E. L. Chen SLASHER SUMMER out now

@elainechen

Horror writer, UI/UX designer, child-rearer, USA Today bestseller. Rep: Dorian Maffei at KC&A. She/her elainechen.com 🇨🇦 SWEETSIDE MOTEL (IFP) 🔪 SLASHER SUMMER (Michael Joseph/Crown summer 2026) 🪓 ONE OF US IS ALREADY DEAD (Run For It Feb 2027) 🪰

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E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· 20d

🚨 @waterstones.bsky.social shoppers! From July 21-24 you can get 25% off upcoming books, including SLASHER SUMMER! See www.waterstones.com/campaign/jul... for details. #WPreorder

A graphic advertising the Waterstones promotion, featuring the UK cover of SLASHER SUMMER. It says “Waterstones, 25% off books coming soon. Pre-order now with code SUMMER26. 21-24 July, online only.”

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Jul 12

Thank you so much for having me on the podcast! As mentioned on the episode, here is the moment young Elaine learned an important and devastating life lesson that set her on her path to villainy. (If anyone knows how they make character costume tails, please let me know!)

Myself at age 4, a little Asian girl wearing a red jacket, reaching out to touch the striped, protruding tail of a someone in a Tigger costume. My hand is only inches away from the tail. The photo is from the early 1980s, so it has rounded corners and a dull, fuzzy quality.

Myself ducking as the person in the Tigger costume reaches for my head with their orange-mittened hands. Another child looks on in interest.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Jul 1

Holy @#$%! My US editor just let me know that SLASHER SUMMER is on the USA Today bestseller list and now I must retire to my fainting couch in utter disbelief. THANK YOU!! so much to those who bought a copy and/or spread the word 🥹

SLASHER SUMMER on the USA Today bestseller list at #118. The listing has a thumbnail of the book and a brief summary.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Jun 23

Happy book birthday to SLASHER SUMMER! Go forth into the world (or rather the US and Canada), you’re on your own now. I hope people enjoy reading you as much as I enjoyed writing you. (Thanks to everyone who reviewed ARCs, posted about it, and/or pre-ordered! I appreciate you 🥹 )

Myself, a middle-aged East Asian woman with dark-framed glasses and wearing a black T-shirt, holding a copy of the North American trade paperback of SLASHER SUMMER near my face. I am smiling a little smugly if only because I am not good at smiling on cue.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Jun 20

Advertise your Bluesky account with a Simpsons image. (Credit goes to a friend for reminding me of this scene recently 😂 )

Lisa Simpson in a purple towel with her arms raised, declaring, “I am the lizard queen!”

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Jun 16

🚨 ONE WEEK to SLASHER SUMMER'S US/Canada release! Lord, grant me the confidence of a masked man holding a bloody axe as I do self-promo.

The cover of SLASHER SUMMER against a dark blue landscape background of a lake at night with a full moon. A heading reads, "One week. June 23, Crown."

A quote from the book, set against the same landscape: "The person coming up the steps was very calm, very sure, possessing a confidence that none of Patrick's friends would have under these circumstances. It was the confidence of a masked man holding a bloody axe."

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Jun 12

⚡️COVER REVEAL⚡️ Presenting the fabulous cover of my Blair Witch Project-inspired novel, ONE OF US IS ALREADY DEAD, out next Feb from Orbit Run For It. Look at the stellar work by Lisa Marie Pompilio. Can't wait for you to read this one!

The cover of my next book, ONE OF US IS ALREADY DEAD. The glitchy screen of a camcorder viewfinder shows an abandoned mansion at night. The title of the book stands out from the dark blue background in bright red letters.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Jun 12

Who wants to see the cover of my next book? 👀

The “This is fine” meme of the dog sitting in a burning room, but instead they’re saying “So I have a book coming out.” The caption has been clumsily amended MS Paint-style to read “So I have 2 books coming out.”

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Jun 6

Yourself, but as a cartoon. (this is my very accurate answer to almost every meme)

Daria from the eponymous animated show, a teenaged girl with long dark hair cut with bangs, glasses, wearing a green jacket over a brown shirt. Her arms are crossed and her expression is perpetually unamused.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Jun 4

Come perceive me on Sun July 12 at @littleghostsbooks.bsky.social from 1-3pm, where I'll be signing SLASHER SUMMER! I'm not doing a reading or anything, feel free to drop by any time.

A graphic promoting my author signing at Little Ghosts Books, with a photo of SLASHER SUMMER's cover and one of myself, a middle-aged East Asian woman with long black hair and dark-rimmed glasses. The event will take place at 930 Dundas St W in Toronto, on July 12 at 1-3pm.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· May 27

Evergreen comic from @safelyendangered.bsky.social 😖

A comic in 4 panels. Panel 1: Figure A, a generic yellow cartoon guy, looks up at trees and says, “Sun shining, grass growing, birds singing…”
Panel 2: “Don’t you just love the outdoors?” they say to Figure B, whose face is turned away.
Panel 3: “Yes…” Figure B says.
Panel 4: Figure B has turned around, revealing their red face and watering eyes. “But the outdoors does not love me,” they say.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· May 24

If you shop at Target, however, you're in for a treat - the Target edition comes in a slipcase and so it's designed to look like a VHS tape! There's a gloss on the clear plastic part of the "tape" and the blood spatter is matte ink (or real blood?) The whole effect is SPECTACULAR. I lucked out.

The Target edition, showing the back of the slipcase with coloured stripes evoking a VHS tape sleeve. The book cover is designed to look like a videotape, with the title and my name on a wrinkled label. The plastic casing is cracked and there is a blood spatter.

The Target edition held on an angle, showing that the book is inside a slipcase. The spine of the book looks like a VHS tape label with the title and my name in a font that looks like handwritten magic marker.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· May 24

As promised, the magnificent Crown editions of SLASHER SUMMER. They all have the stencilled edges, and the Walmart edition comes with a cute bookmark!

A stack of three copies of SLASHER SUMMER. My fingers are visible as they hold the cover down on the top copy.

One of the copies being held at an angle, displaying the red sprayed edges stencilled with illustrations of murder weapons.

The back of the Walmart copy, that has a bookmark attached to an inside page. The bookmark is black with a design of dripping blood at the top, and it reads, "Rewind or die! Slasher Summer."

The back of the Walmart bookmark. It says "Cause of death (check one): Stalker, Zombie, Nightmare Janitor, Evil Tree." Each option has a checkbox and an illustration.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· May 23

🚨 We interrupt your doomscrolling to announce that my fun slasher romp SLASHER SUMMER drops in the US/Canada in ONE MONTH (UK launch will be in Aug.) www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/822948... If Breakfast Club x Scream is your bag, please pre-order from your favourite retailer!

A 3D rendering of the US version of SLASHER SUMMER against a blue-tinted photo of a lake and a full moon. The book is a trade paperback with red stencilled edges with black and white murder weapons running up and down the sides. The cover is a movie poster-style collage of the characters, clustered around a cabin and a masked, hooded man wielding an axe. Text at the bottom of the graphic reads, "Life is better at the lake. June 23, Crown"

A quote from SLASHER SUMMER: "Jen couldn't wrap her head around it. Why were all these weird things happening? Who'd want to target them? They were just a bunch of dumb college kids at an old remote cabin-- Nope, she wasn't going to go there."

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· May 19

A great time was had at @tricon-hfx.bsky.social! Don’t miss it next year, put next Victoria Day weekend in your calendar and remember to pack comfortable shoes (I did not expect Halifax to be so hilly 🥵 )

A waterfront boardwalk on a sunny day, with three Adirondack chairs by the edge of the sparkling water

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· May 4

I see it’s that time of year again

Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, looking very dashing and smouldering. The caption reads, “MAY THE FIRTH BE WITH YOU”

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· May 3

Does anyone else on the spectrum find themselves identifying with their Pokopia Ditto character? ie masquerades as a human most of the time, learns by imitating others, natural state is a squishy genderless blob

A still from Pokopia featuring my Ditto character, a pale, dark-haired Ditto-human wearing a dark hoodie. A grassy landscape and Squirtle are in the background.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· May 2

Here's where you can perceive me in a couple weeks at @tricon-hfx.bsky.social 🔱 Looking forward to the jaunt east!

My schedule for TriCon:

SAT MAY 16 12:30 PM
How to Stop Worrying and Start Querying
w/Kurestin Armada (mod), Faith Gladwin, Megan Davies-Ostrom
NSCAD Marginal Road Campus

SAT MAY 16 6:30 PM
Trident Reading Series
w/Jennifer Giesbrecht, Shannon Fay, Toril Orlesky, Aidan Redwing, Aysha U. Farah
Trident Booksellers and Café

SUN MAY 17 9:30 am
BIPOC Identity in Canadian Speculative Fiction
w/Terese Mason Pierre (mod.) Nailah Moon, Tiff Morris
Maritime Room, Westin Nova Scotian

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Apr 29

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Mar 24

Attn B&N shoppers! Now through Thursday 3/26, when you preorder SLASHER SUMMER, Barnes & Noble Rewards and Premium Members get 25% off. Premium Members get an additional 10% off physical books. Coupon code PREORDER25. Some exclusions apply www.barnesandnoble.com/w/slasher-su...

A graphic advertising the B&N preorder sale. March 24-26 only, 25% off for Rewards and Premium Members only with code PREORDER25.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Mar 4

The horrors persist but so does book promo. If you're in Toronto, drop by @littleghostsbooks.bsky.social on Sun Mar 29, 1-3pm, where I will be signing my gothic novella SWEETSIDE MOTEL. I also may have stickers.

A graphic advertising my author signing at Little Ghosts Books. It says, "Join us to celebrate the launch of E.L. Chen's latest release, Sweetside Motel." Sunday March 29, 1-3pm, Location: 930 Dundas St W, Toronto, Ontario.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Mar 2

My pandemic gothic novella SWEETSIDE MOTEL is now out in the world from @interstellarflight.bsky.social! Perfect for serving to the stranded traveller who has been forced to quarantine in your home.

My novella SWEETSIDE MOTEL sits on a circular wooden tray with a cup of coffee, a tealight in a black lantern, and a black plate with a blueberry muffin and a sharp paring knife on it.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Feb 23

Psst...my wintery Hitchockian gothic novella SWEETSIDE MOTEL drops in ONE WEEK from @interstellarflight.bsky.social. Don't forget to lock your door. 🔪 www.interstellarflightpress.com/sweetsidemot...

The cover of my novella Sweetside Motel, showing a motel key overtop a snowy landscape.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Feb 17

Also the time of year I can post my favourite meme. This inexplicably makes me laugh every time.

The "women yelling at cat" meme illustrated in a traditional Chinese style, with the women as Chinese opera singers and the cat smugling sitting in front of steamed buns and other treats. Above the women's heads a caption reads, "Gong xi fa cai" and above the cat's head the caption reads, "Gong hei fat choi"

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Feb 9

Hurrah, the cover for my slasher romp SLASHER SUMMER has finally been officially revealed on Insta! Look at that amazing art by @turksworks.bsky.social, it makes me want to read the book and I already know what happens. 😅 Coming in June from Crown (US/Can) and Michael Joseph (UK).

The cover of SLASHER SUMMER: the characters of the novel clustered together like a movie poster, and in the center a masked figure wearing a hoodie and red buffalo plaid jacket raises an axe. The cover itself is designed to look like a VHS tape.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Feb 9

Just warning you all of incoming self-promotion.

The "This is fine" cartoon dog sitting in a burning room, modified so that it says "So I have a book coming out" in his speech bubble. I'm afraid I don't know who to credit the modification to.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Feb 1

The world is terrible but Katie Leung is magnificent as a stone cold bitch in BRIDGERTON S4, so there's that

Katie Leung, who you might recognize as having played Cho in the series that shall not be named, an Asian woman in her late 30s with her hair up, wearing a black period costume with a high collar and severely peaked shoulders, an imperious and pinched look on her face.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Jan 11

I'd thought my gothic novella SWEETSIDE MOTEL was coming out from @interstellarflight.bsky.social in 3 months but since the pub date is early March, it's actually 2. 😱 Don't forget to lock your door.

A collage showing an old wood-panelled motel room, a motel sigh, a narrow snowy road flanked by tall trees, a small knife, a shearling coat, a white farmhouse, antlers lying on a weathered wooden board.

A quote from SWEETSIDE MOTEL, coming March 2026 from Interstellar Flight Press.
Caleb pauses, as if weighing his thoughts. “Be careful around Elijah,” he says, quietly. “He hasn’t been the same since Dad died.”
“He—” Sarah stops, catching herself. He said the same thing about you.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Dec 28

Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or Alice in Chains. Absolutely no contest

PJ Harvey's 1995 album TO BRING YOU MY LOVE. The cover shows Harvey, a white woman with black hair, floating on her back in water wearing bright red lipstick and a sleeveless red V-neck satin dress.

E. L. Chen *SLASHER SUMMER out now*@elainechen· Dec 7

One of your New Year's resolutions is to read more books, right? RIGHT?? Why not get an early start by discovering some local horror authors? @hwaontario.bsky.social is hosting a New Year's Levee on Jan 6 2026 at the Caledonian, 6:30pm. Put it in your calendar now! 💀🎊