NEW RELEASE, MINI BOOK TOUR, PUBLISHING PITFALLS, & POLITICS

'A Life of Crime' Amazon Pre-Order, Bucket 'O Blood, Books & Brews, KillerCon, Pitfalls of Small Press Publishing, & Political Divisiveness...

How is everyone doing? I hope you’re having an incredible evening and that many more are around the corner. I’ve got a jam-packed newsletter for you! Not just announcements about my books and signings, but also some heartfelt messages that I hope you will enjoy.

Let’s get started with the major update though!

‘A LIFE OF CRIME’ WIDE RELEASE

My latest book ‘A Life of Crime’ is about to get a wide release. The preorder is already up on Amazon for both eBook and paperback versions! It will also be available on Kobo for Canadian readers and Nook and in many other formats. I’m excited to get this thing out into the world. With the hardcovers nearly selling out in just the short time they’ve been available, I’m glad this is happening.

Originally, the imagery in the book was not fit for wide release, but after much research, I was able to find a workaround. Mainly because I wanted to do a better job accommodating international readers, and also readers with certain disabilities. That being said, an audiobook is in the works as we speak. I had to swap out some of the images in the widely released eBook and paperback versions, but if you want the visually uncensored version, that will always be available at ABHorror.com. There are maybe 40 hardcovers of the 200 book limited run remaining. After those are sold, I will offer signed paperbacks with the uncensored imagery on my website only.

The official wide release date for all platforms will be 8/2.

MINI BOOK TOUR

In just two days I will be leaving RI to venture on a two-week odyssey with my lovely friend Day Day by my side. We will venture into a flurry of book signings, events, and modern-day mischief, working our way through Chicago, Nashville, and culminating at KillerCon in Austin.

If you’re looking for anything from my AB Horror sight soon, I suggest getting it today/tomorrow. Just cuz I’m not gonna be back from the trip until mid-August. Anyone grabbing stuff during that period while I’m gone, sadly won’t get it until I return in mid-August. I appreciate your patience and understanding. I run AB Horror completely independently, so I don’t have many other options.

As a token of my gratitude, enjoy the above photo of me and Day Day at Mikey’s crackhouse apartment, circa 2018.

On this upcoming road trip, I will be signing at the following events:

8/2 - BUCKET ‘O BLOOD - CHICAGO, IL

Starting at 6 PM until late into the evening, I’ll be signing books with Splatterpunk Award winners Jeff Strand & Bridgett Nelson as well as the amazing Megan Stockton!

Authors Signing at Bucket 'O Blood

8/3 - BOOKS & BREWS - EVANSTON, IL

From 11 AM - 5 PM at Double Clutch Brewing Company I’ll be signing with a massive group of some of the most amazing horror authors on the planet! Check out the image below!

In addition to this incredible lineup, I have one other surprise for fans of my audiobooks. The incomparable Lila Kerry—voice of The Slob books, Playground, and the Morbid Curiosities Series—will be attending the event!

8/9 - 8/11 - KILLERCON - AUSTIN, TX

I’ll be in Austin for the entire weekend! I’ll be reading from my upcoming release ‘Benjamin’ with my co-author Shane McKenzie. KillerCon is also where the Splatterpunk Awards are held. It’s an incredible time! Check out some of the Guests of Honor for 2024 below!

8/16 - 8/17 - NECRONOMOCON - PROVIDENCE, RI

I’ll be signing for a couple of days as well as doing a short reading at our release party for the RI writer’s group I’m a member of, ‘We Are Providence.’ Our latest release, ‘Monsters in the Mills’ will be available there!

PUBLISHING PITFALLS

Anyone who's been following my online stuff knows I've always tried my best to keep to myself and stay humble. I'm not an 'I told you so' kind of person. I also don't vague-post childish smack talk. It's pretty obvious, to anyone based in reality and whose every moment of happiness isn't tied to a computer, that speaking in riddles is coward shit. If I ever had a legit problem with someone, they would have absolutely no idea. Not until we meet in the flesh that is.

Anyhow, I say that to make it clear that this post is in no way directed toward any individual or specific group. I'm hoping this can potentially help some authors better navigate the pitfalls of publishing. I also understand how unsolicited advice can come off. Who the hell am I, right? So I preface with, this may not be for everyone. I don't think writing/publishing is a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. I'm also not gonna act like I've been doing this forever. But I've been doing it long enough to see my fair share of bullshit and certain cycles and patterns. To hear the same publishing horror stories (no pun intended) and perpetual frustration revisited by many hardworking writers who just want a fair shake.

I've been fortunate to have enough success to where I feel like I might have a small bit of guidance to offer. If it can even just help one person to live their dream, then it's worth it. So, to the newer writers or those early in their careers, let me unpack this.

Year in and year out, I watch small publishers tank and even listen to complaints that you might not believe about some bigger, more respected publishers. There's a variety of reasons for the tanking. It might be an author did some dumb shit. Maybe people aren't getting paid. I don't need to list all of the reasons, you've all seen what goes on.

My question is, why would you invest in someone else's brand instead of building your own?

Some people who aren't yet established in the industry might look at this like they need to get the rub from someone who is already established. Maybe they believe the right publisher or the right blurb from a fellow author is what's finally going to bring them that elusive success.

I'm living proof that that's not the case, at least not all the time anyway. Outside of a few relatively unknown anthologies, I've never been formally published. Outside of the lone blurb that Brian Keene was kind enough to offer me at STC, I've never used another author blurb to market any of my work. I'm extremely grateful that Brian offered me that blurb. He is a legend and someone I've always looked up to. And honestly, it felt even more special because he offered it. It felt like somehow, through all my hard work, that I'd earned it.

In this day and age, with so many tools at our disposal, I urge those stepping into this game to be resourceful. I had no clue what I was doing when I started this. I was publishing books without an editor! You wanna talk about true horror, read some of my early text.

But over time, I refined my process. Learning little tidbits here and there, spending late nights watching tutorial videos, and taking my career into my own hands. The truth of the matter is I didn't know shit when I started this. I didn't know how to write a complete story, what proper editing looked like, how to format text, how to do font work on covers, etc. But today, I sit here with a wealth of knowledge and it cost me nothing but time and attention.

So, why did I put in all the work to learn the ins and outs?

In short, it's because I didn't want someone else to control my destiny. I didn't want my career tied to a jerk who doesn't know how to treat people or some dummy who wants to flush their entire career over a political opinion. If I was gonna make it, it was going to be on my terms. I'm okay with my success crashing and burning because of me. What I wouldn't be able to deal with (and in my opinion, you shouldn't be able to deal with) is tanking on someone else's account.

The authors back in the day, take a Ronald Kelly or a Wrath James White, they had no choice. They were dependent and at the mercy of the publishers. They were bound to a world of gatekeepers (and narcissists, I suspect). It was about the gatekeeper's opinion, and if you didn't get picked, then you didn't have a career. Today, when I see Wrath being relevant and making better videos than many of the younger generation who should be more attuned with technology, I smile. Or when I see Ron Kelly having a career resurgence and opening an entire online spot all by himself, I smile. They came from a different era. An era that in many ways was rooted in dependency, yet they embraced the opportunity to make some aspects of their business independent.

Some people will make the excuse that they are not tech-savvy. Talk to Kristopher Triana. He figured it out. Others may say they don't have the time. Talk to Daniel J. Volpe, a guy who is the sole provider for his family with a full-time job, yet manages to crank out several books a year. Talk to John Lynch, who literally straps a desk to the steering wheel of his car and writes on his lunch break.

After reading that, just ask yourself, how bad do you want this?

Do you want it as bad as John Lynch? If not, why? I only ask because that's what it takes.

In my opinion, John Lynch is a great example of someone who is on the right path. He's learning how to publish quality content, working on building his brand, and clearly dedicated to creating something special. In doing so, he's keeping the rights to his work, getting full royalties, and getting better with each release. I'm glad to see that he has a new book with Jay Bower "Sleeper Train" because I love Jay's approach too. Both are hardworking guys who stay out of dumb shit on the internet and instead, focus on building their brands. They aren't guys making excuses. They are guys ready to crack the code no matter how many shots it takes them.

I hope that some of this was helpful to someone. That after reading this, some individual's trajectory might be changed. I hope to see others bet on themselves, because it's not truly a bet, it's an investment. When you depend on someone else, now that's the real gamble.

NOTE: I originally posted this piece on Facebook. I would like to add that not all publishers are bad. That was not the intent of this piece. The intent was to hopefully let people know if you’re motivated enough, the world is your oyster. In my opinion, resourcefulness is the key to success.

YOU’RE NOT REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS

You know by now that I don’t post political stuff. Even more than political stuff, I don’t post anything that’s even mildly divisive. The only thing close to divisive that I post is my work. By nature, extreme horror is upsetting and pushes boundaries, so—as silly as it is—I can accept that some people are going to hate me for that.

I’m okay with that.

It’s part of the job.

It’s part of creating any kind of art.

There are various schools of thought on the subject of bringing one’s political beliefs and personal preferences into their art or public persona. Some will say the following:

‘It’s an artist’s responsibility to be politically vocal. If you’re not fighting for causes X, Y, Z, then you’re not doing your job as an artist. Because you don’t work a regular job it’s your duty.’

That’s not my opinion.

If you want my opinion, that’s bullshit. I don’t fault some people if they believe that’s the route to take—to each his own. But whenever people drop blanket statements and try to tell others how they need to live their lives, to me, that’s a red flag. No one who is trying to help you will ever give you advice like that. The best advice isn’t really advice at all. It’s not people telling you what to do, it’s people providing information and allowing you to draw your own conclusion. And if it’s different than their view, so be it.

In my estimation, the problem with those who believe in being hyper-political with their public personas is that—intentionally or not—they create a divide. You can use your work and personality to let people know exactly how you think, and you will attract groupthink. Undoubtedly, a horde of folks who think exactly like you will flock or remain. And at the same time, an equal mob of people who think the opposite will never discover you or run for the hills.

Alternatively, we could be respectful of all. We could practice restraint on divisive topics and tolerance toward the masses. Instead of focusing on hatred, we could try to find common ground with people.

This is why I don’t say shit. Do I have my opinions on stuff? Of course, everyone does. Would it be selfish of me to go on online tirades and tell you what to believe and who to vote for? I think it would be. I’d rather allow my work and persona to bring people together and help them find common ground. Sadly, even peaceful stances like the one I’ve posed come under scrutiny. I know firsthand. In this upside-down world, I’ve been attacked online more for what I haven’t said than what I have.

Well, that’s where I draw the line. That’s where I start telling people to go fuck themselves. But I do that in a different way. I just cut those people out of my life forever like the cancer they are. Because if you don’t cut the cancer out it will just grow and eventually kill you.

Just because I don’t choose to participate in the constant divisiveness, doesn’t mean I don’t support causes. I support/have supported helping sick and injured children, the homeless, and survivors of domestic violence. Not to mention just random, everyday people going through the wringer. I don’t say this toot my own horn—I help 10 times more privately than I do publicly (I feel that this is my calling). I say it to show that you can have a great impact and create positive change without dividing your audience and disappointing your readers.

This is just one guy’s view of this world of chaos. And I will reiterate, I’m not an absolutist. I’m not judging anyone else, and I understand this approach may not be for everyone. But I just ask those who are public absolutists to please have some respect for the people who choose to not publicly parade their beliefs. To allow us to be ourselves and not force us into taking a side.

Because the thing about taking sides is, it’s never good and evil, it’s never black and white. It’s shades of gray all the way.

2024 SIGNING DATES!

I’m excited to announce that I have quite a few different signings scheduled in the near future.

• 8/2 Bucket O’ Blood Books & Records at 3182 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 from 6 PM to LATE

• 8/3 Books of Horror Presents ‘Books & Brews’ at the Double Clutch Brewery

  2121 Ashland Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

• 8/9 - 8/11 ‘KillerCon’ at Holiday Inn Austin-Town Lake 20 N Interstate 35, Austin, TX 78701

• 8/16 - 8/17 ‘NecronomoCon’ in Providence, Rhode Island (Visit NecronomoCon for times)

• 9/12 In store signing at Brian Keene’s ‘Vortex Books & Comics’ at 447 Locust St. Columbia, PA 17512

• 9/21 - 9/22 ‘CT Horrorfest’ at the Connecticut Convention Center (Visit CTHorrorFest for times)

• 10/4 - 10/6 ‘Scares That Care AuthorCon IV’ at Marriott Renaissance Airport Hotel - 9801 Natural Bridge Rd, St. Louis, MO 63134 (Visit ScaresThatCare.org for times)

UNTIL NEXT TIME… KEEP IT 100% HORROR!

Aron Beauregard is the TWO-TIME Splatterpunk Award-winning author of such atrocities as The Slob, Playground, All Smiles Until I Return, Modern Hysteria, Yellow, and countless others.

CONTACT INFO

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