Welcome, new folks!

Hi, there. If you've joined the mailing list recently, I want to make sure you get your free Frosthelm book, Traitors Unseen. If you haven't gotten it, you can get it free here (the site will ask you to sign up for this newsletter, which you're already getting) or here from Smashwords. It's also on Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. Please, enjoy with my compliments.

My very first convention

I worked with an advertising consultant earlier this year on some images to use for ads, and she also suggested I try selling my books and games at local sci-fi, fantasy, and game conventions.

Here are two images I had an artist create for my books. The first is from the opening chapter of Flames Over Frosthelm, where Stennis Shortsaber meets the sorceress Novara. You can see the mysterious amulet in Stennis' hand.

The second is from Daros, after Brecca Vereen's escape pod crashes to the surface.

I took a little time to get the con idea going, including applying to be a vendor at couple cons that never wrote back, but I am finally taking the plunge in a little over a week. I'll be at Crash City Con in Roanoke, VA, which runs August 23-25. This is one suggested for me by Mike and Ro when I spoke with them on their Bald and Balding YouTube channel, and I might even see them there.

This event is a gaming-focused event, but it includes all the other interests and trappings around that (cosplay, comics, anime, fantasy, sci-fi). I've never been to this one, and I've only been to a few small cons, mostly the What the Hell Con at Guilford College where I used to work.

I have no idea if this will work, but I think I'll learn valuable things regardless. I don't think I'll necessarily make back my costs, but I hope to figure out how this works and if it's a good fit for me. The vendor registration here was $100, and the hotel will run me about $250. I've spent maybe $600 on other stuff - booth decorations, book stands, a display shelf, a hard-sided plastic box to carry things, a pop-up banner, a table runner, some giveaway bookmarks and stickers - but most of that I can use at other cons and events in the future. Here's some of what I got, set up in my dining room.

And here's my elderly rescue cat, Sadie, hanging out by my little acrylic SPSFC champion sign I got.

I'm not a natural salesperson, and I am an introvert when it comes to chatting with strangers, but I can set aside my feelings of awkwardness - I had to do that a lot for recruiting events and other such things back when I was a professor.

Best case, I meet cool people, talk about my books and games, and maybe sell some. Worst case, I blow some money and sit by myself surrounded by my branded swag in a conference center ballroom for two and a half days, working on my new book on my laptop. Either way, I learn something at an event that shouldn't be too crowded or too huge, and I set myself up for doing a bigger event in the future.

If you're in the Roanoke area and would like to grab a bookmark, a game, or a signed paperback, let me know!

Writing updates

I'm still working on my next sci-fi novel that I talked about last time, just getting to the point where things are about to take a big, lurching twist for the main character. I'm at about 1/3 of the way done with that, I think, although given how I write without an outline, it's hard to say exactly.

I'm also working (slower than I should) on an audiobook for Kenai, which I hope to have out within a month or two.

Some stories to try

I'm part of several author collectives, and we share each other's work to try to help all of us reach more readers. In many cases, the books we share are are free or discounted. Sometimes, they ask that you sign up for a newsletter like this one. Here are some new books I have to share this month:

First, I have Murder on the Interstellar Express by Gregory Little. This is the story of a woman with dreams who ends up in indentured servitude on a cryoship, accused of murder. It looks like a really fun sci-fi mystery - I bought a copy myself to give it a try.

Second, I have Once We Flew by Nikky Lee, a sci-fi story of a woman and a society shipwrecked on a desert world, one that gives some of them uncanny powers. Great stuff, all of it, and looks exciting. Only $1.99 on Amazon at the moment.

Next, I have Apache Tomahawk by Tom Haase, a story is about an Apache girl whose family is attacked by unknown assailants. Defending her family's artifacts, and mindful of legends of people from the stars, she prepares for an uncertain future. This is a free download, so you can give it a try at no cost.

Next, I have Rescue by Edita Petrick, the third in her Rim Chronicles series. It's about a girl in a stratified society on a far-distant planet. As she uncovers secrets about her past, she's forced into ever more dangerous efforts to discover the truth about her parents. This is on sale for $0.99 at the moment.

Finally, I have Attempts by Issa, a story about a young man struggling with the choice of whether to flee the consequences of a botched robbery. Leaving his life and his friends behind, he embarks on a journey of discovery, of foreign lands, new friends, and his own strengths. This is a free book sample, so if it sounds interesting, or if you love one-word-name artistic people like Madonna, Sting, and Cher, give it a try.

Thanks

Thanks so much for signing up for my newsletter. Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for upcoming books! I love hearing from people. If you've read one of my books and wouldn't mind leaving a review anywhere (Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, LibraryThing, Indie Story Geek) I'd really appreciate it! Each review helps me reach more readers. 

I hope you to see you in Roanoke next week if you're local and available!

May the Bloodmother watch over you - 

Dave