Mary SanGiovanni wasn’t there, as Brian Keene mentioned over and over, so we were treated to his adorably careful man-handwriting.

For the third week in a row, I sold books—this time, all the way up in Pennsylvania at Brian Keene’s Vortex Books and Comics, where I had a signing event with Sonora Taylor, R.J. Joseph, and Somer Canon. Sonora just released Errant Roots, a fabulous novella in the “Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomenon” novella series from Raw Dog Screaming Press, which Rhonda (R.J.) is editing; the next release in the series is my novella, Blood Cypress. Rhonda came all the way up from San Antonio to sign her book, Hell Hath No Sorrow Like a Woman Haunted, and RDSP publisher Jennifer Barnes showed up with John Edward Lawson—two of my favorite people in horror. Add Brian Keene, and it was like an episode of Horror All-Stars.

Plus me and Chris, and we got to fan girl/boy and shop for books at the same time.

The shelves in Vortex Books (sorry, I was too dazzled to take pics) were like a print reunion of all my favorite people, past and present. Not only were all my author friends represented, but Vortex has a killer Tom Piccarilli shelf. Brian, Jennifer, and John all told me how awesome Pic was, which made me even sadder I never met him.

Jennifer Barnes in the back, then Somer Canon, me, Rhonda, and Sonora

Rhonda and I spent most of the signing laughing, because she’s not only brilliant, she’s hilarious (between her and Rebecca Cuthbert, I have the best editors in horror). I had been nervous for my first bookstore event, but it’s impossible be nervous around Rhonda, who kept me giggling about everything from her kids texting her a grocery list mid-signing to the Eastern PA restaurant serving brisket and BBQ (A Texan, she simply eyed the brisket item, shook her head, and murmured, “Uh-uh.” I nearly fell out of my chair).

Brian Keene has an amazing bookstore, and his patrons are awesome. A year and a half ago, I met him for the first time at a signing at Barnes and Noble Libbie; I told him and his wife Mary that I’d subbed a novella to RDSP, and they wished me luck. Last weekend, he sold the very first copy of the first novel published under my own name at his bookstore: Ninety-Eight Sabers.

It was only sheer luck that I managed to have Sabers at all. I had ordered some for Grimoire Academy in Fredricksburg coming up in November. They arrived on Friday, an hour before we were going to leave for PA. I opened the box, signed a copy for my in-laws, and threw them in the car. I’ll be mailing copies at the end of the week to reviewers.

Very first picture of Sabers!

Chris and I came away from Vortex with an epic haul of horror novels and comic books, both for us and the kids. Mary SanGiovanni wasn’t there, but she was kind enough to inscribe a copy of Enemy of My Enemy to my twelve-year-old before she left on her trip. He’s obsessed with Alien, and for the past two days, I’ve heard him showing the book off to his friends via video-chat.

This is August’s excited face. He makes this face in every photo. My children are incapable of smiling for photos … Book haul from Vortex! Notice the Piccirilli and the L. Marie Wood on the very bottom—I’ve wanted that one for a while!

We had a blast at Vortex, and I can’t wait to go back. Thanks so much to Brian (and Mary in absentia) and Jennifer for inviting me, and to Sonora, Rhonda, and Somer for making my first bookstore event amazing!

What I’m Reading: The Fatal Mind, by N.J. Gallegos

I just finished The Fatal Mind by N.J. Gallegos. If you’re a fan of early Stephen King, this book will give you major reading-under-the-covers-with-a-flashlight vibes. Former NBA superstar Shawn was forced into retirement after an injury left him with crippling migraines. But when an experimental new implant by hot doctor Aldea Absinthe promises relief, Shawn jumps at the chance. The chip works like magic to take Shawn’s pain away—but his significant other, an ER nurse named Rachel, starts noticing side effects. . .

The Fatal Mind is a fast-paced read with a great premise (who isn’t afraid of medical trials?) and compelling characters that builds to a shattering climax. I read the novel in three sittings; it grabbed me quick and didn’t let go. While I liked Shawn and Rachel, I loved Dr. Absinthe—hell yes for a realistic lesbian character whose sexuality is incidental to her role in the plot and whose romance is not the main focus! Incidental queer representation is one of my favorite things in literature: (relatively) normal queers living lives that don’t revolve around their blatant sexualization. More of that, please. And make them morally gray, like Dr. Absinthe. She’s one of my favorite characters this year.

Gallegos is a doctor, which makes this book an extra treat—the medical setting and details in this book are accurate and fully realized. That’s a serious bonus in a horror/thriller like this one, which relies on a medicalized setting and a keen understanding of medical ethics, doctor/patient relationships, and ER protocols. It’s like a guided tour of how these work, and worth a read for that inside peek alone.

With an adrenaline rush of a plot and a memorable attending cast, The Fatal Mind cements N.J. Gallegos as writer/doctor double-threat you’ll one-click. Bonus for queer representation and cute cats on her Twitter. The Fatal Mind released October 15th with Winding Road Stories.

That’s all for this week!

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