Yikes! I Didn’t See This Coming!

Last night, I was settling in with an episode of Will Trent—you know, the kind of show that makes you feel like you’ve got a pretty good handle on fictional crime—when my phone buzzed.

The message waiting for me? Not fictional. Not entertaining. And definitely not the kind of plot twist I’d choose.

I read it once. Then again. Because surely I’d misunderstood.

I hadn’t.

The store where my books have been sold for the past three years is filing for bankruptcy. And just like that, I was being told to come retrieve my inventory—over fifty books, most of them from my Colt Jessup series—off the display table I’d come to think of as a small but steady home base. Two other authors were in the same boat, all of us suddenly packing up pieces of our hard work like a scene being struck after closing night.

For the past few years, that little spot in Matthews, just outside Charlotte, has been more than convenient—it’s been meaningful. Close enough for me to pop in and restock, or set up for a signing without turning it into a full-day production. More importantly, it’s where I’ve met readers face-to-face. Some wandered in by chance, picked up a book, and came back later for more. That never gets old.

There’s something about watching a stranger become a reader—and then a returning reader—that doesn’t translate through a screen.

So yes, losing that space stings. There’s no point pretending otherwise. It’s a hit—not just financially, but personally.

But if writing crime fiction teaches you anything, it’s this: when something goes sideways, you adjust. You follow a different lead.

That’s where you come in.

If you’ve read one of my books, leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads makes a bigger difference than you might think. Word of mouth still carries a lot of weight, too—so if you’ve got friends or family who love a good mystery, send them my way. And if you’re looking for your next read (or a gift for someone who is), my books are always available online or directly through me.

In the meantime, I’m back at work—currently writing my 13th book, the 7th in the Colt Jessup series. It’s a long process. A year or more of outlining, research, writing, rewriting, editing… and occasionally wondering why I didn’t choose a hobby that involves less caffeine and fewer plot holes.

But here’s the truth: I wouldn’t trade it.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported me along the way. And if my books aren’t your thing, that’s okay too—just promise me you’ll find stories that are.

A Colt Jessup novel, book sales by independent author, book table, Painted Tree Boutiques, romantic suspense