Even Gods Can Die — Cover Reveal & Preorders!

Posted on by Micah Castle

“Rookie detective Dana Cauldwell is handed a cold case no one cares to solve: a string of “mercy killings” across the city. Her job is clear—reopen the wounds of the grieving families and hunt down the “Doctor” behind the needle.

But as Dana digs into the investigation, her own life begins to fracture. Between a fellow officer determined to put her in her place and her mother’s questionable health, the line between the law and morality starts to blur.

Every interview reveals a devastating truth, behind every crime is an act of compassion.

Now, Dana must decide if she’s hunting a serial killer or a man doing God’s work.”

Even Gods Can Die is a melancholic, crime/noir/grief book through-and-through, and I want to note: this is not a horror or supernatural book. So, please do not go into it expecting that or you’ll be very disappointed. Moreover, the best way to describe it is a “sad book for sad people,” so if you’re not into that sort of story, skip this one!

It will release on August 7, 2026 through my imprint Anhedonia Press! It’ll be available as ebook and paperback (if it’s not available as paperback, it’s because Ingramspark is giving me issues). You can preorder it now via Amazon and it’ll be available on Kindle Unlimited upon release! Lastly, you can add the book to your “Want To Read” on Goodsreads and Storygraph!

The beautiful artwork is done by Red Lagoe, who did the art for The Companions We Lose and who’s been working on the cover of Synthwave Melancholy, a 2027 title.

If you want to review the book, you can grab an eARC on Bookfunnel!

Choose Your Own Horror #4 — Voting!

Posted on by Micah Castle

 Choose Your Own Horror FAQ

Choose Your Own Horror #4 is upon us and everyone can vote! This one will be different than the previous iterations that I think will be more interesting as a reader and challenging as an author.

  1. Story will be told is second person (“You” instead of “I” and “he/she/they/them”) as though someone is talking to you.
  2. Two choices per entry from me, but a third as a fill-in for you. My two choices will each be minimally written with the chosen one continuing the story (like a CYOA story). Both will be posted in the following part. If the third choice is picked, only that option is written and continues the story.

Choices are limited more than in previous installments mainly so I can realistically write everything. If there’s too many, it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to write everything.

The options for CYOH #4 are below, with my own notes (story still based on voting, notes/ideas not definitive and probably will change). Some options are more fleshed out than others.

I’ll keep this poll open until July 7, 2026, then I’ll get working on CYOH #4.

Part 1 will release sometime in late July/early August.

  1. “Guy needs money” — You’re forced to have a shitty job and meet someone or someone who works there that tells you can more money doing a side gig.
  2. “Scifi crashed/landing” — You’re on or once on a crew of crashed space ship/carrier, carrying [something].
  3. “Serial Killer/Body Jumping” — You’re a [something] that is targeted by a killer and with each death, you transfer to another body/person.
  4. “Nice/Good Town” — You’re hired by someone or [something] to go check out a town that’s controlled by an entity or [something] but it’s good for the people/town.
  5. “Pleasing God” — You’re desperate to please a god and will do anything to accomplish that.

VOTE HERE

Updates #38 — Falling Behind

Posted on by Micah Castle

Good morning!

Mid-June and we just got a cold front and I’m relishing it after a week of humid high 80°s. It’ll be short lived I’m sure, but until then… Weightlifting is going steadily, increasing the weight no more than five pounds per week. Might be slower than necessary, but I rather not get a hernia. Plus, I’m weaker than I usually am, so any sort of ego lifting is out the window.

Last Saturday, we went to the Curiosities & Oddities Expo in Pittsburgh, a huge convention brimming with—like the name says—oddities, as well many, many very talented artists who create dark art: illustrations, taxidermy, figures/statues, etc. Nearly every booth held something that we could’ve bought, but we limited the spending, yet returned home with a tote bag full of prints. We’re going to need to get a ton of frames now.

Last thing of note is the Micah Castle Books Patreon exclusive sticker samples are en route. They look really fucking cool. Though, did have some issues with the design, but Sticker Ninja’s support was really helpful and we got that sorted.

(also, before I forget: Once I receive 75 free supporters on Patreon or 15 Patrons, I’m doing a very deep sale of signed paperbacks. Basically it’ll cost about the amount it costs to ship them, so we’re talking $5.00-$8.00. So, if you haven’t yet, consider signing up).

Continue reading Updates #38 — Falling Behind

Homecoming Turns 1!

Posted on by Micah Castle

Homecoming, a small town cult horror book, turns one today! It doesn’t feel it has been a whole year since it’s release, that’s for sure. The book was the kick-start to my self-publishing journey, the first release of my own imprint, Anhedonia Press, and the cover art aesthetic set the trend for future releases through the press. If it hadn’t been rejected after making the short list for the Split Scream series, none of this might’ve happened.

With Homecoming’s birthday, it reminds me that one year I’ve released two books besides it: The Companions We Lose, and Yearning For Imperfection. Between now and Homecoming’s second birthday, there’ll at least be three, maybe five, releases: Even Gods Can Die, The Six City of the Gloam, the Choose Your Own Horror collection (and CYOH #3 Patreon exclusive ebook, potential paperback), and, maybe, The Burden They Forgot. Synthwave Melancholy will likely come after June, 2027.

With all that being said, I’m glad this small horror book found some readers who enjoyed it, and I hope it will find more as time trudges on. Thank you for anyone for buying or reading it, it means a lot.

If you haven’t, you can read it on Kindle Unlimited or contact me directly for an ecopy.