Manuscripts Burn

Ephrata Public Library Author Book Fair or Bust!

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

This Saturday (25th April) I'll be at the Ephrata Public Library for their Local Author Book Fair, and I won't be alone. Swing by to pick up books, get your books signed, and discuss the secrets of the universe with me, Avery Bishop, Somer Canon, Eddie Hall, David Hegedus, Kayla Hicks, Stephanie Jack, Brian Keene, Mary SanGiovanni, Wesley Southard, and Sarah Emily.

I'll be there with my brand new book THE HEMATOPHAGES: SPLATTERINGS and you won't want to miss what my colleagues have on offer either! There'll be plenty of great books and great conversations for everyone that pays us a visit, so if you're in the local area, we hope to see you.

More information can be found HERE but here are the basics:

Date: Saturday, April 25

Location:

Ephrata Public Library
550 South Reading Road
Ephrata, PA 17522

See you there!

The Quintessential THE HEMATOPHAGES: SPLATTERINGS Post

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Now available from:

Amazon

Around the Internet:

Goodreads

A review on The Voracious Gnome

A review on Long and Short Reviews

An announcement on Happy Goat Horror

A mini-review on Uncomfortably Dark

VIDEOS:

New Book Release: THE HEMATOPHAGES: SPLATTERINGS

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Hey everyone, I have a new book to tell you about. You might have caught the news last month when I announced pre-orders, but now THE HEMATOPHAGES: SPLATTERINGS is finally widely available to purchase. I'd start screaming now before you read it, if I were you (because in space, no one can hear you...never mind.)

This collection of sci-fi horrors is set in the same universe as my novel THE HEMATOPHAGES, and the accompanying novella, SKINWRAPPER. You'll find parasites, things that squirm, strange behaviour, time-looped phantoms, and other things that will plague your nightmares. As a bonus, I've include a lot of story notes that cover my writing experience, inspirations, and some industry tea.

In a galaxy riven by paranoid greed, profane forces marshal to consume humanity…

- On an abandoned ice moon, broadcasts from a long-dead civilization warp both body and soul.

- On a bizarre medical asteroid, a deranged physician discovers a gruesome “cure” for parasitic infection.

- On a deep space derelict, time becomes utterly meaningless and suffering transcends infinity.

- And on Earth itself, a lake transforms into pure blood and becomes infested with the hate-filled, eel-like aberrations known as…

The Hematophages.

Available NOW from:

Amazon

Scares that Care Authorcon VI Autopsy

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Kozeniewski) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Scares That Care Or Bust!

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone!

AuthorCon VI is quickly approaching (it's this weekend, in fact!) and I just wanted to tell you all I'll be there and I'm hoping to see you. For readers, feel free to find me, get your books signed, and have some great conversation. Preferably at the bar...

AND I will be exclusively releasing my new book at this event.

THE HEMATOPHAGES: SPLATTERINGS is a collection of shorts (and loads of bonus content) set in my Hematophages universe. Body horror, sci-fi, parasites, pirates...even some space werewolves can be expected. Be among the first to feast your eyes (and hopefully hold on to them...) on this new volume.

For authors, I'm participating in a number of panels and events, including not one, not two, but THREE pitching sessions. If you have a manuscript and you're looking for a home for it, my indie press, French Press Publishing could be a good fit. We generally want horror and science fiction (and even better, a combination of the two.)

Click on the banner below for more information about the event or to get your tickets.

Dates: Friday through Sunday February 27 - March 1

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton

50 Kingsmill Road

Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

Panels:

Friday, 6:30 pm - "French Press Publishing Pitch Session" - 2nd Floor, Room E

Friday, 10:00 pm - "Who's Line is it Anyway?" (w/ Clay MacLeod Chapman, Nat Cassidy, CJ Leede, Bitter Karella, Shane McKenzie, Wile E. Young, and Jeff Strand) - First Floor Auditorium

Saturday, 11:30 am - "French Press Publishing Pitch Session" - 2nd Floor, Room E

Saturday, 2:15 pm - Reading (w/ Jonathan Gensler) - 2nd Floor, Room 8

Saturday, 10:00 pm - "Gross-Out Contest) (w/ Wile E. Young) - First Floor Auditorium

Sunday, 11:00 am - "French Press Publishing Pitch Session" - 2nd Floor, Room E

Sunday, 11:45 am - "Weird Westerns, Grimdark, and Military Honor" (w/ M - Robert Whitmore, Daniel J. Volpe, Jonathan Gensler, Andrew Najberg)

BRAINEATER JONES Available Now for Only 99c!

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

Since you are my favorite people, I have an awesome deal for you all. My first (and so far, most popular) novel, BRAINEATER JONES, is out now for a limited time for the sweet price of 99c. That's not even a dollar. It's practically nothing. In fact, it's probably more expensive for you to NOT get it.

Don't think about that too hard, just trust me. Anyway, if you haven't had the pleasure to make the acquaintance of BRAINEATER JONES, here's a bit about the book:

No memory. No pulse. No clue.

The undead private eye everybody calls “Braineater Jones” has an axe to grind. Somebody plugged him and dumped his corpse in a swimming pool.

Worse yet, his memory’s gone. He has no idea who killed him or why.

But he’s damn sure going to find out.

With a smartass severed head as a partner, Jones hangs up his shingle in the city’s undead quarter. When he’s not solving cases (poorly) Jones is always looking to keep his flask full.

Prohibition is in full swing, and the dead need alcohol to function. Without liquor they become mindless, flesh-munching ghouls. (In a word: braineaters.)

Everything will probably be fine. The investigation into his own murder probably won’t point Jones toward the city’s most important bootlegger.

And even if it does, it’s not like he’ll risk cutting off the hooch just to seek justice for himself, right? No one man’s life is worth unleashing a cannibalistic orgy of violence. Right?

Cracking this case will be a tall order, but one thing’s for sure: whatever happens, Braineater Jones isn’t getting out of this one alive…

This offer is available in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia until the 24th Feb. Don't drag your dead (ha!) feet, gobble up your copy today!

GET YOUR BOOK FROM THIS AWESOME LINK

THE HEMATOPHAGES is Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

I've returned to the blood planet, skinwrapping, parasitic universe that many of you know and love from my previous works, THE HEMATOPHAGES and SKINWRAPPER.

Fasten your eyeballs securely in your sockets and get ready for my brand new short story collection, THE HEMATOPHAGES: SPLATTERINGS. It contains several short stories within this sci-fi horror universe that you probably haven't read, and one you definitely haven't come across. Plus, there's a whole load of extra, exclusive content in the story notes.

In a galaxy riven by paranoid greed, profane forces marshal to consume humanity…

You don't need to have read the novel or novella to understand these stories, everything in this universe stands on its own as self-contained stories. If you'd like to plummet into this gory pool of terrors, you can pick it up at AuthorCon VI at its exclusive release. Scares That Care is an awesome charity that we support every year, so I'm thrilled to unleash this carnage there. If you can't make the event though, don't scream about it (no one will hear you in space anyway), you can pre-order it HERE. It will be released to the wider world on March 16th.

But, I mean, you should read them all otherwise you won't know what to do when organ-stealing space pirates raid your ship, or you stumble upon a blood planet. In case you missed it on its original run, let me tell you a little about THE HEMATOPHAGES too, you know, while we're here. And I suppose I may as well also fill you in about SKINWRAPPER too (which is conveniently bundled into one book along with the novel proper).

2018 Splatterpunk Award nominee

Includes the bonus novella prequel, SKINWRAPPER.

Doctoral student Paige Ambroziak is a “station bunny” – she’s never set foot off the deep space outpost where she grew up. But when she’s offered a small fortune to join a clandestine salvage mission, she jumps at the chance to leave the cutthroat world of academia behind.

Paige is convinced she’s been enlisted to find the legendary Manifest Destiny, a long-lost colonization vessel from an era before the corporations ruled Earth and its colonies. Whatever she’s looking for, though, rests in the blood-like seas of a planet-sized organism called a fleshworld.

Dangers abound for Paige and her shipmates. Flying outside charted space means competing corporations can shoot them on sight rather than respect their salvage rights. The area is also crawling with pirates like the ghoulish skinwrappers, known for murdering anyone they can’t extort.

But the greatest threat to Paige’s mission is the nauseating alien parasites which infest the fleshworld. These lamprey-like monstrosities are used to swimming freely in an ocean of blood, and will happily spill a new one from the veins of the outsiders who have tainted their home. In just a few short, bone-chilling hours Paige learns that there are no limits to the depravity and violence of the grotesque nightmares known as…THE HEMATOPHAGES.

A single word strikes fear into the hearts of even the most experienced starship crews…Aboard the freighter Blue Whale, a young girl’s day begins like any other: texting her friends while her parents bicker about breakfast. Then, with a loud, sickening pop, their domestic tranquility is shattered. A single word goes out over the emergency warning system…The galaxy’s shipping lanes are plagued by a gang of vicious pirates. Suffering from all manner of terminal diseases, they require zero gravity to live. They also need a constant influx of fresh blood and organs, so their victims also become their unwilling donors. The band is so ruthless, so violent, that its very name has become a synonym for terror. A single word that chills the blood, even in the utter cold of space…The little girl finds herself alone, lost, and trapped aboard the vessel she called home, praying it won’t also become her tomb. She is about to learn there is nothing in the universe worse than being hunted by a SKINWRAPPER. This prequel novella shoves you screaming back into the world of “space horror masterpiece” (Daily Dead) THE HEMATOPHAGES.

Once again, if you'd like to be drenched in this bloody horror, here are the links:

THE HEMATOPHAGES: SPLATTERINGS

THE HEMATOPHAGES AND SKINWRAPPER

French Press Publishing's AI Policy

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Kozeniewski) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Our company's policy regarding generative Artificial Intelligence can be summarized as follows:

Fuck AI.

That about sums it up. I don't know why, forty years after the release of The Terminator, we, as a society, are still debating this, but here we are for some fucking reason.

If you think machines nuking the world and hunting down the survivors is hyperbolic, sci-fi nonsense, sure, maybe you're right for today. I mean, the world's militaries are all currently tripping over each other in a contest resembling nothing so much as the Cold War's arms race to incorporate AI into every facet of their functions, but, sure, maybe nothing bad will come of giving the nuclear codes to literal code.

But even if the Terminator outcome is a bit farfetched for your tastes, the present stated goal of AI companies is to eliminate every white collar job so that corporate profits can go up. So if the whole nuclear holocaust thing is, like, a ten year plan, laying off as many humans as possible is the short-term goal. Why in God's name would anyone support the Great Depression 2.0!

Yeah, that's a great future, one CEO getting paid while five hundred AI programs run the store and the employees all fuck off and join the breadline. I'm sure the same product that currently produces six-fingered memes and can't recreate words on a sign will accurately and completely conduct all of the accounting, sales, customer service, and marketing for your company, with absolutely no ghosts, glitches, or hiccups.

Oh, is that hyperbolic, too? Maybe none of this will come to pass? Sure, I'm also hoping that AI goes the way of the NFT and we never have to worry about any of these nightmarish scenarios. But even if it all went away tomorrow, that wouldn't change any of the damage AI has already done. Rivers dried up, rainforests hacked down, who knows how many towns and livelihoods destroyed to build and run data centers.

Not to mention all of the outright theft! These scions of the brave new world of the future seemed to think nothing of stealing every copyrighted work of art or fiction ever made. Not paying, not renting, not composing some kind of fair rate for the novel service of training large language models, no, the AI companies didn't do any of that, they decided to just steal every book ever written and every painting ever painted and pay the human creators nothing. "Fuck them, let them take us to court," seemed to be the prevailing sentiment.

And the human damage, my god! I won't even go down the lost revenue rabbithole, because it's pretty much impossible to quantify how many people might have otherwise paid an artist for something they generated instead. But all the research now is showing that students who use AI are unable to think. Parts of their brain shut down, even if they eventually stop using AI. A whole generation's critical thinking skills are being wiped out.

I'm also deeply concerned about what happens when a mentally ill person - or even just someone who's bored or sad - turns to the yes-man of AI seeking help. It will justify paranoia and delusions. "I can absolutely see why you think the lizard people are following you, and it's reasonable to be concerned about it." It will encourage immature or even dangerous life choices under the guise of being positive. "Sure, abandon your family and move to Hawaii. Here are some tips on being a better macadamia farmer."

AI's ethical applications are limited at best and open to flagrant and worrisome abuse at the best of times. And based on the damage - physical, emotional, environmental - that AI is currently doing and is capable of doing, I'm not sure that it is ethical to use it at all.

But perhaps most fundamental to our position as a publishing company, a person who is using AI to generate content is missing out on the purpose of art. We write, we paint, we sing, we sculpt because of the joy and pain and fulfillment and frustration that comes from the act. The durability of the product can range from that of a mandala to that of the Pyramid of Giza. But it is not the fact that a work of art exists that makes it worthwhile. It is the blood, sweat, and tears of the creator that makes it worthwhile. AI-generated slop is not art and, philosophically, AI use is diametrically opposed to what we do here.

Great damage has been done by AI and greater damage still may yet come, but neither I nor my company will be a part of it. French Press Publishing will categorically:

- not publish any author whose work is partially or wholly created by generative AI

- not hire any artist, editor, or other contractor who utilizes generative AI

I am not agnostic on the matter. I am not uneducated on the matter. I am actively anti-AI.

(This post was originally published here on the FPP blog.)

Gross-Out Contest Rules (Scares That Care Authorcon 2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Kozeniewski) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Hey, everybody!

My writing partner and collaborator Wile E. Young and I are delighted to remind you that we will be hosting the Gross-Out Contest this year at Scares That Care Authorcon 2026.

Please Note: You must pre-register if you wish to participate in the Gross-Out Contest. You can do so by emailing frenchpresspub (at) hotmail (dot) com after 12:01 am EST on Saturday, January 17.

Make sure you pre-register so we can keep the lineup fast, funny, and fair. Pre-registered intended contestants should show up at 9:50 pm EST on Saturday, February 28 so that we can confirm you are present and ready to present.

What about the other rules? Well, I'm glad you asked.

1. Contestants should prepare a five minute story. Every contestant will have three minutes to present, after which the audience will decide whether they can continue for another two minutes. After five minutes total, you will be stopped.

2. There will be no recording of any kind. This is an event for fans of extreme horror and splatterpunk and we want contestants to feel free to leave it all out there on the stage. If you don't want to be exposed to that, please don't attend.

3. Contestants will be judged on three criteria – grossness, crowd engagement, and performance.

4. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place, as well as a special "Judge’s Choice” award.

5. YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE! Tell your friends, spread the word, but get us an email after midnight this Friday into Saturday evening.

So, now that you know the judging criteria and the basic rules, who will be the judges? Well, we are pleased to announce the following panel of horror luminaries:

R.J. Benetti

Eric Butler

Viggy Parr Hampton
Amanda Headlee
R.J. Joseph

Can't wait to see you there, everybody!

FAQs (Updated as of 19 January 2026)

1. Is there a registration deadline?

No, there is no deadline. However, the longer you wait to register, the less likely you are to get a slot. Anyone who waits until the day of to register is very, very unlikely to go on stage. So make sure your friends know about pre-registration!

2. Are there guaranteed slots?

There are four, by which I mean, literally four people on the planet who are guaranteed slots. I don't care how funny or important you think you are, if you did not receive an e-mail from us last spring saying "you are guaranteed a slot in next year's contest as a consolation for being bumped for time" YOU ARE NOT GUARANTEED A SLOT!

3. Are there any topics or visuals that are off limits?

I would dearly like to say no, because the Gross-Out Contest is supposed to be a boundary-pushing exercise and I don't think it's appropriate for the hosts to decide what is or is not kosher. However! Contestants should use their best judgement and bear in mind two things:

- the audience will be large and diverse

- this is a charity event and we will not tolerate anything that negatively impacts Scares That Care

4. Are there any limitations to who can enter the contest?

No, any valid attendee of the convention can attend or enter the contest. I suppose people wandering in from off the street would not be welcome - supporting the charity always comes first.

5. When will people that pre-registered know if they got a spot?

People who have pre-registered will receive an email stating that their interest has been noted. If you haven't received a confirmation e-mail, you can follow up via one of Stephen or Wile E.'s other social media or contact methods to confirm.

However, pre-registration does not guarantee a slot. The audience will determine at the event how much time we have for entrants. The con and venue have given us the auditorium for ninety minutes, which means that if we did literally nothing but entries, at five minutes apiece no more than eighteen people could go on stage. If everyone were booed off at the three-minute mark, that would allow for thirty entries. More realistically, between introductions, time for judging, some people being booed off, and so forth, there will probably be space for about fifteen entrants, give or take. So if you wait too long to register and you're number sixteen on our list, well...

6. Are there rules regarding props?

This is a little more in the weeds than we'd like to get. I would review question #3 and bear in mind nothing that would damage the charity. It's probably a safe bet to do nothing that would in any way harm or inconvenience the audience. No one's going to be prepared for a Gallagher show.

2026 Appearances

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Kozeniewski) — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Hey all!

Here is my schedule of appearances for 2025. As changes occur, I will update this page, so be sure to check back often. Events in red have occurred in the past. Events in orange are tentative.

If you'd like me to make an appearance at a convention, signing, or other event you're organizing or attending, feel free to contact me and we'll discuss it. Most events in Baltimore or Philadelphia are a slam dunk for me to attend, but I'll consider travelling if invited.

Farpoint 33

Dates: Friday through Sunday January 30 - February 1

Location: Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel

903 Dulaney Valley Road

Towson, MD 21204

Panels:

Saturday, 11:00 am - Signing - Author Autograph Table 2

Saturday, 3:00 pm - Reading - Private Dining Room 1

Saturday, 4:00 pm - "When Good Books Die" - McIntosh (M)

Scares That Care Authorcon VI

Dates: Friday through Sunday February 27 - March 1

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton

50 Kingsmill Road

Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

Panels:

Friday, 6:30 pm - "French Press Publishing Pitch Session" - 2nd Floor, Room E

Friday, 10:00 pm - "Who's Line is it Anyway?" (w/ Clay MacLeod Chapman, Nat Cassidy, CJ Leede, Bitter Karella, Shane McKenzie, Wile E. Young, and Jeff Strand) - First Floor Auditorium

Saturday, 11:30 am - "French Press Publishing Pitch Session" - 2nd Floor, Room E

Saturday, 2:15 pm - Reading (w/ Jonathan Gensler) - 2nd Floor, Room 8

Saturday, 10:00 pm - "Gross-Out Contest) (w/ Wile E. Young) - First Floor Auditorium

Sunday, 11:00 am - "French Press Publishing Pitch Session" - 2nd Floor, Room E

Sunday, 11:45 am - "Weird Westerns, Grimdark, and Military Honor" (w/ M - Robert Whitmore, Daniel J. Volpe, Jonathan Gensler, Andrew Najberg)

Ephrata Public Library Author Book Fair

Date: Saturday, April 25

Location:

Ephrata Public Library
550 South Reading Road
Ephrata, PA 17522

Panels:

GenCon

Dates: Thursday through Sunday July 30 - August 2

Location: ICCLOS

100 S. Capitol Ave

Indianapolis, IN 46225

Panels:

British Fantasy Convention

Dates: Friday through Sunday October 9-11

Location: Glasgow Crowne Plaza

Congress Rd

Glasgow G3 8QT

United Kingdom

Panels:

New Year's Eve 2025-2026 Chat

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Kozeniewski) — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Hey kids! Farewell to the old year and hello to the new. Check out my initial thoughts on both here:

Absolute "Loon"acy...New Audiobook Release!

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Happy Holidays!

And look what we have here for you, just in time for all the festivities! Gavin Dillinger and I co-wrote LOONEY! earlier this year, and to say that our collaboration results in absolute chaos would be an understatement. Finding an audiobook narrator to match that energy wasn't easy, but we found one! Gabriel Ryland is a voice artistry wizard that got so into character that we're pretty sure he actually is one of them...

In case you missed the book when we released it, here's a little bit about it.

When beloved cartoon characters come crawling out of her TV, army recruiter Gabriella Harman expects a zany romp instead of the hellish nightmare that follows.

One night, haunted by her memories of Iraq, Gabriella downs a stomachful of pills and booze. When her favorite cartoon characters, the Kooky Toons, start crawling out of the TV, she assumes she is hallucinating.

But soon Gabriella finds herself locked in a battle of wits and wills with Herman Hyrax, the world-famous, wise-cracking mascot of the Kooky Korporation. Herman is more than just a stinker, though. He may be a monster, a demon, a god, or something entirely more unwholesome.

Is Gabriella’s descent into a world of cartoonish violence and psychological torment real? Or has she simply gone…

LOONEY!?

We really think you'll love this, so whether you've read the print version or are brand new to this particular branch of our combined madness, check out the audiobook. You'll gasp, you'll be amazed! You'll suddenly have the urge to stock a big mallet and some dynamite. And be sure to share with your friends and family. LOONEY! is a perfect seasonal gift for those who want to be entertained, horrified, and tickled all at the same time.

Check it out at:

AMAZON

Happy listening, and happy holidays!

Awards Season is Looming and I Need You!

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone!

Well, it's that time of year again.

No, not Spooky Season (we're past that and we have to begrudgingly accept it). No, not Thanksgiving...no, I'm not talking about the religious holidays either...stop asking me about all th-

I'm talking about Awards Season, you guys. Nominations and opening and awarding bodies are waiting for your suggestions, and it's a time of great excitement and opportunity for authors and readers alike.

I MIGHT have a few eligible works, and if you've read any of these and deem them worthy of a nomination, I can't tell you how much I'd appreciate your support. Here are the categories and what I've released that fits them...

'Best Novel' or 'Best Horror Novel'

LOONEY!

(by Gavin Dillinger and Stephen Kozeniewski, from French Press Publishing)

Best Short Story (or Best Short Horror Story)

"Blackfish"

(from STRANGE NEW MOONS, ed. Kayleigh Dobbs and Stephen Kozenewski, French Press Publishing)

Best Anthology

STRANGE NEW MOONS

(ed. Kayleigh Dobbs and Stephen Kozeniewski, French Press Publishing)

Your support of my work really means the world to me, and an extra thanks to those of you that also support my press, French Press Publishing. To find out which works the press has eligible for Awards Season, check out THAT BLOG HERE.

You're all awesome, thank you!

World FantasyCon or Bust!

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Hey everyone,

This weekend, I'll be in Brighton (in not-sunny England) for World FantasyCon. This will be my second time in the UK for a book/author convention, and I'm hoping to see my British and Irish friends again.

As well as hanging out with my new friends, I hope to meet some new ones, and also spend some time with French Press Publishing's newest authors, C.C. Adams and Kit Power. We're not trading in the dealer's room this time, but Kit and C.C. will be around and some little birdies tell me that they might have copies of their new books with them...

I'm not trading but I will be participating in a few scheduled events! See below for full details. Hope to see you all there!

Where:

Double Tree by Hilton Brighton

Kings Rd

Brighton and Hove

Brighton BN1 2FU

United Kingdom

When:

Friday through Sunday October 30 - November 2

Panels:

Thursday 8:00 pm - "French Press Publishing Pitch Session" (w/ Kayleigh Dobbs) - Osborne

Friday 7:00 pm - "Publishing Demystified" (w/David Thomas Moore - M, Donna Scott, and Amanda Rutter) - Buckingham

Saturday 9:00 pm - Reading (w/Gary Couzens, Ivor K. Hill) - Gloucester

French Press Publishing's First In-Person Pitch Session!

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Kozeniewski) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Hey, gang. I'm excited to announce that my house, French Press Publishing, is actively acquiring (completed!) novels, novellas, and collections. And you can sit down for a pitch session with me at the World Fantasy Convention this year.

“What is a pitch session?” you conveniently ask, dear straw man reader?

Well, I’m glad you asked! A pitch session is your opportunity to sit down with an editor or agent and sell them on one of your manuscripts. Now, for the 5 Ws of this particular event:

Who?

You, with your completed, ready-for-primetime manuscript, will have the opportunity to meet me, Stephen Kozeniewski, or Kayleigh Dobbs. What are we specifically looking to acquire? We will consider novels, novellas, and collections. Broadly speaking we like horror and sci-fi, but click on the “About Us” section of this blog for a little more info. You can also watch our past open call announcements during the Buzz Book Expo (2023, 2022) to get a better feel for what we like.

What?

You should be prepared to:

- introduce yourself like a human being, for Christ’s sake

- give the editor a one sentence elevator pitch (think the teaser on a movie poster)

- elaborate on your story (think the back jacket of your book once it’s on the shelf)

- answer questions if prompted

Bear in mind this all has to be accomplished in about five minutes, so polish your pitch until it shines like a diamond. You don’t have to be a robot, repeating a carefully memorized routine by rote. (In fact, that would kind of defeat the purpose of an in-person pitch session.) But if you punctuate every other word with “um” and trail off mid-sentence, we’re going to mark you down as “that flop sweat-soaked wretch” instead of “that author I desperately want to work with.”

Then, if we’re interested, we’ll ask to see more, so you’d better not be pitching us some glimmer in your eye. Make sure your manuscript is ready to go.

Where?

World Fantasy Convention

DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole

Kings Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 2FU, United Kingdom

Gloucester Room

When?

Thursday, October 30, 2025

8:00 pm

Why?

I don’t fucking know. You’re the one that wants to get published. You tell me.

But for real, we have so far published 16 books, including the Imadjinn award-winning You’re Mine by Somer Canon, and Kit Power’s British Fantasy Award Finalist novella, Millionaires Day.

How?

E-mail us at frenchpresspub (at) hotmail (dot) com to express your interest. We will assign slots on a first come, first serve basis. However, if you’re not one of the twelve or fifteen authors we’re able to guarantee slots to, you should still get your pitch ready anyway. If the convention doesn’t immediately kick us out of the room we may be open to seeing more people. Or we can set up a time to meet later, or you may be able to pitch us as you see us around the con. However, if any of you try to pitch me while I’m:

a) on the toilet (or “loo” as it’s called in the UK), or

b) while I’m having a private dinner

I swear to God you’ll be blackballed from my publishing company for life. And I don’t even have a blacklist yet. You’d be the first one on there. Go ahead. Peek over that bathroom stall. See how it works out for you.

As for the rest of you, we’re excited to hear about your work. See you in Brighton!

New Audiobook - STRANGE NEW MOONS

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

As you guys know, we released our werewolf anthology STRANGE NEW MOONS a few months ago, and now I'm excited to tell you that it's available as an audiobook!

You can hardly swing a dismembered deer carcass these days without hitting a “No vampires, no zombies, and no werewolves” sign on an anthology. Well, to that we say “Pshaw!” And also, “Awooo!”

Because what readers really don’t like are dull werewolf stories. So, we tasked the horror community with writing the weirdest, wildest, most creative, utterly bonkers tails (ha!) of lycanthropic lunacy possible.

And did they ever deliver! Wait until you read:

- a brutal, boneshattering peek at the kind of “dogfights” the super-wealthy watch to amuse themselves

- a story of two inquisitive city employees trying to find out who (or what!) keeps pooping on a local landmark

- a ride along with a delusional cop trying to prevent the total werewolf apocalypse. Werepocalypse!

Plus werewolf Frankenstein! And werewolves in space! This book is all gore and no bore.

With a line-up running the gamut from brand, spanking new cubs to heavyweight timber alphas, you’d have to be the weakest elk in the herd not to slobber all over…

STRANGE NEW MOONS

Featuring Original Stories From:
Somer Canon, Simon Clark, Matthew R. Davis, Kayleigh Dobbs, John Durgin, Amanda Headlee, Stephen Kozeniewski, Tim Lebbon, Keawe Melina Patrick, Rebecca Rowland, Mary SanGiovanni, EJ Sidle, Rose Strickman

Every story in this anthology is original and printed for the first time right there in those dark, bloody pages, and now you can close your eyes and absorb them thanks to the talent of our narrator, Kenneth Murdock.

If you'd like to check it out in any format, including the BRAND NEW AUDIOBOOK, it's available from Amazon.

Remember, it's "werewolves, not swearwolves"!

Gen Con or Bust!

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Hi everybody!

Next up for my event circuit in 2025, we've got Gen Con this weekend. I'm really looking forward to it for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's a long weekend, running from Thursday to Sunday (who doesn't love to get away for a few days?) Secondly, instead of trading, I've been asked to run some events and classes, and participate in a number of panels, which is huge honor.

On Thursday you'll find me participating in:

So, You Want to Make an Anthology...

A panel that discusses the ins and outs of creating an anthology.

The Panel That Gets Everybody Sued

A group of us divulging our worst professional experiences - everything from convention disasters, to contract difficulties, to publishing nightmares.

Meet the Pros

Hang out with a huge group of writers, get your books signed, and revel in convention debauchery with us.

On Friday you'll find me participating in:

Coffee Klatch with Tim Waggoner and Stephen Kozeniewski (hey, that's me!)

Bring a drink, settle in, and let's talk!

All Good Things Come to an End

A writing-focused event that focuses on closing out stories and character arcs.

Revision 101

Trouble with editing and revising your own work? No problem! Join us as we cover this process.

On Saturday, you'll find me participating in:

Writing Horror When the Real Word Is Horrible

Why do we flock to horror when the real going gets tough? We might have some answers for you!

Ask me Anything - Publishers

A panel of publishers are here to answer any questions you have. About publishing, that is. Don't ask about my sleeping habits or anything weird...

From Battles to Fisticuffs

We're here to help you with constructing physical conflicts in your stories.

How to Create When the World is On Fire

Keeping a hold of that elusive muse when the real world around us smells like it's burning.

When: Thursday July 31st through Sunday 3rd August.

Where: ICCLOS, 100 S. Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46225

It's going to be a great weekend, and although I won't have a trading table this time, you'll still be able to grab books off me and get your copies signed. I hope to see you there!

New Audiobook - WE ALL LIVE IN A FASCIST POLICE STATE NOW, THANKS TO THIS ONE FUCKING GUY

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Hi everybody!

You might remember that a short while ago, I released WE ALL LIVE IN A FASCIST POLICE STATE NOW, THANKS TO THIS ONE FUCKING GUY. It weirdly feels more relevant than ever, but I'm not psychic or anything. Oh, by the way, avoid that third house on the left on December 3rd.

Anyway, the book! First I wanted to terrorize you through your eyes, and now I'd love to disturb you through your ears. WALI is now available as an audiobook!

It happened here. Fascism came, wrapped in the flag and carrying a Bible.

Nobody much noticed.

Sure, a few traitors like to whine about their missing "rights," but it's up to the heroes of the Federal Bureau of Patriotism to silence them.

When someone starts spilling FBP secrets, Captain Leo Nergali is assigned to track him down. But wait, Leo himself *is* the mole? Record scratch!

Buy this fucking book to see how Leo censors the arts, disappears his enemies, and perhaps even finds jackbooted love.

(Originally published as a Kindle Vella original.)

This isn't as talked about some of my other books because it's not my "usual" style, but I hope you'll give it a shot!

If you'd like to get a copy (in either audiobook, print, or eBook format), it's available HERE.

See ya!

The Quintessential LOONEY! Post

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:16:00 +0000

Now available from:

Amazon

Godless

Around the Internet:

Goodreads

A review on Fabulous and Fun

An inclusion on Malevolent Dark's Top 25 List

An interview on Erica Robyn Reads with my co-author Gavin Dillinger

An interview on Erica Robyn Reads

A review on Happy Goat Horror

An interview with Gavin Dillinger on Happy Goat Horror

An interview on Happy Goat Horror

A review on Kinzie Things

A review on The Library Ladies

An interview with myself and Gavin Dillinger on The Next Best Book Blog

A mention on The Next Best Book Blog

An interview on Coffee Addicted Writer

A mention on Craig Brownlie's website

VIDEOS:

YES, I AM A VAMPIRE New Audiobook!

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Hey everyone,

I have a new audiobook out, and I'm extra excited about it because the narrator I have on board is spectacular. Adharsh McCabe has been a performer for his whole career (you might already know him from his decades of work with exotic animals), and lucky for me, he has turned some of his attention to audiobooks!

YES, I AM A VAMPIRE is my recently released collection of short stories AND autobiography, and now you get to ingest it through the Adharsh's dulcet tones.

The Collected Short Fiction and Autobiography of Stephen Kozeniewski, 2013-2016

Despite all the evidence to the contrary, I swear I am not a vampire. Cross my heart and…eh, nevermind.

Just trust me, there are no vampires within these pages. Plenty of zombies, though. One of the short stories in this book features a zombie caveman, for instance. And another is called Exploding Shit Zombies. You can probably guess what that one’s about.

Not every story is zombie-themed, of course. I’ve also got a monster under the bed piece that’s pretty fucking scary. And in another, a bunch of little alien goblins take over a farmstead.

This isn’t just a short story collection, either. Half of it’s my autobiography. I guarantee you’ve never seen those two styles mashed together before.

I also guarantee you’ve never seen any fucking vampires before. Not here. Not anywhere. So let’s just drop it.

What do you mean, bloodstains all over the book? Don’t worry about those. Just wipe the gore off your fingers and dive in to…

Yes, I Am A Vampire

YES, I AM A VAMPIRE is for sure one of my more unique books. Whether that's good or bad...well...you decide! You can get it in paperback, eBook, and now audiobook from the link below:

I'M DEFINITELY NOT A VAMPIRE BUT HERE'S THE LINK FOR MY BOOK CALLED

YES, I AM A VAMPIRE

Godless is now hosting THE GHOUL ARCHIPELAGO

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Wed, 14 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone!

A few years back, I gave you THE GHOUL ARCHIPELAGO. It's one of my favorites of my own work, and heavily features zombies (the best monster, obviously). And now, the good folk at GODLESS have given it an extra home!

After ravenous corpses topple society and consume most of the world's population, freighter captain Henk Martigan is shocked to receive a distress call. Eighty survivors beg him to whisk them away to the relative safety of the South Pacific. Martigan wants to help, but to rescue anyone he must first pass through the nightmare backwater of the Curien island chain.

If you missed it on it's original run, you can now get it from GODLESS for only $2.99 as an eBook. If you prefer a paperback or audiobook, however, don't fear! It's still available in all formats through AMAZON too.

I hope you'll join my terrifying, screeching, shambling, sea-bound adventure!

BILLY AND THE CLONEASAURUS Only 99c Through May

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Mon, 05 May 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Hi everyone!

For this month (and this month only), if you live in the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia, you can grab a copy of BILLY AND THE CLONEASAURUS for only 99c! What is this Cloneasaurus, I hear you ask?

If you're unsure, for the low LOW price of only 99c, I'd say it's worth the gamble. But why take my word for it? Here's what some of the reviewers are saying:

"The thoughtfulness of not only the concept of the story but its execution speaks to Stephen Kozeniewski's talent as a writer. I love a good, gritty dystopia. This was a sweet fix to a craving for traditional dystopia. I was blown away."

----- Dacia Arnold, Uncomfortably Dark

"Dark, haunting, and blisteringly satirical, BILLY AND THE CLONEASAURUS is the story of one "man's" attempt to finally become an individual in a world of copies."

------bookoftheday.org

"The unusual title and quirky premise caught my attention right away. As an avid science fiction reader, I was fairly certain I knew how this plot would unfold. I couldn't have been more wrong. One of the things I appreciate the most about this author's writing style is how skilled he is at keeping me on my toes. Mr. Kozeniewski always seems to have one more trick up his sleeve that doesn't reveal itself until the last possible moment."

-------Long and Short Reviews

If you're in the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia, BILLY AND THE CLONEASAURUS is available until the end of this month for the sweet, almost-nothing price of 99c from AMAZON.

Autopsy - Scares That Care AuthorCon V and Vortex Books and Comics

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen Kozeniewski) — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 16:00:00 +0000

Brand New Novel - LOONEY!

noreply@blogger.com (Kayleigh Edwards) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Hi everybody!

I'm ecstatic to announce that I've just released a new novel with my good friend, Gavin Dillinger. It's called LOONEY! and it's a little...out there. Horror? Yes. A little cartoonish comedy? Also yes. Child friendly? ABSOLUTELY NOT, NO WAY, KEEP IT OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN!

When beloved cartoon characters come crawling out of her TV, army recruiter Gabriella Harman expects a zany romp instead of the hellish nightmare that follows.

One night, haunted by her memories of Iraq, Gabriella downs a stomachful of pills and booze. When her favorite cartoon characters, the Kooky Toons, start crawling out of the TV, she assumes she is hallucinating.

But soon Gabriella finds herself locked in a battle of wits and wills with Herman Hyrax, the world-famous, wise-cracking mascot of the Kooky Korporation. Herman is more than just a stinker, though. He may be a monster, a demon, a god, or something entirely more unwholesome.

Is Gabriella’s descent into a world of cartoonish violence and psychological torment real? Or has she simply gone…

LOONEY!?

You might be thinking that a book co-written by myself and Gavin Dillinger might be a bit...weird. We have totally different styles, so you might assume that surely us combining forces would produce something odd and freaky.

.....Yeah. You'd be right. We teamed up to write a horror story and what we've released might just drive you a little looney too - you've been warned!

If you'd like to pick up your copy, it's available at AMAZON.