Tag: Literature

Ask the Author

Ask the Author: Can genre fiction be literary?

Mandy Webster

Dear Mandy,

Can genre fiction be literary?

Genre fiction isn’t trying to tiptoe past the literary gatekeepers—it’s already storming the pedestal. Depth, fun, dragons, and dystopias: all at once. Who says you can’t have it all?”

Answer: IDK, Patty, do you think works by Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley are literary? If so, do you think they aren’t also genre fiction? What about Wuthering Heights (gothic/mystery), Brave New World (dystopian), or The Lord of the Rings (epic fantasy)?

Exactly.

This question comes up a lot, and it’s usually asked with the unspoken assumption that genre fiction sits a rung or two below “real” literature. As if, once you introduce a murder, a monster, a dragon, or a dystopian government, depth immediately evacuates the premises. So, let’s slow down and actually unpack what we’re talking about.

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Essays

Thankful for stories: how books anchor us during the holidays

Mandy Webster

As the holidays approach, our lives often feel packed with family obligations, travel, and the endless bustle of preparation. It’s easy to get swept up in the chaos, but there’s a quiet refuge I return to every year: stories. Books have a way of anchoring us, even during the busiest, most stressful times, offering both comfort and connection.

Some of my favorite stories are those I’ve heard around the dinner table with family and friends!

I’m grateful for the ways reading bridges generations—like the book you lent your sister, or the series your grandma read to you as a child, which she also read to your father and that you eventually shared with your own kids. Stories create shared experiences across time, connecting us in ways that linger long after the last page is turned.

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Essays

Writing (and reading) through the holiday chaos: finding focus when life gets loud

Mandy Webster

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and connection, but for many of us, they also bring a whirlwind of obligations: family gatherings, travel, shopping, cooking, and endless to-do lists. Amid the chaos, finding time to write, read, or simply pause can feel impossible. Yet even during the busiest season of the year, it’s possible to carve out moments for creativity and reflection—if you approach it with intention and compassion.

Amid the holiday bustle, it’s important to carve out a moment for yourself to write and reflect—even when life around you is loud.
  • Set smaller, achievable goals: When life is hectic, long writing sessions or ambitious reading lists can feel overwhelming. Break your projects into smaller, manageable chunks. Write for twenty minutes in the morning, read a chapter before bed, or jot down ideas in a notebook while sipping your coffee. Small, consistent efforts often add up more than you realize—and they keep your creative momentum alive.
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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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Find Your Next Read

Books to curl up with this late fall: cozy, reflective reads for Thanksgiving break

Mandy Webster

As the days grow shorter and the first hints of winter settle in, it’s the perfect time to slow down and curl up with a book that invites reflection, connection, and comfort. Late November in the northern hemisphere carries a special energy—between the flurry of holiday preparations and the quiet of bare trees and crisp evenings, readers often crave stories that soothe, inspire, and remind us of the bonds that matter most. This year, I’ve rounded up four titles that capture the spirit of the season, each in its own way offering moments of introspection, warmth, and hope.

It’s that cozy time of year—curl up with a good book, a warm cup of tea, and watch the world turn golden outside your window.

Valley of the Bees by Amanda L Webster (oh hey, that’s me!)

Set in a world where honeybees are nearly extinct, Valley of the Bees follows Valley as she navigates family, friendships, and self-discovery in a rural community. Her life changes dramatically on her sixteenth birthday, when she must balance tradition, duty, and personal choice amidst a backdrop of plague and village intrigue. At its heart, this novel is about family bonds, connection to the land, and the courage to chart your own path—perfect for readers looking for reflection and emotional richness as the season turns.

The black and yellow cover of the novel, Valley of the Bees featuring the title in bold print with a bee underneath.
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Writers on Writing

Creepy characters we love to hate (and secretly can’t)

Mandy Webster

There’s something fascinating about a character who creeps you out, makes you uneasy, or shocks you with their actions—but somehow, you can’t bring yourself to hate them completely. These are the villains and morally gray characters who blur the line between right and wrong, forcing readers to wrestle with their own sense of judgment. They unsettle us, intrigue us, and make our hearts race, which is why they are perfect companions for October reading.

Sure, she’s pretty. But there’s also something uncanny about her. Do you trust her?

In thrillers and suspense novels, some characters are written to be frighteningly clever, ruthless, or unpredictable, yet their motivations or circumstances make their actions feel, at least in part, understandable. In How to Kill Men and Get Away with It by Katy Brent, the protagonist’s cunning and dark choices are chilling, but her perspective invites empathy and even admiration for her ingenuity. Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen and This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wells present characters whose morally questionable or violent actions are layered with complexity—making you uneasy, yet unable to fully condemn them.

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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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Writers on Writing

The psychology of fear in literature and why we can’t look away #spooktober

Mandy Webster

There’s something irresistible about a story that makes our hearts race and our palms sweat, even when we know we’re perfectly safe on our couch. Fear in literature taps into a deep part of our psyche, and understanding why we seek it out can make us appreciate the stories that haunt us even more.

Why do we love to read spooky stories, especially in October?

Fear works in books because it connects to emotions we experience in real life: anxiety, uncertainty, and the unknown. When we read a thriller like Her One Regret by Donna Freitas, we feel the suspense of a character navigating danger and deception, our brains mirroring their tension as if it were our own. Horror, on the other hand, like Salt Bones by Jennifer Givhan or Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce, introduces us to scenarios that feel uncanny or impossible. Our minds grapple with the unknown, the supernatural, and the morally unsettling, creating a lingering sense of dread.

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Author Interview

Author interview with poet Shadrin Lee Schneider

Mandy Webster

Shadrin Lee Schneider grew up in Pekin, Illinois. As a graduate of Graham Hospital School of Nursing in 2009, Shad now works as a nurse and a deputy coroner. To relax, Schneider enjoys writing, traveling with his wife Susan (the editor of his books), listening to podcasts and music, walking, and brewing beer.

The cover of a book of poems and shorts titled, "Perpetually Eating Multicolored Sprinkles" by Shadrin Lee Schneider.
Shadrin Lee Schneider is the author of two books of poems and shorts, “Perpetually Eating Multicolored Sprinkles” and “Nobody Likes Pants,” as well as two children’s books, “Crunchers” and “Don’t be a Wiggle-Wop.” His books are available on Amazon.

Q: When did you first catch the writing bug? What drove you to persist?

A: As a registered ER nurse, I started watching less TV and started writing poetry as a way to relax during Covid. I found it very therapeutic, so I kept writing throughout the pandemic, sometimes during a quiet evening, sometimes while out walking. I would even challenge myself to write a single poem during the time it took while waiting in line when shopping. Creative writing definitely helped me survive that challenging time as a healthcare worker and has stuck with me since.  

Q: What/who were your early literary influences, and how do you think their writing has shaped you as a storyteller today?

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