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A must-read for Sherlockians, history enthusiasts, and anyone eager to uncover the hidden layers of Victorian England.
Rediscover Victorian England’s forgotten history and culture.
Volume V of The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes explores the cultural, scientific, and historical allusions found throughout Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective stories. This collection of essays unpacks twenty-four topics mentioned in the original mysteries, from everyday details like hats and plumbing to complex issues such as international spying, the binomial theorem, and relations with Russia. Through such insights, readers gain a deeper understanding of the Victorian world in which Holmes operated.
Other essays explore both the familiar and the obscure, touching on subjects like the KKK’s presence in England, the significance of whaling, and legal concepts like insanity and blackmail. Unique cultural topics—such as the role of curry in the British Empire, the rise of bohemianism, and the Victorian obsession with rejuvenation through animal hormones—reveal the rich complexity of the era. The collection also features a bonus essay on Sarah Cushing from The Adventure of the Cardboard Box, offering fresh insight into one of the most sinister characters in the Canon.
Whether examining automata, wax figures, or the legal definitions of murder and suicide, The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes provides a compelling lens through which readers gain a deeper understanding of the historical and social backdrop of the Holmes mysteries.
A must-read for Sherlockians, history enthusiasts, and anyone eager to uncover the hidden layers of Victorian England.
Sherlock Holmes, the most cerebral of detectives, finds his deductive powers put to the test in this intriguing collection of cases. Each adventure presents a web of secrets, clues, and deceptions. Only his highly honed observational skills lead him to the truth.
In a locked-room murder, did the victim succumb to “The Curse of Kisin?” And how had the daughter of Squire Northridge disappeared from her own locked bedroom? Can Holmes, an ocean away, determine if a missing treasure hunter ran off with Jean Lafitte’s fabled buried plunder? The disappearance of a beloved dog is an adventure filled with whimsy and humor, as are the return of Lady Frances Carfax and the howling dog of Baker Street.
Holmes’ unrivaled deductive powers rise to the test with each case. He shines as the consummate master of the art of detection and will captivate from beginning to end.
Liese Sherwood-Fabre is an award-winning author known for her meticulously researched works of historical fiction and mystery. With a background in social sciences, she brings a unique depth to her characters and settings, particularly in her acclaimed series The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes, which explores Victorian England through the lens of the famous detective’s world. Her essays delve into the cultural and historical intricacies of the era, uncovering hidden details that enhance her stories’ authenticity. Her fiction weaves real historical events and social insights into suspenseful plots, creating immersive narratives that captivate fans of both history and mystery. An avid traveler and lifelong scholar, Dr. Sherwood-Fabre combines curiosity and expertise to craft stories that transport readers to fascinating past worlds filled with intrigue and insight.
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A Little Texas for Sherlock
Being a native-born Texan, I was happy to find Sherlock Holmes also has some ties to Texas. Lillie Langtry, a British actress romantically linked to King Edward VII, is thought to have influenced the character of Irene Adler. Judge Roy Bean, the colorful saloon owner and self-proclaimed “Law West of the Pecos,” was so taken with the actress (whom he never met), he named his saloon “Jersey Lily” and his town Langtry, Texas. The town remains as a quirky historical tribute to her lasting charm and Bean’s unrequited admiration. A second tie comes from a ship. Holmes tracks a suspect to the ship “The Lone Star” in “The Five Orange Pips.” Even Watson knows Texas is “The Lone Star State.”
I decided to add my own Texas tie to Holmes. In Master of the Art of Detection, one story involves another of the more famous characters in Texas history. The pirate Jean Lafitte made his mark on the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana. For several years, he used Galveston Island (near Houston) as a base to raid Spanish ships and trade goods on the black market. Known for playing both sides, he also occasionally aided the U.S., most notably by providing intelligence and supplies to Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812. At the same time, his base on Galveston Island became a haven for smuggling and piracy. Though Lafitte was ultimately expelled from Texas, his legacy continues through the legends surrounding the treasure he left buried somewhere on the island. Holmes, however, soon uncovers Lafitte’s secrets.
These ties connect Victorian England with the rough, colorful world of 19th-century Texas and bridge two seemingly different worlds whose spirit of adventure and intrigue knows no boundaries. By adding a Texas mystery to Holmes’ cases, I honor my state’s tradition of unique characters and history and make Holmes’s adventures as boundless as the Texas sky.
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Outlining a story might seem daunting at first, especially if you’re new to writing. But it’s one of the most valuable tools in a writer’s toolkit. An outline serves as a roadmap, guiding you from the beginning of your story to its conclusion. Outlining can help you structure your ideas, stay on track, and avoid those dreaded moments of writer’s block, whether you’re writing a novel, short story, or screenplay. Let me walk you through how to outline a story effectively and make the process feel less intimidating.
1. The Purpose of an Outline
At its core, an outline is a blueprint for your story. It organizes your ideas, helps you identify gaps in the plot, and ensures your story has a clear structure. It’s important to remember that an outline isn’t set in stone. You can—AND SHOULD—adapt it as you write. Think of it as a flexible guide rather than a rigid set of instructions.
The benefits of outlining include:
Clarity: You’ll have a clear direction for your story, which helps prevent getting lost in the weeds.
Structure: An outline forces you to think about the story’s pacing, character development, and plot points.
Motivation: Knowing what comes next keeps you moving forward when you sit down to write.
2. Decide on the Type of Outline
There’s no “one size fits all” approach to outlining. Different writers prefer different methods, and that’s perfectly okay. Here are a few common types of outlines:
The Snowflake Method: This method starts with a simple concept and gradually expands it into a detailed outline. First, you write a one-sentence summary of your story, then expand that sentence into a full paragraph, and so on. It’s ideal for writers who prefer to develop their story gradually, refining the details as they go.
The Three-Act Structure: A widely-used framework that breaks a story into three acts—Set-Up, Confrontation, and Resolution. This method helps you focus on the major plot points and ensures your story has a strong, well-paced structure. It’s a great option for beginners because of its simplicity.
Chapter-by-Chapter Outline: For those who like specifics, this method involves outlining each chapter or scene of your story in detail. This type of outline gives you a clear sense of what needs to happen at each stage of the story.
The Hero’s Journey: This method, rooted in Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, is particularly helpful for stories involving a protagonist’s transformation. It involves specific stages like “The Call to Adventure,” “Refusal of the Call,” and “The Return.” It’s a fantastic framework for fantasy, adventure, and other high-stakes genres.
Loose Bullet Points: For the more free-spirited writers, some prefer to jot down key plot points and character moments as simple bullet points. This is a more flexible approach and allows room for creativity as the story unfolds.
3. The Building Blocks of a Story Outline
Regardless of the method you choose, there are key elements every story outline should address. Here are the main building blocks you’ll need to consider:
1. The Premise
The premise is the seed of your story. What is your story about? What is the central conflict or question that drives your plot? This is where you should define the “what if” that makes your story compelling. For example:
What if magic was real, but only for a select few?
What if a dystopian society controlled all information?
Spend some time refining your premise before moving on. It will act as the foundation for everything else.
2. The Main Characters
Your characters are the heart of your story. In your outline, make sure to note the following about your protagonist, antagonist, and key supporting characters:
Who are they? Consider their backstory, motivations, desires, and flaws.
What do they want? This is the driving force behind their actions. Your protagonist might want justice, love, freedom, or survival.
What’s at stake? What happens if they fail? This is essential for creating tension and suspense.
3. The Major Plot Points
In order to outline your plot, break it down into key events. These are the moments that move the story forward and change the direction of the narrative. A few important plot points include:
The Inciting Incident: The event that starts the story. This is where your character is thrust into the conflict, whether it’s the discovery of a hidden power or the moment a dystopian society begins to crack.
The Rising Action: The buildup of conflict and challenges that lead toward the climax. This is where your character faces obstacles, grows, and learns more about themselves or the world around them.
The Climax: The turning point or high point of the story. The protagonist confronts the primary conflict in a dramatic and pivotal way.
The Resolution: How the story concludes. Whether the protagonist succeeds or fails, there must be closure and consequences to their actions.
4. The Setting and World-Building
For genres like urban fantasy and dystopian fiction, the setting is crucial. Your outline should include:
Where does the story take place? Is it a magical version of New York, or a desolate post-apocalyptic world? Define the environment, rules, and atmosphere.
What’s the world’s history? In dystopian stories, especially, understanding the past is vital to understanding the present. Was there a war? An economic collapse? A technological breakthrough gone wrong?
What are the stakes within the setting? How do the world’s rules affect the characters and their choices?
5. The Theme
What is the deeper meaning or message of your story? Is it about the fight for freedom, the power of love, or the dangers of unchecked technology? In your outline, think about how you can weave this theme throughout the plot, characters, and setting.
4. Flesh Out Your Outline
Now that you’ve got your main components outlined, it’s time to expand on them. Flesh out the scenes and events that will happen in your story. Here are a few tips to make the outlining process easier:
Start with the Big Picture: Begin by outlining the broad strokes—major plot points and character arcs. Where do you want your characters to start, and where do you want them to end? This will help keep your narrative cohesive.
Go Scene by Scene: If you prefer more detail, break your outline down into individual scenes or chapters. Write down the purpose of each scene and what needs to happen in it—whether it’s a character development moment, a revelation, or a dramatic plot twist.
Think About Pacing: As you lay out each scene, consider how fast the action should move. Are there moments of high tension? Are there quiet, reflective scenes? Mix things up to create variety and keep the reader engaged.
Use Visual Aids: Some writers find it helpful to create visual outlines—whether it’s through storyboarding, mind maps, or index cards. These tools can help you see the structure of your story from a new angle.
5. Stay Flexible
The outline isn’t the end-all-be-all. Once you begin writing, you might find that new ideas emerge, characters evolve, or your plot takes a surprising turn. And that’s perfectly okay! Writing is a dynamic process, and oftentimes, the best stories grow from unexpected twists. Don’t be afraid to change your outline as you go along.
6. Final Thoughts
Outlining is a tool, not a rule. It’s there to help you organize your thoughts and bring your story to life with intention. Whether you’re writing a fast-paced thriller, a deep philosophical dystopia, or an epic urban fantasy, outlining gives you the roadmap to reach your destination. The key is to find the approach that works best for you.
Remember, your outline is just a starting point—let your creativity flow, and don’t be afraid to adjust your plan as the story evolves. The more you practice, the easier the outlining process will become. Good luck, and happy writing!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
Candy Crone is a Christmas Short Story standalone in the bestselling Hawthorne University Witch Series.
Candy Crone The Hawthorne University Witch Series Book 8 By A.L. Hawke Genre: Paranormal Holiday Fantasy
Candy Crone is a Christmas Short Story standalone following Shadow Cast in the Hawthorne University Witch Series.
While I’m enjoying a spicy caramel apple surprise at our local ice cream parlor, an old lady in rags rambles nonsense about candy canes to children waiting for Santa. That distracts me from prepping my young friend Cat for her college interview at Hawthorne University.
Christmas turns into creepy Halloween when all the local children, including Cat, disappear in the woods. Bryce and I search our forest but become spellbound. All this voracious casting heralds the arrival of a new witch in town. The Candy Crone.
As the Hawthorne Witch, I hold great power, but with my unborn baby kicking, the witch exploits my sins and vices through gluttony. Am I nothing more than my appetites and power as the Hawthorne Witch? Or can I accomplish something greater? If I can’t sort my stuff out, Cat, my unborn baby, Chandra, and all these innocent kids living in Hawthorne are toast.
Cadence Hawthorne returns in this Christmas novella taking place after Shadow Cast, book 6, in The Hawthorne University Witch Series. Candy Crone is a complete self-contained novella not ending in cliffhangers. Some spoilers cannot be avoided, but the story is a STANDALONE book that can be enjoyed without reading the preceding novels.
A.L. Hawke is the author of the bestselling Hawthorne University Witch series. The author lives in Southern California torching the midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic, spice and mayhem. A.L. Hawke writes fantasy and romance spanning four thousand years, from pre-civilization to contemporary and beyond.
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time? If I’m really into a particular project, it becomes all encompassing. I prefer one book at a time but it doesn’t always work out that way. And lately, I also work on converting books to audio at the same time.
What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision? I always had ideas in my head about writing. I think I always wanted to be a storyteller my whole life.
Advice you would give new authors? Take a look at other books in your interested genre. Learn from other writers by looking at what’s been written before. And do it for the fun of writing, not for the dollar. At an average cost of $3.99 per ebook, just doing the math, this isn’t a job making writers rich. You really have to love it for the craft.
Describe your writing style. I think my books are very dialog-heavy. It’s funny because I’ve heard the opposite. Some say they were impressed with my descriptive writing, but I really feel like most of the time I’m using description as a scaffold for conversation. I’m letting the characters run the show. So, reality comes in the form of dialog. It’s what breathes life into my characters.
What makes a good story? Something engrossing.
What are you currently reading? I’m reading It Ends with Us. Heard of it? I’m giving that book a whirl.
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first? No outlines. My characters shape what happens.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? That’s a good question. It’s a mix. If I feel like something is successful, like my witch series has been, then I want to spend my time working with my success. That’s why I’ve written so many books in the series. But I write some books outside of my typical genre. And I like to take chances. It’s part of being an “artist” not a marketer. Because indie writers tend to be on different sides of that spectrum.
How long on average does it take you to write a book? I can write about four pages an hour. I’m very prolific and can bust out a novel in a couple of weeks. The editing process can take longer, but, in many ways editing is more gratifying. There’s no blank pages staring at you. Or you’re not looking at page count and thinking “man, I’ve only got another hundred pages to go.”
Do you believe in writer’s block? Absolutely. I suffer from it all the time. But, for me, it’s not a blank page. I can write pages upon pages, but it’s a sense that I’m struggling to get work out. If the story comes easy, it’s so much more of a pleasure and I know it’s going to be good.
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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
Ian Conner is retired and spent most of his adult life as a Marine and Army Infantry Sergeant. A hundred percent disabled veteran after multiple head and other injuries, he is part of a growing number of vets classified as “neuro-diverse”, an MST survivor and have several issues such regarding comprehension, concentration, and vision issues that he has OVERCOME to write several novels. After witnessing a lifetime of destruction, the thought of creating something tangible and lasting holds great appeal.
He finds writing a cathartic way to redefine himself both in his eyes and in the eyes of others. Writing for fun, Ian has completed seven novels with an eighth near done with two more ideas in the scribble/chapter phase. He has written across four genres Fantasy, Thriller, Science Fiction and Horror.
He uses ProWritingAid, Beta Readers and professional editors keep the product readable, he has recently began querying in search of a professional agent and publisher. Now living near San Diego California with his wife Bonnie, a cellist, and their two dogs, Cookie and Isabella. Conner spends his days fostering kittens, gardening, crafting beautiful stained glass and creating worlds on the page.
Dark Maiden has taken a Native American legend and created the most intense story of ghosts and horror and things that go bump in the night.
Dark Maiden by Ian Conner Genre: Historical Dark Fantasy
Haunting and horrifying, the tale keeps readers engaged all the way to the shocking end. Intertwined with Native American lore Dark Maiden weaves a seducing chilling tale. Dark Maiden grabs you at the first page the story sets us up in 16th century Maine, Onata Village. Conner gave readers a tale of a beautiful bewitching Maiden seen by the lake by four sisters under the moonlight. Dark Maiden takes you from past to present to past to tell this horrifying curse tale. Readers need to pay attention during the time transitions, but readers will be engrossed with fantastic writing you cannot put down. Dark Maiden has taken a Native American legend and created the most intense story of ghosts and horror and things that go bump in the night. Although a somber tone permeates the book, there is a recurring theme of loyalty and resilience. Each character exhibits self-determination, fortitude, and resourcefulness until the conclusion. You grow to love each person as if you belong to the fight against evil forces. Full of surprises and character growth readers will love the tale.
Would you like a chance to win a$20 Starbucks Gift Card – 1 winner, Print Copy of Dark Maiden – 2 winners! Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
The Inspiration Behind the Books
Ian’s inspiration for Dark Maiden comes from a Native American legend. Among the Wabanaki, this blight occurs when an evil sorcerer refuses to stay dead. Descendants of the Wabanaki still survive in Maine, which was one of the reasons why I set the story in the locale of Nollesemic. I felt the characters were solid enough to appeal to a large swath of readers without offending anyone. LGBTQ characters fill in the modern twists that would not have been accepted even a few years ago.
Similarly, my vampire novel Cardinals is a new take on the Stoker legend with a large dose of actual historical events. Fictional additions and twists on biblical and historical occurrences, keep the story interesting, the reader engaged. I have always been a fan of the 70’s vampire films and wrote Cardinals with that in mind. I can totally see Ingrid Pitt as Asherah. I have taken a bit of guff over casting a scandalous shadow over the catholic church, but they have given me plenty of ammunition. The faith fills in a good part of the story and fanaticism at both ends of the spectrum also gave me much to work with.
I love casting women in strong roles and minimizing the male influence. Sadly, reality has not caught up with that idea. Amy Radigan, Lilly Pham, Kellena Donnachaid, Cassie Wells, all epitomize women I have known and respect.
After being medically retired from the military in 2010, writing became a new identity for me. I take my time writing. The Long Game, for instance, took 3 years to write. Pulling from current events as I went along. Relations with China are now tenser than ever and the conflict in the south China sea is actually occurring almost following the theme of my story. I consider my readers intelligent enough to follow the multiple plot lines. I tend to keep the thrillers within the realm of possibility. Sometimes it might be a reach but nothing I write is impossible. Headlines are a big help. The saying is “You couldn’t write this stuff”. Well actually I can!
The political thriller is cathardic to write. Solaris is coming out in December, complicated story lines will keep the readers guessing. Horror is a fun genre for me and I have two ideas on paper that need filled out. I have dabbled with Science Fiction and Fantasy.
Cooper’s Ridge was another labor of love and quite fun to write. I love space travel, aliens and first contact. Throw in some dystopian end of the world themes with a huge dose of multiple conspiracies and walah you have a novel. I am a huge Star Trek fan. I love Roddenberry’s approach to everyday issues with technological spins. Solving the barriers to space travel with reverse engineering seemed obvious enough to me. The genius teenager as the underdog with a cadre of friends to help fight the faceless government what can go wrong.
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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
Lisa Towles is an award-winning, Amazon bestselling crime novelist and a passionate speaker on the topics of fiction writing, creativity, and Strategic Self Care. Lisa has 11 crime novels in print with her newest title Specimen freshly released in November 2024. The first two books of her E&A Investigations Series (Hot House and Salt Island) were both #1 Amazon Kindle Bestsellers. Lisa also writes standalone thrillers, such as her 2022 political thriller, The Ridders, which won an American Fiction Award. Lisa is an active member and frequent panelist/speaker of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She has an MBA in IT Management and works full-time in the tech industry. Read more about Lisa’s book on her publisher’s website.
While investigating a viral internet game, 17 year old Thea Riggs stumbles upon a series of unsolved murders and the global crime syndicate that orchestrated them. Can she alone bring down a secret crime syndicate, or is the cost of justice too high?
Specimen by Lisa Towles Genre: YA Psychological Thriller, Suspense
Thea Riggs is shocked by a dead body in the empty house she was summoned to. It feels like a setup, like she’s being framed for murder. By the time she discovers a connection between the body and the internet game everyone’s playing, it’s too late. They know she’s onto them. Now she’s their next target. Lured to an underground San Francisco lab, she pieces together the hidden agenda behind what she’s seen – scientific experiments, a secret society of operatives, a labyrinth of lies hiding a decades-old cold case. She’s in deep and knows too much, but now they’ve threatened her mother. Can she alone bring down a secret crime syndicate, or is the cost of justice too high?
Specimen is an action-packed, Young Adult contemporary thriller. Fans of Blake Crouch and James Rollins will love Lisa Towles’ technical thrill ride. Join Thea’s quest for the truth and Buy Specimen today.
A razor sharp, edge of your seat thriller”
The Prairies Book Review
“A sharp, thought-provoking examination of technology’s dark side and the elusive nature of truth”
BookView Reviews
“A rollercoaster ride of a story that readers will find exhilarating and heart stopping”
San Francisco Book Review
“A gripping thriller for readers who love mystery, suspense, ambition, betrayal, and intrigue” – Literary Titan
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Prologue
“Mmmmm.” “Is that you?” I asked, unsure. Her voice sounded dreamy. And who answers the phone that way? Now an exhaustive sigh. “Lise, answer me!” “What was the question again?” I heard her footsteps on the other end, walking slowly, rhythmically on a hard surface. “Where are you right now?” “How is that relevant?” she clipped back. Salty. That sounded more like her. “Because! I’m a–” My words caught in my throat. I wiped my eyes and coughed, hoping to swallow the feeling of horror. “I’m at your house, where-you-summoned-me, where your—” Breathe, Thea. “Why did you run?” My raspy voice ricocheted against the marble walls of the colossal foyer. “I’ve got nothing to say.” “That’s not an answer.” “Well ask me something easier then.” I had no time to pause and think, to consider a strategy or explain the shocking circumstances to the part of my brain grasping for reason. “Why call me in the first place, then?” The footsteps halted. I now heard the roar of cars on the other end of the phone; she was outside. I ran to one of the front windows. No sign of her platinum hair or Burberry trench. “You’re just leaving me here?? What about the police? Who does this?” “Couldn’t be helped.” Her monotone told me she was dissociating from the situation, which might imply she was as upset as I was. Or maybe that was just a fairy tale. “What do I tell them?” I whispered. “Cops? Whatever you want. You know nothing so they won’t waste time on you.” “Cut it out.” I moved from the front windows back to the same spot inside the front door, where I’d placed the call. A safe distance from the kitchen. Then my emotions caved in, sobs rippling out through my nose and mouth. My eyes were a mess. I couldn’t wipe the tears fast enough. “Calm down, Thea.” “Calm down? Are you high? They’re gonna ask me what I know about—” “My dead mother? No kidding. Believe me, she’s better off this way. We all are.” She’d said the words finally – dead mother. So I hadn’t imagined it? Now I needed to close it up and get the hell out of here. “Lise, did you—” A thud from the kitchen yanked my attention from my phone. I felt the vibration under my feet. Maybe Lise hadn’t actually killed her. Maybe the killer was still here.
Chapter 1
Blood pooled under the mop of the woman’s dark brown hair, her skin a horrid chalky color, gray almost, body awkwardly twisted like she’d been on her way somewhere and shocked by the thrust of something blunt and resolute intended to stop the beat of her heart, or at least her intentions. As to what—I hadn’t gotten there yet. Was it a good day to die? I stared down at her body from the kitchen doorway, one hand covering my mouth to quell the shaking in my soul. I knew her. How could this possibly be real? The house was quiet except for the howl of wind, the Fenning’s giant sycamore scraping the east side of the house like a demon’s fingernail. Fitting.
Something made me turn, not a sound exactly, more like a sensation. I gazed at the upstairs landing that overlooked a foyer the size of a basketball court. A much better vantage point to say the least. I tore up the stairs and pancaked myself to the cold tiles. My erratic pulse banged in my ears. Tha-thump, tha-thump. Breathe, Thea. Breathe. Okay, my frantic brain re-engaged for the moment, I could see this was a much safer place to assess. The woman’s lower half was visible from here on the marble floor beside the island – dark gray pants, expensive black heels, one of them on and the other three inches from her body exposing a bare, grayish foot. Lying on my stomach, pain jarred me from the phone in my pocket— glass on bone. I hadn’t pulled it out yet or called for help because I needed time to gather my wits, I had no idea what I’d say and, more importantly, what if her killer was still here?
I used to think a day that began with a game of cards was destined to be good. With a father and grandfather in the Navy, of course I grew up playing cards. I could beat them both at cribbage by the time I was fifteen, or maybe they let me win. There was something about numbers that had always comforted me, like a tacit reminder of the ordered universe despite all the visual evidence of chaos. And cribbage was a game that valued numbers and pairs, and in my fragile heart that symmetry felt, somehow, like safety. Okay sure, life in the Marshall Islands was a little sheltered, but my dad wanted it that way. My mother disagreed and tried to move us all to San Francisco, where we’d have the support of her family along with the contemporary imprint of urban life. She won the battle but lost the war. My father remained five thousand miles away in Majuro Atoll, and after my brother Rudy died she and I built a new life in San Francisco’s Mission District without them. The culture and beauty of my Islander roots lives in my heart forever but honestly failed to prepare me for the spectacle of Roberta Fenning’s bludgeoned body. Could anything have? Rudy died on his seventeenth birthday, my age now, which my mother said was like being erased by the universe and twice as bad as just losing him. Now we can’t even celebrate his birthday without reliving the trauma of his loss. The closest thing I had to a brother now was Fergus Wilde, my best friend since the third grade.
“Stop dreaming and cut the deck,” Fergus had said this morning while we drank coffee on the floor of my bedroom, preparing for another game of cribbage during the lazy, summer lull before college. And I had been daydreaming while he decided which cards to throw in the crib. Nothing I hated more than wasting time. And there was nothing I wanted more than to escape reality go back to the safety of that cribbage game right now. My chin touching the cold floor of the Fenning’s second floor landing, I couldn’t make my lungs remember how to work. Sucking in air, I clawed the grout between the foyer’s white marble tiles to steady myself. That same marble downstairs in the kitchen would now be permanently stained with Roberta Fenning’s blood. Wait…why was there blood under my fingernails? I hadn’t touched the body. Not even close. Had I? I shouldn’t even be here, I realized, gasping finally like a surfer reaching air after being held down by a set wave. My nose ran and the fluid mixed with tears sliding down my cheeks. I couldn’t wipe it because whoever did this to her could still be in the house watching me right now. Stay silent. Don’t move. Two questions: would I be next and, more importantly, why had Lise summoned me if she wasn’t even here? I ignored the most obvious possibility because honestly it was too much weight on my heart. I needed to get the hell out of here before the police arrived. Had anyone even called them? Had Lise done that before she skipped out?
I went through it in my head to sort of rehearse. I entered with my own personal key to the Fenning estate, given to me by Lise Fenning, my other BFF. It’s not that I lived here, necessarily, just that the house was huge and running to answer the door every time the bell chimed was apparently too extraordinary an effort on a regular basis. So they gave me one of the spare keys. Lise should have been here to meet me, and she was scheduled to be. I’d called out for her and at least expected Nanny, the live-in cook, to be in the kitchen where I always stopped in to say hi. She’s nice, I liked her. Today the kitchen was completely closed up. No Nanny, no Roberta, only her discarded body staining the pristine tile with a pool of her blood. What if they asked me if I knew her? I needed an answer ready for that. Yes, of course I knew her, I even liked her. She was my best friend’s mother so I’d been to that house at least once a week for years. The words felt so strange in my mouth – was, best friend. Best friends didn’t do what Lise has done. Roberta was the kind of woman, the kind of mother who cared about people and wanted to know them. She’d stop me in the hallway sometimes and grasp my shoulders, look in my eyes to not just ask how I was doing but see for herself. My God. Roberta. I’d only stood in the doorway and honestly didn’t take a single step into the kitchen. But when I crouched low, I caught sight of a pooling of blood in the back of her head, mostly dried now, and the ghastliest color I’d ever seen on another person. I tried to remember if she’d been sick lately, but she was fine the last time I saw her. My God, the blood. I knew that had to mean something about the timing of her attack, but my mind wasn’t capable of critical thinking right now. I’m not sure why, but I’d snapped one quick photo of her lying there before charging up the grand staircase and dropping to the floor of the landing.
From this vantage point I could see into the kitchen, her lifeless legs visible and feet turned awkwardly inward. I might never be able to unsee the ghoulish cast to her skin, and the way rigor mortis had frozen her contorted fingers into these spectral claws belonging in a zombie movie. I felt sick and rolled onto my left side before vomiting, another assault on what had once been their pristine floor. How could this beautiful estate be habitable again after tonight? My fingertips gripped the edge of the staircase and pulled my body forward two inches, which gave me a bit more view. Some kind of leather strap stuck up beneath her on the side of the kitchen island, which I hadn’t noticed before. Was it her handbag, and why hadn’t I noticed it when I’d been in the kitchen?
My frantic brain began some basic calculations, starting with steps. An estimated thirty-seven to the lower landing and then roughly another twenty to the inner front door. Could I make it there before the killer spotted me? Wait a minute, I knew this house. There was a back bedroom. Lise and I removed part of the flooring once to access a support pole that weaved from the basement up to the second floor. If I could get to that closet, I might be able to use the pole to exit the house through the basement’s bulkhead, which would be safer than ploughing out the front door for all of Sea Cliff to see. My wet, swollen eyes blinked through these new possibilities, fingernails clicking the white marble, performing a momentary risk assessment. Had the Fennings discovered our secret escape path and blocked off the closet? If someone was still in the house, this could be my only chance of making it out alive. I tried texting Lise again. Where the fuck are you?? Don’t leave me here!
I heard the clink of China from the kitchen, a saucer upended and seesawing side to side before it came to rest.
OMG. My stomach tightened with an imaginary vice grip over my throat. That sound could mean Roberta was still alive. I pressed my hands over my mouth to suppress the urge to call out to her, because it could also mean that her killer was down there waiting for me.
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The unit was sent to Durham to fight what is essentially a zombie infestation
Dark Sun C Troop, 1-5 Kommando Book 1 by Eric Johnson Genre: Military Science Fiction
After the events in 2-4 Cavalry Story 15: In the Pit of Vipers and under a new Troop commander, Captain Karl Bradi, the unit is redesignated C Troop 1-5 Kommando. After their deployment to Earth the unit is resting and refitting, and also cleaning up holdouts on Friesland. Despite this, they are sent to Durham, a planet in the Independent Planets that suffers what is loosely described as a zombie infestation. The unit fights monsters, both real and human, in order to survive on the planet.
Eric Johnson is a military veteran, and a self-published author who served in the US Army and US Army National Guard for twelve years and three years respectively. He currently lives in Baltimore and spends his time writing stories based on his past experiences as well as using current events to focus on counter-insurgency as well as other related topics. His primary genre is military science fiction (5th Kommando, C Troop 1-5 Kommando, 2-4 Cavalry series, and the Eagle Hammer Universe series), and he has written a few books in other genres as well, including fantasy (Tales of Baromir series).
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Tune in Tomorrow by Randee Dawn Genre: Humorous Pop-Culture Fantasy
A funny, thrilling and mysterious adventure into the world of alternate reality television… Perfect for fans of Jasper Fforde and Christopher Moore.
She’s just a small town girl, with big mythic dreams. Starr Weatherby came to New York to become… well, a star. But after ten years and no luck, she’s offered a big role – on a show no one has ever heard of. And there’s a reason for that. It’s a ‘reality’ show beyond the Veil, human drama, performed for the entertainment of the Fae. But as Starr shifts from astounded newcomer to rising fan favorite, she learns about the show’s dark underbelly – and mysterious disappearance of her predecessor. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her dream job – though she might just bring down the show in the process.
Randee Dawn is an author, journalist, and lucky denizen of Brooklyn. Her first novel, the humorous pop-culture fantasy Tune in Tomorrow, published in August 2022 (Solaris/Rebellion). Randee’s short fiction has appeared in publications and podcasts including 3AM Magazine (“The View of My Brother’s Profile in the Rear-View Mirror,” 2001; “Warm, In Your Coat,” 2004) and Well-Told Tales (“Home for the Holidays,” 2015; “Can’t Keep a Dead Man Down,” 2017). Dawn’s stories have appeared in anthologies including Where We May Wag (“The Last Dog,” Writing Piazza Press, 2018), Children of a Different Sky (“Can’t Find My Way Home,” Kos Books, 2018), Magic for Beginners (“Queen Zoe and the Spinning Game,” Fantasia Divinity, 2019), Dim Shores Presents (“Rough Beast, Slouching,” 2021), Another World: Stories of Portal Fantasy (“The Way Is Clear,” SummerStorm Press, 2021), and Horror for the Throne: One-Sitting Reads (“Cat Person”). She has a short collection of dark speculative fiction short stories, “Home for the Holidays” (2014) and co-authored “The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion” (BenBella Books, 2009). She co-edited the speculative fiction anthology of “what if” stories about The Beatles, “Across the Universe: Tales of Alternative Beatles” (Fantastic Books, 2019). When not making stuff up, Randee publishes entertainment profiles, reviews, and think pieces regularly in outlets including Variety, The Los Angeles Times, Today.com and Emmy Magazine, and writes trivia for BigBrain. She can be found at RandeeDawn.com and @RandeeDawn (on Twitter).
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Do you have a favorite movie? Certainly! You don’t even have to drop a hat to get me to watch The Philadelphia Story, a movie from 1940 with some of my favorite actors of all time – Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. Ruth Hussey is also magnificent. It’s funny, it’s screwy, and it has a wonderful back story in that it helped revive Hepburn’s then-flagging career. Plus, it’s just a pleasure to watch these beautiful people on screen. In 1956, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelley – plus Louis Armstrong! – were the stars of a musical remake called High Society, with music by Cole Porter. I’ll always pick Philadelphia first, but Society is one of those rare reimaginings that’s almost as perfect, particularly the performance of “Well! Did You Evah?” in which Crosby notes to Sinatra, “Tune in tomorrow.”
Who is your hero and why? When I was about 10 or 11, I came across something called “An Eschatological Laundry List,” by the late psychologist and author Sheldon B. Kopp. It’s a series of 43 brief sentences that starts with “This is it!” and includes lines like “All of the significant battles are waged within the self.” One that sticks with me is: “If you have a hero, look again: you have diminished yourself in some way.” I can see heroic behavior and admire it, but I do not have a single hero. We all live in the gray area, including the great people. What is heroic is loving, and admiring, someone despite their gray areas. My mother is a hero. My friend Julia – who gave me the list originally – is a hero. Everyone I love is heroic. And I strive for that, every day.
Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie? All of them! I’ve only had one published so far – Tune in Tomorrow – and frankly, I think it’d make a better series than a movie, but I’ll assume that’s included in the question. I write with a movie playing in my head at all times. I know what every scene looks like, where the characters are standing, and if I squint, what they’re wearing. I only include the details that matter in each scene, but there are many more I don’t include. So for me, every book and short story I write is a kind of script for the movie I want it to become. But let’s face it: the book is always better.
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On Threshold time travel is about to become possible. The huge space habitat, already 500 years in our future is about to go forward to a safer time and place. Aliens from the All-Time hold the keys. Wanna go?
Threshold The Threshold Series Book 1 by Janet & Chris Morris Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Adventure
Set a millennium from now on Threshold Terminal—virtually a Grand Hotel in space— a young test pilot, Joe South, is thrust five hundred years into his future and finds himself in the thick of interstellar smuggling, intrigue, and the rough underworld of an alien environment. It is a time of danger and ever-shifting powers . . . and the destinies of a lost test pilot, an underworld scavenger, and two young lovers become irrevocably intertwined . .
November’s Featured Title of the month with Perseid Press! On Sale for Only $2.99! Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads
Bestselling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. Most of her fiction work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written historical and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national security topics.
Christopher Crosby Morris (born 1946) is an American author of fiction and non-fiction, as well as a lyricist, musical composer, and singer-songwriter. He is married to author Janet Morris. He is a defense policy and strategy analyst and a principal in M2 Technologies, Inc. He writes primarily as Chris Morris, but occasionally uses pseudonyms.
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What is something unique/quirky about you? Together we breed Morgan horses. We consult with Morgan breeders to help them choose crosses to their stock to achieve a desired result. We are also musicians; Janet plays bass guitar, Chris sings and plays guitar. We have an album on MCA records. Look for Christopher Crosby Morris on Soundcloud or N1M.com
Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author? Janet wrote her first novel, High Couch of Silistra in 1975; a friend sent it to an agent who chose to represent her; she had already written the second book in the Silistra Quartet and her agent told her not to disclose that until they finalized the contract for the first one. When the publisher learned of the others, Bantam Books bought the succeeding three. When the fourth book was published, the series already had four million copies in print. Suddenly Janet was a novelist specializing in environmental, gender, historical and political subjects. In the process, Chris started as her editor and ultimately a co-writer. Since then, she and Chris have co-authored many books.
Who is your hero and why? Heraclitus of Ephesus, a pre-socratic philosopher, whose Cosmic Fragments foreshadow our knowledge of reality and how to perceive it. Among his precepts is the statement that change alone is unchanging. We’ve worked Heraclitus’ fragments in here and there throughout our books.
Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie? All of them. We write cinematically, our books are vivid adventures we undertake without knowing the destination. I, the Sun, The Sacred Band, and Outpassage are particularly suited to film. The Threshold Series is a feast of opportunities for today’s special effects creators.
What inspired you, to write Threshold? Threshold explores what will happen if we meet beings who are interdimensional, not limited by time and space as we know it. Of course, there’s massive suspicion and mistrust when humans meet aliens capable of grasping a much wider time spectrum and able to predict what is about to occur as a result of current circumstance. How can ordinary people trust this super-human race and how can they not once given the benefit of their perspective?
Convince us why you feel Threshold is a must read. Today our space telescopes are showing us pictures of events that happened millions of light years ago, showing us actual images of the plastic nature of time and space. It is a short conceptual jump from those images to imagining beings like us, but capable of accessing a wider present and acting in concert with events provably happening over vast time arcs. As humans, we may feel that a lifetime is but a moment in an eternal reality and guess what it could be like to be free of the clock-time that rules our earthly progress. In Threshold, we get to play on the greatest chess board available to our fledgling perception of our own possible futures. We’ve gone to lengths to make this book available in e-book, trade paper, hardback, and soon in audiobooks.
Who designed your book covers? Most of our covers, including Threshold, are realized by Roy Mauritsen, a gifted graphic artist.
Advice to writers? As for advice to writers, here is all we know: write the story you want to read. Start at the beginning, go to the end, and stop. Seriously. From start to finish you must inhabit the construct in a manner that makes the reader choose to continue; if we as writers can’t feel what it’s like being there, our readers can’t either. Close your eyes, look at your feet where they are standing on the story’s ground; tell us what you see. Tell us what you hear. Ask at the end of each paragraph ‘what happens next?’. If you lose touch with it wait until you’re back inside it. Tell the story that comes to you, and from you, to us.
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Split The Price of Talent Book 1 by AK Nevermore Genre: Spicy Dystopian SciFi Romance
On an alternate earth, a cataclysm has altered a subset of the population. Talents are persecuted for their psychic and physical mutations, giving rise to two conflicting societies based upon maintaining genetic purity. And the Source, a shadowy corporate entity dependent upon the exploitation of captive Talents, is hunting them… The city of Glynfyls is burning. And Flynn Scot is powerless to stop it. Now that his status is in question, the Assembly is calling for his head. The only thing keeping it on his shoulders is the commons rioting with the demand he be made Overlord. Fluctuating between extremes, Kara’s talent deficiency is becoming critical. With her body failing and Flynn at the Assembly’s mercy, Kara Scot has no choice but to take his seat and fight for her House. But clearing Flynn’s name and battering herself against the tide of public censure threatens to drag her under. So does the wave of Humanity Purists marching toward Glynfyls. No Talent is safe outside the city. Refugees flock to the north fleeing extermination only to find a metropolis torn by prejudice and fear. Unless Flynn and Kara can find a way to survive the machinations of the Assembly, there will be nothing standing between them and annihilation. Because even if they survive the extremists, Titus’s army is following in their wake ready to harvest whatever is left.
AK Nevermore enjoys operating heavy machinery, freebases coffee, and gives up sarcasm for Lent every year. A Jane-of-all-trades, she’s a certified chef, restores antiques, and dabbles in beekeeping when she’s not reading voraciously or running down the dream in her beat-up camo Chucks. Unable to ignore the voices in her head, and unwilling to become medicated, she writes Science Fiction and Fantasy full time. She pays the bills editing, wielding a wicked hot pink pen and writing a column on SFF. She also belongs to the Authors Guild, is a chapter treasurer for the RWA, teaches creative writing, and on the rare occasion, sleeps.
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Sometimes when the right man finds the right woman, things still aren’t quite right. Can a piece of paper fix it, or ruin it?
Chasing Love Clumsy Little Hearts Trilogy Book 3 by Julie Navickas Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sometimes when the right man finds the right woman, things still aren’t quite right. Can a piece of paper fix it, or ruin it?
When Cole Johnson was eight-years-old, he married Rose Prescott. Never mind that the aisle was made of holiday table runners, she wore an old lace curtain, and her brother performed the ceremony in a musty basement. Twenty-four years later, Cole is more in love than ever and ready to wed Rose for real. This time, it’ll be at an exquisite wedding venue and the minister will know how to read. But that’s not all. He wants to give Rose the life he’s always dreamed of: a big house with a picket fence, twin boys, a family dog, and a rock-solid 401K. But Rose doesn’t seem to want any of it—not even a little. Because it’s not at all the future she covets. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. The thought of a hefty mortgage payment and a minivan full of children isn’t just suffocating… it’s insufferable. As the wedding approaches, Cole grows uneasy and can’t help but feel like Rose is hiding something. Despite his suspicions, the day of their wedding arrives without a hitch. The question is, how will the day end? Pick up your copy of Chasing Love, the epic conclusion to the Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy. While each story can be read as a standalone, common characters are woven throughout each book. Julie Navickas’ stories leave no shortage of heart-stopping plot twists, competing emotions, and soul-crushing decisions. Get your copy today!
Julie Navickas is a best-selling and award-winning, nationally recognized contemporary romance novelist, known for her keen ability to tell heart-wrenching, second-chance love stories through relatable characters with humility, humor, and heroism. She is also an award-winning university instructor in the School of Communication at Illinois State University. Julie earned master’s degrees in both organizational communication and English studies with an emphasis in book history, as well as a bachelor’s degree in public relations, graduating cum laude from Illinois State University. She is a mom of three and has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for twelve years.
Nina Soden 