This week is all about the release of Reka’s Grasp, which comes out tomorrow! However, that’s the official date. For subscribers, you can get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0DK4JWFL4.
Reka’s Grasp
The devil lies in still waters.
Grad school applications are Nikita Baird’s biggest problem—until a friend dies in her arms after a sinister accident. Rusalka and Baba Yaga were just fairy tales—until they aren’t. Soon Niki can’t deny the truth. Something inhuman lurks in the river.
Worse, her own roommate just might be the killer.
Ryan Fortner, Crypto Division, works alone since his partner died on their last case together. Now he needs Niki’s help, even if he doesn’t want it. Together they plunge into a realm of shrouded histories, dredging up more than just folklore.
Niki and Ryan must navigate the currents of myth, tragedy, and redemption to stop the drownings—before the river’s grasp can’t be broken.
Be prepared for me to blast that out on Facebook and Twitter, along with having a link for it next week here in this space. H.Y. Gregor knocked this out of the park, and it’s a worthy addition to the already awesome Milesian Accords universe created by Jon R. Osborne.
For me, this was a week of getting things done. I made good progress on The Feasting of Vengeance, though it’s one of those weeks that the total didn’t really rise because I realized a chunk just didn’t work and cut it out. I wrote a new chunk, a better chunk, to replace it though.
We also had two days of errands this week. One was a fairly normal Wichita go to all the places thing, but the other was to deal with maintenance of our big quilting machine. It needed the work and the closest place is Hennessey, OK, which is about an hour and a half away.
The wife and I took this time to do the trip together, and we did a number of other errands. One of those was replacing my phone. I had a Note 9 from 2017 or so and I’d have kept using it except it was getting really difficult to charge. I’m still dealing with the frustrations of “improved technology.” It’s an S24 Ultra, for those who’re interested.
Anyway, I’ve still got things to do for the RedFish festival, so I’m off!
Remember, Reka’s Grasp is awesome!
What I’m Listening To
Losing It, by Rush. This is a truly amazing elegy about people who were once brilliant at something, but age has taken away some of their skill.
Here’s a particularly relevant lyric to me now:
The writer stares with glassy eyes — Defies the empty page, His beard is white, his face is lined And streaked with tears of rage.
Thirty years ago, how the words would flow With passion and precision, But now his mind is dark and dulled By sickness and indecision
And he stares out the kitchen door Where the sun will rise no more…
Whoof. The song came out on Signals in 1981. Me in junior high didn’t really grok that song, but now, it really resonates.
Quote of the Week
I might as well give the closing quote from Losing It. It’s too powerful not to include it.
Sadder still to watch it die
Than never to have known it
For you — the blind who once could see —
The bell tolls for thee…
– Rush, Losing It
Dragon’s Tidings
We’ll be at the RedFish Festival in Harper on Saturday!
ChattaCon, January 17-19, Chattanooga, TN chattacon.org/ I’m the Toastmaster!
New Releases
This week’s release is Shadow-Wired: Doomsday, the second book in Gustavo Bondoni’s Shadow Wired series. Do you like non-stop action in a techno-thriller? If so, this book—and this series—is for you! This series left me saying, “Give me more Gustavo!” and has caused a number of our early readers a lot of lost sleep as they just couldn’t put it down! Get it here: amazon.com/dp/B0DJQB6V69.
Let me know if you have any suggestions on the website, this email, or cool story ideas at rob@robhowell.org. Especially let me know of suggestions you have for the Spotlight section.
