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

The Medusa Coin Author Commentary Intro

By

When I started this blog one of my main goals was to provide an inside look at the process behind the scenes. I did it with Signs of Portents and Tales from Portents. Now it is time to start the author commentary for The Medusa Coin.

Why divulge the secrets behind the book?

Seriously. Why let you know what a complete and utter buffoon I am when it comes to putting together a book? Why pull back the curtain on the inane arguments I have with myself on a daily basis to make the overall narrative as strong as can be?

Because it’s what I love to read about.

Yeah, I’m that guy. I’m the one they make audio commentaries for when they release a film, the one that runs through the documentaries on the bonus features disc before even watching the movie. I’m a process junkie. There are constant debates in this basement torture room I call an office about the best way to tell a story and I like being able to share those moments with you.

Maybe it will help you with your own writing – if that’s your thing. Maybe it will clue you in on something you missed during your first reading of the novel or it will inspire you to want to read it again to catch all the little moments you may have glossed over, while speeding to the finish.

author commentary

Let the author commentary begin!

For the next two months – off and on – I will take you all the way back to 2010 at the start of this wacky project. You’ll find out how I wrote The Medusa Coin FIRST and then went back to Signs of Portents and how the book is soooo much better than that first draft.

You’ll read about my fears of using Death and the mystery behind his role as well as the fact that Ruiz almost met his end in this story.

Lots of in-depth looks at the major players with all sorts of stories to share from my side of the screen. I promise there will be SPOILERS so read your copy this weekend and come back here Monday for the first look behind the scenes of The Medusa Coin.

I’ll see you then.

Pathways in the Dark Teaser

By

Earlier this week I shared a first glimpse at December’s digital only FREE release – Founder’s Day. Like Resurrectionists before it, Founder’s Day serves as a primer for the rest of the short story collection coming out in February – Pathways in the Dark.

Background for Pathways in the Dark

This was the title of the first book way, way, way back in 2008. I thought it summed up my feelings about the series nicely. Unfortunately it never fit with the narrative being told and Signs of Portents was born from that change.

But the title still fit and I knew it would. Somewhere.

When I put the final touches on Tales from Portents last year, I realized how much I enjoyed the short story format. It was a nice break from writing out those epic novels and really opened up new ways of telling tales set in the Greystone universe.

I come from a comic book reading childhood (he said staring at his Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus next to his computer…) so I’m accustomed to larger epics broken up between smaller – yet still important – moments in a character’s life.

That was the purpose behind Tales. Background on the characters and the world.

Pathways in the Dark is very much the same, yet – to me – it feels completely unique. Tales was a prequel. With Pathways, everything is in the present.

The importance of the moment…

Theme became the connecting point for these stories and all tied back to the title of the collection. Pathways in the Dark represents a glimpse at each character following the events of The Medusa Coin. From Ruiz to Myers, from Soriya to Loren, each player faces an obstacle that calls their path forward into question.

Pathways is about how to find your way back to the light at the darkest of moments. How to build a life from ashes. How to succeed. And how to fail…

Pathways in the Dark arrives in February

pathways in the darkThe shadows are growing around Portents.

Detective Greg Loren attempts to recover from injuries sustained during his hunt for the Medusa coin but is pulled into more darkness as the full extent of Erikson’s attempt at immortality is discovered.

Soriya Greystone works to connect with the city she protects, stumbling on fluctuations caused by the evolving Bypass and an ancient cult attempting to bring back the god, Anubis. On top of the dangers surrounding the pair, the Founder returns to the city and brings death with him.

Danger is around every corner and Portents grows darker as war inches closer to the surface in these tales from the Greystone collection.

War is coming…

I said it last time. We’re rolling downhill on our way to one explosive finale come next September. Pathways takes you one step closer to the end.

And not everyone comes out of the dark…

I can’t wait to share more from this incredible project. Lots of cool tidbits and teasers coming closer to the end of the year.

Thanks for reading.

Founder’s Day – A Glimpse Ahead at Greystone

By

It’s been a crazy launch month for The Medusa Coin. I am always amazed at the support from writers and readers alike, willing to do anything to make sure we are all doing our part to spread the word about indie authors. It has been an incredible community to work with this past year and I hope to be able to do more in the future.

What comes next?

The Medusa Coin changes things for the series. I won’t spoil the book here. I’ll save that for later in the month when I start my commentary on the manuscript.

Much like a single book there is a feeling like we’ve been climbing to the top of hill, pushing this gigantic boulder in front of us. The Medusa Coin was the apex, slowing building and building and now comes the fun part.

Falling down.

Loren and Soriya are headed toward an event, one utterly unavoidable. But in their way are certain obstacles – each unique to our two principal players.

Loren’s arrives this December with the release of Founder’s Day.

Founder’s Day – First Look

Founder's DayOn the eve of the Founder’s Day Celebration in the heart of Portents, someone is murdering city officials and dressing them up in a signature black robe and cloak.

What does it have to do with the Church of the Second Coming? And will Loren be able to find the killer or will the entire city of Portents be at risk?

The seeds are planted for the end of the first cycle of the Greystone series in this tale!

Founder’s Day is a direct sequel to Resurrectionists and will be available FOR FREE on December 5, 2017!!

The challenges in this tale…

I went over this one many times. The second I hit the publish button on Resurrectionists last year I knew this story was coming.

The challenge came in juggling priorities in this story. Not only was it a sequel to Resurrectionists, it served as the primer for February’s release – Pathways in the Dark – AND set the stage for book five’s incredible climax of the series’ first major arc.

Talk about pressure.

With Pathways, especially when it came to this tale, I was able to open the door to some new ideas. I was able to widen the scope of the series but also ground it in a way that I hope will still entertain readers set on myths and monsters.

Founder’s Day is a true test for Loren, one that will require all his detective skills to solve.

More news and a preview of the tale coming your way next month!

The Limited Time Launch Offer Continues

By

The response to The Medusa Coin has been staggering. I’m incredibly blessed to have so many kind readers out there. I’m lucky to have you here and will do everything I can to continue to earn those kind words. That’s why I am continuing the limited time launch offer on The Medusa Coin through the end of the month! The $0.99 deal for the book will end September 30th so help spread the word to anyone and everyone!

             

The limited time launch offer doesn’t end there!

launch offer

I haven’t been advertising it – I like to surprise people – but Signs of Portents and Tales from Portents have joined the offer and are currently only $0.99. I hope to grab as many readers as I can to share the world of Greystone with, especially with the final two books in the current arc coming your way next year!

This is an incredible way to catch up on the series. Plus, ebooks make great conversation pieces around the dinner table. Trust me.

MORE DEALS!

The Prolific Reader’s new site is up and running! Check out over 25 genres worth of FREE BOOKS!

Looking for a new release? Look no further than SFF Book Bonanza!

Author Spotlight!

Check out L.A. Frederick’s Government Rain series for a sleek Sci-Fi Urban Mystery.

New Hampton is bloodthirsty. The streets are a cesspool. Greed and corporate necessity rule the overcrowded city.

A mysterious doctor, his young protégé and a monstrous enforcer are playing gods, their wanton destruction going unchecked. The city’s Mayor seeks vengeance and believes the doctor’s work is the key to achieving redemption. These men will change the city forever, for better or worse remains to be seen. 

Crime is rife on the streets and only a few brave, have-a-go heroes, seem willing to plunge themselves into the depths of depravity to intervene and, ultimately, save the city from forces it is seemingly oblivious to. 

A handful of extraordinary individuals must decide where they fit in within the changing landscape of the indomitable city of New Hampton. Run? Hide? Fight? The ramifications of their decisions will echo throughout the city.

New Hamptoners look out for number one, slaves to the omnipresent man. Can the city survive this maelstrom or will the meddling powers-that-be doom everyone…

And for the horror fans out there…

Be sure to look up Baileigh Higgins’ Dangerous Days series!

Trapped in the shower by the monster that was once her husband, Morgan’s survival hinges on her willingness to kill the man she loves. She escapes, only to find that the horror has spread and now threatens everything she holds dear.

Logan returns to his childhood home and teams up with Max, an army deserter who is racing against time to save his family. Together, they face the real possibility that everyone they know is already dead. Or worse, undead.

As the sun sets against the backdrop of the Free State veldt and living nightmares walk the streets in the shape of their loved one’s bodies, humanity’s last hope rests in the hands of ordinary men and women called to do extraordinary things. Can they Last Another Day?

Happy reading everyone!

The Medusa Coin is on sale now!

By

It’s the big day! The Medusa Coin is on sale now! The first cycle of the Greystone series continues in this thrilling installment.

From the back cover:

Death has come to the city of Portents.

Dozens have fallen before a mysterious menace hiding among them. Their only connection is the grisly condition of their bodies—hollowed-out chasms where their eyes used to be.

Setting aside the aging case on his wife’s murder, Detective Greg Loren has returned to the city with the task of stopping the bearer of the Medusa coin—an artifact with power over Death himself—from continuing to slaughter the people of Portents.

Soriya, no longer able to control the enigmatic Greystone, grapples with the decision to forge ahead in the case on her own, leaving Loren behind. But without the two counterbalancing each other, Death may be the force that levels them both.

Grab your copy now!

The limited launch offer continues. Only $0.99 for the ebook.

And don’t forget, if you order the paperback through Amazon you can download the ebook for FREE through the Kindle Matchbook Program.

             

Everything changes…

Medusa CoinWhen I set out to write the Greystone series, I imagined adventures with Soriya and Loren side-by-side, through every challenge set before them. A series that would be defined by their actions but would typically follow them working through case after case.

The Medusa Coin changes that. I fought against the change. I tried to steer it away from the shift coming in this book but the characters set the path ahead.

The shadows are growing and I don’t know if Soriya and Loren are going to be able to stop the darkness ahead.

And I absolutely love that feeling.

Already enjoyed the book?

I know some of my advance readers have already finished the book. If you’re one of them please be sure to leave a review at any and all retailer sites. Reviews are incredibly important to promoting the book and spreading the word to future readers.

I truly appreciate your help in getting the word out about The Medusa Coin.

            

 

Happy reading!

The Medusa Coin Early Reviews

By

When it comes to The Medusa Coin, you’ve heard enough from me over the last few months. You’ve read the pitch, seen the cover, and listened to me rant and rave about how much the project means to me. How about some early reviews from your fellow readers?

Praise for The Medusa Coin

Another book I just couldn’t put down. Following on from Signs of Portents, and no less enthralling. I absolutely love this kind of book. Demons & humans battling one another. Another author added to my must read list. Highly recommended. If you liked Signs of Portents then this is a definite read, you won’t be disappointed. – Silver Surfer (Goodreads review)

Dark and foreboding, much like the city of Portents itself, The Medusa Coin will keep you on the edge of your seat and reading well into the night. If paranormal thrillers are your thing, you can’t go wrong with a read by Lou Paduano. – TE (Goodreads review)

This book starts out leading the reader through a series of twists and turns……..Into the the darkness and into the unknown………… Thrilling and exciting..This writer will surprise you you and keep you on the edge of your seat until the end …. or is it? – Paula (Goodreads review)

Portents sure is an incredible place to visit and I am glad that I get to do it on a regular basis… All fans of Portents will eat The Medusa Coin right up! – Debra

Best book yet! – Louise (family gatherings)

Your favorite – LINKS!

early reviews

The Medusa Coin arrives on Tuesday. Help spread the word through social media, at the local PTA meeting, or even in the middle of a church reading or two this weekend. Only $0.99 digitally!

            

The shadows are growing in Portents…

A friend recently asked me if I knew all along where the series was going. Honestly, I didn’t have a clue. When putting together Signs of Portents the first time, I thought I would drop by Portents for a quick visit and then say goodbye to Loren and Soriya.

Their world refused to let me go.

And I am all the better because of them and readers like you and those who have enjoyed the journey. There are dark times ahead, sacrifices to be made, and not everyone will see the light at the end of the path.

Take the next step with me, won’t you?

Disclaimer: Links throughout this site may be affiliate links. All commission earned through these links go to Eleven Ten Publishing to produce more books for your reading pleasure.

You can view our privacy policy here.

Recent Posts