Writing can be a lonely occupation. It’s a singular pursuit saturated in observation, reflection, and sentiment. Self-drive fuels writing, yet subjective forces dictate it. It demands emotional honesty, personal scrutiny, and internal instruction. Most times, there are no collaborators, colleagues, or directors to evaluate your progress. To sum it up, writing is as sociable of a career as the woodland hermit.  Now, before I get hex-blogged by fellow writers, let me start by saying that writing is not a poor life choice. A CareerExplorer survey showed writers rate their career happin ..read more

Every six thirty a.m., a cacophony rends through the Alcala house. The Alcala family furiously brushes their teeth, toasts breakfast, and searches for the ever-absent school uniforms in laundry piles like snow skiers lost in an avalanche. Adults cycle coffee rounds in some futile attempt to supercharge focus, while they comb their hair, pack lunch, and don jackets. My favorite part of this traditional sunrise chaos, however, is getting my daughter into her car seat. While my wife hops from the front door to the car in a single high-heel, and our boys wave bye-bye through the window, I get to ..read more

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_JBVrXYlFlE Spooktober continues with another freaky-geeky “FREE” short story by yours truly. That’s right, I have yet another spooky tale for you just in time for Halloween. Check out “Thrice in One Sitting” on October 30th, along with twelve other horror pieces presented by the Academy of the Heart and Mind’s online publishing distribution. The Academy of the Heart and Mind is dedicated to writers and their craft. But Justin, can you give me a sneak-peak for your story? Of course! Faith contains both candor and falsehoods, and is cruel to those unable to interp ..read more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyO3ELa9IRk Say again? Are you telling me I won? How cool is this? HWA Announcement The Horror Writer’s Association would like to thank everyone who applied for scholarships in 2023. The initiative of applicants makes it possible to provide these invaluable opportunities to connect, learn, grow, and imagine what might be next for the genre. Whether it’s a haunting novel or a groundbreaking thesis, a riveting collection of poetry or a jaw-dropping new script, the horror writers of the world have been busy. These scholarships provide more than just money; they pro ..read more

Life, in all its madness, is better than I deserve. We are coming along nicely with our many projects, including the final edit and querying of "The Taming of the Cthulhu", proofread by #1 NYT-bestselling memoirs and WSJ-bestselling editor, Oren Eades. The manuscript has entered several literary contests, including the Stoker Awards, Edgar Awards, and Horror Fiction Competition. In addition, talks are in the works with publishers for "The Last Stop". I'm so excited for the amazing opportunity to speak with so many fantastic publishers and agents. Finally, breaking news! The Wingless Dreamer ..read more

Grim & Gilded dark literary e-magazine presents Issue 8 just in time for Halloween. Catch my addition and be prepared to be terrified. https://www.grimandgilded.com/roe-v-wade For three years, the American Civil War spread hell across the countryside. Keelan, an upbeat Irish entrepreneur obsessed with his trade, detours the bloody roads near Richmond, optimistic to find new clients for his family’s textile factory. But the Charlotte Storm of 1864 injures Keelan, and he begs for shelter at the first farmhouse he can find. Abigail, the owner of the home, will take the weary soul in, but ther ..read more

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a big fan of written word. Blessed are the readers. It also means you likely know what’s going in Ukraine. It’s ugly. It’s wrong. It likely stirs difficult emotions. We all work through the jarring daily reports in our own ways, but early studies show that most people feel a form of helplessness. But what if I told you that the reader is one of the most important champions in this war? That’s right, you the reader can make a compelling difference in this attack on Ukraine. The first casualty of war is truth is a quote credited to Senator Hiram Waren J ..read more

Check out my latest interview on ManyBook.net "Author of the Day" https://manybooks.net/featured-authors/justin-alcala-when-death-needs-a-vacation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcuaURvf5K4 ..read more

I give you A DEAD END JOB Join Ned the undead hitman as he interns for Death. If you love absurdist fiction, urban fantasy or sarcastically fun books, this is the one for you. Find out why Publisher’s Weekly named it “Best Book of the Week” and why Speculative Fiction Foundation made it one of its top picks. Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo Books or wherever great books are sold! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK1NJ5yHUJc ..read more

“Lilith, my oldest work-friend since… well, friends became a thing. Unmentionables weren’t around when dinosaurs and other eat-poop-then-die creatures were on Earth. It’s only when sentience became all the rage that God cut off her finger and gave it to me as Lilith, divine retribution for anyone bold enough to manipulate the cosmic work schedule. Since then, Lilith has, and always will be, the most dangerous weapon in existence. While I used her special holy abracadabra to transform Lilith into a scythe, she adjusts to the user’s character in order to be the best possible work tool. So if you ..read more