Reading spooky stories

Nothing to report on the manuscript other than work continues on revision. It really is important to try to come at this stuff as fresh as possible for revision’s sake.

I have a really bad habit of reading the books that I buy for people before I give them as gifts during Christmas. It feels a bit like taking a bite out of food you’re handing to someone. I’m not going to stop doing it, though. This year, I bought my dad Stephen King’s The Outsider, which I believe came out way back in May. It’s really good. It’s horrifying and gross and spooky, but that’s what you’re signing up for with King. It’s the first book I’ve read in a while that made me stay awake late into the night reading it. It wasn’t really my choice – I couldn’t sleep because I was creeped out by the book. I figured it was a “hair of the dog that bit you” situation and pushed through until around 3 am. Then I couldn’t stay awake and I conked out. Highly recommended reading.

For my own part, I got “Under the Red Hood,” a compendium of a series of Batman comics following the storyline of a mysterious and dangerous vigilante who appears on the streets of Gotham who, to put it lightly, does not share Batman’s compunctions against killing criminals in an effort to deter crime. Another solid read if you’re into Batman lore or comic books in general. Because of these books, I’ve had to put off A Clash of Kings until this week. Back into it I go.
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Write your story!
-J. E. Ayers