News and Notices from the Writing Trenches #148…
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What do you prefer? Standard fiction comes in three forms: short stories, novellas, and novels. I write all three because I never know when I start a story what it will become. You can read some of my short fiction in the blog category “Steve’s Shorts” and in the PDFs free for the asking found in those listed on the webpage “Free Stuff & Contests.” I like short fiction enough that I have several collections available on Amazon too—they’re ideal reading material on a trip. And be forewarned: the free short fiction can always disappear and become a collection, so tet it while it’s free!
Small presses. Do you only read books spewed out from the Big Five conglomerates? That’s like seeing only the latest blockbuster movie and ignoring smaller-budget films with some more meat to them. My experience with Penmore Press, publisher of Rembrandt’s Angel, has been rewarding and interesting. Apparently this experience isn’t new. Consider the quote from The Guardian: “These days, it is minimally staffed and funded firms who invest in new authors. The giants avoid such risk, only picking the writers once their names are made….” (UK, Dec. 8, 2016). If you’re looking for new and exciting authors, please look beyond the Big Five publishing conglomerates.
Reviews are still coming in for Rembrandt’s Angel… but here are excerpts from one just posted:
“…a thrilling, globetrotting adventure that provides readers a glance into the world of art forgery, Neo-Nazi conspiracies and even links to ISIS. The duo of Brookstone and van Coevorden can be favorably compared with utmost respect to Agatha Christie’s classic characters, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. Esther is a strong, well-liked character with a saucy disposition, while Bastiann, though he plays costar and lover to Esther, is able to hold his own with regards to likability.”
“…Steven M. Moore’s novel should be read by fans of the mystery genre. Particularly because the author has a keen ability to weave a great storyline that is not only filled with suspense, but captures a reader’s attention. A few quotes stood out as quite descriptive and remained with this reader well after the book was completely read, for example, ‘In the ice cream shop of crime, there are many flavors’ and ‘A committee of clouds enjoyed a private meeting over the manor.’”
“…the character Esther Brookstone provides readers with an unusual female protagonist who is more than just a senior Scotland Yard Inspector, she is a memorable and tenacious dame who readers will undoubtedly enjoy throughout the novel and will look forward to reading any of her possible future exploits.”
“Rembrandt’s Angel is a complex thriller with several plots intertwined throughout the story. It is recommended for serious mystery fans who are looking for not only a challenging read, but also one that allows readers to become an armchair adventurist and detective, along with Brookstone and van Coevorden, spanning many different parts of the globe.”
—Lynette Latzko, Feathered Quill Reviews.
Thank you, Feathered Quill and reviewer Lynette. You can read the full review here.
…and Feathered Quill interviews me… I answer questions about my writing in general and about Rembrandt’s Angel in particular. See the full interview here.
Availability of Rembrandt’s Angel? You’ll find the ebook version on Amazon, Apple, B&N, Kobo, and Smashwords (and its associated retailers and ebook lending services). It’s also available in print version on Amazon, B&N, or at your local bookstore (if they don’t have it, ask them to order it). It’s newly published, so don’t look for it in libraries just yet (except at Smashwords’ associated lending services). The ebook is also available overseas, of course; I don’t know about the print version. (Both are available at Amazon UK—I just checked.)
Ready for some post-apocalyptic reading entertainment? The Last Humans is worth waiting for. It’s a post-apocalyptic thriller that’s mind-bending enough for the most avid fan of this subgenre. The manuscript is now with my beta-readers.
Strange star. Readers of my sci-fi novel Survivors of the Chaos know that the planet Saturn and its moons play important roles in the novel. Recently a star smaller than Saturn was discovered. It has 300 times the mass, though, so it’s massive enough to sustain nuclear fusion. We’re learning more about our Universe every day!
Reading ebooks. Did you know that with a Kindle app you can read .mobi-formatted ebooks on most any device? My Win 10 version came with it, but you can download it from Amazon. Yes, I know many readers like the look and feel of a print book, whether trade paperback, hardbound, or airport-sized paperback, but they’re usually paying a higher price (print books are more expensive to produce) and also missing out on a lot of good reading that includes new editions of literary standards (I have a few on my Kindle, like Tale of Two Cities).
I used to be exclusively a print book reader, but I received a Kindle as a birthday present and it has become my constant companion. That said, the app is a good alternative for those who don’t want to invest in yet another device.
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In libris libertas!
