December 14, 2005:

I’m glad to say that just a few days ago, William Morrow accepted my novel, HEART-SHAPED BOX, for publication, with an eye toward a hardcover release in 2007. William Morrow also publishes Elmore Leonard, Neil Gaiman, and Michael Chabon - three of my favorite living writers - and my editor, Jennifer Brehl, has been a guiding spirit behind a bunch of books I’ve read and admired. I consider myself lucky to have the chance to work with her, and to have joined the Morrow fold.

In other good news, 20TH CENTURY GHOSTS was fortunate enough to receive a starred review in the December 12th Publishers Weekly. Here’s a chunk: “There’s not a false note or disappointing effort in this book, which introduces one of the most confident and assured new voices in horror and dark fantasy to emerge in recent years.”

Finally, Matt Cheney interviewed me for Mumpsimus, a blog with a specific mission: to turn over the rock of popular literature and describe the squirmy things they find beneath it. It’s all good fun. Check ‘er out here.

There’s more to say, but maybe that’s enough for now. Happy holidays. Be safe.

November 19, 2005:

“This may be your first encounter with a writer named Joe Hill, but it most certainly will not be the last. This remarkable, not-to-be missed debut collection may well herald the beginnings of a notable career... [Hill] has a knack for reviving the jaded sensibilities of the veteran horror reader... [and] delivers the unexpected for those who have read plenty of ghost stories and think they know what to expect.”
                      - Fantasy Magazine

“I don’t remember when I’ve cared more about the fates of imaginary people... It’s a cliché in reviews of debut books to say so-and-so is a ‘writer to watch.’ Instead, let me say Joe Hill is a writer to read, and one I hope to be reading for a long time.”
                                       - Tim Pratt, Locus magazine

“’20th Century Ghost’... [is] one of the best short stories I have read in a long time... In a genre that all too often abandons itself to images of hate and destruction, Joe Hill makes things of beauty.”
                                      - Cheryl Morgan, Emerald City

“It’s so rare that an author is able to come right out of the gate with such incredible talent, such a feel for storytelling, pacing and character development... From the first story, ‘Best New Horror,’ all the way through to ‘Voluntary Committal,’ [Hill] exhibits the kind of skill most writers struggle their whole lives to attain.”
                                      - Johnny Butane, Dreadful News

You can check out the complete Emerald City review here, and The Dreadful News review here.

It’s going to suck when the other shoe drops.

October 31st, 2005:

Shameless Hype Alert! The first review of 20TH CENTURY GHOSTS is in, courtesy of Subterranean Press, and it’s a really good one. Kealan Patrick Burke writes that GHOSTS is “one of the best first collections – scratch that; one of the best collections, period – in recent memory... It’s nothing less than the calling card of a major new talent.” It’s such an enthusiastic, generous review, I’m a little at a loss for words; my thanks to Kealan Burke for the extremely kind response to my book.

Said book is, by the way, now shipping from PS Publishing. If you haven’t picked up a copy already, I hope you will. And if you aren’t that familiar with my stuff, and would like a sampler, you can download my story, “The Black Phone,” here.

A few advance copies of the regularly priced hardcover were accidentally printed with bonus material that was only supposed to be in the slipcased edition. PS will be sending out these bonus-enriched copies to the first people who order the hardcover from them; if that’s something that interests you, get an order in and you can probably still bag one.

Finally, I’ll be in NYC on November 16th, to read at the KGB bar with acclaimed fantasy writer Judith Berman, as part of Ellen Datlow’s Fantastic Fiction reading series. Check it out if you can. Thanks, all...

September 29th, 2005:

In just a couple days, I’ll be in Walsall for FantasyCon, to support the release of 20TH CENTURY GHOSTS. The book should be ready to ship the week following. I would describe myself as reasonably giddy.

On Saturday the 8th, Christopher Golden and I will be at ROCK & SHOCK in Worchester, Massachusetts, and I’ll have copies of GHOSTS with me.

I’ll also be popping in on some other cons and a variety of specialty stores along the East Coast, throughout the autumn, to beat the drum for the collection. Come see me.

 *   *   *

I had some of the best news of my writing life the other day, when I heard Ellen Datlow had selected “My Father’s Mask” for the 19th volume of YEAR’S BEST FANTASY & HORROR. Needless to say, I’m one happy guy.

Finally, thanks to everyone who preordered a copy of 20TH CENTURY GHOSTS. I’m more grateful than I can say. I hope you have a blast. The book should be in your hands any day now.

And if you were thinking of buying a copy, but haven’t yet – well, just imagine me staring at you with big lonesome puppy dog eyes. Go ahead. Walk away from the lonesome puppy dog. If you can.

August 14, 2005:

A few recent developments:

- Digital artist Vincent Chong recently turned in two different covers for 20TH CENTURY GHOSTS. Check ‘em out:

The chilly blue cover will grace the limited trade paperback and the hardcover. The jolting orange cover, which features images from all of the stories, appears only on the slipcased edition. The art on both wraps around to the back.

- I was blown away to learn that not one, but two of my short stories, made the final ballot for the British Fantasy Awards. You can check out all the nominations here. Congrats to the other nominees. I’m grateful to all the voting members of the BFS who gave my stories their consideration, regardless of whether or not they actually voted for either of them. "The Black Phone," BTW, remains available for download as a PDF, for anyone who'd like to read it. Look for the link to the file below, in the entry dated July 5th.

- 20Th CENTURY GHOSTS remains on track for release at the end of September. PS Publishing hopes to have GHOSTS ready in time to launch it at FantasyCon, along with books by Ramsey Campbell, Steve Erikson and Mark Morris... and I plan to be there to support the release. Conveniently, this will also allow me to be on hand to lose to Neil Gaiman in person, when the BFS announces the winners of this year’s awards.

- My novella “Voluntary Committal” recently caught a good review over at the Internet Review of Science Fiction. Have a look if you get a chance. And for those who’d like to have a copy, there are still a few softcovers in stock over at Subterranean Press.

- If you haven’t played yet, I hope you’ll give “Last Breath” a whirl – and if you enjoy the game, pass the good word on. Doctor Alinger loves new visitors, and we don’t want him to get lonely.

- Finally, you can always share your thoughts on the upcoming collection, the covers, the game, comic books, or the lint in your navel, over at my message board. Stop by anytime.

July 5th, 2005:

Thanks for coming by again. Glad you could poke your head in for a while. There’s a lot going on. Let me tell you.

First. The website has a cool new gray look. Webhead Shane Leonard (assisted by the devious Jenny Peters) has spent the last several months working in secret, decorating my digital thot’ful spot in silver leaves and white locusts, and designing the new, elegant, curiously Zen layout you see before you. Let’s hear it for a pal. I pay him in nachos, when he comes over for a visit.

I’m also excited to introduce the site’s newest and most demented widget, “Last Breath,” a flashgame based on my story of the same name, and developed by the ingenious minds at TOUCH U Studio. Give it a try – it’s a freakshow.

Quick story about the making of the game: one of the employees at Touch U would occasionally bring her 2 1/2-year-old to work with her, and whenever she did, the programmers would have to stop working on it, or the poor kid would dissolve into hysterics. So obviously they did their job well...

If you have a good time playing, I hope you’ll point other folks to the site. And if you’re interested in the story the game was based on, “Last Breath” will appear in the next issue of Subterranean Magazine, and can be found in my upcoming collection, 20TH CENTURY GHOSTS.

Speaking of. Those who are lucky enough to battle their way through to the end of the game automatically receive 10% off the purchase of 20TH CENTURY GHOSTS, and free shipping from PS Publishing. Winners also – koff koff - get a shot at winning an iPod Shuffle. The curious can view the official Sweepstakes rules here. GHOSTS is 3 – 4 months from going to the printers, and if you haven’t ordered a copy, and you feel like owning a book full of disturbing, high concept fiction, I hope you’ll pop over to PS Publishing or any of the other fine online retailers who are already offering the book for preorder. You can read about 20TH CENTURY GHOSTS in detail on my FICTION page.

Curious but want more? Okay, you can also sample one of the stories, “The Black Phone” – which made the preliminary ballot for both the Bram Stoker Awards and the British Fantasy Awards – right here (pdf format). I’m also making it available as a download for the benefit of voting members of the BFS who might like to give it a read. Have a look. I hope you like it.

Thanks everyone.... Joe Hill

June 5th, 2005:

The preliminary ballots for the British Fantasy Awards were recently released, and I was honored - floored, really - to learn that I had not one, but two stories among the nominees: "The Black Phone" and "You Will Hear The Locust Sing." One of my absolute favorite magazines in the world, Andy Cox's visually astonishing The Third Alternative dominated the short story award nominations with nine, plus one in the novella category.

In other news, PS Publishing just released POSTSCRIPTS # 3, which features my story, "Best New Horror." Don't be fooled by the Table of Contents, I'm in there, hidden at the back ("Best New Horror" was a very late addition). Check it out if
you get the chance...

April 4th, 2005:

It was an honor to find my story, "The Black Phone," included on this year's preliminary ballot for the 2005 Bram Stoker Awards. It didn't make the final ballot for best short story, but my congratulations to the five remarkable writers whose stories did: Chuck Palahniuk, Margo Lanagan, Nancy Etchemendy, Douglas Clegg, and Gary Braunbeck. My thanks to the members of the HWA who boosted for "The Black Phone," and especially to those (you know who you are) who helped get it on the preliminary ballot in the first place.

March 28, 2005

I’ll be at Jumpgate Comics in Portsmouth on April 5th, from 6 – 8 PM to talk about SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED and the experience of writing for Marvel Comics. My thanks to owner Hector Diaz for having me.

I won’t, however, be able to make the World Horror Convention after all, due to a host of other commitments. Hopefully next year...

March 7, 2005

The preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker Awards was released the other day, and I was surprised and pleased to find one of my stories, “The Black Phone,” nominated in the category of short fiction. My deepest thanks to those members of the HWA who put me up for consideration.

For the rest of the month, “The Black Phone” will be available to active members of the HWA who want to read it, as a downloadable PDF on the EXCLUSIVE CONTENT page. If you’re a voting member (or even if you’re not), I’m grateful to you for giving my story a look; I hope you finish it feeling your time was well spent.

previous news -->2006 / 2005 / 2004