E.M. Anderson | THE LORD OF THE WOOD is out now!

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THE LORD OF THE WOOD (Hanover Square Press 2026). THE KEEPER OF LONELY SPIRITS (Mira 2025). BLM. Queer. AuDHD. Disabled. Anti-LLM. They/she. Rep: Keir Alekseii, ALA. pfp from maddel_art Picrew. elizmanderson.com

A white person's hand holds up a paperback of E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood in front of a clear, shallow stream running through a green forest. The book's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." This book is featured in all the remaining images.
Peach the Starfish from Finding Nemo waking up in a fish tank, saying, "Morning... It's morning, everyone! Today's the day! The sun is shining, The Lord of the Wood is out today, and we are gonna get out of..." She gasps and repeats, "The Lord of the Wood is out today." We see from a distance that the fish tank is clean and shiny. Peach screams, "The Lord of the Wood is out today!"
a raccoon with a shortened spine that makes his back legs look too long running across a sidewalk
"When you're an author with a book out tomorrow, but... you're also a poler." E, in a strappy purple pole outfit, lying on the floor reading a paperback of The Lord of the Wood in a pole studio, looks over the book's top with a wink. E does various pole tricks while holding and reading the book. A record scratch sounds; now E is lying on their back on the floor, reading and ignoring the pole. E returns to pole tricks while reading, including a layback where they're upside down on the pole with the book. In another clip, labeled "the book wanted to try it, too," the paperback spins around and around on the pole. Back to E, lying on the floor reading. The video ends with a close-up of The Lord of the Wood held behind E's back, captioned "out tomorrow" and a close-up of The Lord of the Wood open in front of E's face as they read, captioned "preorder now."
an orc saying into a walkie talkie, "the age of men is over." another orc, also on a walkie talkie, responds, "the age of men is what? over"
E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood. The cover was blue, paler in the center and darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..."
comments on a Google Doc. Vic Alexis: "I'm weeping omg the poor man" E.M. Anderson: [in all caps] "see it could be worse"
comments on a Google Doc. Vic Alexis: "sorry you wanted a pretty boy and got an angry short dude instead" E.M. Anderson: "angry short KING with antlers and magical plant powers" E.M. Anderson: "it's fine, Arthur doesn't know what he wants"
screenshot of a folder called Writing > Novels > The Lord of the Wood > Just for Fun > Vibes, showing four large columns of various photos and screenshots and a long way to scroll to the right to see all the additional columns of files
an old orange cat melted on a purple blanket on the back of a couch, resting mostly on a hard black television remote that doesn't seem like it would be comfortable at all, but this is always how he lies down up here
The Lord of the Wood, Chapter XXXVIII (In which Charlotte meets the Lord of the Wood) through Epilogue (Six weeks later) discussion prompts (all optional): What was your favorite part of this week's reading? Who's your favorite character so far? Any thoughts or reactions you want to share? The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." Cover and text are against a deep blue textured background.
a large black and white linocut print with sort of faded inking of Pope Leo holding a baseball bat in front of the words "Illudis et damnaris," which is one possible Latin translation (at) ARobertsWrites(dot)Com came up with for "fuck around and find out" (not a direct translation but close enough)
"It's cuddly and warm and somehow overarchingly creepy. I. Love. It." - Goodreads review. Text is in a box against a photo collage with images of a snowy tree, a lone oak with sun stabbing through it, a misty forest, a close-up of an acorn, and a stag walking through a meadow.
In conversation with Darren Cools: July 25, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. EST at Booksweet in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Join me and author Darren Cools to celebrate the releases of our new books, The Lord of the Wood and Light in the Canyon! Preordering the book will ensure the store has enough copies for everyone! The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." Light in the Canyon's cover has a central image of a person in silhouette—with stars in them as if their body is a universe—standing and waving, with an evergreen forest below.
Author chat: July 23 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. EST at Black Cat Books and Oddities in Medina, Ohio. Come see me for a discussion of my new queer cozy horror The Lord of the Wood with Black Cat Books & Oddities, the store behind the Big Ohio Book Con! A signing will follow. While the event is free, registration is required. The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..."
Launch party: July 21 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. EST at Gathering Volumes in Perrysburg, Ohio. Join me in Perrysburg, Ohio to celebrate the launch of my new queer cozy horror The Lord of the Wood. An author chat will be followed by a signing. Preordering the book will ensure the store has enough copies for everyone! The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..."
Events: July 21 at Gathering Volumes in Perrysburg Ohio from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. EST. July 23 at Black Cat Books and Oddities in Medina, Ohio from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. EST. July 24 virtual event in conversation with Kamilah Cole from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. EST. July 25 at Booksweet in Ann Arbor, Michigan from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. EST.
Simpsons bus driver saying, "Don't make me tap the sign." The sign says, "You are not immune to LLM submissions" over what used to say "you are not immune to propaganda"
transcript: It is one week till my queer cozy horror The Lord of the Wood releases. Um. I was feeling pretty normal until about two days ago, and then I was like, "Holy shit, it's just over a week until my book releases." So. Yeah. One week. Um. You can preorder it, there's a Goodreads giveaway on until publication day, so you can enter that, there are links in the comments. And if you have not heard of The Lord of the Wood, the way I like to pitch it is that it is about a 43-year-old undiagnosed autistic man a gay-slash-lowkey monsterfucker awakening after getting lost in an enchanted forest, and his 36-year-old disabled deeply closeted sister who goes into the wood to find him with the most annoying woman she's ever met. Preorder it, add it on Goodreads, tell your friends, ask your library... Comes out in one week. description: E, a young white person with glasses and short dark hair swept to one side, wearing a black tank top, speaks into the camera.
E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood against a feathery blue-gray background with three text bullets around it reading: "43-year-old undiagnosed autistic man with anxiety and an undiscovered sexuality"; "immortal shapeshifter who's blind in one eye and wears a knee brace"; and "deeply closeted sapphic 36-year-old with chronic pain and fatigue inspired by long COVID." The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..."
ARC Readalong for E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood, releasing July 21. Week of July 13 reading: Chapter XXXVIII (In which Charlotte meets the Lord of the Wood) through Epilogue (Six weeks later). The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." Cover and text are against a deep blue textured background.
E, a young white person with glasses and short, dark hair, wearing an oversized green sweater that says "plant lady" (gender neutral), holding up a paperback of their queer cozy horror The Lord of the Wood, the cover of which is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of flowers and foliage growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..."
E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood against a blue background surrounded by text reading: secret lesbians; plant magic; sentient forest trying to oops! murder people; there's only one bed; intensely homoerotic shaving scene; the one who heard the stories and the one who was in the stories; knife lesbians; wound tending; long COVID rep; love interest turning slowly into a beast; dual POV brother and sister; Beauty & the Beast inspired but not a retelling; forced proximity times two; and hopeless romantic who's clueless about his own sexuality. The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving."
The Lord of the Wood, Chapter XXXI (In which Arthur gets cozy in a cave) through Chapter XXXVII (In which Arthur forges onward, despite the forest’s misgivings) discussion prompts (all optional): What was your favorite part of this week's reading? Who's your favorite character so far? Any thoughts or reactions you want to share? The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." Cover and text are against a deep blue textured background.
E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood. Enter for a chance to win on Goodreads, June 22 through July 21, 2026, A.K.A. through release day. The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze
Partial screenshot of an email to E.M. Anderson that reads "you are E.M. Anderson"
Partial screenshot of an email to E.M. Anderson that reads "you are Stevie Turner"
ARC Readalong for E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood, releasing July 21. Week of July 6 reading: Chapter XXXI (In which Arthur gets cozy in a cave) through Chapter XXXVII (In which Arthur forges onward, despite the forest’s misgivings). The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." Cover and text are against a deep blue textured background.
The Lord of the Wood, Chapter XXIII (In which Charlotte and Elspeth escape a muddy ending) through Chapter XXX (In which Charlotte gains a new pet) discussion prompts (all optional): What was your favorite part of this week's reading? Who's your favorite character so far? Any thoughts or reactions you want to share? The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." Cover and text are against a deep blue textured background.
images fading into each other, with text over the top (transcript in comments). a stalk of flowers swaying in the wind. a hand winding a watch. a pan over autumn leaves in sunlight. a man walking in a misty forest. snow falling on evergreen boughs. panning through a birch wood. a lone oak through grass in the sunset. the final image fades into E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood, which is blue, paler in the center & darker at the edges, with a stag of flowers & foliage growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." the music is a cover of Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson's Winter Song, by Colleen Ballinger and Evynne Hollens.
Finn Longman's The Wolf and His King, featuring a golden wolf top a crown set among wildflowers and grasses with a forest in the background, and recommended constantly by me to everyone who has dared to ask for a book recommendation since I read it back at the start of April
A movie poster for the 2011 The Three Musketeers, highlights of which include D'Artagnan whose haircut is very stupid, everyone wearing tons of leather, and Orlando Bloom as a bad guy with a mustache just ripe for twirling
E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood, releasing July 21. The cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..."
Baby E at probably 14 years old or so, glasses-less because that's when she was determined to make contacts work, with dark curly hair half pulled back and falling around her neck, wearing a thick cozy cardigan, partway through flipping through a binder of hand-written pages, smiling awkwardly at the camera, with a bunch of trees in the background
Miguel and Tulio from The Road to El Dorado in a rowboat on the sea in the dark of night labeled "finally gets diagnosed with ADHD and starts medication." Miguel says to Tulio, "Look on the positive side! At least things can't get..." Rain starts pouring on them, labeled, "Emerging signs of undiagnosed autism." Miguel looks sad at the interruption of his thought. Tulio just looks tired and pissed.
Two panel meme. A young man in a plaid coat, labeled Threads, says, "I feel bad for you." An older man in a suit coat, labeled Bluesky, says, "I don't think about you at all."
ARC Readalong for E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood, releasing July 21. Week of June 29 reading: Chapter XXIII (In which Charlotte and Elspeth escape a muddy ending) through Chapter XXX (In which Charlotte gains a new pet). The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." Cover and text are against a deep blue textured background.
a small black cat, from above, curled up circularly in a circular cardboard cat scratching thing made to look like a low castle wall
a painting of Arthur & Ira from E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood as if in the stained glass at the end of Disney's 1991 Beauty & the Beast: centered, gazing lovingly into each other's faces, with Arthur in Belle's yellow ballgown & a green tiara & Ira is in the prince's blue coat & boots & white trousers with a green crown. A silver tree grows behind them, its bare crown spreading overhead with a dark violet sky showing through; to their left, a dark sea with two boats under a fractured sunset, with a little white house on a bluff overlooking it, shadowed by autumn trees; to their right, an overcast, wintry vale with a yellow door in a massive tree trunk, dark brambles in the foreground, & a headstone, flowers growing in a slab in the snow, & twisted black trees before a purplish haze in the background. A row of turquoise tiles with pink edging, each containing a clock showing a different time, edges the sunset sea & vale. Above them are a row of autumn trees. Below them to the left, an open book with a gold ribbon reads, "once upon a time"; on the right, a stag's breath steams, raven wings behind him. Below, upside down, is another row of autumn trees. Centered at the bottom is a large silver acorn. Twining around the whole image are braided vines growing with pink flowers, red toadstools, leaves, & ferns.
an aesthetic for E.M. Anderson's The Keeper of Lonely Spirits (out now), with images of faded autumn flowers, bare feet balancing on a log, an antique diary, close up of holding hands, a sprout growing through a crack, a lonely cottage on a rise by a tree, yellow flowers in the sunset, a man in silhouette sitting staring out at the horizon alone, headstones, a mortuary statue of a woman kissing the forehead of a deceased young person, a mortuary statue of a weeping angel, antique photos, crocuses in a cemetery, sunlight through trees, lit candles, an elderly hand touching a coffin, and an old pocket watch. Three text boxes read: (1) "You get used to it" and "I hope I never get used to being alone," (2) "It's always worth it, having your folk with you," and (3) "That's what life is. You lose people you love and you love more people and you lose them too, and you keep loving anyway because what's the point otherwise?"
In place of the Hollywood sign: Not to be a lesbian but oh my fucking god. Jesus fuck ing christ. on my god. fucking shit jesus fuck oh my fucking jesus fucking christ. god in heaven. holy fuck ing shit
"First line, fave line, last line." Text is in a white serif font against a photo of yellowish flowers with brown centers with gray-green leaves blurred in the background.
Cover of E.M. Anderson's The Keeper of Lonely spirits, which features a lonely cottage, surrounded by headstones, with smoke drifting from the chimney, atop a tall green hill dotted with trees and yellow flowers against a starry blue sky, with the tagline, "Living forever can be mighty lonesome..."
The cover of E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood, which is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..."
The Lord of the Wood, Chapter XVI (In which Arthur fixes a watch) through Chapter XXII (In which Arthur crosses a bridge again, to worse results) discussion prompts (all optional): What was your favorite part of this week's reading? Who's your favorite character so far? Any thoughts or reactions you want to share? The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." Cover and text are against a deep blue textured background.
Digital character art in color of an old man with gray hair, wearing a green flat cap, a long-sleeved red flannel shirt, jeans, and suspenders, standing in a little kitchen with red and white checkered curtains and house plants everywhere, sticking a marker drawing on a piece of lined paper to an old fridge with a magnet. We can only see part of the drawing but can make out two kids and an adult in perhaps this very same kitchen.
Every time Arthur has wet socks in The Lord of the Wood. Video starts and ends with the cover of E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood, which is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." End text reads: "A lonely clock-maker meets the hero of his child-hood bedtime stories after getting lost in an enchanted forest, only to find a grim man turning into a beast & losing power over a dying forest rather than the mythical figure of his dreams. Releases July 21. Beauty & the Beast-inspired queer cozy horror with too many wet socks." The middle text is quotes from the book showing Arthur with wet socks. Quotes are threaded in replies to this post due to built-in alt limitations.
A black and white ink comic captioned "Frederick Digby tries pole fitness." In the foreground is an octopus in a monocle and bowtie, hanging off a pole with no fewer than four tentacles, lifting its top hat sexily off its head. In the background, a penguin in a top hat, monocle, bowtie, pole top, and pole shorts looks on in disapproval, saying, "Well, that's just cheating"
"First line, fave line, last line." Text is in white script against a photo of a stag in silhouette in a forest at a misty dusk.
ARC Readalong for E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood, releasing July 21. Week of June 22 reading: Chapter XVI (In which Arthur fixes a watch) through Chapter XXII (In which Arthur crosses a bridge again, to worse results). The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." Cover and text are against a deep blue textured background.
E.M. Anderson's The Lord of the Wood on a dark blue background with gold leaves at the top, surrounded by text in yellow (from E) and blue (from Ness) reading (yellow) "plant magic; sentient forest trying to oops! murder people; intensely homoerotic shaving scene; the one who heard the stories and the one who was in the stories; wound-tending; LI turning slowly into a beast; dual-POV brother/sister; Beauty & the Beast-inspired but not a retelling; hopeless romantic who's clueless about his own sexuality" and (blue) "secret lesbians!!!!!; there's only one bed; knife lesbian!!!!!; forced proximity times two; 'long COVID' rep." The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..."
An orange cat curled up asleep in a cardboard box among some crinkly paper
E.M. Anderson's The Keeper of Lonely Spirits. the cover features a lonely cottage, surrounded by headstones, with smoke drifting from the chimney, atop a tall green hill dotted with trees and yellow flowers against a starry sky, with the tagline, "Living forever can be mighty lonesome..."
A small black cat with big yellow eyes loafed on a windowsill between a glass pain and a white curtain
Fox Robin Hood disguised as a beggar, begging, "Titles! Titles for the poor!"
The Lord of the Wood, Chapter VIII (In which Arthur narrowly avoids falling into a pit, but his luggage, alas, does not) through Chapter XV (In which Charlotte tries to form a search party, to no avail) discussion prompts (all optional): What was your favorite part of this week's reading? Who's your favorite character so far? Any thoughts or reactions you want to share? The Lord of the Wood's cover is blue, paler in the center, darker at the edges, with a central image of a stag of foliage and flowers growing from a tree whose upper branches drip black ooze and the tagline, "Even a beastly woodland protector needs saving..." Cover and text are against a deep blue textured background.
a blurry but still recognizable photo of an Amur tiger turning away from a door
a young Chris and Martin Kratt, Chris holding up leaves for camouflage and Martin holding up a pair of binoculars, against a yellow background with a pattern like a giraffe's pelt, and the logo for Kratts Creatures on PBS Kids in the corner
a greyhound on its back on a couch, spine half twisted and legs stretched out in the air
A watercolor painting of a red brick house with stairs leading up to an arched white front door, two gables, black shutters, and a chimney, with green garden beds all around, two small trees in front at the corners of the house, a U shaped asphalt driveway, and, in the background, a detached garage and breezeway to the house and lots of tall trees