Wow, It's Been a Long Time - I Return Bearing Good News!

I had my first book signing event last weekend, it went so well it restored my sense of hope.

    So it has been many moons since the last time I opened up this particular website and began typing away. I will admit that I rather thought this blog dead, another drifting piece of internet flotsam, doomed to float along unnoticed in the sea of too-many-options available on the internet. (incidentally, the difference between flotsam a jetsam is intent. Flotsam is debris that ended up in the water, where as jetsam is debris that was placed in the water. so it is actually impossible to look at some junk you happened upon on the beach and identify it as either flotsam or jetsam.)

    Still, I find it highly unlikely that this blog will gain a mass following, or that I have the self discipline to maintain it with regularity. But I can't just let it die, particularly after recent events.

    As you saw in the title picture, I had my first ever book signing event last weekend. It took place at the Barnes & Noble store at the Gallatin Valley Mall in Bozeman, MT.  I had low expectations for the event; I'm a complete unknown, it's my first novel, and I'm selling fantasy in an area traditionally known be populated with readers that have only ever read the bible and the occasional western.

    But Bozeman has changed A LOT over the last 50 years or so. My father, who graduated from MSU in 19XX (redacted to prevent guesses at his real age) tells me stories of how Bozeman used to be a rural farming town, beset on all sides with farms and ranches. These days, Bozeman is nothing less than the center of all urban development in the state of Montana, and Montana State University, once an Agriculture school, has grown to be the largest school in the state, and frequently listed as one of the best Universities in the nation. (Go Cats!)

 

    All that change and expansion brought whole bunch of different minded folks to the area. And while I did see a few cowboys, (including one old ranch-hand that picked up my book, looking interested, then said, "Oh, I should have seen the dragon on the cover. Never.mind") I saw many more college-age shoppers sporting Harry Potter hoodies or anime T-shirts. The exact demographic I had in mind when i wrote my book was out in full force that Saturday.

    I knew from talking with other first time authors not to expect much from my book signing. My father tells me he sold exactly 1 copy of his book during his first signing, and that to a person he had to harass for a good deal of time. The store manager of Barnes and Noble seemed to have higher, but still low expectations as well. She told me to bring 20 copies of my book, which was expected to be sufficient for anyone wanting to buy an autographed copy, and to replenish the store's on-hand stock. Being an optimist, I brought along 3-dozen copies.

This. This is the book. If you haven't gotten it yet, what's wrong with you. get it here.

        As it turned out, thirty-six copies wasn't quite enough to meet demand.  By the end of the day, I had sold out. Every copy signed and spoken for. I give a lot of credit to the fantastic cover art created for me by Bia. Despite the old adage, 'Don't judge a book by it's cover', having a cover that is just plain awesome really helps it move off the shelf.

    I did my part too, of course. I charmed people with my wit and charisma, and told them what a great book they would be missing out on. And it worked. Not only did I sell out but I have people (dare I say fans?) eagerly asking about the next book, how to look for it, and how to get back to me with feedback. People wanted to know my website, my blog, and my email address.

    And that leads me back here, updating my blog for the first time in much too long. I apologize heartily for the lack of attention I've been giving it, and resolve to do better in the future. And of course, I will continue to chip away at the sequel, it's going to be a lot bigger than the first.

    Keep reading, super-readers! Mix says hi!