New reader appreciation post. I met some wonderful people over the past two days. Of those who bought my work, I’ll always have a special fondness for the first person to cosplay as my vampire character Anca. Their name is Mak, and they left their comfort zone by traveling across state lines—braving aggressive Chicago motorists and overwhelming convention crowds—just to don fangs and contact lenses and meet me at C2E2 to complete their Team Van Helsing novel collection. And thank you to all the others who responded to my pitch on what makes #AncasUndeadPlaylist different and inclusive and special. I didn’t get everyone’s photo, but I appreciate my new readers equally. ❤️❤️❤️

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I was holding down the #HWAChicagolandChapter table with #AJHumphreys for the first day of #C2E2 2026. We’ll be there again tomorrow in the Writers Block area at booth WB-28 with more of our members. Come say hi and tell us what kind of horror you like to read.

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Come to #ImperialOakBrewing in Brookfield, Illinois for the first Local Author Palooza on March 21. The fine folks from #NewBookJoy are hosting the event. Several of us from the #HWAChicagolandChapter will be there, along with a score of other excellent authors. I’ll have a stack of anthologies and novels and assorted swag. Free stickers and handshakes for anyone who buys me a pint! (Disclaimer: All my stickers are free anyway.)

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Ten years ago today, before I sold anything to a publisher, I self-published my novelette “Tweakers, Crane Girl and the Semi-pocalypse.” That story remains one of my favorites because of the overall experience I had creating it. I put a ton of work into the project—from the number of drafts spent honing the language, to learning how to format an ebook, to collaborating with my wife on the cover image.

Seeing my finished story on a device felt like the 2015 version of publishing a zine, lacking only the Kinko’s bill and using staples on the fold. I realized something later that didn’t register with me back then: being an indie author is very much a punk rock endeavor. We’re eliminating the middleman and putting our stuff out there, on our terms. Not everyone’s going to get our vision, but we keep jamming and hoping the right people will vibe with it.

“Tweakers” is a dark tale about the gradual end of society, but it was inspired by a real-life moment of kindness—me being told a story and receiving that paper crane from a stranger. (And as we know from Superman, nothing is more punk rock these days than human kindness. Full circle.)

Here’s to ten years of being part of the indie author community. Look for a new self-published story from me in October.

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On June 6, 2020, I published a story titled #MarkedMan about a cursed guy named Rob who’s traveling through England while being stalked by supernatural monsters.

For the ebook cover, I dressed my son in a field jacket and drove him to the middle of nowhere to pose as my protagonist. My wife lent her graphic design skills, and photoshopped an inverted pentacle on his back. I got such great feedback on the story that I went on to include it as the prologue in my first novel—which led to a second one, and another spinoff novel.

I’ve got more Team Van Helsing adventures on deck, and I’m super proud of the mythology that started five years ago with this little story. 🥳 🎉

(I plan on making the novels available in places other than the ‘Zon, just like “Marked Man” is already available on Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and others.)
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https://books2read.com/u/bPp8rR

I started my indie writing career on May 10, 2015. I used Kindle Direct because it seemed to be the simplest option for a beginner. As time passed and I networked with other creative folks, I learned how much I was limiting my exposure by sticking with Amazon. And when it comes to that place—especially in recent years—I can’t morally justify being exclusive to them. That’s why I devoted time and money to learning how to use IngramSpark and Draft2Digital. My future book releases will now be available from multiple marketplaces. Onward and upward. Happy ten-year anniversary to me!

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On March 20, 2022, I released my novel We Are Van Helsing - Book Two, which wrapped up the duology I began in the first book. It told the tale of Ilse Van Helsing, a woman whose family legacy has been targeted by a powerful, dangerous mastermind.

At the time, I didn’t know those books would form the core of a mythology that continues to this day—spinning off a solo novel featuring my Romani vampire Anca, with more stories in the works.

What I do know is those books have filled me with an incredible sense of accomplishment. The advice is true: if you write a little each day—say, during a pandemic, before a full-time job—you’ll eventually finish a novel. Mine ended up being 194,000 words and needed to be split into two books. I learned a lot about my craft. I felt excitement when the characters wrested control from me and took the story in unexpected, amazing directions. And when I finally held both paperbacks in my hands, I experienced the pride that comes with being an indie horror author.

Here’s to the three-year anniversary of WAVH: Book Two! 🥂
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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRZ8DFG8

I set a personal writing record. In the past 45 days, from January 1 to February 15, I’ve written and revised three complete horror stories. The third tale is a simultaneous submission with two slightly different versions. And as of this morning, I’ve sent them to four different indie publishers.

Story #1 - 2,001 words
Story #2 - 3,300
Story #3 (long version) - 7,100

Focusing on my creative output is the game plan for 2025.

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I participated in the Glen Ellyn Public Library’s Emerging Author Expo with over forty other creative folks. A few highlights:

• Read an excerpt of my story “Impressions of Auntie Toon”
• Ran into Damian Serbu
• Chatted with Matt Bieniek
• Met former federal agent Lee Williams

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