(6/11/26)

My book’s in the mix (11:46) over at the Indie Fantasy Club, quite possibly the best thing to ever happen for indie authors!

Thanks to V. and the gang for this opportunity. I sure hope y’all like it. Its sequel–alas–is still dragging along.

A special note on pronunciation for any who’ve come over: “Galan” is actually GALEN/GAY-LYNN when pronounced, even though I admit GALLON seems more correct. “Birk” is another name I should also clarify. Scandinavian in origin, it should be pronounced like BEER with a K.

(5/13/26)

Lately, I’ve received quite a bit of “back channel” communication—mostly emails to addresses I’ve not advertised for the purpose. Certainly most of it is spam; everyone gets it; but some of what I’m getting is different, much more pointed and detailed. These requests also seem to be all over the map, so I’ve decided to tackle them here all at once.

For months now I’ve been inundated with all sorts of various requests to pay for AI book trailers, pay for reviews, pay Listopia gangsters, “collaborate” with book clubs, and that’s not all. Some assure me I need to somehow to re-jigger my Amazon listings; others remind me of the importance of audiobook conversions. There have even been multiple people offering to take my books to executives, studio executives that produce for television and the movies.

Here’s the thing: I’m not going to pay you to make me a book trailer, nor do I need or want an expensive new website. My listings on Amazon are what they are, and if you have a Listopia on Goodreads, great, go ahead and add my books! Just stop trying to shake me down.

In short, I’m not buying. I’m the one that’s selling—three books and counting, all over the world. So STOP already. This is the sign; don’t make me tap it. It’s very rude to fill up a box with fliers, email or otherwise.

As for “collaborating” with book clubs, I don’t know what this means. These emails have been vague, leaving me to guess. Does it mean recommendations? Creating reading guides? Whatever the case, the lack of details makes me incredibly skeptical. If your club is considering one of my books, but you’re not quite sure if it’s right, contact your local library and check me out first. I still have a few promotional copies for libraries on a budget. And nothing beats Hoopla and Overdrive if you’re armed with e-readers.

Regarding audiobooks, I have an ACX (audible creators) account, but I haven’t yet done anything with it. This is where authors post their books, soliciting vocal talent collaboration. It’s going to happen at some point, but I’d like to finish my fourth book first. However, I am open to making an exception here should the right opportunity come along (i.e. If you absolutely love one of my books and are an experienced audiobook reader, by all means let me know; I might just drop everything to work with you first!). 

Lastly, on the topic of studio submissions (book to screenplay conversion): Since you’ve asked, I alone control ALL RIGHTS to each and every one of my books. There’s not a one of ‘em I consider in any way un-filmable. So, if you want to discuss the rights to film, I am ALL EARS. What I’m not going to do, however, is entertain generic solicitations. Don’t say you can put me in front of a producer when you have no official links, and the name you provide doesn’t even match the one in your email.

If you’re curious, here’s my thinking on this topic broken down by book:

A Witch’s Burden would be the trickiest one to capture in its complexity. My thinking would be live action with a really brilliant director.

A Southern Fried Fantasy Adventure Story could really go either way. What’s anime in my mind could easily be done live with today’s technology.

I’ve already mentioned HERE what inspired me to write Meet Maybeth. Boom! Just literally make another American Girl period picture, and Bob’s your uncle, Fanny’s your aunt, you’ve got yourself another star maker! Surely there’s another little AnnaSophia Robb out there somewhere just itchin’ to carry a movie and wear period dress. You could even put a little wig on her, whatever it takes. My novella is practically a screenplay already. This one is just too easy.

In summary, if your solicitation on any of these topics is genuine and sincere, contact me only through my official contact form HERE. And BE SPECIFIC. Who are you? Who are you with? What is your website? Do you have references (authors you have previously collaborated with)?

With spam being what it is and AI getting better (creepier?) every day, perhaps none of these scores of emails I’m getting are serious attempts at collaboration but instead just data mining. However, if even one or two of what I receive is real, I don’t want to miss out on making a real connection. I’m being absolutely real with you, so please be real with me.

None of this, of course, has anything to do with fans. You guys are welcome—always welcome—to contact me as much as you like!

(2/19/26)

For over a year now I have been plugging away on a sequel to my second book, the fantasy novel. The manuscript is a hot mess, and still far from alpha, but the bones are laid to the end for the parts still awaiting flesh.

It’s about two-thirds done (with the rest at least an outline) and going to be another big book like the first, surely at least 100K words.  

To our surprise this past August we received an extended visit from the story’s spirit animal; “Pia” and two other foxes set up housekeeping right in our suburban backyard! Lest a neighbor accuse me of harboring wild animals I can confirm that they only stayed about a fortnight. I’m sure it was our wicked Big Bend drought that finally chased them off. That’s probably why they came in the first place, passing through on an expedition for water.

I did slip her a couple of eggs. How could I not? But I drew the line at a water bowl that would only attract dread mosquitoes.

It really was amazing having foxes in our yard. Sorry the pictures suck. I had to take them from inside the house for fear of chasing them off; at one point there were three of them all out sunning in the yard. We’ve had hawks, owls, buzzards, bats, turtles, snakes, possums, and bunnies, along with unwelcome coons, but this was the very first time we’ve ever seen a fox, never mind three.

Usually it was just the one probable vixen. She’d wake up around nine in the morning and poke her head from the boxwood, then yawn and stretch and scratch before a peaceful lounge in the grass.

Pia’s of course in my sequel along with all of the other heroes off on another epic adventure.

I have a new working title—“Even Further South: Another Southern Fried Fantasy Adventure Story.” It did have another name for a while after a certain McGuffin, but this one makes more sense overall and has a better ring to it. I still use mostly real geography, so you might imagine where they are going. Why, though? Not sure if I’m ready to spill, but suffice it to say they’re leaving the country—off to a wild, lawless volcanic jungle where Saurians and ancient Elves dwell.

If it seems odd that I would write a sequel to a book that doesn’t even have a review on Amazon, remember, it’s my policy to never solicit or buy spurious reviews. Because it isn’t published by Amazon I’m not allowed to run a Goodreads Giveaway, which was how I got such interest as I did upon the release of Maybeth. One thing I am able to do, however, is keep apprised of when my books are checked out. Participating libraries seem to confirm my second book is actually my most popular.

This confirmation of a steady readership is more than enough for me. I’ve wanted to write a fantasy sequel anyway despite my confusion on how to promote it. I hope to have some good marketing ideas by the time the book is done. One idea under consideration is to re-release the first as an Amazon exclusive, or I might do something on Substack instead. We’ll just have to see. In any event, I just wanted to confirm today that a sequel is definitely in the works.

In the meantime, please enjoy the foxes along with my poor photography. And keep praying for peace. Nothing wrecks my writing more than the antics of those warmongering dipshits in Washington!        

(11/17/25)

I am very excited to announce that Volusia County has adopted all three of my novels! My wife and I had the pleasure to visit the Daytona area this past summer.

It was actually my first time over there. I just never had the chance before. After all, we have plenty of beaches over here. It was super fun, not only in sand and sun; we toured a lighthouse, an aquarium, and ate some great meals.

So, to all you Volusians admiring your snowy plover, don’t forget to also check out my books.

(7/17/25)

Three more libraries have added Meet Maybeth to their collections: the Anna Porter Public Library in Gatlinburg, TN, The Northwest Regional Library System in Bay County, FL, and a very special library over in Hattiesburg, MS.

As I told the friendly staff at the Panama City Beach branch, Bay County used to stock A Witch’s Burden. However, over a year ago, some jive turkey apparently checked it out and never returned it. Now, as flattering as it is to learn that folks like my work enough to steal it, it’s definitely not cool to pilfer a book from the library! That first novel of mine is so cheap now at Amazon. Such a selfish thing to take a public book from others…

Anyway, when I took them a replacement copy, I also gave them a Maybeth, and now both books can be checked out right there at the beach! Next time you visit your condo, or if you live in the area, be sure to hit the library and check out my work!

Gatlinburg, TN, which Les and I visit almost every year, has a great library that has always supported my work. I am very pleased that Anna Porter stocks Maybeth now as well. Thanks again to the staff there—it was wonderful to meet you last fall! And thank you for showing me your super cool 3D printer!

Now for the fancy one: Did you know—I DIDN’T until recently—that The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) hosts one of the most important, if not THE most important, collections of children’s literature in the world? Fancy that! For much of my middle and high school years I lived in Mobile, AL, not too far down the road and across the border from USM in Hattiesburg. My favorite teacher of all time (my old band director) actually got a job working in Hattiesburg back when I was in high school. I would later come to enjoy visiting USM’s campus when we would go to watch my UAB Blazers play USM’s Eagles. USM began as a teachers college, and during the 1960s one of their professors started the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection. Managed by USM’s University Library, it’s very prestigious. And since I think quite highly of my work—I do my very best!—I sent them a copy of Meet Maybeth, and recently received a wonderful acceptance letter in return. I am delighted that they added my book to their collection. As I told them, it may be the only children’s book I write.  Thank you, thank you to the de Grummond staff! May your collection continue to flourish well into the future!  

P.S. Speaking of children’s literature, you must know that I was supremely flattered by an early Maybeth reviewer who mentioned my work alongside Ms. L.M. Montgomery’s.

Did you know that The Answer studio Co., Ltd. over in Japan has apparently embarked upon a definitive anime telling of Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables? Les and I love it. You will as well. It’s in its second cour now. Watch it! Watch it! It’s charming.

(5/19/25; second post)

As for the “horrible distractions” I mentioned, I really probably shouldn’t say anything, but I’ve been so disgusted lately that I’ve got to get this out…

I find what passes for our government these days to be utterly reprehensible. I’m not talking about democrats or republicans either, I mean every one of the bastards!

One “president” sits back and tacitly supports a genocide, while the other, professing a desire for “peace”, yanks the “tacit” and goes all in.  These people like to throw around words like “terrorist” then proceed to glad hand with bona fide examples.

“Terrorists” level city blocks filled with women and children, and “terrorists” give them the bombs, paid for with stolen money.

I haven’t had a voice in my own government for a while. These days, literally none running for office comes close to representing my views (there is an exception to this in fact, up in Kentucky, but I don’t live in Kentucky, nor do most of the rest of us).

This Ukraine thing is an asinine tragedy of epic proportion, and the horror going on in Palestine is an indictment of all humanity.

I hereby wash my hands of all of it. D.C. I’m not your “we” and I haven’t been for quite a while. Every one of you warmongers deserves to rot in jail!

If I had been in The Hague yesterday, I would have been wearing my least favorite color, red.

Ukraine is not a nation state; it is an area—a collection of oblasts.

Palestine was stolen, and its thieves moved on to murder.

I might have mentioned at some point earlier that I’m an old Army veteran, a war veteran at that from the first Gulf War. I literally used to walk a post with a gun guarding West Germany from the Soviet Union and its allies during the late cold war. So, you’ll just have to take my word for it when I say to you the following: that Russia poses NO THREAT to Europe, and especially not to the “United States”.

NATO expansion since I was a troop is obviously to blame. The “west” has done all it can to swipe all the old commie states. Monroe doctrine for me, but not for thee is the mantra. How’s about we all just keep our horrors to ourselves?!

Anyway, I’m gonna shut up now. Free speech ain’t so free anymore.

Well, I will leave you with this: Did you know that the current president was elected by only 31% of all eligible American voters? Let that sink in. Is that your precious “democracy”? Of course, we were supposed to be a constitutional republic. Hell, at this point, I’d take either. But you and I now know that we’re stuck with neither.

I’ll continue to vote of course, because of all the ballot measures. But I really think you should join me in leaving blanks for the major candidates. No more lesser evils. How about no more evil? Only then, when it’s stark—that these people have no mandate, no consent of the governed—will they end all the wars, end the illegal surveillance, and truly unwind this costly bureaucracy.

(5/19/25)

It’s been a while since I’ve made a post. This spring has been busy, with all sorts of things going on, including horrible distractions.

First off, respecting my title, I thought I’d provide a comprehensive update on where you can check out and read my latest book for free.

Here are the counties with libraries in Florida: Calhoun, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Jefferson, Leon (at the State Library), Lafayette, Levy, Madison (2 locations), Pasco, Polk, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla.

And here are the counties in Georgia: Decatur, Grady, Miller, and Seminole.

In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Maybeth’s in the Chapin Memorial Library, and up in Indiana she can be found in the Crawfordsville District Public Library.

Thanks again very much to all the librarians supporting my work! I’ll continue to try and put out only the best that I can manage.

As a reminder, if you don’t live in any of these areas, you can still ask your local librarian to consider stocking one or all of my titles. There’s also inter-library loan, of course, as well as free library eBooks. I’m now in both the Overdrive and Hoopla networks.  All you need is a library card and a participating local institution.

In other news, I’m on something like chapter nine of the first draft of my sequel to the fantasy story I released in 2023. I know, slow going, right? I was on chapter two in January! But remember, I was in the midst of a fight with one of my distributors—a fight I’ve since won, but it didn’t come cheap!

So, it will be a while yet before my next book. But I’m still really happy with how it’s progressing. 

From here on out I’ll try and do a better job of keeping you posted.

As for the “horrible distractions” I mentioned, I really probably shouldn’t say anything, but I’ve been so disgusted lately that I’ve got to get this out… CLICK HERE for that separate post.