Reader friends, what a special time we live in!
I’m excited to report that after publishing 33 short stories and essays (vast majority in anthologies and magazines), I finally get to publish a standalone novella! This is tremendous news, as I’ve dreamed of having my own name on the cover (with nobody else’s attached, hehe) since boyhood. And BOOM goes the dynamite! Max Demons Slayed, LLC is coming out in a couple of weeks. Feast your eyes, chat:
This is the cover of my first long-form publication, a short novella about two teenage siblings who start a demon extermination business in a world where mysterious portals have dumped thousands of vicious creatures onto our planet. Max Buckholtz is the big sister with entrepreneurial skills and a love of loud firearms, so when she recruits her little brother Eldon as a part-time intern, their assignments go well. That is, until a farmer widow in rural Ohio hires them to take care of a mysterious presence that’s been troubling her cattle. This time, the Buckholtz siblings may be in over their head — and it ain’t a coyote they’re up against!
I enjoyed writing this story, especially the banter between the siblings. Growing up an only child, I could only imagine the kind of camaraderie one might share with someone who lived with a peer friend right there in their home, and the desire for that kind of lifelong friendship helped me create Max and Eldon: a constantly bickering but ultimately always there for each other sister-brother duo. Their connection is more than blood-related; the two share a telepathic bond, as well, since the same global event that spat the demons through the wormholes has also given some young people supernatural abilities. There’s a lot going on in this story, folks! Just trust me.
It doesn’t get more joyful than writing a comedy/sci-fi/horror story with weird aliens, big feelings, and oddly named cows. Needless to say, I had a blast! And the publisher, the Australian indie outfit Black Hare Press, has been incredible to work with — responsive, collaborative, and endlessly creative. I love the cover art they created and just about everything about this! BHP putting their trust in me as a first-time standalone novella writer is a special leap of faith, and one I don’t take lightly. I’ll be forever grateful for their support.
Speaking of which… (Support, that is.) You can support my creative endeavors by preordering a copy today! Or, if you’re reading this on or after May 9, 2026, then surprise! You can go grab a copy — paperback or ebook — right now! It’s only $1.99 on Kindle. It’s true that you can read this in just over an hour (it’s a novelette burgeoning on novella), but don’t be fooled. There’s enough action, jokes, and pathos packed in here for a full length narrative. Satisfaction guaranteed, or my name isn’t @beatnikjuice on Instagram.
Don’t believe me? Just read this (slightly spoilery) synopsis from the publisher:
I must admit, it’s still surreal to me, reading my own work through other people’s eyes and descriptions, which is what that synopsis is. But I do agree, dammit! It does “blend monster-of-the-week action with sibling banter, rural horror, and the realization that sometimes the scariest thing on the job isn’t the demon at all.”
And since you’re here, I might as well reward you with an EXCLUSIVE sneak peek. I’m in the early stages of writing a sequel! That’s right, reader friends. The publication of this story will only be the first of who knows how many tales set in this strange demon-infested world. You heard it here first, folks! Mike Rusetsky is the only writer to dare attempt a demon-slaying narrative, the first and only. Tongue planted firmly in cheek, of course. But hey! I write what I love to read, so I’m sorry if it’s not the most original of concepts. I do believe that the true magic of a story is in its execution, the tone, the vibe, if you will. And I do love all those elements in mine.
Who knows? Maybe you will, too.
Max Demons Slayed, LLC is available on ebook, Kindle, and in paperback on May 9. Let’s go slay some demons!