Hey Ho, Tenebrous Cult!
Just a shortie today, mostly to remind you of a couple things.
But first, some congratulations are in order!
Hazel Zorn's REEF MIND is one of LitHub's 100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025!
Something about recognition on a list like this hits a little different; it steps outside of genre, specifically, for one thing. I mean, at least 80% of the books on this list win awards that look more like graduation diplomas than rocketships or haunted houses...probably (I don't actually know, I'm just guessing here).
And we do occasionally get accused of flirting with capital-L Literary- ...wait, dear god, are we allowed to get pretentious? Finally?! ALEX IT'S TIME TO CUT ALL THE SLEEVES OFF OUR SWEATERS
As if that ain't enough, LitHub also highlighted Koji A. Dae's CASUAL as one of the best overlooked Sci-Fi books of the year!
Anyway, both Koji and Hazel wildly deserve these plaudits, and you deserve their dystopian sci-fi/eco-body-coral-horror books, respectively. So go get 'em.
Reminder #1: YOUR BODY IS A FEVER DREAM Submissions Open; Slush Readers & Benefactors sought!
All the details are here, but here're the broad strokes:
- Submissions are open until January 10th!
- We're on the lookout for slush readers—though if you slush, you can't submit, just be aware—word-spreaders and donations to help raise funds for interior art for the book.
Proceeds from YOUR BODY IS A FEVER DREAM will go to Trans Legal Services Network or the Trans Doe Task Force, both of whom get a little more mention below.
Reminder #2: The Tenebrous 2026 Book Club Subscriptions are Open!
Get more details about next year's Book Club offerings here. And now we'll twist your arm with this barrage of lovely words and pretty pictures of the first five titles coming your way in 2026:
Cover art by Kerrison Wemerson. Interior illustrations by Blacky Shepherd:
Cover art by Jenna Cha; interior illustrations by Echo Echo:
Cover art by Evangeline Gallagher; interior illustrations by Echo Echo:
Cover and interior art by Jenna Cha:
Cover art by Matt Blairstone:
We have a print+eBook option, but we also have a just-the-eBooks option for $31.99:
ONE HALF-CENTURY DOWN. ONLY TWO MORE TO GO.
I turn fifty today, and while the world itself is a bit utterly flaming trashbag-y, on a personal level I'm feeling awfully grateful. I spend nearly every minute of my life with my favorite people. I run Tenebrous with the greatest partner I can imagine. No one is actively trying to murder me in my sleep that I know of. I mostly get to do what I want, and despite the economy being in the above-mentioned flaming trashbag and for as long as we remain uninterested in anything resembling steady paychecks, Tenebrous is stable, healthy and here for the long-ass haul.
So in lieu of gifts:
- Donate to either the Trans Legal Services Network or the Trans Doe Task Force. Hell, send 'em $10 or more and email us the receipt at [email protected] and we'll send you the Tenebrous eBook of your choice!
- Subscribe to the 2026 Book Club! I mean, technically this is a gift for yourself.
- Support Indie Publishing
Tenebrous First, Everyone Else Worst, in any way you can! If that's via money, great: it's a fact that publishers need it to survive. But other ways are invaluable: tell your friends; tell randos on Reddit when they ask who or what you're reading; tell other indie publishers [that Tenebrous Rulez]; tell the awards systems that keep going back to the same old dry dusty well. Whatever you do, don't keep it to yourself! Spread the word!
We've got another sexy cover art reveal for you next week. See you soon, Cult.
Hail Indie Publishing.
Hail New Weird Horror (+ More!)
Hail the Tenebrous Cult.
Matt + Alex
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