Corona Virus Quarantine – Day:……. Who Knows?

Well, I got up today and realized it’s the 67th day of Femarpril, or whatever the hell month we are in right now, and it has been about two months since I posted my last blog entry.  I figured now was as good a time as any to let you know that I am alive and well, having survived the great toilet paper skirmish of 2020.

These last few weeks have proved to be an eye opening experience for me, as I have learned that my lifestyle apparently has a name: Self Quarantining. Who knew? I also realize that with the number of people posting photos of their alcohol supply, and having gone through just about every Netflix show in existence, I have a feeling that the wild nights of quarantine are going to be replaced with the raucous sound of babies crying in December. Introducing the next defined baby group: Coronials!!

One benefit of being an author is that we create our own little worlds, so if the one we are living in isn’t working for us, then we just move on. I’ve spent the last few months re-editing & re-publishing some previous novels: Perfect Pawn, Queen’s Gambit, Small Town Secrets (which also got a new cover re-design), Bishop’s Gate, Cold Case: The Katherine White Murder, and have Little Boy Lost in final review. I’m gradually making my way through my old backlist to polish up my prior books.  My goal is to give the reader the best possible product for them to enjoy.

Along the way, I’ve written a new novel which I hope to get out this summer. I’d hoped to release it in winter 2019, but there was just something missing and I didn’t want to force it. I’ve also penned an outline for a new Angelo Antonucci Cold Case novella and the outline for the next Alex Taylor novel.

So that’s what has been happening on my home front. I truly wish you all the best during this chaotic and uncertain time. Just remember, nothing lasts forever and each day is one day closer to the end of this nightmare. Until then, sit back, grab something to drink, and enjoy a good book. Chances are it will be a better world than the one we are living in right now.

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Best wishes, Stay Safe, & God Bless.

Andrew

RE-RELEASE: NEW EDITION OF SMALL TOWN SECRETS

In 2014, I released Small Town Secrets. The novel introduced Alex Taylor, a former NYPD sergeant and James Maguire’s old partner, who had lost her law enforcement career because of her drinking problem.

With Maguire’s help, she got the job as chief of police in the idyllic New Hampshire town of Penobscot. What should have been an easy assignment soon takes a dark turn when the body of a young woman is pulled from Lake Moriah.

As part of my introspection tour, I have been going over my previous works and doing a re-edit; fine tuning each book for the reader’s enjoyment. I recently re-released the newly edited edition of my 2nd Maguire novel, Queen’s Gambit. For Small Town Secrets, I not only re-edited the book, but also re-deigned the cover. While the substance of the book remains unchanged, I believe the newly edited edition enhances the reading experience.  

If you are looking to delve into a police procedural series featuring a tough-as-nails female protagonist, then consider giving Small Town Secrets a read.

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RE-RELEASE: NEW EDITION OF PERFECT PAWN - FREE: 10/18-10/20

As an author, one of the inevitable questions you face from readers is, ‘When is your next book coming out?’

While it is a welcome question, because it indicates interest in your work, it places a burden on you to continue to look forward and generate new material.  That being said, sometimes you have to take a pause and look backward.

In 2012, when I wrote my debut novel, Perfect Pawn, I was a neophyte author. As I have told many of you, the book was written for my wife and I had never given any thought to publishing it, but that all changed in 2013. Over the course of the last several years, I have written and published eleven books and two novellas.

Like anyone who continues in their tradecraft, I would like to believe that my writing style has improved with each new release. This past summer, I had some critical reviews that caused me to take a break and revisit my past work. I’d like to say that the criticism was unwarranted, but it wasn’t.

There is a school of thought among many writers that you don’t re-write novels. Authors live to tell stories, but they also want the reader to enjoy the experience. As I re-read my book, I had to face the harsh reality that I had failed in certain areas.

American writer and Nobel Prize laureate William Faulkner famously said, ‘in writing you must kill all your darlings.’

With that acceptance, I sat down and took a long hard look at Perfect Pawn and decided to do my best to smooth the edges.

I started out with the idea of being a surgeon, using a scalpel to dissect specific areas, but I ended up chopping away at the book like Jason Voorhees’ machete at summer camp. It was brutal, but it was necessary.

I did my utmost to protect the integrity of the story, while culling out unnecessary parts and streamlining the rest. In the end, I believe the book is tighter than it originally was. It might not please every literary critic, most books don’t, but I believe that the majority will enjoy it much more than the original.  

To mark the 6th anniversary of the original release date, and s my way of saying thanks for your continued support, I am making the revised edition of Perfect Pawn available for FREE on Amazon Kindle from Friday, October 18, 2019, 12:00 AM (PDT) through Sunday, October 20, 2019, 11:59 PM (PDT).

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Amazon Rankings – Where Do I Stand?

With the release of my latest novel: GLASS CASTLE, I headed over to my Amazon page and discovered something that I thought was very interesting. So I thought I would share it with you.

On every book page, there is a ranking system for books in a particular genre. I was looking over the listings for Perfect Pawn.

While every author wants to be in the top 100, my genre of mystery is a very tough nut to crack. I’ve been there a few times, with several of my books, but it is very hard to maintain. But last night I saw something that I really hadn’t considered before and it got me to thinking.

Perfect Pawn is listed as being #41,544 in the Kindle Store. The number fluctuates, up and down, but it is usually within that ball park.

Now, that might seem like a high number, until you consider that there are over 3.4 million books in the Kindle Store.

So what does it mean? Well, when you break down the math, it means that my book ranks in the top 2% of kindle books sold on Amazon. Considering the competition I face, I would say that is something to brag about.

If you are looking to sink your teeth into a great police procedural / mystery series, and would like to find out the order in which to read them, you can find the chronological listing HERE.

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GLASS CASTLE - Pre-Order

The release date for the latest James Maguire NYPD novel: GLASS CASTLE, is officially set for Friday, August 23rd,  2019.

The pre-order option is now available on my Amazon webpage.

If you haven’t had the chance to catch up on the series you still have plenty of time. All my books are available over at Amazon.

GLASS CASTLE picks up nearly a year after Knight Fall (and roughly 6 months since Brooklyn Bounce, for those reading my books in order). Maguire has grudgingly accepted his new role as NYPD Police Commissioner, but soon finds himself questioning his decision when he is thrust into the middle of an investigation that threatens the very underpinnings of the city. As the case heats up, Maguire soon finds himself wondering who he can trust and reaching out to his past for help, but will that help come at a price?

If you are looking to sink your teeth into a great police procedural series, and would like to find out the order in which to read them, you can find the chronological listing HERE.

I want to thank all of you who have been so patient with this process; I know that it took a long time and I hope that you will enjoy the latest continuation of the Maguire series.

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