we love @futuretensebooks.bsky.social !!

“I have been here almost a year. I spend an afternoon transcribing agreements and I miss a comma. I know I have missed a comma, but I don’t go back to fix it. I like the missing comma. It gets me in the mood.” —Shane Kowalski ( @dieddisappointed.bsky.social )

“I never get to know the heads’ names, nor do I see the heads attached to actual bodies. For all I know, they are floating heads passing by Frank’s old office.” From Are People Out There, by Shane Kowalski, which was published by @futuretensebooks.bsky.social.

Shane Kowalski's short stories are like extended prose poems. Funny, perverse, quirky, and unique. Picture Diane Williams dancing the tango with Russell Edson. Highly recommended. @dieddisappointed.bsky.social @futuretensebooks.bsky.social

can confirm: i have a piece in the new issue of Harper's 👍

Imagine the tears of joy when you give someone the gift of @dieddisappointed.bsky.social 🎁 futuretensebooks.com

a book so good she only had to write the one

Just learned that my former professor, friend, and mentor Stephanie Vaughn, has died. For those unaware, Stephanie's book SWEET TALK is one of the greatest American story collections, up there with the likes of JESUS' SON. This is the justly famous intro of her story "Dog Heaven"

breaking and entering by joy williams

seen a buncha people posting @dieddisappointed.bsky.social's book and wanted to join. only a few stories in, but it is (expectedly) great. here's probably my fave paragraph so far:

we have a story by Shane Kowalski @dieddisappointed.bsky.social ! in the story Murphy – a professional in the city whose life makes him feel so confused that at times he wonders if he’s had a stroke – visits his friend Malone. a great story ! & a great ending xraylitmag.com/beckettian-b...

new xmas story from the new collection:

Shane Kowalski @dieddisappointed.bsky.social @futuretensebooks.bsky.social

This new @dieddisappointed.bsky.social book is astounding. Sorry it’s greasy, blame the snyders pretzel company

my book Are People Out There is officially out today. get it where books are sold, but especially at Future Tense Books: futuretensebooks.com/product/peop...

my book Are People Out There is out in two weeks. here are some blurbs by Ling Ma and Sebastian Castillo. you can still pre-order the book at Future Tense Books: futuretensebooks.com/product/peop...

the nyt obituary for charles webb, the author of the graduate, from 2020: archive.ph/RtA8Z

We can't wait to publish the new Shane Kowalski {@dieddisappointed.bsky.social} collection, Are People Out There. You can claim your October copy now! futuretensebooks.com/product/peop...

You can now pre-order my new collection of stories, Are People Out There. It drops 10.31.25 via @futuretensebooks.bsky.social: futuretensebooks.com/product/peop...

Are People Out There. Forthcoming October 31, 2025. Future Tense Books. Pre-orders start next week. But here is a cover reveal 👀

i have a story up at Cleveland Review of Books. it's the title story of my forthcoming collection with @futuretensebooks.bsky.social. the story is about a baby.

new piece about a typical book review up at HAD today

lambchop kind of evening: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghdi...

the high-concept transgression of JG Ballard's Crash mixed with the dulcet tones of the gentlest George Saunders story

a little bernhard, a little aira. deeply smart and splenetic and silly. makes you want to read or write more.

excellent book. autumnally crisp prose. really evokes the eerie beauty of rural ny.

a book about god being so lonely he invents the world but can't help it. highly recommend for the carpenteresque prose, the weirdness, as well as the tenderness.

Pssst. If you type the word Warehouse in the discount code, you'll get 35% off of everything (until the end of June). Including the newest by Evan Nicholls. And other classics from @parkeryoung.bsky.social @dieddisappointed.bsky.social @gkhudson.bsky.social @tatianaryckman.bsky.social & more. 🔥

i have a story called "spanked before elvis" in the new Fence. it's about elvis, spanking, stamps, ritual, and fandom.

new book incoming. stories in an almost but not really at all classical mode.

The trailer for my new novel, “God Woke Up Lonely”

my guyyyyyy

Evan Nicholls' magical, stupendous book of lil' poems and goofball collages, Easy Tiger, is coming out on June 6th, but if you pre-order the book, you'll get it much sooner. We're sending pre-orders out today and tomorrow. Let's go----> futuretensebooks.com/product/easy...

i have three pieces in the new issue of blush, but this probably the best one, idk: www.blush-lit.com/journal#/sha...

Shane Kowalski’s (@dieddisappointed.bsky.social) favorite short stories of the century (so far):

was recently asked about my favorite stories of the century so far and had to include this one from David Nutt (from his equally excellent collection Summertime In The Emergency Room): www.calamaripress.com/SF/2020/22_N...

have finally started Lonesome Dove. pretty funny so far.

Congratulations to @versechorus.com and the great Stacey Levine, author of Mice 1961—and Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. This is my review of it in 3:AM Magazine: www.3ammagazine.com/3am/mice1961/

had three very short stories up at Farewell Transmission at the end of March—one of which is previewed here. might be in the new book, might not: farewelltransmission.net/2025/03/thre...

had a few SSL contributors donate their payment money back to the journal recently. figured I'd use that to giveaway a few free subscriptions. access to a buncha great interviews! so, let's do this: buy a book by any SSL contributor today and let me know and I'll give you a gift subscription.

i am a poet for a day:

just remembered this passage from the most recent Cesar Aira.

Angels & Gringos by Dan Brown

True Failure is out today! @coffeehousepress.bsky.social

i have 6 very short stories in this new issue. here are 2 of them: for the Cheers fans and frogs fans.

The Piano Teacher by Elfriede Jelinek, true pervert literature

beef. thanks for support.

i come to Literature for these kinds of Fine interactions...

Exciting to see @garielle.bsky.social being celebrated. Long overdue for one of our most innovative and moving writers. Cheers to @thenation.com and Daniel Kolitz. 🖤 www.thenation.com/article/cult...

sent manuscript to Kevin today. second book with @futuretensebooks.bsky.social coming at some point later this year.