Escape Hatch 058: The Fright Stuff

Ushers goes wide; Scaring up some good reads; Pure Poe-fection

Your Usher Will Show You To Your Seat

“Ushers,” my new story for Kindle, is now available for anyone who wants it (previously it was limited to Amazon Prime Members)… and can be enjoyed on audio if you need something in your ears to get you through the morning commute.

I also wanted to say thanks to everyone who already read the book through Amazon’s First Reads program—and pass along my gratitude in particular to everyone who took ten minutes out of their morning to give it a good review. ‘Preciate it.

Reviewing The Options

I sat down for a conversation about scary books with Gilbert Cruz of The New York Times, to talk about the best horror novels of the season. Gilbert also spoke with the sensational Stephen Graham Jones about his own favorite works of fright fiction. Some of my thinking matches Stephen’s; some of his recommendations overlap with mine. I thought that was pretty striking… that two guys from different backgrounds and different parts of the country, but who have both spent decades reading and watching and writing horror, came to so many of the same conclusions. Anyway: now you’ve got “Ushers” for the trip into work and this podcast for the trip home. See! I’m always thinking of you!!

Poe, Poe, Pitiful Me

I was honored to provide the introduction for The Folio Society’s new and insanely beautiful limited edition of Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of the Mystery & Imagination. This has to be one of the most stunning limiteds I’ve ever been anywhere near. I knew it was going to be a special book and tried to give Poe my best thinking. I did the homework and talked a bit about the life as well as the work (Peter Ackroyd’s Poe: A Life Cut Short especially helped to bring the biography into focus).

That said, the introduction is maybe the least important thing about this edition. From the binding, to the gorgeously crafted case, to the illustrations, this version of Mystery & Imagination is second-to-none… but the main thing, as always, as ever, are the stories. In a few short years, Poe invented the modern detective story, anticipated the field of criminal profiling, and foresaw the amoral tone of noir. It’s all here. What a treasure for the shelf.

Halloween is Behind Us; Thanks-grieving Lies Ahead

… and election day is smack dab in between. My newsletter is a guest in your in-box—a visitor in your house—and for that reason I leave my politics at the door. If you’re curious about my own lean, there are a couple videos out there. Let’s get through it together (and if you hate my politics—I still say let’s get through it together).

In October I wrote a surprise new short story over the course of two days (by which I mean: it was a surprise to me. I hadn’t planned on working on any new short pieces). I’ve got a screenplay humming, which is a damn good thing, because it locks down my PWGA health care for another year (in other news, Scott Derrickson is one of the finest dudes in the whole film business). I’m waiting on the copy-edits to King Sorrow. My twins are obsessed with being knights and want to hear the brilliant Knight Owl and its sequel Knight Owl and Early Bird every day.

The leaves are mostly blown off the trees and the blue of the sky looks colder than other blues. I’m just finishing up reading The Best Ghost Stories of Algernon Blackwood and it was great company during the Halloween season (“The Willows,” “The Other Wing” and “The Listener” have been particular favorites). We’ll have a whole lot of family around for Thanksgiving and while my inner Martin Chuzzlewit would like to have a roast goose and an apple jonathan, let’s face it, it’s going to be turkey and probably one of those orange pies with the burnt marshmallows on top. I’m wishing you the best and the happiest as the days turn colder and the night comes sooner. I’ll catch up with you again in December.

— Joe Hill, Exeter, NH, Nov 1st. 2024