Books | CW Hawes

Only 75¢ Each

NOTE: The sale is now over. Hope you got your copy!

When was the last time you remember buying a new book for only 75¢? If you’re young enough, maybe never.

I remember when mass market paperbacks were 35¢. Yeah, those were the days.

Starting August 10th at 3am PDT you can buy 4 books for only 75¢ each. There is a catch: you have to buy 4 of them to get the price. But, hey, that’s only $2.99. Which is less than a Starbuck’s.

So what’s the deal? The Justinia Wright Omnibus is on sale for $2.99. But only for 139 hours, and then the price goes back up to $6.99. So

Buy it now on Amazon!

You get the first 4 books in the Justinia Wright series:

Festival of Death
Trio in Death-Sharp Minor
But Jesus Never Wept
The Conspiracy Game

I love Tina and Harry Wright. They were my first children, so to speak. They came into being in the early 1980s, and have been with me ever since.

What’s more, I really, truly love writing up their crime-busting adventures. Perhaps more than anything else I write.

These books aren’t thrillers in the modern use of that term. The style harkens back to the Golden Age of detective fiction. The era of Nero Wolfe, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Miss Silver, Mr and Mrs North, Roderick Alleyn, and many others too numerous to name.

The pace is somewhat leisurely at the beginning, and gradually increases as the plot thickens, and can become very intense at the climax. Which, quite honestly, I feel is a very natural progression.

Here are snippets of what others think of the series:

“…well written and entertaining, with just enough light humor…”

“Hawes knows how to weave a believable and exciting thriller.”

“Some fictional universes are just places you want to be…”

“A great murder mystery will make a great book, but a deeply developed cast of reoccurring characters is what makes a great series…, and this is a great series.” —Joe Congel, author of the Tony Razzolito, P.I. mysteries

“…well written and plotted. What keeps me coming back to this series is Hawes’ skilled and incremental character development; it allows readers to engage and grow with the stories. … This series starts well and keeps getting better. It is surely one of the best contemporary American mystery series.” —Richard Schwindt, author of the Death in Sioux Lookout trilogy, Tony Price: Confidential trilogy, A Killing in Samana, The Death of Brenda Martin, among others.

For only $2.99, you get 4 super mysteries. That’s only 75¢ each.

But hurry! The sale is only for 139 hours and time flies quickly!

At 10pm PDT on August 15th, the price goes back to $6.99.

Get the Justinia Wright Omnibus now!

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

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Book Review: Last Deadly Lie

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve preferred the series over the standalone book. I read fiction because of the characters, I don’t give two hoots about the plot. Because if the characters are good, they’ll make any plot, or even no plot, work.

Nevertheless, every once in a while I do pick up a standalone novel or story and give it a read.

That’s what happened with Last Deadly Lie by Caleb Pirtle III. I like Mr Pirtle’s writing, the word pictures he draws, and I like his characters. So even though a standalone, I bought a copy of Last Deadly Lie. And I’m glad I did. (You can get it on Amazon.)

What I found was a tour-de-force of contemporary Southern Gothic. Now you might be asking, What the heck is Southern Gothic?

The sub-genre of Southern Gothic is uniquely American, and is a regionalized version of American Gothic. It is a literary attempt to deal with the issues of Southern culture that continue to this day from the Confederacy’s defeat in the War Between the States (Civil War is a misnomer because the South never wanted to take control of the Federal government, which is what a civil war is all about — they wanted to withdraw and be left alone).

Southern Gothic uses the themes of American Gothic not merely for suspense, but to explore the values of the South.

Using the setting of a church and its community in a smallish Southern town, Mr Pirtle gives us an explosive tale that is dark in mood, and filled with corruption, power struggles, overweening pride, and lies. Lots of deep, dark, and often desperate, lies.

Last Deadly Lie is a novel that becomes a mirror and forces us to look at ourselves, to take a long, deep, and honest look, and say, But for the grace of God go I. Then, again, maybe we can’t say that. Maybe we all, like those accusers of the woman caught in the very act of adultery, just have to slink away, tossing our stone to the ground.

Mr Pirtle has given us a suspense-filled novel that will keep us up past our bedtimes, forgetting about the baseball game and the vacuum cleaner, and will make us forget our dinners until they get cold.

Last Deadly Lie is one of the best novels I’ve read in a very long time. And that’s due to the life-like characters, placed in real-life situations, and Mr Pirtle’s magical way with words that stimulates the imagination to do what no movie or TV show can.

Seven months into the year, and Last Deadly Lie is still the book to beat for my best read of 2021.

Pick up a copy. You won’t be sorry.

Get Last Deadly Lie Here!

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

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Best Reads — A Half-Time Assessment

Reading is, for me, the best entertainment. More than movies, more than TV, reading provides a person with more entertainment stimulus, and definitely more interaction.

That’s because movies and TV are like watching a baseball game. Whereas, reading is like playing in a baseball game.

June is almost over, and with it the first half of 2021. So I took a look at my reading from January to the present, and thought I’d share with you my thoughts about some of the books and stories I’ve read.

Thus far, I’ve read:

25 novels/novellas
36 novelettes/short stories
5 screenplays
3 non-fiction books

And I’m currently reading Raymond Chandler’s Farewell, My Lovely, which I’ll undoubtedly finish before month’s end.

Were there any books or authors that particularly grabbed my attention? There were!

The brand-new-to-me author who grabbed my attention was Garrett Dennis with his book Port Starbird: A Storm Ketchum Adventure. In fact, the book so impressed me I bought the entire series, which you can find on Amazon.

I love Mr Dennis’ laidback style of storytelling. No in-your-face-from-the-beginning action, just a deliciously slow build-up of tension to the action-packed climax. Which is how a story should be told, IMO.

Port Starbird was a wonderful read, Garrett Dennis is a talented writer, and I heartily recommend him for your reading pleasure.

The novelette/short story that most impressed me was my re-read of “The Colour Out Of Space” by HP Lovecraft, which is probably his best work.

However, right behind HPL’s novelette was “The Cold Equations” by Tom Godwin. The story was originally published in the August 1954 issue of Astounding Science Fiction magazine. I ran across a PDF on the web, and I’m glad I did. You can read it on LightSpeed ezine. It’s a powerful story about breaking the rules and owning up to the consequences.

The novel/novella that lingers in my mind is Last Deadly Lie by Caleb Pirtle III. It’s a masterful piece of writing. A fine example of contemporary Southern Gothic. Mystery, lies, intrigue, and deceit — all expertly woven together to make a story that will linger on in your mind long after you’ve read the last page.

I should add that Mr Pirtle had high-powered competition from the likes of William Meikle, Greig Beck, James Vincett, Andy Graham, John F Leonard, and the above mentioned Garrett Dennis.

I cannot encourage you enough to get a copy of Last Deadly Lie. For me, it is the book to beat this year. You can find it on Amazon.

Non-fiction comes in all shapes, sizes, and subjects. In most cases, I don’t find it to have much more than momentary impact. But that is not the case with How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life; edited and translated by James S Romm from the writings of Lucius Annaeus Seneca.

Seneca never wrote a book on death, although he wrote a lot about death. Professor Romm has done us the great favor of “writing” the book Seneca didn’t get to.

I am not exaggerating when I write: How to Die is one of the most impactful books I’ve ever read. It is, quite ironically, one of the best books on how to live that you could ever read.

Seneca was sick his entire life. Never far from Death’s Door. For him, the possibility of death was a daily reality; and it was the reality of death that taught him how to live and get the most out of life.

How to Die is an amazing book. I urge everyone to get a copy and read it. You can find it on Amazon.

That’s my wrap-up of the best reads during the first half of 2021. Now on to the joy to be found in books during the second half of the year.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

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The Horror Meisters

Take a look at the books
The free books
The Horror Meisters have for you

The Horror Meisters, which used to known as Meet the Munsters, Ink!, are celebrating their return with a fabulous promotional giveaway.

Nineteen (19) authors are giving away free books and excerpts for your reading pleasure, and hopefully to entice you to support them.

Yes, please, I’d like some free reads!

Writing can be a lonely business. But it doesn’t have to be. Authors banding together for mutual support, by means of the amazing internet, has been a boon for our mental health, productivity, and building a reader base.

When authors and readers network, everyone benefits. Authors gain new followers and readers, and readers learn of new authors and exciting new books. A win-win for everybody.

I have benefited immensely from my involvement with The WolfPack Authors and The Underground Authors. And I expect more good things to happen with The Horror Meisters. So stay tuned.

In the meantime, visit

The Horror Meisters Giveaway

You won’t be sorry.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy scary reading!

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Beyond the Sea — Part 3

Last week, I took a look at 4 stories in Beyond the Sea: Stories from the Underground. Today, I’m taking a look at the final 4 tales that make up this marvelous collection of short fiction. So let’s begin!

The Perfect Future — Cindy Davis

Every story has a back story. Every person has a back story. Cindy Davis tells us of an episode in the lives of two brothers. The episode is an important contribution to her Zipacna series, a metaphysical journey of adventure and discovery.

“The Perfect Future” reminds me of the saying by the Stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius: Life is what you make it.

Moonlight Swim — Kelly Marshall

Have you ever felt insulted to the point where you wished someone dead? I suppose we’ve all been there at some point in our lives.

But what if you could get your wish? Would you actually make it? Do some people deserve to die?

An interesting question that. And Ms. Marshall provides us with an equally interesting answer.

The Girl in the Turquoise Bikini — Linda Pirtle

Writer’s block. One thing all writers fear. For most of us it’s temporary, if it shows up at all. For a few of us it’s permanent.

Each writer has his or her own way of dealing with writer’s block. I write through it. Usually by working on a different story than the one on which I’m blocked.

For Jeb McGrierson, it took a girl showing up on his private beach wearing a turquoise bikini, along with a missing boat.

The lengths some writers will go to to start writing again!

Making Waves — CJ Peterson

Sometimes a family has something of value, usually more sentimental than monetary, that gets passed down through the generations.

Darren and his dad build a boat. Little did either one realize the role that boat would play in their family’s subsequent history. In fact, if it weren’t for the boat perhaps there wouldn’t have been a family history at all.

A touching saga of love, facilitated by a boat.

I’m proud to be a part of the Underground Authors. We value high quality fiction. Because we like reading. It is the best form of entertainment.

Pick up a copy of Beyond the Sea today and give yourself the gift of superb entertainment, and help Team Rubicon help others when disaster hits.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

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Beyond the Sea — Part 2

Beyond the Sea: Stories from the Underground is a project of the Underground Authors. We are a group of writers who place a high value on quality fiction. We seek to write it and promote it.

Beyond the Sea was an exercise in creativity. Take one picture and see what stories a dozen writers could find in it. And we found a dozen gems.

Three weeks ago, I blogged about my own contribution, and the three stories that impressed me the most.

Today, and next week, I want to share with you the remaining stories — because all the stories are good. And what’s more, maybe your favorite is one of these eight imaginative tales.

So let’s dive in!

The Diving Bits — Breakfield & Burkey

Xiamara has spent her and Judith’s savings to buy a boat. Judith is furious. The money was for their tuition to learn computers.

However, Xiamara convinces her friend they can make the money back by taking tourists out snorkeling.

But when their best laid plans meet reality, the two women end up in a heap of trouble.

A fun backstory romp in Breakfield & Burkey’s Enigma Universe.

Stranded — NE Brown

This story starts out innocently enough, but gradually you become aware that something isn’t right. And the ending? You have to read it — no spoilers here.

This is a suspense shocker that will have you trusting no one. A story I very much liked.

I’d Rather Drown — James R Callan

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself a prisoner? That’s the situation Darcy finds herself in. Prisoner of a control freak and possible psychopath. All because she accepted a drink and agreed to a game of tennis.

But she has a life, and it isn’t with her jailer! How is she going to escape Donald’s clutches?

James Callan gives us a tense thriller, brilliantly executed. A tale of escape that will have you biting your nails. I know I did!

Regi Vitam — Michael Scott Clifton

Ever wonder if anything you do ever has a good impact on someone else?

Frankie Scott was old and in poor health. He’d found a lot of talent for the Major Leagues in his day, but now he was all washed up. Just existing until his heart, lungs, or liver gave out. Just existing, that is, until Devin Ramos’ baseball breaks his window.

A heartwarming story that brought tears to my eyes.

Beyond the Sea: Stories from the Underground is a labor of love. All profits go to Team Rubicon to help their efforts to provide humanitarian relief when disaster strikes.

So do yourself and a lot of others a favor and pick up a copy today. You can be a good Samaritan and have fun at the same time!

Buy Beyond the Sea at Amazon

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

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Beyond the Sea

This past Friday was the official launch of Beyond the Sea: Stories from the Underground.

The concept was simple: a picture of a boat beached on a spit of sand jutting out into a lake, or a bay, or maybe the sea. Then add the imaginations of a dozen authors. And what do you get? A superbly satisfying collection of short stories.

I’m proud to be one of the 12 Underground Authors contributing to this incredible collection of tales. My story “The Boat”, is my first return trip to the post-apocalyptic world of The Rocheport Saga in 4 years. I took the opportunity to coax out of Bill Arthur a story that took place before The Morning Star, which is Book 1 of the series.

Amazon reviewer J.S. wrote of “The Boat”:

C.W. Hawes wrote a compelling short story that I didn’t want to come to an end. His words came alive and I joined in with the characters in a hair-raising survival journey in a post-apocalyptic world. Great world-building and great writing!

I’m pleased and humbled by that comment. And very glad I wasn’t a drag on the group effort! 🙂

As a reader, I was impressed with the overall quality of the stories. As can’t be helped, some were more appealing to me than others. That’s just how it is in an anthology. Not everything will please everybody. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.

Nevertheless, the overall quality is high, and that should please any reader. I’m confident everyone will find a story they’ll fall in love with.

My personal favorites, the ones that especially caught my eye, were “Hemingway’s Boat” by Caleb Pirtle III, “The Encounter” by Ronald E Yates, and “Roses for Grant” by Richard Schwindt.

Pirtle’s story is a superb example of his ability to capture a time and place, people it with true to life characters, throw in a bit of mystery and romance, and come up with a story that grabs you and doesn’t let go. In the short time that I’ve known him, he’s become one of my favorite authors.

I enjoy a good science fiction yarn, and Ron Yates has uncorked a real goodie in “The Encounter”. And when it’s coupled with a touch of slowburn terror, it’s a keeper. His knowledge of Southeast Asia and history adds a strong sense of place and color to the tale.

Richard Schwindt, as readers of this blog know, is one of my favorite contemporary writers. I think I’d buy his grocery lists. His story, “Roses for Grant”, is a beautiful slice-of-life tale about an older middle-aged couple. Their memories and the mission they are on. In some ways, it reminded me of Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” in that the dialogue essentially carries the story. No narrator gets in the way of the couple on whom we are listening in.

Having written the above, I want to emphasize that there is something for everyone in Beyond the Sea — and what are my favorites may not be yours. Pick up a copy and see for yourself.

We the authors are donating the proceeds to Team Rubicon. A worthy organization. Check them out on their website.

You can pick up a copy of Beyond the Sea at Amazon. And when you do, you benefit yourself and the disaster relief efforts of Team Rubicon.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

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The Boat

It’s been a number of years since I’ve visited the world of Bill Arthur and The Rocheport Saga.

Recently, though, I paid Bill a visit and the result was “The Boat”, a prequel story to The Rocheport Saga.

In “The Boat” we learn a bit about Bill in the days after the apocalypse and before the story in The Morning Star.

So if you’re a fan of The Rocheport Saga, you can find “The Boat” in Beyond the Sea: Stories from the Underground, which officially debuts this Friday, May 7th.

And to celebrate the book launch, the Underground Authors are throwing a launch party!

The party starts at 5:30 pm CDT on Friday, May 7th. There will be prizes and you’ll get to meet the authors.

Here’s the link to get in on the fun:

PARTY TIME!

Hope to see you there!

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Indie April Suggestions – Part 9

This is the last day of April and the last day of Indie April for 2021. However, I have 2 more authors I want to leave with you before the month is out. And while they may be last, they are certainly not least. They’ll help us depart April with a bang.

Alexander Pain

I’ll confess up front, I don’t like the zombie apocalypse craze. That said, I do like the writing of Alexander Pain and he writes about the zombie apocalypse. So that should tell you something right there.

Pain has one novel and several short stories in his oeuvre, and they are worthy additions to your entertainment library. What I admire about Pain’s writing is his ability to take a thoroughly impossible idea — the zombie apocalypse — and make it real.

For example, when reading Zombie Complex: The Battle for Chattahoochee Run I was drawn into the story because of the realistic characters he peoples it with. The same can be said for Neither Seen, Nor Heard. He puts real people into an unrealistic setting and by doing so enables me to suspend my sense of disbelief.

Using humor, pathos, and suspense, he makes the reader accept the implausibility of his world, and that is quite a feat. And he draws our attention to the question, How do I survive in such a world? Or any world for that matter.

Good post-apocalyptic fiction is, at base, philosophical in nature. Everything I value has been stripped away from me. Now what? Who am I? What is my purpose? What is of real importance in life? And Pain subtly poses those questions for us to ponder in the backs of our minds.

If you’re looking for action, adventure, and a good survival story, as well as food for thought, head on over to Amazon and check out the books of Alexander Pain. You won’t be sorry.

Ernestine Marsh

I love a good laugh and the older I get the more I value laughter. Because laughter puts everything into perspective and lightens any and all loads. I hope I die laughing.

When reading one of the things I look for is humor. If it’s present, the author gets a plus.

Ernestine Marsh writes humor, and that is a tough job for the best of writes. In Agonising: The Problem Page Letters of Jean Price and Raine Vincent and In Agony Again, Marsh has created two of the most delightful characters I’ve come across.

Price and Vincent are competing agony aunts, or advice columnists for us Americans. The plots of both books chronicle their battle of oneupmanship, and along the way we are treated to the most ridiculous and hilarious advice to the most incredible and incredulous problems.

The humor is often a mask for satirical commentary on our times. And the satire can be bitingly wicked. Satire and humor that is in league with Voltaire, Twain, and Wilde. Marsh doesn’t pull any punches.

So, if you’re looking for a good laugh with a hefty helping of hilarious social satire, head on over to Amazon and pickup Ernestine Marsh’s books. And prepare to be incapacitated by your funny bone.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

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Indie April Suggestions – Part 8

Indie April will be over in a few days. Nevertheless, I’ve 4 more authors I want to introduce you to before the month is out.

Today, you’ll meet Jack Tyler and Joe Congel. So let’s get to it!

Jack Tyler

I’ve known Jack Tyler for just about as long as I’ve been an independent author-publisher. We met on a now defunct steampunk forum.

Jack taught himself how to write stories. He learned the ins and outs, and honed his craft to an art. He not only knows how to write, he knows how to write well. He’s mastered the art of storytelling.

To date, he’s published the 3 book Beyond the Rails series, which is steampunk high adventure; and the epic fantasy novel The Stone Seekers, which breaks refreshing new ground in that genre.

He has lots more stuff in the wings, and I hope he let’s those books take center stage. Because Jack is far and away one of the better indie writers I’ve read.

He has the ability to create a world and people it with characters who draw you in, and make you a part of their world. His stories have an air of the classic about them. Which puts them head and shoulders above much of the contemporary drivel being put up on Amazon today.

So if high adventure and lots of action is what you’re looking for, head on over to Amazon and pick up Jack’s books. You won’t be sorry.

Joe Congel

Joe Congel has created a fabulous private detective in Tony Razzolito, aka the Razzman.

And at the same time, he’s managed to bring the essence of the hardboiled detective into a contemporary setting. Which is very refreshing.

I love private eye mysteries. And Congel does them right. He follows the formula and pacing of the masters, while eschewing the modern penchant for constant mind-numbing action.

Not that there isn’t any action in the Razzman series — because there’s plenty of it. But it’s action done right, action that heightens the mystery, threatens the sleuth’s ability to gather the clues.

Congel, like his mystery writer forebears, gives us a mystery that focuses on solving the crime. It is the classic literary puzzle. The action is the spice that makes the experience all the more delightful.

Joe Congel does mystery right. If you love the tales of Marlowe, Spade, and Mike Hammer, then head on over to Amazon and pick up the Razzman books. You won’t be sorry.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

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