About Gregg SAPP   

(A portrait of the  artist as a young man, first day of kindergarten, circa 1962.)

A native of Columbus Ohio, I've crafted a peripatetic career as a librarian, editor, college teacher, and academic administrator. I have master degrees in library science from the University of Washington and adult education from Montana State University.  Among my jobs were positions at Idaho State University, University of Miami (FL), University at Albany (SUNY), and the Evergreen State College in Washington.

In my career in higher education, I have authored some 60 academic articles, four monographs, 300-some reviews, and served as editor of five professional journals. I don't know a soul who has read any of them. 

Back in the 1980's and 90's, I wrote some poems and short stories that appeared in various small literary arts journals (does anybody remember The Redneck Review of Literature?). For my 50th birthday present to myself, I decided to resume creative writing.

Hence, I was thrilled when my first novel, Dollarapalooza, was published by Switchgrass Books of Northern Illinois University Press. Since then, I have published several short stories, some poetry, and humor in journals such as Marathon Review, Zodiac Review, Waypoints, Semaphore, Imaginaire, and been a frequent contributor to Midwestern Gothic.

Recently, I've been working with Evolved Publishing, which released my second novel, Fresh News Straight from Heaven, which is based upon the true mythology of the American folk hero,  Johnny Appleseed. 

Evolved has also released Halloween from the Other Side, which is the first in the "Holidazed" series of silly, satirical novels, each of which is centered around a different holiday. 

I currently reside in Olympia, WA with my wife Beatrice. I have two children, Kelsey and Keegan, a grandson, Tony, and a menagerie of animals, lord among which is Zen, my dog. I thus consider myself a Zen master.



 A Novel on the True Mythology of Johnny Appleseed

Wherever he went, Johnny Appleseed declared that he was bringing with him “Fresh News Straight from Heaven.” He believed that it was his mission to spread that good news throughout the Ohio and Indiana territory, which from 1801 to 1812 was a brutal place where peace was fragile, living conditions were savage, and the laws of civilization were distant. 

Johnny’s faith is challenged when war breaks out in the land, and when a bloody massacre near the northern Ohio town of Mansfield leaves its citizens terrified and vulnerable, Johnny decides that only he can save them. So he dashes off on a midnight run, seeking to spread peace across a land on the brink of war. But, on his way, he must face various demons from his own past, settle old scores, and confront his only true enemy.

 Watch the "Fresh News" trailer. 

The cover art was created by Richard Tran. Fresh News was edited by Dave Lane.

Dedicated to Gene & Punkin. And with love, always, to Bee.





Halloween from the Other Side

 



Delphyne Shadow is Solomon's ex-girlfriend from hell—literally. At Halloween, she returns for his soul.

Back in 1979, when Solomon Zuch and Delphyne Shea were in high school, they shared an intense romantic liaison on Halloween night. 

Twenty years later, Solomon is the married manager of thr All Hallows' Eve Shoppe, a pop-store that opens every year to sell Haloween supplies to customers in north Columbus, Ohio. Delphyne Shadow, as she is now popularly known, calls herself the Madonna of the Underworld, and every year she hosts the most infamous Halloween party in town: The Nightmare Bash. 

For the millennial year of 1999, Delphyne plans the most outrageous Nightmare Bash ever. Unexpectedly, she comes back into Solomon's life, making a business proposition too good to be true - together, they will co-host the Nightmare Bash, right inside the All Hallow's Eve Shoppe. 

But Regina, Solomon's wife. a psychic healer, know that Delphyne has hidden motives. Only she can protect Solomon from his former lover's sinister plan to steal his soul... if her powers are strong enough.