Kampung Kreepy

Check out my recent interview with Nora Peevy from the horror writers group The Butchered Writers.  In the interview on the group’s Substack , I talk about my writing process, a eulogy I would write for myself, and music with creepy vibes that I aspire to in my writing. 

  The spring equinox occurs today, March 20, at 10:46 a.m. EDT in the Northern Hemisphere. That’s the moment the sun crosses the equator, producing the effect of equal day and night. The spring equinox kicks off the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere. From this day onward, the days will become longer while the nights get shorter, culminating in the longest day of the year, the summer solstice (which falls on June 21 this year). In terms of feng shui, the spring equinox is the start of a new energetic cycle. Yang energy (the white part of the yin-yang symbol) rises in spring, while yin energy (the dark part of the symbol) ebbs. Yang energy is masculine, dynamic and active, while yin energy is feminine, restful and introspective. Spring is associated with feng shui’s wood element, which is all about growth and new beginnings. You can enhance the energy of spring—and spark growth and creativity—in your home and office by adding healthy houseplants to your decor ...

St. Patrick's Day is almost here! While you're gearing up to celebrate, have you ever wondered why the shamrock became one of the main symbols for both St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland?  Here's a brief history of how that came about.  Saint Patrick was born in Roman Britain (probably modern-day Scotland) at around 385 AD. When he was 16, he was captured and enslaved by Irish pirates, and brought to Ireland to work as a shepherd. He managed to escape, and returned to his family.  He became a Roman Catholic priest and eventually a bishop. He returned to Ireland as a missionary and converted the people there to Christianity. According to Irish lore, he used the shamrock (a type of three-leaf clover) to explain the Holy Trinity. Saint Patrick died March 17, 461 AD. March 17 became a religious holiday in Ireland. In the 17th century, the Irish began wearing shamrocks in their hats while celebrating the saint’s feast day.  During the 18th century, the shamrock became a symbol...

  Conjuring the Rage Deity is a prequel to my Pearl Dragon Adventures urban fantasy series. The novellas revolve around the escapades of art thief and grave robber Pearl Tham.  This series is for you if you like Asian folklore, female antiheroes, fast-paced action, quick reads, and monster slaying.  The Pearl Dragon series is a spin-off of my Geomancer’s Apprentice series, featuring two underdog feng shui practitioners who find, to their dismay, that they must save the world (or at least Washington, D.C.).  My newsletter subscribers will be able to download Conjuring the Rage Deity for free when it releases in April. Subscribe to my newsletter now if you’d like to read it. I’ve included a snippet below.  My newsletter is a monthly email that updates subscribers on my works-in-progress. I may also give historical context for a book, or offer a look behind the scenes. I send additional emails where necessary about sales and promotions for my books. Come join...

    Bones and All is a gem of a movie that I recently caught on Netflix. I don’t remember any hype around it, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I suppose it can be called a horror movie. It certainly has horror elements.  More importantly for me, it has heart and soul, and great ensemble acting.  The movie, set in the late 1980s, centers around a teenager named Maren. She’s been sheltered all her life by her strict father. He closely monitors her activities and locks her in her bedroom at night.   One evening, Maren sneaks out to a sleepover hosted by one of her high school friends. There, we find out the reason for her dad’s behavior when she gives in to her cannibalistic urges. She runs home and tells him what happened, and the pair flee out of town.  It turns out that Maren has been hungry for human flesh all her life. Her father abandons her in a new town, telling her she has to fend for herself from now on. He leaves a tape explaining ...

Happy Groundhog Day!  Today, Feb. 2, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting that there will be six more weeks of winter. Being an author of urban fantasy based on Asian folklore, I thought it would be fun to explore Chinese proverbs and folk beliefs to see which animals were traditionally relied upon to forecast the weather. Many of such proverbs concern rain, which isn’t surprising given the importance of farming in ancient China. Abundant rainfall was the key to survival.  Would you rely on these old sayings?    When dragonflies fly low, that means rains or high winds are on the way.       When ants move to a new home or snakes cross the road, it’s a sure bet that heavy rain is coming. When spiders repair their webs, that means the rain is ending and the sun will return.         The louder the frogs, the heavier the rain.       When cats wash their faces, the rain is soon to follow.   ...