New Book Recommendations, Opportunity To Be A Featured Reader
Horror westerns, dark fantasy pre-orders, and the chance to be promoted in my newsletter ahoy!
On one of the podcasts I listen to, an author discussed how they built up their TikTok by giving special attention to their readers. I’m not interested in adding another social media distraction (I only revived my Twitter account because my books all link to it and I needed to hustle for my Kickstarter — and I’m not sure how much longer I’ll stay there), but I figured I could apply the concept to my newsletter.
So if you’d like to be a featured reader, reply with where you met me, the book(s) of mine you’ve read, something interesting about you, a picture if you’re comfortable, and, if applicable, a link to your website, social media, etc. I will post these entries as space permits, one per newsletter.
Like Westerns? Like Werewolves? Check Out The Man Who Dealt In Death
Fellow member of the Horror Writers Association Atlanta chapter Marlena Frank has a new book out, The Man Who Dealt In Death.
Here’s the book copy:
Deep beneath the desert town of Peridot, something evil lurks.
Werewolf detective Colton Fen is used to strange mysteries, but when he arrives in Peridot on his latest assignment, he’s less than pleased to be assigned a partner. Rennick Dalton is a blood-drinking, illusion-wielding card shark who doesn’t have the best reputation. The two unlikely partners will have to put aside their differences if they hope to stop the horrible acts taking place beneath the streets of Peridot.
Together with the help of sharp-shooting actress Mary Silva, they’ll track the demonic creature that slithers beneath the desert. But the demon is waiting for them. It wants to turn them into one of its many disturbing minions — or add them to its grotesque collection.
Step into a dangerous and fantastic world set in the old west of 1893, where supernatural creatures and unexplainables live alongside cowboys and gunslingers. THE MAN WHO DEALT IN DEATH is book one of the COLTON FEN series.
It’s a quick, fun read. It reminds me of R.S. Belcher’s Golgotha series and Lila Bowen’s Shadow series, as well as Robert McCammon’s I Travel By Night.
Dark Fantasy Early-Reader Opportunity
Dark fantasy author Lucius Tarquinius has given potential readers and reviewers the opportunity to get an advance copy of his upcoming novel Choice, the first in his Desperate Echoes series.
Here is the NetGalley link. I think in order to download an electronic advanced-review copy (eARC) you have to set up an account, but then you can get more books in advance. The NetGalley site also has Goodreads and Amazon links for those who would review it; one can’t review a pre-order on Amazon, but there are Goodreads reviews already. It’s slated to come out in January 2025, so if this is something that interests you, time is a little crunchy.
Here’s a five-star review NetGalley member K.C. Finn posted:
“Lucius Tarquinius invites readers into a richly detailed world where magic is intertwined with dark practices. The intricately crafted lore of this world is suitably dark and chilling from the very first page. It asks readers to reflect on moral dilemmas and harsh realities not usually found in the fantasy genre. The powerful central theme of sacrifice resonates throughout the narrative, prompting readers to ponder the cost of power and the ethics of their choices, enveloping them in a thought-provoking tension that leaves them never wanting to set the book down for too long. The intertwining plots of personal vendettas and political maneuvering also maintain an exciting level of conflict; these well-narrated elements also inform the attitudes of the bold, unique characters, shaped as they are by the machinations and dangers around them. Each knight is vividly drawn with unique traits and backgrounds, allowing for dynamic interactions that reveal their complexities, and some brilliant dialogue reveals so much of the characterization naturally. Overall, Choice is a must-read for fantasy fans everywhere and a great start to the Desperate Echoes series. I can’t wait to read more.”