Ugh. I was doing great on the alliteration until the ‘Grand Rapids Writers’ part. Shoot.
Ah well. Let’s get to it! Thanks for hanging out. Here’s what I got for ya:
Table of Contents
A Good Thing: BEARD COMBS!
Do you or someone you know have kind of a long beard? Do they need a beard comb? Well, this is the beard comb I want for Christmas. Oh, I’ll get it, too. Don’t you worry about that. Fortunately for me, I have an amazing wife who occasionally reads my blog. So, honey…**wink-wink, nod**…here’s my not-so-subtle clue. It’s cheap, cool looking, and if you get if for me I’ll stop using your comb to on my beard.
Tallon’s Thoughts: Not Trying with Big Bookstores for Awhile…
I talked to someone at one of the big bookstores a few weeks ago about stocking my book. They ordered it on the spot and told me it would be there in two weeks. I went back three and a half weeks later. It wasn’t there.
A different manager spoke with me this time and seemed to me like not-another-author-who-wants-to-be-in-the-bookstore…
This manager said, “The person who oversees the actually ordering probably said no. We had 4 requests by authors just yesterday, and we get anywhere from 40 to 50 a month.We just can’t say yes to all of them, so…”
Fine. I don’t want to be in your gigantic bookstore anyway.
Okay, I did. But only because I thought it would be kind of cool and I could market the hell out of it. But I didn’t think getting in there would be my big break. Just kinda cool. That’s it.
So I’m over it, I guess. If anything I’ll be sticking with indie bookstores in the future. Speaking of that, I’m actually going to be a part of the S-PAC. Click the link. Read about it. It’s pretty cool. I guess I’m technically a publishing sales rep now…
Literary Spotlight: Grand Rapids Writers
Grand Rapids Everyone Knows
Everyone knows of the works of the great Grand Rapids authors Chris Van Allsburg and Paul Schrader. This is the part where you’re like, “I’ve never heard of those dudes.”
And I’m like, “Yes, you have. Chris Van Allsburg wrote Polar Express, Jumanji, and Zathura.”
Then you’re like, “Oh…those were made into movies. I like movies…”
Then I’m thinking, “Buy my book if you ever learn to read. Dork.” (Just kidding. (Except about the buy my book stuff. (It’d actually be awesome if you did that.)))
Seriously though…then I’m like, “Oh, you like movies, eh? How about Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Last Tempation of Christ, and Bringing out the Dead? Paul Schrader wrote or co-wrote all of those Martic Scorcese movies!
But there are lots of talented writers in and around Grand Rapids who I wanna shout out.
Grand Rapids Writer You Should Know
Here’s a few writers I’ve met along the way selling my book.
Alby Blazo aka Leesa Mason – Romance
We’ve sold books together a few times. She writes constantly, so if you’re looking for someone to follow on Kindle Vella, she’s cranking stuff out regularly. Check out her website for books and other links: https://www.lovelunapress.com/
Eva Finley – YA/MG Fantasy
Eva is awesome. We’ve sold books together at a few events and she’s one of the most pleasant people around. She’s the only writer on here for the younger crowd (YA – young adult; MG – middle grade), so if you like romance, scifi, horror, comics, check out the other authors too, but grab this for your kiddo!
https://evafinley.wordpress.com/
Dan Feister – Scifi/comic
Dan’s a funny dude. And multi-talented. He’s musical, artistic, and he writes odd stories. Check him out.
Jeremy Daniels – comics
I met Jeremy at an event. We were booth neighbors. His art is amazing.
https://jeremydanielscomics.bigcartel.com/
Upcoming Stuff: Christopher Tallon Book Signing and Reading Event!
I’m going to do a reading/signing event January 18 at Cocoon Art Space in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. More details to come, but it’s part of the 3rd Thursdays event scheduling.
I’m excited for that because I haven’t done it before. I did a public reading once in college when a bunch of writers read stuff from the school annual literary publication. But not something just for me. I feel fancy!
Thanks for reading. I hope you take a peek at the other writers. And if you buy a beard comb, I get a little sumthin-sumthin (full disclosure AND thank you!)
Talk atcha later!
-CT
Christopher Tallon is the author of the dark, adventurous, time-travel novel Switchers.