Contact

Get in Touch: An Old Writer’s Inbox

Real Talk About Contacting Me

At 77, I’ve learned the difference between communication that matters and digital noise. If you want to contact Chet Day, the horror writer behind Halo and the other books on this site, you’re in the right place. I actually read my email–every message–because I’m old-fashioned enough to believe that when someone takes time to contact me, they deserve a real response from the actual author, not some assistant or automated system.

That said, I’m not on social media much, I don’t have a publicist, and I answer my own correspondence. So if you drop me a line, you’re getting me, not some assistant or automated response system.

What I Love Hearing About

Horror literature discoveries – Found a forgotten gem from the 80s boom? Read something that reminded you of Halo? I’m genuinely interested in what other people are discovering in the vintage horror world.

Available on Amazon

Your own writing journey – Whether you’re 17 or 77, if you’re wrestling with getting your stories out there, I’ve been in those trenches for five decades. Sometimes an outside perspective helps. I don’t have time to read manuscripts, but I do have time to read about your journey.

The Grady Hendrix connection – If Paperbacks from Hell led you to my work, I’d love to know about it. That book has been like literary archaeology for the horror genre, and hearing how it’s connecting readers with forgotten stories never gets old.

AI collaboration curiosity – The human-AI writing experiments fascinate some people and puzzle others. If you’ve got genuine questions about how that process works or where it might be heading, fire away. I’m no expert at writing and AI collaboration, but with six books under my belt as I type these words, I’m learning… and I’m happy to share what I’m learning on my blog several times a week.

Ellen memoir reactions – Grief is universal, but everyone’s path through it is different. If my experience with losing my late wife Ellen resonated with your own journey, those connections mean everything to me.

What I’m Less Excited About

Generic pitches – I can spot a form letter from three time zones away. If you’re trying to sell me something, make it personal and relevant, or we’re both wasting our time.

Social media management offers – Thanks, but no. I built my first online following back when the internet was weird and wonderful, and I prefer authentic communication over algorithmic optimization. I occasionally surf into Facebook and Reddit, less often into X, and almost never on LinkedIn. I have to admit I’m fascinated by a lot of the crap on TikTok and Instagram, but I limit my scrolling time on those platforms to no more than 14 hours a day. <—- Joke!

Interview requests – On the off chance you’d like to interview me, be warned: I’m absurdly reclusive. Temperamentally I’m closer to J.D. Salinger than I am to Kim Kardashian. Much closer. Thank God. With that said, if you have a podcast that reaches over 250,000 readers who are eager to hear why an old man wants to hit a bestseller list before his 80th birthday, let’s talk. Shoot me a message on my contact page right now!

The Reality Check

I’m not a celebrity. Have never landed on any bestseller lists (yet). I’m simply a 77-year-old writer whose 1987 horror novel got rediscovered by people with good taste in forgotten literature. If you’re reaching out expecting someone more famous or important, you might be disappointed.

But if you want to connect with someone who’s been writing professionally since before the internet existed, who understands what it means to have work find its audience decades after publication, and who’s genuinely curious about where storytelling is headed in this strange new world, then we might have something to talk about.

Response Time Reality

I’m not on Twitter every five minutes or checking email constantly. I’m usually writing, reading, or taking long walks in rural North Carolina where I think about stories and remember my wife Ellen. So expect a response within a few days, not a few hours.

When I do respond, it’ll be me actually writing to you, not some assistant or AI (though I do appreciate the irony of that statement given my recent collaboration experiments).

One More Thing

If you’re a horror reader who discovered Halo through Paperbacks from Hell, or if you’re following along with the 80-before-80 mission, or if you just appreciate authentic storytelling in an increasingly artificial world, I’m genuinely glad you found your way here.

Ellen used to say I made her laugh. If I can do that for readers while also scaring them, moving them, or making them think about stories in new ways, then this whole comeback will have been worth it.

So go ahead, drop me a line. At my age, every genuine connection is a gift.

Want to Follow the Journey?

If you’d like to know when I post something new–whether it’s a discovery about forgotten horror gems, updates on the crazy quest to hit bestseller status before 80, or just thoughts about the writing life–mention “email updates” in your contact form below.

I keep a simple email list, no fancy marketing automation. Just me sending a quick “hey, new post is up” when there’s something worth your time. Ellen used to tease me about being terrible at self-promotion, so consider this my attempt to get slightly less terrible at it.

Use the form below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Real person, real responses, real stories.

Contact Form

    Please include:

    • Your name and how you’d prefer to be contacted
    • Whether you’re a reader of my books, a media professional, or an industry colleague
    • What specific aspect of my work interests you
    • Any questions about our books, strategy, or collaborative process

    Thank You

    Every reader who downloads The October Testimonies, every person who takes a chance on an old writer with a crazy plan, every bit of encouragement along the way–you’re all part of proving that it’s never too late to chase the dream you’ve never caught.

    Whether I make it to bestseller status by 80 or not, you’re witnessing someone refuse to go quietly into that good night. Thanks for being part of the journey.

    CasaDay Press | Where Determination Meets Innovation