Latest News!

Welcome to Peculiar Territory

On October 1st I signed a three-book contract with Dragonbrae, the fantasy imprint of Roan & Weatherford Publishers for a series sprouting from my latest novel manuscript A Quarry of Woes. Now, this does delay Quarry from reaching the world (estimated release 2029) but it does mean I get to give you multiple stories set in an offbeat fantasy western setting I call Peculiar Territory. It also means hardcovers and (fingers crossed) more audiobooks.

Peculiar is inspired by Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series and, like that magnum opus, stories set in PT feature recurring characters, but each book will not necessarily star the same cast. This kind of non-sequential storytelling appeals to me and means I get to play is a bigger broader, deeper sandbox.

PT is loosely based on the Dakotas and Wyoming Territories in the latter half of the 19th century. Loosely is the key word here as my version has different place names not to mention magic, monsters, a gun hand or two and an assortment of characters ranging from the charmingly inept to the brutishly kind-hearted to the occasional zombie seeking redemption. Oh, and kobold sidekicks who speak their mind. Gotta have those.

So, as I build book number two and work through edits with the publishers on Quarry, I will keep you abreast step-by-step as the tale(s) come together.

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Latest New Release!

The new anthology True Story is now available and includes my story “At the Feet of the Electric Messiah.”

Your wait for another Bowen Gillings story has ended. It’s been a long gap in new releases and you’ve been patient. Thank you. This is a story I’ve been trying to place for nearly three years and it finally found a home. True Story is the latest anthology from the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, edited by Amy Armstrong. Look for it on BarnesandNoble.com or in your favorite online marketplace. Paperback and eBook available.

“At the Feet of the Electric Messiah” is a fictional look at the strange and dangerous work conducted by Nikola Tesla back in 1899. For a year, Tesla ran secret experiments at his mysterious Black Box in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Part psychological thriller, part science fantasy, Electric Messiah follows one of Tesla’s assistants as he participates in the madness of one man defying nature to achieve the impossible.

Coming, February 2nd, 2027

My story “Tiger on My Chest” comes out in this outstanding collection from WordFire Press. Echo of the Hour contains nineteen stories—including a brand-new short story by New York Times bestseller Jonathan Maberry—that explore the moments when time changes everything, and the defining sound that marks its passage. In mine a hitman on his last job has two hours to take the shot, only a debilitating infection makes climbing two stories like assaulting Everest. But the clock won’t stop ticking and failure moves him from hitman to hit list.

Available in eBook, paperback, and hardcover, you can pre-order a copy directly from WordFire!

Have A Night to Remember on audiobook!

Exclusive to Audible/Amazon, my first audiobook A Night to Remember came out on August 4th!

Audie Award Winner Chris Ciulla performs this fast, fun, funny story of memorable murderous misadventure. After losing his lunch across Monterey’s Coast Guard pier, nervous newly successful writer Walter Straub wobbles aboard the Diego Wind for a sunset cruise with a who’s-who of celebrity authors. It takes a few fruity cocktails, a disputatious dinner, and some playful orca before he’s comfortable in his rented tux and finds the nerve to speak with lovely, bestselling author Avni. All goes swimmingly until a guest becomes fish food. Then more writers turn belly up. When those left look to pin the deaths on him, Walter must either sink or swim.

Click below to experience a sample of Chris Ciulla’s production of A Night to Remember.

My Marketplace is LIVE!

Thanks to Kilnar Author Services, I have an online marketplace where you can get books and eBooks directly from me. This allows me to offer coupons and deals you won’t find on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or any other online retailer. So excited!

Where I’ll Be:

• February 3, 2027 – Superstars Bookstravaganza!, Colorado Springs, CO
  • Signing copies of Echo of the Hour!
• April 1-4, 2027 – Left Coast Crime, Santa Fe, NM

I didn’t look to be a writer, but writing found me anyway. Since publishing my first offbeat short story in Allegory e-zine, I have won awards for my work and continue to find homes for my quirky tales, boldly told.

These stories are for fun-seekers, thrill-seekers, and joy-seekers. I write for those who like to smile as they read. Quirky is my touchstone. Offbeat, my muse. If you’re looking to step away from characters of dark, brooding intensity or worlds devoid of hope, then look no further. This stuff is right up your alley…if you buy books in an alley.

Which is creepy.

Go to a bookstore.