Writing Update

The Year of 7 Anthologies!

/ Darrell Grizzle / Leave a comment


I was honored to be published in 7 anthologies over the past 12 months! Six short stories and one poem. Here they are, along with links on how to buy them:

“Knock Five Times,” a ghost story (based on true-life experiences), in Yay! All Queer (in paperback) (in ebook)

“Monsieur Marais at the Puppet Museum,” my story of waking dreams, a talking cat, and a creepy lighthouse, in Effigies and Incantations: An Anthology of Supernatural Terror, edited by D.C. Phillips (in paperback) (on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited)

“Need to Know,” my first werewolf story (also with ghosts!), in Don’t Ask, Ghosts Tell: An LGBTQ+ Horror Anthology (in paperback) (on Kindle)

“Ephriam,” my Appalachian zombie story, in We Bite Back: A Queer Charity Anthology benefitting the Human Rights Campaign (in paperback) (in ebook)

“A Very Lovely Murder,” my light-hearted story of graverobbing and murder, in Appalachian Strong, a Charity Anthology for Hurricane Helene Relief, from Falstaff Press (in hardcover) (in paperback and Kindle ebook)

“The Pink Revolver,” a crime story featuring two gay hit men, in Detectives, Sleuths, and Nosy Neighbors: Dying for an Answer (in paperback) (in ebook) (this story is a sequel to “Squatch and Behr: Not a Love Story” which appeared in the previous anthology Pink Triangle Rhapsody)

“The Visitor,” my macabre poem in Gathered Here Today: An Open Casket of Art and Poetry (in hardcover and paperback) (in ebook)

On the horizon for 2026 (stories that are in progress or have been accepted for publication):
“Time After Time,” a story of sleep paralysis and time standing still while a demon types on your typewriter
“Washed Ashore”: a dead body found on a desolate beach, a budding gay romance, a sentient raven, and an ancient horror
“The Curse of the Swamp Witch,” a tale of sword and sorcery
“Black Cat of the Forest,” a horror/crime story with a feral werecat
“Asteroid Helmsdeath,” a science fiction story of eldritch horror
…and a not-yet-titled story of dark academia, nightmares, and secret absinthe rituals, set in the Edwardian era

I will also be an Attending Professional again at DragonCon, September 3-7, 2026, in Atlanta! Looking forward to what 2026 will bring!


2025 DragonCon Schedule: Where I’ll Be

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Hope to see you at DragonCon! August 28 through September 1, 2025, in Atlanta! This is my TENTATIVE schedule (everything is tentative at DragonCon until 5 minutes after it happens). I will be updating this post throughout the con itself. I am very proud to be on panels and events this year on the Horror, Urban Fantasy, and Writer’s Tracks.


2025 DragonCon Schedule:

Thursday 7:00 pm: Dark Academia, Chastain 1-2 Westin
Our panel will take a deep dive into this fascinating and very popular literary subgenre, where magic practitioners of various types with often differing goals operate within schools, libraries, and other academic institutions. Panelists: K.A. Linde, Diana Peterfreund, Darrell Z. Grizzle, Mari Mancusi, Carol Malcolm(M), Ingrid Seymour.

Three of my favorite Dark Academia novels

Friday 11:30 pm: Scary Tales and Spooky Music, Chastain 1-2 Westin
Our popular event returns: authors reading scary stories with musical underplaying by Charming Disaster, who will then play a short concert afterwards. Panelists: Charming Disaster, Darrell Z. Grizzle, Leanna Renee Hieber, Beth Dolgner.
RESOURCE: My 99%-true ghost story “Knock Five Times” is in YAY! ALL QUEER, an anthology of queer fantasy and urban fantasy.

Saturday 2:30 pm: A Cozy Conversation About Cozy Horror, Peachtree 1-2 Westin
The term “cozy horror” has gained traction in literary circles in recent years. But what is cozy horror? Let’s find out as we explore the emerging genre’s quiet menace.
Panelists: Darrell Z. Grizzle, Jessi Ann York(M), Clay Gilbert, T. Kingfisher, Leanna Renee Hieber, Bill Bridges.
RESOURCE: My cozy horror story “Monsieur Marais at the Puppet Museum” is in the new anthology EFFIGIES AND INCANTATIONS, edited by D.C. Phillips.

Saturday 4:00 pm: She’s Alive! The Bride of Frankenstein at 90, Peachtree 1-2 Westin
Director James Whale’s “The Bride of Frankenstein” turned 90 years old in 2025. We’ll celebrate this milestone for the classic Universal Monsters film.
Panelists: Crystal Cleveland(M), Cash the Composer, Darrell Z. Grizzle, Bill Bridges, Mark Muncy.

Saturday 10:00 pm: The Other Side of the Veil: Ghosts & Spirits in UF, Chastain 1-2 Westin
Ghosts and spirits in Urban Fantasy take many forms and have a variety of goals and purposes. Our panel will discuss those they employ in their work, as well as others they admire.
Panelists: Delilah S Dawson, Darrell Z. Grizzle, Beth Dolgner, Leanna Renee Hieber, Ashley Poston, Carol Malcolm(M).

Sunday 10:00 am: The Haunted Mind: Mental Health Through the Lens of Horror, Peachtree 1-2 Westin
Our panelists will look at how mental health is portrayed in horror literature: the good, the bad, and the scary.
Panelists: Brent Abell, Nat Cassidy, Jessi Ann York, Erika Lance, Darrell Z. Grizzle, Bill Bridges(M).
RESOURCE: How Horror Movies Taught Me Empathy, a TEDx Talk by Mark Gunnells

Sunday 11:30 am: Out of the Ashes: Queer Stories in the Apocalypse,
Chastain G Westin
Explore the vibrant presence of queer representation in apocalyptic media! This panel celebrates uplifting LGBTQ+ narratives, authentic characters, and the resilience of love and identity amidst chaos. Dive into the stories that prove hope and humanity shine brightest in the darkest times.
Panelists: Birma Gainor (M), Laura Smith-Brese, Deborah Ulmer, Daniel Alexander Lyman, Darrell Z. Grizzle.
RESOURCE: My queer Appalachian apocalypse story “Ephriam” is in WE BITE BACK: A Queer Charity Anthology to benefit the Human Rights Campaign.

Sunday 1:00 pm: Bringing the Scary: Crafting Monsters, Embassy EF Hyatt
What makes a good monster? Our panelists will delve into this topic and discuss the types of monsters, whether human, animal, or supernatural – how to create them, and how to make them scary.
Panelists: Trisha J. Wooldridge(M), Darrell Z. Grizzle, Tony Sarrecchia, Tamsin L. Silver, Jason Cordova, Madaug Hishinuma.
RESOURCE: My werewolf story “Need to Know” is in DON’T ASK, GHOSTS TELL: An LGBTQ+ Horror Anthology.

See you at DragonCon!

Yay! More Short Stories for 2025!

/ Darrell Grizzle / Leave a comment

UPDATED JANUARY 27, 2025:
I’m very proud to announce that my Appalachian zombie story “Ephriam” has been published in We Bite Back, edited by Sage Moon, a charity anthology from Pride With a Bite to benefit the Human Rights Campaign. Click here to buy it in ebook, paperback, or hardcover. APPALACHIAN ZOMBIES FOR THE WIN!


Also, my queer ghost story “Knock Five Times” is in the new anthology, Yay! all queer, from Inkd Publishing! Here’s a link to buy the ebook and here’s a link to buy the paperback or Nook ebook from Barnes & Noble.


I will also have a queer ghost story (this one is set in the Wild West) in the upcoming anthology, Don’t Ask, Ghosts Tell, from Tundra Swan Press. Expected publication date is June 2025. And I’ll have a humorous crime fiction story “The Pink Revolver” in yet another anthology, with an expected publication date of April 2025. More details soon!


And here is my most recent online publication: “Judgment Call,” a “grit lit” noir story set in Georgia in 1987, during the AIDS epidemic. Based on a true story. Here’s the link to the story.

See you online! Here are all my links to social media and other online places I haunt: 
https://linktr.ee/dzgrizzle

DragonCon 2024 and Two New Queer Ghost Stories Coming Soon!

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Two new short stories by me, both of them queer ghost stories, have been accepted for publication in upcoming anthologies, one with an expected publication date of December 2024 and one in the Summer of 2025. More details coming soon!

Here are all my links to social media and other online places I haunt: https://linktr.ee/dzgrizzle

Here is my most recent publication, a “grit lit” noir story set in Georgia in 1987, during the AIDS epidemic. Based on a true story. Here’s the link to the story.

And here is where I’ll be at DragonCon, August 29 through September 2, 2024, in Atlanta. Hope to see you at the con!

THURSDAY 8/29/24 at 8:30 pm
Horror vs. Terror: Which Approach Works Best For You?
Authors tackle the eternal question: which is more effective: horror or terror? Shock and awe or creeping dread? The panelists will share their approaches, exploring the benefits and challenges of each method.
Panelists: Cherie M. Priest, Alexander G. R. Gideon (M), Brent Abell, Darrell Z. Grizzle, Jessi Ann York
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (1 Hour)

FRIDAY 8/30/24 at 10:00 am
Igniting the Horror Muse
Authors are always asked where they get their ideas from. Join us as we pick the brains of our horror author panelists to learn how they get in the right mind to craft their fiction and unleash their chilling tales.
Panelists: Jessi Ann York (M), Darrell Z. Grizzle, Elizabeth Donald, L. Marie Wood, Trisha J. Wooldridge, J. E. Schleicher
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (1 Hour)

FRIDAY 8/30/24 at 4:00 pm
Children of Dorian Gray: LGBTQIA+ Themes in Horror
A celebration of LGBTQIA+ contributions to the horror genre.
Panelists: Jessi Ann York, Jarvis Hammer, Darrell Z. Grizzle (M), Dusty Gannon (Vision Video), Daniel Alexander Lyman
Location: Centennial I Hyatt (1 Hour)

FRIDAY 8/30/24 at 10:00 pm
The Disembodied: Spirits & Ghosts in UF
Ghosts & spirits in Urban Fantasy take many forms & have a variety of goals & purposes. Our panel will discuss those they employ in their work, as well as others they admire.
Panelists: Todd J McCaffrey, Cherie M. Priest, Darrell Z. Grizzle, Leanna Renee Hieber, Carol Malcolm (M), Beth Dolgner
Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (1 Hour)

SATURDAY 8/31/24 in the morning I’ll be donating blood at the annual Robert A. Heinlein “Pay It Forward” Blood Drive

SATURDAY 8/31/24 at 2:30 pm
100 Years of Ed Wood
Celebrate the centennial of the iconic filmmaker Ed Wood, known for his passionate and eccentric approach to cinema. Our panelists will discuss his cult classics like Plan 9 from Outer Space and explore his legacy.
Panelists: Bill Mulligan (M), Daniel Griffith, Laurie Norris, Thomas Mariani, Darrell Z. Grizzle, R. E. Carr
Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (1 Hour)

SATURDAY 8/31/24 at 10:00 pm
101 Fascinating Ways to Kill off a Character
Readers love a good killin’ – if it’s done in an interesting way. Panelists discuss some not-so-common ways they’ve killed characters or favorite authors have killed characters.
Panelists: John Robinson (M), L. Marie Wood, Darin Kennedy, Darrell Z. Grizzle, Bob McGough, Elizabeth Donald
Location: Embassy EF Hyatt (1 Hour)

SUNDAY 9/1/24 at 11:30 am
Unearthing Your Literary Horror Niche
Embark on a frightful journey to uncover the intersection of your deepest, darkest fears and find your writing voice. Explore different dark corners in horror fiction with our panel while you face your fears and learn to unleash your inner darkness on the page.
Panelists: Jessi Ann York (M), Darrell Z. Grizzle, L. Marie Wood, Tony Sarrecchia, Anya Martin, Tom Vandermolen
Time: Sun 11:30 am  Location: Peachtree 1-2 Westin (1 Hour)

SUNDAY 9/1/24 at 4:00 pm
AUTHOR READING SESSION
I will be reading with special guests Jessica Nettles and Jessi Ann York
Location: Hyatt Learning Center, Atrium Tower, Ballroom Level (1 Hour)

MONDAY 9/2/24 at 1:00 pm
A Heady Mix: Magic & Academia in Books & Media
Our panel will take a close look at the fascinating & very popular Dark Academia literary subgenre, focusing on those examples that feature magic practitioners of various types operating within schools, libraries, & other academic institutions.
Panelists: Valerie Dawn Hampton, Darrell Z. Grizzle, JM Paquette, K. N. Lee, Carol Malcolm (M), John Hartness
Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (1 Hour)

Judgment Call

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I’m very proud to have a “grit lit” story in Reckon Review, the online journal of Southern literature and culture (“Dirt Road Driving, Jelly Jar Sipping, Dollar General Shopping”). Previous authors published by Reckon Review include Brian Panowich, S.A. Cosby, and Gabino Iglesias. My story, “Judgment Call,” is set in Georgia in 1987, during the AIDS epidemic. Based on a true story. Here’s the link to the story.

How to Find Me Online (Only Connect)

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My Facebook account was hacked and deleted several months ago, and I have no access to the author page I had created on Facebook. Please note that the only Facebook account that is truly me is my new one: 
https://www.facebook.com/shadowhaunted

I am mostly active these days on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, and Tumblr. You can find all my links, including my Amazon and Goodreads author pages, at this Linktree: https://linktr.ee/dzgrizzle

And you can find links to my published short stories on the About page of this blog.

Here is a pic of my new tattoo on my left inner forearm (February 2024): “only connect,” the epigraph of Howards End by my favorite writer E.M. Forster, and really the theme of all his books (including Maurice, my favorite novel). Typewriter font. Inked by James Tuck, who also did the spooky cover illustration for this website.

“Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die.” ~ from Howards End


See you online!

Lonely Hollows Book Event!

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Join us for a book event at FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, Georgia! Celebrating the new anthology, LONELY HOLLOWS: 15 TALES OF FOLK HORROR, which includes my queer Lovecraftian folk horror story, “Incantation on a Summer Night.” The event features seven local authors who have stories in the book, as well as our awesome cover artist Lynne Hansen. Books will be available for purchase at the event. Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 1:00 pm!

And save the dates: I will be an Attending Professional at DragonCon 2023 (August 31 to September 4) and I’ll be an Author Guest at Multiverse 2023 (October 20-22), both in Atlanta! Here’s a link to get your Multiverse membership: https://purchase.growtix.com/eh/Multiverse_Convention_2023?aa=dzgrizzle23

If you want to read LONELY HOLLOWS on Kindle Unlimited, here’s the link. And my previous collection of short stories is also available on Kindle Unlimited: I NEVER MEANT TO START A MURDER CULT.

Writing Update, Spring 2023

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The Atlanta-area premiere of Moonlight Sonata, with Scissors, the short film by Chris Ethridge based on my story, was awesome! The film was very well received, and the audience laughed at the right places and gasped in horror at the right places. You can read my original short story in my collection, I Never Meant to Start a Murder Cult. Chris made several changes in adapting the story to film, including making the main character female instead of male, but all changes were made with my approval and they all worked out well.

It was such an honor for the film to be screened at the Renegade Film Festival on March 4, 2023! The film is still making the rounds in the film festival circuit, with several screenings in other states still to come. Here’s a photo from the red carpet:

L-R: artist Lynne Hansen, authors Bridgett Nelson and Jeff Strand, me, filmmaker Chris Ethridge

Also, I’m honored to announce that I will be an Attending Professional at DragonCon 2023 (August 31 to September 4) and I’ll be an Author Guest at Multiverse 2023 (October 20-22), both in Atlanta!

I’ve also had several publications since my last update:

The Werewolf and the Vampire Priest, a flash fiction story in the anthology Clarity from Queer Sci Fi

Ghost Child of the Creek, a poem in the horror anthology Georgia Gothic

Squatch and Behr: Not a Love Story, a homoerotic crime fiction tale in Pink Triangle Rhapsody, an anthology of pulp fiction by gay writers (this was especially cool since I was on the same Table of Contents as David Gerrold, one of my literary heroes!)

Selfie in the courtyard of Cool Beans Coffee Roasters on Marietta Square, during the Renegade Film Festival, March 4, 2023. Behind me is the Kennesaw House, one of the most haunted buildings in all of Georgia.

Moonlight Sonata, with Scissors

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Tickets are now on sale for the Atlanta area premiere! Moonlight Sonata, with Scissors will be shown at the Renegade Film Festival, March 3-4, 2023, in the “Southern Discomfort” block of short films, Saturday, March 4, at 7:00 pm. You can buy a ticket to that block or for the whole festival. It’s at the Strand Theatre on Marietta Square, north of Atlanta. Join us! Here’s the link to buy tickets: 
https://earlsmithstrand.secure.force.com/ticket/#/instances/a0F3m000014iNqrEAE

Coming soon to a film festival or horror convention near you: Moonlight Sonata, with Scissors, a short film based on my story from “I Never Meant to Start a Murder Cult and Other Stories.” I’m now in IMDb, thanks to filmmaker Chris Ethridge and producer Dayna Noffke! (And featuring Jeff Strand as Dead Body Under a Tarp in Back of the Truck!) Click here to read the IMDb entry!

Murder Cult! Now on Tumblr

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Here’s a pic of Leonidas the Cat with my short story collection, “I Never Meant to Start a Murder Cult,” available on Kindle Unlimited and in paperback from Amazon. Graverobbers, vengeful ghosts, reluctant killers, dead bodies in trunks, and monstrous entities abound! Check it out! Perfect for holiday gift-giving!

To join me on Tumblr, here’s the link: https://www.tumblr.com/dzgrizzle
My focus on Tumblr will be promoting other writers, as well as posting about my own writing, folk horror, Gothic literature, dark academia, queer academia, and mysticism.

See you on the interwebs!