To say the past few months since the release of Ambrosia have been a whirlwind would be an understatement. In fact, to try and incapsulate it all seems like a near-Sisyphean task, so for now let’s go with the abridged version.
Firstly, I am ecstatic to have literary representation via the most excellent Elizabeth Copps at Copps Literary Services. People talk about dream agents, and there are plenty of experienced, qualified literary agents out there working wonders for their clients. But earlier this year a friend of mine, someone with knowledge of all the ups, down, twists, and tangles I’ve encountered along this publishing journey, posed a question. They asked who I’d most want representing me and my work, if the choice were mine. My answer was Elizabeth, and for a thing like that, only months later, to come to pass, is truly remarkable. There’s no one I’d rather have as an advocate for my stories, and I’m thrilled to be working with her and Copps Literary.
Secondly, earlier this year I had an absolute blast at Scares That Care’s AuthorCon III in Williamsburg, VA. Back in 2022, I was lucky enough to attend Scares That Care Charity Weekend, that year featuring appearances by Henry Thomas, Danielle Harris, Dee Wallace, and other fine actors, along with an amazing collection of authors, and I’ve been back every year since. Each convention has been different, with its own challenges and rewards, but I’ve never failed to come out of it feeling exhilarated (and also quite exhausted). Here are a few pics from those first two events:
This year’s highlights included attending Grady Hendrix’s PAPERBACKS FROM HELL 2 presentation on JD (juvenile delinquent) novels and teen lit, along with first-time meetings
with several other stellar authors. The crowds were bigger as the convention grows in popularity, but this was undoubtedly the best year yet.
I don’t have an extensive history with conferences, but I encourage horror fiction fans to attend this event (hosted by horror legend Brian Keene) if they are able—not only because these are charity events that raise money for great causes, but because they are also just fun as hell. As it currently stands, Author Con IV will take place October 4-6, 2024 in St. Louis, MO, with AuthorCon V returning to Williamsburg, VA in March of 2025. More information on the charity itself, the Cons, and updated lists of attending authors can be found here.
There have been other changes happening behind the scenes, with this year shaping up to be very special indeed. Lately, however, I’ve had my head buried in edits of manuscripts, and so have been fairly scarce on social media. I’m sure that will change as I finish some tasks and begin others. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to readers discovering what I’ve been cooking up—but until then, I’m cultivating a little patience and enjoying life in the shadows.
-HB
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