UK Cover Reveal, Blurbs & Reviews, & What I've Been Doing to Distract Myself from Existential Dread

Hi Reader,

First order of business! I’ve finally decided to give this newsletter a proper title! From now on, these writings will be called The Diabolical Digest. I do hope you’ll continue to tune in, because I’ve really enjoyed writing these letters. Instagram has apparently turned into a Dollar General version of TikTok ( why can’t I see my friends’ posts? what’s with all the reels? why is my entire feed polluted with a bunch of random videos from people I don’t follow and never will?) and to be honest Twitter will probably always scare me. In comparison, this newsletter has felt like a very peaceful and safe corner of the internet and I’m so grateful to you for reading it!

In the future I’d love to broaden the scope of this newsletter. I’m really interested in talking about the intersections between pop culture and horror, screenwriting, thoughts on book publishing, and the nitty gritty of the writing craft. But there are a few key reasons why I hesitate to do the latter…

A. I don’t want to sound like a smug jerk who appears to have everything figured out when I absolutely don’t. I am by no means an authority or an expert on writing. I’m still learning myself!

and…

B. Writing advice is specific to each writer and I don’t want people to adopt a restrictive “one size fits all” approach based on the advice I give.

I’m probably over-worrying, but I really want to make sure that any discussions about writing that occur within this newsletter feel creatively expansive not limiting. So what do you think? Are you interested in talking about writing craft or not? If so, is there anything you’d like to chat about specifically?

Feel free to drop a comment below and let me know what you’d like to see in this newsletter—whether it’s writing advice, a behind-the-scenes glimpse into my own chaotic writing process (using the word “process” very loosely here), reading recommendations, excerpts/outtakes from my own work, or anything else you’d like to see!

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Okay, onto the pressing promo matters! You may have already seen this over on Twitter or Instagram, but here is the gorgeous UK cover of House of Hunger!

I’m extremely grateful to my UK editor Simon Taylor and the designer, Rich, for creating such a striking and eerie representation of my book. I absolutely love this cover and I hope you do too.

The UK edition of House of Hunger will release this year on October 10th. Those that would like to pre-order it can do so here! And as always, if you feel so inclined you can add the UK or US editions of the book over on Goodreads.

Apart from the new cover, there have been a few other exciting behind-the-scenes developments related to House of Hunger! Some really lovely reviews have begun to trickle in, including this one from Publishers Weekly. I’ve also received blurbs from some amazing authors like the one from the incomparable Simone St. James pictured below!

All in all, I’ve been really moved by the early response to this book. There were times when I worried that people wouldn’t be able to connect with a story as strange and gruesome as the one I wrote. It comes as a huge relief to know that’s not the case.

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Okay, now that the obligatory promo is out of the way I want to share some of the things I’ve been watching, reading, and listening to over the past few weeks! I credit this list for helping me refill my creative well and distract me from the stifling and ominous cloud of existential dread that’s been looming over my head since the pandemic began.

Anyways.

What I’ve been watching…

• First Kill: Such a fun paranormal romp!

• The Worst Person in the World: Really enjoyed this one! The cinematography was beautiful and I really look forward to seeing Renate Reinsve, in more movies because I think she gave such a great performance in this one.

• The Summer I Turned Pretty: This may come as a bit of a surprise, but after horror there’s nothing I love more than a relaxing TV show about rich pretty people summering in their beachfront mansions and this one absolutely delivered. It was actually really heartfelt? I cried more than a little bit at the end.

• Heartstopper: Everyone is talking about this show and it lives up to the hype! I loved it.

• Stranger Things Season 4: The best season since the first, in my humble opinion! I’ve been obsessed with this show since the first day it aired and I’m both terrified and excited to see what the Duffer Brothers have in store for the series finale.

What I’ve been listening to…

• Preacher’s Daughter by Ethel Cain: More people need to listen to this album so I can talk about the fact that Ethel Cain is the southern Lana Del Rey of Gen Z.

• Once Upon A Time At Bennington College: This is easily the best, most juicy, fly-on-the-wall-I-shouldn’t-be-listening-to-gossip-that-is-this-personal-but-I-can’t-stop-and-I-feel-ethically-questionable-about-it podcast I have ever listened to. I was up at like 3AM listening to this podcast because I couldn’t stop.

• We Do What We Do in the Dark by Michelle Hart (audiobook): Full disclosure, I haven’t finished listening to this one yet but I’m enjoying it so much I had to include it! It’s a quick read (only about five hours long) and I find the story really immersive.

What I’ve been playing…

• Zelda Breath of the Wild: Have I thoroughly enjoyed playing this game? Yes. Do I spend the majority of my time avoiding quests, riding horses, and mushroom picking? Yes. Do I hand my partner my pink Nintendo Switch any time something scary attacks me? Also yes.

• When The Past Was Around: This is a poignant game about grief and loneliness but it’s also really cozy, and beautifully illustrated. Would highly recommend this one to gamers who love Spirit Farer.

• Abzû: Maybe the most relaxing game I’ve ever played? I love swimming around with the fish and having no goals, quests, or threats to deal with. Also the music is gorgeous.

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That’s it for today! I’m so excited to share more with you in the weeks leading up to House of Hunger’s release date!

Take care of yourself,

Alexis