Joe Koch's Blog

Two new stories appear!

Issue 5 of God’s Cruel Joke, SPECULATIVE EROTICS, features my contribution “How To Fuck A Genocide” alongside 26 other pieces described by editor Lee Pearson as “an exercise in rapturous disintegration, blending and meditating on themes of identity, sexuality, technology, faith, war and existence.”

In Southwest Review’s horror issue (Volume 110, Number 3), you’ll find my story “The Retirement Home for Psychic Detectives.” BR Yeager, the author of Negative Space, kindly invited me to contribute. I was very honored to do so, and pleased that he accepted a story that in exploring old age does not rush or do much of anything we might call marketable in the horror genre. (Not that I’m a good judge of that. It’s best to let editors and readers decide, don’t you think? I just keep writing what calls to me and let you sort it out.)

As Voidcon 3 nears, I’d like to tell you about a special numbered zine premiering there, but alas, the publisher has sworn me to secrecy and will pluck out my intestines if I speak out of turn. Suffice it to say, if you can make it to Gettysburg on October 10th or 11th, we’d love to see you and make sure you get a copy!

Charity zine will ALSO be premiering there, and includes my contribution “.” So if you needed one more reason to show up, there it is.

Update: While sorting my books for sale, I discovered a small stash of last year’s limited release zine Come And Admire Him. I’d mistakenly thought these were sold out. If you wanted one and didn’t grab it at the time, I’ll have the few remaining copies on hand at Voidcon.

As always, thank you for reading.

Follow here to get links to new stories as they’re published, as well as news of upcoming book releases and events. Seriously, this is the best way not to lose touch in our ever-shifting social media landscape! I won’t spam you, and I’ll only post when I have something worthwhile to share.

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Very pleased to announce a new story entitled “The Tumulus” is out today in the 11th edition of Chthonic Matter Quarterly. I share the table of contents with many great authors, including Samuel M. Moss, who curates the experimental horror site ergot. He’s just released his first novel, The Veldt Institute. Having been tantalized by excerpts, I’ll be reading Moss’s The Veldt Institute as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Chthonic Matter will also be publishing a reprint of my beloved weird story “By The Witchroot, By The Dawn” in Harvest the Night: An Anthology of Folk Horror this October, and wow, is that next month? Time never stops its trickery, does it? If you subscribe to Chthonic Matter Quarterly, you’ll get this volume of folk horror for free along with the full year of the quarterly. Harvest the Night includes contributions from many excellent purveyors of the short story, including Abigail Kemske, who may be new to you. I’m especially looking forward to reading her story.

“The Tumulus” in Chthonic Matter Quarterly is one of those stories that took the long way on its journey to get published. I stood by it for several years as it languished and endured mistreatment. Originally it was solicited by a project that dragged on endlessly and never materialized; then accepted by a now defunct publisher who strung along many of us who know better but were momentarily fooled by their shenanigans; and then solicited again by a well-known press I considered extremely prestigious but who sentenced it to unpublished purgatory as they broke their contractual obligations to all of the authors involved in the project.

So, what all of this means is that the story has been accepted no less than four times-yes, four! Yet before now it has never seen print. I’m grateful for it to find such a good home with Chthonic Matter after its tortured journey.

Speaking of torture, you can still get a copy of the 11 x 17 poster or broadside with my micro “Death, With Sequelae” and art by Silver. It’s the story of a woman who can’t stop dying horrible deaths, and who haunts me to this day. Every word of it is true.

Last, a reminder that I’ll be at Gettysburg College for Voidcon 2025 October 9-11 with books and hopefully a few copies of “Death, With Sequelae” as well. Voidcon is the closest thing to a weird horror convention you’ll find, so come by for some existentialist kicks and peer into the VOID. All kidding aside, I’ve found I love meeting people who know me through my writing, and who appreciate what I do. Your interest and kindness makes it worth all the hard work.

As always, thanks for reading! More to come soon as a flood of new work appears while Autumn deepens into darkness and the veil thins.

Follow here to get links to new stories as they’re published, as well as news of upcoming book releases and events. Seriously, this is the best way not to lose touch in our ever-shifting social media landscape! I won’t spam you, and I’ll only post when I have something worthwhile to share.

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In collaboration with artist Silver, From Beyond Press will be releasing my story “Death, With Sequelae” as a broadside. This original flash fiction will only be available as an 11 x 17 print and limited to 100 copies.

With text obscured, here’s a peek:

The art and story are sure to scare away unwanted normies from your office space or cave dwelling, so don’t miss out! Order now and your copy will ship on September 15th.

Regarding the story, it’s extremely surreal and very high-concept despite its brevity. It comes from a genuine place of pain and haunting. When Mike at From Beyond Press asked me to summarize it for the website, I said:

“This is a story about a woman I once met who died often. Like a stain, I haven’t ever gotten her off me, not completely. Every word of it is true.”

Order yours here: Death, With Sequelae

Reminder! Next week on Saturday, September 6th, I’ll be in Iowa City tabling at the new horror fest One Of Us, organized by our beloved Ira Rat from Filthy Loot. Come by if you’re in the area. And if you’re not interested in me, perhaps you’d like to meet Paula D. Ash? I’m certainly psyched to finally meet her in real life!

Here’s the details and directions: One Of Us at Public Space One

Thanks for reading!

Follow here to get links to new stories as they’re published, as well as news of upcoming book releases and events. Seriously, this is the best way not to lose touch in our ever-shifting social media landscape! I won’t spam you, and I’ll only post when I have something worthwhile to share.

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Undertow Publications announced the table of contents for The Best Weird Fiction of the Year today. I’m honored that my story “These Are His Memories” will be part of this anthology, and pleased that this inclusion will give well-deserved attention to Seize The Press Magazine, where it was originally published.

The variety of authors and publishers represented shows how widely editor Michael Kelley read when considering stories. I love that the focus here isn’t on popularity, but on a vibe, or an iteration of genre, or on continuing the conversation about what exactly weird fiction is.

It’s a fascinating topic. I’m no critic, but weird fiction is not exactly horror, and yet not exactly not. It’s complicated. All I know for sure is that some of my favorite authors fall into this category that defies categorization. I’m really pleased to be part of the conversation and reach readers who share my preference for the strange.

Here’s the table of contents:

Here’s the pre-order link: The Best Weird Fiction of the Year

Thanks for reading!

Follow here to get links to new stories as they’re published, as well as news of upcoming book releases and events. Seriously, this is the best way not to lose touch in our ever-shifting social media landscape! I won’t spam you, and I’ll only post when I have something worthwhile to share.

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What happens when two desperate losers in a dystopian city invade a gay anarchist body-building cult to get the juice? What is the juice, where does it come from, and what powers does it bestow? More importantly, can they handle it?

(Cut to famous film clip: man with bulging forehead veins bellows, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH.”)

The answers may be revealed in my story Exceptional Wretches, featured in the new anthology “Nightmerica: Corruptions of the American Dream” from Dragons Roost Press.

Editor Amanda Worthington says of the book: “The diverse voices contained herein lead you further into the disturbing, uncanny, and monstrous as they explore the barriers to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In a time of unprecedented political and ideological instability, you are invited to explore the shifting terrain of Nightmerica.”

And although the topic of current events in the U.S. is a serious one, I think you’ll find much that’s amusing and satirical in my contribution. I fully admit I had a great time writing it, but then, my sense of humor might skew a little dark.

Read Exceptional Wretches in “Nightmerica: Corruptions of the American Dream.”

Thanks for reading!

Follow here to get links to new stories as they’re published, as well as news of upcoming book releases and events. Seriously, this is the best way not to lose touch in our ever-shifting social media landscape! I won’t spam you, and I’ll only post when I have something worthwhile to share.

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New story out! A little bit fairy tale, a little bit fantasy, a little bit S & S (that’s sword & sorcery, not ska & sorcery). Check out the latest issue of BAFFLING magazine from Neon Hemlock Press with my story “Horn, Heart, Seed” and work from Divya Kernan, Morgan Wilson, Nigel Faustino, Avra Margariti, Megan Baffoe, Caro Jansen & Gillian Knox.

This is my 8th original story published this year, not counting several reprints, and although you’d think my ego would be glowing at radioactive levels, I’m afraid that the same critical faculty that makes one a good editor keeps it dampened down to tolerable levels. Which is why it’s always wonderful to hear positive feedback.

Author N.M. Whitley featured “Slowsand” in their most recent newsletter and had this to say:

“Mr. Schrift comes at me backward through the dirt, which I understand doesn’t make sense.” Yes, it’s Joe Koch in ergot., sense-making is not, strictly speaking, the main priority. The narrator ruminates, obsesses, over the multiple appearances of this Mr. Schrift, as well as over their job, and while they (our narrator) seem more concerned with the former, as a reader I personally was left to wonder more about the latter. What is this work that must be done, the work their grandfather also did? It involves “near-liquid sediment”, “silt sucking”, “miasmic fluid”. But it feels like the more info we receive the less we understand, like the universe is taunting us, playing in our faces like haha we gave you all the clues. “He must not trust me not to sleep.” Joe Koch is a writer who trusts his readers. Let’s not disappoint, shall we?

Every month N.M. collects and recommends new short fiction online with close attention to the weird. You can peruse the archives or subscribe here to get your short fiction fix: https://buttondown.com/shortstoryrex/archive/short-story-rex-june-2025/

It’s a helpful boost each time someone posts about a story, or sends me a message about what spoke to them in some way, or leaves a comment or review. Writing feels a lot like tossing out a message in a bottle. I’m always glad to know a message has hit the shore instead of remaining lost at sea. If you’ve taken the time to say something, whether it’s kind or critical, thank you for engaging with my work! You’re the best.

Here’s the new one again: “Horn, Heart, Seed” in Baffling Magazine, Issue 20

Follow here to get links to new stories as they’re published, as well as news of upcoming book releases and events. Seriously, this is the best way not to lose touch in our ever-shifting social media landscape! I won’t spam you, and I’ll only post when I have something worthwhile to share.

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Once again, experimental horror venue ergot. hosts one of my short & ambiguous nightmares: Slowsand.

It’s my third time in ergot. The intersection of horror themes with experimental writing is uniquely welcomed there, and I’m always interested in reading what they release. Feels pretty cool to have another one up on their site.

Remember, not every story needs to be easy, or make sense.

Read Slowsand in ergot.

In reprint news, The Bleeding Tree is now available on Drabblecast in audio. Also, A Scream Lights Up The Sky has been reprinted in the downloadable anthology Meat4Meat on itch with amazing illustrations for each story.

Here’s editor wolfpaper’s thesis for the project:

meat4meat is an illustrated short story anthology dedicated to exploring body horror by those who know it best. It is a study in the relationship between discrepancy in self and body, in the horror of losing control, and the joy of taking it back. It’s a celebration of the strange and wonderful. But most of all, meat4meat is a fever dream of an anthology that drags the reader face-first through the guts and gore of world-class body horror. 

meat4meat features twenty-one stories by transgender and disabled authors, ranging from debut writers such as Lorelei Thee to masters of the craft such as Joe Koch, Claudine Griggs, and more! Each story is accompanied by an original illustration by a similarly marginalized artist, offering their own perspective on the anthology’s themes.

Gorgeous, isn’t it?

Follow here to get links to new stories as they’re published, as well as news of upcoming book releases and events. Seriously, this is the best way not to lose touch in our ever-shifting social media landscape! I won’t spam you, and I’ll only post when I have something worthwhile to share.

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Previously only available in print from Dark Recesses Press magazine, one of my more wholesome stories is now on Drabblecast.

Wholesome, you say? Yes, really. I suppose it’s folk horror, in a way. The Bleeding Tree features a pre-teen main character who befriends a cemetery caretaker and who, uh, also collects hearts from roadkill. But I promise you, it’s a sweet and wholesome story at its core.

Reader Connor M Solan took the time to find my post about the story’s original release and offer this amazing praise:

Thank you, Connor. It means the world to know a story works so well for you, and it’s very generous of you to take the time to say so.

Listen to The Bleeding Tree on Drabblecast episode 503, and check out this illustration created especially for the story by artist Łukasz Godlewski:

Follow here to get links to new stories as they’re published, as well as news of upcoming book releases and events. Seriously, this is the best way not to lose touch in our ever-shifting social media landscape! I won’t spam you, and I’ll only post when I have something worthwhile to share.

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It’s best not to play favorites with your stories, but I’ll admit it. This one’s a favorite.

I really love the formal experimentation of this story, and how I was thinking and feeling when I built it. It’s the centerpiece for an idea I’ve been working with for a few years, both a distillation and expansion of themes. Writing The Power Company Detective was that rare culmination of practice and effort when you reach a moment when you’ve done exactly what you wanted to with your art.

It’s not a happy story, but it’s a very true one as far as fiction goes. I hope you’ll love it as much as I do.

Read The Power Company Detective in Seize the Press, Issue 12.

Also, I recently had the pleasure of being invited to speak with Joe Bielecki on his show Writing The Rapids. He’s an exceptionally thoughtful host and reader, and I only wish I were a better conversationalist. I’ve had some medical issues that make speaking difficult at times, which doesn’t help matters very much! Despite my shortcomings, I’m grateful for the chance to ramble a bit and I was pretty amazed with Joe’s evaluation of my work.

Listen to Slippery Ontology With Joe Koch on Writing The Rapids. The show includes a lengthy interview and ends with my reading of my story “Beloved Of Flies.”

Last, here’s a head’s up that SLAKE HOUSE will only be available through July 1st!

SLAKE HOUSE is a queer erotic horror choose-your-own-ending (CYOE) anthology featuring 13 author/artist pairs collaborating to create a sexy and horrifying multi-route story which will end in spectacular climax and abject terror.

It includes my contribution “I Name This River After You,” which is one of the final “doors” to go through if you can find your way there. Good luck!

Download here:

https://papriqa.itch.io/slake-house

Thanks for reading!

Follow here to get links to new stories as they’re published, as well as news of upcoming book releases and events. Seriously, this is the best way not to lose touch in our ever-shifting social media landscape! I won’t spam you, and I’ll only post when I have something worthwhile to share.

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From publisher Filthy Loot, yet another cutting edge mini-anthology of new fiction that’s not quite lit, not pure horror, and completely its own thing: Bodypunk

This one includes my story “And At Night, The Sirens,” an intimate glimpse into a bulimic episode on a strange night in the early life of a woman who seems to be slipping out of reality and into a giallo film.

Murder (maybe), lesbians (likely), and ingesting things you shouldn’t (definitely) are all part of the emotionally charged narrative.

Bodypunk also includes stories by Max Restaino, Xavier Garcia, Charlene Elsby, and Sam Richard. They’re all bangers, and these are authors I can’t speak about highly enough. I’m really proud to be there with them.

In other news, “Homicidal Maps” in Issue 44 of Three-Lobed Burning Eye now has an audio version read by the talented Theodore Hill. Click the title to check it out.

Follow here to get links to new stories as they’re published, as well as news of upcoming book releases and events. Seriously, this is the best way not to lose touch in our ever-shifting social media landscape! I won’t spam you, and I’ll only post when I have something worthwhile to share.

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