A week later, and Black Friday is still happening for many retailers.

And myself (hint, hint, nudge, nudge...)

The day after Thanksgiving isn't the crazy shopping day it used to be. Mostly gone are the midnight mall crowds or doorbuster mayhem from decades ago. More and more consumers have turned to online deals to make post-Thanksgiving purchases from the comfort of their own homes or opt to stretch out spending across longer promotions now offered by retailers.

I've never surrendered to the chaos. Not having kids probably kept me clear of it. But even if I did have little ones, I wouldn't rot in line for hours or drop kick a fellow shopper in the nuts for a bargain videogame console.

FINAL CHANCE

Make a purchase in my BOOKSHOP by DECEMBER 17th (50% off) for a chance to win a holiday gift basket. (Link directly under this.)

CHECKOUT CODE: GREATLIFE

(If you have participated the last two newsletters, you are already in the drawing.)

Every book in my bookshop is half off until December 31st, 2025. Gift-wrapped and autographed. If you haven't picked up a copy of my three books, now is a great time.

CHECKOUT CODE: GREATLIFE

The holidays are synonymous with shopping and spending. In that spirit, let me share the challenges of being an independent author, a shopping experience all my own.

Several weeks ago, I had a table at a book event in Crossville, TN (see above). Traffic through the room was snail-paced and I ended up selling one book.

One stinking book. Period.

Could I be disappointed? Sure. Could I throw up my hands and walk away? Sure. But I gained eight new subscribers, remembered two successful book events earlier this year, and connected with some truly talented writers.

I'm going to be an optimist and declare this a win.

Independent authors wear every hat: writer, marketer, entrepreneur, and occasionally therapist to their own manuscripts. The challenge isn’t writing; it’s making sure the book doesn’t vanish into the marketplace like a sock in the dryer. Success? Build an audience, MacGyver some cheap writing tools, and cling to resilience like it’s the lone Wi-Fi signal in a crowded coffee shop.

In conclusion: The holidays may be about spending, but for me they’re about investing—in readers, in relationships, in resilience. One book sold, eight subscribers gained, and countless lessons learned. This newsletter is where those threads weave together into a community I’m proud to grow with you.

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