November 2023: I Appear Missing
Dancing on wire / both ends are on fire / Cut me loose
Right now it’s after midnight as I write this. I spent a good portion of the day taking a depression nap, and another good chunk watching reruns of The X-Files (we just started Season 3), until I felt capable of focusing on putting some words down. I know. Depression. I sing its refrain often, but I want to focus on time right now. Time and the parts of it I have to give.
Erica and I spent a week in Tennessee earlier this month. My dad has lived in the Smoky Mountain region of TN for over a decade at this point, his house always a destination for everyone else in the family as it’s (mostly) centrally located to everyone else (we being the exception, of course). Still, that’s about 600 miles and 10-12 hours of drive time. We get down there when we can. After six months of events and travel, we both needed some time away to recharge and refocus. Going to Dad’s was a necessity.
I made a point to avoid social media as much as I could. I tried to be as present as possible. Lately, my thoughts have turned to time, how much I might have, and how much I’ve wasted. I don’t get to see my old man as much as I’d like. It’s getting harder the older I get, when travel takes a bigger toll each time I do it, so I’m trying to make a conscious effort to give these rare moments as much of my attention as possible.
That week in Tennessee put some things in perspective. I don’t like being glued to my phone—because I love distraction. I love wasting time. I love not doing whatever it is I should be doing. Call it ADHD, I guess. How many books or stories could I have written by now if not for my love of distraction? Dozens, probably. Maybe more.
My perspective didn’t start in Tennessee, though. It began in Virginia. I didn’t take a lot of photos for Halloween Hangover1 in Richmond at the start of the month. I left that to Erica, who captured the moments when I was “on,” and to my friends who are better at this social media thing than I am. I preferred to talk to everyone, visit with friends whom I don’t get to see more than a handful of times a year, and enjoy their company.
This sentiment extended to my visit with family. I watched movies with Dad and tasted different flavors of moonshine. We walked around Dollywood, rode some rollercoasters, took in a couple of shows. We drove around Cades Cove and saw some black bears in the wild. I got some reading done, turned in a blurb that was long overdue, and simply vibed. No expectations, no deadlines, no answering emails or messages. No drama. Just peace.
Maybe it’s depression. Or homesickness. Probably a bit of both. But I came away from that trip with a sobering understanding: I need to be more present for those who matter, and less present for the internet. I need be more present for myself.
To wit, I’ve decided to take another step back from social media, and plan to disconnect my Twitter account after the first of the year. So, if I appear missing in the coming months, that’s why. Props to Cina /
for inspiring me to do this.Anyway. Hi, I’m Todd Keisling, and this is Messages from the Southland, my (mostly) monthly newsletter. Prior issues can be found here. Comments are turned on, so you’re welcome to drop me a line if you want. I like hearing from you.
Thanks Given
After we returned from Tennessee, I got sick for a week with a persistent cold. Not Covid, fortunately. One of those weird colds where you’re always running a low-grade temperature, your nose is stuffy, and your throat is raw. I blame the crisp mountain air.
Thanksgiving came and went. A nice quiet dinner with my in-laws. Now we’re here. And I realize I never said anything online about what I’m thankful for.
My family, of course. My friends. But something I don’t say as often as I should is that I’m thankful for all of you. Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am in my career. Would I still be writing? Of course. I was doing that long before I was anyone. But it’s because of your likes and shares and hard-earned dollars that I get to do this for a living. It’s the honor and privilege of my life to entertain you.
Thank you.
In the Works
I’m in that weird space between larger projects, which is fine by me since I always try to wind down this time of year. But I do have a couple of shorts in the works. Both are about Appalachia, but only one will be part of the Southland Mythos. Can’t talk about either one of them yet, so that’s all you get for now.
And after they’re completed, I’m jumping back into REVELATION ROAD. I’m going to do what I did with THE SUNDOWNER’S DANCE earlier this summer and reconstruct the plot scene by scene in Scrivener. It worked out really well with TSD. If it goes well with RR, then I may finally begin using it full time.
The audio production of COLD, BLACK & INFINITE continues apace, but I can’t give a definite release date just yet.
Hat Trick
My story “Oneirophobia,” which appeared in Never Wake: A Dream Horror Anthology, was accepted for a future episode of Pseudopod. This is my third sale to them in as many years, which makes a hat trick of sorts. If their production schedule is the same as the last two, then you can look for this one sometime late next year.
SCANLINES en Español!
This was announced the week after Halloween. My novella, SCANLINES, will be translated in Spanish by La Biblioteca de Carfax as part of their Demeter Collection. It’s scheduled for release sometime in 2024, but I don’t have a release date yet.
This marks the third language in which my work is translated. The concept of having fans in other parts of the world still blows my mind. Gracias!
Banshee Chapter
I was a guest on The Necronomi.com Podcast earlier this week, discussing an underrated gem of a horror film called Banshee Chapter. Listen to me try and convince you to watch the movie. Government conspiracies, numbers stations, DMT, MK Ultra, Lovecraft—this film has it all.
Low Stock
I still have copies of Devil’s Creek, Scanlines, and Cold, Black & Infinite available for purchase in my shop. Note that CBI is running low—only two left as I write this—so if you want to snag a signed copy for yourself or for a gift, you should probably do that sooner than later.
Design Discounts
For the month of December, I’m offering discounts on the following design services:
Standard Interior Formatting - $200 (33% discount)
eBook Formatting - $50 (50% discount)
I have a couple of openings for design projects, so if you’re an indie author or publisher who needs interior work, cover work, or even a book trailer, please get in touch! My full portfolio can be found here.
Currently…
Listening:
My 2023 Spotify Wrapped Playlist (3Teeth, Skold, Sleep Token, Phoebe Bridgers, etc.)
Reading:
In Excess of Dark by Red Lagoe
Watching:
The X-Files (Season 3)
Playing:
Alan Wake 2
Resident Evil Village: Shadows of Rose DLC
Black Mesa
I think that’s everything for now, friends. I hope you all had a great month, and wish you the best as we head into the end of the year. To close this out, I’ll leave you with this photo from Halloween Hangover.
May your days be as happy and crazy as we all were in this photo.
Cheers!
TK
It was awesome, by the way. Tiffany and James and the crew at B&N Libbie Place knocked it out of the park, and I hope to be invited back next year.
I enjoyed all that, Todd. Thanks for sharing the good, bad, and everything in between. Cool pics!
Here’s to a wonderfilled 2024. I certainly hope it’s better than the past couple years.