Happy Thanksgiving Faithful Readers!

Boy, 2020 has been one … helluva year. Between the COVID-19 global pandemic, the election and a whole host of other things I don’t care to mention in this forum, challenging doesn’t begin to describe what kind of year it’s been.

However, I still find things to be thankful for, and my faithful readers are right there at the top of the list. Three years ago last week, I realized a lifelong dream of becoming a published author. My first novel, The Dark Truth, was published by Trifecta Publishing House (to whom I am eternally grateful) November 17, 2017. It took 13 months to write the book and another six or so to bring it to market. My one-book deal quickly became a three-book deal, and The Dark Descent and The Dark Terror were published in fairly rapid succession. It’s amazing what one can accomplish when on deadline.

One of the things that I have come to enjoy is the book signing/reading event. Thanks to the support of Barnes & Noble and several independent booksellers, I was able to host three successful book tours. I met readers and shoppers in Alameda, Dublin, Sacramento, Davis, Modesto, Emeryville, Oakland, Manteca, Gilroy, Antioch, Concord, Folsom, and Hayward (forgive me if I missed anyone). I enjoyed many memorable interactions with hundreds of people. I’m thankful to each and every person who stopped by to buy a book, paused to chat or ask questions, and those who actually came to the bookstore just to see ME.

I’ve also had several opportunities to appear on radio and TV shows and podcasts to discuss the writing craft and promote my books. From Late Hits on SiriusXM NFL Radio to A Little Bit of Everything with Angelica Goncalves, I’ve been given fantastic platforms to discuss my passion.

Each book features an acknowledgements section, you’ll have to read the novels to see who has helped me along the way (wink).

Prior to 2020, I had rarely experienced rejection as a writer, if any. Sure, the redlined edits in the first thing I ever wrote for publication almost made me cry. But I learned. I hustled as a sports writer for a small newspaper in Baltimore covering Canadian football of all things. I learned. I spent 20 years working for a professional football team. I learned. However, this year, I’ve learned the pain of rejection – personally and professionally. I wrote a short story that I submitted to a few magazines that declined. And I experienced a professional setback. But I also experienced a professional writing win recently. So, it’s not all bad. I’m not going to get into detail because it’s not that kind of party. Let’s just say I have learned.

I just wanted to take a few moments and a few words to say thank you to everyone who has bought my books, those who have read or listened to them, the folks who left reviews, those who gave me a chance to talk about my work, the people who visit this website or follow me on Twitter or Instagram, or “like” my Facebook page and follow me there.

I truly hope that as this crazy, tumultuous year comes to a close, you can find something to be thankful for in your life. I hope you have been lucky enough to have not lost anyone close to you this year. If you have lost someone, I offer my heartfelt condolences.

I write for me. I publish and share for you. If my stories or posts have entertained you in any way, that makes me happy. I am truly thankful for all of you who have supported me and those who continue to do so. Thank you all. Rest assured, there is more to come. That’s a promise.

Happy Thanksgiving Faithful Readers,

Jerry

Happy Holidays Everyone! Support Your Local Bookstore

This year has been unprecedented in so many ways, for yours truly as well. The global Coronavirus pandemic rages on, large numbers of people are out of work or working from home, businesses continue to suffer as in-person patronage is restricted or shut-down all together. That doesn’t mean there isn’t optimism or reasons for hope. The holiday season is upon us, and as we have to take extraordinary precautions or cancel plans altogether, we can still find reasons to be thankful and rejoice – hence the proclamation in the headline.

I have never been a particularly optimistic person, and if you’ve read my books, you know that I lean into the darker things in life and entertainment. My escapism leads me into the macabre. It helps me deal with the realities of day-to-day life. My reading and movie and TV watching is on the darker side as well.

But you might be surprised to know that I adore the holidays. It helps that, to me, the holiday season starts with Halloween. One of the areas of the economy that has been hit the hardest are independent bookstores. A GoFundMe was started to save City Lights in San Francisco, and now it’s in the news that The Strand in New York is in big trouble as well.

There is a tremendous convenience ordering from Amazon, especially this time of year. And when it comes to books, Amazon and Barnes & Noble are great ways to order reading material online. However, if you can support your local indie bookstore in someway, I encourage you to do so.

My books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online yes, and many times Amazon will drop the prices (for whatever reason), and Barnes & Noble stores here in Northern California have been tremendously supportive of yours truly. However, numerous local indie stores have been supportive as well. If they offer in-store shopping or curbside pick-up, please try to support them this holiday season. Of course, I’d love for you to pick up a few copies of my writings, but hey, that’s up to you. If they don’t carry my books in-store, ask for them or you can order through their online store (if they have one).

So, if you have a book lover on your holiday shopping list, or just need new books for yourself, try to support your local indie stores.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Books on B – Hayward, California
Books, Inc. – Alameda, California
Mockingbird Books – Tracy, California
The Avid Reader – Davis, California
City Lights – San Francisco

My First Book Festival and a Special Halloween Treat

I decided to take a plunge recently and buy a table at the Great Valley Bookfest. I have been tempted to attend or have a table at other book festivals and just haven’t seen my way clear to do either. As an author, you just can’t beat the price for a table in Authors Alley.

My table at the Great Valley Bookfest.

My table was next to one occupied by a couple of prolific fantasy authors, John Harrison and C.E.R. Ellwood. We hit it off and had a great time chatting about writing and book marketing. I also sat with and enjoyed talking with J.L. Rallios, author of The Gopher & the Erstwhile Wizard.

I didn’t know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised at how well organized and staffed the event was. There were plenty of of helpful volunteers on hand as well. I met some great new readers and had fun chatting with everyone who stopped by my table.

My set up at Books on B.

This past weekend, I had a return engagement at Books on B in Hayward, California. I teamed up with fellow author Jay Hartlove for a special Halloween signing. As always, Renee Rettig, the proprietor of the store, is always the hostess with the mostest.

Jay and I, in costume, enjoyed chatting with shoppers and new readers. Books on B is a fantastic indie bookstore, one I highly recommend if you are ever in Hayward.

Halloween Team-Up

I am teaming up with author Jay Hartlove for a Halloween event at Books on B in Hayward, Calif., on October 26.

I am happy to announce that I am teaming up with author Jay Hartlove and the fine folks at Books on B in Hayward, California, for a special Halloween book signing/reading event!

The fangtastic festivities are set for Saturday, October 26, from 3 – 5:00 p.m. and Jay and I will serve as the lead-up to ZombieCon Hayward, which staggers along starting at 5:00 p.m.

As you know, I write horror fiction and The Dark Passage Series – The Dark Truth, The Dark Descent and The Dark Terror – will be available. Jay writes urban fantasy and his novel, Goddess Chosen, the first in the Goddess Rising series, will be available.

Jay and I will regale our undead audience with select readings from our works and we will mesmerize with discussion about our tales. Costumery is highly encouraged.

This will be my third event at Books on B and I can’t thank the enchanting proprietor, Renee Rettig, enough for her willingness to host an evening of incantations and conjuring.

The Dark Terror Book Tour Comes to a Close

The Dark Terror book tour has come to a close. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to buy a book or just chat. For those of you who walked away with just a bookmark or a postcard, I hope you give the books a read. 

Yours truly at the final event of The Dark Terror book tour at the Arden Fair Barnes & Noble in Sacramento. This was my third event at Arden Fair, which was also the location for my first ever.

Thanks to Barnes & Noble Dublin (Manny and his staff), Modesto (Alisa and her crew) and Arden Fair in Sacramento (Erik and his crew), and Books on B (the inimitable Renee Rettig) in Hayward, California, for hosting me and helping to make this tour successful. Thank you to Kitty Nasarow for the team up with her San Francisco Vampire Tour. Thank you to Cheryl May, my audiobok narrator, for coming down for the Books on B event. And of course, thanks to my publisher, Trifecta Publishing House.

I met quite a few new readers this time around and re-acquainted myself with some loyal ones as well. Friends and coworkers stopped by, some acquaintances did as well. I encourage any and all who purchased books to drop a review when it is convenient for you to do so.

If you didn’t get a chance to come out and get a book, head over to the “Where to Buy” page and order a copy in your favorite format or for your preferred device.

So, a big thank you to everyone who continues to support my novel writing endeavors. As I am fond of saying, I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I love writing them.

Only Two Events Left

The first three events on The Dark Terror book tour have gone well and there are only two more to go. After signings at Books on B in Hayward, California, and Barnes and Noble in Modesto, and the San Francisco Vampire Tour, I’ll be wrapping up with signings at the Dublin Barnes & Noble at Hacienda Crossings (tomorrow) and the Arden Fair Barnes and Noble in Sacramento next Saturday.

Tomorrow’s event in Dublin will be my second at that location and next Saturday’s will be my third in Sacramento.

Kitty Nasarow, a.k.a. “Mina Harker,” gives a great vampire tour in San Francisco. Photo by Tony Gonzales.

I hope those who are able can come out to one of the next two events. I have a lot of fun meeting new readers and catching up with old friends and acquaintances.

The Dark Truth, The Dark Descent and The Dark Terror will be available at both events, and of course I will sign them for you.

Of course, my writing endeavors have just begun and The Dark Passage Series isn’t over just quite yet. I’ve started work on a fourth installment. I hope you enjoy that as much as the three I’ve penned so far.

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

Great Signing at Books on B

Yours truly ready to receive readers at Books on B.

Some months ago, a co-worker who hails from Hayward, Calif., recommended that I try to land a signing at an independent bookstore in her neighborhood. I contacted Renee, the proprietor of Books on B. After some back-and-forth correspondence, Renee and I came to an agreement for Saturday, July 28.

B Street in Hayward is a thriving hub of activity with restaurants, boutiques, and micro breweries. Books on B is in the middle of it all. The moment you walk into the shop, the smell of books fills your nostrils. It is intoxicating if you are a bookstore nerd like I am. A varied, eclectic selection lines the shelves and Renee and her effervescence twirl around the store like a whirling dervish helping customers and playing hostess.

There was a great turnout for the event. It was a nice mix of my friends from both work and my neighborhood, store regulars and curious shoppers. I signed books, chatted about my novels and read excerpts from them. Renee provided a snack tray and beverages.

A nice group gathered to listen to me read.

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and find yourself at the end of I-580 or along the I-880 corridor and you love books, be sure to stop in to Books on B. It’s a quaint, cozy shop and you’ll definitely find something great to read. There’s plenty of parking in public lots behind the little plaza as well.

Thank you to everyone who came out and indulged me, and thank you to Renee for hosting me at her fantastic store. I look forward to the next event at Books on B.

I have two events coming up. The first is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 20, at Books Inc., in Alameda, Calif., time TBA, and the second is The Avid Reader in Davis, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. If you live in Northern California, come on out, I’d love to see you.

Meet Me at Books on B

I’ll be signing copies of and reading excerpts from my first two novels, The Dark Truth and The Dark Descent at Hayward’s Independent Bookstore – Books on B – on Saturday, July 28 starting at 2 p.m.!

What: Book signing/reading with yours truly
Where: Books on B, 1014 B St, Hayward, CA
When: Saturday, July 28, 2 p.m.

Check ’em out and get your copies ahead of time or purchase on the day of the event.