Patrick Whitehurst's Blog, page 9
December 26, 2019
Whitehurst’s Top Reads of 2019
The roaring twenties are upon us. And I am already tired of the Gatsby references. Luckily there are plenty of books to take us away from those things. And there will be some awesome books in the New Year likely to make us forget all about Fitzgerald. Maybe.
There were some damn good stories in 2019 and killer short reads that don’t necessarily count as books. This includes S.W. Lauden’s fantastic “Power Pop” novella. The memoir “Resurrections in the Dark” by Janice Blaze Rocke provided a living, breathing tale that’s hard to forget as well. I’d recommend checking both out, not to mention “All the Way Down” by Eric Beetner.
I did a terrible job of tracking my reading over the last year. By my estimate I read about 21 books, down from last year’s count, but not bad for a slow page turner like me. Here’s the usual disclaimer – I read these books in 2019, but that doesn’t mean they came out this year. Some did, of course, but I choose my annual favorites from the stack and not by publication date.
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Wonton Terror by Vivien Chien
“Wonton Terror” is the latest installment of Vivien Chien’s wonderful cozy mystery series and pits our series hero Lana Lee against a murderer who knows a thing or two about blowing things up. Lana is nearly killed by a bomb blast in Ohio’s Asian Night Market. While she makes it through with minor injuries, a family friend isn’t so lucky. Lana is determined to know why he was killed.
Having discovered Chien’s Noodle Shop Mystery series just this year, I have endeavored to consume them all. Fun, fast reads, and she’s already got at least two more in the literary pipeline.
Visit the Noodle Shop here.
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101 by Tom Pitts
Thank God for friends. Young Jerry Bertram finds himself in deadly peril after snatching cash from a biker gang in northern California. When they come gunning for him, his mother steps in to help, enlisting the aid of a pot grower and all-around tough guy Vic. But even their aid may not be enough to kill what’s coming for them.
Pitts takes the silencer of the barrel and comes in guns blazing with his latest book. It’s always a thrill to read this guy’s stuff.
Take a trip on the 101 here.
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Spine of the Dragon by Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson hits one out of the fantasy ball park in his latest book, “Spine of the Dragon.” We’re given some truly creative characters and fantastic fantasy elements, ones readers will be daydreaming about well after turning the last page. Here we meet King Adan Starfall, the disgraced Brava Elliel, King Kollanan, the ancient Wreths; we explore the Commonwealth, and of course wake the dragon! I totally enjoyed this read and look forward to book two in this new series.
Grab your sword and read the book here.
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Cold Girl by R.M. Greenaway
Talk about creeping dread. That’s what readers can expect when they enter the world of R.M. Greenaway’s “Cold Girl,” the first in her B.C. Blues Crime series. The novel centers on the disappearance of a local musician and the realization she may be in the hands of the notorious Pickup Killer. Called a police procedural, but damn hot for us readers who like chilling scenes and frozen climates in our killer crime fiction.
Lay your cold hands on a copy here.
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Call Down the Thunder by Dietrich Kalteis
Author Dietrich Kalteis brings reader into the thick of the 1930s Dust Bowl in his 2019 novel “Call Down the Thunder.” In it we meet the tough as leather Sonny Myers, who happens to be a bit down on his luck, and his vibrant wife Clara, who wants a little more than Sonny can offer. Not that anyone else was doing much better in Kansas at the time, anyone except the crooks. Sonny comes to realize this sad fact and decides to help himself to a bit of the loot the same way the crooks do.
This is a fantastic historical crime thriller, which takes readers into a desperate chapter of American life, and adds a touch of sweetness only Kalteis can create.
Get your thunder on here.
November 18, 2019
INTERVIEW: Haunted Monterey County on The Odd Entity Podcast
Haunted Monterey County got the star treatment on the latest edition of The ODD Entity Podcast. Thank you to Janine for having me on! I had a great time talking about haunted locales in Monterey, not to mention chatting up spiritual beliefs, Winchester Mystery House, and more.
Listen to the podcast here.
November 7, 2019
INTERVIEW: Haunted Monterey County featured in Carmel Magazine
Be sure to pick up the Holiday 2019 issue of Carmel Magazine, found everywhere along the California Central Coast and abroad. Writer Renee Brincks did a fantastic writeup for the book and it was awesome to be included once again in such an illustrious publication. Can’t find a print copy? Read it online here: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1182230-cm-sm-ho19-nov/66
And get your copy of the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Monterey-County-America/dp/1467142352/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4SX1Q5J4N617&keywords=haunted+monterey+county&qid=1573163908&sprefix=Haunted+Monterey+County%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1
November 6, 2019
BOOK REVIEW: The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night
There are times when you start reading a book without knowing what to expect. Such was the case with D.E. Night’s young adult (YA) fantasy book, The Crowns of Croswald. It was familiar yet wholly new at the same time – and it turned into an energetic, comfortable reading experience.
This review comes from a writer and reader who rarely dip his toes into the genre. When it comes to fantasy and YA fiction, my experiences primarily orbit Lord of the Rings, Narnia, The Kingkiller Chronicles, and the Harry Potter series.
It’s the latter I felt largely influenced The Crowns of Croswald and in the beginning those similarities were strong, even for someone who has not read the Harry Potter (HP) adventures for years. I found myself feeling as though I’d been transported back to those days of Hogwarts, to that memorable era when I read the first three HP books to my daughter. And this was not a bad feeling at all.
In fact, the more I read, the more I was engrossed in Night’s tale, told simply and elegantly, and found myself absorbed by it. This is not HP at all, but an original story told in that cozy YA style (imagine HP as a genre), and done quite well. The author’s world-building game is top notch.
[image error]Lovely illustrations adorn each chapter title.
The book’s chapters are dotted at the outset with charming illustrations also reminiscent of the small drawings seen at the top of each HP chapter. Only these illustrations are done to enhance the story of Ivy Lovely, a young woman who has no idea how exciting her life is about to become. When we first meet her she’s hidden under a magic-killing screen, little realizing her potential as she toils in Castle Plum’s kitchen ensuring each dragon-cooked meal is as tasty as possible. Her only real friend at this point is the woods dwarf, Rimbrick, who offers her hints to her own destiny, not to mention all the books she can handle. It’s when she’s kicked out of Castle Plum that her life begins to change, particularly when she lands in the magical Halls of Ivy, a school where anything can happen and usually does thanks to the scrivenists – sort of like wizards but here the wands are quills – sort of. At school she befriends the witty Fyn Greeley, gets into a bit of trouble, and more importantly seeks to unlock the mysteries of her past, why she was brought to the school, and deal with the nefarious Dark Queen. More happens, a lot more, but readers will have to discover those gems for themselves.
Another point I enjoyed was the use of the name D.E. Night, which readers of Croswald will discover is a name used in the book itself. Early on, in fact, Rimbrick hands off three books for Ivy to read. Each is written by Derwin Edgar Night. The subtle inclusion of the author into the work reminded me of Doyle’s inclusion of Watson into the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, a trick I can get behind with ease. It’s a great way to supercharge the imagination for readers.
Those looking for a well-paced read in the vein of authors
J.K. Rowling and Patrick Rothfuss (without the adult-level syllabus) look no
further than D.E. Night’s plucky Croswald series, now at two books and
counting.
Check out Night’s website here.
October 31, 2019
Halloween ghost stories with Haunted Monterey County
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KAZU 90.3
Those looking for all things spooky during the Halloween 2019 season need look no further than the pages of Haunted Monterey County. Local NPR public radio 90.3 KAZU featured the book on Halloween day.
Take a listen or read it here.
Monterey County Weekly
For a look at even more haunted sites in Monterey County, read Weekly Reporter Marielle Argueza‘s story, which featured a number of the paranormal locales found in the book.
Read her story here.
Thank you to Marielle with the Weekly and Dylan with KAZU for making it a haunted Halloween!
October 30, 2019
Tucson’s bookstore bonanza
[image error]Collect those stickers and bookmarks.
Arizona’s biggest close-to-the-border city, Tucson, is a
literary oasis.
Driving down the streets one might see cowboy hats, MAGA hats, and camouflage hats, but you might also see bookstores dotting the landscape behind them, a lot of bookstores. And some damn good ones. Book lovers visiting Tucson, or those new to town, will find oodles of retail to fit their reading needs.
(Click the header to visit each bookstore’s website)
There are two in Tucson, with one right smack in the middle
of town and another to the north. Coffee shops inside a bookstore always make
the trip more fun, as do aisles and aisles of books. Those who have gone to
B&N know they also have print magazines, collectibles, stationary, and way more.
It’s great to see them humming with activity after dark.
[image error]Bookmans Midtown location.
Bookmans is something of an Arizona tradition. There are stores in Flagstaff, Phoenix, and in Tucson, the birthplace of the chain, there are three locations. Here one can find used books in every genre, graphic novels and comics, merchandise from jewelry to toys, musical instruments, video games, and all in between. They even sell new books. Not just that, but bring in your old books (and other stuff) and you might just get store credit to spend there. Visits are like a trip to a literary Disneyland. You never know where to look first.
[image error]Be kind at Antigone Books
Smack dab downtown, this local hotspot is one of the biggest independent bookstores in the area. Full of helpful staff, the bookstore offers new books, mugs, bookmarks, stuffed animals, and more. The vibe is alive with bookish charm. Here you can find any number of book groups to join, author events to attend, and even learn about how they power the store with solar energy. The place is simply a must-go Tucson experience.
Mostly Books is a place readers can get lost in. The store is long with reading nooks and rooms filled floor to ceiling with stories of all genres. Here it’s easy to find books written by local talent, attend book signings, and join in with monthly book groups. Nicely located on Speedway, the relaxed and friendly atmosphere makes stopping here a definite addition to your bibliophile checklist.
[image error]You don’t need a magnifying glass to find it.
You like your library with some sleuthing, some killing, and some crime? That would be Clues Unlimited. They’ve got paperback cozies, local crime and mystery authors, hardback noir, and more – all packed into a cute little spot. Be sure to take the time and browse around and say hi to that cute dog that hangs out there.
Is that the smell of old books in the Book Stop, cigars, or what? Either way you’ll get that book jones satisfied at this place, which carries a ton of used, ultra-rare, and out of print titles for your reading pleasure, not to mention a chunk of scholarly tomes to peruse. Grab a chair and pony up to this reading mecca.
Tucson in action (in a readerly way)
These are just a taste of what the community offers those who carry books or e-readers around with them, or anyone who likes to shop. There’s also the bookstore for the University of Arizona and other sellers around town. Not just confined to stores, many of the bookstores represent at local events and festivals with their own tables.
To top it all off, Tucson is home to one of the biggest literary festivals in the nation. The Tucson Festival of Books is held each March and is one hell of an affair. Check their website to get a taste of what you’ll see – between trips to bookstores naturally.
October 14, 2019
Read an excerpt from Call Down the Thunder: A crime novel by Dietrich Kalteis
By Dietrich Kalteis
ECW Press (October 15, 2019)
Dietrich Kalteis has produced another gem with his latest historical crime novel, “Call Down the Thunder,” out this month from ECW Press. Read the description below followed by an excerpt of the novel courtesy of ECW. Find your copy here!
Amazon.com description:
Sonny and Clara Myers struggle on their Kansas farm in the late 1930s, a time the Lord gave up on: their land’s gone dry, barren, and worthless; the bankers are greedy and hungry, trying to squeeze them and other farmers out of their homes; and, on top of that, their marriage is in trouble. The couple can struggle and wither along with the land or surrender to the bankers and hightail it to California like most of the others. Clara is all for leaving, but Sonny refuses to abandon the family farm.
In a fit of temper, she takes off westward in their old battered truck. Alone on the farm and determined to get back Clara and the good old days, Sonny comes up with an idea, a way to keep his land and even prosper while giving the banks a taste of their own misery. He sets the scheme in motion under the cover of the commotion being caused by a rainmaker hired by the mayor to call down the thunder and wash away everyone’s troubles.
[image error]Author photo by Andrea Kalteis.
Call Down the Thunder book excerpt:
Not getting out of Kansas tonight. The dusk was coming on.
Clara
sat on the bumper. The steam had stopped rising from under the hood. Had only
been the one truck drive by since she broke down. Likely end up sleeping in the
truck.
Then
she heard it, coming from a long way off, raising dust behind it. An old
Packard with the square cab, the headlights high and on either side of the
windshield, the kind of truck they used for delivering the post when she was a
kid. This one painted brown, gold lettering down the wood-
paneled sides. The driver slowed to a stop and leaned across the seat, calling
out the window.
“Got
trouble?”
Some
kind of scorn would likely have the man driving off. Clara smiled and said,
“Darn thing started clunking and blowing steam, then quit. Sure be grateful in
case you got some water to spare, mister.” Clara sizing the man up, medium
height with a hawk nose, bug eyes and bushes for eyebrows and sideburns, looked
harmless enough.
“Your
lucky day. Water’s my game,” he said, pointing at the lettering down the side.
Eugene Cobb, Rainmaker.
Getting
out, he stuck a bowler on his head, came around the front bumper and said his
name, looking over the old Hudson, never seen something on the road with this
little paint left on it.
“Rainmaker,
huh?” She smiled and said her name.
“Spoken
with the note of the skeptic, Clara.” Pulling open his passenger door, Eugene
took a canteen from behind the seat, giving it a shake and offering it to her.
“You
make it?” Taking it, she smiled and had a drink. Couldn’t believe how good it
felt going down.
“Pumped
it fresh this morning.”
“Let
me ask, how you go about making it rain, Eugene?” She drank some more.
Crooking
a finger, he wanted her to follow to the rear of his truck, flapping back the
musty canvas. Behind some packs and tubs of supplies stood a kind of mortar on
a tripod, strapped to the truck’s floor. A simple affair of a tripod base, a
long barrel and a bipod mount. The thing painted black with his name painted
gold along its barrel.
“That
like a cannon?”
“Cannon’s
more an artillery gun, fires a flat trajectory. Roundshot mostly.” He climbed
up in back. “What I fire’s more of a canister shot, what I call my Cobb-busters.”
“Shoot
them where?”
“The
sky, of course.”
“Can
I ask why?” She drank some more.
“Causes
it to concuss, see? Makes it rain.”
Clara
looked up at the cloudless evening, the moon and stars starting to show.
“Can
see you’re a doubting Debbie.”
“Never
seen a fella do it, blast the sky, is all.” She looked at the tubs of sulfur
and black powder, bottles of colored liquid, some labeled ether.
“Pack
them special, my Cobb-busters.” Reaching a hollow tube with welded propellent
fins, his name down the side. Cradling it in his arms, he explained about
removing the explosive, how he repacked it, then dropped it in the cast-iron
tube, how it hit the firing pin and shot into the heavens, the special blast
bringing about the rain. Saying, “I calculate the trajectory, windspeed and
velocity, you see?” Smiling, Eugene set the missile back down, pushed a pack
aside and came up with a jug, sloshing it around, holding it out.
“What’s
this?”
“Water
. . . for your radiator.”
“You
make it?” She smiled again, handing the canteen back.
Tossing
the empty canteen to the corner, he hopped down, took the jug over to her
truck, looking under the folded hood. He scraped remnants of seeds and nuts
from the radiator, pointing to where some rodent had chewed through the tubes.
Clara
leaned in and saw what he was pointing at.
“Little
buggers built nests, see there?”
“How
far you figure I’ll get?”
“Was
wondering how you got this far.” Shaking his head, he set the hood down. “Need
a new hose, at least that.”
“Saying
I’m damn out of luck.”
“Well,
I can offer you a lift.”
Clara
looked up the road, then back the way she’d come, then at him. “Where to?”
Excerpted from Call
Down the Thunder by Dietrich Kalteis. © 2019 by Dietrich Kalteis. All
rights reserved. Published by ECW Press Ltd. www.ecwpress.com
September 30, 2019
Out now: Haunted Monterey County
Haunted Monterey County is officially available as of today, September 30th. Thank you to Arcadia Publishing and The History Press teams for making such a cool book!
Copies are available at most Monterey County book stores, Barnes and Nobles, and online!
Purchase at The History Press here! Or on Amazon, in ebook too, here!
Read about the book here on fellow Monterey writer, Skyler Lunamir‘s blog!
September 24, 2019
Guest Blog: Come visit me
I hope you will take a moment to come visit me on author Jenny Kane’s website, The Perfect Blend: Coffee and Kane! I sat down with Jenny to talk about my latest nonfiction book, Haunted Monterey County, out September 30th everywhere, and just in time for Halloween I might add.
Read about my trip into all things haunted right here.
September 11, 2019
Top 5 Scariest Sites in Monterey County
Monterey County is home to a number of famous haunted locations just as it’s home to world famous golfing, glitzy car shows, and a smattering of celebrities. Before the glamour of Hollywood and the wealth of Silicon Valley found the Central Coast’s attraction too charming to resist, families filled the land seeking a better life and many, while long since dead, still rattle the nerves of the living. Have you had a ghost encounter in Monterey County?
Let’s take a look at five of Monterey County’s creepiest spots, starting smack dab in the middle of Monterey at the old French Hotel, better known as:
1) The Stevenson House – Built in the 1800s, this grand old building and garden property is found just across the street from the Monterey Transit Plaza in downtown Monterey, and is currently operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Robert Louis Stevenson Club. While the author Robert Louis Stevenson is thought to occasionally haunt the place, though he only lived there a brief time, other spirits are also believed to inhabit the old building, including Manuela Girardin, who died of Typhoid Fever in the two-story structure. Ghostly tales have included the smell of disinfectants, the sighting of a female in a gothic, black gown, and a rocking chair that moves on its own.
2) The Lara-Soto Adobe – Like the Stevenson House, this unassuming little home was originally built in the 1800s. It’s often been a source for supernatural frights, virtually since the day it was built, which may account for it sitting vacant for years prior to a renovation in 1920. It was also the home of author John Steinbeck and his family for a short time. Many believed the home to be cursed, due to the legend of a toddler buried just outside the front door, and the home itself seems to be a magnet for the supernatural activity. Steinbeck himself heard these rumors and allegedly had the home exorcized before he moved in with his family.
3) Old Fort Ord – Now home to shopping plazas and California State University at Monterey Bay (CSUMB), the old base overlooking Monterey Bay was closed in 1994. It’s commonly believed the spirits of the soldiers once stationed there can still be found among the property. Sightings have been shared of ghostly souls wandering the wooded areas of the Fort Ord National Monument in the dead of night and even of strange incidents within the student housing buildings, such as ghostly footsteps, strange sounds, and disembodied voices.
4) Stokes Adobe – Constructed in 1833, Stokes Adobe has been reincarnated many times over the years, most recently as a popular local restaurant for those visiting downtown Monterey. Though the restaurant is now closed and the property is for sale, tales of paranormal activity in the building persist. Many have reported the sighting of a spirit at the top of the stairs, thought by some to be the ghost of one of the building’s early owner, James Stokes. Another owner, Hattie Gragg, has been spotted on the premises on more than one occasion. Unseen hands have moved items around on tables, tapped, and even pushed people who’ve visited the two-story former home.
5) Los Coches Adobe – Likely Monterey County’s creepiest spot, this former rooming house and stagecoach stop can now be found empty and abandoned in Soledad, a small town between Greenfield and King City. From the alleged murders of those staying at the rooming house (their bodies thought to have been tossed into a nearby well) to the death of more than 30 miners in the area, the property is thought to be a hotbed of otherworldly phenomenon. Stories of screams from the well, entities within the walls of the building, and sightings of numerous spirits (some hanging from a noose outside the building) are legion.
Read about these and other paranormal hotspots in Haunted Monterey County, coming September 30th from The History Press. Get your copy in e-book or print at your favorite retailer. Preorder is available!
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