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 Comments
This 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
______________________________________
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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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
_______________________________________
Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!
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Everyone is a Critic: My All-Time Favorites – Horror
Posted: October 12, 2026 Filed under: Everyone is a Critic, Horror, Movie Review, Movies, Review | Tags: Everyone is a Critic, From Dusk Till Dawn, horror, Interview with the Vampire, It, Movie Review, Movies, Review, Silver Bullet, The Terminator, Tremors, Writing to be Read Leave a commentThere are some movies that I can watch over and over and never get tired of them because they are so fun to watch. I’m sure certain movies are the same for everyone, in this respect. For “Everyone is a Critic” in 2026, I’d like to talk about my all-time favorites, because if you haven’t seen them, they are worth watching, and if you have, maybe this will remind you how fun they are, and you’ll give one or two another go. I’ve categorized them by the values I find in them, or the reason that I watch them. Many of them, I have watched so many times, I can quote them word for word through many parts. (And, yes, I am old, but they really don’t make them like they used to.)
Now, here, I will share them with you in the hopes that you will get the same enjoyment I have from watching them. For those who have seen the movie, the quotes will bring certain scenes alive in their minds. And if you haven’t seen the movie and you watch it, when you see the scene, you’ll understand why I chose the quotes that I did.
Horror -Scare the pants off me or keep me sitting on the edge of my seat
The Terminator (1984) & The Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), with Arnold Swartzenheger
Who hasn’t seen these movies?
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a formidable cyber-villain from the future, sent to kill one Sarah Conner in the first movie, and a formidable cyber-hero sent back to project John Conner from a nearly indestructible cyber-villain in the second.
Cyber-monsters as villains can be pretty scary. If you don’t believe it, watch these two movies and you will.
I have both of these in my personal movie collection.
Favorite Quote (First): “I’ll be Back”
Favorite Quote (Second): “Asta la vista, baby.”
Favorite Scenes (First): The bar scene where the terminator acquires clothes and transportation.
Favorite Scenes (Second): A young John Conner teaches his cyber-protector (Schwartzenegger) slang, so he can appear more human, & the mental institution when Sarah Conner sees John and the terminator get off the elevator.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), with George Clooney and Quinten Tarantino, Juliette Lewis, and Harvey Keitel
Two outlaw brothers, Seth and Richie Gecko (George Clooney and Quinten Tarantino), highjack a family on vacation in order to get past the roadblocks and make it across the border into Mexico. They end up at a bar off the beaten path, open from dusk till dawn, and filled with vampires.
Very cool special effects for this one as the vampires turn.
I watch this one on Pluto T.V. for free.
Favorite Scene: The snake dance by Santiaco Pandemonium (Selma Hayek)
Favorite Quotes: “I’ve got six little friends and they can all run faster than you can.” Seth Gecko (Clooney)
” I know what’s going on. We got a bunch of fucking vampires out there, trying to get in here and suck our fucking blood. And that’s it. Plain and simple. I don’t want to hear anything about “I don’t believe in vampires,” because I don’t fucking believe in vampires, but I believe in my own two eyes, and what I saw, is fucking vampires. Now, do we all agree that what we are dealing with is vampires?” Seth Gecko (Clooney)
“Did they look like psychos? Is that what they looked like? They were vampires. Psychos do not explode when sunlight hits them, I don’t give a fuck how crazy they are!” – Seth Gecko (Clooney)
” Go home, Kate. I may be a bastard, but I’m not a fucking bastard.” – Seth Gecko (Clooney)
“Attention pussy shoppers! Take advantage of our penny pussy sale! If you buy one piece of pussy at the regular price, you get another piece of pussy of equal or lesser value for only a penny! Try and beat pussy for a penny! If you can find cheaper pussy anywhere else, fuck it!” – Chet Pussy (Cheech Marin)
“Are you such a loser, you can’t tell when you’ve won? The entire state of Texas, along with the F.B.I., are looking for you. Did they find you? No. They couldn’t. You’ve won, Seth. Enjoy it.” – Jacob (Keitel)
Tremors (1990), with Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, and Reba McIntire
A newly discovered prehistoric underground monster is the villain in this tale, which the characters dub graboids. They are strong and fast as they travel beneath the valley floor hunting by sound rather than sight or smell. And the residents of Perfection, Nevada find themselves trapped at the end of a box canyon and must outsmart them to get past to safety.
All three of the Tremors movies are entertaining, but the first one will always be the best, in my opinion. The others are missing the character of Val, played by Kevin Bacon, and I feel the subsequent movies are missing something due to this fact. This is not to knock them. They continued this series with some clever twists of story line. But the first will always be my favorite.
Favorite Quotes: “Stampede, Earl!” Val McKee (Bacon)
“You will have long blonde hair, big green eyes, world class breasts, ass that won’t quit and legs that go all the way up.” – Val McKee (Bacon)
“I vote for outer space. No way these are local boys.” Earl Bassett (Ward)
“”Broke into the wrong goddamn rec room, didn’t ya, you bastard!” – Bert Gummer (Gross)
“Roger that Burt, and congratulations. Be advised, however, that there are two more, repeat, two more motherhumpers.” – Val McKee (Bacon)
“I think I have a plan. What if we throw a bomb that way, the way we want to go? Then when it goes off, I mean, if it scares them away, we run like goddamn bastards!… Pardon my French.” Rhonda LeBeck (Carter)
“Run for it? Running’s not a plan! Running’s what you do once a plan fails!” – Earl Bassett (Ward)
“Food for five years, a thousand gallons of gas, air filtration, water filtration, Geiger counter. Bomb shelter! Underground… God damn monsters.” – Bert Gummer (Gross)
Silver Bullet (1985), with Corey Haim and Gary Busey
Based on the book, Cycle of the Werewolf, by Stephen King, you can’t go wrong with this movie. Corey Haim plays a crippled boy, Marty Coslaw, who is confronted by the werewolf and now must defend his life with the help of his sister, Jane (Megan Follows), and his Uncle Red (Gary Busey). Not a lot of blood and gore, but a great story line and lots of tension.
I have the book by King, but I watch the movie on Pluto T.V. for free.
Favorite Scene: Fireworks on the bridge & Covered bridge scene when Marty is trapped.
Favorite Quotes: “The last full moon of that Spring came a little more than a month before school let out for Summer vacation. Our town’s long nightmare began that night.” – Older Jane Narrating (Megan Follows)
“From him I’d expect it. Sometimes I think your common sense got paralyzed along with your legs. But from you, Jane – you’re Miss Polly Practical!” – Uncle Red (Busey)
“I understand that my niece and my nephew are sending little love notes to the local minister suggesting he gargle with broken glass or eat a rat-poison omelette!” – Uncle Red (Busey)
“She and Dad are out back lighting the barbeque, yeah, and Jane’s walking around in all these new clothes showing off her tits, acting like no one ever had tits before her.” – Marty Coslaw (Haim)
“I’m a little too old to be playing “Hardy Boys meet Reverend Werewolf!” – Uncle Red (Busey)
IT (1990)), with Richard Thomas, Annette O’Toole, John Ritter, Harry Anderson, Jonathan Brandis, Tim Reid, Dennis Christopher
This is a two-part television mini-series based on the book by Stephen King, sometimes what you don’t see is scarier than what you do, and this monstrous villain can mess with your mind and reveal your deepest fears. In the first part, our heroes face the villain, which takes the form of Pennywise the Clown, among other forms, in 1960, as children, and in the second part, they come back as adults to face the monster once again.
They did a remake in 2017, but my feeling is that this mini-series is far superior.
Favorite Quote: “BEEP BEEP Richie! They ALL float down here. When you’re down here with us, you’ll float too!” – Pennywise the Clown (Tim Curry)
“I’m every nightmare you’ve ever had. I’m your worst dream come true. I’m everything you ever were afraid of.” – IT
“Me? Oh you are priceless, brat! I am eternal, child. I am the eater of worlds, and of children. And you are next!” – IT
“He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.” – Bill Denbrough (Thomas)
“I think I remember who Pennywise was now. Big white guy… Red nose… Bout 75 feet tall… Mouth full of razor-sharp teeth?” – Eddie Kapsbrak (Christopher)
” I believe in Santa Claus. I believe in the Easter Bunny. I believe in the Tooth Fairy. But I don’t believe in you. This is battery acid. Now, you disappear!” – Eddie Kapsbrak (Christopher)
“Listen, kids. This campfire stuff is fun, it really is, but it doesn’t matter how painstakingly we go over these sewer plans or how many damn flashlights or helmets you’ve got in that box. When the sun comes up, I’m dust, and I would suggest that you follow me and get the hell out of Dodge!” -Richie Toizer (Anderson)
“The biggest mystery is how two hundred and fifty-three settlers just vanished without a trace.” – Young Mike (Marlon Taylor)
“Well, what do you know? It’s the fat boy, the Jew, the sissy, the four eyes, and the poor girl too. Nigger you know how to pick em. It’s the losers club. I have bones to pick with some of you but I’m willing to let go for today. I want him so buzz off.” – Henry Bowers (Michael Cole)
Interview with a Vampire (1994), with Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Christian Slater
Brad Pitt plays Louis, a vampire with a conscience, disillusioned with immortality, who shares his story with a reporter (Christian Slater). He relates the story of how he became a vampire with his maker Lestat (Tom Cruise).
Based on the novel by Anne Rice, Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise make the coolest vampires ever, as Louise and Lestat, bringing these characters to life, even in death. And what a story it is.
I catch this one on Pluto T.V. for free.
Favorite Quotes: “In the spring of 1988, I returned to New Orleans, and as soon as I smelled the air, I knew I was home. It was rich, almost sweet, like the scent of jasmine and roses around our old courtyard. I walked the streets, savoring that long lost perfume.” – Louis (Pitt)
“Oh Louis, Louis. Still whining, Louis. Have you heard enough? I’ve had to listen to that for centuries.”- Lestat (Cruise)
“I’m going to give you the choice that I never had.” – Lestat (Cruise)
“I was a newborn vampire, weeping at the beauty of the night.” Louis (Pitt)
“We are predators, whose all-seeing eyes were meant to give them detachment.” – Lestat (Cruise)
“It’s your coffin, my love. Enjoy it. Most of us never get to know what it feels like.” – Lestat (Cruise)
“All I need to find you, Louis, is follow the corpses of rats.” – Lestat (Cruise)
About Author 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 and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
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.
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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 segment of “Everyone is a Critic” 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://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
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://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
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 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 Comments
October 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 News: September Writing Projects & Back to School Bonanza
Posted: August 31, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Book Sales, Books, Children's Books, Dark Fantasy, Dark fiction, Fiction, Health & Wellness, Historical Fiction, Horror, Nonfiction, Science Fiction, Self-Help, Time travel, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing | Tags: 12 Dark Nights of Christmas, A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes, Back to School Bonanza Sale, Marta, Midnight Madness, My Backyard Friends, The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2 Double Visions, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing 6 CommentsSeptember is a writing month, with no new releases scheduled, so it seems pretty calm. I’m planning to hunker down and dig in to three different writing projects in various stages of production. My only promotional endeavors this month will be to promote the Back to School Bonanza Book Sale where you can get all three of the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series in a $5 bundle.
WordCrafter Back to School Bonanza
3 for $5 Bundle
All 3 My Backyard Friends Series Books for one low price of $5.
September 1 – 30, 2026
Exclusive on WordCrafter Press My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series page:
September Writing Projects
Although WordCrafter Press has no September releases, it looks like I’ll be elbow deep in writing projects. September will find me compiling and editing on the Midnight Madness anthology, as well as doing the first round of edits on the 12 Dark Nights of Christmas anthology. Of course, I’ll be setting up the Midnight Madness tour for mid-October, when it is scheduled to release, as well. And 12 Dark Nights of Christmas will be scheduled for a December release, of course.
And throughout the month, I will also be finishing up the first draft of Marta, Book 3 in my Women in the West Adventure Series. I’m sitting right now around 85,000 words, which is already longer than either of the first two books, and I’ve still got a ways to go. I don’t know how long this one will end up being, but I’ll use as many words as I need to tell it.
There are several reasons this book may be longer than the first two. One, Marta’s journey ventures outside of Colorado, all the way to El Paso, Texas. Two, Marta sports a full cast of colorful characters who accompany her on her journey, whereas in the first two books, much of the journey for Delilah and Sarah were travelling solo with a good amount of inner dialog to lead the way. Since my stories are dialog heavy and character led, discussions seem to make up a great deal of those 85,000 words. And three, my writing is improving, and I’m learning to add more details for a better crafted story, which is a good thing, right? Better writing from me, equals a better story for my readers.
I’m researching new things for this book, as well; delving into New Mexico and Texas history to add to my knowledge of the Colorado frontier. Since Marta’s journey is made by wagon, I’ve researched the different types of wagons and how they are built, as well. And it’s always interesting to peruse the newspapers of the 1800’s, adding many details which help to bring the story ton life. I’ve learned many interesting facts, some of which I’ll be sharing on the blog tour, when the book comes out, next March.
In addition, I’ve had to research the life of Pauline Cushman, Union Spy, who is the historic supporting female character in Marta’s tale. The supporting historic female character, along with the strong female protagonists, are what sets this western historic women’s fiction series apart from the rest.
Other Good News for WordCrafter Press
Before I let you go today, I wanted to share a couple of good things which are happening around WordCrafter Press. We’re always proud when good reviews turn up, and last month we got another four-star review on Amazon for The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Double Visions: https://wp.me/p6H3KI-jnH
We also had a bit of excitement at WordCrafter Press when A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes, by Daniel J. Cox made the Amazon #1 Bestseller in Diabetes! It’s the first time a WordCrafter Press book has made the list, so we’re pretty proud of the accomplishment.
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; as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders. Her novels include Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Books 1 & 2 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, and Double Visions.
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.
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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.
___________________________________________
This post sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
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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Book Review: “Into the Deep Dark Woods” & “A Harmony of Hells”
Posted: August 28, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Book Review, Books, Dark fiction, Gothic, Horror, Mystery, Review, Short Fiction, Stories, Thriller | Tags: Allison Longueira, Book Review, Charles De Lint, Dark Fiction Anthology, Gothic Thriller, Harmony of Hells, Jonathan Maberry, Kevin J. Anderson, Sebastian de Castell, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Writing to be Read, Yves Fey Leave a comment
About Into the Deep Dark Woods
See what lurks in the deep, dark woods—a place of fairy tales, secrets, and monsters…
Where the unexpected looms at every turn.
Where twisted shadows meet dappled sunlight.
Where even the silence grows teeth.
Into the Deep, Dark Woods features 28 all-new stories and poems that explore the magic and mystery of the primeval wilderness. Venture from the decay of a demented pumpkin patch to worlds where dragons hide among the trees and the sycamore beckons the blue ghost fireflies. Face the strangeness of an alien planet, then dine in a themed restaurant that may or may not be staffed with werewolves.
Edited by New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson and award-winning editor Allyson Longueira, along with their Publishing graduate students at Western Colorado University, this page-turning anthology presents new stories by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jonathan Maberry, Charles de Lint, Sebastien de Castell, and many others.
Step off the path and into a world where every tree tells a story and every clearing offers a choice. The deeper you go, the darker it gets.
The darker it gets, the more interesting the light becomes.
Welcome to the woods. Try not to get lost.
Purchase Link: https://wordfirepress.com/products/into-the-deep-dark-woods
My Review of Into the Deep Dark Woods
I received a digital copy of the Into the Deep Dark Woods anthology from executive editors Kevin J. Anderson and Allyson Longueira in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Into the Deep Dark Woods is this year’s anthology put out by the graduate in publishing students at Western State Colorado University. Every year international bestselling author, Kevin J Anderson guides a cohort of Western’s publishing students through the process of putting together and publishing an anthology on the professional level, through his publishing company, Wildfire Press and Draft2Digital, as a group thesis project. submission numbers are higher every year. My cohort in 2022 published Gilded Glass, with over 600 submissions, and I heard they had over 900 for this one. Every story or poem is hand selected by the grad students, and I’m always happy to review these wonderful anthologies.
There are things in the woods. Whether they be shape shifters, the undead, all types of crawly things, fearies & dragons, golems, witches, alien life forms, or just the trees themselves, the stories found in this collection will make you believe they are there and you should be very afraid.
Some stories made me laugh, others made me cry, some gave me the creeps and others had me sitting on the edge of my seat. There are so many good tales in this anthology, that I wouldn’t even attempt to try and review each one. But I will give you an idea about the ones which stick out in my mind:
- “Underneath the Sycamore Tree on the Hill”, by Sam Knight was sad and made me want to cry.
- “This Real World”, by Lea Harper was my favorite poem.
- “Mulch”, by Brent Nelson offers excellent dark humor.
- “Metsubishu”, by Benjamin Spada has the feel of Ninjas and Samurai. I try and view such stories through the eyes of my son, Mike, who absolutely would have loved this story, therefore, it gets my vote.
- “The Dreadwood Dragon”, by Sebastian de Castell is an intense tale of friendship and sacrifice which touched my heart and made me smile.
Whether the forest or the things which lurk within, there is definitely something to fear if you dare to venture Into the Deep Dark Woods. I give this dark fiction anthology five quills.
About A Harmony of Hells
A poet haunted by grief. A lover marked by blood. A sister silenced behind asylum walls.
In the decadent heart of fin de siècle Paris, Averill Charron makes a devil’s bargain. To rescue his sister—locked away by their father—he joins forces with the last man he should trust, Blaise Dancier, the crime lord who once ordered his death.
No longer enemies. Now they are lovers. Together they descend into the underworld, searching cabarets and crypts, brothels and back alleys, chasing whispers that lead to deception and death.
Even as they hunt for her, Jeanette fights for her freedom. But escape only leads to recapture. Once again, she’s trapped in a world where only dreams of forbidden love and the promise of revenge keep her sane.
Their paths converge in the drowning beauty of Venice at Carnevale, where every mask conceals a threat. In a world ruled by power, madness, and betrayal, love may be the final sacrifice.
A HARMONY OF HELLS…a love story with murders.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Harmony-Hells-story-murders-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0FXVTR5DX
My Review of A Harmony of Hells
I received a copy of A Harmony of Hells: A Love Story of Paris…with Murders, by Yves Fey, through the Review Pool in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I chose this book because of the awesome cover and because I love gothic horror and gothic mystery.
Let me start by saying, I’m not a big fan of m/m romance/sex scenes. It’s not a statement about morality, but rather something that doesn’t do anything for me, personally, so I will usually skip over those stories. But…, this story is written in such a way that the sex does not overwhelm the plot, and the romance is tactfully written to support the story. Although the m/m relationship does play a key role, and in places, it is very graphic, there is so much more to this story.
Driven by a need to find his sister, Jeanette, who has been hidden away in the asylums and brothels of Paris and beyond by his father, Averille makes an alliance with Blaise Dancier, Parisian crime lord. It is risky business, but he feels he has no choice, and then finds himself surrendering to lust and wholly giving himself over to a man he knows he shouldn’t trust. In the search for Jeanette, it seems they are always at least one step behind his father, but Jeanette is resourceful and works toward her freedom at every opportunity. Their efforts bring them so close to crossing paths, but not close enough, and it is a race for time to find one another before their father can whisk her away once more.
A scandalous gothic thriller that will keep readers turning pages. I give A Harmony of Hells five quills.
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; as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders. Her novels include Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Books 1 & 2 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, and Double Visions.
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.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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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 Comment
Welcome 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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Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!
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Day 2 of the WordCrafter “Legends” Book Blog Tour
Posted: August 18, 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: "The Call", "The house on the Lake", DL Mullan, Excerpt Reading, Guest Post, Legends: Monsters the go Bump in the Night, Myths and Legends, Rebecca M. Senese, The Babysitter LEgend, Windigo, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press 2 Comments[Intro.]
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 Call”
Ring.
Ring. Ring.
It’s the middle of the night… do you answer the phone?
Rebecca Blackwood does.
THE LEGEND
“The babysitter and the man upstairs” is one of the most retold urban legends in horror — a threatening call that turns out to be coming from inside the house.
THE TWIST
The Call swaps the babysitter for a first-time homeowner. The fear isn’t a teenager on a job — it’s an adult who thought she’d finally earned safety.
THE CALL
Rebecca Blackwood finally has what she’s worked for: a home of her own. It’s modest, it’s hers, and it’s the first thing that’s ever felt permanent. Then the phone starts ringing.
At first, it’s silence. Next, breathing. Afterward, a voice that knows exactly where she’s standing, what room she’s in, what she’s wearing. Rebecca does everything right — she calls for help, she checks the locks, she stays calm. But the caller is already inside the house.
The Call is a slow-burn reimaging of one of horror’s most enduring urban legends, grounded in something scarier than any monster: the terror of being watched in the one place you’re supposed to be safe. Some things aren’t what they seem.
Join The Call…
*”The Call” appears in Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night (WordCrafter Press, 2026, ed. Kaye Lynne Booth), then again in Broken Things, DL Mullan’s own collection of weird short fiction (Undawnted, 2027).
Tell us in the comments which legend this story is associated with to claim puzzle piece 3.
About DL Mullan
DL Mullan holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology. Her lecture, Spacescapes: Where Photography Ends; Imagination Begins, debuted at the Phoenix Astronomy Society, which then led to her Sally Ride Festival lecture invitations. Her presentation, Bridging the Gap between Technology and Women, won her accolades at a community college’s Student Success Conference. She has been a panelist at speculative fiction, science fiction, and other regional conventions. Her digital exhibition pieces have won awards at convention art shows, as well as garnered her Second Premium at the Arizona State Fair. Currently, Ms. Mullan’s artistic renditions are seen on book covers, blog sites, and various merchandise. As an independent publisher, she uses her technical background to innovate the way she perceives the creative arts.
As a writer, DL Mullan loves to stretch her imagination and the elasticity of genres. She writes complex multigenre stories in digestible and entertaining forms, be it poetry, short fiction, or novels. Her science, history, mythology, and paranormal research background is woven into her writings, especially in Undawnted’s Legacy Universe. Ms. Mullan’s creative endeavors are available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. She is also an award-winning poet.
Be sure to subscribe to her newsletters and follow her on social media. For further information, visit her at http://www.undawnted.com.
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 House by the Lake”, by Rebecca M. Senese
Tell us in the comments which legend this story is associated with to claim puzzle piece 4.
About Rebecca M. Senese
Rebecca M. Senese weaves words of horror, mystery, contemporary fantasy, and science fiction in Toronto, Ontario. She is the author of the contemporary fantasy series, the Noel Kringle Chronicles featuring the son of Santa Claus working as a private detective in Toronto. She garnered an Honorable Mention in “The Year’s Best Science Fiction” and has been nominated for numerous Aurora Awards.
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.
Pop in for tomorrow’s tour stop over at Carla Loves to Read where Carla Johnson-Hicks will be hosting a guest post from contributing author Danaeka Scrimshaw about “The Legend of Tilly Mae”, and Joseph Carrabis shares the inspiration and an excerpt reading from “Sema”.
Tour Schedule
Mon. 8/17 – Chris – reading/contest & Johansson Promo & Trailer – Michelle Ayon Navajas – Poetry by Mich, Hotel by Masticadores, & Masticadores Phillipines
Tues. 8/18 – Dawn – guest post/audio reading & Senese Promo – Kaye Lynne Booth –Writing to be Read
Wed. 8/19 – Danaeka – guest post & Joseph – Video post & reading – Carla Johnson-Hicks – Carla Loves to Read
Thurs. 8/20 – Robb – guest post – Margel Promo – DL Mullan – Undawnted
Fri. 8/21 – Sara – guest post about authors & Kaye – audio reading – Kaye Lynne Booth – Writing to be Read
Sun. 8/23 – Winners post – Writing to be Read
________________________________________
Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!
