I present …. Yours truly !
And a pic of my cat.
Thank you, @britfantasysoc.bsky.social

Writing this made me more uncomfortable than I am able to put into words.
Let the spectre inhale the last breath you’ll ever take as his lips gently brush across yours. He doesn’t shrink from the rancid smell that emanates from your rotting teeth.
Read on here:
bronterowan.substack.com/p/unbecoming

I wasn’t gonna put any romance in my novel, but some smut just snuck into the opening lines.

I need to start dating again - for research purposes.

My heart just broke a little for this book.

Passion Dedicated to Those We Lost to False Christian Love

Vampires again, but different in style and theme.

Antique bedframe. Made from wood sacrificed by an oak that has witnessed the deterioration of sin. Black leather pillows on sheets of purple velvet. An aria sung by decay and dust.
bronterowan.substack.com/p/passion

#Horror #ShortStory #Gothic

Death Takes a Lover Purple Prose on Purpose

Every full moon night, I gaze into the waterfall breaking through the mountain outside of my hidden cave and select one lost soul.

Tonight, the hands of destiny choose to fall on you.

bronterowan.substack.com/p/death-take...

#UKHorror #PurpleProse #Othering #Grotesque #ShortStory #SecondPerson

Reworking an old short story in order to publish it on my Substack this weekend.
A few brutal truths like the scars on my body and my soul add some extra depth and beauty are needed.

Once there stood a castle high up on the moor
On its grounds, wild heather grew that was the lure
Open your mouth, inhale in wonder
Omens of the end for you to ponder

Read on here: bronterowan.substack.com/p/lured-by-h...

#poetry #gothic #horror #rhyme #verse #themoorsarecallingyourname

It was eighty years ago,
In a cabin on an Appalachian mountain,
That a maiden there was born whom you may know
By the name of Dolly Parton;
And this maiden only wished to give us all her love,
She still spreads it in the world, on the wings of a dove.

Happy 80th, Dolly, and happy 217th, Poe)

The Prince of Darkness and the Bat A Queer and Gothic Fairy Tale

“Once upon a time, night fell, and with it, the stars descended, shattering like glass when they hit the mountains, lands, and the sea, leaving the Queendom in a darkness so thick that not even the vampires could see.”

#gothicfiction #horror #shortstory #fairytale #lgbtq #queer #substack #dark

Happy heavenly birthday, Betty White. The world could do with your love and laughter right now.

These arrived earlier than expected... Can't wait to dig into them!

#Gothic #Horror #NonFiction

Shattering ICE A Poem in 3 Haikus

Shattering ICE - A Poem in 3 Haikus

Frozen hearts must thaw
Invite your neighbor in and
We shall melt the ICE

Gaze up at the stars
Shards of hope rain and aim to
Pierce the core of ICE

No hate - I know that
Out of darkness, love will rise
When we shatter ICE.

www.bronterowan.com

Next up in my #Gothic reading marathon… the @ssag.bsky.social has some amazing recommendations on their #InternationalGothicReadingMonth list!

Off to Victorian England now.

HWA Members! Didn't get a chance to put a fave 2025-pubbed read on the Bram Stoker Awards Recommended Reading List? You have until Jan. 15! Loved something that's already on the list? Your rec could put it on the Preliminary Ballot! Please don't repost asking for recs, as that's against the rules.

Luella and the Hands of Time Happy 2026, everyone - here’s my first short story of 2026 (and in quite a while).

I finished my first short story of the year. Who is Luella, and why is she being visited by a mysterious Shadow shortly before the hour of her death? Give her some love and the Shadow might just spare you
#Horror #Gothic #Substack #ShortStory #Literature #DryJanuary
open.substack.com/pub/brontero...

I finished my first short story of the year - who's Luella, and why is she being visited by a mysterious Shadow?
Give Luella some love and the Shadow might spare you and haunt someone else in a new story instead!
#Horror #Literature #UKHorror #Gothic #Substack #ShortStory

Gothic literature, tea, and Dolly Parton on vinyl - this shall be my plan for the whole month.

#Gothic #Tea #CountryMusic #DryJanuary #WritingLIfe #GothicLiterature

First thing I read every year. Already finished this this morning - this gets better every time I read it.

#2026 #DollyParton #NewYear #Books #NewYearsTradition

2025 Locus End-of-Year Giving | Locus Science Fiction Foundation Help Locus Science Fiction Foundation meet their fundraising goal by sharing this campaign.

Halloween People: Y'all know LOCUS covers horror, yes? But did you know it's published by a nonprofit? And also that today's the last day of its annual fund drive? And that Stephen King (yes, @stephenking.bsky.social) is matching donations? Let's do this! locus.betterworld.org/campaigns/20...

May 2026 be your best one yet. Stay true to yourself - unapologetically. Whatever happens, we’re in this together. I believe that there is hope for a better world. Read widely, speak wisely, and treat each other nicely.

Here’s a wee poem I wrote today.

bronterowan.substack.com/p/2026-fears...

They call it “freakshow”
But to me it’s a safe place
Gay bars are my home
#Gay #queer #haiku #pubpoetry #loveislove

After two nights of being blatantly queer in Birmingham, and a peaceful evening tonight, I'm feeling inspired again - 10/10 would recommend being true to yourself. Off to Newcastle tomorrow to find some Gothic inspiration.
Thanks for the lovely memories, strangers who quickly became friends!

Thunderstorm on my birthday. Bliss. Life is good.

Ode to the Others A Gothic Tale of Equality

My first short story is on Substack .
#HeavyBreathing #Gothic #queerfiction #talesoftheothered

If you even remotely enjoyed it , subscribe / gift me a like / maybe even share !

#Author #firststeps #feminism #ukhorror #horror

It’s quite experimental,but it’ll introduce you to my soul!

My Promise to Margot Friedländer An Ode to Love, Bravery, and Survival

Sometimes, I leave the comforts of my Gothic mind and let emotions take over. We'll remember you, that's my promise to you, Margot Friedländer.
bronterowan.substack.com/p/my-promise...
#rip #margotfriedländer #neveragain #margot #margotfriedlander #keephermemory #brave #herstory #lovetrumpshate

HWA UK Chapter: Newsletter #2 Your Monthly Roundup For The Best In UK Horror.

Head on over to our Substack for your monthly roundup of the best in UK Horror!
Our second newsletter is out NOW and @newtonwebb.bsky.social has compiled a list of new releases as well as exciting chapter news for you!
open.substack.com/pub/hwauk/p/...
#UKhorror #britishhorror #literature #books

Support UK horror by reading @simonbleaken.bsky.social's new short story in this new folk horror collection! #ukhorror #folkhorror #blueskybooks

On this day, more than 130 years ago, Jonathan Harker began his journey to Transylvania!
Time for a (re)read!

What’s your favourite #Dracula quote?

Join us on Discord for a discussion of this brilliant novel: discord.gg/gf2NFSDYke

#horrorfiction #literature #horror #gothic #books #BramStoker

Happy #Beltane/ May Day!
We’re less than 6 months away from our first official meeting on October 31st !
In the meantime, join us on discord.gg/gf2NFSDYke for lively discussions and online events, and subscribe to substack.com/@hwauk where we post about anything #ukhorror!
#horror #gothic #books