Jacob Jones-Goldstein, founding member of Oddity Prodigy Productions, is an internationally published author, journalist, and editor. His short stories have appeared in anthologies and magazines such as ‘Plague of Shadows’ from Smart Rhino Press, ‘Beach Pulp’ from Cat & Mouse Press, and Lovecraftiana from Rogue Planet Press. His novella, ‘The Last Summer’, is forthcoming from the Systema Paradoxa series of Espec Books. 

He has edited the previous volumes from Oddity Prodigy Productions ‘Scary Stuff’, ‘Beneath the Yellow Lights,” and “Bright Mirror.” He is hard at work on their next anthology, “Where Legends Walk.”

In addition to fiction, Jacob writes about music for his personal site, ShoutingStreet.com, and has covered the Philadelphia 76ers for several online publications. Beyond writing and editing, he hosts popular podcast “The Scary Stuff Podcast”, plays Magic the Gathering, Disc Golf, and way too many board games.

He loves comic books, movies, exploring, cats, family, friends, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and his wife, Jennie.

Jacob can be found at:
Website: shoutingstreet.com
Bluesky: @shoutingstreet.bsky.social
Instagram: @shoutingstreet

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

There were a lot of influences, but the thing that most inspired me was watching the 6^th episode of the first season The Walking Dead, and how it absolutely marinated in its hopelessness. I got interested in the notion of writing a zombie story that was centered on hope, rather than despair.

What came first the characters or the world?

The basics of the world came first conceptually, and then I worked out who I wanted to write about in that world and how it would tie to the central themes of faith, hope, and rock & roll.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

I had interest from a publisher but as I kind of shopped it around, I ended up forming my own small publishing company, Oddity Prodigy Productions, and decided for a couple of reasons, mostly related to wanting to do the accompanying vinyl record, do publish it through my own company. So it was hard in the sense that it took a while to get the company up and running and get a few books under our belt before putting out my novel, but not hard in the sense that I had a mechanism with which to publish it.

How long did it take to write?

About seven months.

Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?

I have a bunch. They’re all for different moods / themes / ideas. For “The Change” I have one public one that’s made up of songs mention and songs that inspired the book.  For this particular book, it’s a lot of Petty, Dylan, and Woody Guthrie among others.

You can find it here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/62M9N8aGuvwzlAmdDFUxB6?si=sptcHtFVS_GMEo6qZySnGQ

How many publishers turned you down?

Two that I recall. A few just never responded.

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

Thus far, it’s very positive. I don’t think there are a lot of online reviews floating around but I haven’t gone looking. My father referred to it as ‘credible’ and that’s the one that sticks with me.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

We were doing a two-day convention and I missed the first day. Someone bought the book then and then brought it back the next day when I was present to have it signed. I don’t know what they thought of the book, but that was pretty cool.

What can you tell us about your next book?

I have a couple of things I’m working on when I find time to write. We’re in the editing portion of the cycle for our next anthology so I don’t have a lot of time to work on my own stuff.  Basically I have three novels in various states of “which one am I going to lean into.” One is a story set in the 90s about a radio DJ who begins to be harassed by weird supernatural seeming beings, one is a larger tale of a character I have written a few short stories about, and the other is a sequel to The Change.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

I try not to.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

One of the things we do with Oddity Prodigy Productions is put out anthologies in different genres. Currently we’ve done horror, urban fantasy, utopian science fiction, and we’re working on superheroes. Sword and sorcery is next.  It’s all genre fiction, but we’re bouncing around. I consider myself primarily a horror writer, so it’s fun to try different things. Utopian Sci Fi was the hardest for me.

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

Customer success / sales administration in the tech space. Although my favorite jobs were working in a bookstore and managing a comic shop.

Which author(s) inspire you?

Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut, Christopher Moore,  J.M DeMatteis, Roy Thomas, Jamar Nichols, J.D. Salinger, Jonathan Maberry, Marv Wolfman, Phil Giunta…I could go one.

Which genres do you read yourself?

Lots of horror. I’m a big comic book guy too. But 20^th century American literature like Steinbeck, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Kurt Vonnegut still capture my attention.

What is your biggest motivator?

I think the world needs stories, and I want to contribute to the collective good of the universe while I can. That or spite.

What will always distract you?

We have six cats.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

Some! My wife is an artist who has done the majority of our covers, including the one for my novel. She always asks for my input which is usually something along the lines of “You’re an artist, you know best.”

Were you a big reader as a child?

Very much so.

What were your favourite childhood books?

Lord of the Rings, basically everything from Dragonlance and Forgotten realms. The Chronicles of Prydain. You can probably sense a theme.

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

Captain Blue Hen Comics.

What books can you not resist buying?

Venturing into the unknown type horror. Especially cave exploration type things.

Do you have any rituals when writing?

Not really.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

Hundreds. I buy a lot of books.

What is your current or latest read?

I’m currently reading the new anthology set in the world of The Stand “The End of the World as We Know It”. It’s excellent. After that is going to be another anthology “Haunted Reels 2”

Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?

Mostly right now the one we’re working on, “Where Legends Walk.”

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

Our upcoming Sword and Sorcery anthology will begin taking open submissions in a few weeks. That’s the main thing.

Any events in the near future?

I think I have 7 or 8 events left on the Calendar for this year. Philcon in Cherry Hill NJ, Ocean City Comic Con in Ocean City Maryland are probably the biggest two remaining.

and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

I hated horror as a kid, while still being utterly fascinated by the unknowable and supernatural. That fascination stayed with me long after I stopped being scared by Scooby Doo episodes, and here we are.