 Grey Winter Deadly
A Poem by Stephanie Evelyn Pigments of the morning light Make window panes squint at dawn. Naked branches, frost shiver bite Stiff grass buried under a tombstone lawn. In this world, am I the only one awake? Is everyone else in a sleep so deep? My toes turn to ice as I search too late My eyes are open, but maybe it's me who's asleep. Cupped hands to lips that cry of cold, Dew drops glisten off dying leaves. Stories of so many, a chance never told, A world left only of haunted trees. I call out for someone, something but, The only answer I get is my voice as cold. My words drift out as fog, vanish when touched, Inside hearts, so many stories go untold. I called for it many, But never a sound. Grey winter deadly, My calls were not found. It was one windy day when a message arrived, The wind whistled it through the trees. It said, “The world has forgotten you but no need to cry. Your stories of so many can now become free.” Thanks for reading. Sterp Check out my other poems below.
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 There is only 3 more days left until Halloween and my question to you is, what is your biggest fear and are you brave enough to tell?
The next author in my Women Thought Leaders in Horror line up is Erin Al-Mehairi. She is a writer, editor, and PR Professional with degrees in English, Journalism, and History. Though she’s been writing for decades, Breathe. Breathe., published by Unnerving, was her debut collection of dark poetry and short stories and was an Amazon #2 best-selling paid title in women’s poetry, behind NYT best-seller Rupi Kaur, and has hovered in top five in horror short stories several times since its publication. Her work has been called raw, honest, evocative, and beautiful. Buckle up because you won't get anything as raw as this. And Happy Halloween... Q: Why horror? What fascinates you about horror and enticed you to write in the genre? A: I was never allowed to read, watch, or enjoy horror as a kid growing up, but I did grow up in the dark, spooky woods and I did enjoy fairy tales. I was completely scared of the dark, and had a lot of nightmares, but I also was very curious about the thing that made me scared. The only thing I was allowed was anything with cute witches and black cats (like books or costumes for Halloween or my actual real black kitty). I suppose I secretly began to like horror in the written form when introduced to Edgar Allan Poe and Shirley Jackson through school assignments. “The Lottery” is one of my first and favorite dark horror stories. I learned through both of them, as well as many other great writers in other genres, just how awful humanity can be. That to me IS horror and why I believe horror crosses into so many other genres and people don’t even realize it. Since I couldn’t read it at home, but was an avid reader, I read historical and fantasy books. I especially liked Sue Harrison’s Mother Earth Father Sky and Jane Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear. I enjoyed books like Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. I enjoy, and still do, Kathleen O’Neal and W. Michael Gear’s books. If you think about it, there are many horrifying things in these books that happened in prehistoric times! Humans are not kind to each other, especially when they fear others different from them. I was allowed to read Stephen King if it was fantasy or seemingly non-horror, so I read The Eyes of the Dragon (one of my favorite books to this day), Gunslinger, and Dead Zone. I read the Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews and the rest of the books in that series. Can we say domestic horror much? Certainly! And that book had a huge influence on my own writing. I am fascinated by the psychology, the psyche, the way humanity operates and why. I like horror because it’s exploring this. I like the deep emotional pull of it. I began writing it, in a way, when I was in my teens and I wrote poetry to help me deal with loss and death. I was horrified by these two things and I had no idea what to do with my thoughts. So, I wrote poems. I had already been writing poems to express my emotion for nature and life in general. Eventually in college besides journalism I majored in history and English. History is brutal and here I was faced again with it. The Holocaust is a real-life horror story. Again, I was compelled to learn not only why it happened but to see how people processed what was happening to them. I became fixated on Anne Frank and she became a writerly inspiration to me as well. In the English realm, I was entranced by F. Scott Fitzgerald and his presentation of the class structure. I began to see the horror in this and how it extended to all sorts of plots in horror. Many people didn’t think or understand why the film “Parasite” was considered horror. But it’s for this reason. It’s horrifying what the class dynamics ended up causing. I also began to read more gothic literature and poetry in Hawthorne, Dickinson, as well as works by Joyce Carol Oates. Oates is still one of my favorite short fiction writers. Today, I don’t only see the real life historical and current horrors, but I look at things (from the simple to the complex) and see also what it might be supernaturally. Can a story come from this? Does that tree come alive? Is there a ghost in the corner? Does that object appear in a story about a woman who…? I’ve learned to look BEYOND and use my imagination. I enjoy that so much, the creation, and I think that’s why I will continue to always write horror in some form. I love horror because it covers such a wide gamut, but it’s always there in some way even if we don’t see it right before our eyes. I enjoy quite a few sub-genres in horror, but I also think horror is a genre we can find more than others crosses into other realms easily. That makes it exciting and never dull. I also enjoy writing horror for its great healing factor – I can put words on the page to analyze, dissect, comprehend, and grow. When I wrote my collection Breathe. Breathe., or some of the other short stories I’ve published in anthologies, I’ve been able to use words to share my pain and wounds. Horror is emotion in its truest form and I like that it’s real and raw. I also enjoy the ability to enact revenge without going to jail! Ha! Q: What is your favorite era of horror and why? A: I know I like gothic, so I’d say literature of the 1800s, whether written then or now. I really enjoy witch stories too – is that an era, or all the eras? Ha! I enjoy the cult phenomena the 80s brought us and its resurgence. And I enjoy the folk horror trend of now. Q: What are some of your favorite horror films? A: I like certain types of horror films some of the ones I enjoyed the most would be “The VVitch,” “Gretel and Hansel,” “The Invisible Man,” “Hush,” “The Invitation,” “Bird Box,” “The Others,” “The Village,” “Get Out,” “Doctor Sleep.” Q: What do you think the genre of horror brings to the world in terms of values, beliefs, impact? A: As I mentioned briefly above, I think it wraps us up in all the social issues of the day. It takes on, and has always taken on, issues that we are too scared to face in our every day lives. It tackles mental illness, abuse, addiction, vanity, narcissism, abandonment, religion, and any type of fear anyone might have. This either draws people to the genre or it makes them run from it. It isn’t preachy, unless it’s an old fairy tale that might be teaching a lesson, but it’s more giving us a glimpse into psyche. It’s a view into the world so it can teach us, abhor us, embrace us, repel us, scare us. It can change us, mold us, or heal us so its greatest impact lies in that. It addresses the darkest fears, the most deviant minds, the blackness that humanity can be, but it often times also shows the hope. Q: How do you think your writing of horror reflects you as a person or your life overall? A: A lot of my writing comes from dealing with emotions and fears over situations. It’s very personal and passionate. It often reflects what has happened to me or other survivors and how we do (or don’t) come out the other side. In other of my works, it reflects my love of mystery and thrills, of gothic and ancient cultures, of an inquisitive mind. It shows I’m curious and I’m deep. An explorer of the mind, Earth, culture, and history. That I’ve had pain and wounds from the treatment of others. That sometimes there is hope and sometimes there is revenge using the page, but that I’m a fighter. For myself and for humanity as a whole. Q: What do you think lies ahead for the genre? A: As a whole horror is doing well during these stressful times. There is more mainstream horror than I’ve ever seen being published by traditional publishers, more films, more streaming shows, and a resurgence and love of a genre that they either used to love or never knew they loved before. As well there are more indie publishers and authors, and more wonderful writers self-publishing. I think that there are many stories to tell in horror and our world today, and its upheaval, is giving more people the time and/or courage to tell theirs. As long as publishing holds on and people buy books, I think that horror will continue to sell well and appeal to upcoming generations. Horror can give people an adrenaline rush, stories that take our mind off worries, and hope. Q: Like many things, women are underrepresented in the horror genre. Why do think this is and why is it critical to have women more represented in horror? A: I don’t think women are too highly underrepresented in horror overall anymore. Possibly still in anthologies given percentage of men who write short stories and submission numbers, but overall, women horror writers and their support has increased so much even in the ten years since I entered the genre. Until less than five years ago there were only a few women that everyone named, either old or current, when asked for a list. The same ones published. There wasn’t a huge sect of women in horror and there wasn’t many of them who would support or connect with others. Now there is a whole community of women in horror who are writing and being supported by men and women alike. I especially think that a huge hand needs to go out to the male reviewers who really showcase women and read them and review them. They have done much more in the past couple years than some of the male author clubs that are still hanging around in the genre. And there is the Ladies of Horror Fiction site and social media pages that really help to feature women all year long. They work tirelessly for free to make sure our work and voices get out there loud and clear. Women bring so much flavor, emotion, and passion to the genre. They defy norms and break boundaries and tear our hearts apart when they write. Not that some males can’t or don’t do that as well, but there is something about the empathy in the writing of some women in horror. We are an important voice not only in society but in the arts as well. Q: Any tips for new women writers in the horror genre? A: The guys are very friendly and good at supporting each other, and some of them in supporting women, but make sure as a woman you recommend, support, and talk to your fellow women in horror on social media. Make friends with women, reach out to them, and read their work. Trade interviews or features. But don’t only stick to your circle or clique. Work together for the good of all women in horror. Don’t back down or shy away. Don’t feel like you over promote. Share your story and your writing and connect with readers. Don’t wait for readers to come to you because there is now way too many books and authors to sift through. Keep your brand, name, and books out front and center and DON’T feel bad about it. Everyone is doing it and you must push for yourself. However, don’t only talk about your book and writing, be online enough you share about your life, interests, and self too. Engage with others and offer them positive support. Q: Who are some of your favorite women horror authors to read? A: Laura Purcell, Gwendolyn Kiste, Sara Tantlinger, Sonora Taylor, Gemma Files, Sarah Read, Kathe Koja, Helen Oyeyemi, Michelle Lane, Kristin Dearborn, Stephanie Wytovich, Christina Sng, Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason, Laurel Hightower, Catherine Cavendish, C.J. Tudor, Joyce Carol Oates, Mercedes Yardley, Caroline Kepnes, Alma Katsu, Lee Murray, and many more. Of past authors I still adore: Daphne Du Maurier, Shirley Jackson, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Q: For readers who have never read your work, what should they start with and where can they find more information about you? A: I think Breathe. Breathe., as my debut collection, has a bit of everything. It published three years ago with Unnerving but it’s going out of print at the end of this month (October 2020). Given that, it’s on sale now on Amazon for cheap. I hope to bring it back in another version with a new cover in the next two years. If you’d like this version, I’d definitely get it now! It covers horror, fantasy, crime, fairytale, mystery—it is dark poetry with five short stories too. It is my most personal work to date since it takes on themes of domestic violence, illness, assault, and was a huge endeavor of healing for me as well as a lot of fun to do. But it also let me use my imagination in many other ways as well and tinker in all types of horror and dark fiction. Here are two blurbs it received - “At times sinister, definitely dark, atmospheric and heavy with foreboding, this collection of poetry and short stories from Erin Al Mehairi touches our deepest fears. Murder, domestic violence and even an ancient Egyptian goddess all move within these pages where nothing is ever simple or straightforward.” – Catherine Cavendish, author of Wrath of the Ancients "Breathe. Breathe. is at times haunting, visceral, bittersweet, and tender. Erin Al Mehairi bares her soul and invites readers to devour it whole." —Hunter Shea, author of We Are Always Watching To name a few more things you can read - You can also go HERE on my website to read about a short story I had in a Halloween edition of a magazine last year (it’s horror, not strictly Halloween) and I’m pretty proud of that one. You’ll find a link to the magazine there. And for some free reads, here is a blog post I put together on my site which features eight of my pieces you can read. What’s Next? I hope to have two more poetry collections and a short story collection that have mostly been completely written since 2019 out in the next years, re-publish Breathe. Breathe. in the future, and continue to write on a novel. I also am going to start plans to make my move into publishing others as an indie press. Until then, I’m working away full-time as an editor and part-time as a publicist in several genres, including horror. Where to Find Me? Anyone can e-mail me at hookofabook (at) hotmail (dot) com and find me easily at my website/blog. You’ll also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, - under Erin Al-Mehairi - and her Amazon or GoodReads pages. Breathe. Breathe. Synopsis/Buy Links – Breathe. Breathe. is a collection of dark poetry and short fiction exploring the surreal depths of humanity. It’s a representation of how life breaks us apart and words put us back together. Purged onto the pages, dark emotions flow, urging readers into murky seas and grim forests, to the fine line between breathing and death. In Act One, readers are presented with a serial killer in Victorian London, a lighthouse keeper with an eerie legacy, a murderous spouse that seems to have walked right out of a mystery novel, and a treacherous Japanese lady who wants to stay immortal. The heightened fears in the twilight of your minds will seep into the blackest of your nights, where you have to breathe in rhythm to stay alive. In Act Two, the poetry turns more internal and pierces through the wall of denial and pain, bringing visceral emotions to the surface unleashing traumas such as domestic abuse, violence, and illness. In the short stories, you’ll meet residents of Valhalla Lane whose lives are on a violent parallel track to collision, a man who is driven mad by the sound of a woodpecker, a teenage girl who wakes up on the beach and can’t find another soul in sight, a woman caught in a time shift pitting her against the Egyptian goddess Anuket, and a little girl whose whole world changes when her favorite dandelion yellow crayon is discontinued. Amid these pages the haunting themes of oppression, isolation, revenge, and madness unfold through folklore, nightmares, and often times, raw, impulsive passion crafted to sear from the inside out. With a touching foreword by the Bram Stoker nominated author Brian Kirk, Breathe. Breathe. will at times unsettle you, and at times embrace you. Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi, a veteran writer and editor of the written word, offers up a mixed set of pieces, identifying her as a strong, new voice in dark fiction that will tear the heart from your chest, all the while reminding you to breathe. Amazon Link – Available in e-book and print. On sale October 2020 for .99 cents in e-book and $8 in print as part of domestic violence awareness month. https://www.amazon.com/Breathe-Erin-Sweet-Al-Mehairi-ebook/dp/B076C3YSLC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 Also available via Barnes and Noble in print and at other fine online retailers. Thank you for tuning in. Have a safe and happy Halloween, I am Sterp  It's been awhile my horror family but I'm a firm believer of taking very needed breaks, both mental and physical, in order to stay at an acceptable level of insanity (let's be real, is sanity really a thing?). I am extremely thrilled to introduce to you my next woman thought leader in horror, Caitlin Starling. As usual, but never the usual, buckle up!
1. Why horror? What fascinates you about horror and enticed you to write in the genre? When I started writing The Luminous Dead, I knew it was going to involve some horror elements, and I will admit I had no idea what I was doing. But horror made sense for it – it added tension, urgency, and dread immediately, and went so well with what I'd already decided about the book (two characters, one is locked in a suit for the whole time with attendant creeping body horror, no way to tell if the other character is trustworthy but having to trust her anyway…). It wasn't until we sold it and actually had to think about marketing that I really understood that it wasn't a science fiction novel with horror sprinkled over it. It's a real horror novel! In hindsight though, it should've been obvious where I was heading. I've always written about intimacy, particularly intimacy under strain. Whether it's an existing relationship being put to the test, or new relationships forming under life-and-death circumstances, horror is a wonderful and natural tool to push and pull at those bonds and see how far they can stretch before they break (often in spectacular fashion). 2. What is your favorite era of horror and why? To be one hundred percent honest, I'm incredibly new to the genre, and haven't done much of my "homework" yet – I still have so much to read and watch and discover! But I really do love the current moment we're in. We have so many different voices in the conversation, so many explorations of what horror has been, is, and can be. Do you want queer horror? Here are twenty different approaches. Black horror? South Asian horror? There's so much to choose from, and that's before you get into all the experiments, the deconstructions, the angry and joyful and powerful reclamations. It's a wonderful and very humbling time to be entering the field. 3. What are some of your favorite horror films? A Dark Song (2016) destroyed me in the best way. Get Out (2017) was, of course, devastatingly awesome. I'm also a huge fan of Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006), and can honestly say I really enjoyed Paranormal Activity (2007), possibly because I only just watched it a few months ago. If you're noticing a lack of 2018-2020 titles on there, that would be because I'm actually a complete weenie when it comes to movies, and I haven't had a buddy to watch with for the last while. 4. What do you think the genre of horror brings to the world in terms of values, beliefs, impact? Horror's such a wonderful mirror. It exaggerates and distills a lot of societal anxieties. That's a double-edged sword, of course – it can lay bare some pretty heinous views of the world that generally we keep papered over with a veneer of civility. (Looking at you, "I'm afraid of anybody who looks different from me" racism.) I find it most interesting when it's reflecting (and is only claiming to reflect) very personal anxieties and fears. I like seeing what frightens other people. I like seeing how people imagine fighting back. 5. How do you think your writing of horror reflects you as a person or your life overall? Pretty sure you can guess at my problems with trust and intimacy from a mile away by this point. ☺ And my fears of all my skill and focus and dedication not being able to help me when things really get dark. It's very self-centered horror. Very, "Oh fuck, I actually do need other people, I can't do this on my own, and maybe now it's too late to get help." 6. What do you think lies ahead for the genre? So much more variety. Things that I, personally, can't predict, but am eager to see. Reclamations of the monstrous. More psychological horror. Cooler, weirder creatures. Really nuanced, terrifying stories about how technology interfaces with our lives. Climate horror (because, when you get down to it, isn't climate change pure cosmic horror? A juggernaut that will make you suffer and die, and that is here because of our actions, but can't be fought head on, and that will not notice us as it destroys us.) 7. Like many things, women are underrepresented in the horror genre. Why do think this is and why is it critical to have women more represented in horror? Respectability, I'd guess – from gatekeepers, promoters, audiences. And that goes beyond just, oh, women are so delicate, they must be shielded – I think women's horror is often extremely distressing to audiences, particularly when it's their first encounter with it. Women's horror deals so much with loss of autonomy, loss of identity, deep rage… obviously not all simultaneously, not all at the forefront of every story, but it's so often there. And when you add queerness, when you add varying experiences of gender, and especially when you start listening to women who aren't white? It's powerful, and overwhelming in its strength, and I think a lot of people flinch and look away instead of engaging. (You should engage. Trust me. There's so much amazing work out there.) 8. Any tips for new women writers in the horror genre? Write what scares you, what pisses you off. Have fun with it. Indulge the darker sides of yourself and see what comes out. You can calibrate it for an audience later, if you want to; but when you're first drafting, follow every rabbit hole. 9. Who are some of your favorite women horror authors to read? A non-exhaustive list: Cassandra Khaw, Kate Alice Marshall, Cherie Priest, Margaret Killjoy, Camilla Bruce, Gemma Files, Nibedita Sen. 10. For readers who have never read your work, what should they start with and where can they find more information about you? Start with The Luminous Dead, which is my first full-length novel. It's equal parts survival scifi horror and gothic horror piece. For the rest, you can find me at www.caitlinstarling.com, and at @see_starling on twitter. Caitlin Starling is an award-winning writer of horror-tinged speculative fiction. Her novel The Luminous Dead won the LOHF Best Debut award, and was nominated for both a Locus and a Bram Stoker award. Her other works include Yellow Jessamine and a novella in Vampire: The Masquerade: Walk Among Us. Her nonfiction has appeared in Nightmare and Uncanny. Caitlin also works in narrative design, and has been paid to invent body parts. Find her work at www.caitlinstarling.com and follow her at @see_starling on Twitter. Thanks for tuning in, Sterp  1. Why horror? What fascinates you about horror and enticed you to write in the genre? I have been a fan of horror for years. After my first book (a historical fiction) published, I began writing short stories through my preferred stylistic devices: regionalism and magical realism. I had no idea what I was writing was actually categorized as horror. After a few of those stories published, I tried my hand at a ghost story mystery for my second book, again not knowing what I was really writing was horror. To my surprise, I self-published that book, and my readers enjoyed it as much as the first (though many were surprised at my shift in genres). My greatest compliment about that book is that it gave a few readers nightmares; some couldn’t finish. That makes me smile. 2. What is your favorite era of horror and why? As a former English teacher for decades, I taught a variety of genres, among them horror, of course. Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and several others stayed with me long after I finished reading them. The fact that such powerful “spooky” stories were written centuries ago is probably why they’re my favorites, especially Frankenstein. Imagining the horror of the readers back then gives me goosebumps. To be an author like that is inspiration to keep writing horror. 3. What are some of your favorite horror films? When I was young, the Dracula films starring Christopher Lee scared me so much I became afraid of the dark. Dark Shadows (the movie more than the series) made that fear worse. There were years I couldn’t walk anywhere at night because of those movies. I still shiver with the memories of those vampires! 4. What do you think the genre of horror brings to the world in terms of values, beliefs, impact? Horror attracts us the way a haunted house challenges us to enter or a rollercoaster ride dares us to ride—the adrenaline rush caused by the intensity of whatever emotion the reader feels, whether fear, anxiety, or excitement is something we seem to crave. Otherwise we wouldn’t turn the page or go through that door or get on that ride. The impact of the words which make us imagine what the characters endure, which allow us to visualize the act vividly, and which sometimes cause us to feel the panic of the event satisfies some need we have inside us. We want to encounter those monsters and either survive the meeting or succumb to horrible fates with the protagonists. Perhaps our values are challenged by our own imaginings of possibilities that can happen to us—there are monsters in real life we can meet with, after all. Murderers are real; to some of us, so are ghosts, or maybe aliens and monsters. Reading horror can make us more aware of our own ends, especially death, which makes many protagonists repent for their sins when they realize their demise is imminent. Hopefully, it affects readers in the same way. In my case, because of my Hispanic culture, we grew up believing our parents’ and grandparents’ superstitions; the legends and folktales I grew up with through oral story telling affected me greatly. When your own parents tell you they’ve seen ghosts or unexplained phenomenon, and you know your parents aren’t liars, you tend to believe. 5. How do you think your writing of horror reflects you as a person or your life overall? I mentioned that I use regionalism to tell my stories. This includes my incorporation of my culture’s folktale characters and creatures into my works. I retell my versions of the stories so many from my region grew up with, and I also create my own stories of those monsters our parents used to threaten us with to behave. They were real to me when I was small, but they’re disappearing with each new generation. I write about them to keep them alive through literature. 6. What do you think lies ahead for the genre? I like to think women will be the trailblazers of the genre and that we’ll make a name for ourselves in horror as much as men or maybe more so. And I hope a resurgence of the “scary” stories like Poe’s or Shelley’s will arise. Less blood, guts, and gore; more psychological and traditional horror. 7. Like many things, women are underrepresented in the horror genre. Why do think this is and why is it critical to have women more represented in horror? I’m not sure what the answer to this question is. The women horror authors I’ve become associated with are masters of the genre. Why they have yet to be discovered I don’t know. Like any other genre, it’s critical that women are represented for their unique execution of horror in writing; they bring a different voice, perspective, and creativity to the genre. 8. Any tips for new women writers in the horror genre? As I said, I fell into the horror genre because my stories always seem to have a dark side to them. Women have a deep well of horror stories inside them if they use their imaginations to imagine the worst of life. A mother’s worst fear is losing a child, but the human fear of losing one’s mind or having a loved one transform into a monster or any situation where we are powerless—any of those dark thoughts we’re all capable of, those are prime pickings for horror. But we must remember that with the dark comes light, and we can use writing to dispel those depressing thoughts and not let them be overwhelming. Writing something lighthearted or including comedic scenes while writing horror can keep us grounded. 9. Who are some of your favorite women horror authors to read? The authors I’ve published with in anthologies are among the best horror writers I’ve read. R.A. Goli writes erotic horror (which I’d never heard of before I started reading her short story collection, Unfettered). Her stories blow me away—she rewrites tales we’re all familiar with. One which stands out is her rendition of Poe’s “The Raven” from the bird’s POV. I’ve published in two horror anthologies with outstanding women horror writers: R.A. Busby’s psychological horror “Holes” is the stuff of nightmares. Jill Girardi, publisher of the Women in Horror anthologies, is also a truly terrifying horror writer in her own right. Her story “Firstborn” is haunting. 10. For readers who have never read your work, what should they start with and where can they find more information about you? Several of my short horror stories are available for free from the pinned post on my FB page. Some are my retellings of folk tales, like “Baile de Diablo” (The Devil’s Dance), “La Muerte,” (a tale of Santa Muerte), “Encounters with Death,” among several others. The pinned post links all my publications, a mix of historical fiction, horror, speculative fiction, non-fiction, among several other genres.  Below is an excerpt from my second book in the Sophia Rey series: The Coven of Retribution. Book 2 is not out yet but will be in 2020. This is just a sneak peek. I hope you enjoy.
-------------- In 1692, Lenore, Odette, and Rose witnessed the hangings of their mothers at Gallows Hill in Salem, Massachusetts. In carriages with their heads down, tied up at their waists, their ruffled mob caps with blue ribbon covered their silent cries that yearned for help. But they knew; everyone knew their fate. It was the Amur Cork Tree that took their mothers’ last breaths. The rope that constrained them at the waist on one end was tied into a noose at the other and thrown over the thick tendril branches of the Amur Cork. They didn’t have a chance. Lenore was thirteen years old. A wicker basket full of bread hung on her arm in the crevice of her elbow as she watched and tried to see her mother’s face hiding under that white mob cap. “Mama, mama. Let her go,” Lenore said. No one acknowledged her adolescent pleas. The only acknowledgment was that of the arms of men holding her back. The bread spilled out of the basket and onto the ground and Lenore fell with it. Gripping it in her fists, the bread broke into crumbs and mixed into the dirt. Sprawled on the ground, Lenore tucked her head down into her arm, hoping this madness of terror could be blindfolded. If she couldn’t see it maybe it wouldn’t happen but as she lay on the ground, the sounds of her mother fighting for her life pierced her ears. The wooden carriage wheels creaked as they slipped away and the heavy weight of her mother’s body dropped down; a small thud and the rope twisting from her jerking body. Lenore heard the gasps from all directions. Next was Odette’s mother then Rose’s. Odette was ten years old and Rose was seven. Standing side by side, all three girls stared at the Amur Cork at the tangled branches that were weighed down by the women who brought them into the world. A world that separated them within seconds. Rose clenched a brown, ragged teddy bear and brought it to her face. Looking at her mother hanging from the Amur Cork, Lenore said, “They can’t get away with this.” “But they did, they did get away with it. They’re gone and we’re never getting them back,” said Odette. Odette ran to her mother, now just a limp body and shoulders hanging like a weeping willow. Wrapping her arms around her mother’s legs, Odette’s tears soaked her mother’s long cotton skirt and lifeless fingers brushed against her shoulders. Death tickling and mocking her. “I want my mama, I want my mama,” Rose said. Odette hugged her mother’s hanging legs, turning them left and right, left and right. “I want mama, I want mama,” Rose said. Watching the rhythm of Odette’s movement and listening to Rose’s repeating plea against the breeze of the wind, Lenore stood with her hands at her side as everything around her spun into a dance of death. “I want mama.” The hanging bodies turned left and right. “I want mama.” Limp heads pulled tight by the ropes watched over the young girls with shocked, lifeless eyes. Lenore looked at her mother’s bloated face and bruised neck. Her almond eyes bulged with broken, popped blood vessels. Then, for a quick moment, everything around her fell silent like an empty house without a living soul. Odette was still there, rocking her mother’s legs. Rose was still saying she wanted mama but there was no sound. Hanging from the rope, Lenore’s mother lifted her head and with a red stained sorrowful stare, she said, “Lenore, you must get retribution.” “But how?” Lenore said. “You know how Lenore. You’ve always known how.” Thanks for reading, Sterp Check out the first book in the Sophia Rey series The Cult Called Freedom House here.  This poem is dedicated to the people in the world who thought it was their time to go. This poem is dedicated to my brothers and sisters who think the world is better off without them because the world is not. I suffer from depression and I am here. You are not alone. If you need to talk, please reach out at writersterp@gmail.com. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is here to help also at 1-800-273-8255.
This poem is called Whispers in the River. Written by Stephanie Evelyn I always wondered how. I always wondered why. Buried by mystery, With souls lost to cries. Mystery knocks at your door, Until it finds a way. It whispers to your thoughts, Asking if it can stay. Close your eyes, Because more sleep might be what you need. Close your eyes, Because when you sleep the whispers seem to cease. But who can visit you when you’re asleep? Born alone to be alone, Lonely rivers that run past, Love alone and see alone, It’s loneliness that is our last. The whispers remind us, That they are the only ones there. With the world moving around us, And no one seems to care. It feeds off dark corners, The ones that reside in the mind. But, we forget the wind is there, When the lonely river rushes by. We forget the same sky, We all see when we look up. Or how sorrow wraps around our necks, When our hearts feel stuck. We forget how loneliness is not alone, The whispers talk to me too. So, before you go to sleep, Tell me, what do the whispers say to you?  Graveyard Dance
Written by Stephanie Evelyn When the day started out It was claimed by the sun. Reflected light rolled across ocean waves, And the wind made it all dance. I danced with it, since it took my hand. Spinning like a hurricane, Laughing until going mad. Nestled in its eyes, eyes only for me. The sky could have been blue, black yellow, or not. There was no way to tell, wrapped in its arms too tight. Dancing under the sun and the moon. Spinning into nothingness, I rest my head but need to dance again soon. No one told me that it could kidnap me. Disguised as pride. Creating what seems a bigger life. A farewell party but the farewell is to me. Years ago that day started out, It was claimed by the sun. I locked myself away with it Then said farewell to everyone.  I am thrilled to introduce my next Woman Thought Leader in Horror: V. Castro. This series is meant for one thing and one thing only; to amplify the voices of women in horror.
As V. Castro puts it, "Men don’t get to set the standard for women anymore. I’m fucking sick of it." Buckle up horror family. 1. Why horror? What fascinates you about horror and enticed you to write in the genre? I have always loved horror. I grew up with dark folklore and urban legends. As a Mexican American we have a lot of superstitions and the supernatural is never far away. 2. What is your favorite era of horror and why? Film wise I have to say the 80s and 90s because so many iconic characters and films were released then. Otherwise I would say now because horror is slowly becoming more inclusive. Horror has the opportunity to take on so many different dimensions right now. 3. What are some of your favorite horror films? How much time do we have?! I love The Lost Boys, Event Horizon, Nightmare on Elm Street Halloween, Here Comes the Devil, Hereditary. So many! 4. What do you think the genre of horror brings to the world in terms of values, beliefs, impact? I think horror lets us explore ideas we can't always explore in the open. I write creatures because they are looked as “Others”. I am an “Other”. This theme is recurring for me and I use it to show people my humanity. We can use horror to show the world there are a hell of a lot of gray areas in life. These areas should be looked at. The shadows should be looked at just as the status quo should be challenged. We can do that in horror because many times there are huge challenges, even fights to the death. 5. How do you think your writing of horror reflects you as a person or your life overall? Horror has helped me tease apart many difficult aspects of my life experiences and how I view the world. I try to better understand myself and others through horror. There are so many questions I have, and it seems like most of the answers dwell in the dark. 6. What do you think lies ahead for the genre? I think we will see a lot more diversity. Times are changing and the world has to change with it, including publishing. 7. Like many things, women are underrepresented in the horror genre. Why do think this is and why is it critical to have women more represented in horror? Women are underrepresented because men have had a strangle hold over it and don’t want to let go. We also hail these men as heroes instead of branching out and celebrating lesser known horror writers, ESPECIALLY women of color. These guys set the standard and you always have all else compared to their standard. It’s vital women are included because we are often used in the male driven standard as objects. There is way too much rape, assault and humiliation going on and this has to stop. Let women write about their body, their sexuality, their dreams and nightmares. Men don’t get to set the standard for women anymore. I’m fucking sick of it. 8. Any tips for new women writers in the horror genre? Persevere. Get back up if you fall even if that means taking a break or reaching out to writer friends. Don’t compare yourself to other writers and their journeys especially if you are a woman from a marginalized community. It’s more difficult for us. Don’t be afraid to write what you want and what your truth is. Don’t write to the male standard. 9. Who are some of your favorite women horror authors to read? There are so many out now! I would recommend Tananarive Due and Linda Addison. Both fantastic Black women in horror. 10. For readers who have never read your work, what should they start with and where can they find more information about you? Depends on what they like! Sed de Sangre – very short 3 erotic horror stories Switchblades and Hairspray - Chicana Jaguar shifters Maria The Wanted - book 1 of an epic vampire saga www.vvcastro.com has all my books listed including the anthologies. Twitter an IG @vlatinalondon All women that need a boost can go to www.frightgirlsummer and get involved. Until next Time, This is Sterp  I want to thank Yawatta Hosby for participating in this interview and offering both her intellect and sentiment on racism in the United States and the impact it's having on our communities, our nation, and on humanity.
Author of over four horror/suspense novellas and novels, Yawatta Hosby focuses on the psychological turmoil of her characters. Three of her short stories have been featured in anthologies. You can find her work here. It's become quiet again. This is to keeping it alive. 1. Black Lives Matter. What is your response to communities that rebuttal this movement with All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter? Why are they not comparable? Everyone knows that all lives matter. No one’s refuting that. However, at this time, black people need help. We’re constantly being killed by the police and by racists. People are filming these tragic events with law enforcement and lawmakers doing nothing. It gets pushed under the rug until they’re exposed on social media, then the cops get fired or the racists get arrested. Justice should be an automatic thing, not something done after there’s a backlash. And, for the people saying “don’t do anything wrong, then cops won’t bother you,” what about Breonna Taylor? She was sleeping in her home and got gunned down by the police. I’ve noticed All Lives Matter people are the same ones who will refuse to wear a mask during COVID-19 because “it’s hard to breathe;” they think it’s okay for immigrants to be locked up in filthy detention conditions because “they deserve it;” they will refuse to vote against guns to save children’s lives in school because “we have a right to carry firearms;” they hated J Lo and Shakira’s halftime performance show because “they sang in Spanish and had the audacity to wave a Puerto Rican flag.” I’m not saying ALL All Lives Matter people are like that, but it’s the majority I’ve come across in real life. And with Blue Lives Matter people, I’ve noticed they won’t even acknowledge that anything is wrong with the system. It’s extremely flawed, but all I see is no one is allowed to say anything negative about any cop, no matter what. Where’s the growth in that? If there’s ten bad cops and no coworker or boss will step up to stop them, then the whole department is bad. I’ve also noticed Blue Lives Matter people will call all protestors violent and rioters without acknowledging they’re separate. If you got offended by my dismissive attitude, then you’ll know how I feel whenever I hear: “What are black people complaining about now? They arrested the cops involved with George Floyd’s murder. Why are they still not satisfied? They get handed everything and they still aren’t happy.” Or whenever I read a negative conspiracy theory surrounding Black Lives Matter. People would rather believe the dumbest stuff instead of acknowledge BLM wants injustice and inequality to stop. It’s a sad world we live in. 2. There are some people, some communities, that do not and will not stop to think about what it would be like if their race were dealt a history of violence, marginalization, and discrimination. What would you say to these people? Those type of people would get my silence. It wouldn’t be worth my time to say anything to them because I would just hear “But, but, but...” as a response. 3. How does the media do harm and good for the Black Lives Matter movement? The media usually does more harm than good. On the news, most footage showed the peaceful protestors as rioters when that wasn’t the case. They showed the cops beating protestors up like they deserved it. They definitely did not deserve that mistreatment. It seems like the media is more keen on trying to cause a racial division than actually stating facts. I hardly saw or read anything about the peaceful protests. Only the rowdy ones got coverage. I had to go on social media to watch the real footage of some of the protests. The ones where everyone was coming together; the ones where protestors diffused situations, like troublemakers trying to start violence; the ones where some cops became bullies; the ones were some cops talked to the protestors and actually listened to what they had to say. Peaceful protests are still going on. In some places, they never stopped. Notice the news doesn’t cover them anymore. Ask yourself why... 4. Although the media does help to amplify the voices of the black community, it also amplifies the “trend” of these movements. How can people continue to support marginalized communities and specifically Black Lives Matter rather than just stepping up when another black brother or sister is murdered? People can help by educating themselves on US History. Real facts. Not just the water down version they show in history books. Also people can show empathy. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes, not just ignore things because it doesn’t affect you. I love the support that the Black Lives Matter movement has been getting from all over the world. It really means a lot. To keep supporting throughout the years and not just when it’s trendy to do so, people can continue to support black businesses. If someone encounters a racist, then speak up. Keep filming them and exposing them on social media. Call them out publicly so they see it’s not okay to be a crappy human being. If you have a platform, consider promoting minorities. Word of mouth helps businesses succeed. 5. What are your thoughts on the burning down of buildings during protests? It breaks my heart to hear more sympathy for buildings and statutes than for a human being’s life. Real talk—I overheard a man say, “I saw footage on the news of nasty rioters destroying a cafe. They broke everything and that woman had worked so hard. It broke my heart to see her cupcakes splattered all over the floor. That’s more sad than what that cop did to that man.” He had been referring to George Floyd. Sickening. 6. Do you think we are getting better? Do you have hope for our future as a human race in the face of racist agendas? How do you think these detrimental ideologies can be changed? To be honest, I’ve lost hope a while ago. I’ve been broken since Trump got into office. I’ve seen America turn into something so hateful, and it’s disgusting, but hopefully things will get better. They may get worse before they get better, but maybe one day things will get better. I can say I’m proud of the people who showed support for Black Lives Matter, even with the possible consequence of losing customers and/or friends. It takes courage to stand up for what’s right, especially if you’re not a minority and could have just looked the other way. This isn’t the first time the Black Lives Matter movement happened. Remember Colin Kapernick and other football players who tried to bring awareness in a peaceful manner...they got so much hate and the public dismissed their message because they were offended for being reminded of inequality during football. Now, I’ve noticed during this BLM movement, black people are getting support from everyone. More support than hate. We’re all banding together to fight racism and inequality. I can smile at that. If things change for the better in the future, I think it’ll be the younger generation who will be strong and persistent enough to make that change. Thank you Yawatta Hosby for taking time to answer these questions and for your courage and your voice. -Stephanie Evelyn  It was a red, white, and blue day and the leaves waved in the wind, mimicking those stripes and stars, mimicking anything and everything that would set it free. Blasts of light and sounds that boomed, it was all for red, white, and blue.
I looked to the sky and the stars were no longer there. They left without a word, without a single goodbye but that was okay because it wasn’t the first time I was abandoned by stardust. Dust that settles, builds up, hits your nose and makes you sneeze, then spreads away to never return. It was once love until it was lost. Lost to the wind and blown away into a red, white, and blue day. But it never mattered. Because when that day came, the air knew. It breathed it in and exhaled without forgiveness. It only brought celebration, it only brought pride. If it one day died, it would return from the dead to shoot off red, white, and blue stars of zombie pat, trying, on, this, mess. Or it could be patriotic, ness with a mess of brain and blood. Red blood, white eyes, blue dreams that are so close you can touch them, live in them, but so false that real dreams cannot break through the surface. An atmosphere of fabrication so strong, so long followed, so long nurtured. Are there thanks to be given? Always. Are there tragedies to be forgotten? To be buried? Never. If we always give thanks and always remember the tragedies, then we always revisit our blessings with grace and our shortcomings with the pretense to shine brighter the next time. If we do not do this, then we fail. Extinction will come. It always does. And when it does, what will you be remembered for? What will I be remembered for? And what will humanity be remembered for? There are far more important things than just the things we claim as our own. There are far away places that stretch off this planet with red, yellow, white, blue, and other spectrums that we cannot calculate upon simple vision. Simple. Vision. Yet, we make things complex, we complicate matters until nothing matters and we celebrate. Red,dy. Why,te. Blew, away all that we fight for or win for or die for or pray for or stay for or leave for or wish for or cry for or love for. It was that kind of day. And, I was happy and sad and hopeful and mad and at bliss and at war. This was the day of our Independence. Written by Sterp |
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I am Sterp. I write dark fiction and have a very unhealthy obsession with disturbing narratives. I am the author of The Cult Called Freedom House: Sophia Rey Book One. My short story The Lost Tea Cup is in Issue 26 of The Literary Hatchet. I am also a painter. HORROR PODCASTS I LOVE
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