That’s a photo from Killer Con by Nikolas Robinson. I’ve looked at it often since he posted it because it’s a nice reminder that when I’m in my element, the smiles come easy!

This past week was spent mostly recovering from Killer Con. Getting back on a normal sleep schedule. Eating healthier. Falling back into routine with my kids. I did, however, manage to do some writing on that novel in stories I mentioned, and I turned in a new version of SNOW ANGELS to D & T Publishing. Dawn (the D in D & T) tells me we’re aiming for an early 2023 release. I hope it will make a nice fireside read for you this winter.

I’ve been reading a lot more lately, which is nice as things have been a little stop-start in that department this year. I read John Skipp’s newest collection DON’T PUSH THE BUTTON. He’s made it no secret that this will be his final book, as he intends to spend his remaining years working on film and music. DON’T PUSH THE BUTTON is a hell of a note to go out on. The prose is indicative of a writer at the peak of his powers, and there’s a groovy undercurrent of spirituality to the pieces that is so rare in current horror. Skipp is almost like a blood-drenched Buddha in that sense. I dug all the stories in the book, but the standouts were “In the Winter of No Love” and “The Inward Eye.” I can’t recommend this book enough.

I’m also about a fourth of the way through the first MISTBORN book. My neighbor has been recommending the series to me for years, so when I saw a mass market paperback edition of it in my local Half-Price Books, I snatched it up. It’s good so far. Moves along at a briskier pace than other fantasy novels I’ve tried.

In our most recent episode of MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN PODCAST, we look at Jenna Fischer’s LOLLILOVE. You can listen to the episode here or by clicking the video below.

Speaking of the show, we started a Facebook group for listeners of the show. You can check it out here.

That’s it for now. Enjoy your week, friends.