Mail Woes & Writing Updates (Patreon)

Hello, Critters! 

I am so, so, so sorry to have to say (again) that small packet mail has stopped (again). I can't imagine why this late in the pandemic, but the Japanese postal workers are saying mountains of mail are being returned, and I've had some stuff come back, too. I'll resend when I can, rebuy snacks if I need to. Another thought is maybe also since it's close to the end of the year and Christmas they realize it's only going to get worse. 

I've been to the post office several times and can get no answer on when they'll start accepting again. This is so frustrating because I wanted to get some Japanese New Years thingies in the mail this month and next. Again, I apologize and will send extra when it opens up. 

Countries affected are America and Australia. So other packages should be okay, although they keep telling me to expect delays, sometimes long ones.

I did get postcards out though. I'm hearing back from people who are just getting September's card, so those seem to be moving at a snail's pace, too. 

In other much better news: 

1. Kyoto! Vaccinated, boostered, and Japan having freakishly low numbers of corona cases as well as a very heartfelt and sad program about how so many smaller shops, restaurants, and inns in Kyoto are going under because the lack of tourists, and I'm planning a trip! In early December I'm going to drive to Kyoto (and Nara) and do some research and soaking up all the good energy there. 

If you have any place in Kyoto or Nara that you've been and have loved or you've read about and want to go, please, please let me know. Maybe we could do an episode on it! I'm feeling quite overwhelmed. I want to go everywhere, see everything. I just might be too excited. But I have been getting some good ideas and roughly putting together a plan. I'm hoping that going by car will end up being a good choice. It's quite the drive from here and riding inside the city will be out, but I think it will make visiting the outskirts of Kyoto easier. Plus really don't want to be holed up in subways and trains. 

2. I was asked to do another serialized story for the Asahi Weekly English language paper. This is the fourth time they've asked me which makes me really happy. Every time I write a story for them it's something I can rewrite/repurpose and publish elsewhere. I'm in the process of working on all three past stories -- fleshing them out and giving them some more zip -- to send to my agent and see if we can get them some publisher love. 

3.  I got contacted by some NFT-something-or-other (I'm still trying to wrap my head around NFTs), and they wanted to buy ad time on the show as well as a big batch of "The Carp-Faced Boy". I'm not sure UJ's listeners are interested in NFTs, but they did buy a bunch of the collection. Maybe because of that, not sure, the publisher contacted me and said he wants to talk about get the Italian translation rights to "Carp-Faced Boy". So, yay! An Italian version out there perhaps! 

4. My short horror story "Above Aimi" is in an anthology of (fictional) haunted places from around the world. 

The press release below:

Publisher’s Page: http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/travel_anthology.html

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Professor-Charlatan.../dp/1949491501/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/.../58848528-professor...

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/.../professor.../1140005139

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New release today by Dark Moon Books!!

PROFESSOR CHARLATAN BARDOT’S TRAVEL ANTHOLOGY TO THE MOST (FICTIONAL) HAUNTED BUILDINGS IN THE WEIRD, WILD WORLD (2021 EDITION)

“At Last, an Authoritative Compendium to (Fictional) Haunted Buildings for the Delight and Exploration of Reader-Travelers Around the Globe.”

For nearly forty years, renowned paranormal investigator Professor Charlatan Bardot has examined, documented, and acquired stories of haunted buildings around the world. Partnered with leading anthologist Eric J. Guignard, and gifted artists Steve Lines and James Gabb, the greatest of Charlatan’s discoveries are made available now in this comprehensive travel anthology!

From the Philippines’ tragic Ame-Soeur Clothing Factory, to Sweden’s reverent Fish Church; from Tanzania’s vengeful Unguja Restaurant, to Canada’s cursed Crow Island Lighthouse, Charlatan Bardot presents a lifetime of experience and insight into paranormal architecture.

27 feature stories and 36 tiny tales are included of haunted temples, diners, hotels, shops, hospitals, outposts, theaters, and other building types, along with maps, travel notes, illustrations, and more, all designed to provide an immersive experience for veteran travelers and armchair ghost hunters alike!

Enter Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World and explore the strange and curious locales of the globe and of your imagination.

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Title: Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World (2021 edition)

Edited By: Eric J. Guignard

Illustrated By: Steve Lines and James Gabb

Publisher: Dark Moon Books (Los Angeles, CA)

Format: Available in HARDBACK, TRADE PAPERBACK and EBOOK

Number of pages: 452

Date of publication: November 2, 2021

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Praise:

“An ambitious and beautifully constructed anthology that fans of the genre won’t want to miss.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“High-concept and brilliant . . . A who’s-who of supernatural fiction.” —Publishers Weekly

“Eric J. Guignard has outdone himself with this imaginative, eerily realistic, and fun anthology.” —Booklist