Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Monday, June 15, 2015
News and notes from Leeds
I recently referred to my blog as "oft-neglected." It's terrible and it's true. But here I am. It's been a while since I've updated, so let me fill you in on what I'm working on.
First and foremost (though I'm not going chronologically - you see, this is WHY I neglect my blog) is "Creeping Waves," the follow-up to "Gateways to Abomination." This book will consist of short pieces I left out of Gateways (they were written within the same time period), stories that have appeared in anthologies over the past 7 months, and a substantial amount of brand new work.
During the next several weeks, I will be wrapping up two or three of those new pieces, including a story tentatively titled "The Egg," a five or six-part story entitled "Vernon Golden," which is a framing piece that will give the book something like a narrative structure, and a few others. Perhaps an additional "Uncle Red Reads To-Day's News" installment, too. Muzzleland Press will be publishing this follow-up, and it will be a considerably longer book. It will also likely include a significant visual component. If you liked "Gateways," I think you'll like it. If you didn't like "Gateways," (I know you're out there) you might like this, as there are longer, more traditional stories within. Either way, the publisher and I are having a good time hashing out the details. I think the result will be a hell of a book.
Life is busy right now, so these stories are coming a paragraph at a time. I don't yet have an ETA for this. One thing I keep thinking about: blurbs. I've never sought blurbs before, nor had a publisher do so on my behalf. I suppose it's time to start thinking about it.
Second: I've put out an illustrated chapbook entitled "The Witch-Cult in Western Massachusetts." Alex Fienemann did the lovely illustrations. It's a curious little volume of fictional biographies.
Third: Soon Dim Shores, Sam Cowan's new publishing venture, will be putting out a chapbook of my story "Rangel." Rangel Bantam is a young woman mentioned in "Gateways" and elaborated upon, just slightly, in "Anne Gare's Rare Book and Ephemera Catalogue." The latter, by the way, I may have unnumbered and unsigned copies of to sell at Necronomicon this August. Stay tuned to find out who will be illustrating and doing the cover for "Rangel." Dim Shores has started out strong with Jeffrey Thomas's exquisite "Ghosts in Amber." I'm looking forward to seeing what they do in the future.
Fourth: Next year, around June, will bring a limited edition hardcover from Jordan Krall's highly regarded Dunham's Manor Press. As soon as I wrap up work on "Creeping Waves," I'll work on this. It's about half written now, and is darker, more bleak. I'm extremely excited about it.
Well, in fact, I'm extremely excited about all three publishers I'll be working with over the next several months. I'm nearing a full year since the release of "Gateways to Abomination." That little self-published book changed my life.
The one thing I haven't done lately is submitted anything to any anthologies. All the stories I had out were either picked up or declined. I hope to start again soon with new stories, when time allows.
What else? I went to Anthocon and was on a self-publishing panel moderated by Hal Bodner, along with Jeff O'Brien and E.J. Stevens. It was my first time at Anthocon and my first time being on a panel. It was well-attended and interesting. Had it gone on another hour, I wouldn't have minded. I also saw excellent readings, sold a few books, bought a bunch of books, and got a print of the artwork for "Wicked Tales" signed by the artist. I met a lot of great people, but didn't spend nearly enough time hanging out with them. Next year I'll stay in the hotel.
For the record, a list of available anthologies that include my work:
"Resonator: New Lovecraftian Tales From Beyond." ("Machine Will Start When You Are Start")
"High Strange Horror" ("Night Dog")
"Xnoybis #1" ("Carnomancer, or The Meat Manager's Prerogative") - sold out, I think, but Dave Felton will have copies for sale at Necronomicon.
"Wicked Tales" ("Master of Worms")
"Siren's Call - A Scream in the Night" ("Following You Home") - free to read on the site
"Dark Lane Quarterly Anthology Vol. 1" ("Great Uncle Eltweed" from "Gateways to Abomination")
"Faed" ("Pharaoh" from "Gateways to Abomination")
More news soon, more details, more updates. Thank you for reading.
First and foremost (though I'm not going chronologically - you see, this is WHY I neglect my blog) is "Creeping Waves," the follow-up to "Gateways to Abomination." This book will consist of short pieces I left out of Gateways (they were written within the same time period), stories that have appeared in anthologies over the past 7 months, and a substantial amount of brand new work.
During the next several weeks, I will be wrapping up two or three of those new pieces, including a story tentatively titled "The Egg," a five or six-part story entitled "Vernon Golden," which is a framing piece that will give the book something like a narrative structure, and a few others. Perhaps an additional "Uncle Red Reads To-Day's News" installment, too. Muzzleland Press will be publishing this follow-up, and it will be a considerably longer book. It will also likely include a significant visual component. If you liked "Gateways," I think you'll like it. If you didn't like "Gateways," (I know you're out there) you might like this, as there are longer, more traditional stories within. Either way, the publisher and I are having a good time hashing out the details. I think the result will be a hell of a book.
Life is busy right now, so these stories are coming a paragraph at a time. I don't yet have an ETA for this. One thing I keep thinking about: blurbs. I've never sought blurbs before, nor had a publisher do so on my behalf. I suppose it's time to start thinking about it.
Second: I've put out an illustrated chapbook entitled "The Witch-Cult in Western Massachusetts." Alex Fienemann did the lovely illustrations. It's a curious little volume of fictional biographies.
Third: Soon Dim Shores, Sam Cowan's new publishing venture, will be putting out a chapbook of my story "Rangel." Rangel Bantam is a young woman mentioned in "Gateways" and elaborated upon, just slightly, in "Anne Gare's Rare Book and Ephemera Catalogue." The latter, by the way, I may have unnumbered and unsigned copies of to sell at Necronomicon this August. Stay tuned to find out who will be illustrating and doing the cover for "Rangel." Dim Shores has started out strong with Jeffrey Thomas's exquisite "Ghosts in Amber." I'm looking forward to seeing what they do in the future.
Fourth: Next year, around June, will bring a limited edition hardcover from Jordan Krall's highly regarded Dunham's Manor Press. As soon as I wrap up work on "Creeping Waves," I'll work on this. It's about half written now, and is darker, more bleak. I'm extremely excited about it.
Well, in fact, I'm extremely excited about all three publishers I'll be working with over the next several months. I'm nearing a full year since the release of "Gateways to Abomination." That little self-published book changed my life.
The one thing I haven't done lately is submitted anything to any anthologies. All the stories I had out were either picked up or declined. I hope to start again soon with new stories, when time allows.
What else? I went to Anthocon and was on a self-publishing panel moderated by Hal Bodner, along with Jeff O'Brien and E.J. Stevens. It was my first time at Anthocon and my first time being on a panel. It was well-attended and interesting. Had it gone on another hour, I wouldn't have minded. I also saw excellent readings, sold a few books, bought a bunch of books, and got a print of the artwork for "Wicked Tales" signed by the artist. I met a lot of great people, but didn't spend nearly enough time hanging out with them. Next year I'll stay in the hotel.
For the record, a list of available anthologies that include my work:
"Resonator: New Lovecraftian Tales From Beyond." ("Machine Will Start When You Are Start")
"High Strange Horror" ("Night Dog")
"Xnoybis #1" ("Carnomancer, or The Meat Manager's Prerogative") - sold out, I think, but Dave Felton will have copies for sale at Necronomicon.
"Wicked Tales" ("Master of Worms")
"Siren's Call - A Scream in the Night" ("Following You Home") - free to read on the site
"Dark Lane Quarterly Anthology Vol. 1" ("Great Uncle Eltweed" from "Gateways to Abomination")
"Faed" ("Pharaoh" from "Gateways to Abomination")
More news soon, more details, more updates. Thank you for reading.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Anne Gare's Rare Book and Ephemera Catalogue February 2015
Anne Gare's Rare Book and Ephemera Catalogue is a list of ten books in the Rare Book Room of Anne Gare's infamous bookstore in the devil-scarred city of Leeds, Massachusetts.
The book titles are:
These pieces deepen and enhance the world of Leeds, Massachusetts and provide a little more information about its doomed residents and the shadow under which they live. It can be considered a companion piece to Gateways to Abomination, but also (I think) stands fairly well on its own as an odd little collection of vignettes.
Caveats: this is a chapbook made at a copy shop. It's not fancy, not coptic bound nor stab-stitched - it's stapled. Also, the short pieces therein will likely appear in a somewhat different form in a future collection in the follow-up to "Gateways."
Paypal $5.00 to parker70400@yahoo.com and include your address, and I will mail you a copy. Additional caveat: I cannot easily get to a post office on weekdays. Most likely I will mail the book the Saturday after the money is received.
The book titles are:
- The Libellus Vox Larvae
- The Stockton Pamphlets
- The Barkerton Parade and Others by Ebenezer Chancre
- ME by Grancois Trumbull, Sr.
- The Dither Family Cookbook
- Bastions of Disquiet by Rangel Bantam
- Me and Your Shadow by Stephen King
- The Holy Bible
- Scrapbook
- ...
These pieces deepen and enhance the world of Leeds, Massachusetts and provide a little more information about its doomed residents and the shadow under which they live. It can be considered a companion piece to Gateways to Abomination, but also (I think) stands fairly well on its own as an odd little collection of vignettes.
Caveats: this is a chapbook made at a copy shop. It's not fancy, not coptic bound nor stab-stitched - it's stapled. Also, the short pieces therein will likely appear in a somewhat different form in a future collection in the follow-up to "Gateways."
Paypal $5.00 to parker70400@yahoo.com and include your address, and I will mail you a copy. Additional caveat: I cannot easily get to a post office on weekdays. Most likely I will mail the book the Saturday after the money is received.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
In the works
New projects in the works:
Anne Gare's Rare Book Room Catalog, my first DIY project, will be released before the end of February. 50 copies will be printed, numbered and signed. The price will be under $5.00 and it will be available here only. There may be 50 more copies after that, unnumbered, if the first 50 sell out. This will be a small chapbook collated and stapled locally by an independent print shop, to ensure quality. So, maybe not entirely DYI, but damned close. These bits of fiction will likely be included in my next collection, but I think this will be a nice, pretty piece to own. Previews here soon.
The Witch-Cult of Western Massachusetts, an illustrated chapbook, will be available on Amazon by, I hope, the end of April. The illustrations, by Alex Fienemann, are coming fast and furiously via gmail...and this, my friends, is going to be a very pretty book.
I have a publisher for my next collection. This is big news. The book will be more than double the size of Gateways to Abomination, and will feature full length stories, as well as at least one novella. We're looking at the end of the year for this title.
Faed has been released, which includes my story "Pharaoh" from Gateways. I've begun reading the anthology, and I based upon what I've seen so far I can recommend it without reservation.
RESONATOR: New Lovecraftian Tales From Beyond will be available mid-March. This is going to be a great one. Preorder and enter to win a signed copy of Nick Gucker's excellent cover art.
High Strange Horror from Muzzleland Press will include my new story "Night Dog." Look for further information as Spring approaches (it really is approaching, they tell me).
The New England Horror Writers' third anthology will include another new tale of mine, "Master of Worms," along with new stories by Bracken MacLeod, K.H. Vaughn, Rob Smales and others. This is out in June and will be available at Anthocon.
Anne Gare's Rare Book Room Catalog, my first DIY project, will be released before the end of February. 50 copies will be printed, numbered and signed. The price will be under $5.00 and it will be available here only. There may be 50 more copies after that, unnumbered, if the first 50 sell out. This will be a small chapbook collated and stapled locally by an independent print shop, to ensure quality. So, maybe not entirely DYI, but damned close. These bits of fiction will likely be included in my next collection, but I think this will be a nice, pretty piece to own. Previews here soon.
The Witch-Cult of Western Massachusetts, an illustrated chapbook, will be available on Amazon by, I hope, the end of April. The illustrations, by Alex Fienemann, are coming fast and furiously via gmail...and this, my friends, is going to be a very pretty book.
I have a publisher for my next collection. This is big news. The book will be more than double the size of Gateways to Abomination, and will feature full length stories, as well as at least one novella. We're looking at the end of the year for this title.
Faed has been released, which includes my story "Pharaoh" from Gateways. I've begun reading the anthology, and I based upon what I've seen so far I can recommend it without reservation.
RESONATOR: New Lovecraftian Tales From Beyond will be available mid-March. This is going to be a great one. Preorder and enter to win a signed copy of Nick Gucker's excellent cover art.
High Strange Horror from Muzzleland Press will include my new story "Night Dog." Look for further information as Spring approaches (it really is approaching, they tell me).
The New England Horror Writers' third anthology will include another new tale of mine, "Master of Worms," along with new stories by Bracken MacLeod, K.H. Vaughn, Rob Smales and others. This is out in June and will be available at Anthocon.
RESONATOR PRE-ORDER
Pre-order RESONATOR here and get a chance to win a signed print of the excellent cover art by Nick Gucker. Among stories by Scott Nicolay, Anya Martin, Christopher Slatsky and others you will find my brand new story "Machine Will Start When You Are Start."
Resonator: New Lovecraftian Tales From Beyond. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. It's out mid-March.
Resonator: New Lovecraftian Tales From Beyond. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. It's out mid-March.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
On cats
On cats:
As many of you know, tomorrow I lose an old friend, a cat. This is sad and inevitable. So for the moment, let's talk about the joy cats have brought into my life.
Phoebe was my first cat. In 1997 I was managing the Waldenbooks at the Eastfield Mall in East Springfield. A young women came in one day to buy a magazine. She had the folds of her coat a tiny tabby kitten. She put the kitten, no bigger than my fist, onto the counter and I fell immediately and irrevocably in love. "That's the most beautiful cat I've ever seen," I said.
The girl said, "Do you want her?"
Phoebe was taken from her mother too soon, I think. She tried to nurse at my beard. She was the sweetest thing. She talked the whole ride back to Northampton, and I talked with her.
In 2000 I sensed that Phoebe needed something, a companion more her size. I decided to get a second cat. A woman at work had a cat who'd just had a litter of kittens. I went to London that year, in May, and when I got back she had a tiny little greasy spindly dude waiting for me. He was black with three white spots: belly, chest, neck. Like a Chocodile. I'd observed the large number of Nigels and Simons I'd met in London, so I went with the former for a name. Phoebe was deeply aggrieved, and would not allow anyone to touch her for more than a month. Eventually, they found their way around one another and all was well.
In 2004 I met Katie. In 2005 we moved in together. She had two cats. Mehitabel she got from a friend. She's white and grey, skinny but healthy. Then there's Poop. The name has nothing to do with anything unsavory*. Initially his name was Livy. Then on TV Katie heard someone say, "You're getting fat, Pupkin." He also was getting fat. The name stuck, then was abbreviated. He is black and white, with a stub for a tail and white markings on his nose and chin.
We transitioned Poop from indoor/outdoor to indoor-only. He was having none of it. One day in October of 2005 he got out. He was gone more than 5 weeks. In our grief, we went and picked out a kitten. Sneech was his name, though now he answers to Peach Pie**. Within a few days, Poop came home. I was leaving for work and saw him dart under the porch. I got Katie and we snatched him up and brought him inside. (He'd do the same thing again a year later, four weeks gone that time; I found him by spotting his description in the paper - cat found, medium sized, black and white, half tail.)
That is us, our five, my Pride. Someone said that each cat has so many qualities unique to that cat that there aren't a lot of qualities one can say applies to all cats.
This is true.
Nigel is social, agreeable, affectionate, chatty, something of a brat, and crazy for food.
Mehitabel is a bit aloof. She sits on the radiator when it's cold. You can drape her over your neck like a stole. She takes whatever the vet does without the slightest complaint - a vet's dream, truly.
Phoebe is the most loving cat I've ever met and also the craziest. She's as old as Poop and she still bounces around the room like a superball. Not just anyone can pet or hold her. I have the most privileges. Katie has slightly fewer.
Peach Pie loves all cats, even the ones who growl at his approach. He's playful, silly, a goofball, a troublemaker, and an unexpected mouser. He and Poop curl up together, sometimes forehead to forehead.
Poop exudes a kind of stoic wisdom. My wife's sister says that it's like having another person in the room. He is an excellent old gentleman, an avid snuggler, and a calming presence.
Tomorrow we have to let him go. I'm not ready, and I'm sure Katie's not ready. But we will do right by him. I'm not going to replace every cat we lose, but we are going to get a kitten. Peach Pie will need a distraction. Us too.
*That doesn't mean we're not childish. I remember very distinctly saying "I spent a half hour trying to get Poop back inside last night."
**There are other names. Sneech the Peach McGeech from Geechy Gulch comes to mind.
As many of you know, tomorrow I lose an old friend, a cat. This is sad and inevitable. So for the moment, let's talk about the joy cats have brought into my life.
Phoebe was my first cat. In 1997 I was managing the Waldenbooks at the Eastfield Mall in East Springfield. A young women came in one day to buy a magazine. She had the folds of her coat a tiny tabby kitten. She put the kitten, no bigger than my fist, onto the counter and I fell immediately and irrevocably in love. "That's the most beautiful cat I've ever seen," I said.
The girl said, "Do you want her?"
Phoebe was taken from her mother too soon, I think. She tried to nurse at my beard. She was the sweetest thing. She talked the whole ride back to Northampton, and I talked with her.
In 2000 I sensed that Phoebe needed something, a companion more her size. I decided to get a second cat. A woman at work had a cat who'd just had a litter of kittens. I went to London that year, in May, and when I got back she had a tiny little greasy spindly dude waiting for me. He was black with three white spots: belly, chest, neck. Like a Chocodile. I'd observed the large number of Nigels and Simons I'd met in London, so I went with the former for a name. Phoebe was deeply aggrieved, and would not allow anyone to touch her for more than a month. Eventually, they found their way around one another and all was well.
In 2004 I met Katie. In 2005 we moved in together. She had two cats. Mehitabel she got from a friend. She's white and grey, skinny but healthy. Then there's Poop. The name has nothing to do with anything unsavory*. Initially his name was Livy. Then on TV Katie heard someone say, "You're getting fat, Pupkin." He also was getting fat. The name stuck, then was abbreviated. He is black and white, with a stub for a tail and white markings on his nose and chin.
We transitioned Poop from indoor/outdoor to indoor-only. He was having none of it. One day in October of 2005 he got out. He was gone more than 5 weeks. In our grief, we went and picked out a kitten. Sneech was his name, though now he answers to Peach Pie**. Within a few days, Poop came home. I was leaving for work and saw him dart under the porch. I got Katie and we snatched him up and brought him inside. (He'd do the same thing again a year later, four weeks gone that time; I found him by spotting his description in the paper - cat found, medium sized, black and white, half tail.)
That is us, our five, my Pride. Someone said that each cat has so many qualities unique to that cat that there aren't a lot of qualities one can say applies to all cats.
This is true.
Nigel is social, agreeable, affectionate, chatty, something of a brat, and crazy for food.
Mehitabel is a bit aloof. She sits on the radiator when it's cold. You can drape her over your neck like a stole. She takes whatever the vet does without the slightest complaint - a vet's dream, truly.
Phoebe is the most loving cat I've ever met and also the craziest. She's as old as Poop and she still bounces around the room like a superball. Not just anyone can pet or hold her. I have the most privileges. Katie has slightly fewer.
Peach Pie loves all cats, even the ones who growl at his approach. He's playful, silly, a goofball, a troublemaker, and an unexpected mouser. He and Poop curl up together, sometimes forehead to forehead.
Poop exudes a kind of stoic wisdom. My wife's sister says that it's like having another person in the room. He is an excellent old gentleman, an avid snuggler, and a calming presence.
Tomorrow we have to let him go. I'm not ready, and I'm sure Katie's not ready. But we will do right by him. I'm not going to replace every cat we lose, but we are going to get a kitten. Peach Pie will need a distraction. Us too.
*That doesn't mean we're not childish. I remember very distinctly saying "I spent a half hour trying to get Poop back inside last night."
**There are other names. Sneech the Peach McGeech from Geechy Gulch comes to mind.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
2015
Good morning. Dispensing with 2014, as wonderful as it was for me, here is a list of the books I read in order.
I'm sorry to hear that 2014 was not a good year for many of you. My demon year was 2013. Even now I flip the furious bird at that year. Sometimes I argue in the shower with people who went out of their way to make my life difficult that year. In my head, I mean. I wouldn't invite any of those bastards into my yard, never mind my shower. Except for the little oasis at Necronomicon and a few lovely excursions with friends, it was a year of worry and quotidian fears.
2015, as I've said, will see some of my stories hitting anthologies for the first time. I'm so excited about this I'm tempted to alienate everyone on Facebook by bringing it up every day. I also have a few stories out for consideration, one of which I may restore to novella length soon. I have works in progress too, of course, and ideas, ideas, ideas.
As far as books, the next thing will be a DIY chapbook which I'm having a lot of fun writing. That will necessarily be a limited thing, as I'm doing it all myself, or paying a local copy shop to do it. Obviously there will be no eBook version. Signed and numbered because why not. After that will be "The Witch-Cult of Western Massachusetts." The illustrator has sent me five of the thirteen illustrations and they're so damned good it's a daily temptation to share them.
As for reading, I've recently bought a large number of books with Christmas money. If I didn't buy another (ha!), I'd have more than enough to read this year. Also, new books are due to be released from Nathan Ballingrud, Simon Strantzas, Mike Griffin, and others, and I'll be spending some dough on those. I'm straddling the years reading "The White Hands and Other Weird Tales" by Mark Samuels now, and finding the stories terrific.
Here at the Bartlett-Saulnier stronghold, we wound down 2014 with sundaes and Star Trek. We began 2015 with jowl bacon and fried eggs and strong coffee. Soon we will enjoy brunch with some friends. I always find New Year's Day to be a dreary affair. I feel adrift and vaguely depressed. This new tradition of getting together with a few good people alleviates that quite nicely.
If 2014 was your demon year, I hope things come together for you better this year. I anticipate facing some powerful losses soon, but my support system is strong and sturdy-hearted and kind. I hope to see my old friends and meet my new friends for the first time. I look forward to making new friends at conventions and online. I may even try to get less fat by the time Necronomicon rolls around.
May 2015 treat you well.
- The Black Spider - Gotthelf
- Going Clear - Wright
- Autobiography - Morrissey
- The Accursed - Joyce Carol Oates
- Seven Footprints to Satan - A. Merritt
- Night Magic - Thomas Tryon
- Harvest Home - Thomas Tryon
- Mindfuckers - Felton, Green, Dalton
- The Model - Robert Aickman
- Now You See It - Richard Matheson
- The Scarf - Robert Bloch
- Anarchaos - Curt Clark
- The Businessman - Thomas M. Disch
- Some of Your Blood - Theodore Sturgeon
- The Third Reich - Roberto Bolaño
- Excavation - Steve Rasnic Tem
- A Call for the Dead - John Le Carre
- More Than Human - Theodore Sturgeon
- The Three Impostors - Arthur Machen
- Nazi Literature in America - Roberto Bolaño
- The Spectral Link - Thomas Ligotti
- A Heart So White - Javier Marias
- The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson
- Conjure Wife - Fritz Leiber
- The Pilgrim Hawk - Glenway Wescott
- Woodcutters - Thomas Bernhard
- We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson
- A Murder of Quality - John Le Carre
- The Little Stranger - Sarah Waters
- All Souls - Javier Marías
- Burnt Black Suns - Simon Strantzas
- Autumn in the Abyss - John Claude Smith
- North American Lake Monsters - Nathan Ballingrud
- Ana Kai Tangata - Scott Nicolay
- Every House is Haunted - Ian Rogers
- Gardinel's Real Estate - Orrin Grey and M.S. Corley
- Revival - Stephen King
- Secret Things - Stacey Longo
- Desolation - Tim Lebbon
- When the Stars are Right - Scott R. Jones
- The Nickronomicon - Nick Mamatas
- The Sea of Ash - Scott Thomas
- Wolf in White Van - John Darnielle
- Devourer of Souls - Kevin Lucia
I'm sorry to hear that 2014 was not a good year for many of you. My demon year was 2013. Even now I flip the furious bird at that year. Sometimes I argue in the shower with people who went out of their way to make my life difficult that year. In my head, I mean. I wouldn't invite any of those bastards into my yard, never mind my shower. Except for the little oasis at Necronomicon and a few lovely excursions with friends, it was a year of worry and quotidian fears.
2015, as I've said, will see some of my stories hitting anthologies for the first time. I'm so excited about this I'm tempted to alienate everyone on Facebook by bringing it up every day. I also have a few stories out for consideration, one of which I may restore to novella length soon. I have works in progress too, of course, and ideas, ideas, ideas.
As far as books, the next thing will be a DIY chapbook which I'm having a lot of fun writing. That will necessarily be a limited thing, as I'm doing it all myself, or paying a local copy shop to do it. Obviously there will be no eBook version. Signed and numbered because why not. After that will be "The Witch-Cult of Western Massachusetts." The illustrator has sent me five of the thirteen illustrations and they're so damned good it's a daily temptation to share them.
As for reading, I've recently bought a large number of books with Christmas money. If I didn't buy another (ha!), I'd have more than enough to read this year. Also, new books are due to be released from Nathan Ballingrud, Simon Strantzas, Mike Griffin, and others, and I'll be spending some dough on those. I'm straddling the years reading "The White Hands and Other Weird Tales" by Mark Samuels now, and finding the stories terrific.
Here at the Bartlett-Saulnier stronghold, we wound down 2014 with sundaes and Star Trek. We began 2015 with jowl bacon and fried eggs and strong coffee. Soon we will enjoy brunch with some friends. I always find New Year's Day to be a dreary affair. I feel adrift and vaguely depressed. This new tradition of getting together with a few good people alleviates that quite nicely.
If 2014 was your demon year, I hope things come together for you better this year. I anticipate facing some powerful losses soon, but my support system is strong and sturdy-hearted and kind. I hope to see my old friends and meet my new friends for the first time. I look forward to making new friends at conventions and online. I may even try to get less fat by the time Necronomicon rolls around.
May 2015 treat you well.
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