I've been following Beth W. Patterson's work for years, and am always amazed by her scope. She writes bawdy suspense, outlandish horror, and surprisingly-sweet romance.
Her creative range isn't limited to writing stories. She's also an extraordinary musician and songwriter who has performed all over the world. I first met her in New Orleans, where her Celtic flare and sense of humour caught my attention in an Irish pub.
With a novel and a collection of anthologies under her belt, Beth is an accomplished author, and I'm always curious to see what she'll write next.
Let's check out some of her latest work, shall we?
Anthologies for Paranormal Fans
Witches, vampires, werewolves, and shifters! If you enjoy paranormal romance, check out these anthologies.
From Iron Faerie Publishing, these limited-edition anthologies have at least three things in common:
They contain seductive tales with wit, banter, and darkly-intriguing characters.
They have gorgeous covers.
Author Beth W. Patterson has a story in each of them.
A Dance of Blood and Magic is currently available, and A Dream of Beasts and Sorcery is due to be released this summer!
Moth's Beacon, by Beth W. Patterson:
A browbeaten, timorous bloodsucker stumbles upon the dwelling of a proud, independent witch with a sharp tongue and a prolific writing career. The two gradually learn from one another as they explore the true meanings of monstrosity, beauty, vulnerability, and transformation. An unwelcome stranger puts their courage to the test, forcing them to face danger head-on in an unknown land ruled by a powerful creatrix.
Get your copy of A Dance of Blood and Magic on Amazon.
Pre-order A Dream of Beasts and Sorcery.
Here's a video of Beth performing Iron Maiden's Wasted Years, for your listening enjoyment as you read the rest of the blog post.
An Anthology for Animals
One of Beth's recent works is for charity, with the profits going to a Chicago dog rescue. She contributed a fun, bawdy ballad for this anthology. Here's the description:
Ludlow Charlington's Doghouse
These talking dogs are on a mission to steal your hearts! (And any beef jerky you have lying around.)
At Ludlow Charlingtons Coffee Shop in Chicago, eleven ornate portraits of contemporary dogs dressed in historical costumes hang on the walls. (Ludlows: come for the coffee, stay for the portraits!)
Nineteen writers took up the challenge to choose a portrait and make up a tale—thirty-four stories, poems, and plays, in all. Guarding kids, dealing with queens and kings. Captaining a pirate ship, creating a fashion trend. They span the globe and historical eras. These furry friends will leave you laughing and feeling warm and fuzzy.
If you’ve ever wondered what “Woof!” means, we’re pretty sure it’s, “Buy our doggone good book and do some good for dogs!”
Get your copy of Ludlow Charlington's Doghouse and feel good about your donation to help dogs in Chicago!
Humorous Horror
And now, for something completely different...
Did you know that comedy horror was a thing? Me either. But it is!
While horror is definitely not my genre, I know there are a lot of people who enjoy it, and skimming through this anthology I was struck by the sheer creative force at work, as well as some unique voices by the writers included.
Published by Black Ink Fiction, this collection began as an April Fool's joke and an idea born of delirium. Here's an excerpt from the prologue, written by Patterson:
It all began with a head cold and some over-the-counter medicine. I was completely whacked out on the stuff, but in my vain attempt to be productive I scribbled away in my idea notebook. When I woke the following morning, I discovered that I’d written “unicorns versus clowns in Hell,” along with a few feeble attempts at creating a scene. I laughed at myself and shelved that idea for what I thought was going to be forever.
Fast forward to April Fools’ Day of 2021. I had been corresponding with Brandi and Shelly from Black Ink Fiction, and suggested we stage a phony open call for the same theme. I figured that everyone would know it was a joke...
But so many people were genuinely disappointed that it wasn’t a real open call, the Black Ink overlords asked if we should do a real one. The condition was me being up to the task of editing. How could I resist?
At first, I was prepared to read a slew of tales that fell into a formula. But it turned out to be more like perusing a wide variety of Rorschach interpretations, with myriad points of view and outcomes. Some stories were poignant or disturbing, some darkly hilarious, and some read like a folk narration. By the time I reached the final stage, I was audibly cackling. The diversity of ideas for a concept so niche impressed the Hell out of me.
If you're in the mood for something wildly wacky, dark and devious, check out Unicorns vs. Clowns in Hell!
Because I love Beth's music and can't resist, here's another video of her performing. The video quality isn't awesome, but the sound works just fine, and showcases her talent in one of my favorite songs of hers.
You can follow Beth on Facebook, and check out her website for the full range of her musical and literary offerings.
Peace @Katrina-Ariel / @LeiaTalon
All photos used with permission.
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