The 37th Delusion
Did you order your Halloween Book Box?
I’m a morning writer. I’ve mentioned this before probably here in the newsletter, but certainly in podcast interviews. “What is your writing routine” has become a routine question taking the place of “where do your ideas come from”. I don’t even think I’ve been asked that second question, but it seems that used to be standard for author interviews. Here’s a quick TikTok video of my typical morning writing routine.
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That’s a typical morning. This morning is not. I sometimes wake up with allergies. I’m sneezing uncontrollably, my nose is running like a faucet. It’s fucking miserable. I’ve taken a Sudafed because that is the only thing that works. Once we’re deep into winter it should go away. For those out there who suffer from allergies, I feel your pain. I remind myself that it could be worse, that there are many afflictions I could have been dealt in this hand of life that far outweigh allergies as a rotten deal. At least the Sudafed will kick in soon.
Welcome to Confusions, Delusions, and Formidable Impressions, the newsletter with a ridiculously long title.
News
My next book Sick! Sick! Sick! will drop on Godless October 4th. This is a collection of extreme horror stories. That’s all I’m saying for now. I'm not even sharing the cover art until release day. You’ll have to wait and see. These stories are nasty and brutal, as the title suggests. If you’re into hardcore horror, I think you’ll like it.
For those who have read and enjoyed Broth House, there's a story featuring Chef Fontaine coming soon in an anthology I'm excited about. There's a special dish on the menu. How he acquires the ingredients for said dish is . . . interesting. More on that story when the splatterpunk anthology is released.
If you haven’t read Broth House yet, now is the time. It’s only .99 cents until Monday October 2nd (yes, that’s tomorrow!). If you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, it’s available there too.
Saturday October 7th I will be selling books at Next Chapter Con in Dalton, Georgea. If you are near the area, come on down and say hi. I’ll be there with Chuck Buda. C. Derick Miller is going to be there too, as well as many authors from all genres. Unfortunately, Ronald Kelly had to bow out. That’s a bummer. I always look forward to seeing him.
If you’d like signed copies of my books, you can find them available in my Big Cartel store. You can get titles such as This Damned House, Broth House, Secret Basements, The Circus Oasis and many more!
Halloween Book Box
Do you know Mr. Splatter on TikTok? If not, you need to check him out. He’s a reviewer who’s fairly new on the scene, but he has a taste for extreme horror and he’s one hell of a cool dude. Myself and Jay Bower joined up with Mr. Splatter to produce a very limited Halloween Book Box. In the box you will get a signed copy of my book This Damned House, a signed copy of Jay Bower’s book Cadaverous, along with bookmarks, stickers, and cool items that were inspired by the books. I haven’t even seen what the cool goodies are. I’m waiting to see what’s included when I get my box in the mail.
The Halloween Book Box is very limited. The idea is to do these boxes throughout the year based on holidays or seasons or whatever. Each box would have different authors. This is sort of the trial run. Hopefully it works out and wee see more of these boxes in the future.
Recent Reads from Hell
I’m reading Madonna by Ed Kelleher and Harriette Vidal. They never disappoint. I’m enjoying so far. Also reading Writer of the Purple Rage by Joe Lansdale and Hanging Corpses by Jay Bower. Both wonderful collections.
Spotlight On
Books of Horror Community Anthology Vol. 4.
Horror encapsulates the human condition perfectly. Every person—alive or dead—has been touched by it in one form or another. The tales within these pages span the gamut of horror, dipping in and out of its sub-genres, offering you a glimpse into the terrors conjured from the mind. 110 authors—both experienced and first timers—in 109 stories, answered the call when asked to bring their horrific visions, scariest thoughts, and worst nightmares to life on the page. Turn down the lights and dig into this massive tome of frightful fiction.
My story “Read or Die!” is in part two if this volume. I wrote the story specifically for the Books of Horror group. It was a lot of fun to write. What would you do if a review copy of a book showed up out of nowhere and it was inscribed READ OR DIE?
Parting Words
I’d written most of this post throughout the week. I’m trying to do that so I’m not spending two hours on my Sunday morning pounding out a newsletter when I could be pounding out chapters on whatever I’m currently writing, which so happens to be a book I’d hoped to pitch to agents, considering it is the most mainstream thing I’ve written, but I’m nearing the end and just shy of 30K words, so I have a feeling it won’t be long enough. It is rather skeletony right now (yeah, I just made that word up). It will be interesting when I work on the second draft. There’s a certain depth that is missing and I need to figure out how to, well, go that deep. Who knows, it might end up novel length by the time I’m finished, and if it does, it will be the first book I’ll pitch to agents.
Anyway, the Sudafed has kicked in. I don’t think I woke the family with my sneezing. I hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter. Read some horror, not just for Spooky Season, but every goddamned day.
Until next time . . .