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I’m over the (blood-red) moon to have been asked to co-host a course this October , ‘Writing into the Dark‘, with incredible author and tutor, Anstey Harris, at her beautiful writers’ retreat in South West Scotland.

We’ll be providing a series of playful and practical creative writing workshops exploring character, setting and things that go bump in the night.

The retreat, running from the 24th to  October 29th, will be fully catered (from afternoon tea & supper on Monday till breakfast on Saturday – and lots of cake in between) with a vegetarian menu (although other dietary needs can be met).

The group will be taught from 10am till 12:30/1pm every day with the afternoons free for walks, group activities, or writing. There will be a programme of evening entertainment including a ‘night walk’ looking at the sights and sounds of the night-time outdoors, and readings. There will also be the opportunity to submit a sample of your work for one-to-one feedback.

If this sounds like your cup of tea (or personal poisoned chalice), the cost of the course is £750 and places can be secured with a £250 deposit (email email hidden; JavaScript is required for more details). There is also a shared room at £525 per person.

You might also like to bring along  a‘ haunted object’ of your choice…

(I’m already so excited I might explode)

And an excited hi again to short stories!

I’m not going to mention anything that’s been happening, and is still happening, in the world right now, but on a personal note, after disappearing into a new novel for what feels like an absurdly long time, I’m very happy to be emerging, dazed and blinking, back into the land of short stories.

As I leave the novel to percolate (or fester) for a while before I attack a second draft, it’s been a total joy reading and writing short stories once more. I’m also looking forward to leading a course, ‘Short Story Success’, running over two consecutive Saturdays in March. If you fancy joining me, please visit NTU’s Short Courses for further details.

Totally delighted that ‘We Wait’ has made it through the first round of this year’s BBNYA! Fingers crossed for the next stage, but whatever happens, I’m thrilled. Thank you to all the dedicated book bloggers, and of course to the wonderful Eyrie Press 🙂

Update!! A flash sale, celebrating many of the novels that have made it through the first round, will run from July 14th – 20th. To get your e-book copy of ‘We Wait’ for just 99p, please visit the Eyrie Press bookshop or https://www.egradcliff.com/bbnyasale 

With many thanks to author, EG Radcliff, for organising.

I’m delighted to have been asked to interview amazing author and poet, Rosie Garland for Five Leaves Bookshop. We’ll be chatting online from 7pm on May 5th. Tickets are available from Eventbrite. We’d love you to come along!

I’m delighted to have some more great writing news as we head towards the end of this long, long year. My short story, (‘imaginatively’) titled The Hitcher Story is part of The Invisible Collection, which has just been released by the brilliant Nightjar Press.

Please visit their site to find out more, including why the wonderful Nicholas Royle was inspired to put this anthology together.

I’m still reeling from We Wait’s Halloween blog tour. I honestly can’t express my gratitude to Eyrie Press and to all the incredibly supportive bloggers who took part.

Here are just some of their kind words:

‘We Wait was a revelation, an exquisitely crafted novel that proves that the gothic genre is still capable of surprises and unique takes’ – The Gingernuts of Horror

‘The novel is cleverly written, with an intriguing and compelling plot… As the tensions rose, the pace quickened and the walls started closing in’ – Locky Loves Books

‘Taylor’s writing… is enriched with beautiful imagery…  This book is full of twists and turns and will remain with you even after it’s closed’ – Books in the Belfry

‘Taylor’s prose is beautiful, vivid, and chilling… The novel reminded me very much of Du Maurier’s Rebecca’ – What Kate Read Next

‘I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!… a must read for thriller and gothic horror fans’ – Nurse Bookie

‘If you’re looking for an evocative ghost story about memories and secrets, you don’t want to miss We Wait’ – Read by Dusk

Thank you, everyone, so, so much. By the end of it all, I was an emotional wreck – but in the very best possible way!!

 

Earlier this year, the fabulous writer, Giselle Leeb, and I were  asked to create a short story course for Eyrie Press. We had a lot of fun, and the course, ‘From Inspiration to Publication’, is now live on Teachable!

Filled with practical exercises, useful techniques and advice, the course covers the essential elements of writing short stories, from getting started to submitting. If you’re interested in writing along with us, you can find an introductory video here…

While many of us might be hiding inside right now, my ghosts are about to escape – ‘We Wait‘ is going out on tour!

With enormous thanks to my amazing publisher, Eyrie Press, and to all the intrepid sites and bloggers who have generously offered to host (please visit my Events page for more details…)

The clocks are turning back, the dark is seeping in and a small, cold fist is knocking at your door…

As we enter October, the spookiest of months, ‘We Wait’ is slinking out from the shadows to celebrate.

Over on my Twitter account – @meganjstaylor – I’m having a lucky dip, with three intrepid Retweeters winning a copy of ‘We Wait’. I’ll be drawing names from a bowl of gruesome gunk on October 13^th so that my ghosts will arrive well in time for Halloween.

And later in the month, I’m delighted that my brilliant publisher, Eyrie Press, are sending ‘We Wait’ off through the gloaming on a blog tour! More about that very soon…