Your first look at upcoming books!
My goal with the ARC Party is to connect readers with books before they release! Much of the success of a new book is connected to pre-orders and early sales numbers, but sometimes people don't hear about a book until long after it's been released.
An episode typically consists of an author giving a quick description of their book, followed by a spoiler free discussion about it. We often talk about themes, characters, settings, etc. But I'm careful to not talk about anything that would ruin the reading experience!
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Nick Medina is a fantastic writer, and SAVAGE LAKE is the latest bit of evidence. Set in upstate Wisconsin (is that a thing?) Nell and her son Oscar have to go to their recently-inherited cabin in the woods to get it ready for sale. The cabin, the lake, and the town are choked with ghosts from Nell’s past, and if they aren’t careful, they may never make it out.
This book isn’t just a cabin in the woods book. It’s also a slasher. It’s also a ghost story. It’s also a cryptic story. It’s also a touching look at family and generational trauma. It’s also an analysis on racism and invasiveness. It is a whole lot, and it all works, and it still manages to be well-paced and entertaining. Somehow Nick manages to make it feel effortless.
I love talking to Nick, and I’ve loved promoting this book, which is certainly in my top three for the year. I hope I didn’t gush too much, and that the conversation was something you will enjoy even a fraction of how much you’ll enjoy SAVAGE LAKE.
For the YouTube lovin’ folk:
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thearcparty.com/subscribe (https://www.thearcparty.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
3 Oct 2026
Bitter Karella - QUAINT FOLK
Yes, I know that this is a long episode, but I promise that it’s worth the time. Bitter Karella is an impressive author, a hilarious social media personality, and a really interesting person.
I want to emphasize that Quaint Folk is a seriously entertaining story. It’s imaginative, funny, engaging, propulsive, and cool. I want to emphasize that because for nearly an hour of our conversation, we talk about gender and sexuality and how messy it can be to navigate those topics and more so messy to write about them. It’s good and necessary discussion, but I worry it could give the impression that this book is stuffed with the topic. I’m here to assure you that it’s not. It is in there, but it is amongst the witchcraft, British cheekery, and strange goings-on.
I’m also very excited for Bitter’s upcoming novella Monoceros, and the fact that She’ll be launching it in Chicago in November. All you Chicago locals should join me in Oak Park for the event.
Quaint Folk releases Tuesday October 6th, so just a few days after this episode posts. There’s still time to preorder, or if you aren’t a day-one listener, it’s likely available to buy now. Check it out, it’s a fantastic book!
For the YouTube folks:
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thearcparty.com/subscribe (https://www.thearcparty.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
26 Sept 2026
Horror TBR: October Releases
It’s that time again, time to bless you with some titles we are dying to check out. For October, my good friend and horror aficionado Greg Greene joined me to sing the praises of some amazing upcoming books.
You probably know Greg best for the amazing shirts that he creates, themed on contemporary horror novels. His “Jade Daniels Is My Final Girl” shirt is such a cultural phenomenon that it’s been written into multiple horror novels. If you want to see what kinds of shirts he’s got, check out his store at Threadsofdread.com.
In this episode, Greg also shares information about his upcoming magazine - Rough Beast, which will be available at the same website. Exciting times for horror!
In this episode, we cover a dozen sizzling October titles. I asked Greg to join me specifically because I know how excited he is for the release of the new Stephen Graham Jones book Off The Reservation, and also the hotly anticipated sequel from Brian Evenson - Phantom Limb, a follow-up to his most popular novel Last Days.
Check out the episode for all the titles we’re jazzed for, and hit the link below to order them all!
For the YouTube folk:
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thearcparty.com/subscribe (https://www.thearcparty.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)
Who has been a guest on The ARC Party
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Becky Spratford
Emily Hughes
Wendy N Wagner
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
12,337
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
13 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 73 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
85
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
77
Contact The ARC Party
Guest appearances
Books guests
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