Hey y’all, I hope you’ll join the amazing Paulette Kennedy and me next Thursday over on the Instagram. We’ll talk mountain lore: Appalachian and Ozark, dark story telling, all the things. @pkennedywrites.bsky.social

Your monthly reminder: Keep writing. When no one cares, persist. When things appear to be crumbling, keep at it. When it's difficult, push through. When you feel alone, listen to the stories in your blood. Just write. The world needs your stories.

Here, on Earth, from @leftoverbooks.bsky.social...COUNT THE DUST. Available now: a.co/d/11toswz

CJ's Spring Issue call is about Lucia...

Some very hip folks are reading COUNT THE DUST. You can join Tom, Leonard, and Ethan Tuesday when it lands on earth from @leftoverbooks.bsky.social.

Just sayin

Just watched The Godfather, in its entirety, for the first time. Yes, friends, I have gaps. It still rocks.

Thankful for all the Writers who do their thing every day. Who (mostly) shut out the noise and tell the story they need to tell. Who edit and edit again, bringing it to life. You, who bring your light into a mad world because you must.

The NC Book Awards has published the short list for the Sir Walter Raleigh Fiction Award. I’m over the moon that WHERE DARK THINGS GROW made the shortlist alongside legend Terry Roberts and other great writers. Congrats to winner Katherine Scott Crawford. @cowboyjamboree.bsky.social

One week until COUNT THE DUST lands on Earth. Look for it December 2nd from @leftoverbooks.bsky.social...

Read this. Follow through. Pass it on.

W & I finished season 1 of The Lowdown. Quite good - pretty unique and well done. And, in case u’ve not heard - plenty of crime writer refs & inspired by Jim Thompson who’s work is referenced repeatedly. Lou Berney a credited writer. Walter Mosley wrote an ep. How can y u hook that up wrong?🔥

My saga "Vampires and Spies" explores a near-future in which vampires see humans as a primitive species, barely aware they exist, until the two must come together against forces of unspeakable darkness. amazon.com/dp/B0CCB4H5P6 #thriller #vampires #WritingCommunity #darkfantasy #SFF #BookSky 📚💙

droppin soon from CJ Press: I FEEL JUST LIKE A DOGWOOD TREE...

Stoked to say I've got a new story in Dark Yonder #11, along with a bevy of talented writers on the neo-noir scene. Big thanks to @erykpruitt.bsky.social and Katy Munger for pubbing. Available now: amzn.to/498eU1s

ICYMI yesterday, CJ just put out a bangin collection about a small Texas town by @kevingrauke.bsky.social.

Squeaker of the House!

Talking to @joelnedecky.bsky.social today on Substack... have a read: substack.com/home/post/p-...

Thrilled to share the beautiful cover of my debut novel, IN THE DESERT, on sale 3-3-2026 from @cowboyjamboree.bsky.social Many thanks to the brilliant photographer, Keith Bernstein for use of the stunning cover image and to Ashling Dennehy for the design. I'm so excited!

The latest Best American Mystery and Suspense edited by @stephcha.bsky.social & @donwinslow.bsky.social is officially out today. Cold Caller Magazine has done interviews with several writers from the issue and here's mine. open.substack.com/pub/coldcall...

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Question: How might we round out 2025 with a bang? Answer:

Chronicles of the Quotidian 10/18/25

Nothing good most likely - but - could be someone needing directions. But then, I am male. Female - nothing good.

The recipe I used: www.dessertfortwo.com/one-chocolat...

Who wrote MYOPIC DUPLICITY? Eric Beetner and Erin Flanagan are 2 of the 16 amazing writers to have stories in this new crime anthology from Leonardo Audio. @ericbeetner.bsky.social @leonardoaudio.bsky.social Learn more at leonardoaudio.com or thewritersdossier.com www.audible.com/pd/Myopic-Du...

I'm guest editor for November at Punk Noir Magazine. Submissions open October 15 and close October 21. Theme: TIGHTROPE 1000 words max, all fiction genres, no poetry. Send stories in a Word document, include a third person bio, to [email protected] punknoirmagazine.wordpress.com/submissions/

Woody Guthrie died on this day in 1967. Surely his spirit lives on.

My full review of @meproctor.bsky.social's terrific Catch Me on a Blue Day is up at Goodreads. This is a wonderful character-driven neo-noir crime drama, and Declan Shaw needs a binge-watchable TV series tout suite! goodreads.com/review/show/...

My book came out October 8, 2024. (After 30+ years of writing, a book!) I've been so grateful to anyone who has read it. I had a little goal of reaching 1000 copies sold (small press goals!), and we're close to that. I hope you'll consider ordering, reading, sharing reviewing on Goodreads, etc.💙

It’s judgement day, y’all!

Today is the day! ON FIRE AND UNDER WATER is now available. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one 👇👇👇

Honored to remind you that my story BAD MAN DOWN pubbed by The Yard: Crime Blog has made it into BAMS 2025 edited by @stephcha.bsky.social & @donwinslow.bsky.social from @marinerbooks.bsky.social Preorder your copy today: bit.ly/4drzg5P

My story "A Box Full of Soul" will be in the Best American Mystery & Suspense 2025 edited by @stephcha.bsky.social and @donwinslow.bsky.social this October. Better preorder now!!

😱 This piece is a perfect, heartfelt HOOT - by @victordeanda.bsky.social - and for those of us who've worked in the corporate environment, maybe even better. 🤑 🔥 Read it, Folks. Well done, Victor - well done!

"CATCH ME ON A BLUE DAY by M.E. Proctor is so well done, you could just call it CATCH ME TOMORROW because you won't want to do anything else once you start reading." —The Writer's Dossier a.co/d/fEZixdh @meproctor.bsky.social meproctor.substack.com | thewritersdossier.com

Woa. My story in the ON FIRE AND UNDER WATER anthology from @rhppress.bsky.social and edited by @curtisippolito.bsky.social got a shout out today. Much appreciated!!!

About ON FIRE AND UNDER WATER... @rjbrash.bsky.social Ban Yuh Belly was an excellent read; an unsettling tale of desperation. Memorable and well done - if only we could highlight all of 'em in a review!

Happy Birthday to our American troubador, the storyteller of the American dream and the soothsayer of the American nightmare. The Bard of broken men , The Boss Bruce Springsteen....his songs have been a huge influence on my writing..his 1st 8 albums might the greatest run in Rock history

Boom. I have a story in this fantastic anthology. Huge thanks to @curtisippolito.bsky.social and @rhppress.bsky.social. Order your copy at the link below.

🔥🔥🔥This story is amazing. You. Will. Not. Forget. It. Read it. 🔥🔥🔥 My favorite short crime fiction tale of 2025, hands down.

🔥Have not held my breath reading a short like this EVER. A delayed read (due 2 B'Con). @frankvatel312.bsky.social's MASTERPIECE. "...Kurt shook his head, remembering how she’d behaved toward him in that cellar. As if he were the one who’d locked her down there..." 2nd hint to the reader-look out 🔥

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 This collection is better than the Rapture will ever be and teach you much more about your humanity - you can quote me on that. Read it already.

On Fire and Under Water: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology, edited by Anthony Award-Winning-Curtis Ippolito, published by Rock and a Hard Place Press ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This stellar anthology burns in the best way. Link to my Goodreads review attached. www.goodreads.com/book/show/24...

Hell, Yeah, Casey! I still remember Effie and her tale in the anthology. Such a good story in an excellent Anthology. Keep 'em coming and Go Read It, Folks!

NEW ANTHOLOGY CALL! After our upcoming Terry Allen incited anthology we were gonna cool it for a bit on our music-incited anthologies because we have a lot on our publishing plate here. But eff it. Right now the world needs all the inspiration from Woody Guthrie it can get.

Two months since pub day! I still love seeing all the WHATEVER KILLS THE PAIN #bookmail shots. Thanks for sharing!

Happy birthday to @stephenking.bsky.social thank you for everything you’ve given. You’re the gift to the rest of the world. And everyone go see THE LONG WALK. Here’s an afar shot when I got to meet him at BookPeople back in 2014.

NO KINGS IN AMERICA

Watched Superman last night. Found it silly and odd and, well, I figure it'll be overlooked before long (but the dog was a nice touch). But: 2nd son, college senior in STEM, said via text, he thought it was pretty good. What do I know?