Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
LightNews LightNews
banner
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
@mythicdelirium.bsky.social
830 followers 190 following 420 posts
Writer (Nebula finalist, Shirley Jackson finalist X 2), editor & publisher (World Fantasy Award finalist x 2), poet (Rhysling winner X 3), journalist (VPA winner X 4), devoted husband, obedient cat servant, metalhead \m/ \m/ https://mythicdelirum.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚) @mythicdelirium.bsky.social · 23d
10 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN! #10daysofhalloween

Starting today, all the way through Halloween, I’ll put out a creepy poem of mine once a day, read by me, illustrated by quick & dirty “visualizer” videos.

SIX WAKING NIGHTMARES POE GAVE ME IN THIRD GRADE appeared in WEIRD TALES in Fall 2009.
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
Here’s Mom’s obituary as it appeared in The Roanoke Times.

And here it is on the Oakey’s website: bit.ly/ShonnaAllen
Shonna Lee Allen, 83, of Roanoke County, died Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 after a fall at her home. Born in 1942, Shonna grew up in a small house by the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids, Minn. She and her lifelong friend Sue Isernhagen walked to school together every weekday. They shared a love of horses, ice skating, and reading. Part of her school's chess club and marching band-she played cornet-Shonna graduated from Grand Rapids High School at the top of her class in 1960 and left home to study chemistry at the University of Minnesota. In college, she first met a young man named Ted Allen when he helped open her locker. Later, they were lab partners, and still later, reunited by surprise through a blind date. Head-over-heels, they married in 1964. Although Shonna earned a Master of Science degree in microbiology in 1970, she stayed home with her children as Ted's jobs, first in academics, subsequently computer programming, took the family to Guam, Lake Forest, Illinois, and Wise, Virginia. In 1983 they landed in Roanoke, where they stayed. Shonna once suggested, tongue-in-cheek, that her epitaph should be, "She wore out her cookbooks." However excellent her cooking, her interests ranged wider. She imparted to her sons a love of all things science fiction-she loved attending local sci-fi conventions such as RoVaCon and MystiCon. The boys also grew up hearing tales of the 1918 forest fire that almost destroyed her parents' hometown of Cloquet, Minn. She attended every high school reunion she could, renewing old friendships and making new ones. She compiled detailed genealogies of her family and Ted's, and regularly sent Christmas cards and letters to relatives and classmates. Above all, she retained a love of music, from hymns to Beatles hits. Wherever the family lived, she sang alto in the church choir. At Covenant Presbyterian Church, the Christmas concerts conducted by music director Richard Rudolph were the highlight of her year.
November 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
lcvonhessen.bsky.social
Halloween may be technically over, but horror is perennial and my book is currently absurdly cheap over on the Bezos site for some reason and length of time I have no control over. Now is a good time to grab it, just sayin'
Screenshot of the Amazon page for Spiritus Ex Machina: Dark Tales of Creation by LC von Hessen. The price has dropped to a meagre $4.13
November 1, 2025 at 2:05 PM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
Thanks from me, Anita, and Ed to everyone who’s offered condolences over Mom’s passing. I’ve not had the bandwidth to respond to every one of them, but we see and appreciate all of your kind words.
Thanks from me, Anita, and Ed to everyone who’s offered condolences over Mom’s passing. I’ve not had the bandwidth to respond to every one of them, but we see and appreciate all of your kind words.
November 3, 2025 at 12:00 AM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
Delighted that @wvpublic.bsky.social’s #InsideAppalachia last night broadcast an encore of their 2023 Halloween interviews with me & Anita! 🎃 With an update mentioning my books SLOW BURN, THE BLACK FIRE CONCERTO and TRAIL OF SHADOWS! ✊🏻

wvpublic.org/wvpb-podcast...
Encore: Halloween, Inside Appalachia - West Virginia Public Broadcasting
This week, just in time for Halloween, a suite of spooky tales to make your skin crawl. Also, tales of the supernatural. And, ghost stories galore.
wvpublic.org
November 1, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
mariness.bsky.social
And in the spirit of the day, I've put up a little flash story on Medium, free for everyone to read: "So you want to reach the witch at the edge of the void."

medium.com/@marikness/s...
So you want to reach the witch at the edge of the void
1. No, you don’t.
medium.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
shvetathakrar.com
Two for Halloween! Read @nicowritesbooks.bsky.social's possessed harp story and then mine! 🦇🎃💀🎵

mythicdelirium.com/featured-sto...
October 31, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
acwise.bsky.social
I'm beyond thrilled that my story, The Dark House, is available for your listening pleasure on the latest episode of It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton! There's a bunch of cool behind the scenes stuff on @wilwheaton.net's patreon as well. Happy Spooky Season!

www.patreon.com/posts/142200...
"The Dark House" by A.C. Wise (Ad-Free) | It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton
Get more from It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:53 PM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
I’m very proud of the spooky piece, which I drafted during an Octagon retreat as, sitting across from me, @siobhancarroll.bsky.social wrote the amazing “For He Can Creep” and @csecooney.bsky.social, Carlos Hernandez & @mcflycahill90.bsky.social worked nearby — the memory feels a bit magical.
October 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
alwayscoffee.bsky.social
If you like tarot cards, witchy things, and horror, this book is for YOU, baby!!

ARC (advance reader copy) in my hands! It’s real! (Offerings for Ordinary Gods is out from @clashbooks.bsky.social in July 2026! You can pre-order it now. Doooooo iiiiiiit. Seriously, go on. I’ll wait.)
October 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
mcsweeneys.net
"I wasn’t sold on reading, but I did like feeling smart, and 'Don Quixote' is like the Louis Vuitton bag of people with depth."
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i-s...
I Started Reading Performatively, and Turns Out Books Are Pretty Good
It all started when Instagram introduced the twenty-slide photo dumps. Trying to post the correct ratio of photos to memes to appear both off-the-g...
www.mcsweeneys.net
October 28, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
bcsmagazine.bsky.social
Scary BCS! "The Butcher, the Baker" @mythicdelirium.bsky.social BCS #289: "Trukos found that statement strange. He knew exactly what he was: a thing Auntie Mayya had made. The pain, though, he needed her to unmake." www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-...
Beneath Ceaseless Skies - The Butcher, the Baker by Mike Allen
“No, no, I’m honored by your love, and you had to defend yourself. You’re lucky that oaf you killed was too ignorant to recognize what you are.” Trukos found that statement strange. He knew exactly wh...
www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
storyhour.bsky.social
It’s the final Story Hour of Spookymonth! Eternal favorite M Belanger returns, and new favorite EC Dorgan makes her Story Hour debut! Join us Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. PDT! #Booksky @sethanikeem.bsky.social www.storyhour2020.com
Head-and-shoulders color photo of author M Belanger, a fair-skinned person with light brown hair worn short and parted on one side. M’s bangs are fluffy and swooped to the other side. M wears rectangular wire-rimmed glasses and a black leather jacket. M sits in front of a wall covered with dark wood bookcases. M looks past the camera and to one side with a serious expression. Head-and-shoulders color photo of author EC Dorgan, a woman with dark eyes and dark hair worn at shoulder length and parted on the side. She doesn’t have bangs. She wears a red-and-pink plaid over a black crewneck and stands before a backdrop of green foliage and weathered wood. She looks directly into the camera, smiling slightly.
October 28, 2025 at 5:19 PM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
For the few who might be wondering, my #10daysofHalloween poem/video posts will keep going, as they were scheduled before Mom’s passing. (Mom, who was never a horror fan, would’ve reacted with a shrug 🥲😏)
On a dark background with bats and pumpkins: For the few who might be wondering, my #10daysofHalloween poem/video posts will keep going, as they were scheduled before Mom’s passing. (Mom, who was never a horror fan, would’ve reacted with a shrug 🥲😏)
October 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
thisjulieday.bsky.social
Each work is both an incredible tribute to Tanith Lee and also unique & gorgeous creation all its own
@ethereallad.bsky.social @carinabissett.bsky.social @mythicdelirium.bsky.social @marthawells.com @csecooney.bsky.social @nisishawl.bsky.social @theodoragoss.bsky.social @clhellisen.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
thisjulieday.bsky.social
All of which is to say, we just crossed the 1000 copies sold mark with Storyteller!!!!! It's available @bookshop.org @weightlessbooks.bsky.social and many other online retailers. Plus directly from Essential Dreams Press at tanithleestoryteller.com.
Text 1000 copies sold! with the Storyteller a Tanith Lee Tribute anthology cover and the URL tanithleestoryteller.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
10 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN! #10daysofhalloween

Starting today, all the way through Halloween, I’ll put out a creepy poem of mine once a day, read by me, illustrated by quick & dirty “visualizer” videos.

SIX WAKING NIGHTMARES POE GAVE ME IN THIRD GRADE appeared in WEIRD TALES in Fall 2009.
October 22, 2025 at 6:22 PM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
How neat that this happened!

My new novel from @slgable.bsky.social’s Broken Eye Books made news!

wfirnews.com/news/trial-o...
“Trail of Shadows” a tale of spirit beings, serial killers, and supernatural horrors Denise Membreno October 14, 2025 1 min read A Roanoke novelist has a new book on the shelves. Mike Allen’s second novel uses the Appalachian Trail as a backdrop for this supernatural thriller. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more. PLEASE NOTE: Bull & Bones Brewhaus in Blacksburg (not Christiansburg) will be hosting the Grave Matters event this Friday. Roanoke Science Fiction and Fantasy Author, Mike Allen has another novel on stores shelves. “Trail of Shadows” dips into the supernatural and a journey of selfdiscovery for the protagonist. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.
October 17, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
bklynbooksbooze.bsky.social
Sips & stories & a salon-like atmosphere?You bet!! Join us at BBB's next reading 10/21 @ 7pm at Barrows to hear tales from amazing authors @matthewkressel.net, @cwroseauthor.bsky.social, @crissachappell.bsky.social, & #PaulaBomer ! 📚🎙️🧉

More: BrooklynBooksBooze.com
Matthew Kressel, C.W. Rose, Crissa-Jean Chappell and Paula Bomer in an ad for Brooklyn Books & Booze' October 21 reading at 7pm. Space Trucker Juice drink at Barrow's Intense on 10/21 at 7pm one night only - part of Brooklyn Books & Booze reading series Picture of pink alcoholic drink in a glass on a wooden table
October 15, 2025 at 1:15 PM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
ALL TOGETHER NOW! (a thread)

I’m grateful to @slgable.bsky.social for his willingness to take a chance on this super-strange, wildly trippy, yet deeply personal novel of mine.

I’m grateful to Daniele Serra and @kirstygreenwood.bsky.social for their stunning illustrations of my fever dream.

[1/3]
“Hallucinatory, charcoal-dark, populated with ghosts, demons, and spiders, Mike Allen’s Trail of Shadows is a violent fantasy-horror that pulses with atmosphere and atavistic terror.” (Matthew M. Bartlett, author of Gateways to Abomination and The Obsecration) “I’ve made no secret of how much I love Mike Allen’s first novel, The Black Fire Concerto (currently available from Ruadán Books—do yourself a favor and check it out). I was excited for Mike’s new novel, Trail of Shadows (from Broken Eye Books), and I wasn’t disappointed. “Trail of Shadows is a tense, tight, and constantly surprising novel. A hike down the Appalachian Trail, into a realm of shadows and surreal horror. “I can’t recommend Trail of Shadows enough. It will keep you up late and it cements Mike Allen as a horror and suspense writer to keep your eye on.” (R. S. Belcher, author of The Six-Gun Tarot and The Brotherhood of the Wheel) “Trail of Shadows is a panic-laced, spider-paced, fanged beast of a horror novel, a coming-of-age in a world of monsters. Realities bleed into each other like a Dali painting as familiar landscapes yawn open into the surreal. You don’t need psychoactive substances to go tripping balls in Mike Allen’s Appalachia. All you have to do is read this book.” C. S. E. Cooney, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Saint Death’s Daughter)
October 15, 2025 at 3:05 AM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
MY TURN!

I think every author under the sun performs this ritual. If you get my novel TRAIL OF SHADOWS, please consider leaving a review the site of your choice—

And, if you’re on @netgalley.bsky.social, please give my book a look! TRAIL OF SHADOWS could use a boost there 😅

bit.ly/SpiderNetgal...
A graphic that makes use of the spectral spider woman cover art from my novel TRAIL OF SHADOWS alerting folks that the book is available on Netgalley
October 13, 2025 at 10:50 PM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
Evidence of my non-commercial way of thinking: My new novel, TRAIL OF SHADOWS, has a huge spiderwoman on the cover.

@scalzi.com grants me a guest spot, and what do I quadruple down on? 🕷️ SPIDERS 🕸️ SPIDERS 🕷️ SPIDERS 🕸️ SPIDERS 🕷️ SPIDERS

Read the essay if you dare: whatever.scalzi.com/2025/10/10/t...
The cover of TRAIL OF SHADOWS, featuring a huge spectral spider woman. Art by Daniele Serra, published by Broken Eye Books. Creepy crawlies can become less creepy when you characterize them. Such is the case for author Mike Allen, who shares with us his initial fear of spiders that has turned into more of a cautious appreciation. Follow along in the Big Idea for his newest spooky story, Trail of Shadows, and see the web he’s spun for us. MIKE ALLEN: My Southern Gothic-meets-surreal horror novel Trail of Shadows is a story of spirit beings and murderous monsters set in the Appalachian Mountains, where I’ve lived since the second grade. Rooted in the condition of living in a community without truly being part of it, the book draws from experiences had while traveling north and south along the mountain range. But it’s also rooted in close encounters of the arachnid kind — and anyone who thinks that’s a digression rather than a central part of the rural Appalachian experience has not: Walked face-first through a spiderweb while hiking a wooded mountain trail… Jumped into a hay bale in a barn and found themselves face to face with the spiders that build their nests all through the walls… Seen the exodus of spiders and stranger things that scurry toward the house when the backyard creek overflows its banks…. The inspirations for several of the major characters in Trail of Shadows live their lives right outside my front door. I’ve seen as many as five dangling out in the dark, patiently waiting for prey to come to them, their webs strategically positioned around the porch light such that swinging the screen door open leaves them undisturbed.
October 13, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books📚)
ruadanbooks.bsky.social
Horror fans in Blacksburg, VA, or nearby, pay heed! That's right, we're pulling out the ominous phrases. 💀📚

@mythicdelirium.bsky.social is reading at Grave Matters in ONE WEEK at Bull & Bones on October 17, 2025 from 6:00-8:30 PM ET.

links.ruadanbooks.com/GRAVEMATTERS

#BookSky #authorevents
A deep purple textured background features the dark outline of skeletal tree branches on the right edge. White text at the top reads "Mike Allen engages in Grave Matters" above an image of The Black Fire Concerto in paperback. White text to the right of the paperback gives event details: Ticketed reading for Historic Smithfield. Takes place at Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill on October 17, 2025, 6:00-8:30 PM ET. Register at links.ruadanbooks.com/GRAVEMATTERS. An image of Mike Allen appears in the lower right corner, and the Ruadán Books logo in the lower left.
October 11, 2025 at 12:10 AM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
There isn't a formal launch event for my new horror novel TRAIL OF SHADOWS, but there’s a really cool event next Friday in Blacksburg, GRAVE MATTERS, at which I'll reading from my new book … GRAVE MATTERS, is a fundraising event for the Historic Smithfield museum. Tickets are $25:
bit.ly/MikesGrave
Step into the shadows for an evening of history and horror. Historian Rebecca LeMert will guide you through Halloween’s fascinating evolution—from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain to the trick-or-treat tradition we know today. Then, brace yourself as award-nominated author Mike Allen spins chilling tales guaranteed to haunt your imagination. Your ticket includes event admission and a Bull & Bones–catered appetizer bar.
October 10, 2025 at 12:17 AM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
Not my knee. It’s her knee.
Pandora laying claim to her favorite pillow (my knee). Pandora making use of her knee pillow.
October 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
mythicdelirium.bsky.social
🤩 It's my book's birthday TODAY! 💪

Celebrate it with me! 🎉

A BIG thanks to @gwendolynkiste.bsky.social 🥳 I'm bowled over by her kind assessment!

Come see me Oct. 17 @ Grave Matters 💀 www.historicsmithfield.org/events/grave...

After all these years—it's out in the world! ➡️ bit.ly/SpiderBookor...
“Mike Allen has long been a force in fantasy and horror. With Trail of Shadows, he’s once again hit it out of the park. Beautiful prose and a haunting story combine to create a tale that will draw you in and refuse to let you go. Folk horror at its best.” —Gwendolyn Kiste
October 8, 2025 at 1:17 AM