Do you like to listen?
A new story at PseudoPod and a return to Story Hour
I have a couple things out for free now, if you’d like a little distraction:
My story about self-pleasure, Catholic guilt, and spontaneous human combustion, “The Ecstasy of the Saints”, was beautifully produced by PseudoPod. I’m really proud of this handsy, mouthy little misfit. Here’s what I had to say about the story:
I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school through the seventh grade. That meant I spent three days a week in church, plus Sunday mass with my family. I spent a lot of time staring at the ornate religious icons in the church, marveling at the lurid colors and details, worried I was a horrible sinner when I found them almost grotesque. This story springs from that time for me, how my mind would wander into those dreaded impure thoughts and my terror that my ever-accumulating sins left me open to demon possession. It’s the boredom of ceremony, the struggle to come up with believable sins as a distraction from my real worries in Confession, and the constant guilt and fear I felt as a child for having what I now know are normal kid thoughts. Writing this story was very cathartic and fun, even if the good old Catholic guilt crept back in as I was writing.
I hope you’ll give it a listen and support PseudoPod and the excellent work they do, if you’re able.
Next Wednesday March 19, I’m returning to Story Hour! I’ll be reading with Lyndsie Manusos, so this should be a great time. Catch us live at 7 pm PST!
I also have some new short fiction coming out this year:
“Guilt is a Little House” - Silk & Sinew (ed. Kristy Park Kulski, Bad Hand Books), May 2025
“Demon in Repose” - Haven Spec (TBA)
“Severed Blessings” - The Joining (ed. Jacob Steven Mohr, Crystal Lake Publishing), Fall 2025
As you might’ve heard, Off Limits Press is closing as of June 1, 2025. This means that my sex, drugs, rock & roll, queer succubi body horror novella SLEEP ALONE is going out of print. My agent is currently working to rehome this grimy little Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson Award finalist. In the meantime, this is your last chance to get a copy with that fantastic Evangeline Gallagher cover. That’s Ronnie and Helene in front of the van! Don’t you want to know what they’re up to?
And now to recommend a few things I’ve enjoyed recently:
The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion by Ivy Grimes - I’ve seen various people describe this book as “surreal”, “absurd”, “Lynchian”, and “fairytale-like.” I’m reading this now and yes, definitely yes.
I Contain Multitudes by Christopher Hawkins - An ever-shifting story about the power of the mind and the resilience of the spirit. With a skilled hand and an eye for action, Hawkins takes us on an adventure that proves human will is limitless. Out April 2025.
Waste Ground by Marc Ruvolo - A cosmic nightmare of fraying relationships and dogged determination converging in the mouth of a bizarre cult and the otherworldly entity they worship. Ruvolo keeps the action nonstop as he viscerally displays Portland’s underbelly and the unseen hunger beneath our feet. Out March 2025.
“Will They Disappear” by Cynthia Gomez - Free to listen on PseudoPod! A really great, heartbreaking and satisfying story, beautifully produced.
“Devoted/Devoured” by Shelley Lavigne - Free to read at 3-Lobed Burning Eye! Have I talked about this one recently? Can I talk about it again? Too bad, I’ll never stop talking about it. Angels. Cannibalism. A gorgeous, aching, all-time favorite. (And beautifully narrated by Sapphire Lazuli!)
What have I been up to most recently? Novel edits! One day I’ll tell the world about this terrible, aching, hole-y beast. Maybe you’ll even read it, whenever that day comes.