Rhymes with Camera: Lightning from my fingertips

In May, I'm sending you, dear readers and fans, a lightning-quick letter in lieu of my regular (and more lengthy) missive, as I reserve my energy and brainspace for… (contin'd)

May 02, 2025

…the upcoming launch of the podcast-to-publication collection, Rain Shadows! [more below]

It has been a challenging several weeks, between the demands of book production, the growing season, filmmaking projects (mine and others), and chronic illness hiccups.

Still, there’s a lot going on. Below, please find preorder information, events I’ll be attending, and news of other projects.

COVER REVEAL!

This girl’s dressed and ready for the ball… with just a touch of pink!

"A certified creepshow from Sellman and Vermulm. Rain Shadows is prepared to make you twitch at tapping sounds and question what's in the corner of your eye."—Johnny Compton, Stoker nominee, author of The Spite House and Devils Kill Devils

The e-book edition of Rain Shadows is now available for preorder! We’re offering deep discounts if you order in advance (and writers in particular know… preorders are key to a book’s success).

Until its release date on July 19, 2025, you can order Rain Shadows in e-book for just $.99 (regular price, $7.99). When the print version is ready for preorder, it will be available for half off at $9.99 (retail price $20).

I can’t wait to share our collection with the world!

About Rain Shadows:

Inspired by the dark forests, high deserts, misty mountains, and tumultuous seas of Washington State, the dark tales in Rain Shadows delve into the horror that lives beyond the shadows and fog of the Pacific Northwest.

Penned by Washington authors Tamara Kaye Sellman and Clay Vermulm, this collection of prompt-inspired stories explores the folklore, culture, mysticism, and horror that, like them, calls Washington home.

From mythological and fantastical themes to psychological and supernatural horror—and even some true crime vibes—this collection holds something for horror fans of all stripes and subgenres. Just make sure to bring a waterproof jacket.

Podcast appearances

Fermented Fiction: I debated my Beneath the Rain Shadow podcast co-host, Clay Vermulm, on the merits of last year’s surprise body horror Oscar nominee, The Substance. That episode livestreamed on April 23, 2025, but if you missed it, you’ll see a recording uploaded soon at this link. It was a fun time, less nerve-wracking than I expected, and I think both Clay and I felt the same about the movie: some fine moments, some questionable choices, some mixed messaging, but Demi Moore absolutely rocked the role.
We Bleed Orange and Black, a horror and Halloween-centric podcast hosted by horror author Jeff C. Carter, featured Clay and I as guests on a recent show which will air in later May. Jeff talked with us about the podcast-to-publication birth of Rain Shadows, the validity of “The Seattle Freeze,” and PNW Gothic as a literary category.

Filmmaking

While I continue to peck away at poetry film projects in spare moments, I worked on a bona fide film set last weekend as the sound person for a documentary directed by Jessica Dubey. It involves an annual sustainable fashion event on Bainbridge Island that seeks to raise awareness and encourage alternatives to fast fashion. An important project worthy of a film! I learned a lot of technical sound procedures on the fly and worked with some amazing filmmakers, as well.

Film crew outside Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Left to right: Matthew McKinney (camera); Rachel Dexter (assistant director); moi (production assistant/sound); Sarah Ryerson (director of photography); Jessica Dubey (director/producer); Howard Brock (camera).

MAY: WHAT’S HAPPENING

May 2-4: Crypticon: I’m attending in several capacities: as a panelist, tabler, reader, author, and more. [link to my specific events/locations]
June 5: “Spirits & Stories” with the West Seattle Book Group from 4 to 7p at Till Dawn in West Seattle. The Seattle Chapter of the Horror Writers Association offers readers of this free event a chance to peruse the books from Tamara Kaye Sellman and Clay Vermulm—including their latest, Rain Shadows—and talk directly with the authors during this bookish afternoon of mingling, reading, and horror fun! [link]
June 7: The Annual Kent Nerd Party hosts this fun open market event all day, featuring gamers, artists, authors, and other kinds of nerdy characters! I’ll be sharing space with Cascade Writers and the Seattle chapter of the HWA with a special nod to local author supporters, PageTurner Books. [link]
June 12-15: StokerCon (Stamford, CT), the world’s premier horror convention. I’ll be there with Clay Vermulm signing books and celebrating Friday the 13th in spooky style with some of the horror community’s finest writers from around the world. [link]

For links forthcoming, you can always check out my detailed calendar

When you read this, I’ll already be haunting the halls of Crypticon with my fave horror writers, filmmakers, and fans. It’ll be a little like Halloween in May, which is great when you’re among friends and fans of the spooky season.

Shh, don’t tell anyone, but I’m going to a morning matinee for Sinners on Saturday morning. I have attempted to see this film three times already. In the first two instances, it was sold out, and in the last instance, an AI foul-up meant incorrect showtimes were published for a particular chain of theaters and so me and a bunch of other moviegoers arrived more than half an hour too late (boo!).

Next month will be “go time” for the soft launch of Rain Shadows in Stamford, CT at StokerCon, with other events also planned, and July 19 is our officially book release date, so I’ll be coming to you in June with a lot more information about book events and pre-order discounts galore!

Have a great May; maybe I’ll see you around! ~ Tamara