Me and My Shadow
Puppy love, paperbacks, and appearances.
Everyone, meet Shadow.
She is my new puppy, a six-month-old lab mix rescue from Mississippi. She’s extremely sweet and cuddly, and as I’ve trained her these past two weeks, I’ve seen just how intelligent and eager to learn she is (as a former professional dog trainer, I’m a good judge of these things). I believe she’ll be a wonderful companion, even if she did chew up the remote to my brand-new TV.
I named her Shadow for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it’s one of those words that sounds like it would be a good name for a girl if it didn’t already mean something. But she also has a black coat, and “shadow” has a slightly spooky connotation that suits me, for obvious reasons. But as it turns out, the name is even more appropriate than I’d realized, as now she shadows me from room to room no matter what’s going on. As I write this, she’s curled under my desk, snoozing until dad is ready to wrestle again.
Getting a new dog after the death of a beloved one is an emotional hurricane. I know nothing can ever replace Bear, and I miss her so much even with Shadow in my life. But it’s silly for me to feel guilty about getting another pet. That’s just grief fucking with me. A new dog is never a replacement for an old one. If anything, it is a testament to how important your last dog was to you that you can no longer enjoy your life to the fullest without one. Anyone who knows me will tell you how much love I gave to Bear. Though she is gone, that need for a pet to love remains, and I need a vessel for it, one that lives and learns and loves right back. Shadow has become that for me.
There is great joy to be found in a new puppy, but it’s one hell of an adjustment after having a geriatric dog. Bear was well-behaved, mellow, and (aside from her medical needs) she was low maintenance. Shadow, being the canine equivalent to a toddler, is none of these things yet. Bear could be trusted in the house alone for hours. Shadow must be crated even if I just want to take a shower, for her safety as well as my sanity. See, a good dog doesn’t just trot into your life. They must adjust to you, and you must adjust to them. It’s more than simple training; it’s conditioning. And that all begins with a strong bond, something Shadow and I have developed rather quickly. Her conditioning is on track and she’s excelling at her obedience training, so I expect you all will soon meet her at my book signings and convention appearances this spring!
Here is a list of signings/conventions I am booked to appear at in 2024. This list will likely grow as more events are scheduled.
March 23rd: The Horror Depot’s Horror Author Con at Rhode Island College Student Union.
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.
I hope you’ll come out to see me and my Shadow! For most of these events, you can already buy your tickets in advance. And yes, I will have copies of my new novel, The Old Lady, on hand.
By the way, have you heard about The Old Lady?
The signed hardback is now available exclusively through my website. Grab one while they last! Item is expected to ship out February 1st, nearly three weeks before the paperback and eBook wide release on February 20th. An audiobook version will follow.
This book is all about survival at any cost. It’s brutal and grim, and Tracey (the titular old lady) is one of my favorite “morally gray” characters I’ve ever created. She’s tough as nails, understandably crazy, and doing horrible things in a sincere effort to do what she thinks is right. I put a lot of work into layering her, and I believe she has the potential to become a new fan favorite like Kim White from Full Brutal, Delia Van Vracken from The Thirteenth Koyote series, or Edmund Cox from Gone to See the River Man and its sequel Along the River of Flesh.
“This hefty novel spews intrigue, drama, and horror like blood from a bayonet wound in the aorta. Maniacal survivalists, a traumatized psychotic, and more guns than a National Guard armory provide the flawless moving parts for this unrelenting body-horror thriller that holds its own against the likes of Ketchum, Slade, and Vachss. With The Old Lady, Triana maintains his seat at the very top of horror’s most relevant scribes.” - Edward Lee, author of The Bighead and The Television
On top of being able to preorder this new book at TRIANAHORROR, many other books are now back in stock on the site, including Full Brutal, Ex-Boogeyman, Along the River of Flesh, and They All Died Screaming. So if you’re looking for signed copies of my books, come get some, baby! The t-shirts and magnets are also on sale for a limited time.
As always, I’m working on a new novel. It’s a snowy day today in New England—the perfect backdrop for writing this particular tale of the macabre. As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I’m also in the middle of a grotesque collaboration with splatterpunk champion Wrath James White. It’s going to be a nasty one! Plus, Daniel Volpe, Aron Beauregard, and I are working on the next issue of The Obituaries, which features yet another iconic guest author we’re thrilled to welcome aboard.
As for releases, you can look forward to at least two more from me this year, on top of The Old Lady. One is a project I put together with Mona Kabbani that can only be described as extreme horror romance. The other is a violent novel about a women’s prison and a male corrections officer who’s trying to raise money for his sick dog, by whatever means necessary. I’ve been eager to unleash both upon my loyal, voracious readers. Expect more information on those titles soon.
Currently reading: I just finished Hell Hound by Ken Greenhall. I first saw the film adaptation of this book, the French movie Baxter, back in the ’90s. I really enjoyed the movie and tried to find the book it was based on, but even then, this ’70s horror paperback was out of print and impossible to find (this was the early days of the internet too). Thanks to author Grady Hendrix, many old horror novels, including this one, are being brought back into print as part of his Paperbacks from Hell series. Hendrix is doing horror fans a great service and is shining light on authors who have been unjustly forgotten. I read Hell Hound fairly quickly. It was incredibly dark with moments of unflinching horror, all masterfully written. What Greenhall may lack in dialogue he more than makes up for with rich character introspection and philosophical prose. I was left with the undeniable impulse to buy more of his books, and already have his debut novel, Elizabeth, on order.
Currently watching: Finally saw Thanksgiving. I’m happy to say it’s a slasher movie that delivers on the gore and is an all-around good time. It’s easily Roth’s best work—not a mind-blowing horror story by any means, but so much bloody, hilarious fun. It’s bound to become a holiday staple for fright fans. I’m also already pumped to watch The Holdovers again after watching it for the first time on New Year’s Eve. It’s that damn good. As I’ve said before, it’s easily my favorite film of 2023.
Currently listening to: Mark Kozelek’s gloomy Like Rats, Robert Belfour’s blues stomp Pushin’ My Luck, and the film scores of Jóhann Jóhannsson. But for when I’m training Shadow, I’ve made a playlist that includes Shadow Dancin’ by Andy Gibb, Atomic Dog by George Clinton, The Girls and the Dogs by Scott Walker, and, of course, Me and My Shadow by Peggy Lee. It does not contain Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men, because no one, anywhere, ever, needs to hear that song again.
That’s all for the moment. Until next time, keep reading, and try to be happy.
Your pal always,
Kris
Congrats on the the new pup. She’s beautiful
I'm glad you found Shadow and she found you. Bear was legend. She'll never be forgotten by all who loved her.