47. What I now consider my "home" country welcomes my return today with a tremor.

Love you, mom. July 4th, 1946 - February 9th, 2026

Back in California for a while.

Pleased to receive a notice that my story "Superposition" is one of two runners up for the Science Gallery London Quantum Untangled micro-fiction competition, held in collaboration with the Arthur C. Clark Award.

ESOTERICA is now complete, a 115,000-word novel that spans 50 years, starting in 1979 (the year I was born). 50 chapters / 50 poems. The latest draft (4th?) is out to my agent.

Lot's of Bram Stoker Award Preliminary Ballot information floating around, and I'm glad to see so many familiar faces and works I recommended. I can't highlight everyone, but wanted to point out 1st-timer Lukas Hassel for his screenplay: House of Abraham. Excellent work, my friend.

Night blossom . . .

Back from 'Murica with this heavy beast. TSA had some fun swabbing this after it confused their scanners. Making a better world, one pissed-off de-evolved human at a time!

I visited 3 major bookstores while in California (and 2 airport bookstores), and all were sold out of THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER by Stephen Graham Jones, although they knew the book and were awaiting more copies. This makes me very happy.

"The End" (although I never add that to the end of a novel manuscript because it's never quite 'the end' now is it?)

Favorite book read in 2025 (the last I'll finish this year) goes to JAMES by Percival Everett. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award (and others), and rightfully so. This should be required reading and will probably be banned in the States if not already.

YOU, HUMAN, Vol. 2 fans, you can show some love for the anthology and its contributors here. bsfa.co.uk

My latest novel, ESOTERICA, looks like it will end up around 120,000 words, my longest so far. I have a few final chapters to polish for this latest draft, then marinating over the holidays, then a final edit before sending it out into the world.

A gift to myself this year (and to celebrate recent achievements), is applying for permanent residency in Costa Rica after preparing all the necessary paperwork while in California later this month. It's time. I'm sick of the Divided States of America.

FOREVER VELVETEEN releases tomorrow in hardcover. A sequel to The Velveteen Rabbit written by yours truly, illustrated by Vincent Chong. Order now and have it before Christmas. nettirw.com/2025/12/01/f...

FOREVER VELVETEEN – AVAILABLE DEC. 2ND! The Velveteen Rabbit lives on! Margery Williams’ classic tale continues with a tender exploration of resilience, identity, and the enduring power of love. FOREVER VELVETEEN, a direct sequel written by Michael Bailey and illustrated by Vincent Chong, captures…

As writers and editors, we are ignored until creating something that attracts the attention of many, and suddenly we are either everyone's best friend or further ignored and shaded.

HOUSE OF ABRAHAM is now streaming. This is a psychological thriller written and starring my friend Lukas Hassel (host of the show I'm working on), and it is excellent!

FOREVER VELVETEEN, a sequel to THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, will be available December 2nd, 2025. Written by yours truly and illustrated by @vincentchong.bsky.social. Hardcover only.

You will be missed, Baker & Taylor (book distributor founded in 1828, serving libraries for nearly 2 centuries). Your loss basically leaves us with Amazon and Ingram. If only there were, you know, multi-billionaires who could chip in and keep things flowing. If only books mattered . . .

Thank you, current U.S. Administration, for changing the Affordable Care Act, which now means my health insurance (on a worse plan than before) will be close to double in 2026 what I paid in 2025. And thank you, California, for requiring me to have health insurance, lest I be penalized.

There are new guidelines for VIEWS FROM THE OVERLOOK (the anthology tie-in to @stephenking.bsky.social's THE SHINING). As @jamieflanagan.com puts it: "Listen. Learn. Adapt." Now includes a 24-hour open window, no cap in submissions, and more names revealed. jamieflanagan.com/guidelines-2

I posted about the recently announced anthology tie-in to Stephen King's THE SHINING (edited by @jamieflanagan.com) and mentioned it includes someone who shares my name. To clarify, it's me (some asked). Want to be a part of it? Check out @chuckpalahniuk.bsky.social's newsletter for more info.

Congratulations to @jamieflanagan.com and everyone involved with this anthology rooted in Stephen King's THE SHINING. Chelsea Cain, Johnny Compton, Mike Flanagan, Christopher Golden, Justina Ireland, Ai Jiang, Alma Katsu, Brian Keene, Daniel Knauf, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Chuck Palahniuk, and me.

ANTHOLOGY BIBLIOGRAPHY Written Backwards is perhaps best known for its anthologies (along with publishing unique collections, novels, and other unique books), so below is a complete bibliography in order of release. These books have received numerous accolades over the years and have, more…

Silent me means a busy me, but here's an update on a not-so-silent project, SILENT NIGHTMARES, co-edited with Chuck Palahniuk for Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. This incredible anthology will include illustrations by @orionzangaraart.bsky.social, so here's a teaser.

IT'S THE END IF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (current book I'm reading, and also the state of the planet), but my copy is bound UPSIDE-DOWN! Is this by design, or did the printer know I like things a little backward? Anyone else see the same?

The first two volumes of YOU, HUMAN return to regular eBook prices soon, so you have the rest of this weekend to snag them discounted. Lots of copies moving, which is always nice and supports future books.

YOU, HUMAN: Get it all, digitally, for under 3 bucks. 200,000 words of dark science fiction.

YOU, HUMAN: Vol. 2 – BOOKBUB! You, Human, Vol. 2 is a BookBub deal for a limited time, now only $0.99. The first volume is also discounted at this time. Also available in hardcover, trade paperback, and eBook wherever books are sold. Amazon: eBook | trade paperback | hardcover Barnes &…

YOU, HUMAN, Vol. 2 is currently a BookBub deal.

New mirror for the casa.

I really enjoyed OVERSIGHT, a collection of two novellas and a short story by @nettirw.bsky.social. The book luxuriates in sci-fi horror in the vein of BLACK MIRROR, with a strong emotional edge. There's some scary stuff, some smart speculative sci-fi, and a whole heaping of humanity. Check it out!

It's a good day to support independent press and to remember that our fight for freedom is far from over.

Happy book birthday to YOU, HUMAN: Vol. 2, available today wherever books are sold, simultaneously in hardcover, paperback, and eBook. One of the most highly anticipated anthologies of dark science fiction is finally here! nettirw.com/anthologies

YOU, HUMAN: Vol. 2 – NOW AVAILABLE! One of the most highly anticipated anthologies of the year is now available wherever books are sold! The book releases today, simultaneously in hardcover, trade paperback, and eBook. Amazon: eBook | trade paperback | hardcover Barnes & Noble: trade…

Dragonfruit flower ... time to fertilize.

I am late to the game, but finally going in. If anything, this will be my favorite part of this movie, a simple splash screen giving credit where credit's due (to @paultremblay.bsky.social). And it's @mnightshyamalan.bsky.social , so it will be pretty and atmospheric and other things.

Who's a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Awards for anthologies? FUMPTRUCK and all its contributors, that's who.

Novelist Post interview. My hair's a bit longer now, but this is an interesting read if you're curious about my process and latest creations. (I guess I'm due for new headshots). novelistpost.com/michael-bail...

INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE, Josh Malerman: This is the rare novel that's authentically scary. I mean, this is THE EXORCIST level of scary. The audiobook version is good, too.

YOU, HUMAN: Vol. 2 – PREORDER! Yes, you can now preorder one of the most highly anticipated anthologies of the year! Amazon: eBook | trade paperback | hardcover Barnes & Noble: trade paperback | hardcover Books-A-Million (BAM!): trade paperback | hardcover Multi-award-winning editor Michael Bailey…

See you all soon!

A friendly reminder to always do a little research / reading before sending queries or proposals. There's always a little wiggle room when becoming friends or project buddies, but there's only so much wiggle room to spare.

It's always a wonderful feeling paying professional rates to writers. Paid out $7,000 in advances for SILENT NIGHTMARES this week (10 cents per word), and $6,000 for YOU, HUMAN before that. Plus illustrator / cover artists. Gotta pay them too. Yes, anthologies are expensive when done right

Back from California with a real certificate, a ribbon / medal, a rock, a glass book, some silver stickers, and a proof copy of the latest. Not pictured: all the stuff that won't fit in this picture.

Ha! Still making FUMPTRUCK waves...

Interview: done! Next up: final edits on a four-author poetry collection.

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNDEAD. This is just the beginning.

FUMPTRUCK is still killing it in the indie book world. Now an anthology finalist for the Indie Book Awards! Once again, congratulations to all the contributors.