Notes from the 2025 Tucson Reptile Show
I’ve had the pleasure of selling my books at the Tucson Reptile Show for many years, filling a niche by providing children’s books that feature reptiles. Logically, a reptile show is the perfect place for books about reptiles, a concept not all past vendors seemed to grasp.
It’s truly humbling when people approach my booth to say they’ve bought my books before, or when students recognize me from a book reading. That connection is the payment I cherish the most. However, the income is certainly necessary to pay my local artists for the vivid, colorful, and informative illustrations that attract and educate my readers, young and old alike.
People-Watching and Book Cover Tests
It’s often amusing to watch people flip through my books and then express surprise when they see my photo in the biography section: “Wait, you wrote this?”. This happens despite having a banner right behind me that features my photo holding a Blue Iguana and proclaiming, ‘Meet the Author’.
I also use this opportunity to gauge the effectiveness of my book covers. I know the cover for Vampire…Tortoise?! works well, but my newest book, Don’t Call Me Poop!, actually surpassed it in catching people’s eyes! Between the two covers, I should be able to attract even more customers to stop and take a look.
As a writer who intends to write murder mysteries, I enjoy people-watching at the show, always looking for interesting characters for my readers. The reptile show offers an incredible variety of people, and I get the feeling it allows many to express their secret selves. People come in cosplay, their finest reptile-themed or movie-themed outfits. There’s a range of attire, from barely dressed (it is 90 degrees in Tucson) to overly dressed (why a jacket and ski caps in 90 degrees?). I was particularly intrigued by a full-length skeleton dress, and a young lady whose blouse sleeves were twice as long as her skirt.
I also notice the many piercings and extensive, detailed tattoos. How long do those full-arm cascades of incredibly intricate lines take? The artists are very skilled. No matter how people choose to express themselves, people who love reptiles are generally great people, and they provide an endless source of character details.
Watching kids walk by with long plush snakes around their necks even made me wonder if they were inspired by the feathered boas people wear. Sure enough, the term “boa” is used because the accessory is reminiscent of long snakes!
Encouraging a Love for Reading
It’s interesting to observe how people respond to the books. I’ve seen many parents expertly guide their children away from my books, which I find curious, especially when they then steer them toward a master glass blower with incredible, intricate, and breakable glass creations. What’s scarier: a 5-year-old looking at a book, or wanting to pick up a fragile glass sculpture?
The best people are the parents and grandparents who genuinely encourage their kids to choose books, sometimes even saying that books don’t count against the gift buying limit. Reading is so important, and it must be encouraged. I do my part by creating entertaining and informative books with vibrant illustrations. I’d give them away for free, but I do need to pay my illustrators!
This year, I was fortunate in book sales, selling 15 different titles. Next year, I’ll need to produce a few more new titles.
There was a lot of interest in dinosaurs. A few people knew about the Arizona state dinosaur, the Sonorasaurus. Interestingly, one of my mystery author friends helped excavate that skeleton. But one child asked me the best question: “What do you call a sleeping dinosaur?” Of course, the answer is a snorasaurus!
Find a Snorasaurus (or a Rattlesnake) in My Books!
If you’re looking for entertaining and educational science-based books for the young reptile enthusiast in your life, check out my full selection of Sonoran Desert and Caribbean animal stories!
Ready to start your next adventure? Find all my books on my website!
