I’m working on the third book in the Goodall series, which is basic science fiction adventure, or space opera, and this time I’m doing something different: getting the cover designed before I’ve even finished writing the book. You see, I know how this one ends. So I’ve been able to suggest a complimentary cover to the first two.

Here’s The Goodall Mutiny And here’s The Goodall Manifest  

The third book in the series will follow the design of the first more than the second, or so I’ve planned. Can’t wait to see it.

Should be writing it instead, right!

We had fun selling The Goodall Mutiny, The Goodall Manifest, and Ill Met By Moonlight April 8 at the 5th annual San Antonio Book Festival.

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK:  The Pirate Captain’s Daughter by Lindsay Buroker. Evelyn Marsh by S.W. Clemens. Legend of the Dawn by J. R. Wright. Chirp by Ann Everett.

Find my books here http://amzn.com/B01I3DU7OE   https://www.amazon.com/Goodall-Mutiny-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B01CIQD61S/

Books you’ll enjoy.

I just re-read THE WALK by Lee Goldberg about the fourth time in as many years. It has become my favorite go-to book when I’m feeling a little down. I always remember the story, but the details fade. It would make a great little movie. We’ve given it to libraries, and we’ve gifted it to friends. THE WALK is about a low-level movie executive caught in The Big One ( a beyond catastrophic earthquake that destroys much of the west coast) who tries walking across Los Angeles to get back home to his wife. It will really surprise you. You can find it here  http:amazon.com/dp/B002BSHHTQ

Almost everything by Dick Francis (before his wife died). I’ve read most of his books three times already and am only waiting until some of the details fade out of my memory to read them again. His characters are like nobody else’s. Get lost in a world where honor still means something. Plus you’ll learn all sorts of things. His books explore all sorts of jobs. I think my first was REFLEX. I was hooked ever after. You can find that book here http://amzn.com/B000OIZSJG

Connie Willis has what I consider a masterpiece with PASSAGE. Changed my perceptions about death right around. A great science fiction novel about near-death experiences and what they really are. Most of it plays out on the Titanic. You can find it here http://amzn.com/B0030P1WSQ

And then there are the masterful and suspenseful mystery novels of Kris Nelscott about detective Smokey Dalton. A DANGEROUS ROAD is book one. Read this one and you won’t want to stop. You can find it here http://amzn.com/B0085O7WEK 

And then, you can find my books here https://amazon.com/author/gretchenrix

I’ve written and published eleven books so far. Am working on numbers twelve and thirteen this spring. There’s THE COWBOY’S BABY, ARROYO, TALKING TO THE DEAD GUYS, THE COWBOY’S BABY GOES TO HEAVEN, TWISTED RIXTER, THE SAFARI BRIDE, TEA WITH A DEAD GAL, BABY SINGS THE BOOS, THE GOODALL MUTINY, THE GOODALL MANIFEST, and ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT.

The above are in order of my writing them. The last book is always the best book, because I’m getting better and better with practice. Do I have a favorite? I really can’t say. I’m proud of all of them. Am I including them in my books you’ll enjoy list? Nope. I’m sure (and I started to say I’m pretty sure, but really, I’m sure) you’ll enjoy Goldberg, Francis, Willis, and Nelscott more. They are writers at the top of their game. I’m just beginning.

This time I think the photos were by Gretchen Rix.

Yes, ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT has illustrations. Even in the e-book version, though I think they look better in the print version. Streetlight Graphics did the work. Roxanne and I decided what might best represent each story, and they took it from there.

Below are the pictures for HANDSEL MONDAY, for ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS, and for EXPIATION. You can find ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT at BookPeople in Austin, Tx. And through Amazon, Nook, Smashwords, and ITunes.  https://amzn.com/B01N3YU7R5

HANDSEL MONDAY

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS

EXPIATION

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK:  Skirmishes by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas.

BROWN and THE GOODALL MARAUDERS. Sounds like a movie, or a book title. And you’re right, but it’s two book titles! Against my better judgement, I’m writing two books at the same time.

Going all out in the month of March to write and finish writing THE GOODALL MARAUDERS, which is book three in my series. And in my spare time, continuing the adventures of BROWN, which was meant to be my first thriller, but is really a straight murder mystery with a bit of offbeat humor.

I’m on Chapter Three of THE GOODALL MARAUDERS (and this chapter’s giving me fits) and on Chapter Twelve of BROWN. I’m not worried about any unintended crossovers between the two. They are very different stories. The one set in San Antonio, Texas, and the other in deep space. (Just finished Chapter Twelve of BROWN. What fun! Really. It’s fun writing).

It will be interesting to see if I can work on the two at once. You can find my books here https://amazon.com/author/gretchenrix

here http://barnesandnoble.com/c/gretchen-rix   

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK:  Crosstalk by Connie Willis.

The tree above is one of the great illustrations for my last book ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT courtesy of Streetlight Graphics. You can see it here https://amzn.com/B01N3YU7R5

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK (actually, several week’s worth): Stuck by Steven L. Hawk. A Hidden Magic by Vivian Vande Velde. End Game: The Fallen Empire Book 8 by Lindsay Buroker. The Crypt Thief by Mark Pryor. Blackout by Connie Willis.

I’m paraphrasing Dickens with God Bless You Every One. Of course.

This is referencing my last week’s free giveaway of my latest book ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT. 

I truly appreciate all the readers who took advantage and downloaded my little tale. And I love the one reader who bought a copy of THE GOODALL MUTINY http://amzn.com/B01CIQD61S during the same time-span. (Or as Tober-Maurice would say, Love you, Love you, Love youuuu!). 

We gave away ninety-one copies. Some of you might think that’s pipsqueak numbers. It’s not. Eighty-one readers in the United States now have ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT https://amzn.com/B01N3YU7R5 available to read when they’re ready for it. Four readers in the United Kingdom, one in Germany, one in Japan, one in India, one in Canada, and two in Australia as well. Not pipsqueaky at all. Thank you each and every one.

For those of you who enjoyed ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT, my short story collection TWISTED RIXTER http://amzn.com/B00HQ0PH1O has similarly dark humored tales, though they’re not about the dangerous walking macadamia trees of Hawaii (except one that’s already in ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT.) 

And the more family-friendly tales in BABY SINGS THE BOOS http://amzn.com/B00SBJNRKC rounds out my short story offerings. It’s a tie in between the mystery novels and the light romantic comedy novels I’ve written. Very funny. Again, thank you. Hope you enjoy my stories. Really hope you come back for more.

Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. Drive safe.

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK: The Falls by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. 

The Kindle version of my comic horror stories ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT is free from 2 am Central Time Thursday December 15 until 2 am Sunday December 18, 2016. That’s this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Please take advantage.  https://amzn.com/B01N3YU7R5

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK:  Sob Sisters by Kris Nelscott. Star Rebels by Lindsay Buroker and others. The Mosque Hill Fortune by Vivienne Mathews.

ILLUSTRATIONS FOR ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT ARE BY STREETLIGHT GRAPHICS. YOU CAN FIND THIS BOOK AT AMAZON https://amzn.com/B01N3YU7R5, AND LOCALLY IN LOCKHART, TEXAS.  

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK:  Hill Country Siren by Patrick Kelly.  Ride of My Life: An Accidental Mystery by Jami Kay Owens. Then He Showed Up by Chris Campillo. The North Country Confessional by Craig C. Charles.

All covers are by Streetlight Graphics with guidance and suggestions by Gretchen Rix and Roxanne Rix. Link to my books https://amazon.com/author/gretchenrix

Here it is. Ill Met By Moonlight.   

Walking death, they’re called.

And those horrible macadamia trees.

But their real names are Whig, Mary Jane, and Quetzalcoatl, just to name three of them.

Trees don’t walk. But here they do. In ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT they walk, they kill, they eat people, and then they—

Nope.

Telling you more would spoil the fun.

Welcome to this horror collection about the walking macadamia nut trees of Hawaii.

Believe it or not, you’re going to laugh.

A new addition to the humorous horror genre.

Enjoy.

For a while it will be exclusive to Amazon. If you’re in the KU program, you can get it FREE. Otherwise it’s $3.99. https://amzn.com/B01N3YU7R5

Al my books are $3.99 right now except for THE COWBOY’S BABY which is $2.99.

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK:  The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins.  Inferno by Dan Brown. Perilous Hunt (Fallen Empire) by Lindsay Buroker.