“The first human contact with the Moebiary Stampbill was this: the glass-like crinkle of an egg under a boot.”
-the first line of the book
Overview
At the same time I started writing The Story Must Be Told podcast, I also began crafting a novel. I used podcast stories to experiment and test concepts, and sifted through my growing catalogue for the themes and elements that were most distinctly mine, that deserved a deeper exploration. As I improved my writing over the years, I wrote and rewrote the novel until it finally became Dead Bird Songs.
Dead Bird Songs
The audiobook cover
“The Moebiary Stampbill is doomed to extinction. Every single bird will become a handsome piece of tableware, thanks to Wellings, Estuary City’s largest supplier of meat and domestic goods. But deep within the monstrous company, rebellion stirs.”
Among the lowest ranks of Wellings, three strangers meet: Courtlan, a quietly unnerving intern; Hue, a mutated young man tasked with slaughtering the Stampbills; and Headhole, a Stampbill with a broken beak. Together, these unlikely allies will overcome the boundaries of job, class, and species to foresee the tragedy awaiting the birds.
But even as they unite to stop the slaughter, Courtlan, Hue, and Headhole realize they might not be strong enough to thwart their employer's will. The reason is hidden from all except the highest-ranking CEO: Wellings is more than a corporation. Wellings is a god.
I am currently recording, scoring, producing, and releasing the audiobook of the novel on patreon. After years of submitting the book around, I was tired of trying to convince publishers to take a chance on me. I had spent years recording narration for The Story Must Be Told, and had a fanbase of my work looking for more while the podcast took a break. Releasing the novel independently made the most sense, and it has been rewarding in a way I didn’t expect.
