Posts Tagged ‘books’

Now available! Audiobook of Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger

Posted: November 18, 2025 in Announcement, audio, books, horror, Melinda West, podcast, Weird West, writing
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Dive into the action!

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Audiobooks Now

Saddle up for a wild, monster-infested ride through the Old West in my action-packed, award-winning debut book, Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger—a genre-bending fantasy western hailed as “fast, furious, and a hell of a lot of fun!” (Jonathan Maberry, NYT bestselling author).

Narrator Ash Aarrestad brings to life this first book in the Monster Gunslinger series. In a desolate frontier crawling with supernatural threats, stoic sharpshooter Melinda West and her charismatic partner, Lance, make a living exterminating monsters, from flying scorpions to mind-controlling insects. But when Melinda inadvertently unleashes a demon, she must face vengeful outlaws, ancient evils and an oncoming war between worlds to save her friends. With vibes of The Witcher, Supernatural, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Bonnie and Clyde, this story is ideal for fans of fantastical worlds, supernatural thrillers and complex heroines. 

What people are saying

“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.”
—Library Journal (full review) 

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How To Make Your Short Story Shine (From An Editor’s Point of View)

Posted: November 15, 2025 in Tips, writing
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It can be hard to exactly pinpoint what prevents a story from rising out of the slush pile and eliciting an enthusiastic “yes” from an editor, but there are some pitfalls writers make that happen all too frequently.

I’ve been editing for a long time–for nonfiction for decades, and for short fiction for part of that. During that time, I’ve seen common problems that writers make in their short stories. From an overly ambiguous beginning to an ending that falls flat, many passed-over stories share a few key issues that need addressing.

So, how to improve your short story to get to an editor’s “yes”? Here are a handful of tactics and strategies that can make your story shine brighter and improve the odds of catching an editor’s attention. I offer this as a brief guide to help you review your own work and see if any of these areas can be strengthened.

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New Audio Book – Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger

Posted: October 17, 2025 in Announcement, audio, books, horror, Melinda West, podcast, Weird West, writing
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Out November 18, 2025!

Kobo
Audible
Apple
Libro.FM

Saddle up for a wild, monster-infested ride through the Old West in my action-packed debut, Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger—a genre-bending fantasy western hailed as “fast, furious, and a hell of a lot of fun!” (Jonathan Maberry, NYT bestselling author).

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Free horror stories to listen to and read for the spooky season

Posted: September 16, 2025 in Announcement, anthology, flash fiction, horror, recommendations, science fiction, short stories, writing
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October is fast approaching! To gear up for the Halloween season, I’m offering a handy list of several of my short spooky stories available for free in audio form and print! These stories span sci-fi horror, quiet horror and weird tales in the vein of The Twilight Zone or Tales from the Crypt.

Hope you enjoy…

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Dread Coast: SoCal Horror For a Cause

Posted: August 22, 2025 in Announcement, anthology, books, horror, writing
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Today’s the day!! DREAD COAST: SoCal Horror Tales (No Bad Books Press), is officially out! This collection of Southern California horror short stories is co-edited by me and Dennis K. Crosby. I am so proud of this project and all of the stories. Plus, proceeds go to support the vital long-term recovery work from the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Order signed print copies from SoCal local bookstores!

Order from Mysterious Galaxy
Order from Artifact Books
Order from Warwick’s

If you prefer digital copies you can order from the usual suspects here or on Amazon.

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New Fantasy and Horror Anthologies

Posted: July 30, 2025 in Announcement, anthology, books, horror, recommendations, science fiction, short stories, Weird West, writing
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I’m proud to be part of not just one, but several upcoming anthologies from Stars and Sabers Publishing, the exciting powerhouse imprint founded by award-winning authors and editors Jendia Gammon and Gareth L. Powell.

Stars and Sabers is rolling out an ongoing series of beautifully produced anthologies featuring stunning cover art and stories by some of the most talented names in speculative fiction out there. From horror to fantasy to genre-bending crossovers, these anthologies feature bold, imaginative storytelling.

I’m thrilled that my story “Worship,” about a mysterious goddess-like entity in a Puritan town, will be included in Stars and Sabers’ upcoming horror anthology Of Dread, Decay, and Doom. The anthology is currently in fundraising mode; you can learn more about supporting the book here.

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Quick Draw: Weird West Flash Fiction Contest

Posted: June 21, 2025 in Announcement, short stories, Tips, Weird West, writing
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I’ll be judging an upcoming weird-west-themed flash fiction contest through Reach Your Apex–with prizes!

The first prize winner will be awarded $100 U.S. and have their story published in Apex Magazine issue 151, coming out in October 2025. The second prize winner will be awarded $50 U.S. and have their story published on the Reach Your Apex website in September 2025. Three third prize winners will each be awarded $25 U.S. and have their story published on the Reach Your Apex website in September 2025.

Submissions will open at 12:00 am Eastern, July 1, 2025. Submissions close July 15, 2025 at midnight Eastern. Anonymous, original submissions only under 1k words. More submission details: https://reachyourapex.com/weird-west-quick-draw-a-flash-fiction-contest/.

I hope you’ll submit to this diverse and growing genre! If you want tips for writing a story, check out some of the resources I have over at Weird West Fiction. If you really want to dive in, I’ll be offering a virtual workshop on June 27 called “Creating Weird West Stories That Sizzle And Sell” at Reach Your Apex.

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Gift Guide for Writers and Readers

Posted: December 3, 2023 in books, horror, recommendations, science fiction, Tips, writing
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*Updated for 2024*

If you’re like me, you try to outdo yourself each year with unique and fun gifts for the loved ones in your life. For the readers and writers in particular, it can be fun to look for novelty bookish items beyond a book (though a book is *always* a great gift).

Themed bookmarks, candles, tea, reading lights, and specialty furniture are often a go-to for annual bookish gift lists.

I’ve picked a few of my personal favorite book- and writing-themed gifts in this list that have caught my eye. Many of these I have gifted or been gifted in the past so can vouch for them. These items range from clever advent calendars, epic pen holders, eye-catching book ends, and more.

Disclaimer: These are obviously highly subjective and based around my own horror/sci-fi/fantasy interests.

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Free horror books for Halloween – today only!

Posted: October 31, 2023 in Announcement, books, horror, Melinda West, recommendations, Weird West
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Happy Halloween! Here’s a treat for you: for today only, the ebook of my debut supernatural western MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Brigids Gate Press) is available for FREE through B&N, Kobo and Apple Books as part of the Terrify Your Tablet book event.

Terrify Your Tablet

The first annual Terrify Your Tablet (previously “Spook Your Kindle Day”) is hosted by Horrorsmith Publishing. Horror and thriller fans can download books from hundreds of participating authors at the link below on Halloween.

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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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