Malarkey Books, an independent publisher based in the Midwest, continues to expand its literary offerings with a full slate of titles from debut authors, as well as writers familiar to fans of the press.
June’s genre-bending BACKMASK by New York-based author O.F. Cieri is a speculative dive into the fake history of a conspiracy theory surrounding a Satanic agenda to control children’s minds. Taking inspiration from the lives of Joe Meek, Phil Spector, and Timothy Leary, BACKMASK imagines a 1960s record producer intent on crafting the perfect album—complete with hidden messages—while two teenage pop acts become responsible for international intrigue, brainwashing, and occult massacre. This wild ride is written in the style of 1960s horror pulp and will appeal to fans of the genre, as well as readers who enjoyed John Darnielle’s recent, critically acclaimed Devil House.
May’s Sophomore Slump by Leigh Chadwick is a poetry powerhouse that Morgan Taffy called “a kaleidoscopic, versatile, and transgressive work of art.” The contronym title mocks publishing’s insider expectations of second books, while the poetry therein crackles with humor and insight.
April’s horror offering, Kill Radio by Chicago-based author Lauren Bolger, is quickly terrifying and downright chill-inducing. When Rachelle unearths a cursed crystal radio capable of summoning shadow figures, hellhounds, and inducing possessions, a a dark-eyed stranger soon arrives offering protection. But he is not the neutral figure he purports, and soon both are tangled in a mystery to discover the radio’s origins before further havoc is wreaked on Rachelle’s loved ones.
January’s literary masterpiece Thunder from a Clear Blue Sky by Justin Bryant has been compared to Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Paramo for its dream-like qualities. Geoff, encumbered by crippling debt, joins the Free State, a militarized government entity of the imaginary Calem, Central America, that promises to eradicate his student loans in exchange for his service. As he goes on his first mission, encountering characters real and imagined, he slowly realizes he’s been had. An adventure novel full of pulsing prose and sociopolitical criticism.
Malarkey is unique among independent publishers for its range of genre offerings and scrappy DIY-model. Editor, Alan Good, started the press after becoming frustrated with traditional publishing’s tendency to overlook great work in favor of market-tested formulas.
“I think some of the books we’ve published are ones that, because they’re pretty out there or experimental, were only ever going to find a home with a small press like ours – but honestly some of these books we never should have gotten our hands on. I’m tempted to say Penguin’s loss is our gain, but of course we just don’t have the reach of the Big Five, so really it is the reading public’s loss.”
The press plans to release three additional titles this year, including The Muu-Antiques by Shome Dasgupta, a southern-fried mystery tailormade for cozy reading (July); Gloria Patri by Austin Ross, which National Book Award finalist Dan Chaon calls an “ominous, gripping novel” and “cleverly structured thriller” (August); and, Where the Pavement Turns to Sand by Sheldon Birnie, a collection of stories threaded together by dread and the uncanny (October).
To receive an Advanced Reader copy of any of the above titles for review coverage, please contact the press at pr@malarkeybooks.com.
About Malarkey Books
Malarkey Books is a small press based in the middle of nowhere. Our mission is simple: publish good books. We don’t chase trends or follow the market or cater to a specific niche. We just love books.
To find out more about current and past Malarkey titles, visit malarkeybooks.com.
About Alan Good
Alan Good is a writer and editor. He lives in the country with his family.
About Malarkey Books
Malarkey Books is a small press based in the middle of nowhere. Our mission is simple: publish good books. We don’t chase trends or follow the market or cater to a specific niche. We just love books.
To find out more about current and past Malarkey titles, visit malarkeybooks.com.
