Michaelbrent Collings’ Ultimate Horror List

I adore Michaelbrent and his works. He’s a pretty phenomenal guy and he just put together the coolest list of favorite horror books and movies as suggested by his friends! AND I AM ONE OF THEM. Click here to check out the ultimate horror rec list, just in time for Halloween!  What books or movies would you suggest?

Also, check out Michaelbrent’s work. I adored Apparition, which was genuinely creepy. For a good time, read his The Longest Con, which has several authors (including yours truly!) as main characters. It’s truly a hoot. Also, his book Predators was so enjoyable that I recommended it be put on the 2018 Bram Stoker reading list. Between his books and the ultimate horror rec list, you’ll be set for a long time to come. 🙂

Going Home

I was lucky enough to stay with my parents for a week. Their home is the antithesis of Las Vegas. It’s a pleasure to sit outside and hold the neighbor cat on your lap. ❤

 

Christmas in July, 2018

It’s a family tradition that we’ve had ever since I was little. In July we put up a small tree, make simple stockings out of paper, and have a night of family, Christmas music, and small gifts. Christmas as it is meant to be, instead of what it’s become.

The tree was an absolute dream. My mother made these charming music-themed ornaments in black, red, and green. They are gorgeous! She’s so talented.

 

We made stockings out of paper and yarn. They were filled with candy, tiny picture frames, and small toys.

I needed this. My soul needed this. I needed to come home to my parents’ house and let them love on my kiddos for a week while we shared some holiday magic.

Loren Rhoads Asks Me Five Questions!

These five questions were really fun to answer. Thank you, Loren! If you’d like to pop by and read the interview, you can find it here.

I Feel Legit!

Look, I have my own page on The Bram Stoker Awards website! This makes me very happy. 🙂 You can see it here.

Vegas Strong Panel/Signing Update!

 

Tim Chizmar, Mat Kaufman, and me!

It was a very strong, emotional panel. The creators and authors of the Vegas Strong anthology discussed our reactions to the tragedy. Mat Kaufman (who wrote the foreword) was just going to sleep when he received the message that they needed all EMTs and personal for an emergency. He got dressed, drove in, and saw body after body. I was home with my kids. I had been down in that area earlier that day. Other authors had family there. It was insane.

The audience had some wonderful questions and we did our best to answer them. Then we had a signing and it was a wonderful experience.

 

 

All works were donated and all proceeds go to benefit The Code Green Campaign. If you are interested in picking up a copy, you may do so here.

Happy Scorpion Anniversary!

It’s a year to the day since I was stung by a scorpion while doing dishes. A lot has happened since then. Today Miss Murder seeks her revenge. To celebrate, I made a Youtube video. Happy Scorpionversary!

 

 

 

I’m Speaking at the Henderson Writers’ Group Today!

I’m very much looking forward to it! The Henderson Writers’ Group asked me to speak on “Writing and Marketing for your Personal Niche.”

Monday, July 9, 2018
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Community Lutheran Church

3720 E. Tropicana Las Vegas, NV

Speaker Mercedes Yardley will speak on Writing and Marketing for Your Personal Niche.
Once upon a time, there were young boys and girls who liked things that nobody else seemed to like. They were either teased for liking comic books, horses, and video games, or they kept these unpopular loves close to their hearts. The End.

Well, not anymore! Not only is it all right to embrace your inner self, but you can make money from it. Mercedes M. Yardley will teach you how to identify, write, and market for your own personal niche. Join us for a spirited conversation and learn how to use your strengths to your advantage.

Mercedes M. Yardley is a Bram Stoker and Stabby Award-winning author who wears poisonous flowers in her hair. She is the author of Beautiful Sorrows, Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love, and Pretty Little Dead Girls. Y

You can find more information HERE. Hope to see you there!

WIP Wednesday

It has been forever since I’ve done one of these! But not only is Work in Progress Wednesday useful to let you guys know what I’m up to, but it also reminds me. My head is like a huge tornado with things flying around it all of the time, like flowers, bits of houses, and happy cows. Sometimes I need to write it all out so I can concentrate. 🙂

I just: signed a couple of contracts. One for a podcast, a breast cancer charity anthology, a dark fiction anthology, a re-release (but with a new story from me), and another re-release. So that’s three reprints and two new stories. I’ll share as soon as everything is announced. 🙂

I was a guest judge for a short story contest and a poetry contest. I also submitted two new stories to super cool venues.

I am actively working on: a short story/novelette called “Last One Awake” that I started a few years ago. It gnaws at me. I’m also writing three short stories for three anthology invitations, and working on a Super Sekrit and AWESOME project that’s out of my normal wheelhouse. I am so excited and nervous and sure I’m doing everything wrong! But I want to do everything. I want to learn how to do it all. Baby steps, yeah?

What are you working on? I’d love to hear about your WIP!

 

Print Date for Little Dead Red!

The publisher assured me that Little Dead Red and Other Stories will be printed by June 29. That’s this week, you guys! That’s this very week! I have a very scary sedation appointment for my sweet son the day before (Williams Syndrome/autism make everything difficult) so holding this hot little number in my hands will make it all worth it. I hope you enjoy, and that it ships to you soon. If you’re interested in pre-ordering the limited edition, you can do so here.  This is a special limited edition print run, so when it’s gone, it’s gone. ❤

 

The Wolf is roaming the city in this Bram Stoker Award-winning Psychological Horror novella, and he must be stopped.

Grim Marie knows far too much about the wolves of the world, a world where little girls go missing.  After all, she had married one before he showed his claws, and what that wolf did to her little girl was unforgiveable. Grim Marie isn’t certain if she can ever forgive herself for putting her Little Aleta in harm’s way.

When Grandmother becomes ill, Aleta offers to take the bus through the concrete forest to Grandmother’s house to bring her some goodies. She knows the way. What could possibly go wrong?

In this modern day retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf takes to the city streets to capture his prey, but the hunter is close behind him. With Grim Marie on the prowl, the hunter becomes the hunted.

Wolves pad through the darkest kind of fairytale: one that can come true.