As a Machine and Parts: a novella (12/2011)


Mitchell, a twenty-something Cougar Cub with Marsha, his midlife girlfriend, wakes each morning, living an ever-thinning line between human and machine. As his literal condition progresses he looses his capacity for human emotion, and potentially with it, Marsha.  As a Machine and Parts is a story of Mitchell’s struggle to discover which assembly line he belongs Read more

I Didn't Mean to be Kevin: a novel (1/2012)


Jackson Jacoby is a motherless twenty-two year old boy with only the support of his crazy ex-military Uncle Marve and a kindred motherless peer named Creg. Creg holds fast to the hope of one day reuniting with his mother while Jackson maintains that his own life is so much better off without all the baggage that comes along with being somebody’s Read more

Charactered Pieces: stories


With Charactered Pieces, Caleb J. Ross presents a varied world of familial discord, one where a dead fetus evokes more compassion than its mother (“Charactered Pieces”);  where two brothers offer the destruction of a family legacy as a birthday gift for their aging father (“My Family’s Rule”); where one brother’s love of Holocaust documentaries pushes his family through the aftermath of his assumed suicide (“The Read more

Stranger Will: a novel


In this novel of impending fatherhood, an idealistic teacher recruits a pliant protégé to join her group of Strangers – a devout collection of kindred minds who have dedicated their lives to cultivating a unique idea of perfection. But joining is easier than Read more

Publication Annoucements

Guess who paid to be one of 65 authors included in No Colony’s Pushcorpse project.

Posted on by Caleb J Ross Posted in Other Writers, Publication Annoucements | 1 Comment

A single story? 65 authors? Yes. Who? These:

Shya Scanlon, Christian Ochoa, Brian Spears, David Erlewine, Christopher Higgs, Alan Horn, Jason Cook, Matt Kirkpatrick, Amy Letter, Gene Morgan, Vaughan Simons, David Peak, Brian Carr, Claire Kohne, Caleb J. Ross, Michael Jauchen, Alec Niedenthal, Christopher Heavener, Jac Jemc, Peter Rawlings, Joseph Goosey, Darby Larson, Nathan Tyree, Michael Inscoe, Roxane Gay, Jonny Kelly, Alan S. Carl, Aaron Gilbreath, Travis Kurowski, Caitlyn Dibble, Jackie Corley, J.A. Tyler, Andrew Borgstrom, Christopher Newgent, Phoebe North, Laurence Wilhelm Lillvik, Jonathan Keeperman, Christian Smith, Meredith Turits, Audri Sousa, Barry Graham, Matt Jasper, Danny Barron, Matthew Savoca, Josh Kleinberg, Robert Alan Wendeborn, David Naimon, Benjamin Spivey, Hassen Taiari, Christopher Stokes, Josh Maday, Bradley Billey, Christopher Deal, Elizabeth Ellen, Alexander Fletcher, Nik Korpon, Richard Thomas, Christopher J. Dwyer, Kellie Walsh, Kasey Carpenter, D. Hammer, Timmy Waldron, Angi Becker Stevens, Erin Flaherty, Ryan Call

Want to own? Buy here.

Coming in the future: As a Machine and Parts, a novella that will blow your robot brain

Posted on by Caleb J Ross Posted in Book News, Publication Annoucements | 1 Comment

In the next few years I’m going to be pushing more paper on you than the schoolyard drug dealer’s less popular friend, the Zig Zag dealer. My novella, As a Machine and Parts, will be published by Aqueous Books sometime in the future. Yes, I could qualify any of my unpublished books with such a loose time frame. But I mean it. The contract has been signed. The Zig Zags have been distributed.

The party probably won’t happen until 2012 or later, however. That should give you plenty of time to read my other two forthcoming books, vomit a few times, and forget them long enough to make that mistake a third time.

Stranger Will popping up in strange places

Posted on by Caleb J Ross Posted in Book News, General News, Other Writers, Publication Annoucements | 4 Comments

News aggregator sites collect information in strange ways. Ever since Otherworld Publications went public with their 2011 book lineup, many unrelated aggregator sites have picked up the story. Usually, even with the seemingly unrelated, there is something within the text of a press release that would cause aggregators to jump on board. Let’s see if we can find those reasons.

First, here’s the release in full:

Otherworld Publications is Excited To Announce the 2011 Publication Line-up

04/10/2010
Otherworld Publications

Louisville, KY (PRWEB) October 4, 2010

Otherworld Publications is tickled to denote the 2011 publication line-up. We have another breathless year ahead of us

About the Authors:

Michael Wallace

Michael Wallace grew up reading all the history texts and novels he could find. His library shelves are filled up with a range of genres from H.G Wells and Jules Verne to Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy. It is only biological he writes thriller adventures with a science fiction twist and some history shed in for fun. At the point the reader becomes at ease with the pace of his stories, he will struck you with a plot twist, which will change the game

His first novel, The Red Fire Fly, broke new ground when it was released with its own soundtrack. The combination of music with a novel adds a third dimension by permitting the readers get word the background of the scenes

He lives in Colorado where on weekends you will find him rock climbing, or kayaking, or backpacking, or snowshoeing, or hiking, but most likely, you will find him running a trail somewhere. He runs 30 to 40 miles a week and he does it unshod. Yep, he is one of those amok barefoot runners and to make it worse he hopes to one day run in all the stages of the Four Deserts Race. You can larn more about him and his books at http://thehashwriter.com

Jennifer Cloud

Jennifer Cloud was born in Asheville, North Carolina. She got down her love of books at a young age and soon after observed her love for composing. Her husband boosted her to finish up her first novel after happening a biased manuscript she had concealed away in an armoire. She now resides in Missouri with her husband and two daughters. She is the author of many novels in both print and electronic versions. She has also had two dozen little stories printed and many novellas.

David Donaghe

David H. Donaghe lives and works in the eminent desert of austral California. David has three passions in life: scanning, composing and teasing his motorcycle. When not cutting into into an acceptable book or setting his face in the wind on his motorcycle, David writes little stories and novels. He has had three short stories printed so far and another coming out in an anthology

David’s other hobbies include, fishing, hunting, karate, camping, horsemanship and other outdoor activities. He uses these experiences and other life experiences in his composing. David is currently sunning life and working on his next novel.

Brandon Tietz

Brandon Tietz is the author of the novel, “Out of Touch,” a transgressive take on nightlife, socialites, and sensory deficiency. He enjoys a well-poured vodka tonic, acceptable conversation, and the ariose stylings of Röyksopp.

Currently, Tietz serves as one of the moderators of the Chuck Palahniuk Writers’ Workshop and is working on his second book, a themed collection, entitled, “Vanity.”

His work can be seen on Lobster Cult Magazine and Outsider Writers Collective. He is also a three-time Chuck Palahniuk anthology finalist

Thomas Matthews

Thomas K. Matthews is a printed author, award acquiring designer, feted illustrator and nonrecreational communication coach. He has composed twelve novels and teaches composing workshops, speaks at eminent schools and localised colleges as well as lectures for the localised Learning Annex on self printing. The son of a retired American Literature professor he has been engrossed in the written word since birth. Thomas lives in California with his wife and son

Caleb J. Ross

Caleb has a degree in English with a minor in creative writing from Emporia State University in Emporia, KS. Based on his composing merit, ESU funded his attendance to the Tin House Writer’s Workshop in Portland, Oregon during the summer of 2004 where he had the opportunity to study with novelist Peter Rock. He has recently finished a six-week writing intense with Craig Clevenger, author of the novels The Contortionist’s Handbook and Dermaphoria (MacAdam/Cage). His fiction and non-fiction have came out widely. His fiction chapbook, Charactered Pieces, was let go of in 2009 from OW Press, and traded out of its first print run within two months.

Beth Ann Masarik

Beth Ann has been writing since she was 15 years old, and was published in the 2002 Schreiber Times. She took constructive composing classes in college, and feels that they assisted her go the writer she is today. In addition to writing the sequel to The World Among Us, she participates in a foreign anthology project, where writers from around the world come together to share their talent.

Originally starting as a writing assignment for college, The World Among Us series has sparked up a role playing group online, and a fan base of over 170 followers on Facebook, and over 200 followers on Twitter. Beth Ann lives in New York where she is a legal assistant and teaches for her Family Time program, a religion program for the kids in her parish. She is also a lector on the weekends

Stephen Prosapio

Stephen Prosapio received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science from DePaul University in Chicago. After announcing for one of the nation’s largest fantasy football websites, footballguys.com, Stephen composed his first novel. Competing against 2,676 other novels, he acquired a Top Five Finalist award in Gather.com’s 2007 First Chapters contest

Articles about him have been featured in the San Diego Union Tribune, The North County Times, Today’s Local News, San Diego Magazine and the DePaul University Alumni magazine.

In January of 2010, Stephen established a Facebook XPI Fan Club for people interested in things paranormal. The group stood out 1,600 members in April and continues to mature approximately 500 members a month

Stephen works as an executive recruiter and resides in Oceanside, California. He is currently crafting a sequel to Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum that chronicles the ongoing adventures of Zach Kalusky and the Xavier Paranormal Investigators

Michael Sonbert

Michael currently teaches ninth grade English in South Philadelphia and his first novel, The Never Enders, was released in September 2008 by IBOOKS Inc., an act upon of Brick Tower Press in Manhattan. Presently, he runs a workshop intense on Chuck Palahniuk’s Official Website.

About Otherworld Publications:

What makes Otherworld Publications different? We are revolutionizing the publishing business. We are a publisher with the Author in mind. Our goal is to assist Authors be boffo. Let’s form the future together!

We have a team of authors, editors and graphic artists to help make your publishing dreams come true. Most of us are printed authors and we key out with the trials and tribulations for the printing industry. That’s why we organized Otherworld Publications with the Author in mind.

###

Here are the aggregators:

Renewable Alternative Energy
Solar power – Wind power – Save money with Alternative Energy

My guess is that the word “wind” mentioned once in the press release, interested this aggregator. Pretty desperate. I can’t imagine anyone thinking, “I’d like to know about wind,” to which a friend asks, “what aspect of wind?” “Oh, anything,” says the first. “Wind power, wind energy, and hell, just the word ‘wind’ shoved into any paragraph would be great.” I know, this entire scenario is stupid, as it supposes this wind searcher has a friend.

iPhone – iPod – iPad
iPhone, iPod, iPad Hacks and Tricks

I am equally confused with this one. Maybe “broke new ground when it was released with its own soundtrack. The combination of music with a novel” iTeased this iAggregator. iHope not. That would be iDiotic.

JAG’s Sports News

This one is pretty easy, though no less irrelevant than the others. The phrase “After reporting for one of the nation’s largest fantasy football websites, footballguys.com…,” has got to be the culprit. But again, what the hell is so relevant about the simple combination of vague terms (the words football and website)? Time to tease the aggregator: “baseball and modem,” “Foosball and screen resolution,” “fantasy and internet.” That last one will probably be popular for dirty reasons.

WP Themes Choice

Judging by the url, this one was tagged as “publication.” Surely this blog doesn’t pull in any press release with the world “publication.” Wait, aggregators are stupid. Never mind.

good news – Awesome Blog

Again, I don’t know why the press release appeared here, but honestly, I can’t be mad at a site with such an awesome name.

Coming early 2011: Stranger Will (the book, not the creepy old man)

Posted on by Caleb J Ross Posted in Book News, Other Writers, Publication Annoucements | Leave a comment

Just when you thought you had over a year before getting offended by a book from me (I Didn’t Mean to Be Kevin, November 2011), I go and do something crazy like sign with another publisher to release a novel in March 2011. Stranger Will, a noir story of apathy and abortion, is coming early next year from Otherworld Publications.

Otherworld Publications is a young publisher, but one with an impressive drive to promote its authors. This fact is not the sole reason I signed with them, though. This press seems to have acknowledged something that I, and the below authors, have known for a long time: The Velvet and The Cult are cesspools of untapped talent. Of the 11 current Otherworld authors (some noted on the Otherworld site, others not yet public knowledge), 5 have grown up at The Velvet and/or The Cult forums. I think we have Mr. Richard Thomas (Otherworld’s first author) to thank, as I am certain his word helped shimmy all of us followers in the door.

Be on the lookout for these other forthcoming titles:

December 2010 | Stay God by Nik Korpon. I had the privilege of reading an early draft of this novel. It’s good. Damn good. Preorder it in October.

2011 | Out of Touch by Brandon Tietz. Otherworld is republishing Tietz’s originally self-published novel of decadence and excess turned sour

2011 | We Are Oblivion by Michael Sonbert. I have his debut, The Neverenders, high on my to-read shelf. It is above Paul Auster and a book about beer. Consider my expectations high.

Coming late 2011: I Didn’t Mean to Be Kevin (the book, not the apology)

Posted on by Caleb J Ross Posted in Book News, Other Writers, Publication Annoucements | 8 Comments

It’s official. Negotiations have been negotiated. Signatures have been signed. Bells have been sleighed. I Didn’t Mean to Be Kevin will be published in late 2011 by Black Coffee Press. I’ll keep this announcement short and tidy; there is plenty of time for me to drone on about how proud I am of this book. For now, just make sure your nutting pants are clean.

Perhaps not coincidentally, I do drink my coffee black.

Black Coffee Press has a quite a list of books lined up for 2011-12. Some I am especially looking forward to are:

A Shiny, Unused Heart by J.A. Tyler (2011)

This guy is everywhere. J.A. Tyler is one of those names that materializes on every lit site, from the smallish to the giantish. Sometimes I theorize these appearances are simply to make me feel inadequate. Well done, sir.

Code for Failure by Ryan W. Bradley (2012)

Again, a writer whose name appears everywhere. I am not as familiar with Mr. Bradley’s work as I am with the other two fellows on my list, but based on what I do know, Code for Failure is not code for failure (ha, see what I did there).

When You Are Sleeping I Will Evolve Into A Bird by Nathan Tyree (2012)

Nathan Tyree and I put together a grand collection of stores called Oprah Read This >> Oprah, Read This, featuring too many fabulous writers to list here. Go to the site, read the stories, and anticipate Tyree’s Black Coffee Press book.

My Tom Waits inspired non-fiction piece is now live in the first issue of Cannoli Pie Magazine

Posted on by Caleb J Ross Posted in Publication Annoucements | Leave a comment

Back in February during the AWP Conference in Denver, CO, I read a non-fiction piece called “The Author Who Gets Free Drinks: a (Hopefully) True Story.” Fine man extraordinaire Stephen Krauska was in the audience. After the reading, I spoke with him for a bit, and got the (eventually proven true) impression that he’s an all around damn nice guy. So nice in fact that for the first issue of his (and co-editor Claire Suellentrop‘s) Cannoli Pie Magazine he asked to print the AWP piece.

That issue is now live at the Cannoli Pie homepage. Download the .pdf, give the story a read, and be sure to listen to the AWP reading, available as part of The Velvet Podcast.

Oh, and for those curious, yes, it worked. My next piece will be called “The Author Who Gets Lap Dances and Pizza For Free Every Morning.”

Our Guy is your guy at the Orange Alert Podcast

Posted on by Caleb J Ross Posted in Media, Publication Annoucements | 1 Comment

Professional Orange Alert kind gent, Jason Behrends, invited me to contribute to his weekly arts and literature podcast. I’ve been dabbling in podcasting lately (contributing to The Velvet Podcast and getting things in line for next week’s AWP Conference, where I’ll have an audio feed to document the event), so to have this additional swath of experience is nice.

For this week’s episode, I read my story “Our Guy” which originally appeared at Word Riot.

I’m really happy to be a part of this thing. Thanks to Mr. Behrends for having me. And be sure to check out past episodes for some great songs and readings. Scott McClanahan reading “The Rainelle Story” and Hosho McCreesh reading “Another Kind of Life” on episode 2 for starters.

Click over to the Orange Alert Podcast post to listen.