Small Town Evil - The Book that Keeps On Going

     So, in case you didn't know, 5 of my books are now out in paperback form.  "An American Teacher in Taiwan," "Taiwan to Texas," "Small Town Evil," "Interstate 10," and "The Dead Ones" can all be purchased on Amazon on both paperback and digital (for the Kindle.)  "An American Teacher in Taiwan" will soon be available in libraries and bookstores everywhere, as will "Small Town Evil."

     I've been really humbled by the success of "Small Town Evil."  I've lost track of the exact number of copies it has sold, but as of this writing it's closing in on about 10,000.  It's been on the best-seller list now for a little over seven months, reaching #3 at one point (currently it's #7.)  I realize my sales aren't on the level of a Stephen King or a J.K. Rowling (or even the author of that awful "50 Shades of Grey"), but for a newcomer like me to the world of publishing, this is beyond anything I ever expected.

     For a book that didn't even start out as a book (it's based on a screenplay that I wrote in 2003), "Small Town Evil" really is the book that keeps on going.  It's currently received about 60 reviews, with 37 of those reviews being either 4 star or 5 stars.  The bulk of my negative reviews seem to focus on the ending, and how it doesn't really provide closure, or that it's too short, so I want to address that.  So...warning to those who haven't read the book yet...there may be spoilers ahead.

1. Small Town Evil is a short story, which is why it's only priced at 99 cents.  I never intended to flesh it out to a full length novel.  The only book I've even considered expanding to a full length novel would be "Interstate 10" because I think there is more to be explored in that world.  "Small Town Evil" is fairly complete as-is.  The mystery is solved.  The killer is identified.  The killer dies.  Which leads me to...

2.  The ending DOES provide closure.  We figure out exactly who Samantha was and what she wanted.  Her killer is identified, and he himself is killed at the end.  To me, that is the most important thing.  Is Jennifer still possessed by Samantha at the end?  Okay, I left that a bit ambiguous, but I didn't feel it was that important.  However, I will point out that in the original screenplay that I wrote, the answer was no, she was not still possessed.  Personally, though, I like my book ending better.  It seems like I could have saved myself several negative reviews if I had just wrapped it up completely and indicated that Jennifer was no longer possessed.  Oh well, I'm not changing it now!  :)

     Thanks again to everyone who has bought the book (or any of the other ones).  If you happen to read this blog, please feel free to comment on anything you liked (or disliked) about any of my books.

The paperback version of "Small Town Evil" can be purchased by CLICKING ON THIS LINK.

The paperback version of "An American Teacher in Taiwan" can be purchased HERE

The paperback version of "From Taiwan to Texas" can be purchased HERE

"INTERSTATE 10" on paperback can be purchased HERE

"THE DEAD ONES" on paperback can be purchased HERE