Sheldon Costa
@sheldoncosta.bsky.social
Writer and miniaturist.
THE GREAT WORK forthcoming from Quirk Books
Conjunctions | Georgia Review | Electric Literature | Michigan Quarterly | Swamp Pink
He/him
https://www.sheldoncosta.com/
THE GREAT WORK forthcoming from Quirk Books
Conjunctions | Georgia Review | Electric Literature | Michigan Quarterly | Swamp Pink
He/him
https://www.sheldoncosta.com/
Pinned
The Great Work by Sheldon Costa: 9781683695059 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
“Not to be missed.”—Booklist “A moody, atmospheric, and singular novel which navigates corners of American history through the complicated territory of horror, the monstrous,...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
My book The Great Work comes out today! Still can't quite believe this is a thing that is happening. Special thanks to my extremely talented editor @jesszimmerman.com and my wonderful agent @carolineeisenmann.bsky.social, both of whom were steadfast champions for this very weird novel.
Reposted by Sheldon Costa
We asked @shaykauwe.bsky.social for her best book of '25, the book she'd love for Xmas & her anticipated read of '26.
Read the full article: https://geni.us/SolarisBks2025 to find out why she picked @sgj.bsky.social @kealakendall.bsky.social & @sheldoncosta.bsky.social!
https://geni.us/killingspell
Read the full article: https://geni.us/SolarisBks2025 to find out why she picked @sgj.bsky.social @kealakendall.bsky.social & @sheldoncosta.bsky.social!
https://geni.us/killingspell
December 25, 2025 at 6:48 PM
We asked @shaykauwe.bsky.social for her best book of '25, the book she'd love for Xmas & her anticipated read of '26.
Read the full article: https://geni.us/SolarisBks2025 to find out why she picked @sgj.bsky.social @kealakendall.bsky.social & @sheldoncosta.bsky.social!
https://geni.us/killingspell
Read the full article: https://geni.us/SolarisBks2025 to find out why she picked @sgj.bsky.social @kealakendall.bsky.social & @sheldoncosta.bsky.social!
https://geni.us/killingspell
"We weren't meant to live like this."
No. Every day I sit down and absorb my computer's beatific glow and immeditately know I am exactly where I need to be. My little brain wallows in infinite dopamine like a pig in its beloved mud. I am at peace.
No. Every day I sit down and absorb my computer's beatific glow and immeditately know I am exactly where I need to be. My little brain wallows in infinite dopamine like a pig in its beloved mud. I am at peace.
December 13, 2025 at 4:48 PM
"We weren't meant to live like this."
No. Every day I sit down and absorb my computer's beatific glow and immeditately know I am exactly where I need to be. My little brain wallows in infinite dopamine like a pig in its beloved mud. I am at peace.
No. Every day I sit down and absorb my computer's beatific glow and immeditately know I am exactly where I need to be. My little brain wallows in infinite dopamine like a pig in its beloved mud. I am at peace.
New essay out with @lithub.com.web.brid.gy about how making Little Guys helped me come to terms with the publishing world
One Man’s Trash: Reflections on a Failed Novel
I started trash bashing three weeks after it became clear to me that my first novel was not going to sell. I’d tried to be honest with myself, from the moment the manuscript went out on submission,…
lithub.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:17 PM
New essay out with @lithub.com.web.brid.gy about how making Little Guys helped me come to terms with the publishing world
Reposted by Sheldon Costa
I loved this @sheldoncosta.bsky.social essay on "failure", and am excited for his novel The Great Work. "I felt an odd sort of ambivalence about whether the book would be published. Obviously I was nervous, but a rejection in my inbox no longer sent me spiraling. I’d done all I could, after all."
December 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I loved this @sheldoncosta.bsky.social essay on "failure", and am excited for his novel The Great Work. "I felt an odd sort of ambivalence about whether the book would be published. Obviously I was nervous, but a rejection in my inbox no longer sent me spiraling. I’d done all I could, after all."
Holy shit
oh my god Book of the New Sun had Amano covers in Japan and they're fucking crazy
December 9, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Holy shit
Northern lights book photo
November 12, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Northern lights book photo
Reposted by Sheldon Costa
#TheGreatWork by @sheldoncosta is featured in our #newbooks wrap on youtube!!
watch: youtu.be/pcox9OUZIKw
buy the books: bookshop.org/lists/n...
#booksky @Quirkbooks
watch: youtu.be/pcox9OUZIKw
buy the books: bookshop.org/lists/n...
#booksky @Quirkbooks
November 6, 2025 at 6:40 PM
#TheGreatWork by @sheldoncosta is featured in our #newbooks wrap on youtube!!
watch: youtu.be/pcox9OUZIKw
buy the books: bookshop.org/lists/n...
#booksky @Quirkbooks
watch: youtu.be/pcox9OUZIKw
buy the books: bookshop.org/lists/n...
#booksky @Quirkbooks
Listen: Jess edited my book and it got starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly AND it was an Indie Next pick. Coincidence? I think not! If you're working on a writing project I guarantee Jess will make it better!
Periodic reminder that I’m doing freelance editing right now! I have experience in both fiction and nonfiction and offer a range of services from coaching to line editing to query letters—reach out if you have a project but are feeling at sea! www.jesszimmerman.com/editing.html
November 6, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Listen: Jess edited my book and it got starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly AND it was an Indie Next pick. Coincidence? I think not! If you're working on a writing project I guarantee Jess will make it better!
Reposted by Sheldon Costa
the November horror shopping list is live! feat. new titles from @laurelhightower.bsky.social @christinahenry.bsky.social @sheldoncosta.bsky.social @lormaggot.ca @peterclines.bsky.social @vlatinalondon.bsky.social @beatriceiker.bsky.social @drewhuff.bsky.social @victormanibo.com & more!
All the New Horror Books Coming in November 2025
November 2025’s new horror books, featuring titles from Oyinkan Braithwaite, Laurel Hightower, Christina Henry, Peter Clines, Beatrice Winifred Iker, Drew Huff, and more!
readjumpscares.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
the November horror shopping list is live! feat. new titles from @laurelhightower.bsky.social @christinahenry.bsky.social @sheldoncosta.bsky.social @lormaggot.ca @peterclines.bsky.social @vlatinalondon.bsky.social @beatriceiker.bsky.social @drewhuff.bsky.social @victormanibo.com & more!
Reposted by Sheldon Costa
Psyched for this one—Sheldon and I were MFA cohort-mates in a cohort full of genius weirdos but I was always exceptionally excited to see what came out of his weird brain and the sidelong occult grandness of its sensibilities; really delighted to roll around in that for a whole-ass book
November 5, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Psyched for this one—Sheldon and I were MFA cohort-mates in a cohort full of genius weirdos but I was always exceptionally excited to see what came out of his weird brain and the sidelong occult grandness of its sensibilities; really delighted to roll around in that for a whole-ass book
How am I celebrating the launch of my book, you ask? Same as any author: by admiring the tiny diorama I made depicting a scene from the first chapter:
November 5, 2025 at 5:18 PM
How am I celebrating the launch of my book, you ask? Same as any author: by admiring the tiny diorama I made depicting a scene from the first chapter:
Reposted by Sheldon Costa
Happiest of publication days to this utterly singular, extremely good novel. An adventure story, an exploration of the rotten heart of the American frontier myth, a tender meditation on male friendship and making a family, and a truly freaky novel about alchemy and hunting a giant salamander.
My book The Great Work comes out today! Still can't quite believe this is a thing that is happening. Special thanks to my extremely talented editor @jesszimmerman.com and my wonderful agent @carolineeisenmann.bsky.social, both of whom were steadfast champions for this very weird novel.
The Great Work by Sheldon Costa: 9781683695059 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
“Not to be missed.”—Booklist “A moody, atmospheric, and singular novel which navigates corners of American history through the complicated territory of horror, the monstrous,...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Happiest of publication days to this utterly singular, extremely good novel. An adventure story, an exploration of the rotten heart of the American frontier myth, a tender meditation on male friendship and making a family, and a truly freaky novel about alchemy and hunting a giant salamander.
My book The Great Work comes out today! Still can't quite believe this is a thing that is happening. Special thanks to my extremely talented editor @jesszimmerman.com and my wonderful agent @carolineeisenmann.bsky.social, both of whom were steadfast champions for this very weird novel.
The Great Work by Sheldon Costa: 9781683695059 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
“Not to be missed.”—Booklist “A moody, atmospheric, and singular novel which navigates corners of American history through the complicated territory of horror, the monstrous,...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
My book The Great Work comes out today! Still can't quite believe this is a thing that is happening. Special thanks to my extremely talented editor @jesszimmerman.com and my wonderful agent @carolineeisenmann.bsky.social, both of whom were steadfast champions for this very weird novel.
Reposted by Sheldon Costa
Happy pub day to The Great Work! So proud of @sheldoncosta.bsky.social and his weird, dark, charming, picaresque child
The Great Work by Sheldon Costa: 9781683695059 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
“Not to be missed.”—Booklist “A moody, atmospheric, and singular novel which navigates corners of American history through the complicated territory of horror, the monstrous,...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Happy pub day to The Great Work! So proud of @sheldoncosta.bsky.social and his weird, dark, charming, picaresque child
Reposted by Sheldon Costa
Happy book birthday to THE GREAT WORK by @sheldoncosta.bsky.social, a "not to be missed" (BOOKLIST) profound and unsettling speculative Western perfect for fans of LONE WOMEN, THE ANTIDOTE, and THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR.
Pick up your copy wherever you buy your books!
Pick up your copy wherever you buy your books!
November 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Happy book birthday to THE GREAT WORK by @sheldoncosta.bsky.social, a "not to be missed" (BOOKLIST) profound and unsettling speculative Western perfect for fans of LONE WOMEN, THE ANTIDOTE, and THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR.
Pick up your copy wherever you buy your books!
Pick up your copy wherever you buy your books!
Oh god new pandemic coming
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is getting a big Switch 2 upgrade in January
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is getting a big Switch 2 upgrade in January
There’s a free update on the way, too.
buff.ly
October 30, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Oh god new pandemic coming
The Great Work got a starred review from Kirkus 🥲
"Whether Gentle is a visionary or a drunk, whether the salamander is a creature of flesh or a shared delusion, and ultimately, the meaning of the mission is as much about human frailty and grace as the nightmares that stalk the page."
"Whether Gentle is a visionary or a drunk, whether the salamander is a creature of flesh or a shared delusion, and ultimately, the meaning of the mission is as much about human frailty and grace as the nightmares that stalk the page."
THE GREAT WORK | Kirkus Reviews
A shy young man joins his eccentric uncle on a wild hunt to kill a dragon and raise the dead.
www.kirkusreviews.com
October 20, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The Great Work got a starred review from Kirkus 🥲
"Whether Gentle is a visionary or a drunk, whether the salamander is a creature of flesh or a shared delusion, and ultimately, the meaning of the mission is as much about human frailty and grace as the nightmares that stalk the page."
"Whether Gentle is a visionary or a drunk, whether the salamander is a creature of flesh or a shared delusion, and ultimately, the meaning of the mission is as much about human frailty and grace as the nightmares that stalk the page."
A starred review for The Great Work from @publisherswkly.bsky.social!
"This is a weird western done right: surprising, bizarre, occasionally grim, but ultimately life-affirming."
"This is a weird western done right: surprising, bizarre, occasionally grim, but ultimately life-affirming."
The Great Work by Sheldon Costa
Debut novelist Costa sets this astounding tale of alchemy, prophecy, and adventure in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula in 1889. Ge...
www.publishersweekly.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM
A starred review for The Great Work from @publisherswkly.bsky.social!
"This is a weird western done right: surprising, bizarre, occasionally grim, but ultimately life-affirming."
"This is a weird western done right: surprising, bizarre, occasionally grim, but ultimately life-affirming."
The verdict is in: my book is not annoying!
Love this writeup of @sheldoncosta.bsky.social’s The Great Work, which yes you do need to read this fall: “There’s a very classic sensibility to the novel, by which I mean it’s kind of about everything in the way that the great novels of yore tended to be. But not in an annoying way!”
15 Novels You Need to Read This Fall
The weather is changing (well, sort of), the pumpkin spice lattes are beckoning, the kids are back in school, all of which clearly indicates that it’s big book season yet again. And hey, we m…
lithub.com
September 9, 2025 at 6:48 PM
The verdict is in: my book is not annoying!
Oof. Feeling this one.
I just want to say that I hate everything about publishing a novel this fall; the world is on fire, my city is occupied, and I’m supposed to sell some characters I made up in my head to the 13 percent of people who still know how to read books
August 23, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Oof. Feeling this one.
Cool that the democratic consultant class has built its "abundance" messaging around how great Texas is when every headline I see out of that state is some variation of "A lack of regulation brought a new data center to this small town. But now its slowly driving everyone nearbye insane."
July 30, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Cool that the democratic consultant class has built its "abundance" messaging around how great Texas is when every headline I see out of that state is some variation of "A lack of regulation brought a new data center to this small town. But now its slowly driving everyone nearbye insane."
Reposted by Sheldon Costa
Y’all, one of the great joys of bookshop.org is that you can select a bookstore to buy from—pick a fav from a city you used to live in, or a bookstore you’ve always wanted to visit, or your local! If you pick BINC, a percentage goes to indie booksellers who have applied for financial relief. ❤️
July 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Y’all, one of the great joys of bookshop.org is that you can select a bookstore to buy from—pick a fav from a city you used to live in, or a bookstore you’ve always wanted to visit, or your local! If you pick BINC, a percentage goes to indie booksellers who have applied for financial relief. ❤️
Jess is an absolute rockstar! Genuinly one of the smartest people I've ever had the privledge of working with. Huge opportunity here if you're looking for an editor.
Today was my last day at Quirk—which means I finally have time for freelance editing clients! If you’re developing a book at any stage please get in touch and we can discuss how I can help www.jesszimmerman.com/editing.html
July 1, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Jess is an absolute rockstar! Genuinly one of the smartest people I've ever had the privledge of working with. Huge opportunity here if you're looking for an editor.
Huge news for people who like good books!!
Sitewide Summer Sale right now at @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social (yes, this includes Dorothy titles)!
Buy 2 books and save 20%; 3 books and save 30%; or 4 or more books and save 40%.
www.nyrb.com/collections/...
Buy 2 books and save 20%; 3 books and save 30%; or 4 or more books and save 40%.
www.nyrb.com/collections/...
Dorothy, a publishing project
Dorothy, a publishing project is a St. Louis–based feminist publisher of innovative fiction, near-fiction, and literary criticism. They publish two books per year, together in the fall, in beautiful p...
www.nyrb.com
June 20, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Huge news for people who like good books!!