The beginning of September was very busy, with all the effort focused on September 22nd, the Vernal Equinox and launch day for The Practician. With the exception of technical difficulties in uploading the print version to Ingram Sparks, and Barnes & Noble, Everything went fairly smoothly. As it is, the print version is available exclusively from Amazon. I wanted B&N, (a real brick and mortar book store), to participate in sales of print copies, but the problems are on their end and typical of the Web, there is no one to contact, no one accountable, no one responsible for system failures, just a faceless digital wall. As for Ingram Sparks, I’ve written them off as unnecessary. I won’t even bother trying next time.

On a brighter note, I want to thank everyone who participated in the launch, I’m learning how to do this better each time. For those who want their print version signed, be sure to bring the book with you the next time we get together. I’m still trying to find a way to autograph digital copies. I think I have it figured out but I have to work out the details, so hang tight for that. In the meantime, I want to give a special shoutout to Aubrey Labitigan in Manila, Philippines, for her beautiful cover design, and to Brenda Van Neikirk in Johannesburg, South Africa for her excellent formatting skills. They have both been a great help to me.

Following the launch, and leading up to Ian’s destructive march across the state, I fell into a malaise about what to do next. I submitted a short story entitled “The Dud” to the Missouri Review fiction contest. I’ve submitted stories to many literary magazines in the past but never won a prize, or publication. I don’t anticipate anything different this time, but you can’t win if you’re not in the game, right? Following that I’ve decided to prioritize a project entitled “Patriarch”, it will be book two of the Bible Book Club Series, a story of Abraham. I quickly point out that the Bible offers many stories about Abraham, this is just one of them. I think it will be an interesting and entertaining read. I hope to launch it on March 20th ’23.

Once Ian passed by, yesterday, I started putting together a list of agents in an effort to find one to represent “The Practician” to the publishing industry. Please wish me luck in that effort, or better, wish me luck in my independent efforts to promote the book and my brand on my own, as that would be my preference.

Finally, in an effort to connect with local writers and those more distant, I have begun looking at literary events throughout the state and the South. One such event is scheduled for October 9th from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, a book signing by local author, Hep Aldridge, at the Hawksbill Bar and Grill on Merritt Island. It’s a drop-in affair. Come join the fun if you can make the time. Having never done a book signing, I’m interested to see how it works. I want to talk to Hep about it and see if it might be something I’d like to do in the future.

Anyway, that’s about it for this month. Time to get back to work, see you next month. In the meantime, be blessed and do good work.