First Patreon Post is Up!

Radio and film serials and their cliffhangers have inspired generations of storytellers, George Lucas in particular. From narrow escapes to harrowing chase scenes, the adventures of Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Tarzan, Zorro, the Lone Ranger, the Shadow, the Green Hornet, and more became part of Americana.

Not that long ago, I wrote a short science fiction story called Point of Contact. It’s about a family in the middle of nowhere in Oklahoma at the dawn of the space age in the 1960s. The story was inspired, n part, by a recurring storyline on The Waltons TV show that ran from 1972–1981, and a toy rocket ship I found online. I have decided to serialize the story in eight parts and make it available to my Patreon patrons as my first content offering.

Buy a ticket and read all about the Jenkins family. The box office is open.

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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, 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

Book Tour Part Deux

I’ll be back at the Modesto Barnes & Noble on Saturday, June 2 at Noon.

The book tour in support of my second novel, The Dark Descent, is really starting to heat up. I currently have four events confirmed, with another big announcement for a fifth coming very soon. My weekends this spring and summer are going to be very busy.

This Saturday, I’ll be at the Bay Street Barnes & Noble location in Emeryville along with fellow authors K.M. Riley and Mike Esola. Riley, a published author,  is a Trifecta Publishing House labelmate and was recent guest on my podcast. Esola has written several novels. We’ll be taking part in a panel discussion on fiction writing, publishing and the creative process. The event starts at 2:00 p.m.

On Saturday, May 12, I’ll be at the Folsom, Calif., Barnes & Noble location. I’ve never been to this store and I have only driven through Folsom so this will be a new experience for me. That event starts at 2:00 p.m. also.

The next two just locked in and they are return engagements with Barnes & Noble stores where I had two of my first signings. I really do appreciate their support.

On Saturday, May 26, I’ll be back at the Arden Fair Barnes & Noble in Sacramento, the site of my first-ever book signing event. That event begins at 11:00 a.m.

And, on Saturday, June 2, the Modesto Barnes & Noble beckons once more. That signing starts at Noon.

The Dark Descent is the sequel to my debut novel, The Dark Truth, which dropped last November. I am in work on the third in The Dark Passage Series, The Dark Terror. Head over to the Books page to learn more about the title.

Check out the Upcoming Events page for more details and visit the Where to Buy page to find out how to order copies of my books.

Happy Publish Day to Me!

Today is the official release date for The Dark Descent, the sequel to my debut novel, The Dark Truth. It is a dark, twisted tale of bloody supernatural murder.

“If you liked the first, do yourself a favor and grab the second book.” Amazon customer review

The first review is in:

5-Star

“Descent doesn’t disappoint; it’s a rousing, easy read without a boring moment in it. Elizabeth has continued to grow into herself, if you will, with a host of exciting new abilities that add a bit more action to the story. It’s still fairly true to vampire lore while also being entertaining. The author’s flushed out some more characters, entangling them alongside Elizabeth’s fate, further complicating the threads she’s weaved. All for the better of course. Plus, the story’s revealed a hidden world they’re a part of, and admittedly what I had been curious about. Wouldn’t you know, these tales aren’t just a fantasy. Without giving too much away, I’m curious as to the story arc of how this will all end, and I look forward to the next in the series. If you liked the first, do yourself a favor and grab the second book.”

From the back cover:

A New Beginning

Elizabeth Rubis, ex-San Francisco public relations professional turned impulse-control-challenged vampire, may have escaped her rocky prison in an abandoned coal mine, but trouble keeps following her bloody trail. The unapologetic Elizabeth better get her act together and fast.

A New Ally, A New Enemy

Finding a surprising ally in San Francisco police detective Jonas Dietrich, even as she continues stumbling through her transformation, is comforting but a new enemy has emerged – an actual church-trained vampire hunter.

A True Demon

As Elizabeth discovers new supernatural powers along the way, she continues to evolve into a true demon of the night.

Click here to find out how to order! And don’t forget to post selfies of you with the book, use #TheDarkDescent!

Next Leg of Book Tour Warming Up; Join Me and Two Great Authors for a Panel Discussion

Several book signing events are in the works as The Dark Descent gets ready to go to print. I am very excited about the release of my second novel, the sequel to The Dark Truth. I hope you are too as we learn Elizabeth’s fate.

I am very excited to announced the next confirmed event – a panel discussion with two published authors, one of whom is my Trifecta Publishing House labelmate K.M. Riley. Amazon bestselling author Michael Esola will join us to discuss fiction writing and publishing. We’ll also have a book signing.

K.M. Riley, a recent guest on the Get the Knaak podcast, is the author of the recently released Fever Rising. Michael Esola’s latest novel is called Hybrid, and it dropped last August.

Join us Saturday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Emeryville!

TV Appearance Booked!

Happy to announce that I’ll be an in-studio guest on Good Day Sacramento this Sunday (Feb. 11) at 9 a.m. PT in advance of my Feb. 17 book signing at the Arden Fair Barnes & Noble in Sacramento in support of my debut novel, The Dark Truth!

 

A Seat at the Table

Becoming a published author has given me a seat at a table where I’ve always wanted to sit. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Trifecta Publishing House label mate Samantha Heuwagen to that table. She is a new voice in science fiction and I had the pleasure of discussing her debut novel, Dawn Among the Stars, with her on my latest podcast.

Listen as we discuss her book, the science fiction genre in literature and films, feminism and much more.

Check out Samantha’s web site: https://samanthaheuwagen.com/ and her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq67cnElH2CATM_JedJ-FFA