Hatteras Path, Burlington, NC (2026)

08/07/2026

A closer look at the print proofs for A Short Stay in Hell.

One of my favorite details is also one that’s easy to miss in photographs.

For the title page, we chose Pantone 874, a metallic gold ink with a warm, brass-like character. It was inspired by our interpretation of the Library’s railings, whose soft brownish-red finish always suggested aged brass to us.

Rather than reaching for something bright or ostentatious, we wanted a color that felt restrained. Every design decision for this edition has been guided by the atmosphere of Steven L. Peck’s novella: quiet, restrained, and almost oppressively monotonous.

The result is a subtle metallic sheen that reveals itself only as the page catches the light. Like so many aspects of this edition, it’s meant to reward a closer look rather than demand attention.

Sometimes a still photograph can’t quite capture that gentle shift in the ink, so here’s a quick video showing how the light plays across the page.

And yes... you’ll have to forgive the shaky hands.

08/02/2026

Today we're excited to share another glimpse inside our fine press edition of A Short Stay in Hell.

Written exclusively for this edition, Steven L. Peck's original afterword, "The Genesis of A Short Stay in Hell," offers a fascinating look at the experiences and ideas that inspired one of the most unforgettable works of speculative fiction in recent memory.
As Steve writes:

"A Short Stay in Hell slid into the world through two events. The first event was caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, a nearly always fatal beast that snuck into my brain while doing scientific field research on butterflies in the Tam Dao National Park in Vietnam."

"Secondly, a few years later, I was captured by Jorge Luis Borges's story about a library that contained not only every book, but every possible book. I started lying in bed contemplating what this would mean and the implications of being stuck in such a place."

"To make an eternity worth living, it would require growth, novelty, and adventure, and it would have to allow development in ways that allow fresh emergences to continue to flower such that newness was a constant companion."

"A Short Stay in Hell depicts a world almost opposite. It provides all a human being needs to survive, but it is a life of intellectual poverty, devoid of meaning. There is nothing to stand in awe before. To wonder at."

As the author, Steve will be signing every copy of our fine press edition alongside our guest author, Tyler Jones, and artist, Grace Aldrich, making this an especially meaningful collaboration.

We're deeply grateful that Steve entrusted Hatteras Path with this edition of A Short Stay in Hell.

It's been a privilege to help present his extraordinary novella in a way that reflects the care, craftsmanship, and enduring impact of the work itself.

07/28/2026

Today we're excited to share another glimpse inside our fine press edition of A Short Stay in Hell.

Acclaimed horror author Tyler Jones has written an original foreword for this edition, titled "Burning Without Flames."

A longtime admirer of Steven L. Peck's unforgettable novella, Tyler explores why its existential terror lingers long after the final page. As he writes:

"A Short Stay In Hell does some of its heaviest lifting once you've finished reading it. It's an irradiated novella, glowing inside the mind..."

“It deserves a place alongside classic works like The Screwtape Letters, Animal Farm, and The Metamorphosis. And I mean that sincerely…”

“It’s not often a book comes along that serves as a reminder and a warning: if we’re not careful, we might just create our own version of Hell while we’re still alive.”

As our guest author, Tyler will also be signing every copy of this edition alongside Steven L. Peck and Grace Aldrich, making this an especially meaningful collaboration.

We're honored to have Tyler's voice as part of this project, and we can't wait to share the complete foreword with you.

07/25/2026

Production Updates

We’ve had so many people reach out with words of encouragement and questions about A Short Stay In Hell. Thank you! Your enthusiasm has been incredibly motivating, and we wanted to share a quick production update.

The text printing is now complete, and the pallets of printed sheets have been shipped to the bindery. Binding will begin soon, marking a major milestone for our first publication.

Many of you have asked when pre-orders will open. We’re intentionally holding off for a few reasons:

1) We want to show you the actual books. Rather than relying on digital mockups and prototypes, we want to complete quality control, photograph the finished books, and let you see exactly what you’ll be receiving.

2) We’re finalizing production costs. We’re capturing the last of the manufacturing expenses so we can price each edition accurately. Knowing our exact costs allows us to offer the best possible value rather than building in unnecessary padding.

3) We want to minimize the wait. Long pre-order windows can be frustrating. By allowing production to progress before opening sales, we’re aiming for the shortest possible turnaround between purchase and delivery, while our next two titles continue moving through production behind the scenes.

Our current goal is to make the Standard and Numbered Editions available for purchase in Q4 2026 or Q1 2027, with a relatively quick delivery after orders open.

The Lettered Edition is a more complex production and will naturally require a longer timeline. It will be offered as a pre-order and delivered after the Standard and Numbered Editions.

If you’d like to follow along with the project, please subscribe to our newsletter through our website and follow Hatteras Path on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates.

Thank you again for your patience, encouragement, and support.

We can’t wait to put this first book into your hands!

07/17/2026

Letterpress ASMR.

Enjoy the satisfying clicks and clacks of a Heidelberg cylinder press in action at The Ascensius Press.

In this video, master printer Scott Vile is printing the second color on the title page for our numbered edition of A Short Stay In Hell. Printed on Neenah Cotton paper.

This pass lays down beautiful metallic bronze ink that represents the endless railings in the Library of Babel.

There’s something mesmerizing about watching centuries-old printing technology produce a page with such precision.

Turn the sound on and enjoy.
vile.9

07/10/2026

Dust jacket reveal!

I’m thrilled to finally share the incredible dust jacket artwork for our upcoming fine press edition of A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck.

This exclusive dust jacket will be available only with our Standard Edition of the novella.

Grace Aldrich’s striking illustration offers a fresh interpretation of Soren Johanssen’s harrowing journey, featuring Soren, Rachel, and the endless library. Framed by flames and fragments of nonsensical text, the scene reflects the novella’s surreal nightmare.

Hear Grace describe, in her own words, the inspiration behind this stunning piece:

“With the dust jacket composition I was really fascinated by the idea that so much of our humanity revolves around the concept of time. I wanted to capture Soren’s journey through the library, slowly losing everything that makes him human and just becoming an empty shell. His head filled with no thoughts except for the library and the endless shelves stretching on for a distance greater than we can comprehend. I also wanted to include Rachel, as she seemed to be the only thing truly keeping him human.”

06/30/2026

Announcing Hatteras Path’s first fine press edition: A Short Stay In Hell by Steven L. Peck.

Since its release in 2009, this cult novella has become deeply embedded in the collective consciousness of horror and speculative fiction readers.

Haunting, philosophical, and unforgettable, the story follows Soren Johansson as he searches a near endless library for the single book that holds the key to his escape. A book containing the story of his life.

This signed limited edition will feature illustrations by Grace Aldrich, a new foreword by Tyler Jones, and a new afterword by Steven L. Peck.

The edition will be produced in three states: Standard, Numbered, and Lettered.

All states will be printed letterpress by Scott Vile at The Ascensius Press and signed by the artist and authors.

Bringing this project to life has been a deeply rewarding experience, and it would not have been possible without the support of so many people.

My sincere thanks to everyone who collaborated, offered advice, and shared their expertise along the way, including Steve Peck, Tyler Jones, Grace Aldrich, Scott Vile, Gerald Ward, Jake Goldberg, Erin Fletcher, Victoria Hall, Therese Ducet, Monica Meehan, Andrew Coningsby, Jason Deters, Steve Bunce, and Vera Lattier.

More details to come throughout the summer.

Thank you for your support!

Jason D. Lattier

06/08/2026

I’ll be announcing our first fine press title in the coming weeks.

For now, here’s a little teaser.

Stay tuned…

04/17/2026

As many of you have already guessed, our next fine rebind is A Child Alone With Strangers by Philip Fracassi.

We are currently developing prototypes for the Roman, Lettered, and Contest Editions, and wanted to share an early preview of the art.

Here is a first look at one of the two-page illustrations by Joanna Barnum, filled with subtle details and hidden moments for readers who know and love the story.

More to come. Stay tuned.

And, don’t go in the cellar!

Hatteras Path

08/07/2026

08/02/2026

07/28/2026

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