Release Party

Detective Vic Boyo returns

in the sequel nobody asked for!

1932, New York City: When a good pal needs help rescuing his kid sister from a speakeasy run by a psychotic mobster, Boyo knows he's up to the challenge. What he doesn't know is by agreeing to lend a hand, he's placed a big red target on his back. The mobster in question is a dangerous predator who likes to play with his prey, and what follows is an unhinged cat-and-mouse game unlike anything Boyo has ever encountered. 

Only one thing stands between Vic Boyo and saving the day. Well, maybe a few things. But with a little luck and a whole lot of gumption, anything is possible—even for him.

eBook       Paperback

The big release day was officially this past Tuesday, but it's never too late to celebrate, right? Now's a great time to grab your copy while the low $2.99 introductory price is in effect. Next month, I'll be raising it to $4.99, the same as the sequels in my other series.  

Speaking of series, I'm in the process of outlining the third and final installment in the Vic Boyo, Doofus Detective trilogy. That's right. Unlike the seven-year gap between Books 1 and 2, Book 3 should be out sometime next year. I've got multiple sources of conflict I'll be tossing Vic's way, loose ends from the series in need of resolution, which should make for an entertaining ride along. After a bit more plotting, I'll be able to devote some time to drafting. Who knows, maybe by the end of Christmas break, I'll have a few thousand words typed up. 5K? 10K? We shall see.

How to Gift an eBook

Ever wondered how to send a friend or family member an eBook as a gift? Look no further. Here's the easiest way to go about it on Amazon:

Let's say you wanted to gift a copy of Double Murders Are Twice As Bad because your pal or loved one is sorely in need of chuckles. Once you've clicked the book link, scroll down on the right side until you see the "Buy for Others" or "Gift Kindle Edition" option (located an inch or so under the orange Buy now with 1-click button).

Once you've selected "Buy for Others" or "Gift Kindle Edition", you'll have two options: 1. Amazon will email the redemption link directly to your recipient. 2. Amazon will email you the redemption link, which you can then send to the recipient yourself.

Next, enter the recipient's email address. Type a personal message like "Hope you enjoy this hilarious book!" Pick a delivery date. Then place your order. You'll be charged for the eBook, and your recipient will be able to read it on any device, thanks to the free Kindle app.

Easy, right? The process on Barnes & Noble and Apple is a similar one, but as far as I know, Apple eBooks can only be read on Apple devices, while B&N's Nook app, like the Kindle one, can be installed on any device. As of now, there is no way to gift eBooks on Kobo, but gift cards are available.

I hope you found this to be informative and helpful. Let the eBook gifting commence!

Kobo BOGO

Calling all Kobo readers: Now's a great time to stock up on eBooks with a buy one / get one free sale. Madame Antic's Hotel Grotesque is included in the sci-fi & fantasy category, somewhere around #27. If you've been curious about what Kobo has to offer, be sure to check this out.

Series Starter Sale

The first installment in each series is only 99¢ this month. How's that for a super sale? 

Click the covers for details:

Keep reading

December Reading Deals

Check out these multi-author book promotions. You're sure to find something you like:

Kobo Plus Box Sets  |  Tales of Terror  |  Fantasy & Paranormal Series  |  Fierce Fantasy

Fantastic Fantasy  |  SF&F Series Sale  |  Exclusive SFF Deals  |  KU SciFi & Fantasy Reads

Epic SciFi & Fantasy  |  SciFi & Fantasy Sales  |  Dark Winter Books  |  Sword & Sorcery

SciFi & Fantasy Shorts  |  Cozy Season  |  Mystery & Suspense  |  Mysteries & Thrillers

Mysterious Reads  |  Endless Reads  |  Anything But Christmas Stories  |  Historical Fiction

New Releases  |  New Mysteries  |  SpecFic Finds  |  December Mysteries  |  Cozy Mysteries

Mayhem & Motives  |  KU SciFi & Fantasy  |  Post-Apocalyptic Reads  |  Urban Fantasy

Keep reading

Novel #25

Detective Vic Boyo returns in the sequel nobody asked for!

1932, New York City: When a good pal needs help rescuing his kid sister from a speakeasy run by a psychotic mobster, Boyo knows he's up to the challenge. What he doesn't know is by agreeing to lend a hand, he's placed a big red target on his back. The mobster in question is a dangerous predator who likes to play with his prey, and what follows is an unhinged cat-and-mouse game unlike anything Boyo has ever encountered. 

Only one thing stands between Vic Boyo and saving the day. Well, maybe a few things. But with a little luck and a whole lot of gumption, anything is possible—even for him.

Buy Direct  or  Pre-Order

I'm trying something new with this one. While the pre-order option is available for folks who like to buy their books via the regular sales channels and can wait until the December 16 release date, I'm also making it available right now for readers interested in buying direct. Order it today from my author storefront, get it today. No wait. Cool beans, right?

Book Review: Ender's Shadow

This year, I'm keeping track of what I read. Whether I enjoy the book or not, I'll post a blurb and brief review. Most will be speculative fiction in some form—genres I gravitate toward in my own writing. Today, it's the YA sci-fi spinoff Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card.

Bean's past was a battle just to survive. He first appeared on the streets of Rotterdam, a tiny child with a mind leagues beyond anyone else's. He knew he could not survive through strength; he used his tactical genius to gain acceptance into a children's gang, and then to help make that gang a template for success for all the others. He civilized them, and lived to grow older. Bean's desperate struggle to live, and his success, brought him to the attention of the Battle School's recruiters, those people scouring the planet for leaders, tacticians, and generals to save Earth from the threat of alien invasion. Bean was sent into orbit, to the Battle School. And there he met Ender...

When this book came out in 1999, I was reading my way through the Ender Quartet for the first time, and I really wasn't all that interested in plodding through a rehashing of Ender's Game from the POV of one of its most annoying characters. But I stumbled across Ender's Shadow last month while taking my students to our school library, and I figured enough time had passed. I was willing to give Bean a chance. And I'm glad I did. Sure, there's plenty of rehashing, but that's only a quarter of the book. The rest is Bean's riveting story, and I've got to give Card credit for making him an extremely likeable character. One star deducted for a few slog-sections, but overall an enjoyable and deeply moving read (with twenty years' distance from Ender's Quartet.) 4 out of 5 stars.

First Draft Done

Mission accomplished: I managed to finish the first draft of the Vic Boyo, Doofus Detective sequel before the end of the year. Feeling pretty good about that. The last two chapters are still rough, but I'll polish them up next week. Then I'll give the whole manuscript a once or twice over before I start the formatting process. As long as all goes according to plan, a mid-December release date should be doable. Just in time for Christmas.

Stay tuned for the cover reveal, blurb, pre-order window via the usual retailers, and pre-release availability, which I'll be trying out on my author storefront. I'm planning to make the book available to buy direct (at a reduced price) a week before it releases wide. And unlike a traditional pre-order, where you have to wait until the official release date to get your copy, when you buy direct, you'll get it the same day you order it. Spiffy, right?

Book Review: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter

This year, I'm keeping track of what I read. Whether I enjoy the book or not, I'll post a blurb and brief review. Most will be speculative fiction in some form—genres I gravitate toward in my own writing. Today, it's the historical horror novel The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones.

A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor is discovered within a wall. What it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow. Told in transcribed interviews by a Blackfeet named Good Stab, who shares the narrative of his peculiar life over a series of confessional visits. This is an American Indian revenge story written by one of the new masters of horror, Stephen Graham Jones.

This is my first encounter with Jones's work, and I've got to say, his wordsmithing is something special. I was impressed by the distinctive voices of his characters, and how well he adapted the writing style to fit different time periods; seriously, the prose was a joy to read. Even so, this is a bloody disgusting book filled with self-loathing, psychological torture, and revisionist history. Compelling? Heck yes, as long as you don't mind Interview with a Vampire in the Montana Territory or the shark-jumping at the end. (I'm looking at you, giant prairie dog.) 4 out of 5 stars for keeping me reading this long-winded tragedy, and for making me feel every single punch to the gut.

Writing Update

I'm halfway through my current work-in-progress, a sequel to Double Murders that I started drafting during the summer. That's right, Vic Boyo the doofus detective is back in action, just as confident and clueless as ever. Hard to believe it's been seven years since the first book came out. Guess I've had other trilogies to work on in the interim. But now it's time to give Boyo his due.

Like the first book, I'm using a manuscript I wrote back in high school as the framework and fleshing it out as I go. So far, the first 25 pages of the original novella have swelled to over 100 in the latest iteration. That ratio won't continue; otherwise, the final draft will be 400 pages. Book 1 is under 250, so that's the sweet spot I'm aiming for.

It's been fun bringing back characters while adding new ones, and Boyo's internal monologue is unlike any of my other protagonists'. Half Sam Spade, half Michael Scott. Hard-boiled screwball crime noir that doesn't take itself too seriously, but where the good guy always wins in the end. 

I was making pretty good progress on it—three chapters a week—before the school year started. Now I'm averaging about one chapter a week. But progress is progress, and if I can get the first draft done by end of year, I'll consider that a win.