cornerofmadness

So it snowed a couple inches last night but I HAD to get my meds. Have I mentioned my parents live up a large hill? (My own road is even steeper but if I slip there so what, there's no one on it, here I'll skid out into the main road.)

So off I go, get halfway down, spin and now gravity is sucking me down the hill sideways. Well this is fun. Brakes don't work so well when you're going sideways. I did try to ditch it into the forsythia. Luckily I did get stopped before I was on the main road or in the hedgerow. Also luckily no one was coming. Other than that, the trip was fine and now we have the last do your goddamn job for 2025

1. I got pizza at our favorite place, XXL pepperoni (also not doing their job I did NOT check before leaving) Want to know how much pepperoni there was? NONE (I fixed that in post)

2. I get to CVS. They have my meds NOT my needles. Why not? oh we can't tell you that here we cant see that information in this system (it's a lie. I know they can. Mine has this system and they can but this place is huge so they don't want to waste time). I get in the 'we can tell you why we fucked up' line, takes forever. I said maybe you didn't transfer it. No we did. Then WHY isn't it filled? She shrugs, doesn't answer and says can you wait 15 minutes? yes I can. (I know why, everyone is doing what I'm doing, using the last day before the deductibles reset tomorrow and they're swamped.

I get my damn needles, I go to Home Goods, clean up on the Christmas discards (they're all over valentine's day which isn't too bad. Dollar Tree has all the gardening stuff out. yeah sure.

What I Just Finished Reading:

Poorly Made and Other Things - Horror anthology by one person set in his Edenville series. It was pretty good.

To Die Once - a Maisie Dobbs mystery which I haven't read one of these in a while and this is...slow. It's way more about the effect of war on the English people (who were still recovering from WWI) than it's a mystery

Tell Tale Treat - another paranormal mystery with another protagonist ripe for being bitch slapped, wasn't a bad mystery



What I am Currently Reading:

Keeping the Secret - a short thing about the WAVS in WWII

Murder Made Her Wicked - historical mystery set in Wellsley, really good so far

The Witching Hour - by Heather Graham. Missing children but no one will do a search of the woods because there's no proof other than the FBI things its there (a paranormal FBI team) eye roll. might DNF this arc (but this is the series that did what I tried to do in the early 90s with paranormal mystery and I was laughed at)


What I Plan to Read Next: It's a bunch of new reading challenges time so that

Speaking of that kingstoken is having a reading challenge and you can find it here.

I forgot to mention I finished evil_little_dog's book challenge this year

( You can find it under here )


And have December's reads

Wytches, Volume 1 horror graphic novel

Ripped Tide mystery

Haunted Cemeteries of Ohio nonfiction

Death at the Door paranormal mystery

To Die But Once. historical mystery

The Poorly Made and Other Things



Happy New year's my friends

We're spending it playing cards and watching it snow more.

It was a better one than I was imagining. The people I didn't want to be there didn't come. Whoo hoo.

We had dinner at mom's. We got fried chicken from the store (they do a nice chicken) a few days ago. My cousins made stuffed shells. Yum. And of course, cookies, so many cookies

Mostly we drank (booze helps) played games (I won trivia and the gambling ones) and they finally left like quarter to Midnight.

And literally that was the whole day so I'll leave you with this, happy holidays, if you celebrate, and if not, hope you had a great day. And also enjoy my pictures of Gallipolis in Lights. They're pretty

( All the pretty sparkling lights )

It's that time of year. I'm too tired for thinking about the craft so let's do this. Let's make now a good time to set some 2026 goal as many or as few as you'd like. I know that can be pressure for some. For me I find them helpful. I've been at it too long to get too worked up if I can't make a goal. If you like some accountability you can still sign up for these



or getyourwordsout and if those are too high pressure join us for Write Every Day which is super low pressure and bounces from host journal to host journal (if interested just ask me where it's at this week)

If you're looking for an online critique group (also low pressure) that leans into the urban fantasy/SF/horror/mystery genres again just ask me. I'm looking for people to join us. All I ask is if you decide it's not for you, just let me know, no harm no foul.


As for my goals they are as follows

1. keep looking for open calls, especially for the stories languishing in files

2. finish editing the 1980s monster hunter thing and get it to a beta (same as last year)

3. deep edit the werewolf novel which I finally DID start this year (after years of saying I would and didn't) but found out it was in worse shape than I thought

4. even though I said I wouldn't do this again, I DO want to take my thought monster long short story and expand it to a novella to make it more marketable

5. keep working on the sequel to the 1980s story

6. Decide if I ever want to do another story as Jana Denardo

7. I have so many unfinished novels. maybe I should finish one.

8. Do BETTER at balancing fanfic and original fic and the time spent on both

That seems like a nice fat set of goals. How about you? Let's do this. And if you worry about are you good enough, let me point out I'm currently watching Sharkopus and it makes Sharknado look like Oscar Worthy material. If this crap can make it, there's hope for us all.

Open Calls


Fairy Tale Magazine: January 2026 Window Green Man/Woman, Dryad, Yaksha, Tree Spirit



Crepuscular Magazine Microfiction stories exploring places, characters, and questions buried in the gray areas between


Untitled Anthology About Teeth Eerie, or creepy, or Gothic stories about Teeth

Inner Worlds, January 2026 Window. Science fiction, fantasy, or supernatural horror prose with a strong emotional or psychological focus.

Horrific Scribblings New Year’s Apocalypse Challenge New Year’s Apocalyptic stories (particularly the apocalyptic fears that defined the transition into the current millennium)!

The Ranger’s Almanac Winter 2025 Window. Short stories that must relate to a forest or park in any genre

30 Magazines Accepting Flash Fiction


From Around the Web


The Difference Between Tricking Your Reader and Surprising Your Reader

Easy Podcast Promotion for Writers

Comps Can Clinch Your Query

How to Track Book Sales and Identify Your Most Profitable Channels

How To Legally Quote Song Lyrics in Your Book

How To Get Book Reviews

How to Format a Book for Publishing

Optimizing Your Amazon Meta Description

Marketing Planning For First-Time Authors

From Betty

Writing a Short Story vs a Novel

Six Common Villain Mistakes, and How to Avoid Them

Seven Common Causes of Reader Confusion

Five Common Motivation Issues and How to Address Them

here.

Busy Writers: When Does “So Much” Become “Too Much?”

Transforming Negative Traits into Powerful Character Arcs

That Blinking Cursor

Panning For Gold

See Why Three Types of Character Motivation Matter

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Maladaptive Fantasy

What happens when family and friends don't support your writing?

YouTube for Writers, Part 4: Editing Tips to Improve Your Videos

Why Writers Grow Outside Their Comfort Zone: The Power of Discomfort in the Writing Life

How to Begin Your Novel at the Beginning


And of course have a blessed Solstice!

1. Why are you asking me for extra credit when you didn't do the REAL credit?
2. Why are you emailing me after the final and asking me what you can do to save your grade?
3. No, you can't have extra extra credit (okay I DO say this one all the time but no one listens)
4. How do you NOT KNOW what chapters are on the test?
5. Why do you think THOSE chapters are on the test? When the hell did we ever touch that chapter?
6. Why do you think you can ask for a pity D (that's 60% btw) when you have a 30% in class
7. Why do you think I'll give you extra anything when you haven't even shown up for exams
8. No I don't care that you're a senior and you won't graduate if you fail. The time to worry about that was weeks ago when I COULD have helped you.
9. How the fuck do you think leg muscles are LUNGS?


At any rate two are done and one to go. Some people are not going to have happy holidays.

At least I busted out a replacement fandomtrees story that I really like as well.


I have forgotten that I got an advent calendar from Simpson and Vail tea and haven't done my yearly tea tasting so buckle up, here comes 8 days at once
1. glacier national park - Black teas, organic juniper berries, birch bark, huckleberry flavor, uva ursi leaf (bearberry), and white cornflowers petals. One of my favorites (I get this one all the time)

2. Cinnamon Chocolate Brownie - Organic Chinese black tea, organic cacao nibs, organic cinnamon pieces and natural chocolate flavoring. - Not as a cinnamon as I would have liked

3. Snowberry Frost - Black teas, organic cacao nibs, cranberries (cranberries, sugar, sunflower oil), cranberry cream flavoring, and white cornflower petals. = I'm not a fan of cranberries but this one is good

4. Herbal Chai Masala- Organic cinnamon pieces, cardamom seeds, organic black peppercorns, organic whole cloves, orange peel, organic ginger pieces, organic anise seed and Indian sarsaparilla. - THANK YOU for no rooibos in this or chamomile

5. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Black Tea Blend - Black teas, lapsang souchong tea, hibiscus flowers, wild cherry flavor, orange blossoms, and bourbon whiskey flavor. - This is one of my go tos and I love it

6. Candy Cane Organic Rooibos Herbal Tisane - Organic green Rooibos, natural candy cane flavor and organic stevia. - As much as I don't like red rooibos I do like green and the peppermint is really nice in this and the stevia doesn't give me a headache like it often does nor tastes bitter

7. Victorian Earl Grey Tea - Rose Congou black tea, lavender petals, rose petals, rosemary and natural bergamot oil. - Another of my favorites from them. I'm not sure what really makes it Victorian, probably the flowers. Rosemary is a strong flavor but here it works

8. Rooibos Pear Herbal Tisane - Rooibos, pear flavor, alfalfa leaf and marigold petals.- Literally the worst of the bunch. Of course I don't like red rooibos and that's all you can taste. Some one should know pear is too delicate to stand up to rooibos


And for Music Monday the prompt today is A Song by someone Who has Passed away. I have two

The sound of my college days

And since I'll be heading back to his hometown soon

So much was going on today I felt it deserved it's own separate post.

If my kitchen was fully functional, I might have tried some pane dei morti and you can find a little write up
here. and here.

I was going to share pictures that have been on my mind of my great grand mothers but for the life of me I can't remember what file folder they're in and it's been too busy of a day to find it.

Speaking of which, sorry I owe lots of comments. I am just slammed. I will get to them. Promise.

Last night ysabetwordsmith shared an article on New study: Viewing art in galleries 'immediately' reduces cortisol levels, boosts health which I found fascinating and I wonder what else art can do. With that in mind I did go to the Witch Walk art trail in Athens tonight (I was on the fence) Here is the facebook event post

A free, family-friendly “spooky art trail” featuring glowing upcycled installations and community-made magic along the Ora Anderson Trail. Costume friendly!
The Witch Walk is a first-year pilot designed to empower youth and foster multigenerational connection through hands-on creative collaboration. By transforming the Ora Anderson Trail into an immersive, upcycled art experience, the project fosters artistic skill-building, environmental awareness, and community pride—culminating in a free, one-night “spooky art trail” for all to enjoy.

Sounded fun. and it was...but would have been better if I didn't have to drive an hour to get there because it wasn't quite as expected. The Dairy Barn is open with free snacks, pizza and hot apple cider for us (the Dairy barn is now the arts center) and they had environmental booths set up and tons of stuff for the kids. There was an accordion player and an art scavenger hunt.

And Ora Anderson Trail turns out to be a one mile trail...up a hillside...through the wetlands...in the dark. Lit by luminieres. So being the I can do this person I am, I grab my cane and up I go. In the dark. (and OMG people why do so many of you need flash lights half blinding me. I can tell who has never been in the woods in the dark before).

I was expecting a different kind of art. It was basically upcycled stuff (tires, other detritus) turned into 'scary things' It was basically a horror trail with no one popping out at you. At the top of the hill was a theater, a puppet show on offer (sort of the big puppets you kinda wear) Well puppets are at least part of the Sicilian day of the dead (or so I read. I am not Sicilian) Also I hate puppets. I turned around and went back and that's when things got weird

I'm not more than a few yards from Puppet central when I feel someone behind me. Not surprising it's well attended but it's just me and a young man in all black with the barista hipster look going on, short beard, slightly longer hair. I invite him to go around me as I am slow with a cane going downhill in the dark. He does but around the next bend he is behind me again. And again. And when invited he doesn't go around me. When I can finally see the lights of the dairy barn, he isn't there. But I have to go through one more dark woods spot and there he is behind me again. It was strange (I feel a horror story coming on)

And let me share all the other fun stuff. fandomgiftbasket opened and I got two Hazbin Hotel gifts (from the same person so thank you to them)


Emotional Support Pigs and the Cats They Sleep On and and a bunch of icons

As for me I wrote a few stories. Hope you like them

Someone in the Dark Hazbin Hotel

Evil Minds That Plot Destruction Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The Jealous Kind Hazbin Hotel


Are You the One That I’ve Been Waiting For? Hudson & Rex

I've been so down I didn't even dress up today but at least I did get to watch the first episode of Hazbin Hotel. Will watch the other one tomorrow and share my opinions then other than I'll need to rewatch is a few more times, not just to write it. It's got so much going on I can't follow it all (I will say didn't much care for either song)

So have the fannish 50 for the week, all the recs

( there is a lot this week )

I don't much feel like celebrating this fourth but found myself at the 4th party/doggie birthday party. My brother's sister in law has two labs. They're so sweet. She also has a pizza oven so it was make your own gluten free pizza. I definitely want one of those ovens. It's stupid and ridiculous and I still want it.


The heat, on the other hand, nearly killed me and I'm still nauseous from it. Ugh.

Have the friday fannish 50 recs


Time For Bed FAKE

Rocky Road Deadpool

Memento Torchwood

A Narrow Escape Teen Wolf

Adronitis The Owl House

i’m starving, darling (let me put my lips to something) 时光代理人 | Link Click

Allow Me To Demonstrate Hazbin Hotel

Plant The Murderbot Diaries

burned with desire Star Trek Voyager

Realism The Murderbot Diaries

For Now Prodigal Son

Another Fine Mess Torchwood

When Val Leaves A Trail Of Corpses... Hazbin Hotel

You Kissed Me Just to Kiss Me (Not to Take Me Home)
Hazbin Hotel

just spread my arms and go The Murderbot Diaries

The Great Wolf Lodge 9-1-1

Sometimes Things Don't Go As Planned Queer as Folk

There Has Been a Poisoning, Sire Hazbin Hotel

Mischief on the Loose Teen Wolf

Midnight Eclipse The Murderbot Diaries

It was a long night because after a day of 300+ sugar, it crashed out at 1 AM so I didn't even get into bed until 2 AM. I woke up too early but got nothing done. Work was fine at least.

I'm beginning to wonder about my area though. How can I go to Kroger at 3 pm on a monday and not find a single parking place? So crowded and I was so tired I forgot to get my meds. I didn't even remember until 7 pm. sigh

But I did find something that made me happy and sad at the same time. Someone wrote to me on Jana's blog asking if These Haunted Hills was going to have a sequel. Personally I'd love to but I doubt it'll get published after how bad this sold. They loved my book and my talent and that gets you right in the heart, you know?

And since it's St Patrick's Day let's have an Irish themed Music Monday. Let's share our favorite Irish bands (or Irish/American Irish/Canadian etc).

( I could share forever so I shall show restraint )

Have some fannish Valentine's wishes




I'd be more interested in Galentine's Day but my local friends aren't partiers. Pout.

My parents got the gift of getting the news that everyone at the funeral yesterday have covid today but not until they all went to visit my uncle in the nursing home. My parents feel okay still so here's hoping.

The rest of the day was me writing like life depended on it so let me go straight to the fannish recs


Something Different FAKE

First Loves Murder, She Wrote

Missing The Alarm Hazbin Hotel

roses red and i know it (fuck me dead every morning) 时光代理人 | Link Click

Bedtime Story Torchwood

(One) No Hit Wonder Murder, She Wrote


The End of the World as We Know It Murder, She Wrote

Covet and Love Hazbin Hotel

Wearing Nothing (but glitter and lashes) Hazbin Hotel

live, not just survive 陈情令 | The Untamed / 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù

The Best Sax of My Life Hazbin Hotel

Drizzle Torchwood

Domestic Life Murder, She Wrote

The Rest of Rule The Owl House

Their Secret Hazbin Hotel


Vices and Virtues Hazbin Hotel


Knight Medley Batman

Ready About Vorkosigan Saga

Shear Force Doctor Who

A Record Of The Unsaid Star Trek: The Original Series

Lips Were Made for Extraordinary Things The Witcher

Three Steps Forward, One Step Closer Hazbin Hotel

Absence Hazbin Hotel


back to the crowd and you ignore me (bedroom eyes to those before me) 时光代理人 | Link Click

Ready. Set. Go (Away)! Teen Wolf

where the edges start to blur The Owl House

Love's a gamble, and baby I'm all in Hazbin Hotel


Serendipitous The Owl House

More cousins and Lucky Uncle's wife (Now that he's gone, I guess I need to come up with a name for her but I can't think of one that's nice....) came over (and just left at 1130). Christmas dinner was pasta and more pasta and bruschetta and half of Italy. And cookies.

My cousins spilled the tea. That was fun. (even more fun when I'm pounding mocha martinis while listening to the gossip).

I got a lot of very cool gifts from my friends. JK got me the lackadaisy books, evil little dog got me so. much. tea. some are truly weird (looking forward to them), cool scottish marble earrings and a packet of cool things from an artist in Wales, silvrethorn sent me a collection of things in tiny bottle that she collected around the UK, and cool necklaces one of millefiori glass and antique walrus tusk. Betty also sent tea and a great Angel Dust mug and a Dungeons & Dragon themed cracker that was SO full of cool stuff I couldn't believe it.


Hope everyone had a nice day.