I made my first appearance of the year at the Readiculous Summer Book Fair! Since I wasn’t 100% confident I would make the event, I didn’t announce my attendance until the day of. But I got myself there, and I’m glad I did!

Won the social media lottery with that backdrop placement

This was my first time selling books at a vendor market, so I expected to make zero sales, especially since indie authors frequently report selling few to no books at markets. But this event was different — the organizers at Readiculous Events brought in writers and book vendors from across the Texas panhandle to entice many readers all into one place. I know that’s the foundation of my success, but still…

I sold nine books.

Nine!

Sometimes you think you won’t have a booth theme until you dig around in boxes and discover you’ve already themed your own soul

Seven of them were Beneath the Bluebonnets, featuring my environmental horror “Well Being,” and two were Writing the Mother Road, which contains my near-future soft-apocalypse western “Two Sixes.” Those latter two sold because of the then-upcoming Route 66 centennial celebration, and with six of the authors in attendance with Texas High Plains Writers, every copy sold got all those authors’ signatures!

But I believe I sold those seven copies of Beneath the Bluebonnets because I’m extremely proud of all the work we authors put into that anthology, which likely came through in my sales pitch.

(My family and friends also showed up to say hi, so I got to give my sister her copy of Beneath the Bluebonnets and my dad his copy of Writing the Mother Road for Father’s Day.)

Appears backward, but featuring the “Writer by Nature” shirt available from THPW’s CaféPress

But thinking of Route 66! I also appeared there during the grand finale event along with Texas High Plains Writers. No pics from that day because I mostly nearly passed out from heat exhaustion. Twice. Special thanks to Barbara Brannon and her cowriter Kay Ellington for kindly keeping me hydrated and conscious.

Once again, I didn’t expect to make any sales, especially during a two-hour booth slot, but I sold four more books! (One to Barbara at a discount for literally keeping me alive.)

I’m out of Writing the Mother Road copies now (you can find them on Amazon, all sales benefiting Texas High Plains Writers), but I ordered copies of the anthology that features my favorite of my stories, Little Blue Marble: Warmer Worlds! “I Hope This Email Does Not Find You” continues to receive the most positive feedback of all my works.

You can pick one up at my next appearance, the Fair on the Square in Canyon, TX on July 4th from noon to 3 p.m. at the Texas High Plains Writers booth. I also still have some Beneath the Bluebonnets left, so get them while you can! And have a spooky Independence Day.

I have one more appearance coming up after that at AMA-Con, either August 1st or 2nd (or possibly both) with Texas High Plains Writers again. There might be another appearance in December in the offing, but we’ll see. I can say at least both will be indoors, but additional details soon!

Make sure you come see me!

Thanks for reading!

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Summer’s Latest

Beneath the Bluebonnets: Tales of Terror by Texas Women

Read my eco-horror short “Well Being” in this fabulous new anthology, in which a mother follows strange impulses from tainted water to find her daughter.

From Mary Shelley to Tananarive Due and Mariana Enríquez, women have long shaped horror—often without equal recognition. Living closest to the genre’s edge, women know these fears firsthand: lost autonomy, violence, childbirth, survival.

Set in Texas, a land of haunted histories and increasingly restrictive laws, Beneath the Bluebonnets emerges from the raw intersection of terror and endurance. Written by twelve Texas women writers: R. J. Joseph, Lauren Oertel, L.H. Phillips, Kathleen Kent, Madison Estes, Jess Hagemann, Emma E. Murray, Jae Mazer, Iphigenia Strangeworth, Jacklyn Baker, S.G. Baker and edited by Carmen Gray, this collection is urgent, unflinching, and deeply haunting—stories that refuse to look away.

Writing the Mother Road: Texas High Plains Writers Celebrates Route 66

Route 66 isn’t just a highway—it’s a legend.

In Writing the Mother Road, the Texas High Plains Writers invite you to travel America’s most iconic stretch of pavement through a rich collection of short works inspired by the sights, stories, and spirit of Route 66. Inside these pages, you’ll find essays, memoirs, historical reflections, whimsical adventures, and imaginative tales ranging from science fiction to fantasy—all tied together by the culture and charm of the Mother Road.

For generations, Route 66 has fueled livelihoods, sparked creativity, and shaped the towns and travelers who crossed its path. Now, as the road approaches its centennial, this anthology celebrates the enduring heartbeat of the Texas Panhandle and the unforgettable road that helped define it.