Events, Writing, and Reading

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Hey, all. It’s been a while since I did a basic newsletter just catching up and talking about anything and everything. Seems like a great time to do that.

Events

I’ve got a few events coming up in the next couple of months where you can find me.

Fan Expo Denver

Yep! I’m making the long drive from Kansas City to Denver for Fan Expo Denver! My best friend and visual artist, Matt Ashbaugh, is coming along to share the table and sell some awesome artwork. Come by and find us at table A1815.

Boozy Book Fest

I’ve done a couple of Boozy Book Fests here in Kansas City before, and this one is going to be a little different. I won’t be there selling my own books this time, but as a representative of Whispering Prairie Press, publisher of Kansas City Review. Well, our next issue will be called Kansas City Review as part of an awesome rebrand. We’ll have lots of back-issues of Kansas City Voices for sale, though. Get those tickets. It’s a really fun event.

Seattle Worldcon 2025

I’ve only recently added this one to my calendar. I’m finally heading to Worldcon, one of the biggest science fiction and fantasy conventions on the planet. It’s also where the Hugo Awards are handed out. I won’t be selling books or (as far as I know) paneling, but taking in the whole convention to network and learn. If you’re there, come find me and say hello.

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Writing

My main focus has been a not-so-secret project that I still cannot announce publicly. I can talk about it privately all I want, so if you’re at one of the events listed above, I’ll be happy to tell you about it in person.

I’m currently neck-deep in edits. It’s a bit of a dream come true for me right now that I have a publisher providing developmental edits and really working with me to make this book the best it can possibly be. It also means I’m finally living the writers dream/nightmare that comes with really great feedback.

Why is it a dream? Because that person is totally invested and doing everything they can to make your work better. When they provide that insight that can really help the piece sing, it’s amazing.

Why a nightmare? When that perfect feedback also means MASSIVE rewrites. In the case of my secret project, that includes completely reorganizing the bulk of the book.

To be clear, I love this work. It’s like a puzzle and a creative endeavor at the same time. Plus, this book is the most important work of my life, and I’m all-in on making it the best that it can possibly be.

I absolutely cannot wait for the official announcement of the book in a few months. So excited!

Reading

And of course, I’m constantly reading. To me, you just cannot be a successful writer if you’re not absorbing every book you can get your hands and ears on. Also, since my #1 strength (according to Strengths Finder) is Input, of course, I constantly have to feed my brain. So here’s what I’m reading now or have recently finished.

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

Klune is my go-to happy reading place. In this case, the audiobook is what my wife and I are listening to on our commutes and her introduction to Klune.

The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

Whoa, hard sci-fi. This is my audiobook for my solo commutes and yard work right now. I’m learning so much about octopuses.

Nebula Awards Showcase 60, edited by Stephen Kotowych

I won a copy when I went to the Nebula Awards, so why not read the brilliant short work of some of my new friends?

Spear by Nicola Griffith

She is the most recent SFWA Grandmaster. I loved her acceptance speech, and so I dove into this audiobook, read by her, as soon as the Nebulas were over. So brilliant.

American Mythology by Giano Cromley

This upcoming novel was a galley, and I really enjoyed it. There’s some magical realism, but the literary journey of the characters was the real hook. The ending was a bit rushed, but overall a good read.