Justin C. Key
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justinkey.bsky.social
Justin C. Key
@justinkey.bsky.social
Author, Doctor, Husband, Father, Friend
Pinned
👋🏽 to my new followers.

I’m a science fiction and horror author.

My short story collection, The World Wasn’t Ready For You, is out now!

My debut science fiction novel should be out early 2026.

Find me in Jordan Peele’s Out There Screaming

I’m also a practicing psychiatrist, husband, and father
Toni Morrison just emailed me offering to turn my book into a movie. How cool is that?!

Definitely not a scam, right?
November 16, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Bubba
November 14, 2025 at 11:31 PM
#Unboxing video for The Hospital at the End of the World.

It really is our only chance…
November 13, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
If the arrival of November's eligibility posts, end-of-the-year wrap-ups, year's-best lists, & Goodreads awards voting has left you feeling like a lazy, unaccomplished writer with unmemorable work, know you are not alone.
At least we can drown our sorrows in egg nog!
November 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
Alright y'all. This is finally happening.
November 8, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I’ve heard it’s the writer’s job to write and the publisher’s job to sell books.

This is idealistic. I’m in full hustle mode. I want to be a career novelist. This is my debut. I can’t leave anything on the floor.

Let’s get it.
November 8, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
When I'm at conventions, I'm often asked: "What's the difference between dark fantasy & horror?"
In this month's editorial, I talk a little about my thoughts. www.nightmare-magazine.com/nonfiction/e...
Editorial: November 2025 - Nightmare Magazine
I have lost count of the number of discussions I’ve had about what the difference between horror and dark fantasy might be. Plenty of people have very crisp definitions and think applying them helps t...
www.nightmare-magazine.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
All the pearl-clutching about Zohran Mamdani--by right-wingers who elected a half-senile old TV star president--is very amusing. For once the shoe is on the other foot.
November 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Incidents Around the House was brutal.

I can’t tell if I’m more scared because of my knowledge as a mental health professional but…sheesh!

Highly recommend!
November 5, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
And today, I’ll add “Now You See Me” by @justinkey.bsky.social, with some intense Twilight Zone vibes and an engrossing (if disturbing) fantastical exploration of both Black invisibility and hypervisibility in American culture www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/now-...
Now You See Me - Lightspeed Magazine
Good art changes you. And that was the point, right? That’s what the social media ad that caught my attention wanted me to believe: Our Shoes: You couldn’t understand our struggle . . . Until now. I h...
www.lightspeedmagazine.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:44 PM
About a third of the way through Incidents Around the House.

This some scary shit
November 1, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
Hola, Horror Writers. I'm going to post and eat as I've pretty much just walked in. But, we're all about it today, so close to Halloween!
Tell me tell me. What scared you as a child?

No links, no hawking books please, till the end. Thanks Thanks.

#HorrorWritersChat
October 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM
#NewAuthorPhoto

The Hospital at the End of the World / 2.3.26

Photo by Amina Touray
October 30, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
If you love science fiction, fantasy, and horror you MUST already subscribe to Locus Magazine... Right?

linktr.ee/locusmagazine
link in bio!
October 27, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
Holy shit! That motherfucker TORE DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE!
October 23, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
This new has been a long time in coming, but it’s finally official: Wayne Brady and I are writing a book together! But first (if you want a peek at what the working relationship of me and Wayne is like), a story …
October 23, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Advance praise for The Hospital at the End of the World!
October 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
Honor to have a vampire novel on this list:
The Best Horror Books of 2025 - B&N Reads
These are the 2025 horror novels that spooked, scared and haunted us throughout the year.
www.barnesandnoble.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Contract signed!!

My latest short story, MARGINS, will appear in Lightspeed Magazine.

Following a psychiatrist with ‘empathic’ schizophrenia where he takes on his patient’s symptoms, with Margins, I continue to bring a little horror to the sci-fi medical thriller.
October 18, 2025 at 9:25 PM
I’m just going to put it out there:

If someone’s thinking of an IT/Derry anthology, PLEASE consider me. I’d write the shit out of that story.

I don’t beg for much but I’ll gladly beg for this.
October 17, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
October 16, 2025 at 2:29 PM
My good friend Rebecca Campbell’s short story collection (THE OTHER SHORE, out TOMORROW) got a STARRED review from Publisher’s Weekly!

That’s a big freaking deal!!!

I’d ask you to support my friend, but more accurately support yourself by enriching your life with her words!
The Other Shore by Rebecca Campbell ⋆ Stelliform Press
Read about short story collection THE OTHER SHORE by Rebecca Campbell. Transformative stories from rooted in the darkness of west coast forests.
www.stelliform.press
October 15, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Justin C. Key
Our next Writers to Watch event is coming up on October 14th. Join us at 7 PM ET to hear from these awesome authors! #ewgc
📍 LIVE on Facebook and Crowdcast!
🔗 RSVP on Facebook: https://bit.ly/4pvkoci
🔗 Register on Crowdcast: https://bit.ly/48ndwYg
October 2, 2025 at 8:16 PM
RSVP on Crowdcast! bit.ly/48ndwYg
October 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM