Welcome to the April 2025 issue of my newsletter, “News from the Crypt,” and please visit Carter’s Crypt, devoted to my horror, fantasy, and paranormal romance work, especially focusing on vampires and shapeshifting beasties. If you have a particular fondness for vampires, check out the chronology of my series in the link labeled “Vanishing Breed Vampire Universe.”
Also, check out the multi-author Alien Romances Blog
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For other web links of possible interest, please scroll to the end.
My light paranormal novella “Summertide Echoes” has an official release date: July 7 of this year. The cover blurb:
Joyce Walton wants to sell the vacation cabin she and her childhood best friend, Mark Girard, inherited together. The money will make her long-cherished business plan come true. To her shock, he’s determined to hang onto the place. Although they’ve drifted apart in recent years, she still cares for him. She’s always counted on his support, so why can’t he understand the urgency of her need? Mark believes his younger sister, who died in her teens, lingers on the property, visiting him in dreams at the cabin but nowhere else. He struggles with severing this last remaining tie. Yet he doesn’t want to hurt Joyce, especially when his old feelings for her reawaken. After encountering the ghost of their long-dead Saint Bernard and dreaming of Mark’s sister, Joyce accepts the reality of the supernatural manifestations. Why are the two spirits haunting the cabin? On top of that, she’s falling in love with Mark. How can they settle the clash over their shared property without ruining any hope of a shared life?
There’s an excerpt below.
This month I’m interviewing Kimberly Baer, a Wild Rose Press author who writes mostly paranormal YA fiction.
*****
Interview with Kimberly Baer:
What inspired you to become a writer?
My mother read stories to me when I was very young, and that early exposure ignited my love of fiction. At one point, I was so taken with a particular book that I painstakingly copied some of its text onto paper and told my mom I’d written a really good story. She explained that I shouldn’t steal somebody else’s story but, rather, should write my own. So I did. My first “book,” written at age six, was about a baby chick that hatched out of a little girl’s Easter egg after somehow surviving the hard-boiling process. My mom typed it up and placed it in a binder, and she even put my name and the title (“The Wonderful Easter Egg”) on the cover. I was so proud of my “published book”!
What genres do you work in?
Mostly paranormal young adult, though I’ve also written several middle-grade novels and one adult romantic suspense novella.
Do you outline, “wing it,” or something in between?
Something in between. I never create a formal outline, but I do like to have a firm idea of the story arc before I start to write. At the beginning of each chapter, I type a bulleted list of plot developments, contextual details, and other elements that I want to include in the chapter. Of course, sometimes the characters seize control and take the story in a whole different direction—but that’s usually a good thing! It’s their story, and I trust them to know what they’re doing.
What have been the major influences on your work (favorite authors or whatever)?
When my kids were in school, they brought home a lot of middle-grade and young adult novels, which I would promptly whisk away to my favorite reading chair. That’s how I became interested in the MG/YA genres. As both a reader and a writer, I love robust, offbeat plots, so I was particularly captivated by works such as Louis Sachar’s HOLES, the HARRY POTTER series, the HUNGER GAMES trilogy, and various Neal Shusterman novels. In addition, I always strive to deliver my best writing, and I find inspiration for that in novels such as Janet Fitch’s WHITE OLEANDER. Her writing blows me away every time I read that book.
What is it like to write in a shared-world series? What’s the procedure, and how is consistency of the setting maintained from book to book? How does participating in it differ from writing in your own fictional world?
For me, writing in a shared-world series (THE HAUNTING OF PINEDALE HIGH) was slightly more challenging than dreaming up my own fictional world, because I was constrained by certain “rules.” But all in all, it went well. The publisher provided a list of guidelines and set up a Facebook page for the authors’ use in posing questions and sharing details from our individual stories. When I was writing my book, I communicated directly with a few of the other authors to ensure consistency in the layout of the town, the names of local establishments, character descriptions, and other details that aren’t addressed in the guidelines.
What main differences have you found between writing YA fiction and adult fiction?
YA fiction often includes a coming-of-age component that isn’t present in adult fiction, as well as an emphasis on the insecurities and angst common to that age group. But generally, there’s a fine line between YA (specifically, upper YA) and adult fiction. A lot of today’s YA contains mature themes, including sex, violence, drug abuse, suicide, and more. I try to avoid the really dark themes in my own books, though.
What will readers find on your blog?
My blog consists primarily of interviews with other authors, though it’s been a while since I’ve interviewed anyone. I’ve also written a few general blogs; for instance, there’s one about the calendar that foretold my husband’s death and another about the true event that inspired my paranormal YA novel THE HAUNTED PURSE.
What is your latest or next-forthcoming book?
My latest release, WOULD YOU RATHER…, is part of the HAUNTING OF PINEDALE HIGH series I mentioned earlier. It’s a standalone novel about a classroom game of “Would You Rather” that takes an ominous turn when the students’ choices start coming true. Some of the kids get good fates, others get bad fates, and a few get REALLY bad fates that will result in death if they come true. A small group of friends try to track down the mysterious substitute teacher who hosted the game in the hopes of persuading him to end the curse. The story is presented from multiple perspectives to show how individual characters are affected by the curse.
What are you working on now?
I’m still doing a lot of promotional work for WOULD YOU RATHER…, and I’m polishing a middle-grade novel about a boy with a unique superpower. In addition, I’m thinking about taking back the rights to my paranormal YA novel THE HAUNTED PURSE when they expire later this year. I might reissue it as a self-published book. So I’m reading through it again and making some minor edits.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
(1) Read well-written books in your genre. Not only will you become familiar with what readers expect from the genre, but you will also absorb good writing techniques through a kind of literary osmosis. (2) Don’t let rejections from agents or publishers discourage you. If your dream is to be a published author, you absolutely can make that happen. Learn the ins and outs of book marketing, and then self-publish your books. These days, many self-published authors are selling a decent number of books, and a few are doing extremely well. Not gonna lie: it’s a lot like playing the lottery. But who knows? You could be the next sensation—and you won’t have to share your profits with a publisher!
What is the URL of your website? What about other internet presence?
Author Website
Instagram
Bluesky
Amazon
Goodreads
*****
Some Books I’ve Read Lately:
CONCLAVE, by Robert Harris. After watching this Oscar-nominated, near-future movie about the election of a Pope, I immediately ordered the novel. To my delight, the movie follows it very closely, so I didn’t suffer any disappointments in either direction. The most prominent difference is a change of name and nationality for the protagonist, the Dean of the College of Cardinals. In another noticeable alteration, the Archbishop of Baghdad in the book becomes the Archbishop of Kabul in the film. Although I have no idea of the purpose for either of these changes, they have no material effect on the plot. CONCLAVE is a difficult book to review effectively, because to reveal the mind-blowing double twist at the end would constitute an unpardonable spoiler. In the first scene, the previous Pope—who the author declares is not meant to represent the current real-life Holy Father, although clear similarities exist—has just died. The Dean, Cardinal Lomeli, bears the responsibility of presiding over the Conclave to elect a new Pope. He agrees with a close friend in the “liberal” wing of the Church that Cardinal Tedesco, a rigid traditionalist with reactionary views (not only does he want the Church to revert to the doctrines and practices of over fifty years ago, near the end of the book he openly calls for a holy war against Islam), must not become Pope and wipe out all the progress made under his predecessor. Although the Cardinals aren’t supposed to lobby for themselves or anybody else but instead remain open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it quickly becomes clear that the system doesn’t transcend politics, behind-the-scenes intrigue, and all the other failings of human power structures. The major players have no compunctions, it seems, about nudging the Holy Spirit in the right direction. Two other men stand out as viable alternatives to Tedesco. Meanwhile, Lomeli reacts to any hint that he might be a candidate with horrified rejection. He had tried to resign his position as Dean to join a monastic order, but the Pope had turned down his resignation. The first shock to the characters and the reader comes when a previously unknown Cardinal, spiritual leader of a dangerous, war-torn region and renowned for his radical work on behalf of the oppressed, appears out of nowhere. Shortly before the late Pope’s death, he made the Archbishop of Baghdad a Cardinal secretly in an irregular but legal procedure. Not surprisingly, this is a heavily male-dominated story, aside from the nuns who cook, serve meals, and otherwise perform necessary housekeeping duties for the sequestered Cardinals. The Sister in charge, however, a strong character capable of intimidating even men in positions of ecclesiastical power, plays a critical role in Lomeli’s eventual discovery of revelations that turn the tide of the electoral process. Although the participants are supposed to be strictly shielded from contact with and information from the outside world, Lomeli bends the rules. When he uncovers scandals that eliminate two major candidates, who’s left to block the ascendancy of Tedesco? Lomeli reluctantly considers the possibility that he might get stuck with the papacy. As mentioned above, I can’t say anything further without disclosing a major crisis and its astonishing outcome. Other than those elements, I found the most memorable scene to be Lomeli’s introductory speech to the Conclave, in which he deplores certainty and prays for a Pope who can embrace doubt. Also, the intricate details of how a Pope’s death is handled and a papal election is held are fascinatingly portrayed.
WOOING THE WITCH QUEEN, by Stephanie Burgis. This secret-identity, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance is the first book in a series called “Queens of Villainy.” The heroine, Queen Saskia, isn’t actually a villain at heart. She assumes the “wicked sorceress” persona to protect herself and her realm from her truly villainous uncle, whom she overthrew to claim her rightful throne. Other than the safety of her subjects, all she wants is to get the neglected castle library straightened out and find her mother’s research notebooks scattered amid the chaos. Saskia greatly prefers working in her laboratory over routine royal duties or, worse, hosting the diplomatic social events needed to offset her image as a “monster”—an image she reinforces with a crown of bones and an appropriately grim-looking castle. Meanwhile, Felix, the young archduke of a neighboring country allied with her uncle in support of his campaign to retake Saskia’s kingdom, has fled into exile. His late wife’s father, Felix’s former regent and now Chief Minister, would gladly see him dead. Given the enmity between the Chief Minister’s regime and Saskia, Felix grasps at the chance of appealing to her for protection. When he appears at her castle gate, however, she mistakes him for the dark wizard she’s awaiting to organize her library. Before he can correct this misconception, he overhears a conversation among Saskia and her allies, the other two Queens of Villainy. They believe him responsible for his cruel father-in-law’s ruthless tyranny and thirst for conquest. Moreover, potentially rich rewards await whoever kills or captures the missing archduke. Felix doesn’t dare reveal his true identity. To make matters worse, he has no magical ability or knowledge at all. Organizing books, though, he does very well. In the process, he tries to teach himself enough magic to fake the role of a dark wizard. Saskia is pleased with his progress as temporary librarian. After a rocky start, he begins to feel at home in her unusual household, which includes a troll, an ogre, and a flock of intelligent crows. Naturally, he and Saskia soon develop a mutual attraction. But what will happen when she inevitably discovers who he really is? If she realizes he has betrayed her trust, how can he regain it? And what about their respective evil relatives? Quirky characters, moments of humor, a delightful dark-fairy-tale setting, life-threatening suspense, emotional upheavals, and sensuous sexual tension interweave to create a story sure to appeal to readers of secondary-world fantasy romance.
WOULD YOU RATHER. . . by Kimberly Baer. This novel reminds me of a YA horror story by Vivian Vande Velde, not in any specific element of content, aside from the focus on a group of teenagers, but in the foreboding paranormal tone. It also has something of a “Monkey’s Paw” vibe of “be careful what you wish for.” This installment of “The Haunting of Pinedale High” is told from multiple viewpoints of students caught up in the inexplicable events. No need to summarize the plot any further, since the author provides a lucid synopsis in the interview above. The mysterious substitute teacher won’t allow anyone to skip the choice between two offered alternatives, even the direst such as two terrible deaths. The experiment begins almost lightheartedly but quickly grows darker. “Would you rather be an amazing artist or a brilliant mathematician?” and “Would you rather get the romantic partner of your dreams or land the perfect job?” sound fun to speculate about. But there’s no good answer to “Would you rather go missing forever or have the person you love most go missing forever?’ The students, naturally, think it’s only a twisted game and try to put it out of their minds—until the choices start coming true. Some of the “bad” choices turn out worse than they sound, and even the paired “good” alternatives don’t necessarily unfold as expected. Tracking down the substitute proves to be a problem, since nobody on the staff seems to have heard of him. Juggling an ensemble cast of characters and multiple viewpoints while making each person vividly individualized and sympathetic is a difficult task that the author expertly pulls off. Body horror, life-threatening events, and mounting suspense keep the reader’s attention riveted from start to finish. The satisfying resolution to the supernatural mystery realistically leaves no one completely unchanged. I especially like the denouement “spreadsheet” chapter that lists each of the affected characters with the nature of their curse and how it turned out.
For my recommendations of “must read” classic and modern vampire fiction, explore the Realm of the Vampires:
Realm of the Vampires
*****
Excerpt from “Summertide Echoes”:
Joyce poured a glass of bottled iced tea and settled in a lawn chair on the front porch with the paperback mystery she was currently reading.
Her attention wandered from the page only when fading daylight made it hard to focus. As she glanced up to rest her eyes, she caught sight of movement among the trees. An animal? A doe strolled into view, picking her way around the edge of the clearing, with occasional pauses to nibble leaves on low-hanging branches. Joyce held still to avoid scaring her, although this close to the national park most deer didn’t tend to be wary of humans. Seconds later, though, the doe’s head shot up, and she dashed into the woods.
Joyce caught her breath in surprise when the Saint Bernard she’d seen twice before emerged from the undergrowth, chasing after the deer. He disappeared under the trees but reappeared in less than a minute, apparently giving up the pursuit. He ambled up the path toward the cabin.
She moved cautiously from the chair to the top step, stretching a hand toward the dog. “Hi, there. Nice of you to visit. I wonder where you live.”
Instead of veering away this time, he walked straight to her, tail wagging and tongue hanging out. Strangely, she didn’t hear panting. Nor did she feel warm breath on her skin as she reached for his collar to check the tag.
Her hand passed through him as if he were a hologram. Or a hallucination.
He couldn’t be. Ms. Ortega and Mark had seen him, too. She snatched her hand back. “Bruno?” Hesitantly Joyce fumbled for the collar again. Again she touched nothing. The dog licked her, but she didn’t feel a wet tongue. Instead, a dry chill enveloped her fingers.
This can’t be happening. She squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them, he was still there. A second later, though, he vanished. He didn’t run into the woods and fade out of sight among the trees but blinked out of existence like a popped bubble.
Her legs wobbled, and she folded into a heap on the porch steps. Did I dream that?
She didn’t bother with the pinch test. She smelled the mountain laurel blossoms. A breeze rustled the trees and cooled her skin. The boards of the wooden steps felt rough against her thighs. “Bruno? If you’re really here, come back.”
No response, of course. After steadying herself with long, shuddering breaths, she returned to the chair and picked up her abandoned glass of tea. When she gulped a swallow of it, the tinkle of ice and the chill of the liquid flowing down her throat confirmed she was awake.
-end of excerpt-
*****
The long-time distributor of THE VAMPIRE’S CRYPT has closed its website. If you would like to read any issue of this fanzine, which contains fiction, interviews, and a detailed book review column, visit the Dropbox page below. Find information about the contents of each issue on this page of my website:
All issues are now posted on Dropbox, where you should be able to download them at this link:
All Vampire’s Crypt Issues on Dropbox
A complete list of my available works, arranged roughly by genre, with purchase links:
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Facebook
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Barnes and Noble
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Carter Kindle Books
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Amazon
The Fiction Database displays a comprehensive list of my books (although with a handful of fairy tales by a different Margaret Carter near the end):
My Goodreads page:
Goodreads
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My Publishers:
Writers Exchange E-Publishing: Writers Exchange
Harlequin: Harlequin
Wild Rose Press: Wild Rose Press
You can contact me at: MLCVamp@aol.com
“Beast” wishes until next time—
Margaret L. Carter