All The Write Stuff

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Sunscreen Shower

Baltimore Police Detective Kev Dixit is being stalked by a psychopath.

He’s also saving lives and solving crimes.

And he’s late for dinner.

Sunscreen Shower

A Detective Kev Dixit Novel 2

by J.P. Rieger

Genre: Crime Mystery, Dark Comedy

Baltimore Police Detective Kev Dixit is being stalked by a psychopath. He’s also saving lives and solving crimes. And he’s late for dinner.

Dixit temporarily heads the Criminal Investigation Division, a real stress inducer. Aided by humorless partners and eccentric high school friends, he investigates two vexing cases. Spouses are found shot to death in their home. Murder-suicide is the obvious call, considering one spouse had just cleaned out the couple’s joint accounts the day before. But all is not as it seems when Forensics takes a closer look at the victims’ DNA. Later, Dixit and his assigned mentee investigate a car bombing. What kind of person would viciously murder a likeable gym rat?

Oh, and that murder-suicide. It reminded Dixit of an earlier investigation, back when he was a mere newbie detective. One where he worked tirelessly to solve a string of increasingly vicious serial attacks on single women. One where he barely escaped with his life.

GUEST POST

What Kind of Writer Am I?

Isn’t there a song, What Kind of Fool Am I? Well as the saying goes, “No fool, no fun.” That’s me. I’m primarily a humor writer and happy to act as your designated fool! I enjoy farce, satire and generally absurd humor. I’m also a mystery and crime writer and love mixing a little dark humor with those genres. The Case Files of Roderick Misely, Consultant, Clonk! and my Clonk! sequel, Sunscreen Shower all fall into the mystery/crime fold. My third novel, The Big Comb Over is more of a slipstream comedy of manners about a Baltimore family that winds up attending a Royal Wedding.

I’m a writer influenced by my many literary heroes. One of my favorite writers was Charles Willeford. He was an existential humorist and social satirist. Self-taught, he wrote true ‘pulp’ fiction to survive in the 1950’s but slowly began to refine his craft. His characters were often misfits and sociopaths. His humor was definitely ‘black.’ He once told an interviewer, “Just tell the truth, and they’ll accuse you of writing black humor.” He had a hard time finding publishers and frequently worked with small, niche publishers. He finally found success in 1984 with the publication of Miami Blues, featuring police detective Hoke Mosely. His publisher begged him to do a ‘cop series’ featuring Mosely, but Willeford hated the idea of becoming a ’serial’ novelist. To shut the publisher up, he wrote a sequel featuring Hoke Mosely, where Mosely goes on a demented killing spree, murdering his own family. Obviously, this was not quite what the publisher had in mind. That ‘sequel’ was never published. Ultimately, Mosely did relent and published three other Hoke Mosely novels, all of which are wonderful.

Alexander McCall Smith is another favorite. If you haven’t read the Detective Varg and the Von Igelfeld series, you are missing out. In Varg, Smith gently lampoons Swedish manners and mores and in Von Igelfeld, intellectual German academics. But I doubt that his Swedish or German readers feel offended. He lampoons in a loving, respectful way.

Kurt Vonnegut is also a hero. Vonnegut is the dean of absurd, existential social satire. Whenever I’m feeling a little depressed, I just reread God Bless You Mr. Rosewater and feel better.

Naturally, I love reading the mystery and crime genre, too. I’m sure I’ve read all of Elmore Leonard and Agatha Christies’ novels. More currently, I’ve enjoyed reading British cop mystery novelist Susie Steiner. Her three Manon Bradshaw novels are masterful. (Very sadly though, she passed away in 2022.)

And what mystery fan does not love Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes? And of course, let’s not forget Edgar Allan Poe who invented the “detective mystery” genre featuring his detective C. Auguste Dupin. Poe’s Purloined Letter is a personal favorite. Although not a Dupin story, The Gold Bug is one of the most clever and engaging mysteries ever written. My first novel, The Case Files of Roderick Misely, Consultant, featuring a young lawyer wannabe with questionable scruples, is something of an homage to those writers. Of course, Poe took fantasy and horror fiction to new and extraordinary places, too.

Well, that’s what kind of writer I am. If you enjoy any of those writers, check out my books, too!

EXCERPT

December 2000

The man circled the block just once, precisely according to his plan. He quietly pulled in behind the parked car. He knew which house. He had watched them enter as he drove past the first time. He clicked off the radio’s switch. It had done the trick, as usual. He had heard the badge number and gotten to the scene nearly as quickly as they did.

He took a deep breath. He felt his heart beat faster and deeper. His nerves jangled, electrically fueled by adrenaline. He was happy. No, better than just happy. He felt thrilled, excited. He had never given up on his mission. He had tracked down his prey, finally, to the nondescript house in Hampden. Here it would end.

He removed the Glock from the glove box and placed it into the outer right pocket of his polar fleece. He exited his parked car and closed the door slowly, so very gently, with just enough force to click the door shut. He moved his body against the cloudy twilight toward the house, breathing deeply. The gun tapped against his gut as he walked, annoying him. He had to hold his jacket pocket against his body to stop the movement. But that discomfort, like the rest of the incessant annoyances he continually suffered, would soon be forgotten. Knowing that gave him solace.

He smiled as he approached the home. The dilapidated gray siding of the house smiled back, crookedly. He saw his hand trembling ever so slightly as he grasped the doorknob. He steeled himself and turned the doorknob quietly in the latch, careful to not open the door. Unlocked. He heard muffled sounds. A woman sobbing and a man’s voice speaking loudly. He couldn’t make out the words. Then laughter. He wasn’t sure what was going on inside.

He took the Glock from his fleece pocket, grasping it firmly. He raised his boot-swaddled right foot higher, then yet higher, and kicked forward violently. The wood panel splintered in its frame as the door thrust open, slamming sharply against the living room wall. Instantly, he saw the big older cop standing four yards away in front of a fireplace, grimacing and waving at him like a little child, with his four fingers up by his face. A man in a dark hoodie stood directly behind the big guy, shadowing him, pulling at something, pulling and grunting. The cop continued to hold his hand up by his ear, waving, waving, mutely wriggling his four fingers like a child. The gunman fought the instinct to wave back. Then he heard the muffled sound of a woman sobbing to his left, at the bottom of the staircase. She wore a dark hood over her head. Her wrists were bound behind her. She was curled into the fetal position.

A moment later, in his foreground, he saw his prey, the uniformed cop, back turned, standing over the sofa facing the fireplace. He watched his prey turn toward him looking surprised . . . confused. His prey was holding something in his hand, a round thing with a handle. A frying pan?

He spied the badge number of the man with the frying pan. It was him. The cop was now raising the pan high, about to strike at him. He aimed the Glock point-blank and fired two shots into the cop’s chest. The cop’s body fell backward against the sofa. He watched the cop writhing in agony, trying to right himself against the sofa. He saw the frying pan drop from the cop’s hand and heard the dull metal sound as it hit the floor.

The cop was now doubled over the back of the sofa, moaning but still moving, still trying to right himself. The man spent a quiet moment enjoying the cop’s suffering. And then another moment. Then he took two paces forward and placed the muzzle of the gun against the back of

the cop’s skull and pulled the trigger. Blood and tissue spattered in every direction, some slapping quietly against the shooter’s clothing and face.

The man looked around the room one last time, first toward the sobbing woman and then at the waving man and hooded figure. He wasn’t concerned with any of them. He had carried out his mission. He had avenged his father’s death. He had killed Kev Dixit. There was only one thing left to do. His life was as good as over. He had killed a cop. He sure as hell was not going back to prison. He held the nose of the gun up against his right temple and gently squeezed the trigger.

What readers are saying:

“A smartly plotted murder mystery set in Baltimore and filled with memorable, local characters. Hugely enjoyable!”

The Wishing Shelf - Five Stars

“The author has crafted a masterful mystery novel with a story full of unexpected twists and turns. . . . A great detective story with a clever ending.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Rieger seamlessly weaves together a gritty crime investigation, with a dark, delirious comedy. . . . A clever, funny and wonderfully strange crime detective novel.”

Readers’ Choice Book Awards - Five Stars

“As a police procedural, this patiently crafted thriller is methodical in its investigative storytelling and slow-burn character development . . . With plenty of twists and dramatic reveals to keep readers hooked, but still in the dark about the full story, this tangled mystery is entertaining from the first page.”

Self-Publishing Review

“Rieger ensures that cases are solved through meticulous police investigations rather than fortuitous breaks, adding a layer of authenticity to the story. This attention to detail makes the narrative feel genuine and engaging, particularly for fans of police procedurals. . . . The book offers a unique blend of intense action and emotional introspection, making it a worthwhile addition to the genre.”

Literary Titan

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sunscreen-Shower-Detective-Dixit-Novel-ebook/dp/B0DHF6XYWG/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/sunscreen-shower-a-detective-kev-dixit-novel-by-j-p-rieger

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220670819-sunscreen-shower

**Don’t miss the first Detective Kev Dixit Novel – Clonk! **

Find it on Amazon

https://a.co/d/1v2xrN8

About the Author

J. Paul (J.P) Rieger is a born and bred Baltimorean and mostly retired Maryland attorney. He’s the author of Clonk!, a police farce set in Baltimore and published in 2023 by Apprentice House Press (Loyola University-Baltimore). Clonk! was a finalist in 2023’s CIBA Mark Twain Award for Humor and Satire. He’s also author of The Case Files of Roderick Misely, Consultant, a 2013 mystery novel featuring a wannabe lawyer anti-hero. His third novel, The Big Comb Over, a slipstream fantasy/ comedy of manners, was a finalist in 2023’s Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Sunscreen Shower, a Detective Kev Dixit Novel is Paul’s fourth novel and a sequel to Clonk! Paul and his spouse lives in Towson, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb. Chek out his website: jpaulrieger.net.

Website * Facebook * LinkedIn * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://www.jpaulrieger.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jpaulrieger

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-paul-rieger-jr-a5202424a/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-p-rieger

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-P.-Rieger/author/B00JIO5W4S

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29662190.J_P_Rieger

Giveaway

$20 Amazon

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://bit.ly/SunscreenShowerTour

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Tune in Tomorrow

Their fantasy is her reality.

Tune in Tomorrow

by Randee Dawn

Genre: Humorous Pop-Culture Fantasy

A funny, thrilling and mysterious adventure into the world of alternate reality television... Perfect for fans of Jasper Fforde and Christopher Moore.

She’s just a small town girl, with big mythic dreams.

Starr Weatherby came to New York to become… well, a star. But after ten years and no luck, she’s offered a big role – on a show no one has ever heard of. And there’s a reason for that. It’s a ‘reality’ show beyond the Veil, human drama, performed for the entertainment of the Fae.

But as Starr shifts from astounded newcomer to rising fan favorite, she learns about the show’s dark underbelly – and mysterious disappearance of her predecessor. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her dream job – though she might just bring down the show in the process.

GUEST POST

Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

I've been a writer almost as long as I've been a reader – I always like to say that I started writing stories about the adventures my stuffed animals had when I was still of stuffed animal age! As for becoming an author – I tend to differentiate (if only in my mind) the difference between writer and author. Writing and being a writer is something anyone can do; you become an author once you get some of your work published – including if you publish it yourself. There's a psychological leap anyone who wants to be an author has to take in which you move your stories, your writing, your whatever – to the public. When you start showing it around, and offering it up for payment or judgment by people who don't have your emotional well-being in mind. That takes courage, and for many years I didn't have it. I had a few things published (short poems, mostly) in the high school literary journal, but I spent a long, long time trying to find my voice – and then a safe space to share it in.

That safe space turned out to be in the world of fan fiction, actually. While I did get two short stories published in my 20s and 30s that weren't fanfic related, I drew an audience of admirers who really wanted to hear what I was working on next once I started writing fan fic for a favorite TV show. That took up a lot of the writing time I could have been doing composing completely original work but it also served as a way for me to make my writing better, respond to an audience, and feel comfortable sharing it in the world. Along the way I had embarrassing experiences in writers' groups, and eventually fell into the speculative fiction crowd – a place full of aspiring authors who wrote on a lot of topics, for a lot of platforms, and I saw the world open up much wider. I could be a part of this community, and I could write stories I loved that – hopefully – they would love, too. That was when I really became an author, I think: Once I found my people, and my audience. That's what helped me find my voice.

EXCERPT

Tune in Tomorrow, by Randee Dawn

They twisted and turned so much Starr lost track of where she was, and Jason's strange mixture of delight and nervousness was starting to make her feel anxious. At last, she came to a hard halt in the middle of a hallway.

Jason tilted his head.

"Look, I get it. You're like a big VFX warehouse or something. I'm guessing Tune in Tomorrow is some kind of space opera on the web. But your showing me every nook and cranny and door hinge doesn't give me a clue about what's going on. What is this place?"

Jason took a dramatic pause and his green eyes lit up, "Tune in Tomorrow is many things to so many mythics. We are the longest-running, most-viewed reality TV show ever made in any dimension. We are made by mythics, for mythics—but starring humans. "

"Reality?" Starr twitched. "With dragon puppets and robots?"

Jason started to speak, took a breath and paced up and down. Raised a finger, lowered it, then stopped in front of her. Cleared his throat. "It's been some time since I had to explain this to a human. Bear with me." He pushed open another door and gestured inside.

Starr planted her feet in the doorway. "Jason, this is a toilet."

"Yes, well, needs must. I don't have any other handy water."

He was speaking in riddles—and disappearing into a bathroom with a near-stranger was awkward at best, creepy at worst. Still, she didn't sense Jason was up to no good. He practically vibrated with excitement, or nerves, or both. Swallowing, Starr took the risk and stepped inside. The bathroom door swung closed behind them.

Jason turned on all four sinks in the room. Water cascaded from three; butterflies burst from the fourth. Starr gaped. Jason quickly shut that one off with a sheepish grin and turned his back on the sink. The butterflies disintegrated.

Starr blinked.

"You see," he raised his sing-song voice over the noise of the remaining water, "we adore human to'ings and fro'ings. We are the original fans of stories-without-end. Some hundreds of years ago when the Seelie came up with the idea of telling stories to mythics, they were known as Stories Of All Purpose, or for short –"

"SOAP," Starr realized. The room was starting to heat up and the mirrors fogged; Jason had apparently turned on only the hot water. She wondered where he was going with all this; the fantastical elements of his story were fanciful and charming, but silly. Maybe he was just being very method about the show. "You're making a soap opera?"

"Shh!" he quieted her, glancing around. "Yes—and no. That's how we started. But most mythics are self-cleaning. Bathing is a hobby, not a practice. SOAPs fell a bit out of fashion. Mythics wanted real human stories. Finally, once humans on your side of the Veil began writing their own TV shows, one of us—me, in fact—infiltrated a few writing rooms and discovered that you were doing what we'd been doing for years and calling it 'reality TV.' That fit us perfectly . Our viewers tune in because they believe we are telling real stories, and that's what keeps us going."

Raves for the book:

"I thought I’d seen everything in the galaxy of reality TV, until Randee's book!" – Andy Cohen, Host / Executive Producer, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and New York Times bestselling author

"Randee Dawn has single-handedly created a glittering new genre: the Backstage Comedy Fantasy Romance — and I want more!" – Ellen Kushner, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Thomas the Rhymer and Swordspoint

"Randee Dawn's Tune in Tomorrow is a wild ride through the world of reality TV, Faerie style. It’s a satire and a romance (of a sort) and a fairytale and a mystery, full of characters I loved (and loved to hate) and situations that had me biting my nails. It’s also hilariously funny." – World Fantasy Award nominee Delia Sherman, author of The Porcelain Dove and The Evil Wizard Smallbone

"Tune in Tomorrow is a joyride. It takes you on a journey into the make believe world of a soap opera. It dives in and out of what could possibly be fantasy or in fact is reality. As with the sands of time, as you Search for Tomorrow, or you are feeling Young and Restless, get lost in the adventures of Starr and be taken over by all that is Tune in Tomorrow." – Emmy-nominated actor Gregory Zarian

"Dawn's Tune in Tomorrow is a ton of fun with a lot of heart, charming characters, and devilish foes. And it's funny as hell." – Zin E. Rocklyn, author of Flowers for the Sea

"Few authors can open the door to another world as easily as you might turn on the TV, but Randee Dawn has the key and the remote control firmly in her hand. Flip through the fae and the grindylows, let her be your TV guide and psychopomp. You will find yourself howling at the gate for a rerun." – Meg Elison, author of Number One Fan

"This book is a BOUNCY CASTLE! This book is like a candy store and a screwball comedy had a fling in fairyland and the result was a mythic soap opera! There was no predicting it, there was only riding this dragon all the way to its rollicking rollercoaster conclusion. How dear and joyous it is, how satisfying, and how worthy of praise!" – World Fantasy Award-winning author of Saint Death's Daughter C.S.E. Cooney

"Dawn balances over-the-top drama and comedy with genuine intrigue to create a fun story with plenty of heart. Fans of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett will want to snatch this up." – Publishers Weekly

"Tune in Tomorrow is a hilariously well-constructed story with surprising complexity, and one that uses its reality TV premise not as a destination, but as a jumping off point to create something uniquely interesting that stays entertaining the entire way through." – Lightspeed Magazine

"Dawn’s witty take on society’s fascination with peering at life through a camera lens spotlights the sometimes-blurred intersection between fantasy and reality, all captured on video. Her playful narrative propels readers into the realm of alternate possibilities while questioning what is real and what is make-believe, and if we can even tell the difference." – BookTrib

Amazon * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tune-Tomorrow-Randee-Dawn/dp/1786186306

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tune-in-tomorrow-randee-dawn/1140376607?ean=9781786186317

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/tune-in-tomorrow-by-randee-dawn

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/59365823-tune-in-tomorrow

About the Author

Randee Dawn is an author, journalist, and lucky denizen of Brooklyn. Her first novel, the humorous pop-culture fantasy Tune in Tomorrow, published in August 2022 (Solaris/Rebellion).

Randee's short fiction has appeared in publications and podcasts including 3AM Magazine ("The View of My Brother's Profile in the Rear-View Mirror," 2001; "Warm, In Your Coat," 2004) and Well-Told Tales ("Home for the Holidays," 2015; "Can't Keep a Dead Man Down," 2017).

Dawn's stories have appeared in anthologies including Where We May Wag ("The Last Dog," Writing Piazza Press, 2018), Children of a Different Sky ("Can't Find My Way Home," Kos Books, 2018), Magic for Beginners ("Queen Zoe and the Spinning Game," Fantasia Divinity, 2019), Dim Shores Presents ("Rough Beast, Slouching," 2021), Another World: Stories of Portal Fantasy ("The Way Is Clear," SummerStorm Press, 2021), and Horror for the Throne: One-Sitting Reads ("Cat Person").

She has a short collection of dark speculative fiction short stories, "Home for the Holidays" (2014) and co-authored "The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion" (BenBella Books, 2009). She co-edited the speculative fiction anthology of "what if" stories about The Beatles, "Across the Universe: Tales of Alternative Beatles" (Fantastic Books, 2019).

When not making stuff up, Randee publishes entertainment profiles, reviews, and think pieces regularly in outlets including Variety, The Los Angeles Times, Today.com and Emmy Magazine, and writes trivia for BigBrain.

She can be found at RandeeDawn.com and @RandeeDawn (on Twitter).

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://randeedawn.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRandeeDawn

X: https://x.com/randeedawn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/randeedawn

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/randee-dawn

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Randee-Dawn/author/B002F1BDJO

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6568202.Randee_Dawn

Giveaway

$20 Amazon

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://bit.ly/TuneInTomorrowTour

Monday, November 18, 2024

Thistle in the Mistletoe

A kiss under the Mistletoe brings good fortune, but can a Christmas wedding stop a deadly feud?

Thistle in the Mistletoe

A Stones of Iona Holiday Novel

by Margaret Izard

Genre: Holiday Historical Paranormal Romance

A kiss under the Mistletoe brings good fortune, but can a Christmas wedding stop a deadly feud?

The soft beauty beside him at the altar would make the perfect bride. Roderick MacDougall would do anything to stop the feud without more bloodshed. Too bad the gorgeous woman is the daughter of his greatest enemy who murdered his da. Trust in a Comyn is hard won, even if she tempts his senses.

Mary Comyn only wants to stop the wars and live a life of peace and goodwill. Tricked by her father and forced by the English king to marry her clan’s enemy, Mary fears she’s scarifying finding true love for peace. A Christmas wedding sounds romantic, but why would the handsome MacDougall laird, her greatest clan enemy, love her?

A man conflicted by duty charged to find peace. A woman whose father betrayed all. When betrayal looms from within, can enemies find love and forge a new future for both clans?

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Thistle-Mistletoe-Margaret-Izard-ebook/dp/B0DGLRZHC6

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/thistle-in-the-mistletoe/id6670173156

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thistle-in-the-mistletoe-margaret-izard/1146170411?ean=2940185608425

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/thistle-in-the-mistletoe

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/thistle-in-the-mistletoe-by-margaret-izard

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218273004-thistle-in-the-mistletoe

Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/t7eeAAqrPUI

**Don’t miss the other books in the series!**

Find them on Amazon

About the Author

Margaret Izard is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://www.margaretizardauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100074957055613

X: https://twitter.com/mizardauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mizardauthor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/margaret-izard

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Margaret-Izard/author/B0CQDBFHKB

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47374644.Margaret_Izard

Giveaway

Stone of Lust Swag Pack (US only),

$20 Amazon giftcard (WW)

- 1 winner each!

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://bit.ly/ThistleInTheMistletoeTour

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Charlie N. Holmberg’s Book of Magic

Unravel the secrets to crafting a masterful magic system from best-selling fantasy author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Charlie N. Holmberg’s Book of Magic

By Charlie N. Holmberg

Genre: Speculative Nonfiction, Writing Self-Help

Unravel the secrets to crafting a masterful magic system from best-selling fantasy author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Whether using magic as flavor or as an essential piece of plot, this book will guide fantasy authors, from new to experienced, through the delicate layers of creating, utilizing, and mastering magic systems.

In this book, we will...

*Discuss the schools, laws, and spectrum of magic

*Learn to build individual pieces of a magic system

*Dig into magic’s influence on worldbuilding

*Examine different types and styles of magic

*Develop and polish original magic systems

With workshops, work pages, and reference materials included, this succinct one-and-done guide to crafting the magical elements of the fantasy genre is a must-have for speculative fiction authors.

“If you haven’t had the fortune of attending one of Charlie’s writing classes (which I have), this is the next best thing. Book of Magic contains so much wit, wisdom, and practical suggestions for helping any beginning author, or veteran, make their magic systems rise up and be noticed. She uses expert examples from other authors you know as well as teaching a masterclass on developing magic systems from scratch based on methods she’s invented. You just may need this book to help find out what kind of magic-based diseases might be festering in your neighbor’s cabbages.” —Jeff Wheeler, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Kingfountain series

GUEST POST

Who did the narration on the audiobook and what made you choose them?

Angela Dawe! Angela did a few of my books (The Fifth Doll, Followed by Frost, and The Will and the Wilds). Girl can drop her voice like it’s HOT. I’ve never heard a woman voice men so well before. And while this book isn’t fiction, when my publisher asked me if I had any preferences, I mentioned Angela and she happened to be free!

How many audiobooks do you currently have and are there any more on the horizon?

All 24 of my published novels are available in audio! If you have an Audible subscription, I am happy to take up the next two years of your listening ;)

And yes, all my future contracted books will also be available on audio!

Do you prefer to listen to audiobooks or read a book?

I prefer to read on a Kindle. I can only listen to fiction audiobooks when I’m driving, otherwise my mind wanders. (Though I can listen to nonfiction while I’m at the gym; if I miss a sentence or two there, I don’t feel like I’ve ruined the story, so it’s fine.) And I’m such a princess now that if I have to hold open the covers of a physical book I just can’t even.

What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?

The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

Howl’s Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Souless by Gail Carriger

Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson

Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

The Dragonsworn Trilogy by Caitlyn McFarland

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

What book do you think everyone should read?

Howl’s Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones. Because it’s delightful.

How long have you been writing?

Overall, 23 years. Professionally, 11.

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?

The main characters are all on my radar before I start writing; minor characters have a tendency of popping up on their own (and being named Martha, for some reason).

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

Can you write without reading??

Of course! I LOVE romantic fantasy. I am so chuffed that romantasy is a big thing right now because IT IS MY JAM.

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?

I write in silence. Even if I turn music on, my brain blocks it out when I write. I don’t notice what’s playing. I get so absorbed into the scene, you know? That said, I don’t play music because if it doesn’t fit the scene PRECISELY, it makes it harder to get into the zone.

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

I’m usually only drafting one book at a time, but often I’m brainstorming another, or copyedits may come in for a third. So there’s always more than one story happening in some aspect, but big things like drafting and developmental edits are one-book deals.*

*This is with the exception of The Plastic Magician and The Will and the Wilds, which I drafted at the same time because the first was under contract and the second I was obsessed with.

If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?

I mean… I’d happily take credit for The Lord of the Rings series…

Pen or type writer or computer?

While I hand-write all my notes, I type much faster than I pen anything.

Tell us about a favorite character from a book.

I freaking loved Penryn’s mom from the Penryn & The End of Days series by Susan Ee.

What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?

I do not have a special book that made me want to be an author; instead, it was an anime that made me want to be a storyteller. At the age of thirteen, my older sister bullied me into watching this new show that had been on Fox Kids but got cancelled, so she purchased the DVDs. It was called The Vision of Escaflowne. I LOVED the story in this. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. All I knew is that I wanted to create stories as masterful as what I saw in that show (and even as an adult, I recommend it to anyone, even non-anime-lovers). I figured I could either draw stories, like in a comic book, or write stories, a la novels. I could objectively tell I was a terrible artist. I could not objectively tell I was a terrible writer, so that’s the path I took!

Advice they would give new authors?

First, do a daily wordcount. Most people who want to write a book never actually finish a book, so if you pen “the end” on something, even if it’s terrible, you’re ahead of the curve. 500 words a day is a professional pace, and that’s roughly ½-1 pages on Microsoft Word.

Second, allow yourself to suck. Be terrible. Don’t edit until the book is done. It’s a rough draft, it’s literally not supposed to be GOOD. Giving yourself permission to not be perfect helps so much in productivity and mental health!

What makes a good story?

There are a lot of things that make a story good. Interesting premise, conflict, likeable characters . . . but the thing I think that really separates amazing writing from just good stories is emotion. Feeling what the characters feel, yearning as they yearn. Books that make me cry? Take my money, please.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

I have a hard time staying in the same world for too long (The Whimbrel House series is a fluke). By the time I get to book 3, I’m bored. I want to discover something new! I have several duologies because of this.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I try to lean more original. That said, I notice that if I’m really excited about something, my readers are likely to also be excited about that thing. (Though I admit I have book coming out next year where I swim through favorite reader tropes like I’m Michael Phelps.)

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yes. In my experience, two things cause writer’s block. The first is disinterest in your story. It’s no longer appealing to you, or you’re bored with your characters or plot. In that

case, you need to either revamp what’s happening or work on a new, exciting project. The second is mental health. It’s hard to be creative and to pour yourself into a project when you’re not feeling your best, or you’re suffering from a condition that affects your brain. In that case, you need to address the mental health issue before you can write again.

I’ve experienced both types. Admittedly, the second cause is a lot harder than the first. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. We just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other until we reach it <3

EXCERPT

Originality

Before we get into the bones of building a magic system, I want to take a page or two to discuss originality.

Originality really is what separates a lot of books and a lot of authors. In fantasy, it’s tempting to default to an “easy” magic system so we can focus on storytelling. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing—if I want to start my story in medias res[1], with a man being assaulted by a vampire in an alleyway, all I have to do is say “vampire” and the antagonistic force is set. I don’t have to waste time grounding the reader, because vampires are so common, I can start the story with no learning curve. And if I’m trying to hook readers on the action, then this is absolutely a tool I’m going to use.

Books can employ simple or preset magic systems when the goal is flavor, highlighting power, or invoking a fantastical setting. Easy magic has a shallow learning curve, and therefore can attract more readers, especially those unused to the conventions of the fantasy genre. But for those who want magic to be a large part of the story—tied in deeply with characters and plot—take a moment to differentiate yourself from the books that may sit beside yours on the shelf (or above and below you on the Amazon scroll). Take your time with it—don’t rush development. Great magic systems, like great stories, need time to marinate in your brain before they come to life on paper.

A few tips to spark originality:

Take note of what’s currently saturating the market and avoid it. If you bank off writing to market, then jumping on the bandwagon of what’s hot now can pay off in the short term. However, if you want something to stand out in one of the many slush piles of traditional publishing, or you want to guarantee your book will still be interesting ten years from now, consider taking the untrodden path.

Take a “done” magic and make it different. If your heart is set on elemental magic or powered-up tattoos, that’s okay! Just put a unique twist on it. This is what Stephenie Meyer did with Twilight. She took vampires (done, done, and done) and made them her own. This is also why you can have two books with seemingly similar magic systems and have completely different stories. Case in point, both Brent Weeks’ Lightbringer trilogy and Brandon Sanderson’s Warbreaker use color-based magic. But the magic is explored in such fundamentally different manners that the casual reader would never dream of comparing them.

In regard to my Paper Magician series, I wasn’t the first person to think of magical origami (though at the time, driving in my car between Idaho and Utah, I thought maybe I was). Paper magic is also in the 1999 manga series Read or Die, for instance. But my expanding paper magic into the realm of manmade materials made it unique. If you’re trying to turn heads, you don’t need an entirely unique, never-seen-before magic system (or hey, let the book’s premise be the unique element and go ahead and write about fairies or fire or whatever makes your id[2] happy). You can have something familiar with a unique twist or quirk.

Make a list. This process can be done with any aspect of brainstorming, not just magic. Make a list of whatever it is you need to figure out, such as what kind of creature will innately possess magic in your story (more on this in Chapter 6). And just start vomiting out ideas. The further down the list you get, the harder your brain is working, and the more original your ideas will be. (Note that going too far down the list might leave you with something too bizarre to realistically work with.)

For example,

1. Unicorns

2. Vampires

3. Pegasi

4. Flying frogs

5. Flying fish

6. Giant bats

7. Giant butterflies

8. Wolves with butterfly wings

9. Forest-eating caterpillars

10. Three-headed snakes

Based on that list (which I literally did write off the top of my head and have not changed from the rough draft of this book for the sake of reality), I really like the idea of forest-eating caterpillars. And they can transform into giant butterflies, so that’s a two-for-one.

Remember, more often than not, simpler is better. It’s really easy for us to go overboard with our worldbuilding and open a giant can of worms that will devour and suffocate our readers, so it’s important to keep it simple. Take a moment and think of the best magic systems you’ve read in your favorite books. More likely than not, you could explain them to someone quickly and concisely. Getting too complex with magic steepens the learning curve and frustrates readers.

Rule of thumb? If you, the author, have to continually look at your notes to remember how your magic works, your reader isn’t going to stick around to learn it.

[1] Meaning “in the middle” of the action.

[2] A la Freud: id, ego, super-ego. The id is your carnal desire, your impulses, your pleasure center.

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Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4MZM3XK

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/charlie-n-holmberg-s-book-of-magic-by-charlie-n-holmberg

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217485012-charlie-n-holmberg-s-book-of-magic

About the Author

Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, including the Paper Magician series, the Spellbreaker series, and the Whimbrel House series, and writes contemporary romance under C. N. Holmberg. She is published in over twenty languages and is a Goodreads Choice Award, ALA, and RITA finalist. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. A BYU alumna, she discovered in her thirties that she’s actually a cat person. She lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com .

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Author Links

Website: https://www.charlienholmberg.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnholmberg/

X: https://x.com/CNHolmberg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnholmberg

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7801879.Charlie_N_Holmberg

Giveaway

Signed Book – 3 winners, US only, $10 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner, WW

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://bit.ly/CNHBookOfMagicTour

Friday, November 15, 2024

Tell No One

Some secrets are not meant to be kept...

Tell No One

by Donna M. Zadunajsky

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Mia Barnes rubbed her fingers across the scars on her wrists. No matter how hard she tried, she would never forget what happened to her. The night her whole life changed. The night he took everything from her.

Judith Barnes couldn’t shake the vivid memories of that night. The night she found her daughter near death. Since that day, all she wanted was to know why. Why her daughter thought her life wasn’t worth living.

A story of family, love, and grief. How far will a mother go to find out the truth? How far will a daughter go to hide it? What happens when the truth comes out?

GUEST POST

Where were you born/grew up at?

I was born in Warren, Ohio but raised in Bristolville, Ohio

If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?

With my daughter doing whatever she wanted and most likely browse some bookstores.

Who is your hero and why?

My hero has always been my dad. I have looked up to him since I was little. He has always amazed me by his strength and the way he had always taken care of us. He’s generous and kindhearted and can never say no to anyone even if he has a lot on his plate. He has always been a hard worker.

What are you passionate about these days?

I am passionate about my writing. I want to learn and write well, so my readers will continue to read my novels.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I go for walks if the weather is good and I love, love to read. You will always find me with a book in my bag.

Describe yourself in 5 words or less!

Kind, caring, trustworthy, devoted, and hardworking.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I wrote my first novel in 2012, though it has always been a dream of mine since I was a teenager. My face always stuck in a Stephen King book.

Do you have a favorite movie?

Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?

THAT NIGHT but would love a series done with my Craven Falls series. THE DEAD GIRL UNDER THE BLEACHERS, BURIED SECRETS, and THE BODY IN THE ROAD.

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

Stitch

What inspired you to write this book?

The character Mia was in my novel THAT NIGHT and I wasn’t thinking at the time to further her story until the very end of writing THAT NIGHT. She just kept playing in my head to tell her story.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m working on a new adult novel. This one is focused on domestic violence.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Tell No One?

Mia had something happen to her and she felt that suicide was the way out. Before she considered suicide, she had a great life and a loving boyfriend who adored her. Judith, the mother, has always spent her time working instead of making her family a priority. She also had past trauma from her father that still haunts her.

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

I love the name Mia and as for the mother, Judith seemed to fit because of her past and career. Trevor is the boyfriend. I wanted to have some unique names along with some original names.

How did you come up with the title of your first novel?

The original name for the title was Sea-Blue Eyes, but when I was looking for a book cover the title just didn’t work for me anymore and that’s when I came up with Tell No One. Which definitely fit the plot of the story.

Who designed your book covers?

Warrendesign

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No, I actually had changed a lot in the book because I had been away from writing the book that the plot and characters changed and I feel that the book it so much better than when I was first writing the novel.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

From my imagination.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

My characters always hijack my story and make it into their own.

What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?

Stephen King, Robyn Harding, Nicholas Sparks, Heather Gudenkauf, Lisa Scottoline, Liane Moriarty, B.A. Paris, Mary Kubica, Shari Lapena, Ruth Ware, Stephen King.

What book do you think everyone should read?

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing since 2005

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?

Most of them come when I am writing.

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

Mystery/suspense, Thrillers

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise?

Silence

Why?

Because I can’t think and focus if there is a lot of noise around me.

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

One book, sometimes when I’m writing a book another idea for a different book will come to me, which happened when I wrote the novel THE DEAD GIRL UNDER THE BLEACHERS. The second book came to me, even though I wasn’t going to make it a series. It turned into a 3-book series. The Carven Falls series

Pen or type writer or computer?

Computer

What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?

I love to make up stories and loved to read growing up. Yes I still enjoy writing so it was the right decision for me.

What are they currently reading?

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I write more of original stories.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

I wish I would have focused more in school and pursued writing at a younger age.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

If I have the time, usually a year.

EXCERPT

The floorboards creaked and moaned as I climbed the stairs to the second floor. Stopping at the top, I glanced at the two closed doors to my left: the furthest being Mia’s bedroom. My son Ethan had left for college two weeks ago. I didn’t hear anything but the storm outside, which meant that no one was home but me.

Once in my bedroom, I closed the door and walked into the bathroom. The hot steaming shower caressed my body, relaxing my muscles. The stress of the day went washing down the drain. It felt good to be home.

Minutes later, dressed in comfy clothes, I left the bedroom. I stood at the top of the stairs, staring down the hall at Mia’s bedroom door again. I wasn’t sure what was bothering me. Positive that no one was home, but something stirred inside me. My motherly instincts setting in, making me feel like something was wrong.

I positioned my foot on the first step and stopped. A soft banging came from down the hall near Mia’s bedroom. I had told Scott several times that the pipes were making noises and needed to be looked at. I grabbed the banister, turned, and made my way down the hall toward Mia’s bedroom, flicking on the hall lights as I went.

Placing my ear against the door, I listened. Mia didn’t like it when I came into her room unannounced. A fight I grudgingly lost multiple times. I hated fighting with her, so I agreed to give her some space. Some independence.

Being a mother was hard, especially these days when disciplining your child was frowned upon. Not that I ever hit my children.

There it was again but not as subtle as before.

“Mia,” I whispered, tapping a knuckle against the door. “Are you home?”

Nothing.

Thunder boomed, rattling the windows all around me.

I jumped at the sharp crack of lightning, then the lights went out, leaving me in darkness.

“Shit!” I blinked several times, waiting for my eyes to adjust. My cell phone. Where was my phone? Patting my pockets, I felt the hard case. I pulled the phone out and tapped the flashlight icon. Light illuminated.

Placing my hand on the doorknob, I turned, and found it locked. I stretched my arm above my head, sliding my fingers along the frame until I felt the key. It was something Scott and I agreed to do for emergencies if we needed to get inside the room. Just in case the kids forgot that they had locked the door before falling asleep. Even though as their parents we had protested against the door being locked in the first place. I was once a teenager too and wanted nothing more than my space from my parents. But still, we frowned upon the door being locked. Though, if Scott were the one knocking, Mia wouldn’t hesitate to let her dad inside.

I hesitated, gripping the key in my hand. Once I opened the door there was no turning back. I wasn’t in the mood to fight with Mia which we seemed to do constantly since we had gotten back from our family trip to the Bahamas. I tried to get her to talk to me several times when we were on vacation and after we arrived back home, but she wouldn’t have anything to do with me. Wouldn’t even let me in her room. I thought maybe her, and Trevor had broken up, and she just wanted to hide in her room with her heartache. But that thought defused when he came to pick her up to go to the mall that next day.

The key slipped from my shaky hand and onto the floor. Kneeling, I grasped the key between my fingers and placed it into the lock. I closed my eyes and swallowed, waiting for the click as I turned the key to the right. “You’re not doing anything wrong,” I whispered to myself. “You’re just checking to see if she’s home, oh and to check the pipes for leakage.”

The hinges squeaked, echoing through the upstairs hall as I pushed the door open. My eyes drifted around the room, landing on the pink duvet I had bought her when she was seven which

lay across the bed with a dark pink throw on the end. The pillows on her bed were upright and fluffed. Mia was good at making her bed and keeping her room clean compared to Ethan, my mind noted.

My eyes scanned the room, focusing on the desk in the corner which sat vacant. Mia wasn’t here. I moved around the room, stopping by the window overlooking the street below. The clouds moved quickly by, and the rain ceased, leaving the ground saturated and the streets flooded. A burst of light shot across the sky, making me jump again. I let out a small laugh, allowing my shoulders to sink beneath my T-shirt. “It’s just the storm, Judith. Chill out.” Truth was, I hated everything about storms. I feared the darkness, especially when the power went out. Consequently, due to my childhood.

Using the flashlight to guide my way, I moved toward the closet and peeked inside. My hand automatically went for the light switch, forgetting for a second that the electricity had gone out.

I scanned the closet. Stuffed teddy bears lined the shelf along the ceiling. Shoes laid in a heap near the back corner and clothes hung haphazardly off the hangers. My OCD taking charge, I stepped inside and began straightening her clothes. Neat and tidy just the way I liked it.

Plop, plop.

My ears perked. The sound came from the other side of the wall. Or in the wall. Could it be the pipes? Were they leaking? “Just great,” I muttered. “Where was Scott when I needed him?” I was always making things out to be more than they were; something my husband constantly expressed to me.

I walked out of the closet and stood outside the closed bathroom door. Like before, I placed my hand on the knob. Was Mia home after all? I didn’t hear the shower running. No sound of Mia moving around on the other side of the door, recalling that she usually played music when she took a bath or a shower.

My stomach twisted into a knot, dreading a fight with Mia for intruding on her privacy. Call it mother’s intuition, but something didn’t feel right.

I turned the knob, finding it unlocked, and pushed the door open.

My legs buckled and I dropped to my knees onto the tiled floor.

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Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKG7SMLJ

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/tell-no-one-by-donna-m-zadunajsky

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220634295-tell-no-one

About the Author

Donna M. Zadunajsky started out writing children’s books before she wrote and published her first novel, Broken Promises, in June 2012. She since has written several more novels and her first novella, HELP ME! Book 1 in the series, which is about teen suicide and bullying.

Her third novel Family Secrets, “Secrets and Second Chances”, which is first in a series she is writing, was given a publishing contract through California Times Publishing.

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