Coming February 2026 from Cornerstone Press (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point)

NEON STEEL

Speculative fiction set in Pittsburgh, PA in the 90s/early 2000s. Robots. Rap shows. Shojo & josei -styled romance. Blerds (Black Nerds). Anime. Comic cons. Vampires. Afro-futurism. Millennial nerdiness. You got it. ;)

Preview:

“The Girl in the Bomba Dress.” (Latin@ Literatures)., nominated for the Pushcart.

“Viper/Sweet.” The Hong Kong Review., nominated for the Pushcart.

“Writing Fiction.” hex literary.

“Smoke Break.” J Journal (Spring 2025), nominated for Best of the Net

”Neon Steel” (BIMBO Anthology Spring 2025).

(Cover design: Allison Lange and Cornerstone design team)

EARLY PRESS:

“This new book from Jennifer Maritza McCauley is so full of life and love. I don’t know if I’ve read anything quite like it before. It is pulsing with life, not one page of it stale or stagnant. And everyday since I’ve finished reading Neon Steel, I’ve thought of all the young people in the story that I fell in love with—Adri, Benedict, Jake Yee, Elana, Ferris, Lady. The book, by that I mean the work of McCauley, has brought the city of Pittsburgh in which I live to life in a way I hadn’t seen it before, in a way in which I will forever experience it going forward. Incredible, fun, heartbreaking and hopeful work from one of the best writers working today.” —Chiwan Choi, author of Sky Songs