Around the Fire New Release Spotlight with Randy Overbeck.
A note from D. V.
Hi, everyone. I had the pleasure of meeting today's guest while in Florida. Randy was doing a book signing for his book Scarlet at Crystal River, where I scored a signed copy. I also enjoy his Podcast Great Stories about Great Storytellers.
Cruel Lessons
by
Randy Overbeck
Mystery/Ameteur Slueths
Released October 11, 2023
Four kids dead. Can Assistant Superintendent Ken Parks unmask the drug dealer poisoning his
students before more kids die?
On a school camping trip, fifth graders experiment with a dangerous new hallucinogen and die
in a horrific accident, their deaths shattering the quiet town. Assistant Superintendent Ken
Parks, hoping to redeem a fatal mistake from his past, grasps the opportunity to conduct the
district investigation of how students are getting the drugs. Almost before he begins, the cops
make a stunning arrest. But Parks battles on, convinced the real pusher is still out there,
poisoning more kids until he receives an anonymous threat: if he continues, those close to him
will pay. Is Parks willing to risk those he loves for a chance at redemption?
A peek inside the cover.
From the bend, the road descended quickly and Amanda felt the car picking up speed as
gravity and its powerful engine propelled it downhill. As she approached the next turn, she
realized she was coming in a little too fast. She slid her foot to the brake. Her concentration on
steering the twisting road ahead, at first it didn’t register. She dared to take her gaze off the road
and look down at her feet before she understood. When her right foot depressed the brake, the
pedal glided all the way to the floor. No friction. She pulled her foot back and slammed on the
brake again. The pedal slid all the way down. Unbelieving, she pumped it, again and again.
There was nothing there.
She jerked her eyes back. The hairpin turn hurtled at her. On instinct, she kept jamming on
the pedal. It was supposed to work. She turned the wheel wildly. The big car shuddered as it tried
to negotiate the turn. The two rear wheels slipped off the pavement, spinning in space. With the
front wheel drive, the front two tires managed enough traction to catch. The car veered around
the curve and headed down the next straight incline. The heavy vehicle rolled faster again as
gravity pulled it down the hill.
Amanda’s mind reeled. What was she supposed to do?
Struggling desperately to force her mind to think, Amanda tried to consider her options. It
was all happening too quickly. The next treacherous turn came at her fast. She had no way to
slow down. White knuckles gripped the steering wheel.
The bend ahead showed a hard curve to the right, not quite as tight as the last one, but
steeper. And she felt the car accelerating, though she hadn’t touched the gas pedal. Right before
the car hit the curve, Amanda spun the steering wheel. The car lurched around the bend. The
driver side of the car lifted up. Halfway through the long bend, Amanda watched the hood tilt in
the turn until it was almost vertical. No seat belt on, she was catapulted down the leather seat,
crashing into the passenger door.
“Hell!” she cried, reaching to grab her bruised shoulder.
She froze as the two wheels still on the ground shuddered in the gravel, sliding off the small
road. Slammed against the side door, she heard the tall weeds and low branches whip against the
body. But the car didn’t slow. Blood streamed from a gash on her forehead. For an instant she
lay there stretched across the passenger door, holding her breath.
Then she sensed the car teetering. The front tire bumped something hard. Amanda stared,
unbelieving, as the car began to flip. As the Regal made the first revolution, she screamed.
Grab your copy today.
https://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Lessons-Peril-Book-ebook/dp/B0CDJ6GL5W
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1143862801
Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he
served children for more than three decades and has turned that experience into captivating
fiction, authoring the bestselling series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries, winner of nine national
awards. This fall, the Wild Rose Press will release his newest work, an atmospheric amateur
sleuth mystery, CRUEL LESSONS, the first installment in a new series set in schools, “Lessons in
Peril.” He is the host of the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which
reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets.
He is also a speaker in much demand, sharing his multi-media presentations, “Things Still Go
Bump in the Night,” “A Few Favorite Haunts,” and “Everything You Wanted to Know About
Publishing” with audiences all over the USA. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America,
Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique
group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as
Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.
Follow the author.
www.authorrandyoverbeck.com
www.authorrandyoverbeck.com/podcast
www.facebook.com/authorrandyoverbeck
twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media
www.instagram.com/authorrandyoverbeck/
www.bookbub.com/authors/randy-overbeck
www.goodreads.com/author/show/4825632.Randy_Overbeck
www.buzzsprout.com/1924616/10983135
www.amazon.com/Randy-Overbeck/e/B07QQHW7DM
Let us know what you think in the comments.
And Don't forget if you are in the area the amazing FILNE conference.
Hi, everyone. I had the pleasure of meeting today's guest while in Florida. Randy was doing a book signing for his book Scarlet at Crystal River, where I scored a signed copy. I also enjoy his Podcast Great Stories about Great Storytellers.
Cruel Lessonsby
Randy Overbeck
Mystery/Ameteur Slueths
Released October 11, 2023
Four kids dead. Can Assistant Superintendent Ken Parks unmask the drug dealer poisoning his
students before more kids die?
On a school camping trip, fifth graders experiment with a dangerous new hallucinogen and die
in a horrific accident, their deaths shattering the quiet town. Assistant Superintendent Ken
Parks, hoping to redeem a fatal mistake from his past, grasps the opportunity to conduct the
district investigation of how students are getting the drugs. Almost before he begins, the cops
make a stunning arrest. But Parks battles on, convinced the real pusher is still out there,
poisoning more kids until he receives an anonymous threat: if he continues, those close to him
will pay. Is Parks willing to risk those he loves for a chance at redemption?
A peek inside the cover.
From the bend, the road descended quickly and Amanda felt the car picking up speed as
gravity and its powerful engine propelled it downhill. As she approached the next turn, she
realized she was coming in a little too fast. She slid her foot to the brake. Her concentration on
steering the twisting road ahead, at first it didn’t register. She dared to take her gaze off the road
and look down at her feet before she understood. When her right foot depressed the brake, the
pedal glided all the way to the floor. No friction. She pulled her foot back and slammed on the
brake again. The pedal slid all the way down. Unbelieving, she pumped it, again and again.
There was nothing there.
She jerked her eyes back. The hairpin turn hurtled at her. On instinct, she kept jamming on
the pedal. It was supposed to work. She turned the wheel wildly. The big car shuddered as it tried
to negotiate the turn. The two rear wheels slipped off the pavement, spinning in space. With the
front wheel drive, the front two tires managed enough traction to catch. The car veered around
the curve and headed down the next straight incline. The heavy vehicle rolled faster again as
gravity pulled it down the hill.
Amanda’s mind reeled. What was she supposed to do?
Struggling desperately to force her mind to think, Amanda tried to consider her options. It
was all happening too quickly. The next treacherous turn came at her fast. She had no way to
slow down. White knuckles gripped the steering wheel.
The bend ahead showed a hard curve to the right, not quite as tight as the last one, but
steeper. And she felt the car accelerating, though she hadn’t touched the gas pedal. Right before
the car hit the curve, Amanda spun the steering wheel. The car lurched around the bend. The
driver side of the car lifted up. Halfway through the long bend, Amanda watched the hood tilt in
the turn until it was almost vertical. No seat belt on, she was catapulted down the leather seat,
crashing into the passenger door.
“Hell!” she cried, reaching to grab her bruised shoulder.
She froze as the two wheels still on the ground shuddered in the gravel, sliding off the small
road. Slammed against the side door, she heard the tall weeds and low branches whip against the
body. But the car didn’t slow. Blood streamed from a gash on her forehead. For an instant she
lay there stretched across the passenger door, holding her breath.
Then she sensed the car teetering. The front tire bumped something hard. Amanda stared,
unbelieving, as the car began to flip. As the Regal made the first revolution, she screamed.
Grab your copy today.
https://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Lessons-Peril-Book-ebook/dp/B0CDJ6GL5W
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1143862801
Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, heserved children for more than three decades and has turned that experience into captivating
fiction, authoring the bestselling series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries, winner of nine national
awards. This fall, the Wild Rose Press will release his newest work, an atmospheric amateur
sleuth mystery, CRUEL LESSONS, the first installment in a new series set in schools, “Lessons in
Peril.” He is the host of the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which
reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets.
He is also a speaker in much demand, sharing his multi-media presentations, “Things Still Go
Bump in the Night,” “A Few Favorite Haunts,” and “Everything You Wanted to Know About
Publishing” with audiences all over the USA. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America,
Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique
group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as
Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.
Follow the author.
www.authorrandyoverbeck.com
www.authorrandyoverbeck.com/podcast
www.facebook.com/authorrandyoverbeck
twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media
www.instagram.com/authorrandyoverbeck/
www.bookbub.com/authors/randy-overbeck
www.goodreads.com/author/show/4825632.Randy_Overbeck
www.buzzsprout.com/1924616/10983135
www.amazon.com/Randy-Overbeck/e/B07QQHW7DM
Let us know what you think in the comments.
And Don't forget if you are in the area the amazing FILNE conference.
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