We all know my horror fiction writing ain’t for everyone (some might say, “anyone,” hahaha). But over the years I’ve found a quality crew of readers, who, for whatever reasons, have trusted me to guide them through my very worst nightmares. For those of you who’ve read, enjoyed, rated/reviewed, or otherwise spread the word about my warped works, I’m truly and forever grateful.

As the season of sacrificial festivals approaches, and you’re searching out a gift for a loved (or hated) one, I hope you’ll consider my new eco folk horror novel CHARWOOD, my cosmic horror novella MALINAE, or any of the four anthologies and collections I’ve edited (or had a hand in editing) for Denver Horror Collective. And for you absolute cheapskates, I’ve even got a new short story, “Creepy Old Dude,” available for free as an e-book, which you can email to an unsuspecting victim via this link!

However, after nearly a decade of heavy engagement in the larger indie horror world, promoting the genre and many of its authors, I plan to take a huge step back. My reasons are both positive (I want to refocus on my environmental advocacy work) and negative (alarming—and, in my opinion, often unconscionable—trends from horror fiction organizations, publishers/editors, reviewers, and authors, which I will not be a part of.)

I will absolutely remain on the steering committee for Denver Horror Collective, and I’ll still put out this newsletter along with my odditorials, though probably every other month instead of monthly. Alas, after almost 60 episodes promoting indie authors via Josh’s Worst Nightmare oddcast, I’m going to euthanize that project (though I’ve got a few recorded episodes I’ll release).

Now, don’t for a second think I’m giving up on being a dark scribe. Not by a longshot, as I’m still starting every morning with a half-hour of fiction writing. In fact, I’ve been so prolific as of late that I’ve got a backlog of about a dozen short stories I haven’t bothered to find a home for yet. What’s more, I’ll release my first collection of published and unpublished tales this summer, with another stand-alone eco-horror collection for 2025!  

While I won’t be anywhere near as active in the “horror community” as I used to be, I’m not giving up my haunted little patch of forest anytime soon. Which I hope you’ll keep visiting from time to time. 

Sparkly Darkly,

Josh Schlossberg