At the mailbox today, the good stuff. Anna Tambour's new novelette, How Much is That Mermaid? I've been reading and digging Anna's work since The Spotted Lily. If you're unfamiliar with her fiction, you're missing out on one of the most unique voices in contemporary fiction.

My new collection, The Pandemonium Waltz, will be on the loose tomorrow, Feb. 15th. 17 stories, cover and inside front and back cover art by Derek Ford, and an interview with me conducted by Kelly Link. Buy early and often. If you're so inclined, spread the word.

Happy VD!

TBT -- Big Cis

Me and my lap dog, Mac.

On the FB dredge from 15 years ago. MAD magazine, #508. Me and Mike Gallagher have a 3 panel gag on page 6. One of my favorite publications in 50 years of publishing.

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday the high was 20 and the low 5. Poor Pu Songling was up to his elbows in snow. Today, a balmy 46.

Remembered the other day, this book by Liz Hand (done for Darkhorse, her own take) and how terrific it was. Hard to find a copy under 50 bucks now.

Cover reveal for my new novel, CRATER GIRL. I can’t wait for folks to get a gander at this one. It’s my weird-noir sci-horror love letter to the trans crowd. Republicans are gonna hate it. Coming from JournalStone, May 2026. #booksky #trans #lgbt #indiehorror

Binged the third season of Mr. Inbetween. Darker yet equally as good as the first two.

Will be doing the 2026 Quinn Lecturer reading at Ohio Wesleyan University on Wednesday, February 11th at 4:15 to 5:15 in Slocum Hall, Milligan Room.

Pandemonium Waltz in the mail today. They look fabulous. 17 stories, cover and inside cover art by Derek, and at the back I get grilled by Kelly Link. A beautiful job from Steve Berman and Lethe Press. A million thanks to Steve, Kelly and Derek. Up for presale now but will drop on February 15th.

Cold and lonely moon.

Winter in Ohio

My Clarion student, Darcy L. Wood, has a new story online, "Apples of Eyes." Check it out. gavagai.com/posts/1938

Heaven's premiere bowling team -- The Gutter Snipes. 5 time champs.

That video of Ilhan Omar pulling back to throw a punch at that asshole who sprayed her, made my fucking day. Good for her. On the strength of that alone, I'd vote for her for president.

The way home.

Been laid up for the past four days with the flu, sick af. Been pretty much popping Sudafed, drinking hot tea, and moping around watching the tube. In between rage watching Noem and the other lying scumbags in Minn. also been binging the show, a Laird Barron rec., Mr. In between. Great show. 5 stars

What a sack of shit.

My new collection, Pandemonium Waltz, is open for pre-orders on Amazon. 17 stories. tinyurl.com/3jkzm72b

Happy Birthday to Scoots. He’s 4 today. 🧁

The story is up at Reactor. Full illustration by Carter Gill. reactormag.com/the-spew-jef...

Soul Catcher by Derek

Everything we see and seem is but a dream within a dream. Happy Birthday, Edgar, you crazy bastard.

My story, “The Spew,” will be up at Reactor/Tor.com on Wednesday this coming week. If you like them crazy, this one’s for you.

Got some exciting book mail from @lethepress.bsky.social! I’ve been so excited for the new @jeffreyford8.bsky.social collection, Pandemonium Waltz. I’ve read through the first half and it’s wonderful, beautifully dark and fantastic. Looking forward to checking out Final Curtain soon!

My writing student and friend, Russ Rubin, who is also an artist has a show at the Ace Hotel -- 20, East 29th Street in NYC, opening this coming Thursday, the 15th, 6 -- 9pm. His stuff is wild. Check it out if you get a chance. theexoticwoods.com/pages/russru...

From a year ago on our road trip from Ohio to Arizona by way of the Oklahoma pan handle. Somewhere in New Mexico at last light.

Criterion is running The Dead Presidents. Great cast — Lorenz Tate, Keith David ( one of those actors who makes anything they’re in better), even the perennially annoying Chris Tucker is good, Terrance Howard, Rose Jackson, Bokeem Woodbine. Saw this back when it came out in 1995. It holds up.

Ran into this old pic. There was a girl sitting at a table on the street corner along Lexington who was doing psychic readings, so I stopped and got one. The details were fairly vague, but it was interesting. She said I had a long life ahead of me. I knew I shouldn't have quit smoking.

Was never a big Grateful Dead fan but Lynn was, and we listened to a lot of their music back in that motel room we lived in. Gotta give him a tip of the hat for being part of the soundtrack of our lives together. RIP Bob Weir.

There's an interview at Cemetery Dance in Dan Braum's column -- Night Time Logic -- about my story "Plunged In The Years," which appeared in Conjunctions #83, Revenants issue, edited by Bradford Morrow and Joyce Carol Oates. It does contain spoilers. www.cemeterydance.com/extras/night...

So, this is out. The sequel to THE PALE HOUSE DEVIL. This time, Ford, Neuland, and Tilda face off against something even worse than what they faced in the first book.

Wee and Squeak-A-Mo on the new cat tree. Photo by Jack

The Creation of Eve by Derek

Lynn, 12 years ago, on the steps of a castle in Gondar, which sounds like a place in Lord of the rings but is actually in Ethiopia.

Mac poses

Lynn got a good shot of our neighbor.

Night and Day, a horror anthology by Ellen Datlow, from Simon and Schuster is now 1.99 in e-format and 99 cents for the audio. I have a story in this one along with a wonderful toc of writers. It is number 1 on amazon for anthologies and collections right now.

Scooty, Mac and Nagga

@michaelcisco.bsky.social Happy New Year, Big Cis!

@chrismclaren.com Happy New Year!

@lairdbarron.bsky.social Happy New Year to you guys!

Time, a maniac scattering dust... Happy New Year to one and all.

Matt Cheney pointed me to a recent article in the LA Review of Books about my Well-Built City Trilogy lareviewofbooks.org/article/we-a...

Walking in Shadow