Well, another Scares That Care Weekend has come and gone, and as per usual it was a blast.  Every year it feels like a family reunion, and every year it gets harder and harder to leave.  I only get to see some of these folks maybe two to three times a year, but with guys like Matt Hayward and Aaron Dries it comes down to maybe four whole days.  I met a lot of awesome authors and creatives, and many new and old readers.  Scares That Care 2020 can’t get here soon enough!

But it’s still 2019, and I still have many other opportunities to meet more people this year.  This August has been probably the busiest month I’ve ever had, with one convention ending last week and another rolling out this weekend.

This Thursday through Sunday I’ll be in Round Rock, Texas at KillerCon 2019.  I’ve been looking forward to this con for a very long time, having not been in the state of Texas in over thirty years.  Outside of the hotel, I plan on eating my weight in BBQ and tacos, but inside I’ll be sharing a table with authors Kelli Owen and Robert Ford in the vendor room.  I’ll also be taking part in two events, which are listed below:

Friday August 16th

12:30pm- Panel- What’s Your Talent Worth?
Wesley Southard, Elizabeth Massie, Shane McKenzie, Brian Keene, Lee Thomas
How much should a professional writer make for a short story? Novella? Novel? Screenplay? When is it okay to accept less? Is it ever a good idea to give your writing away “For the Luv”?

At 4:00pm on Friday, only at KillerCon … One Punch From Wrath!  Our brave contestants Jeff Strand, Shane McKenzie, Wesley Southard, and Erin Shaw answer trivia questions about our guests of honor and Splatterpunk Award Nominees. Get a question wrong, and you get to feel the Wrath! Last person standing wins!

Yep, Wrath James White is going to punch me.

Hard.

Wish me luck!

After that, over Labor Day Weekend I’ll be at the first annual Creature Feature Weekend in Gettysburg, PA with authors Somer Canon, Brian Keene, Mary SanGiovanni, Kelli Owen, Robert Ford, Jonathan Janz and Ronald Malfi.  We’ll be there all weekend, selling and signing books, so come out and see us!  We don’t bite, at least not very hard.

And after that?  On October 12th, I’ll be up in Haverhill, MA for the Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival with over sixty authors selling and signing books.  I’m super excited for this one.

AND AFTER THAT?!?!  Not sure yet.  There may be some surprises in the works.  We’ll just have to wait and see.

But until then, I’ll see you in Texas!

Hey, everyone!  I recently started a YouTube channel, and from here on out I’ll be posting the occasional video of me reading short stories or an excerpt from an upcoming work, or maybe even the random unboxing video.  Here’s my first video below.  I read the first few pages of my new Deadite Press novella ONE FOR THE ROAD.  Enjoy!

Since we are only eleven days away (6-15-19) from the release of my Deadite Press novella, ONE FOR THE ROAD, I’d like to share some of the reviews that have been rolling in over the past few weeks.  And to say I’m shocked is an understatement.  I’m absolutely blown away by the response so far.  Thank you so much to all of those who took their their time to pre-read my book.  Much like the band in book, Rot In Hell, you guys rock!

“Deftly written, horrifically imaginative, and imbued with the spirit and character of the heavy metal genre that Southard then twists to his own dark ends, I’m confident in calling One For The Road an instant classic of the Horror genre that I have no doubt will stand the test of time.” — The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer

https://scifiandfantasyreviewer.wordpress.com/2019/05/28/one-for-the-road-wesley-southard-review/

“You took a heavy metal band comprised of several horrible people and you put them in an R rated retelling of Alice in Wonderland…” — Sadie Hartmann

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2842984871?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1

“Three words: fast paced, strong narrative voice, creative monsters…” — Becky Spratford

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45710806-one-for-the-road

“I loved this book so much.” — Somer Canon

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2824167209?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1

“It is short, fast paced, and perfect for fans of Brian Keene.” — The Horror Hypothesis

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2828782064?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1

YouTube Review from Ben Walker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_leB0wEpdDM

“With One for the Road, Wesley Southard really cements his place among the contemporary horror fiction elite. In just a few pages he combines some of the genre’s best elements, namely ghastly creatures, gore, and suspense, to create a hauntingly surrealist horror experience. Going forward, Southard is definitely an author you want to keep an eye on.” — The Horror Syndicate

http://thehorrorsyndicate.com/2019/05/book-review-one-for-the-road-by-wesley-southard/?fbclid=IwAR2XVP6tcYx9ibxTf5x4B6Te292iVlfc3caCPD5GAskpoAErVY6u5C-7zNQ

Hey, everyone!  Just wanted to let you know the trade paperback edition of my Deadite Press novella ONE FOR THE ROAD is now up for pre-order.  The e-book is also up as well.  I am working with Amazon to get the two to be linked onto the same page, so hopefully that will be resolved soon.

My novelette “Catalog,” a story of an Italian immigrant who’s American Dream is slowly being taken from him, will be featured in DIG TWO GRAVES, AN ANTHOLOGY VOL. 2 from Death’s Head Press. Look for it July 15th in trade paperback and e-book.

Hey, everyone!  My Deadite Press novella ONE FOR THE ROAD is officially up for pre-order on Amazon.  Right now it’s only the e-book.  The paperback pre-order will be up very, very soon.

“A road trip through Hell in the spirit of Skipp & Spector’s The Scream and Grady Hendrix’s We Sold Our Souls. I loved it!” -Brian Keene, author of The Rising

“A gritty and authentic rampage through Rock ‘n’ Roll. I loved every word.” -Matt Hayward, Bram Stoker nominated author of What Do Monsters Fear? and The Faithful

Only one more show and heavy metal guitarist Spencer Hesston can finally quit Rot in Hell. No more touring, no more fighting, and no more unwanted advances from the lead singer’s girlfriend. But instead of waking up the next day in their Midwestern hometown, the band finds themselves dazed and confused in an abandoned settlement in the middle of the desert, with no idea of how they got there.

Things are done a little differently out here: the trees have perverse urges, the spiders have human fingers, and every time they step outside the town transforms into a new hellish nightmare.

In this town anything is possible, except making it out in one piece…

Deadite Press is proud to present a new novella from Wesley Southard, a work of surreal horror sure to please fans of SILENT HILL, JACOB’S LADDER, and LOST HIGHWAY.”

“Wesley Southard’s writing thrums with uninhibited energy that’s both infectious and entertaining. Discovering Wesley’s work has been a joy, and you should seek out his books too. He’s definitely a writer to watch.” -Jonathan Janz, author of The Siren and the Spector and Exorcist Falls

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan for StokerCon 2019.  Though I unfortunately won’t be taking part in any panels or readings, I will be part of the mass author signing on Friday night from 5-6:30pm.  Other than that I’ll just be hanging out.  Come say hi, buy a book, and maybe I’ll have a dirty limerick waiting for you.  See you all there!

Hey, everyone!  So, I have some exciting news…I sold another book!  The contract has been signed, and I’m thrilled to announce that Death’s Head Press, the publisher that brought us titles such as Master of Pain from Wrath James White and Kristopher Rufty, Catfish in the Cradle by Wile E. Young, and the infamous And Hell Followed anthology, has graciously decided to publish my very first short story collection, RESISTING MADNESS.  This collection will contain thirteen short stories, five of which are new and previously unpublished, and a brand new twenty thousand word novella, of which the collection is named after.

A massive thank you goes out to Jarod Barbee and Patrick C. Harrison III for picking this project up.  You guys are awesome!

At the moment there isn’t a specific release date, but they’re shooting for late 2019.

Until then, there’s a lot to look forward to with Death’s Head Press.  With the likes of Christine Morgan, Robert Essig, Chandler Morrison, Chris Miller, Mike Ennenbach, and the Sisters of Slaughter already on the docket, DHP has a bright future ahead, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.

Stay tuned for more info as it’s released.

Next weekend I’ll be at StokerCon 2019 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  I’ll be taking part in the mass author signing and ice cream social on Friday night from 5pm until 6:30pm.   After that?  No clue.  I don’t have a panel or a reading.  I guess I’ll just be hanging out and attending other readings and panels.  Come say hi, and you’re so obliged, bring me some ice cream, preferably Mint Chocolate Chip.

Hey, everyone!  With the release of my upcoming Deadite Press novella, ONE FOR THE ROAD, coming soon (like June 15th soon), I now have e-book ARCs available.  If you are a online reviewer (like Goodreads, personal blog, review site) and you’re wanting to check it out, please email me at wesleysouthard@gmail.com and I’ll send you a copy.