Newsletter #4

 Happy autumn!

Zworsky’s Children

Here it is. Last Stand is now available to pre-order! The paperback and hardcover will be available to purchase on November 11.

 

Thank you to Stuart Bache for designing another amazing cover. A huge thank you as well to Lynda at Easy Reader Editing for copyediting the book. I’m so excited to share the conclusion of the Zworsky series. With that being said, I’ve also written another story set in the Zworsky universe, which I’ll share next year.

Hitchcock Project Update

The journal did not accept the revisions I made to my article. Rejections are always tough, but they come with reviewer feedback that can really help improve the work. In fact, the pressure to address the comments got me back into the groove of academic writing.

The Hitchcock project is moving along faster than I expected. All five chapters are now written, including the introduction, and I’m currently doing a fine edit. After that, I’ll write the conclusion. I’ve even started working on a textbook proposal form, which I plan to begin submitting to publishers next year.

My Lovely Dark Summer

My new mystery and coming-of-age novel will be sent for copyediting in November. I designed the cover myself and will reveal it toward the end of the year. The release date is set for the first week of February, and I’m very excited to share this one with you.

“It lives in the rocks.” That’s the opening line of the synopsis. Stay tuned for more!

Charlie One: Run to the Future

I never thought I’d be writing another Charlie One story—but here we are! This new book started with two vivid images I couldn’t get out of my head. After sitting with them for about a year, the pieces finally clicked, and I found a way to connect them into a story.

You don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy this one, though there are a few connections for returning readers. The title is Run to the Future, and I’m aiming to have it ready by 2027.

Books Read

I’ve read a lot about Alfred Hitchcock this year as part of my research. One standout was Patrick McGilligan’s massive biography of Hitchcock, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also immensely enjoyed Todd McGowan’s Introduction to Jacques Lacan and wrote a short review for it.

Movies
One Battle After Another really stood out for me—I loved it. It might now be one of my favorites of Paul Thomas Anderson.

You can always read what I’ve watched and read by subscribing to my Substack. Or check out my Blog.

Well, that’s it for me.

Enjoy the fall. Happy Halloween.

Keep reading. Watch movies.

Tom C.

www.tomconnellyfiction.com

Newsletter #3

The weather is getting hot, and I’m just about done teaching for the summer semester.

Zworsky’s Children

The final book in the Zworsky’s Children series will be sent off for copyediting this summer. I’ve changed the title to Last Stand—I wanted a title that made it clear this is the final book. Stuart Bache will be designing the cover, which I’ll share in September. Last Stand will be available in October.

Hitchcock Project
 

Still no update on my Vertigo article, but the Hitchcock project is really coming together. This spring, I wrote a rough draft on The Birds and apocalyptic cinema. I’m currently working on the book’s introduction, which is quite a task. I’m laying out my claim and the theory to support it, exploring the logic of fantasy and its relationship to genre. Hitchcock often felt imprisoned by the suspense genre, but my argument is that these limitations were actually productive. Psycho changed the horror genre! I’m thinking of calling the book The Limitless Alfred Hitchcock—but I’m not sure yet.

 

 

My Lovely Dark Summer
 

This is my new mystery and coming-of-age novel. I’ll be sending it off for copyediting in November and hope to have it available in early February 2026.

Charlie One

Charlie One is doing quite well in the UK—it was my most-read book on Kindle Unlimited in June. Thank you so much, UK readers!

 

 

Books Read and Reading 

I really enjoyed Stephen King’s new book, Never Flinch—King knows how to write villains. I also liked Todd McGowan’s The Fictional Christopher Nolan. I’ve read much of McGowan’s work, and this was by far the hardest—but I mean that in a good way. I enjoyed Grady Hendrix’s Witchcraft for Wayward Girls and loved Owen King’s short story “Letter Slot.” I’m currently reading Hendrix’s The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.

Well, that’s it for me.

Enjoy the summer.

Keep reading.

Tom C.

www.tomconnellyfiction.com

Newsletter #2

Hope the year is going well for everyone.

Spring has been busy for me. I am working hard on a bunch of projects. My article on Vertigo is going through a revision process, which means it wasn’t rejected—at least not yet. The reviewers liked what I wrote but had a lot of suggestions. My revisions must be completed by next month. Hopefully I’ll know by the summer if its been accepted. 

 

I really enjoyed writing on Vertigo, so I wrote a rough essay on Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train. You probably know where I’m going with this. A book on Hitchcock. I’m thinking five films, focusing just on horror.

Zworsky’s Children Series. The third book, The Metachromes, is just about done, and I will be sending it to my copy editor this summer. Stuart Bache will be designing the cover. If everything goes as planned, the book will be available in late October. I’m excited to share the conclusion of the series.

Dark Escape. A short novel connected to the Zworsky universe. It focuses on a character from Rise of the Creepers. I’ll share more details about it next year. If you haven’t checked out Creepers, it is available to purchase.

My Lovely Dark Summer. My newest book is a young adult story written for teens and adults. I cannot wait to share this one. It is a mix of mystery, science fiction, and coming-of-age. If you like Charlie One and/or The Mansion, I think you’ll really dig it.

Audio books. Amazon sent me a notice that I could create audio books using their virtual voices. I would love to hire someone to narrate my books, but I can’t afford it right now. You can listen to Suburban Tales 1 & 2 and The Postcard. The price is super cheap. I haven’t gotten any feedback, but I think the virtual voices sound really good.

Flight Unknown is inching toward 100 ratings on Amazon. I’m very thankful for all the ratings and comments.

Well, that’s it for me. I’m looking forward to sharing more news as it comes along.

Keep reading.

Tom C.

www.tomconnellyfiction.com