Self-Publishing Journey Has Been Interesting So Far, Book Signing Event Coming Soon

One of the things in life I can’t stand is feeling stupid. I have to admit that I have felt stupid at times while learning the ins and outs of self-publishing. Despite publishing four books in rapid succession, I still don’t feel like I know much. I’ve made some mistakes, some more egregious than others, but it has all been a valuable learning experience. The Dark Passage Series complete is now available via multiple formats, however, because of a few choices I felt compelled to make, the books are only available in trade paperback through Amazon. For anyone wishing to purchase paperback(s), I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

As I think you’ve figured out by now, we indie authors must do much of the marketing ourselves. During my five years as a published novelist, I have found that the best way for yours truly to sell books is via the in-person book signing event. I have been in discussions with a local indie bookstore here in the Pacific Northwest that already carries my books about a signing event. I will have details soon about that event.

I appreciate everyone’s patience and support as I learn how to continue to put my stories out into the world. As I like to say, if you keep reading them I’ll keep writing them. Be sure to visit the “Where to Buy” page to find out how to order your copies of the novels in The Dark Passage Series.

Thank you all.

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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

The Dark Passage Series Pricing Update

Every so often, Amazon adjusts the prices for my books. All three trade paperbacks in The Dark Passage Series – The Dark Truth, The Dark Descent, The Dark Terror – retail for $14.99 each. Also, on Amazon, you can purchase the Kindle editions for $2.99 each. Right now, you can get The Dark Truth for $4.47, The Dark Descent for $14.99, and The Dark Terror for just $3.72. The Dark Truth is also available for free with Kindle Unlimited.

The first two books are also available as audiobooks on Audible and iTunes. If you sign up for a free Audible trial, you get your first book free.

As always, you can order from Barnes & Noble and any number of independent retailers’ online stores. Right now, the first and third books are $1.50 off at Barnes & Noble’s website. For San Francisco Bay Area residents, the books are available at select Barnes & Noble stores.

Unfortunately, these prices are always subject to change without notice. If you haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy of any of my books, now is a great time. Get the whole set or get the one you haven’t read yet.

As always, thank you for your continued support.

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.

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!

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 Advance Review for The Dark Terror is in

The Dark Terror arrives on Monday, March 18, and has been available for pre-order for a few weeks now. I am extremely happy to announce that the first advance review for Book Three – The Dark Passage Series is in and it is wonderful.

“Knaak has created such a fantastic world in The Dark Passage series filled with vampire lore, comedy, suspense, and a hint of romance.” – Rae’s Reading Lounge.

Read the full review. Then pre-order.

Third Book Tour to End Where First Began

Barnes & Noble Arden Fair in Sacramento hosted my very first book signing event when The Dark Truth was released. Now, unless I line something up after April 20, they will host the final event in The Dark Passage Series book tours. The Dark Terror book tour (as of now) concludes at the Arden Fair Barnes & Noble on Saturday, April 20. This will be my third event at the Arden Fair store. I hope you come out and see me.

Barnes & Noble
Saturday, April 20
11 a.m. – whenever
Arden Fair
1725 Arden Way
Sacramento, CA 95815
916-565-0644

Meet Me at The Avid Reader in Davis

The Avid Reader

I’ll be signing copies of my first two novels, The Dark Truth and The Dark Descent, at The Avid Reader in Davis, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 28 starting at 7:30 p.m.!

What: Book signing with yours truly
Where: 617 2nd Street, Davis, CA 95616
When: Friday, Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m.

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.