Life has a funny way of rearranging your priorities.
For Tracy and me, July is going to be consumed by something we’ve been working toward for a long time: finding our next home. It’ll be the first house we’ve searched for together in more than twenty years, and between showings, inspections, paperwork, and all the unexpected twists that come with a house search, I know I won’t be able to give my writing the attention it deserves.
Rather than trying to force a publishing schedule, I’ve decided to take a step back from my regular writing calendar for the month of July.
That doesn’t mean I’m disappearing.
It simply means I’m giving myself permission to focus on this season of life without feeling like I’m constantly racing a deadline.
Beginning in August, the regular schedule will return. The Halls, Signal Bleed Radio, essays, memoirs, and everything else will be back on their normal cadence.
Until then, you’ll probably still see me pop up from time to time. If I read a book that I think deserves attention, write a short story that won’t leave me alone, or simply have something I want to share, I’ll publish it. The posts will just be a little more spontaneous and a little less frequent for a few weeks.
Thank you for sticking with me. Your encouragement, comments, and conversations mean more than you probably realize, and I’m looking forward to returning in August with fresh stories, new ideas, and, hopefully, a new home.
With that said, here’s the first of those “in-between” posts.
I recently had the opportunity to read an advance copy of A Procession of Ashes by A.M. Blackmere, and it reminded me why I enjoy religious horror when it’s done well.
The novel begins with a premise that feels familiar before gradually transforming into something far stranger and more unsettling. Rather than relying on constant gore or jump scares, it builds an atmosphere of quiet dread that seems to tighten with every chapter.
What impressed me most was how naturally the religious themes were woven into the story. Faith, doubt, guilt, and obsession aren’t just decorations around the horror. They’re part of what makes it work.
The characters felt believable, even when they made choices that left me frustrated, and that investment made the story more effective. While the pacing slowed in a few sections, the ending rewarded the journey.
If your horror leans toward psychological tension, creeping unease, and stories that stay with you after you’ve closed the book, I think A Procession of Ashes is worth adding to your reading list.
I’d love to hear from you.
What horror novel has stayed with you long after you finished it? The kind of book that kept creeping back into your thoughts days or even weeks later.
Thank you to A.M. Blackmere for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Life is about to get a little busy around here, but good stories have a way of waiting patiently. I hope you'll still be here when we open the door again in August.
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