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David Jay Collins

@davidjaycollins

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🏳️‍🌈 Gaybash | Summerdale | Single & Cooking
👻 Haunted Halsted - Halloween Market
⤵️ Read & Run for Summerdale - October 29

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Come out to Lincoln Square today and tomorrow for Apple Fest! My tent is by The Chopping Block, between the fountain and Lawrence. I have all six novels, Summerdale Crunch by Candyality, the Front-and-Backward Summerdale T-shirt, and the Single & Cooking Candle by The Scent Queens.
👻
Apple Fest runs from Montrose to Lawrence and includes pumpkin and apple vendors from four states, local retailers, and local cafes and brewers. You’ll find apple pie, apple cider, apple cider donuts, pumpkin pie, and all things fall. Visit Lincoln Square on this gorgeous autumn weekend!
🍁
@lsrcc_chicago @candyality @thescentqueenscandleco #applefest #lincolnsquare #chicago #induauthor taken in Lincoln Square Neighborhood by @davidjaycollins

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6 days ago

Welcome to October, readers & runners nationwide!

It’s marathon season, it’s spooky season—it’s cozy reading season.

Ready to dive into them all? Here are this month’s signature events in the Read & Run world whether you love horror novels or are gearing up for @marinecorpsmarathon!

📅 October 20
📍DC 👉 with @clarabartonmso
Read & Run on the Road: Running Tour of Reveille in Washington
🧠 What you’ll learn: Lasting impacts of the Civil War and Civil War-related history you’ve never considered!
Host: @chelseygrassfield

📅 October 25
📍Chicago 👉 @pilsencommunitybooks
Running Tour of Brown in the Windy City with Dr. Lilia Fernández
🧠 What you’ll learn: Mexican and Puerto Rican experiences and history in Little Italy and Pilsen
Host: @readandrunchicago

📅 October 29
📍Chicago 👉 @theunderstudychi
Book Club Run of Summerdale with @davidjaycollins and historian @leylairoyale
🧠 What you’ll learn: A behind-the-scenes look at David’s horror trilogy set in Andersonville, plus local history
Host: @readandruntours and @davidjaycollins

What are signature events? The original event format we created: Book-themed guided routes where stories take place. They’re hosted by Read & Run Chicago and independent organizers with the Read & Run on the Road program.

➡️ Tap the ‘Events’ link in bio for info + tickets!

Looking for free community programming in Chicago? 👉 Follow @readandrunchicago and subscribe to their newsletter. taken in USA by @davidjaycollins

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6 days ago

TONIGHT! Join me for my Author Chat on YouTube Live. I’ll discuss The Spooky Secrets of Summerdale House, including the hallways, the basement, the endless supply of coffee, and how Mr. McGreevy feeds his roses.
😱
Since we’re in Spooky Season, the rest of 2026 will focus on different themes around Summerdale. YouTube Live is a great way for readers to join the conversation. I’ll read favorite scenes, share backstory and inspiration, and answer questions. YouTube link in bio and story.
🖤
#youtubelive #summerdale #lgbtq #indieauthor #queerhorror by @davidjaycollins

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8 days ago

Another perfect morning at The Perfect Cup!
☕️
@perfectcupchicago #lincolnsquare #indiecoffee #indieauthor #shopsmall taken in The Perfect Cup by @davidjaycollins

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9 days ago

I’m excited to announce the release of the Summerdale Trilogy ebook on Friday, October 9. This new ebook combines all 3 novels with Spooky Extras about the house, the tenants, the book covers, the coffee mugs, and a bonus author interview by Nina Yarrington.
🖤
Special thanks to Summerdale cover artist TD Collins for combining elements of all three covers for the Trilogy edition!
👻
@tdcsurfer @spellbound_ivy #summerdale #lgbtq #horror #horrortrilogy #newrelease by @davidjaycollins

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11 days ago

TODAY! I’m at Big Mini Putt Club’s first Neighborhood Bazaar. Stop by from 11:00 am-4:00 pm for vendor tables, great food/bev, and a putt or two. Big Mini is located at Halsted & Waveland, across from Center on Halsted.
❤️
Fun fact: Big Mini is within the same block as Matty’s courtyard building in Gaybash. Now that’s reading local!
📚
@bigminiputtclub #bigminiputtclub #indieauthor #lgbtq #shopsmall taken in Big Mini Putt Club Lakeview by @davidjaycollins

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12 days ago

I’m a horror author - of course I love fall. And I also love the creativity of @allison_b_yates! Thanks for this fun reel, taken at Printers Row Lit Fest. #fall #horror #lgbtq #summerdale #sanbornfiremaps by @davidjaycollins

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15 days ago

We’re a few weeks away from THE spooky event of the season: my collaboration with Read & Run Tours bringing Summerdale to life through their original book-themed guided run format! Join us at The Understudy on Thursday, October 29 (ticket link in bio).

To celebrate this upcoming event, I’m giving away TWO signed copies of the first book in my horror trilogy, Summerdale, set right here in Andersonville.

Here’s how to win:
- Follow me and Read & Run Tours [TAG BOTH ACCOUNTS]
- Tag a friend you’d love to run through horror with
- Share to your story for extra entries

You must be in Chicago and able to pick up in Andersonville to win.

DEADLINE: The deadline to enter the giveaway will be on Sunday, September 27. The winner will be notified via Instagram DM.

Interested in joining the event on October 29? Tickets on sale now. Tap the link in bio for more info + to save your spot.

👟 This event is created and presented by Read & Run Tours. Thank you to The Understudy for hosting our evening centered on queer horror! @readandruntours taken in The Understudy Coffee and Books by @davidjaycollins

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16 days ago

Thank you to the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce for another successful Festival of the Arts. While the weather wasn’t ideal, people still came out to support the artists and vendors. (Thanks to readers who bought my books in the rain!)
📚
I’m sharing pics of my favorite area of the event—the park designed by Christy Webber Landscapes. Thanks also to my fun neighbors Stix Pretzels (awesome tent movers—highly recommend), Kathryn Kelly, and Jenny Jing Zhang. I hope we’ll be neighbors again next year!
❤️
@lakevieweastfestivalofthearts @jennymouse2003 @stixpretzels @kathrynsherman_ #lakevieweast #festivalofthearts #indieauthor #shopsmall taken in Lakeview East Festival of the Arts by @davidjaycollins

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17 days ago

Today is the last day for the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts. My tent is at the north (Hawthorne) gate. See the work of 150 fine artists and enjoy upmarket food/bev, live music, and an active Kids Zone. We’re on N Broadway between Belmont & Hawthorne until 5:00 pm.
☀️
We’re hoping for big crowds and dry skies. I have plenty of coffee and the Sunday New York Times…just in case. Hope to see you later today!
📚
@lakevieweastfestivalofthearts #lakevieweast #lgbtq #fiction #indieauthor #shopsmall taken in Lakeview East Festival of the Arts by @davidjaycollins

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19 days ago

The rain has let up (for now!), so come out to the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts today and tomorrow. See the work of 150 fine artists and enjoy upmarket food/bev, live music, and an active Kids Zone. We’re on N Broadway between Belmont & Hawthorne today and tomorrow.
☀️
My tent is at the north (Hawthorne) gate. I love being at this festival since so many scenes in Gaybash take place on N Broadway. The rainy morning load-in gave me a chance to stow a neighbor’s artwork while she set up. (Though I have the beautiful Single & Cooking covers by Adam Thomas at every event.)
❤️
Big thanks to the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce for planning this outstanding annual art festival. I hope you can visit us this weekend!
📚
@lakevieweastfestivalofthearts #lakevieweast #lgbtq #fiction #indieauthor taken in Lakeview East Festival of the Arts by @davidjaycollins

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19 days ago

I believe an orb weaver has trapped me (in a good way…hopefully). Last night I was going to enjoy a moment on the patio after a long workday, but I noticed a little visitor outside my patio door. Going outside would break the web, so I stayed inside.
🕷️
In Gaybash, there’s a reference to spiders spinning webs outside Matty’s bedroom window—foreshadowing in the second half of the novel. I’ll choose to believe this spider outside my patio door is a benevolent protector in the spirit of Arachne and artistic creation. And also eating all the biting gnats ravaging us all summer.
❤️
#spider #orbweaver #arachne #beneficialinsects by @davidjaycollins

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22 days ago