Tag: work in progress

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Randall’s Ramblings, May 24, 2020

Randall Krzak

Happy Memorial Day weekend to those celebrating. While normally a time to honor military personnel who gave their lives while serving their country, this year, there are plenty of others who should be recognized for the unselfish acts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial start to summer. Whatever you have planned, stay safe!

Mother Nature’s helping hand over the past week has been a welcome gift, saving me plenty of time as I haven’t had to do as much watering. The new plants are taking root, and the ones which have been moved from one are to another are flourishing. Several plants are showing their colors as flower begin to pop out.

So, who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on May 24th. (Compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):

Jean-Paul Marat, French journalist and revolutionary (Friend of the People periodical); Cornelis Eliza van Koetsveld, Dutch writer and preacher; Kathleen Hale, British children book writer and illustrator (Orlando); Henri Michaux, Belgian-born French poet and writer (Miserable Miracle); Mikhail Sholokhov, Soviet writer (And Quiet Flows the Don, Nobel 1965); Zdeněk Blažek, Czech composer and music theorist (Verchovina); Michael Roberts, English historian; Guillermo Díaz-Plaja, Spanish literary and poet (Lorca); Louis Fornberg, writer; Marģeris Zariņš, Latvian composer and writer; George Tabori, Hungarian writer; William Trevor, Irish writer (Children of Dynmouth, Fools of Fortune); Arnold Wesker, British playwright (Bratkartoffeln Inbegriffen); Joseph Brodsky, Russian-American poet and writer (Less than One, Nobel 1987); and Michael Chabon, American novelist (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay).

Recognize anyone? This was another unknown group for me. 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!

My Published Work

Three of my novels continue to participate in a May Kindle Unlimited promotion: Dangerous Alliance, Carnage in Singapore, and Colombian Betrayal.  They’re also available for Kindle downloads or paperbacks. There are a total of 384 KU works included in the promotion.

In addition, Colombian Betrayal is participating in two Kindle mystery, crime, suspense, and thriller sales promotions called Sleepless Mind, which runs through the end of May. Please stop by and see if any of your favorite authors are listed, or perhaps you’ll find someone new to check out.

My Work in Progress

When time permitted, I continued working on Xavier Sear: Angola. This week I finished chapter twenty-one and posted it to the two online subscription writing sites I use. Angola has now received 254 chapter reviews, an increase of sixteen 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:

Long after dark, when Sear believed the house was quiet, he slipped out the French doors and into the back garden. He crept around the house through the light of the quarter moon until he spotted what he expected.

Parked beyond the gates underneath a huge jacaranda tree sat a black GMC Yukon with blacked-out windows and black rims. The parking lights turned off and on. Sear chuckled. Real stealth.

“I thought you died.” A voice broke the stillness as a rear passenger door opened.

“As a very wise man once said, ‘The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.’”

Sear climbed in the back of the Yukon and closed the door.

“In any case, it is great to see you.”

“Lisbon Station Chief—that’s quite a few rungs up the ladder from where we started.”

The station chief nodded. “They offered you Moscow, London, or Paris. It didn’t surprise me you rejected those assignments. I knew you wouldn’t accept Beijing when someone suggested the post. But you certainly went down a path I would not have expected.”

“Not my thing. You’re the diplomat. I’m a strategist who happens to be an excellent shot.”

“Did you just call me an ass kisser?”

More next time.

This week I also completed the fifth chapter of Revenge, the sequel to Colombian Betrayal. Reviews are coming in, with a total of fifty-seven so far, and increase of ten over the past week. I think I provided the synopsis before, but in case I didn’t or you missed it, here it is:

Relegated to a desk job at the Pentagon despite his last field mission being a success, Colonel Javier Smith submits his retirement papers. He moves forward with his plans to create a security and investigative agency called the Brusch Agency. The focus will be aiding international clientele.

AJ Bruce, who co-led the mission with Smith, finds herself rooted at CIA Headquarters. Although now in charge of the division responsible for tracking terrorist groups in Latin America, she misses the action from being in the field.

Meanwhile, Alberto Cabrera was one of four terrorists who survived Bruce and Smith’s mission. Also known as Abdul Rahman, he enlists the assistance of the others who escaped and vows to track down those who killed his friends and comrades.

As Javier and AJ grow closer together, will the future hold wedding bells or funerals? Hang onto your hats as the story unfolds.

Books I’m Reading

I recently read Georgina, the latest blockbuster from Blair Howard. Who killed sixteen-year-old Georgina all those years go, and why? Was it some type of random attack, or was it a lover’s quarrel? Every year on the anniversary of Georgina’s death, Captain Kate Gazzarra relives the anguish of not finding the killer. Will this year be different? Kate and her team want things to be different, and begin going through the case step-by-step.


Once again Blair has created an exciting plot with a fantastic twist. As always, the characters are realistic, and we learn more about their personal lives as well as how they perform on duty.  It’s easy to be right there with them as the investigation unfolds, and it won’t be long before you’ll be cheering the team on and jeering at the potential suspects.

The Kindle version will be released on May 31st, but the paperback is available now. Grab a copy and get stuck into another super story!


I also read Pipeline Killers by Lynn Nicholson, the second novel in his Detective Bernadette Callahan mystery series. Follow Bernadette as she’s involved in another terrifying threat to the world’s oil pipelines. What started as an investigation into a supposed industrial accident shows how some people will stop at nothing to support their goals, no matter how far-fetched or dangerous they might be. Will Bernadette be able to solve the mystery before it’s too late?

With another great plot and a larger-than-life Bernadette, follow along this fast-paced mystery as she works with Canadian and American authorities to find the key to the devastating destruction caused by something so small it can’t be seen by the naked eye. You’ll stay up late as you won’t want to miss a moment of the action!

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

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Randall’s Ramblings, May 17, 2020

Randall Krzak

The days all seem to run into one another, but here it is–another Sunday. Our yard (garden) is finally taking shape. A few minor things to sort out and then we’ll be in a position to only need to do maintenance to keep things in order.

We received some osteospermum plants this week–via an online order. They arrived safely, and once we harden them off for a few days, they’ll be used to fill a few spaces behind the house. It’s great to look out and see our hard work is paying off!

So, who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on May 17th. (Compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):

Jien, Japanese poet and historian; Andreas Felix von Oefele, German historian and librarian; Anna Brownell Jameson, Anglo-Irish historian and writer (Loves of the Poets); Robert Smith Surtees, British novelist (Jorrocks’s Jaunts and Jollities); Virginie Loveling, Flemish writer (Sophie) and poet; Dorothy M. Richardson, English novelist (Pilgrimage); Henri Barbusse, French novelist (Le Feu); Alfonso Reyes, Mexican writer (Simpatías y diferencias) and diplomat (Higenia Cruel); Hannah Tillich, German-American writer (Harbor Mouse); John Patrick, American screenwriter and playwright (Pulitzer Prize 1954); Lars Gustafsson, writer; Trinus Riemersma, Dutch-Frisian writer (Conquest of Leeuwarden); Gary Paulsen, American author of young adult literature; F. Paul Wilson, American novelist; and Lise Lyng Falkenberg, Danish writer.

Recognize anyone? This was an unknown group for me. 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!

My Published Work

Three of my novels continue to participate in a May Kindle Unlimited promotion: Dangerous Alliance, Carnage in Singapore, and Colombian Betrayal.  They’re also available for Kindle downloads or paperbacks. There are a total of 384 KU works included in the promotion.

In addition, Colombian Betrayal is participating in two Kindle mystery, crime, suspense, and thriller sales promotions: Sleepless Mind, which runs through the 19th. The second one is also called Sleepless Mind, and begins tomorrow, running through the end of May Please stop by and see if any of your favorite authors are listed, or perhaps you’ll find someone new to check out.

My Work in Progress

When time permitted, I continued moving forward with Xavier Sear: Angola. This week I finished chapter twenty and posted it to the two online subscription writing sites I use. Angola has now received 238 chapter reviews, an increase of twelve 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 stepped into their new operations center, a cup of coffee in hand. A sheepish expression spread across his face when he realized João and Catarina were already hard at work.

“About time.” Catarina stood stern-faced, with hands on her hips.

“Ah … well.”

She laughed. “Just playing with you. We just started within the past fifteen minutes.”

“I needed my morning run.” He nodded. “What’s the game plan?”

Catarina gestured toward one of the flipcharts. “We did some brainstorming before we got out of bed this morning. We thought doing an update on Theo and his family might be necessary. We should also investigate what the opposition party is publicly trying to do. Also, a search for any information on this Masudi is needed.”

“Since you’re running the show, what do you want me to do?” Sear’s sipped on his coffee, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

“Why don’t you help João? He can use your expertise, I’m sure.”

“Okay, boss lady.”

They both laughed as they strolled toward the workspace where João sat immersed in something on his computer screen.

Catarina cleared her throat. “Find anything interesting, dear?”

“I discovered an obscure website providing background information about several Angolan authorities.” João pursed his lips as he reread to himself. ” Here’s some of the interesting stuff. Did I ever mention Theo has a daughter?”

Catarina shook her head. “I don’t recall.”

“The Angolan culture frowns on people with any type of disability. I knew Theo had a daughter, but all he said was she lived in a private treatment center, which was helping her cope with her deafness and learn sign language. The opposition party is trying to use Theo’s position in the government as an example of the corrupt way the politicians are looking after their own at the expense of the rest of the population as this private clinic wouldn’t be available to everyone.” He shook his head. “Unbelievable someone would want to make the disabled a political issue. The Theo I knew wouldn’t do this.”

“Interesting, but not sure if this will help when you return to Angola.”

More next time.

This week I also completed the fourth chapter of Revenge, the sequel to Colombian Betrayal. Reviews are coming in, with a total of forty-seven so far, and increase of twelve over the past week. I think I provided the synopsis before, but in case I didn’t or you missed it, here it is:

Relegated to a desk job at the Pentagon despite his last field mission being a success, Colonel Javier Smith submits his retirement papers. He moves forward with his plans to create a security and investigative agency called the Brusch Agency. The focus will be aiding international clientele.

AJ Bruce, who co-led the mission with Smith, finds herself rooted at CIA Headquarters. Although now in charge of the division responsible for tracking terrorist groups in Latin America, she misses the action from being in the field.

Meanwhile, Alberto Cabrera was one of four terrorists who survived Bruce and Smith’s mission. Also known as Abdul Rahman, he enlists the assistance of the others who escaped and vows to track down those who killed his friends and comrades.

As Javier and AJ grow closer together, will the future hold wedding bells or funerals? Hang onto your hats as the story unfolds.

Books I’m Reading

I recently read The Long Island Project by Russel F. Moran. The third novel in Russel’s Puzzles series, we meet up again with the infamous detectives, Bobbie Nelson and Bob Lawson as they’re called upon to solve another problem. Why is Long Island under quarantine, and who is behind it? Before long, they uncover a conspiracy, which could lead a takeover through mind control and time travel.

As with all of Russel’s novels, the characters adapt to the situations they find themselves in and their interactions bring the best out in the ‘good guys and gals’ and will turn readers against those behind the conspiracy. There’s plenty of intrigue for everyone as the ‘BBs’ solve their latest puzzle. I look forward to their adventure!

I also completed The World Beneath by Rebecca Cantrell, the first book in the Joe Tesla series. Imagine being afraid to venture outdoors and find yourself living beneath the New York subway system. That’s what happened to Joe and his peaceful existence is shattered when he stumbles into a plot which began during WWII. Will he survive being a target? I don’t like to reveal too much to those reading reviews, so you’ll have to grab a copy to find out.

This is the first novel I’ve read by Rebecca and it won’t be the last. With a plot filled with plenty of twists and turns and a great mixture of the past and present, this one will delight all thriller readers.

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

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Randall’s Ramblings, May 10, 2020

Randall Krzak

Happy Mother’s Day to all those mothers (or soon-to-be) in the U.S. Canada Mexico, Australia New Zealand. A belated happy Mother’s Day to those in the UK and Ireland. Hope I haven’t let anyone out!  Enjoy your special day.

We finally had some decent rain last night. The ground really needed it as cracks were beginning to appear where things had dried out. We have a breeze coming from the north so the temperature is much colder than yesterday, with more rain in the forecast. At least I won’t have to get the hose and watering can out to take care of the plants I’ve moved around this week!

So, who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on May 10th. (Compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):

Johann Peter Hebel, German writer (Allemannische Gedichte); Jacques-Nicolas-Augustin Thierry, historian; James Gordon Bennett Jr., American publisher; Benito Pérez Galdós, Spanish novelist (Episodios Nacionales); Jan Kalf, literary/art historian (Preservation of museums); Ivan Cankar, Slavs author (Hlapec Jernej-Njegova Pravica); Fritz von Unruh, German writer; Karl Barth, Swiss theologian/author (Action in Waiting); Olaf Stapleton, British religious sci-fi writer (Star Maker); Jacobus C Bloem, Dutch poet (Sintels); Ariel Durant, writer (Story of Civilization); Anatole Litvak, Russian-born American film director, writer and producer (Mayerling, Anastasia, The Snake Pit); Bel Kaufman, American author (Up the Down Staircase); Monica Dickens, British author and founder of the Samaritians in the US; Nayantara Sahgal, Indian author; Ettore Scola, Italian director and screenwriter (A Special Day); Barbara Taylor Bradford, author; Caroline Cooney, American author; Thomas Tessier, American author; on Ronson, British journalist and author; and John Scalzi, American writer.

Recognize anyone? The only name I was familiar with was Barbara Taylor Bradford. 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!

My Published Work

Three of my novels continue to participate in a May Kindle Unlimited promotion: Dangerous Alliance, Carnage in Singapore, and Colombian Betrayal.  They’re also available for Kindle downloads or paperbacks. There are a total of 384 KU works included in the promotion.

Continue reading “Randall’s Ramblings, May 10, 2020” →

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Randall’s Ramblings, May 3, 2020

Randall Krzak

It’s been another busy week–laying some turf (sod), clearing away old rubble and gravel, adding some new topsoil, moving a few plants to fill in empty areas, and cutting the grass. Whew! At least Mother Nature lent a helping hand a couple of times, with gentle evening rain to help water everything.

While the lock downs are disruptive, they are necessary and seem to be working. Hopefully, we’ll be moving toward the new ‘normal’ soon. In the meantime, a heartfelt thanks to all those who put themselves out there everyday, providing vital services to all. Thank you!!

So, who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on May 3rd. (Compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):

Niccolo Machiavelli, Italian politician and writer (Prince); Joannes Antonides van der Goes, Dutch poet (Bellone aen bant); August von Kotzebue, German dramatist; Andy Adams, American writer (Log of a Cowboy); Nicoline Magdalene Roll Anker, Norwegian author (Kvinnen og Den); B. Traven, (German?) writer (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre) whose real identity is disputed; Tadeusz Peiper, Polish poet; Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, Georgian writer and public benefactor; Ernst Kantorowicz, German-American historian (Laudes regiae); Dodie Smith, English novelist and playwright (101 Dalmatians); Earl Wilson, American journalist and columnist (Midnight Earl); Eleanore “May” Sarton, Belgian-American writer (Land of Silence); Pierre Emmanuel [Noël Mathieu], French poet (Sodome); Yehuda Amichai, Israeli poet (Now and in Other Days); Jahanara Imam, Bangladeshi writer and political activist; Juan Gelman, Argentine poet; Nélida Piñon, Brazilian writer (The Republic of Dreams); and Daryl F. Mallett, American writer and editor.

Recognize anyone? The only name I was familiar with was Niccolo Machiavelli. 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!

My Published Work

Three of my novels are participating in a May Kindle Unlimited promotion: Dangerous Alliance, Carnage in Singapore, and Colombian Betrayal.  There are a total of 384 works included in the promotion.

Why not stop by and see if any of your favorite authors are listed. If not, why not choose someone new to check out? There’s bound to be something of interest, as this promotion cover multiple genres. Head to: https://books.bookfunnel.com/mayyouread/24lhdvqujo

My Work in Progress

Despite all of the outdoor work, I’m still working on my next novel, Xavier Sear: Angola. This week, chapter eighteen posted to the two online subscription writing sites I use. Although only posted for a short time, Angola has now received 212 chapter reviews, an increase of thirteen 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:

A slight sliver of light came into the tent as dawn broke. Peter tried to roll to ease the pain in his shoulder. He attempted to shift and twist his bonds in an effort to free himself, but still couldn’t feel any sensation in his hand. He forced himself into a sitting position, his back leaning on a tent pole.

Outside, the camp inhabitants stirred, and the first full day of captivity began.

Peter closed his eyes and sighed as the tingling and feeling came to his hands.

“Get him up!” The flap flew back, and two men burst into the tent and yanked Peter to his feet. “Bring him.”

Still bound, the men dragged Peter, stumbling and tripping, to a small building at the far end of the clearing. Wooden slats about four feet high created the bottom portion of the walls. Heavy canvas topped the walls, adding height to the structure. Two men stood guard on either side of the door. Their piercing stares caused Peter to shiver.

The inside of the structure surprised him—simple and portable decor, yet elegant. The furnishings were well-crafted and expensive. Tasteful paintings and small items adorned the tables and free-standing shelves. Nothing suggested the occupant was anything but a well-to-do business person, doctor, educator, or another upstanding member of the community.

A long table of dark wood leaned against floor-to-ceiling drapes at the back of the tent. At one end of the table, Alimasi sat, a hand held over his forehead and covering his eyes. In front of him, flies buzzed around a plate of food. He stirred his food with the tip of his fork, not looking up until the men escorting Peter spoke.

“Here is the doctor.”

“Release him.”

One of the men produced a knife and cut the rope on Peter’s wrists.

“Come and sit.”

Peter stretched his shoulders and rubbed his wrists as he crossed the room toward the table.

“Please. Sit.” Dressed in a clean and pressed camo uniform, Alimasi gestured toward the seat at the other end of the table.

An old and hunchbacked woman stepped from behind the drapes. She placed a plate of food and two bottles of water in front of Peter. Without a sound, she returned from where she came.

Neither man spoke for a long moment as Peter opened one of the bottles and drank until he quenched his thirst.

“Joseph died in the night.”

“Joseph?”

“My friend you treated when we arrived. He is dead.”

More next time.

I also completed the second chapter of Revenge, the sequel to Colombian Betrayal. Reviews are coming in, with a total of twenty-one so far. Eventually, I’ll have a cover sorted out, but hope to add at least a filler next time.

Books I’m Reading

I recently finished reading Polar Bear Dawn by Lyle Nicholson. This is the first novel in the Bernadette Callahan Detective Mystery/Thriller series. Who is killing workers from a company supporting oil camps in the Arctic and Northern Canada. More importantly, why? Will Canadian Detective Bernadette Callahan answer these questions before she’s sidelined in favor of other agencies? Find out how she works with an Alaskan detective named Frank Mueller and others to piece things together.

Lyle has created an excellent plot with plenty of twists and turns which will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next. There’s a bevy of characters to love or hate, depending upon your viewpoint. For those who love action and adventure with plenty This is the first novel I’ve read by Lyle and it’s definitely not going to be the last as I already purchased the sequel.

I also finished When Winds Blow West. This is a tragic story of what is an everyday occurrence throughout the world, given voice by a talented author, Alex Tatievsky. This is a gripping tale of human despair, sadness, but also shows glimmers of hope and love.

Alex has created a superb plot and gives life to his characters as they struggle to survive what’s been thrown at them. This is a very moving and thought-provoking story which is one not to miss.

This brings us to a close for this week. I hope you found something of interest. 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

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Randall’s Ramblings, April 26, 2020

Randall Krzak

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

 
 

 

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Randall’s Ramblings, April 19, 2019

Randall Krzak

First of all, I’d like to tip my hat to all those in the medical profession, first responders, and everyone involved in making life as normal as possible for the rest of us. THANK YOU!

I’d also like to extend a special note of appreciation to ninety-nine-year-old British Army Captain Tom Moore. He set out a couple of weeks ago to cover 100 laps of his back yard (garden) in the hopes of raising £1,000 for the National Health Service.  He’s raised a staggering amount–at last check, the total is approaching £25.5 million! Well done, Captain Tom!

The weather hasn’t been too bad this week, except a bit chilly when the wind blows. We’ve taken advantage of the weather to do some much-needed pruning. One of the areas we hadn’t tackled yet since moving into the house was the clematis climbers, some of which are fifteen feet or so off the ground.  Armed with pruning sheers and attacking the myriad strands as if it was a jigsaw puzzle, most of the dead material has been removed. It’ll still take another day or so to get rid of the rest of the old stuff and tie the new/newer shoots into place. It’ll look fantastic when they’re in bloom!

So, who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on April 19th. (Compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):

Jacques Lelong, French bibliographer; Francisco Albergati Capacelli, Italian writer and playwright; David Ricardo, English economist (On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation); Louis Amédée Achard, French novelist (The Cloak and Dagger); Edward Vermeulen, Flemish writer; Ricardo Bacchelli, Italian playwright and poet (La Ronda); Richard Hughes, English writer (Fiction as Truth); Walter Stewart, Canadian writer and journalist; and Steven H. Silver, American sci-fi editor.

Recognize anyone? I drew a blank this week. 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. If you’re interested in checking them out and perhaps finding new authors to read, here’s the schedule. The links won’t be active until the first day of each giveaway. I’d greatly you forward these to anyone you think might be interested.

April 7th-30th:

https://dashboard.bookfunnel.com/bundles/board/a3k53rc4a2

April 11th-26th:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/2nd-quarter-mystery/tvyvcj2sx6

 

As of January 26th, Carnage in Singapore became a semi-finalist in the 2019 Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs) in their Global Thrillers category. With the coronavirus outbreak, the completion of the 2019 competition has been delayed.  Chanticleer just announced a new level in the competition has been added. The judges requested a new level of achievement to be added to the rounds to acknowledge the entries that they deemed should receive a high level of recognition.

The 2019 CIBA Finalists for each division will be announced over the next few weeks. The CIBA First Place Category Winners, Division Grand Prize Winners, and Overall Grand Prize Winner will be determined from the CIBA Finalists and announced on September 5, 2020 at the CIBA Banquet and Ceremony scheduled for Sept. 5, 2020 during CAC20.

Once I know how Carnage in Singapore fared in the finalist round against the other twelve novels in the Global Thrillers category, I’ll share the information.

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 sixteen posted to the two online subscription writing sites I use. Although only posted for a short time, Angola has now received 175 chapter reviews, an increase of fifteen in the past week. As always, plenty of good advice from my faithful reviewers to provide as good a story for you as possible.

I’ll provide another snippet next time.

 

 

Books I’m Reading

I recently finished reading Lion on Fire by Ted Galdi. This is an exciting thriller and shows how things can go wrong despite the best of intentions. College grad Brian, a clean-cut man who tries to help his younger brother out of a jam. Before long, Brian’s up to his ears in trouble as he runs into the Russian mafia. Will he be able to hold them off long enough to help his brother, or will the plan he’s worked out with his friend Dusty result in a bitter end?

Ted’s created a superb plot with realistic characters. Through in a twist here and there and you’ll be burning the proverbial midnight oil as you continue turning the pages as you’ll want to find out what happens next. This is the first of Ted’s books I’ve read, and it won’t be the last!

This brings us to a close for another 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

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Randall’s Ramblings, April 12, 2020

Randall Krzak

I’d like to start today by wishing those who celebrate Passover and Easter, warm wishes. Also, a big thank you to all who are putting themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others. THANK YOU and stay safe!

Who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on April 12th. (Compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):

Antoine Coypel, French painter and poet; Christopher Smart, English poet & journalist (Ceremony of Carols); Manuel Jose Quintana, Spanish author and poet (El Duque de Viseo); Claude Tillier, French journalist and writer (My Uncle Benjamin); Bernard O’Dowd, Australian poet; Léo-Paul Desrosiers, Quebec novelist (Les Engagés du Grand Portage); Sándor Márai, Hungarian writer (A gyertyák csonkig égnek); Glenway Wescott, American writer (Apartment in Athens); Quentin Reynolds, American newscaster (Its News to Me) and author (FBI); József Attila, Hungarian poet; Leo Rosten, American writer and humourist (Joys of Yiddish); David Westheimer, American novelist (Von Ryan’s Express); Marlen Haushofer, Austrian writer (The Wall); Antoine Blondin, French writer (L’Europe buissonnière); Theodore Isaac Rubin, American psychiatrist and author credited with popularising psychotherapy; Clive Exton, British scriptwriter and playwright; Mark Strand, American poet, editor and translator (Another Republic); John Milius, American screenwriter (Red Dawn, 1941, Big Wednesday); James Patrick Kelly, American sci-fi author (Think Like a Dinosaur); Sergei Lukyanenko, Russian sci-fi author (Labyrinth of Reflections); and Walid Soliman, Tunisian author.

Recognize anyone? The only one I’ve heard of is Westheimer. 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 will also be participating in three Bookfunnel promotions during April. If you’re interested in checking them out and perhaps finding new authors to read, here’s the schedule. The links won’t be active until the first day of each giveaway. I’d greatly you forward these to anyone you think might be interested.

The links will go active on the first day of the promotions.

April 7th-30th:

https://dashboard.bookfunnel.com/bundles/board/a3k53rc4a2

April 10th-17th:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/assassins-kill-kill-kill/qjgu8z6ymr

April 11th-26th:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/2nd-quarter-mystery/tvyvcj2sx6

Colombian Betrayal also picked up another five-star review on Amazon this week, which I’d like to share with you:

Randy Krzak’s latest novel reflects his tremendous abilities as a writer. These abilities combined with his real world experience provide the reader with a wonderful journey through mystery, intrigue, action, and pure reading enjoyment. His ability to interweave multiple characters and plots is simply beyond reproach. Come join main characters AJ and Javier in this most excellent story that combines drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, kidnapping, murder, and suspense in a book that your simply will not want to put down. His professional experiences provides a platform of realism that simply can not be matched by other authors. During this challenging time of “sheltering at home”, do not hesitate to purchase not only this great book but all of Krzak’s award winning novels, The Kurdish Connection, Dangerous Alliance, and Carnage in Singapore, and provide yourself with pure reading enjoyment as you “travel the world” of action with Randy! Hollywood needs to pay attention to this talented outstanding author if they are looking for a blockbuster movie script for all to enjoy! Very much looking forward to Book 2 of this series!

My Work in Progress

When I’m not working on marketing/promoting Colombian Betrayal, I’m continuing to move forward with my next novel, Xavier Sear: Angola. This week, chapter fifteen posted to the two online subscription writing sites I use. Although only posted for a short time, Angola has now received 160 chapter reviews, an increase of seventeen 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:

How would Catarina react to his going to one of the most dangerous, yet unreported, trouble spots in the world? “Oh don’t worry dear, I’m only going to negotiate the release of an old friend’s son, taken by butcherous thugs, I’ll be fine.” It sounded like idiotic thinking. She was far too well-read to believe such a trite and blatant falsehood.

“What are the rebel’s demands?” João needed time to think. His heart understood what was right, yet his head told him to run away screaming in the opposite direction.

“Nothing so far. We received word from the people Peter works with. They said the rebels almost wiped out the village, with only one or two surviving the attack. They said Peter was taken, along with some of the women and older girls.”

“Perhaps the rebels are unaware of Peter’s connection with you.” João realized this was foolish. The name Mwanga was a common Swahili name, meaning independent and autonomous. Coupled with the desire for adventure, challenge, and responsibility, it’s no wonder Theo headed into politics. So, recognition of the name was inevitable. Theo was a war hero, a government leader, and held a place of honor and respect in the hearts of his people. “That isn’t possible, is it?”

“It is unlikely.”

“It would seem if you have received no demands, there is time to gather together a group of people who can formulate a plan. People are more familiar with this Masudi than I am. Don’t your army and police understand his ways? What about your intelligence and state security service—SINSE?”

“The official policy is no one wants to anger Masudi, or do anything that might provoke him. Doing so will cause the raids inside Angola to increase. They have all take a long step back from me.”

More next time.

Books I’m Reading

I recently finished reading The Malvern Murders, by Terry Tombs. This is the first novel in Terry’s Inspector Ravenscroft Detective Mysteries series. Set during the Victorian period in England, Terry has created an excellent blend of scenery, descriptions, and characters to allow readers a glimpse of what the times were like.

In this novel, Inspector Ravenscroft, despite being a hard-working police officer, has the worst record on the force. He’s sent to the spa town of Malvern in the hopes a water treatment will cure his asthma.  Before long, he’s embroiled in a new case when a new acquaintance from Malvern is found dead. Ravenscroft works with local constable Tom Crabb. Bodies begin to pile up with no definitive suspect. To find out how it ends, you’ll have to grab a copy as I don’t like to spoil anyone’s reading pleasure. Suffice to say, there is plenty of intrigue, twists and turns to this story and you’ll stay up late turning the pages. I enjoyed this one so much, I’ve already downloaded the second book in the series.

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

 
 
 
 
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Randall’s Ramblings, April 5, 2020

Randall Krzak

I hope this update finds you and yours in good health and in a safe place. If you’re a medical professional, a first responder, or just helping others in this serious time of need, I salute and thank you.  Many thanks!

I had a bit of a laugh on Saturday when I happened to look out our home office window and spotted three of our cats. They were practicing their version of social distancing, each about three feet apart.

KODAK Digital Still Camera

From left to right, meet Flora, Tommy, and Charlie. Flora came to us in December 2014, the day before she was to be euthanized. Charlie joined us during a heavy Michigan snowstorm in late January 2015, while Tommy appeared during another storm in January 2017. Without our intervention, none of them would have survived. In the meantime, they use their rain shelters as a place to sun themselves–at least when the sun appears.

Who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on April 5th. (Compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):

Thomas Hobbes, English philosopher (Leviathan); Sydney Thompson Dobell, English poet; Algernon Charles Swinburne, English poet (Atalanta in Calydon); Chester Bowles, American ambassador and writer (Conscience of a Liberal); Robert Bloch, American sci-fi author (Hugo, Psycho); Arthur Hailey, English novelist (Hotel, Airport); Hugo Claus, Belgian writer (Cool Lover, Sugar); and Ann Maxwell, American sci-fi author (Jaws of Menx).

Recognize anyone? The only one I’ve heard of is Hobbes. 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 will be heading out on a blog tour beginning on April 6th at 6 a.m. EST, sponsored by Bewitching Book Tours.

https://www.bewitchingbooktours.biz/2020/04/now-on-tour-colombian-betrayal-by.html

My novel will also be participating in three Bookfunnel promotions during April. If you’re interested in checking them out and perhaps finding new authors to read, here’s the schedule. The links won’t be active until the first day of each giveaway. I’d greatly you forward these to anyone you think might be interested.

The links will go active on the first day of the promotions.

April 7th-30th:

https://dashboard.bookfunnel.com/bundles/board/a3k53rc4a2

April 10th-17th:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/assassins-kill-kill-kill/qjgu8z6ymr

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, I’m continuing to move forward with my next novel, Xavier Sear: Angola. This week, chapter fourteen posted to the two online subscription writing sites I use. Although only posted for a short time, Angola has now received 143 chapter reviews, an increase of fourteen in the past week. Plenty of good advice from my faithful reviewers to provide as good a story for you as possible.

Here’s another snippet:

The faint sound of a tingling bell came from João’s computer. He sat deep in thought, hands behind his head, as he proofread the draft of a document. The sound registered a second time. He glanced at the screen, aggravated by the distraction. The Skype icon continued to pulse. He moved the mouse, not wanting to accept the call.

He clicked the small powder blue symbol.

The out of focus face of a black man popped up on the screen. “Major Regaleira?”

The man used a voice so soft João almost didn’t catch it.

“Can you hear me?”

João turned up the volume on his speakers. “Hello. Who is calling?”

“Can’t you see me?”

“A silhouette—nothing more. Turn to face the light.” João became more annoyed by the second.

The image began to pitch and shift. The dizzying effect diminished as the man lifted and turned the laptop. “Now?”

João smiled as the face of his old friend Theo Mwanga came into focus.

“Theo! How are you, old man?”

“I’m in need of help.” Worry lines crisscrossed Theo’s face, and his voice carried a slight tremor. “Did you receive my message?”

He knows I received his email, as I sent a response. He sighed. Anyone João knew in power had retired long ago. He now represented business and cultural initiatives. Diplomatic concerns remained far outside his jurisdiction.

“I am sorry not to be of any help. Any word about Peter?”

“The Congolese Marxist, Jonah Masudi, took him. He’s using his so-called rebellion to murder, rape and extort from the people in Congo and Angola. Our troops are too few and too spread out to be effective. His people know where we are at any given time. He strikes at will.”

As João stared into the eyes of this former enemy, he saw a tired and defeated old man. His mind drifted into the past as his friend spoke.

More next time.

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

 

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Randall’s Ramblings, March 29, 2020

Randall Krzak

As we head toward the end of March, we hope everyone is safe and getting what they need during these trying times. Many thanks to all of those putting themselves in harm’s way to take care of the rest of us.

On to better things. Who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on March 29th. (Compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):

Vitsentzos Kornaros, Greek Renaissance poet; John Lightfoot, English theologist and scholar (Horae Hebraicae); Konstantin Sergeyevich Aksakov, Russian historian and poet; Amelia E. Barr, British-born American writer; A. M. de Jong, Dutch writer (World Tour of Bulletje & Bonestaak); Ivan Goll, French-German writer (the Landless John); Ernst Jünger, German author and entomologist (Storm of Steel); Cecil Arthur Lewis, British fighter pilot and writer; Uuno Kailas, Finnish poet; Marcel Aymé, French novelist and playwright; Yvonne Waegemans, Flemish writer (Gnome Patjoepelke); R. S. Thomas, Welsh poet; Chapman Pincher, British journalist and author (about secret service); Sheila Kitzinger, British author, anthropologist & child birth educator; Yayoi Kusama, Japanese artist and writer; and Jacques Brault, French Canadian poet (Quand nous serons heureux).

Recognize anyone? II admit this group had be wondering. 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!

My Work in Progress

When I’m not working on marketing/promoting Colombian Betrayal, I’m continuing to move forward with my next novel, Xavier Sear: Angola. This week, chapter thirteen posted to the two online subscription writing sites I use. Although only posted for a short time, Angola has now received 129 chapter reviews, an increase of twenty-six in the past week. Plenty of good advice from my faithful reviewers to provide as good a story for you as possible. I’ll provide another snipped next time.

When I’m not working on marketing/promoting Colombian Betrayal, I’m continuing to move forward with my next novel, Xavier Sear: Angola. This week, chapter thirteen posted to the two online subscription writing sites I use. Although only posted for a short time, Angola has now received 129 chapter reviews, an increase of twenty-six in the past week. Plenty of good advice from my faithful reviewers to provide as good a story for you as possible. I’ll provide another snipped next time.

 

 

 

Books I’m Reading

I recently finished reading Die Every Day by Gordon Bickerstaff. Another brilliant plot with plenty of twists and turns. Follow scientist Gavin Shawlins and Lambeth Group agent Zoe Tampsin as they’re once again embroiled in a high tense situation. As with all of his stories, Gordon brings his characters to life, making readers feel like they know every one of them.

This time, Gavin is accused of murdering his fiancée. But, are things as simple as they appear to be? Zoe doesn’t think so, and charges forward to find out the truth. I don’t want to spoil your reading pleasure, so you’ll have to pick up a copy to find out what happens. I will say you’ll be burning the proverbial midnight oil as you won’t want to put this one aside until you’ve read to the end! An excellent story!

I also recently finished The Improbable Journeys of Billie Battles by Ronald Yates. This is an excellent continuation of Billie’s journeys. This time, we follow him from his roots in Kansas to faraway lands of what eventually becomes Vietnam and the Philippines. It seems no matter where Billie goes, trouble follows him like a magnet.

Once again Ronald has created a superb story, filled with excellent descriptions which put the reader in Billie’s location. With outstanding characters and a fast-moving plot, this was a great read. I look forward to reading the final novel in the trilogy.

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

 

 

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Randall’s Ramblings, March 22, 2020

Randall Krzak

I’d like to start today’s post with a resounding THANK YOU! to all those dealing with the coronavirus, from the medical professionals to those ensuring we have sufficient food and necessary supplies available, and everyone in between. We’ve had several neighbors offer to give us a hand if we need something during this trying time. Thank you!

It’s another crisp and sunny start to the day, so it’s a good time to continue working in the flower beds and getting them prepared. Plenty to do, but we’ll also take time to enjoy a coffee and tea on our new porch, which is an excellent morning suntrap.

On to better things. Who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on March 22nd. (Compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):

Antonio Francesco Grazzini, Italian writer; Edward Moore, English writer; Heinrich D Zschokke, Swiss author (Das Goldmacherdorf); Theodor Birt, [Beatus Rhenanus], German classical/writer; Arnold Sauwen, Flemish poet (Along the Meuse); Ellen Glasgow, novelist; Giulia D De Albertis, writer; Ellin Berlin, [MacKay], Mrs Irving Berlin, writer (Lace Curtain); Jochen Klepper, writer; Phyllis McGinley, poet; Albrecht Goes, German writer and theologian; Louis D L’Amour, American best-selling author (Hondo, Jubal Sackett); Gabrielle Roy, French-Canadian novelist (Tin Flute); Nicholas Monsarrat, English novelist (The Cruel Sea); Georgiy Zhzhonov, Russian actor and writer (The Secret Agent’s Blunder); Charles Pick, British publisher (William Heinemann); Al Neuharth, newspaper founder (USA Today); Paul Fussell, American historian (The Great War and Modern Memory); Igor Hajek, translator/writer; William Shatner, Canadian author, director and actor (Star Trek, T J Hooker); Billy Collins, American poet; Rudy/Rudolf [von Bittner] Rucker, American sci-fi author (Wetware); James Patterson, American author (Alex Cross, Witch and Wizard)

Recognize anyone? I spotted three very familiar names: Louis D L’Amour, William Shatner (although I know him for Star Trek, not as a writer), and James Patterson. 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!

New Release!

I mentioned last week the release of Colombian Betrayal, the first novel in my Bruce & Smith thriller series.

To celebrate its release, I’ve teamed with other thriller authors to bring you a bevy of reading material. Some authors you might recognize, while others could very well be new to you.

To find out more, click on BookFunnel and explore the options available! I hope you find something of interest!

My Work in Progress

When I’m not working on marketing/promoting Colombian Betrayal, I’m continuing to move forward with my next novel, Xavier Sear: Angola. This week, chapter tweleve posted to the two online subscription writing sites I use. Although only posted for a short time, Angola has now received 103 chapter reviews, an increase of eighteen in the past week. Plenty of good advice from my faithful reviewers to provide as good a story for you as possible.

Here’s the another snippet from Angola:

João enjoyed a meandering stroll through the narrow cobbled streets of the Alfama district of Lisbon, winding his way through small plazas and dozens of four-to-five table restaurants. The aroma of cooking meat and spices aroused his appetite. The music of Fado singers intertwined with excited voices in numerous languages created a carnival-like atmosphere.

He entered the ground floor of Casa do Alentejo, a restaurant housed in a Moorish-style palace not far from Rossio Square. Still a bit early for his rendezvous with Catarina, he browsed in the attached gift shop selling handicrafts, searching for a small gift.

As he glanced up from a table laden with colorful scented candles, he spotted a man with African features staring at him. When João took a step forward, the man rushed out of the shop and disappeared.

He purchased two cranberry-scented candles and hurried to the second floor of the building and into the restaurant. With wood-paneled walls, Casa do Alentejo offered fine dining for its guests.

Catarina was seated at their usual table.

João kissed her cheek and took a chair opposite. A guitarist approached, providing a romantic backdrop to the setting as he gently strummed love songs.

“I’m famished, so I ordered tuna steaks for both of us.” Catarina gave João a heart-melting smile. “Since they stock your family’s wine, I left it to the waiter to choose a special one for tonight.

“Thank you, Catarina. Sorry, I’m late. I wandered through the area and lost track of time.” He held out a blue box tied with a green ribbon. “For you, my darling.”

She opened the box and clapped her hands. “My favorite scent. Shall we ask the waiter to light one of them?”

“Of course.” João snapped his fingers, and a waiter rushed to his side.

“Senhor, I shall take care of this for you.” He pulled a lighter from his pocket, and after two attempts, a glow came from the candle as the light cranberry scent filled the air.

“I spoke with Sear this morning.” João grinned. “He agreed to be my best man—again.”

“Fantastic! I know he’s one of your best friends, even if you don’t keep in regular contact.”

“Just the way I am.” João shrugged. “But, he knows I’m always here if he needs my help—and vice versa.”

The waiter set plates of seared tuna steaks and seasonal vegetables in front of them. He popped the cork out of a bottle of white wine and poured a sample for João to taste.

A sniff, a twirl around the glass, and João held it toward the light before taking a careful sip. João smacked his lips as he enjoyed the perfect blend of plums and other dark fruits. “Perfect.”

* * *

After a delightful meal, they exited the restaurant arm-in-arm.

Two men approached, stopping them. One brandished a knife and spoke in accented Portuguese. “Give me your wallet.”

Catarina’s eyes grew wide. “Give them what they want.”

João pushed her behind him and stepped forward. “No. Get out of our way.”

The man lunged, the blade aimed toward his chest.

João parried the thrust and reached for the man’s arm. With a deft twist, he brought the attacker’s arm across his leg and bent the assailant’s wrist until something snapped.

Howling with pain, the coward fled.

Meanwhile, the second man circled behind Catarina and grabbed her.

She dug her elbow into his side and stomped her high-heeled shoe into his sneaker.

He released his grip. An evil grin etched his face as he waved his knife toward her face.

Bang!

The shot echoed off the nearby buildings.

João leveled his SIG Sauer P228 at Catarina’s attacker. “Leave her, or I won’t miss.”

Another snippet next time.

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