A Recap Of My Writing Journey In 2025

 

Thank you!

As we put a close to 2025 and welcome the new year, I first want to thank all of you, my most loyal readers, for supporting me. You are the breath beneath my wings, my muse, the ink in my pen. Thank you.

2025 was a busy year!
Back in January, I finished the first draft of The Parable of Sam, a "biblical horror" novel (as my publisher, GladEye Press, is calling the genre). It will be released in the fall of 2026 with the full works: a release party, bookstore tour, press releases, and ARC readers (people who will read a pdf copy before the book is released, for free, with the promise to post a review on Amazon and Goodreads after it releases). Would any of you like to be ARC readers? If so, let me know and I'll sign you up!

Lately I've written some new short stories, and I've started book 3 of my fantasy series, the Heartstone Series. The working title is Lord of Silk and Steel. I'm so excited to work on this series again, and I know many of you have been clamoring for it.

This year also saw a huge ramp-up of my in-person author table sales at events: street fairs, festivals, book fairs, and bookstore events. I even purchased a camper van so I could extend my range for these events across Washington and Oregon! This year I had a whopping 21 events over 41 days for around 319 hours! I drove over 6300 miles for these events, too. Time well spent! The longest was an 8-day stretch at the Oregon State Fair. I LOVE these events, as I get to meet readers face-to-face, get them excited about my books, and sell my books to them. I met many of you at these events, in fact! I would gladly do more, if I could. I sold 516 books at these events. So many new readers. Yay! Stay tuned for events coming up in 2026.

I've also started advertising my author services (services for other authors or would-be authors), including helping them with the conception stage, formatting books for self-publication, book cover design, Amazon ad generation, writing book blurbs, creating Amazon author pages, and more. To date I've helped four authors with these things. Most recently I helped Corvallis author Judy York with formatting her first book for Kindle and print (including her original essays, color paintings, and poetry), creating covers for each version, creating an Amazon author page for her, and uploading the books with meta data. Her book is now live and selling. Are you an author or aspiring author who could use my services? If so, let me know. Here's information for my services from my webpage, and here's my Fiverr account if you'd rather book me there.

And I continue doing other things that professional authors like myself need to do, such as writing these newsletters, blogging, attending and critiquing for my writer's group, attending workshops, dealing with marketing and ads, doing readings, editing and revising, and the endless need to attend to my many social media pages. I even had a book club that I did for a while. And, of course, I need to find time to read other people's books (as Stephen King has said, "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.").

Though I got laid off from my dayjob as a scientist back at the end of July, and haven't yet secured a new job, it has given me time to focus on all of these author activities. I'm thankful for that. But it doesn't pay all the bill (yet). Some day! So I'm looking for a new job right now and trying to make ends meet. I'm thankful that all of you are supporters!

Have a very prosperous new year, and happy reading!

My Review of UnWelcome, by MJE Clubb

 (link to Goodreads page)

This was a fun and quick read. A troubled teen boy. A mother still reeling from the kidnapping of her daughter, a divorce, and the death of her ex, and now cancer. And then they bring in a demon-haunted mirror. All hell breaks loose.

A Tale Of Two Authors Selling Their Books

This is a tale of two authors. One sold a lot of books at an author event, the other sold almost none. What was the difference? Read on….

In a prior post, I shared how you, as an author, could find and take part in author fairs. But simply being at the event and having a table isn’t enough. You have to engage the readers in a way that is effective. Otherwise, they won’t buy your books and you’ve just wasted your time (and any fees that the event may cost).

I just finished an author event, eight days straight at the Oregon State Fair, as part of the Oregon Authors tables, and I’m happy to say that it went extremely well. I sold double the number of books I thought I would! So much, in fact, that I had to put in an emergency order for more author copies to sell for further events, having sold out of two of my five book titles. One day I sold 32 copies.

But there was another author at that same event who didn’t do so well. For the sake of anonymity, let’s call him “Bob.”

Why didn’t Bob do well? Like me, he specializes in speculative fiction, with three science fiction books, so we had much the same audience. Despite that, the same day I sold 32 copies, he sold zero.

So I took a moment to watch Bob as he sold his books, and I saw that he was doing everything wrong.

Here are some important pointers that I recommend, when you are an author doing in-person table sales, comparing and contrasting me with Bob:

Be attentive. When I’m at the table and potential customers are walking by, I’m watching for potential customers. I’m not doing something on my phone. I’m not having conversations with other authors. I’m ready to engage. Bob, on the other hand, was often looking down at his cell phone or just zoning out.

Be engaging. When a potential reader is close to the table and seems interested, or is wearing a tee shirt or something that has science fiction or fantasy themes, I meet their eyes and talk with them. “Hi!” I’ll say, “Do you like to read scifi or fantasy?” Bob, on the other hand, simply sat there as people walked by, waiting for them to talk first.

Be courteous and fun. Remember, a potential reader sees you as a source of entertainment. If you aren’t courteous or entertaining to them, they’ll move along to someone who is. When a reader comes to my table, I’m animated. I smile. I have big hand gestures. I laugh if there’s a funny bit about a book, or I get wide eyed at the exciting bits. And I don’t hawk my books from across the room, talk too loudly or too softly, or call out to people while they are in the middle of a conversation. Bob was courteous, I’ll give him that, but in a stuffy way, with none of the animation. It was as if he were selling them a vacuum cleaner or accounting software or something.

Dress the part. This event was a fair. People were there for excitement. I dressed in colorful shorts and short sleeve tee shirts. Another author, who sells swashbuckling naval adventure novels, actually dressed in pirate attire. Some festivals are even “louder,” such as the Eugene Pride Celebration, where it’s expected to wear rainbow colors and LGBTQ pins or flags. If the event were a more formal occasion, such as a table at a winery event, maybe semi-formal attire might be best. When I did a table at the Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days, I actually dressed like a 19^th century miner. Bob, though, at this fair, wore a dowdy button-up, long-sleeved dress shirt and dress pants, as if he were going to church.

Have a table display. My table had a cloth banner draped over it with a graphic that advertised my brand and my book covers. I had a little toy dragon for kids to play with, dragon bookmarks to give away, and stickers with dragon designs or “reading” designs to give away. Behind me was a massive poster advertising my fantasy books. And I wore tee shirts that were themed with reading messages or my branding. Some people have props that are in line with their book themes, and colorful tablecloths. I also have little displays that have five-star quotes about the books, left by readers on Amazon. Bob, though, had none of these things. All he had was a plain table with his books piled on it.

Have an effective pitch. A “pitch” is the quick summary of your book that hooks the potential reader. It needs to be on-point with the theme and genre of your book, create excitement, and give the stakes that the protagonists face. It also needs to highlight how that book is different from any other book in that genre. Each book needs its own pitch. When I talk to potential readers about my fantasy book, Dragon of the Federation, I lead off with “This is a fantasy told from the point of view of a dragon.” I pause a fraction of a second for that to sink in, and watch as their eyes light up, then I continue by saying what the protagonists are there for, an exciting event that sets up the plot, and then the dangerous and world-shattering stakes that the protagonists face. Bob, on the other hand, mentions something about a couple of specific technologies in his scifi books, but none of the plot points or stakes involved. It gave me the impression that it was a science fiction, but nothing else.

Have something more for the customer after the sale. When the customer buys your book, don’t let that be the end of the engagement. I say “Please feel free to take bookmark and a sticker. My card is in the book with my website and links, in case you’d like to follow me on my social media or sign up for my mailing list. And I urge you to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.” Have swag. This way, they are getting something more and have something to do even after they finish the book. I’m building a community around my books, you see. Bob, though, does nothing of the sort. He just sells the book and says “Thank you.”

Make sure your books have effective covers. Maybe a tad off-topic here, but you want to make sure your book covers are effective. They need to be instantly recognizable for what genre they represent, have a compelling title, and be original. For instance, my science fiction novel, The First Nova I See Tonight, has a cover that features an otherworldly planetscape with stars and a nova in the sky and three figures on it that represent the three main characters (including a feline alien, a space rogue, and a cyborg). My horror collection, Around the Corner from Sanity, has a cover with bloody handprints in the window of a dilapidated building. Bob’s books, however, feature pictures of pretty waterfall or a cliff face with ice. The titles also don’t suggest anything scifi-ish. Looking at the covers, one would have no idea what genre they fit at all. 

[Related: here’s a prior post I wrote about how to get an effective cover as an indie author]

Hey, I get it. Many of us writers are introverts. We just want to write our stories. But remember, your job as an author doesn’t stop after the book is published. Maybe that was the case 50 years ago, but these days you have to do so much more. You have to get out there, where the readers are, and engage them, both digitally and in-person. And even getting out there and doing in-person events isn’t enough. You have to market your books with enthusiasm. You’re an entertainer. Don’t be afraid to be a “people person” and get animated, at least for as long as your event is. Don’t be a “Bob.”

Cheers and happy reading!

My Review of The Fragile Blue Dot, by Ross West

(link to Goodreads review)

FIVE STARS

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of stories. All stories, in one way or another, use climate change as a plot driver, yet most do not actually dwell on the issue. Instead, the lives of the protagonists are influenced by it. Often the stories are set in the near future.

There's the documentarian who examines overpopulation and its effects on climate change, but has to deal with out of control fame and getting wrapped up into politics. There's the lifeguard who works in a domed, artificial beach and has a thing for a fellow lifeguard, but watches in despair as the theme park is turned into a museum about climate change and pollution. There's the climate change denier who can't seem to sell his gas-guzzling boat and takes things to an extreme. The out-of-touch dad who can't seem to understand why his teen daughter is staging a solo protest against the forces causing climate change, but is trying to understand her motivations. Or the academic who is pursuing her studies in climate change so much that her own marriage is falling into shambles. And so much more.

West tells all of these stories with excellent storytelling and well-edited. This is a must read for anyone curious about the effects of climate change on everyday lives.

Cheers and happy reading!

2025 Oregon Authors at the Lane County Fair!

 

Continuing a tradition that dates over two decades, Oregon authors will be signing their books at the Lane County Fair this year. 22 authors will be featured over the five days of the fair, from Wednesday, July 23 until Sunday, July 27.

 

A wide range of genres will be available, guaranteeing you’ll find literature to entertain and inform you. Examples include the famous hiking guides and historical fiction of William Sullivan, charming children’s books by Dawn De Wulf, down-home reminiscences of Dorcas Smucker from her popular Register-Guard columns, the exciting romantasy of A.B. Herron, swashbuckling adventures on the high seas from Robert Liebertz, tales of dragons and space rogues from Jason Kilgore, Oregon-based mysteries and non-fiction from Joe Blakely, travels through time by Sharleen Nelson, perplexing mysteries by Arlene Sachitano, and so much more.

 

Authors will be rotating through the table over five days, so be sure to visit often to experience the breadth of literary talent on display and purchase a book or two. They’ll even sign them for you! Check the schedule below if you want to insure you meet the author of your choice.

 

Authors appearing at the fair are:

 

Wednesday, July 23

5-7, Gerri Almand (humorous non-fiction)

11-7, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

11-7, Dawn De Wulf (children’s books)

11-7, Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-7, Robert Liebertz (naval adventure)

11-5, Michael Pace (war novels, memoir)

11-7, William L. Sullivan (hiking, historical fiction)

 

Thursday, July 24

5-7, Gerri Almand (humorous non-fiction)

11-7, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

11-3, Carola Dunn (murder mysteries)

11-5, Pat Edwards (Lane County History)

11-7, Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-1, Robert Liebertz (naval adventure)

1-7, Dorcas Smucker (essays/memoir)

11-5, George Sorensen (history, memoir, self-help)

3-7, Edwin Wollert (historical fiction)

 

Friday, July 25

11-1, Gerri Almand (humorous non-fiction)

11-7, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

11-7, Jennifer Chambers (Oregon history)

3-7, A.B. Herron (romantasy)

11-7, Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-3, Robert Liebertz (naval adventure)

1-7, Guy Maynard (historical fiction)

11-5, Jill Amy Sager (self-help memoir)

 

Saturday, July 26

1-7, Lynn Ash (adventure memoirs)

11-7, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

1-7, Jeff Bolkan (adventure novels)

11-1, Jennifer Chambers (Oregon history)

11-7, Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

5-7, A.B. Herron (romantasy)

3-7, David G. Lewis (Oregon Native American history)

11-1, Guy Maynard (historical fiction)

1-7, Sharleen Nelson (time travel novels)

11-5, Arlene Sachitano (mystery novels)

11-3, Dorcas Smucker (essays/memoir)

 

Sunday, July 27

11-5, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

3-5, Dawn De Wulf (children’s books)

11-3, A.B. Herron (romantasy)

11-5, Jason A. Kilgore (fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry)

11-3, Sarah B. Munro (Oregon history)

11-5, Arlene Sachitano (mystery novels)

11-5, Edwin Wollert (historical fiction)

Why Have A Prologue In A Fiction Novel?

Why not just start with Chapter One? Is a prologue just fluff you can skip over? Why write it at all? Like everything else in a book, a prologue has to do work, but not every book needs one.

The prologue serves purposes that are entirely different from other chapters. If it didn’t, it would just be “Chapter One.”

Image by Rowan Freeman
via Unsplash.com

Before I continue, here is a good page that defines the differences between a prologue, preface, introduction, and forward, so I’m not going to redefine them here. I admit that I’ve mistaken these before. All four are different types of “front matter.” That first link defines a prologues as follows: A prologue sets the stage by bringing the reader into the story before it begins. But in my opinion, there’s more than that.

There are differing philosophies for what a prologue is supposed to achieve. My philosophy is that the prologue in fiction should achieve three goals: 1) Introduce the setting and genre (as would Chapter One if the prologue were not there), 2) give a sneak peek for the reader at the plot or important plot points that will later become important or clear to the protagonists (and thus setting up the reader for something important), and 3) introduce important aspects of the story that might not otherwise be introduced right away in the first couple chapters.

This is the “work” that the prologue does for the novel.

In a way, the author is opening a door for the reader, revealing a world and its complexity, before launching into the first step of the journey together.

For instance, I had a prologue for my fantasy book, Dragon of the Federation. That prologue quickly introduced that the story was 1) set in a fantasy world rich with history and competing cultures, 2) introduced pivotal characters who weren't the protagonists and an inciting act that later was revealed as the start of a deep cabal that influenced the entire plot, which the protagonists would later discover, and 3) introduced in a big way some of the fantastic sorts of magic in a way that was action-packed. These things allowed me to introduce the protagonists and their struggles in the first few chapters in a slower, more thorough manner without resorting to some sort of "bang" moment or relying on big magic to do it.

Could the book have gone without it? Sure, but I think it would have seemed like it started too slow to "hook" the reader. With the prologue, the reader was already hooked and was ready for a deeper introspection of character. This prologue also serves as a sort of introduction to the whole seven book series I’m writing (it's the only book in the series that will have one. The last book will have an epilogue, too).

Do all books need a prologue? Certainly not. Most novels don’t, and arguably don’t need it. But it can be enlightening and even necessary when it is there, and I recommend you never skip them as a reader.

 

Cheers and happy reading!

I Just Took Author Event Participation To A Whole New Level

OMG. I can't believe I did this.

Looking at last year's income from writing, I realized that I made TEN TIMES more income from doing in-person table sales at events than I did from sales of my books on Amazon or through my publisher combined. 

Unfortunately, I'm limited to only as far as I can comfortably drive to and from events. That's because the moment I pay for a hotel room, I've spent at least as much as I can earn in a given day of events. Often much more than what I earn, in fact.

So... I went all in and purchased a camper van. This way I can simply camp at or near the event! Plus, a camper van would have lots of space to all the stuff I need, like boxes of books, table, chair, pop-up canopy, and decorative backdrops.

Here it is:

It's a really cute little Japanese camper van. Literally imported from Japan, with the driver's side on the right side of the vehicle and Japanese language printed inside! It's pretty old (from 1995), but is lightly used, clean, and has lots of new parts on it. It's a Toyota Hiace "Royal J." And it's super fun to drive. It has back seats that fold down into a full size bed, plus an upper loft that can be pulled out into a sleeping area (or storage), and a neat little kitchenette in back. There's even a canopy that comes out to cover the sliding door area.

I put it into action today, in fact, driving to the first of two days of the Spring Into Reading Author Fair in the little town of Canby, Oregon.

I've also begun signing up for events throughout the year, ranging as far north in Washington state as events in Seattle and Puget Sound, as far south as Sacramento, California, and as far east as Boise, Idaho. 

And if there are any weekends left after all that? I plan to go camping in the woods with it. :D

Is it worth the $15,600 I paid for it? I'm certain of it. It should pay for itself in extra book sales after only a few years, if I do this right.

Cheers and happy reading!