Countdown: 6 Weeks to Midnight Splash
Preorder Your Signed Copy of Midnight Splash Today!
Preorder your signed first edition copy of Midnight Splash today!
Follow the link to order directly on the website for delivery to you starting release week of JULY 14, 2026
Order by midnight EST on SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2026
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- A signed, first edition copy of Midnight Splash (personalization available)
- An official Midnight Splash bookmark
- A handwritten thank you note from the author
Midnight Splash Cover Reveal
Character Takeover: James Valentine, III
I don’t know that I really want to do this. People say it’s good to talk about it, but it’s so fresh I’d rather not. My son died. He was only seventeen. Not even ‘only’ but ‘just’. He and his friend Turner, who was born on the same day, went out to celebrate their birthday without any of us parents knowing.
I don’t have all the details, but they found a body. Some man. Then they heard something in the woods I guess. Someone running away. James may have seen them. That had to cost his life.
Who wants to talk about losing their only child? So I’ll talk about me instead. I’m James Valentine, III. My son was James Valentine, IV. I hoped he’d take after me in so much more than name. I’m an architect, and I actually designed most of the houses in the neighborhood where my wife Emily and I and Turner and his family live.
Turner’s parents are Brad and Pam, and the four of us grew up together here in Glass, so it was only natural that our sons grow up together, too. They’ve been friends forever, and I know Turner is as torn apart by it as Emily and I are.
My age and all that doesn’t really matter. You don’t need to know my school or other background either. Just know I’m a grieving father and leave it at that.
The Finish Line is in Sight!
At least I think it is.
As the date for my debut novel draws closer (there are still some things to do before making the date official), and I continue to work on other projects, I wonder how I’m going to balance it all. As an indie writer I have to:
– Write the book
– Edit the book
– Distribute it to beta readers
– Contract a professional editor
– Apply the edits
– Contract a professional proofreader
– Apply the proofreading remarks
– Format the book
– Purchase and apply ISBN number(s)file
– Distribute it to influencers and reviewers to get accurate, honest reviews for launch day
– Upload the file to the publishing website
– Purchase my own copies for selling on my website and having on-hand for events
I’m probably forgetting something…
But am I done? Nooooooo. Now there’s:
– Marketing this book
– Continue to write more books (and putting each through the above cycle)
– Maintaining an online store on my website and dealing with things like tax withholding
– Upkeep social media/my own website (including this blog!)
What kind of social media?
– Substack
And still the publishing world demands more, like:
– TikTok
– YouTube
– A newsletter to capture email addresses of interested readers
– In-person appearances like book signings or conferences
And on and on and on. Not to mention that I need to be ‘different’ to draw attention!
Wait – Why did I decide to do this again? Because I love it!
However. I did recently rant to a friend about all the social media. It’s a lot. Yes, I have a method of keeping it all in check, but with the growing number of ideas I have ‘for the next book’ the more each site seems daunting to maintain.
Still, I’ll find a way to do it all. Why? Because I love it!