I am writing a series of adventure stories suitable for those aged twelve to adult featuring scruffy, rude, bad-tempered Scottish rock creatures called Gomes (NOT gnomes). The first three of these will be published by Windstorm Creative, a wonderful publisher with a great philosophy, in the fall of 2008. Windstorm Creative publish interesting and innovative books for people of all ages. Check them out at:
www.windstormcreative.com
Although my "Gome Stories" are, like the Harry Potter books, aimed at a teenage audience I think they have appeal to all ages. My older children are in their twenties and thirties and tell me that they really enjoy them, but maybe they are just saying that to be nice to me! Each adventure is written as a trilogy of stories, each with twenty or so chapters and about 200-300 pages long. The first trilogy is called Blackhope Scaur where the fast-paced action takes the heroes and villains from the alleys and waterfront of Seattle to the mountains of Scotland and ends up trying to save the citizens of Edinburgh from total destruction. If you like humorous, fast-paced, adventurous nonsense as an escape from day-to-day worries about diabetes, or if you have teen or pre-teen kids who might like a new book to read you can check them out.
I have a blog that accompanies the series. I describe the background to the stories and read the opening few chapters. If you are interested at all you can check it out at:
www.gomeworld.typepad.com
My Other Books
July 12, 2008
March 09, 2008
The Desolation Falls Mystery
Here is a taste of what The Desolation Falls Mystery is about:
A dead woman found floating in the hot tub of an expensive vacation home rocks the tranquility of a Puget Sound island community. For the young couple who discovers the body it shatters their Valentine's Day love tryst and turns their lives upside down. Aaron Klein finds himself accused of the murder. Tami Stillwell is haunted by memories of a death in Texas four years before that was eerily similar.
For Scottish forensic pathologist, Donald McLure, the death means an interruption to a a quiet Sunday at home with his family. When the owner of the hot tub turns out to be Donald's former girlfriend from his days at Edinburgh University the case takes on a new complexion. Rebuilding his own life after his wife walked out on him Donald gets caught between a sense of duty to help out an old friend and a desire to impress the attractive young homicide detective in charge of the case.
The investigation turns up unexpected connections to the past, connections that other people are eager to cover up at all costs. Donald encounters hostility and deceit as he stumbles onto secrets that challenge his assumptions and threaten his job and his life.
From the politics and sophistication of Seattle society to the caves, forests and waterfalls of the Olympic wilderness The Desolation Falls Mystery is the second adventure involving forensic pathologist Donald McLure. Naive and vulnerable in personal matters, his dry observations let the reader view the rich sweep of life in the Pacific Northwest through fresh eyes.
If you would like to hear me reading the prologue (10min 28sec) of the story click below:
If you would like to hear me reading the first chapter (16min 36sec) of the story click below:
If you are interested in buying this book the easiest way is to go online at www.authorhouse.com
The Slate Creek Bridge Mystery
Here is a taste of what The Slate Creek Bridge Mystery is about:
Murder echoes off the rugged peaks of the Cutthroat Mountains in the Pacific Northwest and shatters the complacency of guests at Slate Creek Lodge. For one of those guests the death of a colleague brings the emptiness of his own life into sharp relief. As far as Donald McLure can see trading the life of a forensic pathologist in Scotland for that of an academic in the USA has been a mistake. Despite the outward appearance of success he feels unfulfilled. He doesn't belong in this country. His work is esoteric. His wife spend increasing amounts of time abroad and is even more distant when she is at home. The only accomplishments that give him any comfort are the security and happiness of his three kids.
Although excluded from the official investigation, Donald is fascinated by the details of this ruthlessly planned murder. When his son's ex-girlfriend is accused of the crime he launches himself on a quest to exonerate the young woman. Following threads and inconsistencies that the police are ignoring he encounters evasion and half truths from the dead man's colleagues in Seattle and hostility from the residents of Slate Creek Valley.
Beneath the tranquil veneer of rural life Donald encounters people more interested in a twenty-year-old murder that rocked the community than in this recent murder of an outsider. A family of faded aristocrats clings to the myths of bygone times. A bitter and twisted artist paints hostile pictures to offend the tourists. From the tightly wound innkeeper to a nest of anti-government zealots Donald's probing uncovers more about the old murder than the one he set out to solve. Goaded by a collusion of deceit he stumbles into mortal danger, confronts the killer, and faces up to the realities of his own life.
From the gridlock of academic life in Seattle to the windswept ridges of the Okanogan wilderness The Slate Creek Bridge Mystery introduces Scottish forensic pathologist Donald McLure. Naive and vulnerable in personal matters, his dry observations let the reader view the rich sweep of life in the Pacific Northwest through fresh eyes.
If you would like to listen to me reading the prologue (5min 3sec long) of the story click below:
If you would like to listen to me reading the first chapter (17min 13sec long) of the story click below:
If you are interested in buying this book the easiest way is to go online at www.authorhouse.com
