Berserker Mode
Art by dolorsilentium
Mercury retrograde is already causing havoc…the train tracks by my house were damaged, the monitors showing the train times are blank, and I had to shift gears to get to my destination. Always be prepared to pivot though…
I just found out Neptune Retrograde ended and the planet went direct earlier this week. The last five to six months were all about facing reality and tearing away those illusions, facades, dreams, and fantasies that no longer serve us and hinder progress toward things we truly desire.
“Neptune moving forward points to a new phase. The retrograde motion, if you like pulled you into what seemed like a swamp. Now you can start to pull yourself out. What I mean by that is that things you were not clear about, and we’re not ready to be clear about, can now be clear…it’s time to remember who you always were.”—Barry Goddard
If you remember last week’s post, I told y’all I can see my path clearly now. I’m talking 4k vivid. It’s about to go up and I know how to make it happen. I’m swimming in a space of immense gratitude. Shoutout to inner work, my hermit years, and healing.
I feel like I’ve been feeling this shift and have A LOT of plans for 2024. A lot of it’s new yet bold risks I’ve never taken before related to writing and book. One of the minor changes is getting more hands-on in terms of creating graphics, video, and promo material for Bullet Tooth. Diving deeper into my creative well and seeing what I can pull up. I used to do video work, graphic design, newspaper layouts, audio editing, and more in my Navy days and most of these skills have been lying dormant in my body waiting to be reawakened. Well the time is now since I want my vision to be complete, but also have more of my energy in art. I feel like this is more authentic and intimate. You’ll see what I’m talking about below…
Charlene Elsby was featured on Elle’s Goth Book Club chat last Sunday to discuss her book The Devil Thinks I’m Pretty and guess what? She shouted me out and said Bullet Tooth made her want to have more fun with her own fiction. Listen to the audio chat here and buy Elsby’s work here.
And while we’re at, I might as well drop the blurb she provided for Bullet Tooth.
Absolute banger. And that last line has me grinning from ear to ear. This winter you’ll find out I’m not fucking around.
The release date for Bullet Tooth has been pushed back to Feb. 6th. Yes, I’m pulling a Kanye, but that’s the extra official date (astrologically approved). Sorry for the wait (Lil Wayne voice).
J. David Osborne and I have a had a few wartime marketing talks these last couple months about advertising and how we can get more eyes on our work among other things. It’s helping me shift my focus and put in work in ways I usually wouldn’t care for, but the end result will be worth it. If it’s not working, try something new or tweak the literary war efforts until it’s effective.
Currently Watching: Love, Death & Robots Season 3 & Lost Season 1. &
& Castlevania Nocturne & Invincible Season 2 & Onimusha
I watched The Outwaters earlier this week after reading Elle Nash’s interview the director here. Fascinating interview about achieving goals without compromise as a creative. This movie has been on my radar for a while since Ryan Jackson told me this reminded him of my book God’s Leftovers done terribly. The first half is somewhat boring and drags, but feels like an authentic found footage film. Similar to God’s Leftovers, they go out to the desert to shoot a music video and shit hits the fan.
“My head is raining, the sky opened up” is probably one of the most intense parts. The second half is extremely bloody, surreal, anxiety-inducing, and had me stressed the fuck out. The ending was pretty amazing and there are enough hints of why everything happened that had me feeling satisfied. The Outwaters is a creepy yet flawed found footage film with some serious pacing issues, but the sheer ambition, kinetic intensity, and surrealism makes it one of the best movies I’ve seen this year.
Currently Reading: Full Throttle by Joe Hill & Cosmic Horror Monthly #2 & An Altar of Stories to Liminal Saints by Rios de la Luz and Violent Faculties by Charlene Elsby & Pedo Island Bloodbath by Duncan Ralston and It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman
Violent Faculties is written in the form of a thesis but the prose is so smooth and engrossing you can’t help but get sucked into the unhinged narrator’s extreme commitment to proving the importance of philosophy. David Simmons recommended this so I knew it would be good since we share similar tastes. The former philosophy professor’s experiments are intense, morbid and made my stomach tighten up. This is saying a lot since I consume a lot of extreme horror. This feels real though.
The footnotes are dope and the logic almost makes too much sense even when its esoteric and heady. You can feel the professor’s spite rippling through the pages despite her detached academic tone. Charlene Elsby’s the truth. Grim humor, intense moments that build through the narrative, and imagery I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to shake.
One thing about being a voracious reader with age, certain books feel predictable and formulaic. So I appreciate it when I can find something truly different that satiates that craving for something unique. Everyone who enjoys dark fiction need to read this. It drops Feb. 27th, but you can preorder it here.
Currently Smoking: Baby Jeeters
Listening: The Danny Brown Podcast, The Higherside Chats, Agitator, Mutual Aberration Society, Victory Light, and Lost Xplorers
I know Young Dolph is looking down from the afterlife and grinning with pride as he watches his boa Key Glock run with the torch over this triumphant beat. Strong South Memphis representation, Prada overalls, a laser beam focus on the money, and buying another chain so they can hate some mo? Glock has the secret recipe.
A$AP Twelvyy’s opening bars let you know exactly what type of timing he’s on: “I break bread, ribs, 100 dollar bills…” Beautiful visuals, a soulful nostalgic beat that just makes you feel good while Twelvyy continues to have a barfest. I mean “wicked Wikipedia…” and “cuddle with a Capricorn” is great advice.
Kodak Black takes on a mythical air as he bops through the streets of Florida while rapping over a bass-thumping beat that feels like a throwback filtered through a fenty-laced lens. You can’t tell me this ain’t real hiphop.
My Capricorn placements love a good depressing son like “i’m dying & no one seems to care.” Moody production combined with found footage type visuals work in perfect synch to get you in that emo bed of immense feels. I might have to check outt more saveroku…
Until next time…
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Hey now, thanks for the shout out!