Current Location: Sequim, Washington
Kay and I have thrown ourselves into one adventure after another this summer.
We’ve accumulated a TON of great memories (and photos and experiences) to show for it!
Here’s some scroll bait for y’all.
In this lifestyle issue:
- New Sam Travis Adventure Released
- More Sam Travis Adventures Coming!
- Another Aubrey Greigh Mystery Coming, Too
- Experiencing the West Coast in Full Measure
- Tucson Festival of Books (TFOB)?
- Saying Goodbye to a Dear Friend
1. New Sam Travis Adventure Released
Lieutenant Tom Kasprzak (retired)—my writing partner—and I released our latest Sam Travis Adventure in July, as promised. Like Lethal Game and all our Sam Travis Adventures, Lethal Trail is based on a true story.
Here’s what early readers are saying about this exciting story from one Tom’s (LT’s) many cases during his law enforcement career:
- “I absolutely loved Lethal Trail! I loved it all.”
- Just finished Lethal Trail. It is a great read!”
- “The characters are nicely developed, especially the antagonists. I really loathe them.”
- “I truly enjoyed the side story about the black bear in the tree and its relocation.”
And if you haven’t checked out Book One of our Sam Travis series, click HERE.
By the way, if you haven’t yet been introduced to my friend, Tom, a.k.a. LT, he retired from the Massachusetts State Environmental Police Force after a storied thirty-two-year career. He operated from the beautiful Berkshire Mountains in Western Massachusetts to Boston in the east.
LT worked or supervised undercover operations for nine years, was embedded with international game poachers who were killing wildlife en masse, led teams on marine law enforcement, trained in counterterrorism with the US Coast Guard (District 1, Boston), and is a decorated sharpshooter (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, Georgia, where he trained extensively with federal agents from multiple agencies). National Geographic even broadcast a TV documentary in 1991 about LT and his crew, and how they took down a major illegal international wildlife poaching operation: “Wildlife Wars USA: Black Bears Under Siege,” narrated by Peter Coyote.
All of our Sam Travis stories are based on LT’s actual cases, and are about as authentic crime fiction as you’ll find anywhere—plausible and engaging, even to other law enforcement professionals. We’ve also published Lethal Game as an audiobook in addition to its ebook and paperback editions. We’re planning audiobook editions for all the Sam Travis adventures eventually.
No matter your favored genre, you’re sure to enjoy the hell out of these fast-paced stories populated with an imperfect but passionate cast of quirky characters!
2. More Adventures!
So, what’s next for Sam Travis fans? Next month on September 15th we’ll release Lethal Bounty, Sam’s most exciting adventure yet. You won’t believe this page turner is based on another of LT’s actual cases from his time as an EPO (Environmental Police Officer) in Massachusetts and elsewhere.
This hair-raising story’s ebook (“Kindle edition”) will be available for pre-order by August 23rd (the Great Pumpkin willing – yeah, that’s a metaphor, kids). That means you’ll be able to order Lethal Bounty on 8/23, take advantage of an introductory pricing offer, and it will automatically be delivered to all your smart devices automatically on 9/15. Cool, huh?
Is that it? Nope.
We hope to make the fourth Sam Travis Adventure available early next year. Below is an early draft of artwork for the book’s cover. What do you think? Is it… catchy?
3. Another Aubrey Greigh Mystery Coming Too!
In even more book news, if you follow my antics, you know I’ve published two books in my Aubrey Greigh Mystery series: Voodoo Vendetta and Dancing With Death. I’ll be targeting the release of my third Aubrey Greigh Mystery later this Winter. Right now, I’m entitling it, Rogue’s Gallery – Beyond Evidence.
Few of the characters in this tale are who or what they seem, and most are, well, less than respectable. The title seemed fitting. Take a look at the story’s premise (story concept):
***
Aubrey Greigh, a best-selling mystery author, and ambitious Chicago detective, Chance McQuillan partner with a pair of Romani parapsychologists to solve two baffling high-profile homicides. This cryptic case could turn the credibility of politics in America’s largest city on its ear. But solving this case could help Interpol solve a series of longstanding international crimes.
Are our professional and amateur investigators equipped to filter flimsy facts from rampant fantasy to stop the wild speculation and seemingly senseless killing? The mayor of America’s largest city hopes so. Or does he? Is anything what it seems?
Relish the tortuous twists and turns in this classic locked-room whodunnit with… what? Utterly mysterious circumstances and a conspiracy that spans two continents? Maybe even paranormal possibilities? You’ll keep guessing until your final turn to the last page.
***
I favor creating different versions of a book’s cover and soliciting feedback while writing the manuscript. It inspires me. Most authors wait until at least the final draft is complete. Not me. I offer you a peek at the latest iteration of my cover graphics, and like always, I’m open to suggestions. Seriously. Do you like it (the back cover text is still under revision)? What do you think of the title? Please do let me know at gjurrens@yahoo.com:
Enough of this book stuff, eh?
4. Experiencing the US West Coast in 2024
Oh, my gosh, where do I start! This summer has been the polar opposite of sensory deprivation. We have been sensory gluttons! I offer you a sampling of our summer since leaving Tucson April 30th in our grand old bus:
- Quartzsite, Arizona – just to veg out for a spell and to continue my focus on watercolor painting and drawing in my “spare time.” Retirement is exhausting, my friends!
- Sequoia National Forest in central California’s San Joaquin Valley (Visalia)
- San Francisco Bay Area (Petaluma) for almost a month where we took an extended double-decker bus tour of the city, went to see the Carnivale parade and celebration of Central & South American culture in the Mission district, along with an amazing rolling car show. We sailed around the bay ,under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz island aboard a 65′ sailing catamaran. Kay and I took a sporty helicopter ride over the Sonoma wine country and their Pacific seaside cliffs. We enjoyed countless day trips in the car along the Pacific Coast Highway (1). Visited Sausalito across the bay where we explored a hydrodynamic model of the entire Bay Area (US Army Corps of Engineers), found a fascinating restaurant (fusion of Marin County and Indian vegan cuisine they call Marindian cuisine confusion – very urban Californian!) and a few high-end art galleries—constrained budget and limited wall space mandated browsing only!)
- Hiked a redwood forest in Northern California (Eureka) and sprained my ankle 🙁
- Explored the Oregon Coast for a few weeks in each of Brookings (participated in Judy Howard’s fascinating writer’s group and taught a publishing seminar. We hung out on Driftwood Beach and Harris Beach), then Newport (Lincoln City Kite Festival, and lots of marina dock-walking). And we visited the marine heritage museum and the beach at Fort Stevens outside Astoria.
- Enjoyed an evening of music at The 1905 jazz club in Portland. We stayed in nearby Troutdale for three weeks.
- Visited the largest new/used book store west of the Mississippi River. Powell’s City of Books in Portland is an enormous store that feels small and intimate within dozens (hundreds?) of genre-specific rooms on three floors. They feature a rare books room where I enjoyed hanging out for an afternoon.
- While parked in Troutdale, we also explored the Columbia Gorge area inland from the Oregon coast, including their enchanting waterfalls area, a ride on the Mt. Hood Railway, and a trolley tour of Fruit Valley near the base of Mt. Hood. We watched a wind and kite surfing exhibition in the eclectic city of Hood River. I also attended the annual Flutestock Native American flute festival outside of Eugene (Springfield).
- Blew a tire on our toad (towed vehicle) en route to Washington. We’re now driving a rental car. We’ll need to travel 170 miles (one way) to retrieve it from Longview, Washington once it’s repaired (new bumper and front left quarter panel, painted, and aligned after four new tires are mounted, balanced, and installed. Only one blew out, but we’re replacing them all.
- Now we’re in NW Washington on the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula. We’re exploring the villages of Sequim, Port Townsend, and Port Angeles. This is a beautiful area! Oh, while here in Sequim, I subjected myself to a tortuous pedicure. Yikes!
- And we’re not done yet. Looking forward to visiting Snoqualmie Falls, exploring Seattle again, as well as Mt. St. Helen’s, then Crater Lake, Klamath Falls, a month in Monterrey Bay area so we can do… whatever! Next, San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and maybe Disney (for Kay). Then, I wanna check out the ever-funky Salton Sea (they said, “bring your own water, ours is loaded with arsenic.” An important safety tip). We’ll then return to Val Vista Villages in Mesa, AZ for November and December before returning to Voyager south of Tucson for about four months. Next summer? Minnesota!
That’s a top-level summary. Below are a bunch of photos and videos, along with a few of my attempts at watercolor paintings or drawing practice that might amuse you. They’re kind of jumbled. Sorry. Skip if you wish.
Enough with the vaca pics, already! Right?
5. 2025 Tucson Festival of Books (TFOB)?
Sick of book news and vaca photos, yet? Sorry. About one more gig… hopefully.
I’m excited enough to share with you a possible opportunity for this humble author. The University of Arizona hosts the sprawling Tucson Festival of Books annually in mid-March.
In addition to an amazing array of seminars, displays, and exhibitors, the TFOB features an “indie pavilion,” an opportunity to feature authors who independently publish their books (my publishing imprint is UpLife Press). I hope to participate in that, and maybe even score a feature slot. Might they ask me to present one or more of my seminars? Probably not.
At the very least, I hope to hawk all my wares to a significant audience of book shoppers at the festival. We’ll see. I need to submit a manuscript that’s been published less than twenty-four months prior to March 15, 2025. I’m excited to offer up my Aubrey Greigh mystery, Dancing With Death. Pray for me, my friends!
By the way, here are a few comments from mystery readers about Dancing With Death:
- This is your best yet. Very exciting. I actually gasped when I read that— (spoiler redacted!). – Julia S,
- You really nailed the suspense, especially by including red herrings and plot twists. I like being reacquainted with Greigh and McQ, and became fond of the new characters too. Thought I would like ___, but … big plot twist there. I love Butler (Greigh’s automated apartment security system and confidante), especially that you gave him Sean Connery’s voice. And he could easily be set in present times. – Dawn S.
- The novel moved at a good pace, was intriguing and engaging. I truly enjoyed it. – Judy R.
- I like the concept, storyline and characters. An excellent read. Dialogue was also excellent as was pace, twists and turns. – Mark M.
- All the double agents, various international agencies, and crime bosses were easy to follow, and added depth to the story. – Steve B,
- Great job!! Thoroughly enjoyed the book/manuscript. I hope this one reaches the “Best Seller” list. – Tom K.
- I have nothing but praise for your writing! – Dave K.
- Blown away by your choice of words and character descriptions as well as their interactions with one another. – Judy H.
6. Saying Goodbye to a Dear Friend
One closing note: I’m not a huge fan of obituaries. This is an exception. Kay and I lost a precious friend and a great man this summer. Doug Olson was a decorated naval aviator, airline pilot, and a fearless fellow sailor. Fair winds and following seas, my friend. Captain Marti, our hearts ache for you, but it was time to make for the next port. For both of you, sweetie. We love you, Marti, and none of us will ever forget the skipper.
That’s it, mis compadres! So, until next time, and wherever….
Let’s roll!
Gene
P.S.
