It’s out there now. Debutiful, today, unveiled the cover of my upcoming short story collection, Hands. The collection publishes on April 14, 2026. Pre-order it now at all the usual spots (Bookshop | Amazon). 

There’s an interview with the cover artist Hasreet K. Gill (hey cuz!) and myself on Debutiful about the process of making the cover. It’s a lot more work than I initially anticipated. The weight of forever is hanging over each decision, or in Hasreet’s case, each brushstroke. 

For me, the most enjoyable part of the process was seeing the collection through Hasreet’s eyes, someone who I trust and adore. This sentiment from Hasreet in the interview particularly hit me hard: 

I think the image of this idyllic lake obscured by fog delivers that same sort of heartbreak … I wish we could just see a bright day the same way I wish Hans would be better and find a better life.

The empathy that Hasreet shows the main character of these stories, Hans, is is ever-present in her cover design. It’s somber and reflective, while incredibly sad at the same time. If ambiance could be a character then this cover is the embodiment of Hans. 

The cover is from a scene in the story Stranded in the Dunes. The story is fiction, loosely based on actual events. Any writer that tells you their work is purely fictional without any basis in reality is probably lying. Heck, I might be lying right now too. Who knows. 

In 2018, I went on a camping trip at Warren Dunes State Park on the shore of Lake Michigan with my partner and cousins (not Hasreet, I have a lot of cousins). We did the usual things that folks do when camping: drink lots, eat simply, and rest. But then the sky fell on us. 

Or as I described in Stranded in the Dunes: 

The lake formed a devouring glow behind the people standing by the water. The clouds perched as low as the tide, forming a gray wall between the shore and whatever lay beyond.

It was unreal. I’ve yet to experience anything like it since. I’m incredibly happy to see this moment immortalized on the cover of my collection. “Whatever lay beyond” also applies to whatever comes next for these stories.

The date of this camping trip, 2018, also hints at how long I’ve been working on these stories. I started them far before 2018. I could argue that publishing these stories is the only thing I’ve been thinking about since sixth grade. I’m an old man now, with two kids who are much closer to sixth grade than I am. This has been a long time coming and there’s no turning back now. 

Pre-order Hands on Bookshop or Amazon. Or better yet, request it from your local bookstore or library!