News (Media)
Latest media & occasional vlogging. :)
First Libraries
10 June 2026
One academic & one community.
I've talked to 4 local bookstores. Once the Kirkus Indie review comes in (if it has good parts) I'll get the approval process finalized for each, as well as all 15 branches of Omaha's Public Library and Pittsburgh's libraries. We'll see who wants digital and physical! The second and fourth pics are just a peek at other copies out in the wild. More news soon, and big news, at that!
SERIES
Distribution, Post-release
First Sales Check for an Original Work . . . Feels WeirdÂ
2 June 2026
I thought it was a phishing attempt.
Staycation with the cats was productive. Started exercising and lifting more regularly and have gotten over the two-week hump. The cats have been good. Melvin's getting his hair cut in a week.
SERIES
Diary, Post-release
Stevie's Better & Groundwood Paper!
27 May 26
Gum Healing & Carbon Preservation
Went to her follow-up appointment and her gums are finally closing with no complications, no pain (!), and no further meds needed. Out of the woods!
​
Amazon KDP is running a beta on groundwood paper that will reduce carbon emissions as well as make  A Cold Glow more book-like in texture! It works real well in Ingram copies; hoping it's the same here. Physical buying options will disappear for just a few hours tops while the format reconfigures.
SERIES
Diary, Post-release
Official Copies Arrive!
22 May 26
Ingram v. Amazon
So although the Amazon print copy nails the spine title placement, I don't think its cover build quality or color depth measure up to IngramSpark's print copy. I can tell the cover won't warp & curl outwards. Anyway.
Â
"It’s the first week of A Cold Glow! Thanks for the multiple purchases, it meant a ton when even one person outside of myself wanted to read it.
​
Here’s to a long journey ended and much continued support ahead for this title!! Onto the next story!!!"
SERIES
Post-release
Bookmark
& All
10 May 26
1st Copy Edit copy & FROM Season 4 thoughts
A scene I have to rewind continuously because I know it's the rules of Julie's Bookmark in her Storywalking; I'm too busy to pay attention each time. Stevie chipped her tooth in the courtyard and I was partly to blame. She's got the antibiotics and painkillers but not the tooth surgery to remove the rest of her broken canine, and that involves anesthesia. Actually scary. Wracked with guilt a bit. I'm too Artie, even still.
Â
First copy edit copy looks good; jotting down faint mistakes for maayyybee making an under-the-wire final submission, polished. I kinda don't care either way. Enough of it is there that I feel leargely happy about this story.Â
​
FROM Season 4 is good so far. A lot is happening. The pace has finally gotten into Third Act pacing so, yes, naturally, by this point I'm fully on board with the lore and tone and characters. More to be seen, of course . . . we're not even halfway.
​
Max Zell is a god of a professional copy editor. <3
SERIES
Diary, Release logs
The Personal Video
08 May 26
Why & when I made it
I made this video about a month ago, and sat on it. I wanted to release it right then but knew that'd be a rash decision. It also wasn't a weekend when I made it; weekends work the best for advertising books.
​
I wanted to make it because I hate the idea of fronting as something I'm not. The only way I'll front is if it's funny and ultimately (at least as far as I can see) harmless to do so.
​
And as my novel's Afterword states, my self lore is hella thorny. This is everything I am prepared to share atm. It's the essential elements that personally compelled me to make and stick with this particular story. If knowing why the person who made it, made it, is important to you: Give this a watch.
SERIES
Release logs