Dark, soulful tales that haunt long after the last page.
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Oklahoma Gothic: Horror in Flyover Country
Oklahoma Gothic: Horror in Flyover Country When most people think of Gothic horror, they imagine crumbling castles, fog-drenched moors, or Spanish moss hanging off antebellum mansions. But Gothic doesn’t belong exclusively to Europe or the American South. There’s a different kind of Gothic hiding in the plains and hills of Oklahoma. Maybe we don’t have…
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The Thin Wall Between Life and Death in Nursing Homes
Nursing homes have always creeped me out. My first experience in one was in maybe the 4th grade as a Cub Scout. Our den mother took us to a nearby nursing home to sell raffle tickets or something. I remember old women sitting in a lobby like they were waiting for us. Waiting to take…
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What If You Could Never Confess Your Sins?
Imagine being raised to believe in God and Satan, Heaven and Hell, and choosing to allow your baser nature to govern your actions. You’re mean, selfish, abusive to your wife, children, and animals. But you believe it’ll all be okay because you’ll confess or repent on your deathbed. But then you develop dementia and can’t…
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The Healing Power of Literature
This post isn’t about writing. It’s quite a bit about literature, but really it’s about personal problems and healing. I don’t usually share such personal stuff here, but I feel compelled to do it tonight. If that isn’t for you, skip this post, but come back soon. Books have always been my refuge. As a…
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Six Novels and Their Lessons: A Writer’s Reflection
Driving home from the dog park tonight, a random image from my past popped into my head. It was a scene from the fourth novel I finished sometime back in about 1992. You probably know that Shara was my first published novel, originally released in 2003, but it was the seventh novel I’d completed. I…
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From Failure to Flow: My Writing Revival Story
Writers are emotional creatures. Some of us have hot tempers, fragile egos, narcissism, and a host of other issues. These often come with unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drug and alcohol addiction. I’m lucky in that I don’t have the temper, the narcissism (I think) or the addictions. But, yeah, sometimes my ego takes a…
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2024 Books in Review
There was a time I’d read 50 books a year. I can’t seem to do that anymore. In 2024, I read 33 books. Of those, 11 were rereads (in most cases, it had been decades since I last read them). Only six titles earned my 5-star review, but only one got a 1-star review. Let’s…
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Pre-Order _Sycamore Souls_: Release Date and Special Offers
Sycamore Souls, my upcoming novel set for release on November 5, is a heartfelt homage to my hometown, Enid, Oklahoma. The story follows Kelsi, a young woman escaping a troubled past, who learns about love and community while caring for an elderly man. The book is now available for pre-order.
Steven E. Wedel 