I sold my first novel today!

To say this has been a long time coming would be a very large understatement.

Every House Is Haunted was published way back in 2012, and while I’ve written several books since that time, I never knew which would be the first one I managed to sell (if any of them).

I’m glad it turned out to be Sycamore for a couple of reasons. The first, and most obvious, is that I love the book and I’m proud of it. Second, it’s the first novel in the Black Lands series, which I’ve been writing about for almost 15 years in the form of chapbooks, novellas, and short stories. Sycamore is the culmination of those stories, and I couldn’t be happier for the book — and the series — to find a home at Cemetery Dance.

My deepest thanks Kevin Lucia and Richard Chizmar for believing in me and in this series. I knew I was in good hands last year when CD published the reprint of Every House Is Haunted, and I can’t wait to see what they have planned for Sycamore and the rest of the books in the Black Lands series.

Thanks as well to my agent Jack Gernert and my manager Peter Katz, who take care of my book and tv/film business, so I can take care of MY business, which is writing books.

Thanks to my family and friends for their love and support. Most of all to my wife Kathryn, who never stopped believing in me even though I’ve had more than a few doubts about myself over the long years leading to this moment.

And last but never least, thanks to everyone who has supported my work over the years, especially those of you who have followed my continuing treks into the Black Lands. Even though I’ve told a lot of stories about that dark dimension, I can assure you I’ve saved you something special with Sycamore.

I can’t wait for you all to see it.

One final note that’s worth mentioning: in a wildly unexpected coincidence, FB Memories tells me it was 14 years ago today that the first Black Lands novella, “Temporary Monsters,” was published! Now that is some seriously cool timing!

For more information about the Sycamore deal and some other cool stuff I’ve got cooking, I recommend signing up for my newsletter.

Thanks again!