From Horror Books to Big Foot Days: When Readers Find You at the Most Unexpected Places

Today was the market portion of Big Foot Days festival in Remer, Minnesota – a celebration of all things cryptid in the heart of lake country. I set up a booth alongside vendors selling everything from Big Foot t-shirts to tie-dyed apparel, my horror collection Old Hungers nestled between straw hats and novelty mugs (full disclosure: I was also selling Big Foot apparel, tumblers, key chains, and straw hats). It felt wonderfully surreal. What I didn't expect was the readers. Throughout the day, people kept approaching my table with that look of recognition. "Are you Erik Bilicki? I saw your book on Goodreads!" "My friend shared your giveaway on Facebook!" "I've been wanting to read Old Hungers!" There's something magical about that moment when digital buzz becomes real-world connection. These weren't just casual browsers – they were actively seeking me out, having discovered my work through social media and Goodreads reviews. The online comm...