From cozy to horror, here is what I read last month. Reviews at Goodreads & Amazon... THE BUSH TEA MURDER by @armbernier.bsky.social THE WATCHERS by A.M. Shine MODEL HOME by Rivers Solomon ONE FRIGHT ONLY by @patricktumblety.bsky.social Happy reading, y'all!

⚜️ Goodreads giveaway ends in TODAY! JUNE 1! 🙏🏼 Support an indie author! Enter to win a copy of THINGS ARE AS THEY SHOULD BE AND OTHER WORDS TO DIE FOR - a Southern Gothic collection that explores greed, vengeance, and generational trauma in tales that center Louisiana and its rich history. Link👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

This will be happening a week from today at StokerCon. Plan your life accordingly and join me on Saturday, June 6 at 2PM in Pittsburgh because this line up will not disappoint.

My SECOND talk on Southern lit this year at the Piedmont Publishing Symposium hosted by Clemson University Press, Hub City Press, University of North Georgia Press, and University of South Carolina Press. If you're in Spartanburg, SC on May 20, stop by!

One more day to enter the giveaway for THINGS ARE AS THEY SHOULD BE AND OTHER WORDS TO DIE FOR from Laura's Books and Blogs before it ends May 4. You've been warned ⚠️! Link in the comments.

Put your hand up ✋️ if you want to win a freebie! In this economy, the answer should be YES! A copy of my book, THINGS ARE AS THEY SHOULD BE AND OTHER WORDS TO DIE FOR, is up for grabs at Laura's Books and Blogs! Enter the giveaway by March 5. Tik tok, y'all...⏰️ Link 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

Art Taylor graciously invited me to the blog, The First Two Pages. I discuss, well...the first two pages of my short story, Things Are As They Should Be. arttaylorwriter.com/2026/04/28/t...

Wow! To be mentioned in CrimeReads @crimereads.bsky.social with giants like Art Taylor and Anna Scotti, the BEST storytellers out there, is amazing. Many thanks to Ashley-Ruth Bernier @armbernier.bsky.social for including me in such accomplished company. Links in the comments. 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

🎉What an awesome experience to have a book release! I highly recommend it. The wheels stayed on the bus for the THINGS ARE AS THEY SHOULD BE AND OTHER WORDS TO DIE FOR intro to the world along w/ @armbernier.bsky.social THE BUSH TEA MURDER sharing the spotlight! 🙏🏼SUPPORT INDIE AUTHORS! Links below👇🏽

Happy Book Release Day to me! Like. Share. Buy a copy? Support an indie author! This journey began on January 14, 2025. A new phase begins TODAY, April 21, and finally...things are as they should be. Enjoy. ON SALE NOW! Links in the comments.

Join us on April 21 at Durham County Public Library for a deep discussion on Ashley-Ruth's shout out from Kirkus Reviews, my inclusion in THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE 2026, and our new books. Author Jon Carroll Thomas on Q&A, one of the best to do it. Registration link in the comments.

I'm a writer AND a reader and boy do I have a story for you! Review for the short story, "Dark Thread, Loose Strands", by award-winning author, Art Taylor, is live at Killer Shorts. #killershorts #shortstory

“Double Dutch Dare” was selected for the 2026 BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE! To be a part of BAMS with writers I admire who have come before me - Tom Andes, Meagan Lucas, Art Taylor, S.A. Cosby, and Ashley-Ruth Bernier - is insane. Truly the craziest thing NOT on my bingo card this year.

Let the countdown begin...links in the comments.

Thing just got real, y'all! My box of books are open and ready for the world on April 21!

Ready to unravel the dark? Join me and Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier @armbernier.bsky.social on April 21 at the Durham County Public Library. Registration link in the comments. And please spread the word! #bookreleaseparty #crookedlanebooks #uncomfortablydarkhorror

"The Red Hourglass" is a clever, layered, thematic piece of horror from writer/director B.C. Jones. Check out my review at @killershorts.bsky.social. Find the film @watchalter.bsky.social on YouTube.

Y'all, we are living in disordered times. Stay safe. On a lighter note...My little 1 page script is a Killer Shorts SEMIFINALS!! Granted, I don't believe it will make it to the Finals...I dream BIG not DELUSIONAL. Short story, Rent Party, in the semis but the script is my ❤️. #killeralum #dreambig

If an academic dive into the dark genres would make you more well rounded in 2026, CLASS IS IN SESSION! Registration for 🎓MASTERS OF DARK FICTION🎓 at Duke University's OLLI program is open! I'll be lecturing Monday, Feb. 23, Mar. 2, and Mar. 9.

Dashiell Hammett, The Maltese Falcon (the full book version) just came into the public domain. I finished it today. Great book! Great way to start my 2026 reading list. #booksky #crimenoir ##classicliterature web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicd...

My thoughts on writing rejections in 2025 and how it will shape my 2026. Enjoy and Happy New Year! pmraymond.substack.com/p/what-23-re...

FILM REVIEW INCOMING! Horror comedy "The Last Christmas" takes a naughty 8 year old with a smart mouth and pits her against Santa. What's the worst that could happen? Review of writer/director Ryan Port's sinisterly good “The Last Christmas” at www.killershorts.com. Link in the comments or BIO.

What a way to celebrate the holidays...When the publisher lets you know that your cover reveal generated the HIGHEST NUMBER of preorders so far for said publisher, you naturally have a glass of champs! Many thanks to all who support THINGS ARE AS THEY SHOULD BE AND OTHER WORDS TO DIE FOR!

It's NEVER TOO LATE to do the thing. 10 years ago, I was in my 40s, thinking about writing. 5 years ago, I started. Today, the cover reveal of my debut collection, THINGS ARE AS THEY SHOULD BE AND OTHER WORDS TO DIE FOR! Coming 4/21/2026 from Uncomfortably Dark Horror! ✨A dream come true! ✨

Southern gothic horror. 💀 Crime noir vibes. 🫆 Set in New Orleans. ⚜️ Trangressive themes filtered through race and gender. The cover reveal for THINGS ARE AS THEY SHOULD BE AND OTHER WORDS TO DIE FOR collection is coming...December 2! #horror #crimenoir #southerngothic

Gorgeous book box from Quill and Crow Publishing arrived! What's inside? THE FAULT MIRROR by Catherine Fearns! A novel set in 1900s Paris with sinister forces and whimsical disappearing castles? Sign me up! I just translated a short story to French so I'm excited to read anything set in Paris!

My Substack. Guest lecturing at Duke University today for author Sara E. Johnson's class inspired me to do something new like...teach my own course at Duke in Spring 2026 - Masters of Dark Fiction: Understanding Horror, Mystery, Crime & Thriller Stories! pmraymond.substack.com/p/how-guest-...

Making my second attempt in 4 years at petit fours. Wish me luck or send prayers. Whatever you think will work best.

C'est si bon! I translated my short story to French. Yes my tutor of 5 years reviewed my work but still MY HARD WORK! Find the English version in my upcoming release, THINGS ARE AS THEY SHOULD BE AND OTHER WORDS TO DIE FOR, coming April 21, 2026! More French translations on the way!

Every election including town council counts. A very productive lunch break.