July updates + hey I have a newsletter

Just sent out my first newsletter! It's a basic update for July 2026.

One of the pieces of advice new authors get all the time is "Start a newsletter!" It's a great idea! But it's also yet another task, yet another expense, yet more time away from writing. Not to mention time away from day jobs, exercise, social life, family, etc. For those reasons, creating a newsletter has been on the bottom of my list of things to do. But if I want to be a "real" author with a successful book series, I need to do the thing. So, I'm doing the thing!

Here's the rundown from my first newsletter email. I hope it worked out okay, and I am going to try and send an update every other month or so. The only reason I'll do it more often is if I have major news. Nobody needs a ton of emails in their life. But, sometimes, emails are a good way to get reminded to check in. If thats you and you'd like to sign up for emails, please click here!

New Essay: On loving your body like it’s a 1994 Dodge Caravan

Technically, this essay isn't new. It's a reprint that first appeared in a local literary magazine made by students at Arapahoe Community College. I'm thankful Squid Literary accepted it for their online edition.

I don't often explain my chronic back pain to people, because it's like explaining adolescence, or love, or something else really big and life-defining. It's not ineffable, but it's rarely worth trying to put the experience in words. Because it's not exactly light conversation, is it? But when I do try to put it in words, things like this little funky essay happen.

"The Dance" in the 2026 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Anthology

Releasing on September 15, 2026, this year's RMFW anthology is titled, "True Story." It's a collection of (fictional) short stories based on real events, places, or people. My story is based on a real dance that took place to commemorate the opening of a mine shaft during the silver rush in Colorado.

Stay tuned for more info about the launch party!

8 months till VampCon

As of July 9, it's officially 8 months and counting until the release of Bloodbath at VampCon! Preorder links can be found here. 

Whether it's from Amazon, Bookshop.org, or your local bookstore, all preorders help with a successful book launch! If you followed the recent Planet Money series on NPR, you know how important it is for folks to preorder your book. Booksellers use preorder numbers when deciding whether to stock your book on their shelves. Preorders accumulate and count toward the first week's sales, which makes it more likely a book appears on a bestseller list or as #1 in a category on Amazon. Those rankings matter! The higher up on the list, the more your book might appear in search results or suggested titles.

I've been preordering books way more now that I've started my own publishing quest. When I know I'll be buying a book anyway, I do it ahead of time. It supports the authors and the bookstores I buy from - win win!