Tales from the Book Nerd-11

…because we could all use a good book and a stiff drink.

Hello, all! I hope this newsletter finds you well.

Happy birthday to me 😊 In celebration of another loop around the sun (I’m getting dizzy at this point) I have a short story gift for you. At the end of Biergarten of the Damned, we learn that Maggie is missing. In this short story, we’re with Dave as he begins the hunt. I hope you enjoy it!
click here to read The Banshee & the Blade

Next up will be BEWICCHED, the first in the Sea Wicche Chronicles (5/2/23). While this series takes place in the same world as Sam Quinn—with some characters overlapping—these stories take place in Monterey and feature Arwyn, the psychic artist who created Sam’s chess set, using her unique abilities to help law enforcement solve difficult cases—when she’s not immersed in a new art project, dealing with the Corey family’s historic weakness for sorcery, or getting to know the hot bearded werewolf whose last name is Quinn. 

For those wondering, The Viper’s Nest Roadhouse & Cafe, 

Sam Quinn book 6, will be out on Halloween of 2023. 

I’m Sam, the werewolf book nerd owner of The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore & Bar. Clive, Fergus, and I are moving into our new home, the business is going well, and our folly is taking shape. The problem? Clive’s maker Garyn is coming to San Francisco for a visit, and this reunion has been a thousand years in the making. Back then, Garyn was rather put out when Clive accepted the dark kiss and then took off to avenge his sister’s murder. She was looking for a new family. He was looking for lethal skills. And so, Garyn has had plenty of time to align her forces. When her allies begin stepping out of the shadows, Clive’s foundation will be shaken.

Stheno and her sisters are adding to their rather impressive portfolio of businesses around the world by acquiring The Viper’s Nest Roadhouse & Café. Medusa found the place when she was visiting San Francisco. A dive bar filled with hot tattooed bikers? Yes, please!

Clive and I will need neutral territory for our meeting with Garyn, and a biker bar (& café, Stheno insisted) should fit the bill. I’d assumed my necromancy would give us an advantage. I hadn’t anticipated, though, just how powerful Garyn and her allies were. When the fangs descend and the heads start rolling, it’s going to take every friend we have and a nocturne full of vamps at our backs to even the playing field. Wish us luck. We’re going to need it.

Book Recommendation Corner

As I’m also a librarian, I want to share titles of amazing books you might want to pick up. I’ll switch up the genres in each newsletter. If you like any of the books I suggest, remember to write a quick review for it. Reviews helps authors

Non-fiction: Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. I’m a Murderino (if you know, you know). These women created My Favorite Murder, a true crime/comedy podcast. This book is a series of personal essays on specific topics, like f-ing politeness (it’s important to be kind, but not so polite you put yourself in danger), mental health, what it was like to be a free-range latchkey kid. They joke the book is a how-to guide for getting through life. I loved it!

Young Adult: As I’m a young adult librarian, you’ll see this genre in every newsletter. This month’s recommendation is One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus. This is now a series on Peacock if you’d rather watch than read. Five students are in detention after school: the soon-to-be valedictorian, the possible drug dealer, the new-kid baseball player, the beautiful quiet one, and the kid spilling everyone’s dirty little secrets on his blog. One of them dies in the first chapter. Guess which one? It seems they all had secrets that were about to be exposed. Someone murdered our blogger. The question is who.

Literary Fiction: Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley. I loved Rowley’s book The Guncle so I decided to try this one. Our main character Ted has a beloved pet dachshund named Lily. Before beginning the book, I’d assumed the octopus in the title was a dog toy or a favorite stop at a local aquarium. I was very wrong. The octopus is how Ted refers to Lily’s brain tumor. Let’s just say I spent a lot of this book crying. If you’re a pet lover, you’ll probably relate to Ted and his inability to deal with his beloved Lily’s illness. It was really good, but bring the tissues. 

Happy Reading!