So I sold my first novel today...

Don't call it a comeback

To say it’s been a long time coming would be a very large understatement. Even though it’s been over ten years (!) since I last sold a new book, I’ve been writing nonstop, and I can’t tell you how gratifying it is to finally see the fruits of these long labours. 

The truth is, I’ve actually sold a few books over the past few months — five of them, to be exact. But, as is often the case with these sorts of deals, I have to keep the details of some of them to myself for the time being. Suffice to say, I’ve got some very exciting projects lined up for the next few years. 

But let’s get back to Sycamore. Not only is this my first ever novel sale, it’s also the first novel in the Black Lands series. As you’ll note from the Publishers Marketplace announcement, I’ve also sold a reprint of SuperNOIRtural Tales (which was originally published back in 2012), a collection of four Black Lands novellas and a short story, all of which feature private investigator Felix Renn. The book also includes a brief history of the Black Lands universe. 

Sycamore is Felix’s first novel-length outing and I’m very excited for you all to read it. It’s the culmination of all the novellas and short stories I’ve been writing about Felix for the past 10+ years. I’m trying to do something a bit different with this series, something that I hope will appeal to fans of urban fantasy, supernatural mysteries, and detective fiction. 

I should also note that this is only the beginning. Kevin Lucia (my editor) and Cemetery Dance are committed to the Black Lands and you can expect to see more books in the series in the future. Of course, this will only happen if people buy the first two books. Pre-order info for Sycamore is still a ways off, but I’ll provide more details in a future edition of this newsletter. 

I will add, as a bit of a teaser, that I have plans for other books in the Black Lands series that feature other characters besides Felix Renn. I always envisioned the Black Lands as a kind of supernatural version of “The Wire,” in which the setting remains the same but we follow different characters. I still plan to write many books featuring Felix Renn, but I’m also looking forward to introducing you to other characters in this dark world. 

As for the other books I’ve sold this summer, I’m not able to talk about them quite yet (how’s that for a tease?). And frankly I don’t want to steal any of the thunder for Sycamore, especially since it’s my first novel sale. 

All I will say is that I’ve got two other books coming out in 2024 — a deluxe hardcover novel and a deluxe hardcover novella — and two more coming out in 2025 (the reprint of SuperNOIRtural Tales from Cemetery Dance and another deluxe hardcover novel). 

I don’t mind saying that, after a decade-long dry spell, this is one helluva reboot for my writing career. And on a wry note, it will be nice to finally have other books to talk about. I feel like people must be getting sick of hearing me talk about Every House Is Haunted these past few years. 

Speaking of which, though… 

In case you missed it, Sam Raimi was on a Reddit chat earlier this year and cited Every House Is Haunted as one of his favourite horror reads. 

And before you ask, there is an update coming on the film adaptation of “The House on Ashley Avenue.” I can’t say anything about it, for which I apologize. Unfortunately this type of secrecy is part and parcel of the film business. All I can say is the movie is definitely still happening and I hope to be able to tell you more about it soon.  

In closing, I just want to say thanks to everyone who has stuck with me up till this point. It’s been a helluva long journey and I can’t thank you enough for your support.

Of course, the work isn’t over yet. Not by a long shot. As a writer friend of mine once said, “Selling your book isn’t the hard part. It’s the first hard part.” Fortunately it’s work that I enjoy, which I guess is the reason why I keep doing it.

Still, selling these books and finally having new work scheduled to be published has given me a feeling of returning after a long absence (even though I never really left). I imagine it’s the same way someone feels after recovering from a long illness. I suppose people in those situations experience the same range of emotions I am going through right now, and we all might describe it in the same way.

It’s good to be back.