Dave Zeltserman's Blog, page 12

Something very different from me

I wrote this book about 7 years ago, but it was so different from the darker crime and horror novels I was writing and publishing that I didn't know what to do with it. I didn't want to send it out to publishers and I wasn't even sure what genre it was. It's charming, and it somewhat a love story, or at least a search for love, but it doesn't fit in the romance category since there's no sex. It's also somewhat a paranormal fantasy in that it features a genie, but there's also a realism that I think pushes it out of that category. In a way it's an adventure, but probably not what most people would expect from an adventure novel. I ended up self-publishing it under a different title and pen name, but it was all very dissatisfying throwing it out there with no marketing, and I ended up taking it out of print soon after.

This book has always been my wife's favorite of mine, and I recently gave it another look, and decided I liked it also quite a bit, and gave it a careful edit, made a few other changes, and prepared it to be self-published as The Tenth Wish. Even though it's not my typical dark crime or horror novel, I think folks who like my writing will like this book. And even though the best I can describe it is as a charming mix of fantasy and adventure, the book has it's hard edges. There's a biker gang in it that could've come straight out of BLOOD CRIMES, and the other thugs and villains would be right at home in my crime noir novels. And while the genie is very different than Archie, he has a certain quality that I think will appeal to Julius Katz fans.

I haven't figured out a publishing date yet, but will probably make it available end of February. I'll let folks know when I figure that out. Also, I think Oliviaproduction did a tremendous job on the cover, and I highly recommend Olivia to any other writer looking for a book cover design (and her fees are extremely reasonable.)

Upcoming Morris Brick thriller UNLEASHED available for review at Netgalley

My 5th Morris Brick crime thriller UNLEASHED will be out March 5th and is available to reviewers now on Netgalley. Jeffery Deaver on UNLEASHED: “A roller coaster ride between covers! A skillful blend of psychological and investigative thriller writing, Unleashed brings back the great Morris Brick and his crew, who have to stop a horrific series of murders in L.A. Rarely is an author so skilled at portraying such unremitting evil and the poignant, human side of his characters in a single
tale.”

My publisher's description:  There’s a new demon in the City of Angels. The Cupid Killer targets couples in love. He mercilessly tortures women before killing them. He forces men to watch before leaving them beaten and broken—but alive—and wishing them “an especially wonderful day.”  L.A. detective Morris Brick has never hunted a psycho who’s taken such sadistic pleasure in destroying people’s lives. The surviving male victims have all identified the killer’s snarling wolf tattoo. Now Brick knows he’s on the trail of a brutal predator who’s taunting him. But the danger is closer to home than he imagines . . . and the madman’s secret agenda is more vicious than anyone could guess.

I think this one works well as both a thriller and a crime novel. I also got to unleash my inner Richard Stark writing this one, especially in the back story chapters. I hope folks check it out!

My second YouTube video -- talking about Husk.

I was premature yesterday talking about my one and only YouTube video. I've put together a short one where I talk about my new horror novel Husk.

My one and only YouTube video

Will you be able to guess the secret behind The Interloper?

In THE INTERLOPER Dan Willis is working for Homeland Protection, i.e. The Factory, and he is led to believe he is killing insurgents hell-bent on destroying our country. Will you be able to guess the shocking secret behind The Factory's real agenda in this dystopian mix of crime fiction and government conspiracy?

Free right now! My mind-trippy short story MIND PRISON

Do you think you'll be able to guess the shocking ending of MIND PRISON?

In this mind-bending mix of science fiction and noir, a renowned scientist, Dr. Graham Winston, is developing an ingenious and, some might say, horrifying technology that will revolutionize prison. He's close to a breakthrough, except that he finds himself distracted by his beautiful mistress... and thoughts of murder.

MIND PRISON is free for the next 5 days.

"MIND PRISON is a dandy tale of hubris and horror that both Philip K. Dick and O. Henry would heartily endorse." Lee Goldberg

"MIND PRISON is a mix of science fiction and noir as diverting as it is surprising." Max Allan Collins

"A taut, dark, searing science fiction story filled with noir atmospherics--greed, sexual betrayal, murder--that evokes the best of Philip K. Dick's grim near future." Ed Gorman

"MIND PRISON features a novel and Orwellian solution to the problem of overcrowding in American prisons." Publishers Weekly

Cover for Morris Brick thriller #5: UNLEASHED

My 5th Morris Brick crime thriller UNLEASHED will be unleashed into the world next March. I put the emphasis on crime because this is very much a crime novel, and I was able to unleash my inner Richard Stark writing it, particularly in the backstory chapters. Morris Brick thriller readers will like this one, but I also think anyone who liked Small Crimes, Pariah, and Killer will be particularly pleased.

As you wait for UNLEASHED, you can catch up now with MALICIOUS and CRUEL (if you haven't done so already!), both now on sale for a measly $0.99!

Morris Brick thrillers #3 and #4 on sale!

 My publisher has put MALICIOUS (Morris Brick Thriller #3) and CRUEL (Morris Brick thriller #4) on sale for $0.99. Anyone who likes my crime fiction will like these twisty crime thrillers. 

Amazing coincidences #5,891

As far as coincidences go, this is a small one, but still kind of amazing. Or maybe it's simply a case of synchronicity at play. In the 2017 July/August issue of EQMM, both Loren Estleman (one of my favorite crime writers) and myself both had Nero Wolfe pastiches. In his Claudius Lyons story, his first line:

The moon turned blue, swine flew, and hell sprouted icicles.

In my Julius Katz story, my second line:

Anyone who knew Julius as well as I did would’ve thought the world had tipped onto its axis, or maybe the river Styx had frozen over into a skating rink, or at the very least, pigs had sprouted wings and were flapping themselves across the Boston skyline.

A coincidence, synchronicity, or something else? Who knows?

Free today only! THE INTERLOPER

 Now's your chance to grab a free copy of my thriller THE INTERLOPER ("Stark meets Ludlum meets Forsyth in this tight and tricky opener to anew series from the always-innovative Dave Zeltserman." Roger Smith),