Annie Neugebauer’s novella showed up as part of my quarterly box from Shortwave Publishing not so long ago, and the back cover copy just grabbed me and wouldn’t let go.

Ten people head out on a backpacking trip, but the first night eleven set up camp. Everyone remembers everyone else. Who is the extra?

Simple, compelling, chilling. Well if that kind of hook brings you in, you’re going to love this story. What would you do in the wilderness when you can’t trust reality? Do you freak out and leave? Do you keep it cool? What if, all of your ideas are thwarted? This story keeps you moving and guessing and most of all worrying! It’s an easy and quick read that will stick with you after you’re done.

And what could be better than one creepy compelling book, you ask? Three of course. That's right, THE EXTRA kicks off The Outsider Sequence, a trilogy of books in which things aren’t quite as they seem. THE OTHER drops June of 2026, and THE SPARE in March of 2027.

Also, keep your peepers open for Annie’s short story collection early 2026, coming from Bad Hand Books - YOU HAVE TO LET THEM BLEED.

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