You like books, right? Otherwise, why are you here? You like bookstores, too, right? Nothing against Barnes & Noble or any of the dozens of great online booksellers — but there’s nothing like a good Independent Bookstore. Staff who know their wares; possibly get to know your tastes; care about books, writing, etc.
(and better for the local economy than chains, too, but that’s out of my wheelhouse to discuss)
Basically, they’re great resources, community centers, and places to spend your money. To celebrate/promote them, 400 Indie Bookstores around the country are celebrating Independent Bookstore Day this Saturday. Go, check a local store out — see the exclusive items just for the day. If you’re in Southwest Idaho, Rediscovered Books in Boise is the place to go (there are a couple of other decent shops in the area, but not as good, IMHO).
Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
Lighting It Up with Fahrenheit Press — I haven’t read as many of Fahrenheit Press’ books as I want to, but I really dig their approach to marketing, publishing, and their zeal for their books. Even more than that, I like the books of theirs that I’ve read. Good piece about them.
The most famous book set in every state — A different (but with similar results) approach than the one we’re using for the <a href="http://125pages.com/united-state-of-books/ " target="_blank" United States of Books project .
This Week’s New Release that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon, odd that there’s only one, but it’s bound to be a good one:
Strike by Delilah S. Dawson — Sequel to Hit, which is enough to get me stoked. But when she tweets about it, saying that it includes “A villain based on Boyd Crowder” – I’s amazing that I haven’t read it three times already this week.
Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to Stormy Vixen for following the blog this week.
I’d like to welcome Deek Rhew to the blog today to promote his thriller, 122 Rules (and other things), as part of The Rhew 2 Rhew blog tour. 122 Rules looks like a heckuva read, I’ll add, be sure to check it out. After you read his post, of course — and enter the drawing.
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I’m so excited to be on The Irresponsible Reader! Thanks for having me on, H.C., and hello to all you readers of The Irresponsible Reader!
Today, H.C. let me post on whatever I’d like to write about, so I’ll pick something near and dear to my heart: Flying!
To start off with, let’s spin up a little tune that can grace your ears while you peruse this post and the rest of H.C.’s blog.
When I was three, my family and I lived in Great Falls, Montana. If you know anything about that state, it’s famous for beautiful skies, open space, cold winters, and strong winds. We lived in a mobile home park high up, overlooking the Missouri river. One of the storms the area is so famous for came blowing through. Super high strong winds swooped around our trailer, rocking it on his frame. I, not liking to be cooped up, wanted to play outside. My mother told me not to go. That it was too stormy.
Of course, being three, I knew better, so I opened the door, grabbed the screen handle and twisted. To this day, I can still remember sailing over the front lawn thinking, This was not a good idea after all. It’s funny, years later, I wrote a scene in my short story, “Norman and the Demon,” which is very similar to this first memory.
So you see, flying and I go WAY back. If I had my druthers, I’d fly like Superman. No plane required and really not that much different than my stormy day back in Montana.
Alas, that’s not very likely to happen anytime soon. But man would it be cool to fly to work, fly over traffic, and carry my beautiful bride to exotic destinations just by raising my arms and wishing to go there!
In high school, I wanted to follow my father’s footsteps and join the military.
I wanted to fly! To see the world from the clouds and fight the bad guys like Maverick. Sigh, alas the military had no use for people who are colorblind. Something about the good guys are green on the radar and the bad guys are red. I don’t know, silly stuff.
To wrap up this segment, I’ll include the scene from Norman and the Demon I mentioned earlier. Enjoy!
The civil servant grasp the handle on the heavy security screen, took a deep breath, and twisted. The door did not open. He pushed, but it refused to budge. He looked at Owen, who watched with a mixture of apprehension and sadness.
Norman tried again. Still nothing. Shoving harder, he threw his appreciable bulk against the door. One second, Norman Philip Templeton the Third, USPS delivery man and essential service provider for the government of the United States of America, stood red-faced and grunting. A heartbeat later, he had vanished as if a magician had commanded him to do so. Except no magician’s assistant ever squealed like a little girl who’d just found a spider in her shoe.
Caught in the guaranteed unbreakable glass, the gale force winds yanked the security door open. The screen’s hydraulic failed, disintegrated into a cloud of metal and rivets, and allowed the handle to smash through the bungalow’s siding. It hurled the dandy of a man, his cry becoming the primary soloist in the choir of winds, while he sailed over front yard as graceful as a flying manatee. Momentum and air pressure no longer capable of supporting such bulk, his impromptu trip ended, and he splatted unceremoniously in the middle of the rain-sodden lawn. The impact drove the breath from his lungs, removing his falsetto soprano from the choir at the crescendo of the concert.
Norman stared up into the dark, angry sky. Leaves and debris swirled and dove overhead like roving gangs of demented birds. The end had come. He would die here. Another soldier fallen while serving his country. The broken-hearted would weep during “Taps” as Marines lowered his casket into the frozen ground of Arlington Cemetery. He required no accolades, no statues or monuments. He only wished to leave his country a little safer—the children, women, and citizens of his great nation more secure—than when he joined it.
Norman shed a tear in sympathy as the scene continued and his partner fell to his knees—sobbing into the folded United States flag clutched to his breast. I’ll miss you too, honey.
His dolorous mental screenplay abruptly ended when strong hands grabbed him under the armpits. Owen. The real life Owen—not crying but looking both frightened and angry at the same time—towered over him and dragged the sodden freedom fighter towards the safety of their bunker. The large man forded the civil servant across the lakes and rivers of their lawn and through the ruined threshold of the house. Owen dumped his life partner against the wall and leaned against the door, forcing it closed one small step at a time until he snicked the latch in place.
Thank you SO much H.C. for letting me share my history of flying! Readers, are you ready to learn a bit about our books and enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card? Woop! Let’s go!
Rhew 2 Rhew Blog Tour – 122 Rules Book Blitz Extravaganza! How’s that for a catchy title? What a crazy adventure this has been FIVE years in the making, and it has finally arrive: 122 Rules has been born unto the world. The stories I could tell just so I could tell you this story…well, let’s just say it’s been an interesting, educational, and life-altering adventure.
This has been a grand journey, filled with hardships, fun, learning, and growth. But of all the things that have happened on the writing road, meeting the love of my life is the most unlikely and easily the luckiest, most blessed things to have ever happened to me.
Ahhhh, it’s cold out here!
Do ya feel lucky punk? Well, do ya?
Erin Rhew and I started out as critique partners, became friends, and now she’s my bride. She’s my best friend and partner in all things. Even if I don’t sell a single copy of my writings, I’ll always be a smashing success because I met Erin.
Book Blitz
On this half of the Rhewination tour, I am visiting blogs all over the globe, from Australia to the farthest corners in Canada. Next week, on the second half of the tour, Erin will be gracing the pages of 50+ bloggers!
Today, we are announcing my adult thriller novel, 122 Rules.
Synopsis In his black and white world, Sam Bradford–former Marine turned government assassin–finally sees a speck of grey. He has always followed orders without question, but his latest assignment threatens to disrupt the precision of his universe and may either severe or redeem his last remaining sliver of humanity.
Using his mastery of the 122 Rules of Psychology, Sam hunts down everyone The Agency sends him to find and eliminates them. Just as he has his rifle scope focused on his latest victim, Monica Sable, a SoCal girl entangled with the mob, his long-dormant conscience reappears for a final performance…one last ditch effort to save the sinking ship of Sam’s soul. He’s killed innocents before, but tarries on pulling the trigger this time.
When Monica escapes his crosshairs and fumbles her way across the country in a pathetic attempt to elude capture, Sam gives chase. But he’s not the only one after her. Ruthless henchmen, hired by the mob, froth like bloodhounds and nip at Monica’s heels. Now Sam is faced with a choice: turn his back on the rules and jeopardize his way of life by helping her or join the pack and rip her to shreds.
What are readers saying?
122 Rules is a fast-paced thrill-ride, filled with rich characters living in an expertly woven world of mystery and suspense. Deek Rhew’s debut novel will take readers by storm, and keep them coming back for sequels.
~Michelle K. Pickett, Bestselling and award-winning author of PODs and Unspeakable.
The perfect, fast-paced novel for fans of kick-butt heroines, creepy killers, and getting caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. An absolute must-read!
While you’re on Deek’s site check out Birth of an American Gigolo.
Synopsis
An old party girl shoehorned into domestic divaship, infuriated by her husband’s cheating and his holier-than-thou, tree-hugging, no-tits and no-hips girlfriend, inflicts her wrath by training a local boy in the fine art of seduction. She and her new boy toy turned love god start a gigolo business as a distraction for the neglected and mistreated housewives of Alabaster Cove.
Take a selfie with your ebook or paper copy of Birth and post it on social media with the tag #BirthSelfie. We’ll post you on the Rhewination web site!
Deek Rhew
Deek lives in a rainy pocket in the Pacific Northwest with the stunning YA author bride, Erin Rhew, and their writing assistant, a fat tabby named Trinity. They enjoy lingering in the mornings, and often late into the night, caught up Erin’s fantastic fantasy worlds of noble princes and knights and entwined in Deek’s dark underworld of the FBI and drug lords.
He and Erin love to share books by reading aloud to one another. In addition, they enjoy spending time with friends, running, boxing, lifting weights, and exploring the little town–with antique shops and bakeries–they call home.
Erin Rhew is an editor, a running coach, and the author of The Fulfillment Series. Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written
word. She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the “Grammar Police.”
A Southern girl by blood and birth, Erin now lives in a rainy pocket of the Pacific Northwest with the amazingly talented (and totally handsome) writer Deek Rhew and their “overly fluffy,” patient-as-a-saint writing assistant, a tabby cat named Trinity. She and Deek enjoy reading aloud to one another, running, lifting, boxing, eating chocolate, and writing side-by-side.
Artwork
Authors, do you think the artwork for The Prophecy, The Outlanders, The Fulfillment, Birth of an American Gigolo, and 122 Rules is as stunning as we do? Visit Race-Point.com to find out how you can get the amazing Anita to work on your book as well!
Odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
Beverly Cleary’s Birthday Party of the Century — yeah, already talked about the event in this space, but this is big enough to warrant another article (at least one) — this is about her publisher gearing up to celebrate it. Kate DiCamillo writing a The Mouse and the Motorcycle introduction? Sounds perfect.
This week, Harry Connolly wrapped up his Kickstarter campaign with the update, The Greatest (Final-est) Update of All!, which included word of a new Twenty Palaces novella. Oh yeah! (read that in the Kool-Aid Man’s voice)
This Week’s New Releases I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
Burned by Benedict Jacka — Alex Verus #7 finds Alex sentenced to death? Something tells me he finds away to stop that, but it won’t be easy . . .
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire — the buzz around this one is practically deafening, it’s sitting just a few inches way and I really want to open it up. Actually, so is Burned. The temptation is strong here.
Waylaid by Kim Harrison — I blogged about this yesterday, you might want to check it out.
There Will Always Be a Max by Michael R. Underwood — a new Genrenauts story set in the Post-Apocalyptic region of of Action world.
Shadow Rites by Faith Hunter — Jane Yellowrock #10
Lastly, I’d like to say hi and welcome to Got My Book for following the blog this week.
Huh, this week was busier than I thought it was, I only found two odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading . You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
Hey, wow, it’s the end of the month — only one New Release of Note (to me, anyway). But it’s a doozy:
Javelin Rain by Myke Cole — the sequel to Gemini Cell, and precursor to the Shadow Ops series. Military, SF-ish/Fantasy-ish, and intense. Can’t wait to get my hands on it! Oh, and — here’s The Big Idea about it.
Traveled a lot this week — something odd for me. Much reading was accomplished — almost no writing (many notes taken however), but also limited internet time. So…not a lot to talk about here. Sorry!
I did find a few odds ‘n ends over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of, them, but just in case:
Getting a little more adjusted to the new schedule (but not so much that I’ve been able to watch a single episode of Bosch Season 2), I’ve got 3 posts ready for next week — and 2 more about there. We’re getting close to restoring normalcy here.
Meanwhile, here are the odds ‘n ends from over the week about books and reading that caught my eye. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
Against the “Serious Reader” — As an Irresponsible Reader, I have to agree with this BookRiot post. “I would like to set fire to the term “serious reader” and throw its ashes into the sea. That is my thesis here. Into. The. Sea.”
Genrenauts update — Michael R. Underwood gives some vital updates on one of my favorite new series — including word of an upcoming Kickstarter campaign. Time for me to save my pennies.
Elementary US Broadcast Approaching! — Paul Cornell — novelist, comic book writer, TV writer, podcaster — another IR fave — wrote the next episode of Elementary. Should be interesting.
An Unattractive Vampire by Jim McDoniel — “A darkly comic urban fantasy of ancient horrors in suburban cities.” works for me.Read a few promising reviews, too.
Snakewood by Adrian Selby — a fantasy novel I’ll fall head-over-heels for or hate. Pretty sure it’s not a “find a middle ground” kind of book.
Lastly, I’d like to say thanks for the audiobook suggestions (via email, Facebook, here, or BookLIkes), I’m enjoying the suggestions — keep ’em coming!
I posted about M. T. Millers’s Risen: First Book of the Nameless Chronicle yesterday (if you didn’t read it, take a moment now — or skip what I said and go get the book). Miller was kind enough to participate in a Q&A with me. I asked some Risen-specific questions and then a couple less-so. I kept it short and sweet, because I’d rather he work on his next book than take too much time with me, y’know?
What got you into writing? Who are some of your major influences? (whether or not you think those influences can be seen in your work — you know they’re there)
Misfortune got me into writing. Due to an unforeseen death, me and my SO found ourselves severely lacking in currency, so I took a ghostwriting gig to plug the leak and save the ship. After some time, having seen quite a bit of the more popular stuff first hand, I decided I was just as good. Time will tell if I was right.
As for my major influences, I’d say those would be George R. R. Martin, Scott Lynch, and on a less conventional note, whoever it is that did the story for the Nier/Drakengard series of games. I think his name is Yoko Taro. I see their presence quite clearly in my work. Martin taught me how to swing the axe, but to do it effectively as opposed to liberally. Lynch helped me with the same thing, but did so with the wit and style I can only hope to match some day. As for Yoko Taro, well. . . he taught me how to handle unhinged characters in a way that works.
How many stories do you have in mind for this? I assume you know what’s going on with Nameless — who he is, where he’s from, what kind of supernatural being he is and so on — how hard is it to give your readers bits and pieces of this information here and there? How long before he figures it all out? Sister Chastity seemed to know — did she? (feel free to not answer those last two — or to make your answer as teasing as you want)
The whole story is planned to run for some six installments, each longer and more complex than the last. For instance, book two will be roughly twice the size of the first one. Of course, I might increase or decrease the number in the future by splitting or fusing story arcs. We’ll see.
I’ve found it much easier than expected, and more fun for that matter, to spread little clues about. I’m not a very subtle person; I go straight for the throat, and I feared that the whole mystery thing would suffer for it. Luckily, I seem to have gotten it under control. At least for now.
Several big reveals will happen sooner than you might think, but answers always come with more questions.
The Sister has seen her fair share of weirdness, but her relation to the Nameless was more defined by his charity than what she knew or didn’t know.
In the writing of Risen, what was the biggest surprise about the writing itself? Either, “I can’t believe X is so easy!” or “If I had known Y was going to be so hard, I’d have skipped this and watched more TV”.
I never expected the epilogue to come out as good as it did. I wrote it in one sitting, and it came out absolutely perfect. It still gives me the chills.
“Horace” is a great name, but not a common one — is there a story behind your selection of it?
There’s a story behind every name, even the lack of one. For me, the name “Horace” invokes the Old West, the American Civil War, and the like. Given that the Nameless Chronicle is more or less “Old West meets apocalyptic fantasy,” it just felt right.
You like books, right? Otherwise, why are you here? You like bookstores, too, right? Nothing against Barnes & Noble or any of the dozens of great online booksellers — but there’s nothing like a good Independent Bookstore. Staff who know their wares; possibly get to know your tastes; care about books, writing, etc. 
