Lou Paduano | Urban Fantasy Novels | Sci-Fi Crime Series

Spectral Advocate is available for pre-order

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Book Four of the DSA’s opening season is now available for pre-order. This is only for the digital copy at the moment, but paperback fans should keep an eye out as they should be available in the next few days!

Ready for the second half of season one?

The Bridge left things with an air of uncertainty. Lincoln’s troubles were only the beginning. Things really start to turn here, in Spectral Advocate.

From the back cover:

Abigail Winslow, the DSA’s latest recruit, is dead.

Unsure of who to trust anymore after learning the truth behind Agent Jacob Grissom’s death, Ben Riley attempts to track down Winslow’s killer without the use of the agency’s resources.  Facing a locked room murder, Ben turns to his only suspect for assistance—Cal Cooper, an attorney with a secret.

He sees ghosts—everywhere.

Thrust into a world he refuses to believe in, Ben must evade the danger posed by those beyond the veil and put his faith in a stranger to discover the murderer in their midst.

Unfortunately, Ben’s line of inquiry may have made him the next target.

Meet Cal Cooper

He might be my favorite character in the series. Cal has a pretty important role in this novel, but there is so much more to his story than what fit within the narrative. I hope readers connect with him and want to see where things go next for him.

This is the first book in the series with what I call spin-off potential. I know exactly what a Cal Cooper series would look like, down to the last detail. The only way I will write it, though, is if there is enough reader interest. Please be sure to reach out to me at lou@loupaduano.com if you want more Spectral Advocate down the line.

Answers to come…

The next three DSA novels are coming fast and furious. With them are some of the answers you’ve been seeking. Why was Ben recruited to the DSA? What is the Wellspring? And what is Sullivan’s ultimate plan?

These are only a few of the items addressed within these pages, while also setting up more mysteries in the second season.

I hope you enjoy the ride.

The Bridge Arrives Today!

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The Bridge is on sale now!

I can’t believe we’ve already reached the midpoint of the first season with the DSA. What a crazy few months it has been. I hope you’re enjoying the story as it unfolds. There are so many great moments coming up!

Mid-season finale!

There is a two month break before Book 4 arrives and this was done intentionally. I’ve always loved mid-season finales, how they push the rest of the story toward the climax of the narrative. I think they work well to build anticipation and tension for the reader. I hope you find The Bridge serves this function well.

A sniper’s bullet changed Lincoln MacKenzie’s life forever.

Lincoln has been tasked with a mission: to hunt down the Witness—the enigmatic man behind the tragedy in Bellbrook.

Present and past entwine as Lincoln is forced to make a choice between ending the life of the Witness or saving him from a far more dangerous threat.

Will Lincoln’s desire for revenge outweigh his need for the truth?

Meanwhile, Ben Riley is caught in the middle of a political game as his assessment begins before the Inter-Agency Council. But is the purpose behind his questioning only the opening gambit of a larger plot against not only the Director of the DSA, but the agency itself?

The DSA starts to crumble with this crucial chapter of the series.

Order your digital copy now!

Paperback is on sale here!

Be sure to check out the bonus material in the back of the book.

There is another reason for the skip month in January and that is the bonus at the back of The Bridge.

The loss of Jacob Grissom was a tragedy.

Learn the truth behind the operation that ended a decorated agent’s life. This file offers exclusive details into the breach of Oliver Blake’s laboratory and the fallout of the failed mission.

Gain new insights about the DSA field team and support staff in the detailed Hollis Interviews.

The Grissom File brings new details to light. There are a number of clues about where things are heading and the motivation behind some of the character’s actions.

I still remember putting this together years ago for the original draft. I love the back and forth of the dialogue in the transcripts and hope you get a kick out of reading it.

Download details are in the back of The Bridge so keep reading!

The DSA continues with Promethean! Out today!

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The Bellbrook affair was only the beginning for Ben Riley and the DSA. Promethean continues the first season of the series with a pulse-pounding mystery in the Windy City dealing with a rogue pyrokinetic and murder.

Promethean is available now in paperback and digitally!

What is the Promethean Project?

On the hunt for a lead from the Bellbrook affair, Ben Riley and Morgan Dunleavy discover a dead body and a growing conspiracy. The only clue left behind? A handprint burned into the bone of the victim.

Not everything is what it seems as Connor Hendricks, their FBI liaison, connects this latest death with a series of lab-related arsons.

Caught in a web of lies and illicit drug trials, Ben and Morgan must learn to trust each other or be the next victims of an elusive pyrokinetic.

But is he the killer or merely another victim caught up in a larger game?

The mystery is only the tip of the iceberg as the DSA’s opening season kicks into high gear.

Order your copy now!

Paperback:

Amazon – US, UK, CA

Barnes and Noble

The digital edition is only $0.99 right now! Deal ends 11/30.

About Promethean

I think this was the moment the idea of the DSA solidified for me. The Clearing was all about setting the stage, but Promethean is where you can see the pieces starting to take a life of their own. Every character gets a moment to shine, but for me the Morgan/Ben dynamic makes the series. I love their interaction and how they evolve throughout the season.

These characters mean more to me than any plot. The way they view the world, their manner of speech and their quirks, are what make writing the DSA so enjoyable. I hope you’re able to see that on the published page.

I can’t wait for you to see where things are headed. Promethean sets up some major revelations for the series.

Thanks for reading!

The Clearing is out now! The DSA starts here!

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And so it begins! The DSA starts here with The Clearing, on sale now!

The residents of Bellbrook, Ohio have vanished.

Seven thousand people in a four-mile radius disappeared overnight. A dead zone remains, no outgoing signals emanating from the ghost town.

Ben Riley, framed for a crime he never committed, is the latest recruit to the Department of Special Assignments—a secret agency handling unsolved cases, those with open questions and unexplainable circumstances. Unsure what to expect or whether or not he deserves this second chance, Ben is thrust into a bizarre case of science gone wrong.

Now, Ben and the rest of the field team must find out what happened to the residents of Bellbrook…before it happens to them.

Welcome to The DSA, an episodic journey told in a seasonal structure. Six episodes make up each season, creating an immersive experience for the reader.

Available now both digitally and in paperback!

I’m really proud of how the paperback turned out. MiblArt killed it on the cover and the design of the series. I did all right on the formatting side of things. I think it’s going to look amazing on the bookshelf.

I’m really excited that I was able to price the paperback at only $9.99. That for me was one of the main reasons behind telling the story in this episodic fashion. I hate the way Greystone is priced at almost $15 for a paperback. Hate it. This way, if there is someone who loves the feel of the book in their hands it is much more economically-friendly.

You can order your paperback copy of The Clearing at the following:

Amazon – US, UK, CA

Barnes and Noble – Right now, Barnes and Noble is only charging $6.99 for a copy!!

More retailers coming soon for the paperback!

The book can be found digitally through the Books2Read link, which will take you to your favorite retailer. Whether you prefer the Kindle store or the Google Play store, Books2Read has every retailer you could want. I love their service and hope you find it user-friendly.

The DSA continues in Promethean… on sale now!

What is the Promethean Project?

On the hunt for a lead from the Bellbrook affair, Ben Riley and Morgan Dunleavy discover a dead body and a growing conspiracy. The only clue left behind? A handprint burned into the bone of the victim.

Not everything is what it seems as Connor Hendricks, their FBI liaison, connects this latest death with a series of lab-related arsons.

Caught in a web of lies and illicit drug trials, Ben and Morgan must learn to trust each other or be the next victims of an elusive pyrokinetic.

But is he the killer or merely another victim caught up in a larger game?

Promethean is up for pre-order digitally.

Can’t wait until November 13th to read this one? Don’t! The paperback in ON SALE NOW!

Amazon – US, UK, CA

More retailers coming soon!

Spread the word!

I hope you enjoy this new adventure. I’m excited to hear your thoughts on the series and where you think it’s heading.

Thanks for reading!

The Story of the DSA

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This month marks the beginning of a new adventure. The DSA launches on October 9th with The Clearing. It has been one of the most challenging projects of my life. There have been times when I’ve thought about shelving it indefinitely and times when I’ve been so excited about where the series is heading that I couldn’t sleep for days.

What is the DSA?

The DSA is a covert agency within our government. They are known as the Department of Special Assignments in government circles but once upon a time, agents who worked outside the law on their own time took to calling it the Department of Scientific Anomalies.

They deal in science gone wrong, in the strange and bizarre.

More than that, hidden beneath the surface, they are looking at something that has infiltrated the very fabric of our existence. Something that will come to light by the end of the first season of the series. There is a larger game afoot, more than the everyday leaps and bounds humanity appears to be making technologically.

There is a reason behind it all and the DSA finds itself at the heart of the mystery. Why has humanity made such advancements in the last century? What changed and how did it truly come to pass? These are only a few of the questions being asked with each book in the series.

Serial storytelling

Each book is standalone. I made a promise to myself when I was putting together the plot outline to make each book stand on its own in terms of a main plot. It always bothered me to read other serialized stories and have it clearly intended to be part of a larger work.

I don’t like telling half-stories. I want there to be a sense of completion with each installment. Very much like the television shows I used to enjoy, there will be subplots that string the books together. You’ll see that more with Book 2, Promethean, where certain cast members head in one direction and others in another, more subdued role until the next book when they break out into the main plot.

Dangling mysteries

That’s the fun of a series like this, isn’t it? Well, fun for me at any rate.

The Clearing introduces a certain mystery but it doesn’t provide every answer. It is one piece of a larger puzzle and I’ve been very careful about making sure every potential mystery, every conceivable threat to our heroes, gets some face time each season. I don’t want to leave anything hanging, but I also want to explore more through these characters.

Episodic

I love breaking down a series on television. I love the ebb and flow the medium creates with each episode. I’ve tried to bring that to the DSA. It opens with a larger plot for the pilot, introducing all the major players to the reader. From there, the stories get more intimate, focusing in on the characters. It circles back for the season finale where all kinds of things go kablooey and sets up the second season.

You can read it in a chunk. You can read it as they release. I want it to feel big, with larger than life stakes, but also a real study of these flawed characters.

October 9th

The Clearing arrives in ebook.  It’s only $0.99 for a limited time!

Paperback fans will be surprised to know the book is out now! It’s only $9.99 and it looks gorgeous.

I really hope you like the series. It’s been a labor of love and I can’t wait for you to see where things are heading.

DSA Cover Reveals

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It’s a crazy week at the writing desk. I’m finishing up on The Clearing and getting it ready for publication. Hammer and Anvil is going through one more round of edits before the final readthrough. The October releases are coming together nicely.

Are you ready for what comes next?

Cover Reveal Time!

Promethean

What is the Promethean Project?

On the hunt for a lead from the Bellbrook affair, Ben Riley and Morgan Dunleavy discover a dead body and a growing conspiracy. The only clue left behind? A handprint burned into the bone of the victim.

Not everything is what it seems as Connor Hendricks, their FBI liaison, connects this latest death with a series of lab-related arsons.

Caught in a web of lies and illicit drug trials, Ben and Morgan must learn to trust each other or be the next victims of an elusive pyrokinetic.

But is he the killer or merely another victim caught up in a larger game?

DSA Season One, Book Two arrives November 13th but you can pre-order your copy today!

The Bridge

A sniper’s bullet changed Lincoln MacKenzie’s life forever.

Lincoln has been tasked with a mission: to hunt down the Witness—the enigmatic man behind the tragedy in Bellbrook.

Present and past entwine as Lincoln is forced to make a choice between ending the life of the Witness or saving him from a far more dangerous threat.

Will Lincoln’s desire for revenge outweigh his need for the truth?

Meanwhile, Ben Riley is caught in the middle of a political game as his assessment begins before the Inter-Agency Council. But is the purpose behind his questioning only the opening gambit of a larger plot against not only the Director of the DSA, but the agency itself?

The DSA starts to crumble with this crucial chapter of the series.

DSA Season One, Book Three hits shelves on December 11th. You can pre-order your digital copy now!

Praise for MiblArt

I can’t say enough good things about MiblArt. They came in and helped me out of a real jam in putting these covers together. I absolutely love the look of the series and can’t wait to see them in paperback.

 

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