Today Dreamspinner Press publishes my new MM urban fantasy
novella e-book called MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY. All the details, a free preview, and purchase
options can be found below, and by CLICKING HERE
This is my third MM romance book from Dreamspinner and I
thought I’d share just a few words about how much fun it’s been working on
these projects and seeing them come to light.
For all kinds of reasons, there’s nothing like having a book
come out in the fall. For one thing, fall
just feels to me (and you?) like an especially literary time of year. Where I grew up, in Wisconsin, autumn always signaled
a great time to find a cozy warm spot and curl up with a good book.
The leaves of russet-red, fiery orange and golden-yellow are
falling, there’s some frost on the pumpkin patch, and the nights come on
early. If you’re like me, the stage is
set for immersion into some great stories.
Of course there’s also plenty of time in a day (or night) for
chores and socializing, and even schoolwork!
But quiet time alone with a book -- and I’m including e-books, of
course! -- is its own comfort and reward.
“Make Someone Happy”
is an urban fantasy. One could also call
it a contemporary fairy tale. It
involves a magic spell. It has a couple
of urban “princes” (every-day guys, but gems in their own ways). And it has, at its heart, a romantic story of
true love.
Having “Make Someone
Happy” out for readers as autumn colors our imaginations and the holidays
loom just puts a big smile on my face and warms my heart.
Of course I hope readers will fall in love with this story. But what author doesn’t send his or her
stories out into the world with high hopes of enchanting a reader?
I think “Make Someone
Happy” is the most traditional kind of story I’ve written, even though it
involves fantasy and magic.
My other works published by Dreamspinner might have taken
some unusual twists that surprised readers (in a good way, I hope). With MSH
I wanted to create some surprises and twists that flowed with fewer ambiguities. It’s just a more straightforward and direct
narrative, and a bit lighter and maybe funnier (humor alert).
“When We Picked
Apples Last Autumn” (Hmm, its fall again, folks), was for some one of those
“love it or hate it” stories, judging by the reviews and comments. It’s a straight-action thriller, no fantasy
involved, just some wild plotting.
It has a pretty big twist, one that some objected to, and which
others got a kick out of. Without
spoiling anything (I’d never do that) there is a subtle up-shift in genre about
midway through the story. I do agree that
a story should prepare us for its inevitable conclusion from the very start. Did I do that successfully in this story?
Some readers felt I didn’t provide enough foreshadowing in “Apples” to seemingly take the tale in what
might to some seem a sudden, new direction.
Others thought it worked just fine; we were building up to this development
all along. Maybe they’re both right. But a careful reader will find the mention of
the surprise enemy of the story in “Apples”
in the first few paragraphs of the tale.
This enemy brings the story together for its big climatic scene.
Granted, this element is sort of “buried” (in misdirection
or sleight of hand?), but it’s there.
I’ll admit it might not have been highlighted enough. Feel free to be the judge. I’d love to know what you think.
In “Make Someone
Happy” I wanted the surprises to be crystal clear. The twists come about logically (I
hope). And the suspense pays off in the
end if I did my job...
Of course I also wanted a steamy, smoldering sexuality to
pervade the romantic action. That’s a
goal in all of my stories.
So another great thing about having a new book come out is
finding out just what people think of it.
Though, as they say, be careful what you wish for! (That’s one of the running
themes in this new tale.)
My longest (by far) and maybe most challenging book to come
out from Dreamspinner is “Emerald Idol.”
No magical fantasy here. Instead I told
a contemporary urban tale about the “lives” and loves of a “one hit wonder” pop
star of the 80s.
I told Nick’s story in a challenging non-chronological
format. We go back and forth in time a
lot as a “present-day” suspense story plays out romantically between Nick and
Anson, the hunky detective who is trying to protect Nick from a powerful enemy
from his past.
I was thrilled with the good reviews and kind comments this
novel has inspired. The book continues
to find new readers. (Not everyone loved
it, of course. That would be odd if they
did.) But mainly, I’m thrilled it’s out
there for readers to discover. It’s over 300 pages in trade paper; a good long
foray in any format.
#
And now, here we are at another publication day. (Hooray,
balloons, confetti, fanfare!) I’m once again thrilled to send a story out into
the world, hoping of course that you’ll enjoy spending a little bit of your valuable
reading time with my characters and a world I’ve created -- for you. Who else?
So let’s all MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY!
And while I’m on the subject of shorter works, my perennial
yuletide tale, “Christmas in Joint” --
an e-book short story -- is still only .99 cents at Amazon.
Sure, there’s plenty of reading time left in fall 2016 to
dig into the cozy autumnal tales that warm us at night. But those jingle bells you hear faintly are
just around the corner...I know a couple of characters (a young sheriff’s
deputy named Buddy and an unlikely hero incarcerated on Christmas Eve) who
would love your company.
Thanks and Happy
reading, to one and all!
Love,
Hank
