Nick Kolakowski's Blog - Posts Tagged "new-release"
"Main Bad Guy" Is Out!
"Main Bad Guy," the third book in the "Love & Bullets" trilogy, is out! Available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine booksellers...
When I started out, I didn't intend to write a trilogy, but the characters kept speaking to me. After I finished "A Brutal Bunch of Heartbroken Saps" (the first book in the trilogy), I found myself continuing to jot down dialogue, action sequences, and so on... and soon enough, "Slaughterhouse Blues" (the second book) began to take shape.
With "Main Bad Guy," I've brought things back full-circle. Bill and Fiona, our protagonists, find themselves back in New York, hunted by villains with wildly different motives. Will they survive? Well, it's the last book, so all bets are off...
When I started out, I didn't intend to write a trilogy, but the characters kept speaking to me. After I finished "A Brutal Bunch of Heartbroken Saps" (the first book in the trilogy), I found myself continuing to jot down dialogue, action sequences, and so on... and soon enough, "Slaughterhouse Blues" (the second book) began to take shape.
With "Main Bad Guy," I've brought things back full-circle. Bill and Fiona, our protagonists, find themselves back in New York, hunted by villains with wildly different motives. Will they survive? Well, it's the last book, so all bets are off...
"Maxine Unleashes Doomsday" Up for Pre-Order
My next book, a noir/sci-fi hybrid titled "Maxine Unleashes Doomsday," is now up for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as all the other (usual) venues.
Here's the summary for ya:
The United States has collapsed. Bandits stalk the highways, preying on the weak and unaware.
In order to transport goods between heavily fortified cities, companies hire convoy escorts. Maxine is the best of these new road warriors: tough, smart, and unbelievably fast. But she also has a secret: She's the niece of New York's most notorious outlaw, a man hunted by what's left of the nation's law enforcement.
Maxine wants to live a normal, upstanding life. But a bad incident on the road leaves her mauled, penniless...and fired. If she wants to survive, she's going to need to embrace her outlaw roots--and carry off the biggest heist that the post-apocalypse has ever seen. It's a journey that will take her through obstacle after obstacle to the edge of death itself--and beyond.
"Maxine Unleashes Doomsday" smashes the gritty frenzy of "Mad Max: Fury Road" with the top-notch suspense of a crime saga like "Heat." It's a brutal thriller that offers a terrifying glimpse of our future.
Praise for MAXINE UNLEASHES DOOMSDAY:
"Take one of Richard Stark's 'Parker' novels and throw it in the blender with DVDs of 'Mad Max' and 'The Warriors.' Guess what? You just broke your blender. Find solace in this book, which is what you should have done in the first place." --Rob Hart, author of 'The Warehouse' and 'New Yorked'
"'Maxine Unleashes Doomsday' rolls in with bang-up premise and keeps on punching. This is a trip into the far future and then the near future, where the oceans have swallowed up the coasts, the United States has fractured, and people like Maxine are left in the dust. But Maxine is tough and she's got no patience for any crap and she will survive...one way or another. Filled with a terrific carnival cast of characters, cracker-jack scenes, and Kolakowski's witty prose, 'Maxine Unleashes Doomsday' is a fantastic read and definitely well worth your time." --Jen Conley, author of 'Seven Ways to Get Rid of Harry' and 'Cannibals: Stories from the Edge of the Pine Barrens'
"Loaded with savvy world-building, memorable characters and precise, sharp plotting, I devoured Nick Kolakowski's latest. The post-apocalyptic and wonderfully bonkers 'Maxine Unleashes Doomsday' will keep you turning pages at a breakneck pace." --Alex Segura, author of 'Blackout' and 'Dangerous Ends'
"I don't know which is more terrifying: how wildly inventive this book is, or how close this fractured world is to ours. In 'Maxine Unleashes Doomsday,' Kolakowski gives us the hero we need for the apocalypse we deserve." --Nik Korpon, author of 'Wear Your Home Like a Scar' and 'Old Ghosts'
"If George Miller ('Mad Max') and Sol Yurick ('The Warriors') had a bastard kid, there's a good chance it would be Nick Kolakowski's 'Maxine Unleashes Doomsday.' White hot words and images of a crumbling society leap off the page giving the reader a scary look at a future which, in light of what's going on today, is not so far-fetched. Kolakowski is a master at creating fascinating, horrifying characters fighting for existence in a world gone wild." --Charles Salzberg, Shamus Award-nominated author of 'Swann's Last Song' and 'Second Story Man'
I've been working on this one for years, so I have quite a bit of personal pride in it. Hopefully the future portrayed in the book isn't the one that actually comes to pass.
Here's the summary for ya:
The United States has collapsed. Bandits stalk the highways, preying on the weak and unaware.
In order to transport goods between heavily fortified cities, companies hire convoy escorts. Maxine is the best of these new road warriors: tough, smart, and unbelievably fast. But she also has a secret: She's the niece of New York's most notorious outlaw, a man hunted by what's left of the nation's law enforcement.
Maxine wants to live a normal, upstanding life. But a bad incident on the road leaves her mauled, penniless...and fired. If she wants to survive, she's going to need to embrace her outlaw roots--and carry off the biggest heist that the post-apocalypse has ever seen. It's a journey that will take her through obstacle after obstacle to the edge of death itself--and beyond.
"Maxine Unleashes Doomsday" smashes the gritty frenzy of "Mad Max: Fury Road" with the top-notch suspense of a crime saga like "Heat." It's a brutal thriller that offers a terrifying glimpse of our future.
Praise for MAXINE UNLEASHES DOOMSDAY:
"Take one of Richard Stark's 'Parker' novels and throw it in the blender with DVDs of 'Mad Max' and 'The Warriors.' Guess what? You just broke your blender. Find solace in this book, which is what you should have done in the first place." --Rob Hart, author of 'The Warehouse' and 'New Yorked'
"'Maxine Unleashes Doomsday' rolls in with bang-up premise and keeps on punching. This is a trip into the far future and then the near future, where the oceans have swallowed up the coasts, the United States has fractured, and people like Maxine are left in the dust. But Maxine is tough and she's got no patience for any crap and she will survive...one way or another. Filled with a terrific carnival cast of characters, cracker-jack scenes, and Kolakowski's witty prose, 'Maxine Unleashes Doomsday' is a fantastic read and definitely well worth your time." --Jen Conley, author of 'Seven Ways to Get Rid of Harry' and 'Cannibals: Stories from the Edge of the Pine Barrens'
"Loaded with savvy world-building, memorable characters and precise, sharp plotting, I devoured Nick Kolakowski's latest. The post-apocalyptic and wonderfully bonkers 'Maxine Unleashes Doomsday' will keep you turning pages at a breakneck pace." --Alex Segura, author of 'Blackout' and 'Dangerous Ends'
"I don't know which is more terrifying: how wildly inventive this book is, or how close this fractured world is to ours. In 'Maxine Unleashes Doomsday,' Kolakowski gives us the hero we need for the apocalypse we deserve." --Nik Korpon, author of 'Wear Your Home Like a Scar' and 'Old Ghosts'
"If George Miller ('Mad Max') and Sol Yurick ('The Warriors') had a bastard kid, there's a good chance it would be Nick Kolakowski's 'Maxine Unleashes Doomsday.' White hot words and images of a crumbling society leap off the page giving the reader a scary look at a future which, in light of what's going on today, is not so far-fetched. Kolakowski is a master at creating fascinating, horrifying characters fighting for existence in a world gone wild." --Charles Salzberg, Shamus Award-nominated author of 'Swann's Last Song' and 'Second Story Man'
I've been working on this one for years, so I have quite a bit of personal pride in it. Hopefully the future portrayed in the book isn't the one that actually comes to pass.
'Rattlesnake Rodeo,' the Fiery Sequel to 'Boise Longpig Hunting Club' Is Here!
We’re out in paperback, and on Kindle, Nook, Apple Books, and Google Books, although I’m always big on encouraging folks to buy indie. Here's the summary:
Plus, we got some early reviews:
“Rattlesnake Rodeo is high-octane noir. A classic "man on the run" plot on steroids with enough artillery and action for readers looking for adrenaline rush, but with that dark, doomy core that is noir. While it's more fast-paced than Boise Longpig Hunting Club, which takes its time setting all the elements in place for a big finish, it shares the previous novel's emphasis on character and relationships.”
- Pulp Serenade
“This is a story to be consumed like vodka or tequila, in quick swallows that burn the back of your throat; this rattlesnake has a bite.”
- Crime Fiction Lover
“If you are looking for an adrenaline rush of a novel that presses the pedal all the way down, you owe it yourself to pick up Kolakowski’s latest.”
- Econoclash Review
"Nick Kolakowski is known for his insightful essays on complex social issues and controversies within the world of crime fiction but, for those unfamiliar with his fiction, Rattlesnake Rodeo (and its fantastic predecessor, Boise Longpig Hunting Club) are terrific starting points. At turns ruthless and intimate, but always with a touch of humor, Rodeo takes readers on a violent, memorable journey through the new American West and the dark violence plaguing his characters' souls."
- E.A. Aymar, author of The Unrepentant
Three nights ago, Jake Halligan and his ultra-lethal sister Frankie were kidnapped by a sadistic billionaire with a vendetta against their family. That billionaire offered them a terrible deal: Spend the next 24 hours in the backwoods of Idaho, hunted by rich men with the latest in lethal weaponry. If Jake and Frankie survived, they'd go free; otherwise, nobody would ever find their bodies.
Jake and Frankie managed to escape that terrible game, but their problems are just beginning. They're broke, on the run, and hunted by every cop between Oregon and Montana. If they're going to make it through, they may need to strike a devil's bargain-and carry out a seemingly impossible crime.
Rattlesnake Rodeo is a neo-Western noir filled with incredible twists. If you want true justice against the greedy and powerful, sometimes you have no choice but to rely on the worst people...
Plus, we got some early reviews:
“Rattlesnake Rodeo is high-octane noir. A classic "man on the run" plot on steroids with enough artillery and action for readers looking for adrenaline rush, but with that dark, doomy core that is noir. While it's more fast-paced than Boise Longpig Hunting Club, which takes its time setting all the elements in place for a big finish, it shares the previous novel's emphasis on character and relationships.”
- Pulp Serenade
“This is a story to be consumed like vodka or tequila, in quick swallows that burn the back of your throat; this rattlesnake has a bite.”
- Crime Fiction Lover
“If you are looking for an adrenaline rush of a novel that presses the pedal all the way down, you owe it yourself to pick up Kolakowski’s latest.”
- Econoclash Review
"Nick Kolakowski is known for his insightful essays on complex social issues and controversies within the world of crime fiction but, for those unfamiliar with his fiction, Rattlesnake Rodeo (and its fantastic predecessor, Boise Longpig Hunting Club) are terrific starting points. At turns ruthless and intimate, but always with a touch of humor, Rodeo takes readers on a violent, memorable journey through the new American West and the dark violence plaguing his characters' souls."
- E.A. Aymar, author of The Unrepentant
"Love & Bullets" About to Mega-Bomb!
My next book is coming out next week from Shotgun Honey, award-winning publisher of gonzo crime fiction! The mega-sized, all-extras-added, phone-book-thick "Love & Bullets" combines three original novellas ("A Brutal Bunch of Heartbroken Saps," "Slaughterhouse Blues," and "Main Bad Guy") with a whole mess of new material, including a new middle, the revival of a previously dead character, and an even more splattery/fiery ending!
If you're interested in snagging the paperback, head over to the Shotgun Honey website, which is handling paper pre-orders. E-book-wise, it's also available on Kindle (and more platforms soon).
Here's what some fine folks have been saying about "Love & Bullets" so far (more to come):
"Nick Kolakowski takes us on another incredibly visceral and vivacious ride among the lowlife and the lovers that populate his unique imagination. 'Love and Bullets' is vintage Nick: Funny, fast paced and just tinged with just enough darkness to make you afraid for his characters. Not to be missed!" - Shawn A. Cosby, New York Times bestselling author of RAZORBLADE TEARS and BLACKTOP WASTELAND
"It’s fitting that this darkly funny novel of criminals hunting criminals is dropping in the middle of the Great Resignation, a time when burnout–among other factors–is prompting many workers to give their notice or just walk out the door." - Small Press Picks
"The exploits of Bill and Fiona are long on banter and short on causation. This one’s for die-hard Kolakowski fans!" - Publishers Weekly
If you're interested in snagging the paperback, head over to the Shotgun Honey website, which is handling paper pre-orders. E-book-wise, it's also available on Kindle (and more platforms soon).
Here's what some fine folks have been saying about "Love & Bullets" so far (more to come):
"Nick Kolakowski takes us on another incredibly visceral and vivacious ride among the lowlife and the lovers that populate his unique imagination. 'Love and Bullets' is vintage Nick: Funny, fast paced and just tinged with just enough darkness to make you afraid for his characters. Not to be missed!" - Shawn A. Cosby, New York Times bestselling author of RAZORBLADE TEARS and BLACKTOP WASTELAND
"It’s fitting that this darkly funny novel of criminals hunting criminals is dropping in the middle of the Great Resignation, a time when burnout–among other factors–is prompting many workers to give their notice or just walk out the door." - Small Press Picks
"The exploits of Bill and Fiona are long on banter and short on causation. This one’s for die-hard Kolakowski fans!" - Publishers Weekly
"Love & Bullets" Excerpt and More
Hey all!
So "Love & Bullets: Megabomb Edition" has been out in the world for a little over two weeks. Thanks to everyone who's taken the plunge on it -- the early feedback has been intensely gratifying, given the amount of work involved. (It's also been pretty cool to see how folks react to the ton of added material and the adjusted ending.)
CrimeReads has a new excerpt from the book you can check out, featuring a nail-biting chase through Havana. Over at Criminal Element, I also have a long essay that (spoilers!) breaks down how and why I brought a crucial character back to life.
There have also been some cool reviews, including a lengthy one at Do Some Damage and a nice pop at Irresponsible Reader. If you've read "Love & Bullets," please feel free to leave a review on Amazon or here on Goodreads; it's enormously appreciated and helps get the word out.
If you're interested in grabbing a paperback or e-book of "Love & Bullets," you can head over to Amazon or the bookseller of your choice. I highly suggest buying enough copies to make a cool little holiday fort right in your living room.
So "Love & Bullets: Megabomb Edition" has been out in the world for a little over two weeks. Thanks to everyone who's taken the plunge on it -- the early feedback has been intensely gratifying, given the amount of work involved. (It's also been pretty cool to see how folks react to the ton of added material and the adjusted ending.)
CrimeReads has a new excerpt from the book you can check out, featuring a nail-biting chase through Havana. Over at Criminal Element, I also have a long essay that (spoilers!) breaks down how and why I brought a crucial character back to life.
There have also been some cool reviews, including a lengthy one at Do Some Damage and a nice pop at Irresponsible Reader. If you've read "Love & Bullets," please feel free to leave a review on Amazon or here on Goodreads; it's enormously appreciated and helps get the word out.
If you're interested in grabbing a paperback or e-book of "Love & Bullets," you can head over to Amazon or the bookseller of your choice. I highly suggest buying enough copies to make a cool little holiday fort right in your living room.
