Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of Peter Derk's books

2962 ratings | 2169 reviews | avg rating:3.22

Peter’s Year In Books

Peter’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Peter’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Peter’s 2025 Year in Books

Peter Derk’s Followers (419)

Peter’s Bookshelves

to-read (3352)
currently-reading (1)
read (3031)
did-not-finish (79)
2018 (40)
2018halloween (12)
amazing-spider-man (2)
art (25)
at-home (11)
books-i-drew-schlongs-in (1)
See all bookshelves »

Peter’s Friends (272)

Melki

15,595 books | 3,087 friends

Catherine

1,551 books | 58 friends

Heather

847 books | 29 friends

Staceyj

2,963 books | 184 friends

James DeSantis

11,389 books | 698 friends

TBO

110 books | 5 friends

Drew Canole

9,828 books | 1,747 friends

MzSarahD (⚡gotta read 'em all! )

5,974 books | 544 friends

More friends…

2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Peter Derk has read 137 books of his goal of 42!

326%

Peter Derk

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

https://www.helpfulsnowman.com

Twitter

helpfulsnowman

Member Since

February 2009

edit data

Peter Derk doesn't understand why they've never sold a Twix called "Twick" that's just one long bar made of the two bars mashed together. ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Peter Derk questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

From Yahoo Answers: I keep getting rejected from women, should i just become a homosexual? I know its a sin and ill burn in hell forever. Im just tired of it. So should i become gay and be happy, or deal with fustration from constant rejection from women? I dont think the fustration is worth it.

Peter Derk Can I tell you a story about this?

The first time I was in a gay bar was because of an incident where a friend's car got towed. We walked a ways to mee…moreCan I tell you a story about this?

The first time I was in a gay bar was because of an incident where a friend's car got towed. We walked a ways to meet another friend, a gay guy and his partner, who were going to help us out. They were in a gay bar, and they insisted we have a drink with them first before we got down to business. By which I mean "get a ride home." By which I mean get in a vehicle and drive it...let's just keep going with the story.

I walked in, we had a drink, and I left. And you know what? Nobody hit on me. Nobody talked to me. It was almost like -gasp- pretty much a normal bar.

Now, I fully expected that guys would love me. Because ladies were kind of ho-hum about me, so I figured that meant dudes would be all about it. Because a gay guy is the opposite of a girl, right?

Nope. Turns out, nope, not at all. In fact, a gay gentleman's proclivities really don't have much to do with a woman's. It's kind of like it's own whole thing. Actually, I'll revise that. It's exactly like it's own whole thing.

This was a lesson learned when I was maybe 21. So a little old, but what can I say, I grew up podunk.

So while turning to gay men might seem like an alternative, flipping the switch from OFF to ON, it doesn't really work that way.

Here's my advice to you and really the advice I would give to any young person who is having this sort of problem: Pursue an interest that's NOT having a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Get interested in something. Get a hobby. Seriously. This is the best thing you can do for yourself, and it's going to make your future relationships much richer.

For one thing, you'll become a better, deeper, more interesting person.

For another, if your hobby is pursuing romance, then once you have romance, what then? What do you have left at that point?

Get a hobby. I would possibly suggest some sort of queer studies classes in your particular case. Or model rocketry. (less)

flag

28 likes · like
2 comments

Pete, why didn't you push "Like" on my 5-star review of your book?

Peter Derk Oh, please. A 5-star review? I wasn't born yesterday.

In all seriousness, or as much seriousness as I can muster for Goodreads, I really do appreciate …moreOh, please. A 5-star review? I wasn't born yesterday.

In all seriousness, or as much seriousness as I can muster for Goodreads, I really do appreciate the nice reviews and things people say about my books. And I get steamed about the bad ones. Because I'm a human man and it doesn't feel good when people say bad things.

I don't hit Like anymore these days because, well, I really do appreciate the nice reviews, but I also know that book reviewers don't necessarily want to have a dialog with me, and...it feels a little creepy.

I do my fair share of reviewing, and I have been contacted by authors a couple times. Both for books I gave middling reviews. And...I didn't love it. It was weird.

I also think it can be a little creepy. I've worked/volunteered a few jobs working with youth. If you're a single, adult man working with youth, you learn to stay as far away from creepsville as is humanly possible. Your creepification monitor is very sensitive. Trust me, this might sound weird to you, but any others who've walked a mile in those shoes know what I'm talking about. So, I am super averse to doing anything remotely creepy, which probably hurts me sometimes because it's good to develop relationships with readers, but I'm going better safe than sorry on this one.

There was another event that made me think this way.

When I put out the first book I put out, a book of poems, someone gave it a 1-star review. I knew this person as a friend of friend of friend kind of thing, and I did think it was extremely uncool to give it a 1-star. I went to this person's profile and was looking at other ratings, and was like, "Wait, if you were this charitable all along, what the hell?"

I was seriously considering clicking "Like" on this review. So the person would know I'd seen it. And maybe think, "Oh, yeah. Real person. Not cool."

But then I took a breath and was like, "Whoa." Not like a Matrix whoa, like a cowboy stopping a spooked horse kind of whoa.

I'm not a professional author, but I can still act like one. And a pro can take it when someone dislikes their book. I learned an important lesson from Rocky Balboa: "It's not how hard you can hit. It's how hard you can GET hit and keep moving forward." Rocky was right. Punch drunk, but right. Being a pro is about getting hit and moving forward, not about hitting back.

I didn't hit that Like button. And I decided not to hit the positive ones either. I'm just not like some big time guy, like a Stephen King. If Stephen King liked my 5-star review, I'd be pretty happy. But Peter Derk? Who gives a shit?

I think reviews are for readers. They help readers make good choices on how to spend their time and money. Sure, I look at 'em. And I'm heartwarmed when I see a glowing one. But I have to assume that even the nice reviews were not written to make me feel good, they were written to tell people about a good book. Unless they're by friends and family. Then I figure they're at least kinda meant to make me feel good, and I'm 100% fine with that.

I'm very grateful to anyone who reads my books, whether they end up liking them or not. There are a lot of choices for people out there, lots of ways you all can spend your time, and I'm honored when you choose to spend your time with my books. If you want to be chummy with me, tag me in your review on Twitter or Instagram, or email me. I'm helpfulsnowman on Twitter, Instagram, and gmail. Pretty much everywhere. Also, feel free to chat me up on reviews I do of other books, books I didn't write.

As for reviews of my books, I'll be there, but not in a creepy way. Maybe just looking down like Mufasa from the clouds. Except not dead. And not a lion. And none of you are my kids. I do suspect that some of you have tried to strike up a relationship with a fun meerkat/warthog duo, but that's because you're weird. (less)

flag

6 likes · like
Comment

See all 21 answers from Peter Derk…

Combine Editions
Peter Derk’s books

Average rating: 3.96 · 214 ratings · 90 reviews · 32 distinct works • Similar authors

	Pete's Exhaustive Review of Modelland 4.21 avg rating — 53 ratings — published 2016 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ghost Dick: Private Eye 3.64 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Harold's Coming 3.10 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Heist-est Heist Ever Heisted: A Heist Story of a Heist: Special Editor’s Edition really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2021 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Barehanded: poems really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dear Runaway: a novel in letters 4.70 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2019 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ninja Sons 4.09 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Skeleton Army: a novel of an army of darkness of skeletons really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My Mother's Silver Bowl 4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tough Shoot: a short essay 3.83 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Peter Derk…

31 posts
Peter Derk's Blog

A Post so Jason Can Have a Link

Apparently Goodreads will not allow non-Goodreads links in comments. I guess this is because they would probably be almost entirely links for things that nobody wants.

Which isn't to say that people are rushing to read what I offer, but ONE PERSON has indeed requested this link.

Jason, here you go:
https://helpfulsnowman.substack.com/p...

I promise I'm very pleasant in real life and not normally this Read more of this blog post »

3 likes · Like • 2 comments • flag

Published on January 08, 2025 15:22

View all 31 posts »

Series by Peter Derk

Digitally Stimulated (4 books)
by

Peter Derk (Goodreads Author)

4.20 avg rating — 10 ratings

The LitReactor Years (4 books)
by

Peter Derk (Goodreads Author)

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 5 ratings

Peter is Currently Reading

Peter Derk is currently reading

The Complete Stories

by Flannery O'Connor

bookshelves: currently-reading, 2018

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Feb 20, 2018 06:33PM

rss
Peter’s Recent Updates

Peter Derk rated a book it was amazing The Cool Side of My Pillow: A Book of Essays by Bruce Campbell	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Fuck off, I'm in pre-mourning. Fuck off, I'm in pre-mourning. ...more
Sep 10, 2026 03:41PM · 4 likes · like · see review
Peter Derk and 4 other people liked Marc Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!'s status update Marc Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä! is on page 128 of 480 of The Most Dangerous Games: ‘He shrugs. “But the rule is simple: You stop, you die. He stopped.” The air changes. Alek’s jaw tightens. Hannah’s eyes go cold. Rupert’s face changes. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just … a line being crossed.’
Sep 04, 2026 06:36AM
Peter Derk and 5 other people liked Marc Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!'s status update Marc Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä! is on page 138 of 480 of The Most Dangerous Games: ‘They pass what looks like a horse corral. Empty. Wind moving through it like it’s waiting for something.’ I wonder what the thing they passed actually was? It can’t be a horse corral, it just LOOKS like one. If it were a horse corral the writer would just say that, right?
Sep 04, 2026 06:36AM
Peter Derk and 1 other person liked Arthur Graham's status update Arthur Graham is on page 79 of 543 of Atmospheres 2: When I was in first grade, my teacher was killed by the KGB, a tiny chunk of polonium 210 dropped in her Ovaltine by a covert agent dressed as a Salvation Army volunteer.
Aug 31, 2026 07:25PM
Peter Derk made a comment on Marc Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!’s status in Remain " I am WILDLY curious to hear about this one. "
Aug 20, 2026 06:04PM
Peter Derk rated a book really liked it タワーダンジョン 5 [Tower Dungeon 5] by Tsutomu Nihei	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Pete may have accidentally read these out of order because he lazily stacked them on the table and just pulled from the top of the pile. Well...it was still pretty good.
Aug 20, 2026 09:39AM · 1 like · like · see review
Peter Derk made a comment on his review of タワーダンジョン 2 [Tower Dungeon 2] " Ha! The Monsters? They're Pocket-Sized! Ha! The Monsters? They're Pocket-Sized! ...more "
Aug 20, 2026 09:39AM · see review
Peter Derk rated a book really liked it タワーダンジョン 4 [Tower Dungeon 4] by Tsutomu Nihei	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
In my last review, I said big strong kindhearted oaf is the best kind of character. And I'm big enough to admit when I'm wrong: This volume features an Armored Mouse. Clearly, Armored Mouse is the best kind of character. ...more
Aug 20, 2026 09:38AM · 2 likes · like · see review
Peter Derk rated a book really liked it タワーダンジョン 3 [Tower Dungeon 3] by Tsutomu Nihei	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
What is it about a dopey, strong guy that's so appealing? Just an oaf who keeps smashing things and busting through walls, but doesn't really know his own strength? Best character type? Possibly? ...more
Aug 20, 2026 09:31AM · 1 like · like · see review
Peter Derk rated a book really liked it タワーダンジョン 2 [Tower Dungeon 2] by Tsutomu Nihei	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10/10 for a descriptive title. There is a Dungeon, and it's a Tower. Manga is pretty good at this. He's a Man, and also a Chainsaw. There are Balls, and they are Dragon-related. ...more
Aug 20, 2026 09:30AM · 1 like · like · see review

More of Peter's books…

Quotes by Peter Derk (?)

“You might have to hurt yourself if you want to really be alone for a little while.”
― Peter Derk, Dear Runaway: a novel in letters

3 likes

“All I did one summer was lay down on a shitty 70's couch and listen to bands I won't even talk about because they're too embarrassing. A whole summer like that. Okay, fine. It was Staind.”
― Peter Derk, Dear Runaway: a novel in letters

0 likes

“I try really hard not to live how people think I live.”
― Peter Derk, Dear Runaway: a novel in letters

0 likes

See all Peter Derk's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Turn of a Page: March Weekly Readathon 11th-17th (Closed)	55	81	Mar 18, 2022 07:24AM
Turn of a Page: March Monthly Readathon	91	116	Apr 01, 2022 10:25AM
Turn of a Page: Shandra's Thread	60	28	Dec 29, 2022 08:16AM

More…

Peter’s Quotes

“Game shows are designed to make us feel better about the random, useless facts that are all we have left of our education.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters

tags: education, game-shows, trivia

645 likes

“Remember; no matter how desperate the situation seems, time spent
thinking clearly is never time wasted.”
― Max Brooks, Zombie Survival Guide, The: Complete Protection From The Living Dead

124 likes

“Why do people have to be this lonely? What's the point of it all? Millions of people in this world, all of them yearning, looking to others to satisfy them, yet isolating themselves. Why? Was the earth put here just to nourish human loneliness?”
― Haruki Murakami, Sputnik Sweetheart

tags: isolation, loneliness, sadness

5890 likes

“Fuck concepts. Don't be afraid to be confused. Try to remain permanently confused. Anything is possible. Stay open, forever, so open it hurts, and then open up some more, until the day you die, world without end, amen.”
― George Saunders

189 likes

“All these weirdos, and me getting a little better every day right in the midst of them. I had never known, never even imagined for a heartbeat, that there might be a place for people like us.”
― Denis Johnson, Jesus' Son

71 likes

More of Peter’s quotes…