Author: Angelique Fawns

David Hankins: A Writers of the Future Winner Spills His Secrets

By Angelique Fawns

David Hankins, aka The Lost Bard, is an example of what determination, focus, a good mentor and a unique voice can achieve. A recent third place winner of The Writers of the Future contest, Hankins will be packing his bags for Hollywood and becoming one of the rarified talents learning the ropes from the best in the science fiction/fantasy world and then attending the annual awards ceremony. A member of the Wulf Pack, Wulf Moon’s writing group specifically geared to helping authors win this contest, Hankins talks about his journey and future plans.

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Brandon Butler from T.Spec talks Tarot Cards 

By Angelique Fawns

Does the idea of writing about a Science Fiction Tarot card intrigue you? TDOTSPEC and Brandon Butler are looking for 22 stories; one tale for each of the major arcana cards. The submission call is open until October 4, 2022, and pays at a rate of 3 cents a word. I sat down with Butler to learn more about his concept and journey into the publishing world.

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Ai Jiang: thoughtful writing & selling stories

By Angelique Fawns

Ai Jiang is no stranger to the world of speculative short story writing. Her tales can be found in some of the most respected markets in our industry including: The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Uncanny, The Dark Magazine, Pseudopod, The Deadlands, and Dark Matter. She mixes the literary with speculative elements and her writing has a unique, vibrant flavor. Jiang is studying her craft by pursuing a Master’s in Creative Writing at the University of Edinburgh and works as a fiction editor at Orion’s Belt. (A pro-paying market for flash fiction.)  

 I discovered this prolific Canadian-Chinese writer through our very own Horrortree newsletter written by Holley Cornetto. She featured Ai Jiang’s story “For Viporis” at Flashpoint Science Fiction, and I loved it so much I contacted Jiang to find out more about her.

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Filipe Lichtenheld & Dream of Shadows

By Angelique Fawns

Filipe Lichtenheld loves honest and daring stories that exist in the grey zone. Send him your stories of struggle, moments of horror, and flashes of fantasy. Launched in 2019, Dream of Shadows is based out of London, England, and publishes monthly short stories and annual anthologies. I’ve sent several submissions to this market and Lichtenheld has always taken the time to send me a few notes on how to improve my writing. I took his advice to heart and finally sent him a story he accepted. “Ogri Trips the Light Fantastic” will be published on the Dream of Shadows website on November 15, 2022. 

Dream of Shadows is also running a Halloween Contest this year from August 1 to September 15, so if you have a short spooky tale looking for a home, check out the website for more details. This August you can also find the annual anthology for sale on Amazon. I sat down with Lichtenheld to learn more about his vision and what lurks in the shadows…

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Patrick O’Ryan: Transforming Fiction with Medusa Tales

By Angelique Fawns

There is simple alchemy, where one turns metal into gold. Then there is more sublime transformation. The kind where an internal change brings us our highest potential. Patrick O’Ryan is on the hunt for these kinds of stories with his new bi-monthly digital magazine Medusa Tales. With his first issue out in May, I sat down with him to learn more about the birth of a new market place.

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