C.A. Verstraete's Blog, page 41

New Lizzie Borden, #Zombie Hunter Story + #Apocalyptic Books!

Wow! Here it is!!



 Get a new LIZZIE BORDEN, ZOMBIE HUNTER story -- and in all, 20+ free samples, books, novellas and short stories. WOW!!!

* Get the free Apocalyptic Samples here.   


The new Lizzie Borden story, The View from #7 French Street,  shares a new twist! You never know what will happen when there are zombies around.... 

Today in History: Lizzie Borden Took an Axe #horror

Today in History:

You remember the rhyme? Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her father 40 whacks...
It's not exactly accurate, but today does mark the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders. 
It was August 4th, 1892 that Lizzie Borden supposedly took an axe (hatchet) and killed her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Durfee Borden.
Decades later, the crime still continues to fascinate.Did she or didn't she?
     I can't believe it's nearly a year later since I began posting about Lizzie Borden! The book,  Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter was released last September. Where does time go??? Well, keep reading for the latest news!! 
* I have some blogs and stories coming up yet that discuss various aspects of the murders, as well as the role of Lizzie's neighbor and physician, Dr. Seabury Bowen, in the aftermath. Did he try to protect her? Well... some of his actions definitely were suspect.
* I followed the crimes and the trial, along with offering a possible solution to the crime, in my book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter .
* Releasing Today! I also give Dr. Bowen an opportunity to share his side of things... and look at whether he was haunted by the events of that day in my latest, The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden's Fall River.
* I hope you enjoy reading them. Please leave a review. Even a line helps!
* BONUS!! Look for a new Lizzie Borden - Zombie story and a bunch of other fantastic apocalyptic stories and books. Details coming!!

Humanity's Hope Has Been Published!

It's here! It's finally here!

Humanity's Hope is now available at Amazon! It seems I've been waiting forever to share this story with the world, and now it's here! I hope you take a moment to check it out.

Caleb, a 17-year-old boy, survived the zombie uprising, but he didn’t come out of the ordeal unscathed. He’s been scarred—both mentally and physically. The rest of humanity is trying to rebuild, to make the world normal again. Caleb is trying to return to a normal life also, but after all he’s seen, after the loss of his family and friends, the transition is difficult. The darkness that led him down a path of self-doubt and self-harm keeps trying to creep back into his mind.

Things only become worse when he discovers he’s immune to whatever makes a zombie a zombie. Fighting zombies was predictable. He knew what to expect. Fighting humans is volatile. They are malicious and treacherous. They won’t stop to get what they want, and Caleb has to figure out exactly what that is.

In addition, I've discounted my Road to Salvation series. You can now get all three ebooks for under $4. This is also a young adult series, but it focuses on demons. 

I hope you all are having an amazing summer. Mine just got sooooo much better!

Release Week: Dr. Bowen #Mystery - Lizzie Borden #Horror

Release Week Continues!

It's release week for my latest,  The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden’s Fall River :

This one is a bit different - a supernatural story that shares how Lizzie Borden's doctor and neighbor might have been affected by the gruesome Borden murders.... and how she influenced him...  

* NOTE: Please buy your Kindle copy here on release day, Friday, 8/4. Or get it on Kindle Unlimited! I'd appreciate your reviews, too.

* Visit some blogs this week to learn more, read excerpts and comment at the blogs to be entered to win a Kindle copy: 
* Tuesday, 8/1:  I'm over at Courtney Mroch's Haunt Jaunts* Wednesday, 8/2: See Jean Rabe's blog 

* TODAY: * Thursday, 8/3:  Thoughts on Dr. Bowen and Lizzie Borden - 
See my website's Write News blog. 

* Friday, 8/4: RELEASE DAY! Buy here!  - Visit Erika Mailman's blog. - postponed.* Monday, 8/7: Jacqueline Seewald's blog


* * * About  The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden’s Fall River :The short supernatural-flavored mystery (141 pages) is on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and coming in print. http://getBook.at/HauntingofDrBowen
Author website: http://cverstraete.com

Gruesome deaths haunt the industrial city of Fall River, Massachusetts.

Dr. Seabury Bowen—physician to the infamous Lizzie Borden—swears he’s being stalked by spirits, though his beloved wife thinks it’s merely his imagination. But the retired doctor insists that neither greed nor anger provoked the recent sensational axe murders in Fall River. Rather, he believes the city is poisoned by bad blood and a thirst for revenge dating back to the Indian and Colonial wars.


Now, two years after the Borden murders, Dr. Bowen is determined to uncover the mysteries stirring up the city’s ancient, bloodthirsty specters. Can he discover who, or what, is shattering the peace before Fall River runs red? Or will he be the next victim?

Part mystery, part love story, The Haunting of Dr. Bowen reveals the eerie side of Fall River as witnessed by the first doctor on the scene of the legendary Borden murders.

#1LineWed- Lizzie Borden's Doctor!

It's the midst of release week for The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden's Fall River! - click link to pre-order for Kindle, Kindle Unlimited & Print!!

It releases "officially" on Friday, August 4th - which is also the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders! 

TODAY: Learn more about Dr. Bowen and the book at Jean Rabe's blog. 







And as today is 1 Line Wednesday.... Here's a line from The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden's Fall River!:

Bowen stretched out his arm in turn and jumped when their fingers touched, the jolt surging through him like the electricity he knew would soon replace all the gas lights.

 ** Don't forget the first kick-off blog tour continues. 

Stop back here tomorrow - and visit Erika Mailman's blog Friday for some more thoughts on Dr. Bowen.

OTHER UPDATES:

It's a BUSY week! Saturday is the 2nd annual Authorfest in Round Lake Beach, IL, 10-4  - 35 authors, entertainment, a kid's writing contest! See all the details here. 

Whew! This stuff is tiring! I've been at it finishing up a NEW Lizzie Borden, Zombie story - The View From #7 French Street.... 

Even got my hands dirty figuring out how to get it into epub and mobi formats. They're readable, at least, so news of that and a very special event is coming soon!

** Have you read Dr. Bowen or Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter? Even a short line review is welcome!!

Release Week! Dr. Bowen - Lizzie Borden #Mystery #Paranormal

It's release week for my latest,  The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden’s Fall River :

This one is a bit different - a supernatural story that shares how Lizzie Borden's doctor and neighbor might have been affected by the gruesome Borden murders.... and how she influenced him...  

* NOTE: Please buy your Kindle copy here on release day, Friday, 8/4. Or get it on Kindle Unlimited! I'd appreciate your reviews, too.


* Visit some blogs this week to learn more, read excerpts and comment at the blogs to be entered to win a Kindle copy: 
* Tuesday, 8/1:  I'm over at Courtney Mroch's Haunt Jaunts* Wednesday, 8/2: See Jean Rabe's blog * Thursday, 8/3:  See my website's Write News blog. * Friday, 8/4: RELEASE DAY! Buy here! * Monday, 8/7: Jacqueline Seewald's blog
About The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden’s Fall River :The short supernatural-flavored mystery (141 pages) is on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and coming in print. http://getBook.at/HauntingofDrBowen
Author website: http://cverstraete.com

Gruesome deaths haunt the industrial city of Fall River, Massachusetts.

Dr. Seabury Bowen—physician to the infamous Lizzie Borden—swears he’s being stalked by spirits, though his beloved wife thinks it’s merely his imagination. But the retired doctor insists that neither greed nor anger provoked the recent sensational axe murders in Fall River. Rather, he believes the city is poisoned by bad blood and a thirst for revenge dating back to the Indian and Colonial wars.

Now, two years after the Borden murders, Dr. Bowen is determined to uncover the mysteries stirring up the city’s ancient, bloodthirsty specters. Can he discover who, or what, is shattering the peace before Fall River runs red? Or will he be the next victim?


Part mystery, part love story, The Haunting of Dr. Bowen reveals the eerie side of Fall River as witnessed by the first doctor on the scene of the legendary Borden murders.

PRE-ORDER is UP!!!   Kindle & Kindle Unlimited, print.

* How did the Borden murders affect the family doctor and neighbor? Aug. 4 is the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders...
Now, two years after the Borden murders, Dr. Bowen is determined to uncover the mysteries stirring up the city’s ancient, bloodthirsty specters. Can he discover who, or what, is shattering the peace before Fall River runs red? Or will he be the next victim? BUY: http://getBook.at/HauntingofDrBowen
BONUS - * Sign up for my newsletter - the box on the top of the webpage - (not the pop up) to be entered to win a print copy. Sorry, US shipping only. Ends 8/4.

August Reading List! #Zombie #Mystery #Monsters #Lizzie Borden

I've already seen school supplies at Walgreen's and the ads are on TV. Can you believe it??? Where'd summer go already?

But it's ALWAYS a good time for a good book! So here are some GREAT choices for your end of summer reading!

Monsters! Mystery! Steampunk, Oh My!
Sherlock Holmes Dracula Sale 99 cents Sherlock Holmes enlists the Invisible Man and Count Dracula to solve the murder of a close friend... steampunk meets electricity. 
    Sometimes what a detective can’t deduce, an invisible man can see and a vampire can taste. 

MYSTERY:
Small Town - Big Crime Mystery!

The second book in Jean Rabe's new Piper Blackwell mystery series,  The Dead of Night,   comes out Sept. 15!  Be sure to check out her website for news on her upcoming blog tour!
* Check out the first Piper book in the series,  The Dead of Winter .  
CONTEST: * One lucky reader will win a print copy of the first book. (Sorry, US mailing only.)  Comment here on the blog  - be sure to put Winter at the beginning  & a way to contact you- and share about your favorite part of Christmas (since the book involves Christmas cards!) Ends 7/23. 
* Learn more about Jean's books and Piper in my new Author Snapshot column at Mysterical-e.com. (It will be up the end of July-early August.)
Mystery - History - True Crime - Lizzie Borden
 I'm reading an advance copy of  Erika Mailman's fascinating new take on the Borden tale -  The Murderer's Maid  (coming in October!)     A dual past and present story focusing on the Borden's maid Bridget Sullivan and a modern-day barista fleeing for her life.    Her Lizzie will make your toes curl! And it's nice to finally learn more about the mostly-silent family maid and how the murders affected her life.


Mystery -Supernatural:


    THE HAUNTING OF DR. BOWEN , A Mystery in Lizzie Borden's Fall River - C.A. Verstraete    PRE-ORDER is UP!!!   Kindle & Kindle Unlimited, print.

* How did the Borden murders affect the family doctor and neighbor? Aug. 4 is the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders...
Now, two years after the Borden murders, Dr. Bowen is determined to uncover the mysteries stirring up the city’s ancient, bloodthirsty specters. Can he discover who, or what, is shattering the peace before Fall River runs red? Or will he be the next victim? BUY: http://getBook.at/HauntingofDrBowen
* Sign up for my newsletter - the box on the top of the webpage - (not the pop up) to be entered to win a print copy. Sorry, US shipping only. Ends 7/25.
Paranormal Detective - Vampire:

99 cents
S take Out-Paranoramal Detectives Book 1 , Lily Luchesi - In a city overrun with the undead, an ex-cop is given a chance to get revenge...
Danny Mancini is on a case, following a murder suspect. When he catches him, he finds out that the perp isn't even human: he's a 200 year old rogue vampire! But no one believes him and he’s put on early retirement, until an FBI agent in a special unit asks him to help her catch the wayward vamp- which won’t be easy with werewolves and other creatures in the way.


Paranormal--History-Werewolf
 Devil in the Countryside (Of Witches and Werewolves Book 1),  Cory Barclay - It's the Reformation and a killer is terrorizing the German countryside. Reports are a legendary werewolf has returned. Now four divergent souls fight to keep their sanity, and their lives, in a volatile religious and political climate. 




ZOMBIES - HISTORY:

2017 marks the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders. - Now a reason why Lizzie did it...


 Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter,  C.A. Verstraete -
Every family has its secrets…
One hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them because they’d become zombies?

ZOMBIES - CLASSIC:
* So sad to hear of the death of George Romero recently!

 Nights of the Living Dead: An Anthology  - edited by Jonathan Maberry and George Romero. Stories based on the 1968 Romero film that started it all - Night of the Living Dead.  Can't wait to read this!





Zombies - YA  Humanity's Hope,  Pembroke Sinclair - Seventeen-year-old Caleb came out of the zombie uprising, alive but scarred.  Then he discovers he's immune to the zombie virus. Fighting zombies is one thing. Fighting humans is volatile. 



More Monsters! Bonus!
Monsters of Myth, Gary J. Green - Everything you wanted to know about Bigfoot to the Mongolian Death Worm and more! Free! 

#1LineWed - 1 Line Wednesday Dr. Bowen-Lizzie Borden #Mystery

Seems I haven't done this for a while, so it's time for another #1LineWed!

You'll be hearing a lot about the upcoming book in the next two weeks so bear with me.



The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden's Fall River  is on pre-order for Kindle!  (Yay, it even got a number ranking now in the #300,000s. Please order so the number goes lower!) It releases August 4th - the 125th anniversary of the Borden murders.

* I'm at the print approval stage. (The book is 141 pages, and includes an excerpt of  Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter.)

So for 1 Line Wednesday - #1LineWed - it seemed fitting to give you a little sample!

As in the Lizzie zombie book, I've included quotes from the actual Borden trial and newspapers of the day.

Here's the start to The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden's Fall River! (Shh it's more than 1 line! haa!)

Prologue
“Never did I say to anyone that she had died of fright.My first thought, when I was standing in the door, was that she had fainted.”—Testimony of Dr. Seabury W. Bowen, Trial of Lizzie Borden, June 8, 1893
“Why won’t anyone believe me? Why, Phoebe, why?”   Dr. Seabury Bowen shoved back the shock of white hair hanging over his forehead and wiped a wrinkled hand across his stubbled chin.   His appearance, like his surroundings, could stand a bit of major housekeeping, not that he cared a whit.    “Here, it’s here somewhere,” he mumbled.   The old man rummaged among the giant pile of documents, books, and what-not littering the large walnut desk in his study. Several minutes later, and after the search through dozens of loose papers, he saw the faded red book lying beneath a tottering pile. He pulled at it, sending the rest of the stack falling like so much unwanted garbage.   The good doctor, but a shadow of his once-robust self, flipped the pages. He stared at the offending journal entry before setting the book aside with a heartrending sob. 

Updates! Dr. Bowen #Mystery, AuthorFest!

Updates!



The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden's Fall River is on pre-order for Kindle!

* Awaiting the final approval for print! (The book is 141 pages, and includes an excerpt of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter.


* Tuesday - July 25 -  Authorfest panel: Authors discuss Secrets of Publishing

See the full list of 35 authors and other info for the Aug. 5th event. Plus Young Author's writing contest - and book donations for kids K-5 will be collected to replace books in the flooded middle school. 
Lake County IL Authorfest Coming! Join me and 34 other authors at the 2nd Annual Lake County Authorfest! - August 5th at the Round Lake Beach Civic Center.
** KICK-OFF Author Panel! Tuesday, July 25 - 7 pm, Round Lake Area Library, 906 Hart Rd. near the park district. See  http://www.rlalibrary.org

Lake County IL Authorfest Coming!

 Join me and 34 other authors at the 2nd Annual Lake County Authorfest! - August 5th at the Round Lake Beach Civic Center.
** KICK-OFF Author Panel! Tuesday, July 25 - 7 pm, Round Lake Area Library, 906 hart Rd. near the park district. See  http://www.rlalibrary.org
* ALSO - Help Round Lake's flood-ravaged middle school library! Donate a children's book for grades K-5. Books collected at the event and at the Round Lake Area Library. 
* New! Youth Writing Contest! See below.

Brought to you by This Old Book in Grayslake, Lake County Authorfest will feature more than 35 authors at this family-friendly and admission-free event:Richard Bell ( LIFE SEEMED GOOD, BUT…. )Robb Chase ( BROKEN DAGGER )John Clark and Cheryl Clark ( SORROW’S ASHES )Donna Codell ( THERE ARE NO ALLIGATORS IN HEAVEN )Trisha Daab ( THE NOT-SO-EVIL STEPMOTHER IN THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH )Mitch Davis ( FINDING RICHARD )Dennis F. Depcik ( WOULDN’T IT BE SOMETHING )Dwight E. DeRamus Jr. ( DISAPPEARING DADS )Catherine Finger ( SHATTERED BY DEATH )David John Ford ( CONFESSIONS OF A SMALL TOWN MINISTER )Mitchell Granger ( JACK STRYDER AND THE LOST LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA )Justin Hamelin ( THE DARKEST CORNER )Elizabeth Harmon ( PAIRING OFF )Ruth Hull Chatlien ( BLOOD MOON: A CAPTIVE’S TALE )E.M. Kaplan ( FULL SLAB DEAD )Kathryn Knapik-Kick ( THE MANY TALES OF SAMMY THE CAT )Christian A. Larsen ( THE BLACKENING OF FLESH )Audrey N. Lewis ( EVERYBODY HAS A STORY…. THESE ARE OURS….. )Gail Lukasik ( DEATH’S DOOR )Patricia McClure-Chessier ( LOSING A HERO TO ALZHEIMER’S )Sue Myers ( DECEPTION )M.E. May ( UNSCRUPULOUS )Papa V ( VANISHED )Jerry Peterson ( ICED )Georgann Prochaska ( THE CASE OF THE EX WHO PLOTTED REVENGE )Dawn Napier ( WORLD OF DRAGONS, WORLDS OF MIST )William D. Napier ( WHEN WATCHERS ASCEND )David A. Rench ( THE NEW AQUARIAN SPIRITUAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT DIET )Randy Rossi ( THE LAST MAN TO LIVE THE REAL AMERICAN DREAM )Kimberley Schumacher ( MY LETTERS TO AMY )Jean-Michel Smith ( AUTONOMY )tel ( INK ON PAPER )Christine Todd ( PINS )C.A. Verstraete ( LIZZIE BORDEN, ZOMBIE HUNTER )C.J. Warrant ( FORGETTING JANE )Charlene Wexler ( LORI )Jeffrey Westhoff ( THE BOY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH )Donn G. Ziebell ( GORKY, RUSSIA: FIRST MAN IN )New this year:  Youth Creative Writing Contest for kids ages 4 to 8, 9 to 12, and 13 to 18. Winners in each category win a $50 This Old Book gift certificate and an Authorfest goodie bag. Pieces should be no longer than 2,000 words and the deadline to enter is July 24th. Click here for more information.

A portion of the proceeds go toward the Ray Bradbury Museum project in Waukegan, which seeks to restore the Carnegie library at 1 North Sheridan Road where Bradbury, author of DANDELION WINE, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, and FAREWELL SUMMER spent his formative years.