Category: Books

So, obviously, back from Balticon.

I didn’t quite make back the table fee, which was a disappointment. Even if I had, the parking fee (while reasonable for four days) would have been a bridge too far, as it were. I don’t think I’m really able to justify total convention fees above a hundred bucks at the moment*.

On the bright side: Galactic Con is in two weeks, and I’m pretty sure I can hustle enough to pay for the table. After that? We’ll see. Retail’s tougher than it looks.

Moe Lane

*It’s a shame, though. I did sell a bunch of TALES FROM THE FERMI RESOLUTION. People seemed receptive to the idea of ‘buy this book of short stories to see whether you like the concept,’ especially at a ten buck price point. I’m going to work with that in the future. I’m also going to have links to the artists’ websites on the table, which I should have been doing all along.

#commissionearned

Last day at Balticon.

Had a small mini-worry about COVID, but I tested negative. Which is nice: trying to figure out how to break down the site under the circumstances would have been a massive pain.

As to the convention: well, if I have a good day today I might make back the table fee. But not the table fee and the parking. The gas I’m not even gonna bring up. I think my future here for the next year or so is going to be the smaller venues, where the site fees will be lower (and I can hope to get more sales). Also, I’m definitely gonna need to write more books…

Speaking of: TINSEL RAIN! Buy it! Review it! Give a copy to a friend!

#commissionearned

Moe Lane

PS: I should note that Balticon puts on a very good, very organized convention. I think they’ve done a great job. I’m just not getting the sales I wanted, which isn’t actually their fault.

Back at Balticon!

…After a Chrome update that required far too many security checks for a machine that I just got told won’t be supported after next month. I mean, why does Google care now? – I don’t mind that the Chromebook won’t be supported, you understand. It’s an older model and I didn’t pay much for it to begin with. But if they have little care for its further existence then they shouldn’t be too upset if it’s a little insecure.

:pause:

Never mind me. I had ten hours’ sleep last night, and it seems to be affecting me in odd ways.

Moe Lane

PS: Come on by and buy my books at Balticon! Or anywhere else!

TINSEL RAIN is now available for Kindle and Kindle Unlimited!

At long last. Paperback will likely get approved next week, after I go over proofs.

Tinsel Rain returns us to the post-apocalyptic world of Cin City, glittering tinsel crown of the Kingdom of New California. When an old not-quite-friend of Shamus Tom Vargas is found dead, Tom gets pulled into a case of murder, magic, and mystery! Sinister archmages! Bodies in alleys! An actual high-speed car ride! And as many bad jokes as the author could cram in! Truly, you deserve to read this book!

#commissionearned

Balticon in two days!

I’ll be there Friday afternoon, and selling books until Monday. While at the same time day-tripping it, because Balticon is only twenty five minutes away via car. I may amend that Sunday night, depending on how beat I’ll be by then. It’s just that the hotel room is around $150/night, and the combination of proximity to the venue and ease of getting there is just too hard to overcome.

Oh, well. I’m going there pretty much to sell books anyway. I’m going to have a link to TINSEL RAIN printed out and framed so that people can order the book while at the convention; the paperback is going to have to wait until I finish the proofs (I don’t think it’ll be ready for Galactic-Con, either). But I definitely will have the book before the Kickstarter deadline, which is the important thing…

Moe Lane

PS: I am looking for more Maryland conventions; so if you know of any, let me know.

#commissionearned

This one simple trick will make authors love you forever!

If you like their books, say so! Like, on social media and stuff. For example: TINSEL RAIN is coming out Friday. If you’re a Kickstarter backer, and you liked the book, there is almost nothing better you can do for me right now than say so on as many of your favorite social media platforms as you care to post to. With the link (https://www.amazon.com/Tinsel-Rain-Tom-Vargas-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0B243FV1N), and a picture of the book, if you can swing it.

And here’s the thing: if you don’t like my book, you can still do this with books that you do like. It is a very rare author indeed who will object to people saying in public how awesome their book is, and what the link is to buy it. So, even if you hate my guts, the advice I’m giving is still good.

It is the Glorious 25th of May.

A day long-remembered in Discworld history.

All the little angels rise up, rise up.
All the little angels rise up high!
How do they rise up, rise up, rise up?
How do they rise up, rise up high?
They rise heads up, heads up, heads up, they rise heads up, heads up high!

Moe Lane

#commissionearned. Here is also a link to the Alzheimer’s Association, for sadly obvious reasons.