Menagerie Book Tour: Day Eight with Craig Boyack

Hey, Readers. Welcome to the eighth stop on the Menagerie blog tour. Each day I talk about a different story in the collection and tell what inspired the idea. Today’s featured story is titled Storm Rider. Like some of the others, this one is set during the late 1970s – a great time to have lived.

Today, I’m visiting with another of my fellow Story Empire colleagues, Craig Boyack. I’ve often said I don’t know anyone with a more vivid imagination. His books have a cast of characters that will astound you. While I’m a big fan of his Lizzie and the Hat series, I’m still fond of his root monsters in the Lanternfish trilogy.

Speaking of The hat, Craig released the sixth book of the series last fall. Be sure to check out The Midnight Rambler on Amazon.

Below is a list of the stops. Links will be updated as each post goes live. Comments are closed here, but I hope you’ll hop over to Craig’s site to visit with me.

It’s Release Day!

Hey, Readers. Happy Friday the 13th. I hope you’re not superstitious (I’m not) because today is the release date for my short story collection Menagerie.

If you don’t already know, it’s a collection of thirteen multi-genre stories. I’m kicking off a thirteen-stop book tour beginning next Tuesday, January 17, and continuing through February 28.

In the meantime, if you haven’t grabbed a copy, you can do so by clicking below. I’m excited about this release and I hope you’ll enjoy this collection.

The tour stops will be on various Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I’ll post links each day, but I’ll be here each Monday with more mysteries, legends, and lore.

Now Available for Preorder

Hey, Readers. There were times when I thought this day would never come. Many of you have followed me on this journey. More than likely, you never thought it would happen either.

Today, I’m happy to announce Menagerie, my collection of short stories, is available now for preorder on Amazon.

Because I’m not superstitious, there are thirteen stories. The release date is Friday, January 13. Thirteen generous bloggers have offered to host me on a thirteen-stop tour. By the way, my black cat Little Bit approves of this. Come to think of it, so does my Tuxedo cat, Tucker.

If you’d like to preorder your copy, just click on the link below. Thanks in advance for your support.

Preorder Link

Blurb

King’s. The Tower of London. Glass. What do these have in common?

Each is a famous menagerie.

While this Menagerie doesn’t focus on exotic animals, it does contain a collection of stories that explore various trials people face and how their reactions shape their worlds.

Survivors of a haunted bridge. Women who wait while their husbands fight a war. Former partners reuniting to solve a cold-case murder.

These are just three of the thirteen stories in this compendium, encompassing past and present, natural and supernatural, legend and reality. The genres and timelines are varied, but there’s a little something for everyone who enjoys reading about simpler times and small-town life.

Jagged Feathers – @jansikes3 #NewRelease #RomanticSuspense #WhiteRuneSeries

Hey, readers! I’m excited to welcome back friend and fellow author Jan Sikes today. She has a brand-new release, the second book of her White Rune Series. I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while and have already picked up my copy.

Please welcome Jan to tell you all about it.


Thank you, Joan, for inviting me to your blog site today to talk about my new book, JAGGED FEATHERS! I appreciate your generosity.

Since you are a fellow Texan, I wanted to share this historic piece of the story with you and your followers. I don’t know if any of you are familiar with The Longhorn Ballroom and Motel in Dallas, Texas, but a part of my story takes place there.

(Photo courtesy of Jay Lafrance)

First a little history. The Longhorn Ballroom was built in the 1950s by an eccentric Dallas millionaire specifically for Bob Wills. It was said he wanted a stage large enough for Wills to ride his horse onto. It is unclear when the motel section was built, but altogether it is a large complex. It sold to Dewey Groom in the 1960s and ironically, my late husband and Groom were great friends. I have a photo of Rick presenting a pair of longhorns to Groom.

The property changed hands many times and currently belongs to Dallas Developer, Jay LaFrance. I saw an episode of “Queen of the South” that was set at the Longhorn motel and it gave me the idea to include it in my story as well.

Excerpt

The exit sign came up, and her gut clenched. She (Nakina) was getting close. A mixture of anger, danger, and fear for what lay ahead snaked itself around her, almost cutting off her breath.

A glance in her rearview mirror assured her that Vann was with Bridger directly behind her, in a dark-colored van with tinted windows. The rest of the team were invisible but already assembled and in their places, waiting.

The sign for the motel loomed ahead long before she reached it. She didn’t realize this was part of a complex. A statue of a giant longhorn steer faced the street and advertised the Longhorn Ballroom and Motel.

When she turned in the entrance, her heart raced. This was it. This had to be successful. There was no other outcome she would consider.

A blue feather floated down and landed on her windshield.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “Grandmother, stay with me. Help me.”

In an instant, her insides stopped shaking, replaced by steely determination.

As instructed, she parked in front of room 110, left the engine running, and car door open.

After a deep breath, she squared her shoulders, strode to the door, and knocked loudly.

No one answered. She knocked again, reaching out with her senses to feel any vibrations on the other side of the door. They had to be there. The rune tingled against her breast. 

She knocked a third time, apprehension crawling up her spine.

Finally, the door cracked open.

A man with a long scar running from his temple down his cheek growled. “You alone, puta?”

She nodded.

He opened the door wider, and she leaned forward attempting to peer inside.

“Get in here.”

She took a step backward, shook her head, and her voice dripped ice. “No. Bring my sister out, and I’ll give you what you want, but I’m not coming inside.”

The man poked his head out farther and scanned the area. “No one followed you? Where’s the gringo?” He grabbed her arm and tried to pull her inside.

Holding onto the door frame, she attached a death grip. “He’s not here. I did as I was told. Bring my sister out and let go of me.”

“Shit! You are some kind of loco, puta. You think I’m just going to hand your sister over without getting what I want?” He released her arm.

“No.” She reached into the side pocket of the duffel bag slung over her shoulder. “Here’s the key. Give me my sister, and you’ll get the rest.”

The man jerked the key from her hand, and the skull on the end of the keychain glittered in bright Texas sunlight.

“You better not be bullshitting. You will regret it.”

The door closed, and scuffling sounds came from inside.

When he reappeared, a wide-eyed Adele stood beside him, tape over her mouth and her hands tied behind her back.


Were you familiar with The Longhorn Ballroom and Motel? Have you ever been there? I attended several events there in the last five years, but I don’t know if it is still operating as I haven’t seen anything about it in a long time.

https://youtu.be/CwGRyRVMyLE

Blurb

Vann Noble did his duty. He served his country and returned a shell of a man, wounded inside and out. With a missing limb and battling PTSD, he seeks healing in an isolated cabin outside a small Texas town with a stray dog that sees beyond his master’s scars. If only the white rune’s magic can bring a happily ever after to a man as broken as Vann.  

On the run from hired killers and struggling to make sense of her unexplained deadly mission, Nakina Bird seeks refuge in Vann’s cabin. She has secrets. Secrets that can get them all killed.

A ticking clock and long odds of living or dying, create jarring risks.

Will these two not only survive, but find an unexpected love along the way? Or, will evil forces win and destroy them both?

https://linktr.ee/Rijanjks

WEBSITE: http://www.jansikes.com

BLOG:   http://www.jansikesblog.com

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/jansikes3

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks

PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/jks0851/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7095856.Jan_Sikes

BOOKBUB:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jan-sikes

LINKEDIN:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jansikes/

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Sikes/e/B00CS9K8DK

New Release: Wreck of The Lanternfish by C. S. Boyack @virgilante

Hey, Readers. I’m pleased to welcome friend and fellow author C. S. Boyack today. He’s no stranger to this site, but he has a brand-new release—the third and final book of his Lanternfish trilogy.

I haven’t read this one yet, but I’m sure it will be as exciting as the first two books. Craig welcomes back a cast of characters— including Captain James Cutler, Don Velasco, Serang, and of course the beloved Root Monsters.

Now, here’s Craig to tell you all about it.


Thank you for having me back. I’m here to talk about the concluding volume in my Lanternfish Trilogy called Wreck of the Lanternfish. Specifically about Diego and Camila Palumbo.

These two are a husband and wife team that were introduced in HMS Lanternfish. They ran a scam where Diego sold curses in one shop, and she sold cures in a competing shop. (None of which actually worked.) By working together they could pit the locals against one another for their financial benefit.

They wound up as a byproduct when James rescued Serang from the gallows. They didn’t officially join the crew but wound up on the ship anyway. (With their own necks intact.)

The Palumbos have a way of spreading misinformation, learning things nobody else should know and prove quite useful in the final volume of the trilogy.

By planting themselves in the right location, spreading a few coins around, and pretending to be seers, they wind up in the heart of the enemy command center. Locals are sympathetic because the war has moved into their country and headquarters is on enemy land.

They wind up playing an important role in the conclusion, but because of their natures, I’m not going to spoil it for you. If a pair of not-quite reformed cons sound interesting to you, pick up Wreck of the Lanternfish.

Wreck of the Lanternfish purchase link

Trilogy link

Blurb

James Cuttler created a peaceful spot for he and his wife to settle down. Far from the war that ravages their homeland, far from the reputation he earned as the notorious pirate Captain Bloodwater, and far from responsibility.

A royal Prelonian houseguest is a constant reminder of what’s at stake half a world away, of the friends he put ashore to fight the war. He lives in a dream world that’s temporary, at best. It’s only a matter of time before his guest is identified and the black assassins come for her.

He mortgages his precious vineyard to pay for repairs to his ship. If nothing else, Lanternfish will be one of the most powerful ships in the war, if he’s not already too late.

James will have to merge the skills of commander and con man into something new to make this work. He’ll need to avoid those on his own side who would hang him for piracy.

Serang is half a world away, leading her army of mercenary swordsmen toward the Fulminites. Mistrusted by both sides of the war, she appears as a third combatant on the battlefield. She may eliminate the mysterious order, only to succumb to the demons of her own tragic past.

Strap on your swords and hoist the colors one more time as the thrilling Lanternfish Trilogy comes to an end.

Connect with Craig:

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