No gift says “I love you” better than a book. They’re a unique gateway to the imagination, allowing readers to transcend their own physical realms and enter one of poetry and prose, of dream and hallucination and untethered magic. When you give somebody one of your favorite books, it’s an invitation to share a universe in the most intimate of settings—the human mind. That’s why so many readers prefer to do “buddy reads” with someone close to them; it makes the novel experience more interactive and strengthens that personal bond.
With Valentine’s Day approaching on the heels of a blizzard (in the northeast), doesn’t it excite you to think of exchanging books with your precious one, and snuggling up on a snowy day to read together in bed? Or maybe you prefer the sofa, where you can lay end to end, holding each other’s feet while you burn through the pages. Reading together is an intimate treat for lovers, one I’ve always enjoyed and valued. And there’s something much deeper and sweeter about giving someone a book, movie, or album you love instead of a stuffed animal, candy, or flowers, which are generic gifts that don’t take any thought and don’t reflect any part of you as a person the way a favorite piece of artistic expression does. When I gift a book to someone (and I mean books I didn’t write here), I am giving them an intimate part of myself, and am only sharing it with them because I’ve connected with them on an intellectual and emotional level. And if your significant other has a favorite author or two—which is an intimate relationship in its own right—nothing will please them more than being surprised with a new release or special copy of their favorite title. Candy gets eaten. Flowers die. But signed, limited editions are cherished forever.
This may sound like a shameless advertisement for my online store (and in all honesty, it kind of is) but I’m talking about a bigger picture here. Even if you can’t afford new books, a used paperback can be just as special. It’s what lies within the pages that matters. The plots, messages, philosophies, and adventures are what give the gift of books such high sentimental value. And in my experience, sentimental value outweighs monetary when it comes to romantic gifts.
This Valentine’s Day, get them something special—something to read.
There are many new books to be excited about right now too.
My new survival horror novel, The Old Lady, comes out on February 20th. But you can now get the signed paperback through my website, which comes in a special bundle with a die-cut magnet, button, and bookmark.
The limited hardback has sold out. Thank you to everyone who made the release such a huge success! I have mailed out over 100 copies already, and the rest will be going in the mail this week. Please understand the blizzard may create some delays in shipping. Thanks for your patience.
Here is the synopsis for The Old Lady:
She never wanted to come home.
After the death of her estranged father, Tracey returns to the remote cabin she grew up in. As a traumatized veteran of the Vietnam War, Tracey’s father subjected her to rigorous survival training under brutal conditions, believing it was for her own good. She escaped and never looked back. Now in her fifties with a criminal record, Tracey returns to claim the property she’s inherited.
Hiking through the forest, teenage Alicia and her friends get lost in the snow. They stumble upon a compound run by extremists, and when the teens see too much, only Alicia manages to escape. She searches for help and comes across a secluded cabin.
With the panicked girl banging on her door, Tracey is launched into combat mode, awakening her inner demons. Though she suffers from extreme PTSD, she is skilled in combat, making her a deadly adversary—perhaps too deadly. As a snowstorm hammers down, the women must work together to save Alicia’s friends from their captors.
Alicia has a protector now, but what if this strange old lady is even more dangerous than the people she’s escaped from?
In addition to my latest tale of terror, there are some other new releases that fright fans should be very excited for.
As a lover of brutal fiction and any kind of dogs you could name, Kristopher Rufty’s new novel, Lucy, is just the kind of book that sparks my interest. That Rufty is an accomplished horror scribe and personal friend just makes it all the more delicious.
Synopsis for Lucy:
Lucy has spent the last three years with Austin, her human and the best friend she’s ever had. Her life has finally become a peaceful one that’s helped her forget her violent past of dog fights and blood. Unlike the scars, her heart has finally healed, and she is happy.
One day, Nora enters their life, a new friend that Lucy and Austin immediately welcome. But Nora is on the run from a psychopathic, disco-loving group known as The Razors. They want her dead and will mow down anyone who gets in their way.
When their paths cross, loved ones will die, and Lucy will be forced to mentally return to the violent past she’d left behind to enact a bloody revenge against the bad guys.
Because if you’re dumb enough to hurt her human, you must have a death wish!
You can get your copy on Amazon or signed copies from Rufty’s website.
ALL BETS ARE OFF!
My Obituaries brothers, Aron Beauregard and Daniel J. Volpe, have rolled the dice with their new, two-book collaborative series about the horrors of gambling, Through the Eyes of Desperation. There’s Aron’s Red version and Daniel’s Black version. Each are completely different novels transpiring over the same timeline with many of the same characters appearing in each. Right now, you can preorder them exclusively at the authors’ websites.
The Red Version by Aron Beauregard.
Red has tried to keep his nose clean, but the sins of his past still haunt him. They’ve forced him back into the darkness—toward a life he’d hoped to leave behind. Now he has just four days to make things right.
The scam seemed safe enough at first, but now Red is six figures in debt, and there's more than just money at stake. There's making things right with the daughter he turned his back on. There's greasing the palms of the disturbed criminals holding his geriatric mother as collateral. There's being able to face himself in the mirror.
Everyone in the city's underbelly knows there’s only one way to obtain such a large sum on short notice...
Shadows is an underground casino where nightmares are born and dreams go to die. Where humiliation, drugs, and violence are as much a part of the games as cards and dice. When Red enters a world where money isn’t the most coveted prize, will he earn enough to solve his problems, or suffer the ultimate loss?
The Black Version by Daniel J. Volpe
At Shadows Casino, this isn’t just a phrase, it’s a grim reality. Far from prying eyes is a world of decadent pleasure, and unimaginable pain, where only the desperate or the rich dare to tread.
Cee is the leader of the sinister establishment, but that hasn’t always been her story. Long before she'd ever heard of a parlay or letting it ride, Cee was just a little girl with a daddy who liked to gamble. And when her daddy brought her into Shadows, he made a bet that changed both of their lives forever.
Years later, Cee is thrust back into the murky depths of her childhood memories, thanks to the story of a new bettor: a mysterious man whose situation is eerily similar to her past.
Will the bettor’s tale of desperation crack the façade she's erected? Or will Cee have him ground to a bloody pulp?
In addition to these exciting horror releases, Brian Keene and Mary SanGiovanni’s new bookstore, Vortex Books & Comics, has just opened for business! If you’re anywhere near Columbia, PA, I highly suggest checking them out for rare and signed editions, an impressive inventory of horror and sci-fi titles, and some upcoming author appearances that will delight genre fans. There are also plenty of Kristopher Triana books in stock! Expect me to do a signing there sometime later this year.
Speaking of signings, here is a current list of my confirmed appearances for 2024. Others may be added in the future, but I can’t announce any of them yet.
March 23rd: The Horror Depot’s Horror Author Con at Rhode Island College Student Union (obviously in Rhode Island).
April 12th - 14th: Scares That Care presents Authorcon III. Williamsburg, Virginia.
August 9th - 11th: Killercon. Austin, Texas. I will be one of the guests of honor.
September 21st - 22nd: CT Horrorfest. Hartford, Connecticut.
October 4th - 6th: Scares That Care presents Authorcon IV. St. Louis, Missouri. I will be a guest of honor.
Get your tickets now! I hope you can make it to at least one of them. I’d love to see you soon.
Currently reading: Just finished Thor by Wayne Smith. This early ’90s horror novel has been out of print for a long time, so I’m glad to see the author has republished it himself to get it back out there, as it’s somewhat of a cult classic to readers of the genre. It’s mostly written from the point of view of the titular Thor, a family dog German Shepherd, who is the only one in his family who senses something is terribly wrong with Uncle Ted, especially when the moon is full. The book was adapted to film with Bad Moon (1996), which is a lackluster effort, especially when compared to the superior storytelling found in the book. Smith does an excellent job capturing the “voice” of a canine, creating a non-human protagonist that’s easy to root for. Dog lovers will get a lot from this book, and it might even bring a tear to the eye. Unfortunately, the self-published new edition is painfully presented here. As an old school author, it seems Smith doesn’t know how to format a book himself, and likely made the mistake of not paying someone who’s better at it to do it for him. The text is not justified and there are no page numbers, but the writing and storyline is solid enough to make up for the aesthetically displeasing final product.
Currently watching: the Rocky movies. These popular films have been very special to me for literally my entire life, as they are for many, many people across the world. I cannot remember a time when I didn’t love them. Even as a kid in the early ’80s, I had the original action figures that now sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay. Stallone has been a major influence on me, especially as a writer and weightlifter, and to me, Rocky Balboa is easily the most inspiring character in the history of cinema. The first film is my favorite—and it holds up extremely well while also being somewhat of a time capsule now that it’s approaching fifty—but there’s something to love about every one of these movies, except for Rocky V, which everyone agrees was an unfortune misstep, including Sylvester Stallone. I’ve seen all these movies multiple times and can recite nearly every line of dialogue from Rocky III, having watched it obsessively as a kid after taping it off network TV, but I never tire of them and revisit them every few years. These current viewings have been especially fun because I’ve been introducing Rocky to my lady friend, who has never seen the movies before, so I get to see them for the first time vicariously through her, and she’s been loving the series too (and the Rambo movies are up next).
Currently listening to: Sad Days, Lonely Nights by Junior Kimbrough. One of the greatest blues albums you’ve probably never heard.
I hope you all have a Happy Valentine’s Day, or at least one without pain. If you have someone, let them know they’re special to you without relying on soulless greeting cards and cheap, throwaway novelties. And if you’re alone, remember it’s just a Hallmark holiday and shouldn’t get you down. Just spend the day with your dog, who will always love you unconditionally. And if you don’t have a dog, get one as a Valentine’s gift to yourself.
If you’re in the path of the blizzard, stay safe and warm for me, okay? Call out of work, pour a cup of hot chocolate, and curl up with a book—preferably a horror novel.
Until next time, keep reading, and try to be happy.
Your pal,
Kris
Thank you for the shout out, Kris. I hope everyone reads The Old Lady. It rules
"No gift says “I love you” better than a book. They’re a unique gateway to the imagination, allowing readers to transcend their own physical realms and enter one of poetry and prose, of dream and hallucination and untethered magic."
Beautiful 🤩