Shannon Lawrence

I almost forgot! And then I was sitting in a meeting and remembered. So late, but here.  It's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh , the IWSG serves to create a community where writers lend each other support.  The optional question: Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a reader and/or writer? I don't really do cliffhangers, no. However, in horror things can be left open to translation or hinting at something, so I might do that at times. In novel/urban fantasy form, I wrap up the big things and present something at the end that leads into the next story, so that may be considered a bit of a cliffhanger, but I do think it's important to wrap up the main threads of that novel by the end. Without further ado (because I'm totally still in my meeting and writing this, lol), my stats for the month of November: 0 new submissions (no tiiiiiiime) 1 rejection (Note I got an acceptance TODAY,...

It's the first Wednesday of November, so time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh , the IWSG gives writers a place to express their insecurities and lend support to their fellow writers. The co-hosts this month are Diedre Knight , Lisa Buie Collard , Kim Lajevardi , and JQ Rose . The optional question this month: What creative activity do you engage in when you're not writing? I love photography. Some day I should really take a class in it, but time is not limitless. I can't even pretend to know how many photos I will take when I go to England and Scotland next summer, but plan on being inundated! Some photos from the last year, a mix of coast, desert, and mountain: I had other things to talk about, but you know what? I'm leaving it there for this month. May you find your Muse.

Hi! I'm just dropping in really quick to let folks know that Author's Alcove is giving away a copy of Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights! It's free to enter, and there are other books you can win, as well. So even if you already have Wendigo Nights, it's worth it to pop by. Click here to go to the entry form . Wow, just wow! From the very first page of  Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights  by Shannon Lawrence, I was completely hooked. It immediately grabbed my attention with its focus on a Wendigo—reminding me of an emotional episode of  Charmed . This book gave me major  Buffy the Vampire Slayer  vibes, but with a twist: it’s a mystery! Though typically categorized as Action/Adventure and Fantasy, the mystery element was a delightful surprise. Fast-paced, with intriguing character dynamics and a strong, spunky female lead, the story had me enthralled. The heroine’s mission—rooted in deep, heartfelt love—added incredible depth, making it both moving and engaging. I highly r...

Hi! I'm late posting this today, because work kicked my butt yesterday! I worked almost 13 hours straight, and my lovely husband made dinner and brought it to me while I worked. Anyway, it's IWSG time! The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a way for us to share our insecurities with each other, seek and gain support, and create a community. It was created by Alex J. Cavanaugh . Anyone can join; simply click on Alex's name and put your name on the linky list on the IWSG tab. The co-hosts this month are Nancy Gideon , Jennifer Lane , Jacqui Murray , and Natalie Aguirre . Please stop by and thank them for helping out today! The optional question this month is Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What's your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends a chill up your spine. Not so much a classic tale, but The Others is a really good, more contemporary ghost story that feels ageless. The twist was well done, and it's haunting in a diff...

Hi, guys! I'm a presenter today for a two-part virtual program put on by Artists Standing Strong Together.  From 2 PM MT to 3:30 PM, there will be a discussion panel on writing ghost stories (this is specific to ghost stories, not all horror). Then from 5:30 PM MT to 7:00 PM, the panelists will be doing various readings and storytellings of ghost stories, so it's not solely an author reading. In fact, the author reading part is new to them, as this is usually an event done by oral storytellers.  Both events are completely free to attend! You can come for one or both. I got to meet all but one of my fellow storytellers in a virtual run-through last week, and this should be a fun event to get you in the mood for spooky season. If you've read Happy Ghoulidays II, you might be familiar with the Halloween story in that collection: The Pitter Patter of Tiny Feet . That's the story I'll be reading for the evening portion of this event. Here's a link to their website f...

Today I welcome H.R. Sinclair! Her new book, Blood Stone,  is the first in the Lost Witch series, and releases September 22. I asked her to talk about switching between fiction and non-fiction for her visit. Switching From Fiction to Nonfiction I’m H. R. Sinclair, an urban fantasy author and artist living in New England. I also write nonfiction books including A Writer’s Guide to Color . Writing both fiction and nonfiction can be rewarding. They use different superpowers. One pulls from the creative side of you, allowing you to immerse into make-believe situations, the other charges up your analytical brain. A key difference is that, in fiction, the author holds back, drops clues, dangles red herrings. In non-fiction, the author writes everything down, right there, all together. To Shift to Non-Fiction, Leverage Your Skills  Use your storytelling skills to make those facts more interesting. Add narratives, descriptions, and use a clear structure.  Use your voice in non-fiction—se...