Guest Blog with Emz (Horroraddicts.Net)

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. If you’ve noticed I’ve been doing a lot of posting about Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2 (learn more here) over the last couple of weeks. Well, the reason for this is because I have an article in the publication, and I figured since they were nice enough to include my article the least I can do is support them by offering up some blog space.

So this week, I’m thrilled to have Emz here to share all about HorrorAddicts.Net with us today.

Welcome Emz

Why did you start HorrorAddicts.net? I had been podcasting my vampire novel Night’s Knights and when it was a few chapters away from the end, I didn’t want to lose all my “Biters” which is an affectionate name I made up for my vampire listeners. So, I decided to start a horror podcast that they could follow me over to. I’m so glad I did it, because otherwise I wouldn’t have all these great horror fans to chat with today. The podcast grew into a blog, a site, a publishing house, and we are still growing every year.

What is it like running your site? Busy. Hectic. Enjoyable, but a lot of work. Thankfully I have a lot of staff willing to help and in that way, it’s good because when new people come on, they bring new flavor to the site and help keep it interesting. I’m always sad, but also proud when one of my little baby bats who has learned the business from me, spreads their wings to pursue their own careers. It’s very rewarding, but can also be very lonely. My listeners keep me going with their thirst for knowledge and their love for horror.

When it comes to horror stories, who is your favorite author? I really love Anne Rice. In fact, two of my pieces in the Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2 ended up being about her. I didn’t plan it, but she was my gateway into vampires and cracked open the horror lover that was hiding inside of me. Another favorite is Andrew Neiderman, who most people know as the author of The Devil’s Advocate and the ghost writer for the V.C. Andrews series. His stand-alone novels like Blood Child, Pin, and The Need are fabulously fun. I actually got to interview him on the show way back on episode #84. That was really fun. Sadly, I never got to interview Anne before she passed, but…to be really honest, I don’t know if I could have handled it! How do you sit across a table (or Zoom screen for that matter) and ask a woman who has changed your life questions without totally passing out or having a panic attack? I’m not sure I could’ve done it. Ha!

What is it about Horror that you love so much? Horror to me is romantic. I love stories that weave both the horrific and romance together. It’s fighting the monster next to the one you love. It’s searching the haunted castle to find answers to your past—and perhaps your future. It’s proving that love endures, even after death. It’s something that calls from your soul. It’s a need you are born with. “You may as well ask Heaven what it sees; no ‘norm’ can know.” And if you know where I’ve stolen that quote from, then you are in the club.

There you go. Thank you, Emz, for stopping by today to share a little about Horroraddicts.Net. I’m thrilled to have had a small part in the publication of this newest guide to life. Pick up your copy of the Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2 here. That’s it for this week. Until next time, have a great week.

About Emz:

Author, artist, voice actress, and editor, Emz is best known for being the Horror Hostess of HorrorAddicts.net, an internationally acclaimed horror podcast, now its 17th season. She is the author of the Night’s Knights vampire series and has been published in over 40 fiction anthologies. She has a wide array of books available including a coloring book, a WWII letter archive, a Spooky Writer’s Planner, and a Jane Austen reboot of Northanger Abbey, published under her romance name, Emmy Z. Madrigal. Find out more here.

Announcements Spring 2022

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Have I got a lot to share with you today; three different book announcements and two upcoming events. These last few weeks (and months) have been busy. I’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes and today I’m thrilled to share it all with you. First, as you may have heard, I have an article in the upcoming book, Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2. Second, I have a short story in the wonderful anthology; Save the World. Third, this week I signed the contract for Volaria, which will be published through Spectrum Books. Last, I have two in-person events coming up: Hayward Lit Hop and The Bay Area Book Festival (in Berkley, CA) Let’s dive deeper into each of these. 

Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2 is a collection of stories and articles that has been put together by HorrorAddicts.Net. They reached out to me to share my article; When did you know? I spent some time updating the article, diving a little deeper into my personal story, which you will read more about in this coming book. The editors have put a lot of work into this publication and I’m impressed with how the product is looking. This book will make a wonderful addition to your reading library. The book is a fundraiser, so I’m not making anything from the sale of the story, but I’m pleased to be part of this effort and supporting such a great group. 

If you want to learn more and see who else will be in the book, you can learn more here.

Next up, we have Save The World. This is the second book in the series. The first book is titled, Fix the World (you can buy it here). This year I have my short story; Interview, as part of the collection. I’m pleased with this story and I’m honored to have the work included. I don’t want to give too much away about the story, because I’m hoping folks will go out and buy it. Click here for pre-orders.  

Book Blurb: 

Climate change is no longer a vague future threat. Forests are burning, currents are shifting, and massive storms dump staggering amounts of water in less than 24 hours. Sometimes it’s hard to look ahead and see a hopeful future. 

We asked sci-fi writers to send us stories about ways to save the world from climate change.  From the myriad of stories we received, we chose the twenty most amazing (and hopefully prescient) tales. 

Dive in and find out how we might mitigate climate change via solar mirrors, carbon capture, genetic manipulation, and acts of change both large and small. 

The future’s not going to fix itself. 

Next up for the week, I’m so pleased to announce that I have signed a contract with Spectrum Books (learn more here) for them to publish my latest novel, Volaria. We have set the launch for Fall 2022. I will be sharing more information as we get closer to the launch. 

Here is the official blurb: 

It’s been over a hundred years since the Earth went through The Shift. Where once almost eight billion humans lived, the population now holds at four billion. But that wasn’t the only change. Humans are no longer alone; they have been joined by Arcanes, Lycans, and Vampires. At first these new groups were thought of as genetic anomalies caused by The Shift, something to be cured, but later scientists discovered that each new generation of humans born would produce these new variances at the onset of puberty. Finally, the new species of man were welcomed. No longer studied or treated as outcasts by most. People accepted these new humans, and they integrated into society. This allowed the UN Government to focus again on the Moon and on Mars, ensuring the survival of all, as humankind became a multi-planet species. 

Tobin Corsian resides in a newly reopened district of San Jose, California, where his family’s old home stood. He lives there with his friend Mikel, a Lycan, and his dog Begger. Instead of making his mandatory monthly blood donation at the government blood bank for the vampire community, Tobin decides, with the help of his therapist, to visit Biter, a vampire spa. The spa allows vampires to feed from humans directly while providing spa and sexual services, granting the donor a three-month reprieve from their mandatory donations. However, permitting a vampire to feed from you comes with risks, shared memories among them. Tobin’s encounter at Biter opens a window to his past and an experience he had as a child on the moon. Questions abound as he tries to unravel his past and make sense of his life. 

Can you believe it? We are finally going to be doing some local events in the coming weeks. April 30th join me and three other BAQWA writers at Books on B, in Hayward, CA. we’ll be there from 4pm–4:45pm. This will be a great night of short readings and your opportunity to come on by and say hello. Learn more here. 

Then on May 7th and 8th, many of the BAQWA members will be at The Bay Area Book Festival 2022, in Berkley, CA. We have a booth and will be there both days. The event starts at 11am and goes to 5pm both days. Come by, say hello, pick up a book, get a signature or two, and have your photos taken with one of your favorite authors. Learn more here. 

There has been a lot happening and there is still a lot more coming, so keep a wary eye out for more news. I hope you’ll pick up your copy of Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2 and Save The World. These books have many talented authors who contributed, so you won’t want to miss out. And please, if you are in the area, come meet us at either the Hayward Lit Hop or The Bay Area Book Festival, both events will be a lot of fun. Until next time, have a great week.