You may have noticed the disappearance of the “Lending Library” tab up there at the top of this page… I’ve moved selected stories to WATTPAD rather than host them here, just for the sake of ease of exposure.

Right now, you can check out the first three chapters of HOT SINATRA and two other stories… FOR FREE!

If you do check them out, please leave a vote or some feedback, so I know you stopped by. Maybe you’ll get a fancy thank you note, or a cupcake, or a bag of rare and exotic marbles. Who the fuck knows?

And Happy America Day, America!

SOLD! My latest Manlove & Kickerdick story 999 Problems for next year’s “Queer” issue of Big Pulp! So keep an eye out for that next June 😉

There is also an M&K “yuletide carol” being composed for a yet-to-be-named Christmas collection in the works. This one is being put together by the indomitable Red Tash and may feature some pretty magnificent peeps. Details to follow…

And never count out HOT SINATRA. Still waiting to hear back on a couple of bites, but Crime/Comedy/Romance/Jazz/Punk Rock/Lit is a hard sell for some reason. Regardless, that book WILL be out later this year. So get ready for the Manlove & Kickerdick revolution!

In other news, Friday’s the deadline for the Coffin Hop Anthology, which is shaping up nicely. Great stuff from the aforementioned Red Tash, The McHugh, Amy Marshall, C.W. LaSart and more, as well as an exclusive Robot Lincoln & Zombie Jackson tale, art by Nic Caesar, a cover by the amazing Chris Dow, and much much more. All going to benefit http://www.readingtree.org . A long road of editing, design, formatting, marketing , etc etc etc lies ahead on our way to October 24. Mark your calendars and polish your reader screens… We’re coming to get you, Barbara!

It’s International Short Story Day. I wish I could have something new finished for y’all, but day jobs being what they are, time is at a premium and, between Joan of A.R.C., the Coffin Hop Anthology, and a mountain of other projects… well, I just haven’t gotten around to finishing any new stuff. Such is Life and So It Goes…

So instead, let me encourage you all to go read at least ONE short story, in honor of all the hard-working fictioneers out there. Read some Fitzgerald, some Bradbury, some Poe… crack that old copy of The Dubliners, get your King on, stop by the library and devour some Dutch Leonard. If you can’t find anything that strikes your fancy, go to one of the many online retailers that would “stock” Living Dead at Zigfreidt & Roy, my mini-collection featuring five of my favorite recent tales. It’s still a buck at Amazon, if you feel like throwing a near-starving brother a bone. But I’d be just as tickled if you grabbed it for free on Smashwords (where you can get it for all formats in one convenient place instead of laying out 12 different links 😉 )

Now get to readin’!

Yep. It is finally here! The official COFFIN HOP SHOPPE featuring apparel, drinkware, office supplies, chapeaux, dog shirts and more!

Featuring official Coffin Hop art from the likes of Nic Caesar and Liz Howerton, and some nifty retro Drive-In art, in-line with this years Coffin Hop: Terror at the Drive-In anthology.

Pick up some sinister swag today! Proceeds will help pay for the production costs of the anthology. Proceeds from the store and anthology will be going to the literacy charity www.readingtree.org

And stay tuned for more as we overhaul the Coffin Hop website for this year’s event.