Book Cons

These are the best places to meet and engage readers. I had a table at SmutPalooza 2026 yesterday. This was in Hennessey, Oklahoma, and it slapped.

If you're a reader: a little behind the scenes.

Authors are incredibly picky. Our tables must look just-so. We bring in boxes and wagons of tablecloths, goodies, and props. One author is threading tulle onto a large bar above her table. Another is setting up shelves for her wares. Almost everyone has a table runner or large banner they display behind them.

It's a production. For you. And we LOVE it!

If you're an author: a little behind the scenes.

If you're instructed it's a first come, first serve table selection, you arrive when the organizer gets there. Secure the table of your dreams. Bring tablecloths. Always post your prices on the table. Be generous with goodie bags and swag. Engage passers-by. 

Give them something unique. If you can afford it, give them something discounted.

If you're like me, with mobility issues, then take a cushion for your back/butt/wherever you need it. Situate your table where you can reach the important things without having to stand. 

Don't forget your meds or pills for your headache/allergies/body aches.

Be prepared to have your socials handy. I had a couple readers add me on Insta and TikTok while they were in front of me. 

Make sure you have enough business cards. I put mine in my goodie bags. 

Bring pens.

If you have one, bring a newsletter sign-up sheet.

Be appreciative. Be approachable. Be AMAZING!

I knew it!

Here my short little ass decided to upload "The Gordons" as a preorder. Cool beans.

That entails:

Bowker and assigning an ISBN to both the eBook and paperback.

Running the title through Kindle Create.

Uploading kpf to Kindle for eBook.

Uploading docx to Kindle for paperback.

Filling out all the keywords and categories and everything else they could think of

Designing the book flat for the title

Great.

But remember how I bitched about my crazy little self assigning like four different titles to "The Gordons"? Because I thought about making it my fourth book but then decided on fifth. 

Did I play in my iCloud for several minutes finding the right document?

Fuck yes, I did.

Only to turn around and do the same when it came to uploading the paperback.

FFS

My wee eyes are burning. And it's not even 11:30 am.

Sorry, Mike. It's the damn truth.

Still need to work on my holiday short story. 

Finish up my newsletter.

Start on the Rabbit God.

Encourage this shitshow of a body to produce some energy.

Adrenaline?

Um...a spark of something?

Lick a battery?

It's been FOUR days!

Time flies when life is beating that ass.

Don't even remember the weekend. Monday and Tuesday? Watched the Heathens. Middle child's daughters. Oh, but I love them. LeeLee and AJ.

The goings on:

Watching the heathens.

They’re playing with dolls.

LeeLee apparently has a baby in her family.

LeeLee’s baby: “take your butt home.”

LeeLee: “those were her first words!”

Mimi nearly needed an inhaler. I posted not a couple days earlier about not talking to me while I'm in a waiting room. It was perfect timing.

Ordered three or four books from Amazon.

Excited beyond measure about this one:

A Dictionary of Color Combinations

It will be a reference book, of course.

Also, The Book of Japanese Folklore.

Irish Fairy Tales and Folklore.

Oh, four.

The Well-Spoken Thesaurus.

I cannot wait to dive inside and learn more. My ADHD is having a little fiesta.

Tomorrow is writing, of course. I've taken a bit of time off for myself.

Time to get back to it.

Always.

You had one job, Amazon...

...and you've failed spectacularly.

My spoiled ginger son, Murphy, has a certain flavor wet food for the AM and one for the PM. I try to order ahead of time so there is no lapse. Because, heavens forbid. 🙄

But, the change of season has Mr. Man eating two cans in the AM. I was not prepared!

I immediately hop on the 'zon because I guess it's an odd flavor to stock in the stores??? and order more.

great

Except...suddenly, they're changing delivery dates, and I do the math and am not happy.

FFS

It's a 24 pack of Fancy Feast. 

Too much to ask.

Now, I'm having to do an early morning pick up at a WM that is NOT the closest. 

Because...Murphy.

Chicken boy is practically under my office chair, as I type. Looking like the adorable heathen he is.

I'm having a wonderful case of executive dysfunction right now. 

That "task paralysis" part.

And I hate it, quite honestly. 

I swear, my brain likes playing chicken with itself.

Do I need to get on it?

Damn it, Spike!

I can relate.

There's got to be a manual override, right?

RIGHT???

Well, well, well...

...happy Thursday or whatever this is.

I try to blog at least every other day. Ya girl has been slacking.

So let's catch up, shall we?

Off to the doc today with GI issues. Bloating. Miserable. Burping. Nauseous. All the fun.

Ethan thinks it's a stomach ulcer (My second! 🥳) and started me on a pill I take four times a day. Cool beans. I'll conveniently fit that in with the three one-week pill planners I have for morning, mid, and evening.

I also have a trigger finger.

Okay. I've heard of trigger finger but never knew what it was. Months ago, I noticed my right middle finger would hitch and then pop back. I assumed it was from overuse. But nay, my good people, stupid finger won't slide into the stupid sheath so I'm stuck with a finger who has had better days.

Good/bad news?

Apparently it's an easy surgery!

Pardon me.

Fuck me.

WHAT???

Yep. Sure. Ethan explained how they go into the finger and clip the nerve, and I'm doing the squirm in my chair because it's a hell of a visual. 

I asked if they did anything with my wrist. He said no. Only the finger.

sigh

Not like I use these bastards to write books or anything. 

My face

So woot for that referral. 

FFS

I want to Google but I so don't.

Kinda like when I had my hip replacement. 

Give me the animated version!

In other, Crystal's body is fucked up, news, I received my handicap placard.

I'm still sitting with this. 

Back in the damn day, I was a work horse. A hoss. Give me the task, I'd bust through it.

From lifting heavy hydraulic arms to working sixty to seventy-two hour weeks to barely sleeping because the kids were in half-day school. 

I did that shit.

And I did it well.

Now, my body is a little bitch most times.

Chronic pain is bullshit. 

Surprise pain is bullshit.

The regular pain is bullshit.

Sharp.

Achy.

Stabby.

Throbbing.

Burning.

PAIN...is bullshit.

Hurts my legs to walk for too long. And for a woman who used to be on her feet in steel-toed shoes for twelve hours at a time, I'm trying to reconcile myself.

Does it help?

Fuck, yes.

I used the placard one day for a WM trip that was too small to have a pickup. Saved my blessed legs and back. Started hurting after I crawled back into my car AFTER the trip. Not too bad during. (I lean on carts.)

Do I feel ten kinds of horrible for having to use it?
Yeah.

Like I somehow need to suffer to prove my fucking disability. 

I suffer enough.

Now.

If the rest of me would calm the fuck down...

Release dates for 2027 titles

Progress.

I've actually made some.

How lovely.

Am I using this day, as I stated several blogs ago, for rest?

Sure am not.

Gotta take the better days when I have them.

Working on my erotic short story for an ASB Publishing anthology coming out for Christmas. Sorting Rabbit God out in my wee grey matter. Editing Macaria for a December release. The eBook will be a dollar cheaper on preorder than publishing date. 

And as I sent October goals to my PA, I actually looked at them.

I mean...really looked.

👀

JANUARY--WARRIOR AND THE SPARROW-ROMANTASY

FEBRUARY--THE GORDONS-PLOT TWIST BK 5

MARCH--FIRE GODDESS-ELEMENTAL GUARDIAN SERIES BK 1

APRIL--THE RABBIT GOD-PLOT TWIST BK 6

MAY--WATER GODDESS-ELEM GUAR BK2

JULY--WIND GODDESS-ELEM GUAR BK 3

AUGUST--GEORGE SAINT-PLOT TWIST BK7

SEPTEMBER--EARTH GODDESS ELEM GUAR BK 4

The Elemental Guardian series needs editing. It was heavily edited 20 years ago by a professional. I'll still comb through it with the fine tooth. The four books are the entire series.

Warrior and the Sparrow will also be edited. Same for it. But, you can always edit. Always.

Do I enjoy it?

Fuck no.

Does the book become better for it?

Always.

Looks like I've tracked off the end of the year. I'm not sure about that, yet.

We all know I have three gdaughter bdays in September. October is the kids' bdays. Then...hello holidays!

And I can flex release dates except for the first two titles of 2027 in my Plot Twist series. I'll make sure they are on time and in the best shape.

Gave myself a bit of time between "The Rabbit God" and "George Saint".

You just never KNOW what may be around the corner.

Do I want to start George now?

YES!

But I need to sit my ass down and think of the chronology. I can't go willy-nilly into it.

I really want to, though.

My chaotic nature is craving it.

Because LA Bennett thought she'd been through it. But wait until Mayor George Saint presents her a problem.

Nothing much can rattle our battle-tested LA.

But this will.

Ace

Ace is an overabundantly egocentric Yoruba deity. The third book in my Plot Twist series is his story. Because this man doesn't believe for one second that LA is there to help him. He assures her it's the other way around.

Between his highness and a kitchen renovation, LA is about to lose what's left of her sense of humor, her mind, and her so-called sanity. Juggling both takes a lot more out of our anti-heroine than she expected. Ace refuses to divulge anything that could help. 

Rhagus takes the lead as LA struggles with new revelations and old scars that never truly healed.

Ace is available now.