Hello! As you might expect from how long it’s been since last update, I have a lot of news!
- Everyone Leaves Alive Kickstarter
I am currently Kickstarting the pilot to a brand-new musical audio drama called Everyone Leaves Alive. It follows a struggling indie band across the midwestern US as they secretly solve monster-related problems, chiefly through song. I’m writing all the scripts and the songs. It’s funny and weird and heartfelt and very queer.
We’re at about 57%, which is to say, thank you so very much to every person who has already backed us and spread the word. If you haven’t yet but you’ve been meaning to help bring an extremely fun series to life, now is the perfect time to do so. The backer rewards are neat, and we’re just two backers away from 75, at which point we will put the genuinely excellent fully produced demo track up on all the streaming services. (You can hear the demo on the Kickstarter page! I am normally an extremely self-critical, self-effacing person but I can confidently report that it rules.)
(Kickstarter named us a “Project We Love,” which is also fun.
2. World Gone Wrong
After a spellbinding run by Gregory Moran (spaghetti circles!), and another brilliantly realized season by Gabriel Urbina (still not over Leonard btw), I am back in the driver’s seat for just a few more weeks. Season 5, which I wrote, releases Episode 5 this upcoming Tuesday. Last episode marked the first time a third voice appears on the show (the always delightful Kat Hoil), and this season still has a few surprises up its sleeve.
The next two seasons will be written by Gabriel Urbina and Michael Turrentine (who is a writer and playwright and also voices Malik!) and I know the show is in the best of hands. Can’t wait to hear what happens next.
3. Keep It Steady
Episode 10 is in the can; we’re just waiting for post-production. The series is only 12 episodes long, so we’re closing in on the end here. Speaking of which…
4. The Strange Case of Starship Iris
We have final-ish cuts of all three mini episodes and 7 out of 8 of the main episodes. The goal is to start releasing in mid-June. I started writing Starship Iris in 2015 and someday I will emotionally process that it’s been a decade and that it’s almost over. But perhaps not today!
5. Other things in the works
I’m writing for an additional podcast that I think you’ll dig, but it’s a bit too early to talk about.
Also, I have a sci-fi YA novel coming out in roughly February 2026! It’s called You Pierce My Soul. It’s a queer romance about a teen girl named Zada living in a highly oppressive society where an algorithm assigns everyone a soulmate. When Zada is matched with a man she doesn’t love, she must team up with a rebellious, feisty estranged friend to try to find a way out of the marriage. Sort of Black Mirror meets Bridgerton (but appropriate for teens to read).
I’m slated to be a Guest of Honor at Crossings Con, a small speculative fiction con in Philadelphia. It’s happening August 15th-17th, and I am nervous but very excited. Registration is currently open!
Current
Book — North Woods
Song — “Parking Lot” by Hana Vu
Drink — Earl grey tea, but we’re edging into Summer cocktail territory, which is exciting
Obsession — Trying to find things to do with my brain that aren’t “endlessly refresh your Kickstarter page“
jessicamarybest.com 