Michele E. Gwynn's Blog, page 6

April 27, 2017

Readers Rock Mega Event for 99 Cent Book Lovers!

The Readers Rock Mega Book Event is in Full Effect!! Sponsored by Go Big or Go Home, come on by and grab a ton of awesome books from your favorite authors (including moi!) for $0.99. http://gobiggohomebooks.com/


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Published on April 27, 2017 16:50

April 17, 2017

What do Readers Think of Redemption?

Hello, Berliners!

It's a rainy spring day in San Antonio. My garden is green and blooming, and my cat, Sammy, doesn't feel like he needs to rise from bed on such a gray day.



  Reviews are coming in for The Redemption of Joseph Heinz , and so far, so good! 5-Star reviews for Det. Heinz!

 ***** Great read.Byreader2010on April 11, 2017Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase"It was hard to put this one down. a fantastic third book in this series. Great read. No spoilers here." ***** A Crime and Redemption StoryByAurora Dawnon April 6, 2017Format: Kindle Edition..."This story is full of the action, violence and criminal and political intrigue we've come to expect from Gwynn. It follows not only Heinz himself but Direktor Faust, Heinz's fiancee Birgitta Mahler and the newly promoted Elsa Keiss and chronicles two seemingly unrelated investigations, one in St. Petersburg and the other in Berlin. Followers of the series will become reacquainted with old friends and old enemies although the book provides enough background that reading the earlier stories isn't essential to your enjoyment of this new offering. If you're a fan of police stories, political intrigue, political affairs and exotic European locations, you will love this one." *****  Step into the dangerously seedy crime underworldByKestrel watcheron March 28, 2017Format: PaperbackA thrill ride through the dark, corrupt side of Russia’s underworld for all the right, and hopeless, reasons...I highly recommend reading this series. You won’t be disappointed."















Have you read the third book in the Checkpoint series yet? I want to hear from you. Tell me what you think in comments or even feel free to send an email to megwynn@micheleegwynnauthor.com. 

Who are your favorite characters? What part did you love? What part did you hate? Tell me where you'd like the next book to happen (Germany, Poland, U.S., France). 

Also, did you know that if you subscribe to my newsletter, you'll receive a FREE book in this series that will NOT be available anywhere else? That's right! The prequel novella, The Making of Herman Faust will be distributed in May 2017 to ALL my subscribers. You can subscribe HERE.

If you haven't already read The Redemption of Joseph Heinz, you can still pick up the Amazon ebook for $0.99 through April (the price goes up in May). It's also enrolled in KDP Select through June so if you happen to be an Amazon Prime Member, you can read this book FREE. Please leave a review if you do! I want to hear from my readers. Thanks so much, and enjoy.

Michele E. Gwynn

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Published on April 17, 2017 15:20

April 15, 2017

Website Issues Fixed


Hello,

I wanted to drop in and let everyone know that there were some issues earlier with my website. My fault. I missed a notification in my email about the domain, but it has all been taken care of now, and everything is back up, running smoothly once again.

Thanks for your patience! Please feel free to brows around. Read a little. Subscribe to my newsletter, and share this page with friends.

Thanks, and enjoy!

Michele E. Gwynn

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Published on April 15, 2017 00:55

April 10, 2017

Modern Day Slavery and the Hidden Horrors of Human Trafficking

As a writer, I'm very much influenced by the news I read every day. (I'm an unapologetic news junkie). So many of the stories I read hit me right in the heart and send me into fits of outrage, but none so much as the trafficking of women and children in the sex trade. I hadn't realized how much it affected me until book three in my Checkpoint, Berlin series came out. All three books deal with this issue from both the law enforcement side, and from the point of view of characters. It hit me as quite a shock. When, exactly, had I decided to tackle this issue in this manner?

I think two things are true about writers: One, we feel things deeply. It's often why we write. We need the outlet. These thoughts and emotions have to go somewhere, and two, the writing process itself is a mystery. Even when I plot out a story, it takes twists along the way, veering off into dark and unexpected alleys as the characters take on their own lives, leading me, and demanding I follow. 

In book one, Exposed: The Education of Sarah Brown, it begins innocently enough with a young woman who has been sheltered her whole life, seeking adventure. However, the underlying story is about a young man who is kidnapped by a predator of means, literally taken out of country, and a grown, damaged man, a previous victim of this same pedophile, who must face his fears to help save the boy.

In book two, The Evolution of Elsa Kreiss, three young girls go missing from Charlottenburg, and the police must solve the case, hopefully in time to save the missing. There are deeper links to trafficking within the Russian mafia, and the larger issue of criminal networks and complicit government officials begins to take shape.

In book three, The Redemption of Joseph Heinz, the main character, Det. Heinz, seeks to solve a cold case mentioned in book one, that has haunted him since. Even though he's seen far more in his line of work than most people can handle, missing and abducted children are still his emotional Achilles heel. Human Trafficking is a business for criminals from which too many in a position to stop it, turn their heads away for the right price. Human lives are not valued beyond how much they can be sold for, and they are considered both disposable and replaceable. It's disgusting. It's inhuman.

According to Do Something.org, "There are approximately 20 to 30 million slaves in the world today. According to the U.S. State Department, 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year, of which 80% are female and half are children."

Slaves. In the modern world! It's not always about brothels in some country you may never visit. Sometimes, it's happening next door. And far worse than dying in these conditions is the idea one might survive it, and have to live with the horror every day. These victims, who manage to get out, to get rescued, often can't even admit to their loved ones what happened. They bury it inside, stuff it into the darkest corners of their souls like the human psyche will do when it experiences trauma, but it is only one thought, one trigger away from destroying them. This was the case of a woman who told her story on Marie Claire, shared with me by Unite for Change. Cathy was taken at age 15, and spent the next four years being beaten, starved, terrorized, and raped. Read this story here:  The British Teenager Kept as a Slave in London for Four Years. This brought me to tears today.

The buying and selling of humans needs to end. We, the people, have the power to make that happen, but we must not allow ourselves to become complacent. We need to remain vigilant, and fearless! Never be afraid to speak out if you suspect someone is being abducted or held against their will. It's okay to be wrong. In fact, it's the preferred scenario, but if....just imagine if you are right? You might just save a life and put a sick, slime-bucket criminal behind bars. Isn't that worth it? So do for others what you would wish them to do for you. Be the hero. Be aware. Be there.

At the bottom of the Marie Claire article is a message for those affected by this information, and Cathy's story. 

If you’ve been affected by anything in this article, you can contact the Salvation Army confidentially on: 0300 3038151 or visit their website at salvationarmy.org.uk.
Read more at http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/reports/...
 In the U.S.:  Get Help. Report a Tip. Request Services. 1-888-373-7888 TTY: 711
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N16UF14  

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Published on April 10, 2017 16:05

April 7, 2017

FREE Book Alert! Get Exposed

***#FREE***FREE***FREE***Grab this FREEBIE April 7 - 11 on Amazon.
Exposed: The Education of Sarah Brown will be FREE to download on the above listed dates. SPREAD THE WORD. SHARE THIS POST!
Book I in The Checkpoint, Berlin Detective Series begins on a note of sensual innocence before it all goes wrong....
A lonely young woman sets out to explore her desires far from her small Texas town. Finally free from a stifling obligation, Sarah Brown travels to Europe and meets a charming, sexy photographer intent on seduction, a handsome playboy with a disturbing secret, and a fiery dominatrix who introduces her to the darker side of passion. When Sarah arrives in Berlin, she crosses paths with a dangerous predator hell-bent on revenge. All are connected, but one will not survive.  Welcome to The Checkpoint, Berlin Detective Series; your passport into a world of dark passions, international crime, and ever-present danger.
Download your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011J9KYTM   Book II The Evolution of Elsa Kreiss  $3.99 Amazon Book III The Redemption of Joseph Heinz  $0.99 Amazon
#crime #thriller #international #action #suspense #booksinaseries #Checkpoint #Berlin #indie

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Published on April 07, 2017 06:30

April 6, 2017

Missing Persons Cases Number into Thousands in Texas Town

Article by Ted Quinn
Metrocom Tribune 

The city of Marion, Texas, located four miles northeast of Randolph Air Force Base, has a secret. Missing Persons cases that date back fifty years and number into the thousands! These cases remain unsolved to this day, and the number continue to rise with the recent case of Justice Edwards, age 55, who went missing November 3rd. When questioned about the obscenely high number of missing persons, and whether the city even cared anymore to solve them, Mayor Thaddeus Bryant replied, "These are our people. You know as well as I do that this is an ongoing investigation, and because of that, neither myself nor the the chief of police can reveal any details. As soon as we know something concrete, we'll be happy to give your paper a statement."

Once again, Mayor Bryant has side-stepped the issue, refusing to comment on the recent missing persons cases or even the cold cases that are more than ten, twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty years old, that remain unsolved. Speculation as to any connection these cases have to the explosions reported in the neighboring city of Schertz, explained away by the Army Corps of Engineers as underground gas pockets, remain unanswered, as well as the possibility that the underlying cause may have something to do with Entrophic's newest universal vaccine, Celluloss, widely known to have been developed by military scientists, and tested on the population of Schertz residents. The only information known is that each of the missing were native to Schertz before moving to Marion, from whence they disappeared. This reporter will continue to seek answers.

READ THIS BOOK! Census, The Harvest Trilogy Book III. (Audible Audio version available)

Available on Amazon and KDP Select #FREE for Prime Members.




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Published on April 06, 2017 00:16

April 3, 2017

It's LIVE! The Redemption of Joseph Heinz Now Available

THE REDEMPTION OF JOSEPH HEINZThe Checkpoint, Berlin Detective Series, book 3
by Michele E. Gwynn Genre: Crime/Thriller


The Kommissar is back, and going rogue in St. Petersburg! A new lead on a cold case, one that has haunted Heinz, and nearly cost him his career now offers a path to redemption. A ledger containing the names of abducted girls recovered from the Vledelets during the Ivchencko affair offers renewed hope. With the wedding to his partner-turned-love of his life, Birgitta Mahler, drawing near, Detective Heinz must find a way to close the door on his guilt once and for all. But will his decision to investigate the disappearance of Marlessa Schubert lead him to an answer he can live with or an early grave? All roads lead to one destination, Warehouse 214, and one man, Vladimir Breshnev, known to his enemies as ‘the Butcher’, and to Interpol as the leader of the Russian mafia. Unsanctioned, and on his own, Heinz pursues his demons. When he fails to check in, his protégé, Officer Elsa Kreiss, must call in a dangerous favor. If she succeeds, Heinz will make it to the church on time, but if she fails, he’ll arrive in a box.
“I have your papers.” She pulled a packet out of her shoulder bag, and shoved it across the table at him. “Don’t open it here. Just put it in the seat next to you. Inside is your new passport. Your name is Martin Lintz, and you are an Austrian school teacher. You teach mathematics to ten year olds. Your birthdate remains the same for ease in remembering should anyone ask, and your address is your old house where you grew up.”

Heinz’s eyebrows shot up. “And how do you know that address?”

She shrugged. “I know everything about you. Faust provided most of it, the rest I dug up on my own.”

“Christ, there’s just no privacy anymore.” He shook his head.

She remained unfazed. “No, none. You will find a new cellular inside. It’s clean and registered to Martin Lintz. You can call whoever you need to, and it will route through your other account. “There is also a baggage tag for your suitcase. You can pick up your ticket to Saint Petersburg at the Air Baltic counter.” She held out her hand.

Heinz looked at it. “What?” he asked.

“Hand over your phone and passport. You can’t take them with you. They will give you away should you be caught.”

“I’m just supposed to leave my personal phone and passport with you? How will I get them back?”“I will express mail them to Faust as soon as I leave here. They’ll be waiting for you when you get back.”

Joseph sighed. He wasn’t happy about turning over his personal information to this young woman, but it was also obvious that she already had all that since she freely admitted to digging around in his business. He pulled the phone and passport out of his pocket and handed them over.

“Now, in addition to the new phone, there is also Russian currency so you don’t need to stop anywhere to exchange. The amount is five thousand Euros in rubles. You have something for me?”

“Oh, yes.” Heinz reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the thick envelope, handing it over.She held it in both hands, weighing it. When she was satisfied, she got up. “Thank you.” She turned to leave.

“Wait!” Joseph sat straight, watching her.

“What?”

“That’s it?” He was shocked at their short exchange.

“What more did you expect?”

That got him. What did I expect? He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it all just seemed rather abrupt.”

“I got the distinct impression that you, yourself, didn’t care for bullshit.” She stuffed her hands in her pockets, her face absent any emotion.

“I suppose not. Never mind. Thank you.” He dismissed the girl.





AmazonAmazon Int'l ✯ Goodreads





Exposed: The Education of Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown sets out on a journey to sensual self-discovery and falls face first into danger. In Barcelona, Anthony de Luca, a renowned travel author and photographer, unleashes the full force of his charm that threatens to steal her heart, a prize he openly admits he doesn’t want. Still, she can’t resist him, and finds herself experiencing the heights of ecstasy and the lows of heartbreak as her lover leaves without a word. In Berlin, Paul Christiansen, a handsome Dutch Lothario with a sordid past, works his wiles to seduce her body while in the shadows, a predator stalks a young boy close to Sarah determined to get what he wants or kill anyone who gets in his way. One of her two lovers has led a dangerous criminal straight to her door, but which one, and who can she trust?


The Evolution of Elsa KreissWhat happens when Berlin's premiere dominatrix trades in her whip for a badge and gun? She discovers she cannot completely escape her past. With the help of the detective who saved her little brother’s life, Elsa Kreiss enters the police academy, expecting her world to now be far safer. Instead, it only becomes more dangerous!An unsolved case of three missing girls from Charlottenburg pulls her mentor, Kommissar Joseph Heinz, back into the dark abyss just as he realizes he’s in love with his partner, Birgitta Mahler. While he searches for a killer, she fights an attraction to a very sexy bad boy. Lukas Trommler is everything she likes in a man; cocky, confident, and hot. An art buyer at a local gallery, Lukas exudes culture with an edge of danger. He invites her into his world where she comes face to face with a familiar monster, Yuri Ivchencko, one of the most powerful and wealthiest men in the world with ties to the Russian mafia and human trafficking. His obsession with the sick and twisted side of human nature expressed in art offends Elsa, who doesn’t hesitate to say so. Her outburst lands her squarely on his radar. When Elsa is reported missing, Heinz must put aside his case to rescue his protégé. The operation brings him face to face with a man from his past, the evil Russian he believes responsible for the cold case that haunts him still.The stakes are high as they race to save several young women now at the mercy of a sadistic billionaire now bound for St. Petersburg, The fate of those kidnapped, should Elsa and Heinz fail, will be worse than death.

Extra!!! As an added bonus for all my Beliners, I will be offering the Prequel to The Checkpoint, Berlin Detective Series, The Making of Herman Faust, to ALL of my current and NEW Newsletter Subscribers. This novella WILL NOT be available anywhere else. It is EXCLUSIVE to my dedicated subscribers. The Making of Herman Faust will be available in May, 2017.

Sign up for my newsletter.



Michele E. Gwynn is a Bestselling Multigenre Author of Crime/Detective books, Sci-Fi/Horror books, and Paranormal/Supernatural romance books in San Antonio. She previously wrote for newspapers, magazines, and online websites. As a journalist, she's covered news and events, and conducted countless celebrity interviews.

She has 3 series currently with several stand-alones, and more books coming!

She resides in the small town of Schertz, Texas on the northeast side of San Antonio with her four felines who so graciously allow her to reside in their home.

Amazon ✯ Website ✯ Facebook ✯ Instagram ✯ Goodreads ✯ Tumblr ✯ Twitter ✯ Bookbub



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Published on April 03, 2017 22:05

Checkpoint Kindle Countdown Deal

The deals keep coming! In honor of launch day for book III in The Checkpoint, Berlin Detective Series, book II, The Evolution of Elsa Kreiss is $0.99 on Kindle Countdown through the 5th of April!

O. M. G!!

The Evolution of Elsa Kreiss $0.99 through April 5th on Kindle Countdown Deals!Pick up your copy today, and don't forget to grab the new release, The Redemption of Joseph Heinz, which is also priced at $0.99 through April.

The Redemption of Joseph Heinz New Release! $0.99 throughout the month of AprilThe series is enrolled in KDP Select, and #FREE to Amazon Prime Members. Welcome to The Checkpoint, Berlin Detective Series; your passport into a world of dark passions, international crime, and ever-present danger. Oh, and tell your crime novel loving friends!




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Published on April 03, 2017 13:17

April 2, 2017

Explosions Rock Texas Town Amid Rumors of Alien Invasion

The Texas National Guard was deployed to the city of Schertz, Texas following news reports of underground gas pocket explosions. However, this story began to fall apart after an anonymous source stated that the explosions were not caused by gas, but by strange alien ships that gathered over the town within days of the Homecoming football game at Samuel Clemens High School last Friday night. The city, itself went dark after local news station, KSAT 12, reported unexplained blue orbs flying overhead. Officials at Randolph Air Force Base advised residents to stay inside. Hours later, all communication in and out of Schertz was cut off. Our anonymous source says she was able to get out before the Naitonal Guard closed off all exits. What she describes as the real story sounds like something out of a science fiction novel....
READ THIS BOOK!!! Hybrids, The Harvest Trilogy Book II from Michele E. Gwynn
Available on Amazon and KDP Select, #KindleUnlimited #FREE for Prime Members


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Published on April 02, 2017 14:05

April 1, 2017

Almost here! Help an Author Out


Hello, Berliners!

The Redemption of Joseph Heinz launches Monday, April 3rd! Are you excited? I am!

This crime thriller has been a year in the making with Heinz worrying me to death inside my head. He's begged, cajoled, even mildly bullied me into telling his tale, and helping to find the answers he needs regarding the abduction of Marlessa Schubert. We finally made it, through twists and turns, side plots, tragedies, and always...danger.

I need your help, dear reader, to spread the word as far and as wide as possible. Please take a moment to support my Thunderclap via Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr....or all three if you can! Share this post with your friends, too.

Thunderclap - Redemption is at Hand!
Thanks for your continued support, and I'll see you on the other side of launch day!

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Published on April 01, 2017 14:59