Tag: Literary

Call for Submissions

Call for Submissions: Mother Monster/Father Fiend

Mandy Webster

Elderfly Press is now accepting submissions for Mother Monster/Father Fiend, a new anthology exploring the shadowed edges of parenthood. We’re looking for short fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and black-and-white artwork that reveal the monstrous, misunderstood, or mythic aspects of motherhood and fatherhood.

This anthology invites you to challenge the cultural scripts of what a “good” parent looks like. Sometimes the monster is real—a parent whose choices hurt, haunt, or unravel the lives of those in their care. Other times, the monster is only a mask placed by society:

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Call for Submissions

Call for Submissions: Be My Weird/Wyrd Valentine

Mandy Webster

Love has always had a dark side—and we want to see yours. Elderfly Press is now accepting submissions for Be My Weird/Wyrd Valentine (working title), an anthology exploring the uncanny, unsettling, and sometimes downright horrifying side of romantic relationships.

We’re looking for stories, poems, essays, and black-and-white art that dive into the strange corners of love and desire—where passion turns perilous, intimacy hums with unease, and devotion blurs the line between beauty and terror. Whether it’s romance that defies reality, affection tinged with dread, or longing that transforms into something unrecognizable, we want work that lingers in the mind and twists the heart. Let the strange, the eerie, and the passionate collide—show us the love that frightens, bewilders, and enthralls.

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Call for Submissions

Now accepting book-length submissions

Mandy Webster

At Elderfly Press, we are committed to publishing bold, literary works that unsettle, provoke, and linger long after the final page. We seek book-length fiction and creative nonfiction that confronts the hidden violence of the world—psychological, social, or supernatural—and gives voice to stories that challenge the patriarchal status quo.

We are especially drawn to:

  • Literary thrillers and suspense novels with a sharp edge.
  • Horror fiction that unsettles through atmosphere, voice, or psychological depth.
  • Creative nonfiction—including memoirs—that could be read with the intensity of a thriller or horror novel.
  • Works that expose the dark underbelly of the patriarchy, pulling back the veil on power, violence, and survival.
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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

Sophistication in Novel Writing: What It Means and How to Achieve It

Mandy Webster

In the world of fiction, sophistication is one of the most admired qualities, yet it’s one of the hardest to define. A sophisticated novel doesn’t necessarily have to be literary or filled with complex language. Instead, it often means that a book has depth, subtlety, and layers that draw readers in, encouraging them to think, feel, and engage with the story on multiple levels. In this post, we’ll explore what sophistication in novel writing really means and offer actionable tips to help you add it to your own work.

Luckily, developing sophistication in your fiction writing doesn’t require that you dress the part!

Sophistication in novel writing involves creating a nuanced story with well-developed characters, an authentic voice, and a narrative that respects the reader’s intelligence. It’s about crafting a story that resonates emotionally and intellectually without needing to be flashy or overly complex. In a sophisticated novel, the layers of meaning are woven into the story itself, revealing themselves naturally as the reader progresses. Sophisticated novels often share a few core characteristics:

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Television

This scammer just tried to get me too!

Mandy Webster
The #scam strikes again?

This afternoon while I was at work, I received both a text message and a voicemail message from a Chris Williams at The Spotlight Network TV. When I Googled it to confirm it was a scam, I found the above blog post from another indie author who had already been contacted by this organization and thought I’d share.

text from scammer

I’m not interested in paying someone to interview me on YouTube, but if someone who actually has a literary following wants to do it for free, I’m always open to requests. Just let me know!