(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!

(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.

(9/6/23)

I just heard back from James Gross of the Friends of the Taylor County Public Library. They took a hit, there were a lot of trees down, and they only just got their power back, but he said, thankfully, that everyone’s OK. Even the library is now back open. It was good to hear. And speaking of trees, I even lost one up here in my back yard two counties over!

As a reminder, my speaking engagement in Perry is still on for September 25th. Consult THIS PREVIOUS POST for details.

I’ve got some other news as well. Plant City picked up my book (both, actually) down in Hillsborough County. Patrons of the Bruton Memorial Library can now, like those in Temple Terrace, check out both of my books for free! Yay!

And that’s not all, A Southern Fried Fantasy Adventure Story will soon join my first book, A Witch’s Burden, in wide eBook distribution. That’s right. As of around this September 11th or 12th, eBook fans should start seeing my latest novel populating throughout the various distributors. This includes Barnes & Noble’s Nook, Kobo, the Hoopla library network, and lots of others. Be on the lookout! My eBook will still be available through Amazon as well, just no longer exclusive to their Kindle Unlimited plan.

That’s all for now. See y’all in Perry!

P.S. Still editing project #3.

(6/15/23)

The following additional libraries now stock my latest book. Thanks to all the wonderful staff of the following institutions:

Anna Porter Public Library in Gatlinburg, TN  https://annaporter.biblionix.com/catalog/

Woodstock Public Library in Woodstock, IL  https://www.prairiecat.info/library/169014

Chattanooga Public Library (South Branch) in Chattanooga, TN  https://chattlibrary.org/

Homewood Public Library (Birmingham Metro) in Jefferson County, AL  https://www.homewoodpubliclibrary.org/

I’d like to especially thank the latter for also stocking my first novel, A Witch’s Burden.

In the midst of a recent multi-day drive north to celebrate our niece’s high school graduation, my wife and I found ourselves back in the old stomping ground, Birmingham, whence we moved to Florida many years ago.

Only in town for the night, we headed over to an old favorite restaurant (Bottega, if you’re curious; here’s the link, it won’t disappoint: https://bottegarestaurant.com/ Frank Stitt is a MASTER!). Well, to get there from the interstate via the scenic route, I took us over an even older stomping ground of mine. I’m talking here about the Homewood community, where I cut my teeth, in the first through third grades. Since I hadn’t been back in many years, I thought it might be interesting to drop off a couple of books at the library there.

That library in Homewood has an interesting past, which has apparently just gotten more so in the years since I left. You see, it used to be a church, and not just any church, it was MY church and still the place I consider my spiritual home. The congregation of the Homewood Church of Christ is now out on West Oxmoor Road, but back when I was in Sunday school it was right there at the “library”. I want to say I started first grade in 1975 and therefore significant Sunday schooling around that same time. If you live in Homewood or the Birmingham area and can visit the Homewood Public Library, those rooms downstairs in the back were where the old Sunday school rooms used to be.

So, anyway, in I trooped right there before supper and had the pleasure to meet Leslie West, the head of the library’s adult services. I was a bit surprised to hear from her that I was the first person she’d met who’d actually once attended church there, but I was even more surprised when she told me that the place is now haunted!

I keep trying to tell you folks I’m witchy. Perhaps one day you’ll actually believe me! ~.^

Needless to say I’d not heard that part, but thanks to this story, I’m up to speed. Check it out:

https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/ghost-story-about-alabama-library-goes-viral-on-tiktok/

That’s Ms. West there in the middle of the video, the librarian that I met. It was very interesting to watch. I do want to correct the local channel 42 reporter on one of her points, however; she claimed that the building was constructed in the 1960s. That’s actually not true. The correct history of the place can be found here: https://homewoodchurch.org/about-us/our-history . As for the old “farm house” I cannot say; that’s before my time. But as far as the history of the church cum library, I know about as much as anyone else. See, I actually attended the OLD Homewood Church of Christ—the one on Central Avenue—even before this current library, and thanks to online maps, I see even that still stands. Apparently it’s leased office space now managed by Edgewood Partners of Birmingham. Go here (https://www.edgewood-partners.com/ ) and type in “2917 Central Avenue” and you’ll see it. What the current congregation out on Oxmoor says about their/our history simply has to be true; I’m talking about the switch from Central Avenue location to the current library site in 1976. I remember it well and was in second grade when it happened. The thing I most recall was about how the new place smelled. It must have been all the new paint.

If you’re curious about the rest of the story, I even remember when the congregation moved again to its current 265 West Oxmoor location. At the time I had lived in Mobile for many years and had just moved back up to the area.

I can’t speak to the ghost issue, but I did tell Ms. West it sounded interesting. And, again, I do really appreciate her stocking both of my books. I hope the folks there enjoy them.

So, there’s my history of the Homewood Church of Christ, and the haunted library that has now adopted both of my books. I began Sunday school on Central Avenue, finished in the “library”, and later got baptized and married out on Oxmoor Road.

(12/17/22)

Unfortunately, my second novel has required a re-proof, and the additional work on quality will delay its release date. I had originally hoped to have the book out this year, but now it’s looking more like March or so…

I do have a little bit of good news to report—about another library that has adopted A Witch’s Burden. If you live down in Dundee, Florida, please be sure and check me out!

I hope to have more concrete information about my second project soon. It’s so close to finished, but it has to be just right.

(9/19/22)

And it’s not even over!

Internet service problems, mold in our crawlspace, and then lightning striking our TV.

The latter if only for the news of the world wouldn’t have been so bad, but what about my K-Dramas and anime—the only things nowadays left worth watching?

We’re slowly getting things resolved, but it has been anything but “fun.”

In other news, I decided to end my ongoing Beta early. A story like the one I just wrote (perhaps related to the above image?) really requires critical mass; I simply don’t know enough avid readers in the genre. Coupling that with the fact that I’m also a terrible salesman meant I had myself a recipe inconducive for getting strangers to write book reports.

Don’t get me wrong, I did get some encouraging feedback—just not nearly enough to clue me in on what the reading public is going to do with it.

And so, I am left as usual with finding out the old-fashioned way. To that end, I went ahead and took another couple of passes at the manuscript. Now in “Gamma” it’s even out on limited query.

Furthermore, on Friday, I involved a professional (editor)—my first step towards more indie publishing should no agent ride in to the rescue.

I even mocked up a cute cover idea…

Oh, I do have one more piece of good news to report. My first novel is in another library—Haines City Public Library down in Polk County. Please check me out if you live down there! (Man, it’s getting built up!)  

P.S. There’s a lesson in Genesis chapter 11 (verses 1-9) that’s become lost on some people. They better study up or else they’ll fail the coming test!

As a reminder, I’ll be doing a program for the Friends of the Taylor County Public Library on Monday, April 25, 2022 from 5:30 until 6:30pm. The event is free and open to the public. Please make plans to attend. The address of the library is 403 N. Washington Street, Perry, Florida 32347.

I’ll be doing a little reading from A Witch’s Burden, talk about my background and influences and (here’s the exciting part) will be sharing some information about my upcoming project! In particular, I should have a first draft of the synopsis for my next book ready to share. I hope to use it to recruit a beta reader or two from the crowd.

You won’t want to miss it if you like light character-driven fantasy adventure stories!

I have some other news to share. My hardcover is now in two more libraries here in Florida. I’m over in Panama City at their main Bay County branch and down in Port St. Joe in Gulf County as well. Both libraries are members of the Northwest Regional Library System found HERE. Please check me out if you live in either of these wonderful places.  

I’m still in edits and only today discovered that my second book will probably come to a total of thirty-one chapters. I’m working on chapter twenty-four right now… so maybe the end of next month, if I’m really lucky. Recall, one of these is going to require a significant re-write that could, if it goes wrong, put me danger of hitting the summer.

We’ll see*.

*YOU in Perry on the 25^th! =)