Dublin Event Was Great, One More Left

I had a great time at the Dublin, California, Barnes & Noble.

The Dublin, California, Barnes & Noble event very well. I had a great time, I met quite a few new readers, and Manny his crew of booksellers was fantastic. The first person I met was there just to see me and she bought the whole set! Even if they didn’t buy a book, several people stopped by just to say “hi” or ask questions.

I have one more event lined up for The Dark Terror book tour. The tour will wrap up at the same store where I held my very first book signing for The Dark Truth, the Arden Fair Barnes & Noble in Sacramento. This will be my third event at this location, and like Modesto, Barnes & Noble shoppers at Arden Fair have been very good to me.

I don’t think this will be the last event in support of The Dark Passage series. I have had a preliminary discussion with Books on B in Hayward about a Halloween event. A vampire-themed costume event at a quirky, fun indie neighborhood bookstore sounds like a helluva idea. Stay tuned for information about more events.

If you are in the Central Valley in northern California, come on out to the Arden Fair Barnes & Noble this Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m. I’d love to see you!

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Book Tour Going Strong

The second event in The Dark Terror book tour, a signing at the Modesto Barnes & Noble location last Saturday, went very well. I met some new readers, some new Barnes & Noble booksellers, and got reacquainted with loyal fans and friends.

The next event is this Saturday night in San Francisco. I have teamed up with the award-winning Vampire Tour of San Francisco for a very special event in support of my latest release, The Dark Terror. The event gets underway at 7:00 p.m. and the cost is $25 per person (please bring cash).

Kitty Nasarow is the proprietor of the San Francisco Vampire Tour.

I’ll have books for sale and a set of The Dark Passage series to give away. So, join me and “Mina Harker” for bloody fun in San Francisco this Saturday night.

On Saturday, April 13, I’ll be at the Dublin, Calif., Barnes & Noble along the I-580 corridor at Hacienda Crossings. This will be my second event at this location. The Dark Terror book tour wraps up Saturday, April 20, at Arden Fair Mall’s Barnes & Noble in Sacramento. This will be my third appearance at the Arden Fair Barnes & Noble.

Don’t let the look on my face fool you, I had a great time in Modesto last weekend.

The Dark Terror Book Tour Underway

Audiobook narrator Cheryl May reads a passages from The Dark Terror at Books on B.

The Dark Terror book tour got underway at Books on B in Hayward, Calif., today and I had a wonderful time. My audiobook narrator, Cheryl May, was able to attend and she delivered a stirring reading of a chapter from my new book.

Renee Rettig, the proprietor of Books on B, is a breath of fresh air and she hosted a fabulous event complete with snacks and customers. This is the second event I have had the pleasure of holding at Renee’s fantastic neighborhood bookstore and it looks like it won’t be the last. We are already discussing doing something fun for Halloween!

Thank you to all who attended today – my friends, store customers and loyal readers. You make writing and sharing these stories that rattle around in my head that much more enjoyable.

The next event is set for Saturday – I’ll be at Barnes & Noble in Modesto, my third event at that location. The event gets underway at Noon. I look forward to seeing some familiar faces as well as meeting new readers.

First Two Events for Next Book Tour

After locking in the Modesto Barnes & Noble, where I have hosted two successful book signing event, for March 30, I have tentatively scheduled an event at Books on B in Hayward, Calif., for Sunday, March 24. More information to come as I work out the details with the store’s fantastic proprietor, Renee Rettig. We teamed up for a great signing and discussion last year and I am looking forward to another fun day at a wonderful indie bookstore.

Sunday, March 24
1 – 3 p.m. PT
Books on B
1014 B St
Hayward, CA 94541

I’ll be at the Modesto, Calif., Barnes & Noble Saturday, March 30, starting at Noon. I’ll be on hand to sign copies of my new book, The Dark Terror. Copies of the first two – The Dark Truth and The Dark Descent will also be available. Don’t worry, I’ll sign those too!

Saturday, March 30
Noon – whenever
Barnes & Noble
Promenade Shopping Center
3501 McHenry Avenue Suite E
Modesto, CA 95356

209-521-1118

Second Book Tour Comes to a Close

Yours truly at the Dublin, Calif., Barnes & Noble.

The book tour in support of my second novel, The Dark Descent, wrapped up yesterday with a signing event at the Dublin, Calif., Barnes & Noble store. Geographically, this store is centrally located and offered the best opportunity for friends and colleagues to stop by. Several did just that. So, thank you to the Cortez family, the Griffin-Bailey family, Wayne Deboe, Bill Soliday and Tony Khing for coming by, picking up a book or two and supporting my writing endeavors.

Since The Dark Descent’s release on April 23, I participated in two panel discussions and four signings. I sold dozens of books, handed out just as many bookmarks and postcards, and met even more folks. During the past two months, my first novel, The Dark Truth, was a finalist for the International Vampire Arts and Film Festival’s Golden Stake vampire literature award.

I’ve also had the opportunity to meet and hang out with some groovy authors – K.M. Riley, Mike Esola, Mark London Williams, and Samantha Heuwagen. It’s been great to get to know folks who share my passion for fiction writing. It’s also good to know that we are experiencing the same trial and tribulations as we begin our journeys, kick start existing careers or change directions along the way.

There have been some funny moments as well.

I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of the wonderful folks who have stopped by to chat, buy a book, take a postcard or just say “hi.” If you did take a postcard I hope you do decide to purchase and give The Dark Passage series a shot.

Different things work for different people when it comes to indie or small house book marketing. Some writers buy ads on social media platforms or Amazon, some send press releases to various publications, some make appearances on radio, television and podcasts. Some do readings. Some do all of these things and more. I have explored numerous avenues trying to get my books to readers. I have found that I enjoy book signings at Barnes & Noble stores as part of my marketing campaign.

I’m still finding way through these sometimes murky waters and those of you who have decided to take a chance on me and my novels because of a conversation we had at a bookstore – I thank you. And I’d like to thank everyone who has bought and read the books so far, my friends and colleagues who have come out to support, and those folks who stopped by just to see what it was all about.

You never know, I just may take the next book tour out of Northern California.

Next Book Signing Event is at the Dublin Barnes & Noble June 23

The last scheduled event for The Dark Descent book tour is fast approaching!

All my East Bay peeps! I’ll be at the Dublin, Calif., Barnes & Noble the weekend after Father’s Day on Saturday, June 23, starting at 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 23
2:00 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
Hacienda Crossings
4972 Dublin Boulevard
Dublin, CA 94568
925.560.1495

Fun Panel at SF Comic Con

(l-r) K.M. Riley, Mark London Williams, Jerry Knaak, and Samantha Heuwagen take part in a panel discussion at the 2018 SF Comic Con.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to take part in an intimate panel discussion on fresh takes in science fiction, horror and dystopian fiction with three fellow authors from my publishing house, Trifecta Publishing House, at the 2018 SF Comic Con at the Oakland Convention Center in downtown Oakland, Calif..

Samantha Heuwagen (Dawn Among the Stars) made the trip from Atlanta and we were joined by K.M. Riley (Fever Rising) and Mark London Williams (Max Random and the Zombie 500).  On Saturday, Mark and Samantha joined me at Sláinte in Jack London Square in Oakland for an episode of the Get the Knaak podcast. Sláinte is an Irish pub with a literary theme and features a giant portrait of Oscar Wilde on the wall.

The four of us enjoyed discussing our books, our processes, and a lively Q&A session. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and it’s always good to spend time with kindred spirits and reach new readers.

The journey as a novelist takes many twists and turns and attending and participating in events like this are worthwhile attractions along the way.

Thank You, Modesto!

Yours truly at the Modesto Barnes and Noble.

I know the headline seems redundant, but sincerely, Barnes and Noble Modesto was fantastic last weekend. My second event there went better than the first. Thank you to Josh Mckay who set it up and continues to support me.

I think Barnes and Noble Modesto needs to put me on the payroll. Apparently I have become the Barnes and Noble greeter. My book signing table was located near the entrance to the store and more than one person appeared to think I was a store employee stationed there to welcome them to the store despite the sign and stack of books that surrounded me.

One particular gentleman and I had a funny exchange. I said to him, “Hi, how are you sir?” He responded, “I’m looking for The Awakening.” I said, “I don’t work here.” Had I been on my game, I would have asked, “Which one?”

“You’re useless,” was his retort. Other shoppers nearby overheard and enjoyed a hearty laugh. As he asked customer service about the book he wanted, I called out to him, “I’m just sitting here breathing your air.” He responded with, “I guess you are.”

A young lady waked by. I gave a similar greeting and she responded pleasantly. She proceeded to the nearby new released rack. A woman walked in right behind her. I asked, “Do you like vampire stories?” She replied, “My daughter does,” and gestured to the woman who had just walked by me. We had a good laugh and she purchased a copy of The Dark Truth for her daughter.

I look forward to my next event at the Modesto Barnes and Noble. Thank you to Veronica, Eddie and German, and all of the new people I met and especially those who purchased The Dark Truth and/or The Dark Descent.

Thank you, Arden Fair!

Yours truly at the Arden Fair Barnes & Noble on Saturday, May 26, 2018, which just happened to be World Dracula Day.

This past Saturday, the Arden Fair Barnes & Noble hosted a book signing for yours truly, it was my second such event at that store. I have enjoyed my two best book signing sale days at this location. The staff is courteous and helpful, and the customers are wonderful.

Many people stopped by to chat, and even if they didn’t purchase, many walked away with a postcard or a bookmark. Both The Dark Truth and The Dark Descent were available and I was stunned by how many folks purchased both books.

The event coincided with World Dracula Day – the anniversary of the first publication of one of my greatest influences, Dracula by Bram Stoker, May 26, 1897. I didn’t plan it that way but it’s heady stuff to be signing copies of your vampire novels on the anniversary of the publication of this seminal work.

Thank you, Arden Fair Barnes & Noble. I hope to do another event with you.

More events are planned. I still have three on the calendar. I will be at the Modesto, Calif., Barnes & Noble for the second time this Saturday starting at noon.

Then, on Sunday, June 10 at 3 p.m., I will be part of a panel discussion with fellow authors Samantha Heuwagen, K.M. Riley and Mark London Williams at the San Francisco Comic Con at the Oakland Convention Center in downtown Oakland, Calif.

The last event currently on the calendar is a book signing event at the Dublin, Calif., Barnes & Noble along the I-580 corridor at Hacienda Crossings.

Please come out to one of my events, I’d love to see you. Pick up a signed copy of one of my books and chat vampires, Gothic horror, literature, or just stop and say “hi.”

Book Tour for The Dark Descent Continues

The book tour in support of my second novel, The Dark Descent, continues this weekend in Sacramento. This will be my second appearance at the Arden Fair Barnes & Noble. The first, which took place back in February, was my first signing event ever. Head over to the Where to Buy page and find out how to get your copies of my books if you can’t make the events.

Return Engagement in Sacramento

I’ll be at the Arden Fair Mall Barnes & Noble location this Saturday, starting at 11:00 a.m. Come out and get a copy of my new book, The Dark Descent, and get it signed. I met some great folks the last time and I look forward to meeting many more. Of course, you can order the book ahead of time and bring it with you! Copies of my first novel, The Dark Truth, will also be available.

Saturday, May 26
11:00 a.m.
Barnes & Noble
1725 Arden Way
Sacramento, CA 95815

And, a Return Engagement in Modesto

Can’t make it to Sacramento? Come out to the Modesto, Calif., Barnes & Noble Saturday,  June 2, starting at Noon and get a signed copy of The Dark Descent. Copies of The Dark Truth will also be available. Order ahead of time and bring them with you to get them signed! This will be my second signing event at the Modesto Barnes & Noble.

Saturday, June 2
Noon
Barnes & Noble
Promenade Shopping Center
3501 McHenry Avenue Suite E
Modesto, CA 95356

SF Comic Con

I’ll be joined by fellow Trifecta Publishing House authors Samantha Heuwagen, K.M. Riley, and Mark London Williams on a panel about new trends in science fiction and horror literature at the SF Comic Con at the Oakland Convention Center in downtown Oakland on Sunday, June 10 from 3 – 4 p.m. Get tickets now and plan to attend!

From the Comic Con panel schedule document:

3 FROM TRIFECTA: WEST COAST IMPRINT, BAY AUTHORS, NEW TWISTS ON SF &
HORROR
3:00pm – 4:00pm // Rm. 205
Three Bay Area authors, from new West Coast imprint Trifecta Publishing, talk about their new book releases, featuring S.F.-based vampires, L.A.-based zombies, and a near-future U.S. in dystopic disarray. Jerry Knaak, YA author Mark London Williams, and K.M. Riley will hold forth on current releases, and dark tales to come, with late-breaking bonus panelist Samantha Heuwagen expanding the conversation to the very cosmos itself.

Sunday, June 10
3 – 4 p.m.
SF Comic Con
Oakland Convention Center
550 10th St.
Oakland, CA 94607