Annie Neugebauer

A while back I found these bleeding color tattoos (pictured below) and just had to get them because they’re perfect for my short story collection You Have to Let them Bleed–where the frame story is about a collector who sorts by color, with each section bleeding into the next. Then I wanted some temporary tattoos to match The Extra, too, so I searched and found some that fit the mysterious + outdoors motifs of the novella. But I had to order them all by the set, so now I have way too many book-themed tattoos for one person. How about I give them away??

I have two books coming out next year. They have nothing to do with each other, so don’t pick one; get both! They are both available for pre-order now! Right this moment! Of course you can get them when they come out, but preorders are so important. If you go ahead and preorder both, I will mail you a little thank you that includes my bookmark (signed and personalized) and a temporary tattoo themed to each book. That way when the books get to you (collection anticipated to ship in the spring and novella anticipated to ship in the fall), you can rock your new tat for a bookstagram and/or Facebook pic (or just for fun) and hold your place with my bookmark.

PS- The tattoo on my wrist below the bleeding colors is real! Not included in the swag (yikes)!! Also there are a variety of each book’s tattoos, so yours may differ from the ones pictured here.

Supplies are limited, so I will cap this if I run out of tattoos and/or bookmarks. If you order a copy of both books, just fill out the Google Form below with your mailing info. US only. Honor system here; I’m not checking receipts.

This giveaway is just for fun, to show my gratitude to everyone who supports my double debuts next year, and is not connected to either of my publishers. (Which also means these goodies are coming in addition to any/all extras my two publishers are offering, such as signed book plates, etc.)

Want some fun swag? Here are your action steps:

1. Visit Bad Hand Books and preorder You Have to Let them Bleed
2. Visit Shortwave Publishing and preorder The Extra
3. Fill out this quick form with your U.S. mailing address

Thank you so much for your support! It means the world to me!

I have been dying to share this news: I have another book coming out next year!! My creepy novella The Extra is being released on September 9, 2025 by Shortwave Publishing!

This was an awesome, wild ride. I actually got the offer on this book the same week that I got the offer on my short story collection. (Along with a second offer on the collection, believe it or not!) So after almost two decades of working toward publishing a book, I had three publication offers and a cover (!) sitting in my inbox on the same week. And my writing friends know how heart-fluttery it is to see that Publishers Marketplace listing.

The novella, The Extra, and the short story collection, You Have to Let them Bleed, are totally unrelated and will be published by two different, amazing indie presses in 2025. You Have to Let them Bleed will be out in spring through Bad Hand Books, and The Extra in September through Shortwave Publishing. There is no crossover in content or anything, so you can and should order both! 😀 I will share the preorder link for The Extra as soon as I have it. In the meantime, it is included in Shortwave’s 2025 Quarterly Book Boxes–a very cool subscription drive that includes books by Gemma Files, Nat Cassidy, Todd Keisling, and more.

Two! Debuts! I’m going to have two books out!

Here is the longer description for The Extra:

A university backpacking trip heads into the wilderness with all ten hikers accounted for. But after a strange EMP during a rainstorm kills their flashlights, the number of participants changes—to one extra. Matt, leading this trip of students and staff, remembers every one of the eleven people now present. There is no obvious interloper. An insidious mystery ensues as Matt attempts to quietly uncover who the extra is and why they’re here masquerading as one of the group. Because one thing is certain: he came here with ten people, and only ten people are going back home.

I will continue to share updates about my book, like a preorder link and the cover, here on my blog, so subscribe if you’re not yet.

And thank you so much to editor Alan Lastufka for picking up this novella, and to my agent Alec Shane for matching us up. I am a very happy, very lucky, very grateful writer.

Next year is going to be exceptional. I’m so glad you’re here with me.