RELEASE DAY: Bizarro Circus of Madness, edited by Riley Odell

 
Today the Bizarro Circus of Madness comes to town. This features my short story "The Garfield Phones from the Ocean." There's some great authors in this, and I'm very proud of my own story. 

Get it on Amazon Kindle here.

New Piece at Blood+Honey

I have a new short prose piece up at the Blood+Honey online lit magazine. It's called "The Job Interview." I think it's a very funny piece. 

Read it here.

RELEASE DAY: Gravel on the Path

 

 

Two men escape from prison, but find themselves lost in the nearby woods. When they come upon a gravel path, they hope it'll guide them to freedom. However, the path seems endless. What if it takes them somewhere far worse than any prison?

This short story is my latest on Godless. It's based on a nightmare I had and I think I conveyed it very well in the story. 

Get it on Godless.com.

Top Ten Reads of 2024

Another year passed, so it's time for another top ten. 

Keep in mind, these are the books I read 2024. They weren't necessarily released in 2024. 

10. Siren Promised by Jeremy Robert Johnson and Alan M. Clark

An early novel from one of my favorite artists in collaboration with a great artist. The story is surreal, touching, and thrilling, and the artwork is gorgeous and disturbing. 

9. Ripcord by Nate Lippens

Full review here. 

8. Inside Peyton Place: The Life of Grace Metalious by Emily Toth

I've found the story behind the author of Peyton Place more compelling than the book itself, and this is the definitive book on Grace Metalious. 

7. Violent Faculties by Charlene Elsby

Full review here.

6. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy 

I never thought I would put a celebrity memoir on a top reads list, but this was excellent. It's easy to see that writing was McCurdy's true passion. Her story is sad, compelling, and insightful. 

5. The Northern Caves by nostalgebraist

A unique horror novel published only online in which a group of forum members attempt to decipher the mysterious final work of a YA fantasy author. This hit a lot of things I enjoy like Web 1.0 nostalgia, nerding out over difficult literature, and unexplained horror. 

Read it here. 

4. Deliver Me by Elle Nash

A grim and grimy novel about a woman's failure to carry a child to term. A beautifully and relentlessly dark read.  

3. Erasure by Percival Everett

A hilarious and tragic story about a frustrated creative career, racial identity in America, and coping with loss. I became an instant fan of Percival Everett's work after reading this. 

2. The Brave by Gregory McDonald  

Full review here.

1. Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte

Full review here.

Honorable Mentions

In the River by Jeremy Robert Johnson
Dr. No by Percival Everett
The Horror by Seb Doubinsky
Sombrero Fallout by Richard Brautigan
The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai

RELEASE DAY: If today the sun should set on all my hopes and cares...

 

Today my first noir novel, and my first with no fantastic elements. It's probably my most personal work so far, as well. I'm very proud of this one, and I hope you all will enjoy it as well. Here's the synopsis. 

"Rick is divorced, has a drinking problem, and works as a janitor at his local high school.

During one of his shifts, he makes a shocking and disturbing discovery in the girl's bathroom that sucks him into the lives of two of the students.

Despite his best efforts, he finds that he may be powerless to prevent the two from heading down a path of destruction for themselves and others, especially when he can barely keep himself and his disintegrating relationships together."

Thank you to Crystal Baynam and Unveiling Nightmares Press for publishing it. Thank you, also, to Christy Aldridge at Grim Poppy Designs for the great cover and to Christo Healy for editing the work. 

Get it in paperback here, or on Kindle here.

RELEASE DAY: The Heads of Staff, A Corporate Horror Story

 

Despite his hard work, Tom is having trouble keeping his income greater than his expenses. When his boss Leo offers him membership to an exclusive and secretive networking club, he finds that he may finally have a chance at making his family financially secure. The price, however, might just prove to be far too much for him.

Is there really nothing money can't buy?

This new, Godless-exclusive story from Ben Arzate is a tale of creeping dread, social criticism, and bizarre monsters.

Buy from Godless for only $0.99

ANTHOLOGY RELEASE DAY: Fragile Anthology, edited by Michael Allen Rose

 

 
Today is the release day of the Fragile Anthology, edited by Wonderland award winner and all around swell guy Michael Allen Rose. 

In this anthology, featuring myself and many talented authors including fellow Malarkey Books author Lauren Bolger, chief of the Mad Hearts John Baltisberger, and Stoker winning horror authors like Brian Keene and Cynthia Pelayo, a mover rolls a twenty-sided dice to determine whether or not to open a mysterious box. Each of us gives our own unique take on the events that follow. 

What's in the box? Open up and find out!

Get it on FragileAnthology.com.

Get it on Amazon.

Get it on Bookshop.