"Make it dark, make it grim,
make it tough, but then..."

Blazing Reader,

Over a year ago, Jordan Henderson, the cover artist to my forthcoming novel, All the Humans Are Sleeping, read the original, shorter novella version of the same story. A couple of months ago, however, I sent him a proof of the expanded, soon-to-be-published version (with his creepy painting on the cover). He wrote me the other day to say:

"I didn't immediately read the proof you sent me of All the Humans Are Sleeping because I always have a hard time re-reading or re-watching books or movies unless a long time has gone by...

"But last week I picked it up... and didn't put it down; in three evenings, I read it cover to cover. Excellent work. The humour was wonderful as it just kind of crept in in quite an unexpected manner. That passage where Pete asks Domestico if he ******SPOILER ALERT****** — good thing I wasn't drinking anything then, or I would have spit it out after reading Domestico's retort."

As my editor says, my stories have a signature blend of "gravitas and humour." While All the Humans Are Sleeping is by no means a comedy or satire, it's a dystopian story that will make you laugh (in between the shock and tears).

I often quote screenwriter Josh Whedon's advice: "Make it dark, make it grim, make it tough, but then, for the love of God, tell a joke."

Oh, and Jordan also had this to say:

"The ending, too, was totally unexpected."

You can sign up for the virtual book launch (with special guests like Jordan Henderson) and get a free preview copy of All the Humans Are Sleeping here: https://blazingpinecone.com/books/all-the-humans-are-sleeping?source=blazing_archives

Stay sane and read great books,

John C. A. Manley is the author of Much Ado About Corona: A Dystopian Love Story, the forthcoming All The Humans Are Sleeping and other works of speculative fiction. Get free samples of his stories by becoming a Blazing Pine Cone email subscriber at: https://blazingpinecone.com/subscribe/