Author: Abigail Wild

Meet Your Heroes!

Meet Your Heroes!

by Greg Jones

I’ve heard it said to “never meet your heroes.” However, there are certain people who impact your life in such a profound way that it would be a disservice to yourself and to them if you didn’t seek them out when possible to have the chance to maybe engage on a more personal level. I personally believe, in this ever-distancing world, that these encounters are more important now than ever.

A literary hero might be the most elusive of all.

I had the good fortune of meeting Clive Barker at a Harry Schwartz bookshop in Milwaukee about 20 years ago. It, to this day, plays on repeat on the highlight reel of my life.

To say he is a major influence in my life is a vast understatement. At 14, when I first read his short horror fiction, I knew this was something unique and special. His writing brought poetry and elegance to a genre that was sorely lacking in those qualities up to that point. It has influenced and inspired my art and my writing ever since.

To those not familiar with Mr. Barker, he was very prolific in the 80’s and 90’s, moving from horror to dark fantasy to full adult fantasy novels. In 2012 he fell into a coma after a dental procedure left him battling toxic shock syndrome, which has affected his health ever since. He recently posted that he would be doing a handful of personal appearances throughout 2024 and then focusing entirely on various unfinished projects.

This news came the same evening as my final cover reveal for my upcoming horror poetry collection from Wild Ink. I learned that he would be coming to Chicago at the end of March and I made arrangements to make the trip.  

I arrived at the convention center with a framed photo of the two of us from that first Milwaukee meeting as well as a binder containing a selection of my strongest poems, a copy of the cover art for my book and an emotional letter explaining what a profound effect he has had in my life. Two hours later we would meet for the second and, most likely, last time.

He shook my hand and said ‘’Hello” and I was taken aback at the frail man before me. It was emotional to say the least.

I showed him the photo of the two of us and he commented how we were both “children” back then. We reminisced on the picture and then I asked him if I could give him something. I handed him the folder and told him about the pending publication and that it would not even exist if it weren’t for him. I could see he was affected by this and he shook my hand again.

He leafed through the pages and asked me how long I had been writing poetry and “why” I had started writing. Again I told him “because of you.” He said he was honored and actually asked ME to autograph the sampling for him. I was astounded. It was surreal as I signed my name to a dedication to him!

He asked my wife if she was proud then asked her if “I” was proud, to which we both responded, absolutely. He ended by saying what a huge accomplishment this was. Before I left I shook his hand again and told him my contact information was included inside and if he ever felt the urge to send along any words of encouragement or advice I would be forever grateful.

I left deeply moved and affected and filled with many feelings. Validation, pride, hope, and a bittersweet sadness knowing this might be the last time I ever speak to him. It was a complete full circle moment for me and I am beyond grateful for his words and attention and just for being the genuinely decent human being I remember from 20 years before. I hope on some level it meant as much to him as it did to me.

I have been fortunate enough over the years to meet or have interactions with many of the people I look up to and respect. It is a gift to share these moments with individuals who have moved or inspired you and I would encourage anyone to take that chance if it presents itself.

Born in 1970, I grew up,  in my opinion, in the pinnacle of all things. The best films, music, comic books and those fantastic 80’s horror novels. No matter where my mind wandered it eventually found it’s way back to something with a monster in it. I spent my adolescence hunched over a drawing table, occasionally writing and living my life in pursuit of personal creative goals. In my current role at the local library I am surrounded by books all day and inspired daily to keep creating my horror inspired poetry.

“Meet Me in the Flames” is my first published work and I am diligently scribbling away on a new poetry collection as well as a series of short stories.

When not reading, writing or working on some kind of art you can find me listening to old country records, watching anything remotely creepy or traveling the globe in search of the perfect mountain sunset.

I live in Wisconsin with my loving wife of 30 years and my three amazing daughters all of whom contribute to my writing with editing skills and strong stomachs.

Don’t Quit Your Day Job (and Why That’s a Good Thing!)

Don’t Quit Your Day Job (and Why That’s a Good Thing!)

By Bruce Buchanan

Making full-time living writing fiction is living the dream—but for most authors (even ones with book deals), being a writer means working a day job. 

If you are one of those writers, you are in good company. Octavia Butler wrote by night and punched the clock at a potato chip factory by day. T.S. Eliot worked at a bank, even after publishing “The Wasteland.” Charlotte Brontë served as a governess to wealthy British families; her experiences in this job helped her write Jane Eyre.

When I’m not clicking away at the keyboard on my next YA fantasy book, I’m…clicking away at the keyboard in the corporate communications realm. Like many other colleagues, I chose a career that allows me to use my writing skills, albeit in ways that don’t involve a magic-using princess or a blacksmith’s heroic son. I know writers who are English, writing and drama teachers (both on the high school and collegiate levels), librarians, editors, and journalists.

But plenty of other fiction authors have day jobs that don’t focus on writing or literature. One author friend manages a medical facility, putting her master’s degree in healthcare administration to good use. Another author I know recently retired as a funeral director and now is the office manager for her family’s small business. And one talented horror writer I’ve met delivers online orders from restaurants. She keeps a notebook in her car so she can write between deliveries. 

Balancing any job with a writing career requires strong time management skills, though. Conquest Publishing novelist S.E. Reed recently gave a great presentation on “Tips for Busy Writers” at the Writer’s Workout Virtual Conference. S.E. juggles a full-time career, three school-age kids, and a flourishing writing career, and she shares some best practices on how writers can manage their time.

My personal tip is to carve out a short amount of time every day for writing. I do a 20-minute daily writing sprint. This means no social media, no TV, no distractions—just head-down writing for 20 minutes minimum. You’ll be surprised at how much you can get done in an intensive burst if you eliminate distractions! 

Once you figure out how to balance your work with your writing, there’s a big upside in having a day job. Writing gets to be your passion project—the thing that you love to do. You can write what you want when you want to write it. 

Obviously, if you are working with a publishing company, you must keep their deadlines and commercial considerations in mind. But it is liberating to know your next meal or your family’s mortgage payment doesn’t depend on writing a story. Even the best jobs invariably become responsibilities (as one colleague put it, “It’s why they call it ‘work.’”) Writing doesn’t have to be that way—it can remain something that brings you joy.

I’ll give the last word to Kurt Vonnegut, who sold cars in addition to writing some of the most enduring works of the 20th Century:

“Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.”

Bruce Buchanan is the senior communications writer for an international law firm by day. His debut YA fantasy novel, THE BLACKSMITH’S BOY, is coming soon from Wild Ink Publishing. A longtime lover of fantasy and heroic fiction, he lives in Greensboro, N.C. with his wife, Amy, and their 17-year-old son, Jackson. Follow him at @BBuchananWomble and @brucebuchanan7710.

The Writer as a Tortoise.

The Writer as a Tortoise.

by Sheelagh Aston

It is estimated that 97% of people who start writing a novel never finish it. So, congratulations on finishing the first draft of your MS.

Do not underestimate the achievement and enjoy the satisfaction of writing THE END.

Celebrate. You deserve it.

Now what?

You will be eager to get it out there in the world.

Here is some advice – DON’T.

Jericho Writers estimate the chance for a new writer to get an agent is 1 in 1000. The most common reason for rejecting an MS given is poor presentation or the story needs more work/editing done on it for an agent to send out on submission or a publisher to take on.

Few agents or publishers have the time or inclination to undertake several rounds of edits.

As for self-published novels. The biggest compliant by readers is many novels feel underwritten and contain grammatical errors in them.

 JK Rowling rewrote the first chapter of HP & the Philosopher’s Stone 15 times. As a writer your may find you have more in common with the tortoise and not the hare of the children’s Aesop’s fable. The tortoise took their time, did not rush, and won the race. The bragging, puffed-out hare failed to stay the distance.

Learning to be a tortoise, not a hare, is a key skill for a writer. One not often discussed at writers’ courses or conferences. Many writers simply learn via the school of hard knocks.

Developing a process for ensuring your work is the very best it can before you send it out for submission or to print takes time and a lot of patience. For many new to writing it can also be confusing – just check out the number of editing services and writing courses advertised on the internet. Yet they emphasise how important it is to take your time and get the MS up to publication standards.

It will take you time to work out a process that suits you and your budget. (if you have one) and to find people you can entrust your precious work for critiquing and editing.  What is offered below is a framework that can be done for little money and will enable you to reach a point where you can have confidence that whether you go down the traditional or self-publishing route your manuscript is the best it can be for the next stage of it journey to publication.

  1. Put the 1st draft in a drawer and leave it there for at least three weeks – longer if you can. Give yourself time to distance your giddy emotions from writing it so when you come back to it, you can look at it with a fresh eyes and clearer head.
  2. Go through a hard copy with a red pen– yes it means printing and paper but it is easy to miss things when reading material on computer screen. You will catch more typos, notice issues about the overall story’s pacing, plotting and characterisation if you read a paper version. You can make notes in the margin.
  3. As you go through it write a scene/chapter breakdown of the story. This will help if you need to move scenes or chapters around, check your timeline works and, if you are writing more than one POV, ensure everyone gets a turn. It can be a quick reference to locate what happens when (believe me you will get confused at some point)
  4. When you have done your revision find 2-3 people who will read it (called beta readers) – not friends or relatives. Joining a writers’ group, in person or online can help this – you may have to return the favour – and this in turn will help you develop your inner-editor’s eye for your own work. There are online critique groups you can join as well. Critique.com is one. A search on Yoututbe to find writing webinars will throw up zillions on various aspects of writing including editing and critiquing that can help you. 
  5. While waiting for feedback research the different types of editing in case you need one later i.e. the differences between developmental and line editing. (This is where it can get expensive – understanding the different types of editorial services will help you chose the right one for your MS and discuss your need with an editor.)
  6. Clunk or Chime? – When you get all the critiques back go through each beta reader’s feedback. Note their consensus on issues with the story – plot, pacing, world building as well as what they liked. Mark up your revised copy. Put it in the drawer again to rest for a couple of weeks. You may not agree at first with their observations. It is tempting to discard the feedback. When you go through the marked-up MS with the feedback keep what ‘chimes’ with you. If something still ‘clunks’ with you either do nothing with it or ask for clarification from the person who gave it. It maybe they have mis-understood something or you have not written a scene or plot point clearly.
  7. By this stage you should have a robust MS but hold back the hare inside you. Go through the MS once more (or twice) Eliminate all the ‘weasel words.’ ‘Weasel words’ are weak works i.e. adjectives, ‘glue words such as, but, just so, very. Most grammar checkers have a faculty that can help you with this.
  8. Put the new revised draft back in the drawer once more. Go off and write something else. Start working on your submission package and submission list. When ready return to the MS. Do the tweaks you need to do.

What you decide to do from this point is up to you. You can start submitting to agents and publishers, get a professional editorial assessment carried out to ensure it is ready to go out for submission or you may decide to self-publish.  

Whatever you decide you will have a MS that supersedes the original version you started with, you will have grown as a writer and the next 1st draft will benefit from what you have learnt.

Happy Writing.

Sheelagh has been writing since she could hold a pen. Her novels weave together suspenseful plots with exploring how people find their inner worth and place in the world. When not writing novels, she freelances for radio, magazines, and anthologies for a wide range of genres. Her gothic horror story Little Redd Cupcake with be published by Wild Ink in the Anthology Penny Dreadful later this year.

Social media links:

www.sheelaghaston.com

X @aston_sheelagh

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheelagh.aston.9

From BookTok to Bookshelf: How a TikTok Ban Spells Trouble for Readers and Publishers Everywhere

From BookTok to Bookshelf: How a TikTok Ban Spells Trouble for Readers and Publishers Everywhere

by Amelia MacKinnon

The indie book publishing industry has been steadily growing in recent years, with a significant impact on the literary landscape. According to industry reports, the annual revenue of the indie book publishing sector surpassed $2 billion in the most recent fiscal year.

This remarkable figure underscores the increasing influence and viability of independent publishers in the competitive market.

Indie publishers often champion diverse voices and niche genres that may not receive as much attention from larger publishing houses, contributing to a vibrant and inclusive literary ecosystem. As such, understanding how a potential TikTok ban could affect this dynamic industry is crucial for assessing its broader implications for readers, authors, and publishers alike.

But hold up, because this ban could have some serious ripple effects, especially in an unexpected corner—the global book publishing industry.

Let’s break it down. TikTok isn’t just about dances and memes anymore. It’s become a powerhouse for book recommendations and literary discussions.

You’ve got bookish creators with millions of followers, sharing their favorite reads and sparking conversations that lead to actual book sales. Take BookTok, for instance—a vibrant community where readers share their love for everything from fantasy epics to romance novels.

Now, imagine if all that vanished overnight. Poof! No more BookTok. No more viral book recommendations reaching millions of potential readers. Suddenly, authors and publishers are left scrambling to find new ways to connect with audiences.

TikTok’s unique format and algorithm have proven to be particularly effective in boosting book sales for authors compared to other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads. Unlike traditional platforms where users primarily engage with static images or lengthy posts, TikTok’s short-form video format allows for quick, engaging content that captures users’ attention in mere seconds.

This makes it easier for authors to showcase their personalities, share book recommendations, and connect with readers on a more personal level.

Additionally, TikTok’s algorithm is designed to promote content based on user interests rather than follower count, giving even lesser-known authors a chance to reach a wider audience.

As a result, books recommended on TikTok often experience a rapid increase in sales, outperforming promotions on other platforms where content can easily get lost in the noise. The viral nature of TikTok further amplifies the reach of book recommendations, creating a snowball effect that can lead to exponential growth in sales and visibility for authors.

But it’s not just about losing a platform for promotion. TikTok has been a game-changer for discovering diverse voices and niche genres. Think about the surge in interest in poetry, thanks to poets sharing their work in short, captivating videos. Without TikTok, these voices risk being drowned out in a sea of mainstream content.

And let’s talk numbers for a second. TikTok has over 100 million monthly active users in the U.S. alone. That’s a massive pool of potential readers. If even a fraction of those users were influenced by BookTok to buy just one book a month, you’re looking at a significant boost for the publishing industry.

But with a ban looming, publishers might need to rethink their marketing strategies. They’ll have to pivot away from TikTok and find new ways to engage with readers. Maybe they’ll invest more in other social media platforms or explore partnerships with influencers on different platforms. Either way, it’s going to shake things up.

One notable example is Abigail Hing Wen, the author of “Loveboat, Taipei.” Her novel gained significant traction on BookTok, leading to increased sales and visibility.

Loveboat, Taipei Hardcover – January 7, 2020

“Loveboat, Taipei” is a young adult novel that follows the story of Ever Wong, who is sent to Taiwan to study Mandarin for the summer but ends up experiencing love, adventure, and self-discovery. The book resonated strongly with BookTok users, who praised its diverse characters, engaging plot, and exploration of identity and culture.

As BookTok users shared their enthusiasm for “Loveboat, Taipei” through videos and recommendations, the novel gained momentum within the platform’s community. This surge in interest translated into increased sales and recognition for Abigail Hing Wen, propelling her book onto bestseller lists and garnering widespread acclaim.

Abigail Hing Wen’s experience serves as a real-life example of how BookTok can significantly impact an author’s career, leading to greater visibility, book sales, and ultimately, success in the publishing industry.

While a TikTok ban may initially seem like a routine political decision, its ramifications extend far beyond mere community-building activities. Its effects could potentially reshape the landscape of book discovery, sharing, and celebration on a global scale.Report this

Welcome to the Void

Welcome to the Void

By Ollie Shane

in a year after back to the future three made you scream “give me the future”

Said future gives you more unreal than reality, headlines the type the onion et al could dream of

will we be all right? will we survive the anthropocene/climate chaos

is it any wonder you’ve lost hours falling down rabbit holes?

is it any wonder you come away thinking the end of the world is nigh?

There is a place where the rabbit holes meet, where your pessimism finds a soft spot

          it’s called the void, as dark as the darkest night

                                              before or even during the dawn

          the void hopes that the more time you spend, the more you find yourself (or the parts you do not want to think of when thinking of Self (and the other))

          you’ll learn about yourself

                               but also the world

                                    you’ll take notes in a nice journal, in pen scrawl

               notes from the void coming soon.

About Ollie Shane

Ollie Shane is a poet, undergraduate English major, and the number one tote bag carrier and iced coffee sipper in the Tri-State Area (Delaware and Pennsylvania).He is Autistic and their special interest revolves around literature (currently on 20th century literature (such as W. Somerset Maugham, who they’re doing their thesis on) in conjunction with contemporary poets such as Danez Smith, sam sax, Franny Choi, Terrance Hayes, Mary Alice Daniel and others). Also, he is constantly looking for more poetry and prose recommendations.

On a writerly note, they are the author of the chapbook I Do It So It Feels Like Hell (Bottlecap Press, 2022), and their work has been published in Thirty West’s magazine AfterImages, Poetry As Promised, Palindrome Journal, and elsewhere. They also have a newsletter on Substack called Not Another Newsletter. To see more of their work, check him out on Instagram @aolshane and Chill Subs under olshane17. 

Episode Seven: An Interview with Emily St. Marie about the Magical Muse Library

Episode Seven: An Interview with Emily St. Marie about the Magical Muse Library

In this episode, Abigail sits down with Emily St. Marie, illustrator / author, to discuss the Magical Muse Library.

You can find Calliope’s Collection of Magical Mayhem here.

You can find Ourania’s Orrery of Imagination here.

To learn more about Emily St. Marie, visit her website.

Episode Six: An Interview with S.E. Reed, author of “My Heart is Hurting” and Andrea Myers and Tanya Pearrell of She’s Somebody’s Daughter. A novel representation of what happens when a community comes together to help an at-risk teen from trafficking and exploitation.

Episode Six: An Interview with S.E. Reed, author of “My Heart is Hurting” and Andrea Myers and Tanya Pearrell of She’s Somebody’s Daughter. A novel representation of what happens when a community comes together to help an at-risk teen from trafficking and exploitation.

Abby interviewed S.E. Reed, author of “My Heart is Hurting,” and Andrea Myers and Tanya Pearrell of She’s Somebody’s Daughter. This anti-trafficking non-profit exists to erase the lines of separation that isolates those affected by sexual exploitation. We discuss “My Heart is Hurting” and how communities can come together to help a teen at risk of trafficking and exploitation.

You can purchase “My Heart is Hurting” here


To learn more about S.E. Reed, visit her website: www.writingwithreed.com

You can also visit her Wild Ink Publishing author page: wild-ink-publishing.com/s-e-reed

To know more about She’s Somebody’s Daughter to learn ways you can help victims and survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation visit their website: www.shessomebodysdaughter.org

If you are in the central PA region and would like She’s Somebody’s Daughter to come into your organization or school to do a talk about trafficking reach out through their events page: www.shessomebodysdaughter.org/host-an-event

To learn more about trafficking visit the Polaris Project: polarisproject.org

Episode Five: Plotting, Pantsing, Outlining! Oh My!

Episode Five: Plotting, Pantsing, Outlining! Oh My!

In this episode, Brittany and Abby talk about writing as busy moms. They also talk about plot structure, and how to make the most of your story’s plot. Then they tell us how they outline their books, discussing the pros and cons of plotting and pantsing.

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Episode Three: The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker and Setting Up a Writing Habit

Episode Three: The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker and Setting Up a Writing Habit

Welcome back for our third episode of Wild About Publishing and Writing. This week we discuss the book”Seven Basic Plots” written by Christopher Booker and how we can use these plot lines to fully realize our own stories. And, we discuss writing habits.

We gave a few activities at the end of this episode as a way to help you think about your story concept. Feel free to post about your story in the comments.

You can find Christopher Booker’s book here.