Archive for the ‘Melinda West’ Category

MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER and more popular Weird West books available in special promo at StoryBundle

Posted: March 30, 2023 in Announcement, books, Melinda West, recommendations, Weird West
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Book promo alert! For a limited time, my supernatural western MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER will be available in a “storybundle” together with some of the biggest fantasy and horror western titles available right now.

StoryBundle offers a very appealing deal for readers: for only $5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous), you’ll get the basic bundle of four digital books, details below. There is also an upgraded bundle where you can get **11** weird west stories for a deeper discount!

This bundle showcases books by some of the leading authors of Weird West fiction today. These tales of the Old West fused with horror, fantasy and adventure will sweep you away to another time and place.

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MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER launches!

Posted: February 2, 2023 in Announcement, books, Melinda West, Weird West, writing
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Today’s the day! My supernatural western MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER is officially OUT into the world!

Publishing a book is something I’ve dreamt about for decades. I’m so thankful for my publisher, Brigids Gate Press, for taking a chance on a Western/horror/fantasy mashup, and for the supportive writing and horror communities. The book has been well-received, with reviewers calling it “a fun, fast-paced, monster-filled joy ride,” “genre-blending,” “a story that is fascinating and irresistible,” and a “massive crowd-pleaser.” (See what other readers are saying here: https://scifiwri.com/publications/melinda-west-monster-gunslinger/). 

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2022 year-end summary

Posted: December 31, 2022 in Announcement, author interview, books, horror, Melinda West, short stories, Weird West, writing
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2022 was quite the ride for me, writing-wise! I had my first book deal and a bunch of other “firsts,” highlighted below. These types of year-end posts are helpful for authors to stay accountable and celebrate successes in a path paved with a billion rejections.

My biggest writing milestone this year was announcing my first book deal in May. The book will publish less than a year later: MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER will be available in February 2023 from Brigids Gate Press. This adult “Weird Western” adventure features gunslingers, diverse characters and a menagerie of nightmarish monsters, with Bonnie & Clyde + Witcher + Supernatural vibes. Author milestones including seeing the incredible cover by Carrion House; holding the physical ARC in my hand for the first time; and reading early reviews, which have been positive so far. I am so very grateful to Brigids Gate Press, the indie horror writing community, early readers and supporters, and many others for helping to bring this book to life.

collage of magazine and book covers

I also published more short stories this year than I have any year prior. 13 of my short horror/sci-fi/weird west stories were published in anthologies, magazines and/or podcasts, and I’ve signed contracts for 5 more appearing next year, including an audio version of my gothic horror tribute to Anne Rice, “Unrest,” by the excellent Tales to Terrify podcast.

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This is not a drill: sale and preorder alert!

Posted: December 13, 2022 in Announcement, books, horror, Melinda West, Weird West
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I’m thrilled that my debut Weird West novel MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER is now available for preorder for Amazon Kindle! Not only that, but publisher Brigids Gate Press is having a holiday promotion where the book is ONLY 99 cents for a few more days. THANK YOU to everyone who has preordered so far, I really appreciate it!

The sale is over on December 20th, so now is a great time to snag a copy if you’re interested in a fast-paced, feminist fantasy-horror adventure.

If you’re more of a print book person like me, the physical version of MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER will be available on February 2, 2023. I’m still figuring out signed copy options but those details will be coming soon. Buy it now or learn more about the book below.

FOR A LIMITED TIME: ORDER AT THE SPECIAL HOLIDAY PRICE OF 99 CENTS

Early Praise for MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER

“Melinda West is the hero I’ve been waiting for as long as I can remember. The world and characters are vivid and magical. This story is a delight.“
–Kate Jonez, Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author

“This fast-paced debut is peppered with awesome battle scenes, but the novel is much more than the sum of its action parts. Grifant takes her time to build the world and its characters, imbuing all with a complexity that adds depth to this wildly entertaining story. Verdict: This fun, imaginative, and confident series opener will be a massive crowd pleaser for general audiences, especially for those who enjoy a wide range of popular weird western offerings, from the more historical like Stoker’s Wilde West by Hopstaken and Prusi to those with cosmic elements such as The Last Storm by Lebbon.”
 —Becky Spratford on Goodreads (Read for January 2023 issue of Library Journal; from draft review)

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Upcoming horror stories and more December news

Posted: December 1, 2022 in Announcement, anthology, author interview, books, horror, Melinda West, podcast, science fiction, short stories, submissions, Tips, Weird West, writing
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Happy December! I hope you had a fulfilling Thanksgiving and are gearing up for a fun and restful holiday season. If you’re stumped on gift ideas, I’ve included some tips on horror and book gift suggestions below.

In personal news, I am beyond thrilled that my poem “A Woman’s Weapon” (published in HWA’s Poetry Showcase Volume VIII) made the recommendations list for the upcoming volume of Ellen Datlow’s esteemed Best Horror of the Year! You can peruse the full list here.

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Weird West action story out in SNAFU: DEAD OR ALIVE anthology

Posted: November 6, 2022 in Announcement, anthology, horror, Melinda West, short stories, Weird West, writing
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My Weird West monster action story, “The Fall of Denafas Manor,” debuts in this epic Western horror anthology from Cohesion Press. Edited by Amanda J Spedding and Geoff Brown, SNAFU: DEAD OR ALIVE is the latest addition to the SNAFU anthologies, some of which were adapted for the Netflix series LOVE, DEATH + ROBOTS.

“The Fall of Denfanas Manor” is an original story featuring gunslingers Melinda and Lance as they rescue a kidnapped victim from a relentless supernatural family. You can read an excerpt below.

As a side note: Melinda and Lance have their own novel-length adventure forthcoming in MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Feb 2023, Brigids Gate Press).

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October News – upcoming stories and book updates

Posted: October 15, 2022 in Announcement, anthology, books, horror, Melinda West, podcast, science fiction, short stories, submissions, Tips, Weird West, writing
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It’s October, the best month! When when the “Halloween People” come out to play and when the pumpkin spice flows freely. I hope you’re finding fun and spooky ways to celebrate.

Read on for book updates, my first reading of the season and a new article on Weird West writing tips. As always, I hope your bookshelves have been full and your reading time uninterrupted!

New article! 5 Tips For Writing a Horror Weird Western

My article, “5 Tips for Writing a Horror Weird Western,” is now live on The Horror Tree! You can read it here: https://horrortree.com/5-tips-for-writing-a-horror-weird-western/.

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Introducing the cover for MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER

Posted: September 23, 2022 in Announcement, books, horror, Melinda West, Weird West
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I’m beyond excited to reveal the cover of MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER, coming in February 2023 from Brigids Gate Press. I have always been a fan of UK-based Carrion House’s artwork, so I was thrilled to see how Luke would interpret the vibe and story (check out more of his amazing artwork here). Aside from the compelling, creepy imagery, the intriguing font also immediately drew me in. Needless to say, I couldn’t have imagined a better cover for this story!

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