Well, friends and neighbors, Midnight Radio is available to order online from Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million! I had to stop and look at that for a minute. There’s the cover. There’s my name. There’s a button somebody can press and have fourteen years of my life delivered to their house.
That is pretty damn cool!
To be clear, those are online listings. We haven’t confirmed copies sitting on their store shelves. But seeing my book on their websites is something I’m going to enjoy.
And apparently, getting one book published has encouraged me.
There’s a book happening.
I’m currently working on two children’s books, The Secrets of Daddy Claus and The Ugly Pumpkin.
“Jerry, how do you write something like Midnight Radio and then write children’s books?”
That is a fair question. The answer explains quite a bit about how I write.
First, I have a thought. This can happen at any moment during my everyday life. It stops me. I’m frozen while the story plays in my head, and the real world continues without my participation.
I probably look like a man who has forgotten why he walked into the room. Sometimes I am. Other times, there’s a book happening.
When an idea arrives complete enough, I know I have something I can write. Whatever I get is what I write. These two happen to be children’s stories, and I’m excited about both of them.
I’ve also been actively working on my next novel, After Hours, which is about…
Well, hell. We’ll save that for another post.
I also have plans for two more Midnight Radio novels. If readers want another trip into that world, I have more stories to tell. If their interests take us somewhere else, I’ll keep writing the other books as the ideas come.
There is apparently no shortage of things going on in my head. It’s nice to finally have something to show for it.
Libraries first. Communities together.
Along with the writing, I’m putting together a library benefit book tour.
I want to visit small community libraries, talk with readers, sign books, and raise money for the libraries hosting us. Before we arrive in each town, I also want to connect with local veterans, college communities, and the people who help keep those libraries going.
We’re starting in the Texas Panhandle because this is my home.
From here, I want to work my way through the rest of Texas. As the book finds more readers and we can afford to travel farther, I hope to take the tour across the United States. Eventually, I’d love to bring translated editions to readers in Germany, Japan, France, and beyond.
But first, Childress. I should probably get through my first book signing before I start trying to find a parking spot in Paris.
Linda and I have put together the map below to show the communities we hope to visit throughout the Panhandle. Most of those stops are still goals. Once dates and times are confirmed, we’ll update the map and give you the details here.
Other stops are outreach goals until dates are confirmed.
I am beyond excited to have this opportunity. To the librarians making room for me, helping organize these visits, and giving this new author a chance: thank you.
Encouraging young readers and future writers, supporting local libraries, and standing beside veterans and their families is a great honor. I want to make it my life’s work.
I love writing. I love entertaining people. If something I write gives somebody a few minutes or a few hours away from whatever is weighing on them, then I’m doing my job.
Now I get the chance to take those stories out into the world and help support the communities that welcome them.
I’ve got books to write, libraries to visit, and people to meet.
I’d better put some gas in the car.
