by Jennifer Anne Gordon
(Livre Maison, 2021)
CONTAGIOUS VIRUS
ROTS HER FROM THE INSIDE OUT;
SHE IS NOT ALONE
Haiku Horror Review: PRETTY/UGLY by Jennifer Anne Gordon
horror fiction
Josh on Lovecraft eZine Podcast
Thanks to Mike Davis, Pete Rawlik, and friends for having me as a guest on Lovecraft eZine Podcast to talk about the Lovecraftian elements of MALINAE with a foray into Jewish horror.
JWN #35: Flesh-Eating Contagion (with Jennifer Anne Gordon)
The Three “CONS” of Writing Horror
Not long ago, I messaged a horror fiction “gatekeeper” to thank them for their work and to ask if they’d be open to reading more indie horror authors. They responded by listing a few well-known names they were promoting, including one whose “Big 4” published novel had years ago been made into a popular Hollywood movie. And then basically told me that all good writers eventually become famous, which is when this person will read and share their work.
As an author, editor, small press publisher, and reader, everything I write about horror fiction is a conflict of interest. That being said, I also have the privilege of seeing the landscape from a variety of perspectives. On top of that, I’ve interviewed scores of writers, followed their careers, and listened to podcast after podcast with some of the biggest names in the genre. The one thing most of them have in common? They were thinking about giving up until that one big break.
After years of processing this information, I believe I’ve come up with the essential elements for getting one’s horror book published and selling. I call them the three “CONS,” as in: CONTENT, CONTACTS, AND CONTEXT.
Continue readingJWN #34: Drawing Bio Horror (with Don Noble)
On episode #34 of Josh’s Worst Nightmare Oddcast, host Josh Schlossberg gets artsy with Don Noble, freelance artist and co-owner of Rooster Republic Press, as they gaze at the wonders of illustrating biological horror.
Stream or download at Podbean.
JWN #33: Gettin’ High (with Daniel J. Volpe)
On episode #33 of Josh’s Worst Nightmare Oddcast, host Josh Schlossberg goes under the influence with Daniel J. Volpe, author of LEFT TO YOU, as they experiment with drug use in horror fiction.
Stream or download here.
Why I’m Giving Up On Writing Horror
I’ve been “seriously” writing horror fiction for the last six years. During that time, I’ve had a bunch of short stories and one novella published, edited and/or published three anthologies, and just finished a brand-new novel. I also co-founded Denver Horror Collective, a horde of over fifty horror authors helping one other spread the horror.
As a weirdo, my fiction tends to be a bit “unconventional.” Therefore, it’s not been easy to get the products of my mind through the mainstream literary gatekeepers, which is why I’ve so often built my own gates.
For instance, my latest book is a Jewish ecological folk horror novel, and I truly feel it’s the best thing I’ve ever written. Although publishers wouldn’t touch my previous two novels, I believe this one is far more marketable and way less controversial. Yet two rejections I’ve gotten thus far—one from an agent, the other from a publisher—are total head-scratchers.
Continue readingJWN #32: The (Super)Natural World (with Daniel Braum)
On episode #32 of Josh’s Worst Nightmare Oddcast, host Josh Schlossberg goes on an expedition with Daniel Braum, author of UNDERWORLD DREAMS, to where the natural world meets the supernatural in horror fiction.
Stream or download HERE.
JWN #31: Shapeshifters (with Christy Mann)
Is There Money in Horror Fiction?
The second-most common question a horror author gets after, “Where do you get your ideas?” is, “Can you make any money doing this?”
The short answer is, “No.” The slightly longer answer is, “Not really.” But the honest answer is, “It depends.”
Josh's Worst Nightmare 