Strange and Dreaming Days with Eric J. Guignard

Hello!

Welcome to the June, 2026 edition of my Substack (formerly MailerLite) newsletter.

As always if you (dear subscriber) have any comments or feedback, or otherwise just wish to say hi, please do so. I’m at: eric.guignard@gmail.com. Thanks for subscribing!

I finished writing my third novel!!

This book is Horror Fiction and Weird Western, titled: FOUR NIGHTS TO DAWN

It’s about 82,000 words long, and here’s the synopsis:

“In 1875, a vampiric demon—desperate to escape Hell’s torment—arrives in San Diego, raising an army of bloodthirsty predators to help search for the biblical Apple of Eternal Life, while also encountering lawmen, young lovers, warrior priests, and a travelling circus encamped in the middle of it all.”

Or, in Elevator-Pitch parlance: Stephen King’s SALEM’S LOT but set in San Diego in the 1800s.

Last week, I attended StokerCon 2026 (by Horror Writers Association), held at the Westin Marriott in Pittsburgh, PA and had a great and productive time!

Rather than reiterate what I’d written previously, I’ll link to my (brief) post-con write-up, here.

And, while there, I was awarded the 2026 Mentor of the Year distinction! Likewise, I’m just linking to my previous write-up about that (including my speech) rather than reiterate it, here:

There is also a live RECORDING of my speech here:

Lastly, I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that I’ve signed with a literary agent! I’m now represented by Lane Heymont of The Tobias Literary Agency: https://www.thetobiasagency.com/lane-heymont

This is a huge milestone!

I have a couple short story ideas I’m writing and plan to send out on open submission.

And then I’ll be jumping into another novel project! I’m actually not quite sure yet which one to pursue, as I have several half-finished novels laying around, but also ideas for brand new ones. After I’m done with the short stories I’m working on, I’ll decide on a novel and work up the outline (hopefully within the next week). I’ve increasingly found myself to be much more competent and productive as a “plotter” than a “pantser” (which I started off as).

Additionally, I’m working through edits and layout for Horror Library, Volume 10 (to be released February, 2027).

I’m also working on a second volume of PW Starred-Review A WORLD OF HORROR, devoted to diverse voices around the globe. I have all its stories now contracted, and I’m planning for an early 2028 release.

I’m also working on a new Primer volume (#8) of Exploring Dark Short Fiction for prized horror author Poppy Z. Brite (hoping to be complete by late Autumn of this year).

Book I’m reading now: All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby

What my 17-year-old son is reading now: On the Road by Jack Kerouac

What my 12-year-old daughter is reading now: The Ship of the Dead (Book #3 in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series) by Rick Riordan

AND, because I love listening to music while I write, here’s what I’m listening to now: “Revolve” (2013) by Shogun Orchestra.

Listen here:

I’m a nerd for painting RPG Fantasy miniatures. I mean, full-on, life-long obsession. I don’t play RPG (although I “am” a former D&D Half Dark-Elf), but I LOVE painting and modelling figures at approximate 28mm scale. Here’s this month’s showcase!

“Abandon all ye hope upon charge of the Chaos Knights!”

Thanks for reading all this and (hopefully) for your interest and/or support of any of my projects!

Please remember to leave a book review on Amazon.com for anything of mine (or any other author) that you’ve read and enjoyed. It’s a dreadful commentary that the worth of indie authors is measured by online 5-star reviews, but such is the state of current commerce.

Midnight cheers,

Eric

Eric J. Guignard is a writer and anthologist of dark and speculative fiction, operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles, where he also runs the small press Dark Moon Books. He’s twice won the Bram Stoker Award, won the Shirley Jackson Award, and been a finalist for the World Fantasy Award and International Thriller Writers Award. His latest books are his novel Doorways to the Deadeye and short story collections A Graveside Gallery and That Which Grows Wild (both through Cemetery Dance). He’s also been published through HarperCollins, Cemetery Dance Online, Weird Tales Magazine, and Haunted Nights (Random House). Visit Eric at: www.ericjguignard.com or elsewhere via linktr.ee/eric_j._guignard.

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