BAD AMERICANS — Publication Timeline for the Great American Pandemic Novel

Several people have asked about the timeline for the release of my pandemic novel BAD AMERICANS. As I’ve written in the past, BAD AMERICANS is a unique and dynamic book, a short story collection within a novel. Each story is told by a character in the novel. Each tale has a different style, structure and viewpoint.

While the stories often respond to another and play a role in the plot of the frame narrative, they also stand alone and can be enjoyed as single reads. Like its predecessor in THE HUMAN TRAGEDY, Good Americans (2013), each story confronts a different aspect of the American experience in an entertaining yet thought-provoking way. My hope is that the book as a whole reflects on mortality in our time, and what it means to be American (and human) today, whatever that might mean to you.

So of course, such a massive and ambitious literary project will have an unconventional publication.

Assuming it is released by the The New Wei, and everything goes according to plan:

Each story (short story, novelette or novella) will be released separately as a Kindle Ebook a month apart starting in March 2025.

Then the frame novel and first six short stories will be released in multiple formats, including hardcover, trade paperback and ebook (going to try for audio) in September 2025.

Followed by the next six short stories, and the second part in April 2026.

So here is the release schedule as it stands right now:

“On the Frontlines” (aka Andrea’s Story, novelette) — March 15, 2025

“Immigrants Unite!” (aka Cathy’s Story, spoken word poetic tale) — April 15, 2025

“Corona Chaos” (aka Taylor’s Story, short story) — May 15, 2025

“Black Boy’s Ballad” (aka Rashan’s Story, novella) — June 15, 2025 (possibly pbk too)

“Mason Mayhem” (aka Ricard’s Story, novelette) — July 15, 2025

“Love Liability” (aka Nalini’s Story, novelette) — August 15, 2025

BAD AMERICANS PART I (novel with stories) — September 15, 2025

“Barcelona Blasphemy” (aka Lisa’s Story, novelette) — October 15, 2025

“ISIS Crisis” (aka Khassan’s Story, short story) — November 15, 2025

“A Model Citizen” (aka Hayley’s Story, novelette) — December 15, 2025

“Cape Conundrum” (aka Pritesh’s Story, novelette) — January 15, 2026

“The Manchurian Algerian” (aka Sylvania’s Story, novelette) — February 15, 2026

“Dope Doppelganger Ditty” (aka Angela’s Story, novella) — March 15, 2026 (possibly pbk too)

BAD AMERICANS PART II (novel with stories) — April 15, 2026

During this time, my plan is to do readings and speaking events throughout New York City and beyond to promote BAD AMERICANS.

And by the end, I’ll need a vacation!

Tejas Desai