Issue 274: Fluff Said!
Nightmare Fuel is the official newsletter for fans of my work. Thank you for subscribing. Please share it with others if you think they might be interested!
Sometimes, it just all feels so stupid, so disingenuous, so tone deaf. Writing comics. Writing horror novels. Telling stories of magical six-shooters or haints in the woods or time-displaced dinosaurs or feuds within fey kingdoms.
There are much more important things going on. There’s fear. There’s violence. There’s hunger. There’s illness. There’s misery. On a global scale. On a national scale. On a local scale. On a personal scale, because neighbors and friends and family are dealing with serious struggles and worries of their own.
Maybe I shouldn’t be talking about my work. Maybe I shouldn’t be trying to promote what’s next. Maybe I shouldn’t be worrying about a podcast called The Cullenoscopy. Maybe I should be focusing my efforts on something bigger, something more… important.
I mean, it’s all silly, right?
It’s all just fluff.
Those are the kind of thoughts that ravage their way through my brain on the regular.
This weekend, I was a guest at a small comic book convention. Along with the books I brought, I packed a few stickers for The Cullenoscopy and put them out on the table.
I admit, when it comes to stickers and such, I often forget about them as the day wears on. On this day, though, someone walked up the table and began quietly browsing the books. They didn’t pick up any of the books and they didn’t really seem interested in engaging in small talk. That’s all right. That’s how it goes sometimes. Before they walked away, though, they looked at the stickers for The Cullenoscopy, tapped them with a finger, and said:
“Watching this made me feel better.”
And that is why it’s not all fluff.
I have no idea what the folks reading my work are going through, no more than I have any idea what random people I meet on the street are going through. Hell. In many cases, I might not know what friends and family are going through, not unless they tell me. Over the years, I’ve found that people are very skilled at hiding their pain.
But if reading one of my books or watching a podcast brings a little joy into their day-to-day, I’ll throw that in the “W” column.
Welcome to another issue of Nightmare Fuel! I’m glad you’re here!
I had so much fun making The Cullenoscopy that I decided to shoot some short little videos—which I’m calling Polyps—to run in-between full episodes. These little snapshots will focus on very specific horrors, typically something my guest finds terribly scary. First up, here we have Aaron Conaway talking about a horror movie character that traumatized him.
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When I was first really trying to break in and break through as a writer, I had a more than full-time day job. I wrote while I was on breaks and during lunch. I closed my office door every now and then and wrote a little here and there. The real work, though, happened at night when I got home. After my family went to bed, once the house fell silent, I worked every night for a couple of hours. And I got a lot done. It was an extremely productive time for me.
Sure, sure. My routine in those days was to take a couple of Excedrin Migraine and chase them with a Diet Mountain Dew. I do not recommend that strategy to anyone. That is a “what worked for me might not work for you” situation.
Anyhow.
The other day, I had a ton of work to do. I wrote for a full day, but I was still running behind. I decided to work for a couple of hours late that that. I was tired and maybe a little cranky, but I managed to get so much done!
I’ve decided, then, that I’m going to add at least a few nights a week during which I head down to the office and write (or work on one of the many projects connected to writing).
Again, I don’t suggest that others do this. I’m doing what seems to work for me. You have to keep in mind, my favorite hobby is writing and coming up with story ideas. I’m lucky enough that I get to spend my days doing what brings me joy. So… why not squeeze in a little more writing into the mix?
Next week, I might be lamenting how miserable and sick and tired I am of writing, but I doubt it.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
Last issue, I mentioned that I have a few more conventions to add to my list of upcoming events. I’m still working on the list, but I do have a couple to add, as you will see below.
The next big event on the calendar, though, is a return to San Diego Comic Con! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been to San Diego, but I’m jazzed to be heading back that way. I’ll be attending the convention along with the Ignition Press crew and, I’ve gotta tell you, they have some really cool plans, starting with a boutique pop-up experience designed to introduce fans, press, and industry insiders to what they have planned for the future.
Attendees, industry and press members, and all other fans are invited to step foot into the Ingition Press Room at San Diego Comic-Con, which will feature interactive photo-ops, a curated retail space (offering exclusive comic books, t-shirts, enamel pins, stickers, and other merchandise — stay tuned for the full reveals), exclusive afterhours events, and a stacked programming schedule including signings with top talent. It’s all located in the heart of the Gaslamp District, at 643 G St.
Speaking of Ignition Press, next week’s issue will be coming out just a little later than usual. The delay is because the announcement for my very first Ignition comic will be dropping early next week! I’m going to hold off on releasing the newsletter until I can include details about the new series! I’m super excited about this new book, and I think you’re gonna love it. In the meantime, here’s a hint to the nature of the book that I posted a couple of weeks back.
As you read this, the Kickstarter campaign for ULTIMATE OZ UNIVERSE: THE LOST LANDS is nearing its end. If you haven’t supported the campaign yet, now is the time.
I just did an interview about the project, and you can watch it here:
Outland Entertainment is gearing up to launch the Kickstarter campaign for QUILL & CODEX and DAEMONROT. I thought this was going to launch last week, but I think it will be this week. Why the delay? Well, they’ve added a QUILL & CODEX CHARACTER JOURNAL to the mix, which I think is super cool. Follow the campaign so you don’t miss it!
This week in GIFs…
I had the chance to read the first couple of issues of Si Spurrier and Vanessa del Rey’s new book THE VOICE SAID KILL. It is a gritty and grimy and weird and unseemly crime book… and I love it.
You can read a preview here - https://bindings.app/read/FXroaYec
I also had the privilege of reading the first issue of MASTERMINDS by Zach Kaplan and Stephen Thompson. It was dark and entertaining, an examination of the gamification of success.
I went kayaking with my son yesterday. I’ve been on plenty of canoes on plenty of rivers, but I’ve never been on a kayak. It’s one of my kid’s current obsessions. I had a great time, despite being sore and tired today. I wouldn’t have traded hanging out with him for anything in the world.
And I didn’t flip over or nuthin’!
The summer of epic fantasy continues! So far, I’ve read:
The Knight of Swords
The Queen of Swords
The King of Swords
Here’s a quick rundown of convention appearances, signings, and other events. Keep in mind, all appearances are subject to changes and cancellations.
July 24 - July 27, 2025 - San Diego Comic Con, San Diego CA
May 29 - June 1, 2026 - Tremendicon, Springfield MO
LINKTREE - Links! Links! Links! This will get you everywhere worth visiting!
PATREON - Here, I post a serialized novel, a serialized comic book, short stories, and other cool materials.
THE CULLEN BUNN DISCORD SERVER - A place for fans to hang out and talk about comics, books, movies, games, collecting, and whatever else strikes their fancy.
MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE - Listen. You should always shop at your local comic and bookstore first, but if they don’t carry the books you want, you might be able to get them here. And, if nothing else, leave some reviews of the books you love!
That was why I wanted to write comics. I wanted to give people the same escape I got while reading them.
It's true. Reading can be a welcome distraction during times we feel overwhelmed -- the other day, I dove back into DEATH FOLLOWS and was blown away once again by that satisfying and succinct miniseries. Comics might not heal the world, but it was just what I needed at that moment.