Well, I have to tell you, this has been the most frustrating...

Well, I have to tell you, this has been the most frustrating fall season I’ve experienced in my last decade of writing. I have two new books out, which is a blessing, but I’ve never had such a long string of possible book signing & selling events not happen, or in the case of major convention Scarefest, being a total bust.

Since late August, I’ve reached out to a myriad of local bookstores, local college bookstores, haunted house venues, local community organizations, and indie bookstores in St. Louis & Chicago and haven’t even gotten email or voice mail responses from my inquiries. It’s been a very eye-opening last several weeks. It’s hard not to take it personally when you speak directly to a bookstore event coordinator & they say they’re going to call you back and they don’t, even after a follow-up email (& email is their chosen form of communication). Now that my livelihood depends on these book selling opportunities, its hard to laugh them off. Bills have to be paid. 

With Halloween right around the corner, and as a writer of dark fiction, I figured to have 4-6 events in October, but I’m stuck at three, and these final two are not destined to be earth shattering on the sales front. With the holidays and my wife’s 50th birthday on the horizon, I’m not sure how all this is going to play out. Some writer’s have experienced writer’s block. I have not. But right now, I’m experiencing book seller’s block, and it’s just as deadly…ha ha ha.

I have no choice but to keep at it. Giving up is not an option. Exploring a day job is. Not sure how all this is going to turn out, but as frustrated as I am, I don’t have time to pout.

Spit, yes. Pout no.