“Jason Marc Harris’s Master of Rods and Strings is a masterful work the likes of which I have not read in many years. Among its other admirable qualities, it is an adept exemplar of the novella, a literary form peculiarly suited to tales of dark and mysterious themes. [. . .] In captivating and expert prose, Master of Rods and Strings brings to life a world where the enchantment of puppetry inexorably descends into a magical perdition.” –Thomas Ligotti
“A magically unnerving tale of loyalty, artistic passion, and revenge that digs into your skin and pulls you through the back alleys of period France. Harris assuredly directs his characters with the precision of a puppeteer through this fever dream of a novella.” –Sequoia Nagamatsu, author ofWhere We Go When All We Were Is Gone
“Strange and compelling, Master of Rods and Strings is a fantastic foray into the realm of occult puppetry. Like Patrick Suskind’s Perfume, this book is memorable for its vivid sensory detail and portrayal of an obsessive protagonist exploring an arcane world.” –Susan Hubbard, author of the Ethical Vampire Series
“Boundlessly unique and charmingly strange, Jason Marc Harris’ Master of Rods and Strings is a breakneck tale of occult puppetry and the toll of seeking revenge. What a cracklingly compelling book. I can’t get it out of my head.” —Robert James Russell, author of Mesilla and Sea of Trees
Along with the cover art, there’s now a couple blurbs posted on Vernacular Books site. Kindle pre-order available & print pre-order coming later. Book publication likely July 6th.
My novella regarding the young French puppeteer who seeks to become a master of occult puppetry will be published around July 2021 by Vernacular Books.
In addition, I will also be reading from “Master of Rods and Strings” on the previous night (Wednesday October 28th) at 4:30 PM CDT – 6:30 PM CDT via Texas A&M University’s Big LAAH reading series--Facebook Live:
The joys are my children: Amaya has joined Isaac in the baby brigade.
New writing has emerged in several recent publications:
1. My short story “What You Know and What You Don’t” was an honorable mention in The Saturday Evening Post’s Great American Fiction Contest for 2020: the story is available in The Saturday Evening Post’s annual anthology of top entries.
