Lol, “weekly” update.

That’s a hell of an assertion when my last post was in October of last year. But hey, maybe I’m trying to convince myself to start posting weekly updates. Especially when there is news to share. And there’s definitely news to share.

New Book

Last month I released Electric Graveyard, a collaborative effort with fellow horror author Judith Sonnet. We’re both known primarily for our extreme horror and splatterpunk works, but this book offers something quite different. Here is the synopsis:

Ray Bradbury was a master of imagination—a visionary who wove multiple genres into tales that shaped generations of readers and writers. His stories danced on the edge of dream and nightmare, asking timeless questions about society, technology, fear, and the fragile beauty of being human.

In this tribute collection, Patrick C. Harrison III and Judith Sonnet each present four original stories. From the chilling grip of horror to the speculative reach of science fiction, from gritty crime to poignant human drama, these stories echo Bradbury’s spirit while bringing the authors’ own voices into bold focus.

Eight stories. Two authors. One shared reverence for a literary legend. This is a celebration of storytelling, a reminder of the power of wonder—and a journey into the many worlds Ray Bradbury inspired.

It’s a lot of fun, and something I’m very proud of. Very different than most of my other works. So check it out!

New Project(s)

Why do I do this to myself? I let writing projects pile on top of me like football players atop a fumbled ball. Ideas just keep hitting me and I keep starting them…before I’ve finished the others.

Here is a current list of in-progress works (and I’m probably forgetting some):

• “The Occurrence on Crantor 4” - short story - sci-fi/horror - 3/4 complete - due by the end of the month for an anthology

• Veiled Come the Wicked (with Chris Miller) - novel (based on a screenplay we wrote) - splatter western - 1/10 complete - we’ve committed to finishing it this month

• House of Limbs - novel/novella - horror - 2/3 complete

• Panty Mail (Pocket Nasty #4) - novella - splatterpunk - 1/2 complete

• “A Finger in the Sea” - short story - science fiction - 1/4 complete

• “The Salt Hours” - short story - sci-fi/horror - 1/8 complete

• “One Night in Aurora” - short story - science fiction - 1/5 complete

• “Vacant Houses” - short story - horror - 1/2 complete

• Body Parts (Pocket Nasty #5) - novelette/novella - extreme horror - 3/4 complete - yes, I’m aware the fifth pocket nasty is closer to being complete than the 4th

• Bliss House - novel - thriller - one page and a bunch of notes written in a fury

• Hospital of the Living Dead (A Nora Avery Grindhouse Pulp #3) - novel/novella - horror - a few pages written, but it’s already all mapped out in my head

• The Snake Creek Inquisition - novel - horror - 1/5 complete at about 30k words - at this point, this novel has become my GRRM book (iykyk)

So, yeah, I have no shortage of stuff to work on. And I have an ideas document that has ballooned to over 10k words. I think it’s safe to say many of my ideas I’ll never get around to writing.

But stay tuned this year for “The Occurrence on Crantor 4” (in a D.W. Hitz anthology), Veiled Come the Wicked, House of Limbs, Panty Mail, and perhaps a collection of short stories.

Cons

I haven’t signed up for as many conventions this year, mainly because I did so many last year that I got pretty burnt out. Plus, it’s just so difficult to make money at cons if you’re travelling great distances. This year, I’m staying a little closer to home.

In May I vended at Texas Frightmare Weekend with Eric Butler. We sold a shit load of books. I sold out of 100% Match, The Dark Side of Hell, Cerberus Rising, and a couple of anthologies. It’s always a really good con, with tons of celebrities. Any fan of horror should make it a destination.

Here’s a list of my upcoming events:

• Texas Author and Reader Con - 7/19 thru 7/20 - Irving, Texas

• Texas Haunters Convention - 7/26 thru 7/27 - Irving, Texas

• Author Fest - 8/16 - Greenville, Texas

That’s it, for now. I am looking into an October event in Arkansas. And there is an event in Paris, Texas I might end up doing. But that might be it for the year. I’ll keep y’all informed if that changes.

Running!

Almost two years ago, a few months after we lost our son to fentanyl poisoning, I decided to start exercising. I don’t recall an exact reason for doing it, but I imagine it had something to do with not wanting to put my family through another untimely death because of my own unhealthy lifestyle. Also, I was lethargic and just feeling like crap all the time.

For awhile, I exercised every weekday morning. I, very slightly, improved my diet. And I started feeling better. More energy. And—for you creatives out there—more ideas. The body is very much connected to the mind. The healthier I get, the better I think. The better I think, the more ideas I produce and the better prose I write. Exercise works, even just a little bit.

But several months ago I noticed my routine had become repetitive in a way that was no longer beneficial. I had plateaued physically, and my creativity was beginning to stagnate. So, I began thinking about how I could push myself. I’ve noticed that when I’m pushing myself physically, then the mental battlefields I need to navigate for writing are somehow easier to withstand.

Late last year, a hometown friend told me about a local 5k coming up in April of 2025, and I told myself I was going to run it. I would run it without stopping, by God. Even though I hadn’t run in probably twenty years and my knees hurt with pretty much any leg action, I was going to do it.

The first time I went to the track, I ran 1/4 mile and was surprised I got that far. The next day I was sore as hell and my knees hated me. But I kept at it. And I ended up running that 5k in April without stopping for a breather. I ran another one in May. I’m scheduled for another 5k on June 14th and after that one on July 4th.

I’m running almost every day now, and I’ve signed up for a 10k in September.

Why am I talking about this in my newsletter that’s supposed to be horror/writing focused?

I don’t know. I guess because I think it’s all connected. Exercise, running, and hiking with my wife have become important activities. As I’ve already indicated, I do better at horror and writing when I’m doing good physically too.

I want to combine horror, writing, reading, running, and hiking somehow. Maybe do some horror-themed runs (the 10k coming up is called Area 51). Maybe go on some haunted hikes. Maybe visit with different people at runs and hikes about their paranormal experiences and write about that. Maybe just encourage other writers and readers to get physical too. Because we all know it’s good for us. Hell, the greatest horror of all is death, right? We’re all slowly dying. Trying to preserve our existence isn’t such a bad idea.

Anyway, I think I’ll add some running and hiking to my weekly update. Feel free to tell me how you’re staying active. Does it help you creatively? And, of course, let me know what horror books and movies you’re consuming!

Until next time, keep reading!

And running?