Big Thank You, And an Update!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has read these blogs and who bought a copy of Droplets to help pay for Tabby's medical costs.  While we're not out of the woods yet, and we have a long way to go, your support and love and help have meant so much to us both.  I can't possibly name everyone who has given their time, bought a book, lit a candle, prayed or sent gifts, but you know who you are.  You know what you did, and for that, I thank you from the bottom of my black little heart.

Now, on with the update.

First off, Tabby's last CT scan showed shrinkage.  This'll probably be the only time I ever say "shrinkage is a good thing," but in this case it is.  What that means, I hope, is that we're over the hump.  Since April, we've been told "no change" and "no growth," but it hadn't gotten smaller either.  Now, the tumors have shrunk.  Not much, but enough that there is a glimmer of hope.

Tabby has, as a result of all this mess, developed diabetes.  Likely, it'll resolve itself when her pancreas starts working on its own again, but we don't know that.  Also, because her white bloodcell count was very low, the doctors put her on something called "Nulasta," which forces her body to overproduce white blood cells.  Sounds good, until you realize how your body does such a thing.  White blood cells come from bone marrow, which means that, when she's injected with this stuff, every bone in her body aches.  Literally.  Every.  Bone.  She's a tough lady, but it's hard to know she's in that kind of pain.

The chemo makes her very tired, but she's keeping her spirits up.  It's that positive attitude that is a testament to her strength, and is helping her fight.  And one of the big things that's keeping her spirits up is you.

So to everyone who reads this, thank you.

Just a reminder, if anyone is still interested in buying a copy of Droplets (all proceeds go to paying Tab's medical bills), you can do so by visiting The American Horror Writer Bookstore.

Out of Print

It's a sad day in a writer's life when a book goes out of print.  No longer is that book part of the market, no longer is it "in the wild" or "out there."  It has lived its life and is now, sadly, gone.  This past week, I saw not one, but four of my books go out of print.  That's right, four.  The books in question are Deadlands, City of Demons, and the first two books of the Stanley Cooper Chronicles, Vermin and Pages.  Has it really been that long?  Yes.  Really, it has.

Deadlands first saw print in 2005.  It was my second book, way back before the whole "zombie" craze, about a post-apocalyptic world where the walking dead wondered the Earth, and normal folk were forced to live in underground cities like ants.  When the original publisher, Harbor House Books, closed up shop, the book was given new life by Dr. Pus at Library of the Living Dead, and I'll be forever grateful to him for picking it up.  It's a quirky little book that holds a special place in my heart.



City of Demons was my first attempt at noir.  A supernatural thriller that dealt with police, religious cults, murder, mayhem, and depravity, COD was my love-letter to Micky Spillane and Dashiell Hammett, and to the tough guys they wrote.  It was also, at the time, the most brutal story I'd ever written.

Which leads us to Vermin and Pages.  Before you start thinking The Stanley Cooper Chronicles are done, let me dispel that rumor.  Stanley Cooper is alive and well, and his story is far from over.  Right now, Vermin and Pages rest in the most capable hands possible:  Those belonging to my agent.  We're looking for a larger home for Stanley.  And while Ectostorm is still available, I'm working hard on writing the fourth book, Birthright.  In fact, I could be happy writing the adventures of Stanley Cooper for the rest of my life, provided he finds a home.  So if you want to see more Stanley Cooper, keep your fingers crossed.  Larger press or not, there will be more to his story.  But I'd really love for him to find a larger audience.

So, to date, that makes my back catalogue of thirteen books down to only five.  Out of print is An American Haunting, Deadlands, Cane River:  A Ghost Story, Deadlands (reprint), City of Demons, The Mayor's Guide:  The Stately Ghosts of Augusta, and Vermin and Pages.  Remaining out there for folks to read are Ectostorm, Ghosts of San Antonio, Haunted Austin Texas, The Journal of Edwin Grey, and, of course, Droplets.  Sure, you can still find copies of all of them, but once those are gone, there'll be no more left.  I may self-pub Deadlands and  City of Demons, but chances are, that'll be it.

That's not the end for my writing career, though.  There's more coming.  Just watch me run.

SAJ

Benefit for Tabby

Take a look at the picture on the left.  For those who have never met her, that's Tabby, my wife.  We've been married for nineteen years, and through everything, she's been my best friend, my partner in crime, and my world.

By now, everyone knows.  We kept it quiet for a while, but there's really no point now.  Tabby was diagnosed with advanced stage cancer back in April, and it's particularly aggressive.  Since April, she's been enduring chemotherapy, losing weight and her hair, and fighting with everything she's got.  Tabby has made a life out of beating the odds, and she's still fighting these.  She's very weak and can't actually work.  As her husband, I've been sitting beside her, watching her go through this horrendous nightmare, and wracking my brain to try to figure out what I can do to help.

 I figured that the only thing I can do is write, and since I'm not the type to beg for help, I spoke to Owen, the publisher who put out my short story collection, Droplets, and he agreed to donate all the proceeds from DROPLETS to help pay for Tabby's medical care.  This is huge, not only because I feel like I'm helping, but also because it keeps Tabby from feeling like a charity case.  Your "donation" gets you a copy of the book.  The truth is, the medical bills are piling up, so we figured this is the best solution.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Buy a copy of DROPLETS.  That's it.  One copy.  Owen at CLB Publications has agreed to take no profit from the book, and forward it all for paying Tabby's medical bills.  Pretty generous.  If you're inclined to help out, we'd be forever grateful.  If you already own a copy, Owen will be forwarding the proceeds of that one to me as well.  If you already own one, write a review on Amazon.  Reviews sell books.  Like I said, we're not asking for handouts.  If you want to buy a copy, please do by following this link.  If you don't, we understand.  Either way, keep Tabby in your thoughts.

We can't handle a bunch of phone calls, but e-mails are always appreciated.  Facebook messages are always appreciated for her.  Post your well-wishings on her wall.  I can't promise we'll be able to answer all of them, but I promise she'll read them all.  Tabby means everything in the world to me.  If you've met her, you know what I mean.  Everyone who has ever met her loves her.  If you haven't met her, and have met me, you know what she means to me.   Thank you for your consideration.