I have a story in an amazing new anthology—House of Haunts! In 1823, Josiah Hale built his family a grand home in the sultry heat and blinding glare of the Deep South.It wasn’t long before the shadows crept in. Now, two hundred years later, this grand home […]
The Small Things trilogy omnibus eBook is now available for pre-order on Amazon! https://amzn.to/3AmelhC The Small Things trilogy omnibus contains all three books in the Small Things trilogy (Small Things, Threads, A Pattern of Shadows,) a previously-published short story (Smoke), a brand new story (Dowd) and a […]
I just added a new section—free stories—to my website. It includes access to three free short stories by me, as well as a chance to get another short story by signing up for my newsletter. I’m also participating in a huge giveaway to win a $300 […]
Leap Year, my paranormal fantasy novel, will be FREE for the Kindle Wednesday, March 2nd, through Friday, March 5th!Rose was waiting tables at Ken’s All-Nite Diner in Keokuk, Iowa, circa 1959, when something happened that would change her life forever. Two men burst through the front […]
A Pattern of Shadows, the final book in the best-selling Small Things trilogy, is available NOW in trade paperback and for the Kindle! Find it on Amazon View the book trailer Purchase an autographed copy
A Pattern of Shadows will be released on October 26, 2021! Click on the cover to see the book trailer!
To coincide with the upcoming release of A Pattern of Shadows, the final book in the Small Things trilogy, Small Things and Threads have new covers! I’ll always love my original covers, but this was a necessary change to make all three books more cohesive. The […]
A Pattern of Shadows, the third book in the Small Things trilogy, is currently with my editor and will be published sometime late this year. It’s been a loooong journey, but thanks for sticking with me. I think you’re going to love this book!
Well, the site is finished, more or less. There are still a few little things I need to do, but for all intents and purposes it’s done. What do you think?
As the image says, my website is currently under (re)construction. It’ll be back soon, better than ever!
March’s Patreon Challenge story is here! If you subscribe to my Patreon, you can read it for free. Here’s a teaser: Happy Together, an old song by The Turtles, played on the Amazon Echo while John used a hacksaw to disassemble Miranda’s body. It was ironic, […]
I released the third of my Patreon Challenge stories a few days ago, Online Undead. You can check it out here if you’re my patron: https://www.patreon.com/posts/online-undead-23976252 And here’s a teaser: My name is Charlie (no relation to Leroy) Jenkins, and I think I’m being haunted. But […]
The second Patreon short story, Next Time is Now, is finished and up for everyone to read! It’s a story about a love so timeless that… well, I’ll give you a taste of the story itself. (Cassie Cook-Ward’s idea inspired this one. Thanks, Cassie!) Peter lay […]
My Patreon short story contest appears to be a success! Each month, I draw a name from my patrons and they get to tell me what kind of story they want me to write. I completed October’s short story, titled Tom, on Halloween. Want to read […]
I’ve just done something I’ve thought about doing for the past few years. I’ve joined Patreon. You can now “subscribe” to me for as little as $1/month to see more of my stories, get advance access to my novels, etc. Please check out my Patreon page […]
I haven’t updated my blog in a while, and I apologize for that. As many of you already know, I’ve signed with Council Tree Productions to develop my short science fiction story Beside Myself (available in my collection, Odds and Endings: Fiction Short and Otherwise) and […]
I’m proud to share this interview that Robin Raven from Huffington Post did with me! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/599c3d62e4b0ac90f2cba9da
The audio version of Memories of a Ghost just received 4 platypires (stars) on the Just Another Girl and Her Books blog. Check it out! And when you’re done reading the review, buy the book in audio, Kindle, or physical form below: Memories of a Ghost […]
I’ve prepared a short survey (nine questions) and hope you’ll take it! Create your own user feedback survey
I’m hard at work on A Pattern of Shadows, the third and final book in the Small Things trilogy, and so I wanted to give you something to whet your appetite. The following is the working prologue for the book, a prologue that takes place approximately […]
I have a lot of creative friends, and have decided to periodically highlight them. Here are five such friends, all female, and all listed in categorical and last name alphabetical order so that none of them get mad and punch me. Some of them punch hard! Click […]
I have a confession to make. Despite having all four of my books on audio, I’d never listened to an entire audio book (other than vetting my own for approval) until last weekend. Last Thursday, during a 10+ hour drive to Chicago, my son and I […]
Today I was on Garrett Miller’s Rated G Radio for the full hour, talking about my novels,writing, getting rich, teaching, and even professional wrestling! Check it out, and make sure to follow Garrett on Twitter for news about his show and other projects! Garrett Miller’s Rated G Radio […]
Memories of a Ghost, Joe DeRouen’s critically-acclaimed urban fantasy novel, is now available in audio book format! Narrated by the incomparable stage and voice actress Elizabeth Siedt, the book really comes alive through her deft and versatile voice. What happens when the door between life and […]
2015 was a busy year for me, which saw the publication of both Memories of a Ghost and my short story collection, Odds & Endings: Fiction Short and Otherwise. My goal for 2016 is to release at least one new novel, though which one it is […]
I love my readers! They’re who I write for and, without them, my stories would just be words on a page. With that thought in mind, I’ve created a new section of the website: The Reader’s Gallery! The gallery will feature pictures of readers interacting with […]
So November is National Writing Month (NaNoWriMo,) where you’re supposed to produce 50,000 words by Nov. 30th. I’m participating, but not sure if I’m going to hit 50k this time around, as I have a lot going on this month! I’ll be at Geek the Library […]
The Cat, the Crow, and the Cauldron: A Halloween Anthology eBook, featuring a brand-new story from yours truly, is now available FOR FREE from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all other fine eBook stores. But wait, there’s more! I’d like to invite you […]
FREE for the Kindle, TODAY, Sept 15th only! When the door between life and death opens a crack and the dead start to rise, only one person has the power to close it. Unfortunately, she can’t remember who she is, let alone how to make things […]
I will be appearing at GlitchCon in Springdale, Arkanas, Friday, July 31st-August 2nd! I’ll be at the author Meet and Greet on Friday at 2:30 p.m., and will be participating in the following author panels: Fantasy Fiction Today (Saturday, 2:00-2:45 p.m.) Heroes and Villains (Saturday, 7:00-7:45 p.m.) […]
My good friend Robin Raven just released her first novel! It’s titled Next Stop: Nina, and is about learning to accept yourself despite your past, and time travel! (you can purchase it at the very end of this post!) Nina never really felt comfortable in this […]
I had a fun time at the Rogers Library Create-it Con today! Sold some books, met some cool authors, and enjoyed myself. Looking forward to doing it again next year! Met seven other local authors, including Brooke Johnson, whom I shared a table with once we moved to […]
I will be at Create-It Con, a celebration of writers, tinkerers, makers, builders, bakers, painters, engineers, and anyone that likes to CREATE AWESOME THINGS, on Saturday, July 11th, 2015, from 10 a.m – 4:30 p.m., at the Rogers Public Library in Rogers, Arkansas. I’ll be signing […]
This last Saturday, on June 27th, I got to meet one of my favorite musicians, Colbie Caillat! I’d included a reference to her and her song Never Gonna Let You Down in my novel Memories of a Ghost, and, when I learned she was coming to town, […]
Memories of a Ghost is my first novel to take place in Rogers, Arkansas, where I’ve lived for the past 10+ years. All of the places in the novel are real, though occasionally they are altered to better fit into the novel. Well, that, and there […]
I will be at Create-It Con, a celebration of creators, tinkerers, makers, builders, bakers, painters, engineers, and anyone that likes to CREATE AWESOME THINGS, on Saturday, July 11th, 2015, from 10 a.m – 4:30 p.m., at the Rogers Public Library in Rogers, Arkansas. I’ll be signing (and […]
Small Things takes place in Carthage, Illinois, where I grew up. All of the places in the novel are real, albeit sometimes re-imagined. With that said, here’s a (very) mini-pictorial tour through Small Things. Various people have drowned in the Carthage Lake over […]
The audiobook edition of Threads is finally in production! Madeline Mrozek is the narrator, and everything I’ve heard so far sounds awesome! Here’s chapter one, free of charge, to whet your appetite for the finished product, which will be available sometimes before the end of the […]
This is still very much a work in progress, so please ignore typos and bad writing in general. Also note that it contains a bit of a spoiler, so if you haven’t yet read Memories of a Ghost, you might want to read it first! And […]
The first chapter of Memories of a Ghost is now on Wattpad! Please read, vote, and comment! It really does help! Memories of a Ghost on Wattpad
Memories of a Ghost, my third novel, is available today in paperback, Kindle, Nook, and a bunch of other formats! It has ghosts, zombies, demons, love, and romance. What else could you ask for? Kindle ebook Trade Paperback Trade Paperback (autographed) Nook ebook
Be sure to check out The Author’s Cave eZines for new May reading material, including my own new novel, Memories of a Ghost, in the fantasy version! Fantasy/Horror/Paranormal eZine Science Fiction eZine Romance eZine
We’re having a Facebook Memories of a Ghost release party and giveaway on May 26th to celebrate the international release of my newest novel, Memories of a Ghost! Here are the prizes: $25 Amazon giftcard $10 Amazon giftcard Autographed copy of Memories of a Ghost 2 […]
People are always asking me who my literary influences are, so I thought I’d write a bit about that. Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone (and, to a lesser extent, Night Gallery) probably influenced me just as much if not more than the five gentlemen listed below. But as […]
Here is the awesome cover for Memories of a Ghost, designed by Renée Barratt from The Cover Counts!
Please support Memories of a Ghost via both Thunderclap and Head Talker. It’s completely free and only takes a few seconds of your time! Click both below, one after the other!
The eBook anthology I’m part of, May the Fourth: A collection of Stories Across Time and Space, is now LIVE on Amazon! My story is titled “Up in Smoke,” and takes place in 1978 in the Small Things universe. Miss reading about Shawn Spencer, Jenny McGee, […]
The first three chapters of Memories of a Ghost are now online and free to read/download. Click here for the PDF! Memories of a Ghost is due out May 26, 2015. If you haven’t pre-ordered yet, there’s still time! Remember, pre-orders help the book get seen […]
Two dates to remember: April 28th – Memories of a Ghost cover reveal party! Join here to win cool prizes! May 26th – Memories of a Ghost is released both in paperback and eBook format! Want to pre-order your copy? Now you can! Autographed paperback Kindle eBook
The raffle for the Memories of a Ghost cover reveal party is LIVE! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Please join me for the Memories of a Ghost cover reveal on Facebook on April 28th! We’ll have prizes and you don’t have to be present at the time of the drawing to win! https://www.facebook.com/events/1429868667313162/
I’m almost finished writing the final chapter in “Memories of a Ghost,” my third novel and first non-Small Things novel. (Though it does take place in the same universe.) If editing, proofing, and the inevitable re-writing goes well, I expect to publish in May. Wish me […]
My novel Small Things is FREE for the Kindle today and Saturday only. If you haven’t read it yet, grab it via the link below! Small Things for the Kindle In a town filled with magic and murder, the loss of Shawn’s best friend was only […]
Here’s a sneak preview of Sundown Rising, the Small Things novella from Sundown Rising and Other Stories that’s set between Small Things and Threads, available soon at a bookstore near you! Summer, 1976 – a Wednesday In a town the size of Carthage, you notice when […]
I wanted to release a book in 2014, I really did. Sadly, however, it was not to be. My collection of short stories and novellas, Sundown Rising and Other Stories, just isn’t finished yet. On top of that, I’m working on Memories of a Ghost, Leap […]
Murder. Magic. Mystery. Small Things! 4.6 star novel. FREE for Halloween! Oct. 30-31! #kindle #ebook #novel #FREE http://thndr.it/1xwT6Vf
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I started to read Following Zippy, (graciously supplied by author C.B. Burdette in return for an honest review) but I ended up really enjoyed the book. Billed as young adult, you won’t find post apocalyptic words, vampires, werewolves, […]
September 12th and 13th, this coming Friday and Saturday, the Kindle version of Small Things will cost a mere 99 pennies. Grab it while you can! http://bit.ly/stbook1
I’ve suffered from depression since I was eight years old. It isn’t something I talk about a lot, but in the wake of the Robin Williams tragedy, perhaps I should. Depression is an insidious disease that can ruin the life of anyone, no matter how rich […]
Want to support my books, but have already purchased them? Here’s a way to help me get the word out, and it won’t cost you a dime! If I get 100 supporters by Sept. 12th, Thunderclap will use social media to advertise Small Things! Just sign […]
A teaser from my upcoming pro-wrestling themed short story “Hells Go to Hell” The roar of the crowd had always got Tommy Buckley’s blood pumping, but he’d never in all his life heard a crowd quite like this before. This was Wrestlepalooza, baby, an event he’d […]
Small Things, my best-selling debut dark fantasy novel, is on sale for the next several hours for just $.99! (or FREE if you have Kindle Unlimited!) “Small Things has a Stephen King feel to it…I was listening for things that go bump in the night!” – […]
Authors’ Cave Grand Launch Festival Blog Train Welcome to the Authors’ Cave Blog Train! You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Launch Festival Day! Join us for what is sure to be a blast with the Most Enticing Book Trailer Contest winner announcement, scavenger hunts, giveaways, Google […]
As a lot of you know, I grew up in the “real” Carthage, Illinois, the same small mid-western town where Small Things and Thread were set, albeit (mostly!) without murderous little monsters and other magical beings. It was a blast driving around town with my 12-year-old son pointing […]
My free day was a success! I “sold” 1,272 free copies of Small Things, and the novel rose to #3 in contemporary fantasy and #5 in horror. I’m thrilled, and really hope everyone who downloaded it for their Kindle likes it and decided to buy Threads, […]
For one day only, Saturday, June 28th, 2014, Joe DeRouen’s highly-rated fantasy novel Small Things is FREE for the Kindle. That’s right, absolutely 100% free! Just follow the link below to grab your FREE Kindle eBook copy, but remember, offer expires Saturday at midnight! http://www.amazon.com/Small-Things-Joe-DeRouen-ebook/dp/B00AJDNBTA
Many authors listen to music while they write, and I’m no exception. In fact, I’ve just received permission from three singers (no names yet!) to include a snippet each of one of their songs as a sort of introduction to three of the stories in my upcoming […]
Grammar can be finicky, tough, annoying, amazing, and illuminating. It can make or break a writer or editor. Good grammar is what sets good writers and editors apart from poor or unmotivated writers and editors. The plot idea, characters, setting, and motif can jump off the […]
I rarely use my fan page to promote something other than my novels, but in this case I’ll gladly make an exception. Bourgeois Tagg is one of my all-time favorite bands, (in fact, I listened to a lot of their music while writing Small Things!) and […]
I’m planning to release my collection of short stories in the next several months, and I want to give one lucky fan the chance to be a part of that. Just come up with a character name (male or female, it doesn’t matter) and a brief […]
I’m working on several things at the moment, including the as-of-yet STILL untitled short story and novella collection to be released later this year, Memories of a Ghost, Leap Year, and, of course, the final book in the Small Things trilogy, tentatively titled A Tapestry of […]
A free short story from my upcoming collection, exclusively on Wattpad! [iframe][/iframe] (If you want to go directly to Wattpad to read the story, click here!)
I haven’t updated my blog in almost three months. What have I been doing for those three months, you ask? (Yes, you. The lady wearing the hat, in the third row. I heard you ask. Now, please, sit down.) Well, I ran and lost for Benton […]
I haven’t updated the blog since November 21st and haven’t been marketing my novels, and sales have suffered as a result. I’ve just been frustrated with the marketing aspect of writing. It’s always push, push, push Williams, (points if you get that reference) with very little […]
Are writing source books really helpful? Other than making the writer of said source material money, I’m not so sure. In my experience, few are worth the price, but a couple do stand out for me: Writer’s Guide to Places, by Don Prues and Jack Heffron, […]
Every novel I’ve written has started as a NaNoWriMo (National November Writing Month) project, but this November I decided to do something a little different. Instead of writing a novel I’m writing a collection of short stories, one of which will bridge the gap between Small […]
This year will be my tenth anniversary participating in National November Writing Month – NaNoWriMo, for short. And while I haven’t always been successful (writing 50,000 words within the month of November is the goal) both Small Things and Threads have come from NaNoWriMo “wins.” I’m […]
Threads, the second book in the Small Things trilogy, has officially been released! I worked very hard to make sure that Threads was a stand-alone novel insomuch as I could, so having read Small Things, while helpful, is not necessary in order to read Threads. So […]
The Threads release party and giveaway is on October 8th, just ten days from now! We have over 40 prizes, including a $25 Amazon gift certificate, a gift certificate to Shadow Rouge Original online jewelry store, signed copies of Threads, artwork, bookmarks, eBooks, and much more! […]
Threads will be released on October 8th, a little less than a month from now! And to celebrate the release, I’m holding a virtual party on Facebook as well as giving away a veritable boatload of amazing prizes! To join the virtual party, please visit and […]
Threads, the second book in the Small Things trilogy, will be released on October 8th, 2013 – only six weeks from now! Threads will be available in trade paperback as well as various eBook formats. Courtesy of the amazing Renee Barratt of The Cover Counts, the […]
I used Grammarly to grammar check this post, because spending all my time proofreading could be distracting and just might lead to getting eaten when the zombie apocalypse comes. Grammarly Grammarly’s grammar check is a great resource for writers, made even better by Microsoft Office integration and other […]
You’re cordially invited to attend the online cover reveal part for Small Things II: Threads! The cover reveal will take place at 8:00 p.m. CDT, Friday, August 23rd. 2013, on Facebook. (The cover will also be posted here, on my blog, shortly thereafter.) The address for […]
On my Facebook author page, I said if I reached 450 “Likes” I’d share a sneak preview of the upcoming audio book version of Small Things, read by the incomparable Jessica Duncan. I’m currently sitting at 457 Likes, so I guess I’d better follow through! 🙂 […]
Big news! Chris Franklin, who drew the artwork for Castaway Toy’s Captain Action action figures, will be providing the 8 1/2″ x 11″ black and white sketch that will be included with the special edition (limited run of 25 copies) copy of Small Things II: Threads. […]
Several weeks ago, I posted a survey to my Facebook fan page asking if folks would be interested in pre-ordering Small Things II: Threads. 45% of the respondents said yes, 35% said maybe, and 20% said no. My job, of course, is to sway those “Maybe” […]
So my son, a fifth grader, is going on an overnight school field trip to ONSC (Ozark Natural Science Center) tomorrow. While there, he’ll perform various science experiments and learn more about nature from the ONSC guides. It’s a great experience, from what I’ve heard, and […]
Writing comes fairly easy for me, at least most days. Editing, however, is the hard part. Every little word is precious, almost like a child, and when you have to delete who rows of them, it’s like losing… okay, it’s nowhere near as bad as losing […]
I had a lot of response to the “Be a Character in Small Things 2: Threads” contest (see here) and the winners (chosen randomly from the entries) are… Irene Knouff Marianne Sandling Burgundy Tiana These three, coincidentally all women, will either have an existing character in […]
I recently saw (and shared) the graphic that appears below, “Ways You Can Help Your Favorite Indie Author,” and it got me to thinking: if you really enjoyed a book and want to see more books from the author, then you probably do want to help […]
Small Things is a contemporary fantasy novel, with just a touch of horror and romance. Currently enjoying excellent reviews and a strong 4.5 star rating on Amazon, Small Things has also received rave reviews and strong ratings on Barnes and Noble, Goodreads.com, and iTunes. Small Things […]
I just listened to the interview for “Ozarks at Large” on KUAF radio that I did with host Christina E. Thomas and I didn’t sound nearly as dorky as I feared I might! I mean, yes, I’m still a dork, just not quite as big of […]
Monday March 4th, between noon and 1 and repeated that same night at 7, I’ll be on Ozarks at Large (KUAF radio) with Christina Thomas, talking about my debut novel “Small Things.” KUAF is on FM 91.13 in the Northwest Arkansas area, and you can also […]
In the Kickstarter campaign to help publish Small Things, I offered to rename a minor character after a fan for a pledge of $100 or better. Several people took me up on the offer and are now immortalized forever in the novel. Would you like your […]
Recently I asked fans on my Facebook page if they had any questions about “Small Things,” the sequel “Threads,” or writing in general. Here are the questions and my answers. If YOU have any questions, anything at all, please feel free to write! If I get […]
Here’s the prologue to Threads. Please excuse any typos, they will of course be cleaned up before the book hits the presses. Prologue Halloween, 11:47 PM Elminster the Large knew that he would bite the big one someday, but never in a million years had he […]
Starting today through January 31st, sign up on Goodreads.com to win one of three autographed first edition copies of Small Things! There’s no cost to enter, all you have to do to win is sign up. Then, on January 31st, Goodreads.com will randomly select three winners […]
Small Things has gotten some really good reviews from Amazon and Barnes and Noble!! Amazon: A brand new star arrives with Small Things, December 11, 2012 KAYJMM A brand new star arrives with Small Things Someone must send a team of mercenaries to tie Joe DeRouen […]
How can you help make Small Things a success? Reviews and sharing! Now that the book is finally available, we need to get the word out! You can get copies here: https://joederouen.com/?page_id=176 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0615737714/ref=nosim/sparkynet https://joederouen.com/?page_id=367 You can also review the book at those links, and what’s where […]
Small Things is now on sale! Within a week it will be on Amazon, and in eBook form, and hopefully a lot of other places, but for today it’s just through this website! Just click Store at the top of this page, in the menu bar. […]
As you’ve probably already noticed, I changed the background on the website. It’s from the Small Things cover. Let me know what you think! The cover is courtesy Renée Barratt, from The Cover Counts. The back cover is finished as well, but I’m saving that for […]
Okay, so one thing is abundantly clear: I suck at maintaining a blog. It’s been almost two months since I last posted an update. I hear by pledge to try to do better in the future! All of that said, I just approved and paid for […]
NcSoft announced August 31st, 2012, (on my birthday, no less!) that they were shutting down popular super-hero based MMORPG City of Heroes. Sure, it’s one of the older MMOs out there (started in 2004) but, darn it, it’s MY MMO! I’ve been playing since 2008, and […]
I don’t consider myself a “gamer,” per se, but I do play a number of games, first and foremost City of Heroes. COH is a MMORPG, (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) similar in scope and function to World of Warcraft, but with super heroes. The game […]
After finally reading the much-talked-about Fight Club, with which I was disappointed, I swore I’d never read another Chuck Palahniuk book. I’m glad I didn’t keep that promise. Damned is actually, well, damned good! This novel follows the exploits of 13-year-old Madison Spencer’s trip to hell […]
Earlier today, my ten-year-old son had guitar practice. When I reminded him of the class, he grumbled and looked annoyed, yet he’s really enjoying learning the guitar. After every lesson, he proudly tells me what he learned, and is excited about the next lesson to come. […]
This blog entry has absolutely nothing to do with writing, so please feel free to ignore. I just want to get out my frustration by “putting it down on paper,” as it were. My ten-year-old son’s PC died a couple weeks ago. We managed to scrape […]
Now that the Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to publish Small Things is over, the real work has begun! I am still researching cover artists. I’m just picky, and haven’t totally decided on one yet. There are many talented folks out there, and prices run the […]
My new website is now ready for general consumption. I’ve added all four of my novels and the Small Things video trailer. I’m sure I’ve made some mistakes here and there (and I’m equally sure that you, dear reader, will tell me what they are) but […]
I think I’m in love with WordPress. There are just so many options, widgets, plugins… which of course means that I’m never done. But I am closer. I have done this: Added synopsis, PDF sample chapters, and trailer for Small Things Added synopsis for Threads Created […]
I’m redesigning my website using WordPress. So far, so good, but I still have a lot of work to do!