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The lore behind the real Rainbow Springs Haunted House
You can’t talk about the Rainbow Springs site in Mukwonago without including golf in the same breath. Stretching roughly 950 acres west of the Wisconsin village, the property once hosted two 18-hole golf courses, known for their beauty, as well as their propensity to steal golf balls. The courses didn’t have sand traps but rather several bodies of water. Golf became the lure that drove Mukwonago developer, Francis Schroedel, to construct what would have been a world-renowned
DJ Slater
Oct 128 min read


It will never feel quite like this again
I remember getting ready to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens back in December 2015. It had been 10 years since we last had a mainstream...
DJ Slater
Sep 13 min read


What's trending? The search for authentic expression
I've never been one to chase a trend. Sure, I can get swept up in a craze or a fad from time to time, but, for the most part, I tend to...
DJ Slater
Jul 304 min read


How this author handles the writing process
I'll be honest: I don't think I'd be a great teacher when it comes to my craft. I don't say that modestly or to mask some great teaching...
DJ Slater
Jun 244 min read


The struggles of self promotion
I'm not sure if it's just me or if this is relatable, but self promotion does not come easy for me. In today's society, social media...
DJ Slater
May 293 min read


The things we do for the sake of content
Have I got a story for you. Well, kind of. In my head, it's an epic adventure of one man desperately trying to realize a creative vision...
DJ Slater
May 55 min read


Where do you find the time to write?
Writing a novel isn't an easy feat. Anyone who has ever done it will tell you this (well, let's say most people as there might be a few...
DJ Slater
Apr 143 min read


From reporting the news to being the story
During my journalism days, I couldn't go a day (sometimes a couple of hours) without interviewing someone for a news story. It's an...
DJ Slater
Mar 193 min read


Behind the scenes with a debut author
I once naively thought that the book publishing process went like this: you write a novel, a publisher picks it up, and then you sit back...
DJ Slater
Feb 273 min read


Rainbow Springs: The real-world setting of Legend Has It
Every story needs a setting. Some stories have several of them. While Legend Has It has a few locations, its primary setting is in the...
DJ Slater
Feb 73 min read


Quantity over quality: the age of constant content
This past week, I found myself in a writing rut as I contemplated my next blog post. I had an extensive list of blog topics when I first...
DJ Slater
Jan 223 min read


Imposter syndrome: breaking away from the lies
As I scrolled through the metrics of my prior blog posts, I had a thought. I wanted to understand which content performed best so I could...
DJ Slater
Jan 93 min read


The "legend" that inspired Legend Has It
I heard the rumor so many times every fall: a 10-to-13-story haunted house attraction on the outskirts of Chicago. You sign a waiver and...
DJ Slater
Dec 27, 20242 min read


Dealing with rejection: an essential skill for authors
Rejection isn’t fun. Not even in the slightest. It can mess with your psyche and shatter your confidence. Yet it is something that is...
DJ Slater
Dec 11, 20243 min read


So much social media
I have a newfound respect for anyone that can (successfully) keep up with the demands of multiple social media accounts. Before I signed...
DJ Slater
Nov 25, 20244 min read


An author, but not in the traditional sense
I debated if I should write this blog post. There’s a small part of me that feels a slight ping of guilt that I’m not a typical author....
DJ Slater
Nov 15, 20243 min read


Making peace with failure
I share a commonality with many people: I’m not a fan of failure. For a long time, I had an uneasy relationship it. The thought of...
DJ Slater
Nov 5, 20243 min read


Rekindling the Halloween magic
*Note: This blog post first appeared on the Horror Writers Association website . I remember when the feeling hit me, the one where you...
DJ Slater
Oct 27, 20244 min read


How it all comes together
It's interesting how different stages of your life can build upon each other and give you all the tools you need for the later stages....
DJ Slater
Oct 18, 20245 min read


The Top Four Elements That Make a Haunted House Great
The spooky season has arrived. For many, that means Halloween-themed parties, scary decorations and horror-movie marathons. But there’s...
DJ Slater
Oct 9, 20246 min read
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