Horror Author
Butt in chair, fingers on keyboard: word counts, first drafts, second drafts, and the occasional serendipitous sentence.
Mary Robinette Kowal claims you can write short stories using a formula. I watched her classroom lecture on Brandon Sanderson's YouTube channel and decided to give it a try. Did it work? Actually, yes! I wrote a flash fiction piece called "Cordelia's Curse," and Dark Recesses Press published it in their e-zine. You can read … Continue reading Can You Write a Successful Short Story Using a Formula?
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 … Continue reading It’s Release Day for “The Hay Bale”!
Coming January, 2022. Contemporary Southern Gothic meets weird horror in this new novelette from Priscilla Bettis. Professor Claire Davenport yearns to be a mother. After suffering four miscarriages, the university microbiologist tries and fails to qualify as an adoptive mother. Then Claire’s husband leaves. Alone and emotionally wounded, Claire takes a summer sabbatical from her … Continue reading Cover Reveal “The Hay Bale” by Priscilla Bettis
Yes, I’m participating in Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month). No, I’m not doing a full novel. I’m doing a pared down version, thus the “ninny.” I wish I could take credit for the cute “ninny” in “NinnyWriMo.” It’s not an original idea, but darned if I can remember who came up with it! By all … Continue reading Ninnywrimo
Yay, my contemporary short story, “Lucretia’s Hum,” was accepted into Rayne Hall’s upcoming Gothic anthology! Woohoo! Hall is a talented short story author, particularly quiet horror and Gothic horror, and I’m stoked that she liked “Lucretia’s Hum.” Stoked isn’t very Gothic. Let's see . . . I’m chuffed to be accepted into Hall’s anthology.:-) Lucretia … Continue reading Short Story Accepted!
Psst, hey writers, they are PAYING magazines! These are some of my favorite magazines. All of them are literary, and all of them have a dark (or at least speculative) vibe. I also listed a story from each that sticks in my mind: 34 Orchard I’ve enjoyed every poem, image, and story 34 Orchard has … Continue reading Four Fab Dark Fiction E-Zines
Priscilla Bettis 