Coming Attractions

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I will no longer be posting excerpts from my current novel, Storm Rising. I believe it has run the course, and any further postings would possibly give away the ending. But don't despair, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. In coming weeks I intend to begin posting small portions of my current work in progress, Storm Warning.

I am also looking for new features to post, possibly branching out into other areas of writing and publishing. Time will tell, and when I find what I feel would be right for this blog, I will begin posting. In the meantime, I will still be featuring other authors in both the Spotlight and Interview pages.

Blog visitors for Sept. 19 thru Oct. 18

A fellow blogger and friend recently did this on his blog, and I found it interesting. Blogger tracks your stats for you, even down to the originating country. The stats below are from a one month period.


United States - 522
Ireland - 195
Canada -  52
United Kingdom - 34 
Germany -  15 
Brazil - 13 
Italy - 10 
Russia - 10 
United Arab Emirates -  7 
India - 6

Not really exotic, yet interesting still the same.

Latest Goodreads review of Storm Rising - A Kelli Storm Novel

Matthew Young rated it

Great character development in Kelli Storm. She is a very real character, complete with faults. I found it hard to like her at times, but I think this was intended in order to make her more believable. Anyway, a good book.

 

Sample Sunday - Excerpt from Chapter Thirty Four of Storm Rising

   After sunset, they headed back toward the Villa. Renato pulled the car off the main road and parked. The sun was now well below the horizon, and the moon was beginning to rise in the east.

   Kevin leaned forward. “What about guards? Does he have anyone patrolling that road?”

   Renato turned and shook his head. “I have never seen anyone on the road after dark, but it is possible. I have something that may prove useful in the trunk.”

   The three climbed out of the car, and moved to the rear of the car. Renato opened the trunk and pulled out a pair of night vision goggles. He handed the goggles to Kevin. “Give them a try.”

   Kevin took the goggles and put them on. “I don’t see anything. You sure these work?”

   Renato laughed. “You have to power them on. Here, let me,” he said, and flipped a switch on the side.       

   “There, now what do you see?”

   Startled by the sudden illumination, Kevin took a step back. “Wow! This is incredible. It’s like daylight out here. Does this thing have thermal?”

   “I am afraid they are not that sophisticated. However, they will show us anyone hiding in the shadows. Why don’t you take a look at the hill, see if there is anyone up there?”

   Kevin turned and scanned the hillside leading up to the Villa. After several minutes, he turned back and shook his head. “I didn’t see anyone, but that doesn’t mean anything. There could be a patrol, and they just weren’t in visual range.”

   “That is possible. May I see them?”

   Kevin removed the goggles and handed them to Renato. Renato set them back in the trunk, reached toward the back, pulled out a large metal case and set it on the ground. “We must be very careful with this,” he said, as he gently opened the case.

   Kelli and Kevin moved closer to get a look at the contents. When the contents were in view, Kelli gasped and took several steps back. “Is that what I think it is?”

   Renato turned his head and looked up at Kevin and Kelli. “Yes, it is C4, and there is enough here to blow Miguel Garcia and his bodyguards straight to hell.”

   Kelli looked at Renato, his jaw clenched tight. “No, Renato, even hell is too good for this son of a bitch.”

   Kevin knelt down next to the case, eyeing the contents. “So, what’s the plan?”

   “We will set the charges at three places along the road coming down from the Villa, five to six meters apart. Garcia is a creature of habit, and leaves the Villa at precisely nine o’clock in the morning.”

   Kelli stepped closer, eyeing the case. “And how do you know he’ll do that tomorrow morning?”



I am sorry to say that this will be the last "Sample" posted for Storm Rising - A Kelli Storm Novel. All of the previous post will remain in the archives so you can go back and read them if you like. As soon as I am further into the second book I do intend to post teasers. If you would like to know how Kelli gets out of this, you can download a copy today for only .99 cents from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes(iBook Store), or Smashwords.com.

The End of Sample Sunday?

For those of you that have been following this blog for any length of time know, every Sunday I post an excerpt from my current novel, Storm Rising. Sad to say, but I believe this Sunday will be the last for Sample Sunday. At least for this book. As I get further into Storm Warning, the next book in the series, I may find myself posting Sneak Peeks, little teasers if you will, from that book.

If you are new to my blog, you can follow back in the archives to catch up on the chapter excerpts. Better yet, download your copy from Amazon, B&N, iBook, or Smashwords for just .99 cents. (Where can you find a better bargain for a 5 Star Crime fiction?)

Before I sign off, I just wanted to say "Thank you!" to all of my followers, and to all the people from around the world that have visited my humble blog.

Another Five Star Review for Storm Rising

5.0 out of 5 stars    Great read

Kelli Storm is a great character. There is just enough back story about her that you really understand where is coming from and why she reacts the way she does.

If you like fiction crime books this one will really draw you in. It begins well (no slow start like a lot of books) and ends with you wanting to know what happens next. Thank goodness Kenneth Hoss is promising a sequel. Great start to a promising new author.

Sample Sunday - Excerpt from Chapter Thirty Three of Storm Rising

Wednesday September 30th, 7:02 A.M. - Mexico

Somewhere in the desert, southwest of Juarez

   The sun was just above the horizon as the three made their way back to the truck. As they drew closer, Angelo began waving, and abruptly stopped when he saw they were not alone.

   “Que esta pasando? What are you doing with him?” he shouted.

   Kelli approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Angelo, we’re just going to question him. Entienden?”

   Angelo nodded. “I understand. But it is dangerous to do this. You do not know these people. Son muy peligrosas.”

   “Yes, Angelo, we know they’re dangerous people, but we need to talk to him. We have to find out if Garcia is still alive. I need to know.”

   While Kelli attempted to calm Angelo, Kevin and Dan unceremoniously dumped their captive in the back of the truck. They walked back around to the front and waited for Kelli to get Angelo calmed down.

   She managed to get him to agree to drive them and their captive back to the border. Kelli and Kevin climbed into the cab with Angelo, while Dan watched their charge in the back.

Wednesday September 30th, 9:48 A.M. - El Paso, Texas

Somewhere in the desert west of El Paso

   When they crossed back into the U.S., Chris was waiting for them. He and Kevin got into a heated argument over their captive. Chris insisted they release the man and let him cross back into Mexico.

   Kevin was not going to let that happen. He pulled Chris to one side and made it clear to him that this was their one shot at getting new information on Garcia and his cartel.

   Chris finally agreed and drove them back to the shack. When they arrived, Dan and Kevin dragged the bound man into the shack and threw him on the floor.

   Kelli walked in, looked at the man, then at Dan. “Your Spanish is better than mine. Make him understand that we only want to know where Garcia is and what happened at that compound last night.”

   Dan nodded, squatted down next to the man, and pulled the gag from his mouth. “Queremos saber donde Garcia es ahora.”

   The man shook his head. “No puedo decirles, me matarán.”

   Dan looked up at Kelli and shook his head. “He’s not going to talk. He’s afraid they’ll kill him if he does.”

   Kelli looked down at the man, then back to Dan. “You tell him if he doesn’t tell us, I’ll take him out and stake him down in that dry creek bed. And I’ll leave him there for the animals and insects.”

   Dan stared up at her and frowned. “Damn, I’ve never seen this side of you. When did you get so dark?”

   “When that son of a bitch killed my partner and tried to kill me. Now, tell him.”

   “You wouldn’t really do that, would you?”

   “If I don’t get the information I want, I just might. Now, are you going to tell him?”