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WE TURN GRUESOME AT NIGHT by Eric LaRocca (to be published 9/8/26 by Titan Books / 304 pages)

The second installment in LaRocca’s BURNT SPARROW trilogy takes place ten years after the events of book one, focusing on Rupert and Gladys who are still trapped in End House, until Rupert discovers a way for them to be freed … even if temporarily.

The author does a fine job showing Rupert and Gladys continuing to descend into madness, and introduces new characters who will surely play big parts in the third novel. There are a couple of truly disturbing scenes here, and an early piece of inner dialogue with Rupert that will surely turn some readers off. But those who brave through it are in for a solid pay off.

As with the first book, this has the feel of a gothic horror story yet with an extreme edge. LaRocca’s prose often conjures magical beauty in one sentence with mind-numbing depravity in the next. The stage is set for a finale that promises to take readers where they may have never been before.

(Thanks to Netgalley for the digital review copy)

CHEW TOYS second edition

 

Above is the wrap-around cover design for my novella CHEW TOYS. The novella was first published in 2018 in a 3-novella anthology titled THREE A.M. WAKE UP CALL, published by Books & Boos Press. This second edition features original artwork on the cover by UK artist Simon Pritchard with the wrap-around design by Dave K (DK Graphic Works, @a_fiend_no_more). This was one of the best times I ever had writing a story, as the tone is darkly comic yet overall serious despite the absurd subject matter. Release date is 7/28/26 through Squid Salad Press. Zoom in on the back cover to read the full synopsis. More news soon...