Dear Reader, Love Thomas White

Dear Reader…

Interesting question. I say that because if I have done my job correctly, I have already told them everything they need to know. One of the biggest lessons I learned from writing my first novel, Justice Rules, is that I don’t get to stand over their shoulder and explain what I meant to happen. I don’t get to say, “No, you see, he wants to date her.” I have to write it in such a way that there is no question of the characters intentions or motivations. As to telling them why I wrote the book or how I wrote it, well, it is my job to tell stories. I am a theatrical director and have told stories on stage for most of my life. Telling them on paper is essentially the same thing. The techniques are vastly different but at the end of the day, a story must be told. In my newest book, The Siren’s Scream, I faced a number of challenges from the start. First of all, the title character, the Siren, is a folk tale as old as time. I wanted a fresh look at the creature, a history, a motivation for her actions. That was the stumbling block for me for many years. I had started to write this story many times until I happened upon the solution. While at a family dinner, dealing with a particularly difficult sister, it occurred to me that these creatures must have a backstory, an explanation of who they are and how they got to be this way. They must have a family, a past that can be explored. Once I started to investigate this avenue the story began to flesh out and I was on the path to making it happen. If I could say anything to my readers it would be this, “Please enjoy the journey and I hope that I have created a world that leads you to intrigue and adventure.”  

Thomas White began his career as an actor. Several years later he found himself as an Artistic Director for a theatre in Southern California and the winner of several Drama-Logue and Critics awards for directing. As Tom’s career grew, he directed and co-produced the world tour of “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coming Out Of Their Shells”. The show toured for over two years, was translated into seven different languages and seen by over a million children. Tom served as President and Creative Director for Maiden Lane Entertainment for 24 years and worked on many large-scale corporate event productions that included Harley Davidson, Microsoft, Medtronic Diabetes, and dozens of others. The Siren’s Scream is Tom’s second novel that follows up Justice Rules which was nominated as a finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2010 Literary contest.

Tom’s latest book is the mystery/horror, The Siren’s Scream.

Visit his website at www.thomas-white-author.com or connect with him at Facebook.

 

An old mansion sits atop of a cliff, overlooking the ocean, in Santa Cruz, CA. A young realtor, Darcy Wainwright, manages to sell the dilapidated old house to Henry Childs, an

obese nebbish who is obsessed with the property. In the backyard is a pool. Not an ordinary pool but a giant tide pool. In the tide pool is a siren with an evil agenda for revenge.

The Thornton Mansion was a talisman for the death and mystery that surrounded it. Unoccupied for years until Henry Childs was summoned by the house. As directed, he reached out to unsuspecting, novice realtor Darcy Wainwright. Darcy finds herself intricately involved with the house, its history and the haunting tide pool that filled the backyard. It was the pool that beckoned her, and it was the pool that would decide if she lives or dies. The Siren’s Scream. Available on Amazon.

Book Information

Release Date: October 5, 2022

Publisher: Savvy Books

Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-1088067819; 480 pages; $21.14

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3TEz7kx

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sirens-scream-thomas-white/1142494493?ean=9781088067819

Purchase your copy at the author’s website: https://thomas-white-author.com/

 

 

Dear Reader, Love Richard I. Levine

 

Dear Reader…

First, let me say aloha and thank you for picking up my fifth and latest novel, To Catch The Setting Sun. I hope you enjoy this suspense thriller as much as I did writing it. I want you to know that I spent a year living with these characters, and as you will see, some of them are quite interesting, some are likeable, some will make you mad, and some will…well, let’s just say others are downright nasty. I certainly have my favorites as I’m sure you will too.

While To Catch the Setting Sun is offered up as a suspense thriller that is set on the beautiful tropical island of Oahu, Hawaii, it is so much more than that. It is also a story about relationships as I take you on a thought-provoking journey that explores loyalty, commitment, integrity, betrayal, corruption, evil, love and lust. That’s a smorgasbord, isn’t it? But I guarantee you will be glad to belly up to the buffet or in this case, the luau to get a taste of the Hawaii that tourists never get to see. So, as you store your carry-on in the overhead bin, put your seatback in the upright position, and fasten your seat belt, get ready to embark on a sizzling-hot adventure in paradise. I’m confident you will be glad you came along 

As book blogger and reviewer Jersey Girl Book Reviews writes: 

“Five Stars! The reader is easily drawn into this riveting dark noir crime story with its richly descriptive plot. It is a story that is a tangled web filled with enough drama, secrets, deceit, corruption, motives, suspects, and intriguing twists and turns that definitely keeps the reader guessing until the surprising conclusion.”

Fellow author L.D. Merkl posted:

“Five Stars! With a sweeping Hawaiian backdrop reminiscent of James Michener, right off the bat this thriller reminds us that bad things can even happen in paradise…Levine has crafted a thriller with so many twists and turns, just when think you know what’s going to happen next, a new element of surprise catches the reader like a ten-foot wave.”

And Danielle from Urban Book Reviews stated:

“Five Stars!To Catch the Setting Sun by Richard Levine is one of the best suspenseful mystery novels I have read! Crime fiction at its best is shown in this novel. I loved the dark, intriguing, yet deadly rollercoaster ride. Richard Levine is now added to my all-time favorites. Themes of loss, grief, death can be found in this epic tale. It grabbed my attention and kept it till the end.”

Mahalo Nui,

Richard

Richard I Levine is a native New Yorker raised in the shadows of Yankee Stadium. After dabbling in several occupations and a one-year coast to coast wanderlust trip, this one-time volunteer fireman, bartender, and store manager returned to school to become a chiropractor. A twenty-three-year cancer survivor, he’s a strong advocate for the natural healing arts. Levine has four Indy-published novels and his fifth work, To Catch The Setting Sun, is published by The Wild Rose Press and was released in August 2022. In 2006 he wrote, produced and was on-air personality of the Dr. Rich Levine show on Seattle’s KKNW 1150AM and after a twenty-five year practice in Bellevue, Washington, he closed up shop in 2017 and moved to Oahu to pursue a dream of acting and being on Hawaii 5-O. While briefly working as a ghostwriter/community liaison for a local Honolulu City Councilmember, he appeared as a background actor in over twenty-five 5-Os and Magnum P.Is. Richard can be seen in his first co-star role in the Magnum P.I. third season episode “Easy Money”. He presently resides in Hawaii.

Visit Richard’s Amazon Page or connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads.

There’s a killer loose on the island of Oahu. His targets? Young, native-Hawaiian women. But it also appears that he’s targeting and taunting Honolulu police detective Henry Benjamin who knew each victim and whose wife, Maya, had been the first name on that list. In addition to battling his personal demons, this New York transplant’s aggressive style didn’t sit well with his laid-back colleagues who viewed Henry’s uncharacteristic lack of progress in the investigation as evidence that fueled ongoing rumors that he could be the killer. Was he, or could it have been someone within the municipal hierarchy with a vendetta? As it was, after thirteen years on the job Henry had been disillusioned with paradise. His career choice long killed any fantasy of living in a grass hut on a wind-swept beach, being serenaded by the lazy sounds of the ocean and a slack key guitar. Instead, it had opened his eyes to a Hawaii that tourists will never see.

Book Information

Release Date: August 22, 2022

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Soft Cover: ISBN:‎ 978-1509243297; 320 pages; $17.99; eBook $5.99

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Rl42Aw 

Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/3BRB0mv

Apple iBooks: https://apple.co/3dVBaBj

 

 

 

 

Dear Reader, Love Steve Brock

 

Dear Reader…

I understand you are considering my book as your next reading project. Choosing a book to read is a big decision these days. With over four hundred books being published every day, it is impossible to read even a minor fraction of what’s available. That means you must be selective and try to choose books that will deliver a few hours of enjoyment in exchange for a reasonable number of dollars.

It is reasonable for you to ask the question, “Why should I choose your book over the rest?” I can’t tell you my book is better than the other four hundred that were published the same day because I haven’t read them. I can say with confidence that my book is an enjoyable read. I can say that because I’ve heard those words from many people who have already read it. My book will also introduce you to some very likable characters, and some not so likable ones. That of course is by design.

I’ve intended to write my first novel for over forty years now. Which means I’ve had a long time to think about it. Why did it take forty years for me to do it? Fair question, but there’s no easy answer. The best I can offer is to say life had other plans for me. Maybe in some ways, it was for the best. I have no doubt I am a better writer today than I would have been forty years ago. I bring all the interesting experiences I’ve had in those forty years to my writing.  

You may rightly ask, “What kind of book is Half Moon Lake?” I’ll try to answer that without resorting to a typical book cover synopsis. Think of someone you’ve known in your life who appeared to have everything going for them. Talent, fame, money, and opportunities knocking down their door. Now imagine how they would respond if fate suddenly intervened and made it all seem pointless. How would you respond if it were you? That scenario lays the foundation for Half Moon Lake. After that is when bad things happen. 😊 

If you are still reading this letter, I’m assuming you’re still deciding whether or not to read the book. I can tell you I wrote Half Moon Lake with the intention of making you laugh sometimes and cry sometimes. Simmer with frustration and smile with satisfaction. That’s a lot to ask from a simple novel, but if you find that it actually delivers, maybe it was worth the forty-year wait.   

Steve Brock

I’ve been an author in search of a novel for just about forty years now. Writing was the first thing I ever wanted to do seriously. Over the years I’ve done quite a variety of things. My first real job, the kind where you have a schedule and get paid hourly, was as a cook at the local Sonic Drive-In. I’ve been a machinist, a forklift driver, a production worker, a computer programmer, an IT guy, an installation manager, a software trainer, and an education department manager. Those are just the employment highlights. Through it all, I was a husband and father, and I attended college at night to get my bachelor’s degree in technology management.

Before all that started, I wanted to be a writer. It just didn’t work out that way. Maybe that’s ok, I’ve had a good life and I have a wonderful family that I am proud to have. I don’t regret any of what I’ve done to support my family over the years. The desire to write has persisted, however, and I took a look at my odometer one day and it read 61 years old. None of us know how high our personal odometer will go, but I knew if I was ever going to be a writer, now was the time.

I’m bringing my lifetime of experience to my novel writing. Many of my characters are loosely based upon people I’ve known in real life. Some of my plot elements are also influenced by real-life experiences as well. As of this writing, my first novel, Half Moon Lake, will be published on Amazon in a few weeks. I have begun work on my second book as well. I hope you will take time to register your email address so I may keep you apprised of announcements and special offers. I’d be thrilled to count you as one of my first dedicated readers.

Steve Brock’s latest novel is Half Moon Lake.

You can visit his website at www.BrockNovels.com or connect with him at Twitter.

Crease Williams lived a charmed life with a bright future. Only in his junior year at Texas Christian University, his skills as a wide receiver had already captured the attention of NFL scouts.

Then a tragedy cost him his family and his desire to play football. Personally devastated, he left his old life behind and got as far from Ft. Worth, TX, and football as he could get.

Keeping mostly to himself, he became a float-plane pilot in the far north of Minnesota. Flying fisherman and hunters into remote locations was how he spent his time. When a group he had flown to Roudy’s Cabin goes missing, he faces accusations and more turmoil than he could have ever imagined. To make matters worse, his quiet existence is upturned by an element from his past bent on vengeance.

Half Moon Lake is Steve Brock’s first novel. A suspenseful mystery written with likable characters and a lighthearted flavor.

Book Information

Release Date: March 30, 2022

Publisher:  Steve Brock

Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-0578391977; 187 pages; $9.99; Kindle Unlimited FREE

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3knaPfd

Dear Reader, Love Verlin

Dear Reader,

I’m going to assume that you haven’t read Blood and Wisdom yet or you’re partway through it. If you’ve already finished, would you be drawn to reading my letter? Maybe, but I’m guessing not. I wouldn’t be. For one thing, I would already have my own ideas about the book, which I’d be loath to abandon just because an author tells me his. (Like he knows better). I guess I’m kind of a stubborn reader.

At any rate, my PI mystery embodies a depth not often found in this genre. All the suspense, crisp dialogue, surprising plot twists, etc. are in place, with more than a dollop of humor. But there’s more, and the more is more intriguing to me as a writer, so that’s what I’ll talk about in this letter to you.

Throughout the book, the narrator (Karl) sees signs—literal signs, I mean—at the spiritual center that his client (Aria) runs. Posted by the side of walking paths, these include: Yield gracefully to what is; When you're not in the moment, you meet your mind instead of the world; Find a way to cooperate with how things need to be; All craving is a devaluation of the present moment; and We're prepared by the journey to meet the challenges that await us at the destination.

Mostly, these don’t make any sense to him, but as the book progresses, he falls in love with the woman who embodies them, opening his eyes to new perspectives. In the meantime, Karl is framed, chased, and forced to dive into the freezing water of the Monterey Bay to escape a sniper. But let’s go back to the beginning…

When Private Investigator Karl Gatlin takes on Aria Piper’s case, it was no more than a threat—phone calls warning Aria to either “stop doing Satan’s work” or meet an untimely demise.  But a few hours later, a headless John Doe bobs up in the wishing well at Aria’s New Age spiritual center near Santa Cruz.  Aria had ideas about who could be harassing her, but the appearance of a dismembered body makes for a real game changer.  And what Karl Gatlin initially thought was a fairly innocuous case turns out to be anything but.

Dispatching former rugby superstar and Maori friend John Ratu to protect Aria, Karl and his hacker assistant Matt are free to investigate a ruthless pastor, a money launderer on the run, some sketchy members of Aria’s flock, and warring drug gangs.  With his dog Larry as a wingman, Karl uncovers a broad swath of corruption, identity theft, blackmail, and more murders.

Against the backdrop of a ticking clock, Karl races to find answers. But more murders only mean more questions—and Karl is  forced to make an impossible choice when it turns out Aria’s secret may be the most harrowing of all.

Decades ago, I served as a (minor league) spiritual teacher in a Hindu-ish spiritual organization. Having been the first disciple of a brand new guru, I was put in charge of a branch office, shepherding a handful of rookie seekers. So I know more than most novelists about that world, and the ideas behind it.

Fast forward to my current writing career. What if a for-real spiritual teacher became mixed-up in a murder mystery. How would she handle herself? How would esoteric knowledge come in handy, or perhaps get in the way? For that matter, how would a psychological-minded PI deal with such a client? That was the motivation behind Blood and Wisdom.

I’m a psychotherapist. All of this appealed to me as a vehicle for getting deep into the heads of my characters. Also, I need to care about content beyond the nuts and bolts of a well-written, good story. I lose interest after the first forty pages—my filing cabinet is overflowing with partial manuscripts— unless I find a way to include a substrata that most other mystery writers ignore.

Blood and Wisdom had legs from start to finish. The characters told me what they’d say and how they’d act, and the plot fell out of me sequentially. I’d casually choose to make a car yellow, and then I’d find out a hundred pages later that color supplied a vital clue. My subconscious was participating as a full partner.

So there you go. Enjoy my book. Thanks.

Verlin Darrow

(www.verlindarrow.com)

(https://www.amazon.com/author/verlindarrow)

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Title:  BLOOD & WISDOM

Genre:  Mystery/PI Novel

Author: Verlin Darrow

Website: www.verlindarrow.com

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

Purchase on Amazon

About the Book:

When Private Investigator Karl Gatlin takes on Aria Piper’s case, it was no more than a threat—phone calls warning Aria to either “stop doing Satan’s work” or meet an untimely demise.  But a few hours later, a headless John Doe bobs up in the wishing well at Aria’s New Age spiritual center near Santa Cruz.  Aria had ideas about who could be harassing her, but the appearance of a dismembered body makes for a real game changer.  And what Karl Gatlin initially thought was a fairly innocuous case turns out to be anything but.

Dispatching former rugby superstar and Maori friend John Ratu to protect Aria, Karl and his hacker assistant Matt are free to investigate a ruthless pastor, a money launderer on the run, some sketchy members of Aria’s flock, and warring drug gangs.  With his dog Larry as a wingman, Karl uncovers a broad swath of corruption, identity theft, blackmail, and more murders. But nothing is as it seems, and as the investigation heats up, Karl is framed, chased, and forced to dive into the freezing water of the Monterey Bay to escape a sniper.

Against the backdrop of a ticking clock, Karl races to find answers. But more murders only mean more questions—and Karl is forced to make an impossible choice when it turns out Aria’s secret may be the most harrowing of all…

An intelligent, intense and engaging tale, Blood and Wisdom races from the opening scene to the final page.  Brimming with colorful, multi-dimensional characters, wit, humor, and a taut storyline, Blood and Wisdom is filled with twists, turns, and surprises.  Novelist Verlin Darrow, a practicing psychotherapist, infuses Blood and Wisdom with fascinating details about psychology and metaphysics, and seamlessly blends elements of hardboiled and softboiled detective fiction.   With its original premise, smart plotting, to-die-for redwood-studded coastal Santa Cruz and Big Sur setting, and protagonist like no other, Blood and Wisdom is a pitch-perfect PI novel.

Blood and Wisdom has garnered high advance praise.  According to Richard House, MD, author of Between Now and When, "Darrow has a sense of plot and style that carries the reader forward into that special place of anxious expectation, the place where putting the book down is unthinkable. Fascinating.”  C.I. Dennis, author of the Vince Tanzi series, including Tanzi’s Luck, praises Blood and Wisdom for its “great pace, fun characters who you care about, plenty of twists, and narrative personality.”

About the Author:

Verlin Darrow is a psychotherapist who was patted on the head by Einstein, nearly blown up by Mt. St. Helens, survived the 1985 8.0 Mexico City earthquake, and, so far, has successfully weathered numerous internal disasters. He lives with his psychotherapist wife in Northern California. They diagnose each other as necessary.

Connect with Verlin Darrow:

https://www.verlindarrow.com/blog

www.verlindarrow.com