Issue No. 1 | The First Haunting
Updates on my horror novel, a short story, haunted visuals and a classic recommendation
From the Shadows
🌙 Welcome to the very first issue of my haunted little newsletter.
September has always been my favorite month. The weather cools, the Halloween decorations come out… well, more decorations come out. My house is basically Halloween year round. Horror and Halloween are kind of our thing.
Some people get spooked by Friday the 13th, but for me it’s lucky. Today I get to wish my husband of 12 years a Happy Anniversary. Fun fact: Armando and I had our first date on Friday, October 13th, and our wedding on Friday, September 13th. So of course it felt perfect to send this newsletter on the 13th of every month. (I just typed out the number 13 way too many times.🤪)
So, what can you expect here? Each month I’ll give you a glimpse into the messy but magical process of writing my first horror novel. I’ll share eerie reflections, original short horror stories, personal essays, and fun extras—like book and movie recs, exclusive first looks at my photoshoot ideas (that Armando kindly puts up with), and whatever else crawls out of my creative crypt.
I want this to feel like opening a new door in my haunted house, the one marked horror author. I’ll be honest with you: I don’t fully know what I’m doing. But I’m so glad you’re here at the beginning, watching me figure it out. Every story needs a first page, and this is ours.
The Monster Grows (Book Progress Update)
🩸 Progress so far: 18,214 words
🎃 Recent win: I finally created a realistic writing schedule and have been showing up for it.
🕯️ Biggest challenge: Allowing myself to write badly and trust it will come alive in edits.
I’ll admit I was naive when I first decided to write a book. The idea came to me in a dream, and at first it was just going to be a short story. But then it grew into something more, and I fell in love with it. That’s the thing though—the idea is the easy part. Once the initial rush faded, I had to actually sit down and write the book.
And every single time I sit down, my inner gremlin Greta shows up. She’s loud, vicious, and relentless. Honestly, this whole journey feels like a knife fight with myself. I know I won’t come out the other end the same, but I’m determined to push through. I will be the final girl of my own story.
I know, I know—I’ve been talking about writing a book but haven’t shared much about what it’s actually about. Maybe with another month of consistent writing and a little more confidence, I’ll share more of the premise. For now, I’ll just say this: at its core, it’s about identity, idolization, and the dangers of seeking external validation.
The draft is messy, but I’m still standing. The final girl always fights back.
A Bloom of Terror
Every month, I’ll plant a little horror here. Sometimes it will be a short fiction story, other times a personal essay from my haunted garden.
The Haunted Shelf 📚🎬📺
This is where I’ll share book, movie, and show recommendations. I’d love to know what you’re reading and watching, so feel free to reply with your own favorites.
This month’s pick is all things The Haunting of Hill House — the book, the movie, and the show.
📚 The Book – Shirley Jackson’s gothic classic. This is easily my favorite horror book I’ve ever read and the first one that actually scared me. It’s a masterpiece from beginning to end. The unreliable narrator is done so well that I know I’ll be reading this book again just to study it.
🎬 The Movie – The 1963 adaptation. This classic black and white film follows the story of the book closely with just a few changes. It leans into atmosphere and proves that less is often scarier. I loved the creative camera shots that lingered and built eerie tension. Sometimes what you don’t see is more terrifying. I also loved the house in this version, and the actors were great.
📺 The Show – Mike Flanagan’s Netflix series is a masterpiece of its own. It completely reimagines the story into something new. I highly recommend reading the book first and then watching the show. It’s so creative and beautifully done, and it mixes heartbreak with some truly scary moments.
💭What I love about Hill House is how it shows that horror is always about more than fear. The monsters are never just monsters. They’re mirrors.
From My Creative Crypt
This is my little corner for fun extras. Come take a peek in my crypt and you might find things like an exclusive first look at a photoshoot or book cover. Sometimes I’ll share a playlist, a mood board, or a quote from my book. Other times it might be gardening tips, fun recipes, or something totally unexpected.
For this first issue, I thought it would be fun to share something a little strange. Armando and I recently did a photoshoot where I wore different masks to represent all the ghosts from my personal essay The Haunting of Becoming. These are some of my favorite shots, and I’m so excited to show them to you first.
The Last Whisper
Thank you for making it all the way to the end of my very first haunted little newsletter. If you enjoyed it, I’d love if you replied back, shared it with a friend, or just let me know what you’re reading and watching. Your support means the world to me as I start this author journey.
Before I go, here’s your reminder: give yourself grace when you’re doing something new and stepping into the unknown. Not every day will feel like a win, but if you keep showing up, you will see results. Remember progress over perfection, always. And most importantly, show up as yourself. This dark world needs your unique light.
One last thing:
“Insist on your cup of stars. Once they have you trapped into being like everyone else you will never see your cup of stars again.”— Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House
Until next time,
Christina