A Big Thank You
And a Book 1 Update
Hey everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to share where we are with The Cough Is Loose and, more importantly, say thank you.
Over the last 7 weeks I’ve been writing at least 30 minutes every single day. The results so far:
• 26 chapters written (most published or scheduled)
• Roughly 19,000 words, a solid novella-length story
• Hundreds of images generated to find the right 28 that actually fit the story and tone
• Currently in the polishing phase … tightening prose, improving chapter flow, and making everything feel cohesive
Most importantly, we now have over 1,000 subscribers and a core group of around 400 readers who have been with me since the very beginning.
You are the reason this exists.
Your comments, encouragement, restacks, and support have kept me motivated every single day. Some of you have been here since the beginning, when this was just a lark I dropped into Security n Cigars. One night I put down on paper a story I told at the dinner table. Watching so many of you genuinely connect with Jack, Raych, and the crew has been one of the most rewarding creative experiences I’ve ever had.
Quick note on the schedule: Chapter 26 is still being worked on and won’t publish until June 6th, so faithful readers — there are still a few more chapters coming. And have no fear, Book 2 (Staying Human) is already getting worked on.
As a visual update, here’s the full novella cover I just finished:
I’m really happy with how it turned out. It captures the swamp, the ever present Coleman stove, the 4Runner, and that stubborn refusal to let the world end without at least having decent coffee.
Just to be clear: The serial version will always remain permanently free here on Substack. I’m also working on a tightened, polished collected edition for later this year.
Thank you again — truly. Whether you’ve been reading since Chapter 1 or just joined, I’m grateful you’re here.
Stay human,
Eric
Bougie Apocalypse
A serialized military-flavored post-apocalyptic pulp story about heirloom beans, De Buyer carbon steel skull-crackers, good coffee, and refusing to let the apocalypse win.
#BougieApocalypse #TheCough #StayHuman
Next chapter drops soon → Start Here & Full Reading Order