Hello dear readers

The Manic Word Depot has been quieter than normal as the Lead Maniac is writing like mad. I tend to casually write whatever I feel like, bouncing between stories until one sticks if there are no deadlines to meet. I find I like a good deadline to keep me focused. It doesn’t always happen that way though, especially when I am trying to make a name yet it seems most of the world has no clue what it is.

I got invited into an anthology on Sunday for an ABC of Terror book. The story is not due until May but I got kind of feverish about it and couldn’t shake it. So it is done and subbed. I got the letter P and went to town.

Then there is this secret project with two of my bestest friends. The three of us each gave a prompt and we are writing our own interpretations. I finished the first prompt and have moved to writing 4 or 5 attempts at the second. I have the basics but I like to write 1.5k and see if it flows correctly. It’s part of the process for me. I think the goal is to be done and ready for publish before August.

Then there is the second poetry collection I am slowly trying to gather for a projected October release. And the Western Horror novel, Hunger on the Chisholm Trail coming around April. Needless to say it’s been busy and I had a tough start writing wise so I feel I’m playing catch up.

But it isn’t all buried alive under an avalanche. So far there are 4 anthologies I’ve been accepted into. Possibly my best story so far, Ascotmycota, is coming in Dark Stars this year. A slow write that took months to come together but still amazes me that it actually did. I call it my sterile watercolor and hope it makes sense when it arrives. I hope this year is the year people find my writings.

I was in a flash fiction Valentine anthology already this year. One of tales, Pierced, got a shout out in a review as one of the 2 best pieces included. I’m pretty happy about that. Dark Valentine Holiday Horror Collection: A Flash Fiction Anthology, a lot of good people involved and Eleanor Merry is a bright star rising.

As always, Notches: A Collection and (UN)POETIC: a collection of poetry are still available. If you’ve already read them, please leave a review even if it is only one line or stars. Grab Dark Valentine as well, if you are in the mood for bloody kisses this Valentine’s Day. Read River, Tara, Cassa, EC, Whippoorwill, TJ and the many other brilliant bloggers out there.

And I’ll try and write more shitty poetry on a daily basis.

Hugs and sloppy wet kisses

me