A Writer’s Discussion about his Journey…

Another frustrated author who has written a book or two that, despite great reviews from the few who read them… just don’t sell? Welcome to our world. It’s frustrating. It’s hurtful. It’s … discouraging. We all know how hard it is to get a traditional publisher to even consider looking at new works from an unknown. Query Letter writing sucks. The advice from various “experts” is often contradictory. Still, in this digital age there are a number of mediums available to at least get your hard birthed literary baby out there.

I, myself, have written two thriller novels. The first I actually got put out there in both digital and… gasp… print form. It got good reviews - the few that bothered. A radio show interviewed me live about my book… I’m sure three or four people listened… definitely one of my sons and my wife… 😉 Heck, I even had a successful book signing at my local Barnes and Noble. Twenty copies of my thriller were purchased that day by persons who met me face to face and got a personal autograph and dedication. Of course, that money went to… Barnes and Noble. Still, we can but persevere.

After having spent a couple years writing Punishment & Good Deeds, and getting it in print, I then wrote a second thriller novel with a younger cast. Of course, I had to push aside my stack of paperback copies of my first book - since I was my most prolific purchaser (at author’s reduced price). 😂👍😂 - to get to my laptop.

Killing Keys is my second thriller novel. It was a labor of love over about 18 months. While it is shorter than my first thriller, Punishment & Good Deeds, it is arguably a better book.

Synopsis: Killing Keys

Nicholas Woodman is a typical nineteen-year old who works in his uncle's locksmith shop and valets at a posh local restaurant to help his mother make ends meet. Things are mostly fine until his mother loses her job running tours at Kennedy Space Center. With things getting tight financially, and losing their home a distinct possibility, Nicholas finds himself unfairly suspended from the restaurant. When an opportunity presents itself to obtain justice for the wrong done him, the teen embarks on a course of action setting him straight in the path of a sadistic serial killer.

Brevard County Sheriff detectives Belfonce Grant, Anthony Bristol, and Walter Keyes are investigating the murder of a popular high school cheerleader as well as a string of residential burglaries. As the detectives close in on the truth, they are unaware that a group of teens – including the daughter of detective Keyes – are simultaneously hatching a plan to gather evidence proving the true identity of the killer; a plan which will place them in deadly danger.

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This book, my second, does contain some adult content thrown in with the action so be aware. Still, it covers teen angst, yearning, and drama as well as a psychopathic murderer. It is my favorite of the two. Above is a link to the novel on Amazon kindle.

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This is a link to a video that a reader - Matt Whiteside - made on YouTube as a video review of my first thriller. Matt is also an author and comedian as well as hosting a channel for author interviews. I actually did a video interview with Matt Whiteside a good while back which can be found on his channel if interested. Matt Whiteside is quite a character.

Realizing that this is jumping around, I am, in case you hadn’t noticed 🤓, returning to speak of book the first. Punishment & Good Deeds is about a retired Air Force Special Warfare soldier and martial artist who just wants to enjoy his retirement. However;

Synopsis

Thomas K.Mazuko, recently retired Air Force Commando, was looking forward to a quiet retirement spent teaching karate in his small Tampa, Florida studio. His dreams were of little more than days on the sandy beaches and nights in the company of his wife and daughter. Little did he know that a spur of the moment act of stopping a mugging would set in motion a chain of events that would drastically alter his entire life. By sheer accident Mazuko becomes a primary target for the wrath of a powerfully connected local syndicate figure. When the wealthy and egomaniacal Martin DeValdez sends out wise-guys to “teach this upstart a lesson” Mazuko’s innocent foster-son and a young student are accidentally caught up in the maelstrom of uncontrolled mania. As the level of violence escalates, Mazuko realizes that he has become the target of vengeance of a man who will stop at nothing to right what he perceives as personal wrongs. With the body count rising and the lives of his ten year old daughter and two year old son, as well as the lives of friends new and old, hanging in the balance, Mazuko must set aside his plans for a quiet future and return to the skills of his past in order to fight for the lives of himself and his children.

Well… In spite of my apparent inability to connect … since I am an unknown author with whom no traditional publishing company is familiar; despite being too financially strapped to pay for a large advertising campaign to boost my renown/sales; I still persevere. Writing is in my blood as it is most likely in yours - after all, you’re on this site.

So, I am about two thirds of the way through my third novel - Marauder’s Daughter. This tale is a completely different genre. This is a sci fi/fantasy action book set in a near future town in Tennessee. In this novel, due to some medical research in the 1970’s, some ten percent of humanity has developed “powers.” These powers are many and varied. There are state sponsored “super hero teams” of Licensed Enhanced Person (LEPERS) that take on those powered persons who choose not to follow the law of the land … i.e., “Super Villains.”

In this tale young Carmen Wilson has been living in poverty in Transition City, Tennessee, with her grief stricken mother since her father - the superhero Joe Wilson, aka the Marauder - was killed in a robbery. Carmen Wilson (The Marauder’s Daughter) has inherited telekinesis from her father and puts it to good use in her mission. Carmen, has yet to accept the fact of her father’s death… and, she may be right. Carmen’s journey to find answers is a gut wrenching passage through purgatory populated by heroes, villains, norms, friends, and foes.

As for Transition City, TN, it was founded by a group of LGBTQ persons seeking to found a more tolerant society. In this novel, the facets of LGBTQ are matter of factly accepted and there is legislation covering said. In this near future the main prejudice of society is that of non-powered persons fearing those with powers. Still, as a YA novel, there is no overt sex, and most of the profanity is in new terms from the timeframe in which the novel is set.

The first three chapters of Marauder’s Daughter, along with chapter 15, my most recent, are published on vocal. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

To any who,have read this, thank you. To any who click on ANY link contained herein… a huge thank you. To those who both click and like/comment … especially on my most recent chapter of Marauder’s Daughter…. BLESS YOU.

Meanwhile, persevere, write, reach out for encouragement as needed. Mostly… Don’t give up.

Andy. 1/7/25