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Gothic
Blog and Updates


How To Buy BLOOD & WOLF
How to buy Blood & Wolf.

Judith Vila
6 days ago2 min read


The Magic of Not Knowing
Do you look for rules behind every magical thing? I prefer a little mystery myself!

Judith Vila
Apr 131 min read


Welcome
Welcome to the new Judith Vila, gothic author, site! If you've visited me before, welcome back! You'll see some changes here, reflecting my new focus on historical/Gothic/romance/mystery/horror mashups. Please be sure to wander around this site, and haunt me on Substack: Romance at a Dark Wood's Edge , where I share updates about my writing adventure. But if this is your first visit, know that I write Gothic. Why? Because in every great gothic tale the story requires somethi

Judith Vila
Apr 61 min read


Spring brings writing changes!
It's spring! The traditional time of new beginnings! With that in mind, I'll be making some changes to my website over the next few weeks. While I haven't fully plotted out my every move, you'll see adjustments in the days ahead. Why Make Writing Website Changes My purpose is to align my identity, voice, and digital presence with an authentic "brand promise" —the experience lovely readers, like you, can expect from my books. While I have only one fiction book today-- Blood &

J.H. Jones
Mar 311 min read


How Writing Groups Helped Bring Blood & Wolf to Life
Blood & Wolf by Judith Vila Writing a novel is definitely a lonely journey--I know because, writing as Judith Vila , I just released my gothic/romance/mystery/horror mashup, Blood & Wolf . And from the early days of playing with the concept in my head to this moment when the book is in the hands of lovely readers, I remember often feeling like I was all by myself. But the truth is: I wasn't alone . Yes, the responsibilities of writing, revising, testing and re-writing again a

J.H. Jones
Mar 243 min read


Listen to This: Snippet from My Gothic
I'm delighted to share with you an audio snippet from my upcoming gothic/romance/mystery/horror mashup.

J.H. Jones
Mar 171 min read


What's in an author pen name?
Does your author name align with the nature of your book? Here's my adventure.

J.H. Jones
Mar 32 min read


The Sister: "A Special Kind of Double" in a Gothic
The sister relationship is unique, combining deep emotions with complex dynamics. And in a gothic tale, it can be a pivotal part of the book.

J.H. Jones
Feb 172 min read


2 Great Podcasts for Gothic-y Books
Here are a couple of podcasts where you'll get recommendations for gothic-vibe books and films.

J.H. Jones
Feb 102 min read


Writing Gothic With a Writing Group
I'm sharing a few gothic-y writing prompts to spark icy fear and smoldering passion. Try these for yourself and your group! Or suggest some new ones!

J.H. Jones
Feb 32 min read


Why Gothic Stories Appeal Across Generations
Boomers, Gen X and Millennials find something captivating about gothic literature. Here are my ideas why gothic is relevant for different age groups, and I'd like hear what you think, too.

J.H. Jones
Jan 272 min read


The Timeless Allure of Gothic Stories: Why They Captivate
I'm a die-hard gothic fan, and in this post I share the features that I believe make gothic stories so alluring!

J.H. Jones
Jan 203 min read


Merry & Dark: Free Holiday Stories!
Two merry and dark stories for you this festive season!

J.H. Jones
Dec 2, 20251 min read


Hi Writing Group! October Progress & Free Stories
Enjoy free spooky stories in time for Halloween: These original short stories explore the weird and supernatural. Let me know if you enjoy them!

J.H. Jones
Oct 31, 20251 min read


When They Love the Gothic Setting
This image is from Stockcake. I recently got feedback on selected chapters from the draft of my gothic mystery. One piece of feedback both beta readers shared was how much they enjoyed the setting. Their comments were great news for me, because I've worked hard on the setting of my story. It takes place on the Catskill Mountains, mostly at an old, creaky manor where a vast forest, dark and mysterious, hulks against the building on one side. The action of the story spans the

J.H. Jones
Oct 14, 20252 min read
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