https://www.authorcaitlinsykes.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-03-10 https://www.authorcaitlinsykes.com/blog/writing-update-march monthly 0.5 2026-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/058b198a-1ff0-4fc0-94e3-e9ca127ab376/portcharles2.jpg Blog - Restructuting My Horror Novel - Port Charles The vampire Caleb Morely (portrayed by Michael Easton) and good girl Livvie Locke (portrayed by Kelly Monaco) had five-year-old me secretly wishing for a vampire boyfriend well before I fell in love with Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. https://www.authorcaitlinsykes.com/blog/2025-tbr-ng83D monthly 0.5 2026-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769438634873-AT4DYIRRUBGNUFASKEJ0/houseofmymother.jpg Blog - 2026 TBR https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769438462563-2V4K7H74U989H0OB6B9J/sexcultnun.jpg Blog - 2026 TBR https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769438462783-YVIWTFBBOWVN1XJ5AYTY/soundofgravel.jpg Blog - 2026 TBR - Reading for book club! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769438461409-56OEIX2781RGWKZXI1U3/cher.jpg Blog - 2026 TBR - Love Cher https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769438461742-M7LMXNZZL3S9584OMBCV/whenworldidntend.jpg Blog - 2026 TBR - Learning about a new cult... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769438460110-43RZZXRX6MNRT8F30N56/daughtermoreau.jpeg Blog - 2026 TBR - Working through her bibliography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769438460222-R9GQV4ZA6V7GS8IUW0P3/beautifulcreatures.jpg Blog - 2026 TBR - Revisiting an old favorite https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1b0b8371-0698-493e-8f0f-16598cd88811/wickedlovely.jpg Blog - 2026 TBR - Time for another reread https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769438634700-57TWUAI5A0FRTKIUUVFA/buffalohunter.jpg Blog - 2026 TBR - Loved "Mongrels" gotta read more https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769438633706-E268I3KIME22CE2SQMHC/onlygoodindians.jpg Blog - 2026 TBR - See previous statement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769438633615-KHWT7VL4A6M8E95EZVFD/lasher.jpeg Blog - 2026 TBR - Gotta finish the series, hate the show https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769442829371-TQWKIZ62IFY9GR4OGZ9Q/taltos.jpg Blog - 2026 TBR - Again, see previous statement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/1769442829322-EWBBD0WBMT0A94ZBRDVF/ravenboys.jpg Blog - 2026 TBR - Gotta see what the fuss is about https://www.authorcaitlinsykes.com/blog/2025-reading-wrap-up monthly 0.5 2026-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/61f02651-08ba-4cc1-b417-8b977c5a9be8/paperbacksfromhell.jpg Blog - 2025 Reading Wrap-Up - Paperbacks From Hell: The Twisted History of ‘70s and ‘80s Horror Fiction As a kid I was always fascinated with the dark macabre covers of old horror books and VHS tapes. They both frightened and intrigued me. I also love horror history and learning about why and how certain trends in horror arise, so when I discovered this book I was very excited and hoping to get some good recommendations. I listened to this around the house while I did chores and it was a fun little history lesson. It made me want to seek out some of the books discussed and revisit R.L. Stine’s Fear Street series. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/c4c362ba-5cff-480b-98d5-04d51b8e60b3/nightmarefuel.jpg Blog - 2025 Reading Wrap-Up - Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films I bought this book a couple years back as a resource for an essay I was writing on Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (I’ll be sharing that in the future), and hadn’t read the entire book until now. I kept this book by my side as I dug deeper into the reasons I want to write the novel I’m working on now. Again, I really enjoy horror history, so this was a fun read that explores what scares us and why. Scares are often subjective and a reflection of current issues. This book helped me realize that while my novel might not be scary to some, it might be terrifying to others and that gave me a sense of peace I hadn’t felt before. So a big thank you goes out to this book. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/0b4c1de6-6a4a-4c49-8129-aa4cfcacc9f8/lowlowwoods.jpg Blog - 2025 Reading Wrap-Up - The Low, Low Woods In college I took a Women Writers class and we read In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado, which for me was a tough and traumatic read. However, my professor said if we enjoyed her work and liked the fungus element of Mexican Gothic, that we should give The Low, Low Woods a try. I actually haven’t finished this one yet because I got too busy and forgot about it. From the first few pages I enjoyed the art and the world-building, so I’ll definitely pick it back up after the holiday rush. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/94259705-ee2e-4170-88f6-82e2152b7a11/sisterwives.jpg Blog - 2025 Reading Wrap-Up - Becoming Sister Wives: The Story of an Unconventional Marriage Sorry for the jump-scare that is Kody Brown. For those that are unaware of my obsession, let me introduce you to the Brown family of TLC infamy. Their show Sister Wives premiered in 2008 and is going strong (?) with their 20th season having premiered this past September. This book is famous amongst the Reddit subs dedicated to the show. I bought this to read on the plane while moving to Germany and wound up being too stressed to read it. It’s a good thing I didn’t because it had me screaming in my living room at the level of hypocrisy and bullshitting. This book is probably only interesting if you watch the show, as you’ll be able to pick apart each person’s narrative, poke holes and inconsistencies in their stories, and snark on Robyn’s alter ego She-Rah. The Brown family used to be part of a polygamous group known as the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) and I was really hoping for some insight on the spiritual convictions that led them into polygamy, but sadly the book left a lot be desired on that front. Regardless, I had fun reading it, griping about it to my mom, and following along with the Surviving Sister Wives podcast, which did a book club for this and another book I read this year. . . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/5c499805-3229-467d-938c-afb2e481756f/christinesisterwife.jpg Blog - 2025 Reading Wrap-Up - Sister Wife: A Memoir of Faith, Family, And Finding Freedom Again, because I am obsessed, this was my most anticipated read for this year. I was dumb and didn’t pre-order it early, so it didn’t arrive until 2 weeks after its release, but I did listen to it on Spotify and boy oh boy, was it good! Christine Brown Woolley, was the third wife to Kody Brown and the first to leave him. Her leaving seemed to set off a chain reaction with the other wives, as the first 2 subsequently left not long after her. Christine is now remarried and living happily ever after with what seems to be a very nice, goofy man, which is what our queen deserves after enduring the nightmare that is Kody. I wanted to read this to not only get the tea on what went on behind the scenes in their marriage, but because Christine is what is known as ‘polygamy royalty’. She is the granddaughter of a prophet and has family ties to two polygamous groups — the Allred’s and the LeBaron’s. In fact, Ervil LaBaron (her maternal great uncle) ordered the murder of her paternal grandfather! So you see there’s a lot of shit to unpack here. I thought it was well organized and spilled a lot of tea — though I know a lot of fans wanted more. I thought it offered more insight than Becoming Sister Wives and absolutely LOVED following along with all my book clubs. https://www.authorcaitlinsykes.com/blog/rcp691hyq2nrsgn9oakwjbdy9qy1kj monthly 0.5 2026-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/d4494a84-09bc-461b-9a61-ec81b692d3ed/Hecate-a-goddess-wearing-purple-robes-stands-under-a-crescent-moon-with-her-loyal-black-dog-and-a-snake-coiling-up-her-arm-Symbolism-abounds-in-this-depiction-of-the-goddess-of-magic-witchcraft-and-the-night.jpeg Blog - My Name: Creative Exercise - My Name The Irish form of Catherine. Long associated with the Greek word katharos, meaning pure. Hecate, chief goddess of magic and spells is believed to be a possible source for the creation of this name. She held dominion over heaven, earth, and the sea, and was capable of good and evil. This goddess of the night found her home among the ghosts, hell-hounds, and other fearsome creatures. But through the darkness she carried an everlasting torch, guiding the lost when they found themselves stuck at a crossroads. My grandmother’s name was Catherine. I was inadvertently named after her. According to legend she was as formidable as Hecate. This was a woman who with one look could cut you down as if she were swinging a broadsword. People trembled in her wake. And if you dared to insult, trick, or deceive her, she would kick you out on your back and smile as you scurried down the road, tail tucked between your legs. In spite of her fearsome presence, she was a woman who loved deeply. When the daggers faded, only love remained. It seeped into everything she did — her smile, cooking, humming, the kiss she left on your cheek. Her love was pure. My father says I have his mother’s eyes. In me he sees her temper, stubbornness, and heart. When choosing my name my parents had no idea the significance it held. I carry the strength of her every day. I feel a connection to her fearsome independence and to the love she shared through selfless acts. She was all things and made no apologies for it. I am still learning how to step into my power, but I know she will be there to light the way. https://www.authorcaitlinsykes.com/blog/pumpkinhead-a-forgotten-halloween-classic monthly 0.5 2026-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/84ba0612-4e5c-47ac-b445-2f96dc5a070b/pumpkinhead-1988-remake-featured.jpg Blog - Pumpkinhead: A Forgotten Halloween Classic - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.authorcaitlinsykes.com/blog/how-i-got-my-groove-back monthly 0.5 2026-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f1f4e8d261af72e47c36b90/53a5c24e-63b0-47f3-aa65-00c53576975d/ZGYj.gif Blog - How I Got My Writing Groove Back - Now that I’ve moved to a new country and am finding a new routine and rhythm, I finally feel like there is empty space in my brain. 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