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

Writing Update – February 8, 2018

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Writing Update

A Circle of Shadows – I started my final readthrough today. By Sunday, A Circle of Shadows will be passed to some early readers to give me feedback on a narrative level. My stomach is in knots over it. It always is. Months of plotting, scripting, drafting and edits have all led to this moment so fingers crossed I didn’t completely blow it!

Sticking the landing has become my mantra during this edit. This book, while not the end of the series, closes out a number of plotlines that have been building since Signs of Portents. The story behind Beth’s demise is revealed. The secret organization hidden in the shadows of Portents comes to light. Threats return from the past and a new one rises bringing war with her.

Lots of action in this one with some great character moments for the entire cast. Everyone gets their moment, which has been the real treat with this novel.

Conclusions are absolutely a blast to write but the pressure of getting them right? STRESSFUL!

Pathways in the Dark – The paperback is available now on Amazon! Everywhere else will be on the 20th as well as the ebook version. Be sure to pre-order your copy for the launch price of only $0.99 if you’re going digital!

Paperback readers – Don’t forget to claim your free ebook copy through the Kindle Matchbook Program!

           

Reading

The Black Book by Ian Rankin – The fifth novel in the Inspector Rebus series is even better than the last. Rankin manages to weave dozens of threads together seamlessly. I was a third of the way in before I realized what the main mystery was, there were so many different things going on and all centered around our charming, curmudgeon lead, John Rebus. Loved every second of it.

There will be lots more reading updates next time around. I’ve been binging on books lately while I gear up for a HUGE project coming your way next year!

January 2018 Promotions!

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Lots of exciting things happening in the world of Greystone for the next month!! A new addition to the series means big opportunities to save on the previous installments and take advantage of some huge offers by other great sci-fi/fantasy authors!

January 2018 Promotions!

SFF Book Bonanza’s 99-Cent Sale – January 22nd – 28th

Over 50 titles are included in this sale. Everything from space opera to paranormal romance all for your reading pleasure!

Check them out now!

Innovation – FREE BOOKS – January 22nd – February 10th

65 authors have offered up their very best in science fiction and fantasy FOR FREE!

Check out the titles listed!

And don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a $50 Gift Card!

Greystone Saga Volume One – Currently only $0.99!!!

The first two books in the Greystone series can be yours for less than a buck! Signs or Portents and Tales from Portents are collected in this massive tome as well as a sneak peek at The Medusa Coin! Over 500 pages of monsters, myths and murder!

Grab your copy today!

        

Pathways in the Dark – Pre-order available for only $0.99!!!

Book four is coming your way next month but you can lock down your copy today for only $0.99! The penultimate chapter in Greystone’s first major arc offers a thrilling look at each and every major player in the series, hinting at the struggle to come!

Pre-order your copy now!

         

Lots more promo news coming in the next few weeks!

Happy Reading!

Pathways in the Dark Pre-Orders Available Now!

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Yes indeed! It is that time again! Pre-orders are now available for the digital version of Pathways in the Dark.

Pre-Order Your Copy Today!

         

The dark pathways of Portents tell of frightful demons and characters’ surprising histories.

Detective Loren and Soriya Greystone’s journeys continue in the next series of tales in the Greystone Collection, Pathways in the Dark. Discover new monsters in Portents, including a phoenix, an onna-bugeisha, and the cult of Anubis. Delve deeper into Detective Samantha Myers’ secretive past, and follow Captain Ruiz as he continues to be plagued by the demons of Portents, even during his leave of absence. As Loren and Soriya battle the city’s monsters and their fractured relationship alike, they come to realize that everyone has two stories…and that nobody can be trusted, no matter how well you think you know them.

The next anthology of the Greystone Collection further casts the city of Portents in the shadows, showing that no one is safe.

For Parker Rose…

This book is dedicated to my daughter, Parker. Thanks to Parker, four and a half years ago I left the working world to be a full-time dad.

Best decision of my life.

I could not imagine following my writing dream without her in my corner, cheering on each new installment as they’ve come together. She is a constant reminder of why I love this job and how important it is to tell stories.

Summing up the project

There are some books where finding a theme is difficult. Where building short stories into a collection can become a chore and feel forced. Pathways in the Dark was the opposite with me. Each story flowed organically from The Medusa Coin, pulling and twisting threads that seemed to be embedded in the previous novel for the sole purpose of this collection.

A happy coincidence that I will gladly attribute to some hidden brilliance on my part.

Threats return and new ones are hinted at. Each character gets a moment to shine as the shadows close in around them.

A storm is gathering. The long night is almost upon us.

And Portents will fall.

Unless Soriya and Loren can stand together one last time.

Order your copy of Pathways in the Dark today and save!

The pre-order launch of Pathways in the Dark is only $0.99!!! Enjoy the savings and the six thrilling tales when the book arrives on February 20th, 2018!!

         

Thanks for reading!

Writing Update – January 18, 2018

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The end of Greystone approaches and the start of a brand new project. It’s been a crazy month filled with broken furnaces and hot water tanks but plenty of writing in the mix as well.

Writing Update

Pathways in the Dark is available for pre-order!

         

It might not seem like much needed doing on that front but there is a ton of formatting and proofing to be done when getting a book to press. Very happy with the results so far and I hope you feel the same when the print and digital versions hit the shelves on February 20th!

A Circle of Shadows

The climactic finale to Greystone’s first major arc is coming together. I have a five page document of areas I need to work on. Hammering out details on character motivations or thoughts on how better to stage a scene. The spine of the novel is set. I’ve read through it three times this month so far and enjoy the hell out of it each time.

(Not my typical reaction if you know me…)

New beginnings and many endings to come with this book. You’ll hear more about it in a few weeks as I button up the self-editing phase.

Reading

Not much in the way this month with editing taking over. I have created a Winter Reading List that I posted earlier this week if you’d like to join me in the fun!

Watching

I have, however, tried to catch up on some viewing over the holiday break.

Supergirl Season One – I am a big fan of everything Kryptonian, in case Loren’s wardrobe wasn’t a big enough clue to that. I was worried about the stylistic changes for the show but absolutely enjoyed the arc over the course of the inaugural season of the show. Yes, the romantic interludes were tiresome but the inclusion of so many great background characters made it fun. Looking forward to the next one.

Fuller House Season Three (Part 2) – Yes. I am still watching this show. Many question my sanity but I find the lives of the Tanners/Fullers to be a nice change of pace from most programs in my queue. The deviations from the main characters bother me (a lot) but I feel like the show gets stronger with each season.

Spider-Man: Homecoming – I have been reading the adventures of Peter Parker for going on 25 years. During that time there have been plenty of ups and downs. The Sony films have been on the lower side of things for the most part. (Spider-Man 2 is still one of the best super-hero films of all time so I have to give them that one…) After two disappointing installments, this new iteration of the character was such a breath of fresh air.

While some of the Sony tropes remained (Hey look, no mask! or How about we throw a giant American flag in the background for no particular reason?) I think the helping hand of Marvel Studios kept the webhead grounded and interesting. And Michael Keaton was great. Can’t go wrong with Keaton in the villain role.

Hopefully some books will be read for the next one folks. Until then, stay warm!

Join the Advance Team for Pathways in the Dark

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It’s getting to be that time again. Book Four of the Greystone series arrives in six weeks! It’s insane how these dates sneak up on me. To prepare, I’m opening the doors to my Advance Team of reviewers once again!

Why should you join?

How about a FREE copy of Pathways in the Dark? Not enough? How about chances to win prizes and gift cards not offered to anyone else?

I love my advance team. They do an amazing job of spreading the word about each release and take the time to write some fantastic reviews online about the books. I understand the commitment involved, the time necessary to read a book and figure out a way to promote it. That’s why I try to thank them as much as possible for their services.

This endeavor, these books, don’t work without reviews. It takes a village and I am hoping you’ll join today to stand with us for this next book and every other to follow.

What do I have to do?

To join, email me directly at lou@loupaduano.com

You’ll be put on the list and when Pathways is sent out you’ll be the first to receive it. Digital copies only, though, as my ability to ship paperbacks is quite limited at this point.

And then? ENJOY the book! Read it, love it, live it. At the bus stop, at the dinner table, everywhere you can think to squeeze in some reading time, DO IT!

Tell your kids about the book. Tell your doctor, the stranger sitting next to you, that crazy nerd with the Jean-Luc Picard poster in his cubicle at work. Spread the word about the series!

And when it comes to release time? Review the hell out of it. Post it on your blog, your friend’s blog, your grandmother’s blog… Oh, and on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Kobo. (Please and thank you…)

I’m not strict about it. I don’t push. I just know that without fine reviewers like you, this series won’t stick and I want people to love Soriya and Loren as much I do for a long, long time!

If you’re interested in joining the advance team, let me know today at lou@loupaduano.com.

I can’t wait to hear from you.

Thanks for reading!

A Look Ahead at 2018

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Welcome back! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year! Most years I take Christmas break to frontload as much work for the following year as possible. This year? Not so much. Between potty training my youngest and moving into a new home, work was in short supply this December.

A Look Ahead…

Now the fun begins.

2018 marks the end of a journey I started back in 2007 with the very first scripted version of Signs of Portents. Greystone has been with me ever since and to see the first half reach its conclusion this fall has me giddy. This last week has been all about returning to Portents and buttoning up the fifth book’s self-editing phase. I think it is the best installment yet and hope you’ll agree.

But before we get there…

February 20, 2018

Pathways in the Dark arrives. Book Four of the Greystone series is a short story collection taking place immediately after the events of The Medusa Coin. Tensions flare up between Loren and Soriya that will significantly change the dynamic of their partnership going forward. Ruiz deals with life as a full-time dad for the first time and the challenges it brings. Myers gets a turn at the spotlight with more information about the secrets she holds and how it will impact Loren down the line. Lots of important moments and even some hints at what the second half of the series will bring to Portents.

The shadows are closing in on Loren and Soriya. Will they see the signs in time or will they be too late to prevent the darkness that is about to be unleashed?

September 2018

The big one. Book Five of the Greystone series – A Circle of Shadows. It’s all been building up to this. Secrets held by all. Relationships come to light. Old threats return and new ones rise.

Loren and Soriya’s relationship lies shattered but both will be needed as war comes to Portents.

When I started putting together this last novel I knew some of the elements. I had ideas for others. But it took Tales from Portents and The Medusa Coin to solidify the core of what is coming in this book. I thought I knew the story inside and out. I was wrong.

And it is so much better than I could have imagined.

And then what?

I’m nailing down the details for what comes next. I have The Lost Outpost waiting in the wings but there are a number of other projects demanding more and more time. Stay tuned for a ton of announcements later this year. New books. New free novellas, including the first of four set in the Greystone world.

2018 is going to be a huge year for me but it is nothing compared to what I hope to unleash in 2019.

Want to stay up to date on what’s coming?

Follow me on:

   

Thanks for reading!

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