Happy book birthday to my debut collection, SHROUDED HORROR: TALES OF THE UNCANNY out today!

Huge thanks to everyone who has pre-ordered or read/reviewed an advance copy; it means the world to an indie author like me. I am so grateful to the readers, reviewers, supporters and my publisher, Dragon’s Roost Press, for bringing this collection of weird, cosmic and monster tales to the world. 

See what people are saying about SHROUDED HORROR: TALES OF THE UNCANNY (Dragon’s Roost Press) at Amazon and Goodreads.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you are looking for spooky stories, look no further! My short story collection SHROUDED HORROR: TALES OF THE UNCANNY is now available for preorder! Thank you to everyone who has read an advance copy and reviewed already; it means the world to an indie author like me. 

SHROUDED HORROR: TALES OF THE UNCANNY (Dragon’s Roost Press) is officially available for preorder, with a release date of July 11, 2024. I am so excited to share this collection with the world!

Read the rest of this entry »

Last month, the premiere horror podcast show Pseudopod did a fabulous audio production of my short story, “Just Another Apocalypse.” The team did a wonderful job with the audio production and elevating the angst and creepiness factor. It was an absolute joy hearing it come to life. As an extra bonus, Pseudopod did a shout-out to my work co-organizing StokerCon 2024 and also to my upcoming debut collection, SHROUDED HORROR: TALES OF THE UNCANNY.

Read the rest of this entry »

In addition to my debut short story horror collection SHROUDED HORROR: TALES OF THE UNCANNY (vibes of Tales From the Crypt + Twilight Zone + adult Goosebumps) I’m thrilled to share several short stories coming up soon in exciting anthologies.

Legend of the Spiderwalker (Weird West)

“Sometimes it’s easier to persuade them away or distract them with something. Especially if they ain’t the dying type.” “Most are the dying type.” Melinda unholstered her revolver…

”Legend of the Spiderwalker,” an original Melinda West story, will appear in ZEHLREG A. GRINDSTONE’S SPECTACULAR WESTERN ODDITY EMPORIUM. This anthology of Weird West short stories, flash fiction, & poems blend Wild West tropes with themes from across the Fantasy spectrum. The Kickstarter is ongoing until Sunday – support it here on Kickstarter (and check out those awesome rewards!)

Read the rest of this entry »

I am thrilled to share the stunning cover for my debut collection of short stories, SHROUDED HORROR: TALES OF THE UNCANNY (Dragon’s Roost Press).

Carrion House, a UK-based artist, did an amazing job capturing the monsters that haunt these pages!

SHROUDED HORROR: TALES OF THE UNCANNY, is a mix of my previously published short stories as well as new ones. These cosmic and weird stories are about horrors that lie below the surface, ready to bubble up and disturb the veil of our everyday lives.

Vibes = CREEPSHOW, TWILIGHT ZONE, BLACK MIRROR 

Preorder begins June 1!

In the meantime, you can add to your Goodreads page here. Reviewers can also get ARC review copies on Netgalley here.

There is nothing quite like holding a physical copy of a book baby! I shared my unboxing video on social media below:

Stay tuned for preorder information coming soon!

My heartbreak cemetery story, “Unrest,” recently appeared in the excellent audio horror show Tales to Terrify. This slow burn tale originally published in Dancing in the Shadows: A Tribute to Anne Rice, edited by Rebecca Rowland. The story is a result of drawing inspiration from Rice’s unique goth style as well as wanting to impart a twist on the typical final-girl-in-a-graveyard scenario.

Voice actor Amanda Stribling did an amazing job bringing this tale to life and adding a new dimension of creepiness.

If you’re in the mood for a 20-minute creepy tale, tune in at the 23:10 time mark here: https://talestoterrify.com/episodes/633-emily-j-weisenberger-kc-grifant/

I’m delighted to share that my debut collection of short stories will be forthcoming from Dragon’s Roost Press this summer!

The collection, called SHROUDED HORROR: TALES OF THE UNCANNY is a mix of my previously published short stories as well as new ones. These cosmic and weird stories are about horrors that lie below the surface, ready to bubble up and disturb the veil of our everyday lives. From the bowels of NYC to the mind-warping outer reaches of space, SHROUDED HORROR shows what happens when ordinary people bump against the hidden terrors that sit at the boundaries of reality.

You can sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive early updates, as well as a chance to win a free copy: https://mailchi.mp/a9f0d76bba28/welcome

On the one-year anniversary of my debut book, I am thrilled to announce that my second novel, MELINDA WEST AND THE GREMLIN QUEEN, will be coming out in May 2025 from Brigids Gate Press!

This action-adventure supernatural western is part of the Melinda West series, in which a stoic monster hunter and her partner encounter a brutal gremlin species set on spreading a psychic disease and taking over the Old West. 

MELINDA WEST AND THE GREMLIN QUEEN is an adult “Weird Western” featuring gunslingers, diverse characters and monsters galore, with Bonnie & Clyde + Buffy + The Witcher + Supernatural vibes.

Melinda and Lance are two characters I featured in several published short stories before the first book. They were very well received in MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (see reader reviews here). Aside from creating an escapist adventure, my overarching goal for this speculative world is to reframe some of the typical depictions of the Old West.

Interested readers can sign up here to request receiving an Advanced Reader Copy: https://forms.gle/BMZhBLRtJMfZzVDh7. You can also sign up for my newsletter to get exclusive early updates, as well as a chance to win a free copy next year: https://mailchi.mp/a9f0d76bba28/welcome

For me, 2023 will always be a special year. When my debut novel, MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER, came out last February, I fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a book author. It really was a year to remember.

In reviewing 2023, I realize I did well over a dozen major events for my book’s launch, including notable writing and genre conferences (SFWA, Stokercon, Wondercon, San Diego Comic Con), bookstore signings, readings and more. It was a lovely whirlwind and I am incredibly grateful to my family, friends and colleagues for their ongoing support and camaraderie. Here are some of the highlights.

Read the rest of this entry »

2023 was a banner year for weird west fiction, particularly horror westerns. This genre–which blends fantasy, horror and/or sci-fi elements in a western story–has been gaining steam for the last few years. It was an honor to have my debut supernatural western book, Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger, join a truly epic list of 2023 weird western books.

These are a few of my favorite new releases, as well as ones high on my to-be-read list. There are many new weird westerns beyond this shortlist; check out some of the profiles of amazing authors at Weird West Fiction for additional recommendations.

Read the rest of this entry »