Blog | R.B. Wood - Writer Of Uncanny & Macabre Thrillers

September 6, 2022 No Comments

Things are beginning to pick up in the writing world again!

In ten days, Crystal Lake Publishing will release my Novella The Trickster of Paradise. I’m honored to be in a weird western collection with the talents of James A. Moore and Michael Burke. The collection is called “West of Hell,” and it is the second in CLP’s new Dark Tide series. Early reviews have been great, and the prerelease is already climbing the Amazon charts.

A couple more announcements are forthcoming.

Earlier in the summer, I attended my first in-person convention since Covid…it was truly fantastic to get out of the house and see people I haven’t been able to hug in over two years. I Sat down for over ninety minutes with the great joe Landsdale and he was an absolute blast to hang out with and hear his stories. I love being around people in this industry who have a passion for the storytelling arts…and his Jonax Hex comic series may have been an influence on my weird western novella.

I’m looking to work on a new show with the last episode of the Word Count Podcast long since in the can. I’ve been kicking around a few ideas and will hopefully have an update on them in the fall or early winter. In the meantime, there has been some “writer-adjacent” stuff happening in the background that I can’t chat about yet. Maybe soon, if the stars align.

Finally, the next Novel in the Psalms of the Arcana series is taking shape. I’m nearly 30k words in at this point and expect to have it finished by 2023.

There is, as always, a lot going on, and I’ve missed you guys so much! I hope you all are well, and I’m making a renewed effort to post here more often. The spooky season approaches, and I’ll be at the Merrimack Halloween Book Festival in Haverhill, Massachusetts, next month. More on that soon!

Peace, love, and hair grease!

RBW

(Photo by Tony Tremblay)

Bayou Whispers–Early Reviews!

April 14, 2021 No Comments

A few reviews are trickling in from the Advance Release Copies of the novel we sent out. First up, though, the Press Release went live up at PRWeb and is beginning to grab attention:

Thriller writer R. B Wood announces his latest Book Bayou Whispers which tells the story of a strong female lead and survivor…

And a few reviews. One from Sean M. Sanford at Horror DNA:

The bayou. It’s a world within worlds. Some good things; some bad…

And another from Ashley Perkins (Psibabe) at Game Vortex:

Bayou Whispers by R.B. Wood revolves around Jeannine LaRue…

I’ve been recording interviews like crazy and have a fairly booked schedule through May. This experience is so amazing…and I hope you all join me for the OFFICIAL LAUNCH of Bayou Whispers on 29 April at 8 PM Eastern on FaceBook Live!

Bayou Whispers Online Book Launch Event!

March 25, 2021 No Comments

I will be hosting a Facebook Live event in conjunction with my publisher, Crystal Lake Publishing, on April 29th at 8:00 PM EDT! I’ll be in conversation with the esteemed Todd Keisling, and I’ll read a few scenes from the novel! Sign up today, it’s free!

Early feedback on Bayou Whispers:

Wood wrote a compelling tale steeped in New Orleans flavor and dark magic. The characters are colorful, likable, and altogether a triumph.

—Mercedes M. Yardley, Stoker Award-winning author of “Little Dead Red”

Bayou Whispers is a haunting, touching novel that blends the horrors of everyday life with that of the supernatural. Tapping into the tension and setting of films like Angel Heart and True Detective, this is a hypnotic story told from a place of loss, community, and resolute hope.

—Richard Thomas, author of Disintegration and Thriller Award nominee, Breaker

The secrets in BAYOU WHISPERS unwind like a line of music. But it’s the music that plays just before the monsters jump out.

—Sarah Read, Stoker award-winning author of “The Bone Weaver’s Orchard”

Wood’s Bayou Whispers is a sublime cocktail of horror, supernatural thriller, and urban fantasy, where the mythos of voodoo clashes with the modern day. Fans of Jim Butcher and the Marvel Cinematic Universe will love this.

—Todd Keisling, Bram Stoker nominated author of Devil’s Creek

Bayou Whispers Cover Reveal!

January 28, 2021 2 Comments

In April 2021, my novel Bayou Whispers will be released by Crystal Lake Publishing in both eBook and Paperback formats. Audio to be announced later!

First, the cover:Isn’t that gorgeous? the amazing Kip Ayers is the artist. And I love that blurb from Mercedes!

What’s the book about?

Bayou Whispers is the story of no-nonsense New Orleans native, Jeannine LaRue, the sole survivor of her family after the devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina. In the aftermath of the storm, she believed she’d been saved, but soon found herself held hostage and sexually exploited, rescued months later by sheriff’s deputy Curtis Jones.

Twelve years after Katrina, Jeannine is a new attorney who returns to New Orleans to save her old friend Curtis Jones—now a local thief and trafficker of stolen goods—after he is arrested for the murder of Jeannine’s captors, whose bodies have recently been found. But Jeannine discovers more than she bargained for when she uncovers a family history of dark voodoo magic and an unholy alliance with an ancient evil Haitian god.

There will be an online launch event at the end of April and a host of other activities planned. I can’t wait to get this one in your hands!

Stay tuned!

Peace, love, and hair grease,

My Interview on “The Writer’s Voice Podcast!”

January 9, 2021 1 Comment

Near the end of 2020. I was interviewed by Linda McHenry of The Writer’s Voice Podcast! What a delightful experience, and we talked for so long about the business, speculative fiction, and my upcoming novel, that my Interview had to be split into two parts. Links are below–I hope you enjoy!

The Writer’s Voice PART I- 30 December 2020

The Writer’s Voice PART 2- 13 January 2021

Submissions open for episode 100–the LAST Word Count Podcast!

October 7, 2020 No Comments

Humans: Of the FUTURE

This is it, dear friends! The last prompt for the Word Count Podcast’s TEN YEAR RUN.

If I had time to be sad, I would be. But there are so many things going on that I’m looking forward to “what’s next.”

More about that later, but first, the Episode 100 visual prompt:

“Humans of the future is the third of three prompts focused on the most dangerous animal of all–namely, us!

What does the future hold for humanity? The #WordCountIrregulars are now tasked to take us to their interpretation of the future for us hairless apes. Is the future a dystopia? utopia? apocalyptic in nature…or hopeful?

You’ll find out soon enough!

We would love to hear from you, either with a story submission or via social media. There is a Facebook Page that could use a few ‘likes.’ The more listeners and contributors we have, the better the shows can be.

There are over 500 original stories at this point—all free for your listening pleasure; all we ask is for people to help get the word out. Click the link:

The Word Count Podcast Facebook Page

If you want to listen to the past (free) shows, the links below will take you to them:

LIBSYN, iTunes

and now on Spotify!

There are ninety-nine shows available right now!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

THE WORD COUNT PODCAST – EPISODE 100 “Humans: Of the Future”

GENRE: Any.

DEADLINE: I must receive your submission by Sunday 25th October 2020 by MIDNIGHT Eastern time.

THE DETAILS: The work must be an original story in English based on the picture theme above.

Do NOT exceed SEVEN minutes.

As this is a podcast, I need to receive a file of YOU, a friend, or multiple friends reading (singing or otherwise performing) your work. MP3 FORMAT ONLY, and please attach your MP3 file to an e-mail and send to me (at) rbwood (dot) com or contact me for a Dropbox link.

Your submission MUST also contain the following:

Your pen name
Your latest bio (DO NOT ASSUME I HAVE YOUR LATEST) Links to your website(s) – Include your personal site, Facebook Fan page, etc.
Your Twitter handle (if you have one)
A photo of you I can use for the show notes
At the end of your recording, please add “This is the author of […] and you’re listening to The Word Count Podcast.”
Permission to use your recording in the podcast.
PLEASE Make sure you have included ALL ARTIFACTS I have asked for. Do not assume I can “Get your picture from the internet” or can “Pull your bio from your web page.”

Send your file to me (at) rbwood (dot) com (or via the dropbox link I can provide) by 25 October 2020. You can also e-mail me with questions beforehand. I do reserve the right NOT to post your submission, but I will communicate that to you should it be the case. I add the ‘Explicit’ tag to the ‘cast, so if your story uses adult themes or language that’s ok—but it should be necessary for the story.

***NOTE: I will NOT accept stories that are discriminatory in ANY WAY (whether it be by race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, etc.), or that include rape. ***

Submissions Open: The Word Count Podcast Episode 99

September 8, 2020 No Comments

Humans: Of the Present

Two episodes left…then we close the book on the Word Count Podcast’s Decade of Original Free Flash Fiction.

I was going to end this year’s theme with the most dangerous animal of all: namely humans. But I felt one show wouldn’t do us monsters justice.

Episode 98 started us with “Humans of the past.” Now I’m looking for present-day stories.

2020 certainly has been a colorful year, to say the least.

The prompt? Something a little uplifting:

It would be so easy to write something terrible about modern humans. Go different, this time. Tell me a happy story.

There are over 500 original stories at this point—all free for your listening pleasure; all we ask is for people to help get the word out. Click the link:

The Word Count Podcast Facebook Page

If you want to listen to the past (free) shows, the links below will take you to them:

LIBSYN, iTunes

and now on Spotify!

There are ninety-eight shows available right now!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

THE WORD COUNT PODCAST – EPISODE 99 “Humans: Of the Present”

GENRE: Any.

DEADLINE: I must receive your submission by Sunday 27th September 2020 by MIDNIGHT Eastern time.

THE DETAILS: The work must be an original story in English based on the picture theme above.

Do NOT exceed SEVEN minutes.

Your submission MUST also contain the following:

Your pen name
Your latest bio (DO NOT ASSUME I HAVE YOUR LATEST) Links to your website(s) – Include your personal site, Facebook Fan page, etc.
Your Twitter handle (if you have one)
A photo of you I can use for the show notes
At the end of your recording, please add “This is the author of […] and you’re listening to The Word Count Podcast.”
Permission to use your recording in the podcast.
PLEASE Make sure you have included ALL ARTIFACTS I have asked for. Do not assume I can “Get your picture from the internet” or can “Pull your bio from your web page.”

Send your file to me (at) rbwood (dot) com (or via the dropbox link I can provide) by 27 September 2020. You can also e-mail me with questions beforehand. I do reserve the right NOT to post your submission, but I will communicate that to you should it be the case. I add the ‘Explicit’ tag to the ‘cast, so if your story uses adult themes or language that’s ok—but it should be necessary for the story.

***NOTE: I will NOT accept stories that are discriminatory in ANY WAY (whether it be by race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, etc.), or that include rape. ***

Submissions Open: The Word Count Podcast Episode 98

August 14, 2020 No Comments

Humans: Of the Past

Three episodes left…then we close the book on the Word Count Podcast’s Decade of Original Free Flash Fiction.

I was going to end this year’s theme with the most dangerous animal of all: namely humans. But I felt one show wouldn’t do us monsters justice.

So Episode 98 will have a loose theme of “having to do with Humans of the past.” Tell a Timetravel story. A story set in the past (and how far back is entirely up to you). The sky is the limit for this month’s prompt–limited only by your imagination!

Ah. You’ll be needing the picture portion of said prompt. I nearly forgot:

Intriguing, no? An ancient skull. Have at it, creatives!

There are over 500 original stories at this point—all free for your listening pleasure; all we ask is for people to help get the word out. Click the link:

The Word Count Podcast Facebook Page

If you want to listen to the past (free) shows, the links below will take you to them:

LIBSYN, iTunes

and now on Spotify!

There are ninety-seven shows available right now!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

THE WORD COUNT PODCAST – EPISODE 98 “Humans: Of the Past”

GENRE: Any.

DEADLINE: I must receive your submission by Sunday 30th August 2020 by MIDNIGHT Eastern time.

THE DETAILS: The work must be an original story in English based on the picture theme above.

Do NOT exceed SEVEN minutes.

Your submission MUST also contain the following:

Your pen name
Your latest bio (DO NOT ASSUME I HAVE YOUR LATEST) Links to your website(s) – Include your personal site, Facebook Fan page, etc.
Your Twitter handle (if you have one)
A photo of you I can use for the show notes
At the end of your recording, please add “This is the author of […] and you’re listening to The Word Count Podcast.”
Permission to use your recording in the podcast.
PLEASE Make sure you have included ALL ARTIFACTS I have asked for. Do not assume I can “Get your picture from the internet” or can “Pull your bio from your web page.”

Send your file to me (at) rbwood (dot) com (or via the dropbox link I can provide) by 30 August 2020. You can also e-mail me with questions beforehand. I do reserve the right NOT to post your submission, but I will communicate that to you should it be the case. I add the ‘Explicit’ tag to the ‘cast, so if your story uses adult themes or language that’s ok—but it should be necessary for the story.

***NOTE: I will NOT accept stories that are discriminatory in ANY WAY (whether it be by race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, etc.), or that include rape. ***

Submissions Open: The Word Count Podcast Episode 97

June 15, 2020 No Comments

Strength in Numbers

This bloody year, huh?

My only hope, as someone who lived through various social upheaval cycles, is that what is happening now will truly lead to social justice and equality. “Numbers” get things done. Many voices are louder than one voice. And with our annual theme of animals, we’ve selected a ‘clan’ of Meerkats looking to protect their burrow and each other:

I’m calling the episode “Strength in Numbers.” Let’s see what our Word Count Irregulars make of this one!

There are over 500 original stories at this point—all free for your listening pleasure; all we ask is for people to help get the word out. Click the link:

The Word Count Podcast Facebook Page

If you want to listen to the past (free) shows, the links below will take you to them:

LIBSYN, iTunes

and now on Spotify!

There are ninety-six shows available right now!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

THE WORD COUNT PODCAST – EPISODE 97 “Strength in Numbers”

GENRE: Any.

DEADLINE: I must receive your submission by Sunday 28th June 2020 by MIDNIGHT Eastern time.

THE DETAILS: The work must be an original story in English based on the picture theme above.

Do NOT exceed SEVEN minutes.

Your submission MUST also contain the following:

Your pen name
Your latest bio (DO NOT ASSUME I HAVE YOUR LATEST) Links to your website(s) – Include your personal site, Facebook Fan page, etc.
Your Twitter handle (if you have one)
A photo of you I can use for the show notes
At the end of your recording, please add “This is the author of […] and you’re listening to The Word Count Podcast.”
Permission to use your recording in the podcast.
PLEASE Make sure you have included ALL ARTIFACTS I have asked for. Do not assume I can “Get your picture from the internet” or can “Pull your bio from your web page.”

Send your file to me (at) rbwood (dot) com (or via the dropbox link I can provide) by 28 June 2020. You can also e-mail me with questions beforehand. I do reserve the right NOT to post your submission, but I will communicate that to you should it be the case. I add the ‘Explicit’ tag to the ‘cast, so if your story uses adult themes or language that’s ok—but it should be necessary for the story.

One minor note: 28 June is also my brother’s 60th birthday!!

***NOTE: I will NOT accept stories that are discriminatory in ANY WAY (whether it be by race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, etc.), or that include rape. ***

Submissions Open: The Word Count Podcast Episode 96

May 8, 2020 No Comments

Who Goes There?

Wisdom is something we need but sorely lack these days from those we’ve chosen to lead us. Perhaps, here in the US, we’ll change that come this November.

While the pandemic continues its rampage through the population, murder-hornets are gathering in Washington state, and (as I write this) a Polar Vortex is descending into the North East for the next few days.

We truly need the wisdom of the ancients these days. Towards that end and keeping with our annual theme of animals, we give you this month’s prompt:

I’m calling the episode “Who Goes There?” Let’s see what our Word Count Irregulars make of this one!

There are over 500 original stories at this point—all free for your listening pleasure; all we ask is for people to help get the word out. Click the link:

The Word Count Podcast Facebook Page

If you want to listen to the past (free) shows, the links below will take you to them:

LIBSYN, iTunes

and now on Spotify!

There are ninety-five shows available right now!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

THE WORD COUNT PODCAST – EPISODE 95 “Who Goes There?”

GENRE: Any.

DEADLINE: I must receive your submission by Sunday 24th May 2020 by MIDNIGHT Eastern time.

THE DETAILS: The work must be an original story in English based on the picture theme above.

Do NOT exceed SEVEN minutes.

Your submission MUST also contain the following:

Your pen name
Your latest bio (DO NOT ASSUME I HAVE YOUR LATEST) Links to your website(s) – Include your personal site, Facebook Fan page, etc.
Your Twitter handle (if you have one)
A photo of you I can use for the show notes
At the end of your recording, please add “This is the author of […] and you’re listening to The Word Count Podcast.”
Permission to use your recording in the podcast.
PLEASE Make sure you have included ALL ARTIFACTS I have asked for. Do not assume I can “Get your picture from the internet” or can “Pull your bio from your web page.”

Send your file to me (at) rbwood (dot) com (or via the dropbox link I can provide) by 24 May 2020. You can also e-mail me with questions beforehand. I do reserve the right NOT to post your submission, but I will communicate that to you should it be the case. I add the ‘Explicit’ tag to the ‘cast, so if your story uses adult themes or language that’s ok—but it should be necessary for the story.

***NOTE: I will NOT accept stories that are discriminatory in ANY WAY (whether it be by race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, etc.), or that include rape. ***

Submissions Open: The Word Count Podcast Episode 95

April 10, 2020 No Comments

Sssssilence

We need a little distraction from world events–so let’s do an OPEN CALL for the next #WordCountPodcast, shall we?

Just please remember to read and follow the guidelines listed below and to #washyourdamnhands.

As you probably gathered from the annual theme of “animals and the multiple S’ in the title, the animal prompt for this month is a creature that I love, namely the SNAKE:

I’m calling the episode “Sssssilence.” Let’s see what our writers make of that!

There are over 500 original stories at this point—all free for your listening pleasure; all we ask is for people to help get the word out. Click the link:

The Word Count Podcast Facebook Page

If you want to listen to the past (free) shows, the links below will take you to them:

LIBSYN

iTunes

There are ninety-four shows available right now!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

THE WORD COUNT PODCAST – EPISODE 95 “Sssssilence”

GENRE: Any.

DEADLINE: I must receive your submission by Sunday 26th April 2020 by MIDNIGHT Eastern time.

THE DETAILS: The work must be an original story in English based on the picture theme above.

Do NOT exceed SEVEN minutes.

Your submission MUST also contain the following:

Your pen name
Your latest bio (DO NOT ASSUME I HAVE YOUR LATEST) Links to your website(s) – Include your personal site, Facebook Fan page, etc.
Your Twitter handle (if you have one)
A photo of you I can use for the show notes
At the end of your recording, please add “This is the author of […] and you’re listening to The Word Count Podcast.”
Permission to use your recording in the podcast.
PLEASE Make sure you have included ALL ARTIFACTS I have asked for. Do not assume I can “Get your picture from the internet” or can “Pull your bio from your web page.”

Send your file to me (at) rbwood (dot) com (or via the dropbox link I can provide) by 26 April 2020. You can also e-mail me with questions beforehand. I do reserve the right NOT to post your submission, but I will communicate that to you should it be the case. I add the ‘Explicit’ tag to the ‘cast, so if your story uses adult themes or language that’s ok—but it should be necessary for the story.

***NOTE: I will NOT accept stories that are discriminatory in ANY WAY (whether it be by race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, etc.), or that include rape. ***

Submissions Open: The Word Count Podcast Episode 94

March 17, 2020 No Comments

Isolation

2020 has been a really fucked up year so far, hasn’t it?

Australia was burning, a passenger liner shot down, mass shootings, and now the world has ground to a near halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It makes me hyperventilate just thinking about all this.

Therefore, I present to you a small distraction. It’s time for ANYONE to submit a new story for the show!

As an homage, if you will, for self-isolation, the prompt this month (in conjunction with the overall theme of ANIMALS) is“Isolation”

I’m looking for stories this time around about sole survivors, wolves, dogs etc.

The guidelines for submission to the show are below–and anyone can send in a story for consideration. I’m always open to new writers and new ideas.

There are over 500 original stories at this point—all free for your listening pleasure; all we ask is for people to help get the word out. Click the link:

The Word Count Podcast Facebook Page

If you want to listen to the past (free) shows, the links below will take you to them:

LIBSYN

iTunes

There are ninety-three shows available right now!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

THE WORD COUNT PODCAST – EPISODE 94 “Isolation”

GENRE: Any.

DEADLINE: I must receive your submission by Sunday 29th March 2020 by MIDNIGHT Eastern time.

THE DETAILS: The work must be an original story in English based on the picture theme above.

Do NOT exceed SEVEN minutes.

As this is a podcast, I need to receive a file of YOU, a friend, or multiple friends reading (singing or otherwise performing) your work. MP3 FORMAT ONLY, and please attach your MP3 file to an e-mail or contact me for a Dropbox link.

Your submission MUST also contain the following:

Your pen name
Your latest bio (DO NOT ASSUME I HAVE YOUR LATEST)
Links to your website(s) – Include your personal site, Facebook Fan page, etc.
Your Twitter handle (if you have one)
A photo of you I can use for the show notes
At the end of your recording, please add “This is the author of […] and you’re listening to The Word Count Podcast.”
Permission to use your recording in the podcast.
PLEASE Make sure you have included ALL ARTIFACTS I have asked for. Do not assume I can “Get your picture from the internet” or can “Pull your bio from your web page.”

Send your file to me (at) rbwood (dot) com (or via the dropbox link I can provide) by 29 March 2020. You can also e-mail me with questions beforehand. I do reserve the right NOT to post your submission, but I will communicate that to you should it be the case. I add the ‘Explicit’ tag to the ‘cast, so if your story uses adult themes or language that’s ok—but it should be necessary for the story.

***NOTE: I will NOT accept stories that are discriminatory in ANY WAY (whether it be by race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, etc.), or that include rape. ***

And for GOD’S SAKE wash your bloody hands!!

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