My New Agents and New Novel!

Writing is such an incredible journey. I don't like to view my writing career in terms of touchdowns or goals completed. I'm in this for the long haul, thanks to enthusiastic readers like you. Today, I want to tell you what's happening with my next big novel, DARKNESS CALLS.

I have been offered and have accepted literary representation from Patty Carothers and Amy Brewer of Metamorphosis Literary Agency!

Patty called me a couple weeks ago and we had THE TALK. I was immediately impressed. She had insights about my novel that no other agent had provided. She compared the creepy vibe of the book to Stephen King's IT (how could I not love her?)! But it wasn't all compliments. It was also a discussion of areas within the book that could be improved.

That's what I'm looking for. I could have self-published any time and relied on the readers and success of Rabbit in Red. But I'm not interested in publishing just any old book. I'm interested in writing the best book I can and taking it to new heights.

What's DARKNESS CALLS about? I'd like to save the official synopsis and back-of-the-book blurbs for a later date. We'll have lots of exciting things to share in the future. What I will tell you is this: there are monsters, there is death, and there is true horror. This is ultimately about life and death, and how we experience tragedy (can we find our light within the darkness?). It's easily one of the most meaningful books I've written. The first draft was written during the last year of my mom's life. Subsequent drafts took place after she passed. Is the Darkness a metaphor for the cancer that took her? It's not that simple. But sure, the Darkness takes the people we love, and some very special people will be called to face it.

It's the coolest thing I've ever written, and I can't wait to share it with you. But be patient. I will work with my agents to do another round of edits, and then we shop it around to publishers (probably this summer). In the meantime, I hope you'll continue to follow me. I'll give you updates, but I'll also be sharing what I learn about this process-- tips for other authors, my favorite reads, and more.

And, of course, I'll never forget about Rabbit in Red. The trilogy holds a special place in my heart. For my readers, I hope you'll look forward to Darkness Calls. Plus, don't forget one of my short stories from Nightmares under the Moonlight is currently being made into a short film! That's going to be a lot of fun, and I'll certainly post updates about that, too.

Thanks for following the rabbit with me. Now, let's explore the Darkness.



:)

- Joe

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*****

ALSO, and I know this is going to sound like an acknowledgements section, but I don't care. A lot of great people have helped the book get this far, and I owe a thank you.

The first reading group consisted of Brian McWilliams, Brandy Kennington, and Rachel Hollis. 

After its first big revision, I reached out to some Rabbit in Red fans and other friends/readers. Thanks go to Cari Corbin, Jennifer Flaig, Kristen Kelly, Spencer Mullikin, Valerie Robert, and Katie Jackson. 

I then took the manuscript to my editor, Kathy Calore Teel in spring 2018. She’s exceptionally talented, and I can’t thank her enough.

Thank you to local journalist Elise Zwicky has always been exceptional at catching my typos. 

Last but certainly not least, my amazing friend and colleague, Tracy Walper, worked with me on the story's writing style. We rewrote section after section, and she's got one of the best eyes in the business, that's for sure.

Don't stray too far, friends. I've got some more work to do :) 

New Book Updates!

It is a great honor to be asked, "When's the next book coming out?" For those who have private messaged me and commented on social media, I can't thank you enough.

I thought I'd take a minute to tell you where I am and where I hope to be.

My latest project is titled DARKNESS CALLS. Originally titled The Pit of Darkness, this book has gone through quite a metamorphosis (ironic and appropriate, you'll see, when you read the story).

Here's a little "what's it about" blurb:

The woods outside of a small Midwestern high school lead to all sorts of evil and monsters, collectively called the Darkness. The Darkness feeds on children with great energies—webs of light that only it can see. Beyond the woods hides a powerful magic, the greatest secret in the world. The Darkness desires to consume the webs of light and transform itself into the ultimate beast, all the while guarding the one secret that can destroy it.

Christina and Fiara fought the Darkness once before as kids, and although they survived, they certainly aren’t the same. The Darkness destroyed Christina’s family, and it turned Fiara into something not fully human. Now, it temporarily possesses Christina’s body to gather the new kids it needs.

But Christina isn’t having it this time. She refuses to willingly kill for the Darkness, and she manages to break free from its hold on her. She gathers the ones it wanted dead and forms a small army instead. From all the turbulence of adolescence to life’s biggest mysteries, a group of teenagers embark on a quest to save their friends and ultimately the world.

So, just by reading that I hope you will see that I am trying to create something BIG. That blurb represents just the first part of the story, and I've created five parts-- each told from a different character's point-of-view. I have fallen in love with these characters. Christina, Lawson, Angelica, Teddy, Fiara, Elle, Mr. Lee . . once you meet them all, I hope you will love them, too.

When can you expect it?

Well, Rabbit in Red earned tens-of-thousands of readers, and I will always be honored by its success and the fandom it created. I hope all Rabbit in Red fans will enjoy this, but I also hope Darkness Calls brings in tens-of-thousands of new readers.

So, I'm shopping the book around to agents and new publishers. 

In the meantime, I am working my a$$ off on edits. Here's a summary of that, meant to be advice to all you aspiring authors

I finished the first draft of Darkness Calls in summer 2017. I spent the fall of 2017 doing a re-write. I gathered a team of beta readers winter 2017. Based on their feedback, I re-wrote the book again. Then I found a second team of beta readers early 2018. Re-wrote the book again. Now, I'm working with my Rabbit in Red editor Kathy Teel to go over it one more time. Yes, it's another re-write! 

If it sounds like a lot of work, well, it is! But every edit, every rewrite, every revision takes me one step closer to making this my best book yet. I want to give it my best, and that's why I'm providing you with this update. Yeah, I think you may have enjoyed it just fine, if I had published it already. But by taking a little extra time and collaborating with others, I hope you will LOVE it.

Wish me luck, too, please. Some of you may think it's a given that because I'm already published, I will have no problem publishing this one. Unless you self-publish or run your own publishing company, this is a very challenging industry. So, I need your well wishes and positive thoughts!

If I'm "lucky" (and by lucky I mean if I've worked hard enough to make it happen!), I hope to announce a new partnership this summer. Stay tuned, my friends!