While You Were Sleeping

I love romcoms. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching a well-made romance about two completely different people who are pushed together in funny and exciting ways. These movies can have the hometown charm of Sweet Home Alabama or the quirky Britishness of Notting Hill or the satisfying snark of The Wedding Singer.

I’ve written a couple romance novels in the last couple years, and I feel like each one captures a slightly different romcom flavor. One of my earlier books—Waking Up to Love—has that American, wacky-side-characters, boy-next-door thing going for it. There’s also a coma central to the plot, and a plucky Sandra Bullock-type heroine. She won’t let anyone push her around, but she also isn’t the most put-together heroine on the block.

When I was asked to include this novel in Simon and Schuster’s new Hollywood Kisses anthology, I wasn’t surprised that my book would fit into the While You Were Sleeping slot. The plots have some definite similarities, but beyond that, the tone is basically the same. So if you catch yourself going back to the 90s cult classic, then you should probably check out the anthology.

And if coma comedies aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other romcoms represented in the anthology. That’s what so great about our genre. There’s a little bit of something for everyone.

(This is a Korean soap opera, also with the name "While You Were Sleeping."

I haven't watched it (and I don't speak Korean, but it looks like a trip.)

Playland! Come out and play!

You and your best friend go to an abandoned amusement park. Your relationship is strained, and this is a last-ditch effort to bond over a place that holds a lot of good memories for both of you. And then a clown statue comes alive and attacks.

That's the set-up for "Playland," my new horror short about growing up, growing apart, and getting murdered. It's funny. It's poignant. And it's really, really scary.
 

 
"Playland" is the first story in a brand new anthology from Ink Stains. I'm really proud of this one, but it's not the only reason to check out the antho. There are many more stories that are equally frightening and eerie and tense.

Vampire Comedy

"Accidental Slayage" is a horror comedy about a normal guy who accidentally kills the ancient lord of the vampires. It's a bit Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a bit Mr. Magoo.

It's also FREE!

"Accidental Slayage" is one of the short stories to be featured in the latest Sirens Call Magazine. This one is all about honoring the classic movie monsters (though most of the other stories take the monsters much more seriously than mine does).

Happy Death Day!

Ready for some FREE flash fiction? Check out my new story "Hello, Death! It's a Pleasure!" It's short, morbid, and has a neat twist ending.

Art by Amanda Bergloff

This is my first collaboration with Fairy Tale Magazine, and they've been awesome! Check them out if you're ever in the mood for some revisionist fairy tales with modern sensibilities.

Silent Film Lovers

I have a new article up on Points In Case (everyone's third favorite comedy site). It's title: "How Silent Films Taught Me to Be a Better Lover." I think that's all I'm going to say. Otherwise, I'll ruin the punchline.

Check it out here.