Stephen King has Derry, the New England town where a lot of his early work occurs. Many of you know that Far Hollow and Berwick, sister towns in upstate New York, are a crossroads of sorts where a lot of my stories take place or have ties to. Been considering doing a newsletter for a while now, and even if you’re a younger reader/fan, maybe you remember things like the physical newspaper being delivered to your door. A true, ‘neighborhood’ vibe, whether you lived in a city or the burbs. That feeling that, the small area surrounding your living space was special—your entire world.
The Far Hollow Gazette is a monthly newsletter with some links and pics and vids, with that same, hometown paper vibe. Right now, there’s a lot going on. Issue 1 of SICK ‘N TWISTED is out, with ish 2 on the horizon. “ENCORE,” my tale from the Exactly the Wrong Things chapbook has made some end-of-year waves. My first solo Godless release hit on Black Friday weekend. There’s news to be shared, video fun, and I love the idea of ‘front door delivery’, even if it’s to your e-door. Having once been a paperboy, (y’know, back in the old days), I think the Gazette will be a different spin on the newsletter concept—with cool departments, including an Obituaries section and…real estate listings. I think you’re really going to find that something you’ll wanna get in on.
Thoughts? Suggestions? It won’t just be a sales thing, promise. There’ll be links, like everyone has, but I’d like it to work hand-in-hand with you being a Far Hollow or Berwick resident. When you see Sheriff Walt, he’ll give you a hat tip. When you see Doug walking Sophie down the street heading for Waggin’ Wheels, your critter would be okay seeing Doc Lowry there, just like Soph. Well, most times. If your car breaks down, maybe you can get it fixed at the In Gear… Then again, maybe not.
Weigh in, I’d like to get a handle on this. Means investing in a bulk mail program; scheduling the first few issues; laying the groundwork for how future issues will make you want to sit back and read it…even if it takes place in the ‘home library’. Oh, and this is important. I can promise you this, secrets will be revealed outside the framework of the stories that are released in anthologies, as individual chapbooks, etc. As with all smalltown publications—especially the haunted ones—there’s always something buried under the floorboards, and the Gazette staff’ll be doing what countless local reporters have been doing for over a century: looking to make a name for themselves by digging up whatever might be hidden down there…regardless of the consequences.
I’m on my Unicycle, ready to peddle, Bro. Let the good times roll.