Updates & Announcements – July 2024

Hey folks, Aaron here!

I wanted to get a few announcements in front of you, my truest, most committed supporters. It's a mix of good and bad news, but that's life I suppose. So let's get right into it.

Behind the Lore

Sadly, the weekly researcher interview episodes we call Behind the Lore have had to come to an end. The "why" is complicated, and we really wanted to make it work. But it mostly comes down to some layoffs that took place last month.

I don't often talk about the business side of things publicly, but I'll say this: the podcast industry has changed a lot over the last 3 or 4 years. Changes to the way downloads are reported on stats, changes to the budgets of advertisers, and changes to the way networks pick, produce, and promote new shows.

And sadly, those changes have led to less opportunity for us outside Lore and Cabinet of Curiosities. With fewer active shows, we've had to become more nimble and make hard cuts. And that means no more Behind the Lore.

That's Just Weird

Speaking of cuts, here's another one. Currently, TJW costs four times what it earns in revenue (hello "changes to advertising" from the last section...sigh). And sure, I could just keep making it, but that means paying people to make it (we all deserve paid for our hard work), but without revenue that's just sort of like rowing in a leaking boat--it will eventually sink.

The episodes will stay up, though, and we managed to crank out a full year of this fun show--something I'm really proud of. But all good (and weird) things must come to an end.

Lore Tour

Chad and I are going on tour later this year! We still need to sign the contracts with the various venues, but we're aiming for late October through late November, then two more shows in January.

What I can tell you right now is that we'll be going to only 8 cities. That's just the nature of touring right now, with Chad seemingly always on tour promoting his amazing solo music career, and me normally stuck in a recording booth or at my desk writing a Secret Book Project (more on that later this summer!).

I wish we could do live shows in dozens of locations, but sadly we have to focus on the biggest cities and cross our fingers that fans will travel a bit. So, our finalized, not-for-negotiation, already-set-in-stone list of stops is:

• Boston

• Newark, New Jersey

• Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• San Francisco

• Seattle

• Nashville

• D.C.

I've been told that we'll start promoting and selling tickets at the very end of July, so stay tuned for the finale links and all that stuff. It's been a long time since Chad and I were able to travel and tour like this, and we're REALLY looking forward to seeing all of you on the road!

Cabinet of Curiosities

The Cabinet book is scheduled for a November 12 release, and that's quickly approaching. I'm really hoping you've got your preorder in already, but if not, you can find store links here.

I'm also working with my publisher to have some early pre-release hardcovers available at all the Lore tour stops, giving you a chance to grab a copy before 11/12. And of course, I'll be around after the show for meet & greet and signing those beautiful books!

And...I think that's it? I'm in Chattanooga this weekend for the Literary Ink tattoo and literature festival, and doing a solo live show tonight, as well as judging a Lore tattoo category (for real!), doing a panel, and signing stuff at my table. If you're local, stop by and enjoy the festival!

Always grateful,

Aaron