Happy Halloween!

Pardon the self promo but it's that time of year. If you're looking for spooky season gifts or are holiday shopping for spooky kids (or grownups) I have some books that might interest you. If you buy any of my books as gifts I'm happy to send you stickers, a bookmark, & a note to go with them.

Haunted places are right up my occult detective Jack Strange's alley. I visited Charleston, S.C. to do some legwork on a future case for him and I'm sharing the photos to prove it. matthandle.blogspot.com/2025/10/visi...

Per tradition, my wife made another great boo basket for my youngest this year, but I like my contribution by @lorasenf.bsky.social the best. You know I’ll be reading it too.

It’s that time of year.

Whenever I visit a city I always check out the bookstores. Here is Blue Bicycle Books in Charleston, S.C. Some cool vintage stuff in here.

Publishing news! My short story, "Tasseography," is now out and free to read in the latest issue of @crayfishmag.bsky.social (Guest edited by the amazing Isaiah Hunt) :) www.crayfishmag.com/lora-gray-ta...

Beautiful day for picking apples at Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge, GA.

October means it’s officially pumpkin bread season in the Handle house so I’ve been busy in the kitchen.

The Clackity (signed), The Nighthouse Keeper (first edition), and The Loneliest Place (first edition) all sit on my son’s bookshelf. You can bet Pennies will join them soon. If you enjoy scary middle grade, I highly recommend Lora’s books.

I sent three little birds into the story submission wilds last night. Hoping they find good roosts.

It’s that time of year again.

Look, I’m not advocating for Xenomorph murder squads. I’m just admitting that if I had Wendy’s bilingual skill, I might make more clicking noises than is healthy for the surrounding general public.

If there was ever a Halloween for evil clowns, I think this year is it.

The Blood Moon at midnight.

Wednesday S2 might be a silly teen show but there’s a side of this full-grown man that thoroughly enjoyed it.

The No Pants Cocktail Hour Episode 85: Author Jeff Somers drinks Mellow Corn like a teenager and reads his Avery Cates short story "The Kendish Hit," and has an unfortunate epiphany about the title. open.spotify.com/epi... #Writing #WritingWithoutRules

Penny A Page sale at 2nd & Charles today so you know I had to take advantage.

Full moon at midnight. My time to prowl.

Visiting old haunts today. If you love used records or comics, Wuxtry in Athens, GA is the place for you.

I realize I’m 8 years late, but I just watched the series Taboo this week and I enjoyed it. More importantly, I need this hat.

Yes, the state of the world is pretty grim lately, but at least we still have cats.

Have I written anything yet tonight? No I have not. Do I regret the lost time due to watching Predator: Killer of Killers? No, I do not. Pretty great animated movie.

Latest story out today, "The Cephalophore." A surprise drop in The Dark! I've collected many lightning-quick rejections here over the years (incl. record for fastest, 15 minutes!). But one finally got through. Never know what will do it. Always keep trying. www.thedarkmagazine.com/the-cephalop...

My birthday balloon robot manages to keep a smile on his face despite the two-story ceiling preventing him from returning to his ship in the stars.

The quality of the animation in Season 4 of Love, Death & Robots far outpaces the quality of the writing. So many short stories I've read in the past few years that could make Season 5 a bigger success. matthandle.blogspot.com/2025/05/love...

Just in case you were wondering as to how I’m doing, I just cut my lip on a sandwich. That’s how I’m doing.

Can anyone tell me when The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest starts to get good? All I know is that it’s not in the first 100 pages or so. Actually considering putting this one back on the shelf and I don’t do that often.

Brought my youngest to pick over the bones of the local Joanne’s. Kind of morbid, kind of sad.

Maybe posting this at noon wasn’t such a great idea after all. Star Wars people are nocturnal by nature.

Did you celebrate Star Wars Day by watching Tales of the Underworld on Disney+? I did and you can read about it on my blog. matthandle.blogspot.com/2025/05/star...

I admit that Dan Gilroy is a great choice for screenwriter but I’m jealous. www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general...

Revenge of the Sith on the big screen. My oldest son really came through on my birthday present this year.

Not being familiar with the source material and not wanting to give away spoilers I’ll just say that killing off the best character in your story and the best actor in your cast is definitely a choice.

Reminder - 6 weeks to submit to the #hopepunk #sciencefiction anthology from @echobirdpress.bsky.social !! We want to read your optimistic visions for the future! Please spread the word!

Latest! A Granna and Little Flea tale in @bcsmagazine.bsky.social. Felt bad abt the stuff I put the kid through in @newedgeswordmag.bsky.social 3 and balanced it w/something lighter. A change in pace and tone. But still me. Strange people, strange mountain, strange things that may not be fully real.

There’s something magical about watching the sun set over the water. I got the chance to watch it tonight from a speedboat in Destin, FL.

I just left one of my favorite vacation stops, Sundog Books in Seaside, FL. Independent book stores deserve all the love.

I don’t know if anyone has written a dark fantasy short about dragonfruit yet but if they haven’t, they should.

Latest, "In My Country," out today. Written last year and seemed more abstract/allegorical then, but things keep changing. Hope in a few months or years it seems like inscrutable nonsense (more than usual anyway) because we've changed course but who knows. I don't.

Hugo nominations close tomorrow!!! Here's a great round-up of eligibility posts if you're still filling out your ballot. (I didn't make an eligibility post this year -- but I am eligible on the Short Form Editor front.) acwise.net/what-have-yo...

Buenas noches from Punta Cana.

I could really use Halloween in March this year. But also again in October.

I'm no more thrilled about Amazon controlling the James Bond franchise than you are, but today's news is at least an opportunity to gossip about casting. matthandle.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-...

Bookstores are a special kind of magic. I’m soaking it up at M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, S.C. this morning.

The deadline to nominate work is coming up on 2/28 (I believe). Check out eligible work and what other folks recommend.

My story "The Last Astronaut" is in this month's issue of Cosmic Horror Monthly. "Daisy’s breathing echoed inside her helmet. She opened her eyes. Saturn hung like a ghost on the horizon, a ringed specter floating against the stars. Somewhere behind that wisp was home."

Don Johnson didn’t call today so it’s back to work on the MG witchy horror novel after I hit the gym. Getting close on this one.

I just wrote a 1000+ word outline for a Miami Vice movie sequel for absolutely no reason other than I’d love to watch it. Popped into my head fully formed. If any of you happen to be buddies with Don Johnson, Michael Mann, or an exec at NBCUniversal send them my way please?

I feel like I missed my calling but galactic bounty hunter jobs are so hard to get.