November Numbers
The tree across the street has finally turned and starting to lose its leaves, so Fall is here.
Which means I‘m back indoors for the WarrioXfit exercises. However, these past two weeks haven’t been good. I did get a victory in one set of exercises, but I’ve been suffering bouts of sluggishness. Not the extreme fatigue but near enough. Not sure what’s going on. The end of this last week was pretty good, though.
The annual physical turned up nothing amiss, so this could be a matter of the weather changes or weird side effects to allergies. Who knows? Knee doing fine and I’ll get back to taekwondo practice soon.
On the writing front, this last month was busy. I hit the Witches Walk in Burlington and sold a few books at Burlington By The Book. met a horror writer and saw both a Danville High alum and a Wesleyan grad.
The day after the Sioux Falls tournament, I was at the Windsor Heights book fair Twenty authors crammed into a small room, but we did okay. LOL.
A week ago, I returned from the Ozark Writers League conference in Joplin. A long drive for a day’s event, but with good company, a good book to read, and good speakers, it was worth it.
What’s up this month? Mark your calendars for two dates.
November 12, 6:30 pm at Beaverdale Books in Des Moines. A Cold New Year has released, and it’s time to celebrate. Come hear the story of the publishing journey of this book and others.
November 20, 4:00-5:30 at Plain Talk Books and Coffeeshop in the East Village, Des Moines. I’ll have A Cold New Year and other books, and once again, share some publishing memories.
I’m considering an indoor vendor fair in December here in Carlisle, but I’m not sure.
I’m also waiting to hear back from my marketing person on Night Shadows. I heard a sample reading from a narrator. The next step is a chapter. Yes, there is an audiobook available, but I’m considering a replacement for it if it works out.
Also, this morning, I signed the contract with Ozark Hollow Press for Beta or whatever new title it will have. It’s the second in the Mallory Petersen series. Alpha is already in the works, and I’m waiting for first-round edits.
I have five in the series that have been previously published and they’ve all been accepted by OHP with staggered contracts. I have a sixth book almost ready to submit to her, and will be working on edits to the seventh. The eighth one I’m currently reading to the critique groups.
I have Dum Blonde almost read through for a final round and will start submitting soon.
Oh, and look for the latest issue of the Back Roads Literary Review. It’s scary story time. I have two story entries, plus a poem. The challenge is to determine which two pennames are me. LOL.
As always, visit my website for updated books; my blog for writing bits; and my book review site, where I have a weekly review on Monday, and I’ve been adding a second review on most Thursdays.
Until next time, keep reading!
Yours in books,
Stephen L. Brayton
SLB.