Ampersand: The DSH Dispatch Stories, musings, and mischief from author David Scott Hay PRESENTING THE BUTCHER OF NAZARETH “The New Testament à la Cormac McCarthy.” – Kirkus Reviews “Enthralling, gut-wrenching, and bloody, The Butcher of Nazareth is destined to become a literary classic.”- Pedro Iniguez, Bram Stoker Award Winner and author of Fever Dreams of a Parasite “The Butcher of Nazareth offers a rare and uncompromising vision—an apocalyptic gospel where faith is questioned, history bleeds, and humanity must answer for what it dares to believe.” – BookLife PREORDERS FOR THIS BOOK HAVE BROKEN THE PRESS RECORD! THANK YOU ALL! (Pre-launch edition approved! Art only cover, text easter egg, in addition to hand-stamped and signed. These cost more to print, but the price is the same.) Despite the metal cover and title, the book is not a surfacy slasher. Nor does it bash religion or Christianity as an agenda. What it does do is examine redemption, zealotry, fathers and sons, and the extremes people will go to if they feel they are acting justly. Both good and bad. But at the end of the day, it is a lost soul on a quest [insert mission from God meme]. I guess this is my one oblique reference to Chicago. IYKYK. PREORDER LINK Shipping 02.26.26 MEET THE ARTISTS: Five incredible humans were paid for their skills and talent to help shape this story’s presentation. The amazing cover art was licensed from Samuel Araya. The layout and back painting (yes, painting) are by Liam Callahan. I’ve known Liam since he was 4! And now he’s a college grad with a degree in Studio Arts. The interior see example below is by David McNamara at Publish Publish. I saw his work for Cupboard Pamphlet at an AWP years ago. I reached out concerning another project, and then reapproached him re the Butcher. The amount of time and thoughtfulness he’s given to the layout—the font, its golden ratios, and allusions to ancient texts reached the level of artistry. The book is so much more damn beautiful thanks to his touch. Teresa Hartmann is a reader and proofer whose skill set rises to the level of legit art. She was invested and saved me from myself. Also hat tip to Tyler Miles Lockett. He created the iconic cover for [NSFW] and did a prelim cover for Butcher which I might share later, but his passion project took over and his availability for the back and spine didn’t work. But damned if it didn’t keep me going with his art hanging above my work station. I’d discovered TML on a reddit thread posting his art and DM’ed him. Sometimes you just gotta reach out to folks and introduce yourself (a Gen X superpower). Yeah, yeah, what’s next? I’m editing a non-fiction book by the gentleman next to me, Adam Axler. Can’t wait to announce this one and release it next year during these batshit crazy times. Also, that’s the look he has when submitting a new draft. That’s the look I have when receiving it. I keed, I keed. (UPDATE: Book announced! Title and pre-order link below.) American Triage: From 9/11 to Fahrenheit 451 A medical memoir PREORDER LINK Connoisseur Volume 1: Feast A horror anthology PREORDER LINK & Got any more work in the pipeline? As far as fiction, I was invited to submit to Michael Allen Rose’s new anthology Tales from the Motel Sick. My story “The Woman Who Dies” was accepted. (A victim of a botched vampire now cursed with immortality tries to find peace). I enjoyed working on it so much (I had to cut the word count in half) that I think this might be my fall fiction project. Novel or novella, I don’t know yet. (The Kickstarter campaign for this was a rousing success, ensuring plenty of swag and the foundation for the next MAR project.) Anything else cool? Yes! I don’t know how this happened and am gobsmacked and also giddy. Superfan Kara Rose (@books.and.salt on Instagram) got a tattoo designed by @miss_bethany_tattoos and inspired by my novel [NSFW]. When asked about it – Kara: “That book impacted me in ways that could only be expressed by tattooing it on my body.” Humbling. &   Industry News David Szalay Wins 2025 Booker Prize for ‘Flesh’ – Publishers Weekly Certified organic and AI-free: New stamp for human-written books launches – The Guardian Sam Rockwell & Maisy Stella Set For Psychological Thriller ‘Tumor’ From Will Bridges; AGC Launching International Sales At AFM – Deadline The Hottest New (and Upcoming) Book-to-Screen Adaptations – Goodreads No Lovers on These Covers: A New Look in Romance Publishing – The New York Times & DSH News Vol. 1 Brooklyn READ HERE Reactor Mag READ HERE Locus Magazine READ HERE & DSH Recommends One For The Books: Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky His Children of Time was one of the most astonishing literary tricks I’ve ever seen pulled off. I marveled as I read it. He has a large body of work, and, for me, none have come close to that experience. But… Alien Clay was a damn good read. Smart, a little pulpy, and like all good sci-fi had something to say about the human condition. This is a great mirror to Annihilation (loved the book, loved the movie). On The Record: Turntable has been dusty this summer, but Matthew has his limited blue vinyl edition of Kendrick’s GNX in line for the next spin. What I’m Drinking: Highball glass. Big rock. Healthy splash of Pineapple Gum Syrup Liberal dash of Orange Bitters Sneaky dash of Cardamon bitters Small can 5.07 oz of Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic water (alt: small can of Fever-Tree Ginger beer) Swirl and sip. Triple Feature: Alien: Earth: $40 million an episode. There’s a great movie in those 8 hours somewhere. The xenomorph was the least interesting part. And, unlike others, I liked the nods to Blade Runner and felt this could have slotted in that universe. YMMV The Long Walk: My favorite King/Bachman book. Different but more effective ending than the book. Only a minor quibble here and there. Great casting. David Jonsson steals the show, just as he did in Alien: Romulus (as Andy). I love that they kept it period and did not rely on flashbacks. It had a few things to say and it said them well. LA Dodgers: THE BEST WORLD SERIES EVER! GO DODGERS! From the Archives: DSH’s Library Novels The Fountain – “A passionate meditation on art wrapped in a hilarious sendup of artistic pretensions.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review) [NSFW] – “A potential cult classic that all but demands a second read.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Order The Fountain Order [NSFW] Short Story Appearances “Because You’re Mine” Fragile Anthology Edited by Michael Allen Rose “Return of the Grievous Angel” Starlite Pulp Review #5 Edited by Brian Townsley Order Fragile Anthology Order Starlite Pulp Review #5 Website Instagram Facebook