Hey everybody, M. here,

It was a big week for news over here last week, with DMR Books announcing the official release date for Kingdoms Trembling (scheduled to be published on June 8) and the accompanying big reveal of the incredible cover illustrated by Matthew M. Skillern. With all of that going on, I had some news that I was able to get up on here and there on social media, but am a little late in posting here on the blog, namely that I received my contributor copy of Walpurgis Witcheries in the mail towards the end of last week.

The seasonal scorcher of a cover by Adam Burke on this one (done in the same style as his work found on the cover of Walpurgis Witcheries’ companion volume, 2022’s Samhain Sorceries) is a beauty to behold and the stories found therein are already getting a lot of kind words, so pick one up and get into it!

It’s available on Amazon in paperback and for Kindle, and DMR Books mentioned last week that it is now in-stock and available via the DMR Books website.

The anthology contains my short story The Wandering One and the Witchdance, and eight other new sword & sorcery tales set around the Walpurgisnacht festival in the Harz mountain range of medieval Germany, from some of the most vibrant imaginations writing sword & sorcery and dark fantasy today.

My story contains the first appearance of the character Vodoberex, the story’s titular Wandering One (you can get a taste of what you’re getting into with the teaser from the first page that I’ve posted here).

I had considered it a little bit back when I was writing the story, but the more I think about it the more I would like to bring Vodoberex back for more action and adventure. Where, when, and how? Only time will tell. But if you dig The Wandering One and the Witchdance and would like to see its cryptic hero appear on the page once again, give the anthology a review and mention it, let me know (here, on Facebook, or on Substack), and/or spread the word about the book and the story to anyone who might enjoy the story!

Horror and science fiction on the way
With so much happening on the sword & sorcery side of things lately, I don’t want to neglect to mention that I’ve got quite a bit on the way in terms of my horror and science fiction stories as well!

In the next couple of weeks you should be hearing more about the upcoming issue of Chthonic Matter Quarterly, in which you will find my tale of urban living and all those things that infest one’s apartment and one’s heart, What’s Behind The Walls, a thematic followup to my story Sticky which appeared in the Winter 2024 issue.

In August you can look forward to my story Sherman Dismantled and Afloat which is slated to appear in the Nyctalocos: A Collection of Night Terrors anthology, and in September get ready to jump into the squared circle and go toe-to-toe with my science fiction comedy Kayfabe in the Strange Tales of Space and Time anthology from Burial Books.

I think that should get me up to date for the moment, at least here on this author blog. Should have lots more on the way in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
-M.