The Missing Ingredient

I attended my first author event in nearly four years yesterday. I used to do this quite often, but the years have been a bit stressful and as a result, I’ve found myself stepping out less and less to promote my books. Retreating into the solitude of my home office, I kept telling myself I was just taking a little break. But things happen and with each passing week and month, it became more and more difficult to envision myself getting back out there. During that time, one of the things I’d forgotten was just how much I liked talking to other authors and sharing information about writing, publishing, and just life in general. Having the opportunity, albeit brief, to step out and network for a bit has given me a much-needed kick in the seat of the pants. It’s time for me to get back out there and start talking…it’s been time.

Hiding out at home, hoping to make my presence known from behind my computer screen didn’t turn out the way I hoped it would. Though I got really good at creating promos and keeping posts on my social media, there were things I couldn’t seem to master. Now, I see that the missing ingredient in all of my strategies was just one thing—spending time with people.

Not followers.

Not subscribers.

Not algorithms.

People.

At the event yesterday, I took the opportunity to walk around and talk to as many of the other authors as I could. I talked about my books, my publishing company, and even my anxiety about coming out to the event that day. Lo and behold, I found that we all had so much in common. Everyone was struggling. And although some had a very different approach to how they networked, we were all basically the same in that had one wish—that our books find their way into the hands of readers.

I talked last week about how much stories matter, and yesterday’s conversations only served to reinforce this idea. Whether it was the author who wrote fairy tale fantasy or the one who was inspired to entertain others with a bit of historical fiction, every story was born out of one writer’s passion to share what they knew, what they imagined, and what they thought might convey the important ideas they’d been gathering. Shaped by their environment and undoubtedly impacted by what challenges the authors had encountered at various points during their journeys, each story had deeper meaning than just the words on the pages.  

So, what does all of this mean to me as an author and publisher? It means that I’m going to stop being a spectator in a space where I should be a participant. I also have stories to tell. And I know that those stories are good. It’s time to throw my proverbial hat back in the ring. It’s time to continue telling my story.

As I was talking with readers and authors yesterday, I was reminded that stories don't end just because we've told a few of them. There are always new ideas to explore, new lessons to learn, and new adventures waiting around the corner.

Speaking of new adventures, I'm currently hard at work on the next installment of the Rona Shively series. The Harder They Fall, the 11th Rona Shively Story, is scheduled for release in August 2026. After more than twenty years with this stubborn, sarcastic private investigator, I'm still finding new stories to tell.

I look forward to sharing Rona's latest adventure with you soon.

God bless you!