The Eighteenth Delusion

Yearend wrap up

It’s New Year’s Eve morning as I begin to write this newsletter. It’s kind of rainy outside. We had snow for a couple days last week. Not a lot though. I like snow. I don’t ever complain about it. Being I lived most of my life in east San Diego County where it’s pretty much different levels of hot all year, I really enjoy the four seasons.

This newsletter will be a yearend wrap up, for the most part. Seems fitting. Up front, I am already struggling with writing this. Though I published a lot of books this year, I feel as if I made little to no stride in my publishing endeavors. I have big plans for 2023 that I am eagerly looking forward to. Despite feeling quite stagnant, I am proud of what I’ve done. I better move on before that fucking violin gets louder.

Books Published in 2022

Tweaker Creatures (Evil Cookie Publishing)

The Rattlesnake Mountain Trilogy (Raven Tale Press)

The Circus Oasis (Encyclopocalypse Publications)

Mojave Mud Caves (Encyclopocalupse Publications)

Monsters Come Out (Raven Tale Press)

Short Stories Published in 2022

“Blood Expectations” in Counting Bodies Like Sheep, edited by K. Trap Jones

The Godless Infected Voices series:
“The Extraction King”
“Red Asphalt Driving School”
“Dead Crow in Her Mind-Jar”
“Brain-Case Suaree”
“Tears of a Clown”

The “A Lesson in Renegade Filmmaking” chapbook with Jack Bantry.

What Else?

I started this newsletter. It seems to be doing pretty good. I did a few events this year. FrankenCon and CreepyCon in Knoxville, and an outdoor beer garden market event that was a bust. I already have four events planned for 2023, and hopefully more on the way. The first event is at Union Avenue Books in Knoxville. It’s called Be the Final Writer: An Author Discussion. Myself, Chuck Buda, and several other local authors will be there.

I wrote a lot (went over that in the last newsletter), recently bought the Atticus software for book formatting. I was frustrated with it at first, but realized that my ancient Word program was not compatible. I found that if I use Google Docs to change my .doc files to .docx files everything works like magic.

So, despite having published seven books this year and feeling kind of shitty about how stagnant my writing career feels at this moment, I will be putting out at least seven books again next year, only this time I will be self-publishing quite a few of them. I plan on starting one of those nifty online stores so many indie writers have set up so I can streamline selling signed copies.

Surprise Cover Reveal

I’m about halfway through my Infected Voices Godless series. I’ve had a few people ask why they cannot see the cover for each instalment when they download the ebook. Well, I have that sorted out now, at least for Infected Voices #6-#10. On another note, I have the cover for the paperback edition that will come out in June/July ‘23. I’ve had it for months and have been sitting on it. I sit no longer. Here it is, done by the talented Chad Lutzke.

The paperback will have 22 stories, including the ten that are in the Godless series. More on this release the closer we get.

A Killer Read

I was asked to blurb 100% Match by Patrick C. Harrison III, and this is what I had to say about it:

If you like your fiction sick and twisted, this one will be a 100% match for you. PC3 gives us a glimpse into the mind of the truly depraved, and despite the nature of spending time in such a nasty headspace, the story is entertaining as hell. Just don’t read it on a full stomach.

Yeah, it’s a fun read. It’s sick and twisted and kind of sneaks up on you. I like my fiction gritty, nasty, and foul, so this story resonated with me quite a bit. If you’re looking for something to start your New Year with, grab a copy of 100% Match.

Parting Words

That’s all for now. I might add an extra newsletter from time to time. Like make a special one that focuses solely on promoting a book, be it one of mine or one I read and enjoyed. I won’t be filling your inboxes, don’t worry.

I’m finishing this newsletter on the morning of the 2nd, only moments away from publishing it. Reflecting on the past year over the last couple days hasn’t made me feel any better about my place in the horror genre. Life has been hard. I hope to make changes in my personal life that I know will reflect positively on my writing life. Sometimes I think about what I’ve accomplished despite my personal demons fighting to tear me down. It’s more impressive than I give credit for.

Let’ make 2023 a great year for horror, shall we?