Robert P. Ottone's Blog, page 2

Hi folks! In an effort to support SpecialEffect, the gamers' charity, Robert P. Ottone, author and publisher of Spooky House Press, will be joining the crew at Nerds Without Pants on their 200th episode.

Head over to the page on JustGiving to learn more!

To that end, the podcast is running a wonderful fundraiser for children who require accessibility support. Please consider donating to this amazing cause. The top two donators will receive prizes courtesy of Nerds Without Pants and Robert P. Ottone!

Boarded Windows, Dead Leaves

People: A Horror Anthology About Love, Loss, Life & Things That Go Bump in the Night

Rob here!

​So, I've been working on a story for a while now. It's a weird one, definitely firmly in the realm of "weird fiction," and it was spawned from a really lovely writing group meeting I attended back before the world started ending in March of 2020. 

The story itself is a bizarre one, lacking in answers, but deeply-creepy and strange, and, I like to think, a little touching. At least, that's what some of my critique group members have said. 

And yet, I can't sell the damn thing. 

I've edited the story three times now, more than I have any story that I've sold, and yet, I can't find a buyer or outlet for the thing, even though I think it's strong, and it's been worked on by a few different groups of talented authors, there's some weird reason this thing can't find a home.

It'll end up in my next anthology, for sure, but at the same time, I'd love to find it a temporary first home where folks can read it and get creeped out by it. 

The missing ingredient needs to be found, and even after three re-writes, it's still not there. The point is, your stories and writing won't always be perfect, and more often than not, you won't know the reason why something isn't working. 

The way to fix this is to get involved in writing groups and critique groups. It's a scary thing, for sure, but in the end, the feedback will make you a stronger writer, I promise. Check Facebook, check your local library, join an organization, do whatever you can to get your work looked at by different eyes, and I promise you'll grow from it.

Even when you can't figure out what the missing piece of the puzzle is, like me. 

Robert P. Ottone's new collection, Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares is now available wherever fine books are sold!

To purchase online:
Amazon

Robert P. Ottone will be hosting a number of online readings and events in the month of October in support of his new short story collection Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares.

The dates and locations are as follows: 

October 8th - Galactic Terrors (online)
October 13th - Brentwood Public Library (online registration required) - 7pm
October 14th - Riverhead Public Library (online registration required) - 7pm
October 29th - Jericho Public Library (online registration required) - 2pm
October 29th - Sayville Public Library (Facebook Live) - 7pm

*More To Be Added

"This is a collection of horror stories that dives into many different types of horror including creepy creatures and supernatural stories with some twists that I didn't see coming. All in all a very solid collection of dark nightmares." - @LastBookOnTheLeft (Instagram)

"One of his greatest strengths is this ability to pull powerful metaphors out of nightmarish horror yarns. Another is his skill in building ominosity in seemingly safe settings, whether it be a Midtown office building or a mountain cabin. Because of that, his psychological horror is especially powerful." - Rebecca Rowland,

Michael Jess Alexander's collection of masterful horror has received Indies Today's 5-star Recommended Badge! That means they really loved it! 

​​We think you'll love it, too! Get your copy here! 

Hey everybody! Spooky House Press is proud to announce that Michael Jess Alexander's collection of short horror fiction is now available in paperback and pre-order for Kindle from Amazon!

​Please check it out here. 

From the back cover:

From cultish rituals to cosmic horror, Michael Jess Alexander's collection of horror fiction will leave you disquieted and unsettled.

In "Chatterbox," a college professor is haunted by the spirit of a former student.

"A Profound Impact" tells the story of a lost group of people who finally find a place they belong.

In "Space For Amateurs," a science experiment goes horribly awry.
​
These tales and six others await you in this haunting volume of horror fiction. 

Click here to read Robert P. Ottone's latest story,  Support , over at Blood Moon Rising magazine's website! The story will be featured in his next collection, due out in September of 2020.