For the past two weekends, I’ve been lucky enough to sell books with one of my favorite people in horror, the talented and kind David Simms (check out my favorite book of his, Fear the Reaper, right here—it’s a fictionalized version of the history of an asylum in Staunton, VA, run by the man who inspired Hitler. It’s a hard read, but a well-done and important one). We hit the Fredricksburg Book Festival on October 12th, and the Queen City Word Fest in Staunton on October 19th. On Sunday, I collapsed with a rewatch of The Fall of the House of Usher, a cat, and plans to possibly reemerge around Wednesday.

I had to refuel. On Friday, I’m leaving Virginia to drive up to Pennsylvania. Destination: Brian Keene’s Vortex Books and Comics, for a signing with Sonora Taylor, R.J. Joseph, and Somer Canon on Saturday from 1-3pm.

I’ll have copies of Ink Vine, and super-surprise, a special pre-release copy of Ninety-Eight Sabers, as long as the Amazon order comes in time (dear indifferent gods of Amazon, please bring my book order in time, by which I mean before ten pm on Friday, because I want to leave at decent hour). I had ordered Sabers for Grimoire Academy on November 16th in Fredricksburg, and they’re scheduled to come this week. But Amazon is Amazoning fairly hard, and delivery is coming down to the wire. They should be here, but they might be here at the last possible minute. Fingers crossed.

I’m excited to sign books at what’s basically Horror Disney Land with half of the Horror Royal Family (Mary won’t be there, bummer!). It’s birthday season here at Casa del Broadbent, so I can’t wait to buy presents at Vortex, and the kids are rioting that we aren’t taking them to a place with comics!!! and Magic cards!!! and horror books!!! We are not currently popular parents.

I can’t wait to pick up a signed copy of Sonora’s Errant Roots, which was one of my favorite novellas in the Raw Dog Screaming line. I already have a signed copy of R.J. Joseph’s Hell Hath No Sorrow Like a Woman Haunted, but I might pick up a copy of Monstrous Domesticity if she has one. I’ve never read any of Somer Canon’s work, so I’m looking forward to grabbing some of her work. This is the first Vortex reading for all of us but Sonora. Selfishly, I want to see absolutely everyone (too many to list), give Rhonda a big hug, and ask Brian about Tom Piccirilli.

Yes, I will shamelessly take photos by the Pan’s Labyrinth faun. With everyone. And I promise to share them.

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