the house
Morphine Publishing House.
A private publishing house and creative studio.
We are —
Self-funded.
Self-edited.
Self-baptized.
No committees.
No dilution.
Without permission.
Pistol Circus is the proof of concept. Seven hundred ninety-five copies. No reprints. Every dollar returns to the work that follows.
We build books end-to-end—edited, designed, and printed by hand in the United States.
This house exists to make objects that last and to turn labor into proof.
We are a veteran-owned, veteran-operated independent publisher based in Asheville, North Carolina.
We are —
House of the Black Gull.
Thank you for being here.
The Publisher.
Nicole DeZern serves as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Special Projects at Morphine Publishing House, where she leads strategic vision, creative direction, and long-range growth. She oversees publishing operations, brand development, and the expansion of MPH into a multi-service creative house.
With more than eighteen years of experience as a Health and Wellness Specialist and Registered Yoga Teacher, Nicole brings discipline, clarity, and systems-level thinking to her work.
A multi-disciplinary artist with a background in movement, sound, and long-form practice, she applies precision and discernment to both editorial judgment and executive decision-making.
Nicole serves as editor, strategist, and stabilizing force behind the Morphine Publishing House body of work.
The Poet.
Shaun DeZern is an American poet, whose work spans literature, film, and short narrative development. He is the author of Pistol Circus and the forthcoming Great Human Anthology.
DeZern served twenty years in the United States Navy, honorably retiring as a Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman, professionally visiting Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and several other operational environments.
The fighting years taught him the difference between humans and people; now he writes.
From intern on The Beekeeper, to SOCOM Care Coalition Fellow on A Working Man, to Senior Military Advisor for Heart of the Beast.
— the work continues.
The Origin.
"After getting shot the fuck up and losing my bro...I got rolled into the role II smelling of lead. Last thing I remember hearing before getting snowed outta my mind .... "we've got a poly trauma patient, he's got zero morphine on board."
FEAR IS GOOD. PAIN IS BETTER