Y’all. Y’all.
Hard to believe it’s been so long since my last dispatch, but then we’ve all been living through the same bizarro hellscape, so you get it. Time is a slippery pig of late. Health/life/everything has slowed my long-form output, but I hope when all my schemes come to fruition you’ll find them worth the wait. In the meantime, I’ve dropped a few small, colorful eggs of dubious freshness…
I will tell you three things. If I tell them to you and they come true, then will you believe me?
What a time. I hope you’re weathering the situation(s) as best you can, wherever you are. Like most folks, I’ve been finding solace—or at least distraction—in stories, be they literary or cinematic or of the gaming variety. In the event that my scribblings happen to serve a similar role for you, here are my most recent publications:
“Bloody Roots” in Grimdark Magazine #21
Today marks exactly a decade since Orbit published my debut novel, The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart. November 16, 2009 feels like a lifetime ago, but I remain immensely proud of this book. It’s not the novel I would or even could write now, but that’s how it should be—texts are like tattoos, time-stamping who we were at a certain moment in our lives.
Tempting though it is wax on about what a long weird trip it’s been, in the spirit of the Brothers themselves I’ll keep it quick and honest. I never expected this novel to sell. Even after it sold, I never expected it to connect with readers the way it did. And I certainly never expected to make a cameo along with my bearded boys in The Witcher 3.
But I’m grateful for it all. A mighty thank you to everyone who helped along the way, including those who ran screaming from the tome, telling anyone with ears or eyes to avoid it at all costs. We all play our part.
I leave you with this phenomenal piece of idolatry by the artist Bazuzu, evidence that the Grossbart Heresy is alive and well even after all these years. Outside, the wind is howling. I better go join it.
Having a busy time of it, but wanted to pop in to share these three matters of possible interest:
California readers! As mentioned, I will be giving a free public lecture at San Diego State University at 2:00 PM on Thursday, April 25. I’ll be talking about monsters. You should come listen and badger me with questions afterward. It will be a good time. And just as cool, the evening before I will reading and signing at the Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore!
The reading will take place at Mysterious Galaxy at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. I’ll be reading from A War in Crimson Embers, fielding questions, and signing books, scrolls, or anything else you want to throw at me. Check out their website for more details, and I hope to meet you at one event, the other, or both!
I am delighted to announce that I will be giving a talk at San Diego State University as part of their Horror and Monstrosity lecture series. My presentation “The Fiend with a Thousand Faces: Monsters as a Mirror of Humanity” will be the capstone lecture, and take place on campus at 2:00 PM on Thursday, April 25. The entire series looks great and all of the lectures are free and open to the public, so if you’re in the area be sure to check out the event page for more details.
Happy belated new year, one and all! 2018 sped by in a blur, and 2019 seems off to a roaring start as well. I’ve recently relocated to North Carolina and am now juggling the various white-hot irons I had in the fire, so this will be a brief update, but expect something more substantial soon. In the meantime, here’s the skinny on my newest short fiction and an upcoming event:
Love monsters? Live in the Seattle area? This Labor Day weekend I’ll be teaching a six-hour creative writing workshop dedicated to the monstrous. Details:
Quick update time! I’m currently working on a new novel, but am too superstitious to talk about projects until they’re ready to go out the door…so that’s it for now.
Here are two things I am happy to announce, though:
Copyright 2016 by Jesse Bullington. All rights reserved.