It’s 10:47 p.m. and I should probably be in bed, but here I am, sitting in front of VSC, tweaking another page that 90% of people won’t notice but I will know is better. This is life when you’re the kind of nerd who thought it was a good idea to run Scream Seeker, CreepyCon, ChocolateFest, The Memories Co., the Knoxville Book Festival, and… yeah, several more projects in the pipeline.

Several very different websites. All of them need to be live, functional, and worth visiting. And all of them need to feel like something special, because if there’s one thing I hate, it’s boring, cookie-cutter junk.

CreepyCon 2025? It kicked my ass. Actually, it kicked all of our asses. Diana, Jennifer, me, and the rest of the crew –we’re all still recovering. We worked ourselves into the ground and pretty much made no money in the process. And I get it, it’s not just me, not even just the RBP Crew. Everyone’s got too much on their plate right now. Everyone’s broke, tired, and trying their best. We are too, and I’m just complaining. One day, we’ll get there. Right now, we’re just pushing, hustling, and trying to survive long enough to see the big picture take shape.

The Chaos Factor

People think event weekends are exhausting — and they are — but the months leading up to them are where the real chaos lives. While most people are just buying their tickets and picking outfits, we’re juggling venue logistics, vendor contracts, sponsorship decks, ticketing systems, marketing campaigns, and about a thousand emails that all start with, “Quick question…”

Now mix in trying to build or overhaul multiple websites at the same time. That means late nights wrestling with CSS, hunting down broken links, or tweaking layout issues that only happen in one very specific mobile browser. Then there’s the content side — writing copy, gathering images, chasing down bios, setting up schedule pages that change every other day because someone’s flight shifted or a vendor added a class, and all the freaking graphic design.

Do NOT get me started on graphic design…

It’s spinning plates while someone keeps throwing more plates at you — and you’re also building the stage you’re performing on.

 

Me, 12:09 a.m., still doing this.

 

What’s Coming for Scream Seeker

Scream Seeker isn’t just going to be “that site with some haunt listings” anymore. I’m building something big — something useful. The plan:

• Interactive Digital Magazines – Not just PDFs you scroll through. I’m talking clickable, animated, fully interactive issues that actually feel alive. You’ll be able to read, watch, listen, and explore, all in the same space.
• Haunt Maps, Digital & Print – The current maps are fine, but they’re basically flat lists. I want maps you can zoom, filter, and customize… and then actually print a slick, functional version for the glovebox.
• Business & User Profiles – Businesses can show off their attractions, photos, and events, and users can leave reviews, ratings, and photos from their visits. If you run a haunt or a spooky shop, you should be able to brag a little.
• Event Tools & Resources – Ticketing links, nearby lodging, “plan your night” features — basically, ways to make it easy for people to not just find events, but actually go to them.
• More Stuff I Haven’t Even Built Yet – Because the best ideas usually hit me at 2 a.m., right when I should be asleep.

I want Scream Seeker to be the kind of site you can sink into for an hour without realizing it, and walk away thinking, “That was actually fun to use.”

The Reality Check

Running all this means my free time is… nonexistent. My knees hurt, my neck’s constantly sore, and when I do get downtime, I’m usually playing The Finals, Valorant, or taking down some bosses with my boo-thang in some co-op something-or-another  — which, in hindsight, probably doesn’t help the neck situation.

I’m tired. Like, bone-deep tired. But I’m not slowing down, because I actually believe this stuff matters. Not just for me, but for the communities, the fans, the businesses, and the weirdos (said lovingly) who love these worlds as much as I do.

One day, Scream Seeker and the rest of these projects will not only pay for themselves — they’ll grow into the kind of platforms people rely on. Utility and beauty in one place. That’s the goal.

Until then? I’ll just keep building.