5 days ago“DIY Book Promo” scales up for the convention hallRecently, I read a book by a friend who attended one of my sessions called, “DIY Book Promo: How to Get Your Book into Readers’ Hands Without Spending Money.” I was looking for new examples deserving all-out promotion and this novel ticked all the boxes. The prose? Brilliant. Compelling characters…Book Marketing4 min readBook Marketing4 min read
Aug 25DeKalb bound (or did I really leave?)Fall into the Kishwaukee River, and you’ll never leave DeKalb. It’s a local legend, origin unknown. I did this my first day in town, in 1987, when I arrived as a transfer student at Northern Illinois University. Too much beer, not enough beer nuggets to soak it up. Oh look…Dekalb2 min readDekalb2 min read
Aug 8Hey Louisville, nice to know youYou’ve been busy pursuing your life goals, so you probably missed that moment when I arrived in your town. Still, everyone has days when they seek diversion, and if this is one of them, allow me to introduce myself: I’m a writer who retired from public radio last May. My…Louisville2 min readLouisville2 min read
Jun 780s music and a whole lotta black: my meeting with The Louisville Revenant Appreciation SocietyThe atmosphere was what you’d expect: muted lighting, clothes the color of a moonless night, and cocktails with fog rising from each glass. One pleasant surprise was a low fi recording of Siouxsie & the Banshees that I’d swear was from a cassette tape. “So, you’re that author.” Lilith Lamia…Goth5 min readGoth5 min read
May 30Booksellers: Want to partner with authors? Lower your percentage.Independent authors and indie booksellers — they’re natural partners, right? They should be. Both work hard to reach new customers, the former struggling in a market dominated by writers published by the Big 5. The latter, meanwhile, must constantly reinvent themselves to attract shoppers who’d otherwise visit a chain store…Indie Booksellers3 min readIndie Booksellers3 min read
May 13The Louisville Revenant Appreciation Society — anyone heard of this?Who knew this existed? Apparently, they know I exist but prefer to remain in the shadows. I speak of gothic literature enthusiasts who live in the “Gateway to the South.” Recently, the LRAS “received intelligence” that I moved to their city and are preparing to welcome me in a manner…Louisville2 min readLouisville2 min read
May 3Finding readers in a new communityWhen a famous author moves to a new town, no introductions are needed. Local media lead with the news and bookstores stock their shelves with the entire catalog of works by “our celebrity local author.” More power to all concerned. I, on the other hand, am still building an audience…Authors2 min readAuthors2 min read
Apr 18An author says goodbye to Chicago/Rockford — for nowMy impending move to “Kentuckiana” will change how I interact with many readers of my vampire novel, Fiona’s Guardians. For one thing, I won’t schedule any in-person events in northern Illinois for quite some time. …Authors2 min readAuthors2 min read
Jan 20Indie Bookstores Matter — Here’s WhyIndependent Book Store Day will soon mark its 10th anniversary — when’s the last time you shopped indie? Many readers count themselves as supporters but still buy books from national chains or Amazon, a global powerhouse. Hey, I get it: Large corporations can afford to charge less in order to…Independent Bookstore Day4 min readIndependent Bookstore Day4 min read
Jan 19Interview Tips from the Other Side of the Mic“What did you have for breakfast today?” This is the first question I asked people who came to be interviewed at WNIJ, the NPR station where I had an author interview program. This always-unexpected query immediately prompted a Proustian reverie starring a bagel, cup of coffee, or bacon and eggs…Author Interview4 min readAuthor Interview4 min read
