So, the summer is starting to wind down, but have you yet managed to read that great summer novel that captures your imagination, gets you thinking about the meaning of life, and has you eagerly telling your friends about the story? Well, look no further! I’ve found that book for you–and it just so happens that I’ve written it. It’s a story literally centuries in the making…sort of.
It’s titled Sundial in the Shade and it’s being released on September 15. Read on and I’ll tell you how you can get an early copy for free.
First, here’s a short description of the book:
Rael Hart’s carefree life of tagging, theft, and mild substance abuse is interrupted by a four-year stretch in the Los Angeles state prison. But he experiences an infinitely greater disruption upon his release, when he comes into possession of a cryptic journal containing an 18th-century recipe for personal redemption. His grudging effort to follow its prescription launches a transformative odyssey that involves, among other things, cigars, Milk Duds, and an ancient skeleton key.
On this journey Rael encounters several fellow-travelers with ambiguous motives, including an eccentric prison librarian, a disgraced LA Times reporter, a homicidal preacher, and an ex-girlfriend with more issues than Poor Richard’s Almanack. As Rael wrestles with the aggravating tradeoffs between a good life and a good time, he stumbles upon a destiny that’s been centuries in the making.
On September 15 the book will be available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle versions. But right now Goodreads is doing a “book giveaway,” which lets you enter to get a free Kindle version of the book on September 1. If you’re interested, you can sign up here. (Click on “Enter Giveway” on the left side of the screen, under the image of the book cover.) The giveaway ends on September 1. Be aware that to sign up you will need to have or create a Goodreads account. Thanks for your consideration of this offer. The more people who sign up, the higher the profile of my book on Goodreads.
New Road Trip
In other news: Next week I’ll be posting from the road as I make a 900-mile trip to a mystery location. Your only hint is that several days after I pick up my rental car in Placerville I will be in Placerville.
Oh, and this weekend we also will have a review of the new “Back to Hogwarts” collection of Krispy Kreme donuts. The things I do for you people…
Chasing Phantoms 
Congratulations Steve. How many books is this?
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It’s five in recent years:
Midcentury Miscreant
Grandma’s Memoir
A Dying Wish
Poe’s Last Lament
Sundial in the Shade
Before that it was just textbooks and suchlike.
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Bon Voyage, Steve! I hope you will share with all of us the “Paradox” you will find along the way. – Peter [yes, that’s a cryptic clue…]
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Yes…I think I’ll have a slice of “yellow cake” to celebrate when I find it. And *that’s* a cryptic clue, too…
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Hey Steve.
Placerville in Idaho or Colorado. I’ll throw down a chip on Colorado.
Bob
Bob Nelson
(510)325-3550
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So cool, Steve! Great to see you get published again.
I did try to sign up, even got an account on Goodreads. But it wants me to link to an Amazon account. Alas, I don’t have an Amazon account. Oh well, still hope you have a great release and engagement.
Enjoy your trip!
Later,
Detlef
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