Updates, Writings, Possibilities…

Here we are in mid-August, and it’s time to offer some updates, changes and musings on where we are at this point. I decided to take a couple of days before I wrote about recent happenings, and it’s a good thing I did. Changes have come, and they could be of interest.

First of all, anyone who saw my social media feed or looked here noted that I was headed to Maryland last Saturday for the Book Fair @ Bel Air. I’d been going to the event the last two years, when held at the Armory. This year, the fair took a leap forward and moved to Harford Community College’s sports arena.

I’d been to HCC before a decade ago to see Joe Ely perform a solo show, and he graciously let me interview him afterward. Anyway, ten years on, I’m back for an event that left me with mixed feelings, including that I shall never return.

Why, you ask? Well, let’s go over my view on the whole thing.

Book Fair @ Bel Air, first and foremost, is well run and well organized. Samantha and the gang deserve kudos for making this thing go, especially as it got so big. Over 100 authors, plus influencers, promoters, and such for four hours of hawking, promoting, selling, and signing. Everyone, as ever, was communicative, professional, and most kind. I have not one unkind thing to say about the people.

I, however, cannot come back, and there are many reasons. Bear in mind, these are not complaints about the staff, but I feel, like too many events, it’s gotten too big.

The armory events didn’t see as many authors, but we were packed in, and everyone I felt had an equal shot. This time, we didn’t. I was one of a handful of authors who were at the back of the arena in a line, and essentially called “Contemporary Fiction” authors. That’s fine, though my work is more New/Young Adult. I don’t like any of these labels, to be truthful.

The thing, though, that got me was we faced four rows of authors, packed in, and all the action was down those aisles, with people coming to the outside to see us. I don’t feel we got the traffic as much. I felt marginalized a little bit.

Don’t get me wrong—this was a lot of fun. I saw old friends, fellow authors, and readers who remembered me from last year. One admitted she bought “Live from the Cafe” last year, and still hadn’t gotten to it! That’s fine.

Now the problem with these fairs is the competition. I have sold “okay” the first two years, but this year was make-or-break for me: I didn’t do well. I sold, but not well, while others did much better, and good for them.

Another reason: the table fee is too high. Not as high as some events, but high-end for me. I gave it one more chance out of respect and hope.

Next reason: Bel Air is in Harford County, and it’s a beautiful area to drive through. For me, it’s a long haul, and high heat and humidity got me. Even with AC in my car and in the arena, I ended up with heat exhaustion. At least I got home all right.

The cost, the time, the travel—it’s not worth it. I am not so popular or mainstream or trendy an author that I can do this. Not yet anyway. I’m not upset by that, none of that. How things go, but it reminds me once again I have to choose wisely.

Part of it also was my health—I kept to this appearance because it is the only big show I’m doing all year. I missed Cleveland Concoction in March, and I will do it next year. Again, I lose money, but it’s about the networking, meeting fellow authors, fans, interesting people and guests for my podcast. Always worth it.

We are, to be fair, being priced right out of the buildings. Four-Con is coming soon to the Farm Show Complex right up the street from me. I did it twice, and had to say no after that. Same reason—too expensive, no return, the competition is too much.

So what do we do? Well, I’ll get to that.

It’s also left me wondering what to do next. I don’t plan to quit writing, and I intend to continue my podcast work and production, along with everything else. Promotion on here, on social media and elsewhere only goes so far. I keep reminding myself, I write for me, not the masses.

Some people think I’m out of my fucking mind when I say that. Don’t I want to be relevant? Famous? Rich? An influencer of great note?

NO. NOT LIKE THAT!

If it happens, so it does.

I just don’t give a fuck about any of that. I write because I love to, because my stories are worth sharing, in the hopes that perhaps you will find a good tale, something to entertain, inspire, and even make you think a little bit. I won’t stop doing that.

Now…I did not think I’d have any more events to do this year, but something is happening within Sunbury Press Books. We have fellow author Guy Morris to thank for this, and his creation, the AEN.

No, it’s not a wrestling promotion. Out in Seattle, Guy created a network that gets indie authors into small events, largely non-author ones, for not much money, and gives more authors a chance to run a table and engage. A lot less money. And assistance.

We’ve all been trying to do things ourselves. Also, we need to remind ourselves in a group event that it is not a competition, a free-for-all, a fight to see who sells more books. We’re here to work with one another.

I will be joining my fellows at a series of craft fairs, holiday events, and other such things in Berks and Lehigh Counties. There are two events in Leesport, which I aim to be at; plus, others in Reading.

AND…while writing this, I got back into the Easton Book Festival! Bravo for small miracles!

The last day of the event in October is a Small Press/Indie Book event at the Sigal Museum. What a great time that was, and I’ll be there!

Hope arises once more.

Okay, now the serious issue must be dealt with next Monday. I will be at Hershey Medical Center for my gallbladder removal. I’m not bothered by this; a simple procedure, and I’ve been told I’ll be home, same day.

Let us hope. I’ll be on a no-heavy-lift restriction, so I’ll need a Sherpa at the first Leesport event.

What? No, I’ll not be going up Everest, and Tenzing Norgay’s progeny will not be there, but a helper will be needed to haul my books and stuff. How it goes.

I’ll have an updated schedule soon.

So much I want to write, to do, to continue with.

I fear I have managed to find myself even more disgusted with social media than before. As you may know, I’ve been banned for life from TikTok — I made no threats, did not hit on anyone, nothing, but speak your damn mind only works for the right political/social/religious persuasions.

Here in Pennsylvania, our Attorney General, Dave Sunday (sounds like an Old West lawman, but he strikes me as a drugstore cowboy, personally) is suing TikTok. All the reasons we know.

To be honest, Sunday thinks he’s going to be governor one day, and he might just do it. Not on the back of a social media company, though.

Anyway, my TikTok experience, at my age, was just as bad as it is for any age. I fucking hated it.

I hate how I felt after using it. What a waste of my time and life.

That said, I’ll say something else, even though I’m in broadcasting, radio primarily?

I hate talk radio. Political talk, sports talk, all talk, where the host insists on doing all the talking. I hate all of it, none of it’s good. None of it!

Get the picture? Yes, I host two podcasts, but they are discussions, where I endeavor to let the guests talk, and we can have a good, and interesting conversation. I hope I do that.

There’s a gulf here. I don’t reach a lot of people, partly because I don’t want it. I want people to read my writing, and yes, perhaps support it, buy it. But at what cost? To myself? To my being?

My writing is forever in search of its readers, and we are all that way. Comes in time, and if we’re lucky, we’re still alive to enjoy it.

I hope for it. I hope you find something good in what I do. Some people have.

Onward we go, and I don’t give a fuck who doesn’t like it.

Peace, the Fuck Out.