This May I took some chances, tried on a devil-may-care attitude. The biggest one was going to my first in-person book event. I was nervous about it for at least a week beforehand. What if I didn’t sell a single book? How would I interact with people who stopped by my table? How would I handle it if I went through my whole sales pitch and people still walked away?

Turns out I had a wonderful time, sold 16 out of the 20 Rune’s Folly books I brought with me and all five of the Eye See You anthologies I had on hand, met some incredible people from my local community, and did not die when people passed on buying. It felt like a big risk, but it paid off and has inspired me to be a little more bold when it comes to my books. I’m doing another event in July! Details up ahead.

But first, indulge me!

The Midnight Vault has reopened! I am so, so thrilled to be a part of this new collection of short stories spanning speculative genres and taking inspiration from The Twilight Zone. For a Muse of Fire is one of those hard-to-classify stories. It straddles the categories of horror, suspense, and allegory, with strong themes of vengeance and the power of art.

It’s a definite departure from my usual fare, but I feel particularly proud of this one. Since I’d never seen one before, I watched several classic Twilight Zone episodes to prepare. I wanted to get in the right headspace and understand the vibe. Then I spent at least a week coming up with an idea and plotting it out before I even started writing so I could get at that Twilight Zone twist. It’s a delight seeing the final result alongside other writers I deeply admire and a huge bonus for it to be in such a beautifully designed volume inside and out.

So much gratitude to , , and for their incredible effort in bringing The Midnight Vault to life.

Get it from Tiny Worlds Publishing now!

Journey to Publication Day

I’ve had my head down since the beginning of April working hard on the developmental edits I received from my wonderful editor at . It’s been an intense journey so far, but I’m really, really pleased with how things are coming along.

One of the areas that I’ve been focusing on the most is fleshing out the love story between Etta and Ambrose. I realized I needed to get more vulnerable, more open with the way I describe romance and falling in love. This is a romantasy after all! The fantasy half was there, and after these edits are finished, the romance will be much richer and more believable.

And guys, check out this super cute editing tracker that the amazing put together for me so I could finally wipe away the last of the AI-generated images from my newsletter.

Published in May

The first episode of Dark as Dawn | Bright as Night dropped last Sunday and episode two comes out tomorrow!

I’m so thrilled to re-release DD|BN for a wider audience. What can you look forward to over the next several months?

• Brand new, beautiful illustration by the very talented .

• A horror-tinged folklore vibe

• Gods and demons behaving badly

• Setting as character: moody PNW, ancient Druid isle

• Family saga x epic adventure x coming of age x romantic tragedy

• 17 bingeable episodes to help keep the atmospheric and unsettling feels alive and well this summer

Substack Gems

What I read and loved in May.

Mermay: a triptych by : Drips in atmosphere and sings along, mesmerizing, until it pulls you under with a darkness you didn’t see coming through all the beauty.

The Salt Window by : A dark, sparkling jewel of a story.

The Monkey Haints of Big Bend Tunnel by : I’m all about the circus vibes right now and this scary story based on real-life folklore scratches a particular itch.

First Branch by : The first in a series spanning centuries, this story sets up the peculiar, awful tales that take root around a particularly terrible tree.

Eyes Wide Open by : Another in the stories inspired by real-life folklore, this watery ghost story sticks with you.

HINDSIGHT by : A strange and wonderful dark fantasy with imagery to inspire revolutions.

Sleep Tight by : The classic horror setup of a creak on the stairs elevated to literary horror.

Where to find me!

In the Seattle area? Here’s where I’ll be with my books in the coming weeks.

Tides & Tomes | Tacoma, WA | Sunday, July 19, 5pm-9pm

PNW Witches Market Mabon Festival | Kirkland, WA | Sunday, Sept. 13, 12pm-5pm

Bothell Art Walk | Bothell, WA | Thursday, October 8, 5pm-8pm

Book’d & Tatt’d Halloween Party | Olympia, WA | Saturday, October 17, 11am-4pm

And that’s it for May! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? I’d love for you to join me at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤

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The name April comes from the Latin ‘aperire,’ meaning ‘opening,’ as in the buds bursting into bloom in the Northern Hemisphere. For me, April was a personal opening: of my mind to new possibilities, my guts to a violent illness, my heart to a world that would rather see it hidden, and my spirit to the muses.

In a season of rapid growth, everything can feel a bit uncertain, but it’s on the edge of comfort that we can expand and blossom in surprising ways. April reminded me that I am always a work in progress. And that’s okay.

I’ve got lots of fun things to update you on.

But First, Indulge Me!

Last month I posted a little contest to name the new scary doll logo that the very talented created for Only Child Originals.

And while there were some great entries, I had to go with Gigi, submitted by . She didn’t know it at the time, but Gigi is what my beloved grandpa used to call me, and it just seemed like a great fit for our creepy-cute mascot. Evelyn will get a six-month comped subscription to OCO as a thank you!

AND COMING IN MAY

I’m re-releasing my serial Dark as Dawn, Bright as Night with a brand-new cover and spot illustrations for each chapter created by the very talented A.C. Sanders at Ink & Poesy Publishing!

I can’t wait to rerelease the story with new human-made illustrations from an artist that actually read and enjoyed the serial. And hopefully I’ll get a few more eyes on a story that’s near and dear to my heart. I like to think of it as Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher x Rosemary & Rue by Seanan McGuire.

Anthologies

A special section this month! I am so thrilled to be a part of the Eye See You horror anthology from and ! It’s TiF’s first title and I’m honored to have my story, Solanine, included. Sentient potatoes FTW.

Top In Fiction

🥳 Eye See You: A Horror Anthology 💀

Read more

2 months ago · 36 likes · 3 comments · Erica Drayton and The TiF Team

And just announced TODAY, my story, For a Muse of Fire, will appear in The Midnight Vault II anthology of Twilight Zone-inspired stories from . Brought to life by the incredible minds and creative talents of , , and , TMV II is coming your way June 1.

I was also very excited to be a runner-up in the TMV II Editor’s Choice Awards, determined by editors extraordinaire , , and . Congratulations to the winner and my fellow runners-up , , and .

The Midnight Vault

TMV II : Editors' Choice Award

The inaugural Editors’ Choice award goes to the top story from a selection narrowed down by the organizers. Trust us… it wasn’t easy…

Read more

2 months ago · 89 likes · 29 comments · J. Curtis, Shane Bzdok, and Bryan Pirolli

Journey to Publication Day

Over the years (!) that I’ve been working on my circus romantasy, Cotton’s Curiosities, this space has served as a way to record my progress. First it was a word count tracker as I chipped away at that first draft. Then it was a fun visual to keep track of my progress as I worked toward becoming an agented author.

And with that mission accomplished—I’m now proud to be represented by —and with the amazing good fortune of finding my manuscript a home at , I’m going to make this a place to keep track of my journey to publication day.

I’ll start with a progress tracker of my first round of edits from my angel of an editor at City Owl, Sibyl Rose.

For now I’ll be using my former tracker generated by AI, but if you’ve been following along, you know I’m on a mission to purge all AI from my newsletter. If anyone would like to come up with a similarly circus-themed tracker for me, I would be eternally grateful!

Published in April

This month I posted an excerpt of my dark urban fantasy, On the Verge. It’s a love letter to my hometown, to the folklore and legends that have fueled my imagination since my youngest years, and to painting and art, which have always filled me with joy.

Substack Gems

I always reserve this section of my newsletter to highlight pieces from the month that resonated. In April I had the great honor of being a guest judge of the latest horror round of the ! You can find the official winner announcement here, but I wanted to draw attention to some of the exceptional stories that I had the privilege of reading.

The Shadow That Follows by : The winner of this round, Ian’s story is an immersive, tension-filled read with a final image that will leave you with chills.

Anniversary by : The runner-up, Jeanona’s story felt visceral and immediate and has a gut-wrenching twist that carries real impact.

Coverage by : Honorable mention. Well-written reality-TV horror with characters to care about.

The Brothers Boise by : Honorable mention. Reads like a fever dream you’ll wish you could wake up from.

And a couple more that have stuck with me:

The Beyond by : A take on the haunted house set in Brittany. Atmospheric and interesting.

Chair—A Haunting by : Haunted, hungry furniture. Delightful.

Onion Soup and the Girl from Briar House by : An odd to-do list from a dead woman creates a story that will keep you guessing.

And that’s it for April! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? I’d love for you to join me at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤

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The saying goes that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, but for me, it was at a full-on roar each of its 31 days. I’ve got SO much good stuff to talk about in this monthly recap, starting with Only Child Original’s brand new logo hand-crafted by Substack’s own amazing !

Shane took the idea of an only child playing with their toys and created a creepy doll mascot that is perfect for OCO’s horror and dark fantasy vibe. I 🖤 her! The only thing missing is her name. So I’ve cooked up a little contest:

• Make sure you’re subscribed to OCO.

• Restack this post with a comment and tell us what you think Scary Doll’s name should be.

• I’ll pick my favorite and announce it in the next issue of Spoiled. The winner gets bragging rights and a six-month comped subscription to OCO!

OCO’s logo redesign is part of my effort to purge this newsletter of AI-generated art. I have never and would never use AI to write so it feels especially hypocritical to use it for artwork. Thank you, Shane, for getting me one big step closer to that goal.

And in that vein I have some other exciting news to share…

But first, indulge me!

I realized we have some new faces here and it’s been a minute since I told you about my books.

Rune’s Folly is Stardust x The Princess Bride, an epic fantasy with a cozy feel. It’s got found family, a dangerous garden, a royal contest with deadly consequences, palace intrigue, underworld baddies, a feisty FMC and a grumpy MMC with magic. Available in paperback for $11.99 (seriously, that’s a good price!), ebook for $2.99 or read it for free with Kindle Unlimited.

On the Verge is Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series x Grimm. Set in Seattle, this book will take you on a tour of the city and its surroundings while our FMC searches for magical pigments used to make enchanted art. A stand-alone urban fantasy with horror elements, On the Verge has demons, witches, fierce gnomes, a Cambodian ahp, and an art collector with a secret. $2.99 ebook, free to read on Kindle Unlimited.

AND COMING IN MAY

I’m re-releasing my serial Dark as Dawn, Bright as Night with a brand-new cover and spot illustrations for each chapter created by the very talented A.C. Sanders at !

I went about Substack a little backwards in the beginning and published my serial before I had any readers. Hardly anyone read it except for a devoted few (hi , , , and my mom!) and I accompanied each chapter with rather horrible AI-generated art.

I can’t wait to rerelease the story with new human-made illustrations from an artist that actually read and enjoyed the serial. And hopefully I’ll get a few more eyes on a story that’s near and dear to my heart. I like to think of it as The Witcher x Rosemary & Rue by Seanan McGuire.

Published in March

I created a piece for “Day of the ___ Writer” an open collab on the daily experiences behind the writers of Substack. You can check out the myriad viewpoints in the project’s mosaic of many lives index page. Thanks to Trevor Cohen of Tredecko for organizing.

And I organized my own event in March, Spring Fever! Horror in Bloom, with dark and spooky stories inspired by new buds, wet earth, and old rites. Blossom features a strange monster, a cursed town, and perhaps that most springlike of feelings: hope.

Substack Gems

I usually reserve this section of the newsletter to highlight some recent favorites from around the Stack. But for March I’m going to point you to all the vernal viscera and dew-dappled devilishness dreamed up by the Spring Fever! Horror in Bloom writers. Special thanks to and for hosting the event.

And that’s it for March! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? We’re 328 strong at the moment, but there’s always room for more at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤

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February, a form pale-vestured, wildly fair. One of the North Wind’s daughters with icicles in her hair. — Edgar Fawcett

I love this image of February. It was nothing like that here, in the outskirts of Seattle, where there seemed to be more days that kissed 60 degrees than there were frosty mornings or icicle-studded nights.

But something about that combination of words, wild and fair, paints the perfect picture of my month. I was sick as a dog or taking care of the very sick for a good chunk of it. But things that I’ve been waiting years and years for happened, in close succession to each other, right in the middle of the chaos. And now the question becomes: where do I go from here? I have some ideas.

But first, indulge me!

The Substack collaborative fiction event, Spring Fever! Horror in Bloom, is happening. Alongside we’re finally going to give spring its spooky due. Why should summer, autumn, and winter get all the ghastly fun when the greenest season has plenty of horror material of her own?

Buds bursting, new life waiting to shiver up from the soil. People cooped up too long inside, dazzled by the sun. Think the smell of rain, but make it foreboding. The feel of new beginnings, but make it twisted and tangled. Beltane fires, ancient rites. Let your horror-filled fever dreams run wild and give us your lush laments, your vernal viscera, your dew-dappled devilishness.

The deadline is March 16, 2026, 11:59pm EST and stories will go live on Substack on the first day of spring, March 20, 2026 at 9:00am EST. Submit via the Google form here.

Top In Fiction

Spring Fever! Horror in Bloom Substack Event

Read more

4 months ago · 42 likes · 14 comments · TiF Team and Garen Marie

Published in February

Inspired by ’s Flash Fiction Friday prompt, I wrote a very short story that walks the line between horror and sci-fi. In it, an approaching snow storm inspires a trip to the grocery store where hunger manifests itself in a strange way.

Journey to Agented Author

Since September I’ve been on a journey to find representation for my fantasy romance novel, Cotton’s Curiosities. It’s been quite the ride, but in February I was able to check off the last square on my tracker.

I’m now represented by the wonderful at Katie Reed Literary!

What did it take to get here? Well, honestly, about 13 years of commitment to a writing career at a level that sometimes bordered on delusional. But this time around, specifically, it took:

• 106 queries to agents and small publishers

• 103 rejections or no-responses

• 3 full requests of my manuscript

• 1 close call

• 2 yeses

And those two yeses didn’t happen until the tail end of my query quest. Imagine if I’d given up after the first, second, third, fourth, etc. round of queries? I did that, in fact, with my three previous manuscripts. The constant rejection got to me and I quit before I’d exhausted all my options. This time around I set real goals. I would not stop until I sent my query out at least 100 times. I would write about my query journey in this newsletter. I would let the universe know I was ready for the next chapter.

And it happened! I’m so glad I didn’t give up.

What now? Stay tuned next month when I can (hopefully) deliver another piece of exciting news!

Substack Gems

Dessert for Two by : I’m still blushing a little bit from this one. Dessert that’s sweet and a little spicy. 😈

The Ghosts that Haunt Us by : A wonderful essay and commentary on The Shining book and film elevated further by Daniel’s own personal experiences. Powerful.

The Rock Was Sweet by : Cosmic horror with a brilliant voice. Urgent, mysterious, terrifying, yet patient and timeless at the same time. Good stuff.

The House of Sleep by : An enchanting fairy tale gorgeously wrought.

A Step By Step Guide by : Thoughtful, beautiful. Instructions for living. A tiny story with big feelings.

And that’s it for February! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? We’re 303 strong at the moment, but there’s always room for more at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤

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Hooooo, boy! January was a wild ride. It’s usually one of the longest months of the year for me—March and September are in the running, too—guess I don’t handle seasonal transitions well? But this time it seemed to be over and done, not in a flash but in a kind of haze, a walking dream of highs and lows.

I was looking back at the old year, ahead to the new year, but the days as they happened were one strange muddle.

All that being said, I’ve got news. Things are happening over at Only Child Originals. Good things.

But first, indulge me!

Let me start by acknowledging Spoiled’s first birthday! That’s right, OCO’s monthly recap has been happening for an entire year. In that time I’ve been surprised how useful a monthly newsletter has been for keeping track of announcements, new stories, collaborative projects, and my favorite fiction on Substack.

In that vein, I want to organize a new event: Spring Fever!

Several months ago I was bemoaning the lack of spring-themed horror. Summer, Autumn, Winter. They’re well-represented in the horror fiction space. But spring? Not so much.

So let’s roll up our sleeves, dig our hands into the moist, loamy soil of fertile imagination and see what we can come up with.

A few guidelines:

Project Name: Spring Fever!

The Theme: Spooky spring. Think horror in bloom. Buds bursting, new life waiting to spring from the soil. People cooped up too long inside, dazzled by the sun. The smell of rain, the feel of new beginnings. Beltane fires, ancient rites. Let your horror-filled fever dreams run wild!

Length: Less than 4,000 words.

Publish date: Friday, March 20, 2026. The first day of spring. 9am EST.

Where: On Substack, of course.

Comment below to let me know you’re interested. I’ll add you to the list and send you a link to the project Discord server.

Published in January

I took a little hiatus from fiction writing in January, but I did put together my annual Tarot Card of the Year post. This year’s draw almost had disastrous consequences, but the results were enlightening.

Journey to Agented Author

I’ve got news to share on this front, but I don’t want to mention too much until the dust has settled and the ink has dried. Suffice it to say for now that my circus fantasy romance novel, Cotton’s Curiosities, may have found someone to love it and give it a home. Stay tuned!

Substack Gems for January

Threewise by : Come for the cozy vibes, the rich folklore, the perfect PNW atmosphere. Stay for the way the words slip into your soul.

The Promise of the Depths by : Gorgeous underwater imagery, a hapless main character, and a delightfully dark surprise ending.

Dust by : This story captures the vastness of space, the magnitude of our inner world and juxtaposes them against confinement, making captivity feel more soul-crushing as a result.

Do you still dream? by : Tiny tricksters sorting through the filing cabinet of your mind. A meditation on memory.

Liminal Spaces by : Writing that hits that exact right note of nostalgia and melancholy, making you sit up with recognition.

Resensitize by : No one does experimental fiction like Keith. This one will make you fight to catch your breath.

And that’s it for January! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? We’re 293 strong at the moment, but there’s always room for more at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤

And remember to join Spring Fever! I’d love to include your story in this latest Substack collaborative project.

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This December marked the one-year anniversary of Spoiled and the two-year anniversary of Only Child Originals! It’s such a privilege to be a part of this community of talented people—many of whom I’m lucky enough to consider friends! Here are some stats to celebrate:

• 19 original tales

• 3 stories appearing in print anthologies

• 1 serialized novel

• 12 Substack events—2 of which I organized

• 2 writing collabs

• 12 issues of Spoiled

• 1 opportunity to judge a contest

I know there’s been some grumbling about Substack in general and the state of the fiction community specifically. But for me, this small corner of the online world is still a special one, and I’ll continue to do my part to make it a place that cultivates creativity and joy. Here’s how I hope to do that in 2026:

• Run another Substack event—look out for an announcement next month.

• Continue to read, comment, and restack fiction.

• Build relationships through collaborations.

• Stay positive. Avoid comparison. Remember it’s all for fun.

And on that note, I do have some positive news to share.

But first, indulge me!

I didn’t quite make it to my goal of 300 subscribers by the end of 2025. But I’m holding strong at 284 and feel grateful for your continuous support.

At the end of the day, I’d rather have an engaged audience that enjoys my work over a bigger group of subscribers that’s ambivalent. So all my heartfelt gratitude to those who take the time to read Only Child Originals, and a special thank you for those who like, comment, and share. It means more to me than you might imagine.

And much appreciation to everyone who restacked for a contest entry in December. The winner of the subscriber draw was —he’s got a copy of Rune’s Folly headed his way!

Published in December

I wrote Opening for the TiF Team Secret Santa event where we participants all anonymously contributed the bare bones of a plot with the theme “What’s Inside the Box.” The wonderful Erica Drayton then did a blind exchange so that we ended up with a plot that was not our own around which we got to build a story. The Secret Santa plot I received was:

Inside the box: a doorknob with a note claiming that when placed, it can open any surface and lead to anywhere and anytime.

The result is hard to describe. It’s something like a weird romance, a horror-adjacent journey through memory. It’s melancholy and emotional. Strange and, I hope, beautiful.

Journey to Agented Author

And, as promised, I’ve got some good news! Since I published my last update, I’ve had TWO agents request the full manuscript of my circus romantasy, Cotton’s Curiosities. Let me tell you, my hands were shaking when I sent them my entire book baby. I wish I could say that I’m staying calm and carrying on, but honestly, I’m checking QueryTracker waaaaaaay too much and always have one eye on my inbox. Here are my most recent stats:

• Number of agents and publishers queried: 98/100

• Number of rejections and no-responses: 60

• Number of requests: 2 fulls!

Here’s hoping for that one email that says, “Can we schedule a call…” ☎️ 🤞

Substack Gems for December

May I be so bold as to point you to the post featuring all the stories gifted during TiF’s Secret Santa event? Why? Because it’s a trove of seriously talented writers crafting stories custom-made for each other, and the results run the gamut from whimsical to macabre to weird to poignant. So good! Check out work from:

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

And that’s it for December! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? We’re 284 strong at the moment, but there’s always room for more at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤

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November is the start of what Seattleites call the Big Dark. It’s nearly 8am by the time the sun rises. Impenetrable clouds dampen the sunlight so the day slinks by muted and grey. Defeated, the sun calls it a day close to 4pm. And so it goes from now until at least March.

Not everyone can hack it. And those of us that can are not immune to the effects. There’s a not-easily-ignored urge to eat and laze and sleep. A kind of hibernation that sings a sweet, somnolent siren song. But a particular benefit of November’s strange music is the nocturnes we horror writers can conjure from that eloquent darkness. And how the darkness sang this month.

But first, indulge me!

I’m extremely proud to have had a brand-new story accepted into ’s Thanksgiving folk horror anthology Give Us This Day. It’s packed with Substack all-stars, including , , , , , , , , , , , and others!

Special thanks to editor-and-publisher-extraordinaire for masterminding this macabre collection.

Check it out on the Drek Death and Doom website or on Amazon!

On another note: I know there’s more to Substack than numbers, BUT I’m 22 subscribers away from my end-of-year goal of 300 and I’d love to make it happen in the final weeks of 2025.

Loyal readers, consider referring Only Child Originals to someone (or many someones!) you think would enjoy the dark and haunting vibe I've got going here:

• 3 people you refer subscribe: Choose the inspo micro fiction

• 5 people you refer subscribe: 3-card tarot reading

• 10 people you refer subscribe: Free copy of my epic fantasy Rune’s Folly

Refer a friend

Published in November

On November 24, perhaps the biggest fiction event in Substack history dropped: The Midnight Vault II. Almost 100 people contributed stories to this tribute to the Twilight Zone, and I was thrilled to add my own tale to the mother lode of strange fiction. Major props to , , and for making TMVII a huge success.

And I wrote a little flash fiction in the memoir vein inspired by a recent workshop I attended. It was a fun departure from my usual fare and a good way to flex my writing muscles.

Journey to Agented Author

As many of you know, I’m deep in the query trenches with my circus romantasy, Cotton’s Curiosities. Here are my most recent stats:

• Number of agents and publishers queried: 80/100

• Number of rejections and no responses: 49

• Number of requests: 1 partial (subsequently rejected)

• Number of estimated maybe piles: 4

It’s a tough, tough world out there. But I keep soldiering along, spreading my net far and wide with this novel. Hoping to catch one or two high-flying agents who fall for Cotton’s Curiosities.

Substack Gems for November

Typically this is where I point you to a list of my favorite fiction of the month. However, this November, all eyes were on the Midnight Vault, and there were simply too many outstanding entries to choose just a few. So instead I’m linking to the entire vault, where you can find all 98 stories divided by category, including horror, science fiction, fantasy, suspense & thriller, as well as satire & allegory.

And that’s it for November! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? We’re 278 strong at the moment, but there’s always room for more at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤

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The beginning of October seeps into the soul in reds and golds. There’s the echo, still, of summer, the tantalizing remains of the sun-soaked world. But the dark of the year is on the horizon, present in the chill that creeps across the skin, the storms that tear the leaves from the trees, the heavy skies that eat the golden hours.

The push and pull of the season seems to be a fruitful time for creativity. Substack was alive with activity. Writing prompts, calls for submissions, contests. A bounty of inspiration. And I dove right in with some happy results.

But first, indulge me!

I had the opportunity to judge the Eye See You story contest hosted by back in June. It was an honor to read the entries. I’m always blown away by the diversity of stories and styles that can result from a shared prompt. The mastermind behind the event, , is bringing a selection of the stories to a print anthology and I’m lucky enough to be able to include my own story in the mix. It may or may not have something to do with potatoes. 🥔 😉 Eye-based horror dropping March 13, 2026. sigh of satisfaction

Top In Fiction

Something’s Watching: A Glimpse into Eye See You

Every story begins with a gaze…

Read more

7 months ago · 33 likes · 2 comments · TiF Team

And if you can’t wait until March, consider picking up a copy of one of my books.

Rune’s Folly: epic fantasy, buddy adventure. Poison plants, florists, wizards, werewolves, vampires. Butchers, bakers, (not) candlestick makers. It’s the perfect quick, cozy read for mid-autumn vibes. $11.99 paperback, $2.99 eBook, free on KU.

On the Verge: urban fantasy, art-based horror. Seattle and the PNW take center stage. Demons, witches, kobold. Pigments and snark. $2.99 eBook or free on KU.

Published in October

I entered my story, The Knack Witch’s Child, in the Inanimate Objects contest, and I’m thrilled that it snagged an honorable mention after the blind judging. Huge thank you to the judges: , , and ! And congratulations to the winner, and runner-up, as well as fellow honorable mentions and ! You can check out all the stories here! sigh after a job well done

Journey to Agented Author

Welp, not much to report on the agenting front for the month of October. As many of you know, I’m deep in the query trenches with my circus romantasy, Cotton’s Curiosities. I did have one agent ask to see the first three chapters, but I was subsequently rejected shortly thereafter. sad sigh

Speaking of rejections, I’ve received 17 of them so far. But I do appear to be squarely in the maybe pile of at least 3 or 4 of the 61 agents and small publishers I’ve queried. My goal is to keep querying until I hit 100 submissions. Spreading my net far and wide with this novel. Hoping to catch one or two high-flying agents who fall for Cotton’s Curiosities.

Substack Gems for October

WAKE. LOOK. DREAD. by : The winner of the Inanimate Objects contest, this story is a modern nightmare. Devices turned to demons. A well-deserved win.

Texas Tea by : The runner-up of the Inanimate Objects contest, this is a dark and gorgeous tale of family ties that bind.

Uma Vida Por Uma Vida by : Part travelogue, part thriller, part horror story. All good.

The Green Bruce by : One of several Bruce tales written for the SUM FLUX collaborative project. A tale of losing and finding your identity.

The King of Lily Gardens by : A retirement community filled with petty slights and intrigues, oldsters returned to adolescent antics. But revenge still runs hot!

Eden by : Dark, dreamy, a suburban paradise that’s a playground for stories and devils.

Erebus by : A tragic, beautiful jewel. A dark poem.

And that’s it for October! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? We’re 271 strong at the moment, but there’s always room for more at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤 sigh of contentment

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Historically, September is a tough month for me. And this year I felt its approach like a burial shroud slipping up, up, up to smother my peace of mind. My tarot deck doled out The Tower Reversed. Ugh. The last bit of summer smoke scratched at the back of my throat. Bleh. I burned saged, crossed a bridge, clasped onto carnelian for courage. And it worked. For a hot minute. And then things came crashing down.

But first, indulge me!

Last issue I shared the news that I’d signed with Noble Beast, an online publishing platform in its nascent stages. I was beyond thrilled to have actually sold a novel for real money and to have had someone take a genuine interest in my work enough to believe it deserved wider exposure. There would be illustrations, hardcover editions, an audiobook.

Alas, it was all too good to be true. The authors who signed with Noble Beast received a short note in mid-September telling us that the company had experienced a sudden change in fortunes. There would be no more publishing platform. Story rights reverted back to me. And that was that.

Honestly, it felt like a punch to the gut. I cried about it and even now I get that little twist in my chest thinking about what could have been. It was a big deal for me, and it all happened so suddenly—the offer and the elation, the downfall and the tears—that it’s been hard to come to terms with it.

But no one gets into writing or publishing because it’s the easy way. I’d say most of us just need to tell stories, and we hope they find a home in the hearts and minds of others. For now, Substack serves that purpose, and I’m grateful for it.

Anyway, if you’re interested in the novel that was almost a Noble Beast title, you can check it out here. It’s an epic fantasy with a merry band of misfits—a cheeky florist and green witch hero, a cocksure wizard whose namesake folly inspired the title of the book, a butcher who’s a probable vampire, a baker who’s an animal shifter, and a tailor with a penchant for sewing the life back into the dead. It’s a fun, fast read.

Available in paperback for $11.99, ebook for $2.99 or read it for free with Kindle Unlimited.

Published in September

I had the opportunity to collaborate once again with the talented . Grace in Green is a story about art and madness, inspiration and possession, and we were fortunate to have the wonderful create an original painting to illustrate the piece. I’m really proud of the way it all came together.

Loser’s Fiction

Grace in Green

First, this beautiful painting was conjured by Layne Mercer from nothing but a mental image, which is immensely impressive. We are so thankful he agreed to collaborate with us on this project, it brings it to life. Please check out his content, as he is also a top-notch fiction writer…

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9 months ago · 23 likes · 31 comments · Keith Long and Garen Marie

Journey to an Agented Author

September is a hard month, but boy did I fight tooth and nail to scrabble my way out from under its pall. I worked like a woman possessed to get my circus romantasy, Cotton’s Curiosities, ready for submission: finishing the second round of edits, crafting a compelling query letter and synopsis (So hard! Thanks, again, to for her guidance), researching potential agents, and sending out those initial queries—no small task when each agent asks for a slightly different set of materials.

And what do I have to show for it so far? A sense of accomplishment and the first raft of rejections. September just wanted to make sure I knew the feeling was mutual before it ceded control to October. Here’s hoping for something positive to report after Halloween.

Substack Gems from September

I Do Not Want To by : Powerful imagery with a repeated phrase that becomes something like a prayer as much as a protest. A great piece of flash.

Give a Hand by : A demon summoning has never been so delightful.

Widow’s Web by : It’s spider season up in the PNW and the webs are out of control. This story makes a perfect accompaniment.

The Other Side by : Wonderfully descriptive writing. I can always imagine myself right in the scene, which in this case is horrifying but very effective.

The Coin of Silence by : Lush and vivid. The kind of writing I want to sink my teeth into.

And that’s it for September (thank goodness)! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? We’re 253 strong at the moment, but there’s always room for more at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤

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August is a hazy month. It comes sneaking in, hot breath on your neck. Then it settles, languid and soft, before easing out, blowing a sultry kiss goodbye to summer. It’s a bit hard to pin down, here and gone like a dream.

Only Child Originals took August to heart, dreaming big dreams. Some of them involving the weather…

But first, indulge me!

I’m thrilled to have signed with as one of their flagship authors! I’ll be bringing Rune’s Folly to their web novel platform, with a beta launch planned for the first quarter of 2026. Each episode will be illustrated (!) and eventually you’ll be able to find Tansy, Rune, and their merry band of misfits in paperback, hardcover, and audiobook formats.

This is an all-human, zero-AI endeavor, working with a curated list of authors, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store.

Published in August

masterminded a creative project called Weather Reports. Over 40 writers, artists, and musicians contributed their work, and I was honored to join in by bringing Jenny Darke to the party. She’s an art professor with an ax and a new way of seeing the sky.

I highly recommend diving into this treasure trove of talent. I still haven’t worked my way through everyone, but what I’ve read and listened to so far has been next level.

Ferns of Columbo

Jenny Darke

My axe chunks into the bark of the old hemlock…

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10 months ago · 30 likes · 36 comments · Jon T and Garen Marie

Journey to an Agented Author

This section was formerly known as Work in Progress Word Count Tracker. But I finished the first draft of my YA circus romantasy manuscript in June so I gave it an upgrade.

Now I’m keeping track of the steps toward representation with the hope that this will manifest into making my dreams a reality. In July I finished the first round of edits and sent my manuscript to the wonderful for a developmental edit. If you’re in need of editing services, I can wholeheartedly recommend her for thorough, incisive notes delivered with a healthy dose of optimism and enthusiasm. She’s one sharp cookie.

August isn’t known for productivity, but I did get a pretty good start on the second round of edits, enough that I thought it deserved at least a half-X (more like 80% of an X, but who wants to figure out how to do that in Canva?). Here’s to finishing up in September and starting on the query package.

Substack Gems from August

The Caretaker by : A fairy tale steeped in gloom and vengeance that still retains a shining heart of love. Beautiful.

Secret Times by : If you haven’t read Stephen’s poetry, you simply must. Each is a lovely jewel. This one is a whispered promise.

Gabriel by : A Weather Report. Gabriel is part snake oil salesman, part messenger of a higher power, and wholly real.

Tabby by : A Weather Report. Honeygloom delivers tragedy here with a heaping helping of comedy, and the contrast works so well.

Jenkins by : A Weather Report. Had to catch my breath by the end of this one. Gripping.

The Friend by : A Weather Report by the man himself. He gives us what we all need in uncertain times: a friend. As always, a compelling read, written only as Jon T can do it.

Charlie & Trevor by : A Weather Report. Written from a surprising perspective that is guaranteed to hit you in the feels.

Mayor Percy Thorne Sackett by : A Weather Report. EJ captures so well the despair of monotony even in the face of the extraordinary. Excellent.

The Shipbuilder by : A Weather Report. Poignant and beautiful but cut through with menace and death. Wow. And can we just pause a moment for the cover art? Damn.

John Bull by : A Weather Report. The story is already great and then the narration takes it to another level. So impressive.

Goblin Mode by : He’s thinking of turning this one into a children’s book and I can so totally see it. First it’s sour, then it’s sweet—Sour Patch Kid style.

And that’s it for August! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? We’re 233 strong at the moment, but there’s always room for more at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤

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July was a slow month here at OCO, but IRL I was living fast. Usually this suits me well, but more than a few times I found myself missing this strange Substack world full of dark tales.

Yet sometimes artists need to step away from their preferred method of creation and let the world inspire them. Here are a few things that got my witchy heart going last month:

• An intimate concert with just a guitar, piano, and two voices. I cried.

• A series of lectures on living the creative life through dance. They were aimed at guiding young dancers, but the wise words resonated with my inner child. I cried again.

• Visiting a land built on stories and discovering that the inhabitants still deeply believe in the power of words.

• Fireworks on the edge of the Pacific.

• The homecoming that is a bookstore. A phenomenon that happened to me not once but twice.

And now that I’m back, I’ve been digging into what I’ve missed and getting inspired by my old favorites and new-to-me voices. More on that in a moment.

But first, indulge me!

has masterminded a creative project called Weather Reports. Something’s up with the weather and it’s reshaping the sky. Over 30 writers, artists, and musicians are contributing their work, and I’m thrilled to be joining in. Everything drops this month. Stay tuned!

Published in July

Stars on Our Skin is part of my summer music series: strange stories inspired by songs from my youth. This one’s a dark cosmic romance set to Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden. May’s fairy tale, Holdfast, references Secret Smile by Semisonic. June’s foray into horror, Amber Eyes, finds inspiration from Coldplay’s Yellow.

Journey to an Agented Author

This section was formerly known as Work in Progress Word Count Tracker. But I finished the first draft of my YA circus romantasy manuscript in June so I gave it an upgrade.

From now on I’ll keep track of the steps toward representation with the hope that this will manifest into making my dreams a reality. In July I finished the first round of edits and sent my manuscript to the incredible for a developmental edit. I’ve received her thorough critique and I’m excited to dive into it in August.

Substack Gems from July

The Intuition, Part 3: Elke by : Liz is one of Substack’s most brilliant voices. I’m continually in awe of her work, but this new series is one of her absolute best. Start at the beginning,of course, but believe me when I tell you that Elke will knock your socks off.

Matters of the Heart by : Okay, so this wasn’t published in July or even this year, but Matters of the Heart from Matte Black’s archives deserves a mention. It’s sci-fi and it’s western and it’s a thriller and a bit of a horror story. Read it, read it again. Peel back the layers and find that heart of gold at its center.

The Treasure by : A short story that packs a big punch. Come for the tarot influence (it features one of my favorites from the deck) and stay for those last few lines. Powerful stuff.

Tall Eyes by : The setting is wholly original, but there’s an eerie déjà vu here, like maybe we’ve all felt this kind of terror before. Everything about this story is nightmare fuel, but it’s the kind of terrible dream you can’t look away from.

The Bride-Price (Part 1) by : I have a soft spot in my heart for Robin Hood and this first installment of the Allan a-Dale story captures the tone and voice of the period so well while remaining eminently readable and entertaining.

And that’s it for July! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? We’re 214 strong at the moment, but there’s always room for more at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤

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June is one of those transition months. Like March, September, and December, June is a gateway from one season to the next, and for me at least, it has the energy of adolescence. A time to leave innocence behind and wade into the deep end of life.

June is the beginning of summer heat, summer sweat, summer lazing, and summer dreaming. Summer love, summer adventures, and all the thrills and dangers that come with stepping out of the routine. In other words, it’s the perfect time for the ripe kind of eerie horror that sizzles and sparks. And boy did Substack deliver, as you’ll see in the list below.

But first, indulge me!

My book, Rune’s Folly, is on sale for just $11.99 on Amazon. It’s a high fantasy adventure about a group of misfits on a mission to save their kingdom. You can check out the first chapter here!

Or if you’re in the mood for some urban fantasy with horror elements, I present to you my e-book, On the Verge, about a college student on the hunt for some very unusual pigments in my hometown, Seattle. It’s a tale of art and color and demons. And it’s just $2.99 or free on Kindle Unlimited.

Published in June

Amber Eyes was the June entry in my Summer Music Series of horror stories inspired by songs from my youth. This one was thanks to Yellow by Coldplay. May’s story, Holdfast, references Secret Smile by Semisonic. Stay tuned for Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden in July.

Journey to an Agented Author

This section was formerly known as Work in Progress Word Count Tracker. But I finished the first draft of my YA circus romantasy manuscript in June so it’s getting an upgrade!

From now on I’ll keep track of the steps toward representation. If only checking every tent off this tracker was guaranteed. Alas, finding representation is difficult, and I’m prepared to pivot to the indie route in the future. But for now, onward!

Substack Gems from June

With Love by : A beautiful, heartbreaking portrait of love and relationships. Come for the lyrical writing. Stay for the dog.

Kenotita by : I think Katharine and I know the same demon. She put that feeling of emptiness into such high relief with her gorgeous words. It’s worth reading again and again.

The Lesser Evil by : The whole of it is powerful, but you can’t read that last line and not feel it in your soul.

The Forester and the Child by : A smart, compelling read with tons of action and plenty of heart. Make sure you set aside enough time to read this in one go because I guarantee you’ll want to know how this one ends.

Rabbit’s Foot by : The perfect start to the perfect summer serial. Set at a summer camp, it has all the eerie goodness you crave.

The Gut Punch by : Horror at the club. The setting is an integral part of the story here and the monster feels realer than real. A tale of facing one’s demons and winning…this time.

Meltdown by : Another story set in the club! Hey, it’s a summer vibe. This is one of EJ’s Beach Reads for Goth Kids and it slaps.

The Spider in the Barberry by : This poem knocked me out cold. Breathtaking.

She Lives After by : An exercise in form that pays off. Keith is one of the most creative folks on the Stack, always coming up with new, powerful ways to tell a story.

Apparition by : Words like knives. You can feel the hurt in this ghost story—a strong undercurrent of guilt that haunts the narrator and, by the end, begins to stalk the reader.

A Tale of Tumeric by : A beautiful and sensitive portrait of a gut-wrenching memory. Nick blends atmosphere and heartache and childhood innocence into a powerful tale wonderfully told.

Does that seem like more links than usual? Well, blame all the insanely talented peeps on this platform that keep the fiction flowing. This month the tap was on full blast.

And that’s it for June! Hungry for more Only Child Originals? We’re 212 strong at the moment, but there’s always room for more at my witch’s table where things are sometimes dark, sometimes scary, but always served up with heart. 🖤

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Okay, what just happened? Because of the talent and enthusiasm of this Substack community, we were able to put together an entire horror and dark fantasy event over the course of this month. And the stories did not suffer for the abbreviated timeline. If anything, the words seemed to blossom like corpse flowers, permeating this little corner of the Subs…

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April was a slower month at OCO. Travel and sickness devoured my time and kept me from clickety-clacking the keyboard as much as I would have liked. But things weren’t completely quiet around here. More on that below.

But first, indulge me!

I’ve been kicking around an idea for a while now and thought I would first put it out into the world here to gauge i…

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March was in like a lion out like a mastodon1: big, hairy, and mightily tusked. And the spring season shows no signs of letting off the gas pedal. But that’s okay. I’m diving into the fray, trunk raised in a full-throated bugle. I’m making noise. Leaving my mark. And trying to be a good mastodon human in the process. All that is to say, March was mayhem …

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Sure, it’s March, but this is your OCO February recap because the second month of the year is a sly one: short, containing multiple seasons (in the PNW anyways), and including a stray r for some reason. But hopefully, gracious reader, you will pardon this coming a few days late. I’ve got a few fun updates to share.

But first, indulge me!

Did you know that…

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Welcome to the first issue of Spoiled, Only Child Original’s monthly newsletter. It’s been a year in the making, but it finally seemed like the right time to launch this new part of OCO.

But first, indulge me!

Did you know that you can subscribe to Only Child Originals for just $2.50 a month?

And an annual subscription is just $25! You get full access to …

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