Book DNA: best recent speculative novels
July 6, 2026 § Leave a comment
For several years now I’ve been making book lists for Book DNA, the upstart Goodreads competitor previously known as Shepherd. It’s an appealing, well-organized site designed to help you find new reads that share “Book DNA” with books you’ve already enjoyed. In that spirit, here’s my new list. Click on the image below to see my choices for five of the best (or at very good!) recent speculative novels.
Vermont Public Radio Interview
May 14, 2026 § Leave a comment
Such a fun conversation recently with Mikaela Lefrak, the host of Vermont Edition, up at Vermont Public’s headquarters in Colchester! We talked about my novel THE GATEPOST, its Vermont setting, the origin of its characters, psilocybin, dreams and hallucinations in fiction, and much more. My gratitude to Mikaela and the show’s producer, Jon Ehrens, for their hospitality and professionalism. You can listen to the whole twenty minute interview here.
Library Journal Reviews THE GATEPOST
May 7, 2026 § Leave a comment
Very pleased to note this new review from Library Journal! Here’s an excerpt:
“This suspenseful story explores fascinating ideas about reality and perception using an intriguing format that will keep readers turning pages; highly recommended for fans of Carlos Castaneda and the science fiction of psychedelia.” — Library Journal
Here’s a link to the full review if you’re a Library Journal subscriber; it’s behind a paywall, but there’s also a screenshot pasted below if you’re curious.
THE GATEPOST is available as of 5.26.26 in paperback, audiobook and ebook. Read more & order your copy here!
Kirkus reviews THE GATEPOST
February 13, 2026 § 6 Comments
It’s always touch-and-go when it comes to the big trade publications that specialize in forthcoming books. Will they review the book, and if so, will the review be positive? It’s quite important too, because these publications are influential with librarians and booksellers, and can be leading indicators regarding the potential success of new books out in the marketplace. Kirkus reviewers in particular have a reputation for being pretty tough, so you can imagine my relief to find that THE GATEPOST’s first official review was overwhelmingly positive:
“A hallucinatory thriller is a fascinating concept, and the plot is a treat . . . A compellingly trippy journey.”
Read the full review here. Preorder the book here. If you’re a bookseller, librarian, or reviewer, download a free early review copy here.
The Colorado Sun kicks off early media coverage for THE GATEPOST with excerpt, podcast, & print interview
February 3, 2026 § Leave a comment
My sincere gratitude to Kevin Simpson and The Colorado Sun for their early interest in THE GATEPOST, launching May 26, 2026!
In addition to the podcast, The Sun published an excerpt of the novel’s first chapter and a wide-ranging print interview in which we talked about Oaxaca and the inspiration for the novel, the writing process, Mesoamerican shamanism, hallucinogenic mushrooms, the multiverse, and more.
THE GATEPOST cover reveal & call for early readers
January 8, 2026 § Leave a comment
I’m thrilled to give you a first look at the cover of my upcoming novel, to be released in paperback, audiobook, or ebook on May 26, 2026!
The Gatepost is about a lost scientist desperate to find his way home to rural Vermont, and a daughter trying to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance twenty years later. It’s a contemporary love story wrapped in a speculative thriller blending science and ancient cosmology that propels its characters beyond the boundaries of space, time, and the human mind. You can read more about it here.
If this sounds like somthing you might enjoy, please consider preordering it online in the format of your choice. Robust preorders can demonstrate a groundswell of early interest in a book, creating incentives for booksellers to stock and display it prominently in their shops. Preorders can trigger on-line algorithms that increase a novel’s visibility, giving it a shot at reaching a broader range of interested readers. You might think of it as an exercise in delayed gratification: a gift to yourself scheduled to arrive right in time for your summer reading adventures. And I greatly appreciate your support!
I’m also recruiting early readers willing to post online ratings and/or brief reviews of The Gatepost in advance of the publication date. Early ratings and reviews on Goodreads, StoryGraph, and other sites can be of immense importance in getting a novel like this out to a broader readership. Digital galleys are available to download on NetGalley, or shoot me a message here. Once again, I very much appreciate your help!
The Inner Game with Gwen Garcelon: radio & podcast interview on sacred nature and the new mythology
August 16, 2025 § Leave a comment
I LOVED this conversation with The Inner Game‘s Gwen Garcelon about THE AFTERLIFE PROJECT, spiritual evolution, animism, and the need for a new mythology to help us fulfill our destiny as a species to become the stewards rather than the exploiters of sacred nature. Listen to our 28 minute interview here – you won’t regret it! Also available on NPR podcasts.
Interviews & novel excerpt at The Colorado Sun and the Daily Sun-Up podcast
July 14, 2025 § Leave a comment
Very much enjoyed this interview on The Colorado Sun’s daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. You can listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
The Colorado Sun has also published this excerpt of THE AFTERLIFE PROJECT and an extended on-line interview about the origins of the novel, the challenges of writing it, the author’s Colorado roots, and more.
All this media attention was perfectly timed to coincide with THE AFTERLIFE PROJECT’s Colorado book tour, which has been a smashing success. My gratitude to Kevin Simpson and everyone at The Colorado Sun!
THE AFTERLIFE PROJECT is one of New Scientist’s top books of the month
June 7, 2025 § Leave a comment
Such an honor to see that THE AFTERLIFE PROJECT has made this list in New Scientist, one of my favorite weekly popular science magazines.
In these troubling times, good communication about the latest trends and discoveries in science and technology is more important than ever, and New Scientist is among the very best. The fact that they also cover the latest fiction is an added bonus!
The Nerd Daily excerpts THE AFTERLIFE PROJECT
June 2, 2025 § Leave a comment
Very pleased and honored to report that The Nerd Daily has published an excerpt of THE AFTERLIFE PROJECT. If you’re curious about the book but haven’t pulled the trigger yet, here’s a chance to dip your toes in.
Tim Weed 