#appalachian stories

[powerlineprincess]

American Hollow (1999) screencaps. Saul, Kentucky.

[magpie-trove]

What if I learn 2D animation

[marsinthecorner]

@oldgodspod featured an old story I remembered from my childhood: Tailypo. A ghost story that had me paranoid as a child, especially when I heard scratching outside the house. Mom and dad always had to reassure me it was raccoons.

[delineate-creates]

Y’all. Tyler Childers, an Appalachian bluegrass artist from Kentucky, just released a song with a music video featuring a queer love story between two coal miners called In Your Love. At this point I have no idea if he’ll get backlash for it, but I would really appreciate if you would watch the mv below and maybe give some positive engagement. I have a feeling he’ll need it.

He has a beautiful discography with really thoughtful, poignant lyrics, and imo he does a fantastic job tackling complicated topics. I highly recommend him! With all the Jason Aldean stuff going around, it feels more important than ever that we have empathetic and authentic voices in country music.

(…and unlike Jason, Tyler’s 2020 song Long Violent History actually SUPPORTS the fight against racial inequality. You can listen to it here if you’d like.)

TLDR: Stan Tyler Childers 🖤

[coldlaugh]

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚄𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚃𝚘 𝚂𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝙾𝚞𝚝 𝙰𝚝 𝙽𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝

𝙳𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟾, 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟺

[mikesfag]

gravity falls AU where everything is the same except it's set in Appalachian mountains and instead of cryptids from the show there are cryptids from local Appalachian folklore. imagine the horror

[ottobooty]

If you can't tell, I got into a new horror podcast

[wordsbyparker]

Exciting news! The publishing rights for "Scrap Metal", the short story I wrote for last year's charity anthology, have reverted back to me as of 2/16, so I can publish it anywhere now. 😁 Stay tuned for a reading link on my website and (eventually) a listening link on my channel! *happy dance*

[willowwormwood]

You Like Tales about Cryptids?

And short stories you can read in like 5 min?

My friends and I made a 10 page comic called "Canaries in a Coal Mine" about some kids exploring an abandoned mine, go check it out if you'd be interested! You can read it at @lamplightstories

We'll be uploading a page a day till they're all out, so stay tuned for the rest!

[mourningmaybells]

wait what if people saying severance is based on catholicism-flavored cults with very little proof and me thinking severance was based on protestantism-flavored cults with very little proof just an indication that no one knows what they’re talking about or what the fuck is going on in severance. maybe kier egan really did just make a new religion outside of whatever we experienced before, but it is still like undeniably inspired by Christianity. Then again an ex Mormon blogger said it reminded them of their experiences. I know about as much as you in terms of quantity.

[morbidwlws]

Hello! Sooo I’m considering writing/publishing a serial horror story this year and I’m thinking of setting up a patreon (or something kind of similar) for it bc truthfully money is so so tight rn and also I’m trying to make writing my career ANYWAY. If I were to set one up there would be updates every 3-4 weeks, as I’d want each chapter to be edited and at its absolute best. It would be a Queer (specifically lesbian), Southern gothic horror story and will be novella length (20k-40k wc) when it’s all published.

The story itself is about a woman who receives a call that her mother has died, and who goes back home to Appalachia to settle her affairs. Her fiancée follows down to stay with her and they soon decide to flip and resell the house. Strange things begin happening once they begin gutting the house — a deer jumping in front of the car on a dark night, dead things in the walls, nightmares that seem to be happening even in wake, rot in the house and in the body simultaneously, deep rooted curses and soil that needs blood.

[powerlineprincess]

The Neugents: Close to Home by David M. Spear. Madison, North Carolina, Tabacco Road.

[churcvh]

The Poss House

visited a lovely old house that belonged to a family named the “Poss” family a few weeks ago. this is the back of the house, i didn’t get any good pictures of the front sadly. i visited with my parents and my father, who has had many “paranormal” experiences, felt very uneasy and had a huge cold spot show up behind him despite the 100+ degree Georgia heat. i didn’t capture any ghosts on camera, but we left pretty fast after that!

[dzgrizzle]

Two of my short stories are available now in two brand new anthologies! My Appalachian zombie story “Ephriam” is in WE BITE BACK, and my queer ghost story “Knock Five Times” is in YAY! ALL QUEER. Check out the links on my blog to find out how to buy them!

[ninelivesart]

2024 DNF List

Okay, I want to preface this by explaining that not all of these books are bad. I don't remember half of them. And some of them were just of the "not for me" variety. Or even "not right now." Some of them also got shelved because my Libby check out expired and I just never checked it back out. This was before Storygraph implemented the "pause" feature (love that feature). So some are not bad books. Some I just straight up cannot remember at all.

Also, these are my opinions. So don't @ me if you loved any of these books. Everyone has different tastes and there are some things I just can't overlook. I blame a lot of my DNFs on bad writing, but I do read badly written books. They just have to have more to the story and not take themselves too seriously.

Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven

RAPEY

2. Broken Bonds by J. Bree

One of the MMCs just straight up threatens to rape her upon the first meeting. BRUH...

3. Veiled by Ruby Smoke

No memory but sounds stupid.

4. A Court of Sugar and Spice by Rebecca F. Kenney

I was really looking forward to a Nutcracker retelling. MCs were too dumb for me to continue. One's a ridiculous flirt. Like in the cringey way. A Victorian noble woman wouldn't be going around calling men "hunks" or whatever stupid shit she was saying. Could not look past her wanting to fuck every man she sees like this isn't the fucking Victorian era. And she said this stuff BOLDLY and OUT LOUD. Often IN FRONT of said hunks. Would not have been socially acceptable and it took me out of the story. But I don't think I was missing much anyway.

5. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The first sex scene happens when they're like 15. You could have just written that they did some things without going into graphic detail. A grown ass woman should not be writing about two 15yo boys discovering sex for the first time. What the fuck?

6. The Night Queen by Denise Daye

No memory.

7. Eternally Hers by January Rayne

No memory.

8. Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross

LET ME TELL YOU WHY I DNF'D THIS BOOK OKAY?! Very obviously self-insert MC who is OBSESSED with her Reylo ship. To the point of the MMC noticing her "Reylo forever" t-shirt and how it's hugging her giant breasts. His wolf has his own voice and wants to fuck her immediately. Even though she's the most annoying person he's likely ever met. I DNF'd when she stopped the story to explain to him why Reylo was "the best ship ever." Stop putting your stupid ships into your work! No one cares that you ruined Star Wars! YIKES!

9. The September House by Carissa Orlando

She was way too nonchalant about her husband mysteriously disappearing and her walls bleeding. Also just like not telling her daughter that her dad is missing and then not understanding why she's upset. Honestly, the boomer mentality was probably the most realistic part.

10. The Stone Circle Queen by Ophelia Wells Langley

I did read the first one. And I remember liking it for the most part. But I did get hung up on the part where the author misgenders her own non-binary character. And that kind of pissed me off. I can't remember why I DNF'd this one beyond the fact that I was confused and couldn't remember what happened.

11. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Listen. I got suckered in by the cool sprayed edges too. But I love myself too much to keep going.

12. Shardless by Stephanie Fisher

No memory.

13. Never Whistle at Night by Multiple

THIS WAS NOT A BAD BOOK. Just not for me, I'm sorry. I really struggle with horror because there are some themes that upset me. And this one just made me a little uncomfy and I couldn't hang. But it's a horror anthology so that's the point. I'm just a big baby.

14. The Sun, the Storm, & the Shadows by Mikayla D. Hornedo

I was excited about this one because it's a fae story but based on Maya mythology. But it was badly written and I couldn't hang.

15. Between Wrath and Mercy by Jess Wisecup

I don't remember a lot but I'm pretty sure there's a rape scene early on. I didn't finish it because as soon as the vibes headed in that direction, I noped out. I did check Storygraph to see if I was picking up what they were putting down and it said yes. So no thank you.

16. Hallows End by Kristen Proby

LET ME COUNT THE WAYS. Okay, this book was badly written to the point of making me rage quit. I don't remember much of the plot but I remember there's a scene where she shows up at MMC's house in the middle of the night in her pajamas with no shoes for some reason? And is like "I was just chased by a monster!" They then proceed to passionately make out and the monster chase scene is never explained, elaborated on, or brought back up. Idk maybe it becomes relevant later but it felt just so out of place and a weird way to get your characters to make out. I also remember that instead of writing the monster chase scene the MMC proceeds to explain the entire history of the Salem Witch Trials to you like it's a new thing you've never heard of. All while she's apparently being chased by a monster in her jammies. Which is not as important as teaching you something you probably already know, or can just read on Wikipedia. The chase scene happens off page. But not the redundant history lesson. Idk. They fell in love in like 5 minutes. I couldn't.

17. The Divine and the Cursed by J.E. Reed

I don't remember why.

18. The Umbra King by Jamie Applegate Hunter

No memory.

19. Among the Beasts and Briars by Ashley Poston

No memory.

20. Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley

I'm pretty sure this was just one of my Libby returns that I forgot about because I didn't read enough of it.

21. The Diablo's Curse by Gabe Cole Novoa

I KNOW this one was a Libby return that I didn't read fast enough. I didn't listen to a lot of it but it was interesting so it went back on my tbr.

22. It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

I only picked it up because of the same initials thing. I read her Christmas one the year before and didn't hate it so I thought I could handle this one. I hated the characters too much to get into it. I can relate to an ex-con who wants to build elaborate window displays but not a spoiled rich girl crying about inheriting a bar. Idk.

23. The Crimson Moth/Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

I know people like this one but I couldn't get passed the magic system. I do remember thinking the writing wasn't very good but I can sometimes overlook that. I could not, however, overlook collecting your friend's PERIOD blood to rub sigils on your skin for magic. GROSS. I also remember an absolutely ridiculous scene where she's trying to get LI to drink from a glass she put a truth spell on, with period blood, and drinks it herself to prove it's not cursed. Then acts like an idiot. The secondhand embarrassment was overwhelming. Also, she's supposed to be this like super intelligent vigilante but does stupid shit like that.

24. The Witch Handbook to Magic and Mayhem by Tish Thawer

I don't remember why I stopped but the premise was interesting. I do remember being confused about trying to keep track of all the characters and their different powers. But I can't tell you what pushed me over the edge.

25. After the Forest by Kell Woods

I don't think this one was bad. I was just bored.

26. The Gathering Dark by Tori Bovalino

I think horror anthologies are just not for me. I remember enjoying a few of the shorts but I just never picked it back up again. I think the short format just bores me.

27. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

I see this one recommended a lot but the writing is bad. And I remember thinking she over explained a lot of unnecessary information. Like there's a whole scene where the MC is licking berry juice or honey or something off her fingers. And she takes the time to inform you that there are also ants on her fingers. Which she eats. So yeah. That was weird.

28. Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Listen, I love the Lunar Chronicles. I could NOT make myself enjoy reading about the Queen. There's a word for what you're doing, babes! It's called Sexual Assault. Like I know we knew that already. But I couldn't make myself read it. She was awful from birth and I think Meyer did a good job of showing her THINKING that she's doing the right thing while being horrible. Well written. Very triggering. Could not put myself through it.

29. How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

I honestly just couldn't get into it. Brother pissed me off. I was bored.

30. Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer

This is no fault of the story or author. But the copy I got was covered in crumbs and Cheeto stains. I can't hang with the nasties. I will try again when we replace it. Gross.

31. Phantom Phenomena by Darkness Prevails

This book is about the point that I realized I don't like short, personal ghost stories. They bore me and 99% of them aren't even scary.

32. Haint Country by Matthew R. Sparks

This was my biggest disappointment this year. This book has itself labeled as Appalachian folklore but it's, again, just people's not scary ghost stories that happen to take place in Kentucky. There's no actual folklore. I gave up after one story was just "We waited for the bus on our aunt's porch every day and she'd leave the light on for us. The light stayed on after she died! Spooky" it wasn't. If you like those kinds of books, it's probably fine. But I don't think that I do. And I was hoping for more actual folklore.

[maybemockingbird]

Hey y’all! My upcoming cannibalism romance novella Lover, Thy Name Is Pestilence is now on GoodReads and can be added to your shelves! I’m starting the formatting process this week and am hopeful that I’ll have it done soon, which means I’m opening up applications for ARCs! This is my first time doing ARCs for a self pub book, so I’m going to be selective and only send out a handful of copies, but if you want to sink your teeth into this devilishly delicious story, head to the link above to sign up on the Google Form! Applications close on 10-30-24 so I can begin sending them out hopefully starting on Halloween (I'll probably send out some earlier)! And as a reminder, Lover is available now for preorder on my site for anyone who wants a physical copy come December!

I’m so excited for this book!

🪓

Synopsis: Dakota and Ed Hollander have lived quiet, isolated lives deep in the Smoky Mountains for nearly a decade without much trouble despite the pious locals who scrutinize their way of life. Everything changes overnight as a brutal civil war decimates the United States, leaving behind a wasteland of decay and ruin in its wake. The country is shaken to its core for nearly nine months before all falls silent…

Now, in a world recovering from famine and war, Dakota and Ed fight to prepare themselves for the harsh winter that will soon arrive on their doorstep. But Dakota’s sense of safety is rattled when lost travelers come knocking, and everything Ed told them about the world post-disaster is scrutinized when the secrets hidden in the cellar desperately claw their way to the surface.

The carnage of Ed’s devotion is strewn across the snow in blood red streaks, and Dakota finds themself making Drastic choices that threaten strip away their humanity like flesh off a carcass. At the end of the world, love is written with the blade of an axe, and the most haunting plague of all may just be man’s own hubris…

Apply to be an ARC reader here!