I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving despite the current circumstances. I’d be willing to bet that this holiday season is like no other for anyone and everyone reading this. Between stay-at-home orders and a few personal things, I have had some extra time on my hands. I know, I know, why don’t I write more? Rest assured, I have been, just not as much as I’d like. However, what I have been able to do more than I have in recent memory is READ. I wrote a post not that long ago discussing how much I have read so far this year. I am quite proud of myself.
That being written, I encourage you to pick up The Dark Passage Series for yourself or the vampire fiction lover on your gift-giving list. The Dark Truth, The Dark Descent, and The Dark Terror are dark, gritty, bloody vampire tales set in pre-COVID modern-day San Francisco. The books are available just about anywhere you like to buy books online and in some select stores in Northern California. They are available in trade paperback, Amazon Kindle, and e-book. The first two are available as audiobooks. Trade paperbacks make perfect stocking stuffers. The books retail for $14.99 each. If you don’t want to commit $45 to the entire trilogy, start with The Dark Truth. As far as Kindle and ebook, you can get the whole set for just under $9! Maybe you got someone you know a Kindle or e-reader – load it up with The Dark Passage Series! Also, be on the lookout for coupons and sales from your favorite book retailers.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 second review for The Dark Terror posted this morning on release day and it is just as amazing as the first one!
“Gaspingly Magnificent! Knaak pens a wonderfully terrifying story in The Dark Terror … Knaak has a way of telling a story that puts the reader on the edge of the seat … this tale of survival keeps this reader turning the pages, and gasping out loud.”
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
As I noted on my personal blog recently, there are many steps to the book creation process and there are some more exciting than others. One of the most thrilling is receiving your author copies. The first 15 copies of The Dark Terror arrived yesterday and they look fantastic, if I do say so myself.
It’s like Christmas morning when this package arrives. After months of writing, weeks of editing, reviewing the electronic files and then finally getting to see the physical book and hold it in your hands, that’s exhilarating.
The Dark Terror is available for pre-order, and as I often like to write and say, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Jerry Knaak.com 