Hi, I’m Garrett 👋. I’m so glad you’ve stopped by. I write thoughtful literary fiction, creative nonfiction, screenplays, commentary and more, and I publish them right here.
Let’s dive into what can be expected when you tune in.
The What
This newsletter is run by me, author Garrett Francis. It features serializations of book-length works (including my first novel, And in the Dark They Are Born), short stories, creative nonfiction, commentary, recommendations and more.
Here’s a peek at what both Free Supporters and Members will receive when they sign up:
Free Supporters Receive
Read all public posts (1-2 weeks after Members have access; some posts will have ads)
Full access to 140,000+ words in archives (including books, short stories, screenplays and more)Earlybird access & discounts on occasional physical offeringsVoting rights (on book cover designs, etc.)Invitation to Postcard Club
Members Receive ($5 per month OR $50 per year)
First access to every post, always ad-free
Full access to 140,000+ words and 2+ hours of audio in archives
Earlybird access & discounts on occasional physical offerings
Voting rights (on book cover designs, etc.)
Invitation to Postcard Club
Charitable Giving
Each year, 10% of all earnings is donated to a new cause. I’ve selected the World Resources Institute as the 2023 recipient. In their own words:
WRI is a trusted partner for change.
Using research-based approaches and unique coalitions, we work globally and in focus countries and regions to meet people’s essential needs, to protect and restore nature, and to stabilize the climate.
Donations to the World Resources Institute will be made in December of each calendar year, the details of which will be shared with you.
Finally, to get an even better idea of what you can expect when signing up, I suggest checking out a few of the most popular posts so far:
Popular posts
A Novel Ten Years in the Making: An Extended Timeline of, “And in the Dark They Are Born”
Where My Creative Writing Degree Has Fallen Short, Part 1—an essay
The Who
It might seem redundant at this point, but I, Garrett Francis (more about me below, if you’re unfamiliar), will be the one whose words you’ll be reading. It’s possible, though, that at different points guest authors will appear, or that interviews will be featured.
About Me
I grew up on a small farm in Hart, Michigan, had a (mostly) great childhood, and earned my B.A. in Creative Writing from Grand Valley State University.
In 2012, I co-founded Squalorly, a digital literary journal of the Midwest and served as its nonfiction editor until 2014. Two book-length projects of mine were represented by a reputable literary agency from 2014 to 2016, until the relationship abruptly ended, a pivotal experience, which led me to found Orson’s Publishing in 2016, a micro press with an aim to publish “wise and approachable storytelling.”
I served as the press’s sole editor (and designer, and publicist, among other roles) until its closure in 2020, publishing four book-length works by new and emerging authors.
In 2017, I also founded Orson’s Review, a digital literary journal that served as a companion to its parent press, publishing fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and photography. I served as the sole editor of Orson’s Review as well, and am proud to have helped bring the work of over 70 international contributors to life.
Today, I live in beautiful Seattle, Washington with my wife, daughter and dog. I work a day job in the field of content design and when I’m not working or writing, I try to be outside as much as I can with my family—camping, hiking, kayaking, and just generally wandering.
Because I suspect at least half of you are curious, here’s a pic of said dog, a handsome chap named Otis:
The When
When a book-length work is in the process of serialization, you can expect a chapter sent either each week, or every other week (dependent upon the project).
You can also expect a set of what I call “media recommendations” to be sent monthly—books I recommend, films, TV shows, podcasts, articles, etc.
As I’m not always writing a new book, I’ll also send standalone short stories and essays, though the timing of those will be far less predictable. If I had to ball-park it, I’d say to expect one every four to six weeks.
Add all of this up and you can expect to receive communication from me every 1-2 weeks.
But keep in mind also that I’m human, and what I’m offering here is art. I’m not here to sell snake oil, to sling advice, or to work a beat.
Meaning: I do not publish just for the sake of churning out “content,” and because I do not, there will likely be times where I won’t be able to sustain a 1-2 week pace.
When such a period occurs, please trust that I am working at all times to the best of my ability to produce and deliver stories of high quality.
The How and Where
Emails will, of course, arrive in your inbox. But, because Substack is such a nifty tool, everything sent to your inbox will also live online, accessible at any time in a web browser.
There also exists the Substack app, which I think you’d really enjoy if you prefer to read on your phone. If you’d like, you can toggle on notifications and receive updates that way as well.
The Why
I’ve dreamt of being a full-time, paid writer for coming up on two decades. And, I’ve worked for it. I’ve set alarms for 3:30am. Revised throughout lunch breaks. Brewed cup after cup of coffee at 11:00pm just to finish a draft.
Writing for me has never been just a hobby.
Saying that it’s “my calling” is too much. No, I don’t know if I believe in such a thing. I do believe myself to be an artist, though; were it not writing, I’m confident that I’d find a way to creatively express the ways in which I interpret human experiences.
But hey, I love writing. And, I’m good at it.
And not only is Substack a great platform for writers to share their work, but for writers to finally find the people who see their work as something of value—to, in other words, start making my decades-old dream a reality.
If You’ve Made It This Far…
Please enjoy this special offer: lifetime access, and at a discount. Pay once—at 10% off of an annual membership—and enjoy my work for life.
Contact Me
Agents, editors, illustrators, fans and possible collaborators: please feel free to send me an email. And, though I’ll do my best to respond in a timely manner, if you don’t receive a reply within a couple of weeks, please don’t hesitate to follow up, as my lack of reply likely has nothing to do with you and everything to do with being a writer in addition to being a dad, a husband and a full-time employee.
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