Horror Author Martha Wickham: How to beat the rejection pile blues + excerpt

How to beat the rejection pile blues

by Martha Wickham

Being rejected can be a negative experience, but it's definitely a learning one. Disappointment shouldn't last logn. Cut it short. Go for a walk, pet your cat, listen to music and remember there's always another publisher to submit to.

What you should do is have your manuscript edited before submitting. This will keep it looking its best. You don't want to be upset because it was rejected for punctuation and grammar. If they ask if it was edited you can tell them, yes and you can submit with confidence.

Another way to avoid the rejection pile is www.pitchwars.org. It is held on Twitter with the hashtag #PitMad. There are four a year, one every season. You write a short pitch and tweet it a few times a day. Agents and editors heart it if they are interested, you click on them, click their website and submit. I think it's a good idea because you have a lot of people there and more of a chance with likes. Negative comments aren't allowed.

Some very famous books have been rejected many times so maybe the fiftieth submission will be a charm! There are tons of publishers out there. When I had an agent she asked me where I wanted to submit my book. I told her then never heard back. They were silent rejections, but easier to take. Other agents may give you a little feedback about your rejection. I recommend getting an agent. They can help with a lot of submissions.

When writing I would be original and give your character's personality. My favorite books have characters with amazing personalities. They're silly, caring, and loving. That would catch a publisher's eye. Get creative. Write out all your thoughts in your notebook. Sometimes I write out alternate scenes to see which sounds the best. See you on that tidal wave of books.

The Mystery Of Frankenstein's Bride

by Martha Wickham

December 20, 2020
Paranormal, Horror
15 pages

When love takes a turn, what are you willing to do to keep it?

Terra's love life is a monster so she sets out to see her old flame Nathaniel Johnston. But when she finds he is no longer living either, eternity is theirs. Bringing him back will get her a husband because of her passionate feelings for him.

Johnston is her new life, but when they are on their honeymoon in Germany things take a bad turn. The castle they stay in creates too much distance between the two.

Can she get closer to him before it's too late?

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EXCERPT:

Frankenstein stomped through the water and quickly strangled the man watching as the lady gasped. He left on his deadly rampage to terrorize the city! He crept towards the stone structure where he was made and entered. The grounds keeper ran as Frankenstein made his way back to his dwelling place, knocking down the lantern that was left behind. A wood chair caught on fire. 

A mob with torches arrived. They outnumbered him by thirty-five so they weren't afraid. The Frankenstein death toll had been 5. The 6 foot tall monster headed toward the dungeon as the fire burned everything it could. It soon burned the front door. Now no one could get in. 

Dr. Frankenstein appeared. “Why have you done this?” shouted the mob. 

“It was an experiment,” he replied nervous. 

“Just tell us what to do,” came from the mob. 

“Find him and lock him away,” suggested a mob member. 

“That's all we can do,” mob man said. “Is there another way in?” 

“Through the back,” the mad scientist replied. They all ran that way but the smoke and fire warned them not to enter. Even if it looked okay. They could see Frankenstein in a window three stories up. 

“Fire bad,” they could hear the deep voice say. And he was gone. A moment later he broke through a downstairs window and headed into the deep woods. The villagers filled their buckets with water and struggled to put it out before it got to the woods. 

The bride of Frankenstein sat on her throne listening to the radio. Her black lips unhappy from the news. “Another body has been found in the wheat field. It looks like another victim of Dr. Frankenstein's experiment,” the radio announced. It looked like her fiance would not return soon. But they were perfect for each other. They were undead, engaged, and hated fire. Only he was killing nice, decent, innocent people. 

She sat and thought about all the young men she loved in her short life. But there was one she loved the most. A banker from Chicago had stolen her heart one summer. He was tall, dark, and handsome. They dated, stayed together, and were in love. They weren't married but were parted by death when she fell ill with pneumonia at only thirty-four. 

In the afterlife she missed him and watched lovingly over him. Suddenly she became angry with Frankenstein. She picked up the table and threw it across the room with ease. It shattered into pieces as she growled. How could he do this to her? She decided she would not marry him. She never wanted to see him again.

About the Author:

Twitter
Martha has studied writing with Writer's Digest and has an Associate’s degree in Social Services. She has also written poems and songs and even studied screen writing and horror. She still writes and likes getting writing prompts. Her favorite author is VC Andrews.

Virtual Book Tour - February 5th - February 25th

February 5 - RABT Book Tours - Kick Off

February 5 - I smell sheep - Guest Post

February 6 - Book Reviews by Virginia Lee - Spotlight

February 7 - Momma and Her Stories - Excerpt

February 8 - Stormy nights reviewing and blogging - Spotlight

February 9 - A Life Though Books - Interview

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February 21 - My Reading Addiction - Interview

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February 24 - Girl with pen - Review

February 25 - Valerie Ullmer - Excerpt

February 25 - RABT Reviews - Wrap Up

Horror Author Martha Wickham: 10 surprising facts readers don't know about me + giveaway

10 surprising facts readers don't know about me.

1. I have written songs. I wrote Find Me and Swept Away and had them recorded and put on youtube. I write poetry for fun and expression and self-published Relaxed Poetry.

2. My cat's name is Buzzy. He is black with green eyes and has food allergies. As long as he eats good food he looks pretty, especially now.

3. My book The Mystery Of Frankenstein's Bride is a series. I am just thinking about book 3. It's going to have the bride and her psychic Rose. I will have to research psychic work. Being at the beginning there are so many things I could write about.

4. I was born in Springfield, Missouri but grew up in Santa Cruz County California where I went to high school. My best friend and I had a lot of fun going to the beach, riding horses, and spending the night in her parents' RV.

5. I am of English, German, and Scottish descent.

6. Put off horror writing for 10-15 years because I didn't like the idea of scaring people, but now I have a horror series. I still don't like scaring people, but horror is so mysterious and unrealistic. I do like writing it sometimes though starting out it was hard writing about things I was scared about. The research is tough also sometimes.

7. I've had bad dreams while writing horror.

8. My mother Doris was an unknown artist. When I was five she painted Disney characters on my bedroom wall. I remember Cinderella and Alice In Wonderland. I wanted her to be my illustrator, but she only ended up drawing a picture for my bookmarks.

9. I wanted to be a writer when I was a child. It was definitely one of the things I wanted to do when I grew up. I was a creative child and took creative writing in high school.

10. Took arts like theater, piano, and ballet in college. My major was in social services, but the funner electives were there.

Love On All Hallows' Eve (The Mystery of Frankenstein's Bride book 2)

by Martha Wickham

August 18, 2021
Horror, ghost story, Halloween

25 pages
Love bites Terra this Halloween night. On All Hallows Eve Terra meets Bobby. He pretends to be a monster while dating her. When she finds out they break up and he and his friend fear her and they kidnap her.

Bobby becomes another Frankenstein so she sees a psychic when she is haunted by him. It is the source of all her troubles. Can she let go of what brought her to life? In the mean time Rose is there to help.

Amazon-Smashwords

EXCERPT

The cold fall air blew over Terra's face and through her long, curly, black hair. It was the night before Halloween and Terra's mind drifted away. She was on one of her late night strolls through the local graveyard. Sitting on a grassy mound she watched the blood moon turn slightly red. This part of Chicago was peaceful and restful. No city to disturb anyone.

Fall leaves blew and circled her a few times then left. Her black lips glistened as she smiled at the night. The reddish moon interested her and she wanted to know more. Why was Samhain so interesting? She didn't know anything about it, but wanted to. She would start by studying the moon.

The night was spent reading a book about it and the fall solstice. It was 1979 and little did she know Halloween had approached at midnight. Heading back home she began to feel alone. Going out at night made her feel lonely. Bride did not know anyone. Her new name was Johnston, but she was not married to that new monster she made long before he was destroyed for being evil. She reflected on her living time with him sometimes. She wanted to meet people. As the sun gave a hint of sunlight it was time to sleep at home and she wondered if Frankenstein would ever come back to claim her?

Probably not.

On Halloween night Terra sat quietly in her room. Creepy cackling and bubbling could be heard, then footsteps. She went outside and saw nothing. The full moon lit the area well. Curiously she headed to the graveyard and sat on a large tombstone. Crickets chirped and fireflies flew, but that was all. It was time to go past the graveyard. Walking near a road she heard voices. Two young men were chatting and a little drunk because they were coming from a Halloween costume party. One was dressed as a vampire with teeth, dark slick hair, pale skin, and a dark cape. The other, his close friend, was Frankenstein. They looked very good. Tall and dark.

Bride approached them.

“It's back that way,” Frankenstein said pointing in the direction of the party.

“I don't need that info from you any more,” Terra said to what she thought was her ex. She walked over to the vampire and put her arm through his. “What part of this country are you from?”

“South of Chicago,” the vampire replied.

“I'm Terra. I'm the bride of Frankenstein, or was. Care to get a drink?” she asked the vampire.

“Why not.” The phony vampire's teeth sparkled. He winked at Frankenstein. “I'm Dracula,” he said to her with a Transylvania accent. He looked so handsome in the dark. Terra didn't look so bad herself.

“I'll see ya later,” Dracula said to Frankenstein. They were off to have a romantic drink.

After the drink it was time to say goodnight. “Can we do it again some time?” she asked.

“Yes,” the vampire said. “I'll come by and get you this Friday evening. We'll have a candle lit dinner at my house.”

“That sounds lovely! Alright.”

He began walking her home. “Don't hate my friend Frankenstein. He can be nice.”

“I know. I was engaged to him once. Didn't know him well. You I'd like to get to know.”

“I will see you then.” He kissed her on the cheek and left her sight.

“I'm going to go out with this girl again. I like her, but I drank too much last time,” Dracula said to Frankenstein with a stomach ache.

“Just don't let her find out your not a vampire. Why does she believe we are monsters?”

“I don't know. Good costumes,” he said shrugging.

“Watch her. I think she's weird.”

“Pretty, but weird. She won't find out. I'll only come out at night,” the vampire swore. “How is it you're not hung over?”

“I hold my liquor,” the green one answered and they both laughed.

“I need to prepare for our Friday dinner. Do you know where I can get a hearse and a coffin? And I want to shop at one of those Halloween stores. They are probably having clearance sales now.”

“I know a company. I'll ask if we can borrow or rent,” Frankenstein said hatefully. “How long can this go on for?”

“I don't know. When it gets tired I'll wait until she loves me and cares for me too much to get mad.

Then I'll tell her.”

About the Author
Goodreads-Smashwords

Martha has studied writing with Writer's Digest and has an associate's degree in Social Services. She has also written poems and songs and even studied screen writing and horror. She still writes and likes getting writing prompts. Her favorite author is VC Andrews. If you purchase and read Martha's books a review would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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