This month, we have our first writer for Shelf Edition! Gloria McNeely is an Irish horror writer, reviewer, bookstagrammer, and horrorlesque performer to boot. Currently querying her own demon possession novel, she’s always looking for more books to review on her dark fiction blog.
Do you have any recent favorite LOHF books?
Yes, I’ve recently picked up some horror anthologies edited by women that I’m excited to read. ‘Irish Ghost Stories’ edited by Rosemary Gray, and ‘Phantoms’ edited by Marie O’Regan. I think we look for stories written by women a lot and forget to support women who edit anthologies, publish horror etc. Recently I’ve read ‘Something Borrowed Something Blood Soaked’ by Christa Carmen – inspired me to edit some of my own horror short stories.
What LOHF books do you have on your TBR?
At the minute I have quite a few ebooks – so easy to download, so easy to overlook when they aren’t sitting on your desk threatening to fall on your head! The eBooks I am looking forward to are ‘Blood Drops’ by WB Welch and ‘Forest Underground’ by Lydian Faust. In my physical TBR pile I’m yet to enjoy ‘We have Always Lived In The Castle’ by Shirley Jackson, and ‘The Unforeseen’, second in a two-part gothic series by Ireland’s (and my very own Donegal’s) very own Shirley Jackson, Dorothy MacArdle. Those were both re-printed recently by a female owned Irish publisher called Tramp Press who champion all kinds of writing and won’t publish anyone unless they can name five female writers they look up to. I love Tramp Press.
Where do you find recommendations? Are there any LOHF books that have been recommended to you that you loved?
I don’t get enough recommendations and I am always on the lookout for more! I try to follow a lot of reviewers and writers on Twitter and Instagram to see what they’re reading and love getting ask to review for my own blog – but don’t get nearly enough ladies in getting in contact with me. Obviously I follow LOHF religiously and find so much good stuff there. The first book I reviewed on my horror review blog was sort of recommended by Twitter and I even got to attend the launch and meet the author. ‘Dark Wood Dark Water’ by Tina Callaghan is a great YA horror set in Ireland deals with a haunted river and the ghost of a medieval monk. Also reviewed on my blog was ‘Late Night Partners’ by Fennel Steuert, an Indie urban vampire story with diverse characters.
Where do you shop for books?
Aside from the obvious online store, I like to buy directly from the author website when I can, and failing that I support my local indie bookshops like ‘The Gutter Bookshop’ here in Dublin and ‘Books Upstairs’ as well, and even the historical ‘Hodges Figgis’. These are shops that support local authors and throw great book launches where I’ve met authors in the community and got signed books, which is always great for Instagram photos!
Are there any upcoming LOHF releases you’re excited about?
I can’t think of any at the moment but I want more to be excited about! If anyone has any suggestions for releases I can review or just enjoy, please let me know!
Can you tell us anything about your own new or upcoming releases?
So, at the minute I don’t have anything published but I’m about to change that. I have a full MS with a publisher at the minute and am sending it out to agents this month. My first novel will deal with demon possession through the lens of a young girl in the broken Irish foster care system with help from half Nigerian female medium. I’m also working on a second novel which is about the majesty and mystery of a dark and evil tree taking over a small town. I’ll be posting short stories to my blog soon as well, so follow me there if you want more writing!
Where can people find you on social media?
Twitter – @gloralot
Instagram – @gloriamcneelywriter
Horror Review Blog – gloriamcneelywriter
Thank you so much for sharing with us, Gloria! Readers, let us know if you want to share your shelves, too!
No comments:
Post a Comment