New Author Profile: Haly, the Moonlight Bard

Haly, the Moonlight Bard brought “No Returns, No Refunds, No Regrets” to The Midnight Vault for its second edition. Get to know this first-time contributor and what drove her to participate.

TMV: Let’s spill the tea first. What inspired this story for The Midnight Vault II?

HALY: It’s a piece of background, a flashback really. The twins are the main character in another, longer project that I’m working on with a few other writers from the community, including Pablo Baez! I’ve got another piece of their past in mind, but Emil said it was too bloody for this collection so we’ll see it somewhere else in the future.

TMV: Did the The Midnight Vault II change your writing style at all?

HALY: I took the opportunity as a chance to really test myself, to step outside of my normal comfort zone as a writer, to push into a voice that’s not usually my own, in a style that’s much more controlled my usual transgressive degeneracy and horrornoir. (NO SWEARS?! How did *I* write a story with no swears?! Oh. Wait. It’s for Emma!).

TMV: What did you love most about contributing to The Midnight Vault?

HALY: Participating in this year’s event is a dream come true for me. I’ve loved Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone for as long as I can remember. Looking back at last year’s run-up, I was both excited for the prospect of such a massive indie project being successful, and wildly disappointed that I hadn’t been a more active part of the community sooner (in time to be invited to participate). This year’s open call for submissions was irresistible. Absolute catnip to me.

TMV: What was one of your favorite lines from another Midnight Vault story?

HALY: It’s from Anne K’s “Three Curses”: "A glint I’d never seen reflected in Avery’s eyes. He picked up the wicked pen. The one with a razor edge. Channary nodded, as if they’d formed a silent pact.”

That’s as close as I can get to the end without spoiling it. I read this one live with @VinnyReads, and the ending was a great twist and so much fun!!!

Follow Haly, the Moonlight Bard’s Substack for more fiction and short stories: