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Wednesday is Waiting
Set in the summer of 2005, WEDNESDAY IS WAITING follows an up-and-coming emo band from rural North Carolina along their first tour to escape their small-minded, small town. After encountering police outside Richmond, Virginia, the band books a last-minute gig to solve their financial troubles. Meanwhile, Larry Gainer, an ex-con, and shepherd for unseen forces, hopes to get the band to perform the set of their lives. As their paths cross, whose dream will come true?
An emo horror tale from the mind of Donnie Goodman, author of THE RAZORBLADES IN MY HEAD.
An emo horror tale from the mind of Donnie Goodman, author of THE RAZORBLADES IN MY HEAD.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 1, 2022
“Donnie Goodman has proved his horror writing chops with his short story collection 'The Razorblades In My Head', he wowed me with his deftly crafted and uniquely disturbing poetry collection 'I Eat Its Seeds' and now he disturbs us further with his dastardly creepy novella 'Wednesday is Waiting' - Donnie is a writer on the rise, pay him close attention, he's going to some dark places and you should journey to those places with him!"
Ross Jeffery Bram Stoker Award-nominated Author of Tome, Only The Stains Remain and The Devil's Pocketbook
Ross Jeffery Bram Stoker Award-nominated Author of Tome, Only The Stains Remain and The Devil's Pocketbook
November 1, 2022
“He wakes up every day wanting to matter in a world that often tries to make him feel worthless.”
Wednesday Is Waiting is an emo alternative band at the struggling beginning of their career. The four band members, Malcolm, Sydney, Kellan, and Luke, are working hard and doing everything they can for their chance at fame. Their streak of one problem after another might finally be at an end when they get an offer to perform a show for big money.
Is this their big break or are their troubles just beginning. Larry may have offered them a lot of money but there is just something not right with him.
The chemistry between the band members is excellent and you really get a feel for what it might be like to live on the road, driving from one gig to the next. The story was very intriguing and I needed to know what was going on and what was Larry really up to.
This is not Donnie’s fault but unfortunately I didn’t connect with these characters due to my own personal experiences. Any emo that I listened to were straight edge and nonviolent so when WIW was smoking pot, stealing beer, and getting into fights it took me out of the story. This wouldn’t have been an issue for me if they were any other kind of band; punk, metal, hardcore, or swing but to me emo is nonviolent and I couldn’t get past that.
Wednesday Is Waiting is an emo alternative band at the struggling beginning of their career. The four band members, Malcolm, Sydney, Kellan, and Luke, are working hard and doing everything they can for their chance at fame. Their streak of one problem after another might finally be at an end when they get an offer to perform a show for big money.
Is this their big break or are their troubles just beginning. Larry may have offered them a lot of money but there is just something not right with him.
The chemistry between the band members is excellent and you really get a feel for what it might be like to live on the road, driving from one gig to the next. The story was very intriguing and I needed to know what was going on and what was Larry really up to.
This is not Donnie’s fault but unfortunately I didn’t connect with these characters due to my own personal experiences. Any emo that I listened to were straight edge and nonviolent so when WIW was smoking pot, stealing beer, and getting into fights it took me out of the story. This wouldn’t have been an issue for me if they were any other kind of band; punk, metal, hardcore, or swing but to me emo is nonviolent and I couldn’t get past that.
October 10, 2022
This was one of those stories I didn't want to put down. Donnie knocked it out of the park and into the next State with this. This should be on everyone's to read list!
September 29, 2022
Sometimes the difference between being interested in a book and not can come down to little things and although I wouldn’t say I was ever that much of an Emo fan myself, the use of such a band in a horror novel is something different from what you typically encounter in your fictional rock groups, who tend to be generic metal behemoths or some such.
Wednesday is Waiting are the emo band in question and we join them spending their summer touring and trying to make a name for themselves, but a tough night in Richmond sees them broken down at the side of the road and injured when a mysterious stranger offers a generous, helping hand with the band split regarding his true intentions.
As soon as I saw Donnie promoting this one on Twitter, I knew I needed to read it. For me, there is a romance about a van kicking around from town to town in a van trying to build an audience and when you attach that to horror it becomes that much more enticing as I was hoping for Green Room style vibe and got way more than I bargained for.
Goodman does all the best horror writers do and gives you just enough rope to hang yourself with or simply scare the bejesus out of yourself. In flashbacks, the nostalgia and camaraderie of the band id delightful balanced against the horrors they face in the novel and you’re really blasted by a thought provoking ending which manages to suffuse the history of rock n roll in a devilish glow.
Wednesday is Waiting are the emo band in question and we join them spending their summer touring and trying to make a name for themselves, but a tough night in Richmond sees them broken down at the side of the road and injured when a mysterious stranger offers a generous, helping hand with the band split regarding his true intentions.
As soon as I saw Donnie promoting this one on Twitter, I knew I needed to read it. For me, there is a romance about a van kicking around from town to town in a van trying to build an audience and when you attach that to horror it becomes that much more enticing as I was hoping for Green Room style vibe and got way more than I bargained for.
Goodman does all the best horror writers do and gives you just enough rope to hang yourself with or simply scare the bejesus out of yourself. In flashbacks, the nostalgia and camaraderie of the band id delightful balanced against the horrors they face in the novel and you’re really blasted by a thought provoking ending which manages to suffuse the history of rock n roll in a devilish glow.
January 30, 2023
I thought this was going to be about one thing but we totally turned into a completely different (but welcomed!) direction. Very original.
I also appreciate all of the early reminders that we are in 2005 - MySpace, Razor phones, Fueled by Ramen 😂
Lower score just because this just isn't my cup of tea, no disrespect meant to the author or his writing style.
I also appreciate all of the early reminders that we are in 2005 - MySpace, Razor phones, Fueled by Ramen 😂
Lower score just because this just isn't my cup of tea, no disrespect meant to the author or his writing style.
October 26, 2022
WEDNESDAY IS WAITING is a cosmic emo Hell ride filled with '90s music and pop culture nostalgia. I loved it! The pacing is excellent and is especially good at using flashbacks as the story frequently shifts between the past and present. The author is also incredible at writing dialogue, which in turn leads to great characters. I cared about each of the four members in the title band. Highly recommended book from an emerging talent in Indie horror. Goodman's got it!
December 18, 2022
I’m sorry to say, that this book was near unreadable for me; and I say this as a 2005 emo kid. I had such high hope for a good story but I couldn’t read past chapter 3.
The excessive nostalgia name-dropping is obnoxious, and I had to put the book down after the mistake of the Fall Out Boy Album “From ‘Over’ the Cork Tree”, which was such a blatant error I hope it was done purposely and not out of ignorance. My eyes can only handle so much rolling.
Maybe someday I’ll try it again, but it is not this day.
The excessive nostalgia name-dropping is obnoxious, and I had to put the book down after the mistake of the Fall Out Boy Album “From ‘Over’ the Cork Tree”, which was such a blatant error I hope it was done purposely and not out of ignorance. My eyes can only handle so much rolling.
Maybe someday I’ll try it again, but it is not this day.
October 20, 2022
Thank you to Sadie Hartmann for sending me the digital ARC.
If you like horror fiction and emo music, then you need to read this. You can set the right mood by playing music by bands like Fallout Boy, My Chemical Romance, or (my favorite) Jimmy Eat World while reading this short (less than 200 pages long) novel.
Set in the year 2005, Wednesday is Waiting is an emo band whose members all come from a stifling small town with few opportunities to do anything with your life. Malcom is the lead singer, Luke plays drums, Kellan plays guitar, and Sydney is their bassist. They met in school and bonded through their shared love of punk and emo.
The first half of the novel shows us how the band struggles to survive. They play small gigs that just barely pay enough money for food, and just enough gas to drive to their next gig. What keeps them motivated is their hope to get a recording contract.
Things get spooky in the second half, when they meet a strange guy named Larry who offers to pay them lots of money to perform for him.
I won’t go any further so as not to give away any spoilers. I will say that I enjoyed the first half of the novel more than the second half. Regarding the first half, I enjoyed reading about the challenges of an indie band trying to achieve fame and fortune. You might need some knowledge of music trivia to “get” some of the musical references.
The second half, in my opinion, relies a little too much on having weird stuff somehow “just happen” in order to advance the plot. I also thought there were instances when the characters behaved in ways that seemed out-of-character.
Nevertheless, I still enjoyed reading this, and I’m still recommending it for fans of both emo and horror.
If you like horror fiction and emo music, then you need to read this. You can set the right mood by playing music by bands like Fallout Boy, My Chemical Romance, or (my favorite) Jimmy Eat World while reading this short (less than 200 pages long) novel.
Set in the year 2005, Wednesday is Waiting is an emo band whose members all come from a stifling small town with few opportunities to do anything with your life. Malcom is the lead singer, Luke plays drums, Kellan plays guitar, and Sydney is their bassist. They met in school and bonded through their shared love of punk and emo.
The first half of the novel shows us how the band struggles to survive. They play small gigs that just barely pay enough money for food, and just enough gas to drive to their next gig. What keeps them motivated is their hope to get a recording contract.
Things get spooky in the second half, when they meet a strange guy named Larry who offers to pay them lots of money to perform for him.
I won’t go any further so as not to give away any spoilers. I will say that I enjoyed the first half of the novel more than the second half. Regarding the first half, I enjoyed reading about the challenges of an indie band trying to achieve fame and fortune. You might need some knowledge of music trivia to “get” some of the musical references.
The second half, in my opinion, relies a little too much on having weird stuff somehow “just happen” in order to advance the plot. I also thought there were instances when the characters behaved in ways that seemed out-of-character.
Nevertheless, I still enjoyed reading this, and I’m still recommending it for fans of both emo and horror.
November 27, 2022
Wednesday is Waiting walks such a tight line. A story set during a time period steeped in nostalgia. Like many of the albums the book references, is it actually good or does it just tap into memories of a more carefree time in our lives?
Goodman circumvents this fear by writing a story about a band that lives in a van that transcends early 2000s emo. Don't get me wrong, I loved the references, the eyeliner, the tight jeans, but I would have been equally invested no matter what type of music they played. Where the book succeeds is in the relationships among the band members. They come off as an authentic version of family, but with realistic tension and moments of discomfort.
With the four leads established and endeared, Goodman is free to ratchet up the tension and put them in a bad place. Because he's put in the work, the reader buys it and sweats alongside Malcolm, Luke, Kellan, and Sydney. Fans of Goodman's debut collection will find Wednesday is Waiting a worthy follow-up.
Goodman circumvents this fear by writing a story about a band that lives in a van that transcends early 2000s emo. Don't get me wrong, I loved the references, the eyeliner, the tight jeans, but I would have been equally invested no matter what type of music they played. Where the book succeeds is in the relationships among the band members. They come off as an authentic version of family, but with realistic tension and moments of discomfort.
With the four leads established and endeared, Goodman is free to ratchet up the tension and put them in a bad place. Because he's put in the work, the reader buys it and sweats alongside Malcolm, Luke, Kellan, and Sydney. Fans of Goodman's debut collection will find Wednesday is Waiting a worthy follow-up.
November 2, 2022
WEDNESDAY IS WAITING is a wild right of the early/mid 2000s punk rock scene with the vibes of GREEN ROOM meets HONEYDEW. I was immediately captivated by Donnie’s writing style and the craziness of the set up had me itching to keep reading even when I knew I had other responsibilities to get to. I wish I had the chance to tear through this in a single sitting for my first read through because I promise that’s what you’ll want to do.
I definitely look forward to more from one of my favourite horror fan accounts on instagram and absolutely recommend this novel.
I definitely look forward to more from one of my favourite horror fan accounts on instagram and absolutely recommend this novel.
November 10, 2022
I am not okay (I promise). Wow! My emo heart is happy. I need some Wednesday is Waiting merch now. I had a blast with this. What a wild ride. I loved this story about these kids just trying to live their dream. The suspense is real and Goodman does a great job keeping you guessing along the way. And even now, I’m still not sure exactly what was going on — but as Malcolm said, Ignorance.
December 28, 2022
Okay this is a fun little book. It’s like emo band meets Leatherface. The story is compelling, the characters unravel at a great pace, and the entire group just makes you feel like you’re in high school again (not always a good feeling but this time it was). My only qualm was the dialogue, a bit weak but nothing that drew me away from the story. Would definitely watch this as a film.
January 3, 2023
“The glory days never feel that way while you are living in them.”
Donnie Goodman’s debut novella, Wednesday is Waiting, is a thrilling trip down memory lane with the early oughties as its destination. We follow up-and-coming emo band, Wednesday is Waiting, as they embark on a short tour before a meeting in New York City with a big-time alternative music label.
As this is a horror novel, it’s only a matter of time before the band runs into trouble, falling into a situation that will have them playing a gig where just about everything hangs in the balance: their relationships, their lives, and . . .something else (to say more would reveal too much).
Goodman does an excellent job at imbuing this novella with period details that will take you back. It’s the little things. I bet you hadn’t thought of a Motorola Razr today before just now. There’s also an authenticity to the descriptions of life on the road: the long drives, the shitty clubs, the low funds, the sound checks, the moments that you feel like you’re going to make it before something spits in your face and crushes your dreams.
I would be remiss to not mention the horror elements in this book. The structure is such that we get plenty of horror early on by way of alternating chapters that show us another point-of-view, glimpses into a bigger picture that we cannot fully grasp until the climax. Some of these were downright disturbing, worrying about where the book might go. Another scene had me flinching.
Speaking of the climax, I thought it was pretty great how everything came together, including a seemingly unrelated urban legend that the book opens with coming into play.
This is a quick, fun read and highly recommended. I only wished it could have been a bit longer. Maybe it’s just the music fan in me, but I enjoyed reading about the beginning days of the band and some of the adventures on the road.
As we get further away from the beginning of this millennium, it was great to have a nostalgic, chilling journey such as this one, no matter how brief.
Donnie Goodman’s debut novella, Wednesday is Waiting, is a thrilling trip down memory lane with the early oughties as its destination. We follow up-and-coming emo band, Wednesday is Waiting, as they embark on a short tour before a meeting in New York City with a big-time alternative music label.
As this is a horror novel, it’s only a matter of time before the band runs into trouble, falling into a situation that will have them playing a gig where just about everything hangs in the balance: their relationships, their lives, and . . .something else (to say more would reveal too much).
Goodman does an excellent job at imbuing this novella with period details that will take you back. It’s the little things. I bet you hadn’t thought of a Motorola Razr today before just now. There’s also an authenticity to the descriptions of life on the road: the long drives, the shitty clubs, the low funds, the sound checks, the moments that you feel like you’re going to make it before something spits in your face and crushes your dreams.
I would be remiss to not mention the horror elements in this book. The structure is such that we get plenty of horror early on by way of alternating chapters that show us another point-of-view, glimpses into a bigger picture that we cannot fully grasp until the climax. Some of these were downright disturbing, worrying about where the book might go. Another scene had me flinching.
Speaking of the climax, I thought it was pretty great how everything came together, including a seemingly unrelated urban legend that the book opens with coming into play.
This is a quick, fun read and highly recommended. I only wished it could have been a bit longer. Maybe it’s just the music fan in me, but I enjoyed reading about the beginning days of the band and some of the adventures on the road.
As we get further away from the beginning of this millennium, it was great to have a nostalgic, chilling journey such as this one, no matter how brief.
September 4, 2022
Perfect amount of emo nostalgia and gore with an ending that’s super messed up yet also incredibly satisfying. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews