Stephanie Ellis

Stephanie Ellis

@stephellis.bsky.social

Author, Elgin & Rhysling award-nominated poet, and reader. Member BFS https://stephanieellis.org/

3.7K followers2.7K following2.8K posts

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And here's the full cover for Mother's Night, Rise of the Hare Witch, created by Ruth Anna Evans. (Went slightly wrong, I scheduled a blog post for 6pm, forgot all about this, remembered when eating my tea. Oh, so professional, everything back to front. 🤣)

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Goodnight from Stephanie Ellis, trying to read the story under the headline: ‘THE DEVIL KILLS IN HOOKLAND’ from across the tram. Goodnight from Jack Belford, following the paths in Long Wolver Woods gilded electrum by the last of the Hunter’s Moon. Goodnight from Hookland.

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Goodnight from The Devil’s Bread pub, where all the evening’s mutterings seem centred on Joe Wood’s sudden and unsettling disappearance from the village. Goodnight from Dorothy Winward, worried that there are more than satellites watching from tonight’s sky. Goodnight from Hookland.

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Between tick & tock lies a dislocated hour. Home to things with names too terrible to say. In the lost hours, in the gained hours, temporal spirits come through. Between tick and tock, some swear they can hear a soul trapped in time, scratching at glass. #ClocksGoBack

Stephanie Ellis reposted

There are passageways where we cannot help but brush against phantoms. Places that narrow our movements till a spirit scraping is inevitable. Neither dead nor living will yield right of way. This may come from an unknowing of the other's presence or a terrible lack of manners. – #CJosiffe #Ghosts

In a remote part of the Highlands, Domnuill-dhu—the devil himself—walks. Over the centuries, the MacNeil clan has serenaded him with music he composed, music known as the canntaireachd. It is to this land that John MacNeil returns. A land that demands a new piper ... mybook.to/Domnuill-dhu

For me, this has been by the far the best of his books. Loved it.

David Barnett@davidmbarnett.bsky.social

I suppose I should tell you again that my working class, mining community folk horror SCRATCH MOSS is still 99p on ebook (Amazon Kindle link for ease but available at the same price from all the usual ebook purveyors). www.amazon.co.uk/Scratch-Moss...

Stephanie Ellis reposted

We ride autumn's roads wondering if the dappling will be the last of the year before everything becomes naked and grey. We ride and half-hope for a glimpse of those ghosts who used this road long before tarmacadam. The highway as a continuity with the dead. – #DAKilroy

Once a #Flashdog always a #Flashdog 😁 There was also something called The Infernal Clock. 😊

รɦคᛕﻉร@theshakes72.bsky.social

Hello new friends. Let me introduce myself. I'm David Shakes and I was prolific on the flash fiction scene in the 2010s when Twitter was in its prime. We ran as a pack #Flashdogs and made books and stuff. @makingfiction.com invented #vss365 to keep it all going. Now I'm back, but more betterer.

Almost time. Mother's Night (Rise of the Hare Witch) brings the snow and an unearthly Yule. (Hope to have the actual date soon!) #folkhorror #horror #booksky #womeninhorror #yule

Stephanie Ellis reposted

#horrorhaiku #haiku I am so tiny | but also so very sharp | and now you bleed out | #horrorwriterschat Squeak

Alexander Hay@alexanderhay.myatproto.social

Every story has an ending, but horror doesn't always have happy ones. Q4: What sort of very short (mouse-sized?) story can you write which has a sting in the tale? #HorrorWritersChat

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Replying to @alexanderhay.myatproto.social

It's my birthday this week, so celebrate my official middle age with one of my horror novels or poetry collections, like DEAD ENDS, a nifty little book about death and dying. #HorrorWritersChat www.amazon.com/Dead-Ends-Da...

amazon.comDead Ends: A Dark Poetry CollectionAmazon.com: Dead Ends: A Dark Poetry Collection eBook : Blake, Amanda M.: Kindle Store

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Replying to @alexanderhay.myatproto.social

Thanks, Alexander! I have a collection of falling into unusual situations, the unusual breaking in to the normal, and everything just out of the corner of your eye taking a step closer to being in sight… #HorrorWritersChat

bookshop.orgNothing But The Willows & Other Things That Are Not TherePerception is reality. But how much can you trust with only two eyes? Cracks in the fabric of the universe reveal facets of a prism. Worlds where gods and monsters are real, houses are haunted, and ti...

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Replying to @alexanderhay.myatproto.social

Thanks Alexander and #HorrorWritersChat! My new horror Witten Hall is out Monday. Cursed families, a haunted manor, and all sorts of horrible deaths await those who wish to read it. It’s so horrifying, I had a breakdown writing the first draft. amzn.eu/d/0dSuW1kb

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Replying to @alexanderhay.myatproto.social

Thanks, #HorrorWritersChat! All of these go hand-in-hand together: - #BookBazaar26 launches Oct. 29th (www.the-book-bazaar.com) - Such Sweet Sorrow crowdfund is part of it - I write deep dive articles once a month, and this one talks about #S3. Check out TBB, read the article, follow! #AQPromo

the-book-bazaar.comThe Book Bazaar - A Group Crowdfunding Project for AuthorsIndie authors, small publishers, and book enthusiasts take notice! The Book Bazaar is coming October 29th, 2026.

Psst, hey, did you know I do deep dive articles once a month? The latest one talks a lot about Such Sweet Sorrow. Check it out: members.conquerthyfear.com/posts/using-... And check out the crowdfund campaign for #s3, part of #BookBazaar26: www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a... #AQPromo #BuyIndie

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Replying to @alexanderhay.myatproto.social

Thanks Alex! #HorrorWritersChat need a terrifying book for the last 10 days of spooky season? "Symphony for Walpurgis" has you covered with tales of cryptids, giant bats, and even a Jewish exorcism, among other things. Go and grab your tickets to the Symphony today! #HorrorSky #BookSky

amazon.comSymphony for Walpurgis: A CollectionSymphony for Walpurgis: A Collection - Kindle edition by Ungar, Rami. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Symphony for Walpurgis: A Collection.

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Replying to @alexanderhay.myatproto.social

Thanks Alexander Here me books Read 'em Review 'em Prop up faulty chairs with 'em NO HEROICS, ONLY HORRORS NO REASON, ONLY RECKONING NO SAVIOURS, ONLY SYSTEMS WELCOME TO THE COLONIES OF THE TWAINEARTH www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08W9KRT1... #HorrorWritersChat #BookSky #AuthorSky #writingcommunity

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Replying to @alexanderhay.myatproto.social

#HorrorWritersChat was great this week, Alexander. I have two things to promote for The #ShadowBoxArchives. Both of which are about #Halloween #Writing One is my featured story for this month which will be going public soon, but if you want to read it now, become a paying member of our Patreon ⬇️

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Please submit to my next anthology! #subcall #horror #LGBTQ #cosmichorror #cthulhu Queering Cthulhu obsidianbutterfly.com/qrcthsub.html #horrorwriterschat

Alexander Hay@alexanderhay.myatproto.social

And that's your lot. You're all human again. Make the mouse - err, I mean, the 'most' of it. Self-promo time, everyone! Reply to this post, and be sure to include #HorrorWritersChat as you do so. Now, if you don't mind, let me play us all out. youtu.be/VOjJwlqHe-Q

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Replying to @alexanderhay.myatproto.social

Thanks for the great chat, Alexander! 🐁🧀 I'm working on a lot of fun Halloween stuff over on my Patreon: www.patreon.com/arcdirective You should check out all the new short stories I have and the ominous tide I keep mentioning. Sure hope something bad isn't in the water. 😱 #HorrorWritersChat

patreon.comThe ARC Directive — Only knowledge can save you.Get more from The ARC Directive on Patreon. Only knowledge can save you.. Support The ARC Directive and get exclusive access to their work.

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Replying to @alexanderhay.myatproto.social

Thanks for a great #HorrorWritersChat, Alexander! I'm on a committee putting on a Widow's Bay Weekend event in Rockport, MA in the spring. Watch my BlueSky page for updates and news. I'm working on TRAILER TRASH ZOMBIES, my horror comedy novel. Hope to finish it by summer if I get over my ennui.

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Replying to @alexanderhay.myatproto.social

#HorrorWritersChat Glad I'm back; thanks for restoring my form, Alexander, as this would have put a serious ro-dent in my plans... My latest over at Substack has a horror story for writers, and word about my five stories going up there next week: jamesryanfiction.substack.com/p/going-on-t...

jamesryanfiction.substack.comGoing on the Account: Beyond DeathThere’s a part of the writing game no one (else) looks at deeply…

#HorrorWritersChat I can hear voices, feel warmth flowing towards me in the shadows. Kindred, they call and I answer, see the outline of whiskers, the flick of tails, claws. Too late I realise these are not brothers, but cousins mangled in awful majesty. King Rat is here and he is hungry.

Alexander Hay@alexanderhay.myatproto.social

Every story has an ending, but horror doesn't always have happy ones. Q4: What sort of very short (mouse-sized?) story can you write which has a sting in the tale? #HorrorWritersChat

#HorrorWritersChat Monster is more a matter of intent. The evil one could be human or otherwise but it is their purpose which makes them monstrous. However it is revealed it is always prey and predator, 😼 and mouse 🐭. Some of my characters tend to be very amoral & I love writing those.

Alexander Hay@alexanderhay.myatproto.social

Right, you 'orrible little (James) Herberts. El Gato de Ulthar is hot on your furry little heels, and you're lunch if they get you. Are you a Mrs. Frisby, a Matthias or just plain taking the Mickey? Q3: What do you define as a monster in your horror, and how do you make it work? #HorrorWritersChat

#HorrorWritersChat I'm a fan of making the horror aspect appear normal to the protagonists. It's just what they do, how they've always lived (eg Tommy & Co in Five Turns world). The juxtaposition of apparent 'everyday-ness' with horror is jarring. Shirley Jackson did this perfectly in The Lottery.

Alexander Hay@alexanderhay.myatproto.social

What is a human world to a little mouse but horror? Q2: How do you make your horror stories horrible? Is it detail, emotion, pathos, fear or even comedy? Or something else? How do YOU make the punters quiver? #HorrorWritersChat

Youngest has reminded me today is our four years in Wrexham anniversary 😅. Memories of no electric or gas & dealing with utilities that cold, cold night. Previous occupier had not paid bills & it cascaded onto us. No wonder I forgot.

#HorrorWritersChat Hi, I'm Steph and I write all sorts of horror, especially initially, but it gradually settled a little and now folk horror, gothic, historical, and post-apocalyptic are my main subgenres. I do, however, strongly believe we should not pigeonhole ourselves else we create a prison.

Alexander Hay@alexanderhay.myatproto.social

Good morrow, my dear little vermin. It's the weekly Horror Writers Chat! This week, I will be taking you down a rabbit hole, or to precise, into a mouse hole. Soo-ooo-ooo... Q1: Introduce yourselves, gorge on that Stinking Bishop, and tell us what sort of fiction you write. #HorrorWritersChat

Stephanie Ellis reposted

The therapist told me to stop #fuelling my negative thoughts and just focus on what makes me happy. So, I blocked her number and bought a shovel. Tonight . #vss365

Domnuill-dhu was my first novella, appearing in the Bloody Heathers antho alongside Graham Masterton. It never appeared in print as publisher closed. For a while it served as a reader magnet, then I took it down and forgot about it. Today, I created a cover & just uploaded to amazon (in review atm).

In a remote part of the Highlands, Domnuill-dhu—the devil himself—walks. Over the centuries, the MacNeil clan has serenaded him with music he composed, music known as the canntaireachd. It is to this land, on the death of his grandfather, that John MacNeil returns. And the land demands a new piper.

There are rural communities with traditions going back centuries: the mummers troupes, the harvests, the music, the dancing, the lore. The Five Turns world takes this and recasts it in the way only the Folk can do. mybook.to/FiveTurnsWorld #booksky #folkhorror #horror #darkfantasy #womeninhorror

Stephanie Ellis reposted

Just one of the folk horror novels in my back catalogue. Harrowfield ✔️Older female MC ✔️Pagan tradition ✔️Occult practitioners ✔️Ancient deity ✔️Ritual & morris dancers 😁 Link to reading sample here (& also free on KU!) stephanieellis.org/folk-horror/ #booksky #folkhorror #FridayReads

Stephanie Ellis reposted

The wood is full of watching eyes. The wood is full of sharp teeth. The wood is full of things that makes burrows in the dark beneath. – Trad. Hookland rhyme