Ringing in 2019

2018 was actually a pretty good year for me but I plan for 2019 to be even better.

In 2018, I had tables/booths at six events in 2018. Some were just okay while others were so amazing. Some, I shared with other authors and had a blast. Others, I did by myself. I’ve gotten over my shyness of talking in public. I can drag anyone into my booth now and talk their ears off.

Last year I published the first two chapters of a zombie short story series. Each book takes place at the same time, and focuses on one main character in a different city in Texas. They all start at the beginning of a zombie apocalypse, created by an unusual method.

It’s called: Between the Pages and there will be a total of six chapter books.

Chapter One: Carrie is based in San Antonio and Chapter Two: Jenny is based in Katy (a city just west of Houston and where I live). Chapter Three: Jamal is finished and at my editor. It’s taking longer because its twice as big as either Carrie or Jenny. I really fell in love with Jamal. He had much more story to tell than Carrie and Jenny. This should be out sometime in January or February. After that, it’s Dan in Austin; Eric in Waco (or a small town just outside of Waco); and last will be Karl in Lufkin. Then I’ll be writing a book that brings them all together. These should all be done in 2019.

How far will that go? I honestly don’t know yet. It depends on where the characters take me. I just follow them; they are their stories.

books2read.com/chapteroneCarrie

books2read.com/ChapterTwoJenny

I’ve also had seven stories accepted and published into various anthologies in 2018. One of these also had a story by Clive Barker. Clive Barker! I’m still in shock on this one!

Misophonia in Southern Fried Autopsies (coolest title for a book, right?)

Mile Marker 76 in Dark Places, Evil Faces Volume II

Secret Santa in Collection Christmas Horror Shorts 2

Abdominal Bride in Guts and Gore

The Nanny in Triggered

Two drabbles in 100 Word Horrors

viewAuthor.at/VeronicaSmith

Last year I had a short story Collection accepted by Stitched Smile Publications and it should be out this spring. It’s called Transparent Walkways and features many of my short stories and some flash fiction. The cover photo is done by my friend, Karen Janczak. She’s an amazing photographer who does all my author pics. In fact, I’m the woman on this cover. I can’t wait for this one to be live!

http://www.facebook.com/stitchedsmilepublications

http://www.facebook.com/karenwithacamera

Plans for 2019?

Con/Festival booths/tables: I did six last year and so far only have five scheduled for this year but I’m planning to up that if I can.

February – Saint Arnolds Brewery

I was just confirmed to have a table at the Beers & Art Market at Saint Arnold’s Brewing Co. on Sunday, February 17, 2019 in Houston. This will be a first for me here so I’m excited to see how this goes. At the very least, I’ll be at a brewery so I’ll be happy there no matter what! LOL

April – Trader’s Village Comic Con

I’ve done the Trader’s Village Comic Con for a couple years, sharing two spaces with several other authors. This year will be no different. All I know right now is that it is in April but I don’t have a confirmed date yet. Follow me on my Facebook Author and Twitter pages and I’ll post the info as I get it.

http://www.facebook.com/Veronica.Smith.Author

twitter.com/Vee_L_Smith

May – Comicpalooza

Comicpalooza! May 10-12, 2019. Last year myself and my friend and author, Stephanie Barr, had applied for a table, and were on the waiting list for months. We got three days’ notice that we were accepted and rushed about to get ready. I had to work that Friday alone because with no notice, she couldn’t get off from work. We had a good time but didn’t have time to promote or properly prepare. This year we’ve already picked our table and are in! We’ll both be promoting as it gets closer but I can tell you that we will be at booth #3536.

September/October – Scarydad and Katy Rice Festival

I’ve had a booth at the Scarydad Haunted Halloween Show since it started two years ago. In 2018 it was in September and in 2017 it was in October. I don’t know when it will be this year but I plan to have a table there again. Scarydad is the FIRST horror con in Houston, and while it’s still small now, I anticipate it to grow and flourish.

2018 was my first time with a booth at Katy Rice Festival. It’s an annual festival in Katy that has been going on for 29 years. I shared the booth with my friend and author, Will Allen. Considering I’d lived in Katy since 1995, I couldn’t believe I’d never gone to one of these. Even if I didn’t have a booth there, I’d go just for the fun of it. Set up in historic downtown Katy, it’s a three-day festival with parades and bands and tons of local crafts. I was lucky to be right by the giant screen TV so I could watch the Houston Texans play. I’m hoping to do it again this year. I don’t have the date yet but I believe they try to have it the middle weekend in October. Again, follow me and I’ll update as I get more info.

Fandemic Comic Con is new to Houston and we went as guests last year. I’d like to try to get a booth there this year but I don’t know if it will conflict with Katy Rice or Scarydad since this is Oct 18-20. I’ll have to wait until I get all the dates to see what I can squeeze in.

I’m always on the lookout for new places to have a table. One year I sat outside a screen of Dawn of the Dead at our local theater. My zombie books were popular there. I’ve also had a table at the local gun show, sharing a table with another author. I might try that again this year. That was so much fun but I had to keep my husband from buying everything he saw. Haha. I’ve even put up a table at local paintball zombie hunts. Those were fun. Even if I don’t sell any books, I get to go shoot zombies. A great way to spend an evening. (FYI – I’ve been a zombie at one of these zombie hunts and will not do that again. Haha. At one point I had over 40 paintball bruises on my body.)

So with 2018 wrapping up, I am looking forward to 2019. Not just as an author but in my personal life as well. I’m going to go back on my KETO diet full force (I just freaking blew it in December – haha) but I’m determined. I lost 17 pounds from May to November so I know I can do it, I just need to buckle down again.

I’m going to try to do more on social media. I’ve joined Linkedin and Instagram, although I’m not sure about Instagram. It seems to be a phone app only kind of thing, and I’m not very app savy. I do most everything on my laptop with is NOT Instagram friendly.

I’ve been playing around with image generators to create some of my own Facebook banners and such. I have Photoshop but don’t know how to use it. I also am trying to create my own website on Wix. I found some YouTube tutorials; I just need to watch them.

And of course, I just need to write. Books and stories. I need to get all these ideas that are rolling around inside my head out and down onto Word.

Write, write, write!

I hope you all had a great 2018 and that your 2019 is even better!

Happy New Year!

Veronica