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.

Act now to get three Inquisitors' Guild novels for $0.99

I've been running a special on my three-book compendium of Inquisitors' Guild novels. You can get three full-length epic fantasy detective novels for only $0.99. The set includes Flames Over Frosthelm, The Outcast Crown, and The Woeling Lass. The sale ends at midnight Pacific time tonight, though, so you'll need to act fast. Click the link above or the image below.

What Grows From the Dead is off to a great start

In my last newsletter, I announced the release of my latest mystery novel, What Grows From the Dead. Things have been going well! I've sold 30 copies and some people have discovered it on Kindle Unlimited, where it's available free for subscribers. I also ran a giveaway of 100 copies in a raffle on GoodReads which attracted almost 1400 entrants, and those copies went out this morning.

Also, reader reviews are starting to come in, and they've been very positive. My favorite is from Sarah, a GoodReads reviewer, who writes:

...The author creates the most unique, lovable characters that feel so real. They are all so different from each other, but connect in the most genuine and often hilarious ways. Did I see myself being absolutely charmed by a guy called “Vampire Steve”? Nope, yet here we are.

Another thing that I appreciate— the characters don’t make awful choices just to advance the plot; the plot advances naturally. In so many mysteries/thrillers, I find myself yelling at the main character, but I never wanted to yell at sweet Morris.

You can read her full review here.

If you'd like to give the book a try, you can find it here or click the cover below.

Current projects

I'm hard at work on my next humorous fantasy novel. It is not part of the Inquisitors' Guild series, but it's in the same flavor of humorous fantasy. If anything, it's even goofier, although I always try to tell a story with heart while making jokes. I've got about four chapters left to write, and I even know what happens in two of them, so things are going well. I also have a cover ready to go, so here's a first look at that (newsletter exclusive first cover reveal, baby!)

I'm so looking forward to sharing this with you. I'm hoping for a May release.

I'm also nearing the end of my Kickstarter campaign in my other occupation, designing board games. I've taken delivery of my fourth game in the Doctor Esker's Notebook series of puzzle card games from the printer in India, and I've been busy shipping games out to my campaign backers. Here's a picture of my dining room yesterday with about 90 orders ready to go all over the world.

Once I get the rewards sent to backers, I'll put the game up for sale on my Plankton Games site and on Amazon.

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 Pax Machina by Greg Sorber, which has a totally awesome cover with giant robots with machine guns and autocannons and laser swords. 13-year-old me is totally fanboying on this one. On a planet where obsolete battlemechs are sent to be decommissioned, a mech with top-secret info and mysterious secrets crashes, and as you might expect, a conflict breaks out, one that requires all those decommissioned mechs. Sounds like great stuff.

Next, I have Burning Skies by Luna Fox and F. Lowberry, the first in their series of young-adult fantasy stories about dragon magic and heroes. Three books are out with two more scheduled for this year.

Next, I have After the Fall of the Dragon King by Shaquilla Lunsford. A young woman loses her parents and is transported with her sister to a dangerous land of magic. The first in a new series - check it out!

Next, I have a set of five sci-fi and fantasy audiobooks which are free through StoryOrigin's reviewer program. If you're willing to review audiobooks on any of a number of platforms, you can get them free from authors in exchange for a fair and honest review. Two of mine are included here (Flames Over Frosthelm and Daros).

Finally, I have a set of 16 fantasy books of various genres, all from indie authors, and all free to try.

Thanks

Thanks so much for signing up for my newsletter. I hope you're enjoying warmer weather (in the northern hemisphere) or an end to the heat (in the southern hemisphere) or your typically balmy days (in the tropics). In North Carolina, the trees are in bloom, and everything feels new and pretty.

May the Bloodmother watch over you - 

Dave