Author: robinschadel

  • The Unmarked, Backwards Grave: Symbolism in Wolf in the Sanctuary

    I rarely talk about symbolism in my books. That’s for the readers to decipher. After all, what is symbolic to me might not have the same meaning for a reader. And yes, your English teachers were often basing what they taught you on some scholar’s opinion of what the “symbols” of a text actually are.…

  • Horror, Heart, Humor: Essential Elements in Carmilla’s Gambit

    So, this is going to be a busy marketing month for us here at Cursing Raven Books. In addition to the Tales of the Veiled Rose dark fantasy novelette series patreon, both Carmilla’s Gambit and Wolf in the Sanctuary release next month. And while I do not want to spam post, I will be posting…

  • Wolf in the Sanctuary Release

    BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, May 3, 2025, On 10 June, former folklore, rhetoric, and literature professor turned independent author and freelance editor Robin Schadel brings her home state into her passion for creating worlds and spinning tales where the fantastical and folkloric move side-by-side with the mundane world. “Stories have always been my life,” Schadel says…

  • Werewolves in MY Bayou?

    Hey, this is a multi-part update on a few projects. Wolf in the Sanctuary Update The first is on the Louisiana gothic horror novel I was working on earlier. That novel is both drafted and revised, and now it’s off to my editor. We’re looking at an early summer release of Wolf in the Sanctuary.…

  • A Paranorma-latte Romance?

    A Paranorma-latte Romance?

    Hey, I’ll be quick. I’m working on getting everything set up for release of the first Veiled Rose short, but I do have something fun and light to share in the meantime! Over the past week, I wrote a short paranormal romance/romantic comedy called School Spirit: a Paranormalatte Romance under my Elisabeth Shade pen name.…

  • The Veiled Rose Dark Fantasy

    So, I’ve mentioned a few times in passing on these posts and throughout my various social media profiles that I’ve been working on a series of dark fantasy short stories in the vein of the Witcher meets Dark Souls but a little more high magic. Now, I’m prepared to begin the formal introductions to what…

  • Louisiana Gothic: A Beautiful and Horrifying Gumbo

    Hey, I’ve got some cool stuff to show y’all this weekend once I get my concept art back from the artist I hired to help with my upcoming dark fantasy novelette/novella series. But I also want to talk about my Louisiana Gothic novel, my first real foray into longform horror of any kind, that I’m…

  • Goodbye KDP Select

    So, I spent last week working on short stories and avoiding editing both Carmilla’s Gambit and Wolf in the Sanctuary. In addition, I’ve made a decision that may have a short-term negative impact on my royalties, hopefully nothing more than short term. What is that decision? I am having my books removed from KDP select.…

  • State of the Draft: Updates and Upcomings

    State of the Draft: Updates and Upcomings

    So, I didn’t post an update last week, and that was because the week got away from me. It’s Mardi Gras here in Louisiana, so my plan is to throw you something worth more than cheap beads. This post will serve as a formal announcement of where I am in the drafting process, what is…

  • I Dislike Fate and Destiny: in my heroes, that is

    I had planned to produce a video post this week, but a severe sinus infection has kept me from feeling up to it. I didn’t want a week to go by without a post, so here is something I’ve been thinking of: Fate and Destiny in heroes. I started thinking about this after a romance…