narrative gripes

If you’re reading this, it’s time. Grab your physical edition of The Killing Type, or snag an ebook edition for the road. Featuring original cover illustrations from Sydney Kattine and a very special dedication, finally you can share your love of crime and murder with friends and family.

Buy Now

Heyyyyy. :)  Whatcha doin? Enjoying spooky season? :) :) :)

Just wanted to let you guys know that The Killing Type is now available on the Kindle Store, as well as Kobo–and, in a couple days, also as a Barnes & Noble Nook epub.

Obviously this stage isn’t as exciting as the print copies (which are coming very soon–my cover designer had to change some of the behind-the-scenes elements of the cover design…yadda yadda yadda). The good news is, I’ll be able to make the both digital and physical editions way more widely available than I had previously expected.

In the meantime: if you want to see what’s new and different in the updated novel, feel free to grab a Kindle edition (or just sling one at your friend and see how they like it).

Or perhaps, if you are feeling very charitable today, consider leaving a positive review; I hear they help. And, of course, let me know what you think!

You guys still receive the news first when stuff like this happens, but I do have an e-mail alert sign up on my website for when the print version goes live. When that happens, this blog will be used far, far less.

Something I’ve discovered is that self-publishing takes money. While I’ll itemize costs for you at some point, the gist is that everything, from an ISBN to copyright protection to formatting to website hosting (yes there will be a website!), costs. Part of what has made the rollout of The Killing Type take as long as it has is that I am paying these expenses as I can afford them; sometimes that means saving a few hundred dollars at a time for the next part of the project. 

I work to support myself. While it would be a privilege to lean on, say, my family for financial support, I simply don’t have that option. Actually, at 26, I’m making slightly more money than the amount my mother made to support us when I was growing up–still not very much. And while I’m happy to work and always have (my first gig was as a 14-year-old at a hipster toy store), my true dream is to be able to devote myself fulltime to writing stories. You know the stuff: stories that are engaging. Stories that feel like a game or a puzzle, somehow intimate because it’s also about the reader. Stories you want to come back to, hopefully. All that love and calamity. 

For a long time I was wary of the donation model of income–maybe I just didn’t feel like I had the right to ask. 

I’m asking now. While it’s still fairly bare-bones, I decided to create a Ko-fi account. If you’re interested in supporting this next step of TKT, or future writing of mine (short stories, articles, as well as a longer piece I have planned with an adventure element for the reader), please consider donating. I am also looking into perks I might be able to offer to those who donate, so if you have something in mind, feel free to let me know.

You, dear reader, have always been at the heart of my passion for writing. There is nothing like creating something you can enjoy. I am humbled by your support. 

You can find my Ko-fi link in the blog description or 

RIGHT HERE, IN GIANT LETTERS.

Hey gang. Hard to believe it’s been a little over five years since we first went on this journey together, because you guys have been so constant in your support. I am so, so grateful for the opportunity that came from writing this story–the opportunity to connect with YOU, and create something you could enjoy, again and again. 

As a thank you, and after much deliberation, I’ve decided that it’s time for TKT to come to you in a new form: in glossy elegant print, and compact Kindle epub. Soon, you’ll be able to share The Killing Type with your non-fandom friends and family (provided they like steamy murder mysteries of several hundred pages). 

Obviously this means some things will be changing with the story you know and love. I’ll have some FAQ-type information to you as soon as possible (update: here it is), but feel free to shoot me a message if you have questions.

I finished final edits last night and wanted you to be the first to know. It’s hard to quantify how much the experience we shared with TKT affected my life, and I’m positive I’ll be feeling the echoes for a long time. Going through this with you guys set me on my path, inspired me to pursue a Creative Writing degree, and, most miraculously, made me certain that this is what I want to do with my life. 

I can never say thank you enough. Never. And I hope that this is only the first of many journeys we will go on together. You are all fantastic. 

More news to follow; watch this space. 

Love and gratitude,

ZAYN - Calamity (Audio)

Lyrics:

Nostalgia

What a funny feeling

I feel depleted

From feelings I've been revealing

it’s do or die I'm not going willing

but when it’s time wrap in white linen

I rap this

I say it for my sanity

Whatever the calamity I did this for myself

Fuck all your fantasies

you’re a snake fell off the ladder

I prefer speaking in analogies

I’ve had enough of all this wet

and I can’t trust that you're my family

I don't know whats next

the brain dead that I never miss

my brain lives with the cannabis

can I resist the dark abyss

Leave a mark on this with no start just exist

my minds in a prism shape

and in times like prison state

there’s no right that I feel of late

there’s no light if my view’s at stake

and which left should I choose to take

whats left is it room or space

There are rumors we have to face

I prefer sooner than after late

I seen actors after baftas be more straight

I mean down the barrel

I hear them sing it’s the same carol

they trying to sprint in a long run Mo Farah

they trying to fix when its long gone don't bother

There’s no other the thought shudders

Through most lovers

I wanna bed you but still sleep is deaths cousin

so two weeks is now four dozen

years that pass by cant press no rewind

just watch my life by and lock the right ties

Nobody nobody is listening to me

Nobody nobody is listening

Nobody nobody is listening to me

Nobody nobody is listening to me

Written by: Zayn

Louis via Twitter. (13 January 2021)