Welcome, new folks!

Hi, there. If you've joined the mailing list recently, I want to make sure you get your free Frosthelm book, Traitors Unseen. If you haven't gotten it, you can get it free here (the site will ask you to sign up for this newsletter, which you're already getting) or here from Smashwords. It's also on Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. Please, enjoy with my compliments.

A new audiobook coming!

My mystery story published last year, What Grows From the Dead, will be released as an audiobook within the next week or two. It's all complete, edited, and submitted to ACX for final approval. Narrated by Tim Alexander, who did a great job with all the colorful characters, this is my most-rated and most-downloaded book I've written, with over 30,000 downloads and nearly 600 ratings on Amazon. I hope you'll give it a listen.

Judging the SPSFC

I've enjoyed judging the SPSFC this year. This is an indie sci fi competition founded by bestselling author Hugh Howey (of Silo and Wool fame) that's in its fourth year. I've entered twice with Daros and Kenai. Daros was a semifinalist in 2021-22, and Kenai won the whole thing in 2023-24. This year, with no new sci fi book of my own to enter, I volunteered to be a judge, which has been really interesting. My judging team (made up of five people) is working through our 31 book allotment, and we've narrowed that to six quarterfinalists, which I'll now read and review over the coming weeks. Our team page is here, if you're interested, and my thoughts on thirteen of the sixteen books I sampled are here. I'm looking forward to reading some neat new books by other indie authors as the contest continues.

My shop

I have completely revamped my paperback shop and made it much easier to order books, which I'm happy to sign and dedicate with whatever message you'd like. I've sold about 12 books so far over a couple months, and it's always fun to ship them out. Free shipping in the US, and discounts for multiple books ordered at the same time.

Current projects

I'm working hard on my latest mystery. Like Got Trouble and What Grows From the Dead, this is set in central North Carolina in the present day. It's about a librarian who comes home from work one day to find a dead body in her house and her deadbeat housemate vanished. I'm at about 72,000 words now, writing every day (on a 76-day streak actually), and I hope to have the first draft finished by the end of this month or shortly after.

Some stories to try

I'm part of several author collectives, and we share each other's work to try to help all of us reach more readers. In many cases, the books we share are are free or discounted. Sometimes, they ask that you sign up for a newsletter like this one. Here are some new books I have to share this month:

First, I have four books for sale for only $0.99 - the Ava Ramey mysteries by Axl Blaze (if that's his real name, his parents are badass). These are FBI thrillers, and all four of them are discounted now.

Next, I have Project Phoenix by D.C. Fergerson, the first book in an urban fantasy series about a magical black ops team. Lots of positive ratings for this one on Amazon!

Next, I have Lowan's Checkmate by S.E. Grosskopf. This is a 1930's style potboiler mystery, except one of the detectives is a telepathic alien. Definite stype points here, and this book is free to download.

Next, I have Pariah's Lament by Richie Billing. This is a free-to-download book is an epic fantasy with a conspiracy, an assassination attempt, an outcast race, borderlands, and something called Yurr. I don't think it has a mother, so there is no Yurr Mama.

Next, I have Fallen by Patrick Abbot. This is a first-contact book about mysterious aliens visiting Earth, with a military officer assigned to protect one of the aliens being wounded and then taken aboard one of their ships. Sounds totally like a movie setup, a movie I'd watch for sure.

Next, I have the impressively titled The Alien's Cruel Starfrost Domain by Margo Bond Collins. It's been a while since I had a bare man-chest book in my newsletter here, but this is special because it's a scaly alien bare man-chest. A human sold to a leader of a fae-like race sees resentment turn to romance as both of them deal with impossible choices. Only $0.99! Have a look.

Finally, I have a set of 56 thriller, mystery, and suspense books that are all available for free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. Lots of subgenres and authors here! Check it out below.

Thank you!

Thanks so much for signing up for my newsletter. Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for upcoming books! I love hearing from people. If you've read one of my books and wouldn't mind leaving a review anywhere (Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, LibraryThing) I'd really appreciate it! Each review helps me reach more readers. 

I hope you and your friends and family are having a safe and rewarding 2025!

May the Bloodmother watch over you - 

Dave