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Burlington By The Book Signing

So, the signing at Burlington By The Book went well. While the January weather wasn’t cooperative for shoppers, we did have a nice turn out, and I sold a few books to new readers!

Additionally, I got to meet with a new potential author and discuss writing and the business of writing. That lead to me having a novel to evaluate for Defiant House, and hopefully a new reader of my stories.

Another customer let me know about the Snake Alley Film Festival, and really liked the concept of my stories. She’ll hopefully be a long time reader, and I’m grateful to learn about the film festival, where I can hopefully make some connections to turn some of these stories into a new media!

I also got to have lunch from Napoli in Burlington’s down town area. The gyro was so worth it. I’ll definitely be back!

Even with snow and freezing weather, I’m grateful for everyone who turned out for the signing (Thanks, Aunt Barb!), took a minute to speak with me, shared my books with friends who will enjoy them and helped expand my world!

That I was a kid living in Burlington when my love for science fiction, and story, developed and really locked in makes doing signings there an incredible opportunity. Thanks to Christopher for inviting me and working through both our schedules for this to happen. And thanks for the opportunity to come back up in May!

Now, just image if my folks hadn’t taken me to see Star Wars at the Burlington Drive In Theater when I was in 3rd Grade?

Big Announcement!

I’ve started a publishing company!

I’ve gotten the initial legal paperwork done, so Defiant House Entertainment, LLC is a real thing now.

While I’ve got a lot to do on the back end to finish up details, I’m moving forward on a lot of things.

First, I’m announcing the first Defiant House Entertainment anthology:

Run for the Line — Anthology Call

Run for the Line brings together stories of antiheroes, operatives, and rule-benders on the move — chasing borders, escaping pursuit, or testing the limits of law, morality, and their own resolve. Inspired by the kinetic urgency of Christopher Cross’s “Ride Like the Wind” and Toby Keith’s “Bullets in the Gun,” this anthology is about motion, tension, and consequence.

The invaders are destroying everything in their path — but if you can make it to the border, you and your people might survive.
You’ve found your soulmate, but the king refuses to let a peasant claim his child.
You stood against a corrupt government, and now the only safety lies at the far edge of the galaxy.
You rescued the prince — getting him away from the empire will take cunning, speed, and more than a little skulduggery.

Stories may cross literal borders, such as national boundaries, planetary frontiers, or escape routes under fire — or metaphorical ones, including moral limits, personal thresholds, or lines society insists should not be crossed. Each story should center on capable protagonists who act decisively, willing to bend or break the rules when the stakes demand it.

Submission Guidelines

  • Word count: 4,000–12,000 words
  • Genre: Speculative fiction, including:
    • Science Fiction
    • Fantasy
    • Horror
    • Urban Fantasy
    • Supernatural Thriller
  • Tone: Action-driven, tense, morally complex
  • Characters: Skilled, proactive, and purposeful (no passive or purely reactive leads)
  • Stories are due by 31 August 2026

Formatting

  • Times New Roman
  • 12-point font
  • Use * * * * * for scene breaks

Submission Method

Email submissions to keith@keithhedger.com
Subject line: Run for the Line

So, if you have questions, email me at Keith@keithhedger.com (Still working on Defiant’s web presense) or ask me at the book signing at Burlington By The Book on January 24th!

Thanks to everyone at Henchman who helped me learn so much over the last few years!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! And keep an eye on your tools and partners!

I’ve got some cool things coming in 2026, including more Burn and Bad Karma, another series, and my own publishing company.

2025 has been a wild year, with a lot of ups and downs. I’m learning to navigate with ADHD, which makes things fun at my age. There’ve been wins and losses, tough days, and wins. So, as I navigate through all the new things I know and I’m learning about myself, hang in there. I’ve got more cool stories coming, and I hope to introduce new writers to you all as I go.

Thanks to my friends, family and readers new and old who’ve been through this year with me. I appreciate all of you, and I’m grateful for your time, attention, support and understanding!

Have a great 2026!

I’ve Got a Book Signing in Burlington, Iowa!

I’ll be doing a book signing at Burlington By The Book on January 24th, 2026!

This is really cool for me, since I lived in Burlington as a kid, and it’s where my love of reading and stories got started. Probably when my parents relented and took us to Star Wars at the old drive-in theater. 🙂

I’m honored by Christopher for offering me the opportunity to sign in Burlington, and I’m looking forward to see you. If you’re in the area and want to catch up, get a signed copy of something, or hang out and get some new books, please do.

Clearly, this is a big event for me. Going back to my starting point is a huge move, and it’s connecting with another big change to my writing career: I’m setting up a publishing company! More on that once I’ve got some details nailed down.

Thanks for all of your support that’s helped me get this far!

Location: Burlington By the Book

Address: 301 Jefferson Street, Burlington, Iowa 52601

Date: January 24th, 2026

Time: 11 AM – 3 PM

Will there be an after party? Maybe! Where’s a good spot in Burlington to hang out after the signing?

For Your Christmas Reading Needs!

Slay Bells Ring

Ho ho… oh hell!Is that sleigh bells ringing in your ears or a few rounds from an M60?

You wanted the jolly fat man to bring Yuletide joy, but the season has gifted you with a heart breaker and a life taker — Badass Santa.

Grab your eggnog and camouflage candy canes, strap on your bulletproof holiday stockings, and prepare for thrills and kills.

From blood-stained rebellion at the north pole to a black ops raid on a distant planet, these eighteen action-packed tales will show you Saint Nick as you’ve never seen him before.

This anthology includes my Phoebe the Tank story “Operation Sleigh Ride” where Pheobe, Santa Claus and a hacker take on human traffickers during a Christmas Eve truce.

It’s all you’ll want for Christmas.

Slay Bells Ring

Small Business Saturday!

So, I’ve been working to get my books into indie book stores around Iowa. If you want to pick up signed copies of my books, they’re available at these great places!

Burlington By The Book

301 Jefferson Street, Burlington Iowa

I lived in Burlington, Iowa as a kid, so I’m very pleased that the Burlington By The Book was willing to host my books. It’s definitely cool to have my books available in a place I lived, and where I first saw Star Wars (I watched A New Hope at the drive thru theater).

2 Sisters Down Town Book Shop

214 West Franklin Street, Eldridge, Ia 52748

This was my first stop on my birthday book store run back in October. The folks at 2 Sisters are amazing, and were happy to work with an indie author. They also work with other local authors and have a whole store beyond just books. If you’re looking for a great book and other gifts, they’ve got what you’re looking for!

Beaverdale Books

2629 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50310

Beaverdale Books is a great book shop in the Beaverdale area of Des Moines. Along with a wide variety of books in every category, they support a lot of indie authors. So if you’re in the Des Moines area, swing through and check them out!

Captain’s Book Shop

1570 S. 1st Avenue, Iowa City, Iowa

I stopped in here on my daughter’s recommendation and it was worth the time. The Captain is a great guy and full of both fun stories and knowledge. With a collection of indie authors and collectable books, you’ll find something at Captain’s, whether it’s the book you’ve long sought or a fun story!

Pageturner Books

101 East Salem Avenue, Indianola, Iowa

If you can get to Indianola, please take a bit of time. It’s a neat town near Des Moines. Pageturner is a great book store. They have a wide variety of books in both fiction and non-fiction, with a healthy science fiction section and they support a lot of us in the indie author community. So, if you get a chance, check them out!

Pella Books

824 Franklin Street, Pella, Iowa

Pella Books is a great place I found shortly after we moved to Pella. They’re a used book store, and they’ve been very supportive of indie authors! Since they’re an indie book store, it’s been a great relationship! Check it out, and wander about a little, since the building was originally a church and has a historic marker. After you buy some books, wander over to a local bakery and get some Dutch Letters or other baked goods, and maybe stop for a meal at one of the down town restaurants!

If you can’t make it to these fine establishments and are still looking for my books, slip over to my bookshelf page where you can link to the stories directly, or email me at Keith@keithhedger.com if you want a signed copy directly from me!

The Discipline of Chaos: Writing Rogues and Anti-heroes Because My Brain Requires It

People assume chaos is loud — all noise and motion. For me, it’s quieter. It slips in when I’m not paying attention. Thoughts wander even when my body sits still. ADHD, the inattentive kind, isn’t about bouncing off walls. It’s more like autumn leaves drifting — beautiful, scattered, and hard to catch.

That’s why I need discipline. My lifeline. I need a to-do list for everything I have to accomplish. But when it comes to fiction, I can only handle the barest outlines. Anything more and the story stops moving.

Structure doesn’t control creativity — it allows it to exist. Routines, notes, reminders, lists… they hold ideas long enough for me to catch them. Without them, stories would stay half-formed sparks. And trust me, I have folders full of those sparks — abandoned beginnings, floating ideas, paragraphs that may never see the light of day. The stories that do get out into the world? They’re the ones where I’ve found a discipline that works for me.

And my characters? They live in the same tension. Some are loud and reckless. Some are quiet and careful. All of them balance acting in the moment with preparing for what comes next.

I’m drawn to rogues, mercenaries, and antiheroes not because they’re reckless, but because they push against systems that don’t fit them. They break rules, but with purpose. They stumble, adapt, improvise — not out of chaos, but because they notice angles most people miss.

Quiet sparks that start rebellions have always been more compelling to me than loud, immediate defiance.

My protagonists don’t roar; they smolder. They slip past obstacles, question authority, and do the right thing even when it means stepping outside the lines. Maybe that resonates because my mind works the same way — wandering, curious, always searching for the meaningful threads beneath the surface distractions.

And then there’s Bad Karma. She dares and wins because she trains, reviews, and prepares to act in the moment — whatever the moment requires.

Discipline helps me catch those threads.
Chaos helps me tug on them.

Writing, for me, is a balance: routines that ground me, paired with characters who remind me that coloring outside the lines is where truth hides. Structure and rebellion. That’s exactly where stories come alive.

If you’re drawn to characters who don’t fit neatly into boxes, who quietly bend the rules for the right reasons, who fight their battles in ways that aren’t always obvious… then you’re right at home here.

I’ve Been Getting Around!

Sorry I haven’t been posting lately. It’s been a busy few weeks. First, I needed to get an IT certification taken care of. In the middle of that, I spent some time delivering books to stores in Eldridge, Iowa City and Burlington, Iowa. I’ll get posts up about each of the book stores in the next couple of weeks, but they’re all great venues and really cool people!

In the midst of all that, I managed to celebrate another birthday, pass that IT certification, and get a couple other projects done.

Thanks for your patience! I’ll be back soon with more updates!

Nerd Nexus Review

Me on Sunday!

So, Nerd Nexus was a couple of weeks ago, and we had a great time! Along with numerous other authors, artists and various vendors, we met a lot of great people, made contacts with a bunch of other creatives, and got to hang out with Marines for a while.

Marines!

Recon Marines?

I even had swag to go with Tales of the E4 Mafia, thanks to Henchman Press!

We even did a panel on all the things we wished we’d known when we started. Four authors, each with different experiences and views on a great many things. The attendees seemed to get a lot out of it and had fun as well!

So, along with finding readers who enjoyed my stories, I met these great people:

Rainy Keys Art

Manda Kay

Cosmic Dust Art

There was a great bunch of people attending, some very cool cosplays, and con was well run and very supportive of the vendors and fans. They’re already planning for next year, and I fully plan to attend again!

Everything Going On At the Moment

Alright, I’ll admit that I’ve got a lot going on all at once. Maybe even too many things.

I’m editing one of my stories, Date Night, for submission to Bayonet Book’s Fields of Honor, an anthology about dueling as a theme. Yes, it is a romance story. Yes, it has duels. I know what I’m doing. At least I think I do.

I’m also editing stories for Tales of the E4 Mafia 2 and Butter Bars! Large and (not so) in Charge! anthologies for Henchman Press.

There’s also a short story I’m working on titled Ensign, about a recent graduate of a military academy who’s internship with a free marine battalion turned into a real life leadership course. Military fantasy for the win!

Last, I’m getting everything together for Nerd Nexus convention next week. I’ve got one more shipment of products coming and it’s just a trip to Nebraska and getting to know the Nebraska con scene! This should be a fun first time experience for me. I’m looking forward to meeting new people, finding some new fans and having fun at a cool new con!

On the positive side, I have plenty of coffee and my ADHD seems to be in a good place, because I’m getting things done.

Let me know what you’re interested in, and if you can make it to Nerd Nexus in Kearney, Nebraska next week end!