Thank You, Friends!
Also? What the Heck Am I Reading?
I’d like to thank each of you individually if I could, and I totally will if I see you out and about, but this blanket thanks will have to do for now.
Rose of Jericho debuted on the USA Today bestseller list, and has spent a couple of weeks there so far. It also got a fantastic review in the New York Times.1 That’s largely thanks to you! Every book lives and dies by word of mouth, and you seem to be talking about this one. I’m beyond grateful. Like me, many of you must feel anxious and angry and scared, but books are a constant, and I’m so glad you’re reading mine. I make them for you, after all. A book needs readers.
Meanwhile, Red Rabbit has gone back for more printings. You all might love Sadie and Rabbit almost as much as I do!
Oh, boy, oh, boy.2 I just got back from my book tour for Rose of Jericho. It was wonderful to meet so many of you, and sign so many books. Thanks for coming out to see me, and for asking such great questions! You know I love a good Q&A. If you weren’t able to make it to one of my events, I signed lots of stock at each of the fabulous bookstores I visited, but don’t panic if they’ve run out. Signed copies of all my books are always available from Round Table Bookstore.
But enough about me. Other writers have books coming out soon, and I want to talk about some of those!
I got to read Chuck Wendig’s The Staircase In the Woods while I was on the road, and it was as thoroughly enjoyable as you’d expect it to be. This comes out next month, and I’m sure you’ve already preordered it, but if you got busy and forgot this is a friendly nudge.
I’m reading A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons right now, and I’m only about halfway through, but it’s terrific. Creepy and gruesome and horrific. It’s also a weird mashup of crime fiction, cosmic horror, and body horror. I love a good mashup, and this one’s a very good mashup indeed. The wonderful staff at Murder By the Book in Houston recommended this to me, and I’m so glad they did! I’m reading the hardcover, but if paperbacks are more your thing, the softcover will be released in August. (And I just noticed it’s got a quote from Chuck on the cover. He’s all over my newsletter today!)
Lastly, The Burial Tide will be released in September, and it might be my favorite book of the year. I loved this one! I hope you’ve already read Neil Sharpson’s Knock Knock, Open Wide. (If you didn’t, do that right after you preorder The Burial Tide.) This is every bit as good as that was. If you like a compelling, twisty mystery, with strong female characters, and icky monsters, this one is for you.
I’m gonna try to get some sleep, but I’ll be back soon to remind you about the upcoming Proof Compendium, other news, and hopefully some more book recommendations. Thanks again!
Your Friend, Alex
“Sadie Grace and Rabbit are intriguing enough to make this an engaging narrative, but Grecian also deftly juggles other fascinating characters… Together, this cast elevates the novel into must-read territory. Fast-paced, surprisingly funny and unexpectedly grisly, this is Grecian at the very top of his game.” —Gabino Iglesias for the New York Times
Your Death of a Salesman reference for today.