Mary O'Malley has decided it's time to let the world know about the weave that divides the physical world from the realms of the gods. After all, Hanover Fist has been investigating their shennanigans for nearly 100 years and she's got every bit of it documented. Although Mary will lead the blog, she expects guests to drop in, including Toledo Cats, Regan Worth, and Hanover Fist himself.
Are you enjoying the IBC Blog Tour de Force? I hope so because we love having you drop by and read about the realms. We love it so much that my daughter Mary decided that everyone who comments on the review of Soul Search will also receive a free ebook copy of The Reunion the latest book in the Dime Store Novel series.
Duncan O'Malley
We have more tricks and treats in store for you next week. We'll be participating in the Coffin Hop along with a lot of other horror writers. But Dime Store Novel isn't really horror, you say?
Isn't it? Have you been to the Nightmare Realm yet? I didn't think so. But, you see, I have and someday I'll tell you all about it.
However, next week, we're going to let you in on another kind of horror. Each day there will be a new episode of a story involving Mary's best friend from childhood, Regan Worth. I know...you think she's safe in India hunting frogs. But believe me. I've known Regan a long time -- I was best friends with her father -- and I can tell you, Regan can find trouble anywhere.
Plus, every person who comments on an episode will receive a free ebook copy of Mind of a Mad Man. There are plenty of ghosts in that book -- and Regan isn't the only one who sees them.
I'm back with news. Not news of Hanover, Regan, Toledo, and Mary, unfortunately. They seem to have lost contact with the world. No, my news is about a book I read and enjoyed: Soul Search, by Amber Scott.
Soul Search is about a werewolf you can't help falling for, a missing boy, his mother, and a woman who is best friends with a ghost. I genuinely cared about the characters the moment I met them. Amber Scott surrounds her protagonists in mystery and draws you step by step into their complicated hearts.
Although set in Victorian times, Soul Search is far from Victorian. Several scenes made me blush. And one (no spoilers here) made me want to put down the book and well....you get the idea. This book is one werewolf tale that is not for children.
The plot is inventive and the ending was shocking. Although this story was resolved, Ms.Scott did leave the door open for a sequel. Will we see any of these characters again? I hope so because I'd like to know how they solve their new dilemma.
I'm glad I took the time to join Grant and Leigh on their Soul Search and that I found another author who can carry me away to a different time, a different place, a different story.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Hanover Fist
Keep your eyes open, your ears tuned, and your nose to the wind. That's the advice Swampy gave me when he taught me how to track. I wonder if he knew I'd be sitting in the mountains of India, watching for frogs in the middle of the night.
The researchers we talked to said we don't stand much of a chance now that the monsoons have passed, but that's even more reason to try. The frogs show up during monsoon season. Hmmmm. Could it be because the monsoons are caused by Khrou-ach? How many brain cells does it take to make the connection between the God of Storms and monsoon season?
So we missed monsoon season. There's always next year....if I'm unlucky enough to still be around. And if not, the girls can take care of it. Maybe not Regan, she's not much for the tropics, but Toledo and Mary are definitely troopers.
Toledo actually seems to be enjoying the trip, nibbling on herbs she's never seen before, digging up roots, and chatting with the local fairies, of course. We don't seem to be able to go anywhere without them showing up.
For that matter, Mary doesn't seem all that bored. She's not much for sitting out with us at night, but she talks to the local folk in their own language and writes a lot of notes. She's jabbering on about another book. I suppose she'll expect me to read it. Maybe when I retire. I only wish.
What's that noise? A cat yowling? Great...my luck it'll be a mountain lion.
Gone, baby gone. Love is gone...
Actually it's us that's gone. To India. To track down frogs. Whatever. All I know is it's hot here. My hair is a disaster and the air stinks like vomit. But Hanover's on a quest and so here we are, tracking down frogs to see if they're minions of Khrou-ach. Geeesh! It's hard to even find a decent cocktail.
If I make it sound dismal, it's because it IS dismal. And guess what....a week here and we haven't even come across a single ribbiting being. Not one. So I said, "Come on, Hanover. Let's give up this mess and go to Afganistan, partake of a little poppyseed."
Can you believe he said NO!? He's becoming an old fuddy-duddy. Back in the day....well, no, even then he didn't smoke the poppy. But I did...oh yes, I did. And I inhaled...deeply.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Now...don't be startled. I know my face is not familiar...that I'm not one of the characters who usually blog here. The truth is, I'm not one. I'm one of the authors of Dime Store Novel and I've hijacked the blog for the day. Why? you ask.
Because I came to ask to borrow the blog and found them all gone. Mary's laptop was open to Hanover ramblings about frogs and Hanover's typewriter held a single sheet of paper that reads:
It seems as if the Storm is organizing
Whatever that means. For me it means I had to hijack the blog to share my thoughts on a book I just read, Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Ann Charles. Because I liked this book so much, I am joining an effort along with other independent writers to make it a Bestseller for a Day on Amazon.
One thing I really liked about Nearly Departed is that it kept me guessing the whole way through. I read a lot and find that I can often guess the ending about halfway through. As I read Nearly Departed, I made as many wrong guesses as right -- and never predicted the who, how, and why behind the disappearing girls.
I also really enjoyed the quirky characters, particularly Harvey. He made me smile in the opening scene and by the end of the book, he'd done a bunch of things that tickled me. Not that he was the only fun character. Violet's two kids both worried and thrilled me because I saw so many other kids I knew in them.
Let's not forget romance. Violet is not involved in a love triangle -- its a different geometric shape that keeps on shifting throughout the story. Yes, Ann Charles even keeps you guessing at the love angle.
Have I intrigued you? I hope so because I'd hate for you to miss out on this great read. The best news is, you can get it for your Kindle or Kindle Reader app and start reading it now Nearly Departed in Deadwood . Why wait?
And while you're there, you might want to check out these 99 cent bonus books -- discounted 9/28/2011 only.Get a rebate for your purchase price by visiting http://bestsellerforaday.com and enter to win a Kindle.
I picked up the newspaper today, just as I do every day. Not much there...until I got in deep. Then I saw the headline that made me shudder -- Scientists Discover 12 New Frog Species in India. So what, you ask? They're only frogs, you say?
Wrong. Not all frogs are what they seem. In fact, in my experience, most frogs are minions of Khrou-ach the storm god. If you doubt me, just listen next time it rains. Why else would they make a racket like the off-key hymns of worshippers, devout but tone deaf. I know, Whiskey Joe, I can't sing worth a hoot either, that's why I don't try. But these frogs, these worshippers of Khrou-ach, are obnoxious. And now I've got 12 more species of them to investigate.
Come on, girls. We'd better get packing. India's a long way off if we travel by air -- and that's how I intend to travel this time. I'm too old to realm-hop. You heard me, Mary. I said no....Damn.
What happened to August? I can't blame the missing month on a realm adventure, so I guess I'll just have to confess. We've been busy releasing The Reunion, lining up interviews so people know it's out there, and getting helping the writers with the sequel to Angels in Hell's Kitchen. I guess that's as good of an excuse as any for dropping off the face of the earth for a month.
First, the book launch. The writers decided to release The Reunion in ebook format soon. The print version will be available later this month. As Toledo said in her blog a month ago, The Reunion is kind of her coming of age story. I also make a brief appearance, but I'm young and silly in this one, so don't hold it against me. You can buy The Reunion for Kindle at Amazon and for various other formats at Smashwords.
As for interviews, you can listen to the writers talk about how they write our stories on their interview with John Rakestraw tomorrow at 10:30 AM Pacific time. The interview will also be available for listening later on if you are busy then.
On Monday, September 5th, you can read more about the writers on Morgen Bailey's blog.
Finally, I want to say a little about Striking Angels...get you revved up for its release (which is still several months away, I think). Striking Angels continues a story very important to me. In fact without it, I wouldn't be here at all. The writers will be dropping teasers throughout the upcoming months, so watch for them here, on Facebook, and on Twitter.
