Russell S. Newquist's Blog, page 3

New from Silver Empire: COME, SEELING NIGHT by Daniel Humphreys

True story: this one time I went to bed at about two in the morning and I didn’t know if I was alive or if I was dead!

I guess I should probably explain that.

Have you read Daniel Humphreys’ Paxton Locke books? If you like The Dresden Files, they’re probably right up your alley. The first time I read Fade, my honest reaction was, “That’s more Dresden than Dresden.” Fantastic books. So I was naturally pretty excited to get the opportunity to publish the books – and even more excited when Dan decided to write me in to the story with book two, Night’s Black Agents.

He asked for permission first, and I thought it was going to be a really tiny part. And it generally was… until I got the early manuscript of Book 3 – Come, Seeling Night. Somehow my character turned out to actually have a pretty decent sized role.

Because Murphy’s Law is always in operation, Dan sent me the pre-release manuscript while I was finalizing my end-of-year accounting for Silver Empire. I made myself wait to read it, and gave myself the reward.

So after waiting almost two weeks to continue one of my absolute favorite series, here I am, roughly halfway through the boook… and my character is caught up in a giant explosion. I finish the chapter, and check the clock…

And it’s 2 AM. And I have to work in the morning (my actual day job, which has real hours and everything). Somehow I summoned the will to put the book down…

BUT I DIDN’T KNOW IF I WAS ALIVE OR DEAD!

I kept sneaking in moments to read – over my lunch break, between classes at the dojo, etc. And finally, I learned that…

Well, that would be spoiling.

Author Philip Ligon joins Silver Empire

Today I’m pleased to announce the addition of another upcoming author – Philip Ligon – to the ever expanding Silver Empire stable. Mr Ligon is the author of the steampunk novesl of The Engine series – This Strange Engine and This Mysterious Engine. Look for Silver Empire reprints of these in the very near future, as well as two all new novels: The King’s Regret, a young adult steampunk novel, and the upcoming third volume of The Engine series.

I met Mr. Ligon some time back at a local book exposition, and we’ve greatly enjoyed his work. My wife Morgon thinks it’s the best stuff we’ve ever published – and given some of what we have for offer, that’s strong praise.

The post Author Philip Ligon joins Silver Empire appeared first on Russell Newquist.

New from Silver Empire – HONOR AT STAKE

New from Silver Empire today is the re-release of Declan Finn’s Dragon Award nominated horror/urban fantasy/paranormal romance novel, Honor at Stake. Bringing you Finn’s signature over-the-top action combined with theology and Catholic vampires, this isn’t your typical paranormal romance. But don’t take my word for it.

“To be honest, there have been too many bad vampire novels written and I was filled with apprehension about starting this one. However, my mind quickly shifted to Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot – and I found myself enthralled with the characters and storyline in Honor at Stake.” – Book Czar, 5-star Amazon review.
“Second Only To Dracula, IMHO.” – Stuart, 5-star Amazon review.
“I saw an add for this book read the description and did not have high hopes but I’m willing to give anything a try. It was pretty good starting off but then just got better and better. I loved that both main characters Marco and Amanda, were strong both in personality and physically and they did not spend the whole book babying each other which sometimes happens when reading a vampire human combo. The book took many turns and I was continually surprised and I hope in future books the supernatural world is expanded on in creatures and I info.” – Cannon mw, 5-star Amazon review.
“I definitely appreciate writers who weave stories that challenge what we expect.“ – A. Holden, 5-star Amazon review.

Honor at Stake is $0.99 on Kindle today only or free on Kindle Unlimited. As of this writing, it carries a 4.4 star rating on Amazon with 86 reviews. Don’t wait – get your copy now!

One is a heartless, bloodthirsty killer. The other is a vampire.

College freshman, Amanda Colt knows few people and wants to know fewer still. She enjoys fencing and prefers facing a challenge every once in a while. She is beautiful, smart, and possibly the most interesting person on campus.

Then she finds tall, intense Marco Catalano in her fencing class. With a mind like a computer and manners of a medieval knight, he scares most people – but not Amanda.They both have secrets, for they are both monsters.

As they draw closer, they must find the line between how much they can trust each other, and how much they can care for each other. Each carries a secret that can destroy the other. But they must come to grips with their personal drama soon, because a darkness rises around them. Bodies keep turning up all over New York, and an army of vampires closes in on all sides.

They have only one hope – each other.

The post New from Silver Empire – HONOR AT STAKE appeared first on Russell Newquist.

Happy Frogs 2018 Dragon Award Recommendations

The excitable amphibians that compose the Happy Frogs crack book recommendation team have been hard at work this year putting together their suggestions for the 2018 Dragon Awards! There are a ton of great recommendations this time around, and I heartily suggest that you check them all out for yourselves.

Robert Kroese’s Dream of the Iron Dragon takes their fantasy recommendation – and really, how can you go wrong with Vikings in space? Trick question – you can’t, so don’t even try to answer. They also suggest a masterpiece in alternate history: A Rambling Wreck by my friend Hans Schantz. Imagine a world in which Al Gore won the 2000 election and a secret conspiracy tries to rewrite the very nature of science. It’s awesome, even if it is about Georgia Tech (#GoDawgs!). And what can I say about The Orville? If you haven’t been watching it, drop everything and start now. It’s that good.

I’m also humbled to find that my own supernatural thriller War Demons has made the list for best horror novel. It’s an honor to be in this kind of company! The full list is below, or you can find it on the official Happy Frogs site.

Remember: the best part about the Dragon Awards is that you get to nominate and vote! Don’t forget to make sure your voice is heard – nominate for the 2018 Dragon Awards today!

Best Science Fiction Novel

Robert Kroese Dream of the Iron Dragon


Best Fantasy Novel (Including Paranormal)

Lindsay Buroker – Dragon Storm




Best Military SF Novel

Mark Wandrey and Chris Kennedy – A Fiery Sunset


Best Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel

Keira Drake – The Continent


Best Alternate History Novel

Hans Schantz – A Rambling Wreck


Best Media Tie-In Novel

Seanan McGuire – Deadlands: Boneyard


Best Horror Novel

Russell Newquist – War Demons


Best Comic Book  & Best Graphic Novel

Timothy Lim – My Hero MAGAdemia #1


Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series, TV or Internet

The Orville


Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie

Bright


Best Science Fiction or Fantasy PC / Console Game

Doki Doki Literature Club




Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Mobile Game

Middle Earth: Shadow of War




Best Board Game Best Miniatures / Collectible Card / Role-Playing Game

Star Wars: Destiny – Fantasy Flight Games



[Cross posted to Urban-Fantasy.com.]

The post Happy Frogs 2018 Dragon Award Recommendations appeared first on Russell Newquist.

A Stitch In Space

A long and dangerous voyage to a strange new world

In the year 2462, Father Guerin voyages to a new world, like the priests who sailed the Atlantic in the 1700s. Joined by three other passengers and the crew of the cargo ship Hopeful, he sets off for the recently colonized planet Xanadu. What kind of person spends half a year cut off from the rest of humanity by the vast distances of interstellar space? What will they make of the over-educated and over-confident priest?



And how will they cope when the space pirates attack?

 

A Stitch In Space is a fun tale of humanity across the stars. But don’t take my word for it.

“I really enjoyed this highly original short sci-fi novel” – C. Ancion
“Christianity + Space Pirates = Good Reading” – Mike
“Father Brown in the 25th Century” – Justin T.

A Stitch In Space is available now on Amazon.com in eBook or paperback. The eBook is currently only $0.99 – but hurry, that price will only last through Friday, March 30th!

The post A Stitch In Space appeared first on Russell Newquist.

Silver Empire signs Dragon Award nominee Daniel Humphreys

Guess what I got to read this weekend that you have to wait for? Night’s Black Agents by Dragon Award nominee Daniel Humphreys. Agents is the sequel to his first urban fantasy / supernatural thriller novel, Fade. Long time readers of the blog will recall that I read Fade some time ago and absolutely loved it.

Humphreys is, in my opinion, one of the best up and coming authors out there at the moment. Which is why I bought not just Fade but the rest of the series – and by bought, I don’t just mean I purchased the ebooks. Mr. Humphreys has signed with Silver Empire for us to re-release Fade and to release the new books as they come out.

And that’s how I got to read Night’s Black Agents so early. If you’ve read Fade, I can promise that you won’t be disappointed. The sequel is phenomenal. If you haven’t yet read Fade, I suggest you hurry. Mr. Humphreys will be taking it off Amazon soon in preparation for our relaunch.

But don’t fret too much if you miss it – we’re going to have it, and Night’s Black Agents, back on Amazon very quickly. The draft I read this weekend is in very, very good shape. And hopefully we’ll have the finale, Come, Seeling Night, up within a year or so.

Excited? So ware we. But stay tuned, because we have even more amazing news on the urban fantasy front coming soon.

The post Silver Empire signs Dragon Award nominee Daniel Humphreys appeared first on Russell Newquist.

Stairs in the Woods

I first posted our call for submissions for Silver Empire’s “Stairs in the Woods” anthology nearly two years ago. Several events transpired behind the scenes that caused us to delay the initial release. And then something crazy happened…

The submission page went viral. That was kind of strange, but it happened. And we ended up with a ridiculous number of submissions – more submissions for this single anthology than for all other Silver Empire anthologies combined. For months now I’ve had to fend off the questions: “when is the stairs anthology coming?”

Well, we finally managed to comb through all of the submissions. We finalized our list and culled it down to “only” 34 stories. And now I’m thrilled to tell you all that not only is Secret Stairs – A Tribute to Urban Legend now available, but it’s also the #1 New Release in horror anthologies!

You can get the Kindle edition on Amazon for only $0.99 if you buy it by this Saturday. The paperback edition clocked in at $24.99 because this turned into a beast at 668 pages.

You mustn’t talk about the stairs.

There they stand, surrounded by nothing but forest, pristine as the day they were built. No sign remains of any other structure around them, no ruins of long forgotten buildings. They look… wrong. They feel wrong. Bad things happen if you get too close. Horrible things.

You must never, ever ever talk about them.

Thirty-four of today’s best up and coming writers provide wonderfully unique interpretations inspired by the urban legends of the Internet age. Tales range from science fiction to fantasy, horror to mystery, and one writer even penned a romance!

But you must never tell anyone about the stairs!

Containing the stories:

Nothing Ever Happens Here by Richard Paolinelli
Star Thistle by J. Comer
Let Him In by Josh Dygert
A New Trail Off Of Old King?s Highway by Michael Reyes
The Strange Stairs at the Aldebourne Estate by Kristen Brand
Exclusive Scoop by J. Trevor Robinson
The Flash-Back Stairs: A Story of Betrayal by Patrick T. Luce
The Peacock House by Matthew Pegg
Where The Wood Thrush Sings by NB Williams
The Refuge by Dawn Witzke
Upon The Stair by Daniel Humphreys
Grand Staircase to the Yellow Court by R.C. Mulhare
Another Dead Man?s Curve by Chris Ingram
Game Warden by Russell Newquist
Stepping Stones by Jarrett Mazza
Reap Dance by James G. Hancock
Descending Stairs, 1699 by Meghan Casey
Where Angels Fear to Tread by Michelle Mellon
Sobek’s Staircase by Jeremy Megargee
The Curses We Carry by Russell Mahon
Stranger?s Wood by J.S. Arroyo
Stairway Back to Jonathan?s Farm by Dan Allen
The Thirteenth Step by MJ Mars
Cajun Ray by S.D. McPhail
W/M by Isobel Horsburgh
The Sentinel by Richard W. Watts
Sleep, Child by A.G. Lopes
The Lost Ones by Karen Thrower
Ready For Seven More by Christopher Lansdown
Fire and Pine by Bethany C. Gotschall
Stairway to? Where? by William Lehman
The Dead Always by Darren Todd
Missing Persons by Jonathan Bronico
Cedar Road by Mocha Pennington

The post Stairs in the Woods appeared first on Russell Newquist.

The Dean Died Over Winter Break

Dean Floden is dead!

Winter break is normally a peaceful time at the university, especially during a blizzard. So it shocked everyone when they found the dean murdered at his desk. Thanks to an empty campus, there are no witnesses and police have little to go on. With the police stymied, and hoping to wrap up the investigation before students return for the spring semester, the president of the university has turned to the Franciscan Brothers of Investigation for help.

Jovial and mild mannered Brother Francis arrived on the scene to find a jealous mistress, a clever drug dealer, a disappointed researcher, and a mortally insulted professor on his short list of suspects. Did one of them do the other three a huge favor? Or was it someone else entirely?

Perfect for fans of Ellis Peters and Dorothy L. Sayers!

 

 

The Dean Died Over Winter Break by Christopher Lansdown is the first mystery novel from Silver Empire. I think you’ll agree that Lansdown’s investigator-monks in this old-school cozy mystery hearken back to the likes of Brother Cadfael and Father Brown. Three time Dragon Award nominee Declan Finn calls it, “A cozy so old school, you expect Lord Peter Wimsey to walk into a scene, with behavioral analysis that would make Father Brown or Philo Vance happy.” But don’t take our word for it. Here’s what readers have to say:

“It was very difficult to put down the book and not read, read it until the last page!” – Keti
“If you’re a fan of Brother Cadfael, you’ll like this novel.” – Borderbumble
“It’s well worth a read for any mystery fan just for the unique detectives. I’d love to see a sequel.” – Nigel
“It is a quick and enjoyable read with interesting characters with whom I’d like to spend more time in the sequels.” – Alfred

The Dean Died Over Winter Break is available now on Amazon.com in eBook or paperback. The eBook is currently only $0.99 – but hurry, that price will only last through Saturday, March 3!

The post The Dean Died Over Winter Break appeared first on Russell Newquist.

A Pius Stand

War in the Vatican!

Sean A.P. Ryan saved the pope from assassination and rescued him from a kidnapping attempt. But now fifteen thousand men are coming to assault the Vatican and end the church forever. Ryan and his team have raced to prepare the city for invasion, but will even that be enough when the Mafia gets involved?

The thrilling conclusion to the epic Pius Trilogy!

Mercenaries, spies, beautiful women, international intrigue and ancient secrets – The Pius Trilogy has it all!

 

 

A Pius Stand by Declan Finn concludes the story he began with A Pius Man and continued with A Pius Legacy. If you enjoyed the first two books, you won’t want to miss the thrilling conclusion!

The post A Pius Stand appeared first on Russell Newquist.

My Shady Rays Broke

After about 14 months of heavy use, my Shady Rays broke. I still have the second pair (although I need to find them again), but it’s time to test out their lifetime warranty and report back to everyone!

The post My Shady Rays Broke appeared first on Russell Newquist.