This past weekend I had the opportunity to do a book signing at my old middle school (2001-2004), which was hosting an outdoor community event, a movie night, for the kids. I got to sell some books and, for the first time, accept credit card payments. It was the first time, technically, that I was selling books as an individual vendor rather than on consignment.
I even got to talk to some kids who were aspiring writers and refer them to the MWA’s teen writing program. It is my hope that some of them will join.
The school looked a little different from my day (mainly in a front extension), but that night, and when I knew I’d be there, brought back a lot of memories. There were two major highlights from 6th grade there. One was that was when I first showed an interest in writing, though it had not yet grown to be a commitment. But my Language Arts teacher recognized it, and she wrote about it in my yearbook. She was one of the three teachers I dedicated Mystical Greenwood too (the others were teachers from high school).
The other was 9/11. The day started off at school like any other. language arts went normal, but during social studies, early dismissal calls over the intercom began, and there were abnormally high, I remember. It continued into tech ed. It was during that class when we were told school was out early. I had to rush to get to my locker before rushing to the bus. Science and math never happened that day. There were rumors on the bus, and the driver said there’d be no school the next day as we got off, but it wasn’t until I got home that I learned what had really happened.
The major highlight in 7th grade was the science project I did that year on color-blindness in dogs. I used my own dog, whom I mentioned before, and jars with different-colored paper. The conclusions were that red and green were hard for her to distinguish, but blue and yellow weren’t. It went all the way to the county level and a few other places. Funny enough, at Balticon this year I listened in on a scientific presentation that involved apes, I believe, which mentioned the same sets of colors, or at least blue and yellow.
As for 8th grade, my algebra teacher would let students stay after once a week to do homework (last class of the day), and my mother, with some effort, finally got me to do it. I didn’t want to stay after. But I did, and in the end, not only did my grades get better, but my teacher said I was the most improved student in the class. Who knows whether I would’ve felt comfortable in high school with afterschool clubs had I not done that.
It was also this weekend that I learned I’ve been approved to sell and autograph books at the Arundel Craft Fair in two months, which will take place at my old high school! I imagine more memories will resurface by then. The event is also on Facebook. In the meantime, I’ve got the Maryland Writers’ Conference this weekend, where I plan to have books on consignment with The Last Word bookstore. The event is also on Facebook. Hope to see you at either or both if you can make it!
Ten years ago, I went to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to talk about and read from my essay “Asperger Syndrome: An Affliction or a Gift?” It won second place in a contest hosted by the Maryland Writers’ Association, the first time I’d ever received a writing award.
I remember feeling like a writer and looking like one with my Tweed jacket. Though in some of these pictures and others, I admit my face wasn’t photogenic. I hadn’t created my author website yet, though my Facebook page was up.
As today is the start of Read an eBook Week, here’s all of my work available digitally, whether in Kindle, Nook, or another eBook vendor. If you’re an eBook lover looking for your next read, I hope you find something that piques your interest. If you prefer print, they are available in print, too.
These are my novels, which feature magic, adventure, good vs. evil, forests gryphons, dragons, unicorns, and much more:
And here are all anthologies available digitally and in hard copy that feature my poetry and/or short stories. This one includes my poem inspired by a real black cat:
This one includes four of my haiku poems:
This one includes six of my poems as well as six pencil drawings of mine:
This one includes my short story about a monster-sized hammerhead shark:
This one includes a poem I wrote inspired by the COVID pandemic:
This one includes two of my poems and my fable about a mouse and a frog:
These two include a psychological horror story involving knives and two of my poems, one of which is in the style of “The Raven.”
This one includes five of my poems:
This anthology features six of my poems:
And this anthology features one poem of mine:
Ratings/reviews are always appreciated. Mystical Greenwood reached 50 ratings on Amazon US last month! If you already have read and reviewed one of my works, and enjoyed it, please recommend it to a friend!
As it’s also Read Across America Day, I encourage all, not just my fellow Americans, to find the joy in reading and share it with as many people as you can, especially the young.
P.S. If you’re interested in opportunities for giving a writing presentation or workshop, submissions are open for the Maryland Writers’ Conference 2025.
Welcome back, prospective holiday readers and buyers! Here are anthologies available in hard copy only, featuring either my poetry, short stories, or essays.
This journal includes my micro memoir about my grandfather’s billiard table:
This journal includes my essay about my experiences at the St. Mary’s River during my college years.
This anthology includes my short story about how one boy’s Christmas changes.
This anthology features five of my poems with fall and winter holiday themes:
This one includes six of my poems on water and the ocean:
This anthology includes a poem I wrote about crickets:
This anthology includes a sonnet I wrote about knights:
This journal features one of my free-verse poems:
This journal features one of my poems (which I mistakenly labeled as a kwansaba):
This journal features two of my haiku poems:
This journal features my essay about my experiences in my college’s fencing club:
This journal features my sonnet about my favorite childhood stuffed animal:
And this anthology features my essay about my diagnosis of Asperger syndrome, which was 2nd place in a contest.
Ratings and reviews are always appreciated. And don’t forget, books make great gifts!
There’s also an anthology from the Moonstone Art Center featuring five of my haiku poems and an issue of the And I Thought literary magazine each featuring three of my poems. Though it doesn’t look like either can have reviews posted, if you decide to buy them, I hope they are enjoyed.
Andrew McDowell 