ms's Blog

"Shifting Sands" Honored as a 2018 NIEA Finalist

Shifting Sands: Tradecraft Phase One  has been selected as an award-winning finalist in the Political Thriller category of the 2018 National Indie Excellence® Awards.
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This is the fourth time the title has been recognized for excellence. Earlier this year, the title earned:The prize for Action/Adventure Fiction from the 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.A bronze medal for military/wartime fiction in the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Finalist distinction in the Fiction: Thriller/Adventure category of the 2018 International Book Awards.

About the competition (in their own words):
 
Established in 2007, the NIEA competition is judged by experts from all facets of the book industry including publishers, writers, editors, book designers and professional copywriters. Now in its twelfth year, the National Indie Excellence Awards celebrate independent publishing as a strong and proud facet of the publishing industry. Recognizing authors and publishers hard work, NIEA is a champion of self-publishers and the small or independent presses that go the extra mile to produce books of excellence in every aspect.
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We are thrilled that Shifting Sands received this honor. We'd like to congratulate the other winners, and to thank NIEA for recognizing Shifting Sands as an exceptional read.

Get your copy of this award-winning book today!  
 
Already read it?  Grab a copy of Evil Winds, the next installment in the exciting Tradecraft series. 
 
Happy reading!

Review of "Evil Winds" on Far from Being Gruntled

The latest review of Evil Wind: Tradecraft Phase Two is by Mark St. J. Couhig, blogger at Far from Being Gruntled and author of The Face of His Brother.

Here's a taste of what he thought about the book:

"Evil Winds, like the other titles in the Tradecraft series, is well-served by Shusko’s intimate knowledge of the geography, politics and history of the conflict. [...] Evil Winds is a lesson in history, technology and geopolitics, but most of all it’s a damn good story."

Head over to Far from Being Gruntled to read the full review. 

If you haven't had the chance yet, go ahead and pick up your copy of Evil Winds: Tradecraft Phase Two on Amazon!

Happy reading!
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Author Interview: 6/13/2018 Fran Lewis at Just Reviews

Fran Lewis, writer behind Just Reviews and host of a Blog Talk Radio show, will host author Michael Shusko on her online program this Wednesday, June 13, at 7 a.m. CT.
 
Mark your calendars to listen to the interview live, then:
 
TUNE IN HERE to listen in!
 
Host Fran Lewis and author Michael Shusko will discuss the latest title in the Tradecraft series, Evil Winds: Tradecraft Phase Two. The two will tackle questions curious readers across the globe will want to know the answers to, such as:
Why did Michael Shusko choose to focus this third Tradecraft novel on the Darfur region?Who are the major characters within the book, and what are the true motivations behind their actions within the plot?What's next for the series?  
Enjoy the behind-the-scenes look you'll get from your listening experience — and, as always, happy reading!

Note: If you're a blogger, producer, or any other media member interested in reviewing Vector or speaking with author Michael Shusko in an interview, contact info@michaelshusko.com. We'd love to work with you!

"Shifting Sands" Wins 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Award for Action/Adventure Fiction

We are thrilled to announce that Shifting Sands: Tradecraft Phase One has received another accolade! The title was awarded the prize for Action/Adventure Fiction from the 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
 
This is the third distinction the book has been awarded — Shifting Sands was also the recipient of the 2018 IPPY Bronze Medal for Military/Wartime Fiction and was a 2018 International Book Award finalist in their Fiction: Thriller/Adventure category. 

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is presented by Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group in cooperation with Marilyn Allen of Allen O'Shea Literary Agency, and is the largest not-for-profit book awards program for independent authors and publishers. The contest was established to recognize and honor the most exceptional independently published books. As such, it's exclusively open to indie publishers. Entries came from independent publishers, university presses, self-published authors, ebook authors, seasoned authors, and even first-time authors based in the U.S., Canada, or abroad. 
 
The contest recognizes the top 70 books entered with exposure and cash prizes — Shifting Sands scored a $100 prize for its win! 

We would like to thank the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for recognizing the book as an exceptional read, and for helping us to get the word out about it to other action/adventure/thriller fans.

Get your copy of this award-winning book today!  And, while you're at it, go ahead and grab Evil Winds, the next installment in the exciting Tradecraft series. 

​Happy reading!

Review of "Vector" — Beck Valley Books

​The latest review of Vector: Tradecraft Phase Zero is in! The editors at Beck Valley Books had a lot of great things to say about the first title in the Tradecraft series.
 
Here's a short excerpt from their post:
 
"The story line is a brave one to write about in the current political state of the world but brings home many of the fears we face and that are current.  A refreshing, different and a must read for all fans of espionage and thrillers."
 
Read the full review on the Beck Valley Books website, then grab your ebook copy of Vector on Amazon.
 
The ebook version is free on Amazon through Friday, 6/1/18 — so hurry on over to take advantage of the special pricing before it goes away!
 
Happy reading!

"Shifting Sands" Honored as a 2018 International Book Awards Finalist

Shifting Sands: Tradecraft Phase One has been selected as an award-winning finalist in the Fiction: Thriller/Adventure category of the 2018 International Book Awards!

This is the second time the title has been recognized as an excellent read. Just last month, the title won the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards bronze medal for military/wartime fiction. 

We're very proud that the title performed so well in both competitions. 

The 2018 International Book Awards brought in over 2,000 entries. Major publishing houses Penguin Random House, Simon and Schuster, Disney Hyperion, John Wiley & Sons, Tarcher Perigee, Rowman & Littlefield, Atria Books, Tor/Forge, Bear & Co./Inner Traditions, New American Library, and Hachette Book Group as well as hundreds of national and international Independent Houses contributed titles to this year’s competition. 

It is a real honor to have been selected as a finalist with such an impressive lineup for the judges' consideration. We would like to congratulate the other winners and to thank American Book Fest for sponsoring the competition.

Haven't had the chance to pick up Shifting Sands yet? Grab your copy of the award-winning title on Amazon today!



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Memorial Day Deal — Free Kindle Version of "Vector" Available for a Limited Time

In honor of Memorial Day, the Kindle version of Vector: Tradecraft Phase Zero will be free to download from Amazon this Monday, 5/28, through Friday, 6/1.
 
Vector is the first title in Michael Shusko's Tradecraft military thriller series, and readers are raving about it. Here's what reviewers have had to say about the book:
 
"The mysteries begin piling up early on, and the action-packed opening scenes grab readers by the throat and refuse to let go." 
— Self-Publishing Review

"An exceptionally well-crafted thriller, Vector reveals author Michael Shusko to have a genuine flair for creating a truly memorable thriller."
— Midwest Book Review
 
Grab your free Kindle copy of Vector and tell your friends to snag a copy, too!
 
When you're through, be sure to check out the next two titles in the series, Shifting Sands and Evil Winds . Trust us, you won't want to miss out on what happens next.
 
Happy reading!

Announcing Book Three in the Tradecraft Series and May's Thrill of the Month — "Evil Winds: Tradecraft Phase Two"

Michael Shusko's third installment in the Tradecraft series is available for purchase TODAY! We're so excited about its release, we've also made it May's Thrill of the Month. 
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Head over to Amazon to grab your own copy of this exciting thriller.
 
Want to try before you buy? Michael is gifting early readers with an exclusive chapter sampler. Go ahead and  download your copy   to get a preview of what's in store!
 
We're also celebrating its launch with a virtual book tour. Watch for announcements over the next several weeks to keep up with where the book is featured 'round the internet.
 
Our very first stop is on Goodreads, where Read Try Write blogger and book reviewer Ailyn says of the book:
 
"The location and the risk are sky-high, which makes the story gripping and satisfying to read. Pick this [book] if you like action-packed, heart-gripping ones."
-Ailyn, Read Try Write
 
View the full review to read the rest of what Ailyn had to say, then hurry up and order your own copy so that you can get in on the fun.
 
Happy reading!

Review of "Shifting Sands" — My Train of Thoughts On

Another rave review just came in for Shifting Sands! In her blog post on My Train of Thoughts On, Karen writes:
 
"This is a book for you if you like fast-paced military thrillers, chilling moments, insights in criminal minds, and if you like believable characters with a mission."
 
Head over to her blog post to read the full review.
 
And, if you haven't already, be sure to pre-order your copy of Evil Winds, the latest installment in the series! The book officially releases May 21, but you can reserve your print or ebook copy today!

"Evil Winds" Is Available for Pre-Order

We are very excited to announce that Evil Winds: Tradecraft Phase Two is now available for pre-order in both print and e-book formats!
 
The book officially releases Monday, May 21.
 
Pre-order your copies today to be among the first to read the latest installment in the Tradecraft thriller series.
 
Can't wait until May 21? Not to worry. Michael Shusko is gifting early readers like you with a chapter sampler! Go ahead and download your copy to get a taste of what's in store.

And here's a peek at the back cover description for good measure:

Up-and-coming news reporter Angie Bryant is determined to get the scoop on what's really happening in Darfur, no matter the risk. After all, it's the kind of story that will catapult her career to the next level.
 
Jason Russo is a disillusioned NGO doctor stationed at a refugee camp in eastern Chad. While he tries to help where he can, Jason finds it difficult to get the support he needs to make a difference.
 
But when the pair witnesses Janjaweed soldiers gun down a dozen Darfurian refugees in cold blood, everything changes. Suddenly, the only assignment that matters is telling the world about the current conditions in western Sudan — at all costs.
 
Angie and Jason find themselves racing against time as they work to uncover a sinister secret hidden deep in the Sahara. Their efforts put them directly in the path of a lethal Janjaweed commander. If they want to share their shocking discoveries with the global community, they'll have to get past him first. 
 
Happy reading!