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Elaine Buckner

@laniebuck

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I #write Gothic horror. I #cook & sometimes do my nails. Member of the Horror Writers Association and WiHAMA
Foster kid alumni 🤍
LBC➡️CHI

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In the realm of creativity, art begets art, and the beauty of masterpieces around us ignites our imagination.

This snippet from a scene in the end of act two of my manuscript owes its emotional depth to Frederic William Burton’s “Hellelil and Hildebrand”, which influenced the pivotal scene.

#BookQuotes #BookLovers #GothicRomance #RomanceBookstagram #DarkRomance #fredericwilliamburton #horroromance #bookstagram #annotatedbooks by @laniebuck

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2 years ago

Rest well, our sweet Athena.

Athena, my best buddy of nearly 15 years, crossed the rainbow bridge January 22, 2025. Her passing leaves a hole in our hearts and in the lives of everyone who got to met her.

Athena was a beacon of love, warmth, and happiness. She had an incredible gift of making everyone feel joy. Whether it was the vet, repairmen, friends, or family, Athena would greet them with affection and shower them with attention while demanding as much attention back.

At home, Athena loved to spend all of her time with us. She’d visit me in my office, where she’d tap my thigh with her paw to let me know she wanted to hop up and join me. And join me she would—I wrote three novels with her in my lap. Her visits were a comforting distraction that I’ll deeply miss. Writing another novel without her will be a challenge.

Athena was so content sleeping anywhere, even in odd places, but as a daddy’s girl, finding Rob whenever he took a nap and snuggling up beside him was her favorite. And, of course, our little California kitty adored basking in the sun’s rays and boxing the dust particles floating in the sunbeams.

Athena’s love was a constant source of light in our lives. Even in her final days, when the sudden lymphoma, kidney failure, and anemia had taken their toll, Athena’s light remained. She continued to find the strength to seek us out, to be with us, and to shower us with love.

We’ll miss your big loving eyes, floppy ears, brave adventurous spirit, raccoon noises, and your fascination with helicopters. I’m grateful for the 15 years we shared, and I know that Rob, her sister Artemis, and I will miss her every day for the rest of our lives.

Thank you, Athena, for being my little buddy and Rob’s princess. You may be gone, but your love will stay with us forever.

Sunlit days will forever hold a memory of you. by @laniebuck

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2 years ago

✨BOoOOOk MAIL!☠️

Happy book birthday of Bitter Bones @lindsayjmp!!

#bookmail #books #middlegradebooks #bookstagram by @laniebuck

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a month ago

As a Gothic horror writer dedicated to women’s perspectives, I’m thrilled to join the Women in Horror Arts & Media Association as a founding member.

I look forward to connecting with more creators over a shared love of the genre. by @laniebuck

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a month ago

Yesterday’s 40th‑birthday afternoon tea at The Drake, fashionably delayed a week while Chicago was thawing out some.

A very proper celebration after a very improper forecast. by @laniebuck

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8 months ago

Last day of my 30s 🥀

Tomorrow, in banana years, I’ll be the age of bread.

#goodbye30s #hello40s #1986 by @laniebuck

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9 months ago

I spent most of 2025 revising, mainly aging up my Hellebores project from a MG Gothic to YA. It’s darker, crueler, and a far more haunting tale with every pass. And I Could Be the Monster, my Jane Eyre retelling, is attempting to make its way into the world. The process of querying is like panning for gold; long stretches of nothing, though occasionally a request surfaces like a shiny speck in the pan.
11 months. 7 batches. 87 queries. 16 requests. A number still unanswered.

For 2026? Though I’m a plotter, I’m not mapping it out. I’m letting it unfold. I’ll still be revising, but without hard goals. I’ll still be querying, but I’m not holding my breath. Maybe I’ll finally dive back into that cruise‑ship romantic suspense I left adrift at 16k words when 2025 went sideways. Or maybe I’ll be out of the query trenches and in different uncharted waters.

After this past year, I’m stepping into this new one with quiet hope. No grand declarations. Just the promise to keep writing, keep trying, and keep turning the page. #planner #2026 #writer #writersofinstagram #bookish by @laniebuck

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9 months ago

I’ve been sitting with this for a few days. Lisa, my honorary aunt, a woman who fostered me, who I lived with on and off starting when I was eight, and who officially took me in from fifteen on, passed last week.

Like all family, we had a complicated history, but she remained a steady source of support, and I’m grateful for the years we shared. She gave me knowledge, opportunities, and early encouragement in the literary world—influences that stayed with me long after I left her home, even though I wouldn’t actually begin writing for nearly twenty years.

Fittingly, I think she’d appreciate it me finishing my thoughts with a couple of lines from one of her favorite shows, Gilmore Girls, which she absolutely forced me to watch with her: “We carry the people we love with us,” and “To absent friends.” 🤍 by @laniebuck

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9 months ago

My last read of 2025

Thank you @grumpygirlwrites for the copy 🖤

My Darling Dreadful Thing is a comp title to my YA “Hellebores” project so I’m delighted to finally delve into this! #bloodonhertongue #johannavanveen #gothicreads #bookstagram #currentlyreadi̇ng by @laniebuck

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10 months ago

Mozart and Figaro are one year old today! Even Artemis joined in on the birthday celebration, though I’m pretty sure she just came out for the mousse. #catsoftiktok #catbirthday #catbirthdayparty #kittensoftiktok #catslovers #snowshoescat #tuxiesofinstagram by @laniebuck

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a year ago

Book mail✨ The Barre Incidents by Lauren Bolger, author of Kill Radio!

The Barre Incidents is Cosmic Horror with Dark Fantasy and Found Footage elements. It’s an exploration of love born under the shadow of grief in a world where horrible and awesome magic are everywhere for those who dare to wrap their hands around it. #bookstagram #bookmail #cosmichorror #horrorfiction #horrorbookstagram by @laniebuck

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a year ago

Some long-awaited book mail, The Red Knot by @moasherwrites! I read an early copy, and it’s been living rent-free in my head ever since. Thrilled to see it out in the world! #theredknot #bookstagram #horrorbookstagram by @laniebuck

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a year ago