It was always my intention to follow up "A Gentleman’s Murder" with a sequel featuring Eric Peterkin on another sleuthing mission. That is still my intention; however, what was supposed to have been a short story to warm myself up seems to have turned into a full-blown novel, so it appears my next book will be a stand-alone novel instead.

Well, Agatha Christie’s second novel wasn’t a Poirot story, was it? Think of it as a palate-cleanser.

The working title for this next book is Cat’s Paw, and it’s a tale of Gothic suspense rather than a straight-up whodunnit ... something somewhat darker in tone than anything Eric Peterkin would get up to. I encourage everyone to go follow the project now. It appears that Inkshares is planning to kick off a mystery contest this coming Friday, and I intend for Cat’s Paw to be a part of it. Pre-orders will open then.

1921: Sir Lawrence Linwood is dead, and his three adopted children -- Alan, Roger, and Caroline -- have returned to the remote village of Linwood Hollow for the funeral. What begins as a bittersweet reunion turns sinister when the visiting chief inspector assures the family that Sir Lawrence was murdered -- and that the evidence points to their own mother, a woman so frail and emotionally devastated that any idea of guilt seems unthinkable.

Is Lady Linwood really stricken by grief? Or is it fear? If she didn’t do it, then it can only be one of the three Linwood siblings. Whichever of them identifies their father’s killer will be named the sole heir to his estate, but how badly does each of them want that prize?

Hello My Lovelies,

Quick note to update progress on MINE, formerly titled Murder Happens. I’ve been plowing through the draft with the editor’s notes, and a crazy system of capturing story particulars via email.

Most ideas come to me either right before I fall asleep, or when I wake up first thing in the morning. These ideas are fleeting, so I grab a mobile device and tap out the gist of it. Then I roll over and go back to sleep.

When I read the note later, it’s usually gibberish without context, but somehow it still works. I’m a kinesthetic learner. I doodle in meetings. My work notes are complete nonsense, but I retain a lot of info in the old Fearce melon.

I work on the story every day. Once again, I’m closing in on the denouement of the manuscript. Second draft. I feel good about it, like it’s ratcheting up toward super tight. Like Dutch (a.k.a. Elmore Leonard) always said, cut out the parts no one reads. I been whacking the crap out of MINE with a hatchet.

If you’re not following along, go here now and do it.

https://www.inkshares.com/books/murder-happens

There’s quite a few of you I’ve told that I’ll check out your work, or have bought your book with the intention of reading it, even reviewing it. I fully intend to follow through on those promises, but this juggernaut needs to get finished. 

Also, there’s a lot of great books in the Staff Syndicate. The most recent selections are funding. Check them out, too. Pre-order a couple. Pay it forward for when your time comes.

https://www.inkshares.com/syndicates/staff

Dean Fearce

Hi All,

I just wanted to let you guys know what I have going on right now. Billette Hall is still coming along nicely. Im very exited about progress. I have decided to write a short story based on one of the characters in the book (the 15 year old slave girl...I mention this girl in the synopsis). I’ll release that as a stand alone "prequel" short before the book releases.

One thing I’m very excited about is another book that I have been working on. I have a story called HYPO, that Ive been working on to be released. This story is actually being released as 3 shorts.

The first one, HYPO: Exordium, Is now available on Kindle/Amazon for 0.99 cents.

You can get it here 

getbook.at/hypo1

Here is the Synopsis.

Chauncy and Tre are childhood friends. Tre, who works for a pharmaceutical company, is in town on business. Chauncy hadn’t seen Tre since college and decides they should catch up. After picking Tre up from the airport, they are ambushed and kidnapped. Held hostage in an old abandoned house. With hopes of escape, Tre and Chauncy use an experimental drug from Tre’s company that gives them extraordinary physical abilities.

Feel free to check it out.

Also, Visit dljonesbooks.com for more info and more info on Billette hall.

Thanks!

Greetings, adventurers!

Happy #MushAnch Monday! I said I’d be updating every other Monday to hold myself accountable, and here I am. 

I don’t have any news about the book to share today, admittedly. As I only submitted the manuscript about 2 weeks ago, I’ve yet to receive any news. Thank you for patiently waiting alongside me. I know that when I do have news, it will be worth sharing!

I’d like to hear about you. Now that I’m peeking my head back around Inkshares more often again, I’d love to hear about your projects--new, old, funding.

I have a bit of news about my other projects. I’ve amalgamated my online presence to "The Practical Escapist"--everything will be under that umbrella name online now. I have already switched over my Facebook, Twitter (@ThePractialEsc), Instagram (@thepracticalescapist), Ko-Fi, and Patreon, and I’m working very hard on my new website. I hope it will be ready for official launch by September 24th--the next #MushAnch Monday--so I can parade it around for all of you!

I’ll be sure to have a meatier update next time, but it’s good to check in, just in case. Shoot me a "hello" and let me know what you’re up to!

May your adventures be fraught with wonder and just enough danger to keep them interesting,

K. M. Cooper

Readers, thank you all for your continued interest.  I’ve posted several chapters since the last time you heard from me.  I keep forgetting to click that "Notify followers" button.  But the story is moving along, and even gaining momentum now that our anti-heroes are finally off of Tanix.  Big fun ahead!

I have some complicated news regarding my Inkshares project, which I’ve decided to cancel.

I’m going to ask all who planned to pre-order to hold off for now.

Everyone who did place an order: Inkshares FAQ says you will receive a full refund either sometime in next couple weeks (I sent an email to Inkshares, I don’t know how fast these things are) or after the campaign-window runs its course on November 14.

A NY based publisher I submitted the manuscript to over a year ago reached out to me last week and offered a contract. Three days after I started asking people for pre-orders. Go figure, right? Of course that was going to happen. Of course it was.

Me and a law-student buddy reviewed it -- everything looks good and fair, we’ve added our stipulations, I’ve reached out to a number of their listed authors to vet experiences, and everyone had good things to say -- and I plan to sign.

When faced with the choice between continuing the Inkshares campaign -- which had a very small chance of success anyway -- and taking a for-sure deal RIGHT NOW, I thought it’d be silly to pass up this opportunity. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being a little curious to know if we could’ve pulled it off. . . that woulda been pretty badass.

So, it’s no longer a toss up.

After one dropped agent, one dropped contract with another publisher and roughly a hundred rejections and near-offers, this godforsaken novel WILL be published.

Although we didn’t achieve our objective in the manner that we intended, the objective WAS achieved.

People who followed and ordered through Inkshares: I have your email address, and I will let you know when this thing hits the shelves. I sincerely hope you’re still interested in reading the rest. Much love to you -- ALL THE LOVE TO YOU!

I would also like to take this opportunity to give a couple signal-boosts to other Inkshares projects that I think are phenomenal and deserve a bit more attention: 

Spacebreaker: A New Threat, by John Novak only has eight followers, AND HE NEEDS MORE -- his project is basically lampooning Star Wars in the same manner as Space Balls. It’s really funny stuff, and you should definitely check it out.  https://www.inkshares.com/books/spacebreaker-a-new-threat

Ereshk, by Frederick Street is sitting at 36 followers and could definitely use the bump. It’s this really, really creepy cosmic-horror-noir genre blend with a lot of promise. Do check it out. https://www.inkshares.com/books/ereshk

Strays, by William Keaton is being pitched as 28 Days meets Cujo, and, friends, this is hands-down the coolest draft I stumbled across on here. Very, very well written and it had me hooked on page-one. Strays has 19 followers, and that is simply a shame. This is the kind of thing that ya’ll should be reading. 

Grayson, by Michael Sobers is sitting at 28 followers and it deserves some regard -- a hard-sci-fi yarn about space-miners stuck in interplanetary trade-drama. Think equal parts Dune, The Martian and James Clavell’s The Asian Saga. https://www.inkshares.com/books/grayson

The Burden of Choice, by Mason Force. It’s well-written sci-fi about a society run by powerful sociobioneering AI. Sitting at only 8 followers, and it definitely deserves more. 

There are so many more projects worth mentioning, but these in particular looked especially in need of a boost. 

Also: PrOOF -- Preservation Of Occult Figures, by Micheal James Welch, which was successfully funded and is taking orders -- sounds rad, like something Charlie Stross might have on his bookshelf. 

Again, many thanks to all who followed my project and pre-ordered. You’re all amazing, and if you ever need anything from me, never hesitate to shoot me an email and ask. Find me on facebook and send me a friend-request! 

And please let me know if there are questions about project: BREATHLESS. 

Best regards, and remember

LIVE SLOW

LIVE WELL

KEEP CREATING

KEEP READING

--Shane