Peter E. Fenton's Blog, page 2
May 13, 2025
Peter E. Fenton Reveals Cover Of New Book The Burnt, Talks Love & Romance, And Reveals The Importance Of Partnership
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First of all, welcome to the many new readers who signed up at the Love & Romance in Toronto event. My monthly newsletter (weekly in the weeks leading up to a new release) is intended to share the latest news, as well as offer a behind-the-scenes look at my writing process. I hope you enjoy the newsletter. And if you ever find your inbox is too full, you can always unsubscribe through the tab at the bottom…but I hope you will stick around.
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Every spring, I get excited as I move toward the release of my next book. I can’t wait to share the latest installment in The Declan Hunt Mysteries with you. The Burnt continues the evolving relationship between Declan Hunt and Charlie Watts, along with another mystery filled with twists and turns. And as you can see, cover artist Erin Dameron-Hill has come up with another stunning cover. If you are interested in pre-ordering the e-pub version of the book, you can do so by clicking here. The paperback will be available for pre-order in July.
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While some of you were at the Love & Romance in Toronto event last weekend, many readers were a bit too far away to attend. As you can see by the photo above, it was a busy day as four hundred romance readers spent a day meeting with their favourite authors and getting their books signed. I was kept busy all day long, met tons of readers and other authors, and enjoyed the fantastic organization of the event.
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One of the secrets to continuing to write in the romance/mystery field is having a supportive partner. I am lucky that Scott is not only my first reader, first content editor, and social media marketing guru, but also a loving partner at home. He helps to make attending events like the Love & Romance in Toronto day possible. While the details in my books about relationship may be fictional, after 24 years together, our partnership has given me lots of relationship topics to draw from. And it may interest readers to know that Scott and I are the same age apart as Declan Hunt and Charlie Watts…twelve years.
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My next signing event will be at the Northern Rainbow Readers & Writers conference in Toronto. If you’ve never been to an event like this, now is the time. Tickets range from $20 to attend the general day as a reader, up to author packages that include two days of workshops, meet and greets, meals and the signing day for only $300. And up until May 31st, if you use code LOVE10 when you purchase your ticket, you can save 10%. To find out more about attending this event in August, click here.
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Sales continue to grow in the Spanish market for both Mann Hunt and Casa Hoodoo. Look for more translations of my books (and audio books) later this summer. You can access e-pubs of my Spanish translations by clicking here.
And if you are looking for options to Amazon, here are a few other places you can find my books.
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I hope that wherever you are, the spring weather is bringing the world around you into bloom. Here’s a wish for sunny days, and the time to sit down and read a good book. Until next time, warmest regards,
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Peter E. Fenton
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By Mail
PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
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April 15, 2025
Peter E. Fenton Shares Never-Before-Seen Alternate Cover For The Woodcarver’s Model
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Time has a way of sneaking up on me, and I find it hard to believe that my debut novel The Woodcarver’s Model was released three years ago on April 19th. Since that time, there have been four other novels (if you count the one coming out in August), two of the books have been translated into Spanish and Mann Hunt is in the final stages of editing for the audio book. As a special treat for subscribers, I thought I would share a never-before–seen version of the cover art for The Woodcarver’s Model. The artist Kelly Martin offered up two options. The cover above was the final choice, but scroll below to see a mock-up of the other option I had. Did I make the right choice? Either way, fans seem to like the story and the novel continues to sell well around the world.
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I’m always excited when my books make it into the top 50 lists and last month Not Not Normal crept back into Amazon’s top 25 for gay teen youth novels.
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And the Spanish version of Mann Hunt crept into the #35 position for Gay Romance as well. This is good news, as this version of the book was only released eleven weeks ago.
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And speaking of Spanish language translations, Casa Hoodoo is now out. Many thanks to Leonardo Flores for the exceptional work on translating the books in The Declan Hunt Mysteries series. If you have friends who read Spanish, let them know they can get a copy.
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Things are getting exciting as I move towards the launch of the third book in The Declan Hunt Mysteries series. The Burnt will be released on August 5th. I’ll be revealing the full cover in May, but below is a quick tease of what you can expect.
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April will be a month of final edits on The Burnt, and preparations for this year’s first signing event at Love & Romance in Toronto. I am thrilled to report that the event is entirely sold out, and I can’t wait to meet all of the readers.
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If you’ve never attended a book signing day, and you’re in the Toronto area, there’s another great event coming up in August. Come and check out the Northern Rainbow Readers & Writers Event. I’ll be there, along with a huge number of authors from around the globe. For more information click here.
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And to wrap things up, here’s a little promotion for Thom Collins’ latest book, Now Comes The Dark. Thom writes great novels filled with twists and turns, and his latest just came out last week. To order a copy, click here.
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Two strangers fuelled by desire, and a killer consumed with lust.
Roman Ballentyne is forced to make some changes. The city he loves is no longer safe. Tensions are high as a psychotic killer preys upon the LGBTQ community. Five men have been murdered in the last year. Every encounter is a risk. Anyone could be next. The Viaduct was once the shame of Blyham, an illicit club filled with private booths and dark rooms, sleazy in the extreme. Now it offers a secure space to hook up when it’s too dangerous to take a stranger home.
Mallon Garnier catches Roman’s eye. He’s moody and mature and the hottest man in the club, but as Mallon pairs up with someone else, Roman thinks he’s missed his chance. When Roman is the victim of a hate crime at the end of the night, Mallon is his saviour, taking on his attackers with savage efficiency. Their attraction is immediate and intense. Roman knows it’s wrong to go home with a stranger, but what harm can there be from the man who saved him?
The encounter is the start of an intense and passionate affair. But as the murders continue, Roman learns Mallon is keeping a deep secret, and the killer is closer than he thinks.
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Next month I’ll report back on the Love & Romance in Toronto event, as well as a cover reveal for the new book, and exciting information on the audio book of Mann Hunt. In the meantime, here’s a wish that wherever you are, the weather is warming and spring is bringing you some joy.
Warmest Regards,
Peter E. Fenton
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By Mail
PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2
March 15, 2025
Peter E. Fenton Makes Top 50 In Spanish With Mann Hunt
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Welcome to the March Peter E. Fenton newsletter. There’s lots of exciting things on the horizon and some great news to share.
I wanted to open this newsletter by letting you know that Mann Hunt is doing well in Spain. While it only has a few reviews, the new release hit the # 49 spot in Gay Romance in Spain and was in the top 3000 of ALL Kindle Books in Spain. I’m looking forward to an upcoming promotion that MIGHT just give the book a shot at #1. The Spanish translation of Hoodoo House is set to hit the market at the end of the month. I can’t wait to share more of The Declan Hunt Mysteries series with Spanish speaking audiences across the world.
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Speaking of Hoodoo House, I want to thank everyone who entered the Goodreads Giveaway for the free autographed copy of the novel. There were over 2800 entries and the winner is a reader from Tennessee. Watch for more chances to win autographed copies of one of my books in future episodes of the newsletter.
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I am really looking forward to the Love & Romance In Toronto signing event on May 3rd. I’ve been working on fun swag items including a new sticker and some new give-away items. If you want to meet some of the top romance authors from North America, check out this amazing event. For all the details on attending authors and tickets, click on the title of the event above.
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The Burnt, The latest book in The Declan Hunt Mysteries series is currently with the publisher/editor and in the upcoming months I will be able to reveal the cover art for the book and share some excerpts. The expected release date is August 5th, so watch upcoming newsletters for information on ways that you can be the VERY FIRST to read a copy of the book.
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I know some people have been looking for alternatives to Amazon to purchase their books. I am pleased to say that both of my publishers have many other options you can choose. Below is a list of places you can find my books outside of Amazon or Meta. Simply click on the name to link to the books.
You can also find my books in public libraries, or indie stores, and if they don’t have them, ask the stores to order them in!
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Thanks for your continued support. I hope whatever books you are reading this spring, that they bring you joy. Until next month, I send …
Warmest Regards,
Peter E. Fenton
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Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?
Email at peterefenton@gmail.com
By Mail
PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2
February 14, 2025
Happy Valentine’s Day From Peter E. Fenton
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Valentine’s Day has a lot of different meanings for a lot of people. For me, it is about expressing love, regardless of if that love is for another person, or simply making a love list of all of the things you love about yourself. During the pandemic, my partner and I used to create daily posts with two toy meerkats running around our apartment making wise, or silly observations. I discovered the post from February 11th of 2021 and thought I would share THEIR view of Valentine’s Day. To read the story click here.
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And now for an update on the writing. In this newsletter, you’ll find a few pictures from the Ontario Library Association Super Conference I attended in January, an update on upcoming conferences, and a contest you can enter for a FREE signed copy of Hoodoo House. For all the latest … read on.
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That’s me in the blue circle in the photo above. It was a genuine thrill to attend the OLA Super Conference and it truly meant the world to me to see people lined up out the door to get their copies of Not Not Normal signed. This was also a chance to talk to passionate folks who still treasure books and the world of imagination reading can open up. I had a great time, and I am grateful to Lorimer Publishing for this amazing opportunity.
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It was pretty exciting to see Mann Hunt come out in Spanish at the end of January. Marketing a book in a different language has been a bit of a learning curve, but the author community has been very generous with their advice. In February I will be working with ebrolis.com to let Spanish readers know about the new release. Hoodoo House, the second book in The Declan Hunt Mysteries series is already in the process of translation into Spanish and should come out this summer. And speaking of Hoodoo House … I’m giving away a signed copy. Want the details? See below.
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Hoodoo Houseby Peter E. FentonGiveaway ends March 09, 2025.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
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The Burnt is the third book in The Declan Hunt Mysteries series and is on target to come out August 5th of 2025. Here’s a hint as to what you can expect.
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Finding work-life balance isn’t always easy when you’re sleeping with the boss. Charlie Watts is feeling stressed as he studies for his private investigator’s license, starts taking on his own cases and tries to navigate his relationship with Declan Hunt. He thinks he can handle it, but every time their relationship is going well, work always seems to get in the way.
While Charlie investigates a threatening note that appears to be from a boy who mysteriously disappeared ten years ago, Declan tries to find the meaning behind the final words of a man who was brutally murdered. As Declan and Charlie navigate these mysteries, secrets from the past are exposed, Charlie is haunted by ghostly dreams, and Declan is forced to confront some terrible truths from a hidden past.
Ultimately, the truth will be revealed, but at what cost? And will Declan and Charlie be able to solve the mystery of where they want to go next with their relationship before things at work take a terrible turn?
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As I said above, I’m looking forward to a few other conferences this spring and summer. My next appearance this year will be in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Love & Romance Conference on May 3rd. This is a chance to interact with romance writers from all across North America. If you are interested in pre-ordering books for the signing, you can find my pre-order form here.
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In August, I’ll be signing at the Northern Rainbow Readers and Writers conference which offers an opportunity to meet with queer novelists from around the globe. My preorder form is also available here. And I WILL be adding The Burnt to my offerings for this conference.
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So that’s it for this month. I’ll be back in March with more updates, some cool new swag for the conferences and maybe some news on upcoming audio books. In the meantime, thanks for reading. I’ll leave you with a photo from my recent visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario where I visited one of my favourite paintings, The Marchesa Casati. I just adore the look on her face. One can only guess what she is thinking.
Warmest Regards,
Peter E. Fenton
Follow me at:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/peterefenton…
insta: https://www.instagram.com/peterefento…
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Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?
Email at peterefenton@gmail.com
By Mail
PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2
January 15, 2025
Peter E. Fenton January Newsletter – An Excerpt and a SNAK!
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Welcome to 2025. This year is going to be an exciting one as I release a new novel, attend several conferences, and continue to connect with readers around the world. I’m deep into editing on The Burnt, the third book in the Declan Hunt Mysteries series, and I thought it would be fun to share a small excerpt to give you a hint of the tone of the book. To read the excerpt make sure you go all the way to the bottom of the newsletter. If you are reading in gmail, the bottom will likely be cropped, so make sure you click on the “read full message” prompt at the bottom. But first, here’s some other news.
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I was delighted that Not Not Normal made the American Library Association Booklist. This monthly publication goes out to libraries and institutions across North America and acts as a way of recommending work to key decision-makers. To get a gay youth novel onto the list is a huge achievement, and hopefully this will allow many younger and older readers to enjoy the book.
Another lovely review in January came from the Love Bytes blog who wrote –
I know it’s the first week of the year, but this is one of my favorite stories so far and if I had read it last year, it would have made my list. It’s a wonderful story of overcoming hard things, focusing on the things that make us unique and recognizing those are our superpowers. Being different isn’t what makes us unlovable, or not enough – it’s exactly what makes us human and lovable and more than enough. Yes, it’s YA, but it’s really good YA. Highly recommended.
For the full review click here.
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And speaking of reviews, I’m in the process of trying to build a larger following for the book by asking readers to share their reviews. If you have read Not Not Normal and have the time, please leave a review on Goodreads by clicking here or on Amazon by clicking here. If you’re in Canada, go to the Amazon.ca site by clicking here. One of the challenges of getting a youth novel out to its intended audience is that many of the young readers don’t leave reviews. Outside of libraries, most of the purchasers for the book are parents. So if you read the book and enjoyed it, please take the time to put up even just a star review without text. Every review counts.
And if you haven’t purchased the book yet, there is another way you can read a review copy through a campaign with Book Sirens. To find out how to read and review the book for free, click here.
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I was honoured to be featured on SNAK, which is a YouTube show that does four minute mini-interviews with Canadian artists. The hosts always make it fun, and they really do their research (including a clip of me when I was working in paleontology at the Royal Ontario Museum). To watch the clip, click the image above.
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It’s the beginning of conference time, and the very first conference of the year will be the Ontario Library Association Conference. I’ll be signing copies of Not Not Normal at the Ontario Book Publishers Organization author table on January 31st at 1:20 PM. While this isn’t a public conference, it will be a chance to interact with lots of school and public librarians and get signed copies into their libraries.
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I am still in the process of finishing the draft of The Burnt, and the editor will likely dive in and make corrections, but I thought it might be fun to share the work in process. Here’s an opening chapter to whet your appetite for Declan Hunt and Charlie Watts’ latest mystery.
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Simon Griffin reclined on a large leather chair in the sun room of his home in Banff—a home that was somewhat unimaginatively called Mountainview when it was constructed in 1943. After he’d purchased it, Simon had renamed the house The Paddock as a tribute to his favourite bar in Toronto, the city he had grown up in.
He never tired of the view from this vantage point, especially in the evening as the sun set behind the mountains of Sundance Ridge which spread out before him beyond the Bow River. The mountains carried a heavy coat of white January snow, that had slowly faded out of view as the darkness had enveloped the surrounding property. It was six-thirty in the evening. The only light visible now was from the backyard lamps which flooded the property as a security measure against intruders and sight-seers who wanted to get a look at Simon’s famous house.
Simon was proud of the fact that The Paddock was one of the largest private properties within the confines of the town of Banff – a property which lay within the national park boundary. When he’d bought it, he had wanted a place away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was ridiculously big for his needs—over seven hundred and fifty square metres in size with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. He had joked about having one bathroom for every day of the week. His friends thought he was nuts to leave the faster pace of the big city.
Visiting Banff on a holiday, sure, but who actually lives there other than the kids who wait tables at the tourist restaurants?
If Simon wanted big city life, Calgary was only an hour way. He kept an apartment there in case he was in town late for business, but for the most part, he liked Banff…except for the tourists. When he had moved here in 1984, it wasn’t as bad. Back then he’d been able to keep the gates to his driveway open and walk about the streets without having to dodge around people. But in recent years, things had gotten out of control, and now during the summer they even closed down Banff Avenue to cars in an attempt to control the flow of visitors. Ironically, thanks to its natural beauty and wide-open spaces, Banff was now overwhelmed with tourists. They walked blindly out into the streets. Some even parked their cars in front of his driveway (“It’s okay, I’ll only be a minute”). Simon sometimes felt like he didn’t want to leave his property due to the swarms of picture-snapping sight-seers.
Through the window Simon saw a young man playing with the latch on the back gate. It was another tourist caught out too late while snowshoeing along the well-worn trail which ran between the property and the Bow River. The man was persistent, rattling away at the gate latch.
Simon went to the back door and opened it.
“This is private property,” he called out, trying not to sound annoyed. “The gate’s locked. You’ll have to keep going along the river ‘til you come to the street.” He waved the man in the right direction.
“Sorry,” the fellow yelled back. “Nice place. I thought this was my hotel.” The man shrugged and headed off in the wrong direction.
Idiot.
Once he was sure the man was gone, Simon headed back and flopped into his chair. If he had any real clout in this town he’d have that damned pathway fenced off and the tourists would stop disturbing his peace.
His thoughts were interrupted as Jasmine brought him his after-dinner coffee. Jasmine had worked as his housekeeper ever since his wife had left.
He glanced up at her. Her short curly grey hair, and careworn hands and face were more familiar to him than his own features. She gave him a weak smile. Her glazed eyes and furrowed brow signalled to him that she was working through one of her migraines.
“Thank you, my dear,” he said. “Why don’t you just call it a day and go and rest that head.”
She gently rubbed her temples. “Thank you, sir. I’ll be fine.”
Jasmine was the closest thing Simon had to family, although he hadn’t always been alone…
“By the way, a boy dropped this off for you,” she said pulling out an envelope from her left pants pocket.
Simon didn’t remember hearing a car on the drive, and a visitor would have had to buzz through on the intercom to gain access.
“A boy?”
“That’s what I said.”
“At the front door?”
“Yes sir.”
“But Jasmine, the gates are locked. How did he get in to knock on the front door?”
She shrugged. “Probably he climbed the fence. You don’t have to be Spider-Man to get into the property.”
She turned and left him with the envelope. Just as she was closing the door she added, “He said someone asked him to deliver it.” And then she was gone.
Simon looked at the envelope in his hands. He turned it over and examined the back. Nothing. No identifiers. He opened the envelope. Inside he found a single letter-size piece of white paper with a simple hand-written message on it.
I ’m watching you and I know what you did.
Simon’s hands began to shake when he saw the signature.
Milo.
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Who is Milo? And what did Simon do? You’ll have to wait until August to find out when The Burnt is released. Next month, I’ll have more information on the Spanish translation of Mann Hunt, more teasers from the new book and information on the larger public conferences I’ll be attending. I’ll also share some links with information on ways that YOU can attend. In the meantime, here’s a wish that your January is going well. As always, thanks for reading.
Warmest Regards,
Peter E. Fenton
Follow me at:
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Email at peterefenton@gmail.com
By Mail
PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2
December 23, 2024
Season’s Greetings From Peter E. Fenton (and Scott too!)
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Holiday joy to you as we enter the silly season. Wherever you wind up, whatever you do, know that we send our best wishes to YOU!
Happy Holidays from our household to yours.
Fenton (& White)
December 15, 2024
Peter E. Fenton December Newsletter
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It has been an amazing year with the release of two new books, a fantastic time at the Northern Rainbow Readers Conference and big plans for 2025. I want to start by thanking all of you who have followed my adventures. I wouldn’t be here without you. Read on for all of the latest news as 2024 comes to an end.
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Both of the novels that I released in 2024 were nominated in the Goodreads M/M Romance Members’ Choice Awards.
Hoodoo House is nominated in the Best Mystery/Whodunnit category (Poll #7)
Not Not Normal is nominated in the Best Contemporary/Mainstream category (Poll #12)
If you are a member of the group, you can vote here.
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I am looking forward to the launch of Not Not Normal in the U.S. and in the UK on January 1st of 2025. As always, you can access the novel on Amazon, or in the U.S. go directly through the distributor by clicking here.
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As previously announced, Mann Hunt is being turned into an audio book, but there the publisher shared some additional exciting news about the book. Mann Hunt will be translated into Spanish in 2025. I’ll have more details about the release dates in an upcoming newsletter.
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The authors have been announced for the Romance Author and Reader Event in Melbourne, Australia this upcoming fall. If you are in Australia and want to attend, you can get your tickets by clicking here. Early entry tickets are already sold out, but general admission tickets are still available.
And if you want to pre-order books to be signed at RARE, you can use my pre-order form by clicking here.
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My latest novel The Burnt (part three of the Declan Hunt Mysteries series) is now going through content editing, and will be sent to the publisher and primary editor (the brilliant Anna Olson), early in the new year. The launch date for the book is scheduled for August 5th, just in time for NRR&W and RARE. Keep checking back for excerpts, and news on the book. I’m really excited about this one!
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A writer gains inspiration in a number of different ways. One of the things I love to do is to travel. This past summer, my partner and I had a chance to spend twelve days in Scotland, and Scott blogged about the experience. If you want to get a different view of my life, check out the Fenton & White travel blogs. To explore our travels, click here.
I am looking forward to 2025. I think this one will be … one for the books.
I truly wish you all the very best over the holidays and I look forward to creating more stories and sharing them with you in the new year. Until next time, thanks for reading.
Warmest Regards,
Peter E. Fenton
Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?
Email at peterefenton@gmail.com
By Mail
PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2
November 22, 2024
Peter E. Fenton shares BIG news and reveals the title of his next book
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I have been holding off on sending out this newsletter until I was OFFICIALLY allowed to announce my BIG news. You’ll have to read all the way to the bottom to find out what it is, but in the meantime, I’ve got plenty of other things to share with you.
First of all, thank you to all of the readers who took advantage of the Book Bub Feature Deal on The Woodcarver’s Model in October. As a result of the strong sales, the book hit BESTSELLER status at Barnes and Noble in the U.S. as well as BESTSELLER status on Amazon in Canada where it was #1 in Gay Romance, #1 in Gay Literature and Fiction and #1 in Gay e-romance books. The book also hit the charts getting to #2 and #3 positions in both the UK and Australia.
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The first book of the Declan Hunt Mysteries is also making waves. Mann Hunt just topped 400 reviews on Amazon.com with an average rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5). The series is building steam and interest has been so great that the the publisher has green lit an audio book of the novel coming out sometime in the summer of 2025.
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Hoodoo House is achieving its own level of success. The book which launched at the end of June has almost 150 reviews on Amazon.com and has an average approval rating of 4.6 stars. I recently got the news that the book has been nominated in the Mystery/Whodunnit category for the Goodreads M/M Romance Members’ Choice Awards. Voting will begin in December and I’ll let you know how you can participate if you are a member of the group.
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Not Not Normal has had some wonderful recent press. The publisher submitted the book for a Kirkus Review which follows an industry standard to generate interest by the mainstream media. The book was given a warm write up. To read the full review, click here.
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The book was also featured in Wayves Magazine in Halifax. Here’s a quote from the review by Garry Williams.
Playwright, romance and mystery writer Peter E. Fenton has added Teen Fiction to his repertoire, which is good news for young queer readers. The language is simple and clear; the message, uplifting. Short chapters and large font size make for accessible reading. I was engaged and moved by Fenton’s sweet, life-affirming and easy-to-read prose celebrating difference and resilience.
Our eleventh grader learns he can live with queerness and neurodivergence/disability and find acceptance from peers and the adults around him – a message kids like me will always need to hear.“
The full review can be found by clicking here.
If you want to join in on the conversation, please add your review. Every single time a person reviews, it draws attention to the book and helps others find the novel. You can review on Amazon or Goodreads. Simply click on the book title above, find the review section (you may have to log in to your account) and let your opinion be shared. I want this book to reach a huge audience, and if you keep reading below, you’ll see why.
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When I was approached to write Not Not Normal, the idea was always to focus on the challenges gay youth face, and write something that would show a gay relationship with a positive outcome. The results of the recent election in the U.S. have put fear into a lot of queer youth who are now worried that laws may drastically impact gay rights.
The day after the election, I began discussions with Lorimer Publishing and we are working towards an agreement to donate my royalties for Not Not Normal to charities that help out gay youth. Writing this book was always a passion project and never about the money anyway. I hope to donate royalties from Canadian sales to the LGBT Hotline which provides counselling and guidance for gay youth in Canada and the U.S., and for sales in the U.S. to go towards The Trevor Project which is a suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. I’ll be letting you know more about the details in the upcoming months, but I truly want this book to do some good, and this is one way that I can make an impact.
On a related note, the book has been released in Canada, but hasn’t yet been released in the U.S. It will come out officially on January 1st, 2025. For those who wish to pre-order the book in the United States, you can click here.
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Now for the first piece of BIG news. It is time to reveal the title of the third novel in the Declan Hunt Mysteries. The title is …
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The Burnt
How far would you be willing to go to fix the past?
Blackmail, murder, a missing person and a cold case that just won’t go away put Declan and Charlie to the test as personal and professional secrets from the past unravel in a way that will change their lives forever.
The book is slated for release in the summer of 2025.
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I’m thrilled that I’ll be attending several conferences in 2025, starting with the Ontario Library Association Super Conference in Toronto. I’ll be at the Ontario Book Publishing Organization Pavilion representing Not Not Normal on January 30th and 31st.
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I’ll soon be putting together my pre-order form for attendees of the Love & Romance Conference in Toronto. This international event features authors from all over North America. For more information, and to find out how to get your tickets click here.
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For the second year in a row, I’ll be attending the Northern Rainbow Readers and Writers Conference. This event features two days of professional development along with a VIP readers day where you can get up close and personal with all of your favourite authors, and a public signing day. For more information, click here.
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THE BIG NEWS
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I have been holding off on this announcement until the organization officially released the names of the participating authors. I am THRILLED to announce that I have been invited to the Romance Authors and Readers Event in MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA in October of 2025.
What does this mean? Well, for starters, it means that I will be travelling to the other side of the world to represent my books. This conference is the equivalent of Comicon with thousands of readers all congregating in an international location for one day to meet best-selling authors from around the world.
These events happen twice per year in major world centres, and it is really tough to get in. I was lucky enough to have other authors recommend me. There are minimum requirements in terms of the number of books you have out, the volume of sales you’ve had, your social media presence and your reviews … so thanks to all of you for reading and bringing my books to a level that allowed me to attend this event.
It is a huge honour to be able to go, and I can’t wait! Watch for updates in upcoming newsletters.
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One final note. I am shifting around my social media platforms. You can still find me on Instagram, and Facebook but I have left X (formerly Twitter), and can now be found at BlueSky. My new handle there is https://bsky.app/profile/peterefenton.bsky.social.
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In upcoming months there will be MORE news, but I think this is enough for one newsletter. Thanks as always for reading, for supporting the work and for telling others about my writing. Until next time.
Warmest Regards,
Peter E. Fenton
Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?
Email at peterefenton@gmail.com
By Mail
PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2
November 5, 2024
Peter E. Fenton Recommends Some Awesome New Releases
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My full newsletter isn’t coming out for a few weeks and I still have to hold off on my BIG secret news until then. In the meantime, I’m writing on the third installment of the Declan Hunt Mysteries series and the manuscript will be heading to the publisher in a matter of months. When not writing, I try and read at least an hour each day and I have a few recommendations that might be great stocking stuffers or presents for the upcoming holiday season.
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First of all, R. Frank Davis’s new novel LOVE GODS MAGIC THE BLACK PHARAOH is really well written, and if you like spice … Frank knows how to write this material well. This is a great fantasy M/M Romance and I highly recommend it.
Here’s the description.
Branden loves his college roommate. He’s a strong, serious African—and as overpoweringly gorgeous as a marble statue. He even has a statue’s name: Taharqa, the Black Pharaoh who ruled Egypt and Nubia in Old Testament times. But he’s just Archie to Branden.
When Branden learns the secret that has brought Taharqa to the States, nothing can keep him from joining in the plan to bring needed material to modern technology. But there are forces seeking to uncover their efforts and take the glory for themselves. Their teamwork—and their love—are put to the test at every turn.
Taharqa loves Branden. He’s a joyous wrestler jock and a brilliant classmate. Unfortunately, Taharqa has a task—a world-important stratagem—and he doesn’t want to expose Brand to the perils shadowing his efforts and endangering his secret, ancient people. Complicating things further is a mythic challenge meant to change Taharqa from human to god.
Love overcomes caution as the risks increase. From the States to Sudan, sailing the River Nile, and battling multiple kidnappers across Rome, they confront the dark forces moving in. Will Taharqa’s powers and his love be enough to rescue Brand and save the secret of Nubia and his hidden home?
To purchase a copy, click here.
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If your tastes run more to mystery, then check out Alex Henry’s latest novel Murder Under Construction. This is the first in a five part series and you’re going to love getting to know the complex detective Leon Peterson.
Here’s the description.
On the brink of closing a high-profile terrorism investigation, DI Leon Peterson and his team are pulled off to investigate a cold case, a body found on a site for a new airport hotel. He knows this is political posturing, but it doesn’t make it easier to accept watching another DI muscle in on his team’s work.
For Leon, though, the decades-old cold case turns out to be closer to home in more than one way. His DS, Jasmine Todd, can’t understand his interest in the dead man, and Leon is not sure he wants to talk about his past. One thing he fears is that he may have a very personal connection to the deceased. Will the body finally give him the answers he’s waited for nearly forty years?
Even as some shocking revelations come to light, Leon can’t help being distracted by the terrorism case. He’s convinced the new DI in charge is chasing the wrong lead, and his conscience won’t let him leave it alone. No matter if it risks his career—and his life.
To pick up your copy, click here. And the book is available in Kindle Unlimited.
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I love good writing, and Jerome J Bourgault’s latest book Day of Epiphany creates a mesmerizing fictional story out of one of Canada’s terrible chapters in its history. Jerome has a way of creating full characters and a compelling tale that keeps you turning the pages. Here’s a description of the book.
Inspired by True Events
At the stroke of a pen, Sister Cassandra Lalonde has gone from being a teacher in an orphanage to a nurse in a psychiatric hospital, and her beloved students have been “reclassified” as mental patients. Set against the backdrop of Québec’s Grande Noirceur (Great Darkness) of the 1940s and ’50s, Day of Epiphany tells a haunting, riveting story inspired by the true events of the Duplessis orphans scandal, a much overlooked national tragedy.
Invisible to society, and with no rights under the law, the children of Sainte-Madeleine Institute are subjected to horrific experimental treatments and unspeakable abuse. Alone against the combined powers of the Catholic Church, the autocratic government of Maurice Duplessis, and the province’s medical authorities, Cassandra must resort to increasingly drastic measures to protect those under her care. Ghostly hymns and desperate prayers build to a crescendo. When Cassandra’s plans to save one of her best and brightest students fall apart, she renounces her vows, and is left to pick up the threads of a shocking criminal scandal with roots stretching far beyond the walls of Sainte-Madeleine.
This is a story of faith and betrayal, irreconcilable loyalties, and one courageous woman’s dauntless humanity in the face of institutionalized oppression. Part historical fiction and part mystery, with the atmosphere of a noir thriller, Day of Epiphany underscores a transformative moment in Canadian history.
To purchase a copy, click here.
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I’ll be back with news about the title of my new book, and some exciting events coming up in the new year. Until then, thanks for reading.
Warmest Regards,
Peter E. Fenton
Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?
Email at peterefenton@gmail.com
By Mail
PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2
October 16, 2024
Peter E. Fenton Goes From Word On The Street To The Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat
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Last month was very busy indeed. While I continued to write on the third book in the Declan Hunt Mysteries series (due out next summer with Entwined Publishing), I also got to sign copies of my latest book Not Not Normal at the Lorimer Publishing booth at Word On The Street, and had an amazing weekend at the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat. Read on to get an inside glimpse of the more public side of my writing AND discover the name of the VIP reader at the conference who is going to have a character in my next book named after them!
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Eddie Kawooya and Peter E. Fenton*****
On Saturday September 28th, I had the opportunity to sign books, meet with fans and hang out with fellow Lorimer author Eddie Kawooya at Word On The Street in Toronto. This annual festival draws thousands of people, and it was a great way to introduce a whole bunch of new folks to the work that Lorimer Publishing does in bringing stories of diversity to young readers.
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This year’s Northern Rainbow Romance Conference took place between October 2nd and October 6th. The retreat started with two days of professional development workshops, and I had the honour of serving on an “own voice” panel with Christian Baines and Hank Edwards. We talked about writing Male/Male romance from the perspective of growing up gay, and how those experiences have impacted the tone of our novels.
A majority of Male/Male Romance books are written by female writers, so this panel was surprisingly popular. There were also excellent sessions on writing from the non-binary perspective, writing characters of colour from an own voice perspective, sessions on editing, plotting of novels and creating better notes for books that are in a series. It was truly a fantastic opportunity to exchange knowledge with an international group of authors who have a wealth of experience.
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Christian Baines, Hank Edwards and Peter E. Fenton at the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat*****
After two days of professional development, it was time to focus on the readers. A full day on the 4th of October was dedicated to VIP readers, many who had travelled from the U.S. to meet with their favourite authors. Three authors per hour shared a small salon and VIP readers got a chance to have a bit of one-on-one visiting time.
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VIPs also got a swag bag filled with stickers, postcards, pens, candy, and a lot of bookmarks that had a scan code where VIP readers could get free e-pub copies of books from the authors. There were also two scavenger hunts that allowed readers to collect charms or locate particular authors who had stuffed animals on their tables as part of the animal scavenger hunt. Those that got to all of the participating authors won prizes. The value of the donated materials was in the hundreds of dollars for each reader. Below is a small sampling of the contents.
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On the final day of the conference, there was a public day for book signings with half of the authors signing in the morning and half signing in the afternoon. Below is a picture of getting set up for the afternoon signing.
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I spoke to SO many fantastic readers and it was gratifying to know that my books are being read far and wide. Below is my signing table which had a few more things on it than the VIP salon the day earlier.
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The final night included a party with fantastic food, a DJ and a chance to dress up and mingle with the VIP readers. What happens at the after-party stays at the after-party, but Scott did take this one picture shown below.
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Next year’s event in Toronto is already in the planning stages for August 20-24th, and if you want to attend as a reader, I’ll have more information in my newsletter next month. And if you are an author reading this newsletter, expressions of interest to participate can be found by clicking here. There are a limited number of spots available, and they will fill quickly. I’m already booked in for next year.
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One of the perks at this year’s conference was the chance to enter to have your name utilized as a character in my next book. I am pleased to say that the winner is Katherine O’Grady. Katherine’s character will appear in a few significant passages of the book. Thanks to all of the VIP readers who attended the conference and entered for this fun opportunity.
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For those of you who haven’t had a chance to read The Woodcarver’s Model, the end of the month is the perfect time to dive in. I got a Book Bub Feature Deal which means that from October 27th to November 2nd, the e-pub version of the book will be on sale world-wide for only 99 cents. You can’t beat that. On those dates, go here to get the deal.
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In every newsletter, I like to finish by promoting the work of an author who I have just read. My latest read is the TRULY FANTASTIC novel Long Road To Eden. The writing is literary, the characters are richly drawn and the suspense in the book keeps you turning pages until the end. If you like science fiction, you NEED to read this book by Canadian author Philip Charles Eckman.
Here’s the description
Climate change has ravaged the planet, leading to one natural disaster after another. What follows is political unrest, and anarchy.
An authoritarian government seizes control. They believe that to save an ailing planet, they must reduce the population. They enact a new law, requiring that citizens submit to voluntary death at age sixty. But what begins as altruistic, becomes menacing and inhumane; sweeping up the infirm, the mentally challenged, and anyone deemed a burden on dwindling resources. And it has become far too easy to “disappear” people for partisan reasons.
A group of dissidents emerges, determined to die on their own terms. Their act of sabotage sets off a ripple effect, with the government branding them as terrorists, while others hail them as saviors.
Now the rebels must battle a hostile climate as they evade a brutal administration and escape cross country to a mythical safe place – an Eden, hidden somewhere in the western mountains.
But can such an Eden exist on a dying planet? And is it the hopeful place they believe it to be?
To order your copy click here. The book is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
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There was one other REALLY big announcement I was going to make, but I have been asked by the powers to be to hold out just a little bit longer. But next month, there is going to be exciting news, as well as information on upcoming writing and the latest reviews from Not Not Normal. In the meantime, thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful month.
Warmest Regards,
Peter E. Fenton
Need to reach Peter E. Fenton?
Email at peterefenton@gmail.com
By Mail
PO BOX 99900 ZH 136 634
RPO ELLERBECK
TORONTO ON M4K 0A2
