It’s September, or what we San Diegans like to call “locals summer” because the days are still warm but the tourists are gone, so the beaches are once gain ours. I’d love to say I’m writing this as I sit poolside and sip a margarita while the rest of the MiB crew works diligently beside me, toiling away on their various projects. I’d love to say Cordell is lounging in a rainbow unicorn floaty as he dictates his next masterpiece into his phone. But that’s not happening because climate change is real and our normally arid Southern California climate has turned into some swampy nonsense. So, instead of having fun together we’re all in our respective homes, working on our various projects in front of our overworked air conditioners, dreaming of an actual autumn.
But first . . . Some shenanigans.
For the first time ever we had a booth at the North Park Sustainability Fair at the beginning of August. Compared to some others it’s a small fair but we had a blast! The event is monthly and each month has a different theme, with August’s being all about books. Being at an event solely focused on books and writers, as opposed to Comic-Con where you’re competing against all of the “popular arts” is a huge (and welcome) change. We’re looking forward to a future filled with many more book-focused occasions!
Such as . . .
The KPBS Festival of Books!
We were fortunate enough to get to exhibit at the second annual KPBS Festival of Books on August 22nd. The temperatures were hot but so were the conversations. It was wonderful to meet so many people who love books as much as we do, as well as the other authors who are crazy enough to want to write said books. One visitor to our table stopped short for Greg Burke’s Vampire Scrolls 2 and 3; she had purchased Book 1 at Comic-Con several years ago and was delighted to see that the trilogy had been finished. Cordell Falk sold out of Valley of the Damned Book 1 and got to talk shop with some attendees who were knowledgeable about the areas of Darwin and Death Valley, CA, where the series takes place.
Overall, it was an incredible experience and we’ll absolutely brave the heat and humidity to come back next year!
The same day of the KPBS Festival we published our first ever anthology, 9pm Poioumenon (9:01).
This anthology is what happens when four authors enter a short story writing contest and decide to keep writing their stories even when they don’t make it through to the next round. Come with us on a wild and wooly journey into our creative brains: read the stories, see our insights into our different creative processes, and enjoy the behind-the-scenes banter of the text threads we kept alive throughout. Inside this book you’ll find jokes, tears, frustration, sarcasm and encouragement. It’s a wild ride and you can buy your paperback copy here . (The digital book is in process, so stay tuned for updates if that’s your preference).
OR . . .
You can come pick up a signed copy and meet two of the authors at the North Park Book Fair on Saturday October 3rd! That’s right, we’re coming to yet another local street fair near you!
Come hang with two of our authors and chat about books, creativity, art and the state of the world (if you’re into that sort of thing). Cats may also come up in conversation because . . . well . . .cats. Yes, it’ll probably still be a bit steamy outside, but buying local is where its at, so come out and show North Park, Verbatim Books and all of the wonderful local creators some love!
Until next time!
-Selena