Quick Message (3/15/25)

Hey all!

I’ve got a bunch more people to sign up for updates on here and I cannot even begin to emphasize how much that means to me. So I won’t try. This message is not to be sappy or appreciative - even if I am - no this post is to explain my stupidity when it comes to emails. Specifically the, “Welcome to this website and thanks for subscribing!”, type of email.

This is the exact face I’ve been making for the last six weeks. So it’s not added to the random stock image tally.

In order to understand just how dumb I am you have to first understand that I have the old soul of a curmudgeonly old man yelling at children to get off his lawn. Which has its advantages, but one of them is not technology. Despite being Gen-Z, I cannot for the life of me understand some things our computers and phones do. Seriously, you should have seen me when I first got Snapchat. I went on some weird rant about how stupid it is and kids these days are only interested in maintaining their streaks instead of actually talking. This is context for the email situation.

Because trying to figure out how to send e-mails to my new subscribers on here has resulted in some truly comedic crash-outs that I wish you guys could have seen. Nevertheless, the purpose of this blog post is to explain this: while it is normal for new subscribers to receive a “Welcome” email - this is, apparently - not a normal website. Because I can’t figure out how to do it without paying for it. And I currently have my pockets turned inside out with no money to spare, so please excuse the informality of this operation. We (me) are still working out the kinks of this whole thing and I appreciate you guys not all standing in a circle around me pointing and laughing as I fumble with the e-mail situation.

“But Nic,” I hear you say, “None of us really noticed or even cared.”

Yeah, well, whatever. I felt the need to explain myself. I’m a paranoid and struggling artist - leave me alone! See? Curmudgeonly.

With all that said, you guys should still get email updates for a new blog post and, more importantly, you’ll get an email to buy my book when it comes out. So thank you guys for sticking with me. Much, much, much later, when I’ve made it big and I have a dude running this website for me, we will all look back at this snafu, this debacle, this miscarriage of email justice, and share a laugh.

Some Updates (12/30/24)

Oh boy oh boy has it been a while.

Happy Holidays!!!!!!

Okay, niceties out of the way. Listen, I have good news… kinda.

Random stock image tally: 8

I’m cautious of how much I can say, because I’ve been asked not to divulge too much information. But I would be remiss if I didn’t inform the two people reading these that I have indeed begun talks with a publisher to publish a book at an undisclosed time. Yes, I know, super exciting.

I’m still in the process of getting everything together, I need to write up bios and get headshots and its a whole thing but the point is I signed a book deal so I can actually be a real author finally. I’m super excited about all of this, but I refuse to celebrate until the book is out there because if this all blows up in my face I’ll be devastated. SO, I will reserve the celebrations and sappy preaching for another time. This is just an update regarding my legitimacy as an author and what you can expect from me in the coming years. I’ll update you guys with more information as soon as humanly possible, I promise.

This is not a random image! This relates to my first book, which I’ve already described as psychological horror set in the Himalayas. Cool, right?

Other than that, I’m still hard at work writing like a lunatic. The amount of words I have put to paper is staggering. Seriously, I can’t wait to share more but I’m working on a bunch of stuff that I’m really excited about. Again, I don’t want to give too much away and jeopardize any deals (future and present) that I make. I hope you guys don’t crucify me for being so vague. Just hang in there a little longer and I’ll get my first novel to you, ASAP! Thank you so much for the support I’ve gotten from some of you, it means the world to me. I’ll be back soon.

Cancelling Novella Release (8/11/24)

I’ll explain more soon, this isn’t a bad thing this is a good thing. I’ll hopefully give more details soon. Just hang tight a little bit longer, guys.

(Not a part of the random stock image gang, this is you guys waiting for me to release something.)

Tormentors (7/9/24)

I’ve decided on what I’m finally going to be publishing. It’s a novella I’m going to release - if not by the end of July then definitely August - I’m super excited to share some details and even more pumped to finally put something I wrote out there in the world.

I just really liked the way this looked. Pretty, right? Random Stock Image Tally: 7.

“Tormentors” is a novella, kind of a short (around 30,000 words, that’s not even a hundred pages) horror story that also serves as an allegory for some ongoing issues in America. It centers on a summer camp in the 80’s where a girl, Holly Kane, is having a rough time. Her parents and peers don’t understand her, the boy she likes seems to only see her as a friend, and to make matters worse she’s constantly bullied. After a prank goes too far, Holly meets something in the woods near camp. Something cosmic, horrifying, and powerful. From there Holly has to decide who she is, what actions she’s going to take and more importantly, what actions she’s willing to take.

I wrote this around two and a half years ago. I always wanted to write a story set in a summer camp, especially horror. I really love that crystal lake, Jason Voorhees, slasher kind of vibe. I also wanted to write an allegory for some real world issues, but I won’t get into that because it will A.) spoil the plot and B.) detract from what the reader experiences/takes away from it. For me, I want the reader (you) to form your own opinions and conclusions in regards to how everything plays out. I was going to say this is my first step on the road to becoming an author, but I think that privilege belongs to the first day I pulled my laptop out in high school and decided to write a book. So I’d say I’m on my four hundredth and seventy third step of becoming an author.

I’m being a smartass, what I’m saying is this is all part of the journey. I’m super proud of this novella and I hope it gets the support it needs to give me a chance at publishing a bigger book with a publishing company. AKA, getting physical books on shelves.

This… actually isn’t a random image. It won’t get added to the tally. This is a little tease for the story ;)

Furthermore, (you like that? I’m pulling out the lingo you use when you’re writing an essay and you need a transitional word, like therefore, moreover, shit like that) I’m thinking about getting some help from a third party for marketing purposes. While I’d like to think that every single one of my four followers will buy and read this novella, it won’t be enough to make a splash. So I’ve been thinking about that, which is part of why this might take a tad bit longer. But I do know a few of you that have been waiting for this and I really appreciate the patience/understanding.

I’ll be posting updates as soon as I know more, in the meantime all I can say is I’m really excited about publishing this. It won’t be pricey, either. If you think I’m charging a lot I won’t be. My goal is to get it out there and to get people to read the damned thing. Making money is great and all, but making waves is more important at this stage of my career. If I want a shot at the big leagues of this shit, I need to show my worth. So, that’s where you guys come in. Whenever I publish this thing (and there will be links, updates, tutorials, whatever you need to help you find it), please, for the love of all that is holy, go and buy it. Read it, you need to read more probably I don’t know maybe not, but do me a solid.

ESPECIALLY if I gave you gum in high school. You know who I’m talking to, yeah, you, go buy the fuckin book. You know how much I spent on gum for you guys? Exactly!!! :) Alright, I’m out. I’ll keep updating as I go. In the meantime, save up some dollars for me.

Quick Update

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So, I know it’s been forever AND ever since I posted. Lots has happened. This will be a very short post but more will follow at some point way sooner, no more big gaps.

I’m in the midst of a big move to a new place and I’ve been writing a LOT. The short of it is this: after a very inspiring talk with an old acquaintance I’ve decided I’m probably going to upload one of my novels to Amazon.

I don’t know when, nor do I know what novel (yet), but it’ll probably happen in July. I’m leaning toward a horror novel I’ve been workshopping for awhile. I know this has been brief. But you’ll hear more from me, soon!

Until then, keep an eye out. Thank you!

Full Manuscripts!!! (3/17/24)

Before I get to the really exciting stuff, let me just say, I know it’s been awhile. Like, almost two months awhile. I’ve been hella busy with work and writing and sending stuff out and as you’re about to see it totally paid off. Well, not really, but kinda, but yeah, whatever. Let’s get to the good news!

I just thought this was pretty. Random Stock Image Tally: 5.

Super exciting progress has been made. Not one but TWO, count em, TWO (SpongeBob reference, if you don’t like SpongeBob I’m going to politely ask you to leave) publishers have requested a full manuscript for TMK and I’m super excited about it. Not only is this the first time that’s ever happened, but they seemed to actually read what I sent them. Now, for those who aren’t always sending things to agents and publishers, let me just say, that’s fucking rare. Everything I heard back up to this point was in a form letter, that being an automatic and very static rejection that was pre-written and showed no signs of reading my materials. I’m not saying they didn’t, I’m just saying their rejection didn’t reflect it.

However, these two publishers totally read what I sent them. They were very transparent with me and it was very exciting and I can’t tell you how happy I am about it. If this goes well, the next step will be coordinating with whichever publisher likes my book to publish it. If and when that happens, I’ll let you guys know. Now, does this guarantee that TMK will be published? No, absolutely not. But this is progress and that is something that should be celebrated. Hence the balloons and fireworks. The woods are just there because I think they’re pretty. What? I know it’s not consistent with the rest of the post but I like it. Listen man, don’t back talk me, it’s been a long day. You know what? Leave me alone, it’s my blog I can do what I want.

See what I did? This random stock image actually pertains to the blog post. That’s cool, right? Random Stock Image Tally: 6.

Now, I never made it to the Write or Die writing event as much as I wanted to. The schedule is tough because Tuesdays are pretty busy for me. I did however make it to Saturday’s Send It event hosted by Scribble House in Pittsburgh, I love them. They were instrumental in helping me get those full manuscript requests and I’m endlessly thankful (it was also super cute seeing how excited they got when I told them). Everything they’ve told me has been super helpful, so it was gratifying to show them that they’re doing something good. I was told repeatedly by everyone on the damn planet that these things take time, and to not be discouraged that I haven’t heard back yet. That’s good to hear, because I’d definitely be discouraged by now.

So, future fans, hold onto your asses, we’re not out of the woods yet. This is just a small steppingstone in my “I’m becoming a famous author” arc. To whomever reads this, I appreciate you endlessly and hope you stick with me. As I’m sure I’ve said before on this goofy ass blog I don’t have much confidence in myself, for much of anything, except writing! I know I can do this, and I know I’m good at it, and I know the good people of the world will enjoy what I have to offer. It’s just about getting out there and doing it, which is what I’m trying to do, so hard. Anyways, take care guys, and do a dance or say a prayer or cast a spell to make this come to fruition! In the meantime, I’ll try manifesting.

P.S. I didn’t introduce myself at the beginning, did you notice? It was super hard, but I managed.

A Few Updates (2/3/24)

Hey all, it’s me again.

Nic… it’s… it’s Nic…

Look, on the last post I said I was going to stop introducing myself but it’s weird, alright? I can’t shake the feeling I have to say my name. Okay, moving on.

No real progress has been made since the last post, nothing concrete, anyway. I’ve sent The Mountain King (or TMK from here on out) to a few publishers, but it’s way too soon to hear back from them. I do however have something exciting to look forward to, a new event! I’m heading to something called Write or Die, it’s a critique group that meets on… I don’t remember when they meet but they do. I think it’s Tuesday? I don’t know, I wrote it down somewhere. Anywho, I’m excited. I think getting professional feedback from professional writer dudes would be very helpful. I’m going in confident, too. Which is strange for me. I recently listened to a podcast where an actor talked about his confidence in his craft. He said that at a certain point in his education he stopped listening to the acting advice and just decided to do what made him happy. Realizing that he and fellow students were just modifying their acting to appease the teachers, to get their approval. He commented that because of his upbringing, which was full of love and approval, he didn’t need that from the teachers. It was super interesting, and cool to hear him attribute at least some of his success to that.

I wasn’t kidding, I’m going to keep using random stock images until I run out. Does this Sun have anything to do with what I’m talking about? No. That’s why it’s funny. Random stock image tally: 4.

As someone who has, ahem, remarkable issues when it comes to seeking love and approval externally, that was important to hear. So I know now, going into these events hosted by people with far more experience and knowledge than I could dare hope for, that I should take what they say with a grain of salt. Not to say that I can’t take constructive criticism or that I’m going in with my walls up. But I will have a modicum of wary, I will fight for what I think is right. If they think something I did is wrong and they make sense, good. If they don’t like the story for some strange reason I can’t fathom? Then fine, but I’m not ingesting that, I know what I write is good, it’s just about finding an audience and a way to reach that audience. So many words to say, I won’t go in seeking their love and approval. I don’t need that. This thing I do, this writing. From TMK to the trilogy to any short stories, all of it. What I do, what I’m pursuing, what I love… the writing, it may be the only aspect of my life that has absolute love and approval from the unlikeliest of sources: myself.

I believe I can do this. I have a good head on my shoulders, for the most part, and because of that I know that this is possible. I just have to keep fighting. It’s not going to be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is. What I do matters, it makes me feel good and I enjoy doing it. I guess, if there’s an actual purpose to this post, it would be to inspire the four people reading this. What are you passionate about? What do you like to do? What do you enjoy? Too often do we become complacent in life. I’m a twenty five year old kid who has no earthly idea what the fuck he is doing, but I’m doing it because it matters to me and I think I can do it. So, what do you do? I’m here to tell you it matters. What you do matters. I don’t care who says what, I don’t care what you’re into. You want to paint? Go paint. You want to act? Go act. You want to build bikes? Go build bikes. You want to draw pictures of abstract elephants? Draw some abstract elephants. You want to rob a bank? Don’t… don’t do that. Nothing illegal or immoral here people, let’s not be animals. What I’m trying to say is don’t suppress what makes you happy, engage with it. Just do it. Life is too short to waste it away doing everyone else’s bidding. DO what YOU want. It matters, you matter, and so does your aspirations. Not perspirations, that’s gross.

Okay, good talk. I’ll be back at some point with the next entry in my captain’s log.

See you next time, dorks.

Progress Made (1/21/24)

Hi, my name is Nic. Do I have to do that every time? I feel like at this point I don’t. From here on out, no more my name blah blah blah. We’ve moved past it, we’re closer now, all is right in the world. How are you? Comfy? Cozy? Relaxed? God, I hope so. Too much tension in the world, we need more comfy, cozy, and relaxed people. I’m rambling? Yeah, that’s fair. Okay, to the point then… that introduction wasn’t a real post, I feel like. This is supposed to help whoever’s reading this better understand who I am. My vibe, my personality. Which, after this first paragraph, has a 50/50 shot of selling you on me. But the blog does present an interesting opportunity. A captains log type situation where I can periodically update the progress of publishing my first novel. That could be cool, right? Does it sound cool? I think it sounds cool… cool.

How many stock images do you guys think I can burn through by the end of this whole thing? My guess is all of them. Might be fun to keep a tally. So far we’re at three, I think.

To catch up, I’ve queried about fifty or so agents with various materials. I have a completed trilogy that I’m quite proud of and hope to get out there some day. But I think it’s a bit too big for agents to bite right now. I need to show my worth before they take those books seriously. At least, that’s the vibe I’m getting. No one has said that, but they haven’t not said it. There’s also a handful of short stories (that centipede one being the shortest), as well as a short novel. That short novel, a horror novella if you will, is what I’m trying to get published now. I went to a literary event about a week or so ago (shout out to ScribbleHousePGH’s “Send It!”) and got some really good advice from the people there. They said getting an agent without having anything published was going to be very difficult, so I decided to take that short novel and get it published so I could get an agent for the trilogy. SO, where does that leave me?

I’ve submitted the manuscript to three smaller presses/publishers in the hopes to get the ball rolling on that. Hopefully, one of them will bite. If they’re anything like the agents I queried, I have a lot more submitting to do. For some odd reason, I always thought writing would be the hardest part of this whole process. If you read the about page then you know I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. In all those years of writing aspirations I never once thought getting an agent, representation, or publication would be difficult. In hindsight, that’s incredibly naive, but I was a kid. Now, I realize that writing is the easiest (and best) part; But if I want to do this for a living then I have to get the writing out there onto shelves and into your hands.

I hope to do that, soon. There’s nothing I love more than this, than typing away on a keyboard and conveying something to someone, or at least trying. I’m largely pessimistic, and self deprecating, which is why I’m so shocked by my confidence in the stuff I write. I genuinely think it’s good literature, and I think you will agree with me. My job is to give you the opportunity to judge for yourself.

Before I go, I’ll leave a brief synopsis of the horror novel in case anyone is interested. Also, thank you for reading this. Means a lot to me. Alright, toodles.

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The Mountain King

The Mountain King is a horror novel/novella that tells the story of David, a meek and admittedly weak man with not much going on in life. After discovering his wife’s infidelity, she divorces him and gets full custody of the children leaving him on his own. Meanwhile, he runs into an old friend of his, Mark, an alpinist who has everything in life. He’s rich, he’s handsome, and he doesn’t have to work for a living. In their reunion, David realizes he wants to climb a mountain with his long lost friend. Both to compensate for his perceived emasculation and to prove to himself he’s not weak. They decide on the Annapurna Circuit, a dangerous route in a dangerous time of year. Their guide, Faneel, leads the small group made up of David and Mark. As well as Bryce, the experienced alcoholic who’s climbed many times before. Finally, there is Larry and Wendy, a toxic couple who are just as much amateurs as David is. They all embark on this adventure for their own reasons, there’s only one problem…

Something sinister awaits them on their route. A malevolent creature that is eager to greet these newcomers. It is sadistic, cunning, strong, and most of all… hungry.

Introductions and (no) Short Story (1/20/24)

Hello, my name is Nic. This is the first of what may be many blog posts so that those that are interested can get to know me and who I am. For the briefest of introductions, I am an aspiring writer living in Pennsylvania. I love everything mystery, horror, and thriller related. Hence, most of my writing encompassing some combination of those genres. I enjoy cooking, I abhor playing sports, and I’m obsessed with video games as much as I am good storytelling.

EDIT 1: (3/31/25)

There used to be a short story here and there isn’t anymore because I’m not sure I want it to be the first impression strangers have of me. It was fine when only people I personally knew were coming here but now that I have a wider audience that’s continuously growing I’d rather a different first impression when it comes to my writing. I hope that’s alright!