Carson Winter
@carsonwinter.bsky.social
Author, punker, raw nerve. PORTRAITS OF DECAY out now. Co-host of the Dead Languages Podcast. Social media at CHM.
Pinned
Carson Winter
@carsonwinter.bsky.social
· Jun 16
PORTRAITS OF DECAY is out NOW! I couldn’t be prouder of this book—the short story is such a fundamental part of the horror genre, it feels especially exciting to see my work collected.
To kick off PORTRAITS’ birth, I wanted to talk about some of the works that served as its inspiration.
THREAD/
To kick off PORTRAITS’ birth, I wanted to talk about some of the works that served as its inspiration.
THREAD/
Not a big Christmas guy, but I will say being sick on Christmas fucking blows. Free day off and we have to spend it sniffling? Fuck that noise.
December 25, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Not a big Christmas guy, but I will say being sick on Christmas fucking blows. Free day off and we have to spend it sniffling? Fuck that noise.
These Cummies aren't gonna vote for themselves... I was taking a look at the back end and we have a couple of ties that need to be broken.
Come on and vote for the dumbest award in horrorlit: forms.gle/J2KVcpWcb8tu...
Come on and vote for the dumbest award in horrorlit: forms.gle/J2KVcpWcb8tu...
Cummies Award Final Ballot
Born from the bowels of your favorite irreverent horror writing podcast, the Dead Languages crew is proud to present the first annual Cummies Award!
After a month long round of nominations, we've no...
forms.gle
December 23, 2025 at 3:41 PM
These Cummies aren't gonna vote for themselves... I was taking a look at the back end and we have a couple of ties that need to be broken.
Come on and vote for the dumbest award in horrorlit: forms.gle/J2KVcpWcb8tu...
Come on and vote for the dumbest award in horrorlit: forms.gle/J2KVcpWcb8tu...
Reposted by Carson Winter
Reminder that if you can't afford an artist, you can create the cover yourself. @carsonwinter.bsky.social painted his own cover.
Not only was it free, but it's also completely unique and representative of him as an artist and author.
No AI, no stealing, no excuses, no slop.
It's that easy.
Not only was it free, but it's also completely unique and representative of him as an artist and author.
No AI, no stealing, no excuses, no slop.
It's that easy.
December 18, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reminder that if you can't afford an artist, you can create the cover yourself. @carsonwinter.bsky.social painted his own cover.
Not only was it free, but it's also completely unique and representative of him as an artist and author.
No AI, no stealing, no excuses, no slop.
It's that easy.
Not only was it free, but it's also completely unique and representative of him as an artist and author.
No AI, no stealing, no excuses, no slop.
It's that easy.
Reposted by Carson Winter
Every writer who generates a slop image for their work is a class traitor.
"I can't afford a visual artist"
So your solution is stabbing artists in the back? Stealing from them?
Furthermore, slop-generated imagery suggests slop-generated writing. That's how you're presenting yourself.
"I can't afford a visual artist"
So your solution is stabbing artists in the back? Stealing from them?
Furthermore, slop-generated imagery suggests slop-generated writing. That's how you're presenting yourself.
December 16, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Every writer who generates a slop image for their work is a class traitor.
"I can't afford a visual artist"
So your solution is stabbing artists in the back? Stealing from them?
Furthermore, slop-generated imagery suggests slop-generated writing. That's how you're presenting yourself.
"I can't afford a visual artist"
So your solution is stabbing artists in the back? Stealing from them?
Furthermore, slop-generated imagery suggests slop-generated writing. That's how you're presenting yourself.
Reposted by Carson Winter
Check out "The Children of the Event" by @carsonwinter.bsky.social, which starts as a kaiju story, then takes a surprising turn into... The Sneetches? and then settles into another, hyper-relevant story about how societies deal with change and transformation. Fascinating stuff.
🦑 Episode 1007…
“The first person to see the wave was a fisherman.”
The Children of the Event, by Carson Winter
Narrator: Matt Arnold
Host: Alasdair Stuart
Audio: Graeme Dunlop
pseudopod.org/2025/12/12/p...
This story was first published in the collection ‘Portraits of Decay’
“The first person to see the wave was a fisherman.”
The Children of the Event, by Carson Winter
Narrator: Matt Arnold
Host: Alasdair Stuart
Audio: Graeme Dunlop
pseudopod.org/2025/12/12/p...
This story was first published in the collection ‘Portraits of Decay’
PseudoPod 1007: The Children of the Event
The first person to see the wave was a fisherman. Like most of his kind, he was strong, fond of water, and a heavy drinker; he wore rubber boots and a yellow coat slicked with salmon guts.
pseudopod.org
December 12, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Check out "The Children of the Event" by @carsonwinter.bsky.social, which starts as a kaiju story, then takes a surprising turn into... The Sneetches? and then settles into another, hyper-relevant story about how societies deal with change and transformation. Fascinating stuff.
Reposted by Carson Winter
such a banger story depicted perfectly. don't miss x
🦑 Episode 1007…
“The first person to see the wave was a fisherman.”
The Children of the Event, by Carson Winter
Narrator: Matt Arnold
Host: Alasdair Stuart
Audio: Graeme Dunlop
pseudopod.org/2025/12/12/p...
This story was first published in the collection ‘Portraits of Decay’
“The first person to see the wave was a fisherman.”
The Children of the Event, by Carson Winter
Narrator: Matt Arnold
Host: Alasdair Stuart
Audio: Graeme Dunlop
pseudopod.org/2025/12/12/p...
This story was first published in the collection ‘Portraits of Decay’
PseudoPod 1007: The Children of the Event
The first person to see the wave was a fisherman. Like most of his kind, he was strong, fond of water, and a heavy drinker; he wore rubber boots and a yellow coat slicked with salmon guts.
pseudopod.org
December 12, 2025 at 2:14 PM
such a banger story depicted perfectly. don't miss x
It’s always a great day to have a story on Pseudopod. Proud of this one.
And if you really dig it and want more, check out my collection PORTRAITS OF DECAY!
And if you really dig it and want more, check out my collection PORTRAITS OF DECAY!
🦑 Episode 1007…
“The first person to see the wave was a fisherman.”
The Children of the Event, by Carson Winter
Narrator: Matt Arnold
Host: Alasdair Stuart
Audio: Graeme Dunlop
pseudopod.org/2025/12/12/p...
This story was first published in the collection ‘Portraits of Decay’
“The first person to see the wave was a fisherman.”
The Children of the Event, by Carson Winter
Narrator: Matt Arnold
Host: Alasdair Stuart
Audio: Graeme Dunlop
pseudopod.org/2025/12/12/p...
This story was first published in the collection ‘Portraits of Decay’
PseudoPod 1007: The Children of the Event
The first person to see the wave was a fisherman. Like most of his kind, he was strong, fond of water, and a heavy drinker; he wore rubber boots and a yellow coat slicked with salmon guts.
pseudopod.org
December 12, 2025 at 2:15 PM
It’s always a great day to have a story on Pseudopod. Proud of this one.
And if you really dig it and want more, check out my collection PORTRAITS OF DECAY!
And if you really dig it and want more, check out my collection PORTRAITS OF DECAY!
Reposted by Carson Winter
This is a terrific story from @carsonwinter.bsky.social, beautifully narrated by @fluidityaudio.bsky.social.
I don’t think we’ve run a story with footnotes before. It works brilliantly, with huge thanks to @kibitzer.bsky.social for the audio wizardry! 🦑
I don’t think we’ve run a story with footnotes before. It works brilliantly, with huge thanks to @kibitzer.bsky.social for the audio wizardry! 🦑
🦑 Episode 1007…
“The first person to see the wave was a fisherman.”
The Children of the Event, by Carson Winter
Narrator: Matt Arnold
Host: Alasdair Stuart
Audio: Graeme Dunlop
pseudopod.org/2025/12/12/p...
This story was first published in the collection ‘Portraits of Decay’
“The first person to see the wave was a fisherman.”
The Children of the Event, by Carson Winter
Narrator: Matt Arnold
Host: Alasdair Stuart
Audio: Graeme Dunlop
pseudopod.org/2025/12/12/p...
This story was first published in the collection ‘Portraits of Decay’
PseudoPod 1007: The Children of the Event
The first person to see the wave was a fisherman. Like most of his kind, he was strong, fond of water, and a heavy drinker; he wore rubber boots and a yellow coat slicked with salmon guts.
pseudopod.org
December 12, 2025 at 9:06 AM
This is a terrific story from @carsonwinter.bsky.social, beautifully narrated by @fluidityaudio.bsky.social.
I don’t think we’ve run a story with footnotes before. It works brilliantly, with huge thanks to @kibitzer.bsky.social for the audio wizardry! 🦑
I don’t think we’ve run a story with footnotes before. It works brilliantly, with huge thanks to @kibitzer.bsky.social for the audio wizardry! 🦑
If you haven’t read Fawver, you’re missing out on one of our finest living weird horror writers.
His work is like if Ken Burns wrote about nightmarish disturbances that keep vanishing from your memory.
His work is like if Ken Burns wrote about nightmarish disturbances that keep vanishing from your memory.
Cover reveal! Art by Vergvoktre. EVERYWHERE IS A HORROR STORY by Kurt Fawver, coming August 11th, 2026, from Grimscribe Press.
December 12, 2025 at 12:50 AM
If you haven’t read Fawver, you’re missing out on one of our finest living weird horror writers.
His work is like if Ken Burns wrote about nightmarish disturbances that keep vanishing from your memory.
His work is like if Ken Burns wrote about nightmarish disturbances that keep vanishing from your memory.
Seeking reviewers, influencers, people who like to talk about horror short fiction—if you're interested in reading and reviewing my collection PORTRAITS OF DECAY, please reach out.
December 7, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Seeking reviewers, influencers, people who like to talk about horror short fiction—if you're interested in reading and reviewing my collection PORTRAITS OF DECAY, please reach out.
The best part of writing is when you finish a first draft of a big project and you can spend days not doing any of this nonsense for a bit, guilt free.
Happy to report I've been lounging about the house, reading, and playing video games.
Happy to report I've been lounging about the house, reading, and playing video games.
December 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The best part of writing is when you finish a first draft of a big project and you can spend days not doing any of this nonsense for a bit, guilt free.
Happy to report I've been lounging about the house, reading, and playing video games.
Happy to report I've been lounging about the house, reading, and playing video games.
Congratulations to the winners! It's an honor to have my little autumnal weird horror novel considered as a finalist for the Small Spec Book Awards!
Horror Finalists:
💙A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social (@tenebrouspress.bsky.social)
💙BENOTHINGED by @alvartheo.bsky.social (@hauntpublishing.bsky.social)
💙A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social (@tenebrouspress.bsky.social)
💙BENOTHINGED by @alvartheo.bsky.social (@hauntpublishing.bsky.social)
December 2, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Congratulations to the winners! It's an honor to have my little autumnal weird horror novel considered as a finalist for the Small Spec Book Awards!
Reposted by Carson Winter
Ever wonder where the trope map came from?
December 1, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Ever wonder where the trope map came from?
Reposted by Carson Winter
The Cummies Final Ballot has been announced! This is the greatest literary prize in horror, because we said so. Please vote through December on the winner here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Cummies Award Final Ballot
Born from the bowels of your favorite irreverent horror writing podcast, the Dead Languages crew is proud to present the first annual Cummies Award!
After a month long round of nominations, we've no...
docs.google.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:41 PM
The Cummies Final Ballot has been announced! This is the greatest literary prize in horror, because we said so. Please vote through December on the winner here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Carson Winter
Horror Finalists:
💙A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social (@tenebrouspress.bsky.social)
💙BENOTHINGED by @alvartheo.bsky.social (@hauntpublishing.bsky.social)
💙A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social (@tenebrouspress.bsky.social)
💙BENOTHINGED by @alvartheo.bsky.social (@hauntpublishing.bsky.social)
December 1, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Horror Finalists:
💙A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social (@tenebrouspress.bsky.social)
💙BENOTHINGED by @alvartheo.bsky.social (@hauntpublishing.bsky.social)
💙A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social (@tenebrouspress.bsky.social)
💙BENOTHINGED by @alvartheo.bsky.social (@hauntpublishing.bsky.social)
Reposted by Carson Winter
BUY INDIE🖤☠️
For:
HAUNTED HOUSE fans who are pretty sure they've worn the genre out?
Try:
POSTHASTE MANOR by @jolietoomajan.bsky.social & @carsonwinter.bsky.social
DEHISCENT by Ashley Deng
store.tenebrouspress.com
For:
HAUNTED HOUSE fans who are pretty sure they've worn the genre out?
Try:
POSTHASTE MANOR by @jolietoomajan.bsky.social & @carsonwinter.bsky.social
DEHISCENT by Ashley Deng
store.tenebrouspress.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:17 PM
BUY INDIE🖤☠️
For:
HAUNTED HOUSE fans who are pretty sure they've worn the genre out?
Try:
POSTHASTE MANOR by @jolietoomajan.bsky.social & @carsonwinter.bsky.social
DEHISCENT by Ashley Deng
store.tenebrouspress.com
For:
HAUNTED HOUSE fans who are pretty sure they've worn the genre out?
Try:
POSTHASTE MANOR by @jolietoomajan.bsky.social & @carsonwinter.bsky.social
DEHISCENT by Ashley Deng
store.tenebrouspress.com
Reposted by Carson Winter
BUY INDIE🖤☠️
Scratching a FOLK HORROR itch from a new angle? We got options:
LUMBERJACK by @anthonyengebretson.bsky.social
THE BLACK LORD by @chinckleys.bsky.social
A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social
CROM CRUACH by @goresorcerer.bsky.social
store.tenebrouspress.com
Scratching a FOLK HORROR itch from a new angle? We got options:
LUMBERJACK by @anthonyengebretson.bsky.social
THE BLACK LORD by @chinckleys.bsky.social
A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social
CROM CRUACH by @goresorcerer.bsky.social
store.tenebrouspress.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:03 PM
BUY INDIE🖤☠️
Scratching a FOLK HORROR itch from a new angle? We got options:
LUMBERJACK by @anthonyengebretson.bsky.social
THE BLACK LORD by @chinckleys.bsky.social
A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social
CROM CRUACH by @goresorcerer.bsky.social
store.tenebrouspress.com
Scratching a FOLK HORROR itch from a new angle? We got options:
LUMBERJACK by @anthonyengebretson.bsky.social
THE BLACK LORD by @chinckleys.bsky.social
A SPECTRE IS HAUNTING GREENTREE by @carsonwinter.bsky.social
CROM CRUACH by @goresorcerer.bsky.social
store.tenebrouspress.com
Reposted by Carson Winter
Dope article. If you’re looking to dig deeper into the story and its themes after reading, there’s a great free anthology featuring writers like @horrorsong.blog @joellekillian.bsky.social @carsonwinter.bsky.social @rsljnr.bsky.social @cjsubko.bsky.social , TJ Price & more.
I’ll link it below 🤘
I’ll link it below 🤘
November 29, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Dope article. If you’re looking to dig deeper into the story and its themes after reading, there’s a great free anthology featuring writers like @horrorsong.blog @joellekillian.bsky.social @carsonwinter.bsky.social @rsljnr.bsky.social @cjsubko.bsky.social , TJ Price & more.
I’ll link it below 🤘
I’ll link it below 🤘
Just finished the first draft of a novel, a little shy of 75k words!
November 28, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Just finished the first draft of a novel, a little shy of 75k words!
PORTRAITS OF DECAY from @saltheartpress.bsky.social is eligible for all those cool awards folks are talking about!
If you're a fan of weird fiction in the vein Padgett, Fawver, Jackson, Ligotti, and Cushing, check it out!
If you're a fan of weird fiction in the vein Padgett, Fawver, Jackson, Ligotti, and Cushing, check it out!
November 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
PORTRAITS OF DECAY from @saltheartpress.bsky.social is eligible for all those cool awards folks are talking about!
If you're a fan of weird fiction in the vein Padgett, Fawver, Jackson, Ligotti, and Cushing, check it out!
If you're a fan of weird fiction in the vein Padgett, Fawver, Jackson, Ligotti, and Cushing, check it out!
Reposted by Carson Winter
I admittedly would love a Cummie. I have a handful of awards eligible stories this year if you feel so inclined. Perhaps with y'all's recommendations and a...stroke of luck, I can achieve it...
I appreciate any and all consideration! 💜🤘💀
I appreciate any and all consideration! 💜🤘💀
Admit it, you want to win a Cummie.
The most important award in the horror industry is open for nominations until the end of the month. Publishers, authors—I'm going to need you to step up and tell us about your favorite books.
forms.gle/ye4fmWyuyhd6...
The most important award in the horror industry is open for nominations until the end of the month. Publishers, authors—I'm going to need you to step up and tell us about your favorite books.
forms.gle/ye4fmWyuyhd6...
The Dead Languages' Cummies
For the second year in the row, we are proud to announce the annual Dead Languages' Cummies award.
What are the DLP Cummies?
The Cummies will juicily celebrate horror authors and presses. These a...
forms.gle
November 21, 2025 at 12:16 AM
I admittedly would love a Cummie. I have a handful of awards eligible stories this year if you feel so inclined. Perhaps with y'all's recommendations and a...stroke of luck, I can achieve it...
I appreciate any and all consideration! 💜🤘💀
I appreciate any and all consideration! 💜🤘💀
Admit it, you want to win a Cummie.
The most important award in the horror industry is open for nominations until the end of the month. Publishers, authors—I'm going to need you to step up and tell us about your favorite books.
forms.gle/ye4fmWyuyhd6...
The most important award in the horror industry is open for nominations until the end of the month. Publishers, authors—I'm going to need you to step up and tell us about your favorite books.
forms.gle/ye4fmWyuyhd6...
The Dead Languages' Cummies
For the second year in the row, we are proud to announce the annual Dead Languages' Cummies award.
What are the DLP Cummies?
The Cummies will juicily celebrate horror authors and presses. These a...
forms.gle
November 20, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Admit it, you want to win a Cummie.
The most important award in the horror industry is open for nominations until the end of the month. Publishers, authors—I'm going to need you to step up and tell us about your favorite books.
forms.gle/ye4fmWyuyhd6...
The most important award in the horror industry is open for nominations until the end of the month. Publishers, authors—I'm going to need you to step up and tell us about your favorite books.
forms.gle/ye4fmWyuyhd6...
Happy bday to one of my favorite writers—Patrick Barb!
November 19, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Happy bday to one of my favorite writers—Patrick Barb!
The paperback of PORTRAITS OF DECAY is on sale for $14.99 right here: shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params...
I did the cover, formatting, everything for this book—and I'm so proud of it. If you're into Ligotti, Evenson, Jackson, and Barron, give it a shot.
I did the cover, formatting, everything for this book—and I'm so proud of it. If you're into Ligotti, Evenson, Jackson, and Barron, give it a shot.
November 18, 2025 at 5:57 PM
The paperback of PORTRAITS OF DECAY is on sale for $14.99 right here: shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params...
I did the cover, formatting, everything for this book—and I'm so proud of it. If you're into Ligotti, Evenson, Jackson, and Barron, give it a shot.
I did the cover, formatting, everything for this book—and I'm so proud of it. If you're into Ligotti, Evenson, Jackson, and Barron, give it a shot.
Truly words I live by!
"I’m a big advocate of DIY ethos. If you want to see something cool? Make it!"
-@carsonwinter.bsky.social
ivygrimes.substack.com/p/interview-...
-@carsonwinter.bsky.social
ivygrimes.substack.com/p/interview-...
Interview with authors of We Will Speak Again of the Red Tower
Ligotti, community, encrimsoning
ivygrimes.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Truly words I live by!