From The Undertakers

Signing Announcement: Colleen Anderson and Undertaker Books prepare to let AWAKING PANDORA out of the box in April 2027!
Signing Announcement: Colleen Anderson and Undertaker Books prepare to let AWAKING PANDORA out of the box in April 2027!
Who's ready for an experimental novella packed with weird, near-future cli-fi, mythological allusions, body horror and more, all narrated with the kind of gorgeous, efficient prose only a poet can... Read more...
How does AI work and train
How does AI work and train
I think everyone at UB, along with millions of creators and readers, hates AI. It's an undisputed fact that companies and corporations feed data, legally and illegally, to their software... Read more...
Dialogue Tips
Dialogue Tips
Hello, friends! I'm (Rebecca) stealing the blog from D.L. for just a minute, because his post on formal vs. informal speech in character dialogue inspired me to share what I... Read more...
Too Grammatical…
Too Grammatical…
If you like war stories, you no doubt got a chuckle at the above one. Hell, if you’re a Marine, you’re probably still laughing about it. But it does bring... Read more...
Submission Call - STTTYG Tattoo Edition
Submission Call - STTTYG Tattoo Edition
Undertaker Books is putting out the call for horror tales about tattoos. From traditional and own voices stories to modern misadventures, we're looking forward to seeing what you come up... Read more...
The Winged Terror: Origins
The Winged Terror: Origins
By C.M. SaundersBlood Lake, the second Dylan Decker horror western, is out from Undertaker Books. Being a heady mix of fact, fiction, and accepted folklore, these stories are great fun... Read more...
Graveside Reads Announcement
Graveside Reads Announcement
Undertaker Books is launching a new collection of novelettes! Called “Graveside Reads,” these slim books are meant to provide reading options for folks who are on a budget and readers... Read more...
Prepping your manuscript for formatting
Prepping your manuscript for formatting
Today, I--Cyan--have taken over our blog with some important formatting 411.Since UB started, I have formatted twenty-five different titles, as well as eighteen of my own. I learned very early... Read more...
Be Good to Reviewers
Be Good to Reviewers
You’ve poured your heart and soul into writing your book. The editing process has ripped apart what’s left of both. But you finally have ARC copies ready. A publishing date... Read more...
If It's L. Marie Wood, We're in Luck
If It's L. Marie Wood, We're in Luck
Undertaker Books Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Cuthbert just about fell off her chair when she received the news that L. Marie Wood herself--yes, that author--would be signing her experimental horror novella IF IT'S THE... Read more...
Anthology Green Flags
Anthology Green Flags
In addition to editing and publishing anthologies, I also submit to a lot of anthologies! So I’ve been around the block a few times, know a thing or two, and... Read more...
Cover Art Basics
Cover Art Basics
Just because I don’t feel like I’ve started enough drama on the blog in awhile, let’s talk about cover artists! Please note that while I will mention some cover artists... Read more...
Getting to know Jonathan Gensler
Getting to know Jonathan Gensler
Undertaker Books is happy to share that author Jonathan Gensler will be joining Rebecca Cuthbert for the ghost story collection THE HAUNTINGS BACK HOME, set for release Oct. 18, 2025.... Read more...
From All of Us
From All of Us
As I write this, the “Second Gay Penguin Debacle” is dying down in the indie publishing world. If you haven’t been following along, an author of children’s books about gay... Read more...
Undertaker Books makes 'room' for Nicole Givens Kurtz
Undertaker Books makes 'room' for Nicole Givens Kurtz
Undertaker Books is excited to announce that Nicole Givens Kurtz's THE SPIRIT ROOM, a story collection featuring southern gothic horror, will join the 2026 lineup! Kurtz explained that it's a... Read more...
Write What You Want
Write What You Want
How do you write when you don’t think you have anything to say? It’s a common question, and one that tends to paralyze writers at times. You’re sitting in front... Read more...
Genre Roots
Genre Roots
I recently completed an interview with L. Andrew Cooper over my debut western horror novella, The Screaming House. Andrew is an excellent interviewer with a deep knowledge of the horror genre who... Read more...
Strengthening Your Western Horror
Strengthening Your Western Horror
You may have noticed that we’re big into western horror here at Undertaker Books. We’ve got two western horror series, and are currently holding an open call for western horror... Read more...
Workshop
Workshop
Recently, I was given the opportunity to host a beginning writer’s workshop at a local library. In the process of preparing for the workshop, I came up with this outline,... Read more...
Anthology Call - Horror on the Range.
Anthology Call - Horror on the Range.
It's time to ride into the Wild West with a western horror anthology!D.L. Winchester and C.M. Saunders will headline this anthology, but we're rounding up more stories for our readers... Read more...
Dear Beginning Editor...
Dear Beginning Editor...
This one’s for the beginning editors out there. Yes, you. The editor so new he hasn’t even flicked the gel ball off the tip of his red pen. Also you,... Read more...
Dealing with Editors
Dealing with Editors
As a writer, you’ve probably had the experience of looking at a manuscript returned from an editor and wondering: What happens if I reject this change? The answer is simple: IF... Read more...
Consistent vs. Daily
Consistent vs. Daily
There are many purveyors of writing advice out there who will tell you one of the keys to writing success is to WRITE EVERY DAY. I used to be one of... Read more...
Sign, Sign, Sign!
Sign, Sign, Sign!
I recently had my first book signing at a local bookstore (shoutout to Meeting Street Books and Cafe!). It was a great experience, and something I encourage every author to... Read more...
Anti-PDF Propaganda
Anti-PDF Propaganda
Next on our tour of Undertaker Books HQ, we have a very special room. Come on in, don’t be shy, and step over to this window. Down there, you’ll see... Read more...
Clarity
Clarity
Have you ever seen one of those old cartoons in which a character sits in front of a crystal ball and all they see is a mess of fog? Maybe... Read more...
Leave a Review!
Leave a Review!
Want to make a writer happy? Of course you do! You’re not a sadistic person who thrives on a diet of writers' tears and broken dreams (we call those people... Read more...
Putting Things in Order
Putting Things in Order
Something that made me curious when I started submitting my writing was how editors decided on the order for anthologies.Was there a technique to it, a method to the madness?Or... Read more...
Narrowing the Field
Narrowing the Field
Well, now you’ve gone and done it.You’ve fired off your submission to one of our anthologies. Congratulations! We’re proud of you!But now, staring at your computer screen, you’re starting to... Read more...
A Diverse Kind of Horror
A Diverse Kind of Horror
When I initially wrote this post, we were planning to open a call for BIPOC authors in early 2025. Due to our good fortune in signing three AMAZING BIPOC authors... Read more...
Trash Those Receipts
Trash Those Receipts
From time to time, I’ll get a submission that requests a “read receipt,” which means the system sends an email to the author telling them I’ve opened their email.I always... Read more...
Finding Problems
Finding Problems
As an editor, one of my favorite tools in my line editing arsenal is my word processor’s “find” feature.Before you ask, no, it won’t find you money. I tried.What it... Read more...
The Simple Way Out
The Simple Way Out
Last night, I was five thousand words into what I hoped would be a novella when I hit a wall.It wasn’t that I had nowhere to go, it was that... Read more...
The Consultation
The Consultation
You sit alone in a room, a bare bulb illuminating four cinderblock walls painted a garish shade of beige. It’s so ordinary, it’s disgusting.A folder lies on the desk in... Read more...
Be a Follower
Be a Follower
Recently, I had occasion to call someone a variety of colorful names.No, I will not repeat them. My kids already heard them once. If you want to know what I... Read more...
Dedications and Acknowledgements
Dedications and Acknowledgements
My wife recently held up a copy of one of my books.“When are you going to dedicate a book to me?” she asked. “To my wife, my one true love, who... Read more...
A Special Invitation
A Special Invitation
By far, the rarest response to an anthology submission is an invitation to revise and resubmit. We’re on our fourth anthology, and I can still count on one hand the... Read more...
Hook, Line, and…
Hook, Line, and…
Catching readers is like catching fish: you’re not going to get very far without a hook.No! Not that kind of hook! Put that thing down before someone gets hurt!A hook... Read more...
Word Count Woes
Word Count Woes
We’ve all been there.You’re writing a story for a call, and it’s incredible. The best writing of your life. Words are flowing out of you, and they’re the right words,... Read more...
New YA Novel ‘Wakes’ Editors’ Interest: Undertaker Books to publish OUR DEVIL’S AWAKE by Chloe York
New YA Novel ‘Wakes’ Editors’ Interest: Undertaker Books to publish OUR DEVIL’S AWAKE by Chloe York
When editors D.L. Winchester and Rebecca Cuthbert read the manuscript for Chloe York’s OUR DEVIL’S AWAKE, they couldn’t say no—and neither will readers. Even a short pitch will pique their... Read more...
A Necessary Step
A Necessary Step
So you finished your rough draft. Angels are singing, the world seems brighter, flames are dancing up the wall…Oh, wait, the last two are because your toddler found a box... Read more...
Self Promo for Small Press Authors
Self Promo for Small Press Authors
We leave the majority of blog posts here at Undertaker Books to D.L.--he's good at them, and comes up with interesting topics. But today I (Rebecca) wanted to step in... Read more...
We goofed. If you were affected, let us make it up to you with two free ebooks.
We goofed. If you were affected, let us make it up to you with two free ebooks.
Some folks already know that our core values at Undertaker Books are integrity, professionalism, honesty, and transparency. Well, this week, we are getting the golden opportunity to live those values. If you... Read more...
Dear Undertaker…
Dear Undertaker…
It’s time for everyone’s favorite writing advice column, “Dear Undertaker,” featuring our resident former undertaker, D.L. Winchester!Let’s open the inbox and see what queries we have today…Dear Undertaker,I’m writing a... Read more...
We couldn’t ‘sleep’ on this one—Undertaker Books signs Keller Agre’s LET THE GHOSTS SLEEP
We couldn’t ‘sleep’ on this one—Undertaker Books signs Keller Agre’s LET THE GHOSTS SLEEP
We couldn’t ‘sleep’ on this one—Undertaker Books signs Keller Agre’s LET THE GHOSTS SLEEP   Readers looking for a fast-paced horror novella set in Georgia won’t want to miss Keller... Read more...
Dealing with Rejection
Dealing with Rejection
By D.L. Winchester   You open your email and there it is: a few sentences revealing the fate of your story.Dear Writer,I regret to inform you…You don’t have to read... Read more...
Weekend Reading Assignment - January 2025
Weekend Reading Assignment - January 2025
By: D.L. Winchester I don’t remember how I stumbled across Mort Castle’s work. But however I did, he had rocketed up my list of favorite authors. In fact, my current... Read more...
Resolutions
Resolutions
By D.L. Winchester We are fiction writers, and most of us are talented enough to write fiction even when we don't intend to.This happens a lot around this time of... Read more...
CLOSED - Carnival of Horror Anthology Submission
CLOSED - Carnival of Horror Anthology Submission
THIS CALL IS CLOSED Amid the lights, games, and shows, in the shadows the bright lights don’t reach, are horrors of all kinds...  We’re looking for stories of abandoned amusement... Read more...
Words on Repeat
Words on Repeat
He opened the refrigerator door. He grabbed a beer, then strolled to the living room and plunked down on the sofa. He picked up the remote and turned on the... Read more...