Kat’s 2022 in Review and 2023 Resolutions

Here we are: the last week of 2022. I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with this last week. This time feels like entering a fugue state where I’m not sure what day it is, whether its morning or night, there’s never enough time to get anything done and then, I’m also sitting there doing nothing for what feels like far too long.

That being said, I’ve decided to throw down my end of year lists now because, let’s face it: I’m not going to finish any more books this week while looking down the barrel of retail demise (basically being at work all the damn time).

So, let’s start with the most pertinent thing first: books.

This was probably my most prolific year as an independent publisher and author. Not only did I re-release three full length novels and a short story (VOX, AEQUITAS, MEMENTO MORI & ACQUOLINA respectively) with newly designed covers, new interior layout, and updated added material, I also wrote and released three short novelettes (ORCHARDS, HALLOWED OBLIVION, & DAN & ANDY’S SCARY-OKE HOLIDAY). I also had the most productive sales year in my history of being an author, went to more shows this year than ever, expanded my reach on every social media platform I have a presence on, and somehow, didn’t manage to spontaneously combust along the way.

End of year stats as of today are:

Facebook Page: 560 likes

Instagram: 1,077 followers

Twitter: 2,530 followers

TikTok: 706 followers, 3500 likes

Email subscribers: 85

Really, really pleased with these numbers.

Also something to low-key celebrate: HALLOWED OBLIVION may be on a certain recommended reading list for a certain horror-oriented award. Never achieved something like this before and though I recognize that it is far from being considered for said award, I’m still proud of myself for hustling and getting the reach on that story that I did.

For anyone who found me this year and followed me, thanks a bunch. For those who read my stuff, thank you. For those who reviewed and recommended to others, thank you! Can’t wait to see what 2023 brings in for the growth of Strange Wilds Press and myself.

BOOKS I READ & LOVED

I had hoped to read 25+ books this year but I only got to 19. That being said, the majority of books I read really inspired me to follow my perpetuity for the weird and wonderful. A few of them even scared me or moved me so much that they’ve got me wanting to go back to read them again soon. Here are the top 4:

Other recommended reads are: We Are Here to Hurt Each Other by Paula Ashe, Crossroads by Laurel Hightower, The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, Beguiled By Night by Nicole Eigener, The Worm and His Kings by Hailey Piper, Abode by Morgan Sylvia, and Waif by Samantha Kolesnik.

TOP FILMS/TV

I watched a lot of horror films and television this year, trying to stay current with what was trending on streaming and what people had watched in my social circles. There are a few things I definitely fell in love with, things that I will happily watch again and again (and some that I’m good with never watching again). Let’s start with my favorites:

FILM (Horror)

• The Black Phone (2022)
• NOPE (2022)
• Krampus (2015)
• It Follows (2014)
• The Ritual (2017)
• Hellraiser (2022)

Film (Other)

• Lou (2022)
• Glass Onion (2022)
• Underwater (2020)
• Gunpowder Milkshake (2022)
• Beast (2022)
• Encanto (2021)
• Rise of The Guardians (2012)

TV (Horror)

• Archive 81 (2022)
• Love, Death, & Robots: Season 3 (favorite was The Very Pulse of the Machine) (2022)
• What We Do In The Shadows (Season 3)
• Stranger Things: Season 4 (2022)
• Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (favorite was The Viewing) (2022)
• Little Demon (2022)
• Wednesday (2022)

TV (Other)

• Andor (2022)
• Hot Date (2017-2019)
• The Great North Season 2 (2022)
• The Great British Baking Show
• I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson (2022)
• Kim’s Convenience (Seasons 1 & 2)

MUSIC

This is music that really inspired me and/or I felt moved me in some way. Not much rhyme or reason to it.

• Wolf Like Me by Lera Lynn
• The Chain by Fleetwood Mac
• And You Evade Him/Born in the Blood by Joshua Burnside
• Tape Cleaning by Ben Salisbury & Geoff Burrow from the Archive 81 Soundtrack
• Mercury Immersion by Resina
• Play Out by Zola Blood
• Sabotage by The Beastie Boys
• Ou aller by GIMS
• Gold Dust Woman by Fleetwood Mac
• Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush

2023 Resolutions and Goals

As ever, I’d really like to keep growing as a writer and an author, expand my reach, meet more people, and get my books into more readers’ hands. That being said: I would like to do it smarter. I over-extended myself in many ways this year which in the end, has caught up with me.

• Self-care: This is my biggest resolution and, kind of, the only one that matters. The number of times I’ve been sick, injured, or too mentally exhausted to do work, events, hang with friends or family, etc. is inexcusable. I also find myself unhappy with how I’ve taken care of my body this year. In 2023, my goal is to get on a regular exercise program to help retrain my muscles and rehab them. My neck and shoulders are in the worst state of my life and account for the majority of my downtime. Not only do I need to be more attentive to my muscles, I also need to give myself more time to relax, sleep, and recharge. I have a habit of constantly overloading myself with too many things. The Hustle is a necessary part of the self-publishing job but I’d like to treat myself to a better regimen of self-care than previous years.
• Scheduling: A lot of my stress and over-working is due to the fact that I am terrible with scheduling things. I was better about it in 2021 and have fallen off the wayside of preparing myself for the week. I find myself scrambling to get posts done in the morning, barely having time to get ready for work, and then coming home at night exhausted but pushing myself to get more done. I need to look at the time I have available for myself and treat it with better care. This also includes making plans for writing projects and sticking to them accordingly.
• Drink More Water: Sure, I could include this under self-care but it needs its own bullet mark. It’s bad. I’m bad at it. I think my body is made of coffee instead of water.
• Experiment with Language, Form, and Rhythm in Writing: As I said in the opening paragraph, I’d really like to grow as a writer and that means not only doing more of it, but also studying others. That means reading more, experimenting more, and sharing more with others for feedback.
• Workshop with more writers: Part of the last bullet but also a little different. There is so much that can be gleaned from others in the book world and I’d love the opportunity to learn from so many. I’d absolutely love to go to a few writing workshops as well as sit down with other writers in my home state and talk shop with them. I’d also like to build on the relationships I currently have with so many wonderful people in the horror community.
• Release one novel and two novelettes in 2023: The Wild Fall: Book 2 of The Wild Oblivion is due to release next year. I’d also really like to release a second Dan & Andy novelette and possibly another project unrelated to The Wild Oblivion. My job is to get myself organized and in shape to make sure those releases are successful and have a wide reach.
• Do at least 3 large events next year: This past year, I ended up doing a smattering of events and had a great sales year. In addition to Author-Con II, I’d really like to get in on two other horror writing events to showcase my work and perhaps grow my reach. Since I’ll also be releasing a book next year, I think it’s important to cover all my bases and try to coordinate local book-signings, digital events, and readings as well. I have an interest in NECON (which I missed last year) and MVHBF (which is a very difficult show to get in on).
• Bake more!: Baking is a passion. Being in the kitchen is soothing and enjoyable. I’d like to expand my horizons and try out recipes I’m not familiar with.
• Take care of my home: Those of you who own homes know how difficult it is to pay attention to them. I’ve done a poor job of giving my home that attention this year. I’m looking forward to spending some time with it and getting to some of the many items on my list.

Well, I think that oughta do it. For those who made 2022 special, thank you so much. Here’s to 2023: may it be a year for making dreams come true.

Happy New Year!

KSilva

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September/October Updates

HALLOWED OBLIVION

a novelette from THE WILD DARK

A couple weeks ago, I released my latest work! Hallowed Oblivion is a novelette (about 52 pages) that takes place before the events of THE WILD DARK. It’s part campfire/hiking horror, part Halloween story. This is the first time I’ve written and released a story just for the season and I may make this a continuing theme based on how great the response has been so far!

Here’s a little more about the book:

On Halloween Night, Forest Ranger Hank Feld is called out to the White Mountain National Forest to search for a group of lost hikers. Crushed at not being able to spend the evening with his daughter, Hank sets off into the cold, misty mountains alongside volunteer, Gerard Castle.

But they are not the only things in the woods that night. When they come upon a massacred camping site, they realize there’s something hunting them: a malevolent creature that hungers for the souls of the lost.

A novelette from The Wild Oblivion universe, readers follow one of THE WILD DARK’s characters into the woods for a ghastly adventure, one that might eventually alter the world as we know it…

You can download an ebook copy from my website or order a paperback here

ORCHARDS, now available for e-book!

ORCHARDS

a short story from THE WILD DARK

Today is release day for one of my most experimental pieces I’ve ever done. I’ve always been someone who enjoyed poetry but never thought they were any good at it. When the story idea for ORCHARDS presented itself (in the midst of a terrible headache, no less) I wasn’t really sure how I was going to interpret it. All I knew was that, it wasn’t going to come out like a regular story. There was, to use a technical term, some discombobulation to it: a sense of timelessness, a weightlessness and a heaviness at the same time. I wanted to show the gravity of death as well as how time seems to be suspended.

This all came out in the story. It’s a collection of free-form poetry, dark imagery, memories, drabbles, and so on from the POV of Brody Aritza from THE WILD DARK. Mind you, it does take place after the final chapter of the book. I don’t think you need to read THE WILD DARK in order to understand or resonate with the messages that ORCHARDS has to offer. And I don’t think reading it will spoil the experience of TWD for you if you haven’t read it yet.

Most importantly, this piece of me is only 99 cents. I want everyone to experience this story and I believe the best way for that to happen is for it to maintain a low and affordable price-point for everyone. I also want to be able to offer it to any book reviewer, podcaster, booktuber, or booktokker who wants it.

Here’s a little more about the book:

“I am losing all the little things that make me who I am…”

Brody Aritza was lost to the Wild Dark when he was killed in the line of duty. But then something happened. The thin wall between life and death parted and he found his way back, back to the woman he loved. It wasn’t right though: he was dead and she was alive and they couldn’t be together. But he found a way to fix it. He could possess others to keep her safe and maybe…maybe they could be together after all.

Orchards takes place after the shocking conclusion of THE WILD DARK. Thrust into darkness once more, Brody must sift through time and memory as he clings to what little pieces of humanity remain in his ruinous soul. This short story will leave readers hungry for THE WILD FALL: Book Two of The Wild Oblivion, coming in 2023.

Amazon Order

B&N Order

KOBO Order

Release day is the most important day for indie writers like myself. The more purchases made for our books on release day, the more of a chance that other readers might have to find, love, and share our work with others. This is how the algorithms work. Otherwise, things do get submerged. There are so many books vying for attention during this incredible summer. Help me make sure that ORCHARDS has a chance to be seen and grab your copy today.

Thank you!

~KSilva

March Updates

March is upon us!

Winter has been fairly productive here. I’ve been consuming lots of horror content and have been churning ideas in my ice cream-making brain as I write more short stories and work on getting novels in shape for submission and publication.

THE WILD DARK is currently at 28 brilliant reviews on Goodreads and 13 on Amazon. This might not seem like a lot to most of you but I’m absolutely over the moon. Every person that leaves a review or rating helps me get closer to selling the book to more people. Visibility is everything to indie authors and the more word-of-mouth is spread about the book, the more people will give it a try.

Click on the photo above to get to the online shop!

Holiday Updates and A Look at 2022!

Happy Holidays, my wonderful subscribers! I wanted to pop in and just say a quick thank you to everyone who has supported me on my journey to publish THE WILD DARK this year and get the book out into the world. If you purchased a copy of the book, shared a post, or told a friend about the book, you are a rock star in my mind!

This is my end of the year email, where I’ll go over a few of my favorite things from 2021 and what to look forward to in 2022!

This year, I released my sixth book, THE WILD DARK. So far, this book has been my most successful release and is continuing to get more attention day by day. This book was eight years in the making, a project that I’ve long been passionate about and adore knowing that it has touched people in so many ways. I appreciate all the reviews that have come in and the enthusiasm of those who have gone out of their way to make sure that others know how much they enjoyed it. Thanks again from the bottom of my heart.

Goodreads Giveaway & More!

Goodreads Giveaway

Want to win a chance at getting an early copy of THE WILD DARK? There are ten copies up for grabs on Goodreads! All you need to enter is a Goodreads account, where you can keep track of all those wonderful books you’ve yet to read. Click the button above to get started!

What else is new? How about a sneak peek at the first chapter of the book? You can hop on over to Book Funnel and sign in with an email address to download a first taste of the book. No worries, that email subscribes you to my monthly newsletter, where you can get first look at exclusives, premier news about the book, and extras that everyone else won’t get to see… Click the photo below to go to Book Funnel!

I’ve been having fun on Instagram the last couple weeks participating in a couple of themed book challenges! If you don’t already follow me, hop on over to my insta and add me, for all of your bookish delights!

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I got confirmation today that Bull Moose, one of New England’s awesome book vendors is going to carry THE WILD DARK at six of its largest stores! They have the book available for pre-order which can be found here. Support local bookstores and pre-order your copy now.

I’ve got a tentative TBR (to-be-read) list for August, which I can only half commit to because of how incredibly busy I’ve been in getting THE WILD DARK off the ground and ready for its launch in October. These are some of my hopefuls. Maybe they could be on your TBR pile, too?

More to announce soon…

-Kat Silva

The Wild Dark Gear List

What gear would you want to get through the apocalypse? Today, I’m sharing with you a few of the things that my characters in my upcoming book use to get by. THE WILD DARK releases for pre-order today and I figured what better way to celebrate than share some exclusive details not only from this book but…the next one!

Interview with NOT DEER MAGAZINE

Hello my avid dark fiction lovers! I have the wonderful distinction of getting to interview NOT DEER MAGAZINE today. You may have heard their buzz on Twitter as they post short but brilliant sparks of dark stories and poems, accompanied by intriguing imagery and compelling titles from submitters to their online publication. Today, we’re talking to editor-in-chief, Rowan, and co-editors, Taylor, and Thandiwe.

• Introduce yourselves! Who are the brilliant minds behind NOT DEER MAGAZINE?

Rowan: I’m Rowan, the Editor-in-Chief. I write fiction and poetry, primarily about feral women and the rural gothic. I mostly keep the website updated and correspond with contributors, but my favorite part of running the magazine is reading submissions.

Taylor: I’m Taylor. I’m a co-editor. I like poetry. I’ve had work published in a few places and I especially like flash fiction and micropoetry. I write about the way love can rot. I enjoy reading submissions. I also tend to be the primary person running our Twitter. 

​​Thandiwe: I’m Thandiwe, one of the co-editors. I love fantasy and things that verge on the edge of the surreal. I write fiction and poetry circling the ideas of identity and finding one’s place in the world. I run our Instagram but I really love reading for the magazine and creating cover art. 

• What does the name “Not Deer” stand for?

Rowan: We’re named after my favorite cryptid, the Appalachian Not Deer. 

Taylor: It stands for deer that aren’t normal deer. When the deer aren’t deer, that’s when you know to run.

Thandiwe: There is something seriously wrong with that deer. Is it even a deer? Things are getting twisted and the fog is creeping in.

• What was your goal in creating NOT DEER MAGAZINE?

Rowan: I saw the need for a literary magazine that specifically made most of its space for marginalized creators. The goal is to be an environment that presents work from creators who are often overlooked when it comes to horror as a genre.

Taylor: We wanted to create a space where creative horror written by women and under-represented voices are spotlighted. So much of modern horror is dominated by men equating violence against women to good horror writing and we wanted a space void of that. Not Deer was Rowan’s idea and Thandiwe and I jumped on. We were all in the same major and are part of a writing group so it was really easy to coordinate.

Thandiwe: When Rowan brought up her plans for a magazine I was super excited. I loved the idea of a more inclusive publication for horror writing and I really want to give a platform for creators who might otherwise be overlooked for not fitting into an expected mold. 

• Who does NOT DEER MAGAZINE cater to? Who are your ideal readers?

Rowan: An ideal reader would be someone who appreciates the complexities of good horror. I want the work we publish to be read by people who are open to what the genre is or could become.

Taylor: Our ideal readers are people who want to read good writing. I wouldn’t say we cater to a specific demographic. We only publish pieces that we feel move us, and we hope our readers feel moved as well.

Thandiwe: I don’t know that we cater to anyone specifically. If I like the piece and feel that it fits our theme, that’s a good enough reason for me. I want people to enjoy the environment we’ve cultivated through our publications. If someone encounters our corner of the woods and finds it to their liking, they are welcome to stay, if not, then I wish them well on their travels. 

• Are you currently accepting submissions?

We are accepting rolling submissions almost always and often have contests. See our submission page for more info. 

• What are some future goals for the magazine?

Rowan: We nominate for the Pushcart Prize and I think it’d be really cool to have one of our contributors win. We’ve published so much excellent work that deserves to be further recognized.

Taylor: Moving forward, we’d love to put out a print issue. We’d like to do a “best of” issue in print and online. We’d also like to continue to do more contests. If we can ever afford to, we’d love to pay contributors.

Thandiwe: I think the contests will be a fun feature in the future and I look forward to coming up with more themes. I’m excited at the prospect of possible print issues. 

• What are some other projects that you are working on besides the magazine?

Rowan: I’m working on putting together a hybrid anthology of my short fiction and poetry as well as submitting work to other publications in the small press world. 

Taylor: I’m writing a book of short fiction stories right now. I’m reading a lot. I just graduated with my BFA so now that I’m not reading for class, I have time to read for myself.

Thandiwe: I’m currently working on some small short fiction pieces and poetry. Writing more personal non-fiction might be something I’d like to get into moving forward.

• Where can people go to find out more information about NOT DEER MAGAZINE?

See our website, our Instagram, or our Twitter for more info. 

• Is there anything else people should know about the magazine?

We have merch! We are on Redbubble and sell things like stickers, mugs, and tote bags. They’re very cute and the art is done by two of our close friends! 

Well, there you have it! Submit to NOT DEER MAGAZINE today! You can find all of their links below!

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Until next time,

Kat

June Happiness (And New Newsletter!)

Welcome, welcome! First off, I’d like to thank all of my long time subscribers here on WordPress. You guys have been through all the iterations of this blog from The Monstrum Chronicles, to Writers’ Abditory, and finally to The Kat At Night. It’s taken some time to finally find a steady pace and rebrand into a place where I feel most comfortable.

That being said, I’m expanding my blog into a new monthly newsletter in anticipation of the fall release of “The Wild Dark”. Said newsletter is being provided through my website and SquareSpace. While I’m going to try and duplicate announcements in both places as best I can, I’d really like to make the newsletter my exclusive place to readers to find upcoming content related to “The Wild Dark” as well as info about upcoming giveaways, pre-order happiness, and sneak peeks.

For those of you who don’t know about “The Wild Dark”, I’ll post the cover below along with a brief synopsis:

Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Raleigh has lost everything in the last few months: her job as a police detective, her partner, her fiancé, and her peace of mind. After a month of solitude at a cabin in the woods, she finally feels as though she’s ready to move on.

But in one terrifying night, everything changes. An unearthly forest realm has begun to creep over the world, swallowing up every sign of human civilization. The woods are fraught with disturbing architecture and monstrous wolves hungry for human souls. In addition, ghosts of loved ones have appeared to select people including Liz’s partner, Brody, who doesn’t remember how he died.

As winter closes in and chaos erupts across New England, Liz fights desolation, resurfacing guilt, and absolute terror as she tries to survive one of the North East’s most brutal winters.

Anyone here fans of survivalism? Winter camping? Apocalypses? Spooky woods? Murder wolves? A strong female protagonist? “The Wild Dark” might be for you! The button below will take you to the website where you’ll have the option to subscribe. (Scroll to the bottom of the main page to find the entry form!) I’ll probably be more diligent with promoting the book there than here. I’d like The Kat at Night to include my writing escapades, but to also be its own entity as well. There will be exclusive content in both places.

Subsribe to the Newsletter!

Again, thanks to all of you who keep me going. You’re amazing!

~KSilva

The Night Will Find Us: A Haunting Review

First of all, holy ****. What an insane premier book for author Matthew Lyons. Not only is it a unique take on the “teenagers go into the woods for a night” horror dynamic, it’s also a well-written odyssey of creepiness, a page-turner, and takes so many unexpected turns. I was intrigued by it from the moment it popped up as a suggestion on Amazon last year. It took me some time to get to it (the list of novels to read only keeps growing!), but I wasn’t disappointed.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.