The Ghoulish Times | 06.05.25
Hello and welcome to the latest issue of The Ghoulish Times. My name is Max Booth and this is my free spooky newsletter. It’s been a little over a month since our last issue. No real reason why. We’ve all just been very busy.
Don’t believe me? Look at this recent selfie. Does this look like someone with spare time?
If you’re local, we have a lot of fun bookstore events coming up. Check them out at the end of this newsletter (I don’t want to immediately scare away non-locals!).
ICYMI, our first two book releases of the year are already out:
A Feast of Putrid Delights by Valentina Rojas and Say Uncle by Ryan C. Bradley. Read Putrid if you want a quick, disgusting good time. Read Say Uncle if you want to laugh and cry about the embarrassing illusion of masculinity.
I also interviewed both of these authors on the GHOULISH podcast. Listen to my episode with Valentina HERE and listen to my episode with Ryan HERE.
We are so, so close to finishing everything on the next issue of Ghoulish Tales. I think at this point Lori’s just waiting on me to send her an introduction for it, then it’s going off to the printers. So, I’ll be working on that later today.
I also need to finish finalizing the table of contents for our Best Trans Horror of the Year anthology. I haven’t accepted anything yet, but I have a very promising pile in my email that I need to make some decisions on. We already have an INCREDIBLE cover for it that I’m excited to share with y’all. I also have some full-length manuscripts from last year’s open call I haven’t decided on yet, which is embarrassing. Burnout is very real, folks.
Beyond that, you can look forward to Bob Pastorella’s The Small Hours and Nadia Bulkin’s Issues with Authority in September, Jess Hagemann’s Mother-Eating in October, and Lor Gislason’s Cosmic Dyke Patrol in November. We also have a couple reprints we’ll be putting out sometime this year. I just haven’t found the time to work on them like I would have liked. Soon, I hope.
I’m hoping to vendor at ArmadilloCon this year, but I haven’t heard back yet about my table application. In September we will once again put on the one-day Ghoulish Book Festival horror market at Fantastic Fest in Austin.
I’ll also be vendoring at a fun lit fest in Toronto this October. Details on that one have not been announced yet, so I can’t say much more. I will say, however, that I am very excited to visit Canada and hang out with friends. Also, I need to finally try poutine, even if I expect it will destroy my stomach.
Okay, now, if you are a local ghoul, and are interested in attending some fun events at our bookstore, here ya go:
THURSDAY, JUNE 5 - 6PM (TONIGHT!!!)
TACO CAT GOAT CHEESE PIZZA Card Game & Graphic Novel Extravaganza – Feat. Jenna Schroeder!
The beloved characters from the game (which has sold over 10 million copies worldwide!) are now starring in a brand-new graphic novel, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza and the Case of the Missing Hat. Written by Jenna Schroeder (sister of the game’s creator, Dave Campbell) and illustrated by Yamerpro, this lively, full-color adventure brings the fan-favorite characters to life in an exciting mix of humor, friendship, and mystery.
Join Jenna Schroeder at Ghoulish Books this Thursday, June 5th at 6pm for a fun, kid-friendly card game & graphic novel extravaganza. A limited supply of both the graphic novel and card game will be for sale. On top of that, there will be:
A reading and book signing.
A fun behind-the-scenes look at how the book was created.
A game demo of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 - 7PM
DYBBUK IN THE DOORWAY Release Party – Feat. John Baltisberger & Lucas Mangum!
Join Lucas Mangum and John Baltisberger at Ghoulish Books in Selma, TX, to celebrate the release of DYBBUK IN THE DOORWAY, Baltisberger’s new supernatural horror novella from Anxiety Press.
Eli never wanted to return to the childhood home he fled, or the Chasidic community within. But when his brother dies, he feels he can’t run from his past any longer.
But there is something else in the old tenement building with them, something sensual, beautiful, powerful, and extremely deadly.
Enjoy two ghost-themed readings, one from Splatterpunk Award Winner Lucas Mangum and one from Wonderland Award Winner John Baltisberger. Followed by a mini-lecture on Jewish Monster/Ghost hunting and a workshop to make your own Jewish Monster Hunting kit (all supplies provided with purchase of DYBBUK IN THE DOORWAY)—workshop limited to 20 participants, but everyone is welcome to stay and watch. Secure your copy of DYBBUK IN THE DOORWAY (and your monster hunting kit!) HERE.
Ghoulish Books will be open to the public, and you’ll be able to shop the store for the best the horror genre has to offer, including the works of John and Lucas, who will be on hand throughout the evening to sign their books.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28 - 7:30PM
Saturday Night Spookies (FREE Horror Movie Screening)
PRESHOW STARTS AT 7:30PM
SHOWTIME IS AT 8:00PM!!!
Saturday Night Spookies is our monthly movie screening event! On the last Saturday every month, we host a FREE secret movie screening in our bookstore. The movie title is always a secret until showtime.
MOVIE HINTS: HORROR COMEDY - BISEXUALS REJOICE - INITIALLY PANNED, NOW BELOVED - FEATURED IN “IT CAME FROM THE CLOSET”
Although these screenings are free, we do have limited seating, so show up earlier rather than later to reserve your spot.
We also sell snacks & drinks in the lobby.
TUESDAY, JULY 15 - 7PM
THE UNKILLABLE FRANK LIGHTNING Release Party – Feat. Josh Rountree & L.P. Hernandez!
Join us at Ghoulish Books to celebrate the release of Josh Rountree’s new novel, The Unkillable Frank Lightning. Live author readings & signings! Copies of the author’s books will be available for sale at the shop. The Unkillable Frank Lightning can be pre-ordered HERE. Choose local pickup if you’d like to receive it during the event!
Josh will be in conversation with local San Antonio local L.P. Hernandez (In the Valley of the Headless Men).
The event will also be recorded for a live episode of L.P. Hernandez’s podcast Dog-eared Nightmares.
FRIDAY, JULY 25 - 7PM
Ha Ha Storytime! 5 writers compete in a storytelling gameshow!
Don’t miss an evening to remember! Five writers compete for Sonic the Hedgehog’s heart in a deranged storytelling gameshow ✨ (hosted by Sonic the Hedgehog)
If the images don’t load, our bookstore address is Ghoulish Books, 9330 Corporate Drive, Suite 702, Selma TX 78154.
Okay that’s all I got. Goodbye.
—max