My Brief Career in Poetry

What is it about a certain type of writing that can grab us over all others? We’re all lured in by different forms of storytelling, and it’s fascinating to

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Kermit’s Adventures in Salem

In July 2026, I took my first trip to New England, primarily visiting Salem, MA and its outskirts. And just like my first trip to New York City in 201

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US Ghost Adventures Salem Ghost Tour

What makes a place haunted? Those who believe in ghosts all have different theories, and I like to keep my mind open to each one. The more I explore haunted pla

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When Paris Whispers by Marianne C. Bohr Book Review and Author Interview + Giveaway

As a society, we can’t help but put people in (figurative) boxes. Once we think we know someone, we immediately guess at the things they would and would not d

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An Interview with Fantasy Short Story Author Claris Lam

Claris Lam (she/her) is a Chinese Canadian author & poet writing fantasy, mystery, and poetry to inspire readers with hope, perseverance, creativity, and ha

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3 Whistling Kettle Teas Paired with 3 Types of Summer Reading

The weather has no bearing on my consumption of hot tea. In fact, it’s the perfect weapon against the air conditioning that blasts in every public building du

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Pixel and Chip: The Family Circuit by Olivia Johann Book Review and Author Interview

When I was very young, I watched an episode of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood where Mr. Rogers visited a facility that made robots and demonstrated how they could b

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An Interview with Memoirist Elizabeth Reed Aden

Elizabeth Reed Aden is a biomedical anthropologist turned biotech strategist with a career spanning epidemiology, virology, and global pharma leadership. After

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The Reliable Narrator by Grace Sammon Book Review and Author Interview + Giveaway

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An Interview with Fantasy Author Debbie Bishop

Award-winning author Debbie Bishop is a multi-genre storyteller, creative director, entertainment executive, and CEO of Angelgate Entertainment. Her newest book

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My History as a Book Reviewer

It’s a common complaint among readers that they hate when a good book ends because there’s no more escaping into that world. I think there’s a lot of trut

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Taken to the Grave by Robert Hoffman Book Review and Author Interview + Giveaway

“There is no such thing as closure in the world, just more answers that lead to more questions.” This is a hard but very accurate truth about the human expe

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An Interview with YA Author Morgan Rylie + Giveaway

Morgan Rylie is a YA author who writes emotionally driven stories about identity, love, and the messy process of growing up when nothing feels simple. Her books

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50 Summer Writing Prompts

For me, the hardest part of writing fiction is getting that initial idea. What helps is getting a scenario, a message, or a setting that branches out into a ful

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The Story Behind the Story by Elene Catrakilis

My debut novel, Under an African Sky, is a story close to my heart because it’s set in South Africa, the country of my birth. In 1989, the country stood on th

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10 Middle Grade Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Indie Book Recommendations

Escapism is a big reason why people read. Kids especially look to escapism to foster their imaginations or even to pull them away from harsh realities. But most

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An Interview with Women’s Fiction Author Mel West + Giveaway

Mel West is an American author whose work and wide network of friends and family mean she, invariably, lives in between—between cities, between versions of he

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Ada Holloway’s Had Enough Book Review and Author Interview

When you grow up reading books, it’s hard to imagine that anyone would tell you what you can and cannot read. I always felt fortunate to be trusted to read wh

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11 Coming of Age Middle Grade Indie Book Recommendations

I got into reading as a kid because books provided answers to a lot of questions, particularly questions about childhood. Who better to teach you life lessons t

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Why Fantasy and Science Fiction by J.D. Grant + Giveaway!

Imagination begets inspiration I think all children love fantasy and magic when they are young. Stories about dragons, wizards, witches, adventurous quests, st

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Grizzly Greg Goes to Tea by Jaclynn Bosley Book Review and Author Interview + Giveaway

Being the only boy and having three sisters must have been tough for my brother in certain ways. While we liked to play with his toys, he usually didn’t like

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Writing Stories About Baseball

One of the unpublished books I’ve written is a baseball story. It follows my main character, a nine-year-old girl, as she spends the summer playing on an orga

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An Interview with Thriller Author Shivani Jai

Shivani Jai has always had a thing for big feelings, bold characters, and stories that stay with you for days. A lifelong movie lover, Shivani was born in Toron

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Bookshop.org: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.

A better way to buy books online. Every purchase financially supports local independent bookstores.

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Things Are as They Should Be by P.M. Raymond Book Review and Author Interview + Giveaway

Horror works at any length. From a two-sentence flash fiction story to a 1,300-page epic journey about kids fighting a clown demon in a sewer, the genre has the

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Author Interview Andrei Romanov + Giveaway

Andrei Romanov is an independent historian and writer based in the Algarve, Portugal, twenty minutes from Sagres, where Prince Henry the Navigator established h

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7 of My Favorite Urban Legend Categories

Before social media, the internet was a place to peruse websites about your favorite topics. One of my favorite sites was Snopes, a fact-checking website that f

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Tenacity, Patience, and Perseverance – The Real Triple Threat by Laura Frost

It is said that only three percent of people who set out to write a novel eventually complete it. Of those who write, “The End,” less than one percent get p

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Creative Inspirations - Cartoons

Once at a horror convention, I watched a live Q&A with director Joe Dante where the interviewer asked what inspired him to make movies. His answer was unort

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