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malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Malarkey
@malarkeybooks.bsky.social
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https://malarkeybooks.com/
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malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Good morning. Here is the cover, designed by @johnchrostek.com, for @trentbwrites.bsky.social’s forthcoming novel, The Walls Are Closing In On Us, which you can, which you should because it’s good, preorder now! malarkeybooks.com/store/thewal...
Book cover for The Walls Are Closing In On Us by Joshua Trent Brown. Features a winding snake over a river. Blurb by Austin Ross, author of Gloria Patri: “a book that examines not only the soul of a man but—perhaps—the soul of a nation."
October 12, 2025 at 1:16 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
My Ardent Love for the Pencil print proof. Poems and photos by Vi Khi Nao.

malarkeybooks.com/store/myarde...
Unbound book held together with rubber bands. Cover has gearing of a face, with a fish on the guy’s forehead, orange sun above. Hand lettered title and author name How could she be a lesbian when her hair is so straight? My camera remembers you. I want to borrow the tranquility of her desire and make it my own. I tell her, you can't have me but you can have my memory of you. Maybe one day I will have a video tape of your memory. I am trying to put my hand as a placeholder in her body-like reading a book—I just want to know what page I am on. I can't wait for the world to hide her mouth in my purse. And just like that I let her go.
July 29, 2025 at 8:29 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Four poetry titles on sale for $10 each, now through Thursday. If we sell a bunch of copies at $10 we won’t really make much money but a bunch more people will have these books. Good trade off.
Malarkeybooks.com/store
Poetry Sale With the Sealey, Challenge coming up we thought we'd do a sale: for the rest of July all our in stock poetry titles are on sale for just $10: Hair Shirt Adrian Sobol Thumbsucker by Kat Giordano You're Favorite Poet by Leigh Chadwick My Ardent Love for the Pencil by Vi Khi Nao* *won't arrive in time for Sealey but at least it's insanely cheap Malarkeybooks.com/store
July 29, 2025 at 2:12 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Want to do more stuff like this, and we are going to try something. Looking for 12 people who will help support a monthly poetry project for next year. More info: malarkeybooks.com/store/poet-o...
An open zine, laying atop another copy that shows part of the cover Text: I want to die in a sword fight while standing under a waterfall as someone washes my hair. SUFJAN STEVENS GAVE ME TENNESSEE Limited edition EP by Leigh Chadwick Recorded in the old RV at Malarkey Books Sound Studios, Armpit, Missouri Cover design by Angelo Maneage Leigh Chadwick is the author of numerous poetry collections, including Your Favorite Poet and Sophomore Slump. Her poetry has appeared in The Massachusetts Review, Salamander, Passages North, and Identity Theory, among others. Leigh can be found online at www.leighchadwick.com ON BEING Stop giving me emotions, I tell my emotions. Be better at being better. I am always fighting a head cold after walking through December. I was seventeen when I left my virginity in a basement in Cleveland. The Mississippi one. That's a lie. I was eighteen and his dorm room smelled like a box of cinnamon that woke up sweating. I like to drink a glass of orange juice after fucking with the lights on. In all of my dreams, it takes a machete to cut through the fog. I hope his chemo feels like listening to the Talking Heads for the first time. It's useless to hope for a heartbeat after the second round passes through what the boy used to call his chest. What have we stepped on that isn't a burial ground? "Part-Time Celebrity" originally appeared in Bullshit Lit Find more great records at malarkeybooks.com
July 26, 2025 at 3:44 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Getting started on the print run of My Ardent Love for the Pencil, poems and photos by Vi Khi Nao. Printing on 80-lb stock because of the photos. Can’t wait to hold a copy finally! Preorder for a signed copy.

malarkeybooks.com/store/myarde...
Every time I come back to this book, to tweak the ebook file, to change the acknowledgments page, to pick out some pieces to post on the website, I notice something that I overlooked on a different reading. Here's what I noticed today, from a prose poem that is a microcosm of the book in the way the whole things runs together, although you can't tell here because l'm picking out just one line, a great one: "I wish I could dine with God On a bed of bruised plums and pumpkins so orange they make Florida jealous."
July 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
PRAISE FOR THE BARRE INCIDENTS "Lauren Bolger continues to propel herself forward as one of the most interesting and finest voices in horror with her sophomore novel, The Barre Incidents. She excels at weaving the intangible, like familial relationships, trauma, and existential dread, with the in-your face and gripping terrors of the kinds of creatures that will haunt your dreams. I think it's safe to say The Barre Incidents has cemented Bolger as the Cryptid Queen. Do not sleep on this novel." —Michael Bettendorf, author of True Cult "Lauren Bolger's The Barre Incidents is a thrilling mystery about family, love and grief blended with a deep dive into world mythology. The book delightfully interweaves the voices of friendly residents of a small town alongside ancient and otherworldly voices. A strange and thrilling tale!" —Ivy Grimes, author of The Gbosts of Blaubart Mansion
July 21, 2025 at 2:58 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Double hard mode
July 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
This first pancake notebook stays here, but this is along the lines of the notebooks we’re going to make for book clubbers this year. Really nice paper but gonna have to invest in a guillotine and learn how to bind these with a sewing machine.
Exterior of handmade notebook Interior of handmade notebook, with a hobby knife laying on the pages.
July 9, 2025 at 9:29 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
We can also sell just the bag. This is what it looks like!
July 9, 2025 at 3:19 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
True story

buttondown.com/MalarkeyBook...
THE MALARKER • JULY 8, 2025 Sign up for The Malarker!!! Did someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. It is probably really nice to be proud of a place, like Chicago. If I was from Chicago I would think it's the greatest city in the world. When I heard the new pope was from Chicago I would have posted "Chicago over everything!" The place l'm from is not cool or interesting. I often say l'm from the armpit of Missouri and that tends to be acceptable. It sounds natural, and in fact for a while I had the location of Malarkey listed as Armpit, MO, on twitter, and an archival librarian emalled me to verify if that was a real place.
July 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Here’s a prime deal: two books and a t-shirt for $50 and free shipping.
malarkeybooks.com/store/twoboo...
Three Malarkey shirts hanging on a clothes line
July 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Today, under our Death of Print alter ego, we publish a book that was almost lost in a fire. This is Detective Novel by @abasketofcraig.bsky.social

malarkeybooks.com/store/detect...
Cover of Detective Novel by Craig Rodgers. Features part of a hand gun in a wood background next to the tips of a pair of brown shoes. Tagline: THE ONLY WAY TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH IS TO WALK A MILE IN THE SHOES OF A DEAD MAN
July 8, 2025 at 2:08 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
We have these t-shirts. Comfy. Look pretty good. $20—and we’re gonna send stickers and a zine with it. We A. need these shirts to turn into money and B. need these shirts out of the house!

malarkeybooks.com/store/tee
Picture of a cool kid doing peace sign, his face obscured by a mustache guy emoji because the internet is scary. Kid is wearing blue t shirt with Malarkey logo, an M over a circle a la the anarchy symbol.
July 1, 2025 at 8:31 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
We have a cover, designed by @mrwojorising.bsky.social, for Vi Khi Nao’s forthcoming collection, My Ardent Love for the Pencil! Cover art from Jörn Budesheim.
malarkeybooks.com/news/2025/6/...
Front cover of My Ardent Love for the Pencil by Vi Khi Nao. Mostly black and white but a hand drawn sun at the top right above a face of a man with a fish in his forehead.
June 18, 2025 at 1:18 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Bag of books baby
Screenshot showing order receipt for Still Alive, a novel by LJ Pemberton, White People on Vacation, a novel by Alex Miller, and a tote.
June 11, 2025 at 9:49 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Going to see the Mission Impossible movie tomorrow, gonna prepare by reading @yoadrianididit.bsky.social’s poem
malarkeybooks.com/store/hairsh...
nineteen minute supercut of tom cruise running You fall off a mountain. You fall off a terrace. You fall off a fire escape. You fall, or you let yourself go. You plummet five stories into a bathtub full of ice. You tire yourself fistfighting the carbine. You run across the carapace of every rooftop in France. You look down on the streets, where traffic, small and anonymous, still holds some memory of you. You climb onto a plane. You climb the light up to high-five the ionosphere. You tame a horse, then its cavalry. You outpace the generals. You outflank the tides. You hear the ocean applaud each time you deny it. You're awarded medals. You see your family one last time. You sing yourself to sleep. The words escape you. The melody turns on you like the fog. Dingy, soft, your voice cracks. There's little of it left. You save your strength. You fall out of love but you fall with grace, wired to the scaffolding of your confidence. You are ready for contact wherever it comes. You make peace with surfaces. You place your cheek on the lavish new marble countertop. It's cool, inviting. It offers you little. You ask it for less. How simple a surface is. How uncomplicated There's no room for despair. Between you or your thousand-yard grin.
May 31, 2025 at 1:51 AM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
You love to see it
Sales report with net sales $666
March 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Nice review of @israelbonilla.bsky.social’s book!
Screenshot of goodreads review: **** © Mar 27, 2025 Only one story didn't quite work for me, I'd rate this collection 4.75 stars. The rest offered compelling philosophies. It takes artistry to avoid falling into the trap of lifeless theoretical fiction, where characters become bland mouthpieces. Bonilla never succumbed; I felt deeply connected to the characters and their ontological dilemmas. He impresses me with their thoughts and how they unfold in their predicaments. Never boring and often quite visceral. It's rare to find a collection that delivers so many gems. Overall, the work reminded me of Rorty's idea that the best philosophy is like poetry. My only disappointment was that I wanted more stories and wished they were longer. I am now following this author and hoping for a novella or novel.
March 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
This year the Malarkey table is entirely author-run. If you’re at AWP this week, the book fair starts today. Go see LJ, Alex, Sheldon, Itoro, and Spencer at table T277. We’ve got books, shirts, and totes! They can sign their books (they can also accept tips) and they’re super nice and great!
The Malarkey table at AWP, covered with an array of books.
March 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Behold
Sheldon Birnie at the book-laden Malarkey table at AWP in LA.
March 26, 2025 at 9:19 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
4. This excerpt from the title poem:
hair shirt you want out & I want us to need more light than air to be less of an effort you want neglect & I want this song to keep pace with your leaving this is what desire does puts a weapon in my hand then turns it against me
March 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Reason No. 33 to buy Hair Shirt:
that joke isn't funny anymore after you're sick of the sea there's this: more sea
March 19, 2025 at 1:56 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
36. "Adrian's poems have a fresh, authentic, and at times spectacular beauty. Comic, clever, and wise, these poems also make for good company. I'm afraid Adrian Sobol is the real thing."
- Matt Cook, author of Irksome Particulars
"Adrian's poems have a fresh, authentic, and at times spectacular beauty. Comic, clever, and wise, these poems also make for good company. I'm afraid Adrian Sobol is the real thing." - Matt Cook, author of Irksome Particulars
March 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
39. “Undertones of Russell Edson and James Tate,” in the words of Krystal Languell. malarkeybooks.com/store/hairsh...
Praise for HAIR SHIRT!!! "HAIR SHIRT has a heart made of CVS receipts and anchored by a serial prose poem called 'Torch Song, where longing is packaged in soft surrealism with undertones of Russell Edson and James Tate. 'If you were an appliance, I'd keep you plugged in,' Sobol writes. 'Maybe run my lips across the socket. When it's not finding new ways to yearn, this collection is busy with celebrity sightings before retreating to poetry's rightful position of incredulity: 'the loudest people / at this party // won't stop taking / about how introverted they are. If you've ever guffawed alone, HAIR SHIRT is for you." —Krystal Languell, author of Systems Thinking with Flowers
March 18, 2025 at 1:09 AM
malarkeybooks.bsky.social
Reason 40 to buy Hair Shirt: it’s “Brilliant and often hilarious,” in the words of @mikeandrelczyk.bsky.social
PRAISE FOR HAIR SHIRT "Sobol can do no wrong. HAIR SHIRT is a parade of nonstop delights, full of unapologetic pomp and tender pop song-like poems dedicated to the pump and dump culture of the apocalypse. Brilliant and often hilarious, the poems in HAIR SHIRT continue to grow long after you put the book down." - Mike Andrelezyk, author of Tennis Leg and !!!
March 17, 2025 at 7:40 PM