iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲! 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬, 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐤. 𝐒𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 #𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Days like today I wish I had a clone of myself. One to manage my side business fulfilling orders, another manage car maintenance appointments, and another to just catch up and manage emails and things so I can get to do the things that matter - write!

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Come check out my new Substack Post! It's all about how writing messy emotional wounds, other than only relying on fear, is important when creating character's backstories that move the plot forward instead of falling flat and boring. #horrorwriting mksholundauthor.substack.com/p/creating-m...

mksholundauthor.substack.com

Creating Messy Emotional Wound(s) to Develop Backstory and Propel my Horror Stories Forward

In horror, fear’s a great motivator, but adding other wounds can also get your characters to get up and go. Hear some ways I’ve created emotional wounds that may help you too!

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Had fun day doing research where I got to go in an and tour old church down the road from me in Maryland, now just used for storage, but built in 1852. Come 1860, during the civil war, it went through a lot of changes catering to both who support the north and south and eventually splitting.

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Check out my Day 4 of 4 Substack post reporting from #StokerCon2026. I included highlights & insights with photos regarding the panels, Bram Stoker Award Ceremony, Horror Short Film Competition and more from the Horror Writer's Conference earlier this June. open.substack.com/pub/mksholun...

open.substack.com

Day 4 - The Last Day of Stoker Con 2026 Didn't Disappoint (with Bonus)

Here's the highlights and insights into the last day of Stoker Con 2026 with a field trip bonus feature at the end!

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Day 2 highlights and insights post of #StokerCon2026 is live via my Substack Horror on the Page. It covers few panels, two master classes with Tim Waggoner and Mo Moshaty and the #FinalFrameFilmCompetition. Links to Day 1 and Day 1 Part 2 are linked in the post. open.substack.com/pub/mksholun...

open.substack.com

Welcome to Day 2 of Stoker Con 2026

Here's my highlights and insights from Friday's panels and activities!

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

"Mr. Sprinkles' Smile" got an honourable mention with 6 wins in the Verdant Raven 250 Word story contest!

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Counting down the days to #Stokercon ! Attending June 4-7th. Have my pitch session at noon Friday for my cozy folklore horror novel BURIED SECRETS ON DARBYTOWN ROAD. Then there's two masterclasses and selling my writing prompt book at the author signing doing the banquet too! So much to do and see!

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Check out my new article via my Substack, Horror on the Page! I walked into a used bookstore to find some horror books but walked out learning four valuable tips to use to help me in writing horror. I’m sharing those tips in this post (plus my book haul). Enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/mksholun...

open.substack.com

Authors! You're Missing Out on How Used Bookstores Can Enhance Your Writing Game

My trip to a mega used book warehouse this weekend yielded more than books to add to my collection, but tips on how you can mine old books for research.

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Over the weekend I participated at CRAAFest - an author and artist event held in Belair, MD! I gave a fun presentation on the 4 Different Ways Writing Prompts Can Help In Your Writing Journey. Here’s a look at my table and venue!

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Yesterday I did a thing. I gave a talk at the North Baltimore County Chapter with the Maryland Writers Association on the topic of How to Use Story Assessment Sheets to Self Edit Novels/Stories. It was fun, had 10 people in the audience, and lots of great questions. #authorcommunity #writers

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Had a lovely time at my friends book launch last night. She had roughly 70 people in the audience! 🙌🏼 Not only did I came with members of my book club (carpooled together) but 8 people from my Carroll Chapter group with the Maryland Writers Association were there too! That’s literary citizenship!

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Because sometimes you just need a night out with girlfriends and The Most Interesting Man In The World.

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Working on a new short story. Yes it’s horror. Yes I’m plotting it out because there’s 3 character and one is an unreliable narrator. Which brings me to the fact I’m almost finished creating a talk on writing unreliable narrators I’ll be presenting next month. Anyone else writes UN? #writersofbsky

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Just published a new article via my substack Horror On the Page. This is more for those who like horror movies and curious about new theatrical horror movie releases for spring and summer 2026. #horrorfans #horrorauthors #horroraddicts #horrormovies2026 open.substack.com/pub/mksholun...

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Working on my monthly e-newsletter. Not my most favorite chore, but once I get into it I’m surprised at my accomplishments and the events filling up my calendar. #authorlife

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

So as a side hustle, I make and sell homemade lollipops under Shelly’s Lollies. Today I just up at the local farmers market (for tomorrow) as it’s my first event of the year kicking off 5 years of doing this! Here’s pics of my stand.

This is a diagonal view of two tables filled with long rows of colorful round lollipops.

This is a front view of my wood textured like table coverings showcasing rows of colorful round lollipops. More photos can be seen on my website - www.shellyslollies.com

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Just watched this super insightful YouTube video from a gal I love to follow - Jenna M.! And I gotta say so many authors I read need to take this advice on writing amazing protagonists (in the case of the video - these are bad examples of protagonists). #writingcommunity youtu.be/-Uzq_Tco1Ek?...

youtu.be

Worst Ways to Write a Protagonist

YouTube video by Writing with Jenna Moreci

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

A new post is up now via my Horror on The Page Substack. This one’s a rant about the proliferation of stories - cranking them out without editing and purpose, why it irks me, plus how the “Less is More” method works. #writingcommunity #authors #readers open.substack.com/pub/mksholun...

open.substack.com

Horror Rant - Proliferation of stories on Substack, Amazon, Blogs, Social Media, etc.

Why I think you're doing it wrong with tips on how to do it right.

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Got a new post up on my Substack Horror on the Page re: Flash Fiction and writing contests - worth the read. Got a call to action asking horror authors to weigh in on the proliferation of stories via blogs, Substack, Amazon, etc. #authorcommunity #substack open.substack.com/pub/mksholun...

open.substack.com

Quick Update

Busy February - where's why I haven't been posting and when you can expect a new article

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Submitted my story Crumbs for #februaryflashfiction challenge earlier today. To read it and so many other AMAZING takes on today's prompt "write about having just more more of something".

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Woot Woot! All registered and ready for StokerCon 2026! Who else is going? Want to meet up? Also, what are you looking forward the most at this years conference? Announced – Celebrating Ten Years of StokerCon! horror.org/stokercon-20...

horror.org

StokerCon 2026 Announced – Celebrating Ten Years of StokerCon!

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Yes I write horror, but last year I indie published a creative writing prompt book! YEA! Last year I tried attending and including an ad for the book at writing conferences. I have since updated the program ad and would love input on what you guys think? Does this ad make you want to act?

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

As a person who writes horror, is there anything more horrific than how Trump is being allowed to do be a brat? Why isn’t congress doing anything? Why is he not impeached yet. He’s ruining everything that our military have sacrificed their lives for as ruined the American Dream for all immigrants. 🤬

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Woot woot! Submitted my pitch for BURIED SECRETS ON DARBYTOWN ROAD! Next steps happen Wednesday. Wish me luck as I’ve been in the querying trenches for 2.5 years!

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Excited to be one of quite a few local authors reading at Love Stories to Tell in the Dark Feb 12th at cult Classic Brewery in Stevensville, MD! 📖💕🎤🌃

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

Ever wonder what makes a monster (in horror stories) terrifyingly evil or how to write and develop a monster character? Consider this Substack article if you’re curious about the topic creating a monster. mksholundauthor.substack.com/p/horror-wri...

mksholundauthor.substack.com

Horror Writing Tip of the Week: Choosing a monster

Tips on figuring out what and who is your monster?

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

For those who write #horror or love consuming horror media - across movies, t.v. shows and novels, check out this article - New Trends in Horror for 2026. Do you agree with the points? Have something to add? I’d love to know. #horrorwriters #horrorcommunity open.substack.com/pub/mksholun...

open.substack.com

New Trends in Horror for 2026

What horror writers can take away from the recent trends in horror fiction, t.v. and movies

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Times getting away from me. Didn’t realize I haven’t posted anything here for over a week. Guess that’s what happens when you’re busy getting ready for the holidays which means declutter and clean the house on top of trying to write. How’s everyone else managing to do it all? #writerscommunity

media.tenor.com

a cartoon drawing of snoopy sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper

ALT: a cartoon drawing of snoopy sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Love this writing group! Cult Writers is a group of writers who meet at Cult Classic Brewery in Stevensville/Kent Island, MD. Love the support and opportunities to share our stories at events like an upcoming one on February 12th - Love Stories Told at Cult Classic. #writingcommunity #writers

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Today I went to the Liberty Lake Historical Group’s meeting which had a military/Veteran’s Day theme. I got to share photos of my grandfather who served in the Army Air Corps in WWII including army newspaper articles! Very nice meeting with great members who also brought items too.

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Got more writing done, not a ton of words, but did complete Chapter 3 of my horror novel - a prequel to the novel I’m querrying! How is everyone else doing for #Novelnovember #novnov ?

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Had a lot going on the past 3 days so I put my #NovelNovember updates in one bullet journal post. #amwriting #writerscommunity

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Day 12’s status with #NovNov #November ! I had a day off from writing and totally okay with that. Here’s what did happen.

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Here’s Day 10’s progress with my horror novel I’m writing for #NovNov #NovelNovember Thanks to those who’ve been keep up with my status reports! Hope all others doing Novel November are going well too’

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Here’s Day 9’s progress on my journey of doing #NovNov #NovelNovember . How’s everyone else fairing also doing Novel November? How are you celebrating your milestones? #writerssky #writerscommunity

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Yesterday’s talk at the #carrollcounty Chapter meeting with the @marylandwriters.bsky.social was great! Loved Emily’s talk on Author’s Websites. Even got a great website evaluation which yes I immediately applied when I got home! 🙌🏼

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Got Day 8s update! My word count is 0, but used my time to plot Chapter 2 so I don’t wander/write aimlessly which saves me time and wasted words. Anyone else do this? Must answer: Who’s in the scene, why are they there, what’s the purpose of the scene/chapter, how does it end? #novelnovember

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Here’s Day 7’s recap on my progress with #NovelNovember . Biggest accomplishment is finishing Chapter 1 of my new novel! #writerssky #writingcommunity

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

I forgot to post Day 6 progress regarding #NovNov. I have to make my journal entry for Day 7.

Image shows a bullet journal page featuring images of autumn leaves on a tree lined road, a set of skeleton keys, a man in a 1970s suit touching a house for sale sign, an older lady signing a paperwork and a note that says do’s and don’ts. Writing notes the word count for the word goal is 946 along with written reflections about writing the inciting incident.

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Bumping my post for #questpit. #amquerrying #q - do have three full requests out 🤞🏼seeking that one yes. 🫶🏼

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

#NovNov Day 4 recap of my progress Premise: What If the supernatural consequences from one horrific event in a house creates an unlikely bond between two men from different decades. 👨‍⚖️ Based on local Maryland 1939 murder trial that made front page headlines. #WIP #W #H #HR #PR #questpit

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M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying @mksholundauthor.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

#questpit When a concerned woman discovers her neighbors body near a symbol smeared in blood across the street, misfortune and decay follows threatening her rural Maryland community. As secrets to the area’s past surface, she must confront the darkness before it’s too late. #A #H #Q #PR #T

This is my mood board for my horror novel Buried Secrets on Darbytown Road. In the center is a mock book cover in black and white with an image of a house on the right and road in the middle. Phrases about the book point to the middle. Phrases included genre - horror/paranormal thriller, based on true events, found body next to blood streaked six sided symbol, about a sentient house and includes PA Dutch folklore and curses, inspired by the real history of a forgotten mill town demolished then replaced by a reservoir and set in a rural farming area outside of Baltimore, MD.

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Reposted by M.K. Sholund - Author #amquerying

John Zeleznik @johnzeleznikauthor.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

1988. Suburbia. Wannabe writer Vinny goes on an epic kids on bikes adventure w/ his friends to find a crashed UFO. Along the way they find an exact duplicate of their neighborhood, a creepy mansion and uncover a dangerous conspiracy, all in one night. #MG #SF #questpit

Clockwise from top left: the Goonies, the Losers Club, the Hellfire Club and the kids from Bob’s Burgers.

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