Beyond the Void

Mary SanGiovanni Newsletter, Issue 7 March 2024

Hi there! I’m horror author Mary SanGiovanni, and this is the seventh issue of my author newsletter. Thanks for reading!

Brian and I have been busy getting our new books and comics store, Vortex Books & Comics, up and running. It’s been a big schedule change, but I think once we have a sense of how things work from month to month, we can settle into a comfortable routine. We’ve received a number of incredible donations from Stephen King, Owen King, Joe Hill, John Carpenter, David Schow, Kris Triana, Wes Southard, Stephen Kozeniewski, Rio Yours, Gemma Amor, and so many more. We’re really very fortunate to have such supportive friends and colleagues, and such talented writers to boot. It’s been a joy to see folks come in and find rare books they didn’t know existed, new treasures, and old finds which bring back the warm fuzzies of nostalgia. It reminds me of why, exactly, I fell in love with books in the first place, and why I wanted to become a writer — to share that, to be that for someone else.

We’ve also had a number of people have stop in and graciously sign stock, like Timothy Renner, Mike Slater, Clay Chapman, Wes Southard, and more. This month, we’re beginning events like writers’ group meetings, open mic nights, and of course, readings and signings. I’m really excited for these. There are a lot of hardcore readers and fans and a lot of creatives in this area, and I’m looking forward to helping foster a community of creative people doing creative things.

Along those lines, one of the best things so far has been seeing children — usually somewhere between 8-12, when you discover the world is bigger and better than you could have imagined — who are artists, movie-makers, and writers. They are taking initiative and learning about their craft and making art, and the sheer, unadulterated joy on their faces when we talk shop with them or tell them about opportunities to meet with professionals and learn the ropes makes me feel like I’m doing a good thing, leaving a positive mark on the world.

Creative fields are solitary, and while we, if we’re good, capture the essence of human experience, we don’t always remember to live it, savor it, or take a mental snapshot of it for ourselves, so that we can remember why it’s still worth getting up every morning. We forget to see the world the way we did when we were 8-12, when it was still full of magic and possibilities. It’s good to look at the world that way sometimes. It’s nice to know that art may outlive the artist, and that’s okay, because if it does, it makes sure there are always new artists to add to it.

STRANGE STONES, my novella with Ed Lee, is finished, and I am pleased to say it will be published by Clash Books in early 2025.

I just finished a script for Marvel’s BLOOD HUNT, a cross-over event spanning the Marvel Universe. I’ve done a one-off Satana story, and I’m looking forward to seeing it in print, although I suspect it will be a while.

I think I mentioned the personalized stories I’m writing, and I am hoping to have these finished this month. I really, truly appreciate your patience on these.

My novella, Partial Places, is going to be included in a short story collection called WHISPERS FROM THE UNCANNY VALLEY. This, too, is on my list to finish this month. More on this soon.

The sequel for THRALL, tentatively titled NULL, is progressing as well.

THE EVERYWHERE HOUSE should be out soon, and I would really like this one to do well. If you read it and like it, please spread the word.

"Mary SanGiovanni is as effective and versatile a writer as anybody working today. She knows her monsters. Of equal importance, she understands the frailties and strengths of the people who fight evil." — Laird Barron, author of SWIFT TO CHASE

"Mary SanGiovanni deftly mixes genres and voices, and her books are always creepy, unsettling, and thrilling." — Paul Tremblay, author of HORROR MOVIE

This month’s cosmic horror recommendation: Silent Hill franchise. You may be wondering, why the oldie pick? Well, with the new SH2 remake, SH f, and SH Ascension, I thought it might be worth recommending a revisit of a classic. It is, IMO, one of the best cosmic horror video games that is not a Lovecraft adaptation, as it captures all the elements of cosmic horror even while focusing on the psychology of the self, and how our own minds can be the biggest, most indifferent force of destruction in our universe.

That’s it for this month. Thanks for subscribing. I’ll see you next time.