With the weather cooperating, it’s been a busy week in the yard (garden). Managed to do some pruning and shifted plants into better positions for sunlight or shade as we continue to pull everything out of the overgrowth.
Even with the current lockdown situation, there are some firms slowly re-opening, but at a very reduced staff level and maintaining social distancing. We would out we could finally have the dumpster (skip) removed, which had been full and sitting in our driveway for weeks. The company brought a new one, but no exchange of paperwork as normal, to ensure we maintained our distance.
This coming week, we’ll have two metric tons of topsoil delivered. This had been ordered right before the lockdown commenced. The company called late last week to confirm whether we still wanted the order.
Thanks again to all those who are putting themselves on the front lines. Stay safe!
So, who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on April 26th. (Compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):
Gian Paolo Lomazzo, Italian painter and poet (Trattato); David Hume, Scottish philosopher and historian (A Treatise of Human Nature); Joan Melchior Kemper, Dutch lawyer (designed civil code law book); Ludwig Uhland, German writer; Martha Finley, American children’s book author (Elsie Dinsmore series); Alice Cary, American poet (Cincinnati Sentinel); Frederick Law Olmsted, American writer and landscape architect (designed Central Park); Wilhelm Scherer, German literature historian; Arno Holz, German writer (Phantasus); Otto zur Linde, German author (Charon); Ğabdulla Tuqay, Tatar poet (Oh My Mother Tongue!); Anita Loos, American screenwriter, novelist (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes); Vicente Aleixandre, Spanish writer (Ambito, Bird of Paper, Nobel 1977); Theun de Vries, Dutch writer (The Girl with the Red Hair); A. E. van Vogt, Canadian sci-fi author (Wizard of Linn); Bernard Malamud, American novelist (The Fixer, The Natural, Pulitzer 1967); H. L. Gold, American sci-fi writer and editor; Morris West, Australian novelist (Shoes of the Fisherman); Richard Mitchell, American professor and author (The Underground Grammarian); and Joanne Gobure, Nauruan poet.
Recognize anyone? The only name I was familiar with was David Hume. Whether you recognize anyone on the list or not, if today’s your special day I hope you have a great one and many more to follow!
News About My Published Work
Colombian Betrayal’s online book tour is still ongoing until the end of the month, sponsored by Bewitching Book Tours. Why not stop by and learn a bit more about me?
https://www.bewitchingbooktours.biz/2020/04/now-on-tour-colombian-betrayal-by.html
My novel continues to participate in two Bookfunnel promotions. If you’re interested in checking them out and perhaps finding new authors to read, here’s the schedule.
April 7th-30th:
https://dashboard.bookfunnel.com/bundles/board/a3k53rc4a2
April 11th-26th:
https://books.bookfunnel.com/2nd-quarter-mystery/tvyvcj2sx6
My Work in Progress
When I’m not working on marketing/promoting Colombian Betrayal, or working on my newsletter, I’m continuing to move
forward with my next novel, Xavier Sear: Angola. This week, chapter seventeen posted to the two online subscription writing sites I use. Although only posted for a short time, Angola has now received 199 chapter reviews, an increase of twenty-four in the past week. As always, plenty of good advice from my faithful reviewers to provide as good a story for you as possible.
Here’s another snippet:
Sear grabbed a lupini bean from the plate and bit into the salty snack. “Just like I remember. Great stuff!” He took another sip and helped himself to more beans. “On the phone, you hinted you might be taking a trip to hotter climates but didn’t want to discuss anything in detail. What’s up?”
“Do you remember Theo Mwanga?”
“Whoa! That’s a name from the past. Wasn’t he the rebel commander you had in your sights in Angola?”
João nodded. “You urged me to take the shot, but I couldn’t. I remembered his son gazing up at me—never knew why he did.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t take his father away from him. Now, he’s an important member of the Angolan government, we have worked on war reparations, and open trade agreements, and I now consider him a friend.”
“Oookay.” Sear rubbed a hand through his short, black hair. “What does he have to do with—you’re not planning a trip back to Angola, are you? Why?”
“Theo contacted me—twice. A DRC thug named Masudi kidnapped his son Peter. Theo can’t convince anyone in Angola to help, so he turned to me.”
“Always the do-gooder, aren’t you?” Sear smiled. “You aren’t serious about going?”
“I do have reservations about setting foot back in the area. I witnessed enough violence and bloodshed to last a lifetime. But, what if I—we could save Peter? Some women and older girls were kidnapped with him. Who knows what they’re experiencing now?”
“I’ve no desire to return to Angola either—for different reasons.”
João signaled for another round of drinks. “I tried to convince Theo I couldn’t do anything to help, but he kept insisting. In the end, I said I’d come, subject to two conditions.”
“And?”
“I told him I wouldn’t come unless Catarina agreed.” João gave a sheepish grin. “I thought for sure she’d want me to remain in Portugal. No—she insists I help Theo.”
“What’s the other condition?” Sear twirled the glass with his new drink in his hands.
“I told Theo I wouldn’t come unless you agreed to help.”
Sear pursed his lips. “João, you should understand me well enough to realize I don’t stick my neck out for anybody—at least for strangers. I’m not crazy about this idea.”
João glanced at his watch. “We better drink up. Catarina is making the meal for us this evening, and she’ll kill us if we’re late and ruin it.”
More next time.
I also finished the first chapter of Revenge, Book two of my Bruce & Smith thriller series. I don’t have a cover ready yet, but one will be coming as time passes. Despite this being early days for this novel, which is the sequel to Colombian Betrayal, it’s already received eleven reviews.
Books I’m Reading
I recently received an advanced copy of The Lolita Conspiracy by Blair Howard. Harry Starke and Lieutenant Kate Gazarra are embroiled in another mystery. A man is dead, but is it a suicide or a murder? This becomes personal for Harry as he becomes a suspect. But, is he being set up or did he commit the crime?
As with all of Blair’s novels, this one definitely does not disappoint. With a brilliant plot, filled with plenty of suspects and theories, combined with the romantic glimpses of Harry and Kate’s relationship, make this another page turner. As soon as I thought I knew what had happened to the dead guy, a new scenario surfaced. This one is out in paperback now, and available for Kindle pre-order until April 30th, when it goes live. Don’t miss out! Get your copy ordered now!
I also finished Never Die Twice by Mark Caldwell Jones. Join DIA/DARPA operative Natalie Nicks in this action-packed technothriller, as she embarks on a mission which has far-reaching implications. Who can she trust? Has her team been infiltrated?
There’s plenty of non-stop action in this story as Natalie searched for weapons of the future before they can be used. Prepare to burn the proverbial midnight oil as the action will keep you up late at night turning the pages to find out what happens next. This is the first book of Mark’s I’ve read, and it won’t be the last!
This brings us to a close for this week. I hope you found something of interest or at least useful for your own writing. If you have any suggestions for a topic you’d like to read about, please let me know. Until the next time, thank you for reading.
© Copyright 2020 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved
Wow, Randy. You and Sylvia are staying quite occupied! By the way, does she read as much as you? If so, BOTH of you read VERY fast!!
CHEERS to both of you!!
Mike
Hi Mike, Yes, Sylvia reads pretty fast, too! Stay safe!