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Chilling Holiday Stories

The Victorian custom of gathering family and friends to read (and likely reread) ghost stories is a holiday tradition I wholeheartedly embrace. There’s something about winter’s deep darkness that coaxes phantoms both within and without. Each year, I honor this deliciously eerie ritual by reading creepy tales—usually Poe—in my Haunted Library. Here’s the sample if you’d like to take a look.

In that same spirit, I’ve just released a collection of twisted Christmas- and winter-themed short stories—including two brand-new tales you won’t find anywhere else.

If you’re craving a mall Santa on a murderous rampage (and plenty more holiday mayhem), check out Nut Cracker and Other Twisted Wintry Tales, now available on Amazon Kindle in both ebook and print!

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New Release!

Starlex, my very first fantasy novel, is officially LIVE on Amazon and across major retailers in both ebook and print!

If you’re craving an action-packed adventure in the classic sword-and-sorcery tradition—complete with dragons, warring factions, and a steamy, high-stakes romance—then you won’t want to miss STARLEX.

Grab your copy and dive in!

Starlex Promo Video

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Autumn Vibes

Autumn, Are You Coming or Not?

Some autumns creep in with cool winds that grow stronger by the day, stirring up dry leaves and wistful memories that sing and crackle like a roaring bonfire. Other autumns, like the one we’re experiencing this year, cling to summer like a desperate lover, unwilling to let go of the heat. To this autumn, I say—it’s time to let go.

Better relationships await—like my new Ralph Lauren tweed blazer (snagged at a recent Nordstrom Rack sale) paired with my Vince wool sweater. Or perhaps a cozy throuple featuring jeans, my penny loafers, and a tartan wool cape? Autumn has been calling me for weeks, yet summer refuses to leave. Still, today’s rainy coolness gives me hope. It may be premature to pull my Filson waxed barn coat from the depths of the closet and tread the grounds with the hounds (do Shih Tzus count?), but I can certainly wear jeans, my short Wellies, and a light jacket. At least give me that!

Today, I’m doing my annual closet switch from summer to fall, and I don’t care if I swelter for the next few weeks. At least we had a beautiful Harvest Moon the other night, and my morning bike rides have been shrouded in fog. The autumn vibes are kicking in at last, and I’ve been keeping busy—cleaning house, writing my new book, reading (currently wrapping up Vamptember), and doing some sketching. It’s nice to slow the pace when the days grow shorter.

This morning, I woke early to continue final edits on Starlex (always worth the effort—turns out I’d switched a few character names without realizing it). I was thrilled to find an early review that could only be described as glowing! I try not to let it go to my head, but it’s okay to let a little positivity galvanize the final stretch of bringing this story to life. You can pick up an ARC copy of Starlex on NetGalley or Booksprout if you’d like. It officially releases in print and ebook on November 12 (pre-order ebook now).

And speaking of creations, the new Book Worms is here—and selling fast! This issue is all about folk horror, perfect for setting the spooky-season mood even if the weather isn’t quite cooperating. Do check it out, and let me know in the comments how you’re spending your autumn so far—hopefully not poolside (unless that’s your thing… in which case, I pity you—just kidding).

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Halloween Haunts and More!

New Release!

Halloween has turned into a holiday as bustling as Christmas, which is probably why I’m finally getting around to sharing my thoughts on the new collection I launched at the beginning of October. At least I managed to release it just in time for Halloween! I’m thrilled to share that the collection, which includes five short stories and a novella, hit the number one new release spot on Amazon in its category. That’s definitely encouraging! This collection is designed for teens and young adults, focusing on all the fun chills without diving into anything too gory. If you’re on the lookout for some cozy companion stories for those chilly October nights, I’d love for you to check out Halloween Haunts, only 99 cents for the ebook during the month of October!

Too Much Exposure?

If you’re an artist or a creative individual, you won’t want to miss the latest episode of The Right Brain Café podcast, produced by my Book Worms partner, James DeFeo, and me. This week, we dive into a crucial topic: the ongoing pressure artists face when deciding between working for exposure versus earning money. Is exposure truly beneficial, or does it undermine the value of your craft? Join us for an insightful discussion that could change your perspective on the choices you make in your creative journey.

While you’re busy with your Halloween shopping, don’t forget to pick up our Halloween issue of Book Worms Horror Zine! It features stories by Grady Hendrix, author of “Paperbacks From Hell,” and popular horror writer Clay McLeod Chapman. Issues are selling out quickly, so be sure to get your copy today!

Finally, please leave a message about how you plan to spend Halloween. Do you dress up, attend parties, or turn off the lights and hope to avoid any mischievous tricks? Whether you celebrate (or not), please have a haunted good time!

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In Defense of “Unlikable” Characters

Every day (or nearly every day) on the internet, we are treated to yet another unmasking of an insufferable a-hole. It’s usually a guy, and when he’s effectively canceled, the inevitable internet auto-da-fé ensues. Until he’s forgotten about–Russell Brand, anyone? –and the next insufferable a-hole enters stage left. The main character of my latest horror novel, CARNI, is that guy. Dag Altan, a successful journalist, gets canceled after his ex-girlfriend exposes his “abusive” behavior. I’m using scare quotes because it takes two to tango, and everyone has their side to the story. And because I’m writing from my character’s point of view, I’m on his side, at least for the story’s duration. And also, because I’m a woman who’s been accused of being “too nice” in the past and have certainly been stung by a few a-holes in my day, I quite enjoyed crawling inside the skin of an arrogant man and experiencing his side of things.

While I was tapping into my shadow self, exploring Dag’s character, or lack thereof, and having a damn fun time doing it, I was aware that I was composing the dreaded “unlikable character.” Does it help that Dag gets his in the end–big time? Apparently not. The readers have spoken and, except for a few outliers: they hate my main character, and therefore, some of them don’t like my book.
Fair enough, but despite this (small) chorus of disapproval, will I censor my creative impulses moving forward and consciously create more “likable” characters? Hell, no. For one thing, I love Dag. Yes, he’s an a-hole, but he has his weaknesses: mainly women. Behind the confident veneer, he’s a scared little boy. Does that make him somewhat lovable? Apparently not. Suddenly, I’m reminded of all those romance books with the “cocky” love interest.

Anyone remember #cockygate? Why are those books featuring insufferable a-holes so immensely popular? To quote Nigel from Spinal Tap, they “did a twist on it.”

In that time-tested formula, the female character tames the wild beast, reining in his wild ways until he’s fully strapped into double harness and driven down the aisle toward wedded bliss. My story doesn’t quite turn out that way. It’s horror, which means it ends in death–like life. Mwahahaha!

I write flawed protagonists. I always have. It could be because I am all too aware of my own flaws, fears, and, at times, incapacitating insecurities. But these are the treasures I mine when I write. So, no. I won’t stop adding to my stable of gargoyles. I can’t wait to release the next one from their lair.
Do you require a “likable” main character to enjoy a book, or do you, like me, realize we’re all pretty unlikable at our cores? I’d love to know what you think.

Curious about CARNI? You can pick it up for FREE today on Amazon Kindle.

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New Release!

Get Your Ticket to a Terrifying Thrill Ride!

My new novel CARNI is out and available on Amazon in print and ebook. Here’s the premise:

Meet Carni, your master of ceremonies in a carnival of terror!

In the grip of public disgrace and desperate to resurrect his career, journalist Dag Altan stumbles upon a compelling lead that could be his ticket to redemption. A captivating encounter with a bewitching young woman, consumed by an eerie fascination with a once-thriving amusement park now desolate island, ignites Dag’s journalistic instincts. Drawn to the enigma of the abandoned location and the unnerving series of deaths surrounding it, Dag plunges headfirst into the heart of the story, utterly unaware of the peril awaiting him.

As his investigation intensifies, Dag becomes entangled in a treacherous web of dark secrets, where the line between reality and nightmare blurs. At the center of it all stands the elusive figure known only as Carni. Initially perceived as a mere legend, Carni soon sheds his mythical cloak, morphing into a living, breathing embodiment of terror. With each step Dag takes closer to the truth, Carni’s presence grows more palpable, and the menacing game he plays becomes grimmer.

As the carousel of confusion spins ever faster, Dag finds himself ensnared in a captivating yet chilling spectacle. Can he outmaneuver the sinister forces at play, or will he join the ranks of those consumed by the sinister grip of Carni? In this heart-stopping tale of suspense and terror, Dag Altan races against time to expose the true nature of Carni before he becomes the latest victim in this nightmare realm.

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I Feel Sorry for Madonna

Anyone who knows me personally knows I’m not a fan of Madonna. That’s putting it mildly. I can’t stand her–the pop star, not the person, although I’m sure she’s as gross in person as she appears in interviews. Does anyone remember how rudely she treated her childhood friend in her 90’s “film verité” Truth or Dare? I do. Not to mention in the same film, when Madonna’s brother (his book is fun, by the way) informs her that a female crew member suspected she’d been drugged and raped the previous night, the pop star’s first instinct is to burst out laughing. When someone shows you who they are…

In a word, she’s ghastly and always has been. And yet she remains the most successful pop star of all time, a fact I must acknowledge.

Even though I blame her for destroying my generation’s pop music and pounding another nail into rock and roll’s coffin, I will concede that Madonna produced some interesting, even ground-breaking, videos back in the day. She had a knack for appropriating the avant-garde and underground New York art scene and repackaging it for mainstream consumption. She deserves credit for that and her tireless work ethic. I also wouldn’t mind borrowing a few items from her Take a Bow era closet. But that’s it! That’s all the charity I can muster for the lady. And yet, when I saw her face–what had become of it–plastered all over the media the day after the Grammys, after an initial flush of schadenfreude, all I felt for her was intense pity. She finally passed the point of no return with the–ahem–surgical “enhancements” she’d indulged in throughout her career, erasing her fresh-faced beauty into something else, something creepy, inhuman even. She had become the shape-shifting lizard and it honestly made me sad.

About a decade ago, I wrote a screenplay that I then turned into a novel called UNMASKED. It wasn’t based on Madonna–wouldn’t want the material girl to sue me–but I’d be lying if I said she wasn’t an inspiration. UNMASKED is about an aging pop star who will stop at nothing to enhance her fading looks. At that time, I predicted in my prose that said pop star would so destroy herself with bad plastic surgery that she’d lose her mind and go murderously berserk in an attempt to regain what was lost forever. I had great fun writing those scenes of Grand-Guignol mayhem. I confess I’d sometimes pump Madonna’s most monotoned songs through my headphones to fuel my writing sessions. What came out of it was a story that’s won many screenwriting awards and continues to garner good reviews. It’s my first novel, showing some flaws, but I’m still proud of that story. It certainly was inspired.

When Elton John famously ripped on Madonna and her “disastrous” career, bitchily claiming that “it couldn’t happen to a bigger c***,” I howled with laughter. But after this most recent revelation, I’m shedding a few tears. And it’s not because I’m buying Madonna’s feel sorry for me statement about ageism and misogyny. Other stars have played that routine to a packed house and played it better. It’s because I realize, with a knife twist to my gut, that the reason Madonna looks the way she currently does is not about trying and miserably failing to stay young and beautiful. It’s because the devouring beast inside her- some demon that long ago took hold of her soul- will do ANYTHING to get noticed, stay “relevant,” and keep people talking about her. When youth, beauty, and giving water bottles blow jobs no longer work, try self-destruction in real-time. Ah! What a glorious spectacle. When she quotes Beyonce (giggle), declaring, “You won’t break my soul,” I honestly believe it’s the demon inside her talking. It’s taken over, and no amount of crucifixes around her neck will save her.

Eureka! I found the plot for the sequel to UNMASKED. Madonna, I appreciate you after all. Here’s praying that stuff in your cheeks “settles” and you deliver a stunning and glorious third act. If you pull that one off, even I may be a bitch and bow down.

You can find UNMASKED on Amazon for only 99 cents or download if for FREE on Smashwords.

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Happy Vamptember!

My vampire novel CODE RED is now for sale on Amazon.

I will probably be selling it on other platforms too, but for now, you may buy it in ebook and print. Also, if you’re on NetGalley, you may download a free copy through October. I proud of this book which began as a Wattpad story and ended up winning a Watty award in 2020. Here’s the premise:

The Vampires are Running the Asylum!
Wormwood Asylum, a private mental hospital located in Southwest Virginia, specializes in treating adolescent psychoses, including Renfield’s Syndrome, an obsession with drinking blood. But when a young man is committed to Wormwood because he believes he’s a vampire, it turns out he wasn’t lying, and soon rapacious revenants are running rampant through the rural mountain community. To fight the blatant bloodsuckers, the local sheriff teams up with a candy striper and her moonshiner grandpa, who just happens to have an arsenal of war-grade weapons stored in his prepper bunker, for a bloody country hoedown of epic proportions.

To celebrate my take on vicious vamps, I thought I’d share my favorite vampires in lore and legend. Not the most original list in the world, but here goes.

Barnabas Collins

Like many from my generation, Dark Shadows, was part of our daily routine. A soap opera fully steeped in campy Gothic tropes, the show lasted for a good chunk of my childhood. The feature film based on the series, The House of Dark Shadows, was the first horror film I was allowed to see when I was a kid and it scared me to bits–in reality, I was a bit young for it, but I’ll be forever grateful for my older sister who dragged me along and turned me into a horror fan forever chasing that first high. Just the other day, I discovered a Dark Shadows book and comic bonanza at my local antique mart and rejoiced at adding to my collection. Perhaps one day I’ll happen upon the elusive Dark Shadows Cookbook we decimated as children, now selling for hundreds on eBay. As far as I’m concerned the Tim Burton travesty doesn’t exist.

Carmilla

I’m late to Carmilla, having only read it last year, but man, it did not disappoint! Sheridan Le Fanu’s novella about an ancient aristocratic vampire with Lesbian tendencies has a titillating premise, but to be fair, the sexuality is as subtle as a cool whispered breath on a fluttery bosom. What I enjoyed most about the story was its slow burning Gothic atmosphere. Its influence on Stoker’s Dracula is quite obvious. This is a creepy story I will return to each fall while spending a holiday at a haunted Austrian castle or at least a misty morning in my neighborhood graveyard.

Lestat

I discovered Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire when it became a paperback sensation in the 80’s and I immediately fell in love with the seductive Lestat de Lioncourt (as did Batilda). I was less impressed with Tom Cruise’s performance in the film adaptation. It wasn’t his fault he was miscast, but his performance and the film has grown on me with subsequent viewings. In the decades since I discovered this classic, I’ve been slowly working my way through The Vampire Chronicles. Rice’s lush, meandering prose can prove frustrating at times, but what an incredible character she created in Lestat. His seductions are immortal.

Dracula

All roads lead back to Drac, but which incarnation is best? I confess, it took me two reading to appreciate Stoker’s novel. Now, it shares a shelf with Frankenstein, the fraternal twins of Gothic literature. There have been so many film and television adaptations, from the ridiculous to the sublime, but I think the original silent Nosferatu comes closest to doing the Count justice. He’s a weirdo, and not as seductive as some renditions–Frank Langella’s coifed 70s styling comes to mind–would suggest. In truth, I love each portrayal for different reasons, with a particularly fondness for Gary Oldman’s seductive count, but now when I read Dracula, it is Max Schreck’s version I envision. His is a different kind of seduction. Not quite human, here is a monster whose talent for inspiring fear and fascination can never be matched.

Do you have any favorite vampires? Please comment below and let’s share notes. Vamp on!

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One Year on Kindle Vella

Is it worth it?

Kindle Vella’s first anniversary has rolled around to little fanfare. Do readers even know about it? I probably wouldn’t if I didn’t have stories on the platform. I rarely participate as a reader–yet. That could change. Before Vella launched, I deleted my Wattpad account despite being one of the platform’s “star” authors and winning a Watty award. That decision was complicated, but mostly I closed shop on Wattpad because it was holding me back as a writer, meaning it was time to stop giving away my work for free and take a more robust leap into earning money for my creative efforts. In that respect, Vella has paid off handsomely. I’ve made thousands of dollars on the stories I transferred from Wattpad to Vella, however, most of these earnings came from Amazon’s bonuses, not organic readers. That score has been pitiful, as I imagine has been the case for most writers crowding onto that platform. The top performers on Vella either already have a solid readership base eager to follow their stories anywhere–I recognize a few famous names among them–or have a hell of a PR campaign. There may also be some organic growth there, especially among the evergreen romance genres. My epic fantasy story, Starlex, was one of the first of its kind on Vella and had a great launch, which unfortunately lost steam as more authors jumped on the bandwagon. If Amazon is encouraging uploads to grow its content base, it appears to be working.

I won’t attempt to decipher the Amazon algorithm, but based on the bonuses I’ve received, it seems to reward frequent uploads over organic reads. Completed stories become quickly dead in the water, which leads to the question of how best to promote them. Sales savvy authors will figure out a way, but most of us seemed to have drifted to the usual Facebook groups where “promotion” boils down to “I’ll read yours if you read mine.”

There is a fine line between showing another indie author “support” through authentic reads and scrolling through their content, marking each episode with a thumbs up, and posting a screenshot to prove you’ve “read” it. Authors can undoubtedly be readers of other indie works–I certainly am–which is where the fine line comes into play. I welcome another indie’s opinion of my work and am happy to do the same, but I don’t want someone “unlocking” my episodes in exchange for the same. I want readers who actually read my episodes and enjoy them. The practice seems very much like review swapping, which is not only against Amazon’s policy, but also pretty tacky. That’s not the way to find readers.
Vella’s future is difficult to predict. Amazon seems to have modeled some of Vella’s designs after Wattpad–the token system in particular, but their interactive features are lacking. The poll never works when I try to implement it, and I do miss Wattpad’s social interaction and direct contact with readers and other writers.

Has it been worth it? For the money I’ve earned, I suppose so. It will be interesting to see how Vella will develop and how many authors will drop out once the bonuses stop. I plan to finish up my fantasy series on Vella–I’m currently on book two–and maybe write some romances under a pen name as an experiment.
Do you have a story on Kindle Vella, or do you use the platform as a reader? I’d love to hear about your experience, so please leave a comment below.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Red Masquerade

by R. Saint Claire

Giveaway ends July 25, 2022.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

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New Release!

Writing Goals

One of my goals for 2022 is to release new fiction (a short story, novel, novella, anthology, or collection) every month. So far, I’m right on target. I even began a month early with Served Cold, the second horrortube anthology, which was released in December.

Speaking of Served Cold, here is a guest blog post I wrote for horror author Nicholas Kaufmann’s blog, in which I examine what’s scary about producing an anthology. It’s a bit tongue in cheek, but not completely. Writing is general, can be pretty scary.

Scares, of mostly the internal kind, are what I explore in Women in Trouble, a new collection of female-themed horror. Some stories have been previously published, but there are quite a few new pieces included. It’s been out about a week. If you enjoy psychological horror, as well as a few supernatural chills, please check it out. Here is an excerpt from the foreword written by fellow horrortuber, Lydia Peever.

Trouble transcends the traditionally feminine here—be it physical, psychological, or perceived—and brings us to a more modern stage but with roots in timeless sensibility. This is the signature of Saint Claire.

Below is a video where I discuss Women in Trouble, and other new projects coming in 2022.

I’m going to keep this post short today because I’m currently editing my next release, a young adult paranormal romance. If you’d like a sneak peek, the first book in the series is currently on Kindle Vella and doing quite well on that site. If any other writers are trying out Vella, I’d love to hear what you think of it so far. Please leave a comment and we can compare notes.

P.S. To receive a free digital copy of all my new releases, including Women in Trouble, consider becoming a patron.