It’s been a crazy couple of months. I’ve been having ongoing issues with hypersensitivity in one tooth due to bruxism, something that’s left me with a nagging ache in my jaw that’s hell-bent on waking me up around 3am every morning. The only bonus I’ve found while waiting for the painkillers to kick in is I’m able to engage with people in different time zones to help promote HUMAN TENDERLOIN, something I couldn’t normally do because I’d be fast asleep. You have to look for the positives, right? I also recently underwent a routine colonoscopy.
I promise not to go into the details, suffice it to say if you’re due one, or reticent to have one because you’ve read and heard horror stories about the pain, don’t be worried. I had the same reservations and the procedure was painless. And I’m thankful I had it too because they removed numerous polyps (diminutive) that may have (had I left them unchecked) turned nasty. So yes, prevention is always the best cure and easiest way to fight cancer. So health issues aside, why am I writing this?
Because it’s the season of all things dark and horrific (I know, I promised I wouldn’t talk about my colonoscopy so I won’t), I’m here to let you know that from now and until October 31st, HUMAN TENDERLOIN is free on Kindle. It’s a great opportunity to pick up this collection of horror stories that Stephen Graham Jones claims is “Wonderfully damaging” without shelling out a dime, or whatever the lowest currency value is in your country. So please take advantage. Why am I encouraging you to do this and potentially losing out on money? Easy. If I get a lot of people downloading it, the book rises higher in the Kindle rankings. If it goes that, it may even end up in the top ten of its associated genre. If that happens, it means more eyes on my work. So yes, this proves there’s never a true selfless act in the world kids.
Last week I had the opportunity to be the guest on DARK FUSION podcast where I got to talk with writers, Shane Keene, Beverley Lee, and Stephanie Ellis on such subjects as horror (obvs), cannibals, how Hitler destroyed John Fante’s career, what book I love but everyone hates, the process of writing, Midnight Mass, and various other things. Thanks to the team for being so generous in their review of Human Tenderloin and for not probing too deeply (I know! I said I wouldn’t talk about my colonoscopy!).
Reviews are coming through for the book too. Goodreads average rating on 26 reviews thus far is 4.5 out 5 stars, and I just had word from Mother Horror herself, Sadie Hartmann, that it’ll feature in a forthcoming edition of the U.K.’s number one horror magazine, SCREAM. I can’t be more thrilled.
So for now, can I encourage you to stop reading this blog and click on the below links, snag yourself a free copy of Human Tenderloin, and delve into my very dark heart. If after doing so you’ve not been committed to a mental hygiene facility (is that still the PC term?), please drop a review on Amazon, Goodreads, your own blogs, or just write it on the back of a toilet door and forward the photo. Until then, thank you for your continued support, and never fear the reaper nor the colonoscopy department.
Craig Wallwork 