Sneak peek at SHOTGUN BOOGIE

Here's the final cover art for my new crime novel, SHOTGUN BOOGIE, which comes out in October. Cool, no?

The cover design, by Albuquerque artist Denise Weaver Ross, fits the fast-paced story perfectly.

SHOTGUN BOOGIE is the tale of Jackie Nolan, who uses her truck-driving skills to get out of financial trouble. Stealing semis is risky, though, especially if you can't trust your partners. When Jackie stumbles upon a truckload of stolen Army weapons, her real trouble begins. Lots of bad men are after those guns.

It has a few light moments, but SHOTGUN BOOGIE isn't a crime comedy, like so many of my books. It's grittier than that, bloodier, more suspenseful. And Jackie proves to be a formidable heroine.

I liked Jackie so much, in fact, that I've already written a sequel. HOMESICK BLUES will come out before Christmas. Both books will be available as trade paperbacks and ebooks via Amazon.

The novel I'm revising now doesn't star Jackie. The protagonist of SIDE EYE is an 18-year-old boy just out of juvenile detention. He gets hired to drive around an aged mobster who's going blind. Expect to see SIDE EYE next summer.

I'm looking forward to this Saturday's Author Festival here in Albuquerque. Twenty-one authors, including me, will be signing books and giving talks all day at the Albuquerque Museum. Y'all come!

Happy reading!

The one that got away

Wow, summer is almost over. It went past in a blur.

My wife and I had plans for this summer, vague plans to slow it down by taking time off together. No elaborate vacation, just lazy days together at our Albuquerque home. Maybe a long weekend away.

We know what they say about the best-laid plans. Summer houseguests and family-related trips ate up the days off. Kelly was super-busy at work all summer. I wrote the first draft of a new novel in June, then watched it mostly gather dust the rest of the summer while I dealt with other, more pressing matters.

Boom, before I knew it, the fall semester had arrived. I'm teaching two classes this semester in the Honors College at the University of New Mexico -- double my usual workload -- and there was much to prepare. So far, the classes have been a lot of fun. I'm also deep into revisions on the new novel and hope to have it finished soon.

Meanwhile, the marketing push continues at Amazon. As mentioned in my last post, I've been putting my e-books on sale as Kindle Countdown Deals in recent weeks. Up next is FOOL'S PARADISE, which will be only 99 cents Sept. 15-21. After that, END RUN will be 99 cents from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3.

FOOL'S PARADISE, originally published by UNM Press, is the story of five strangers who come together to rob a bank in Coronado, CA. Like most of my standalone novels, it's full of action and comedy.

END RUN was the first of two Intrigue Press books featuring Albuquerque sportswriter Drew Gavin (the other is CHEAP SHOT). In END RUN, Drew's old flame from college asks him to help her husband, a jerk who's in trouble with bookies.

In October, I have two big author events coming up in Albuquerque. On Oct. 1, I'll be one of 21 New Mexico authors appearing at an all-day book fair at the Albuquerque Museum. I'm speaking on humor writing that day at 2 p.m. On Oct. 22, I'll be the luncheon speaker at an all-day self-publishing conference put on by Southwest Writers. Click the links for more info on those events.

I don't see things slowing down around here during the autumn.

Winter is coming. Stock up on books to read!