R.L. Ryker's Blog

Chief Mattson mysteries: Book 4 update

Two victims—one strangled, the other poisoned.

Coming soon—March 2022

The fourth installment in the Brandon Mattson mystery series—Death Cap.

Two victims—one strangled and another poisoned. Their deaths occur just hours apart.

When a pair of survivalists are murdered on a reality television show, Brandon Mattson and his team go off the grid to catch the killer. Revenge, infidelity, and a $700,000 prize make for plenty of suspects—but the killer is always one step ahead of them.    

Meanwhile, the future remains uncertain as Brandon has some tough decisions to make about his expanding family—and whether he’ll pack his bags and head back to Seattle—for good.  

As Brandon and Jackson battle the elements, predatory wildlife, and unwelcome help from the Sheriff, they begin to close in on the murderer. But when Brandon learns the true identity of one of the suspects, it brings the investigation too close to home.

A killer, a lake, and tough decisions.

Here is a sneak peek at the location of Brandon Mattson’s next case: Lake Ozette.

The Lake Ozette area is home to the westernmost point in the contiguous United States.

In book four, Brandon and Jackson pursue a merciless killer miles from civilization. Back home, Brandon has some tough decisions to make about his expanding family—and whether he’ll continue to call Forks his home.

Lake Ozette, Olympic National Park, Washington

Chief Mattson’s newest case.

I hope you all had a happy Halloween! It was great to see the kids out in droves this year after a relatively slow trick-or-treating season in 2020.  

I am still hard at work on Book 4 of the Brandon Mattson Mystery series (yet to be named). I’m moving into the revision stage and we are targeting early 2022 for a release date. It’s been fun working out the recent developments in Brandon’s life (as revealed at the end of Book 3). I’m also excited to reveal more about Brandon’s newest case, so stay tuned! As always, you can join my mailing list for the most up-to-date information. Join now and you’ll receive a short story featuring Brandon and Tori way back in their Seattle days.  

Take care and be safe!

Read a FREE Eventide Prologue today!

Silent Fool, book three of the Brandon Mattson Series, is just days from release. Until release day, you can pre-order it on Amazon at a discounted price.

Click here to receive updates on new releases, offers for free books, and more. I promise not to bother you with a ton of emails! Join now and you’ll receive a free copy of a Brandon Mattson short story featuring Brandon and Tori working together to thwart a vengeful kidnapper.

The brief story below is the prologue to Eventide, the first book in the Brandon Mattson series. It’s not included in the published version of the book. This event occurs the same day Brandon arrives in Forks as the new chief of police. You may recall Lauren Sandoval’s body was discovered by two sisters. This is their story.

Eventide: Prologue

Candice was supposed to be keeping her little sister safe.

She had spent most of the morning watching Alice piece together another sprawling sandcastle, just like the ones she’d built yesterday and the day before that. Alice had insisted on visiting the beach every day that week. They’d lived their whole lives on the Quileute Reservation, their house a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean. Candice didn’t see what the big deal was.

Already, the incoming tide crept closer with each wave. In an hour Alice’s creation would drown under a foot of saltwater.

Candice’s phone buzzed. A text from her best friend, Courtney. She clicked on the message, revealing Courtney in a group selfie with Levi, Colton, and a girl Candice didn’t know.

Candice messaged back: Screw you.  

Courtney knew Candice liked Levi. Not only were they partying without her, Courtney had let some other girl go after him. She slipped her phone into her pocket. Her eyes flickered to the lump of sand where Alice had been building her castle.

She wasn’t there.

Continue reading

“Alice?”

Her gaze swept over the 20 feet of beach between the surf and where she stood now.

“Alice!”

Candice hurried to the surf’s edge, crows and seagulls hopping out of her way. She crossed the thin stretch of foam that marked the tide’s furthest reach.

“Alice!” she shouted. 

Their mom would kill her if Alice got hurt.

But what if she was more than hurt? It would be Candice’s fault. She’d been on her phone instead of watching her sister. Her mom would never forgive her.

She would never forgive herself.

She lunged into the ocean. The water pooled around her knees as she drove forward, then parallel to shore.

God, please help me find her.

A wave swelled several yards out and Candice dug her heels into the shifting sand. Her feet grew numb in the icy water as she fought to stay upright.

“Alice!”

Candice caught a glint of red drifting out to sea.

Alice had been wearing a red and yellow bathing suit.

She lunged ahead as another wall of water rose offshore. She was too far out now, and the swell was larger than she’d expected. Her gaze locked on her sister as the ocean swallowed her again.

She was so close…

The wave arrived with overwhelming force, filling the space around Candice’s legs, up to her torso, knocking her back. Her arms flailed as she landed on her backside.

Something solid swept against her foot. With her heels, Candice pushed herself toward shore as her nose and mouth filled with sand and water. The solid thing bumped her again. In a blur of water and motion, she struggled to see what had touched her, but the sea slammed her one more time, and she closed her eyes, arms outstretched in a failed attempt to resist the ocean’s crushing fury. 

Candice lay on her back, squinting as a sharp ray of sunlight stabbed through the clouds. The water retreated, swarming around her as it receded.

She fought to move her legs, but they were stuck, heavy. 

Something was on her. 

Candice lifted her head. 

A girl. Red and yellow swimsuit. Black hair, face down. Candice’s feet and calves were stuck under the girl’s torso.

She shrieked, pulling free of the lifeless body.

“Who is that?”

The voice came from behind Candice and she screamed again.

It was Alice, bucket in hand, a confused look on her face.  

Dry, safe, and one hundred percent alive.

Candice turned back to the body.

The girl wore a red and yellow bathing suit. But it was a two-piece, the bottom half covered by jean shorts. A coat was tangled around one arm. 

Deep scratches ran up the girl’s back.

“Is she—”

“I don’t know!” Candice said. “Where the hell were you?”

“Getting rocks, up by the parking lot.”

“You little—”

Candice’s attention returned to the girl.

She might not be dead. Candice had taken a CPR class. Her mom had made her do it when she started babysitting Alice.

Candice leaned over the girl’s body. She put a hand under her leg and another by her shoulder and flipped the girl onto her back.

Alice screamed and Candice turned away and vomited.

Candice got to her feet and pulled her sister closer.

Her phone was probably ruined from being in the water, but the Tribal Police station wasn’t that far from the beach.

She grabbed Alice’s hand and they both sprinted away. Candice didn’t look back, unable to shake the image of the girl’s swollen face, the strange bite mark on her neck, and her wide, bloated eyes.

New titles. New covers.

I hope you are doing well. It’s been quite a year for our world, but things are looking up in many places. I wanted to let you know where we are with re-editing the Brandon Mattson Mysteries series.  

We hope to have the re-edited books one and two out in late April or early May. Book three of the series should be out soon after (in May). If you’ve already read books one and two, there is no need to re-read them. Most of the changes are around editing.  

There will be one big change for all of my books: New titles and book covers. That means re-publishing everything on Amazon. I will make it clear which books have been renamed in the book blurb and in the book—that way no one buys a book they’ve already read.  

Why republish? Unfortunately, Amazon and Goodreads make it very difficult to make changes to books or even delete books (e.g. under old titles) once they come out on paperback. I’ll spare you the details, but if you have questions email me at author@richardryker.com. I appreciate hearing from you all!  

Don’t worry—I will make it clear on the website and the newsletter where to find the new books.  

I am excited about these changes, though, and especially the new book covers. Most of all, I hope you’ll enjoy the twists and turns you’ll find in book three (tentatively titled Silent Fool). I’ll share more info in the coming weeks.  

Take Care!  

Richard Ryker

A young woman disappears while camping.

Hard at work on my next book—a mystery/suspense novel set in a small coastal town in the Pacific Northwest.

A young woman disappears while camping. When her body is found on a nearby beach, some residents suspect foul play at the hands of a vampire enthusiast. The town’s recent fame due to a bestselling vampire romance series set in the area has turned the once quiet community into a tourist magnet.

The lead detective on the case is the new Chief of Police, a local boy returning home after two decades working for the Seattle Police Department’s homicide division.

When a second murder occurs, the mayor worries that the annual vampire festival—and a visit from the famous author herself—may have to be canceled. The mayor, and some within the police department, want the chief to arrest the obvious suspect. But things aren’t always as they seem, and the chief is running out of time to catch the real killer before they strike again.

Author Interview: Eric Bernt

Eric Bernt attended Northwestern University, where he learned that journalism was not for him—but storytelling was. Upon graduation, he moved to Hollywood, where he wrote seven feature films including Virtuosity (starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe) and Surviving the Game (starring Rutger Hauer, Gary Busey, and F. Murray Abraham). He has also written for television (Z Nation). Eric lives in Agoura Hills, California, with his wife and three children.

 

About Eric

Where do you get your ideas?

My ideas arise from an obsessive curiosity about most everything, but particularly technology.  I’m utterly fascinated by how our lives are changing due to new and evolving systems, techniques, gadgets, and machines.  From the first time I read an article about acoustic archeology, I knew I had to build a story around it.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

My favorite parts are those that involve Eddie, one of the main characters.  I simply love spending time with him.  His innocence and honesty give me hope in our otherwise jaded and cynical world.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Every writer has moments of complete frustration and doubt.  Accept these as part of the process, then get back to work.

What’s your next project?

Book Two in The Speed of Sound thriller series, The Sound of Echoes.  The story picks up exactly where The Speed of Sound leaves off.

During your time in Hollywood, which actor did you most enjoy working with?

Russell Crowe was amazing to work with.  His role (SID 6.7) in Virtuosity was his first leading role in an American film.  While the movie was a creative disappointment for me, working with Russell was a highlight.

You were just given a yacht. What would you name it?

Rogue – because I’ve always loved pirates.

What was the first live concert you ever attended?

I saw James Taylor in an outdoor venue in Philadelphia as a teenager.  It remains one of the best shows I’ve ever attended.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I am our local high school football game announcer.  I simply love being part of Friday night lights.

What is your life motto?

Work hard to find your passion, then work even harder to make a living at it.

 

About The Speed of Sound

The Speed of Sound was a genuine labor of love.  It was a novel I simply had to write.  I am truly grateful for all the readers who have connected with it.

In this propulsive thriller, one of the most ingenious young men in the world has also become the most dangerous . . . or has he? Harmony House is more than a “special place for special people.” It’s a think tank where high-functioning autistic savants harness their unique abilities for the benefit of society. Resident Eddie Parks’s contribution is nothing less than extraordinary: an “echo box” that can re-create never-recorded sounds using acoustic archeology. All Eddie wants is to hear his late mother’s voice. But what he’s created is inadvertently posing a threat to national security. To Harmony House’s shadowy government backers and radical extremists, the echo box is the ultimate intelligence asset—an end to the very concept of secrecy. Now for Eddie and the compassionate Dr. Skylar Drummond, the true nature of the institution is becoming chillingly clear. As ruthless competing enemies close in on Eddie and his miraculous machine, Skylar risks all to take him on the run. Because once that prize is won, Eddie Parks will no longer be considered a “special person” but a dangerous redundancy. An inconvenient echo that must be silenced.

 

Connect with EricFacebookTwitterwww.ericbernt.com

Author Interview: Christina McDonald

Christina McDonald is an author, bookworm, and a devoted mother and wife. She was born in Seattle, Washington and now lives in London, England with her husband and two sons, where she enjoys reading, writing, hiking and going to the gym. Her second novel, The Night Olivia Fell is due to be published in January 2019.

The Night Olivia Fell is a domestic suspense novel set around the Puget Sound’s coast near Seattle, Washington. The Night Olivia Fell asks how well we ever really know our children, weaving together a story of family secrets and devastating lies.

 
 

About Christina

Where do you get your ideas?
Everywhere. And I mean that literally. From the news, from conversations I have, from conversations I overhear at the coffee shop, from friends. Often the first nugget of an idea comes from a news story that particularly resonated with me. From there I chat about it with people and I incorporate various other elements into the story from there. While I’m developing a story idea I also keep notes of ideas for different characters, funny quirks or interesting personalities, as well as how they can develop.

Here’s a blog article I wrote about how I got the idea for The Night Olivia Fell: http://christina-mcdonald.com/writing-the-night-olivia-fell/

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
I have two. The first one is near the end where Olivia falls and I reveal who the ‘baddie’ is and why. The scene was so intense and real to me I actually dreamt about it that night after writing it!

The second is near the end when Abi is in the hospital with Olivia and the doctor tells her the baby’s heartbeat is dropping and needs to be born asap. I can’t say much else without giving away what happens, but it’s the most emotional I’ve ever been while writing a scene. I literally cried the whole way through, and then cried almost every time I re-read it, even throughout edits.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Don’t give up! It can take a loooong time to get a book published. It took me a decade to get a book published. I wrote my first book in 2009/2010 and managed to get an agent for it, but then it wasn’t sold to any publishers. It was absolutely soul crushing to have the high of getting an agent, then the low of finding out it hadn’t sold. I picked myself up and wrote a second book, which also wasn’t sold. Then in 2015 I wrote a third book: The Night Olivia Fell. This one was not only picked up by an agent, but went to a bidding war between two publishers. That was in spring 2017, and it won’t be published until January 2019.

Publishing the traditional way takes a lot of time, a very thick skin, and a huge amount of persistence. Meanwhile, live your life, go traveling, go to college, have a family, work, squirrel away experiences because these are going to feed your writing. And don’t give up.

Here’s a blog article I wrote about my publishing journey: http://christina-mcdonald.com/my-publishing-journey/

What’s your next project?
I’m working on a domestic suspense novel about a woman who’s been struck by lightning and can’t remember if she murdered her mother. The book centers on Eva, who wakes up in the hospital after being struck by lightning right down the street from where her estranged mother was murdered. And she can’t remember what happened. As her memories slowly begin to resurface, Eva remembers flashes of a violent struggle. But the memories of the night her mom was killed are becoming tangled with the night she was attacked four years ago, and Eva doesn’t know who she can trust—least of all herself.

I’m really excited about this book because it’s set between Whidbey Island in Washington State, where I spent many happy days visiting when I was younger, and London, England, which is where I live now. The book really focuses on themes of identity, how we become whole after our lives have been broken, and the role that memory plays in shaping us.

Here’s the full description: http://christina-mcdonald.com/who-she-used-to-be/

You were just given a yacht. What would you name it?
I would call my yacht the The Zephyr. This probably reveals that I was a massive Anne of Avonlea fan as a kid, but I loved that scene where Mr. Harris tells Anne he’ll name his next boat The Zephyr. My sisters and I absolutely loved the word, which means a delicious, perfumed wind, and shortly after we saw it we got a cat, which we named Zephyr.

If someone made a movie of your life would it be a drama, a comedy, a romantic-comedy, action film, or science fiction?
I think maybe a comedy. There are always dramatic elements throughout anybody’s life, but I try to approach as much as I can with an element of comedy and try to see the funny side to things.

If you could mix three animals together, which ones would you choose to make the ultimate animal?
A lion for its courage, a cheetah for its speed, and a unicorn because it’s magical, and who wouldn’t want a unicorn? 🙂

What was the first live concert you ever attended?
My first live concert was Summer Jam at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, WA, when I was a teenager. There were loads of artists there, but for some reason the only one I remember is Brian McKnight.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I can do a spot-on baby kitten meow, I can recite basically all of The Princess Bride, and I can rap all the words to Montell Jordan’s ‘This Is How We Do It’. Not sure these are ‘talents’, but maybe funny quirks.

If parents say, “Never take candy from strangers” then why do we celebrate Halloween?
This is a hard one to answer. I suppose it’s just a good way to meet your neighbors in a fun, relaxed manner. Kids love dressing up, and Halloween is a great way to engage their imaginations. And of course they like the candy.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
I am so grateful to my readers and fans. I’ve always made up stories for my sisters, and also for my own entertainment, but it’s such a privilege having other people who want to read what I’ve written. The characters I create and the stories I tell are a huge part of my life, so it’s an honor to have readers and fans share in the world I’m creating. It’s a little bit magical.

Contact ChristinaFacebookTwitterInstagramchristina-mcdonald.com

Genre Swap and Soda Confusion

Ah, the glory days. High school. If you weren’t stressing over whether you’d get accepted by your dream college, you were imagining what it would be like to make out with that person you knew you had zero chance of kissing (and if you did—be honest—it never was as wonderful as you imagined). Between your fantasies and worries, there were other things to occupy your mind, too. Geometry, Biology, and the one class that could make any bookworm hate reading—high school English (okay, for some of you that was Honors English…we all know how smart you were, you don’t have to remind us).

English was the class where well-meaning teachers forced you to slog through a long list of classics—Catcher in the Rye, Grapes of Wrath, Shakespeare, Homer, To Kill a Mockingbird. Literary luminaries meant to expose you to a variety of cultures, genres, and writing styles.

But that was high school and now you’re all grown up. Every day you really do get to kiss the man or woman of your dreams (I’m sure) and, more importantly, you can read whatever you want. That being the case, is your reading list as varied as it was back in your mid- to post-puberty days?

I recently spent an hour or so populating my Good Reads “books read” list (after staying up way too late and only getting a fraction of the list done, I’ve given up on the idea of finishing it). When I refreshed the screen and reviewed my list-in-progress, the first thing I noticed was how many different genres I’d read from. Classics, Russian Literature, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense, Mystery…you get the picture.

I find that I will binge on one genre for several months, grow tired of the voice or tropes in that category, then move on to something new.

If we as readers can move so easily between genres, why can’t authors? Some authors do, even if against the oft-heard admonition, “If you publish in more than one genre, you risk ruining your ‘brand’.” Once a reader associates your name with a specific genre, that reader expects any books you publish from that point on to be within the conventions of that book category. These sorts of expectations go beyond reading. You may enjoy Diet Coke one day, Sprite another. But if you open up a can of Sprite and it looks and tastes like Diet Coke, you’re not going to be happy. Who replaced my pure, crystal-clear sugary goodness with this bubbly brown aspartame? (and yes, I just compared literature to soda).

There are exceptions to be sure. Stephen King (because he is Stephen King) can write horror novels and fantasy (The Dark Tower). But less popular authors often resort to pen names. But even a pen name involves risks. When an author establishes a new brand under a nom de plume, that means starting over with little or no fan base.

What are your thoughts about authors who publish in more than one genre? What authors have done it right? Who are your favorites?