Fool’s Gold Rush Arrives Just in Time for Hurricane Season

Two years ago, almost to the day, I began work on my twelfth novel (my 17^th book overall).

Unlike all of my previous works, this one took an exceptionally long time.

What’s different about it, you ask?

Nothing really.

Like most of my other novels it takes place in Flagler Beach, Florida where our hero Ike is tasked with saving the day from the latest collection of ne’er-do-wells. I didn’t have any unusual trouble with the plot or the characters or the ending (although that did change a few times).

The plain and simple truth is, I just got busy.

It seemed like I always had something else to do…and when I didn’t have something else demanding my time, (okay – demanding is a strong word…more like suggesting alternative uses for) I wasn’t all that jazzed about sitting down at the computer.

So – here we are – two years for one novel.

It had better be worth it.

Personally, I think it is.

In my opinion it’s a fast, fun read with a bit of a comically-bizarre story line – but, like I said, that’s my opinion.

The real test will be what you think about it.

So, what’s the name of this book?

The working title had been “Rising Tide” – which never really thrilled me. After much deliberation, I have settled on the title Fool’s Gold Rush.

And without further ado – I’d like to show you the cover…

 

There you have it.

Fool’s Gold Rush – available NOW!!

Click here for the paperback

Click here for Kindle

 

As always – thank you for reading

Fool’s Gold Rush is coming – Doomed to Repeat is FREE!!

Remember me?

It’s been a while, I know.

About five months to be specific.

The last blog post I wrote was entitled “How I Spent My Corona Isolation (so far)” and I posted it on April 18^th.

At the time I, like many of you I’m sure, thought this virus thing would be over in a couple of months and life would get back to normal.

So much for that – right?

Here it is, September, and any hope for a return to “normal” is wishful thinking to say the least.

So – what have you been up to? (Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below)

As for me – I tried to put the time to good use.

Aside from doing a little SCUBA diving (there are no viruses under water) I also managed to finish my latest novel.

It has been read and critiqued by my beta readers, edited (twice) and is being formatted for release as we speak. The only task remaining is the cover.

The working title of the book had been “Rising Tide” – but I was never thrilled with it. After lots of thought I have renamed it Fool’s Gold Rush.

In this story Ike, Brewski and friends are dealing with three knuckleheads who come up with the brilliant idea of stealing two-million dollars’ worth of gold during a Cat 4 hurricane.

Coincidence that its release will coincide with hurricane season? You decide.

As usual it’s a pretty fast-paced adventure with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek humor.

What else would you expect from me?

So – in celebration of the fact that the release of my twelfth novel (A Baker’s Dozen I guess you could call it) is imminent I am going to give away some more books – very much like I did back at the beginning of the COVID situation.

Starting off this round of giveaways will be my last novel – Doomed to Repeat – free from Sept2 thru Sept 6 (kindle version only. Sorry)

Who knows…maybe things will be back to normal before I go through the entire lineup this time!

(Yeah – I don’t think so either)

 

As always – thank you for reading

How I Spent My Corona Isolation (so far)

Like most of you, I’ve been in Corona Lockdown for almost a month now.

And like you I’m sure, it’s been a unique experience to say the least. I’m sure we’ve all done many of the same things to keep ourselves occupied and forget about the fact that we can’t go out to dinner with friends or go to the beach or even go to the grocery store. I mean – we can go to the grocery store, but it’s a little like stepping into the Twilight Zone…am I right?

Believe it or not – there is one thing about the quarantine I am really grateful for…

Almost twenty months after I started writing the first draft of my latest novel, I have finally finished it!

Ordinarily it’s about a year from the day I start writing to the day the book is released – but this one fell victim to several “life distractions.”

The specifics of the delays are irrelevant – and I take full responsibility for being a slacker.

What’s important is that the new book is in the hands of my beta readers and they have been tasked with tearing it apart! If all goes to plan it will be in the hands of my editor this time next month, and then in the hands of you – the readers – the following month.

The book is tentatively titled Rising Tide.

As usual it takes place in Flagler Beach and of course Ike and Brewski are back, along with Ralph Donabedian and the staff at The Golden Lion (speaking of places I miss going to)!

The story takes place in a four or five day stretch while a major hurricane is bearing down on our little beachside community. In fact, the bad guys are using the hurricane as part of their plan to commit a serious, if not well-thought-out, heist.

That’s about all I’ll tell you, I guess you’ll have to wait for the book!

In the meantime – stay home and stay safe!

 

As always – thank you for reading

Let’s Make a Movie!

Before I get to the big news – let me first say I hope you are all healthy, and that you stay that way. These are strange days indeed. Please be safe and stick together (from six feet away!).

Now – on to the program…

By now you’ve most likely heard about my fund raiser…

Plot twist!

As you know, the original idea was to raise enough money to make a ten-minute video trailer and pitch it to networks as a possible TV series. Upon further consideration we (Team Meg) have decided to make a movie!

Let’s face it…the video trailer pitch may have been a cool idea, but it was probably a long shot at best. Even though I thought it was my only shot, I was willing to take the risk. However, our director* had an idea for a different approach. Rather than spend $20,000 – $25,000 on a ten minute video he proposed it would make more sense to spend $100,000 on a full length independent movie.

*actual director is NOT Steven Spielberg!

To be honest, I was pretty easy to convince.

I see you have questions…

Obviously first – Yes – I will have to find more money, but I believe that people will be much more inclined to donate money if it means they will be involved in an actual movie as opposed to a short video. I will also be applying for some grants to help out.

Also Yes – the incentives for donations will change – and for the better.

Yes – I will still use dollars originally pledged toward the video for the movie. Any changes in incentives will be passed on to those who have already pledged. And for those who have already pledged – you are free to withdraw your pledge if you don’t like the idea of switching gears like this.

No – it won’t be a Hollywood production which means (barring a small-to-medium sized miracle) Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock still won’t be involved.

But that doesn’t mean it won’t be a quality production. Not only is there more than enough local talent to make a film, but Independent films have won awards at film festivals and, if I’m not mistaken, even been nominated for academy awards.

Yes – it’s still possible (even more probable) that Unfinished Business could be picked up for a series – it has been known to happen.

Yes – making a film is a much larger endeavor than making a video, but the entire team is excited about it (although I doubt they’re nearly as excited as I am!) so even though it’ll be a challenge we’re all looking forward to it!

Yes – true to the book, most of the filming will be done in Flagler Beach. Also true to the book – there is bound to be a cameo appearance by Ike!

I’ll be revising the fund raiser page accordingly – here is the link, please check it out. – and, once again, please share it!

That’s a wrap.

I’ll be posting updates as things happen. And once conditions of the world allow, I’ll make a video to introduce you to the team.

Stay tuned.

 

As always – thank you for reading

 

 

Time for Another Free Book!

 It’s been a while since I gave away a book – and because a reader left a very nice review of Eyewitness Blues on Amazon today let’s give that one away!

First things first…here is the review:

 

As any author (independent or otherwise) will tell you – getting a nice review is (in my best Rhode Island vernacular) wicked awesome! It’s arguably why we write…it’s at least one of the top reasons. I wish I could personally thank each and every person who leaves a review, but Amazon keeps the reviewer’s identity private. So this is my way of saying thank you!

About Eyewitness Blues…I remember the moment I came up with the “what if” for the story;

The owner of a local pizza parlor had been arrested for assault after attacking a customer who tried to return a calzone. Come to find out – said pizza parlor owner was living here as part of the witness protection program (from New Jersey I believe). Here is a local news story from the incident.

Oddly enough – after the incident made the news he disappeared.

There was lots of speculation around the water cooler about where he had “disappeared to” – maybe the feds had relocated him, or maybe his “friends” from Jersey had paid him a visit.

I never found out, but while talking about it to a co-worker one day I thought; What if there was a guy who was convinced that the only way to escape his crappy life was the witness protection program. The only problem being…he hasn’t witnessed anything.

That was all it took!

Please download your FREE copy of Eyewitness Blues. If you’ve already read it please pass this along to somebody who might enjoy it. You are my best marketing representative!

The giveaway begins at midnight Tuesday, January 14 and runs until midnight Sunday, January 19.

 

As always – thank you for reading

Time for Another FREE Book!

Do you like a good action/suspense story?

Do you like a little historical fiction?

Do you like humor?

Do you like FREE stuff?

Do you like Ike?

Do you like pie?

If you answered yes to any of these questions I have good news for you…

From August 15 – 19 my most recent novel Doomed to Repeat is FREE!!

 

…actually – the last question has nothing to do with anything, but who doesn’t like pie?

 

 

Doomed to Repeat, my 11^th novel, was released in November of 2018 and has been highly praised!

The story begins in a top-secret Nazi bunker during World War II, but soon lands in modern day Flagler Beach where three men wash ashore – two with amnesia, one dead.  Ike (our hero) tries to help the survivors, but when the dead body is discovered, a routine autopsy results in an international incident. Now Ike has to figure out why the FBI, the KGB and a racist politician are all after his new friends.

It’s a fast and fascinating read, the ending of which may leave you with more questions than answers…

Get Doomed to Repeat FREE from August 15^th thru the 19^th!

 

As always – thank you for reading

This Week’s #FREEBOOK – Backseat to Justice

Welcome to week #3 in the Pre-Doomed-to-Repeat-release Giveaway!

The first two weeks (Water Hazard and Pump It Up) have been great successes – with more than 300 books given away – but I have a feeling this week will top that number.

This week our FREE BOOK is Backseat to Justice.

 

Point of interest about this book…actually – two points of interest:

Point one: Backseat is the book that wasn’t supposed to be.

Lemmee ‘splain – Back in 2011 (I think) I was waiting for Pump It Up to come back from the editor so, out of boredom, I started writing a story on my blog. The idea was to write a chapter each week (like a Charles Dickens serial) and just leave it there. I was making it up as I went along and putting it out there for my blog readers. As the story grew – so did the interest in it.

People were really digging it!

By the time I finished it the overwhelming consensus was that it should be published and released.

So I did.

Lo and behold – point of interest #2 – to date, it has outsold each of my other 10 books, and it still remains one of my best sellers.

And that is why I think I’ll probably give away lots of copies.

Maybe it’s the title…maybe it’s the cover (both pretty cool if I do say so myself) or maybe – just maybe – it’s a really good story.

I’ll tell you what – download your FREE copy and you tell me.

Disclaimer – Backseat has 29 reviews on Amazon – but to quote that song from Sesame Street – one of them doesn’t belong!

That it. Backseat to Justice is FREE starting at midnight Monday October 15^, 2018 until midnight Saturday October 20, 2018.

 

Go get it!

 

As always – thank you fro reading

Get Water Hazard for FREE!

Would you like a free book?

No strings attached…nothing to buy…no signing up for anything…no leaving your email address in a form so you get bombarded with SPAM for the rest of your life…just a free book.

That’s worth repeating – just a FREE BOOK.

Here’s the story…

Back in February (2018) I decided to give away a free book every week while waiting for the release of 24 Minutes.

I did so because 24 Minutes had taken so long to come out that I wanted to make it up to my readers somehow and thank them for their patience.

Now that my next book, Doomed to Repeat, is nearing completion (it’s in the hands of my editor at the moment) I have decided to give away a free book each week until it too is released.

I have also decided that this will be an ongoing tradition…each time I send a new manuscript to the editor I will give away books until said manuscript is released.

So, to start the giving…the first book up for grabs will be Water Hazard.

 

Water Hazard was my second novel, and it still ranks up there as one of my favorites.

It’s the book that really introduces Ike – even though he was in my first book, Living the Dream, he wasn’t what you’d call a major player.

Ike, an ex-Navy SEAL, is basically minding his own business when he suddenly finds himself in some pretty hot water (no pun intended) which begins with a pair of kidnapped teenagers and nearly ends in a watery grave for Ike and his friends.

It’s a pretty fast-paced, action story that will keep you turning the pages (so I’ve been told). there’s even a little romance thrown in for good measure.

The kindle version of Water Hazard will be free from October 2, 2018 (technically as of midnight on Monday Oct 1) thru midnight October 6 (that’s midnight Saturday).

So, if you’re new to the game, here’s your chance to start catching up.

If you’ve already read it, tell your friends, family and coworkers. Share this link (Water Hazard is FREE!) with everybody!!

Enjoy

 

As always – thank you for reading

Please Judge This Book by its Cover

In my last post I announced the completion of the first draft of my next novel.

Since then it’s been read by my crack team of beta readers, and thoroughly picked apart. I’ve also gone through it several times to clean it up and plug the holes in the story.

I’m really excited about releasing this one, not only because this story appealed to me from the moment I conceived it, but because all of my beta readers have said it’s my best work.

In another week or so it will go off to the editor…a month or so later it will be released.

I’ve also renamed the book. Up until about a week ago I had been calling it Time After Time – a title that fit the story really well, but didn’t appeal to me at all.

After a lot of thought I have settled on the title Doomed to Repeat.

Both titles fit the story, but I prefer the new one. Only one of my betas disagrees with the change, so I’m happy with it.

While all this is going on I also initiated the cover design process – which is the reason for this post.

Here’s the thing…

We all know how important the cover of a book is. I once read that a potential book buyer will look at the cover of a book for ten seconds or less. If it appeals to them they’ll flip it over and give the back cover another ten seconds to convince them to buy it.

That’s it.

Twenty seconds (give or take) is how much time an author has to sell a book that probably took a year to write. Seems a bit unfair, but it is what it is. Of course, buying books on the internet is different, especially on Amazon where you can actually peek inside the book, but if the cover doesn’t grab you, you probably won’t waste your time peeking. In a perfect world we wouldn’t judge the book by its cover, but the world is far from perfect, so…

I need your help.

I’m going to show you the first conceptual cover design of the new book and I’m going to ask for your honest (brutal if necessary) opinion.

You see…I’ve gotten some feedback from my betas on it already and a couple of them expressed the same concern. I’m not going to tell you what their concern is, I want to know what you think.

So take a look at the cover…

 

 

Now read this blurb…

 

In a top secret bunker during World War II Hitler’s best scientists worked feverishly to complete a project code named Die Glocke (The Bell). Hitler was convinced that The Bell would change, not only the outcome of the war, but history itself.

But what exactly is The Bell?

Flagler Beach, Florida, 2019; Three men emerge from the surf. Two suffer from amnesia – the other is dead. The survivors decide it would be in their best interest to put some distance between them and the corpse. They meet Ex-Navy SEAL Ike, who befriends them and tries to help them with their memory loss.

When the body is discovered, a routine murder investigation turns into an international incident.

Ike has to figure out what the CIA, the KGB and a corrupt U.S. Senator want with his new friends.

It’s a race against time, and time is not on his side.

…now tell me what you think – please.

Be honest – brutally if you like. Don’t hold back – I’m really looking for honest input.

 

As always – thank you for reading

Happy Friday – Have Some More Free Books!!

This may seem like déjà vu, but I’m back again to tell you about yet ANOTHER FREE BOOK…

Beginning today, March 2, 2018 and going until Tuesday the 6^th you can download Pump It Up for FREE.

Pump It Up for FREE!!

Again – this is part of the Valentine’s gift from Ike (discussed here) where I will be giving away FREE BOOKS until my new novel 24 Minutes is released.

Speaking of 24 Minutes…here’s an update;

The editing process is done and the book is now in the hands of the formatter.

If things go well it should be available by the end of next week sometime around March 10^th).

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!!!!

Since we are so close to the release of 24 Minutes – and thus the end of the free book give away…I’m going to up the ante…

Beginning tomorrow, March 3, 2018, Water Hazard will be FREE for 5 days!

Don’t drink the water – unless it’s FREE!!

So you can snag all of your weekend reading (whether you’re snow bound or going to the beach) for FREE!

So – to recap…

Valentine

Ike

Pump It Up – FREE

Water Hazard – FREE

24 Minutes – ALMOST

Happy Friday!

Oh – and here’s a shark…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As always – thank you for reading