An end and a beginning...

After we Bury the Child, we Burn the Girls. The end of one serial and the beginning of another.

We did it. We ran an entire serial novella here on Substack! 17,000 glorious words of suspenseful fiction. So many of you joined me each week as we watched Bury the Child grow from a concept to a published novella. If you’d like a copy of the polished, edited, and published book, you can get it here. Grab it before the 29th—trust me.

I want to share how the story came about and what you can expect next.

Bury the Child was a byproduct of a plotting session for my current series-in-progress, The Haunting of the Whispering House. The series is comprised of three novels, all of which will publish between now and next spring. Although I had enough story to comfortably fill three novels, one thing was missing—the story behind the stories. How did this house become haunted? What happened here that makes it so dark yet so magical? Bury the Child is what happened. Adeline and Lydia are the magic behind the house that haunts me (us?) every day. And although their story is gut-wrenching, it is a love story of the purest form. Their story endures beyond the grave, beyond the ending of this book. The story goes on.

Lydia still walks with me. She sits with me as I fill the next book, Burn the Girls, with life (and death). Her hand rests on my shoulder as my hands do their work. Lydia brings us home and she isn’t quite done with us. Not in the least.

Now for the story! Allow me to introduce you to 18-year-old Constance, her younger sister Abigail (12), and their mother, Delilah (cousin to Lydia). When Delilah’s deadbeat husband leaves her, she’s forced to find a new home for her daughters. In desperation, our beloved Wade offers the home to them and Delilah’s dream of honoring her family’s legacy on the property becomes a reality. However, the story takes a jarring and tragic turn and the girls are thrust into a suspense-filled fight for survival that leaves the authorities baffled and the legacy of the family in flames.

Exciting, right? Right! Become a paid subscriber today to join the read.

At the time of this post, I am several chapters into Burn the Girls and I’m happy to report that you’ll have access to the first chapter in the coming week. This time, the story must reside behind my $5 paid subscription due to publication agreements with Vella. For less than the price of a cup of coffee and a slice of pumpkin bread, you will have access to the entire serial as it rolls out over the next month. You’ll also have exclusive access to discussions, recorded readings, and a special book launch offer. All at a fraction of what the published novel will cost in November.

Okay! Let’s summarize. All subscribers and visitors will have access to free short fiction very soon. Bury the Child is now available in eBook and paperback at the link above and paid subscribers will have exclusive access to the new novel, Burn the Girls, in the coming week.

Oh, and Wade made it out of the room. He’s not doing great but he’s out. He’s waiting for you in the opening of Burn the Girls…