Tag: An Ideal Retreat

Copies of An Ideal Retreat at Dim Shores

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My limited novella An Ideal Retreat sold out earlier this year at Dim Shores, but Publisher Sam found a few extra copies. An Ideal Retreat is available for sale again, while they last. It’s a beautiful book, with art by Mikio Murakami.

An Ideal Retreat

http://dimshores.storenvy.com/products/18112772-an-ideal-retreat

Also, if you’re shopping at Dim Shores, don’t miss out on Looming Low, their beautiful first anthology.

Looming Low trade paperback

Looming Low limited, deluxe hardcover

Also, while you’re there, take a look at the latest from Dim Shores, The Resplendent Troswoman Below, by Joseph S. Pulver Sr. and Edward Morris. This release is a fundraiser to our good friend Joe Pulver, who has experienced a terrible health episode recently, necessitating a lengthy hospital stay, and followed by a slow recovery. All proceeds from sales of the chapbook will go directly to benefit Joe.

The Resplendent Troswoman Below

Dim Shores consistently does great work, and since most of their books are limited, you’ll want to check out these listings ASAP if you’re interested.

Des Lewis Real-Time Review of An Ideal Retreat

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It’s great to see Des Lewis doing one of his real-time reviews for my novella AN IDEAL RETREAT, published by Dim Shores and now sold out of its limited edition of 200 copies.

For those not familiar with Des’s real-time reviews, essentially he reviews each section, chapter or story in a separate comment on his own blog as he proceeds through the book, rather than reading the whole thing then summarizing in a single review. Not long ago, Des reviewed HIEROGLYPHS OF BLOOD AND BONE here.

This time, I didn’t realize Des had a review underway until he was more than halfway through the book.

Here’s a preview of the first installment:

The full real-time review (so far) is here:

An Ideal Retreat – Michael Griffin

Thanks to Des Lewis for giving his attention to my novella!

An Ideal Retreat Sold Out

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My limited edition novella An Ideal Retreat, from Dim Shores, sold out over the weekend.

I’d like to thank everyone who picked up a copy! This illustrated edition of 200 numbered copies was a wonderful thing, well-designed by Sam Cowan and with wonderful artwork inside and on the cover by Mikio Murakami. If you missed it, there may be a few copies set aside for sale at NecronomiCon in Providence this August. Beyond that, the novella should be included in my next collection, planned for some time in 2018.

Maybe S.P. Miskowski Will Convince You

On By griffinwordsIn Internet Destinations, Words Out2 Comments

It makes my day to see such a wonderful review of AN IDEAL RETREAT by one of my favorite writers. Yes!

Here’s just a sample:

This is fiction for grownups who know the meaning of compromise and sacrifice. This is writing for people who have made mistakes and survived. Highly recommended.

Read S.P. Miskowski’s full review on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1943524875

As of early this morning, I’m told Dim Shores only has 5 copies remaining of the edition of 200, so if S.P.’s review has convinced you, I’d hurry up and grab a copy.

http://dimshores.storenvy.com/products/18112772-an-ideal-retreat

Guest Slot on Langan Episode of The Outer Dark

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Scott Nicolay’s The Outer Dark podcast (now hosted by This Is Horror) has recently returned after a hiatus due to Scott moving and changing careers. The latest episode is one part archival interview with John Langan (from 2015, before the release of The Fisherman), one part new interview with Langan, and the usual News From the Weird feature.

tod-a04-john-langan-aspiring-to-restlessness

In the latter, I step in for usual NFtW co-host Justin Steele, and Scott starts us off with a few questions about my own recent and future publishing activities. From there, we discuss new and upcoming books in the field, culminating with my own review/discussion of The Fisherman.

The Outer Dark is a true must-listen podcast for those interested in Weird and Horror Fiction. Check out the latest sort-of-archival presentation HERE

TOD A04 John Langan: Aspiring to Restlessness and The Times They Are a-Fishin’

Review of An Ideal Retreat at This Is Horror

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Thomas Joyce at This Is Horror has wonderful things to say about AN IDEAL RETREAT, my novella upcoming from Dim Shores. Among other things, the reviewer says:

“Griffin’s command of language is clear: his prose is exquisite, his descriptions divine.”

The full review is HERE.

an_ideal_retreat_front_cover_original

You can pre-order AN IDEAL RETREAT HERE.

The book will be 112 pages, printed in an edition of 200 copies, which appears to be already roughly 1/3 sold out with a few more weeks left in the preorder period.

My sincere thanks to Thomas Joyce and This Is Horror for the kind words.

An Ideal Retreat Preorder from Dim Shores

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AN IDEAL RETREAT is now up for advance preorder (available only to people who ordered the last Dim Shores release, Daniel Braum’s YETI. TIGER. DRAGON.) until November 2 when preorder opens for everybody.

an_ideal_retreat_front_cover_original

AN IDEAL RETREAT is a novella of about 28,000 words, so I’m guessing the book will be 100-125 pages. The expected publication date is late November.

Dim Shores describes the story as follows:

Noone goes to check on an old rundown cabin belonging to her husband’s family and finds instead a beautiful vacation home filled with elegant furniture and a fully stocked gourmet kitchen. Seeing a respite from her troubled marriage, Noone decides to stay for a little while despite some unease. Are strange things really happening in the impossible house or is it just all the wine and pills?

The line I used to pitch the story to Dim Shores in the first place:

“The glamorous and perfected material idealism of Architectural Digest and Dwell magazines, seen in the distorting mirror of a marriage poisoned by infidelity, neglect, alcoholism and prescription drug abuse.”

Mikio Murakami has done a fantastic job with the cover art and three internal illustrations, and as always with Dim Shores books, Sam Cowan can be counted upon to create a beautiful, well-made publication. Visit the Dim Shores store HERE.

An Ideal Retreat Coming from Dim Shores

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I’ll have much more to say about this before it’s released, but for now, the order page for An Ideal Retreat is up on the Dim Shores storefront.

Preorders aren’t up yet (will be before end of October), but you can check this out and get a preview of the great cover.

http://dimshores.storenvy.com/products/18112772-an-ideal-retreat

an_ideal_retreat_front_cover_original

I’m very excited to work with artist Mikio Murakami, and with Sam Cowan who has done such a great job with Dim Shores!

Overview of Recent and Coming, Oct 2016

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On Facebook, John Deathginger Goodrich asked me what I had coming next, and I typed out a quick list of what’s just out and what’s coming soon… may be of use as a summary of the current state of things:

So much stuff just out, or coming soon! Eternal Frankenstein is out now (has my novelette “The Human Alchemy”), Nightscript Vol. 2 is just out (leads off with my story “The Carnival Arrives in Darkness”), new Lovecraft eZine issue includes my story “Endure Within a Dying Frame” and next month my novella An Ideal Retreat will be out from Dim Shores. Oh, and The Madness of Dr. Caligari is out this month or next, and includes my story “The Insomniac Who Slept Forever”

Links:

Eternal Frankenstein
At Word Horde – http://wordhorde.com/product/frankenstein-bundle/
At Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Eternal-Frankenstein-Autumn-Christian-ebook/dp/B01KFAZR52

Nightscript 2
Kindle – https://www.amazon.com/Nightscript-2-Michael-Griffin-ebook/dp/B01LZYG9FI
Paperback – https://www.amazon.com/Nightscript-2-C-M-Muller/dp/153747216X

Lovecraft eZine 38
Issue 38 – https://lovecraftzine.com/magazine/issues/2016-2/issue-38/
“Endure Within a Dying Frame” – https://lovecraftzine.com/magazine/issues/2016-2/issue-38/endure-within-a-dying-frame-by-michael-griffin/

Dim Shores (no link yet for An Ideal Retreat)
Dim Shores storefront – http://dimshores.storenvy.com

Madness of Dr. Caligari
Publisher page – https://www.fedoganandbremer.com/products/the-madness-of-dr-caligari
Amazon hardcover preorder – https://www.amazon.com/Madness-Dr-Caligari-Joseph-Pulver/dp/1878252704

An Ideal Retreat is Coming from Dim Shores

On By griffinwordsIn Words Out2 Comments

Since the beginning, I’ve been following Dim Shores, the excellent small press. Sam Cowan has been announcing and releasing one amazing illustrated limited chapbook after another.

DIM-SHORES_logo

This morning, Dim Shores announced the release of the expected September release of AN IDEAL RETREAT, written by me and with art by Mikio Murakami. Here is the full Dim Shores release announcement:

There are three new chapbook announcements coming this week. First up: “An Ideal Retreat,” written by Michael Griffin with art from Mikio Murakami!

Michael Griffin’s stories have appeared in magazines like Apex, Black Static, Lovecraft eZine and Strange Aeons , and such anthologies as the Shirley Jackson Award winner The Grimscribe’s Puppets, the Laird Barron tribute The Children of Old Leech, and Cthulhu Fhtagn! His standalone novella Far From Streets was published by Dunhams Manor Press, and his debut collection The Lure of Devouring Light will be published by Word Horde in April, 2016. His work is upcoming in Leaves of a Necronomicon, Autumn Cthulhu, Nightscript 2 and Eternal Frankenstein.

Michael blogs about books and writing at griffinwords.com. On Twitter, he generally posts as @mgsoundvisions and writing-specific news appears as @griffinwords. He’s also an electronic ambient musician and founder of Hypnos Recordings, an ambient music record label he operates with his wife in Portland, Oregon.

Mikio Murakami is a Japenese-Canadian graphic designer. He specializes in cover art, T-shirts, logos and drinking bad coffee. He founded SILENT Q DESIGN in Montreal in 2006 and has done work for a number of Canadian and international bands.

AnIdealRetreat-MikeAndMikio

“An Ideal Retreat” is scheduled for publication in September.

There’s no art yet, and the story is not entirely finished. I don’t have exact word count but expect this will be on the lengthier side of Dim Shores releases. As more information becomes available, you’ll see announcements on Facebook by me, Sam and Mikio, as well as on the Dim Shores site and the Griffinwords blog.

I’m very pleased and excited to have a chance to be part of Dim Shores, to collaborate with the very talented Sam Cowan and Mikio Murakami.”