If you’re like me, you try to outdo yourself each year with unique and fun gifts for the loved ones in your life. For the readers and writers in particular, it can be fun to look for novelty bookish items beyond a book (though a book is *always* a great gift).
Themed bookmarks, candles, tea, reading lights, and specialty furniture are often a go-to for annual bookish gift lists.
I’ve picked a few of my personal favorite book- and writing-themed gifts in this list that have caught my eye. Many of these I have gifted or been gifted in the past so can vouch for them. These items range from clever advent calendars, epic pen holders, eye-catching book ends, and more.
Disclaimer: These are obviously highly subjective and based around my own horror/sci-fi/fantasy interests.
Happy Halloween! Here’s a treat for you: for today only, the ebook of my debut supernatural western MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Brigids Gate Press) is available for FREE through B&N, Kobo and Apple Books as part of the Terrify Your Tablet book event.
Terrify Your Tablet
The first annual Terrify Your Tablet (previously “Spook Your Kindle Day”) is hosted by Horrorsmith Publishing. Horror and thriller fans can download books from hundreds of participating authors at the link below on Halloween.
ALONG HARROWED TRAILS (Timber Ghost Press) is a horror western anthology containing my story “Candelaria and the Red-Eyed Bunch Gang.” This is a prequel, origins story for one of the side characters in MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER.In it, Candelaria must contend with a gang set on double-crossing her as something monstrous approaches.
This is outside of my usual posts, but too cool not to share.
After a horror author event I moderated at the lovely indie bookstore Verbatim Books in downtown San Diego last month, I tweeted a picture of the panelists next to a cut-out cardboard of Stephen King.
Imagine my surprise when he retweeted it!!
For those who aren’t on Twitter, King is pretty active and often comments/likes/retweets his audience. As the “patron saint of horror” who paved the way in the genre and is an inspiration to so many authors, it’s a big deal indeed.
My bite-sized ghost story, “Lonely Arcade,” has published in Stupefying Stories (4-minute read). It’s a ghost story, but also a homage to the many summers I spent in boardwalk arcades.
If you enjoyed that one, make sure to check out “The Sighting,” my short tale about Big Foot hunters, also in Stupefying Stories.
About Stupefying Stories
Stupefying Stories is an online magazine founded by Bruce and Karen Bethke. Bruce Bethke is the award-winning science fiction writer known for his 1980 short story, “Cyberpunk,” and his 1995 Philip K. Dick Award-winning novel, Headcrash.
I can’t believe it’s been 3 months since MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER debuted from Brigids Gate Press. My supernatural western adventure was more well-received than I’d hoped. Putting a book out there is incredibly vulnerable. Some people will love it, others will hate it. In the end, it doesn’t truly matter. Most of us write as a way to survive/thrive/rebel/reflect/exist in this chaotic, complex world. Nevertheless, I am deeply grateful for everyone–friends, booksellers, reviewers, editors, publishers–who helped make this lifelong dream come true.
One big highlight for me this past month was attending the Los Angeles Times Book Festival for the first time. It was a traffic-filled drive up from San Diego to LA on little sleep, but completely worth it to attend the largest book festival in the country. Tents and vendors stretched as far as the eye could see under a baking sun on the University of Southern California campus. I joined the Horror Writers table to sell copies of MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER and was utterly delighted when writing legend Joe Lansdale and his daughter Kasey Lansdale stopped by to say hi and purchase a book. Check out photos over on my Facebook page or Instagram. Thank you to everyone who stopped by!
May is stacked with lots more bookish events in Southern California, including the Nebula Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers (SFWA) conference in Anaheim. I will be there signing books, moderating panels and diving into all things SFF. I hope you can join one of the events below.
Happy April! I’m excited to share new book promos, interviews, events and more.
Limited time: popular Weird West books available in special promo for readers at StoryBundle
For a limited time, my supernatural western MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Brigids Gate Press) will be available in a “storybundle” together with some of the biggest fantasy and horror western titles available right now.
StoryBundle offers a jaw-dropping deal for readers: for only $5, you’ll receive the four featured digital books:
There is also an upgraded bundle where you can get all 11 weird west stories shown for a deeper discount. This is a fabulous option if you’re looking for new books and want to explore more of the “weird west” (these are westerns with speculative elements, usually combined with fantasy and horror).
I was also delighted to be a guest on D.C. Gomez’s The Book Corner Amazon show to talk about MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER. You can watch a recording of the live show here.
Upcoming events and appearances
Events:
Book Signing: LAT Festival of Books – Sat, April 22, 1-3pm
Panels: Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Nebula Conference – May 13 & 14
Book Signing and Discussion: Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore – Sat, May 20, 3pm
This last month I’ve visited several local bookstores to sign copies of Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger and On social media the book as popped up in bookstore locations ranging Ontario to Kentucky to South Dakota. The book also made its first con appearance (Wondercon), with hopefully many more to come!
Book promo alert! For a limited time, my supernatural western MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER will be available in a “storybundle” together with some of the biggest fantasy and horror western titles available right now.
StoryBundle offers a very appealing deal for readers: for only $5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous), you’ll get the basic bundle of four digital books, details below. There is also an upgraded bundle where you can get **11** weird west stories for a deeper discount!
This bundle showcases books by some of the leading authors of Weird West fiction today. These tales of the Old West fused with horror, fantasy and adventure will sweep you away to another time and place.
My bite-sized, sci-fi horror story, “The Sighting,” has published in Stupefying Stories. This short tale follows the exploits of determined Big Foot hunters and their promising approach to ID’ing the monster.
Out today! MONSTORM: A Charity Anthology Of Horrorfrom Madness Heart Press contains my reprint story, “What Storms Bring” among other weather-themed horror tales. Proceeds from sales go to the local All Faiths Food Bank to support those affected by Hurricane Ian.
Edited by Matt Masucci and Josh Strnad, published by Madness Heart Press, and with a cover from Don Noble and intro from Jeff Strand, this anthology features eerie stories of natural and unnatural storms.
Fellow contributing authors include: Donna J. W. Munro, Owl Goingback, Christina Arrascaeta, James Dorr, Franc Auld, Christine Morgan, Derik Cavignano, Frank Raymond Michaels, Sarah Licht, Warren Benedetto, Katelin Deushane, Thomas Michael Thomas, Jose Cruz, Kenzie Jennings, Thomas Smith, Mike Schuhler, Douglas Ford, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, and Lisa Morton.
KC Grifant 