Colin Brightwell

The direct correlation Stephen King mass market paperbacks had on me starting to write is immeasurable. They were cheap enough for my weekly allowance, and I could take them anywhere. This is such a bummer.

Of course the NRA is reeaalllly quiet.

(Because they like fascism.)

What started as a simple little funny-ish crime story about two brothers shop-lifting at self-checkout counters is nowhere close to being done at 3300 words and I guess some things just grow legs and run.

Publishers Weekly Casey Stegman, STEGMAN © CHARLIE MASNIK Nicole Otto at Zando took world rights, in a two book deal, to Casey Stegman's Kill Current from Uwe Stender at Triada US. The debut novel kicks off the Jon Hendricks series, about "a spy turned professor who's pulled back into the field to uncover a bloody conspiracy that would upend the balance of global technology and power," per the publisher. Kill Current is scheduled for spring 2027 and the second book is set to publish in spring 2028.

Hey, that’s me!

COMING FROM RHP PRESS IN 2026: "A Woman's Guide to True Crime," a searing story collection from the amazing @marythor.bsky.social. You don't want to miss this one.

Thank you, Mr. PEN longlister!!! Congrats to you too!

Closing out 2025 with this lil short story from BULL. Happy holidays!

I want to fly a plane past these guys' houses trailing a banner saying 'IDEAS ARE THE EASY BIT'

Oof. That one stings.

Uh oh. It’s the time of year where my seasonal depression mixes with my writer’s block!!!! :)

Getting real into Charles Dickens for no particular reason whatsoever

never gonna get old to see people sharing my lil book

It was a pleasure writing something for an anthology edited by @curtisippolito.bsky.social - even more so that it was picked for publication. I wrote it from a place of anger because this is something worth being angry for. I hope you get a copy TODAY and see the amazing work Curtis cultivated here!

!!!!!!!!

If you’re excited about On Fire and Under Water, join us tonight and help us celebrate! Come hang with @pujaguha.bsky.social, @rjbrash.bsky.social, @cbwell.bsky.social, and me as @darkwaterspodcast.bsky.social hosts.

Register here: tinyurl.com/mr3be5ue

This Tuesday, join @pujaguha.bsky.social, @rjbrash.bsky.social, @cbwell.bsky.social, and myself for a special live celebration of the launch of On Fire and Under Water with @darkwaterspodcast.bsky.social. Register and come listen to what inspired these authors’ stories as I play hype man.

(The order is not my answer I don’t have an answer yet)

FMK: Born in the U.S.A. edition.

Annnnnd go

Submissions — Rock and a Hard Place Press Submissions

@rhppress.bsky.social will be open for submissions from Saturday, November 1st, until Saturday November 22nd!

www.rockandahardplacemag.com/submissions

Some say the world will end in fire. Some say flood. In On Fire and Under Water, you get both. 15 short stories from some of the best crime fiction writers today. Guest-edited by Anthony winning author @curtisippolito.bsky.social Listen to Jordan Harper and pre-order your copy today: bit.ly/4nOVXoK

Wow, what a big tough guy there. What an asshole.

“Raw, brutal, tender, tragic-these are fifteen stories of people smashed flat by the Invisible Fist, people flailing and fighting against the huge and hidden violence at the center of our world. This is crime fiction that matters, crime fiction that is ready to face what comes next.”

a.co/d/07DXe40

Hope you lovely people are doing well. Keep posting your writing and publishing wins, it brings me joy when I lurk and see a post. In the end, it’s almost all we got.

I’ve pretty much eschewed most social media these days, but I’ve chiming in to say that I’m writing a lot lately, taking it as serious as breathing, even after wrangling 7th graders all day. And it feels good to do so, in these times. 1000 word days, 300 word days, one sentence days. Progress.

STOP. EATING. MY. SESAME CAKE!

If you missed it, I had a chance to talk with @bryanharvey.bsky.social for part of his “Airport Beers” interview series about my collection, jerseys, cowboy hats, Arizona’s Pleasant Valley war, and a whole bunch of other stuff (including recommending @cbwell.bsky.social’s awesome new collection)

The real story is that American Eagle jeans are absolute shit quality and you should buy almost any other kind of denim.

This season of It’s Always Sunny has been cooking with Frank, big time.

God you’re such a fucking cock-knocker it’s embarrassing. I wish you stayed in white trash Ohio