Books | CW Hawes

Entertainment

Last week I talked about commercial fiction and mentioned that commercial fiction is “what most people want”. This week, I’d like to explore that notion a bit further.

Storytelling is, at base, entertainment. Fiction is merely the written extension of storytelling. Ever since human beings gathered around a fire at the end of the day, they’ve been telling each other stories. When writing was invented, the good stories were written down and thus fiction was born.

When I surveyed my mailing list subscribers not too long ago and asked why they read fiction, almost everyone who answered said it was to escape. We look for the excitement that’s lacking in our lives in the stories someone else wrote down about people with more exciting lives than our own.

H. Bedford-Jones perhaps put it best, when he wrote that the business of fiction “is simply to make its readers forget their troubles.”

As a writer, let me confess right now that part of the reason I write is to vicariously experience the lives of the characters I create — lives far more exciting than my own.

And since I’m a reader as well, I’ll confess right now I read in order to vicariously experience things I never could in real life. I’m an armchair survivalist, adventurer, private investigator, monster hunter, you name it.

Romance novels are perhaps the best proof that fiction exists for entertainment. They are the ultimate in escapist literature. The romance novel, in all its forms, provides the reader with the perfect experience of love. We all desire to find Mr or Miss Right. And we can do so in the pages of a romance novel. When in reality we may not be so lucky.

But maybe you’re happily married, or happily settled in with your partner, and you have no need to dream about that perfect relationship. On the other hand, your job… Now that’s another story.

However, in the pages of a book, you can experience any job you want. Or you can do your job on Mars, or Delta Cygnus IV.

Don’t have a lot of money? You can in the pages of a book.

Fiction entertains us. It lets us escape from the humdrum. It lets us experience vicariously what we can’t experience in reality.

Being an avid reader and accumulator of books, I can look back and see how my interests have changed over the course of my life.

At one time dinosaurs were my passion. Then sailing ships. After that airships. I can see when my interests waxed, waned, and circled back to wax again. My science fiction and fantasy books date from when I was young. My mysteries from the 1980s. Horror, in all its various forms, goes back to my childhood, with a big upswing occurring in the 70s.

As of right now I mostly read mysteries, followed by horror. There is the occasional post-apocalyptic novel. Or space opera, or adventure story, or sea yarn. But when push comes to shove, I find myself reaching for that private eye novel, or that ghost story.

These are the stories that entertain me the most. They are the stories that provide me with a different and more exciting life.

And ten years from now? Who knows? I do know, so one thing. I’ll be reading something I find entertaining.

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

Share This!

And, Yes, Yet More Suggested Reads

Below are 5 more suggested reads, just in case you still have no idea what to read next. There are so very many excellent books out there. And so very many adventures we can get in on, just by riding our armchairs!

The Stone Seekers by Jack Tyler

Jack Tyler is one of those writers who just doesn’t write fast enough for me. Doggone it. Nor is he a prolific writer. Double doggone it. He has but four books published and a short story in an anthology. I own them all.

My favorite is his epic fantasy novel The Stone Seekers. It is refreshingly different. No Tolkien pastiche here! And like any epic fantasy novel, it has a quest, high adventure, and larger than life villains. What makes this novel memorable, is the world building and the superb storytelling.

Tyler gives you a good story. A story that will take you places you’ve never been, with fascinating travel companions.

Get this book. Heck, get all of his books. They’re worth it.

Daguerreotype by Ray Zacek

I do not remember when I ran into Ray Zacek. Most likely it was on Twitter or Facebook. I do not know him even though we follow each other on Twitter and are friends on Facebook. We’ve never chatted.

However, what I do know is this: he is one heck of a good writer. I don’t own all of his work — yet. But I’m working on it. He’s that good.

He writes horror, sci-fi, dark comedy, humor, crime, and satire. And it’s all superb.

Daguerreotype is a tale of terror. A tale about greed and its unfortunate consequences. And like all of the Zacek stories I’ve read, it’s riveting.

Very highly recommended.

The Peach Widow by Zara Altair

Zara Altair writes historical mysteries set in Ostrogoth Italy after the fall of Rome. Her sleuth, Argolicus (who was a real person, by the way), is a retired civil servant with a knack for solving murders in a time and place where murder wasn’t a crime!

The Argolicus series of four (and counting) mysteries is well worth your time. A good way to pass a lazy afternoon, or the ride on the bus or train to work.

The research and storytelling bring this little known era to life.

So if you like history, or want to learn some history, and have fun doing so, and like mystery, then pick up these time machines and step into another world.

Good stuff be here!

Off Grid by Simon Osborne

To my knowledge, this is Mr Osborne’s sole offering — and it’s a good one.

Not quite a post-apocalyptic cozy catastrophe, it’s still close enough to get my attention.

Aliens come to earth and take over. The humans that remain are being hunted to extinction. And the pockets of survivors that remain are doing their best to avoid their decreed fate.

The story focuses on truck driver Harry Lennard and his quest to stay off grid, thereby avoiding the aliens, and to try and make a life for himself minus his family, who appear to have been killed in the attack.

The book is told well. Mr Osborne is a natural storyteller.

If post-apocalyptic fiction is your thing, Off Grid is definitely for you. If you like a tale of survival and adventure, then you’ve found your cup of tea in Off Grid. Good reading be here!

A Very English Mystery series by Elizabeth Edmondson

I am a committed indie author/publisher and a dedicated indie author reader. In fact, as a writer, I’m anti-traditional publishing. As a reviewer, I rarely review traditionally published books. As a reader, I very rarely buy new traditionally published books. I will buy them used.

However, the late Elizabeth Edmondson so impressed me with her Very English Mystery series, that even though it’s published by Amazon’s Thomas & Mercer imprint, I though I’d give it a shoutout here.

There are actually four books in the series. The novella, A Youthful Indiscretion, fits into the series between books one and two.

I grew up in the Cold War. The 1950s (the time period of the books) was a time when we tried to carry on life as normal, even though there was the underlying fear an atom bomb was going to blast us into oblivion.

Ozzie and Harriet were on TV, while we practiced hiding under our desks at school and read our civil defense manuals on how to build and stock a bomb shelter in the basement. The Red threat was on everyone’s mind, and we chanted Better Dead than Red.

Ms Edmondson captured the era perfectly in her books.

The series revolves around Hugo and Freya and their involvement with murder in the town of Selchester.

The atmosphere is much like an Agatha Christie or Patricia Wentworth novel, and packs the punch of a good spy thriller.

An excellent series. One well worth your time and money.

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

Share This!

Even More Suggested Reads

Here is my third list of suggested reads for your summer holidays, or lazy days. Or if it’s winter where you are, reads with which you can snuggle up on the sofa or in your favorite chair and escape the less than perfect weather outside.

The Death in Sioux Lookout Trilogy by Richard Schwindt

I’m a big fan of Richard Schwindt. I own all of his fiction. Because he is simply that good. His writing is laced with humor, full of life-like characters, enchanting (but not ponderous) descriptions of places that will transport you right out of your chair, and masterful storytelling that grabs you and doesn’t let you go.

Sioux Lookout is one of Schwindt’s favorite places and he makes it come alive for us in this trio of murder mysteries.

I love this series. My only complaint is that there aren’t more stories. Three just aren’t enough!

Do pick up this trilogy and join Chris Allard, dysfunctional social worker, as he solves 3 murders. An unlikely, yet astute amateur sleuth.

The Razzman Files and The Razzman Chronicles by Joe Congel

I love private investigator mysteries and Joe Congel writes doggone good ones. So good, in fact, that I bought every book he’s published to date.

In Tony Razzolito, The Razzman, Congel pays homage to the classic noir detective, without the overwhelming dark atmosphere. At the end of the day, we have bad guys — not bad humanity.

These are well-written whodunits, perfect for your armchair detective work. Pick them up, because the game is afoot!

The Monkey Idol by KD McNiven

I met Ms McNiven on Twitter, and I’m glad I did. Otherwise I’d never have discovered this delightful book — which is the first in her Decker and Callie series of adventure yarns.

My interest in archeology and lost cities and civilizations goes way back, and because this novel taps into all three I was hooked.

Ms McNiven tells a tale that will remind you a bit of Dirk Pitt, Indiana Jones, and Lara Croft. Lots of action in a thrilling adventure.

There are 3 books out now in the Decker and Callie series, and the two I haven’t read are definitely on my TBR list! And they should be on yours, as well.

Dark Fiction Tales by Andy Graham

Andy Graham is an incredible wordsmith. Simply incredible. His command of the English language is superb. And I’m more than a little envious! 🙂

His Dark Fiction Tales are amazingly dark tales about us. You know, people who could be you or me and yet aren’t you or me. The folk in Graham’s tales are the Mr Hyde that lurks inside each and every one of us — whether we want to admit he’s there or not.

I Died Yesterday is Book 1 and contains 5 stories that examine the consequences of our deepest wishes and desires, and of our seemingly innocent actions.

An Angel Fallen is Book 2 and is a powerfully eloquent tale of consequences and redemption. If this story doesn’t move you, I’m not sure any will.

A Crow’s Game is Book 3 and has just been released. I’m very much looking forward to reading it.

If you love to read the handiwork of a master craftsman, one who does things with language that no one else can, if you love good storytelling and well-crafted imagery, then you’ll love Andy Graham.

Once Upon a WolfPack: A #WolfPackAuthors Anthology by the #WolfPackAuthors

Short stories are the perfect reading experiences for this day and age when everyone is busier than busy.

But for myself, I’ve always loved short stories. I cut my reading eye teeth on them. A well-crafted short story is a thing of beauty. A powerful experience in a small package.

The #WolfPackAuthors is a writing group on Twitter dedicated to promoting and supporting its members. And one of our projects of mutual support is the Once Upon a WolfPack anthology. This collection of 17 stories and poems not only highlights the work of 17 members of the pack, but the profits from the anthology go to Lockwood Animal Rescue Center. The center helps save wolves from senseless and careless destruction and helps support returning veterans to transition back into civilian society, a society that doesn’t often understand the hidden wounds they carry.

Pick yourself up a copy and meet 17 new to you authors — and help out wolves and vets. This is such a good deal!

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

Share This!

Some Suggested Reads

It’s summer in Houston. Tropical heat and humidity. TG for AC.

The other day I was saying to my wife that when we lived in Minnesota we stayed indoors in the winter. Moving to Houston, we now stay indoors in the summer. And when one has to stay in it is a good time to raid the bookshelf.

Of course, in truth, any time is a good time to read a novel. From the comfort of my easy chair, with the AC on (or the heat in winter), hot tea at hand, I can take any number of adventures.

I can leave earth entirely, or I can travel to a fantasy world that only exists in the writer’s and his reader’s minds.

If I want, I can go to another city, or another country.

I can do all of that and never leave the comforts of home. Just by reading a book.

If you happen to be looking for something to read this summer (or winter, if you live on that part of the globe) I have a few suggestions for you.

Church Mouse by RH Hale

I recently re-read this incredible novel to refresh my memory and prepare for Church Mouse: The Change, which I’m currently reading.

How Ms Hale can generate such tension and suspense from her slowburn Gothic style is beyond me. As a writer, I’m in awe. As a reader, I’m in love — and chewing my fingernails down to the quick.

But tension and suspense aren’t the only thing. She excels at painting a word picture that lets you experience the setting. And she gives you characters that are so life-like, you’ll swear you’ve run across them in real life.

These two books are good reading anytime. They are amongst the best vampire novels out there. And they are so much more. They’ll get you thinking about what it means to be human.

Exit and 01134 by Crispian Thurlborn

Mr Thurlborn is one of my favorite authors. His imagination gives rise to fabulous stories.

Exit is a dreampunk tale that examines if we are truly free to do as we want and change who we are. It is a superb addition to the ranks of weird fiction.

01134 is another stupendous addition. This book examines loneliness. It examines choices we make, or don’t make. It is a book that takes us to The Twilight Zone.

Your Arms Around Entropy and Other Stories by Brian Fatah Steele

I love short stories. A well-written short story, IMO, is more satisfying than a long novel. I know there are people who don’t like short stories. I feel sorry for them.

Mr Steele is a very accomplished writer, and this collection of short stories blew me away. I went out and bought all of his books.

These are dark tales that will make you fear the dark. They are superb examples of contemporary Lovecraftian fiction.

Keep the light on if you read these at night.

All of the above recommendations are dark, quite dark. Maybe you prefer lighter fare. If that’s the case, the next two fit the bill quite nicely.

Agonising: The Problem Page Letters of Jean Price and Raine Vincent by Ernestine Marsh

Ms Marsh has a knack for humor and the witty turn of phrase. She also is quite at home dishing out biting satire. You’ll find both in Agonising. You’ll also have to take periodic reading breaks to catch your breath and give your stomach a break from all the laughing.

The Garden of Jane Pengelly by Stephen A Howells

This book is a hidden gem. It took me completely by surprise — a very pleasant surprise. It is a sweet and tender paranormal love story. Not normally my cup of tea. No, not by a long shot. Yet, I was drawn in by Mr Howell’s wonderful storytelling. And yes, it brought tears to my eyes. Definitely not one to miss!

The above ought to keep you going for awhile. I’ll be back next week with more gems for your ereader or bookshelf.

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

Share This!

#IndieApril

Today’s the last day of April. A third of the year is over. Wasn’t yesterday New Year’s? At least while time’s flying, I’m having fun! Hope you are too!

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know I’m a reader. I prefer reading to TV, movies, video games, boardgames, you name it. Reading takes you to a million different worlds without leaving the comfort of your own home. Reading’s my favorite way to travel. Reading also stimulates the imagination like nothing else. And that’s a good thing.

Earlier this month, on Twitter, someone started the hashtag #IndieApril. The goal was to get people to buy, read, and review books written by independent author/publishers.

Being an independent author/publisher and reader, I was excited to jump on the bandwagon. After all, reading is a good wagon to jump on.

I ended up buying 7 books. Here they are:

The Tainted Dollar by Chris Derrick

Hotel Obscure by Lisette Brodey

Voyager by Carl Rackman

The Monkey Idol by KD McNiven

A Brother’s Secret by Andy Graham

Connor’s Gambit by Z Gottlieb

Into Armageddon by Jeff DeMarco

As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is a good book in the eye of the reader. And just as there is a lot of beauty out there, there are a heck of a lot of good books that just don’t get the press.

The editors who work for publishers are mere mortals. They put their shoes on the same way you and I do. They are biased and opinionated individuals whose job is to make money for the publisher, the businessman, they work for.

The stories are legion of editors who passed on the eventual bestseller. The stories are legion of editors who thought book X was the next Gone With the Wind — and it didn’t even sell 10 copies.

Why is this? It’s because publishers aren’t interested in art. They’re interested in money. How many bucks will they make on Book X versus Book Y? This makes sense if we understand that publishing is a business. The publishing house’s sole purpose is to make money for the owners.

Businesses exist to make money. It’s why Jeff Bezos started Amazon — to make money. To get rich if possible. It’s why Random House exists — to make money for their German and British owners. Publishers only see books as dollar signs.

For the last 50 plus years I’ve read in writing magazines and now on the internet, that bestsellers keep publishers afloat. On virtually all of their other books they lose money. The likes of Patterson and Rowling and King, enable publishers to publish the likes of you and me — if we can get past the gatekeepers (editors). And there were other bestsellers who allowed the publishers to gamble on Patterson, Rowling, and King.

As much as I don’t like the monopolistic mindset of Amazon, I’m forced to say that it was the Kindle that changed publishing forever.

Suddenly, overnight, not a single writer needed an agent or a publisher. Writers were free at last. There were no more gatekeepers to prevent our voices from being heard.

Publishing had suddenly become a true democracy. Publishing became as easy as buttering a slice of toast.

Of course, people have this proclivity to make easy things difficult. And so now we see indies themselves setting up all manner of roadblocks to prevent the newbies from entering the ranks of the august.

I hear constantly that one has to have an editor, maybe several! I was told by one nobody author that if I didn’t have money to hire an editor, I should hold a garage sale to raise the money to hire one. What idiocy! As if I have enough stuff I don’t want to make even $10.

Here are more must haves. One has to have a professionally made book cover. That one has to pay a formatter for a professionally formatted book. And one has to pay for lots of marketing.

What’s going on is simple. In the first place, all those editors that publishers have let go in the last 30 years are seeking to feed off of the indie revolution. Quite honestly, indies don’t need professional editors. We are our own publishing house of our own books. We don’t need someone who doesn’t know us to tell us what our books should or shouldn’t be.

In the second place, indies themselves — to eliminate competition — set up barriers to new writers. Of course there are no barriers to publishing today, so these people play the traditional publishing mind game and make gullible newbies think they need all the above mentioned crap.

The indie publishing waters are filled with sharks and piranha — let the newbie beware. I say ignore those naysayers and shysters. Just write and publish your book. Then learn how to market it.

Every day I’m amazed at the good indie writers I discover. Writers who’s books languish at the 500,000 or one million rank in the paid Kindle Store. Writers who are usually better than the indie bestsellers — most of whom are of no better quality than the traditionally published crowd.

On this last day of #IndieApril, I encourage you to pick up a book or two written by an independent author/publisher. Here are 10 suggestions:

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

Share This!

#WolfPackAuthors

Cooperatives have been around for quite awhile. They began in England in 1844 in an attempt to allow small producers of quality goods to compete with the large factories that increasingly churned out low-quality goods in advance.

I’ve been involved with food cooperatives since the 1980s. Initially, it was the search for fresh and affordable spices and herbs that drew me to the local food co-op. From there, my interest in sustainable agriculture and organic production mushroomed.

Cooperatives formed to solve common problems by the combined action of the members. They also empowered the members through shared ownership and democratic control. Something very much missing even in today’s business world. Everyone is equal in a cooperative.

With the rise of the independent author/publisher movement (indies), co-ops have begun to form as authors seek to tackle the difficult aspects of publishing and marketing.

The #WolfPackAuthors is a loose cooperative of writers who hang out on Twitter. I’m very pleased to be a part of the group.

To provide mutual support and to take a more creative approach to marketing each other’s books is the group’s goal, rather than simply re-tweeting each other’s books.

One of those marketing options was to put together a short story anthology to showcase the work of the #WolfPackAuthors. The result is

Once Upon a WolfPack: A #WolfPackAuthors anthology

Seventeen writers. Seventeen stories and poems. The book is currently available on pre-order for $2.99 and will see publication on 19 May 2019.

And in the true spirit of cooperation, all profits will go to Lockwood Animal Rescue Center. The center is focused on protecting wolves and helping military veterans with rehabilitation and integration.

We feel Once Upon a WolfPack will not only introduce you to our writing, but the book will help wolves and vets survive in what is too often our harsh modern world.

We give and you give. And many, many people and wolves benefit.

Travel to distant and magical lands. For a time be a superhero, or a creature of the night. Be a private detective and solve a crime, right a wrong. In Once Upon a WolfPack, you’ll have 17 chances to travel and live a life different from your own.

To whet your appetite, here is an extract from my contribution to the collection. Enjoy!

Mrs Solberg’s Problem
A Justinia Wright Private Investigator Mystery
by CW Hawes

She’d made the appointment for ten in the morning. The oversized oxblood wingback made her look small, even though she was of average height and build for a woman.

Our potential client was practically dressed for a December day in Minnesota, which unfortunately didn’t do anything to improve her somewhat drab middle-aged appearance.

My sister, the ace Minneapolis private detective Justinia Wright, wasn’t interested in the case when I told her about it yesterday. But then she’s rarely interested in any case. She doesn’t like to work. She’d rather play the piano or paint. Unfortunately, those two activities don’t pay my paycheck or that of my wife, Bea, who is the office receptionist, as well as being Tina’s Minordomo. I being the Majordomo, as well as Tina’s assistant.

And since my sister doesn’t like to work, one of my duties is to prod and cajole her into doing so. Of course, I get a ton of grief for doing my job. But that goes with the territory.

Consequently, I went ahead and booked the appointment. I figured once Mrs Solberg was in the office, the odds of Tina taking the case would greatly improve.

The boss looked at our potential client. From where I was sitting at my desk, she was wringing the life out of her gloves.

“There’s no need to be nervous, Mrs Solberg. It is Missus, isn’t it?” Tina said.

“Yes. Yes, it is. I’m married.”

Her voice was actually quite pleasant. It had a bit of depth to it.

Tina leaned back in her chair and steepled her long fingers. “I take it you are having marriage problems.”

“Well, yes and no.”

A frown crossed Tina’s face. “Come now, Mrs Solberg. You either are or you aren’t. If your home was a citadel of marital bliss, you wouldn’t be here. So what is the nature of your marital woes?”

“There’s a woman at my husband’s office…”

Tina finished the sentence for her. “And he’s spending entirely too much time with her for your liking. She’s also younger than you. Probably much younger. And you want me to do something about it.”

“Uh, yes. Yes, that’s right. How did you know?”

“It’s my job to know things. So I do.”

“Oh. I see.”

Although by the look on her face, I wasn’t sure she saw at all.

Mrs Solberg paused a moment and then her face brightened. “You can help me?”

“I can. What do you want me to do?”

“I don’t know. That’s the thing. I’ve been a good wife. I’ve seen to his, my husband’s, every need. I know that sounds old-fashioned, but I’m a traditional wife and I don’t think I need to apologize for that.”

Tina made a sound that could have been taken for concurrence, and Mrs Solberg went on. “I raised our children and was always there for them. And I’ve always been there for Dolph. That’s my husband’s name. Dolph. It’s Swedish and means Noble Wolf.”

“Interesting,” Tina said.

“I suppose so. Only now he might not be as honest as I thought. Anyway, I’ve always been there for him, and it’s just not fair that now we have some time—”

Tina interrupted. “The children are no longer at home?”

Mrs Solberg nodded. A tissue was dabbing at her eyes and nose. After a moment, she continued, “Now that we have time to do things together, he’s either too tired, or playing golf, or with his friends watching football, or out with this minx.”

Tina sat up and crossed her legs. “Does the minx have a name?”

“Lacey Nystrom.”

“Are they sleeping together?”

“Uh, no, I don’t think so. Dolph says she’s this poor young woman without much money and in a bad situation at home and he’s just being friendly. It’s nothing serious, he says. Just friends and I shouldn’t worry.”

“And you believe him?”

Mrs Solberg thought for a moment and then nodded her head. “Yes. I don’t think he’s had sex with her.”

“But you are feeling cheated. The kids are gone, you’ve paid your dues, and now you want to live a little.”

“Yes. That’s it. Can you fix this for me? Can you get rid of this minx? I’m probably being unfair, to call her a minx, but that is how I feel. She’s taking my husband from me and it’s not fair what she’s doing, or that he’s letting her.”

Tina nodded her head to show she understood Mrs Solberg’s feelings and leaned back in her chair. She eyed the humidor on her desk and then closed her eyes, steepled fingers touching her lips. After a quarter-minute passed, she opened her eyes and sat up.

“Yes, I can fix this for you. My fee for doing so is twenty-five thousand dollars.”

“What? You can’t be serious?”

“Oh, I very much am, Mrs Solberg.”

“But, but…”

“You think it’s a lot of money?”

Mrs Solberg nodded her head.

Tina continued, “I suppose it is. However, I happen to know you can probably afford it. You live over in Kenwood, which is more expensive than my neighborhood. Which as you know is second only to yours. I also know your husband is a vice-president at Borger, Inc. And makes a very decent salary.”

“How do you know this?”

“As I said earlier, it’s my job to know things. And I do. The decision is yours. However, I ask you, do you like feeling you are second fiddle in your husband’s affections? I’m assuming you love him and that’s why you’re here.”

“Yes. Yes, I do. We were good together when we were young.” She took in a deep breath and it came out a sigh. “But then along came the children and more responsibilities at work, and promotions, and, well, now I’m looking at fifty and Dolph is in his fifties and, well, I just want us to have a chance to live a little before we’re too old. I think we’re still good together.”

“I understand,” Tina said. “To get what you want, with my help, will cost you twenty-five thousand. It’s your happiness, Mrs Solberg. Not mine. What’s your decision?”

“You really think you can help me?”

“Yes.”

Our potential client stared at her purse. Perhaps somewhere in its depths there was an answer, and, after a significant amount of time had passed, she asked, “Is a check alright?”

I guess there was an answer lying there in the depths of her handbag.

“A check is fine, Mrs Solberg.” Tina turned to me. “Harry, a contract.”

I printed off a contract, filled in the blanks, and gave it to our client for her to sign. I’ll have to find out the brand of that purse. Could probably make a fortune with it. After she read and signed the contract, I made a copy for her.

“Tomorrow, I will send you instructions by email,” Tina said. “You must follow them to the letter. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

Mrs Solberg stood and handed a check to Tina, who stood and took it from her. The two women shook hands, and then I escorted our new client to the front door and out into the cold Minnesota winter.

On the way back to the office, Bea asked if Tina had taken the case.

“Yep. Have no idea why. She didn’t even try to charge her some ridiculous fee. It’s an odd case, though, and maybe that’s why. Something of a challenge. Something out of the ordinary. I’ll tell you about it later.”

I went on into the Inner Sanctum and sat at my desk. Tina had lit a cigar and poured herself a glass of madeira. She took a sip of wine and then puffed on her cigar, before speaking.

“Since you wanted this case so badly, here are your instructions.”

I gave her a look.

“What? You didn’t think all you were going to do was badger me, did you?”

I sighed. “I suppose not.”

“Good. Get your notebook and pen.”

Continued in Once Upon a WolfPack

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

Share This!

A Fabulous Find

Thousands of books are published every day. Fiction and nonfiction books are flooding the ebook stores, brick and mortar bookstores, and even sites like Wattpad.

We live in an era where there is more reading material available than there has ever been in the history of the world.

The question begs to be asked, How do you find the good stuff? And further we must ask, How do you define “good stuff”? Because beauty, as we all know, is in the eye of the beholder.

As for the first question, I’ve found social media to be a good source of reading material. In particular, Twitter has been a fabulous resource for connecting with writers and their books.

Concerning the second question, that one is more difficult to answer. Because what I like you may not.

IMO, most books and stories are not memorable. They are as disposable as cheap ballpoint pens. They serve the purpose of providing us with a bit of diversion. That’s all.

However, every now and again I run across a true craftsman. A writer who is a true artist with the written word. Recently, on Twitter, I discovered such a find. That writer is Brian Fatah Steele.

Steele writes weird fiction that is heavily scented with Lovecraft, yet is not a pastiche in the hack manner of Derleth and the others who attempt to be Lovecraftian.

Recently, I finished Your Arms Around Entropy and other stories. Every single story Collection was imaginative, original, and awesome. Each story was thought-provoking and powerful. I’m currently reading Steele’s novel There is Darkness in Every Room. Thus far the book is deliciously weird, with well-drawn characters and loads macabre atmosphere, plus being incredibly imaginative.

What I’ve read thus far has made such an impression on me, I bought all of Steele’s books. He is an incredible find. Take a look at his Amazon page.

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

Share This!

What Book is in Your Hand?

Reading is my favorite form of entertainment. I enjoy reading over TV and movies. I enjoy it more than boardgames. Although I might actually enjoy eating more than I do reading. The waistline is difficult to ignore.

There is, though, one problem I have as a writer with reading. It takes over my mind. As a result, if I am writing a horror story, problems develop if I start reading mysteries, for example. Suddenly my brain leaves the monsters behind and I’m thinking whodunit. Something of a problem that!

Recently I received a three month Kindle Unlimited trial for 99¢. Unfortunately, it ran over the holidays so I didn’t get as much of an advantage out of it as I would have liked. Nevertheless I did read 7 novels/novellas, 7 short stories, and 1 short story collection. Which means I did get my money back with interest.

Most of the novels I read were mysteries, and therein lay the conflict with my novel writing.

I’m currently at work on Pierce Mostyn #7, but with all those mysteries passing before my eyes my horror novel started looking a little bit like a murder mystery. I’ll undoubtedly have some fixing up to do.

However, don’t take the above as complaining. I’m just saying. Because quite a bit of my KU reading was, in fact, horror related. The short stories were from the Occult Detective Quarterly, Issue #1 (Fall 2016). Six of the seven stories were excellent reads. So good in fact, I’ll probably buy all of the issues. The short story collection was The Abominations of the Nephren-ka and Three More Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos by Mark McLaughlin and Michael Sheehan, Jr. All four of the tales were quite serviceable reads with which to pass a couple of hours.

With the KU trial over (I didn’t renew), I’m now back on my own resources for reading, which includes the works of several indie authors of my acquaintance I wish to promote.

I think it is very important for indie writers to read the books of their fellows. Because we indies are all in the same boat pulling at the same oars. The least we can do to help each other is to buy, read, and review each other’s work.

Over the weekend, I read In Agony Again by Ernestine Marsh. Ms Marsh has to be in the running for the title of Queen of Comedy. She’s that funny.

With the writing of Pierce Mostyn being bent all out of shape due to my recent reading, I have to get it back on track. So for the rest of the month, I’ll be focusing on horror, the supernatural kind.

Aside from the KU reading, I’ve read this year “The Call of Cthulhu” and “The Nameless City” by Lovecraft, and The Horror from the Hills by Frank Belknap Long. Having thus far read only one Clark Ashton Smith Cthulhu Mythos tale, maybe I’ll spend some time with Mr Smith. “The Tale of Satampra Zeiros” may be a very good place to start.

Now to you. What book or books have been in your hand of late? I’d like to hear about them. Especially if the authors are indie writers such as myself.

With over 3000 new books appearing on Amazon each day, that’s a lot of books to sort through. And if we consider that four years ago there were 3 1/2 million ebooks in the Kindle store — that’s a heck of a lot of books to look through for some good ones.

So please share some of your good reads with me, and you can bet I’ll do the same back with you.

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

Share This!

The Serial Novel

Last week I mentioned my intention to serialize the working draft of my next Pierce Mostyn novel, The Medusa Ritual, on my website. That plan is still in the works. I’m thinking of 18 weekly installments issued during February, March, April, and May. Then in June I’ll publish the revised novel in ebook form.

Why serialize a novel? Why not? As near as I can tell, the serialized novel has been around since at least the 1700s. It is generally agreed that the overwhelming success of the serialization of The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens from March 1836 to October 1837 established the commercial viability of serialization as a publication format.

During the Victorian Era, in general, the highest paid authors were the ones favored for serialization. If your book wasn’t chosen for serialization that usually meant you were considered a mid-lister.

During the pulp era, magazines often serialized novels. In fact, many pulp era novels never saw print in book form and languish in often rare and deteriorating magazines. Today, however, there are publishers seeking to remedy that situation and you can find pulp era serialized novels now coming out as ebooks and print on demand paperbacks.

Recently, I bought an ebook of Robert James Bennet’s lost race novel Bowl of Baal, serialized in All Around Magazine from November 1916 to February 1917. This is the first book publication of the novel.

Rex Stout’s lost race and subterranean world novel, Under the Andes, was originally serialized in All Story Magazine in 1914. It didn’t see book form for over half a century.

In 1932, Weird Tales published the only Jules de Grandin novel Seabury Quinn wrote in 6 installments from February to July. The novel didn’t see book form until many decades later.

However, not just obscure novels were serialized. As mentioned above, Dickens made serialization financially lucrative for publishers and authors. All throughout the Victorian era and well into the 20th century very popular novels first appeared as serials — many which are considered classics today.

In addition to Dickens’s novels, below are a few other classics that were serialized initially:

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

The War of the Worlds by HG Wells

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

And the list can go on and on.

So if serialization was so popular, what happened? I think a major answer lies in the demise of the print media. First radio, then TV, followed by the internet have damaged interest in print. Magazines and newspapers have suffered the most, and those were the vehicles that serialized novel length fiction all throughout the 19th and the first half of the 20th century.

A second reason lies in what serialization tended to do to a novel. Things that were not considered good writing:

Excessive length
Too much repetition
Plot lines that didn’t go anywhere
Excessive melodrama leading to cliffhangers

One reason the novels were revised for issuance in book form. However, publishers (and even readers) think novels have to be a certain length, and so to achieve that length some of that “bad” stuff was kept to pad out the novel.

So is there a future for the serialized novel? I think there is. Writers seeking ways to drum up interest in their work and to secure for themselves an audience, are exploring whether or not serialization will help to that end.

After all, most TV series are nothing more than serialized “novels”. So if we can watch our “novels” in installments on TV, why can’t we do so again in our reading material? No reason, really.

So I’m going to experiment with the serial novel. And I hope you’ll participate in this adventure by telling me what works for you and what doesn’t. Because, I am after all writing the book for your entertainment. I want you to enjoy it. And you can help me to achieve that end.

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

Share This!