Tales from the Book Nerd-9
…because we could all use a good book and a stiff drink.
Hello, all! I hope this newsletter finds you well.
Happy BIERGARTEN OF THE DAMNED Day! I don’t recommend having a beer with a demon, but if you must, Sam knows the way. You might recognize some members of its infamous clientele. For those who enjoy audiobooks, The Biergarten of the Damned audio—narrated by Samantha Desz— will be out 11/1. And for those looking for the print edition, if it isn’t up yet, it will be shortly. My agent has been battling with this for a little while. Our fingers are crossed it’ll be ready to purchase today!
People often ask me if I make up plot points as I’m writing or if I’ve planned it out long before and am now sharing that information with readers. The answer is both. Sometimes, I make up things on the fly. For instance in The Hob & Hound Pub, I made up the dragon folly in the moment. Sam and company couldn’t sleep in rat-infested rooms in an angry dragon’s castle. Clive, Russell, and Godfrey would have been staked.
While writing that scene, I thought about turrets, secret passages (I really love secret passages!) and then thought about the lovely follies often seen in historical romances. The guys wouldn’t survive the day in one of those. These are dragons, though. What kind of folly would a dragon have? And then I started to create one of my favorite things in book 4, the dragon folly.
Unlike that example, I’ve known since I started writing The Slaughtered Lamb what Dave’s background was and how he was connected to Sam. I couldn’t drop it in the first book, though. I needed readers to get to know him, to trust him.
Certain scenes might hurt more now, but (hopefully) that’s because you’re more invested in each of these characters.
Thank you for sticking with me, Sam, and Clive. I have a surprise coming soon. Happy reading!
I know it’s silly, but having Fergus on the cover makes me happy!
In December I’ll have another free short story for you. As you can see from the cover, this one will be about Dave and Maggie. Something happens in Biergarten of the Damned that leads to this story.
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 <3
Horror: Fairy Tale by Stephen King. At 75, the man still knows how to spin a tale. I’ve been reading King since I was in middle school and his books are always an immersive experience. In this one, Charlie has found an old neighbor crumpled at the base of a ladder. Charlie runs to help and ends up staying to take care of the man’s elderly dog, as well as the recovering man himself. The man is quite secretive, but eventually trusts Charlie with an extraordinary secret, one that will lead Charlie into another world, one far darker and more dangerous than our own.
Young Adult: As I’m a young adult librarian, you’ll see this genre in every newsletter. This month’s recommendation is a spooooky one, Famous Last Words by Katie Alender. Willa and her mom move to Beverly Hills—mom has just married a famous Hollywood director who lives in the mansion of a 1950s starlet who died in a mysterious way. Willa learns quickly that the mansion is haunted. There is also a serial killer working in Los Angeles. He kidnaps and kills women, before dressing them up—hair, clothing, makeup—to recreate a famous scene from an Old Hollywood movie. A creepy story perfect for October.
Historical Romance: One Week to Wed by Laurie Benson. This is the first book in the Sommersby Brides series. I love Benson’s historical romances. They’re lovely and charming, funny and heartfelt. In the first book, Lady Charlotte believes she’ll never remarry after losing her husband. She’s in a place where she believes love and children are no longer and option for her. In walks brooding, dead sexy Lord Andrew, turning her world upside down. Love!
😊 Happy Reading!
