News!

Hello,

Wanted to share some quick news. I’m finishing up the final round of edits on my novel, Pepperleaf (review galley pictured), and the cover is about ready to show. Exciting times! Pub date: May 22nd.

On that note, just yesterday I locked down a book launch date and venue. It will take place on Wednesday, May 27th at wonderful Third Place Books in lovely Lake Forest Park, WA. I’ll post a reminder closer to the date.

Finally, I found out that my story, “Nature,” will be included in the literary journal Ghost Parachute’s upcoming anthology! I’ll let you know when it comes out.

More soon, be well,
Ross

New Story at Maudlin House

Hello there!

I have a new short story out today in Maudlin House, my third piece they’ve featured over the years. For those not already in a turkey-induced daze, this may slow the onset. Or, who knows, speed it up. I guess I’m saying it’s a risk. But it’s one you should take. Click here!

Best,
Ross

Upcoming Reading and News

Hi Friends,

It’s been TOO LONG since I’ve sent an update. Much has happened. First, I’m taking part in an online reading celebrating my publisher Thirty West’s tenth anniversary of bringing fine literary fiction and poetry into the world. It’s happening on Nov. 5th at 8pm EST. Here’s a link to sign up. Hope you can make it!

My upcoming novel, PEPPERLEAF, is set to be published at the end of May, 2026, by Thirty West. Things are getting going in terms of editing, publicity, book covers, and all that fun stuff. As it gets closer I’ll be updating more on readings, events, interviews, and personal essays.

In March a story of mine, “A Sun Barely Risen, a Sun Nearly Set,” was published in the literary journal Afterimages. You can read it here.

Best,
Ross

Novel!

Hello!

I have a wonderful announcement. My new novel, Pepperleaf, will be published in spring of 2026 by Thirty West, the great press that put out my last book! I’m beyond excited. I’ll post a lot more about it over the coming year, but for now, here’s a picture of the Oregon Coast this February.

Yours,
Ross

New Micro and News

Hello!

I’m excited to have a new microfiction in the literary journal Fractured Lit, which came out over the holidays. Many thanks to editors Tommy Dean and Exodus Oktavia Brownlow for giving it a home. You can read it here.

Also, as a teaser, I have some big news that I can’t share quite yet. All I can say is it involves, in part, a flash fiction piece I published fourteen years ago in the now defunct literary journal Storyglossia. You can read it here.

More soon!
Ross

Micro Acceptance and Podcast

Hello Friends,

Couple of quick updates. The first is that I appeared on Ben Tanzer’s podcast, This Podcast Will Change Your Life, and it’s up for your listening pleasure. It was a lot of fun to get into the book and my life.

The second is that a new micro fiction of mine, “Tether,” has been accepted by Fractured Lit for publication! I’ll post a link to it when it goes live.

Best wishes,
Ross

News, news, news

Hello!

This pic is of Cannon Beach, OR at the end of summer…such a beautiful place. My extended family goes there nearly every summer as a group, and it’s always a blast. I cut out a couple days early this year to visit Bethlehem, PA for Thirty West Day, a celebration of the press that published my story collection. It was a lot of fun to meet authors, editors, publishers, and readers, and get a chance to read from my collection.

I’ve been hard at work on both stories and the long-term project I like to call, “The Avalanche Novel.” It’ll probably be a couple years before it’s complete, but it is very fun to write (and research). I also have a novel, a suburban dramedy called Pepperleaf, that I’m getting ready to go. Wish me luck!

I’m appearing soon on Ben Tanzer’s podcast, This Podcast Will Change Your Life. We recorded it around a month ago and it’ll be up and ready for listening shortly. I’ll link to it. We discuss my story collection, Below the Falls (Thirty West, 2024), and the strange life I’ve managed to navigate (so far).

More soon!
Ross

Review and News

Hello there,

Yakima River Canyon — May, 2024

We’re in the uncertain windy-rainy-calm-sunny-cloudy-thundery days of spring here in the Pacific Northwest. Much has been happening.

Emily Webber of Necessary Fiction wrote an insightful review of my story collection. You can read it here.

Heavy Feather Review published an excerpt from the story collection, called “Ripe.” You can read it here.

Last week I recorded an interview with Ken Volante of the Something (rather than nothing) podcast. It was a lot of fun, and should go live in a couple of weeks. I’ll post a link.

Best wishes,
Ross

Sighting

Hello there,

I stopped by Phinney Books in Seattle and found my book on display (pictured). What a thrill! While there, I bought Paul Harding’s new short novel, This Other Eden, and I’m excited to dig in.

I have a long interview coming out on Friday in a magazine I’m a huge fan of…I’ll post a link when it’s live.

Be well,
Ross

JMWW Interview and VCFA Reading

Hello!

I’m happy to say I have an interview with the talented story writer Bradley Sides up at the literary journal JMWW. You can read it here.

I also have a reading this Thursday with some fellow alums of my alma mater, Vermont College of Fine Arts. The RSVP is here (link).

More soon! I hope everyone’s April is going splendidly.

Also,

Seattle Times & Largehearted Boy

Hello,

Well, Below the Falls is officially out into the world! It has been a wonderfully exciting and at times overwhelming last week. The first bit of news is that The Seattle Times published an article about the book (and me) on Thursday, and it was included in the Sunday print edition today! You can read the article here.

Also, I have an annotated music playlist to go along with the collection up at one of the coolest sites out there, Largehearted Boy. You can check that out here.

I have a couple more interviews that will be coming out soon, and I’ll post those when they go live. But up next, the book release party at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park on the 26th! It’s at 7pm for those of you in the Seattle area who might want to come.

Be well,
Ross

Two Stories

Hello!

We’re getting very close to the publication date of my story collection, BELOW THE FALLS (Thirty West), on Friday the 22nd! I’m also prepping for my book release party at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park on March 26th. I even got my hair cut today, so you know it’s serious.

I’ve had a couple of short stories come out in the last two days. The first is the one pictured, a piece called, “Theater,” in the print literary journal Moon City Review. The second is an excerpt from the story collection, “The Meme,” in Vol. 1 Brooklyn (here’s the link).

I have some more interviews, an essay, and a very exciting article about the book coming out in the next week. Stay tuned!

Be well,
Ross

Alotta News

Hello,

It’s exactly one month away from my book’s release! Hard to believe all that has happened in the last year. I wanted to share again that my Seattle-area book release party will be at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park on March 26th. I’ll read a few stories, answer some questions, and sign books while you drink all the wine my wife picks out for the party. Here’s the link to sign up!

If you can’t make it and want a book, consider ordering directly through my publisher before the release!

I have been doing some interviews that will be coming out soon, as well the upcoming magazine publication of two stories of the stories in the collection, and an essay I wrote about the stories. My calendar is getting fuller by the day with publicity stuff. Exciting times in the McMeekin household.

Yours,
Ross

New Interview!

Hello,

Happy to say that a fun interview I did with Chuck Augello of the fantastic and fantastical literary magazine Cease, Cows is now up and ready for perusal. It was great to talk about the ins-and-outs of my upcoming story collection, my process, and my love of stories that work as puzzles. The link is here!

More soon,
Ross

Upcoming Events

Hello there,

Things are beginning to pick up with book promotions! I’ve already done an interview, and I’m recording a podcast next week. I’ll provide links to those when they go live.

Also, my book release party is slated to happen on March 26th at my local bookstore, Third Place Book in Lake Forest Park. Here’s the link to the event page.

Finally, I’m doing an online winter reading with a few of the west coast contingent of Thirty West authors this Sunday. The event signup is here if you want to attend.

More soon! Hope everyone’s winter is going well.
Ross

New Year's Update

Seattle Waterfront, December 2023

Hello there!

Many things are afoot. I’m amidst the final edits to my story collection, BELOW THE FALLS, which will be out from Thirty West Publishing House in March. You can preorder it here.

One that note, my book release party will be taking place at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, WA on March 26th. I’ll be reading a couple of stories from the collection and answering questions. Plus, we’ll have wine and snacks.

More soon,
Ross

Below the Falls: Stories

Hello there,

Exciting news here. My book of stories, Below the Falls, is now available for pre-order through my publisher, Thirty West Publishing House. Here is the link!

It will be available through bookstores and online retailers soon if that’s your preference.

Be well,
Ross

News

Hello!

I have a new micro fiction piece in Five South. I hope you enjoy it (link).

Yours,
Ross

New Story in The MacGuffin

Hello!

I’m excited to have a story, “Waves Crash into the Water that Becomes Them,” in the new print issue of the THE MACGUFFIN. It takes place in the Seattle of my youth, and will also appear in my upcoming book of stories, coming out in March from Thirty West Publishing House.

I found out a few days ago that I’ll have a new microfiction out in the west coast literary magazine FIVE SOUTH this fall. I’ll post a link when it goes live!

Yours,
Ross

New Story in Maudlin House

Hello there,

I have a new piece up at the literary magazine Maudlin House, my second time there. This one’s called, “Breakup Sketch.” I wrote it in the wee hours of the morning on a recent trip to NYC, in a hotel room on the 19th floor, full of steam in an overstimulated haze. You can read it here.

The story will also appear in my upcoming book-length collection of short fiction, coming out in March of 2024 from Thirty West Publishing House.

Yours,
Ross