JW's Writerly Outpost

How is everyone doing out there in the verse? I’m ultra busy as always. Between a few editing projects and other things for Dark Forest Press and daily life I’ve definitely got a lot going on. But it is nice staying focused on these creative things. The real world is just too much right now. I can only take so much doom scrolling before I need to find a puppy to pet.

Here are the big projects I’ve got cooking at the moment.

First and foremost, I still plan to release my very own collection of short stories this year. I’ve got a gorgeous cover design by the awesome Ruth Anna Evans already. I’d wanted to release it this summer, but it looks like I may have to push it out to the fall due to the other projects that keep taking my attention away from editing the stories. But it will come out. It will get done!

I’m also still working with the team on the next issue of HamLit. We are currently in the process of getting everything all polished up. I’m really excited for us to get this issue out there. The submissions always blow me away, but those who submitted really outdid themselves this time.

Next would be an anthology project I’m working on with Ken Meyer and Leslie Edens. This will be a showcase of Bellingham fiction talent. We’ve got almost all of the submissions in from all of the invitees. I can’t wait to get this one finished and to share it with the world this September. Pre-orders should be up sometime in June.

The other big project is a secret. I’ll have to keep the details to myself at the moment. The only hint I will give is that it will be something useful for a ton of indie publishers and small presses. Stay tuned for further updates...

A couple weekends ago Leslie and I took a little trip down to the Kirkland Arts Center for a reading event. This was hosted by the Seattle Chapter of the HWA. The theme for the night was “new moon,” and the stories and people were a blast. I brought a couple boxes of Dark Forest Press books and zines and sold a few titles. I do love introducing new people to the DFP lineup of authors.

Thanks to everyone who came out.

Next would be the new issue of Scattered: A Dark Forest Press Zine. Issue 4 comes out on April 1st, which is a couple weeks away. There are new stories from horror/bizarro writers Sam Rebelein and Michael Allen Rose, poetry/art from Erik Keevan, cover art by Wayne Curran, centerfold pinup art by Leo Corbett, and a new wild review from Leslie Edens. This is definitely the best issue yet, and it will keep getting better.

And after that would be Crypticon and BizarroCon coming up in May. Crypticon is extra special this year since it coincides with the release of Cairn: Voices from the Cold book 2 by Clay Vermulm. From what I hear there will be a release party at the con. I will also be there running the Dark Forest Press table, selling copies of Cairn and all of DFP’s other titles. Be sure to come by and say hi if your in attendance.

Oh, and finally! Really big press news. Wonderland Award-Winning author John Baltisberger has signed another book deal with Dark Forest Press. I am proud to announce that DFP will publish his new novella We Are the Gods We Make of Ourselves in spring of 2027. I’ve of course already read it, and it blew me away. This is a story the world needs right now. Be jealous. Stay tuned for future updates on this one.

Oh gosh! I finally finished reading The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker. It took me over five months to get through it. For some reason, I just kept getting distracted with other reads and things, and it just drug on and on for me. Don’t get me wrong; I still love it, and I’m dying to read Everville, the sequel. But I need a little break. There were chunks of that novel that just lost my attention at times.

After that, I plowed through two shorter books. The first was Chopping Spree by Angela Sylvaine. This was an extremely fun read. Without being over the top, it had great ‘80s nostalgia vibes. I definitely recommend checking it out. Also, she has a new book coming out soon. Check the author shoutouts below for that one.

Next, I read Homebody by Christine Morgan. This was an interesting read. There is a ton of dialogue in there, but it works. But as is mentioned somewhere within the covers, this was written after a conversation among friends, and the whole plot leads toward a wild punchline. I do recommend checking it out if you can get a copy. I didn’t realize until I started reading it that it was a rare limited title from Thunderstorm Books. I will definitely be checking out more of her works.

Now I’m reading Tarot Architecture by Lon Milo Duquette and Oil! by Upton Sinclair. I’ve been wanting to read the later for years, as it is the basis for the movie There Will Be Blood. I’ve been curious to see how close the movie stuck with the book.

This is a spot for books by awesome people that aren’t me and I didn’t publish through Dark Forest Press. :)

what remains when the stars burn out by P.L. McMillan

Twelve stories ranging from the morbid to the macabre, the sinister to the supernatural, the unearthly to the uncanny, which are sure to send a shiver down your spine.

Cold Snap by Angela Sylvaine

WORMS GONE WILD! It’s 1998, and the town of Demise, North Dakota, is recovering from the Meteor Murders, hundreds of deaths caused by alien worms but blamed on a mass poisoning by a doomsday cult. While nineteen-year-old Realene’s heroic actions saved the lives of many, she wants nothing more than to hide from the world and mourn the ones she couldn’t save. When a second half of the meteor is found north of the border where her best friend Nate is on a spring break trip, she’ll have to face her fears and venture into Canada to find him. The only thing standing in her way are rampant alien worms, a covert military op, and the cold snap of the century.

As you can see, I am definitely keeping busy. But it seems that I like it that way. Until next month, everyone stay awesome out there. And be sure to create and support awesome art as a big “FU” to the state of the world and those who would beat us down.

Stay spooky,

JDubs