What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been
Okay, so I'm not the best at coming up with original titles for my newsletter!
It’s funny to think I started writing the first Dr. Laura Powell novel, The Hungry Earth, during the pandemic lockdown in 2020. That time feels simultaneously like just yesterday and a thousand years ago.
I guess it was more the latter than the former, because since then, the second Dr. Laura Powell novel was written and published, The Stone Serpent.
Now we’re on the verge of the third being released, The Mind Worms.
It’s interesting to me that I never would have imagined writing a thriller series that relies so heavily on real-life science. Until The Hungry Earth, I always thought supernatural horror was the lane I would stay in. It turns out, I contain multitudes!
I owe my agent, Richard Curtis, a big thanks for recommending the book Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake, which is what first launched me on this journey into strange-but-true science.
Of course, horror is never far from my heart, and there sure is a lot of it in these novels. In fact, I’d say The Mind Worms might be the most horrific of the series so far!
Another interesting note (or at least I think it’s interesting): This is the first time a series of mine has been allowed to reach three books. I won’t bore you with the sob story of how St. Martin’s canceled the Trent series after just two, especially when it was supposed to be a trilogy, but I will say it feels good to see a series get to continue.
However, there’s a lot riding on this book. While The Hungry Earth was a surprise bestseller on Amazon and B&N.com (for which I’m very grateful), The Stone Serpent wasn’t nearly as successful. If The Mind Worms doesn’t turn things around, it could very well be the last book in the series.
If you’re a fan of the series, I urge you not to let that happen. As soon as it’s up and running, I’ll let you know how you can pre-order the book.
With your help, we can keep Dr. Laura Powell alive!
Sneak Previews
Speaking of The Mind Worms, in the last newsletter I promised to share the cover art with you, my subscribers, before I share it anywhere else.
Good things come to those who wait! Here is your sneak peek at the cover of The Mind Worms:
I love it! It continues the skull-centric design of the first two books, and matches—or maybe even exceeds—their shivery gruesomeness.
My thanks as always to David Dodd of Crossroad Press, who is now three-for-three when it comes to designing striking covers for this series!
Of course, little details here and there could always change before publication, but this is the cover as it’s pretty much going to be, and you got to see it first!
In the Flesh
I’ll be at Boskone 61 this month! I’ve really grown to love Boskone. It’s a big, fun convention where I can see a lot of my New England writer friends whom I don’t get to see very often. The fact that their programming is branching out to cover more horror topics is another big plus in my book.
Speaking of programming, here’s where you can find me at Boskone:
Friday, February 9th:
REGENERATING DOCTOR WHO, 5:30 PM, Burroughs
With Randee Dawn (moderator), Nicholas Kaufmann, Cathy Green, Jim Mann, and LJ Cohen
EDITING FOR THE DAMNED: HORROR SHORT FICTION, 8:30 PM, Harbor II
With Nicholas Kaufmann (moderator), Chris Panatier, Trisha J. Wooldridge, Hildy Silverman, and Darrell Schweitzer
Saturday, February 10th:
MEDICAL SCIENCE IN SPECULATIVE FICTION, 8:30 PM, Marina III
With Serena Straus (moderator), Colin Alexander, LJ Cohen, Nicholas Kaufmann, and Kevin McLaughlin
THE STATE OF COSMIC HORROR, 10 PM, Marina II
With Scott Lynch (moderator), Curtis M. Lawson, Nicholas Kaufmann, and Catherine Grant
As you can see, they’re keeping me pretty busy, especially in the evenings, for some reason. I’m going to need a lot of coffee!
Anyway, if you’ll be at Boskone, come say hi!
Weird Science Fact for February
I don’t have a weird science fact for you this month. Instead, I have a special announcement!
I haven’t gone public with this anywhere else yet, but I’m announcing here, for the first time, a new podcast I’m doing called “Spooky Science Lab”!
“Spooky Science Lab” is an all-ages podcast dedicated to strange-but-true science, co-hosted by my good friend, critically acclaimed horror and science fiction author David Wellington!
The podcast is still in the works, but once it’s ready—we’re aiming to launch sometime in March—it will be available wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.
Two horror authors talking about strange-but-true science facts that amaze them, frighten them, or just plain freak them out? What’s not to love?
Keep your ears open for “Spooky Science Lab,” coming soon!
Until next time!
Like what you see? Buy me a cup of coffee!
Want to learn more about my books? Visit my website!