Happy July Housekeeping Updates

Happy July, dear readers!

Just a how-dee-do housekeeping post today to update you on things both new and old.  After writing and publishing two novels so far this year, I haven't done a good job keeping you up-to-date on what's happening in the little blogosphere corner that is DA Bale Publishing.  So here goes!

As part of the Smashwords summer reading promotion, I've offered up LOOK BEFORE YOU JUMP for their free campaign promotion.  From July 1st through July 31st, you can pick up a free copy of this first novel in the Bartender Babe Chronicles through Smashwords - and only through Smashwords - by clicking HERE and using the coupon code SFREE at checkout.

I've also enrolled my short story THE STUDY for this promotion as well,which you can click HERE to pickup - just use the same coupon code at checkout.


If you take a gander to your right here on the blog, you can also enter the latest Goodreads giveaway for a chance to win one of five autographed print copies of PIERCING THE DARKNESS, the second novel in the Deepest Darkness series.  This opportunity is slated to run from July 1st through August 15th, so sign up before it's too late.

Lastly, we have an Independence Day sale going on here at DA Bale Publishing for the month of July.  We recently partnered with a digital media specialist to offer affordable, professional book cover designs.  You can click on the tab above or HERE to see some of the currently available options.  The good news for the authors in the audience is that during this sale, you can pick up one of these pre-made covers for the low price of $35 - a savings of $40 over the custom design price.  Just email dabalepublishing@cox.net with your cover of choice and your book title and author name, and we'll get a PayPal invoice sent over to complete your purchase.

Watch for some upcoming reviews of some great books I've read the last couple of weeks.  As always, happy reading and have a safe and happy Fourth!

There's a Sale Going On!

There's a sale going on today!  And tomorrow.  And the next day.

Starting today, you can pick up a discounted copy of PIERCING THE DARKNESS for only ninety-nine cents.  That's right - $.99.

It's all part of my EReader News Today promotion.  To help support a fellow small business enterprise, go directly to their website HERE and click one of their purchase links to buy PIERCING (if you haven't already), the second novel in the Deepest Darkness series.  This way, they earn a few pennies for each purchase made by you, dear readers.  However, you can still go directly to Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc. to get the sale price if you don't want the extra step.

Tell family and friends to pick up their specially priced Ebook copy today before the sale runs out at the end of August.  And don't forget - you can still get the Ebook copy of RUNNING INTO THE DARKNESS for free.  I always say, it's best to start a series from the beginning.

Happy reading!

First Glimpse - Cover Reveal for RISING FROM THE DARKNESS

You've waited patiently for years, dear readers.

You've emailed, wondering where that next release is.  Wondering when that next release would surface.  Wondering how Samantha's journey would end.

I thank you for your patience, dear readers, as I learned the path of an indie author, the time-consuming ropes of marketing, and also while I stuttered about when life impeded writing.

It's been a few years since my last release, but the wait it nearly over.  The finale has almost arrived.  Now for the details.

Beginning May 1st you can pre-order at several major ebook outlets the third and final book in the Deepest Darkness series - RISING FROM THE DARKNESS.  Official release is July 1st.

If you haven't yet picked up a copy of the first two in the Deepest Darkness series, you can still access RUNNING INTO THE DARKNESS free in digital format and PIERCING THE DARKNESS for $2.99 in digital format on the right sidebar.  Also available in print, for those of you who like to feel the weight of good 'ol paper in your hands.

In the meantime, be among the first to gaze upon the brand, spanking new cover below.  I hope you like it as much as I do!

Book Blurb:

It’s finally here – the explosive finale of the Deepest Darkness series.

Samantha Bartlett has a new mission – and this time it’s one of her own choosing.  Armed with information worth killing for, Samantha pieces together secrets spanning generations and uncovers the key to Debrille’s plans, including the horror of his true identity.  But will it be enough for redemption?  Especially when facing the bridges she’s burned?

Life was once clearly black or white, but now Joe Roberts has a target on his back – and it’s sighted by his boss at the FBI.  It’s not just from running off with their primary suspect in President Warner’s murder and then allowing her to escape.  No.  He’s the Elite’s latest scapegoat.  That alone begs the question.  Is Sam a cold-blooded killer or a mere pawn used in a global chess game?

World War III looms on the horizon as the Middle East threatens to implode, world alliances are scrapped, and a once tenuous truce with a former enemy collapses – all under President Durksen’s watch.  Shadowed by the Elite’s constant and vigilant guard, Durksen must find a way out of the hole he dug for himself long ago.  But can he accomplish it in time, or will the United States die like so many nations before it?

Explosions light up the night.  Friend becomes foe.  Sister against sister.  Lives are lost.  Sacrifices made.  But in order to realize true freedom, evil must be defeated.

No matter the cost.

A huge thank you once again to Genevieve at LaVO Design (www.lavodesign.com) for the awesome cover art.

Thanks also to participants in my cover reveal.  Click on the links and visit their sites to offer up support of fellow authors and readers.  I'll be updating the links throughout the day as posts go live, so keep watching.

Check out the post on Eden's blog at Eden Baylee.
Here's another from Kellie's blog at Kellie Larsen Murphy
And another from Nora's blog at Only God Writes Trees 
Fellow author CW has something to say over at CW Browning 
Heidi, another fellow author, has posted at Heidi Ruby Miller
Here's one from Gordon at Gordon Kessler 
Brian, one of my long-time critique partners, posted on Father Thunder/Mother Night 
Here's a shout-out from A.D., a UK author partner from Action Girl Books

Another Review of PIERCING THE DARKNESS

Hello, dear readers, and welcome to Hump Day!

I'm still hard at work on RISING FROM THE DARKNESS and have made substantial headway the last couple of weeks.  The cover reveal is coming up soon!

In the meantime, check out the latest review of the second book in the Deepest Darkness series PIERCING THE DARKNESS, once again from Action Girl Books.  Find it by clicking here on the LINK.

New Cover - "Piercing the Darkness"

Once again many thanks to Genevieve with LaVO Design for the cover recreation of Piercing the Darkness, book two in the Deepest Darkness series.  Things have moved along so fast with this one!

I'll keep you updated on the print status within the next few weeks.  What a whirlwind it's been these last couple of months.

And now for the new cover - ta-da!!!

Review of Piercing the Darkness

Hello again, dear readers!

Thanks ever so much to Nora over at Only God Writes Trees for her astonishing review of Piercing the Darkness, the second installment of my "Deepest Darkness" series.  Even though I still don't like the cover of the book (yes, I have plans to revise both by the time Rising comes out), she was able to look past its cheesy appearance to dig deep into the heart of the story.  Sorry to have made you cry, Nora!!! :-)

So if you'd like to see what she has to say, run over to her blog post and take a gander http://onlygodwritestrees.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-piercing-darkness-by-da-bale.html

And don't forget that Running into the Darkness is available free until the end of the year.  Be sure to pick up your copy at any eBook outlet of choice.

Stay tuned!  Someday I'll have the opportunity to finish the final installment.

Ebook Marketing Coming Soon

Some incredible news to share with you today, dear readers.

I've been working on an article about marketing eBooks, asking for ideas from fellow authors on what works/what doesn't, and trying some new things myself.  This isn't going to be just the standard bland article on social media marketing - you can find that anywhere.  What I've been working on is searching for real-world "how-to's" that truly work so that I can hopefully help the other indie writers out there with some actual, practical things that have real results.  That's all coming this September.

But the purpose of my note to you today is that I tried something totally new myself within this past week - and have had some pretty amazing results.  I don't know about you, but I'm pretty happy when I can sell a handful of books every month.  Well today - and I'm still in shock, mind you - I've had a whopping fifty-three sales today.

Yes, that's a big 5-3 total book sales as of this writing - and all in ONE DAY.  This blows my previous best day out of the water.

Now I've got to find a way to keep up with the momentum.  And don't worry, I will include this lovely tidbit in the article to be posted in just over a month's time.  It's my goal to help you also be able to sell that many and more in one day.

Remember also - all my books are ninety-nine cents now through Labor Day on all eBook outlets such as:

Amazon - Running into the Darkness
Barnes & Noble - Running into the Darkness
Smashwords - Running into the Darkness

Amazon - Piercing the Darkness
Barnes & Noble - Piercing the Darkness
Smashwords - Piercing the Darkness

So stay tuned for the article in September!

Live on Barnes & Noble

A quick announcement today.

Piercing the Darkness is now available for your Nook on Barnes & Noble.  Yes, it's taken a bit longer for it to go live, but I'm thankful to know it's finally there.

So for you Nook owners, if you've been waiting on B&N now's your time to pick up Piercing the Darkness at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/piercing-the-darkness-d-a-bale/1114044232?ean=2940045143141

And Running into the Darkness, the first book in the series, will remain ninety-nine cents for just a bit longer.  Remember to tell your friends and family while the getting is good.

Happy reading!

Piercing the Darkness Now on Amazon

Well if I'd realized it would be live so quickly, I'd have just waited to make the sequel's release announcement today.  Oh well!

This afternoon you can now find Piercing the Darkness, the sequel to Running into the Darkness, available for your Kindle through Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Piercing-Darkness-Deepest-Series-ebook/dp/B00AL6933I/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1355088879&sr=1-1.  I imagine it will still be a few days or weeks before it is out on the other avenues, but remember you can still pick it up via Smashwords as well.  I'll keep you up to date as to availability.

So on a cold and snowy day, sit by the fire, enjoy a cup of hot coffee or cocoa and read Book Two in the Deepest Darkness series.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sequel Announcement!

Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make tonight.

Piercing the Darkness is ready for publishing!

As you are aware, I've been going round and round concerning the cover art.  For weeks now the content has been formatted and ready to upload - it's been the pesky cover art that has given me too many sleepless nights.

Recently I was told the original cover was being scrapped and the process would start all over again due to the new cover artist being so new to the whole platform.  Things just weren't on track to match the appearance of the wonderful cover artist I'd retained last year. 

The scrapping of the cover art sent me into a panic, because that meant publishing would be severely delayed into 2013.  So in order to avoid any further delays, I requested and was granted a few minor changes to the original cover in order to get SOMETHING out to my patient readers before the end of the year.  We can always go back and modify the cover at a later date.

As of this evening, Piercing the Darkness is live and available for purchase on Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/263390 .  Within the next few days, it will be live on Amazon Kindle and then Barnes and Noble, Apple, etc.  I'll be sure and update you as the other sites become available.

In the meantime, re-read Running into the Darkness or pick up your own copy while it is still available on sale for only ninety-nine cents.  Then you'll be set to go with the continuation of the Deepest Darkness series.

Sequel on the Horizon

Well the sequel is on the horizon.

Piercing the Darkness, the second in the Deepest Darkness series, is finished.  Formatting is complete and ready for upload.  The only thing standing in the way of publication tonight is adjustment to the cover art.  Still needs a bit of tweaking.

Last year's cover artist wasn't available for this release so all responsibility for Piercing's cover has fallen to a young man who is still learning some of the tricks of the trade.  Latest views are promising.  My fingers are crossed that we'll have a nice cover ready for upload before leaving for Thanksgiving break.

Apologies for the delay, oh patient readers!

In the meantime, if you haven't yet purchased your copy of the first in the series, Running into the Darkness, then now's your time while it is still available for the bargain price of only ninety-nine cents.  Let your friends and family know while it's hot!

I hope you are anticipating the release of Piercing the Darkness - almost as much as I am!

A Scary Halloween Treat

On this, the eve of Halloween, I thought I'd take a bit of time away from edits of Piercing the Darkness to share a special post from a very special guest.  He's the author of numerous action and adventure books, mysteries and thrillers but what he has cooked up to share tonight is all-out, blood lust.  That's right - come one, come all and join the horror that is Gordon A. Kessler's Jezebel.

Gordon's Post:
I got the writing bug back in 1990 and started writing a comedy novel, until I found out that comedy wasn't selling unless you were an already established writer like Jay Cronley (Funny Farm, Screwballs).  I'd heard that horror was a closely related cousin to humor, so I started thinking I could take on the big boys like Stephen King and Dean Koontz.  Well, let me tell you, it was no easy task.

Sitting at the dining room table, I stared at the proverbial blank page I'd jammed into the old electric typewriter for several minutes, never coming up with even an opening line I liked.  I had no plot, no hero, no villain in mind, but I wanted words on paper.

About to give up, the family pet ferret came bounding around the corner from the living room.  "Jezebel," I said aloud, "ferret from Hell!"

A tiny ferret just wasn't threatening enough to center an entire horror thriller novel around, so I went back to work, trying to conjure up a larger, more frightening villain.  I think I came up with a really good one.

I'd been fascinated by how really sweet and timid the Great Danes I'd been around were, yet, how imposing and menacing they can look, and would be if any should ever "go bad".

So, I had my villain for a horror thriller called Jezebel - a huge, black Great Dane.  But making her the antagonist in the story was too easy.  How about making her the victim of someone seeking revenge - make her the sweet, benign dog that I knew most Great Danes to be, but have her and dozens, maybe even hundreds of other dogs forced into doing terrible things they don't want to do.  Now, I had a plot.

But I needed a good hero to deal with all these dog attacks and to get to the bottom of this wild story of revenge.  Who better to throw into the middle of a bunch of vicious dogs?  How about...the dog catcher!  How about the head dog catcher of a Midwestern city, who's going through a midlife crisis and being tempted by his seductive young and beautiful assistant?  Wow, I was about to have great fun writing this one!

Jezebel was my first novel.  I researched heavily and spent considerable effort in peopling it with deep, realistic characters that readers will feel like they know.  There are no superheroes in this book.  They have flaws, they are you and me.

I wrote Jezebel before I knew how to write.  Yet, it's a timeless story and may be my very best.  I guarantee it will frighten you!

For a sample of JEZEBEL, go to:  http://www.amazon.com/JEZEBEL-ebook/dp/B0053Y1JFI/

For a look at Gordon Kessler's other work, check out his blog at:  http://GordonKessler.com

Step Right Up! Pre-release Sale

Ladies and gentlemen - step right up and take advantage of a pre-release special deal on Running into the Darkness!

Work on the sequel, Piercing the Darkness, is rapidly drawing to conclusion.  The culmination of the year's work is coming together for a release in early November.  I'm so excited, and I hope you are too.  There's death and destruction, intrigue and seduction,with power and control in the balance - and so many surprises it will blow your mind.

My critique group hates it when I do that. :-)

So for a limited time, to celebrate the upcoming release of Piercing the Darkness, you can purchase the first book in the Deepest Darkness series for a steal of a price at ninety-nine cents.  The sale price is already live at Smashwords and soon to be at Amazon and other online eBook retailers.  Just click on the links under the cover image to your right here on the site and voila - right at your fingertips.

Please tell all of your family and friends while the opportunity is available - and if you've a mind to do so, leave a comment or review on your purchase site of choice.  Honest reviews are always appreciated.

Thank you again, dear readers, for your feedback and encouragement over this past year.  Stay tuned also for information on how you can win a free copy of Piercing the Darkness upon release.

Happy reading!

Putting It To Bed

Major announcement tonight.

This evening at 10:59 pm, Central Daylight Time, the first draft of "Piercing the Darkness" was officially completed.

It's even ahead of schedule.

For the last three weeks, I have used every single available ounce of time (and then some) to squeeze as many chapters of this sequel out of my fatigued brain as possible.  The state of my home has suffered.  My gardens are an overgrown mess.  Time with my son has suffered (but he's a teenager so he's doing his own thing alot too).  My poor kitties have spent countless hours laying all over my desk, trying their hardest to get any scrap of alone time with me.

Even though it's involved sharing said time with my computer.

These last four days I've stayed up far too late, spent too little time on the treadmill and too much time getting the secretary spread.  I'm not that old, but my joints are trying to convince me otherwise. 

Hoped I'd have the time to get it done within the next two or three weekends.  Instead the marathon has produced incredible results.  What I initially intended to accomplish by the end of August was finished before the final day of July.

And I'm thrilled to death.

So for the next few weeks the pages will curl and yellow as they sit untouched on my computer.  Like a fine wine, it gets tastier to drink when you leave it alone and let it age in the barrel before disturbing it again.  I've already got ideas for a few scene additions, but for now it will ruminate.

And I will celebrate putting another one to bed.

For now, I'm putting myself to bed.  But stay tuned. 

There will be a third - and I've got something fun in store for that one.

The Fans Have Spoken!

Before I forget:  HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!!!

Okay, now that we have that over with, and I'm looking forward to blowing up the sky tonight, let's talk writing.

The fans have spoken, and I have listened.  Originally when I wrote "The Study" I anticipated it being a stand alone story.  Yes, I realize many of you hated the manner in which it ended, but to me it was represented as closer to real life than you might expect.

Of all the stories sitting on my computer - and I promise I will get to them all in due time, well maybe some are destined for the delete bin, but that's beside the point - this one is very personal to me.  All of the specific events and circumstances depicted in the story are fictionalized, but what happens at the end is very much real life for me.

And you might be surprised how many in this world for whom it is all too true.

So writing "The Study" was really just for me to get some of my thoughts out.  I never intended to publish it until encouraged by some dear friends around me.

Well now that it's out there in the eBook universe, I realize there might be need for closure for Katie and Matt.  So after much deliberation both internally and externally, I have decided to write a sequel short story for "The Study".  It's going to tentatively be entitled, "The Search".

How's that for whetting your appetite?

However, don't expect it anytime soon.  The focus at the present time is to finish my first draft of "Piercing the Darkness", the sequel to "Running into the Darkness".  Once I finish that there will be several weeks of letting it sit before I go in and complete the next draft.  During that time, I plan to start work on "The Search". 

No, I cannot promise that it will also be available by the end of the year (PTD is my focus for 2012), but I will promise to try very hard to get it ready for early 2013.  If things go REALLY well, it is possible for yearend, but I'm not going to give any specifics.  I'm not one to write checks I can't cash.

So keep watching and looking for updates on the upcoming, fan requested sequel to "The Study".

Once again, my son and I wish you the best for a safe and happy Fourth!

Where the Characters Take Us

Things have taken a bit of a turn in writing my sequel, Piercing the Darkness.

When interviewing other authors for my site, my favorite question to ask is (I'm sure you all know the answer to this one by now) whether or not they outline their novels.  When first conducting interviews, I was constantly surprised by how many times other authors stated they didn't outline and just let the story and the characters take them hither and yon.

Over the years, in almost all of the writing 'how to' books I've read, speakers I've heard, etc., etc. there is one clear and fairly unanimous refrain - outline, outline, outline.  So call me shocked to discover that I'm not the only one or even one of the few who ignore said refrain.

I've always been a bit of a rebel.

Or just stubborn.  My mom would call me headstrong.  But I digress once again!

Don't get me wrong - outlines serve a purpose for some writers, but they just don't work for me.  When I write I always have a clear idea of the beginning, end, and certain segments along the way.  It's like there's A and Z with a little G, L, P, and U intermingled and all I have to do from there is connect the dots without giving too much away.  So it isn't like I write completely blind.

But at times I am blindsided by twists and turns as those connections are made. 

Take for example, a character from Running into the Darkness.  This character was supposed to be a major player throughout the series, but as the ending neared, he walked up to me (in my mind, of course), laid down his weapon and stated that it was better for him to die in order to save my protagonist.

I fought.  I resisted.  I told him he was crazy.  Either that or I was.

In the end, it worked out perfectly as he sacrificed himself to save someone else.  It covered over a multitude of sins and left him with that endearing, redemptive quality we seek in all heros.  However, it left me in a quandry.

So in Piercing the Darkness, we have the introduction of a new character who was set up to fill a minor role left open by the demise of previously said character.  The interesting thing is that this new character has quickly developed a back story that has tongues wagging.  He has intrigued me to the point that his back story plays right into a deeper role I now need him to fulfill - and once again it's completely different than intended.

And I really, really like it.

Now things are moving really fast.  The pages are slamming out faster than I can count.  The story is flowing in such a way that I hope to have the draft finished up by summer's end.  Then it will ruminate for a month while we finish up the cover art and then on to final draft.

I can hardly wait to see where the characters take me between now and then.  Someone else will have to die in the end.

Guess we'll all have to wait to see who that will be.

A Sneak Peek

Okay, call me cruel - I've been called worse - but after thinking and thinking about it, I've decided to share a teeny tiny tidbit.  A sneak peek, as you will. 

For the past five months, I've been hard at work on the sequel to Running into the Darkness.  We're nearing the halfway point, and next month is the start of work on the cover art.  So for those who've been emailing about the sequel, Piercing the Darkness, here's living proof that it is truly in the works.

I hope it whets your appetite.

Chapter 1 – Coming to the Surface

The steady cadence of waves slapping against the boat would put the ordinary fisherman to sleep.  But Billy McCurdy considered himself a step above any ordinary fisherman.  Hell, more like ten steps.

As the line of one fishing reel played out, he baited and tossed out the next until every available inch of the deck stood at attention.  The Cathouse may have appeared derelict by some standards, but she was one workhorse of a fishing vessel.  The old girl had it where it really counted.

Best of all, she was his.  Not tied up by a partner nor a bank, but one-hundred-percent his own, and McCurdy treated her with the touch of a lover.  When he’d make port and sell his catch he always brought her back something special.  Each time her engines started up now, the purr threatened to give him a hard-on.  In no time he’d have her rigged up right nice if the fish kept biting.  Get the hydraulics for the crane and nets functioning again, maybe next season he’d be in a position to hire a real crew.

For now, he put up with his good-for-nothing son for a crew.  Joey didn’t have the common sense of an onion.  On the day God passed out personal gumption, Joey was likely sleeping off the drinking binge of the night before.  Running a boat required a minimum second set of hands, and at least Joey had the hands, if not the brains, to fulfill that requirement.

“Hey, Pops!”

Speak of the devil.  “On deck!”

Joey’s hulk blocked the sun as he leaned over the wheelhouse railing.

“That radar thingy has a pretty big area showing just off this way,” Joey said as he pointed to his left.

“My right?  That would be starboard, son.  Starboard!”

“Yeah.  Whatever.”

McCurdy took the steps up the ladder two at a time and glared down his son as much as their identical six-foot-five frames allowed. 

“Learn the damn terms, boy.  Now get down on deck while I assess the target.”

As Joey slunk down the ladder, McCurdy entered the wheelhouse and reviewed the depth finder.  He let out a low whistle as he surveyed the shadowed mass on the sonar.  The school of fish arrayed on the screen would give him a pretty hefty payload in short order.  Looked like no other fishing vessel was close enough to reach it before he secured the choicest pick.

Hot damn.  Maybe there was hope for Joey after all.

“Weighing anchor,” he called over the loudspeaker.  “Pull in the lines and get ready to work your ass off, boy.”

The engines rumbled up from idle into full power as he angled the Cathouse out of Pocomoke Sound and into the Chesapeake toward a nice chunk of change - hopefully.  Less than fifteen minutes later they pulled up in deeper waters just southwest of where sonar showed the school.  The anchor released with a rattle of chain as he set the engines back to idle.

Down on deck, McCurdy directed, “Pull out the small nets and rig the poles so we can get them in easier.  I don’t want to waste this opportunity with standard fishing line.”

Since they both had to work the deck manually with an inoperable crane, they’d be unable to tow nets and follow the school.  After the first scramble, maybe they could move on ahead and take a second shot at the mass, but larger boats would likely be on them by then and they’d lose out.  The school’s sheer size gave them a good chance to fill their tank in one go-around if they played it right.

Movement in the first nets relayed the arrival.  Father and son jumped into action and started reeling in as fast as their bulging arms allowed, then heaving the wriggling catch into the tank before lowering nets back into the water.  The furious pace continued.

McCurdy’s heart thundered against his chest as he strained against the nets.  He couldn’t tell if it was strictly from exertion or excitement – probably both.  When it appeared the school was moving on, they began releasing the catch right onto the Cathouse’s deck to facilitate returning the nets back into the water until they came up empty.

The school had advanced toward the dark recesses of the Atlantic.

They stared at each other, their arms limp at their sides, faces drenched in sweat and saltwater.  McCurdy let out a whoop.  The deck swam with writhing fish – the biggest single catch of his fledgling fishing career.  Joey had surprised him by sticking to the task right alongside him.  Yep, there was definitely hope for the kid yet.

As they set about shoveling their catch into the tank, McCurdy mentally calculated the payout.  Soon as they got to port, he’d make a call to schedule the Cathouse for her crane and hydraulics repair job at season’s end.  Then maybe he’d make a trip into the city to get rid of some of his pent-up excitement and fatten some one else’s wallet a bit.  Might even take Joey along and introduce him to his first stripper-fest.

“Shit!”  Joey’s exclamation ended the delicious thought. 

“It’s only fish, boy!  Grow a pair.”  When McCurdy turned to laugh at his son, the shovel clattered to the deck.  “What the hell?”

Near the bottom of the wriggling mass, they stared in horror at the swollen and half-eaten remains of a human body.

Shout-Out to Sue

Last week I received an email from a fan by the name of Sue.  I'm always so flattered to receive correspondence from my readers - it means some people are actually reading their downloads! :-)

Anyway, I make it a point to respond to correspondence in a timely manner.  However, each time I've tried to respond to Sue's email I keep getting an undeliverable message.  Originally I'd typed a lengthy email - it came back.  So I sent a new email instead of a reply - it came back.  Then I shortened the email - it came back.  Lastly, I took out all links and most of the text to see if I could get anything to go through - what do you think happened?

Yup - it came back.

Needless to say, I've been frantic to try and let Sue know her email was important to me.  I hope she follows my blog and sees this.

So in response to hers and many other people wondering about the sequel to "Running into the Darkness", rest assured that I'm frantically working on "Piercing the Darkness" for release later in 2012.  Cover art is slated for mock-up in June.  Stay tuned to the blog for further updates as we get closer to release.

And always - keep those emails and comments coming.  Fan mail is fabulous!

So Sue - this shout-out is for you.

Final Tally

Well the final tally of free downloads for Running into the Darkness is in.

The free period for my novel ended at midnight Saturday night with a final download number of 727.  RITD was as high as #20 on the suspense/thriller genre free list.  If I must be honest, I was crossing my fingers to try and make the top ten list, but considering where we started, I'd say the top twenty wasn't too bad.

It was so much fun to be a part of this little ongoing experiment in the Kindle universe.  Running into the Darkness will be free a couple more days during the ninety day window as part of the Kindle Select program, but you can still pick it up for a bargain price in the meantime.  However, I'll be sure and let you know what the next free period on Amazon will be, that is as soon as I decide for certain when that will be.

Those of you who downloaded during this window - thank you so much for taking a chance on my work.  I look forward to sharing my short story, The Study, with you soon.  I'm also hard at work on the sequel, Piercing the Darkness.

Loving where it's going thus far and can hardly wait to share it with you. 

Happy reading!

Setting the Mood

Music moves and inspires me.

Puttering along in my zippy little car this morning, I enjoyed the digital strains of the new Tron Legacy soundtrack by Daft Punk that I bought my son for Christmas.

Yes, we have very similar music tastes and he always burns new soundtracks onto his computer and I-pod then gives me the CD.  It almost seems self-serving everytime I give him the gift of music.  But I digress.

So as I'm speeding along, trying my best to avoid policemen, track 10 hits the Bose speakers (yes, I'm a Bose junkie when it comes to that sweet bass).  Suddenly the whole world drifts away and I'm in my newest novel, Piercing the Darkness, and the inspiration goes gangbusters.  The scenes open up before my mind and I see it all performed as if watching on a stage. 

The lyrical strains of the cello lead me through dark, rank alleys, homeless crawling through dumpsters in their search for a morsel to stave starvation.  Then a hand reaches out with a fresh morsel and leads to the cardboard hovels and fires of a homeless encampment.  My protagonist, Samantha, works the streets to earn cash to feed the wretched of society, to offer scant medical attention to the least of these.  All the while she's being hunted by the dark hand of the Elite, who are rapidly closing in on her location.

So how's that for a preview?

Almost every time I sit to write, I search my CD library for just the right mood music from the not-nearly-big-enough stash of soundtracks from my favorite movie composers.  It helps me set the scene and enter deeply into the psyche of my characters.

Writers out there - do you ever use music to help set the mood and pace of your writing?  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.