Josh Denslow
@joshdenslow.bsky.social
High-functioning slacker.
Every story by @livesinpages.bsky.social is a must read.
It was a 2025 goal of mine to send new work to @aaronburch.bsky.social for Short Story, Long and I'm so happy he liked "Home is a Relative Term" enough to give it a, well, home!
It's a story of suburban existentialism, queer panic, and a desire for connection.
open.substack.com/pub/ashortst...
It's a story of suburban existentialism, queer panic, and a desire for connection.
open.substack.com/pub/ashortst...
“Home is a Relative Term” by Christopher Gonzalez
"The thing about going home again is that you really do become the person you were when you were last permanently there. I was eighteen when I left for college, a month shy of turning nineteen..."
open.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Every story by @livesinpages.bsky.social is a must read.
Reposted by Josh Denslow
Happiest of pub days, @rebb003.bsky.social ! In the weeks before her death, my mother got such a kick out of Becky’s “so my parents are dead” videos. She thought they were hilarious. She would be so thrilled to see this wonderful book in the world. Full of great info, gallows humor, & grace. ❤️🪦
January 6, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Happiest of pub days, @rebb003.bsky.social ! In the weeks before her death, my mother got such a kick out of Becky’s “so my parents are dead” videos. She thought they were hilarious. She would be so thrilled to see this wonderful book in the world. Full of great info, gallows humor, & grace. ❤️🪦
Reposted by Josh Denslow
Icymi, I have a new story in @vol1brooklyn.bsky.social it has nostalgia for childhood, sinister going ons, and places you can't return to
Sunday Stories: “We Buy Houses”
We Buy Housesby Chloe N. Clark My parents had been planning to move for as long as I could remember. They were always talking about picking everything up and speeding across the state, across the c…
www.vol1brooklyn.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Icymi, I have a new story in @vol1brooklyn.bsky.social it has nostalgia for childhood, sinister going ons, and places you can't return to
Reposted by Josh Denslow
Barnes and Noble is having its preorder sale (25% off pre-orders), so it's the perfect time to preorder a very cool and good book called Every Galaxy a Circle
Every Galaxy a Circle|Paperback
An Intriguing Journey through the Cosmos of Human ExperienceIn Every Galaxy a Circle, Chloe N. Clark masterfully intertwines memories, ghosts, and the future, presenting a collection that spans folklo...
www.barnesandnoble.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Barnes and Noble is having its preorder sale (25% off pre-orders), so it's the perfect time to preorder a very cool and good book called Every Galaxy a Circle
Was a highlight for me this year too!
Obligatory End of the Year Post - Some highlights:
Interviews inlcuded stars like @hntdove.bsky.social, TJ Klune, & @older.bsky.social as well as up-and-comers like @arula-ratnakar.bsky.social, @joshdenslow.bsky.social, @douglasgwilym.bsky.social , & @thomasha.bsky.social (episode coming soon).
Interviews inlcuded stars like @hntdove.bsky.social, TJ Klune, & @older.bsky.social as well as up-and-comers like @arula-ratnakar.bsky.social, @joshdenslow.bsky.social, @douglasgwilym.bsky.social , & @thomasha.bsky.social (episode coming soon).
December 29, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Was a highlight for me this year too!
My phone just offered me a memories slideshow of pictures I took from Christmas 2025. Which was yesterday.
December 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
My phone just offered me a memories slideshow of pictures I took from Christmas 2025. Which was yesterday.
Reposted by Josh Denslow
If you’re looking for a good read this holiday season, why not read the novel about people devoured at sea by a kaiju whale-man titan who survive inside its guts until they can escape to the astral sea and wage war on the cultists using the beast for their own nefarious ends?
Real Christmas vibes!
Real Christmas vibes!
December 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM
If you’re looking for a good read this holiday season, why not read the novel about people devoured at sea by a kaiju whale-man titan who survive inside its guts until they can escape to the astral sea and wage war on the cultists using the beast for their own nefarious ends?
Real Christmas vibes!
Real Christmas vibes!
Reposted by Josh Denslow
A reminder that I'm running some writing classes in the first half of 2026. So a thread of those in case you (or someone you know) might be interested:
December 18, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A reminder that I'm running some writing classes in the first half of 2026. So a thread of those in case you (or someone you know) might be interested:
Reposted by Josh Denslow
Reactor is proud to continue our history of genre-focused literary criticism. Here's some of our favorite essays on reading, writing, and fiction from the year:
Some of Reactor’s Best Articles About Fiction, Reading, and Writing in 2025 - Reactor
We're looking back at some of our favorite non-fiction articles from the past year, highlighting book-centric essays.
reactormag.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reactor is proud to continue our history of genre-focused literary criticism. Here's some of our favorite essays on reading, writing, and fiction from the year:
It gives me great joy, especially here at the end of a difficult year for everyone, to be in this list of notable Small Press Books with such spectacular company. And so many books to just now discover. A lovely feeling.
Congrats on ACCOMLPISHMENT SUNDAY 🎊 Contributor @joshdenslow.bsky.social’s book MAGIC CAN’T SAVE US was listed in @literaryhub.bsky.social’s 100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025 🙌Find more info here: buff.ly/bWo2fnL
December 15, 2025 at 7:20 PM
It gives me great joy, especially here at the end of a difficult year for everyone, to be in this list of notable Small Press Books with such spectacular company. And so many books to just now discover. A lovely feeling.
Reposted by Josh Denslow
Congrats on ACCOMLPISHMENT SUNDAY 🎊 Contributor @joshdenslow.bsky.social’s book MAGIC CAN’T SAVE US was listed in @literaryhub.bsky.social’s 100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025 🙌Find more info here: buff.ly/bWo2fnL
December 14, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Congrats on ACCOMLPISHMENT SUNDAY 🎊 Contributor @joshdenslow.bsky.social’s book MAGIC CAN’T SAVE US was listed in @literaryhub.bsky.social’s 100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025 🙌Find more info here: buff.ly/bWo2fnL
Reposted by Josh Denslow
My favorite writing thing I did this year beside publish my book was get back into short story writing, including writing this one and getting published at a dream pub. If you haven’t read it, I’ll say that i think it’s a very good end of year kind of story to read
"Your Life in Parties" by Amber Sparks
"...your retirement party, the one they threw for you at the atrocious Italian restaurant. Surprise!, they all yell, which is so awkward because this isn’t a surprise party...."
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:43 PM
My favorite writing thing I did this year beside publish my book was get back into short story writing, including writing this one and getting published at a dream pub. If you haven’t read it, I’ll say that i think it’s a very good end of year kind of story to read
Reposted by Josh Denslow
I just added SO many books to my list! Hats off to @miriamgershow.bsky.social and all the reviewers and @literaryhub.bsky.social for putting together this incredibly vital, necessary, and good guide to the indies this year. Please do read! lithub.com/100-notable-...
100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025
The idea of 100 Notable Small Press Books was born November 2024, after The New York Times’s annual 100 Notable Books list featured eighty-two books from the Big Five publishing houses (Pengu…
lithub.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I just added SO many books to my list! Hats off to @miriamgershow.bsky.social and all the reviewers and @literaryhub.bsky.social for putting together this incredibly vital, necessary, and good guide to the indies this year. Please do read! lithub.com/100-notable-...
Reposted by Josh Denslow
Love seeing books by @writesloud.bsky.social and @joshdenslow.bsky.social on this list!
If you love a small press, check out these 100 notable small press books from 2025!
100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025
The idea of 100 Notable Small Press Books was born November 2024, after The New York Times’s annual 100 Notable Books list featured eighty-two books from the Big Five publishing houses (Pengu…
buff.ly
December 1, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Love seeing books by @writesloud.bsky.social and @joshdenslow.bsky.social on this list!
Reposted by Josh Denslow
A fun fact about this collection is that it contains my earliest published story. It also, out of my books, contains the most never before published stories.
I know everything is trash but books are still good. My book is up for pre-order and id be grateful if you want to read it 🥺 will link to a few places in thread
December 1, 2025 at 6:20 PM
A fun fact about this collection is that it contains my earliest published story. It also, out of my books, contains the most never before published stories.
Thank you so much @pintsncupcakes.bsky.social ! One of my favorite writers recommending my book. And the rest of this thread is full of more favorites! So good!
Well @bookshop.org still has free shipping today! Here are some of my favorite books I've read so far this year which would make great reads for you or gifts for a reader in your life!
First @joshdenslow.bsky.social Magic Can't Save Us. A delightful and strange story collection
First @joshdenslow.bsky.social Magic Can't Save Us. A delightful and strange story collection
Magic Can't Save Us: Eighteen Tales of Likely Failure
Eighteen Tales of Likely Failure
bookshop.org
November 30, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Thank you so much @pintsncupcakes.bsky.social ! One of my favorite writers recommending my book. And the rest of this thread is full of more favorites! So good!
Reposted by Josh Denslow
this is set the night before christmas, but the night before thanksgiving gets a shoutout, so you should all read it today.
“Biggest bar night!” he says again. “Let’s go out! Like old times!”
I wonder why he’s confused tonight, Christmas Eve, with the night before Thanksgiving...
“Biggest bar night!” he says again. “Let’s go out! Like old times!”
I wonder why he’s confused tonight, Christmas Eve, with the night before Thanksgiving...
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Aaron Burch
It was exciting and sad and over too fast and underwhelming and amazing, all at the same. It was all of it. It was beautiful.
xraylitmag.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:05 PM
this is set the night before christmas, but the night before thanksgiving gets a shoutout, so you should all read it today.
“Biggest bar night!” he says again. “Let’s go out! Like old times!”
I wonder why he’s confused tonight, Christmas Eve, with the night before Thanksgiving...
“Biggest bar night!” he says again. “Let’s go out! Like old times!”
I wonder why he’s confused tonight, Christmas Eve, with the night before Thanksgiving...
Reposted by Josh Denslow
Found a few of my books in the basement.
$15 each or $25 for both.
Comes with a personalized typewritten letter from me.
Could be profound. Could be unhinged. You won’t know till it arrives…🖤
DM me which one you want + your address.
$15 each or $25 for both.
Comes with a personalized typewritten letter from me.
Could be profound. Could be unhinged. You won’t know till it arrives…🖤
DM me which one you want + your address.
November 12, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Found a few of my books in the basement.
$15 each or $25 for both.
Comes with a personalized typewritten letter from me.
Could be profound. Could be unhinged. You won’t know till it arrives…🖤
DM me which one you want + your address.
$15 each or $25 for both.
Comes with a personalized typewritten letter from me.
Could be profound. Could be unhinged. You won’t know till it arrives…🖤
DM me which one you want + your address.
Reposted by Josh Denslow
This review! “Happy people really don’t live here. Sorrow floats above them like the cemetery ghosts, unmoored and occasionally angry, everything framed within a madcap murder mystery…Sparks is a clever writer who has, by melding conventions from several genres, created a perfect hybrid”
The bighearted ghost story you didn’t know you needed. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/h... @liveright.bsky.social @ambersparks.bsky.social @keithdonohue.bsky.social #booksky
Happy People Don’t Live Here: A Novel | Washington Independent Review of Books
The Independent is an important voice in the community of readers and writers dedicated to book reviews and writing about the world of books.
www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:28 PM
This review! “Happy people really don’t live here. Sorrow floats above them like the cemetery ghosts, unmoored and occasionally angry, everything framed within a madcap murder mystery…Sparks is a clever writer who has, by melding conventions from several genres, created a perfect hybrid”
Reposted by Josh Denslow
Found the first poem I ever got published when I was 16. It’s called Seashore. It’s… painfully sincere.
November 3, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Found the first poem I ever got published when I was 16. It’s called Seashore. It’s… painfully sincere.
Reposted by Josh Denslow
Hey All, Check out our latest interview with @joshdenslow.bsky.social about his newest collection Magic Can't Save us. We cover a lot of ground including dialogue, music, Marlon James, and living outside of the US. itgodp.libsyn.com/magic-cant-s...
If This Goes On (Don't Panic): Science Fiction, Fantasy & Progressive Politics: Magic Can't Save Us with Josh Denslow
In this episode, Alan talks to author and musician Josh Denslow. They discuss writing dialogue and movie scripts, music's influence on his writing, Marlon James, the break down of walls between specul...
itgodp.libsyn.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Hey All, Check out our latest interview with @joshdenslow.bsky.social about his newest collection Magic Can't Save us. We cover a lot of ground including dialogue, music, Marlon James, and living outside of the US. itgodp.libsyn.com/magic-cant-s...
I'm writing a new short story.
October 31, 2025 at 12:52 AM
I'm writing a new short story.
Reposted by Josh Denslow
And FINALLY, a new author interview with @joshdenslow.bsky.social will be out VERY soon. This one took me forever. Life threw a lot of things in my way trying to keep this one from coming out, but I have prevailed!
October 26, 2025 at 6:45 PM
And FINALLY, a new author interview with @joshdenslow.bsky.social will be out VERY soon. This one took me forever. Life threw a lot of things in my way trying to keep this one from coming out, but I have prevailed!
Reposted by Josh Denslow
New Short Story, Long story tomorrow!
In the meantime… published this amazing @lukewortley.bsky.social story around this time last year!
"My father’s horns come in during the divorce proceedings. They erupt, seemingly overnight, arcing around the sides of his head in a ribbed, cochlear spiral…"
In the meantime… published this amazing @lukewortley.bsky.social story around this time last year!
"My father’s horns come in during the divorce proceedings. They erupt, seemingly overnight, arcing around the sides of his head in a ribbed, cochlear spiral…"
“Inheritance” by Luke Wortley
“My father’s horns come in during the divorce proceedings. They erupt, seemingly overnight, arcing around the sides of his head in a ribbed, cochlear spiral, ending in rounded tips.”
ashortstorylong.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
New Short Story, Long story tomorrow!
In the meantime… published this amazing @lukewortley.bsky.social story around this time last year!
"My father’s horns come in during the divorce proceedings. They erupt, seemingly overnight, arcing around the sides of his head in a ribbed, cochlear spiral…"
In the meantime… published this amazing @lukewortley.bsky.social story around this time last year!
"My father’s horns come in during the divorce proceedings. They erupt, seemingly overnight, arcing around the sides of his head in a ribbed, cochlear spiral…"
Wait. Hold up a second. Did you see this?!!!
Happy Best American Day to all who celebrate!
Lots of friends and writers throughout! Special shoutout to Short Story, Long authors @joshdenslow.bsky.social & Chase Dearinger for getting notabled in Best American Short Stories and Best American Mystery and Suspense, respectively!
Lots of friends and writers throughout! Special shoutout to Short Story, Long authors @joshdenslow.bsky.social & Chase Dearinger for getting notabled in Best American Short Stories and Best American Mystery and Suspense, respectively!
October 21, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Wait. Hold up a second. Did you see this?!!!