Summer?! Welcome to Autumn!! 😎☀️
Dear Reader,Thank you for being a subscriber to my newsletter!
It’s hard to believe summer is over. In fact, kids everywhere are back in school, mornings are feeling a little crisper, and coffee shops are advertising pumpkin spice lattes. (Ew, but that’s another story.)
That means, among other things, that this is a great time for reading… and writing!
Out in the Cold NewsThe second installment in the Special Agent Alexandra Martel series, Out in the Cold, will be available on November 12th, but you can pre-order your copy now. Already, people are having their say, and early reviews are great!
Here’s what they’re saying:
“OUT IN THE COLD is nonstop action, with a heroine who never gives up, never surrenders. Like a ride on a runaway rollercoaster.”
—Tess Gerritsen, NYT bestselling author of The Spy Coast
“This latest Alex Martel thriller is a gnarly espionage novel.”
—Dayton Daily News
“In the world of espionage and high-stakes thrillers, few authors can match the adrenaline-fueled intensity and pulse-pounding action of OUT IN THE COLD, the latest novel from Steve Urszenyi. He’s only two books in, but if Urszenyi can keep this pace, his name will soon be mentioned among the pantheon of today’s master storytellers. Prepare to be captivated from the very first page!”
—Ryan Steck, The Real Book Spy and author of Out For Blood
“PERFECT SHOT was a fantastic ride. Steve Urszenyi rolls on the throttle in OUT IN THE COLD to make it even better! Alexandra Martel is one terrific protagonist!”
—Marc Cameron, New York Times bestselling author of Tom Clancy: Shadow of the Dragon
“With OUT IN THE COLD, Steve Urszenyi delivers another electrifying, world-class thriller. The writing is precise, poignant, and utterly compelling. A jaw-dropper from start to finish.”
—Simon Gervais, former RCMP counterterrorism officer and bestselling author of The Elias Network
“Alexandra Martel is the heroine readers are clamoring for, and Out in the Cold delivers the goods. Steve Urszenyi skillfully crafts a narrative as chilling as the Arctic winds, brimming with action that grips readers from start to finish and showcases Alex as a protagonist who effortlessly rivals renowned characters like Scot Harvath and Court Gentry.”
—Jack Stewart, retired Navy fighter pilot and bestselling author of Unknown Rider, a Battle Born Thriller
What’s Out in the Cold about, you ask? Well, here’s the short blurb:
Special Agent Alex Martel is thrown back into a deadly world of deception when a series of attacks threatens to incite World War III in this action-packed thriller.
Someone is waging a ruthless campaign of attacks against Finland, one of NATO’s newest members, in an attempt to throw the Alliance into turmoil. Teaming up again with CIA agent Caleb, Alex is thrust into the middle of the fray, pursuing the villains from the waters off of Monaco to the Baltic Sea and home to American soil.
Some of you might recall that just over a year ago, my wife Lynne and I visited a few places in Europe, including Helsinki, Finland—a place that has been at the center of ongoing political intrigue and brimming with spies since the Cold War.
Finland and its people are beautiful. It has a remarkable history, and its geography very much reminded us of our home in Canada. I am so glad we went! Helsinki factors prominently in the pages of Out in the Cold!
Pictured below: (Top) Lynne and I on Suomenlinna Island, an 18th-century sea fortress and nature area with centuries-old artillery and defensive walls spread across six linked islands in the Gulf of Finland.
(Bottom) The Helsinki skyline and Helsinki Cathedral (which plays a pivotal role in Out in the Cold) as seen from the harbor ferry coming back from Suomenlinna. (Photos: ©️ Steve Urszenyi 2023.)
We also visited sites around Washington, DC, and toured Alexandria, Langley and McLean, Va, stopping at some well-known establishments to collect additional background information while I was researching various aspects of the story.
I don’t want to give too much away, but suffice it to say that there will be geopolitics at play and maybe a conspiracy or two within the pages of Out in the Cold!
Perfect Shot NewsIn case you hadn’t heard, my debut novel, Perfect Shot, was a featured review in the Globe and Mail a few months back, and it was also a Canadian Living magazine selection. Apple Books said the story’s protagonist, Alexandra Martel, is their “new favorite hero—Alex is relentless and dedicated to taking down the bad guys.”
And Perfect Shot was a finalist for three literary awards:
International Thriller Writers (ITW) 2024 Best First Novel award.
Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer 2024 (Mystery) award.
Crime Writers of Canada 2024 Best Crime First Novel award.
Thank you to everybody who has read or listened to Perfect Shot! And please don’t forget to leave a rating (5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ are always nice) and review on Goodreads, Amazon, or anywhere else you like. Reviews really, REALLY help authors!
Perfect Shot Mass Market Paperback!Today, September 24, 2024, is the publication day for the mass-market paperback edition of Perfect Shot, but it’s already in bookstores everywhere! What’s better than a copy of Perfect Shot? A smaller, travel-friendly version! Did I hear someone say “stocking stuffer”? 🎄🎁
CalendarHere are some key dates of upcoming events I’ll be attending or important publication milestones and waypoints:
September 24: Perfect Shot mass-market paperback pub date
November 12: Out in the Cold pub date
November 19: Murder By the Book, Houston, TX, an in-person conversation with Steve Urszenyi and Chris Mullen
November 20: The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ, an in-person conversation with Steve Urszenyi and Jack Stewart
So, if you’re going to be in Houston or Scottsdale, I would love to meet you in person!
Sad News from the Literary WorldOn September 17, 2024, Nelson DeMille passed away at the age of 81 years, following a brief battle with cancer. DeMille was a veritable titan of the literary world. Together with so many others, I mourn his passing.
The first of his books that I read was Plum Island. I went on to read many, many more: The Lion’s Game, Night Fall, The Lion, The Panther, Radiant Angel, The Gold Coast, The Gate House. The list goes on.
One of the things I learned from him was to give the reader a strong sense of place. While his characterizations were epic (think John Corey, John Sutter, etc.), it was his ability to lock me into the settings of the worlds he brought to the page that I will forever remember and try to replicate in my own writing.
He will always be among my most favorite authors. Thank you, Mr. DeMille, for sharing your gift with your readers.
Pre-Order Out in the Cold Today!
Well, that’s it for this edition of my newsletter. Thank you for supporting and encouraging me on this journey. See you soon on social media and in my next newsletter!
Copyright (C) 2024 Steve Urszenyi Author. All rights reserved.
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