Late Morning, Tuesday, October 7, 2025 – Orlando, Florida
Hello, Constant (or Not-So-Constant) Reader,
It’s another steamy, soon-to-be-soggy day here in Central Florida. As I write this in the late morning hours, the temperature has already climbed to 83°F (28°C) under partly sunny skies. Humidity is a formidable 84%, and an easterly breeze at 11 MPH (18 Km/H) nudges the heat index up to a sticky 91°F (33°C). Light rain showers are expected this afternoon, with a high of 85°F (30°C) on the horizon.
A Modest Uptick in Royalties
Earlier today, I logged into my Kindle Direct Publishing account and was pleasantly surprised to see a small bump in royalties. Someone picked up a paperback copy of Save Me the Aisle Seat, my self-published collection of movie reviews originally written for the now-defunct site Epinions. That sale joins an earlier one for Comings and Goings – The Art of Being Seen, and both will trickle into my account at the end of the month.
I have complicated feelings about Save Me the Aisle Seat. Of the four books I’ve self-published, it’s the one I’m least attached to—not just because I rushed its release in 2012 so my mom could see it while she was still with us, but also because I genuinely believe it doesn’t hold up against my fiction titles: Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, and Comings and Goings. In hindsight, many of the reviews in Aisle Seat could’ve used tighter editing. I gave away more plot points than I intended, which, let’s face it, takes some of the magic out of watching a film fresh. Still, there are moments I’m proud of—especially the introduction, which I wrote specifically for the book rather than repurposing from the website. That part, at least, feels like it came straight from the heart.
Sometimes I toy with the idea of retiring the book, but I probably won’t. Flaws and all, readers seem to appreciate it. On Amazon, it holds a 4.7-star average, with every review being positive. And it was my first published book—the only one my mom saw before she passed in 2015. Even as her dementia progressed, she remained proud of my work. Though she could no longer read it, she kept her copy close, resting it on her hospital-style bed until the very end.
It’s still early in the month, so I’m hoping for a modest uptick in sales before November rolls around. Honestly, it would be a bit disheartening if October royalties amounted to just $6.16!
The Aural Experience: The Garratyverse Audiobooks
Meanwhile, all three of my Jim Garraty stories—Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, and Comings and Goings—are currently in production as audiobooks through ACX, Amazon’s audiobook publishing platform. Think of ACX as Audible’s version of Kindle Direct Publishing: a gateway for indie authors like me to share stories without the gatekeeping of traditional publishing.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t initially enthusiastic about releasing Audible versions of the Garratyverse. I’ve lived with hearing loss since I was 12 and badly need a hearing aid, so audiobooks aren’t my preferred format. I rarely buy them unless they’re unabridged, and even then, I seldom listen. The idea of transforming my stories from a reading experience into a listening one didn’t exactly thrill me.
But I’m not working on new stories at the moment, and at least one longtime reader told me she now listens exclusively to audiobooks. That seems to be a growing trend in the 2020s, so I decided to explore ACX and see how I might reach a broader audience.
Here’s how things stand on the “My Projects” page at ACX today:
- Reunion: A Story – Produced and narrated by Brandon Padilla. Final production due December 1, 2025
- Reunion: Coda – Produced and narrated by Stefan (Steve) Lee. Final production due February 4, 2026
- Comings and Goings – The Art of Being Seen – Produced and narrated by Bryan Haddock. Final production due October 30, 2025
If all goes according to plan, Comings and Goings will be the first to launch on Audible, arriving November 1, followed by the two books of the Reunion Duology.
I’m cautiously optimistic that this foray into audiobooks will resonate with listeners—especially those who might have hesitated to try the print or Kindle editions. The staggered release schedule reflects both the length of each title and the care each producer is putting into the work. Every story is getting the attention it deserves.
And for those who still prefer reading, fear not: all three Garratyverse titles remain available in print and e-book formats. Library patrons can also request the Reunion Duology because the books are in Expanded Distribution on KDP and can be ordered by libraries. However you choose to experience these stories, I’m deeply grateful for your support and enthusiasm.
A Certain Point of View, Too 
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