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Autumn is all about the GOTHIC
Published 2 months ago • 2 min read
this could be in a haunted house, right? (Unsplash)
Time for the haunted past!!
Hello Undines,
I don't know about you, but this is my favorite time of year. Halloween, fall colors, cooler/cold weather, moody fog and cloudy skies: this is where I thrive.
There's something quiet and cozy about autumn, but also a little unsettling. We might celebrate those who have gone before us and remember our own mortality. We might have to reckon with the past and how it didn't always happen the way we were told.
The gothic genre fits all of this so well because it is about the folkloric past coming to haunt the present*. Creepy houses, sexuality and fraught romance, the tension of dangerous secrets. My love for these things cannot be overstated.
It's funny to me that most of my stories take place in all the other seasons. I really want to write a creepy gothic romance set in the very depths of autumn. One of these days...sigh.
On that note...Lover's Gift is set in autumn. It's folkloric. And the past is referenced. So there's one book, for now, kinda?
If you are looking for a gothic fantasy where romance is not the main feature, then I have a book to share with you along with today's indie author deals. I had the privilege of being an early reader for Mercy of the Crow and this book is a fever dream!
As rich as a mycelial network and just as haunting, Mercy of the Crow is a sprawling yet intimate story of a young woman, Sirilda, in search of her place in the world.
Escobar weaves an intricate and delicious tale that delivers all the spooky, mysterious elements readers crave in an autumn release.
Mercy of the Crow is a truly unique novel that feels like all the best parts of a lush, 80’s fantasy film. It’s perfect for fans of stories featuring magical women, complex sister relationships, reckoning with the past, and exquisite world-building.
*This quote is from Carterhaugh School and their 2024 free workshop Glamour and Gloomth. Check them out if you love all things spooky and folkloric. So good!!
P.S. I'm always curious about the kinds of books you want to read, so I created this short poll for you.
I worked with Smover Romtasy (aka Daph) for my Alderwood Wedding publication and really appreciate her attention to detail, flexibility, and her love of romance. Check out her website below!
To learn more about today's book deals, simply click on their titles. I have not read any of these personally, but we're sharing each other's books to help out our fellow indie authors!
From October: I rewrote about half of Night last month, and it was so fun! It may still be considered erotica, though, since I didn't change much about the sexy part. Maybe I'm changing my mind about writing erotica after all–at least, where the Alderwood Wedding series is concerned. My current WIP is much less spicy than AW, is considerably longer, and has more of a slow burn.
Current: not yet sure when I'll republish Night but I may hold off until then new year. Stay tuned.
a quote from our favorite water spirit, Rodan And the winners are... Hello Undines, Let's get right to it: last month I asked for your name and country of residence to be entered into the Crystalline giveaway, and here are the winners! USA paperback winners: Lalita Creighton & Linda Rorex Worldwide ebook winner: Sally Childs Woohoo! Confetti, champagne, and balloons all around! And yes, I chose two paperback winners. The three of you were the only ones to enter the giveaway, so I thought, why...
A thank you gift Hello Undines, I truly never know when my brain will decide to finish some stories. For example: at the end of last month, I suddenly finished my rewrite of AW Night and re-uploaded it to all my platforms. Ta-da! So, did I bring it down from 2 peppers to 1? Not really. 1/5 peppers, maybe. The story decided to stay in the midrange of steam levels for the series. But I did add Carina and Trevelyon's meeting at the start of the book, plus a few other updates. And for today, you...
It's not the seaside, but Undercurrent does belong by the water A reintroduction Hello Undines, First of all, thank you so much for signing up for my newsletter. I'm so glad you're here! I’m Riona, a neurospicy author who is obsessed with folklore and fairy tales. I am a proudly-identifying weirdo for a lot of reasons. This is my pen name. I began publishing books for younger readers and adults who aren’t looking for spice under a different name several years ago. ‘Riona’ is just over a year...
