Step aside impostor syndrome. I’m feeling like a successful author today!
But before I share why, I need to start with a little backstory.
One of the most impactful things I did in 2021 was to join the AutoCrit writing community and take their Nightmare Fuel course. Not only did this help me to improve as a horror writer, but it also introduced me to what has become my favourite writing community out of all of the ones I’ve tried out.
Then, near the end of 2021, a post went out in the community forum saying that another AutoCrit member was looking for short story submissions for their YouTube channel Haunting Season. I checked out the channel, liked what I saw, and decided to send in one of my short stories on a whim. He was specifically asking for horror stories that took place during the winter, and I just happened to have the perfect thing waiting in the wings.
Although “The Farmers” is not something I’ve published yet, I have added it to my third short story collection Re-Awakening (which is still going through many, many edits). So you can imagine how stressed I got when I saw an email from Josh of Haunting Season in my inbox. If he didn’t like it, I have no doubt the impostor syndrome would have taken over and Re-Awakening would have gone through a complete overhaul.
I had Mark read the email for me and…
Josh loved “The Farmers”!
He wanted to do dramatic readings of three of the short stories that had been submitted to Haunting Season AND MINE WAS ONE OF THEM! As if that wasn’t enough, he also asked if I would be open to doing a short interview.
You bet I cried.
Now, after what seems like months of waiting (even though it’s really only been a few weeks since the interview), everything is up on YouTube. Sponsored by AutoCrit, The Next Big Thing features three spooky short stories and three awesome interviews. And obviously I’m biased, but I highly recommend listening listening to this episode if you’re a fan of horror.
If you love “The Farmers” as much as I do, let me know. And if you want to read more stories like it – or even something a little darker – subscribe to my newsletter. I’m going to need beta readers for Re-Awakening soon and I’ll be reaching out to those of you who read my newsletter. Until then, I hope you enjoy The Next Big Thing by Haunting Season.
