped here—I reverted to writing a statement of facts and then expanding from there. I also had to teach myself to write dialogue. But the most difficult portion of the story was the final confrontation. I must have written it more than twenty times. I had to slow myself down so the scene would slow down as well. I wanted the audience to feel every millisecond.
Kaye: What type of research did you do to write “The Mist in the Moors”?
Mark: This is where modern research is great. I used AI as an assistant. Instead of spending hours in a library researching, I could ask AI questions and get immediate answers while sitting at my computer—such as technical details about climbing, backpacking, or stone circles in Scotland.
Kaye: Who are your favorite authors? Do you feel your writing emulates any of them?
Mark: I am an avid reader of Stephen King, and I really enjoy his everyday guy versus evil themes. The Gunslinger series is my favorite. “The Man in Black fled across the desert, and the Gunslinger followed.” Roland Deschain—what a wonderful character. I have read many diverse authors. I think my writing is more similar to Michael Crichton’s, because I like the technical aspect. I also admire Bernard Cornwell; his historical fiction is wonderful.
Kaye: What is next for you as an author?
Mark: I have several ideas that I want to pursue. I plan to write a novella-length story that is more historical fiction. I want to create a fully developed person with a complete story. But I also have a few shorter ideas that lean toward horror or the unexplained.
Kaye: How exciting. You may find a home for some of those darker stories in the coming Midnight series anthologies, or even some of the themed anthologies from WordCrafter Press. Is there somewhere where people can go to learn more about you as an author and your work?
Mark: Not really. I have spent my life in a career that kept me grinding away behind the scenes. I have no social media footprint to speak of. I have chemistry publications, published patent applications that I drafted, and even a few granted patents that I examined while I was a United States Patent Examiner. I am just starting a creative writing career.
About Mark Milstead
Mark W. Milstead is a patent attorney specializing in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, but he has always enjoyed reading fiction, starting with the classics as a child and progressing to modern fiction as an adult. He holds a Master’s degree in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Kansas. “Mist on the Moors” marks his debut published short story. He is thrilled to join the ranks of published authors.
“Shadowmancer”
On Writing “The Hopper Job,” and my Somewhat Frightening Obsession with Noir
Hi, I’m Christian De Matteo, and if you’re wondering about my classic noir credentials, let me lead with this. My eldest son’s name is Dashiell. I figure that should cover it.
My father, Joseph De Matteo, introduced me to Humphrey Bogart and The Maltese Falcon in my early teens. The movie floored me. Then he gave me the complete collection of Dashiell Hammett’s novels. I devoured all five in no time flat, awed by the clipped tough-guy dialogue, the razor-sharp descriptions and the astounding number of moving parts Hammett effortlessly built into a smoothly oiled machine.
Reading and watching noir became an obsession. VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, I’ve never stopped collecting, never stopped looking for the rarest of the rare. Chandler, Goodis, Thompson, and more and more, I never stopped reading. If they gave degrees based solely on obsessive consumption, I’d have a Ph.D. in tough guys, rough dames, and the coldest crimes.
Oddly, however, through my entire writing history, I’d never written a noir period-piece. Plenty of crime and neo-noir, but never a good, old-fashioned 1940s humdinger. (Humdinger… I don’t know that I’ve ever used that word before. I like it.) One day I decided it was time and stared at a blank word document until the first line came to me.
Maria needed him to leave so she could plant the knife.
I put my fingers on the keyboard and followed her from there. I’m what some people call a discovery writer. I prefer the term “pantser.” I’m not a plotter. I couldn’t plot a story to save my life. I fly by the seat of my pants. I need to follow characters, watch them do things, see what the fallout is (they’re usually making bad decisions because that’s a lot more fun than good ones), and see what shakes out. Maria introduced me to a cast of characters I immediately fell in love with, from slimy to malevolent to charmingly devilish. The key is that I’m having fun and, dammit, I was.
Once I found out what the story was, I went back and planted all the bombs needed to make the damn thing explode at the end. Does it work? Lord, I hope so. I hope you have as much fun with “The Hopper Job” as I did.
If not, grab yourself a copy of Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon. No one will ever do it better.
About Christian De Matteo
Christian De Matteo is a writer, editor, and college professor whose fiction has appeared in The Bleeding Margin, Grim Omen Magazine, and SKUMMEL, with additional work forthcoming from Tales to Terrify, Close to the Bone, Crimeucopia, Horrorsmith Magazine, and the Monstrously Misguided anthology series. He is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of independent comics publisher Fugitive Poems and the founder of Tellworthy Creative Writing Services, where he works as a professional editor and writing coach. His work wanders through the back alleys of horror, noir, science fiction, and the strange places in between, usually looking for a fight.
Wrapping Things Up
That concludes today’s tour stop. Be sure to follow the tour through the links in the Tour Schedule below and leave your comments to get in on the giveaway. Tomorrow, you can find us on three different blog sites, hosted by Michelle Ayon Navajas: Poetry by Mich, Hotel by Masticadores, and Masticadores Phillipines, featuring a guest post by contributing author Robb T. White on his story, “The Pranksters” and an excerpt reading from my story, “In a Single Second”. I do hope you’ll join us.
The Giveaway
Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment at each stop you visit, for a chance to win.
Three lucky readers will receive a free digital copy of Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares, volume 4 in the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series.
Winners are chosen in a random drawing after the tour ends and will be announced in the “WordCrafter News” post on Monday, October 26, here on “Writing to be Read”.
**NOTE: “Writing to be Read” seems to be having technical difficulties with comments. If you are unable to comment here, you can still enter the drawing by sending your comment to KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com with MM Giveaway in the subject line. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Tour Schedule
Mon. 10/19 – Interview with Mark Milstead & Guest post from Christian De Matteo & promo for “Shadowmancer” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74385
Tues. 10/20 – guest post from Robb T. White & Reading from Kaye Lynne Booth –
Poetry by Mich: https://michnavs.wordpress.com/?p=16503
Hotel by Masticadores: https://hotelmasticadoreshouse.wordpress.com/2026/10/20/midnight-madness-book-tour-day-2/
Masticadores Phillipines: https://masticadoresphilippines.wordpress.com/2026/10/20/midnight-madness-book-tour-day-2/
Wed. 10/21 – Reading from “Headmaster Burns” & guest post from Lindsey Martin-Bowen & Promo for “L’Bonhomme Sept Heures” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74390
Thurs. 10/22 – Reading from Joseph Carrabis & guest post from C.R. Johannson – Roberta Writes: https://roberta-writes.com/2026/10/22/roberta-writes-book-blog-tour-about-midnight-madness-a-carnival-of-nightmares/
Fri. 10/23 – Guest Post by Abe Margel & promo for “The Shape of Denial” & Promo for “Apocalypse Family” – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=74393
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WordCrafter News: October Release – “Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares” & a Spooky Special from WordCrafter Press
Posted: September 28, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Book Release, Book Sales, Books, Dark fiction, Horror, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Book Release, Book Sale, Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series, Midnight Madness, Navigating the Paranormal Series, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing to be Read 4 CommentsOctober Release – Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares
I’m excited to announce the release of volume 4 in the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series, Midnight Madness: Carnival of Nightmares, on October 20th, 2026. This volume contains 13 author voices bring you 15 diverse and varied dark tales, with monsters both human and supernatural, that will set your spine tingling.
Featuring the winning story of the WordCrafter 2026 Dark Fiction Contest, “The Mist on the Moors”, by Mark Milstead. Contributing authors to this volume include myself, Abe Margel, Lindsey Martin-Bowen, Mark Milstead, Christian De Matteo, Zack Ellafy, Chris Barili, Joseph Carrabis, Rebecca M. Senese, C.R. Johansson, Robb T. White, DL Mullan, and Paul Martz.
About Midnight Madness
Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares contains fifteen stories which explore the fears that keep us awake at night. Featuring the winning story in the 2026 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest, as well as stories by veteran story tellers, Kaye Lynne Booth, Joseph Carrabis, Chris Barili, Rebecca M. Senese, C.R. Johansson, and more. The darkness in these stories touch on that which we fear most.
From a last big college prank gone awry, to an invisible beast none-the-less deadly, to a potion which makes you move faster than the eye can see, these stories showcase humanity’s deepest, darkest fears, how they shape our behaviors and their consequences they carry.
Everyone fears something. No one is immune. A sphere that drives men insane, apocalyptic zombies filled with sparkling dust, and even what happens when an electric car short circuits in the worst way are what make this story collection one you won’t want to miss.
WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour
Join us for the WordCrafter Midnight Madness Book Blog Tour, October 19-23. Guest posts, excerpt readings and more. Join us in sending off this deliciously dark anthology.
WordCrafter Spooky Special
October 1 – 31, WordCrafter Press’ Narrating the Paranormal Series is on sale. Volumes 1-3 are only .99 cents each, or you can get all three volumes in volume four for only $2.50. Get your copies at the links below.
Volume 1 – Whispers of the Past: https://books2read.com/WhispersPast
Volume 2 – Spirits of the West: https://books2read.com/SpiritsoftheWest
Volume 3 – Where Spirits Linger: https://books2read.com/WhereSpiritsLinger1
Volume 4 – Lingering Spirits Whisper (3 in 1): https://books2read.com/LingeringSpiritWhispers
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This post is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://books2read.com/MidnightRoost
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 fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://books2read.com/MidnightGardenAnthology
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
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WordCrafter “Legends” Book Blog Tour Giveaway Winners
Posted: August 22, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Books, Dark fiction, Giveaways, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Blog Tour, Books, Giveaway Winners, Legends: Monsters the go Bump in the Night, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press 1 Comment
We had a great tour last week, and contributing authors shared some tasty morsels which, hopefully, tantalized your horror tastebuds and made you want to read more of the stories in Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night. Before we can officially sign off from the tour, there’s a matter of a couple of different giveaways, that we need to announce the winners for.
First, Chris Barili’s Classic Mustang Photo Competition
On Day 1, author Chris Barili offered an excerpt reading from “The Legend of Trooper 666” which describes the trooper’s classic Mustang. Chris is offering a signed print copy, (winners outside the U.S. will receive a free digital copy instead, due to the outlandish costs of international shipping) for the person who sends in a photo of a classic Mustang that closest matches the trooper’s car during the tour
Here are the rules:
1. You don’t need to be in the exact year, just the generation or year group (1960s, for example)
2. If their pic is verifiably of a NY State Patrol car, it wins. If we have more than one, we’ll select the winner.
3. If it is of a show or race car, owned by other than the photographer, they need that owner’s permission to submit the photo.
4. Actual dead state troopers or other LEOs will disqualify the entry immediately. :).
The Winning Entry
There was no winning entry, because we received not one photo. Nobody played.
Second, the Legends Puzzle
Each stop on the tour featured two authors and their stories, and each post included the name of the legend their story is based on. So, there is the opportunity to collect two puzzle pieces at each stop when the correct legend for each story is placed into the comments. Any visitor with a complete puzzle at the end of the tour wins a free digital copy. In the event that no one completes the puzzle, the visitor with the most pieces wins.
And the winner is…
(Drumroll please)
- Robbie Cheadle, with puzzle pieces 1 & 2, (because she was the only one who played.)
Final Thoughts
I have to say, I was highly disappointed that no one participated in the giveaways for this tour. I thought it would be really fun to run them a little different than just “comment to enter”. We went to considerable effort to set it all up, and no one seemed interested to play. 😦 I will have to look at other options in the future, or maybe just go back to the same old, same old.
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Wrapping Up the WordCrafter “Legends” Book Blog Tour
Posted: August 21, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Audio Excerpt, Fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Horror, Mythology and Legend, Short Fiction, Stories, Supernatural, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: "My Pumpkin Ate My Wife", "The Last Stage Coach", Chupacabra, Excerpt Reading, Guest Post, Jack O'Lantern Legend, Kaye Lynne Booth, Legends: Monsters the go Bump in the Night, Myths and Legends, Sara W. McBride, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press 1 CommentWelcome to the final day of the WordCrafter Legends Book Blog Tour. Today I’m pleased to bring you a guest post from contributing author, Sara W. McBride, who wrote the wonderful story, “My Pumpkin Ate My Wife”, and an excerpt reading from my story, “The Last Stage Coach”.
It’s been a great tour, but it’s also the last day to get in on two different giveaways we have going. There’s still time to get your Mustang photos in for Chris Barili’s “Trooper 666” giveaway for a free print copy of Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night. Send your photos to Chris at stealthcb@gmail.com and to me at KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com. You can find the full guideslines for this giveaway at one of the Day 1 Tour Stops, by clicking on the link in the tour schedule at the end of today’s stop. I’ll be announcing the winners in a special winners post on Sunday, so get those photos in now.
Also, this is the last chance to collect your puzzle pieces for the digital giveaway, by placing the legend for each story in the comments. (We made it really easy for you. Each story post tells you what legend it is from.) Today’s puzzle pieces are 9 and 10, but you can collect any you’ve missed by going back to the individual stops through the links on the tour schedule, too. The winner for this giveaway will also be announced in that Sunday post, so get your answers in while you still can.
The Giveaway
We made a puzzle out of the Legends cover.
Follow the tour to find the clues hidden in the guest posts, readings and promos.
Name the Legend each story is based upon as you go through the tour.
Place your answers in the comments.
For each correct answer, you earn one of ten puzzle pieces.
At the end of the tour, the three people who have collected the most puzzle pieces
will win a free digital copy of
Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night
The Authors of Legends
What Makes a Legend?, by Sara W. McBride
What do scientists, authors, and monsters have in common? They all desire to be legends. I could claim there is a shared egotistical drive to be immortal, and let’s face it, that might be true of many people regardless of occupation, but instead I’ll claim the shared love of the unexpected discovery.
Why are Newton, Einstein, Galileo, Copernicus, and poor Mike Brown, all legends? They discovered something unexpected: gravity, relativity, other planets, and that Earth wasn’t the center of the Universe. Mike Brown? What about him? He’d dreamed of discovering a planet his entire life, then he thought he had. He thought he found something in our solar system that was bigger than Pluto. But he didn’t. So why is he a legend? He spurred on the debate that redefined the parameters of a planet and got Pluto demoted to a dwarf planet. So yes, Mike Brown is now legendary as the man who killed Pluto. Poor guy still receives hate mail from ten year olds who learned the solar system from Grandpa’s planetary model in the attic.**
Becoming a Legend is not usually something one can strive for. It just happens. In this anthology, none of the authors are legends. But many of us are scientists, of some sort, and we often use writing as an excuse to do research. So we researched legends!
The Jack-O’Lanterns, Wendigo, Succubus, and Pheonix were all researched. And others were legends from our youth, like the grim reaper or the famous babysitter nightmare; a creepy phone call from a person watching you, which turns out to be from inside the house. Cue the delighted screams from around the campfire. There are more specific area legends, like the girl ghost of Cleveland, Gilgul, and Trooper 666.
But personally, if I, me, myself, was going to become a legend, I’d like an international following. Or at least a few countries, like the Jack O’Lantern. I mean, who wants to be the slimy legend of Des Moines? I say, Go Big! There’s an Angel of Death in every culture and country.
Because unlike Pluto, a legend never dies.
**I worked at Caltech for a decade and spoke with Mike Brown a few times. He’s an inspiring, generous astronomy professor. He didn’t mean to kill Pluto. Please send him some fan mail.
“My Pumpkin Ate My Wife” is based on the traditional Jack O’Lantern legend.
Tell us in the comments which legend this story is associated with to claim puzzle piece 9.
About Sara W. McBride
Sara Wesley McBride enjoyed a nerdy childhood sneaking onto hotel rooftops to write plays and stories. As a grown-up child, many of her adult party conversations end with a comical defense of why her first degree in theater from UCLA, and her second degree in molecular and cellular biology from SDSU, are completely related. Between her degrees, she spent two years pranking the mafia in New York City architecture; also completely related.
All parts of her life have led her down a streamlined path toward noveling because nothing else maintains her sanity. Daily, like many modern-day biological researchers, she invents new swear words to sling at million-dollar machines while locked in a dark hole of a decaying academic hall. This has caused her to witness ghosts and create a romantic fantasy life within her head, which she now puts down on very non-technological paper with her favorite Jane Austen style quill pen.
Her first novel in the Alexis Lynn series, Will Write for Wine, and the companion short story collection, Stories I Stole from Lord Byron’s Bastard, both set in Venice, Italy, were recently released by Puck Publishing. She’s hard at work on the second Alexis Lynn novel, a Regency mystery series, and a haunted play. She strongly feels the world needs more haunted plays.
When not researching biological stuff, reading history, or writing in random, elegant hotel lobbies—much warmer than rooftops—Sara is hiking the San Diego shorelines, parks, and trails with her husband and their tiny, bouncy dog named Wombat.
About Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night
Legends take many forms, but most carry a warning within. For instance, stories of monsters such as the Chupacabra, Snallygasters, and Windigos were told to warn children to behave themselves. The tale of the ghost girl who haunts buildings in Cleveland, is a warning to daredevils, who would chance their lives and safety in old derelict buildings. And Trooper 666 is a deterrent against drunk and dangerous driving. The angel of death and gilgul offers lessons to be learned about our spiritual lives. And any one of the monsters found between these pages could decide to follow you home.
These diverse shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts and monstrous creatures, which each hold a certain sense of justice. Introduced by multi-genre author Kaye Lynne Booth, these stories are a celebration of legends of old, and some new ones, too, but there are no happy endings.
Featuring stories by Kaye Lynne Booth, Abe Margel, Chris Barili, Sara W. McBride, C.R. Johansson, Rebecca M. Senese, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Robb T. White, DL Mullan and Joseph Carrabis.
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/LegendsMonsters
“The Last Stagecoach”, by Kaye Lynne Booth
“The Last Stagecoach” is based on the legend of the Chupacabra.
Tell us in the comments which legend this story is associated with to claim puzzle piece 10.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
Wrap Up
That’s it for today’s tour stop. We hope you enjoyed DL Mullan’s guest post and her reading, and Rebecca M. Senese’s Promo. Don’t forget to pick out the legend each was based on and put your answers in the comments. Each correct answer earns a piece to the puzzle, and the more pieces you have, the better your chances of winning a free copy of Legends.
Also, don’t forget to get those Mustang pictures in to try and match the car in Chris Barili’s “The Legend of Trooper 666” story for a chance to win a signed print copy of the book. (Available to U.S. residents only due to the expense of International shipping.)
Winners will be announced in a special post on Sunday, on Writing to be Read.
Tour Schedule
Mon. 8/17 – Chris Barili – reading/contest & C.R. Johansson Promo & Trailer – Michelle Ayon Navajas –
Poetry by Mich: https://michnavs.wordpress.com/2026/08/17/day-1-legends-tour/
Hotel by Masticadores: https://hotelmasticadoreshouse.wordpress.com/2026/08/17/day-1-legends-tour/
Masticadores Phillipines: https://masticadoresphilippines.wordpress.com/2026/08/17/day-1-legends-tour/
Tues. 8/18 – DL Mullan – guest post & Rebecca M. Senese Promo – Kaye Lynne Booth –Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=72488
Wed. 8/19 – Danaeka Scrimshaw – guest post & Joseph Carrabis – Video post & reading – Carla Johnson-Hicks – Carla Loves to Read: https://wp.me/p6H3KI-kJa
Thurs. 8/20 – Robb T. White – guest post – Abe Margel Promo – DL Mullan – Undawnted: http://www.undawnted.com/2026/08/undawnted-presents-legends-day-4.html
Fri. 8/21 – Sara W. McBride– guest post about authors & Kaye Lynne Booth – audio reading – Kaye Lynne Booth – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=72831
Sun. 8/23 – Contest Winners post – Writing to be Read
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Day 4 of the WordCrafter “Legends” Book Blog Tour
Posted: August 20, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press Leave a commentWe’re celebrating the release of Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night on Day 4 of the WordCrafter Legends Book Blog Tour over on Undawnted with host, DL Mullan. We have a guest post from contributing author Robb T. White about his story, “The Urbexer’s Girl” and a promo for Abe Margel’s “It was no Stroll in the Park”.
Undawnted does not accept comments, so please post your answers here to collect the puzzle pieces for this stop to get in on the giveaway for a free digital copy. And just a reminder, there is still time to get in on Chris Barili’s giveaway for a print copy. Send your Mustang GT photos to Chris at stealthcb@gmail.com and to me at KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com.
Visit today’s stop at: http://www.undawnted.com/2026/08/undawnted-presents-legends-day-4.htm
