Writing and Selling Stories with Angelique Fawns

Sometimes strange, auspicious coincidences happen, and you wonder if it’s fate nudging you in the right direction. Like, for example, when I was sitting down reading Confessions of the Dead , co-written by James Patterson and J.D. Barker, getting really into the dark and twisted tale… and an email popped up in my inbox the next day asking if I’d like to interview J.D. Barker. I was like, hell yes...

How I Play Submission Jenga 🎲 It all starts with my monthly list. Click here for the big list for May: I hunt down every call for submissions that catches my eye, sticking mostly to the speculative genres. I have two firm rules when I’m scouting markets: * They have to pay. * No submission fees. Ever. Then I look for the ones that genuinely intrigue me. The Apex Flash Fiction calls are a personal...

** Stay tuned for your May list of open calls on Tuesday! Most of my information is free, but some of the most exclusive info is paid. Join the next tier! I met Sylvie Soul at the Toronto Indie Author Conference and knew immediately I’d found a kindred spirit — someone who loves short fiction, wrestles with the same questions about craft and career, and isn’t afraid to go to dark places on the pag...

Welcome to part two of my no-holds-barred chat with Joe Solari. If you’d rather watch a video, HERE IT IS. This podcast is dropping a day late—on a Monday instead of Sunday—because I spent the weekend at the Toronto Indie Author Conference at the Toronto Public Library, and I’ve got to tell you, I’m so glad I went. (I learned the difference between an em dash and an n dash during my free edit of t...

I’m going to Author Nation this year, and the founder and driving force behind one of the biggest writing conferences in the world talks about WHY this event can’t be missed if you are looking to take your author career to another level. PREFER to 👀? LINK TO YOUTUBE INTERVIEW PS. There was so much good info! Part two will drop next week. AF: What makes Author Nation different from other conferenc...

David Viergutz has dialed into something old made new again. It started with Scare Mail and is now a full story service at Epistolary Fiction. And he made $ 4 Million last year doing it.💰💰💰 Prefer to watch? I was scrolling Facebook last year and froze the screen when I saw an ad for Scare Mail. What? As a horror fan and writer, I thought, this is sheer genius. Who wouldn’t want to find somethin...

David Hankins and I have been writing short stories and learning the industry together for several years. He’s helped me when I’ve gotten stuck with my Writers of the Future entries. (like, why are they rejecting me?!) Authorial note— he took a story from rejected to Silver Honorable Mention. I’ve been watching him sell multiple short stories, run Kickstarters, and self-publish two fun novels with...

Mark is a writer, an editor, a professional speaker , and a book nerd with a passion for craft beer . He’s also an ambassador for the Canadian publishing industry and my mentor. Prefer video? Watch this interview on YOUTUBE . It’s worth your while… I include a clip where I failed to hit record on our 1st attempt at this interview. My expression and shock might be priceless. I met Mark Leslie sever...

Okay, my fellow writers and readers, You are in for a treat. This remarkable woman is one of a kind. She’s authentic, friendly, and gave me so much actionable advice. And inspiration. And hope. Cindy has managed to create a thriving business without losing her sense of humor or fun. Her latest a-ah moment? She’s giving away her audiobooks for free on YouTube. FOR FREE. (Check it out) Though it’s c...

Learn more about Matty at The Indy Author Prefer to watch? I really enjoyed this conversation with Matty and though her new ventures focuses on helping entrepreneurs and those approaching retirement establish the next phase of their career, her advice works perfectly for authors hoping to grow their platforms. Like me! When I find an author who has managed to make this a full-time gig, I am all ea...

Join my chat with Cherry Weiner as we go over… 📝 How our editing process works📖 What the big publishers are looking for🧭 How long it REALLY takes to go from book deal → bookstore shelf💡 Smart moves that help authors build lasting careers I finished my first novel, City Lights to Country Nights , last February and signed with Cherry Weiner at Superstars 2025 last year. ( This year’s con starts...

Don’t miss this raw and authentic interview with Chris Goldberg. He tells the honest truth about optioning IP for film and the current state of the industry. He’s rarely interviewed, so I am so grateful he’s chosen to share his story with us. Prefer to watch your interviews? See it on YouTube. Chris Goldberg is veteran in the film industry and is heavily involved the book-to-film world. He’s the f...

Prefer to WATCH this interview? CLICK HERE Robert Stahl is a long-time writing friend of mine and we met because he follows my monthly short story call lists. This Texan native also makes the most blood-chilling (and fun) little horror movies. Check them out! You Better Watch Out (trigger warning: gory) Trick (trigger warning: really spicy and gory) Think Robert Rodriguez. I saw his latest Christm...

Welcome to SEASON 2 of Read Me A Nightmare! We are shifting the focus of this podcast a little and focusing on interviews and insights to help YOU sell stories in 2026. The Last Girls Club is OPEN for submission right now. Prefer video? WATCH the interview here. Horror - Theme for Spring’s Issue: Haunted - Jan 1-15 - 2500 words or less - pay .015 cents per word, $15 USD max - sub sims welcome - no...

This episode was originally created for the Stark Reflections podcast and hosted by Mark Leslie. I’m rebroadcasting it here on Substack for my short fiction writing friends. If you're a short story writer, or would like to be, you can’t miss this episode! Mark and Matty wrote an absolutely wonderful guide called Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction...

Edo van Belkom shares his original YA horror story, followed by a candid and entertaining chat. They picked on the wrong kid… It’s not her face that’s scary. Plus, learn how Edo drove (literally) to writing success and a full-time career. And… why he chooses to hold down another job. We start this episode with a reading of “To Be More Like Them” performed by Karen Shute, one of our voice actor reg...

Today’s episode features a short story read by the author, Robert E. Stahl. Hungry Waters was originally published as the winner in the November (Halloween) 2024 issue of Flame Tree’s Flash Fiction Newsletter Contest https://www.flametreepress.com/newsletters/flame-tree-fiction-newsletter-november-2024-monster-masquerade/ Robert E. Stahl recently released his first collection of short stories! We...

How do you win Writers of the Future and what happens in Hollywood? This podcast features a short story read by the author, Robert F. Lowell. A Monstrous Bid was originally published in Flash Fiction Online in Feb 2024, can be read here: https://flashfictionmagazine.com/blog/2024/02/19/a-monstrous-bid/ Robert F. Lowell (Fred) is a friend from my writing group, and he just returned from the Writers...

What is the secret behind the skull of the Peking man? Plus, how does one become the most famous sci-fi writer in Canadian history? Robert J. Sawyer is our guest today and he reads his award-winning story, "Peking Man." Robert J. Sawyer is one of only eight writers — and the only Canadian — to win all three of the world's top Science Fiction awards for best novel of the year: the Hu...

How do you win Writers of the Future? Coordinating Judge Judy Lynn Nye answers a selection of questions put together by the Wulf Pack writing group. ADDED BONUS. Jody Lynn Nye also reads her story "Superstition." Superstition first appeared in Furry Fantastic an anthology featuring otherworldly animals published in October 2006. You can also find this story in her collection Cats Triumph...

This episode originally aired on Read Me A Nightmare 3 years ago! But I am sure many of you missed this magical and fun performance. Rachel Luttrell is not only an award-winning actor, but also my very best friend. Listen to the story and stay tuned afterward for a conversation about acting, life, and our friendship. NOW for the story: Wyatt is having the baddest of all bad days... And when he get...

Welcome to (drum roll please) episode 50 of Read Me A Nightmare! Betty might be forgetful lately, but she KNOWS her daughter-in-law would never leave her son. Can she find Angel before it’s too late? Today, we are featuring a story starring one of my most popular protagonists, Betty, a detective battling dementia. (Based on my fierce mother-in-law, Linda Fawns). “Losing Angel” continues the tale t...

What’s that dark spot on the wall? Ink was written by Akis Linardos and first published in Maul Magazine in September 2022. Sadly, Maul Magazine is defunct. Then I bought the story and reprinted it in my Cursed & Creepy anthology. Check out Cursed & Creepy In a cove of a Greek island, Akis was born a sane infant but has since then grown to enter the chaotic world of adults--a choice he deeply regr...

Welcome to Episode 48 of Read Me a Nightmare, I’m Angelique Fawns, your host.  Today I’m sharing a creepy tale featuring a Haunted Circus and a bloodthirsty clown.   Peggy’s Hungry Haunted Clown first appeared in It Was All A Dream 2: Another Anthology of Bad Horror Tropes Done Right, released this August by Hungry Shadow Press.   This is a gorgeous anthology with custom art for each story and I s...

This guy tried to pick up the wrong witch… Body Count was written by myself and recently published in DreamForge’s Dark Visions magazine, its annual Halloween treat. You can read the story for free here: https://bit.ly/Body-Count-A-Fawns Body Count is read by Kelly Pidgeon, one of the best voices in the business. No one does a tough guy character like he does. Kelly is also a member of the band, B...