Manuscripts Burn


MANUSCRIPTS BURN

"Manuscripts don't burn"
- Mikhail Bulgakov

Hi, I'm horror and science fiction author Steve Kozeniewski (pronounced: "causin' ooze key.") Welcome to my blog! You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon. You can e-mail me here, join my mailing list here, or request an e-autograph here. Free on this site you can listen to me recite one of my own short works, "The Thing Under the Bed."

Monday, November 27, 2023

It's Awards Season!

Hi everyone!

Can you feel it in the air?..... That electric buzz, the kind that only comes with.... trophies! Yes, that's right, it's award season! Bookish organizations all over the place are lining up their nominees and reading through the submissions. Normally, I don't push my eligible works very much - self-promotion is a tricky beast, especially when it comes to awards. It can feel a little awkward. However, I've been told, in no uncertain terms, that it's silly to be shy about putting my best foot forward... so here goes. Here are the upcoming awards, the works we (French Press) have that are eligible for them, and how you can vote:

THE BRAM STOKER AWARDS 


"Best Anthology" - The Perfectly Fine Neighborhood (edited by Dobbs, Kozeniewski, Young)

"Best Collection" - Illusions of Isolation (by Brennan LaFaro)

"Best Novel" - The Thing Under Your Bed (by Stephen Kozeniewski)

"Short Fiction" - any story from either The Perfectly Fine Neighborhood, or Illusions of Isolation


Voting deadline: 1st Jan 2024

How to vote: fill in the submission forms HERE.


THE IMADJINN AWARDS


"Best Anthology" - The Perfectly Fine Neighborhood (edited by Dobbs, Kozeniewski, Young)

"Best Short Story Collection" - Illusions of Isolation (by Brennan LaFaro)

"Best Short Story" - stories from The Perfectly Fine Neighborhood, and Illusions of Isolation


Voting deadline: 16th February 2024

How to vote: fill in the submission form HERE.


THE SPLATTERPUNK AWARDS


"Best Novella" - The Thing Under Your Bed (by Stephen Kozeniewski)

"Best Short Story" - Dressed for Success (by Brennan LaFaro, Illusions of Isolation)

"Best Anthology" - The Perfectly Fine Neighborhood


How to vote: email splatterpunkawards (at) gmail (dot) com


If you've enjoyed any of the works mentioned, we'd so appreciate your support (and vote!). A bit of peer recognition goes a long way for an author, and we'd love for the authors we work with to get that kind of boost. Thanks for being awesome!



Tuesday, November 21, 2023

We All Live in a Fascist Police State Now, Thanks to This One Fucking Guy. But On the Bright Side, Free Stuff!

Howdy!

Those of you who are subscribed to my newsletter will already know this, but someone (me!) *might* have a new book out in a few days. What fun is Black Friday without a sale on a new book? And so, I proudly present....

WE ALL LIVE IN A FASCIST POLICE STATE NOW, THANKS TO THIS ONE FUCKING GUY


It happened here. Fascism came, wrapped in the flag and carrying a Bible.

Nobody much noticed.

Sure, a few traitors like to whine about their missing "rights," but it's up to the heroes of the Federal Bureau of Patriotism to silence them.

When someone starts spilling FBP secrets, Captain Leo Nergali is assigned to track him down. But wait, Leo himself *is* the mole? Record scratch!

Buy this fucking book to see how Leo censors the arts, disappears his enemies, and perhaps even finds jackbooted love.

This book was a slight departure from my usual genres (blood-sucking parasites, cloned beef creatures, vampires, you know.. normal stuff), and it was a whole load of fun to write. I hope you'll join Leo on his despicable adventures!

If you'd like to check it out or buy a copy, you can find it HERE.


In other awesome news, I'm also able to offer you a freebie this month (but this month only!).

BROKEN-DOWN HEROES OF THE WESTERN NIGHT is free on Amazon until the end of November. This novel is also a little different to my usual style, and I got to flex some different writing muscles with it.


Hardcharging army lieutenant Bickham Deth's only desire is to lead soldiers in combat. In the bloody winter of 2006, he expects to finally earn his baptism by fire on the streets of Kabul or Baghdad.

Instead, he finds himself trapped in Oklahoma on funeral detail.

Deth is honored to pay tribute to the veterans of Vietnam and World War II, but his patience is pushed to the breaking point by incompetent morticians, squabbling family members, and a mishap with the color of his socks that threatens to derail his entire military career.

As the "needs of the army" turn a three-day task into a never-ending odyssey, Deth finds solace from his grim work in the gallows humor of his partner, Sergeant Bela Packs. In his fifteen years of service Packs has seen it all, and his war stories are a welcome distraction from the painful task of burying the dead.

As the honors team weaves its way through the American heartland, seeing both the sublime and ugly sides of small town life, Packs unravels the spellbinding tale of the worst Soldier who ever lived...


If you're curious and would like a copy from Amazon (and why wouldn't you - it's FREE!), you can find it HERE.

That's it for now, but I'll be be back soon. I won't tell you what for... I like to be mysterious.


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