Newt's Nightmares🦎#108

Newt's Nightmares provide subscribers with news on the author's latest work, upcoming releases, and events.

Apr 01, 2025

Newt's Nightmares

Greetings, my wicked darlings!

March was—well, "slow" isn't quite right, because I've been prolific in terms of word count, if not in actually publishable stories. I currently have eight first drafts—a mix of short stories and novellas—that I am working on at the moment, which is far too many. My excuse, or at least my attempt at the vaguest veneer of justification, is that I am spending a lot of time nursing my ill mother. Every time I move between my house and hers, I pick up another project and drop the previous one.

As a semi-disreputable author, I can confirm that doing so is not a productive work habit, but rather a signature blend of my lack of discipline and scatty mindset.

Nevertheless, I have a few achievements to note from March:

Strings Attached

A Heavy Metal Body Horror Short Story: Fraser learns the hard way that unprotected sex can lead to deadly consequences.

Many thanks to Owen Palmer from Burdensome for being the hand model on the front cover—I owe you a Jägermeister.

The story itself is a tribute to two people who feature prominently in my life:

Fraser, a disreputable scumbag biker whom I've known for over twenty years, who taught me 90% of the fruity language I use (and how to change a car tyre).
Veronica, who, as a co-founder (alongside the equally majestic Karen) of SplatterChatter, introduced me to some of the darkest and most deviant splatterpunk books in existence. SplatterChatter helped my writing become darker and more visceral, particularly in Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 3. It constantly challenges me to stretch myself, and I have so much to thank these wonderful women for.

HWA-UK: I've been chosen to co-chair the Horror Writers Association UK Chapter alongside Bronte Rowen. You can expect to see and hear a great deal from us soon, especially from our social media manager, Terri. We have a Discord server—you don't have to be an HWA member to join, but membership unlocks access to some premium channels.

HWA

Discord: https://discord.gg/vmhKyfgs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/477038289165780

Substack:

And, well, I'd best get back to writing. Are were-hyenas in the Holy Land a good concept? I certainly hope so, because that's the next story you'll be getting from me. Deus Vult!

Sweet screams,

Newt

Horror Story Compilations

Beneath The Shadow: 59 FREE horror stories, including: ‘Love. Sex. Death.’, ‘The Hunger’, ‘The Braemoor Incident’, ‘Dark Waters’, and ‘Strings Attached’.

Terrifying Tales: 54 horror stories, including ‘Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 1’, ‘Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 2’, ‘Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 3,’ ‘Festival of the Damned,’ ‘The Morrígan.’

If you enjoyed this email, then please consider Tales of the Macabre, Vol. 1. My first collected works on Amazon containing sixteen short stories and novellas by Newton Webb.