New Bloggy Update! 7/27/25

It’s hot.

Yuk.

Did I mention that I’m NOT a fan of summer (although, I WILL welcome all fans any time of the year 🙂 )?

In two weeks, I’ll be at the Painted Wraith Festival here in Bloomington, Illinois, setting up my wares under the NEW tent. Let’s all hope it behaves itself and that the weather cooperates as well. If you are local, it’s supposed to be a VERY groovy event that is now in it’s third year. Downtown Bloomington from 10am to 5pm – be there or be spooky!

One more outdoor show will follow – on Friday/Saturday, September 12 and 13, I’ll be at yet another new one for me – Morton Pumpkin Arts & Crafts Market in Morton, Illinois. Again, the infamous tent will be making another appearance. Am I the only person worried about tents/weather/wind? LOL.

I haven’t been writing much these days. After putting a book out (In a Corner, Darkly: Volume 3) a couple months ago, I usually need a break. Editing and rewriting is a long, arduous process as I’m sure we all know. Downtime can help reset the writing brain. However…

I HAVE had an inkling of an idea for another book. I’m not sure where I’d go with it, nor am I set on it being in the suspense/horror genre. I can’t really spoil much because it’s barely a germ of a concept, but it keeps coming back to me. Plus, since NaNoWriMo doesn’t officially exist anymore, if I DID start another one, I’d be doing my 50,000 words in 30 days totally on my own. Sure, I don’t HAVE to set those boundaries, but to be honest, I like having that first draft done (and having to really push through) in a month’s time. We’ll see. November is still far away.

There’s something else that I’ve noticed as of late. Many events (book fairs/author fairs/various markets) are becoming…showrooms? People are using these places to “look” at books/items of interest, and then (occasionally) making purchases online. On one hand, it’s good to meet potential customers/readers, but on the other hand, overall sales and the high cost of doing events are ultimately losing in the balance of it all. If you tally up a one night hotel stay, gas money, table fees, meals, and everything else, and only sell a handful of books, the whole process ends up being cost adverse.

It’s a tough call. In-person shows can be a GREAT way to meet new readers, see what other people are offering, introduce your work to a whole ‘new’ crowd, and make some sales. However, between people who claim that they never read (I’ve run into many), those taking pictures of books to ‘look up later’, and/or attendees who use the event to window shop, it’s not surprising that some events we’ve recently been to are only half full. (vendors not showing up and a lack of crowds)

Maybe tides are turning. Maybe people are hesitant to spend money these days on anything related to the arts. Maybe book fairs or author events are so “2005” or something to that effect. I certainly don’t have the answers, but I am considering cutting back on shows in 2026. It’s extremely difficult to predict the outcome of any event, even if it’s enjoyed a long run, but perhaps people are burned out on both sides – vendors AND customers.

What do YOU think?

Okay – what the heck have we been watching?

The Actor (2025) – Actor Paul Cole suffers memory loss after an assault in Ohio. Stranded in an unfamiliar town, he strives to return home and recover his past. (Google) It’s no fault of the actors, but this story, taken from a book titled, Memory, by Donald E. Westlake, is a directionless slog. I tried. Boy, I tried. Arthouse is putting it mildly. It almost feels like an over-stylized Wes Anderson movie, but it’s not that good or creative. Slow. Driftless. Wandering. The best I could do is a 4.2, but Charlie found something to like, giving it a 6.4. Maybe the book is better?

Mountainhead (2025) – As international turmoil unfolds, four long-lost friends reunite, navigating personal struggles and societal shifts in uncertain times. (Google) I try not to get political here, but this movie screamed Trump and Elon to me. Two of the main characters feel and act very much like these two – exaggerated, perhaps, but not all that far off. Steve Carell does his darnedest to reel this in and keep it under control, but it gets a little too slapsticky and goofy for my liking. I found it hard to tell if they were going for serious paranoia or not, and because of the disconnect, it was tough for me to put this into any particular genre (comedy? drama? thriller?) It’s billed as comedy/satire, but I don’t recall finding too much of this funny. Your mileage may vary. I came in at 6.8, but Charlie, once again, saw things I didn’t – 8.1.

Squealer (2023) – When young women start disappearing in a small town, a police officer and a street-smart social worker follow clues to a remote pig farm. As their investigation continues, they encounter a local butcher who’s been bringing his work home with him. (Google) I was fairly surprised to see this ‘horror/action’ film go in some very different directions. Those choices were refreshing. Other than that, there’s some gross scenes that were not very pleasant. So, if you don’t like gore, you might want to stay away from this. Otherwise, it’s a fair to middling rendition of a mild slasher. I gave it a 4.7 and Charlie saw his way to a 5.8.

Okay, that’s enough on a hot Sunday. Stay cool. Stay groovy. And let the countdown to fall begin!