Tyler Colins's Blog, page 39
February 14, 2021
The Third – Have You Heard?
Can you Hula like Hilo Hattie is free on the third promo day!
It’s Linda again today (Rey’s on monk-seal volunteer duty today and JJ’s at the animal shelter).
In Hula, we’ve become official private investigators and established the Triple Threat Investigation Agency (the name, by the by, was Rey’s idea).
And we have our first official paying assignment: to discover the “secret” of an elderly millionaire’s young, pretty wife.
It seems clear-cut . . . until she’s found floating in the stunning sapphire waters of a deserted beach. The three of us endeavor to uncover the killer amid a cast of curious characters and do uncover a few secrets, but not all belong to the deceased wife. A few bodies fall at our feet, too. What initially seemed a simple case evolves into a complicated one.
While piecing together the puzzle, we take a few detours—to the sordid and dodgy domains of drug pushers, informants, and gangs. These folks are serious game players who play for serious keeps.
If you’d like to find out how we fare, please check us out at:
https://www.amazon.ca/Hula-Hattie-Triple-Threat-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01KEEBNOS
February 13, 2021
The Second has been Beckoned
The second day of the free Can You Hula like Hilo Hattie promotion has arrived—beckoned like a mound of banana-mango shave ice on a 90-degree day.
Hula marks our first official—paying—case as private investigators. My best friend, Rey, and her cousin, JJ, have been hired to find out what a millionaire’s pretty, young wife is up to. Unfortunately, before we discover what that is, she’s found swimming in the ocean . . . face down.
Our case takes us to a variety of places, some dingy, some dangerous. We meet gang members, drug dealers, and a druggie (who we attempt to get back on the straight and narrow). JJ also meets a dark and handsome stranger who fixates on her.
A few bodies cross our paths, too, and we scramble to piece together a rather bizarre puzzle. It’s a wild ride, as Rey just said (with a slap to the back and a theatrical wink), or madcap as JJ just threw out (with a thumb’s up).
Maybe you’d like to check out how our professional sleuthing skills develop? What have you got to lose? Not one penny . . . because it’s free.
Aloha Sunday.
https://www.amazon.ca/Hula-Hattie-Triple-Threat-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01KEEBNOS
February 12, 2021
Immersed in the First . . .
. . . day of the Can You Hula like Hilo Hattie promotion. It’s free!
It’s Linda on post patrol for the duration of the Hula promo (which runs today through the 17th).
It’s our first official case as professional private investigators. We even have our own agency on Oahu: The Triple Threat Investigation Agency. It was Rey’s idea to become P.I.s, as was the name suggestion; given JJ and I rarely, if ever, win when it comes to Rey, we went with it (with rolls of the eyes and sighs).
The three of us have been hired to uncover the secret of an elderly millionaire’s pretty, young wife. There’s a dark twist though: pretty, young wife is found dead in the waters of the Pacific. And there’s a secret all right, one of many and not all hers.
As we’re collecting clues, we trip across a few bodies along the way . . . with a sundry of suspects to choose from. There’s a crazy druggie, a weird drug dealer or two, and a crotchety gang member or three. We do make some enemies, but we also form a few friendships.
What seems a straightforward task becomes anything but. Thanks to a bizarre week in Connecticut, however, we’re used to dealing with murderers and quirky personalities. And we have enough faith in our developing talents to persevere and solve this challenging case. As Rey called it, it’s “one heckuva fun ride”.
Maybe you’d like to find out just how much fun? Here are some Amazon links courtesy of our Boss:
https://www.amazon.ca/Hula-Hattie-Triple-Threat-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01KEEBNOS
https://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Colins/e/B01KHOZAL2%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Have a marvelous Saturday!
February 11, 2021
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . . . 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Yeah, no rhyme or reason re the title, but it seemed as good a one as any . . . because it’s Day 5—the last one—of the free promotion of The Connecticut Corpse Caper!
If you like old mystery movies with creepy mansions, hidden passageways, and multiple corpses, Caper’s for you. And solving this caper proves both challenging and exciting . . . and maybe a little scary, too. Okay, maybe a lot scary.
Hey, with a description like this of eccentric Aunt Mat’s place, how could you not have a thrill or chill or two? (You just know something major is going to happen!)
“Hell” was the best word to describe the Moone Connecticut estate. The mansion resembled a demon’s lair and could serve as a horror film director’s dream setting. Dark and untamed, it promoted an underworld quality. Yet everything on the sweeping grounds also held a sense of harmony, as if the neglect, almost perfect in its precision, had been carefully executed.
A thick arc of dead rosebushes encircling a lopsided fountain of capering cherubs boasted stark, disconcerting symmetry while a large overrun garden, lifeless herb patch, and circular clump of dogwood possessed an oddly unsettling order.
Situated on the far eastern corner of the estate was an elaborate stone gazebo enfolded by lifeless ivy twisted like sinewy, arthritic arms. Beyond it stood a perfectly aligned grove of cedars. With its unique aesthetic quality, the land was reminiscent of Futurist artist Giacomo Balla’s later figurative works.
Please check us out at:
https://www.amazon.ca/Connecticut-Corpse-Triple-Threat-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01KEDWHMG
February 10, 2021
Not Too Many More, We’re at Day Four
Day Four of the free (!) promotion of The Connecticut Corpse Caper . . . featuring me (lovely Rey), my cute Cousin Jilly (also known as JJ), and my BFF, Linda (she’s a peach).
That crazy week there motivated us three to become professional private eyes; for three non-detectives, we did an awesome job solving the “case”. Here’s a summary that Linda wrote a wee while back:
A week-long stay in a creepy oversize Connecticut mansion is awash with hidden passageways, disappearing and reappearing corpses, and seven quirky inheritance recipients. And if that’s not enough to make for hair-raising moments on a secluded storm-bound estate, how about a ghost named Fred that roams the hallways?
A stipulation in the will of JJ’s eccentric aunt: if a guest leaves early, his or her share will be divided among those remaining. The first one to leave—permanently—dies just hours after arriving.
People soon start dropping like flies. Donning amateur sleuth caps, we endeavor to solve the mystifying murders. Others jump in, and the bumbling and stumbling—and mayhem—begin.
Yeah, I like that. Good work, Lindy-Loo!
Please check us out at:
https://www.amazon.ca/Connecticut-Corpse-Triple-Threat-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01KEDWHMG
February 9, 2021
Free, Free, Free . . . Three, Three, Three
Hey there, it’s Rey, and we’re entering Day Three of the FREE promo—that’s right, F-R-E-E. For $0 you can get a copy of The Connecticut Corpse Caper.
What can you expect? Lots of entertaining excitement and eerie events. A real haunted antebellum mansion, murder and mayhem (with several corpses found in the oddest of places), and a slew of zany suspects.
The crazy happenings inspired JJ, Linda and me to set up shop on Oahu and become official P.I.s. We’re very proud of the Triple Threat Investigation Agency and are doing pretty decent, if I do say so myself . . . and I do.
Please check us out at:
https://www.amazon.ca/Connecticut-Corpse-Triple-Threat-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01KEDWHMG
February 8, 2021
Yabba Dabba Doo, It’s Day Two!
Gotta love Fred Flintstone’s enthusiasm—I’m yabba-dabba-dooing over day two of the FREE promo for The Connecticut Corpse Caper.
It’s Rey again. How ya doin’?
If you’re interested in learning how JJ, Linda and I—the private eyes of The Triple Threat Investigation Agency got our inspiration to pursue this profession—please check out the book.
There are some fun times and weird happenings: a resident ghost in whacky Aunt Mat’s mansion, a week-long “must stay” to collect a share of the inheritance (the poor dear swooned over a theater balcony, what a way to go), hidden rooms and passageways . . . and a murder or three or more.
Remember it’s free (a word dear to my heart). Please check us out at . . .
https://www.amazon.ca/Connecticut-Corpse-Triple-Threat-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01KEDWHMG
February 7, 2021
Five, Four, Three, Two . . . One . . . None
As in free-none (nothing to pay, yay). You don’t have to hand out one red cent. Woo-hoo.
Hey, it’s Rey. The Connecticut Corpse Caper, which “inspired” us to become private eyes, is available for free today through February 12th. That’s a bargain if ever there was one.
If you, like me, enjoy old B&W mysteries with hidden rooms, red herrings, and a curious cast of colorful characters, Caper may prove a fun read.
Eccentric Aunt Mathilda has passed. Several people—including Cousin Jilly and my best friend Linda—are invited to spend a week in her haunted mansion to collect a share of the inheritance. If anyone leaves for any reason, their share goes to those remaining. Only a few hours after we arrive, the first guest departs, as in permanently. Strange goings on—such as loud bumps in the night and crazy behind-the-wall chuckling—take place and more bodies drop. The three of us pull on our amateur sleuth hats and set out to discover who the killer is.
If I’ve intrigued you even a little bit, maybe you’d like to check out our escapades?
Catch ya tomorrow (I’m on post patrol for the duration of this promotion.)
https://www.amazon.ca/Connecticut-Corpse-Triple-Threat-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01KEDWHMG
February 6, 2021
The “E” Word
A short woo-hoo post.
The “e” word is . . .
e-d-i-t-o-r
Next Chapter has asked if I would like to edit again (thanks Miika!). Would I! I can’t work at it to the extent I’d like right now (given mom-care is 24/7, with only two hours a week of support outside of myself, never mind the full-time job). But I’ll do as much as is doable for the interim. Can’t wait. Love to edit.
And while we’re looking at the word “editor” . . . I’m still going through the final draft of “HA-HA-HA-HA”. Getting there. Slowly but surely. It’ll be ready soon, I promise (I hope). Rushing an edit isn’t in anyone’s best interest.
I suspect there’ll be some editing-related posts in the near future (he-he).
And that, dear friends, is my short-and-sweet post for the weekend.
Take care and stay well.
February 2, 2021
The “H” Word
One more “personal” post – one that seemed an appropriate accompaniment and finale—to the previous two.
My mom’s newly diagnosed dementia (the “d” word) has added to the anxiety factor, this I’ve readily admitted. That it appears to be spiraling isn’t helping, alas. Support (the “s” word) is forthcoming, but not to the degree I want or require. Nevertheless, it’s a start. A baby step or two . . . those I used to write about.
Today’s “h” word . .
h-o-p-e
On a self-centered “me” level, I hope that I am free of mom-care soon; after so many years, exhaustion and depression aside, I do believe I am entitled to have a life of my own. Moreover, it’s better she be in long-term care; they can provide around the clock assistance and at a level so much more superior and professional to mine.
On an all-encompassing level, I hope that the world returns to relative normalcy sooner than later (world peace, and all that, would be welcome, too, but I won’t push it). It’s hard to believe that COVID-19 has been around so very long and, now, its variants have entered the scene. Several months ago, we’d hoped for a vaccine; they now exist. Let’s further hope that the vaccine(s) are available [more] quickly, that they work well, and that the virus(es) are eventually eradicated.
HOPE = WISH = DREAM = OPTIMISM = FAITH
Hope keeps us going. It enables us to:
have dreams and pursue them believe anything is possible keep going (despite odds and challenges) stand tall and strong, and maintain faith.
There are different ways to boost hope. I do it through writing/blogging (this post “voices” my hope and inspires me to persevere). Having someone to talk (vent) helps. Sometimes, music can do the trick; a certain song will bring a smile to these usually taut lips and, suddenly, there is a glow, a soft amber light, at the end of that very long, proverbial tunnel. For others, a book or movie/show may do it, too. So could prayer, dancing, walking, singing . . . it’s merely a matter of finding what inspires your hope.
With that, I’ll leave you with a simple yet compelling quote (one I’m particularly fond of) from anti-apartheid and human rights activist, cleric and theologian, Desmond Tutu . . .
Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.
