events, Short Fiction

Australian Fairy Tale Societyโ€™s first ever storytelling concert!

Iโ€™m thrilled to be taking part in this concert with my reimagining of the Arthurian legend of the Lady of Shallot. My story โ€œThe Curse of Shallotโ€ is the power of love even in the shadows! You are invited to The Australian Fairy Tale Society their first-ever storytelling concert โ€“ Stories of Light and Love! Come… Continue reading Australian Fairy Tale Societyโ€™s first ever storytelling concert!

research, Writing

Norwegian Legend: the Oskoreia

In Norwegian legend and folklore in the days before Yuletide, the Oskoreia ride through the skies. This ghostly horde of the restless dead and witches spreads terror through the wintry night sky. The Oskoreia is not dissimilar to the continental European legend of the โ€œThe Wild Huntโ€. There is a common root throughout all these… Continue reading Norwegian Legend: the Oskoreia

research, Writing

Irish Folklore: The Fairy Wife

Town of Tipperary - Amergin Bard โ€œAre you a witch? Are you a Fairy? Or are you the wife of Michael Cleary?โ€ These are the haunting lines of an Irish childrenโ€™s dancing rhyme still remembered in modern Ireland today. It tells of a brutal murder, madness a strong belief in the Fair Folk. In Tipperary,… Continue reading Irish Folklore: The Fairy Wife

research, Writing

Slavic Folklore: Samodivi

A samodiva (plural: samodivi) is a wood nymph from the Balkans, specifically in Bulgaria. Samodiva translates โ€˜samoโ€™ (alone) and โ€˜divaโ€™ (wild/divine). The first part of the name signifies avoidance of humans and the second part indicates the wild or divine nature. These nymphs are forest spirits who appear as beautiful young women. But the Samodivi… Continue reading Slavic Folklore: Samodivi

events, Writing

2023 Awards Season

Itโ€™s that time of year again when 2023 Awards seasons rolls around. I have several works eligible in Horror and Fantasy categories for short fiction, Collections and Novelettes for the Aurealis Awards, Stoker Awards, British Fantasy Awards, Ditmar Awards, Australian Shadows Awards, Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, Otherwise Awards, Shirley Jackson Awards & World Fantasy Awards.… Continue reading 2023 Awards Season

research, Writing

Norse Myth: Nidhogg

Nidhogg (Old Norse Nรญรฐhรถggr, โ€œHe Who Strikes with Maliceโ€) is one of several serpents or dragons in the Nine Worlds. The most famous serpent is Jormungand or the Midgard-serpent but Nidhogg is a dragon trapped beneath the Yggdrasil and constantly gnawing at its roots and corpses. Nidhogg is a force for chaos by destroying Yggdrasil,… Continue reading Norse Myth: Nidhogg

research, Writing

Greek Myth: Sirens

Funerary statue of a siren with a shell lyre, c.โ€‰370 BCE In Ancient Greek mythology, the sirens are vaguely described by various sources but are usually interpreted as being large birds with the heads of women. In the classic Ancient Greek legend The Odyssey attributed to Homer, the hero Odysseusโ€™s ship is attacked by sirens… Continue reading Greek Myth: Sirens

events, Long Fiction, Short Fiction, Writing

Conflux Convention

Iโ€™ll be attending the 17th Conflux Speculative Fiction Convention in Canberra from 29th September - 3rd October, 2023. Iโ€™ll be in the Dealerโ€™s Room - All weekend!! Book Promo โ€” Cursed Shards edited by Leanbh Pearson with Stephen Herczeg, 29th September, Friday 5.30 pm. Iโ€™ll be on 3 panels: Entrances to Evil: Doors in Dark… Continue reading Conflux Convention

research, Writing

Slavic Folklore: Upiรณr

The Upiรณr is present in Slavic and Turkic folklore and resembles the vampire. The Upiรณr is depicted as a ravenous and insatiable creature with vampiric features. Belief in the Upiรณr may have spread across the Eurasian steppes through migrations with its origins in the regions surrounding the Volga River and the Pontic steppes. An Upiรณr… Continue reading Slavic Folklore: Upiรณr

events, Writing

Diversity Grants & Awards

Iโ€™m really excited to announce Iโ€™ve been nominated for the Ditmar Awards for Best New Talent and Best Novella for Bluebells - an LGBTQI, disability dystopian alternate history horror. Iโ€™m a recipient of the 2023 Horror Writers Association Diversity Grants to allow me to continue research for my HWA mentorship project with Lee Murray. The… Continue reading Diversity Grants & Awards