Susanne Schmidt

@sharkiatwrites

Horror/Fantasy Author. BBNYA finalist. SFINCS 1 semi-finalist. Dabbler in Digital Art. Grower of Pumpkins. Creator of the Spooky Spotlight. 🚫No AI. Website: Links:

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Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· 13d

#WIPSnips | Century The witch queen of Ulong-Dan is determined to find out how a vampire made it onto her island. Halfsoul's main character Afya however, isn't easily intimidated. Halfsoul is part of #BookBazaar26. Link in Bio. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

She tightened her grip on Afya’s shoulder, pushing them both a little closer to the fire. “I don’t want my people to think I’m a monster, so I’ve yet to follow through on the experiment. You’d make a perfect specimen. You’re not some newborn baby leech, barely aware of what you’re doing in your hunger pangs. Must’ve taken a lot of kills to grow this lucid. And since you come without overly-attached family members or friends, no one will care if I choose to hurt you more than strictly necessary. So, why don’t you tell me how you slipped through my wards? You can start with your true name and the names of every person you’ve dealt with in the last century.”
“Perhaps your wards need recasting.” Afya’s voice trembled. Her neck was almost touching the hot stone above the fireplace, but she held her head up high.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· 18d

Woohoo, we're at ten! There's almost a dozen of you now. As promised, here's another #WIPsnippet from Halfsoul. If you like these, follow Halfsoul on Backerkit. www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti... You'll get: - a free short story (dystopian fantasy) - another snippet❤️ 💙📚👀

Like a fool, the boy knocked on the door. The sour scent of his fear perfumed the air. She scuttled further backward into the hut’s only room, gnawed the last piece of tattered rope from her wrists. It had been so easy to abandon herself to anger, to survival. The Hunger paced within her, a caged beast, waiting for prey. She could barely think, let alone rein it in.
“Hello? Na dan?” The boy called again, his voice rising in pitch.
An-Yin, she told herself. An-Yin. Remember him. He who bears the ankh. She roused herself from her crouch and opened her lips to tell him—tell him what? It was hard to remember words, to fix them in her mind long enough to—
And why struggle? This was her true nature. The Afya who remembered the names of prey, who talked to them, who denied herself, she was the freak. Now, to lure the boy—An-Yin, Sands damn it!—If she could lure An-Yin to open the door, she’d be quick to overwhelm him and—
No! He can help us! She shook her head, thoughts fraying again.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· 19d

We're at nine! Thank you! You've unlocked a #WIPsnippet from Halfsoul. ❤️ I'll post another for every extra follower. 💙📚👀 💀📚🪐

At dusk, they transferred the body from the hall to the meadow outside the fortress. They walked in a long, somber procession. The household guards carried the pallet, then followed Sheng-Yin, An-Yin, and Rong. Behind them, An-Yin could sense the Seer’s presence, like an icy fire eating into his back. They hadn’t spoken since last night, and even as they reached their destination, he couldn’t think of what to say to her. Townspeople crowded in over the bridge, trampling the sparse grass into the mud. Their eyes rested on An-Yin: demanding, almost hungry.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· 19d

Only 4 days left to get the Summerween Bundle! itch.io/b/3743/summe...

Some doors should not be opened. Covers of The Mansion by Niranjan, Rotten Roots by Susanne Schmidt, Dark Heart of Ilmoure by Cara N. Delaney, each with a cover showing a doorway. The Summerween bundle runs July 1st to 28th

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· 23d

You may have picked up on how I was slightly stressing out about giving my first public talk at Texttage Nürnberg. I'm good now. I did it! The room was packed. People were taking notes! I was in awe. Thank you to the Texttage team for having me & to everyone who came to see my talk.

The author giving her talk at Texttage Nürnberg. A slide of her presentation can be seen in the background with the words "Was steht uns im Weg?" (What stands in our way?) visible.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· 29d

No, ProWritingAid! Wtf?

Original sentence: "I let the cable go and rub my eyes."
Pro Writing Aid's suggestion: "I let the cable rub my eyes."

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· 29d

Wow, this spam email subject line is wild. 🤣

Email from Elizabeth Carter, subject line: "Susanne, the author who wrote a haunting short story about a Graveyard Keeper and his ghost dog venturing through a haunted town to find the source of an otherworldly disruption, where the rot always starts at the roots, and the readers of dark, atmospheric fiction do not know Sven and Fi exist yet."

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jul 13

Ihr wollt wissen wie man sich dazu motiviert sich täglich an den Schreibtisch zu setzen und kreativ zu arbeiten? Dann seid Ihr bei meinem Vortrag am Sonntag auf den Texttagen Nürnberg genau richtig! texttage.nuernberg.de/programm/ter... #texttage #nürnberg #germanbooksky

Grafik: Copyright: ©texttage/Kasia Prusik-Lutz

texttage Nürnberg Gastland Tschechien Save the Date 16. bis 19. Juli 2026

Motivation für jeden Tag – Vortrag von Susanne Schmidt
Kreativität im Alltag leben

19 Juli 2026 14.30 Uhr - 15.00 Uhr

Sie sind an kreativem Schreiben interessiert, finden aber nie die Zeit dafür? Sie sprudeln vor Ideen, aber sobald Sie zu schreiben beginnen verlieren Sie alle Motivation? In diesem Kurzvortrag lernen Sie Ihre Motivation zu hinterfragen und in produktivere Bahnen zu lenken, damit es mit dem ersehnten Schreibprojekt endlich klappt.
Wir reden über langfristige und kurzfristige Ziele, innere und äußere Motivation und den wichtigen Unterschied zwischen innerer Zufriedenheit und äußerlichem Erfolg.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jul 11

Protesting the recent changes the German government is making to destroy our social security today. (Sign reads "Future not Slashing everything") #unkürzbar

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jul 9

Tired of reading about the same old monkey's paw? Venture off the beaten path. Try an indie bundle today! itch.io/b/3743/summe...

Don't Touch That. Cursed Objects "r" us. Covers of Conch by L.B. Shimaira, Books and Bone by Veo Corva, Locker's Rebellion by Jesse Pohlmann

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jul 8

Do you love haunted forests? 🦇🌲👻 The Summerween bundle has plenty of those, plus MORE! Get all the horror you need this summer: itch.io/b/3743/summe...

Don't go into the woods...
Covers of The Devil in the Woods by S.Jean, The White Ribband by Mason Hawthorne, and Astra's Call by Pehriska
The Summerween bundle runs July 1st to 28th at https://itch.io/b/3743/summerween-bundle

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jul 3

Do you love summer and horror? How about summer horror? 👻☀️ Space cruises gone wrong, late night encounters with ghosts, evil cults operating in seemingly charming villages... The Summerween Bundle has all that and more! Get it now: itch.io/b/3743/summe... 💙📚📦

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jun 21

Happy Solstice! #bloomscrolling

A bright red carnation flower before a background of blooming lavender.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jun 20

Barrows @barrows.itch.io is a former journalist who writes sci-fi, horror, and fantasy. His book The Cryptic Parade and a World Unfurling is a collection of 40 short stories about the weird, creepy, and unseen. The Cryptic Parade is available here: barrows.itch.io/the-cryptic-...

A collection of 40 short stories about the weird, creepy, and unseen.
Meet author Barrows @barrows.itch.io and his book A Cryptic Parade & A World Unfurling!
The Cryptic Parade: A bestiary of things that dwell where we dare not look.
A World Unfurling: Records and reports from a reality fraying at the edges.
Buy the Cryptic Parade & A World Unfurling here: https://barrows.itch.io/the-cryptic-parade-a-world-unfurling

Q: What do you love about horror?
What I love most about horror is how it serves as a reflection of the subconscious fears of the people who made it. You learn so much--and empathize so much--with someone by learning what scares them. What kind of monsters they imagine. Aliens snatching our bodies and living among us, giant beasts awakened by weapons testing, ancient beliefs rising up to fight back, disaster movies; all these concepts are a little glimpse at the cultural or personal anxieties of those who made them. And that bridge-building, which horror is best at, is magical to me.
Q:. Who are your biggest influences?
A: Clive Barker, David Cronenberg.
4. What horror movie was the last one to scare you, and why?
4. The Stone Tape. It never startled me, and it wasn't even particularly scary for a horror movie, but I found the concept of it absolutely chilling, and the conclusion of that movie haunts me to this day.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jun 20

K.Q. Watson @kqwatson.bsky.social is a self-described cyborg that you don’t take home to meet your parents. Possibly from Canada, she was featured here before with Wheel Chair Seating for the Apocalypse, a short story of despair and cookie dough. Available here: books2read.com/wheelchairse...

The apocalypse is here, and I'm snug in my apartment with cookie dough and despair.
Meet author K.Q. Watson kqwatson.bsky.social and her book Wheelchair Seating for the Apocalype!

A zombie uprising meets a wheelchair-bound main character who must come to terms with the end of her world, alone in her apartment with cookie dough, no working television, and plenty of despair.
Wheelchair Seating for the Apocalypse is a story for all those who are tired of seeing the creepy kids, strong dudes and hot chicks populate every horror story.
Content warning: Gore and self-harm.

Buy Wheelchair Seating for the Apocalypse at https://books2read.com/wheelchairseating
Also available as an Audio Book!

Author Interview: K.Q. Watson

Q: What do you love about horror?
A: I like how subversive it can be, and also how it can act as an avenue to talk about difficult issues. Also the aesthetics.
Q: Who are your biggest influences?
A: I think horror wise my biggest influences are Giger, the 90's movie Jacob's Ladder, Dali and the films The People Under the Stairs and Fire in the Sky.
Q: What horror book/creator is seriously underappreciated and why do you love them?
A: There's a band called Zeal & Ardor, and the main idea behind the band is What if slaves accepted Satan instead of Jesus? It's death metal meets Southern blues and slaves chants and it is all amazing.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jun 20

Tessa Hastjarjanto @tessahastjarjanto.com is a Dutch/Indonesian writer who runs narratess.com. Check out her #authorinterview for some Asian Horror Movie recs. A Dress to Save Me is a Victorian Dark Fantasy perfect for fans of Crimson Peak and Jane Eyre. Available here: www.books2read.com/AD2SM

YOU'RE CORDIALLY INVITED TO THE WEDDING OF LADY SOPHIE LINSBERG AND THE DUKE OF FALBRY.
Meet author Tessa Hastjarjanto @tessahastjarjanto.com and her book A Dress to Save Me!
For years, her father had moved Sophie through society as his pawn, forging alliances to expand his empire. Now, he was ready to sell her off for the deal of a lifetime. Her lifetime.
Trapped in a marriage she never wanted, Sophie clings to one final hope: a future she chooses for herself. But before she can claim her freedom, she must first find the courage to save herself.
Buy A Dress to Save Me here:
https://www.books2read.com/AD2SM

Q: What got you into writing?
A: I've always wanted to tell stories and create worlds. Writing was the most accessible way for me to share these stories. Having read half of the library before my teens probably also helped.
Q: What horror movie was the last one to scare you, and why?
A: I don't really watch horror anymore because they give me vivid nightmares. But there was a period where I watched a lot of Asian horror. Movies like Shutter, A Tale of Two Sisters, and One Missed Call. Shutter especially is one I still recommend to people. I love the more psychological horror. Slashers and jump scares seem cheap compared to making someone afraid of something mundane. I'm here for the dread, not the shock.
Q: What horror creator is seriously underappreciated and why do you love them?
A: Cat Rector. Her new vampire series (Coal Gets In Your Veins is the first book) might not seem like
horror at first but it's there and once the true villain is revealed, it gets intense. Cat Rector writes amazing characters and knows how convey the character's inner struggles. She rips your heart out, stabs it a dozen times, then puts it back into your chest, and stitches it back up.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jun 20

Apologies, something went wrong with the #SpookySpotlight. 💀 Let's try again: Shadows lurk even on the brightest days. By which I mean: It's #SpookySpotlight time, featuring interviews with and books by @tessahastjarjanto.com @kqwatson.bsky.social and @barrows.itch.io! 📚 💙 🩸 📚 💀 (Art by me)

Happy Summer Solstice! Spooky Spotlight featuring Tessa Hastajarjanto, KQ Watson and Barrows. Art by Susanne Schmidt, showing an elfin woman with blond hair wearing a flower crown. In the background are vague contours of a tree in bloom and a blue-hued moon.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jun 5

Go home Pro Writing Aid, you're drunk.

Spell check software marks the sentence "...and how the beetle saved us." and suggests replacing beetle with the word "baetyl".

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jun 3

Do you 💙 spooky books? Take a look at my Strawberry Circle series - they're set in small town Germany! 💙 books, and libraries, and an atmosphere of forbidden magic, check out What May Rise from the Ashes. 💙 free books? sharkiatwrites.itch.io/gray-geese All 📚 links here: susanneschmidt.carrd.co 📚💙

Covers of and reviewer quotes for
What May Rise From the Ashes "a flirtation with magic."
Bad Grains "such a good, spooky read."
Whiteout "hauntingly beautiful."
Rotten Roots "I got goosebumps reading this!"
All books and covers by Susanne Schmidt

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· Jun 1

Friends, today, I'm sharing a #coverreveal for Death in Shadows by @pippinacious.bsky.social! (4th quarter 2026) A woman pulled from a bog. An office worker straying from routine. An author making deals in the dark. In these ten tales, death wears many faces. Cover Artist: @uglybyproxy.bsky.social

Cover of Death in Its Many Forms by S.H. Cooper

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· May 29

Someone I know was genuinely surprised I didn't have a clickable link on an Insta post. (Or a clickable linktree link in my profile for that matter.) It's by design. Break basic functionality, then lock as a feature available only on the highest tier subscription. Don't build your business on this.

Highlighted text on feature description of meta one advanced ($49.99/month) reads:
"Clickable links in Instagram posts and reels"

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· May 24

When I served the slices, the layers also slid apart because the cake was too warm, but oh well. Who cares? We had it with some refreshing cold-brewed Oolong and (you guessed it) Osmanthus tea. It was a Sunday afternoon well spent.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· May 24

You bet we both tried a slice even though it had no time to set yet. It's good, the tartness from the rhubarb feels airy, almost citrusy. Currently it's overpowering the osmanthus a bit, but there's a soft, delicate sweetness to the crepes layers that may make these my favorite crepes ever.

A slice of cake on a pink plate, showing off all the different layers.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· May 24

And in the end? I spent about 6 hours on what may be the world's only Osmanthus Rhubarb Mille Crepes Cake. (With white chocolate shavings on top.)

A photo of the top of the cake which is decorated with cream and fresh strawberries as well.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· May 24

Now I just had to repeat the process. Crepes, rhubarb paste, crepes, rhubarb paste. By the way, all credit for frying the crepes goes to the person who unwisely gifted me a crepes pan for Christmas so he could "make me crepes whenever I want". (Crepes being another Japan-related obsession.)

Several layers of crepes and rhubarb paste

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· May 24

the airy rhubarb cream I had envisioned, it at least gave me a smooth, slightly creamy rhubarb paste I could work with. You can't tell in the photo, but it took on a delicate pink hue from the strawberries that worked for the floral themed cake I envisioned.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· May 24

So now we're improvising a little, which is famously the smart thing to do when baking. I took my electric whisk to the mushy mess, but that still left blobs of jelly. So eventually the immersion blender had to make an appearance. I tested it on a small batch, and while it didn't produce

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· May 24

You don't know this about me, but jelly-based desserts and I are not friends. So while I was typing out par of this post, the rhubarb had gelled a little too much. The cream (obviously seasoned with osmanthus, too) was still supposed to go in, but this devolved into a cream and jelly blobbed mess.🫠

A huge dollop of cream sitting atop the rhubarb jelly.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· May 24

Luckily, I had some agar agar, and we're going with that. I went off recipe and added some fresh strawberries and subsituted osmanthus syrup for parts of the sugar. Also vanilla sugar made up some of that sugar. Vanilla goes great with rhubarb, and also, apparently osmanthus.

Susanne Schmidt@sharkiatwrites· May 24

Anyway, there's no recipe for what I'm doing, but I found some German recipes for rhubarb cream. To make it, one needs to make a rhubarb jelly thing first. They use gelatine, which I didn't have, and it being Sunday all the stores are closed, so I can't get.