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This past weekend, I attended my very first horror convention.

I'm no stranger to conventions—I've spent plenty of weekends wandering comic conventions over the years—but this was my first event dedicated entirely to horror. As both a lifelong horror fan and a horror author, I was excited to see what the experience would be like.

Overall, I had a great time, and it was refreshing to spend the day surrounded by people who share the same appreciation for all things creepy, strange, and macabre.

...

This might be a month late... but better late than never.

January kicked off with the release of The Witching, a stand-alone occult horror novel about a recently divorced mother attempting to restart her life in a house haunted by the spirit of a witch.

Thanks to your support, The Witching briefly reached #1 New Release in its primary category--a first for me. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who picked up a copy, left a rating, or recommended it to someone else. Indie success is never a...

Well, I got punched in the face.

If you read my previous post about The 30-Day Draft challenge, you’ll know that The Witching was the novel I set out to write. The challenge started in September, and, well… it’s December.

That said, this was still the fastest turnaround in which I’ve ever produced a novel--and my longest one to date--so I’m ultimately happy with the outcome. But instead of glossing over the missed deadline, I want to take a closer look at what went right, what went wrong, and...

Now that it’s been a full 30 days since the release of Dreadful Delights: A Horror Collection, I want to say a BIG thank you to everyone who picked up a copy or left a review. The feedback has been incredible, and I’m truly grateful for every single reader who’s taken the time to dive into my twisted little worlds.

During its launch, Dreadful Delights broke into the Top 100 on the Kindle Free Store and even hit #1 in Horror Anthologies, Horror Suspense, and Single Author Short Stories—a first...

I enjoyed writing every story in Dreadful Delights, but like all creators, I have my favorites. Some of these tales spent years marinating in the darker corners of my imagination, while others were born fresh for this collection.

Let’s dive into the three that stood out the most to me:

Hand in Hand

This one makes the cut because of the history behind it. Hand in Hand was one of the very first story concepts I ever came up with—long before Shotgun Grandma.

Originally, the working title was “...

As you know, I’ve been nose to the grindstone with my personal challenge: writing a novel in just 30 days. So far, it’s going better than expected—I’m actually on schedule (shocking, I know).

But what’s this mysterious book I’ve been pouring words into?

Well, surprise, surprise… it’s another horror tale.

The title? The Witching.

An occult horror novel about a witch, a murder, and a town full of broken people trying to keep their secrets buried.

“When a divorced mother moves her children into an...

I’ve always wanted to write a novel in 30 days.

In traditional publishing, that probably sounds ridiculous. But in the indie world, it’s not just possible—it’s common. Some authors even manage to write and publish two books in that time. That’s a little beyond my reach (I’ve never come close to finishing even one draft that fast), but that’s exactly why I want to give it a shot.

This challenge is about pushing myself to the limit and seeing what’s possible. Of course, that also means there’s...

Now that we’ve wrapped up the pre-work, it’s time to dive into the drafting phase.

Since this is a very short story, I wrote the full draft in one sitting. What you’re about to read is the final, revised version. Normally, I go through three editing passes before calling a short story finished:

1. First Pass – Making sure the story makes sense (structure, pacing, character logic).
2. Second Pass – Cleaning up grammar, tightening language, and sharpening lines.
3. Third Pass – Listening to the story...

After months spent knee-deep in horror shorts for my upcoming collection, Dreadful Delights, I floated an idea on X: what if I wrote a horror short live?

At least one reader said, “Yes,” and honestly, that’s all the encouragement I needed.

Now, the thought of recording, editing, and listening to my own voice? That’s more horrifying than anything I’ve ever written. So instead, we’re meeting in the middle—with a blog post.

Structure

In the interest of time, readability, and meeting my Dreadful...

A huge thank you to the 400+ readers who gave Shotgun Grandma a shot yesterday—I’m blown away by the response!

This weird little zombie book about a double-barreled grandma found a home with hundreds of new readers, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

If you missed the promotion, Shotgun Grandma: Volume 1 is still FREE today.

If you enjoy grindhouse horror, dark comedy, and badass grandmas with no time for the apocalypse, this might just be your next favorite read.

Grab you copy here: [...

Want to read my books for free?

I’m building an ARC (Advance Review Copy) reader list—and I’d love for you to join.

In the indie world, reviews are king.

Not just reviews—even a simple rating makes a huge difference. They’re social proof, telling new readers:

“This book’s worth your time.”

And it’s not just readers. Promoters, platforms, and algorithms all look at reviews before giving a book any visibility. (Yeah, I hate that it works that way too—but here we are.)

If you’re open to reading my...

I still remember the feeling of finishing the first story I ever wrote. It was a horror short titled The Good Neighbor. That moment kicked off my writing journey, and ever since, horror shorts have had a special place in my heart. Even as I explored other genres and longer works, I could feel them calling to me again.

As a reader, horror has always been my favorite—especially short horror. There's something about the quick escalation, the creeping dread, the way a short story can leave you...

Music has always played an important role in my life—and writing is no different. When I first started, I couldn’t listen to music while writing. It took time to train myself to do it. I started with soundtracks and orchestral scores (think Hans Zimmer). Anything with lyrics tripped me up. But now? I couldn’t go back if I wanted to. I write with headphones on, isolated, completely immersed in my own personal soundtrack.

What Gets the Words Flowing

I am—and forever will be—a metalhead. While...

Let’s be honest, the state of media has been lackluster at best.

Movies have been one remake after another, often followed by sequels to aging franchises. With few exceptions, Hollywood seems to be doing the bare minimum to push out new movies. The gaming industry isn’t much better. While there are exceptions, most new releases seem to fall flat. Game mechanics are uninspired, stories feel repetitive, and graphics often look dated. Media has been declining for years. While studios seem aware...

When I took my first steps on my writing journey, I was fascinated by other writers’ processes. I wanted to know how they worked—to shed the enigma of their rituals and routines that allowed them to summon worlds at their fingertips. From traditionally published authors like Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and Brandon Sanderson to indie trailblazers like Lindsay Buroker, Chris Fox, and the guys from Self-Publishing Podcast—I devoured every drop of information I could.

In reality, writing isn’t...

Humanity has come a long way in a short time. Yet, we still wrestle with some of life’s biggest mysteries:

• Are we alone in the universe?
• What really happens after we die?
• How will AI shape the future of human existence?

These are fascinating questions—but let’s focus on something truly important.

Do zombies walk, or do they run?

In my Shotgun Grandma universe, zombies run. When I started writing the series, I was inspired by 28 Days Later, Zombieland, and Left 4 Dead. I wanted my zombies to be...

I’ve always been drawn to the dark and the strange.

As an introverted kid in rural Missouri, I spent most of my time alone with my nose in a fantasy novel or my hands on a game controller. When I wasn't hibernating in my den, I explored tens of acres of untouched woodland behind my house with my dog. There, I found a love of adventure and mystery. From the wildlife (LOTs of coyotes), the long abandoned house covered in overgrowth, to the Civil War era gravestone of a Cavalry soldier alone on a...