After dealing with a host of mental health issues and a COVID-19 diagnosis, I am finally back to blogging, and, boy, a lot sure has happened.

Firstly, I’m so grateful that the election went well, though not without its drama. It will be so nice to have an educated reader back in the White House. Plus, on election night, over 90% of library levies here in Ohio passed!

Book publisher Simon and Schuster was purchased by Penguin Random House. This is not so great, as an ever-monopolizing publishing industry is not best for readers. The Big Six publishers already became the Big Five several years ago when Random House and Penguin merged to become the PRH that we know today, so now we’re looking at the Big Four. Only four major publishers in the English speaking world is simply not enough.

Lastly, goddammit, I’ll never get to go to BookExpo now. 2020 was supposed to be my year to finally go to this exciting, book nerd convention, and then COVID hit. With the news that broke today that ReedPop, who also puts on my favorite comic convention, C2E2, has permanently cancelled BookExpo and BookCon after a slew of layoffs.

Thanks, 2020. For the good and the bad, thanks a lot. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I guess I better get cracking on that new book of mine. I’ll try not to be gone so long next time.