Tag: Bad Moon on the Rise

Author Interview

Author interview with ROAMING

Mandy Webster

With a voice that drifts between myth and memory, ROAMING’s work feels like stepping into a dream where beauty and terror walk hand in hand. Their narrative poem J’ai Besoin De La Morte, featured in Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling, captures that delicate balance perfectly. In this interview, ROAMING discusses the influence of authors like Holly Black and Angela Slatter, the intertwining of art and myth in their creative process, and how they’ve learned to embrace the chaos of storytelling as both a mirror and a calling.

ROAMING’s work appears in the recently released Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling.

Q: What/who were your early literary influences, and how do you think their writing has shaped you as a storyteller today?
A: Holly Black. She’s the Queen of Faerie. I first read The Spiderwick Chronicles when I was eight or nine, then got into her Modern Faerie Tale series, and have absorbed everything she’s put out since. Her writing was what taught me that things can be beautiful and terrifying, which is something I’ve carried forth into my own writing.

Continue reading “Author interview with ROAMING” →
Author Interview

Author interview with Becky Healy

Mandy Webster

From newspaper deadlines to creative freedom, writer Becky Healy has spent a lifetime chasing stories. Her nonfiction piece, The Bad Moon and Me, appears in Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling, where she blends the sharp instincts of a journalist with the reflective tone of a storyteller exploring new terrain. In this interview, Becky shares how childhood mysteries sparked her love of writing, what keeps her inspired today, and how her definition of success has evolved from Oscar dreams to the quiet satisfaction of connecting with readers.

Becky Healy’s work appears in the recently released Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling.

Q: What’s a memory of a story or book that made you realize you wanted to be a writer?
A: When I was in the fourth grade, I remember walking into my classroom one day and deciding I wanted to be a writer. I loved reading, especially the Nancy Drew mystery series, and the idea of creating these kinds of stories appealed to me. I didn’t know what kind of writing I wanted to do or how I would make it a career, but my decision to be a writer was born that day.

Continue reading “Author interview with Becky Healy” →
Author Interview

Interview with poet Jack Love

Mandy Webster

Jack Love’s poem “Cured Are You Above All,” featured in Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling, reveals a writer deeply attuned to the beauty and complexity of everyday life. A lifelong reader inspired by the fantastical worlds of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and Rick Riordan, Love’s influences now span from the poetic precision of Langston Hughes and W.B. Yeats to the immersive storytelling of modern science fiction. In this interview, he reflects on how parenthood, memory, and simplicity shape his work—and how he balances creativity, academia, and the ongoing pursuit of artistic growth.

Q: What/who were your early literary influences, and how do you think their writing has shaped you as a storyteller today?
A: For a large part, it was the conventional children’s authors who had significant influence on my interest in writing. I remember loving C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, Roald Dahl, and Tolkien’s Hobbit. I also remember thoroughly enjoying Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, which was being published while I was a kid. I think these writers (among many others) shaped me while I was young because they imagine such fantastic worlds that you can lose yourself in. As a kid, I recall trying to mimic their world-building by creating my own strange worlds when I would play by myself.

Continue reading “Interview with poet Jack Love” →
Find Your Next Read

Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling is Here!

Mandy Webster

The wait is over! Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling is officially released and ready to haunt your bookshelves. This collection brings together an extraordinary group of writers, artists, and creators who explore life under a dark sky—whether literal or metaphorical. From chilling short fiction to thought-provoking essays and striking black-and-white art, this anthology dives into the unsettling, the eerie, and the uncanny.

We are thrilled to showcase the work of our incredible contributors:

Continue reading “Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling is Here!” →
Find Your Next Read

Kindle pre-orders now open for Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling

Mandy Webster

The moon has turned dark, and something is stirring—Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling is now available for Kindle pre-order!

What stirs when the moon turns dark? A secret long buried, a shadow at the edge of vision, a reckoning that cannot be avoided.

This collection gathers stories, essays, poetry, and art that explore the uncanny corners of life. Within these pages, you’ll encounter merpeople and vampires, terrifying nights in the wilderness, the quiet horror of domestic violence, poisonous plants, the extremes of human appetite, and all the small and large ways life can unsettle us.

Continue reading “Kindle pre-orders now open for Bad Moon on the Rise: An Anthology of the Unsettling” →
Call for Submissions, Writing Prompts

Sharpen your skills: Why writers need regular exercises (Plus a 350-word prompt!)

Mandy Webster

Even the most seasoned authors need practice. Just like athletes train their bodies, writers must train their minds and creative muscles. Regular writing exercises aren’t just a warm-up—they’re essential for growth. Whether you’re working on a novel, poetry, or short fiction, small prompts can help you hone your voice, explore new ideas, and build confidence on the page.

Hey, writers! We want YOU to submit your writing to our upcoming Bad Moon on the Rise anthology! Learn more here!

One of the most valuable benefits of regular writing practice? It teaches you to write concisely. When you’re forced to distill a story down to its essence, every word matters. You learn to tighten your prose, heighten your stakes, and let your ideas breathe in a limited space. That’s a skill that serves you well whether you’re submitting to literary journals, writing query letters, or polishing your latest manuscript.

Continue reading “Sharpen your skills: Why writers need regular exercises (Plus a 350-word prompt!)” →
Call for Submissions

Under a dark sky: Elderfly Press announces open submissions for Bad Moon on the Rise

Mandy Webster

Something is stirring in the shadows—and Elderfly Press wants you to capture it.
Submissions are now open for Bad Moon on the Rise, a new anthology that delves into what it means to live under a dark sky—literally or metaphorically. Whether you’re drawn to haunted landscapes, personal reckonings, or the eerie quiet of things unraveling, this is your chance to contribute to a collection where strange winds and long-buried truths come to light.

What Elderfly Press is looking for:

This anthology invites a wide range of voices and forms:

  • Genre fiction: horror, speculative, gothic, dystopian, weird, sci-fi, supernatural—anything that chills, disturbs, or unsettles
  • Literary fiction: moody, shadowed, emotionally raw
  • Essays: on upheaval, transformation, liminality, or living through cultural shifts
  • Poetry: rooted in chaos, shadow, or change
  • Visual art: black-and-white pieces that evoke the mood of the anthology
Continue reading “Under a dark sky: Elderfly Press announces open submissions for Bad Moon on the Rise” →