Manuscripts Burn
MANUSCRIPTS BURN
"Manuscripts don't burn"
Hi, I'm Splatterpunk Award-winning 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."
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Monday, June 9, 2025
YES, I AM A VAMPIRE New Audiobook!
Hey everyone,
I have a new audiobook out, and I'm extra excited about it because the narrator I have on board is spectacular. Adharsh McCabe has been a performer for his whole career (you might already know him from his decades of work with exotic animals), and lucky for me, he has turned some of his attention to audiobooks!
YES, I AM A VAMPIRE is my recently released collection of short stories AND autobiography, and now you get to ingest it through the Adharsh's dulcet tones.
The Collected Short Fiction and Autobiography of Stephen Kozeniewski, 2013-2016
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Godless is now hosting THE GHOUL ARCHIPELAGO
Hi everyone!
A few years back, I gave you THE GHOUL ARCHIPELAGO. It's one of my favorites of my own work, and heavily features zombies (the best monster, obviously). And now, the good folk at GODLESS have given it an extra home!
After ravenous corpses topple society and consume most of the world's population, freighter captain Henk Martigan is shocked to receive a distress call. Eighty survivors beg him to whisk them away to the relative safety of the South Pacific. Martigan wants to help, but to rescue anyone he must first pass through the nightmare backwater of the Curien island chain.
If you missed it on it's original run, you can now get it from GODLESS for only $2.99 as an eBook. If you prefer a paperback or audiobook, however, don't fear! It's still available in all formats through AMAZON too.
I hope you'll join my terrifying, screeching, shambling, sea-bound adventure!
Monday, May 5, 2025
BILLY AND THE CLONEASAURUS Only 99c Through May
Hi everyone!
For this month (and this month only), if you live in the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia, you can grab a copy of BILLY AND THE CLONEASAURUS for only 99c! What is this Cloneasaurus, I hear you ask?
If you're unsure, for the low LOW price of only 99c, I'd say it's worth the gamble. But why take my word for it? Here's what some of the reviewers are saying:
"The thoughtfulness of not only the concept of the story but its execution speaks to Stephen Kozeniewski's talent as a writer. I love a good, gritty dystopia. This was a sweet fix to a craving for traditional dystopia. I was blown away."
----- Dacia Arnold, Uncomfortably Dark
"Dark, haunting, and blisteringly satirical, BILLY AND THE CLONEASAURUS is the story of one "man's" attempt to finally become an individual in a world of copies."
------bookoftheday.org
"The unusual title and quirky premise caught my attention right away. As an avid science fiction reader, I was fairly certain I knew how this plot would unfold. I couldn't have been more wrong. One of the things I appreciate the most about this author's writing style is how skilled he is at keeping me on my toes. Mr. Kozeniewski always seems to have one more trick up his sleeve that doesn't reveal itself until the last possible moment."
-------Long and Short Reviews
If you're in the USA, UK, Canada, or Australia, BILLY AND THE CLONEASAURUS is available until the end of this month for the sweet, almost-nothing price of 99c from AMAZON.
Friday, April 25, 2025
Monday, April 7, 2025
Brand New Novel - LOONEY!
Hi everybody!
I'm ecstatic to announce that I've just released a new novel with my good friend, Gavin Dillinger. It's called LOONEY! and it's a little...out there. Horror? Yes. A little cartoonish comedy? Also yes. Child friendly? ABSOLUTELY NOT, NO WAY, KEEP IT OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN!
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Monday, March 24, 2025
AuthorCon V or Bust!
Hi everyone! One of my favorite events of the whole year is this weekend, and I hope to see you all there. AuthorCon V (or Scares That Care) is not only a great weekend for authors and book lovers, but also a great charity event. The organizers take no profit, and all proceeds always go towards supporting a child with an illness, or women fighting breast cancer. It's a really worthwhile event and a great time. I can't wait to get there!
Jendia Gammon (Doomflower, Copper)
Christopher Golden (All Hallows, Ararat)
Laurel Hightower (Crossroads, Below)
Todd Keisling (Devil's Creek, Scanlines)
Red Lagoe (Lucid Screams, In Excess of Dark)
Victoria Price (Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography)
Mary SanGiovanni (Alien: Enemy of my Enemy)
For the book lovers amongst you, this event is a great opportunity to buy books, meet your favorite authors, and get your books and merch signed! As well as the Guests of Honor, you'll find a whole host of other authors trading, participating, or just attending for fun. There are also events running, including a murder mystery event - whoddunit?!
For authors, it's a great place to meet people, "network", and speak with your own favorites, and there are also workshops and, of course, an opportunity to promote and sell your work.
This year is extra exciting for me because I'll be in the dealer's room selling and signing books, including a brand new STC exclusive - LOONEY!
When beloved cartoon characters come crawling out of her TV, army recruiter Gabriella Harman expects a zany romp instead of the hellish nightmare that follows.
One night, haunted by her memories of Iraq, Gabriella downs a stomachful of pills and booze. When her favorite cartoon characters, the Kooky Toons, start crawling out of the TV, she assumes she is hallucinating.
But soon Gabriella finds herself locked in a battle of wits and wills with Herman Hyrax, the world-famous, wise-cracking mascot of the Kooky Korporation. Herman is more than just a stinker, though. He may be a monster, a demon, a god, or something entirely more unwholesome.
Is Gabriella’s descent into a world of cartoonish violence and psychological torment real? Or has she simply gone…
LOONEY!?
Gavin Dillinger and I have had this co-written tale of cartoonish debauchery up our sleeves for a while, and could think of no better place or time to launch it than at AuthorCon - the King of Cons, some might say. We hope you'll come see us and take a look!
AND it gets even better. French Press Publishing acquired its first UK author recently - the super talent that is Kit Power - and he has flown all the way from England to launch his novella, MILLIONAIRES DAY in the United States. It's a great book that I can't wait to introduce to this side of the planet!
I know you'll help me welcome him to our neck of the woods. It's going to be a great event - see you all there!
Dates: Friday through Sunday March 28-30
Location:
DoubleTree by Hilton
50 Kingsmill Road
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
Panels:
Thursday, 7pm - Spirited Giving (Auditorium)
Friday, 5:30pm - "Blending Genres" (moderator, with Derik Cavignano, Jennifer L. Collins, Rowan Hill, Andrew Najberg) Second Floor, Room 18
Saturday, 10:45am - "Editing and Publishing Anthologies" (moderator, with Shane Hawk, Carol Gyzander, Rebecca Rowland, and Candace Nola) Second Floor, Room 18
Saturday, 12:30pm - Reading (with Bitter Karella) Second Floor, Room 11
Sunday, 10:15am "Splatstick" (James Sabata - moderator, with Bitter Karella, D M Guay, Viggy Parr Hampton, Nathan D. Ludwig, and Wile E. Young)
Monday, March 17, 2025
Book Signing with Kit Power at Vortex Books & Comics
Hi everyone, I hope you're all well and reading cool books. Speaking of cool books (and authors), the legend that is Kit Power is flying alllll the way to us in the United States this week, and his first stop is THIS Saturday at Vortex Books & Comics!
Kit Power is our latest author at French Press Publishing, our first Brit added to our roster of fantastic writers, and the author of MILLIONAIRES DAY, which is making its official American debut this week. I can't believe how lucky we are that we not only get to launch this book here but the author himself has travelled all this way to personally trade them, meet his readers, and sign those shiny new copies for you all.
If you've never heard the name 'Kit Power' before, where have you been?! He's very well-regarded in the UK book scene (I know this because I personally witnessed how popular his work is last year when I attended FCon.) He's an author of both sci-fi/horror/fantasy fiction, and the creator and original voice behind the popular non-fiction article series, My Life in Horror over at Gingernuts of Horror (he has wrapped up his run and handed it over to George Daniel Lea.)
I hope to see you all there! I've been assuring Kit that we're a friendly group over here in the United States, so please help me give him a big warm welcome! If you already have a copy of MILLIONAIRES DAY, bring it along and he'll sign it for you! If not, you'll be able to purchase one there. Either way, swing by for a chat and a cup of tea!
*Disclaimer: Vortex Books & Comics is not serving tea, but Kit is English so I assume he'll just arrive with a teapot, right?!
Vortex Books and Comics
477 Locust St
Columbia, PA 17512
Panels:
TBD
Monday, March 10, 2025
Gross-Out Contest Rules (Scares That Care Authorcon 2025)
3. Contestants will be judged on three criteria – grossness, crowd engagement, and performance.
4. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place, as well as a special "Judge’s Choice” award.
5. YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE! Tell your friends, spread the word, but get us an email after midnight this Friday into Saturday evening.
So, now that you know the judging criteria and the basic rules, who will be the judges? Well, we are pleased to announce the following judges:
L.P. Hernandez
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Calling Audiobook Narrators (ACX)
Hi everyone! We hope you're well and thriving.
We have a couple of titles listed on ACX right now, open for audiobook narrator auditions.
First up, we have MILLIONAIRES DAY by our newest author, Kit Power.
On Sunday, 22nd December, 2019, everyone in the United Kingdom woke up with one million pounds in cash under their beds.
The miracle – or catastrophe – was never adequately explained. In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic the event was largely forgotten or treated as an urban legend.
Until now.
In this explosive volume, investigative journalist/historian Kit Power finally blows the lid off that surreal, impossible morning. Focussing on a few residents of Milton Keynes, a uniquely diverse city northwest of London, Power lays bare:
- the wonder of waking up to a found fortune through the eyes of a neglected child
- the madness and panic of an unprepared public from the perspective of an overworked police officer
- the graphic terror inflicted by a band of reprobate gangsters for whom too much is never enough
- the strangeness of it all through the outlook of man’s best friend
Note: for legal purposes, this book is marketed as fiction. But no one who lived through it could deny the profound impact of…
What we're looking for: a narrator that is comfortable shifting perspectives and able to convey different characters and POV's. In terms of the prose, we require no particular accent, but we're hoping that for the chapters involving the London gang, our narrator can inject a little attitude and a London accent, if possible. There are a couple of challenging sections, including the first-person perspective of a dog, so we need someone creative and versatile.
TW: Violence, murder, (including violence against a child), bad language
We're also looking for a narrator for our recently released werewolf anthology, STRANGE NEW MOONS.
What we're looking for: a narrator that can shift between different styles and voices, presenting each story in an interesting and unique way.
TW: violence, death, political themes, blood and gore, bad language
To audition, you will need an ACX account.
You can find MILLIONAIRES DAY on ACX here:
You can find STRANGE NEW MOONS on ACX here:
To ask any questions about the books or auditions, please feel free to reach out to Kayleigh at:
frenchpresspub (at) hotmail (dot) com
Alternatively, you can contact Stephen through the DM option on ACX.
Audition open: NOW! (Both titles).
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
STRANGE NEW MOONS is Running Wild!
Hi everyone!
You might already know that for the last year, I've been working my tail off (ha!) on a werewolf anthology. I'm happy to announce that it's finally here! I proudly present to you STRANGE NEW MOONS.
STRANGE NEW MOONS is edited by myself and Kayleigh Dobbs, and our pack is comprised of authors we invited, and those that most impressed us through our open submission period. Our main aim was to create an anthology of unconventional werewolf stories - different takes, different perspectives, new rules, and twists on the tropes we know and love. Our authors really delivered. We have a little of the old, a little of the new, and a little of the 'what the hell is that?!'
I want to once again thank our Kickstarter backers for making this possible. Thanks to them, we were able to assemble the authors we wanted, plus get amazing cover art from Matt Seff Barnes.
You can find STRANGE NEW MOONS at:
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
ILLUSIONS OF ISOLATION is Available for 99c!
Hi everyone! We've got a limited deal for you for this week ONLY. Brennan LaFaro's horror collection, ILLUSIONS OF ISOLATION is available in the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada for only 99c.
Take a look at some of the reviews:
"It was a blast not knowing what tone the next story would take! Even for a handful that started out deceptively calm, they soon took a turn that got me every time! And the range here is wild! From cosmic horror to real-world horror, from creature stories to slashers, and so much more, this collection covered a lot of ground! "
- Erica Robyn Reads
"All stories are delivered with LaFaro presenting unique insights into the background and publication histories of the story. Each is well positioned so one tale flows to the next. Illusions of Isolation is a well-constructed set of stories that shows why LaFaro is an author to watch."
- Horror DNA
"I was sincerely blown away by it."
- Happy Goat Horror
This deal is running for this week only so if you want to get your hands (or eyes!) on your copy, be quick! You can find ILLUSIONS OF ISOLATION for only 99c (USA, UK, Australia, Canada) from:
Monday, February 3, 2025
Farpoint 32 or Bust!
Hi everyone, it's that time again...time for Farpoint! I always participate in this annual event: it's fun, it's bookish...it's a grand old time, as the British might say.
It's a great event for readers - a place to chat with your favorite authors, get your books signed, and hang out with other book lovers. It's also a great place for writers! Wherever you are in your career, there are learning programs, tutorials, etc., basically everything you need to keep you inspired. There are also vendors, so lots of books and cool merch available to buy.
Robert Greenberger
Michael Jan Friedman
David Gerrold
Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Mike McPhail
Howard Weinstein
Mary Fan
Aaron Rosenberg
Phil Giunta
Kathleen David
Keith DeCandido
Rigel Ailur
Jonathan Roth
Zack Be
JL Gribble
Glenn Hauman
MJ Blehart
Gregory Wilson
John L. French
Kim Headlee
Diane Lee Baron
Stephen Kozeniewski (hey...that's me!)
Mike D'Ambrosio
Jennifer Povey
I hope to see you all there - don't be shy, come say hi!
Location:
Double Tree by Hilton
1726 Reisterstown Rd
Pikesville, MD 21208
Monday, January 20, 2025
The Dark Drafts Festival or Bust!
Hi everyone! This weekend I'll be attending The Dark Drafts Festival and I think it's going to be awesome. This is an event that celebrates horror literature combined with dark draft ale! It's being hosted at Bube's Brewery, which is the LAST surviving, fully intact pre-prohibition brew house left in the entire USA.
As well as an all-around great time, this will also be your first chance to grab a copy of our brand new anthology, STRANGE NEW MOONS. We're releasing it to the masses a few days after the event, but you'll be able to get it early, exclusively at The Dark Drafts Festival! Be sure to swing by my table to grab your copy, full of werewolf savagery, with stories from Tim Lebbon, Mary SanGiovanni, Simon Clark, Rebecca Rowland, and more!
As well as a huge, crazy author line-up, there'll be events, readings, signings, and the Gothic Horror Masquerade Ball, so it's set to be an incredible weekend. Come on down (or up, depending on where you're coming from!), meet your favorite authors, get some books signed, and have an awesome bookish time with us!
Location:
Bube's Brewery
102 N Market St
Mt. Joy, PA 17552
Panels: TBD
Monday, January 6, 2025
2025 Appearances
Here is my schedule of appearances for 2025. As changes occur, I will update this page, so be sure to check back often. Events in red have occurred in the past. Events in orange are tentative.
If you'd like me to make an appearance at a convention, signing, or other event you're organizing or attending, feel free to contact me and we'll discuss it. Most events in Baltimore or Philadelphia are a slam dunk for me to attend, but I'll consider travelling if invited.
Dates: Saturday through Sunday January 25-26
Location:
Dates: Friday through Sunday February 7-9
Location:
Double Tree by Hilton
Date: Saturday, March 23, 1:00-3:00 pm EST
Location:
477 Locust St
Columbia, PA 17512
Dates: Friday through Sunday March 28-30
Location:
DoubleTree by Hilton
50 Kingsmill Road
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
Panels:
GenCon
Location:
Location:
DoubleTree by Hilton
50 Kingsmill Road
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
Dates: Friday through Sunday October 30 - November 2
Location: