The Camelot Shadow Hits a Milestone…and a New Story in the Works?!

I may not be the sharpest marshmallow-toasting stick in the campground, but I know two inalienable truths: 1) ketchup is not an optimal condiment for cinnamon and sugar Pop Tarts, and 2) no one wants to read self-congratulatory blog posts.

Still, there’s an auspicious occasion that calls for celebration, and writing about it in ketchup on a Pop Tart seems like an ineffective way to get the word out. So, a self-congratulatory blog post it is, but rather than patting myself on the back (an exercise that requires contortions my body can only barely manage), I’d like to take a moment to thank you, Goodreaders, for your support. (Goodreadsers? Goodreadi? What’s the proper plural here?)

The Camelot Shadow recently notched its 100th rating on Goodreads, and while that’s an admittedly arbitrary number to celebrate and a far smaller number than any legitimately good book can claim (you think you’re sooooo awesome with your 4.7 million ratings, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, don’t you?), it’s mind-boggling to me that a hundred people have been interested enough to not only read something I wrote (a not short and stylistically ornate something, I might add), but to take a moment to let their fellow readers know whether they liked it (and, in many cases, to take extra time to write thoughtful reviews explaining why they did (or didn’t) like it).

That’s an incredible thing for any author to experience, but it’s particularly amazing for an independent author. Authors who say they write solely for themselves are full of surplus fecal matter, because if that’s what they were really doing, they would never publish anything. No, writers want—maybe even need—to be read, because they feel like they have something to say, a story to share with the world, one that readers will learn or glean insight from, or simply take heart from or be entertained by.

I think the most exciting part about this modest milestone is that we’re just getting started. Thanks to you all, word is spreading and enthusiasm is growing, and I can’t wait to introduce even more people to The Camelot Shadow (or The Chronicle of Heloise & Grimple, if comedic fantasy is more your speed).

For those of you who have already sampled The Camelot Shadow’s fruits and found them to your liking (where am I going with this metaphor?), I have exciting news—I’m hard at work on a short story featuring a prominent character from The Camelot Shadow, set several decades before the book takes place. No spoilers yet, but let’s just say that if you’re a fan of arch, devil-may-care booksellers, you WILL like this story.

(I’m very good at subtle hints.)

If all goes according to plan, the story should be released sometime late in the fall—watch this space for more details and a preview of coming attractions. Plus, I have a feeling we’ll find a way to get the story into the hands of loyal Camelotians before the release date. (“Camelotians” is a really terrible nickname, and it sounds a little bit like “Cameltoeans”…I may need to rethink that one.)

Thank you to each and every person who has read the book, shared the book, said a kind word about the book, or otherwise just been a generally encouraging supporter of my storytelling efforts. I have a tendency toward sarcasm—(*gasp*) a shocking revelation, I know—but let me swap snark for sincerity for a moment to say that I am so incredibly grateful for all of you, and constantly humbled by the kindness of total strangers whose love of stories and open-mindedness both makes me happy and gives me hope for the world.

I promise you that things are only going to get better from here (pipe down in the back there, with your “how can it get any worse?” commentary)—so stick around and let’s have some adventures together.