To keep it short-ish and sweet, I will NOT be participating in Texas Horror Lit Fest 2026 (formerly Texas Author & Reader Con & Texas Author Con). Until now, I considered this my “home” convention.

My table fee MORE THAN DOUBLED! I can afford it, but it’s the principle of the whole thing. 2 out of my 3 literary appearances in 2025 treated me as a guest, I paid nothing, and my sales were double-that of my singular paid appearance. Still…

I’M ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THIS CONVENTION!!!

Anyway, no offense to anyone who pays to play, but no thank you. It’s borderline insulting. The economy is shite but…book tariffs? lol.

I’m not bashing the convention – I hope it does well – I just can’t go along with this ride.

I’ve been fighting against my writing career since the UK literary agency closed, the Night Worms review-bombed Starving Zoe, the OG DHP went MAGA, and the two Six Flags Railroad fiascos.

*****The ‘new and improved’ DHP aka Dead Sky Media aka Stygian Sky Media (I think) are a bunch of awesome people, though! Support them when you can.

I miss loving who I am as an artist.

I don’t.

That said, I feel as though I don’t belong in the literary community anymore. In hindsight, I’m not sure if I ever did. I only wrote fiction at the request of my ex. It’s tough to maintain a fantasy lifestyle when you’re in a relationship with a gonzo journalist.

My tiny fiction career was a happy accident.

Thanks to those who bought the ticket and took the ride with me. I will not be removing any books from the market, but I don’t believe I’ll be adding new stuff either. Maybe a short story collection here and there.

I’ll be posting my gonzo, filmmaking, and music here.

For weeks, I’ve been battling the idea of pouring everything I have into music, and I feel as though I’ve come to enjoy sharing my stories in that medium more than writing books. This sucks, because I have two nearly-finished books, but my heart just isn’t in it anymore.

I’m tired of feeling like I’m cheating on literature with music.

Just like when I left the paranormal field in 2016, I’d done what I set out to do.

Also, also, no one gives a fuck anymore. It’s nothing but cancel culture and Tik-Tok kids yelling at one another. A popularity contest where the work pales to the author’s online presence. I’m guilty of this as well, and it’s embarrassing in hindsight.

I’m a brilliant goddamn writer, but I just can’t ‘act’ enough to be a successful author in the year 2025. Kudos to those who can.

On to the next…

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