Writing Updates

And a new Substack section.

After an unexpected trip to the UK and a well-timed vacation in the sun, I’m home, settled, and felt it as good an opportunity as any to share a few writing updates.

These have (mostly) been mentioned on Instagram so, if it feels like you’ve already read this, you’re not losing your mind. Rather, you’re witnessing someone attempting to get the better of an algorithm.

📖 A new horror story is coming, scarier and more disturbing than the last. It’s written, is being edited, and a cover design is in the works. I have a few other things I’m hoping to explore alongside the release of this book that I’m excited about, but more on that in the next few months.

📖 I’ve written a lot in the last week or so, and it feels great. Writing is hard but sometimes, somehow, somewhere, something clicks with the characters or the setting, and all of a sudden it just flows. It’s exciting, and one of those small things that makes me feel alive.

📖 I send out this newsletter every month to document the horror fiction I’ve been inspired by. Books are a huge part of that but so is gaming (both tabletop and video games). I wanted a dedicated place to celebrate those stories, so I’ve set up a new section called GHOST CURRENT as part of AFTER DUSK. You should be able to subscribe to that, if you’re interested in getting more horror-focused, game-related updates, in your settings.

📖 If you’re new here, welcome! You should check out my previous newsletters, which include thoughts about Shirley Jackson, small town horror, found footage, and poisonous plants.

📖 Last year, I released a book called BURIED BY SUNSET. It’s a southern gothic horror set in the desert that you can check out here.

📖 If you read, buy, or talk about books – especially indie ones – thank you. You have no idea how much it means to have someone read what you’ve written (even if they don’t always like it).

As always, it feels like there’s not enough time to explore all the ideas in my head, and it’s a constant case of taking one thing at a time. What is it they say? Kill your darlings, or something like that.

In terms of what I’ve been enjoying lately, I’m currently reading The Fisherman by John Langan, rolled the credits for Alan Wake 2 last night, and have heard so many people talking about the new season of True Detective that watching it has become almost inevitable at this point.

Before you go

One of the best ways to support an author is to buy their books, so I’m going to shamelessly share that you can buy my debut novel, BURIED BY SUNSET, by clicking the button below.

If you want to connect, I live in other corners of the internet. I keep an Instagram updated. You can also find me on TikTok.

/ JJW