Marc J Gregson

A student asked me today when I planned to be absent again.

I told her March and April because DOWNFALL comes out then and I'll be traveling out-of-state to promote it.

She groaned and jokingly said, "Oh yeah, you'll be gone a lot. Man, why do people have to read your books?"

🤣

The busy life of an author! I have one more event in 2025, then things will grow quiet until March when DOWNFALL releases.

Ten years ago, I wasn't a NYT bestseller, I didn't have a movie in development, I didn't have an agent and I was unpublished.

Ten years ago, I first dreamed up the Above the Black trilogy.

Now, we're 100 days from its conclusion.

Pre-orders are open now!

I have two books getting published in 2026.

One of them was on submission for publishers on and off for four years before it got an offer.

Why would I have a robot do something I enjoy myself?

It reminds me of when I was a kid and I'd go to a friend's house and I'd have to sit and watch him play video games without ever getting a turn.

Where's the fun in that?

Last night, I was walking downtown and was recognized by a pair of readers who loved my books!

We chatted for a minute at the stop light.

That was fun! 😀

A student asked me today about a big book event, "Mr. Gregson, why aren't you going?"

"I wasn't invited, they usually only invite really big authors."

The student looked at me and said, "But you ARE a big author."

🥹

I love doing author events and signings because I love meeting readers and I want to share my stories with others.

I approved a book cover and title for one of my for foreign editions today.

It's beautifully epic.

But it'll be sometime before it's revealed. 👀

Utah Beehive Book Award Nominee!

It's my book!

Almost four years ago, I worried I'd never get published.

Now, I'm only weeks away from reading the screenplay adaptation of my book.

Just keep going!

I am adding a few visuals to my signing tables at bookstores and my French publisher is allowing me to use these images from their awesome book trailer.

I'm going to have little tabletop displays to hopefully entice some readers to leap into the Skylands.

My Brazilian publisher gave me permission to print this awesome art from their animated trailer for SKY'S END.

I'm going to have this art up on display when I do signings and bookstore events.

Another great signing today, this time at The Printed Garden in Sandy, Utah. I got to meet a few fans, and a few new readers.

Also, I got to sign next to fellow Peachtree Teen author Cass Biehn who is the author of VESUVIUS!

We both left signed copies of our books!

I'll be signing books at The Printed Garden in Sandy, Utah today from 1-4pm to support Small Business Saturday!

Nothing better than playing old Nintendo 64 games with your kids on Thanksgiving morning.

I hope he loves it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, my classes are doing book speed dating.

Should be fun!

I love that when I'm set up with my books in a bookstore, readers will come talk to me, and listen to my pitch.

And even if they're not interested in my books, they're almost always super kind and congratulatory.

It's a good feeling.

It's a really strange feeling writing a book while already knowing it will be published.

I'll be at Barnes & Noble in Park City, Utah signing books from 1-4 today. Come see me!

There was a time when my author email inbox was a sea of rejection and unhappy things.

Not anymore.

It's so fun seeing my clients' @mjgwrite.bsky.social and @stephaniebearce.bsky.social 's books on this Indiana Read Aloud List! And shout out to @Michelle4Laughs.bsky.social for her client @writeawhile.bsky.social 's book too!

@stormliterary.bsky.social

Anytime I notice one of my students reading one of my books, I say something like, "Hey, I've met that author!"

And the kids always smile.

I'm pretty sure they want me to notice they're reading my book.

My next book after the Above the Black trilogy...

BEHIND THE GLASS, planned for release on November 10th, 2026 from Blackstone Publishing.

Can't wait!

Utah readers!

I will be signing books at Barnes & Noble in Park City on Saturday, November 22nd from 1-4PM. If you have not had your book signed, this is a great chance for you to come meet me.

I hope to see you there!

I've been very fortunate that my author career has picked up enough that I have gone part-time as a teacher for the last two school years.

I have no idea how I'd manage 2026 with two books coming out, and a deadline for another book due in May, if I was still full-time.

One thing that helped me in my author journey is maintaining the perspective that there will always be authors more "successful" and authors who are less "successful" than I am.

Never compare journeys. It'll just make you unhappy.

When my brothers and I were kids, we'd look at the TV guide and find an awesome rated R 80s movie on network TV.

I vividly remember watching Bloodsport with my brothers, and renacting the scenes by play fighting during the long commercials.

Makes me feel old. But those were the days, man.