Linda M. Crate (she/her) is a Pennsylvanian writer whose poetry, short stories, articles, and reviews have been published in a myriad of magazines both online and in print. She has fifteen published chapbooks, the latest being: not your piñata (Alien Buddha Publishing, June 2025).
2. What made you want to become a writer/artist?
I became a writer because I have always enjoyed words. Even as a child I picked up on the fact that if you gave multiple people the same words they could come up with different stories and I found that fascinating. I also loved being able to connect with protagonists and even sometimes understanding the antagonist even if I didn’t always agree with them.
I liked living in worlds that were different than my experiences on earth. It gave me hope that maybe one day we could build a better world for ourselves and the next generations.
I like drawing and painting, but I’m not as talented at those things so while I dabble in art from time to time my main form of creation is through writing.
I do like taking photographs, too, my college bestie told me I had an artistic eye for photos. I think it’s one of my favorite compliments. It’s stuck with me through the years.
3. What inspires you to keep writing/creating?
Living, honestly. I am always inspired by everything I’ve lived through and experienced. I can find inspiration in conversations between strangers, the weather, shows, music. Anything can serve to fuel my muse, and my muse is relentless. I often say I didn’t find writing, writing found me.
4. Coffee ☕ or tea 🍵? Tea. I actually cannot stand the taste of coffee. It’s too bitter for me.
5. Are you a cat or dog person? I like both, but I definitely lean more towards dogs.
6. What type of books do you read for fun? I usually opt for fantasy or poetry books. Although, I do enjoy reading most anything.
7. What is your favorite story/artist piece you have made? I have so many stories that I don’t know if that’s fair, but I have a few that I think about often:
8. Are you a multi-genre or single genre creator? I’m definitely a multi-genre type of person.
9. What is your favorite place to hang out? My mother’s house, the library, or on a boat ride but I’m an introvert so I rather be alone or with “my” people.
10. What do you do to relax? Swim, read, take nature walks
11. Do you have a favorite show? I don’t watch a lot of television but I always liked Law & Order: SVU, CSI: Miami, and NCIS
12. Do you have a favorite author/artist? Authors: Anne Rice, Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, JRR Tolkien Artists: Vincent Van Gogh, Kelly McKernan, Joel Tesch
13. What future stories/creations are in the works? Depends on where my muse takes me. I have so many ideas, I don’t think I have enough time. Lol
14. In true Kelly Lynn Colby fashion, what is your favorite ice cream? Cookie Dough if we’re talking about cartons of ice cream, soft serve I like twists especially if there’s sprinkles or it’s cherry dipped.
15. Is there anything you believe new authors should know? It is hard. Don’t give up if this is your dream. Some days there’s more rejections than your heart can fathom, but you gotta keep on going and you have to have a thick skin.
What is one editors “hell no” is another editors “hell yes”. You just have to find the right person for the right piece and that can take time.
16. What do you have planned for the future? I want to be able to travel more, get some more books out, just keep living and writing, find time to live and not simply exist, and to receive as many dreams as reality as I can make.
17. Where on social media do you want to be found?
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So we often have friends releasing new books. And we love to recommend them. Here’s our book recommendations. We try to get it done every Saturday but we are busy so we may have missed a few.
Greed’s Charity (Seven Deadly Sins Book 1) By R.A. Pollard Mammon, Sin of Greed. Sentenced to five centuries in an abyss of unending pain, for a kiss. Released into a world he detests. His brothers cannot understand, Mammon is gone. All that remains is Greed. Isabelle, spent her life avoiding others. Protecting her mind from the bombarding emotions around her. Now, despite the pain, she steps toward her future. Until an emerald eyed demon gets between her and an EXIT door. Greed cannot understand his instant craving for this woman he can’t give up. As the flames of passion ignite between them. Powerful forces move to rip them apart and destroy the world. They must fight this enemy of humanity. While struggling to save the sliver of light remaining inside a demons shattered soul.
Hades : A Bad Boy Bikers Motorcycle Club Romance (Satan’s Warriors MC, Vegas Chapter Book 6) By P.T. Macias USA Today Bestselling Author Satan’s Warriors MC, Vegas Chapter Hades ~Dion Gibson I’m fiercely dark. Mean son of bitch. A true bastard. Pure evil. A killer. No fucking saint. She’s an Angel. All light. I see the fear. Rubi Cook My brother is a biker. His biker Brother is hot. I know I’m off-limits. But. I don’t care. I tempt the devil. I burn in his fire. I have a secret. I need help. I need him. Satan’s Warriors MC reading order. Moose 3.1.25 Nuke 4.1.25 Scythe 5.1.25 Reaper 6.1.25 Poet 7.1.25 Hades 8.1.25 Demise 9.1.25 Please note that this story is full of action, violence, dirty-talking bad boy alpha biker, slang, romance, steamy scenes, and HEA.
Springhill By John Toles There’s a difference between being lost and being lost in Louisiana. Being lost means that, given enough time, you’ll sort it out. Being lost in Louisiana means you can’t find your butt to scratch it. Bill Montgomery is the latter. After arriving in Springhill, his only hope is to get out. In one blistering hot afternoon, he discovered that it wasn’t so bad, but first, he had to learn its secrets and the people that lived them. Toles sweeps the reader away, lost in the story from page one, swimming with ease in the current. Sprinkled with humor and small-town charm, the author conveys deep affection for his characters…. a sublime reflection on Americana. When the final sentence arrives and our time in Springhill must come to an end, the reader should not be surprised to think, “Oh, hell … I want more.” – Faith Phillips An enjoyable ode to small-town America and the wonderful people who call it home…a timely reminder of the beauty – and importance – of sitting down and listening to people’s story… so grab an ice-cold Coke and jump in with this great cast of characters. – Chloe Fuksa/Putnam Six Bookstore
How to Survive a Horror Story: A Novel By Mallory Arnold Seven authors enter the manor Can they survive the story within? When legendary horror author Mortimer Queen passes, a group of writers find themselves invited to his last will and testament reading expecting a piece of his massive fortune. Each have their own unique connection to the literary icon, some known, some soon to be discovered, and they’ve been waiting for their chance to step into the author’s shoes for some time. Instead, they arrive at his grand manor and are invited to play a game. The rules are simple, solve the riddle and progress to the next room. If they don’t, the manor will take one of them for itself. You see, the Queen estate was built on the bones of Mortimer’s family, and like any true horror story, the house is still very, very hungry. With the clever, locked-room thrills of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone with the ghostly horror of The Fall of the House of Usher, How to Survive a Horror Story is a bright, biting, thrill-ride that begs us to contemplate how the best horror stories come to be.
The Shadow Man: A Psychological Horror Thriller By Nick Clausen Some fears follow you home. Her doctors call it a hallucination. Lea calls it survival. Because the Shadow Man isn’t just in her head. And if she stops running … he’ll prove it. Step into the shadows with Nick Clausen’s most chilling horror thriller yet. The Shadow Man is perfect for fans of The Silent Patient, The Outsider, and The Haunting of Hill House—a relentless descent into fear, obsession, and the darkness you can’t escape.
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