BLURB: : a short publicity notice (as on a book jacket)
BLURBING : the act of writing a blurb for a book release
BLURBERS : unlikely to be a real word (I think it’s made up)
Avalon Moon officially rises on May 19, 2026, when, by the way, our moon will be early in its
waxing crescent phase.
A few months ago, I reached out to some writers whose work I admire—some I know personally, some I barely know, and some I don’t know—and asked if they would consider reading an advance copy of the novel and perhaps blurbing it. I can’t tell you how pleased I was that most agreed and provided the good words below.
Andrew K. Clark, author of Where Dark Things Grow: “A deliciously gothic tale stitched into a brutal murder mystery. As a serial killer stalks the mountains of North Carolina, Cody’s precise language shifts effortlessly like light through the trees – from lush gothic poetry to gritty Appalachian realism. Facing ancient gods and hungry beasts in the deep woods, the reader can’t help but dread a darker truth: evil is only ever a breath away.”
Whiskey Leavins, author of The Busker War: “A crime novel featuring a new entry to the list of Most Bone-Chilling Fictional Serial Killers ever committed to paper. Or to e-book. Whatever. The influence of Poe and Hawthorne, at their bone-chilling creepiest, can be felt egging on the unfolding of the story, one eerie development after another. A taut, skillfully crafted thriller.”
Bobby Mathews, author of Living the Gimmick: “Avalon Moon relies on vivid, inviting storytelling and precise language to lure you in, and once you’re caught in Cody’s prodigious literary talents, it’s hard to escape. . . . A book you’ll think about long after you’ve finished the story on the page.”
Peter McDade, author of King Cal: “The Appalachian town of Runion is threatened by a serial killer, wolves, and ghosts—literal and figurative—in Michael Amos Cody’s propulsive new novel, Avalon Moon. The tension and constant sense of danger kept me turning the pages, but the heart of the book is the large cast of believable characters. All are rendered with insight, compassion, and humor, and they continued to linger in my thoughts long after the novel’s satisfying conclusion.”
Mark Powell, author of Lioness: “A richly atmospheric crime novel set in the mountains of western North Carolina. Calling to mind the early Appalachian work of Cormac McCarthy cut with the chill of Stephen King. . . . A beautifully written thriller that immerses readers in a world where the landscape is as compelling and enigmatic as the killer they seek.”
Ron Rash, author of The Caretaker: “A story that has the dark and haunted feel of an old-time Appalachian ballad. Literary echoes of writers such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Charles Brockden Brown add to the novel’s richness and make Avalon Moon an exceptional addition to the genre of Southern Gothic fiction.”
Cathy Rigg, author of That Which Binds Us: “A delicious slice of Appalachian Gothic, filled with mystery and intrigue, and layered with a compelling cast of characters, malevolent to endearing. Rich with mountain folklore and a centering nod to Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, Cody’s novel is a page-turning who-done-it you’ll find yourself flying through. But do slow down. Breathe! There are so many tasty layers, and you’re gonna want to savor every bite.”
Charles Dodd White, author of In the House of Wilderness: “Michael Amos Cody delivers a thrilling and tense Appalachian noir in his latest novel Avalon Moon. By turns suspenseful and evocative, this story of a killer on the loose will keep you up at night. Deftly written, with a sharp ear for dialogue and a faultless sense of place, Cody affirms his position as one of the most exciting writers of crime fiction in Appalachia today.”
Coming Next Week:
A few words on this wonderful
artwork on the cover!
