Upcoming Events

The title is a bit misleading; it’s really an upcoming event (singular), but I’m still excited. I’ve only had the one book signing event before, and it was a ton of fun, so I’m looking forward to this one even more, and hopefully it goes well enough to lead to even more in the future. Meeting people and talking about my book is the main reason I wrote the book anyway. I so enjoy the world I built that I don’t mind talking to complete strangers about it (or my wife, but I think after seven years her patience is wearing thin). One of the biggest highlights of writing a book was the first time I spoke with my editor (Hi Peyton!) and she started talking to me about things that happened in the story. I realize that at this point in my career, most people coming to the event will not have read the book, but it’s still a chance for me to talk about the story and hopefully hook them on it.

This is something I hope I do a little bit better with this time around. The first time I was so nervous and feeling awkward and like I didn’t belong there with the other authors that I don’t think I did a good job really hyping up my story. People would come up and ask what it was about, and I fumbled over my answers a bit.

I also had a ton of friends and family there. That’s great. I don’t want to make it seem like I’m at all ungrateful. Their support meant the world, especially on a night where I was feeling the impostor syndrome, but I think I also used them a bit like a safety net. I was less likely to pitch to strangers when I could just chat up people I know will support me no matter what.

I mean, there will be friends and family there (I hope/believe) but I assume fewer since this isn’t the big special first time.

This time I’ll have more to talk about, too. Not that there isn’t plenty to talk about in Mattson Academy—again, don’t get stuck in a car with me if you aren’t ready to be a sounding board for the construction of a fictional universe—but I’ve also got Mattson Academy: Mind Over Magi stuff to talk about.

Mostly that it exists, that it’s done, and that it’s coming out in less than two months. Not only can they score an awesome book, they can rest comfortably in the knowledge that book 2 is coming soon. I can also share that book 3 is so close to being done and will hopefully come out next year. I’ve got a whole series ready for fantasy enjoyers, I just need to hook ‘em on that first book, so that’s my goal for the event.

All that to say, if you’re in the Maryland area, specifically around Annapolis, on July 27th, stop in and see me! There will be a bunch of other great authors there as well, and you’ll be able to buy books, get them signed, and talk about stories with the people who write them. I’m excited to be a part of it, and I hope it’s the start of many more to come.