Barry and Lich are two high school outcasts living as much of a life as they can in the small town of Grafting, Michigan, circa 1995. Life ain't great, but it ain't too bad either. That is, until the Grafting quake hits and a strange man heading a secretive organization shows up with an army of brilliant minds, highly trained mercenaries, and a monster that's crawled straight from the realm of nightmares. As it turns out, reality is starting to tear, and things from another dimension are starting to pop up-things with really bad intentions. So, when a few popular jocks from the local high school fall victim to a series of brutal murders and all the evidence points to Barry and Lich, their already crazy world is flipped upside down once more. Now on the run from local law enforcement, a secret government agency, and the monstrous manifestation of their own dark desires, the two teens, with the help of some very unlikely allies, must find a way to prove their innocence and save their small town from an evil beyond imagination. "If you liked Stranger Things Season 4 and the Hellfire Club, you'll love Barry, Lich, and the gang in The Bleed . These metal-fueled outcasts fight back by rolling the dice against bullies, authority figures, and monsters from another dimension, proving the power of friendship is the mightiest sword. Schreffler's head-banging pulp sci-fi debut will make you cry, cheer, and scream into the mic." -Angela Sylvaine, author of Frost Bite and The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls "With The Bleed , Schreffler has crafted a world of real, complex characters who demand the reader's emotional investment. His style has a certain zest that channels Stephen Graham Jones, yet remains totally his own. The Bleed is a hell of a good time and impossible to put down. This one's binge-worthy." -Steph Nelson, author of The Vein and The Threshing Floor " The Bleed is an interdimensional tale brimming with heart, rock 'n' roll, and high school blues. Make time to read this one in a single sitting." -Drew Huff, author of Free Burn and The Divine Flesh " The Bleed is a rip-roaring mosh pit of monsters, murder, and mayhem. Barry and Lich will take you on one hell of a ride." -R. L. Meza, author of Our Love Will Devour Us Stephen S. Schreffler is an author of science fiction and horror. His imaginative stories feature unique worlds and complex characters that explore themes of loneliness, loss, identity, and growth. Stephen lives in Bend, Oregon with his wife and two daughters, and their cat and dog. He spends his non-writing time asking his wife what they should make their daughters for dinner, exploring the Pacific Northwest, and playing guitar in various musical projects.