📚 Segment 7: Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman - Alan M. Clark

Welcome to the seventh segment in the serialisation of Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman, an Historical Supernatural Illustrated Novelette by Alan M. Clark (12 May 2020, IFD Publishing, 69 pages).

A story of hope enduring in the midst of illness and death in 1884 Victorian London, by the filthy river Thames, through the eyes of a young mudlark who is trying to do his best for himself and his sick mother.

We are half-way!

If you missed the previous segments, you can catch up, find out more about the story, its serialisation and Alan M. Clark here, or jump to the segment you missed by using the links below.

I hope you are enjoing the story as much as we did! Here is segment 7.

|| Synopsis || Segments: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 || About the Author ||

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Segment 7 of 14 -
Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman

📚 Segment 6: Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman - Alan M. Clark

Thank you for joining us for the sixth segment in the serialisation of Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman, an Historical Supernatural Illustrated Novelette by Alan M. Clark (12 May 2020, IFD Publishing, 69 pages).

A story of hope enduring in the midst of illness and death.

We are nearly half way in and will continue to publish new segments throughout the week-end.

If you missed the previous segments, you can catch up, find out more about the story, its serialisation and Alan M. Clark here, or jump to the segment you missed by using the links below.

Enjoy!

|| Synopsis || Segments: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 || About the Author ||

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Segment 6 of 14 -
Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman

Written and illustrated by Alan M. Clark

📚 Segment 5: Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman - Alan M. Clark

Thank you for joining us for the fifth segment in the serialisation of Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman, an Historical Supernatural Illustrated Novelette by Alan M. Clark (12 May 2020, IFD Publishing, 69 pages).

Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman is set in 1884 Victorian London, rife with "the dangers of illness from the Thames", such as "The Great Stink, a nearly two-month-long period in the summer of 1858, during which those who could afford to do so, evacuated London to get away from the smell coming off the river.

In such periods of fouled water and air, the poor, needing the income, or fearing unemployment, continued to work, despite the dangers of disease, real or perceived.

This is a fanciful story about a mudlark and the choices he made within that environment." - Alan M. Clark

If you missed the previous segments, you can catch up, find out more about the story, its serialisation and Alan M. Clark here, or jump to the segment you missed by using the links below.

📚 Segment 4: Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman - Alan M. Clark

Welcome to the fourth segment in the serialisation of Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman, an Historical Supernatural Illustrated Novelette by Alan M. Clark (12 May 2020, IFD Publishing, 69 pages) set in 1884 Victorian London.

"A time when the majority of transportation employed horses, the streets were littered with dung and awash in over ten thousand gallons of equine urine each day. That and the leakage from overflowing cesspits and privy vaults found its way into the River Thames when the rains came. As a result, the river reeked.

The people of London recognized that much illness came from the river. The common belief was that illness was born on bad smells—miasma as it was called—and that people became ill when breathing the malodorous air. The city was in fact suffering outbreaks of deadly waterborne illness during a time when much of the science of microbes was still under debate.

I write this during the COVID-19 flu pandemic, and while knowing something of the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic that infected approximately 500 million people. In comparison, the waterborne epidemics of Victorian London were small events, except to those who suffered through them." - Alan M. Clark.

📚 Segment 3: Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman - Alan M. Clark

Welcome to the third segment in the serialisation of Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman, an Historical Supernatural Illustrated Novelette by Alan M. Clark (12 May 2020, IFD Publishing, 69 pages). A story of hope enduring in the midst of illness and death.

If you missed the previous segments, you can catch up, find out more about the story, its serialisation and Alan M. Clark here, or jump to the segment you missed by using the links below.

So, what is a "mudlark"? Alan M. Clark explains in his author note:

"I have been immersed in the history of Victorian London for nearly a decade while writing the Jack the Ripper Victims Series, novels about the lives of those killed by the Whitechapel Murderer. In the midst of research for the stories, I discovered all sorts of occupations of the period that involved scavenging and recycling. While that sounds good in the world of today that suffers such destruction from our various wastes, the recycling in Victorian times took a terrible toll on the health of those who did the work.

During the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, jobs were scarce and many achingly poor Londoners became willing to do the worst things in order to earn a crust. Toshers scavenged in the sewers. Bone grubbers collected bones door to door or by going through the rubbish of taverns or households that could afford to serve joints of beef, pork, or mutton.

📚 Segment 2: Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman - Alan M. Clark

Welcome to the second segment in the serialisation of Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman, an Illustrated Novelette by Alan M. Clark (12 May 2020, IFD Publishing, 69 pages). A story of hope enduring in the midst of illness and death.

If you missed the first segment, you can catch up, find out more about the story, its serialisation and Alan M. Clark here.

|| Synopsis || Segments: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 || About the Author ||

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Segment 2 of 14 -
Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman

Written and illustrated by Alan M. Clark

      “Since we both spotted the cloth about the same time,” Albert said, “it’s only fair we share what it earns.”
      “You did your best, I suppose,” Turvey said with a smirk.
      Despite the loss of the canvas sack, Albert had enjoyed having the help and the companionship, something he rarely had in scavenging. “What if we got the others—all of us scavengers—to search the river together, then shared the profits of what we found? We’d do better than we each do alone, guarding our secrets.”

📚 Segment 1: Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman - Alan M. Clark

Welcome to the first segment in the serialisation of Mudlarks and the Silent Highwayman, an Illustrated Novelette by Alan M. Clark (12 May 2020, IFD Publishing, 69 pages). A story of hope enduring in the midst of illness and death.

The entire story will be presented in segments, one per day over the course of two weeks, here, on Alan M. Clark's Facebook page, on the Facebook pages of the TBR-Trimming Book Club, Flying Cake, FriendsNecon, Alone with the Horrors, The River’s Edge, Kindle Kitchen, Ripperology Books and More, Books Reviews and More, and on GreyDogTales blog.

Each of the 14 segments will have at least one illustration.

“Alan M. Clark has a remarkable ability to evoke the past as a tangible, breathing thing, immersing the reader in times long gone – and thankfully long gone, for most. In this novelette, he combines his keen eye for period with a sense of menace and melancholy which yet bears a glimmer of hope. A moving read.” —John Linwood Grant, author of A Persistence of Geraniums & The Assassin’s Coin

|| Synopsis || Segments: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 || About the Author ||

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✉ Using A Real-Life Crime For Mystery Fiction - R. G. Belsky

Today author R. G. Belsky takes over our blog to tell us about "Using a real-life crime for mystery fiction". The Last Scoop (5 May 2020, Oceanview Publishing, 369 pages), a Mystery, book three in the Clare Carlson Mysteries series, is his latest release.

"The Last Scoop is another surefire success for author R. G. Belsky as well as for Oceanview Publishing which has been putting out one top-notch page-turner after another." --New York Journal of Books

Praise for the Clare Carlson Series "In today's world of fake news and alternate facts, R. G. Belsky reminds us why we need reporters like Clare Carlson more than ever before. She is what we want all our journalists to be--honest, objective, and relentless in her pursuit of the truth."--Lee Goldberg, New York Times best-selling author

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || The Series || Author's Guest Post' || Review || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

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☀ The Last Scoop: Clare Carlson Mysteries [3] - R. G. Belsky

Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for The Last Scoop, a Mystery by R. G. Belsky (5 May 2020, Oceanview Publishing, 369 pages).

This is the third book in the Clare Carlson Mysteries series.

Don't miss our Review, and our guest post by author R. G. Belsky on 21 May 2020, "Using a real-life crime for mystery fiction".

PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis and the Kindle Cloud Reader Preview below, as well as full details of the series.

Author R. G. Belsky will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to two randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour.   Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || The Series || Author's Guest Post' || Review || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

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✉ Writing Villains by Jeff Bond

Today author Jeff Bond takes over our blog to tell us about "Writing Villains". His latest novel is The Pinebox Vendetta (19 February 2020, Jeff Bond, 263 pages), a Thriller, book one in the Pruitt-Gallagher saga series.

"Lyrical prose, tight pacing, and memorable characters elevate THE PINEBOX VENDETTA into a top-tier thriller ... Bond deftly weaves his plot around a group of vividly rendered characters ... While suspense elements give THE PINEBOX VENDETTA a classic feel, its politics couldn't be more timely. With a twist on nearly every page, THE PINEBOX VENDETTA is a satisfying suspense thriller that offers Ivy League chills." -- IndieReader (4.7 stars)

"Endlessly fascinating ... intrigues, betrayals, and conspiracies ... terrific as a study in endemic corruption." -- Clarion Reviews

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Guest Post || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

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☀ Flight Risk - Cara Putman

Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for Flight Risk, a Political Romantic Suspense by Cara Putman (7 April 2020, Thomas Nelson, 336 pages).

PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis and the Kindle Cloud Reader Preview below.

Author Cara Putman will be awarding a set of print books to two randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour.   Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

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Synopsis

Savannah Daniels has worked hard to build her law practice, to surround herself with good friends, and to be the loyal aunt her troubled niece can always count on. But since her ex-husband’s betrayal, she has trouble trusting anyone.

☀ The Pinebox Vendetta: Pruitt-Gallagher saga [1] - Jeff Bond

Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for The Pinebox Vendetta, a Thriller by Jeff Bond (19 February 2020, Jeff Bond, 263 pages).

This is the first book in the Pruitt-Gallagher saga series.

Don't miss our guest post by author Jeff Bond: "Writing Villains".

PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis and the Kindle Cloud Reader Preview below. The Pinebox Vendetta is FREE on Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owner's Lending Library.

Author Jeff Bond will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to two randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour.   Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Guest Post || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

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☀ Miranda and the D-Day Caper - Shelly Frome

Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for Miranda and the D-Day Caper, a Cosy Mystery by Shelly Frome (1 March 2020, BQB Publishing, 312 pages).

PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis and the Kindle Cloud Reader Preview below. Don't miss Shelly Frome's post: Call in the Whistleblower.

Author Shelly Frome will be awarding a $15 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.   Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

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Synopsis

On a sparkling spring morning in the Blue Ridge, small-town realtor Miranda Davis approached the tailgate market, intent on dealing with her whimsical cousin Skip’s unexpected arrival from New York. It turns out that Skip was on the run and, in his panic, grabbed his beloved tabby Duffy, recalling that Miranda had a recent part in solving a case down in Carolina. His predicament stemmed from intercepting code messages like “Countdown to D-Day,” playfully broadcasting the messages on his radio show over the nation-wide network, and subsequently forced to flee.

ℚ Dragon Head: Aleksandr Talanov Thrillers [4] - James Houston Turner

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author James Houston Turner to talk about Dragon Head (1 April 2020, Regis Books, 417 pages), an Action Thriller, book four in the Aleksandr Talanov Thrillers series.

"Turner barely pauses for breath in this exciting thrill ride." - Publisher's Weekly

"Dragon Head is an explosive story packed with plenty of action and excitement. Like all good spy stories, it's unclear exactly what everyone is up to and who can actually be trusted. Facing threats on all sides, Talanov is a great hero to follow, tough and quick to dive into the action, but also smart and more than capable of outmaneuvering his enemies. Dragon Head is an exhilarating story that tackles contemporary issues ... a top-notch thriller." - Erin Britton, The Manhattan Book Review

☀ Dragon Head: Aleksandr Talanov Thrillers [4] - James Houston Turner

Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for Dragon Head, an Action Thriller by James Houston Turner (1 April 2020, Regis Books, 417 pages).

This is the fourth book in the Aleksandr Talanov Thrillers series.

Don't miss our interview with author James Houston Turner.

PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis and the Kindle Cloud Reader Preview below, as well as full details of the series.

Dragon Head is FREE on Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owner's Lending Library.

Author James Houston Turner will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card, and six copies of the book to randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour.   Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || The Series || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

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✍ The Last Scoop: Clare Carlson Mysteries [3] - R. G. Belsky

Genre: Mystery
Published 5 May 2020 by Oceanview Publishing
Number of pages: 369

My rating: ★ ★ ★ ★  Very Good / I really liked it  

|| Synopsis || Review || Teaser: KCR Preview || The Series || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

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"The scariest kind of serial killer—one you don't know exists

Martin Barlow was Clare Carlson's first newspaper editor, a beloved mentor who inspired her career as a journalist. But, since retiring from his newspaper job, he had become a kind of pathetic figure—railing on about conspiracies, cover-ups, and other imaginary stories he was still working on. Clare had been too busy with her own career to pay much attention to him.

ℚ Goddess Of The Wild Thing - Paul DeBlassie III

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Paul DeBlassie III to talk about Goddess Of The Wild Thing (18 July 2017, Hallowed Realms Press, 311 pages), a Paranormal Methaphysical Thriller.

"Goddess of the Wild Thing is a psychic and erotic feminist manifesto! Twisted turns of love and fate take us on a literary adventure into a woman’s fears and desires. Dr. DeBlassie conjures a paranormal thriller in which a woman’s life depends on discovering whether bad love is better than no love. Goddess of the Wild Thing left me breathless and stunned." ~Lorraine Carey, International Award Winning Author

|| Synopsis || Trailer || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

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☀☄ Goddess Of The Wild Thing - Paul DeBlassie III

Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for Goddess Of The Wild Thing, a Paranormal Metaphysical Thriller by Paul DeBlassie III (18 July 2017, Hallowed Realms Press, 311 pages).

Don't miss our interview with author Paul DeBlassie III.

PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis and the Kindle Cloud Reader Preview below.

Goddess Of The Wild Thing is FREE on Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owner's Lending Library.

Author Paul DeBlassie III will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.   Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).

|| Synopsis || Trailer || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

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