Chapter 3 Question: Where does one begin when the spark of a novel involves obscure history, mythos, and an elevated degree of imagination to …
The Making of Delevan House #3
The Making of Delevan House #3
Tag: Writing
The Making of Delevan House
Chapter 1 Delevan House Two passionate female authors, sharing a love of dark speculative fiction, and a wicked sense of humor, become virtual …
The Making of Delevan House
Mid Year Update
Talk about curveball 2022! Another year of madness! There were plans. Big beautiful plans! And while those plans still exist, there has been movement because of those unexpected transitions life has her way of throwing. Personally, I’ve had some family upsets which I predominantly have to deal with and process alone (my partner, of course, has supported as much as one can). I’ve angered, been frustrated, hurt, grieved, run myself in circles, hurt some more, and accepted. Because sometimes that’s all we can do. Accept to find crumbs of peace and carry on. It just takes a little time. It’s a process many are familiar with. It’s been heavy.
Following the acceptances of a triple-pronged hit, I’ve another unexpected ‘bump’, who made himself known in a dream. My kids are excited about another sibling to teach and get up to extra mischief with. Since I have complicated pregnancies, and this one has already given us some wobbles, I’m (again) doing everything within my control to keep this little one inside until late 2022, ideally early 2023. My cervix needs a mantra, and this is the last! The instant physical hit means I’ve been heavily fatigued, and as of that wasn’t enough, I’ve been hammered with mine and the kids’ second bout of Covid of 2022. Because I wasn’t wiped enough by the heavy graft underway in my uterus, I am zapped because my lungs are in battle, and my body feels like it’s been used as a punchbag.
Moving in from all of that, onto the writing front update:
My novella, Asylum Daughter, released on 8th May 2022.
Redesigned the cover art for Murmur: Collected Horror.
Launched Clan Witch Etsy store for book related merchandise and signed copies.
My short story collection Incesticide: Collected Horror is available for preorder, releasing on 14th December 2022.
My sassy, immensely talented, and inspiring co-author, Ruthann Jagge and I launched our website, BrazenFolkHorror.com, for our upcoming 2022 release, Delevan House and future projects. Ruthann also released her fantastic solo debut novella in January 2022, The New Girls’ Patient; if you haven’t read her, this is an excellent example of her extraordinary work that should be on any horror fan’s reading list.
I’ve still been editing work for other writers and publishers via Word Refinery and also published poet Rafik Romdhani’s collection, The Crash of Verses.
I am working on my degree course too.
The latest developments has zapped my study schedule. I hope to recover enough to make up for that soon. Deadlines are looming! Anthology wise, unlike in the previous two years, I have not responded to any open calls. My dance card has been packed. I have gratefully received several invite opportunities but unfortunately had to decline several. One that I was able to submit a piece to was with KJK Publishing’s The Horror Collection: Nightmare Edition, which has just been released. It’s the biggest collection of the twelve-book series and worth picking up for a good flavour of many popular independent horror authors currently putting our new materiel.
More still to come for 2022, and 2023 is also beginning to fill up with a couple of accepted invites, continued work with my brazen co-author in crime and at least one (hopefully two) solo release(s). One of which will be a collection of poetry and drabbles, Clan Witch: Found Shadows.
Delevan House
This week, we’re coming out of the stacks! We are letting the other book out of the bag and sharing a COVER REVEAL (that may be subject to slight changes) for a truly exceptional project with my magical mistress of folklore and mayhem, the lady in red, Ruthann Jagge! We are co-authoring a spectacular world for you. As the wheel turns to the darker side of 2022, you are invited to ‘Delevan House’. Here is the sneak peek of the cover art designed by the talented Don Noble of Rooster Republic Press.
We are a red-hot fusion that is guaranteed to create major waves; that is a promise!
Watch this space. You won’t want to miss a thing.
Writing to Music
Music is such a profound part of my writing process and always has been. With the imminent release of my novella, Asylum Daughter, I wanted to share the music that formed the soundtrack to the writing of this piece.
Art influences art, and I couldn’t create without music. Every piece I write has its own playlist. Sometimes, those playlists are unexpected and not my taste, but the characters have their styles. I can’t argue. The soundtrack to Asylum Daughter was ‘80s heavy and all good by me.
I can’t wait to hear what you think! And feel free to check out some of the early readers thoughts on Goodreads.
Soundtrack to writing Asylum Daughter:
Tears for Fears – Head Over Heels
Tears For Fears – Shout
Tears For Fears – Mad World
Tears For Fears – Sowing The Seeds Of Love
Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
Placebo – Without You I’m Nothing
The Jam – Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
The Jam – Going Underground
The Jam – Town Called Malice
Depeche Mode – Strange Love
Depeche Mode – World In My Eyes
New Order – Blue Monday
New Order – Age Of Consent
The Cure – Pictures Of You
The Cure – Prayers For Rain
The Cure – The Hanging Garden
The Cure – Lovesong
The Cure – Fascination Street
The Cure – The Same Deep Water As You
The Clash – Rock The Casbah
The Cure – A Forest
Blue Oyster Cult – Shooting Shark
Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
Dave Navarro – Hungry
Dave Navarro – Rexall
Dave Navarro – Slow Motion Sickness
Bauhaus – Ziggy Stardust
Bauhaus – She’s At Parties
Bauhaus – Dark Entities
David Bowie – China Girl
Patti Smith – Birdland
Patti Smith – Because The Nighy
Patti Smith – Smells Like Teen Spirit
The Lemonheads – My Drug Buddy
The Undertones – Teenage Kicks
Mortiis- Sins Of Mine
Korn – Coming Undone
Pixies – Here Comes Your Man
Garbage – I Think I’m Paranoid
A Flock of Seagulls – Space Age Live Song
Sonic Youth – Teen Age Riot
Mazzy Star – Into Dust
The Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink
Urge Overkill – Girls You’ll Be A Woman Soon
Mental Health in Horror
A while ago, I shared a bit about mental health in my writing, inspired by a panel I had taken part in with Mothers of Mayhem. Although naturally nerve-racking and coupled with technical glitches on my end, it was a wonderful experience, and I’m grateful to Marian and Christina (MoM) for the opportunity. This episode of Mothers of Mayhem’s Hidden Voices in Horror has now aired. You can tune in on YouTube to this particular episode featuring me (Natasha Sinclair), Lucas Milliron, Allisha McAdoo, R.E. Shambrook and Gerhard Jason Geick. There is an excellent variety of episodes building — follow MoM to get notified when new episodes drop!
My original post here.
Woodworm
I visualise the tiny holes
Secretly infesting,
Weakening bones
Like woodworm.
I’m on one of their backs;
A voyeur
In inner space.
Woodworm cancer
Speckling the
Skeleton,
Spreading spots
Eroding this life’s vessel.
He says he’s fine
When he late
Returns,
Reluctant—
Like a child
Pushed towards
Their failure,
Their mistake,
Disgrace.
He says he’s fine
When he lies to me—
Face blue,
Faceless
Digital alphabets
Thrown together,
A string
For a stranger—
Loveless.
I keep making
Peace with the
Distance;
Goldfish swimming
In circles.
The no return
Excuses,
The rot in
My soul,
The hole
He created
With another falsity!
It’s ok.
I’ve made peace—
I lie to myself too.
The damnation
Of Genetics.
Dead Waltz
A ghost waltzed through me
When I slept deathly deep
Slumber disrupted
Taking advantage
As he did with my
Friendship, my loyalty
My trust, my body
A ghost waltzed through me
Like I was his to enter
No choice but surrender
And I welcomed his touch
Through disgust
Distaste, mistrust
Did I lay down the mat?
A ghost waltzed through me
Did I invite him inside?
An open window, door ajar
In a tongue unknown
A serenade degrade
Billows clouding smoke
Butt of some joke
A ghost waltzed through me
I played dead
Don’t move
Don’t whimper
Quiet heart
Don’t breathe
Don’t stir
A ghost waltzed through me
I lay still.
Writing and other such Beasts
A revisit to what’s on the cards for release and writing this year. First up, is the imminent release of my debut horror novella, Asylum Daughter; this psychological horror hits the shelves on May 8th! The date is significant to the story — I wonder if any of my readers will spot it!
See what one early reviewer had to say about the book over on Erica Robyn Reads.
I was also invited to interview with Candace Nola, mother of Uncomfortably Dark for her 2022 Women in Horror feature. We chat about writing, the horror industry, and I share a little insight about influences of the upcoming release. For those who want to have a gander at the chat, head over to Uncomfortably Dark.
Next up, I’m working on a collaboration with another fierce horror author, my sister from across the pond, the formidable Ruthann Jagge! This is special to me as we have shared many pages within the indie horror scene, and we seem to have similar draws to particular elements! When I read her debut novella, The New Girls’ Patient, I could’ve been blown over by a feather with the striking similarities in some of her delightful, diabolical plotting! Have you read it yet?
Our blend of horror will be a magical one for readers! I would love to share a teaser, but my lips are sealed for the time being — maybe come Summer, I’ll spray some of that sweet, irresistible elixir your way. I’ve got the feeling that when our novel is done, we’ll be cooking up something else!
Another compilation of horror shorts will launch later this year. Some stories have been published, and some will be brand new to print! Given my chosen title, Incesticide (yes, the title is a homage to a particular grunge band), I’m aiming for the 14th December release! And, Yes, like the title and cover, the date continues the ‘nod’ — 30 years since that album of B-sides. I will include at least one short inspired by one of the album tracks — which one would you like to see? Feel free to drop me a message with your vote!
I am publishing an exquisite poetry collection, written by Rafik Romdhani, The Crash of Verses. The collection is up for preorder now and releases July 22nd! It’s no secret that I was reluctant to have this much responsibility for another writer’s work, but Rafik is a persuasive wordsmith! And I’m honoured to support another writer in sharing his talent with the world! I’ve read a couple of his pieces over on my YouTube channel. If you fancy getting a feel for his work (which I encourage you to do!), please hop on over to check those out. And, of course, preorder his book!
I have another collaboration scheduled later in the year, with another force of indie horror energy, this one much closer to home, with KJK Publishing’s gaffer, author of Halloween Land (another novella you horror delinquents should read!), Kevin J. Kennedy — more on that when work is underway!
Your Heaven is a Lie
A Poem
The poignant print Has pressed itself Upon my cerebrum Sepia ink bleeding The cells we share Scream in anguish Silenced, winded Controlled by them Another whisper Her Faint voice Only heads his own. Him There’s always A him First under Their skins Like they belonged To him And each after Many faces The same demon Chancers Gypsies Faux gentlemen Had his way Abusing bodies Manipulating minds Like no crime Captive strangled His God-given right Blind eyes Sightless Mindless The perverse Protected It’s the mad Talking No one hears Gibberish Gobbledygook Drivel Swept under Bulging rug Give it a wide-berth The unstable Weave weathers Fraying weakening The boards Beneath creak Like her voice Cognitive dissonance Ignorant until It’s too late… Another coffin How many now? Hold hands Ersatz repentance Hypocrisy reigning Sins of the Self-righteous Self-proclaimed Unchallenged patriarch The worst of them Self-made god(s) Bitten tongues My open eyes See through The shoddy charade That he parades With every dial Every smile Clink of glass The heart haemorrhages In silent solitude There’s no truce With these Truths Your Heaven is A lie and your Hell awaits When you Fucking die.
Clan Witch & Word Refinery 