An announcement hasn’t been confirmed from the press, but I have signed the deal to publish my upcoming queer horror novella, All Guts, All Glory, nonetheless. Queer horror has been experiencing a real upswing lately, so I only felt motivated to interpret queer horror fiction with an example of my own.
Queer horror is important to me for many reasons, being a fan of popular ‘90s author Poppy Z. Brite. Her book, Wormwood, shattered my impressions of horror during that time. Before her I had loved Clive Barker’s Books of Blood and The Body Politic. Besides the pleasurable reading experience on tap from her stories, Brite helped me come to an acceptance of my sexual orientation. My coming-out experience had been difficult, if not violent. Her work expanded my horizons and made me aware of the potential for books with a resoundingly feral nature.
Enter 2025 and All Guts, All Glory has finally been accepted by a publisher. The story was initially written in 2022 and saw many drafts before the final version appeared months ago. It took only a few rejections before finding the novella a home. I count myself lucky to find horror writers and press owners that want to invest in my vaunted folk literary horror.
All Guts, All Glory is unmistakably Filipino in settings, culture, and characterization. Yet, it also retains a universality, an element of being relatable to all races, creeds, and cultures. This is a rallying cry of my patented Filipino horror. It is on one end, multicultural, and on another, LGBTQ.
Therefore, there isn’t anything like it out there. It is wholly original and entertaining not simply by way of the writing but story-wise. Plot doesn’t take the backseat to the sometimes winding, anecdotal, vividly described literariness resplendent in the novella. You follow the lead characters where they take you… to places predictably dark and grimy and others unique to my country.
It has an element of transgressive fiction, but not one that yells loud. It is a novella that aligns the lead queer character Alain Dureta with the hearts of millions of readers. It has the potential to unify and find readers sympathetic to the plights of queers. It doesn’t alienate the mainstream; it changes minds and softens the hardest of hearts, which is a strength of the work.
Therefore, I am very excited to announce the deal that will offer All Guts, All Glory to queer horror fans the world over. Readers will find a character so likeable; it only bodes well for the LGBTQ community at-large. Add to that the distinctly Filipino vibe and settings and queer horror fans not only get a story worth their hard-earned money but also see a different world up close.
This is only the beginning of my writing career. Horror is a first love. Now I get an opportunity to show my stuff.
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