Things Are Picking Up Speed

In which I provide some cool novel updates and describe my adventures at book conventions.

Winter hibernation is over I guess, and suddenly everything is chaos. I’m working toward the release of not one but two books this summer, and that involves a lot of behind-the-scenes action that’s fun but also hectic. Really can’t wait to unleash them on the world. Also, trying to write new stuff? There are never enough hours.

Here’s what’s happening now:

Fantastic Book Festivals

Recently I took part in a pair of excellent book events, and it’s a great reminder of how nourishing it is to hang it with other writers, readers, and bookish folks. I never leave one of these events without some new inspiration, and am always grateful to be invited.

First up was the Hill Country Literary Festival hosted by the Mammen Family Public Library in Bulverde, TX. I met some wonderful readers, signed a lot of books, and had a chance to speak on a panel about mixing genres with fellow Central Texas writers Johnny Compton and Isa Arsén.

I loved Johnny’s first book, The Spite House, and his new book Devils Kill Devils is equally awesome. This was the first time I’d met Isa, but we had a blast on the panel, and her book, The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf looks killer. I’m looking forward to diving in.

Right on the heels of the Hill Country Literary Fest was Ghoulish Festival in San Antonio. Two days of hanging out with readers and writers, drenched in all things horror. I was part of some great panels, with topics like Writing During the Apocalypse and Writers, What Questions are you Tired of Being Asked. The audience was super engaged, and the vibe for the whole event was friendly and accessible. Max and Lori Booth put on a great event.

Frank Lightning Picks Up Speed

Like a runaway stagecoach, The Unkillable Frank Lightning barrels toward its July 15 release date. This is the part of the process where everything is out of my hands, and I’m trying just to hang on for the ride.

So far, early reviews have been fantastic, and people seem to get what I was going for with this one. It’s always hard to know if what you have in your writer brain is the same thing that makes it onto the page, but this time, I’m pretty sure I nailed that part.

Preorders are important to make sure a book gets traction (and thus, maybe you get to do another book after this one) so if Frank Lightning looks interesting to you, I would greatly appreciate you ordering early. I think it’s pretty good. My best book so far. Give it a shot?

Since my last newsletter, some new blurbs have come in from a host of writers I admire:

“Weird and heartfelt and hard to pull your eyes away from.”
—Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter

“What begins as The Searchers meets Frankenstein ends as Unforgiven meets The Magicians. A dark, brooding meditation on both what we’ll do for love, and the callous indifference of the hardened souls of the early West.”
—C. Robert Cargill, co-screenwriter of The Black Phone

“This is the F-Monster we’ve always wanted, in a yarn we never knew we needed―until now.”
―David J. Schow, screenwriter of The Crow

“Once you start reading The Unkillable Frank Lightning, you just won’t be able to stop. Catherine Coldbridge and her companions and her Old West are endlessly fascinating.”
—Tim Powers, author of Declare and The Stress of Her Regard

Can’t wait for everyone to meet Catherine, Frank, Seth, Aubrey, Mabel, Thirsty, and that one other character that some of you might recognize from The Legend of Charlie Fish…

A Macabre Conversation

Hot of the presses…er, fresh on video? Whatever. I had a blast talking with Sean O’Connor at Macabre Daily. We went in deep on The Legend of Charlie Fish, The Unkillable Frank Lightning, and the world these books inhabit. We also talked about westerns, horror movies, and my borderline unhealthy obsession with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Sean is a killer interviewer and made this a whole lot of fun.

Check it out!

Just a Few More Bites:

- I remain obsessed with Bad Nerves, a killer punk band from the UK. Lighting fast and filled with hooks. Catchy, catchy, catchy tunes. A drop of New York Dolls influence, at least on the second record. I’ll be seeing them live in Austin next month, and I’m ready to get in line now. Start with their self-titled first record and dive in.

- And speaking of New York Dolls. RIP to the legend, Davin Johansen. Impossible to overstate his influence on music and culture.

- Got to hang out with awesome human Chris Panatier at the Ghoulish Fest. I absolutely love every one of his books, and you should read them all, but he’s also a killer artist. Album covers, book covers, coloring books. Yeah. Check out his Full Metal Coloring Book and be amazed.

- Read the new Stephen Graham Jones book, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. I’ve been a fan since he published Growing Up Dead in Texas and I’ve read just about all his books by now. This one is the best. This one broke me. Like others have said, this book is a masterpiece. Send it straight to the top of your TBR.

- I’m a huge baseball nerd. I’ve been a diehard Texas Rangers fan since my first game in 1982. It’s that hope springs eternal part of the season now, but let’s hope I have something to celebrate in October. Stay tuned.

- And that super bloody fantasy book I mentioned last time? It might have legs.

And One More Thing…

Hot on the heels of The Unkillable Frank Lighting, August will see the release of my new novella Summer in the House of the Departed from Psychopomp. Things are starting to move now, and I’ll have a cover to share soon, along with more info on how you can preorder. My shorthand for this one is: A West Texas Haunted House Story. Or maybe more accurately: The Book Inspired by my Ghosthunter Grandmother. Can’t wait to talk more about this one.