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Whitaker Lyon

@whitakerlyonpress

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Small Press in the Shenandoah Valley

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ONE WEEK 🍉 until you can read my urban fantasy short story, “A Thousand Screeching Demons” - and the rest of these fantastic tales!

Richmond Fantastic is a speculative anthology with 20 tales set in the weird and wacky city of Richmond. I love my city, and I’m thrilled to be a part of this project. 🖤

If you want to read about my ravenous demon Sabazios facing off against the dangerous charms of a Southern grandma, then you know what to do! Ebooks are available for pre-0rder now, and physical copies can be purchased next week on 10/6. And KU subscribers can read for free!

#urbanfantasy #shortstories #rva #richmond #fantasyauthor

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Proud to say that I have a short romance story ‘Love in the Time of Chainmail’ coming out early next year in the Meet Virginia anthology from @whitakerlyonpress 💗 I really love this story (and so will you if you like hunky Viking beekeepers) Watch this space!

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ONE MONTH until the release of Richmond Fantastic! 🍉 I can’t believe it’s almost here! I’m so honored and thrilled to be a part of this fantastic project.

If you love urban fantasy shows like Supernatural, Good Omens, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer - and if you like a little Southern hospitality sass - then you might like my weird little story, “A Thousand Screeching Demons.” 🖤 Perfect for spooky season! And KU subscribers can read for FREE starting October 6!

Newsletter peeps will also learn the official “story behind the story” on release day, so be sure to tap that 🔗 in bi0 if you’re curious how this author comes up with her ideas! 👀

#rva #fantasyauthor #urbanfantasy #richmondfantastic

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ARCs are in!!! Obsessed with how this one turned out ✨✨✨

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Feeling incredibly fortunate.

I’m still finding my way as an author, and I’m so grateful for all the publishers and authors I’ve gotten the opportunity to partner with over the past few months, not to mention the readers who make it all happen.

These are all the printed books and magazines featuring my work and contributions to date. If you aren’t already, please follow and support these wonderful creators.

-“Afraid to Feel”, my novella from @alienbuddhapress
-“Smitten Land 5” from @thelaughingmanhousepub
-“Carols for the Dead” from @horrortonwritesabook
-“Noncorporeal IV: Phantom Dusk” from @inkdpub
-“Occupying Bodies” and “Year Seven” from @blackharepress
-“Of Beasts & Bones” from @robinknabel
-“Virginia Fantastic” from @whitakerlyonpress
-Issue 2 from @sgnlmagazine

And somehow, there are more on the way. Stay tuned!

#books #horror #writing #writer #anthology

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✨💕SO excited for this one 💕✨

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TODAY at 5 (early enough to bring the whole family)! Author Arlen Fain will be here to discuss Virginia Fantastic - a collection of flash fiction that reimagines Virginia as a land of ghosts and legends and secrets. 😱🦕📚

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This post is about 2.5 months late. In fact, I already pre-empted the book whose launch I drove down to attend here with my last post.

(But if you missed that post or wanted more context, then pick up a copy of Shenandoah Fantastic. Perfect for those who like fantasy, science fiction, and horror; those who like the Shenandoah Valley; and especially those alums of JMU (me included). I wrote a Warhammer 40k parody where a space marine must rebuild the Route 11 Potato Chip factory in a post-apocalyptic valley to deliver more snacks—or become the next Martyr for the Emperor.)

Still, it’s a day worth celebrating. Both because it was an incredible amount of fun and introduced me to an incredible community of author.

But also because it was not guaranteed.

I haven’t had the best of luck health wise, much of it related to my mobility, and this year started off as horrible as I can remember. So to be on my feet, scampering around a cavern, squatting, going up and down stairs, and doing all sorts of other movements most take for granted a short 30 days later was a real sea change. A sign the tide had turned.

Which is also why I felt it so necessary to mark this day with a post even after so much time has passed. It is not forgotten. It will never *be* forgotten.

And thank you to @maryssamancuso for joining me for a daylong romp through the best the Shenandoah Valley has to offer: from @rt11potatochips to @shenandoahcaverns to @parentheses.books

You never know how fast things can turn around!

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Last Saturday (3/14/26) bore witness to the most incredible experience of my writing career. So far, anyway, but it will take a lot to top this one.

Here’s the TLDR:
- Writer (me) writes a Sci-Fi comedy story (The Long-Sought I. batatas) featuring Route 11 Potato Chips ✅
- Local publisher @jamesblakeyauthor prints it in the anthology Shenandoah Fantastic
- Local artist creates artwork based on story and Route 11 ✅
- Writer buys artwork and donates it to Route 11 ✅

And the TLDR leaves out the second piece by a *second artist* also based on writer’s story that writer bought but didn’t donate (yet).

The most gratifying part of the whole experience was getting to attend the debut of the collection and meet the artists: @manmiller and @garciadelalunaart . Not only so I could thank them (~100 times) but so I could hear about how they interpreted the story and approached their art. Not to mention, they’re just genuinely good people.

And a heartfelt thank you to Julie Cline and @augusthoerrart for organizing the Constructed Worlds exhibit, and another massive thank you to @artistic.leigh for hosting the exhibit and the debut event at the lovely @veccarts gallery in downtown Woodstock, VA. Every JMU alum should swing through Woodstock and check them out next time they visit the alma mater. I know I certainly will.

I walked out that door with four more friends than I had when I walked in—and a piece of art.

Because one look at it, and I knew it had to go directly to the source for all of this.

The other one I bought but left up in the gallery to retrieve later, since I need to come back when Travis prints me a new copy of the piece I was on the way to donate. So why not let Dan’s art gain some more admirers before it goes on my apartment wall?

And it’s not like Travis’s work wouldn’t be displayed for admirers to gather. If anything, it was going to where the most @rt11potatochips enthusiasts would appreciate it. Their Mecca.

Yes, that’s what I meant by “the source.” The progenitor. The one and only, Route 11 Potato Chips.

And of course I walked out of there with the biggest bag of Route 11 Sweet Potato Chips money could buy. The circuit was complete ✅

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Officially published ✅

So grateful for local bookstores and less-local friends who are willing to travel for book launches.

#write #shoplocal #author #read

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Seeing my work in print is a whole new kind of exciting 📚

I can't wait for y'all to read Amelia's little story and experience the Shenandoah Valley in a mystical new way.

If you want an early copy in exchange for an honest review, message me for a link!

Huge thanks to @whitakerlyonpress for accepting, editing, and including my piece in the Shenandoah Valley Fantastic!

#books #shortstory #writing #shenandoahvalley

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This event is a blast. There will be a ton of live music, fire dancers, fairies and orcs. Most importantly a bazaar of vendors selling an assortment of fantastical items. For instance, a special tome 'Charlottesville Fantastic' which features 20 magical tales based in and around the local area.

For more information:
https://www.ixartpark.org/fantasy-fest

Charlottesville Fantastic is also available on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and Books-a-million

#charlottesville #ixartpark #fantasy

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