The guiding principle of Six Ridiculous Questions is that life is filled with ridiculousness. And questions. That only by giving in to these truths may we hope to slip the surly bonds of reality and attain the higher consciousness we all crave. (Eh, not really, but it sounded good there for a minute.) It’s just. Who knows? The ridiculousness and question bits, I guess. Why six? Assonance, baby, assonance.
In our morning reading: an interview with Kimberly King Parsons, literary prize news, and more.
In our afternoon reading: exploring the work of Rod Serling, an interview with Nick Rees Gardner, and more.
I’ve been an admirer of Grant Maierhofer’s work for years, but my experience of reading his two latest books back to back may be the apex of my experience with his bibliography thus far. Those two books are Synecdoche, New York — an entry in the Timecodes series to which I’m also a contributor — and the book-length essay Serotonin: Writing and Depression. Both books are, in their own way, moving explorations of creativity and mental health. They are candid, often very moving, and haven’t left my brain since I finished them. Maierhofer and I chatted via email about these two books, his larger project, and what’s next for him.
In our morning reading: thoughts on James Brandon Lewis’s new album, revisiting the fiction of Arthur Machen, and more.
Blue
by Gideon Leek
“I hate you I hate you I hate you.” That’s what Nora texts me. Today is her birthday. Two days earlier, I’d mailed her a letter. I don’t think she liked the letter. The letter was Plan A. Now it’s time for Plan B, which starts with a flight. Well, two flights.
In our weekend reading: remembering Annie Dillard, thoughts on Keith Rosson’s new novel, and more.
Mallory Smart is an author, editor, publisher, and podcaster. She has had a prolific year with multiple stories published and a chapbook, We All Go A Little Mad Sometimes, from Thirty West Publishing. Her newest horror story collection is Book of David from House of Vlad, out October 7, 2026. An authentic encapsulation of Midwest gothic, Book of David is certainly a haunting collection just in time for Halloween. I sent her a list of questions to learn more about David.