Announcing: The Calamities & Chaos Reigns

OH, HELLO THERE.

Who has four thumbs and another two books on the way? This guy. *points at self using two thumbs* Also hey do you know anybody looking to buy some thumbs? I seem to have two extra here in a little Ziploc baggy.

*shakes the baggy*

*the thumbs wetly bump together*

Anyway!

Announcing:

THE CALAMITIES & CHAOS REIGNS

Coming to Del Rey! By me!

From the announcement: “A horror-fantasy duology pitched as Leigh Bardugo meets Clive Barker, in which the rich and powerful who run our world are actually rival demon families who feed on souls, each of which has sent a hungry expendable to investigate the strange power of a mysterious church that has risen in the American Midwest, to Tricia Narwani at Del Rey, by Stacia Decker at Dunow, Carlson & Lerner (world English). Rights: decronin@prh.com Film/TV: Josie Freedman at CAA Fiction: Horror”

I’ll talk a little more about these in the future, but for now, to answer some quick questions —

a) I’m writing the first book now! I’m having a fucking blast with it. Rough size expectancy is around 150,000 words. But hey that could change.

b) I don’t have a release date, I’m hoping sometime 2026, right now I’m obviously eyes on Staircase in the Woods, which is, oh shit, soon

c) I thiiiiink the second book will come out more quickly on the heels of the first book, like, within that first year after.

d) I am needless to say excited to work with Tricia again, a person who is 100% the greatest editor I know, and should win all the editing awards every year, again and again, in perpetuity until time itself ceases to exist. Obviously excited to work with the whole Del Rey team, too! But my books simply would not exist as my books without her steady editorial hand. Thanks too to my agent for helping make this deal a reality in the first place.

e) while the pitch mentions Bardugo and Barker, please also add into the book’s DNA, Library at Mount Char, by Scott Hawkins, and maybe even a little bit of that TV show, Evil.

Anyway! I’m excited. To drizzle a little more information atop these cupcakes — for those who have noticed that in my last several books I’ve had hints of demons and demonic presences (looking at you, Eddie Naberius), please be assured this is a continuation, even a culmination, of that vibe. (And who knows, maybe Naberius will even show up…) Initially, the first book was called The Fiends, but then amazing author Alma Katsu was like, “Here’s my new book, Fiend!” and I was like, well, she got there first, that’s just Book Law, so an entirely new title hit me and I totally love it.

Anyway, no way to preorder these or anything yet — when that’s a thing, I’ll letcha know. In the meantime, ahem ahem ahem, Staircase awaits.