
It’s release day for my new novelette, “The Hay Bale”!
A little background:
In 2020 my daughter suffered a miscarriage. She got pregnant again, but that pregnancy also ended with a miscarriage. The second one was particularly difficult to manage emotionally. And I’m talking my emotions. What was she going though?
Both she and her sweet husband handled it with aplomb, grieving then moving forward.
But what happens to a woman who can’t move forward after two miscarriages, or three, or four? And what if she ended up in a rural setting where weird horrors arise?
Thus, my story’s protagonist, Claire, came to be.
Not since Shirley Jackson have I read something so dark and twisted. Bettis nails the creepy vibe of a tainted small town while redefining the power of a mother’s love. A must read for horror fans.
Staci Troilo, author of the Cathedral Lake Series
With “The Hay Bale,” Bettis delivers a bold yet haunting tale of a woman whose yearning and loss are overwhelming but not enough to destroy her capacity for love.
Lionel Ray Green, horror author and columnist at HorrorAddicts.net. Read Green’s full review here.
I hope you’ll give “The Hay Bale” a read.
Amazon US link
Universal link
p.s. Third time’s a charm. My daughter got pregnant again and recently gave birth to an adorable baby boy.

Feature image is altered image of original photograph by Sindy Süssengut on unsplash.
Baby image by BrittanyJensonPhotography.
oh double congrats! Beautiful angel and book!
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Thanks, Mar! I’m doubly happy.:-)
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Congratulations! I’m looking forward to reading it!
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Yippee! Thanks so much, Shari. I hope you like it.:-)
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Very interesting. Thank you 🙂
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I’m glad you found it interesting, Yelling Rosa.:-) Thanks for leaving a comment!
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Congratulations, and I wish you much success
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Thank you, Wm.! I’ve been very grateful for and totally thrilled about the reviews “The Hay Bale” has gotten so far.:-)
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First of all, adorable little grandson, Priscilla. What a joy and relief for all of you.
Second… I’m picking up a new book after I write this comment. Can’t wait to read it, my friend. Congrats!
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A double thank you, Diana! It’s snowy and windy and COLD here, but you warmed my day.:-)
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My pleasure. I saw the book mentioned on Teri Polen’s blog today and rushed over. 🙂
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Congrats on the new arrival (s)!
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Thanks, Frazer! It’s been good on both fronts.:-)
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happy release day and congrats! ❤
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Thank you, Allison! A happy event and a blessed event.:-)
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You, Priscilla, are many wonderful things, all of which make you truly a gifted artist. We, all my family members that have read The Hay Bale, really loved this moving story. Scary, suspenseful, but so much more. Bravo. 👏❤️. Looking forward to another moving experience from your next writing endeavor!
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Thank you for the kind words, Marty, and thanks to your and your family for reading my story!:-)
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I was so sad reading the beginning, but what a lovely surprise at the end! And many congratulations for The Hay Bale as well – it sounds very intriguing. I’ll definitely go and grab a copy. Best of luck with it, Priscilla 🙂
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Yes, what a lovely ending to my daughter and son-in-law’s journey.:-) Yay, thank you for grabbing a copy of “The Hay Bale.” I hope you like it, Jo!
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I am so happy that your daughter has now had a successful pregnancy, Priscilla. I got pregnant with Greg in the first month and had two miscarriages before I managed to have Michael. It’s very hard.
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Thank you for the kind words, Robbie. I didn’t know you had had any miscarriages. I’m sorry to hear, but it’s wonderful that dear Michael finally came along.:-)
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Yes, we were lucky in the end but I needed a little help. I started The Hay Bale last night.
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So happy for you my friend! I actually found this on GoodReads yesterday and freaked out that I could read more of your work. Putting it on my immediate TBR!
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Awesome, Jonny, thank you! I hope you like it.:-)
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Of course! I loved that other short story of yours, so I bet this’ll be marvelous. 🙂
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Congratulations on your grandbaby. Your book sounds very interesting. Just might give it a read.
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If you do, I hope you like it, Cheryl! Thanks for commenting🙂
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it seems the comments on the last post are disable so I’ll comment here 🙂
visited the interview and loved learning more about what we have in common! Like besides loving dark chocolate, books and writing, we both find angels, engineering and “Lovecraftian” inspiring. Fallen Angels used to be the first characters I wrote about, I’m an engineer and quantum physics is always an element in my work and I work in Providence, Lovecraft’s town and it does influence my work a lot as well. I’m a big chicken so would NEVER walk a cemetery, especially at night but I’ll have to try hot Christmas eggnog! I hadn’t even heard of it before. Hope you enjoy Texas a lot Priscilla.
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I would love to visit Providence! Because of the reactions I’ve gotten from people, I think trying hot eggnog is more brave than walking a cemetery at night! Yes, the comments are disabled on my Goodbye, Virginia post because I didn’t know if I could get online to respond to them. (I’m borrowing someone else’s internet right now. (Legally.)) Thanks for stopping by, Mar!
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OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! Working on my 5-star review now. You are a VERY TALENTED WRITER! So fortunate to know you! 🙂 Can’t wait for more of your books! I will read them all!
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Wow, Mar! Thank you! You’ve brightened my day.:-)
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