Writing Popular Fiction: June 2023
Hello writers and readers! It’s hard to believe that June is here, which means the 2023 Summer WPF residency is just around the corner. Until then, let’s see what’s new in the #shuwpf world!
In our previous newsletter, we mentioned the guest speaker for this summer at residency is romance author, LaQuette! If you’d like to attend her public Q&A and Book Signing on June 24th, reserve a ticket here (they’re free!).
SHUWPF News
*Alum PJ Whiskeyman, writing as Riley Kilmore, shares that her novel Shay the Brave will be published in January 2024 by Wild Ink Publishing. Find out more about the book here!
*Alum Christopher Tantillo’s thesis novel was recently released! Check out The Night I Spent with Aubrey Fisher, a Dark YA & Coming of Age Romance
*Mentor Scott A. Johnson’s novel Through the Witches Stone, a Middle Grade, YA Fantasy, is now available!
*Alum Marx Pyle recently had Tales of Monstrosity: Monsters, Myths, and Miscreants release. The anthology also features many #shuwpf names! Dive into the world of the unknown and explore the monsters lurking in the shadows.
*Alum Lana Ayers released a new book of poetry, When All Else Fails, from The Poetry Box. Two more poetry collections are forthcoming in '23 and '24, so keep an eye out!
*Mentor & co-founder of the WPF program, Albert Wendland, recently saw the release of Haunted Stars, the latest novel in his "Mykol Ranglen" science-fiction series. Audio readings by the author of the first three chapters can be heard here. The book was published by Dog Star Books, a division of Raw Dog Screaming Press.
*Congratulations to mentor, Maria V. Snyder, on the release of The Study of Poisons, which is a companion novel to Poison Study! Maria had a release party at Cupboard Maker Books where Mouse the bookstore cat helped out.
*Mentor & WPF Assistant Director Michael Arnzen recently went to Cupboard Maker Books, as well, and sent in some photos with familiar names he spotted at the bookshop:
Gatherings
Hey, we know these cool writers! How fun to see alumni and mentors meeting up at Malice Domestic in Washington DC! 🔍🕵️♀️
Thank you Vicki Erwin for sending in this group shot!
A Message from Dr. Michael Arnzen:
CONGRATULATIONS to Bram Stoker Award nominees from WPF alumni and faculty!
Rhonda Jackson Joseph (alum) for Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection (for Hell Hath No Sorrow Like a Woman Haunted)
Gwendolyn Kiste (faculty) for Superior Achievement in a Novel (for Reluctant Immortals)
EV Knight (alum) for Superior Achievement in Long Fiction (for Three Days in the Pink Tower)
Sara Tantlinger (alum/program coordinator) for Superior Achievement in an Anthology (for Chromophobia: A Strangehouse Anthology by Women in Horror)
Stephanie Wytovich (alum) for Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction (for editing the anthology, Writing Poetry in the Dark)
We'll be celebrating their achievements and cheering them on during STOKERCON 2023 in Pittsburgh, June 15-18th, at the Sheraton Station Square! This year’s convention is co-chaired by WPF Program Coordinator Sara Tantlinger and faculty member Michael Arnzen, along with Ben Rubin from the U Pitt Horror Studies Archive. The Bram Stoker Award Banquet is currently sold out, but will stream online.
Send Us News!
We are ALWAYS looking for WPF news to share! If you’re a student, alum, or mentor, please let us know of publications, events, or other writing-related news that we can share in our future newsletters. Remember these will be brief blips of news, but we can include links, too. The newsletter is meant to highlight what WPF folks are up to, but we are not necessarily a promotional service. Send news to shuwpf@gmail.com
We also love photos and links, and of course, any throwback WPF photos!