So I’ve been mostly incognito on here since my Stranger Things rewrite series, because I’ve been focused on getting my next novel ready to send out to literary agents. But I’ve got some more posts—musings, film reviews and analyses, the usual word vomit—coming down the pipeline soon. I’m also planning some big, top secret moves. This post is an update, a checkup, a vague shout out into the online void—or like, the blogging equivalent of posting on socials once every couple of months to let people know I’m still alive. Just in this case, still writing.

The Book

Over the past four months I’ve been researching, editing, rewriting, re-rewriting and obsessing over the next book that I’ll be querying out. Literary eco-horror with crime and thriller elements, what started as a short story grew into a novella into a novel into the first entry in a planned five-book series. Currently at 97,000 words (around 350 pages), it’s a commentary on climate destruction and the violence that capitalism enacts on the natural word (that’s pretty good, actually… might use that for the query letter). With monsters. And high-octane actions scenes. And feels (so many feels). Plus science.

By the end of next month it’ll be done, I’ll be half-crazy from spending so long on it, and I’ll begin sending it out to literary agents. While the chances of getting represented are always low, I have more hope for this book’s chances because, honestly, I think it’s the best one I’ve ever written. Years of study, practice, and craft-work have gone into it, and I think it shows here. I’m writing like the rent’s due… because man, it fucking is.

Publications

In February, Tales from the Moonlit Path published my flash piece in their demented, unhinged Bloody Valentine’s Day edition. It depicts a hookup from hell, told through a fun literary device.

I’ve got two more stories scheduled for release this year: a surrealistic flash piece and a supernatural psychological thriller. An apocalyptic story should be coming out next year, too.

All horror, of course.

I consider that a pretty good success rate. I’ve even gotten paid!

Coming Up Next…

Speaking of short stories, I’ve got plenty of other outgoing submissions—ready to be rejected, then sent out again and again until they find their homes. Just like one of the most important practices in this art is to always be writing, you should also always be submitting, looking for the place where you art fits into the community. Plus, I’ve got some ideas for new stories writhing in the shadowy depths, desperate to claw their way out of my mind to wreak havoc; after the book’s finished, it’ll be time to release them.

I have precisely one million and a half books that I want to write, and I’m pretty sure the next one will be horror again, having something to do with internet-based cultural conformity but with like… monsters. Or something.

I can finally announce that I’ve launched a fiction editing service, available to anyone who wants help on their work from a word nerd with a lot of qualifications and experience, and an obsession with creating great stories. So if you or someone you know needs an editor, check out the page, then shoot me an email. I’d love to work with you!

Finally, there are some fun posts coming up over the next few months. There’s definitely going to be something about Obsession because holy shit that movie is incredible, plus some other film-related contemplations. And some writerly drivel.

On a More Personal Note

It’s spring in Chicago!

Patio season, the beach, the parks, the street fests, the Riverwalk, shows at anonymous dives, how did I end up at this rave?, are we irresponsible or are we drunk on the weather more than on Malört? Revelry, adventures, merriment and occasional debaucheries, because even though we’re in a hellscape and broke as fuck, I refuse to be depressed and enraged for the entire time that the sun’s out and so many vibes surround us.

Hopefully you can find the same, wherever you are. And if my dark little stories don’t distract or help you cope (or make you think: “Man, at least I’m not that guy”), then maybe one of these upcoming posts will.

And if you’re a writer too, or any kind of artist, I hope you’re still creating. We need that now more than ever—for ourselves, and for the people who see it or read it or hear it or play it. In a time of destruction, creation is revolutionary. So go rebel.

Photo credit: Me (taken at one of those anonymous dives)