Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Giving the Bird
"Polly Wants," a short short murder mystery with a twist, has been accepted for publication!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
GoodReads Author Profile
Not only can you "Like" me on Facebook, but you can also become an official Fan and Follower on GoodReads:
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
"My Other Half" is LIVE!
Feathers, sequins, and a pair of poison green shoes to die for? Being a magician's assistant isn't all it's cut out to be ... FABULOUS illustrations by Kristen Breyer. See it and read it here!
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Feeling Lucky?
Times are tough, but not so tough that you can't try to win a FREE copy of Specter Spectacular: 13 Ghostly Tales. You can enter here!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
"Safe Upon the Shore" the Year's "Must Read"
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Interview with Kristina Wojtaszek
Photo courtesy of Sara Scott and Jenn Simeone |
What was your inspiration for “Cinder?”
KW: Cinder is a conglomeration of several ideas. My little boys were
enthralled with the movie Firehouse Dog, so I guess firefighting scenes and
dogs were floating around in my head at the time that I saw the call for
ghoulish tales from World Weaver Press. I'd always been fascinated with
great ghost stories, so I knew I had to give it a try. Add in my
obsession with retelling fairy tales, and Cinder began to emerge from all those
sparks of inspiration.
The opening scene of the fire is both frightening and
fascinating. How were you able to capture what to me seemed like a very
real description of what it’s like to be in a burning building?
KW: After meshing out my idea for "Cinder," I decided I needed to do a bit of
research on firefighting. I read bits of books and articles, watched
Youtube videos of firefighters at work, and found websites that listed
requirements for firefighter training, equipment, techniques and also listed
terms used by firefighters (which can very greatly by location and
department). I inquired of friends of mine who are married to volunteer
and army firefighters as well. But I have a confession to make.
When it came to finding a truly passionate portrayal of firefighting, I watched
one of my all time favorite movies, "Backdraft," over and over again, analyzing
the most dramatic scenes with a writer's eye. Just talking about it makes
me want to watch the movie again!
Fairy tales are a recurring theme in “Cinder.” How have
fairy tales influenced your writing and/or your point of view?
KW: Fairy tales provide many well-known motifs that seem to flow through every kind
of writing, whether intentional or not. I found these motifs in my own
writing enough times that I started rereading fairy tales to figure just how
many of my ideas were truly my own, and how many came from tales of old.
This easily led to reading retold fairy tales, which I enjoyed so much, I began
writing my own. Adding that fairy tale/folklore element to my
pre-existing ideas gave my stories new dimensions and greater ties to
history. Now, I simply can't help weaving bits of fairy tales into so
much of my work!
Do you have a favorite fairy tale? If so, what is it
and why is it a favorite?
KW: Oh my. You want me to choose just one? I am finding new and
enthralling fairy tales I'd never heard of before every day! But, there
are several from my childhood that have evolved into fascinations of late
because of all the history they hold and the unique variations I've
found. As a little girl growing up on the shores of Lake Michigan, I
spent many days dreaming about living life in the water and what it would be
like to be a mermaid. After outgrowing my girlish fascination with Disney's "The Little Mermaid," I found Hans Christian Andersen's tale and fell even more
in love. This wasn't the predictable happily-ever-after I was used to; it
was so much better! So I guess you could say "The Little
Mermaid" is my favorite, for the simple fact that it was the catalyst that
started my fairy tale obsessions. My most favorite, recently found
adaptation of the mer theme is the Chilean folk tale "Mariana and the
Merchild."
Do you have a particular genre in which you enjoy
writing? Why or why not?
KW: Umm… several! I love fantasy. I like playing God I guess; making up
creatures and worlds and magical abilities. Who doesn't? Folklore
and fairy tales are easily slipped into a fantasy backdrop, but I also love
fiction as a whole. I write young adult fiction as well, sometimes
speculative, sometimes not. Science fiction is also an interest of mine,
though every time I pick up a science fiction novel, I find myself disappointed
for some reason. Maybe it's because I'm looking for that perfect science
fiction story I have yet to write? Who knows? I never did think of myself
as much into horror, but when it comes to ghost stories, I often find myself
totally enthralled! I also see romance showing up in a lot of my work, but
only as an underlying motif, not as the main plot. The same goes for
nature motifs. Biology was my major in college and for me learning about
wildlife and the natural world around us is as fascinating as any speculative
fiction novel. I guess I'm all over the place, but speculative fiction
and YA fiction are the yarns I find myself spinning the most.
And, of course, have you ever had a ghostly encounter?
KW: I have had a few occasions in the past where I thought I might have seen a
ghost, but nothing definite. However, I recently went on a ghost walk at
the Sweetwater County Library in town and at the end of the tour, as the
librarian told us how the area used to be a playground before it was a library,
we heard the sound of children's laughter resonating from the dark, abandoned
hallway behind us. It was very real, loud enough to startle us, and
several people heard it, including me. It was pretty cool,
actually! You can read more about my experience on the ghost walk on my
website http://authorkw.wordpress.com/.
Thanks so much, Kristina! And we look forward to the release of Opal!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
First Author Interview!!
Learn more about Safe Upon the Shore in my interview with fellow Specter Spectacular contributor, Kristina Wojtaszek (click here).
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Official Specter Spectacular: 13 Ghostly Tales Press Release
WORLD WEAVER PRESS
ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF
“SPECTER SPECTACULAR: 13 GHOSTLY TALES”
NEW ANTHOLOGY NOW AVAILABLE
IN TRADE PAPERBACK AND EBOOK
New York, NY (September 25, 2012) – World Weaver Press (Eileen Wiedbrauk, Editor-in-Chief) has
announced Specter Spectacular: 13 Ghostly Tales, an anthology of new twists
on the classic ghost story, is available in trade paperback and ebook today,
Tuesday, September 25, 2012.
Specter
Spectacular: 13 Ghostly Tales is
available via
Amazon.com,
Kobo.com, and other online retailers. You
can also find Specter Spectacular: 13
Ghostly Tales on Goodreads.
Specter
Spectacular: 13 Ghostly Tales features
the literary talents of Amanda C. Davis (“My
Rest A Stone”), A. E. Decker (“Death
and Taxes”), Larry Hodges (“The
Haunts of Albert Einstein”), Sue
Houghton (“The Secret of Echo Cottage”), Andrea Janes (“A Fitting Tribute”), Terence Kuch (“What If It Could Speak!”), Robbie MacNiven (“The Little House at Bull Run Creek”), Kou K. Nelson (“Safe Upon the Shore”), Jamie Rand (“Alabaster”), Shannon Robinson (“Wendigo”), Calie Voorhis (“Cooter, Ass-munch, and
Me”), Jay Wilburn (“Pushed Out”),
and Kristina Wojtaszek (“Cinder”).
Spirits,
poltergeists, hauntings, creatures of the dark—Specter Spectacular: 13 Ghostly Tales delivers all these and more
in thirteen spooky twists on the classic ghost story. From the
heartwarming and humorous to the eerie and chilling, this anthology holds a
story for everyone who has ever been thrilled by the unknown or wondered what
might lie beyond the grave. Step inside and witness ghosts of the past, tales
of revenge, the inhuman, the innocent, the damned, and more. But be warned—once you cross the grave into this world of fantasy and fright,
you may find there's no way back out.
World Weaver Press
is a publisher of fantasy, science fiction, and nonfiction, dedicated to producing
quality novels, novellas, collections, and anthologies. As a small press, World
Weaver seeks to produce books that engage the mind and ensnare the story-loving
soul.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Get a Sneak Peek!
Kindle users can get the jump on Specter Spectacular: 13 Ghostly Tales. You can order your download here. Those of us who literally want to get their hands on an edition will have to wait until tomorrow (September 25) to order their edition!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Specter Spectacular Cover Revealed
Oooooh, pretty and spooky! Meant to be proudly displayed rather than hidden in the top drawer of a nightstand.
And you've got just over a month to clear the perfect spot for it. Might I recommend the foyer table with a velvet cloth and twisted candelabra? Just a thought.
And you've got just over a month to clear the perfect spot for it. Might I recommend the foyer table with a velvet cloth and twisted candelabra? Just a thought.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
"Safe Upon the Shore" in Specter Spectacular
I'm in it! So buy it and read it. |
New York, NY (August 9, 2012) – World Weaver Press (Eileen Wiedbrauk, Editor-in-Chief) has announced Specter Spectacular: 13 Ghostly Tales, an anthology of new twists on the classic ghost story, will be available on Tuesday, September 25, 2012.
"That which is unknown, uncertain, and impossible to prove is a ripe ground for fantasy and horror writers, and the thirteen authors in Specter Spectacular have taken fullest advantage of it," commented Wiedbrauk. "These stories have given me chills, made me tear up, and laugh by turns—most of all, they’ve kept me glued to my seat. I’m thrilled that World Weaver Press has taken a walk in the shadows for our first anthology, and I’m pleased to release it this fall to add some chill to your Halloween or any dark night."
Specter Spectacular: 13 Ghostly Tales features the literary talents of Amanda C. Davis (“My Rest A Stone”), A. E. Decker (“Death and Taxes”), Larry Hodges (“The Haunts of Albert Einstein”), Sue Houghton (“The Secret of Echo Cottage”), Andrea Janes (“A Fitting Tribute”), Terence Kuch (“What If It Could Speak!”), Robbie MacNiven (“The Little House at Bull Run Creek”), Kou K. Nelson (“Safe Upon the Shore”), Jamie Rand (“Alabaster”), Shannon Robinson (“Wendigo”), Calie Voorhis (“Cooter, Ass-munch, and Me”), Jay Wilburn (“Pushed Out”), and Kristina Wojtaszek (“Cinder”).
Spirits, poltergeists, hauntings, creatures of the dark—Specter Spectacular: 13 Ghostly Tales delivers all these and more in thirteen spooky twists on the classic ghost story. From the heartwarming and humorous to the eerie and chilling, this anthology holds a story for everyone who has ever been thrilled by the unknown or wondered what might lie beyond the grave. Step inside and witness ghosts of the past, tales of revenge, the inhuman, the innocent, the damned, and more. But be warned—once you cross the grave into this world of fantasy and fright, you may find there's no way back out
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