E.S. Barrison's Blog

Coming April 29, 2025.

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Tomás had long resigned himself to the voices…
Until he found his constant.

Tomás’s childhood passed by in a fog of mysterious voices that no one else could hear. Without a family or friend to keep his mind focused, and no skills to guide him through life, he believed he would end up on the streets once he came of age.

Until, one day, a mysterious visitor sees potential in Tomás.

Without forewarning, Tomás uproots his life, and travels across the world to join a school dedicated to the Mist Keepers, the Gods of Death. There, he joins a cohort of young disciples, dedicating their lives to the balance of Life and Death.

Yet despite his newfound schooling, the voices never cease. With the help of his bunkmate, Cevin, he uncovers the true nature of these voices.

The voices carry secrets beyond Tomás’s imagination. As they reveal the true nature of the Mist Keepers, Tomás must decide if he stands with or against them. Although is possible to stand against Death?

In this installment of The Story Collector’s Almanac, join Tomás as he searches for his constants and becomes the quiet peacekeeper from The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice.

Rated 14+ for mentions of child abandonment, suicide, and death.

A new short story, just for you.

How did the Forest Queen discover her magic?

Bria scratched behind her ear as she stared out the train window. The drab landscape of the Newbird Mountains passed by, their skeletal trees dancing in the smoky wind. Despite the dull sight, her excitement continued to mount.

It had been months since she and her father last ventured to Newbird’s Arm.

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Coming February 11, 2025: Children of Cypress

Sight has been erased. The powers that be operate in the shadows.

And the only way to stop them lies in the past.

After the Order stole his son’s sight, Todd Dray went into hiding, unable to escape the Capital and find a haven for him and Garrett. Stuck with newspapers as his only form of entertainment, he drowns himself in articles, where stories of the Forest Queen run rampant.

Blamed for the collapse of the Senate, Bria resigns herself to the swamp, building a kingdom out of the cypress trees and refugees. Her only form of companionship comes from a notebook, where she can communicate with Brent about his efforts on the other side of the Mist.

While his body succumbs to the stories around him, Brent’s focus lies on teaching others about Ningursu and the Mist Keepers. Yet to teach them right, his desire to uncover the past only continues to grow, putting his own body and mind at risk.

With the intensified threat of Ningursu’s power rising, Brent and Bria both must seek answers in the past. Yet, as the stories unravel around them, will the truth provide a path to defeating Ningursu? Or will it leave them questioning their own place in history?

After all, some stories are left untold for a reason.

Content Warnings: This book is rated 16+ for mentions and depictions of death, assault, sexual content, adult language, violence, alcohol & drug use, police brutality, child abuse, and psychological abuse/trauma.

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E.S. Barrison’s Hurricane Relief Fundraiser

As you know, two hurricanes have just ravaged the state of Florida, as well as the Southeast as a whole, nearly back-to-back: Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. As a resident of Florida, this was a scary time, but I was fortunate enough to be spared any major damage. We lost power for a day, and we had some debris in our yard, but otherwise we are safe and unharmed.

But others are not so lucky.

So for the remainder of October, I am going to be hosting a fundraiser where profits for the following will go to the Red Cross’s Hurricane Relief Fund.

For the rest of October, all eBook purchases and direct purchases will go toward the relief fund.

For eBooks, you can purchase anything on Amazon as well as other online retailers. Unfortunately, it is harder for me to track physical sales in these retailers (since reporting is delayed), so I’m focusing solely on eBooks here.

But, you can purchase physical books, as well as other goodies, from my website. All profits will be donated to the Red Cross.

BUT – that’s not all! I will be matching all donations (up to $500).

Of course, if you cannot donate (especially if you were impacted), I understand. But if anything, please help spread the word. There are so many people who need disaster relief…and when it is this close to home, it is hard to ignore.

Thank you so much.

E.S.B.

*For transparency, please click here to see the profits that will be donated for each book/product.

New Book Release: Vermelha

Coming October 31, 2024
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A letter. A wolf.
And one chance to uncover the truth.

For years, Vermelha has studied under the guidance of the Oracle with no intention of returning to her hometown. Upon receiving frantic letters about wolves from her grandmother, Vermelha faces a choice: to return or not to return to her home.

Despite the Oracle’s warnings, Vermelha ventures back to her hometown as the full moon approaches. While nothing seems amiss upon her arrival, Vermelha continues her mission to uncover the secrets of her grandmother’s letters and heads into the forest to her grandmother’s house.

Yet, she soon discovers that a wolf has made its home between the trees. With her grandmother its target, Vermelha must uncover the wolf’s secret, otherwise they might both become its next meal.

A retelling inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ Little Red Riding Hood, with a touch of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, join Vermelha as she heads off to her grandmother’s house with the wolves.

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It’s my 30th Birthday!

So to celebrate, the three entry books into the World of the Effluvium are on sale for 99c each!

That’s right, for only $3 you can purchase 3 novels!

These include:

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Each of these stories follow their own protagonists, but with threads that weave into each other. You can start with any of these three to unravel to secrets hidden in the Effluvium.

And come on…99c each is a great deal!

Let’s Talk About: Savannah Comic Con

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Savannah, GA for Savannah Comic Con. This was my first year attending, and like so many events this year, it was neither bad nor was it amazing. This is primarily due to oversaturation in convention scenes as well as the overall economy.

I had already gone into this event with mixed feelings. Initially, it was supposed to be held in May, but a month before the event, they announced that the event had been moved to August. Now, that was fine for me since I didn’t have anything planned for that weekend, but the messaging as a whole was done poorly. I only found out due to a Facebook announcement, and never received any official communication until I reached out directly.

But, I went into the event cautiously optimistic: after all, I was reaching a new market with new people. I never vended in Savannah (although I love the city), so I was excited to reach potential new readers.

Yet, more disorganization became relevant during the load-in process. The line for the loading docks was long, and vendors were forced to park in a muddy-grassy area that suffered as the weather turned sour over the weekend. Vendors were not assigned booths either; rather, the laid out the vendors as they arrived.

This procedure worked in my favor (at least in some aspects) – as I ended up being in the row facing where the cosplay contests and other events took place. Yet, some vendors were placed near the bathrooms, where they had less visibility.

Overall, I was happy with my set up – although, the tables were a bit smaller than I had anticipated.

While, on one hand, my location had its benefits due to visibility, that visibility also created issues. I was often one of the first artists people saw, and since they didn’t want to carry around books (understandably) they often said that they would be back. Of those who said that, only a couple returned. It wasn’t that it was slow either; people just weren’t spending money, or were waiting to spend.

By the end of the first day, I did make back my table expense, although it below where I would have liked to be so that I’d be comfortable.

But, I’d have to say, the best part of that first day was the dog rescue that was there. All day, dogs visited my table, including this cutie below:

Let me tell you, if I was local, I might have caved and adopted.

After hugging dogs, I concluded my first day, picking up some food at Flok to the Wok (one of favorite restaurants there) before returning to my hotel. Of course, I had to get a couple picture of the river (and of a giant pikachu) before returning.

The next day started off somewhat better, especially considering how slow the show was by end of the first day. While it wasn’t as busy, there were more customers, which is always good.

Yet, I know I wasn’t alone in dissatisfaction for the first day. A few people didn’t return, and many packed up by midday. I held out though, which is great because I ended up with a few large sales towards the end of the event. While I didn’t make back 100% of my expenses, it meant I was only $50 of everything for the trip. Not terrible, really.

But, even with the not-so-terrible experience, I probably wouldn’t return to this event unless I was a local. While I made back nearly 3x table, which is my general rule of thumb for whether or not I’d return, the disorganization did mark this event down. Staff never checked in with the vendors, and on the second day, they kept making announcements about misplaced vehicles. It took them 2-3 hours to add any identifying information regarding these vehicles though, which frustrated many of the vendors because we didn’t know whether we had been impacted. It’s a small thing, but it showed how poorly done the communication was for this event.

While I rarely pack up early, I did start packing up an hour before the event ended so I could get on the road by 5pm and make the 4 hour drive home. With Hurricane Debby coming up the coast, I wanted to beat the traffic. But, in addition, after the cosplay contest – just like the day before – the convention died immediately. So I didn’t feel bad leaving 15 minutes early.

But, with all this being said, I have given the following ratings to the convention from MY EXPERIENCE:

While this wasn’t the worst event I had attended, with a decent ROI and experience, the organization of the event had a negative impact on my overall rating. I don’t think the organization negatively impacted attendees. In fact, it seemed like most attendees were having a blast! But, as a vendor, it had its affects. I think if I was local, I would consider doing this again, but it’s not worth my travel to Savannah, GA.

So for all this reason, I still give this convention a passing grade of a C. It wasn’t terrible, there were puppies, and I met some new readers.

With that being said, if you’re local to Savannah, check out this convention. It’s not huge, but there’s a decent number of attendees, and there’s plenty of events. As a vendor, you’ll make some money too…just I didn’t think it is worth my time to travel again.

But maybe I’ll find another convention up that way…because I sure do love Savannah.

Disclaimer: All opinions are based on MY personal experience at the event. This should not say anything in particular about the event as a whole. Rather, I encourage readers to gather multiple perspectives from other vendors and attendees to make decisions of their own.

For details on my rating system, you can go here.

Let’s Talk About: Infinity Con

While social media has always been enigmatic to me, I have found a place to sell my writing at different events, such as comic cons and farmer’s markets. I’ve considered doing this for awhile, but I am finally going to jump into it: reflecting my experience as an author and vendor.

So in this new series, I want to spend time talking about each live event that I go to as an author. This will start with my most recent event, Infinity Con in Tallahassee, FL.

I attended Infinity Con on July 6 & 7, 2024. This was my first year attending, and while it wasn’t a bad event, it wasn’t amazing either. Granted, I probably went in with higher expectations than I usually do, since a handful of vendors had told me how amazing they had done in years prior. This made me a little overzealous, and that as a whole is my fault.

Loading into the event was seamless; the staff was friendly, and they provided me with a large space that allowed me to set up without a problem. I had more than enough room on the table for all my books, and with the black curtain behind me, it provided a defined area of what was “mine.” Considering I had to use one of my makeshift set ups, I was fairly happy with the display.

Within the first two hours of the event starting, the flow of people and sales was steady. I was excited! If it continued as it began, I would easily make back my expenses and more.

But…by 1PM on that first day, things slowed down noticeably. Part of it may have been the events, as the convention was sure to have a host of events that kept attendees occupied. This included a variety of panels, a section of the convention just for kids (which also hosted a Kids’ Cosplay Parade), and the cosplay contest.

But I wasn’t the only one feeling the slowness. Other vendors around me didn’t seem all too thrilled. While I typically stay on my feet for most of the convention, this time I sat down and focused on my knitting.

Ultimately, I finished Day 1 covering my table expenses though, so I wasn’t too disappointed, and I looked forward to Day 2 with a new round of enthusiasm.

And, at the start of the event on Day 2, sales once again trickled in, further fueling that enthusiasm. But, it behaved in the same manner; by 2pm in the afternoon, sales and attendance slowed. Once 3pm rolled in, I had no problem leaving my booth to meander. Events continued to occur throughout the day, but overall, the second day of the show was quiet.

I think a few factors caused this: 1) It was a holiday weekend and people were away, 2) a handful of larger events took place that same weekend (including MetroCon in Tampa, FL), and 3) most FSU students were not around, and that is a large population in Tallahassee. There are also issues that many vendors are currently facing. Spending power is not as strong and vendors have been forced to raise prices due to inflation.

Despite the quiet parts of the day, I’m not unhappy with the event. It is certainly a passable experience, as I made back my expenses plus a little bit extra.

Would I do it again? Maybe. If it was more local to me (Tallahassee is a 4 hour drive), I probably would do it again, as I would be much happier with my profit margin. But, since I did have to stay in a hotel and drive a fair distance, unless I hear that attendance and spending improves, I’ll probably shy away from this event at least in 2025.

One thing I did find interesting about this event was what sold at my table. As usual, my flagship novel, The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice sold the most. But, the next best seller was not one of my novels…but my handmade totes. These are just totes I make on the side, using Heat-Transfer-Vinyl and a heat press. Perhaps it was the price point that attracted people to these silly totes, saying things on them like “In a world of bookworms, become a book dragon”, or “I like Big Books and I cannot lie”, or even “This Barbie is a Reader”. I sold more totes at this event than any other event that I had attended, and I can’t really explain why. It was just an interesting observation.

But, with all this being said, I have given the following ratings to the convention from MY EXPERIENCE:

Ultimately, while there were quiet pockets of attendance, there were still a couple thousand of people there, which didn’t hinder much of the experience. In addition, the staff was amazing and acceptable to feedback. Really, it wasn’t a bad time at all. The biggest hinderance for me had to do with the overall return-on-investment. Did some people do better? Surely.

For all these reasons, I give the convention a passing grade of a C.

So my final verdict is this: if you are a Tallahassee local, definitely check out Infinity Con. I think you’ll have a great time – as an attendee or as a vendor. In the future, I might return as well.

Disclaimer: All opinions are based on MY personal experience at the event. This should not say anything in particular about the event as a whole. Rather, I encourage readers to gather multiple perspectives from other vendors and attendees to make decisions of their own.

For details on my rating system, you can go here.

Who likes free shipping?

That’s right…I’m offering free shipping until July 8th on ALL direct orders from my website.

Why?

Well, unfortunately I won’t be attending one of my favorite fan conventions this year, Metrocon. I have been an artist there for the past two years, and have met so many readers along the way. Metrocon really helped boost my confidence as an author and entrepreneur.

Unfortunately, Metrocon had a new application process this year, and I missed being accepted by a hair.

But, I didn’t want my readers to miss out on grabbing signed copies of my books…so until July 8th, shipping will be free for all US-based orders!

If you’re interested in snagging a copy of any of my books, check out my shop. But don’t delay, some inventory is limited…and free shipping won’t last long!

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Oh hi. I’m back.

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted on this site. But, I’m back…or, at least I’m trying to be back.

I once used this site for book reviews, but unfortunately due to the general bookish environment right now – as an author and as a reader – I have stepped back from reviewing books.

Instead, I’m hoping to use this blog as a way to document my journey as an author, details on my hobbies, and post reflections on different conventions and events that I have visited.

I can’t promise how often I’ll post – but, I am going to make an effort to post a little more often. Part of my author brand is to be approachable, and that is by being transparent and honest.

Frankly, marketing as a whole has been rough for me the past couple of years. While I am hitting my goals as an author (and every author has different goal posts), marketing has been a challenge. This was partially due to spending the last two years working on my Master’s in Communications (which I graduated with back in May), but since then I have been also dealing with mental and physical health struggles.

So, I’ll be candid: back in 2022, I started to see a therapist for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and depression. While going through therapy, we discovered that I fit the diagnostic criteria for ADHD (although I have not seen a psychiatrist to obtain a formal diagnosis). Navigating this new realm of ADHD, coupled with my anxiety disorder, has been challenging. On top of this, I have been struggling with chronic abdominal pain since late 2022 as well, which has resulted in multiple doctor visits, imaging and diagnostic procedures, and trial-and-error medication. Even after two years, I have no definitive diagnosis.

So, between juggling these health issues, school, and actually writing…it is one of many reasons why this blog has fallen by the wayside.

But, despite all of that, since 2020 I have published 6 novels, 5 novellas, and 4 short stories. Plus, I have a story available to my newsletter subscribers. Rather than focusing on digital marketing, I have been going to live events, meeting readers, and sharing my love for storytelling.

And I hope that I can continue that here.

So, for now…I can say that I am back. And I hope you’ll stick around with me for the next chapter in my author journey.