Posts Tagged ‘Weird West’

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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2025 Eligibility Roundup

Posted: November 11, 2025 in Announcement, recommendations, writing
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  • book cover of MELINDA WEST AND THE GREMLIN QUEEN (Brigids Gate Press)

It’s that wonderful time of year when authors share their published works from 2025 as award submission season nears its deadline. I always love to see these roundup posts and a reminder of what my favorite authors and colleagues have been up to this year.

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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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Monster Gunslingers The Game: Blast into the Weird West This Fall!

Posted: August 8, 2025 in Announcement, art, books, horror, Melinda West, recommendations, Weird West
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Poker. Powers. Pandemonium.

The stakes are high. The cards are stacked. And the monsters are coming.

I am so excited to share the news of Monster Gunslingers The Game! This fall, the Weird West meets poker in a version of Texas Hold’Em turned supernatural. Every card has a special power and every hand is a showdown.

In Monster Gunslingers The Game, 2-6 players go head-to-head in rapid poker showdowns where winners have to rely on more than luck and bluffing. Get ready to gather your monster-fighting posse, ante up and outwit the supernatural while havoc is unleashed on Main Street.

The monsters are coming, and only the cleverest gunslingers will make it out alive.

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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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New Class! Learn How to Write a Weird Western

Posted: June 16, 2025 in Announcement, short stories, Tips, Weird West, writing
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I’m thrilled to teach “Creating Weird West Stories That Sizzle And Sell” at Reach Your Apex later this month.

weird west class

In this live virtual course, writers will learn how to:

✅ Build immersive settings and plots that evoke the Old West without falling into clichés and harmful stereotypes
✅ Flip familiar tropes into fresh and thought-provoking elements
✅ Draw inspiration from historical accounts with empathy and nuance
✅ Develop grounded characters and high-stakes conflicts
✅ Blend horror, fantasy, science fiction and history in unexpected ways

Writers will leave with the foundation of a new weird western, along with tools for revisions and submissions ✍🏼 

Use code wwss10 at checkout for $10 off!

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Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen is out!

Posted: June 8, 2025 in Announcement, books, horror, Melinda West, Weird West, writing
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Book 2 in my supernatural western series is officially out! A book launch is always special, and I am so grateful to everyone who supported this adventure. A huge, huge thanks especially my publisher Brigids Gate Press, my fellow horror peeps, and my ARC readers.

And exciting news—the book hit #1 in New Releases in the Western Horror category!

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Women of the Weird West Anthology

Posted: March 5, 2025 in Uncategorized
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I am so excited to be editing an anthology I’ve had in mind for a long time. Women of the Weird West will be coming out from Brigids Gate Press in 2026, and I can’t think of a better partner for this project!

We already have a fantastic line-up of authors, listed below, with more to be announced soon!

The limited open submission call will be open April 1, 2025. In particular, we are hoping for more flash fiction, drabbles and poetry. The full submission guidelines are below.

To stay updated on this project and other releases, subscribe to my monthly newsletter here.

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Cover reveal and preorder for MELINDA WEST AND THE GREMLIN QUEEN

Posted: February 10, 2025 in Announcement, books, horror, Melinda West, science fiction, Weird West
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I am thrilled to share the cover of Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen, which will be out on May 29, 2025 from Brigids Gate Press! Carrion House is the artist behind this stunning cover. Along with the cover reveal, I’m happy to share that Brigids Gate Press is offering the book for a preorder sale of only .99! If you preorder before May 29, 2025, you can get it at this low price.

Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen (Brigids Gate Press, 2025)

In an alternate Old West, monsters rule the land—but one deadly duo is humanity’s last hope. 

Melinda West is a sharpshooter with a steady hand, a cool head and a no-nonsense attitude. Her partner, Lance, brings the charm—and the firepower. Together, they’ve made a living hunting supernatural threats. But when a strange illness leaves a trail of corpses in its wake, they realize they’re about to face their greatest challenge yet.

As the bodies pile up, a swarm of gremlins—smarter, faster and deadlier than anything they’ve encountered before—are hellbent on destruction. Unless Melinda and Lance can uncover the truth behind these mysterious creatures, everything they know will be torn apart.

Fast-paced, gritty, and packed with supernatural thrills, Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen blends the rebellious charm of Bonnie and Clyde with the high-stakes action of Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

LIMITED DEAL! Preorder Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen for only .99!

This is book two in a standalone interconnected series—ideal for both new readers and returning fans looking for dark fantastical westerns with a twist. 

Get ready! Order the first Melinda West book, Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger, here.

Reviewers can sign up to be considered to receive an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) here.
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