Irving Convention Center, Los Colinas, Texas July 19th & 20th

I’m finally winding down. The unloading and inventory is complete and I’m exactly where I need to be: A stomach full of leftover pork and green chile enchiladas, a head full of spirit trees, a hot cup of Earl Grey with 2 ice cubes and a squirt of lemon, and some mid-eighties Glam Metal spinning behind me.

Ironically…

Whether you dig that stuff or not, you can’t argue with the message provided by the song; especially as an indie author.

When non-writer folk ask what the last twenty years of my life was like, I have a tendency to quote The Grateful Dead: “What a long, strange trip it’s been.”

This weekend I was a part of the fourth annual Texas Author and Reader Con. Four years ago, thirteen authors gathered at a hotel restaurant table to help make Merrill David’s dream come true. That thirteen has now become one-hundred, it’s a two-day event, and it’s in the same venue as Texas Frightmare Weekend. That, my friends – and a handful of stalkers – is a convention all other conventions should strive to be. Texas Author & Reader Con is catching up, and it damn near needs the main floor of the convention center!

I set an overall convention sales record, reunited with a few of my fans, made a few new ones, bought some art, avoided eye contact with the Poon-Pack, and networked my literary butt off. My wife sold some of her art prints as well, but my ten year old made out like a bandit. There was a Pokémon convention downstairs.

Now, it’s writing time. I have two novellas I’d like to have finished and published by the holidays.

Congrats to the TARC crew for another amazing event. I’ve attended several throughout the state and this particular convention has surpassed a couple I’ve frequented in the past. I’m already looking forward to 2026; just as long as I can sleep until then.

If anyone would like a taste of Texas Author and Reader Con, I have copies of the official Texas Author and Reader Con Western-Horror Anthology on sale in the store.

Get one while they last!

What do you get when fabulous western authors blend a twist of terror into their western stories and horror authors add a touch of the American Old West to their scary horror tales?

Featuring art work by Dan Henk and story contributions from such talented authors as Christine Morgan, James H Longmore, Eric Butler, Megan Stockton, B.L. Blankenship, Aaron Lebold, Jon Steffens, Paul Avery Tindol, Cory Andrews, Rev Dare Cloud, Chris Mullen, Dan Henk, Wile E. Young, Holly Rae Garcia, Matt Micheli, Candace Nola, and Merrill David. This collection will contain plenty of chronicles of cowboys, settlers, and outlaws exploring the western frontier and taming the Wild West.

So, with all of that being said, read this collection ONLY if you’re prepared to Tumble and BLEED!