Wednesday, November 18, 2020

New Release: Happy Ghoulidays by Shannon Lawrence

Happy Ghoulidays!

Friend of the Blog, Shannon Lawrence, has a new book coming out in just a few short days, and it looks like a doozy. It's a collection of spooky tales for the holidays, which is the best kind of holiday stories.

She also asked me to share some of my family's weird holiday traditions, which I originally jumped at, then realized my family's traditions aren't that weird. Odd, maybe, but not that weird.

🎄My paternal grandmother always served salt fish and raisin bread for dinner on Christmas Eve. I don't really know why; fish and raisin bread doesn't exactly scream "Christmas." I suspect it started because they had a big family and it was inexpensive, but she kept doing it, and inviting all the family over, every Christmas Eve until she passed away. My parents have since taken over the tradition, so if you're on the West Coast of Newfoundland and have a hankering for salt fish and raisin toast on December 24th, I've got a hook-up for you.

🎄We try to do a Secret Santa Gift exchange every year with my in-laws (my wife's parents, sister & husband). I say "try" because we usually do some sort of theme, and my wife's parents seem to have trouble grasping this. One year we were doing funny "gag" gifts and my mother-in-law brought a generic Santa Claus decoration, which was neither funny nor any kind of joke. Then there was the time we were supposed to buy our own favourite book to share with someone else, and they bought new books they knew each other wanted to read.

So, yeah. Kind of a disappointment. But you know what isn't a disappointment? Shannon Lawrence's new book! 

HAPPY GHOULIDAYS by Shannon Lawrence

The holidays can be a stressful time, as we all know, but I'm hoping to lighten up this winter season with a little holiday horror.

Maybe "lighten up" isn't the right term.

The first story begins the winter holidays with Thanksgiving, with stories representing Christmas, Hanukah, Hogmanay (the New Year), Yule, Groundhog Day, and, finally, Valentine's Day. From serious horror to tongue-in-cheek. Read them all at once or save them for their holidays. Or both! 

Release day is November 20, which also happens to be my birthday! Just in time for Thanksgiving week. You can pre-order the Kindle version, with other versions, including paperback, available on release day.


Family time can lead to murder and mayhem, especially during the holidays. A turkey with a tale to tell, elves under attack, sorority sisters putting on a killer party, a woman's desperation to save her family, and a stranger ringing in the New Year. These and other tales of woe await you beneath the mistletoe.


Be careful who you offer a kiss. It may be your last.


Amazon pre-order link:

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MDZR9K5


A fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes in her dungeon when her minions allow, often accompanied by her familiars. She writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her stories can be found in several anthologies and magazines, and her collections, Blue Sludge Blues & Other Abominations and Bruised Souls & Other Torments, are available in stores. You can also find her as a co-host of the podcast “Mysteries, Monsters, & Mayhem.” When she's not writing, she's hiking through the wilds of Colorado and photographing her magnificent surroundings. Though she often misses the Oregon coast, the majestic and rugged Rockies are a sight she could never part with. Besides, in Colorado there's always a place to hide a body or birth a monster. What more could she ask for? 


Find her:


Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads | Instagram


Wednesday, November 4, 2020

The Hose Beast Continues to Rumble On (#IWSG November 2020)


Psycho Hose Beast From Outer Space has been live for just over a month. I am pleased to say that it has been pretty successful so far.

Last month I probably seemed a little disappointed with the sales, but that was a premature. While Hose Beast didn't take off to be a massive success like we all secretly hope our books will be, it did stay very consistent all through the month. So much so that it has already surpassed what my last book, Hell Comes to Hogtown, sold in its entire first year. It's also rapidly approaching what my debut, Ten Thousand Days, did was well.

There's been other successes as well. The book peaked at #4 on the Amazon Canada Horror Comedy/Parody Bestseller list, climbing ahead of books by Chuck Palahniuk, Christopher Moore, David Wong and Joe Hill. It has officially gotten more reviews on Amazon than any of my previous books (which is only 10, but still). It is also now available for purchase at 2 different book stores in my home town. 

This may not seem like a big deal for some of you big time book slingers, but I thought it was pretty neat.

Speaking of my home town, I have to give a shout-out to my mom. She has been a HUGE cheerleader and sales rep for the new book. She never seemed super-enthusiastic about the previous books (probably because off all the sex, cuss words and violence), but she has jumped into this one gung-ho. She's the one who brought them down to the local bookstores without me even asking, and she's been going through everyone she knows bugging them to buy a copy. I don't have an exact count from here yet, but I suspect if I add her numbers to my total I will have already surpassed Ten Thousand Days. She's already gone through the first box of books I sent her and has already sold half the next one even before it arrived.

So what do I have to be insecure about? Well, beside the looming threat of societal collapse and civil war in the country next door? I have to write another goddamn book. I actually got a message from my uncle yesterday, someone who I haven't spoken to in years, telling me he loved the book and asked when the sequel was coming out. The last book only came out a month ago! It took me four years! (well, not exactly, but it has been four years since my last release) Now I already need to be thinking about the next one???

Go ahead. BUY THE BOOK and then bug me to write another one. You know you want to.

These are good problems to have, I know. And I am working on it. Progress has been slow with back-to-school and other projects getting in the way, but I will get there. I figure I have a year, right? I haven't committed to anything (I have timelines in my head, but there's no way in hell I'm admitting to them). 

And yes, I know the world is insane right now. I'm keeping busy with writing and book promotion to keep me from losing my mind. How was your October?

Hugs & Kisses,
-CDGK


The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Writers post their thoughts on their blogs, talking about their doubts and the fears they have conquered. It's a chance for writers to commiserate and offer a word of encouragement to each other. Check out the group at http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/.
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...