It has been a while in the making, but the next Nancy Sharpe Mystery is now available! Currently you can get both paperback and ebook forms from Amazon. We hope to expand the available locations in the near future (after dealing with some technical issues).
[Update: you should now be able to access Pride and Murder at a range of ebook retailers! This includes, but is not limited to: Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, etc.]
Pride and Murder is the second book in the Nancy Sharpe Mysteries.
Pride is in full swing in the Royal City. Colour, visitors and music crowd the streets as people come to enjoy the festivities. Perhaps the only thing that could bring down the mood is a dead body.
When a member of the local LGBT community turns up dead in a downtown parking lot, Detective Beale calls in retired Nancy Sharpe to investigate. The only problem is that no one knows why the victim would be there given his disdain for the annual celebration. Michael Lafond may have been big, loud and proud but he always said he’d never be caught dead at Pride.
He was wrong.
Now Nancy’s investigation must peel back the covers on the Royal City’s marginalised people to find a killer. Could the culprit be hiding amongst the artistic competitors, bigoted protestors, professional rivals, conspiring roommates or faithless paramours which plagued the victim’s life? And can Nancy discover the true price of one man’s pride?
It is that time again – Publication Time! That is right, a new Red Sabre adventure releases today. Jader’s Fog is book three in the Red Sabre series.
Felicity and the crew are back, but what starts as simple job turns into a deadly adventure of deceit and betrayal. Explore a new part of Athemisia in the sequel to Cinderborn.
Jader’s Fog is the third book in the Red Sabre series.
In the west of Athemisia lies the imposing Spine of the World Mountains. These formidable peaks form a natural division between the eastern lands of the Thyrian crown and the western Jader colonies. But those who inhabit those lofty climes are a mysterious and complex people rarely seen by rail mercenary eyes. Seeking to settle an unlikely score, Captain Felicity Metticia ascends the mighty Petlushkwohap mountain in search of her stolen cargo and a dangerous foe.
She unwittingly leads her crew into a tangled web of culture, diplomacy and deceit where tensions strain the magnificent walls of Lalouzhi. Old grudges threaten war and the crew find themselves serving as unwitting pawns between the nations of the mountains and the tribes of the plains. Thrust into a wholly unfamiliar world, Felicity must follow in the footsteps of an unlikely guide as she seeks to save not just her reputation but her crews’ very lives.
It is launch day for Death of an Academic! This is the first book in a new murder mystery series following retired police detective Nancy Sharpe. You can find the ebook on your favourite ebook store site.
To celebrate the release, I interviewed Kevin about writing Death of an Academic. Here is what he said about the experience:
1 – What was the inspiration for this book?
I grew up in a household which loved murder mysteries. Not that I was the child of private detectives. Mostly my mother really enjoyed a good whodunit. I have fond memories of Murder, She Wrote, Midsommer Murders, Columbo, Clue and Death by Murder. I suppose I’ve always leaned a little closer to the humorous side of the genre rather than the deathly serious.
2 – What inspired the character of Nancy Sharpe?
Given my preference for a more lighthearted tone, I thought an older, wiser and retired detective would be entertaining to write. Having several figures in my own life to draw inspiration from, I chose to make Death of an Academic a love letter to my godmother who has been such a bright presence throughout my life.
3 – When in the writing process did you know who the murderer was?
As my first mystery novel, I wasn’t entirely certain how one goes about plotting actual murders. I’ve always been told to “write what you know” but I thought I’d keep from delving too deeply in the research on this subject. I had several possible culprits in mind as I began and sort of let Nancy Sharpe hone in on the most appropriate one for me. Then, of course, I went back and ran the story through several edits so it looked like I knew what I was doing the entire time.
3 – Who was your favourite character to write?
Honestly, I really enjoyed writing Scott Sharpe. I felt I got to bumble the most with him. Though there were some other standouts which I’m excited to see how readers receive them.
4 – What was the hardest part about writing a murder mystery?
Oh goodness, it might be simpler to ask what was the easiest. To which I’d answer: coming up with a multitude of reasons for wanting someone dead. I suppose, out of all my struggles, getting the tone of the police force itself was the trickiest. I didn’t want to fall too heavily into genre tropes so I tried to have a retired officer who was fondly remembered by her workplace. But I also wanted to be sensitive to the discussion of policing in the modern world as well. It was a delicate balance which I hope I got right.
5 – How long did it take to write this book?
I made an effort to finish this story in a more timely manner. I have a tendency for fiddling with things trying to get them just right. I really wanted a stress-free… well, less-stress novel. This project initially began as a National Novel Writing Month challenge and I liked it well enough, and it was received well enough, that I thought I could clean it up. In total, I think it took about four months though that was spread over a longer period of poking amongst many different projects.
6 – What characters in your book are most similar to you or the people you know?
I would say Professor Gingrich; I really identify with the dead.
7 – How did you come up with the title for your book?
Well it was a laborious process of brainstorming and workshopping. Really had to dig deep and sort through multiple options and variations before presenting a list to our focus group… ok, it’s literally just the premise of the book. I’m fairly certain it was just a quick reminder of what I was doing for my NaNo challenge.
8 – Do you have any other closing comments?
I had a blast working on this book and it turned out to be a lot of fun to write. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did.
Nancy Sharpe’s retirement is an unassuming affair. She has her son’s laundry to clean, knitting to learn and volunteering to attend. So her family is naturally concerned when they discover a letter from her old work. There’s been a murder at the university and the Royal City Police would like one of their best detectives to come out of retirement to help resolve the case.
Unfortunately, it seems, academics are not well loved on campus. The list of suspects grows ever longer as Nancy investigates a jealous wife, rebellious students, political extremists, violent gang members and even the highly competitive university staff themselves. Secrets abound within the ivy choked walls. The question quickly changes from who would kill the academic to who had killed him first.
With so much danger about, can the unassuming Nancy be able to wrestle the truth of Professor Gingrich’s murder from those involved? Or will the guilty grow more desperate as she narrows in on the culprit? Perhaps, in the end, it will be the police who are taught a lesson on committing the perfect crime.
Book cover for Death of an Academic.
Continue reading for an excerpt from Death of an Academic:
Scott poked his head into the entryway. He heard neither a kettle boiling nor a game show jingle. He closed the front door behind him, kicking his shoes onto the empty plastic mat. He hung his jacket on the naked coat rack.
“Mom? Are you home?”
He shouldered the laundry bag with a grunt. He could still smell his rugby uniform inside. The powder room was dark as he tossed the bag on the tidy laundry room floor. The machines were quiet and the shelves empty of detergent bottles. Scott frowned when he saw the bright plastics in the garbage.
Hopefully there were more in the supply closet.
“Hey, Mom! Just thought I would stop by and say hi!”
Scott made his way to the kitchen. He filled the kettle. “I’ll boil you a cup of tea!”
He immediately fixed an instant coffee. He poked amongst the small collection of glass containers in the fridge. None of the leftover meals enticed him. An open package of hotdog weiners lay in one of the crispers but there were no signs of buns anywhere.
Scott thrummed his fingers against the open door while he considered his prospects.
“I’ve got a break from work. Things are going pretty well. I was speaking with Karen from finance! You remember? I told you about her! She said she noted some changes in projected spending. She thinks they may be freeing more funds for full-time hires. So that could come about in the next quarter!”
He settled for the meatloaf. He popped the lid and gave it a quick whiff. Frowning, he tossed it back and grabbed the stir fry. He took it to the microwave and gave it a good zap.
“Oh, hey! How is that new Knitting and Novels Club going? You were supposed to start that last week, weren’t you?” Scott looked at the small pile of envelopes on the counter. There were several bills, a letter from his cousin Katie, and an unmarked envelope. It was open and bore only his mother’s name.
“Kim said Aunt Laurie was starting spin class. That’s something, right? It’s important to keep moving at your age. And it’s not too hard on the joints. I’m sure you’d do just fine.”
While the microwave counted down, Scott picked up the envelope. Turning it over, he saw a sticker for the Police Associations Christmas Gala of 2018 on the back. A german shepherd in the middle bore a striking Santa hat while a bright green bauble hung from the O in police.
The microwave beeped. Scott retrieved his meal.
“It would probably be an excellent way for you to meet people! It’s early in the mornings. Ten o’clock, I think! So it shouldn’t interfere with your volunteering. Once or twice a week would be enough.”
He grabbed a fork, took a mouthful of old stir fry and pulled out the letter. As he read, his chewing slowed. Once he got to the end, he spat out his rubbery chicken.
“Well, shit.”
He took another bite of the stir-fry before he pulled out his phone. He hit the first number on his speed dial. While it rang, he read the letter again to make sure he hadn’t misunderstood.
“Kimberly Sharpe, Indigenous Affairs and Housing. How may I help you?”
“Kim, it’s Scott. I’m at mom’s. She’s at it again.”
There was silence on the other end. He heard his sister clear her throat. “How do you know?”
“Well, she doesn’t seem to be here and I’m talking to myself like a madman.” Scott looked about the dark kitchen. “I also have a letter from local PD in my hand and…”
“Shit!” He heard her tapping on her keyboard. There was a long sigh. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Alright.”
“Oh and Scott?”
“Yes?”
“Stop going to mom’s for a free lunch.”
The call died. Scott looked down at the unsatisfying meal in his hands. He took another bite and scoffed. “What does she know anyway?”
He tossed the letter back on the pile as he shuffled off to the laundry room and set the machine. It was clear his mom wasn’t going to be coming back soon enough to do it herself.
Nancy Sharpe sat on the bus, crochet hook and single knitting needle in hand, and peered over the edge of her spectacles balanced on the tip of her nose. Her legs dangled from the end of the blue reserved seating and she kicked her worn shoes idly in the gap between sole and floor. Her tongue screwed out the corner of her mouth as she tried to loop the yarn over the hooked end. She pulled the needle, wrapping the thread about the other and through the weave. She held her work up.
It looked like she had fashioned a lovely mess. She sighed, checking the reference card next to her.
The line read: Ch 2. Dcfp around first st. Dcbp around next st. *Dcfp around next st. Dcbp around next st. Rep from * around. Join.
“Who knows what the devil that means,” she muttered as she pulled the yarn free.
She started hooping it haphazardly around the needles again. It was ineffective. But it looked like she knew what she was doing.
She didn’t but, at this point, looks were good enough.
The bus jumped as it hit the speed bump and rounded the corner into the university bus loop. Several students gathered up their bags and queued before the doors. Looking out the window, Nancy saw more youths as they chatted amongst themselves on their way to and from class. The autumn wind swayed the colourful maple trees as their leaves tumbled above the students’ heads.
Worn paths in the cobble between the limestone buildings were filled with excited first years. Campus maps were clutched in rosy fingers as the lost meandered amongst the ivy-draped institution. Meanwhile, experienced students chatted on their phones and cut through side doors into the numerous buildings wreathed with welcome banners.
The bus lurched to a halt beside a row of stops. The speakers crackled what, with some liberal interpretation, was the university loop.
The students stumbled from their seats and filed out the doors in a heaving mass.
“This is it, lady!” the driver called, holding a hand to keep the new load from flooding the vehicle.
“Thank you,” Nancy said, gathering her supplies into her little handbag.
“University Road.” The driver snorted back some phlegm.
“You wouldn’t happen to have seen any police cruisers around, have you?” As the driver blinked emptily back, she smiled. “Well, thank you kindly for your assistance.”
She reached into her purse and held out a small, wrapped strawberry candy. The driver looked at it.
“Oh, thank you. Uh. Have a nice day, miss.”
The bus beeped as it lowered and Nancy Sharpe hopped off. She looked around the University of Galt’s quad. The grey stone of the University Centre loomed over the bus loop. A wide banner snapped in the wind above the quadruple set of black bordered doors.
“Conference for Psychographic Analytics and Data Processing. All Welcomed!”
An image of two young individuals crowded a computer monitor. A black boy pointed over the shoulder of the white girl as they both grinned triumphantly at what was, no doubt, a blank screen.
Several papers on the walls bore thick arrows indicating the direction to the conference rooms. More advertisements plastered lamp posts or electrical boxes calling for tutors, offering tutoring, rooms looking for roommates, roommates looking for rooms, desperate needs for textbooks and those desperate to offload their old editions, along with a solitary call for a missing cat.
“Like its own little bubble,” Nancy nodded. The smells of autumn swirled through the air.
It was largely the scent of pumpkin spice and anxiety.
While the next tide of students surged upon the bus, eyes glued to their phones and iPads, Nancy mused at how things had both changed yet stayed the same. Then, she felt her bag vibrate.
“Oh dear!” She reached inside, rifling past the mangled yarn and useless needles until she felt the disgruntled phone. She checked the number, then held it close to her nose. She pressed several of the flashing buttons until a timer appeared and the screen changed from a pleasant daffodil to existentially challenging blackness.
“Hello!” she shouted at the thing. A number flashed in bright print. “Hello?” She waited. Then, she raised it to her ear.
“—and Scott was just by and you weren’t home and if I’ve told you once then I’ve told you a thousand times—!”
“Oh, Kim, dear! What a pleasant surprise!” Nancy turned around on the pavement looking for a sheltered nook from the wind. “How nice it is to hear from you. Things are going well?”
“Mother! Are you there?!”
“Yes, I am here.”
“Where? Exactly?”
“Ah,” Nancy paused for a moment. She adjusted her glasses and looked up at the pole. “University Centre North Loop Platform Eleven.”
“And what are you doing there!” Sanctimony dripped from each syllable.
“Why, talking with you, my dear.”
“Are you working a case!”
“Oh, heavens no. I’m retired, Kim.” Nancy smiled as students brushed past her to form another socialless queue beneath the shelter.
“Scott is at your place.”
“Oh, he probably has dirty laundry.”
“Mother! You aren’t!”
“Aren’t what?”
“You spoil him! That’s why he hasn’t developed into a proper adult!”
“He’s just busy,” Nancy said. “And it’s nice to see him again. You know, he has been up north for so long. And he’s still got to finish his moving and—”
“He’s been there for four months!”
“Well, these things take time.” Nancy adjusted her glasses. She spied a young man in a crisp police uniform walking down the sidewalk. She stepped from her post and waved. The officer took a moment to scout the tall students until he alighted on the diminutive Nancy. He smiled, waved back and quickened his step.
“Look, mom. You are retired, as you just said. You are supposed to stay home, with your feet up and relax. Like a normal retiree. Don’t get involved in anything. Don’t go tracking down anybody. Just stick to watching reruns of the Wheel of Fortune and clipping coupons from old flyers. Also, aren’t you doing some volunteering at the school today?”
“Oh, no. They… told me it was unnecessary to come back.”
“What did you do?!”
“Nothing!” Nancy insisted. The pregnant pause on the other end assured her that wasn’t enough explanation. “Well, a few of the children asked me what I did. And you know, it’s not proper to deny young minds their curiosity. And some were eager to know what handcuffs were like. And it was all perfectly safe, you see, as I certainly had my spare keys and—”
“You didn’t!”
“I’ve got to go,” Nancy said as the policeman drew near. “It was so nice talking to you, Kim. We should call each other more often.”
“No! Don’t you dare hang up on—”
Nancy smiled as she hung up on her. She made sure to bury the phone deep in her purse, well insulated amongst her yarn, so it was much easier to ignore the muted shaking from the insistent redial.
Nancy briefly wondered if there was a way to turn it off that didn’t involve completely draining the battery. “Officer Pitman, what a pleasure it is to see you!”
We at Between the Covers are proud to announce the second story in the Red Sabre series: Cinderborn! It is set to release on April 2nd on a digital platform of your choice. This story has been a labour of love for the last two years. Kait and I are excited to continue the adventures of Captain Felicity Metticia and her ragtag band of mercenaries as they seek out fame and fortune on the wild frontier of Athemisia.
In Cinderborn, the action comes to the Thyrian controlled western coast of Albionoria. This recently annexed province bears heavy wounds. The Prisian citizens have little faith for their age-old rivals. The Thyrian conquerors likewise focus their attention on profit and plunder in the old bastion of Mount Royal. Thrust into this boiling pot, Captain Felicity must chart her own path through hostile forces and reluctant allies.
But a greater danger lurks in the darkness. And not all those that carry a light have noble intentions. Something more primal grows beneath the cold stone of the fortified port city. And as weak hearts give over to temptation, a city and its people will be shaken to their very foundation.
Digital copies should be compatible with Kindles, Kobos or just about anything that can read epud format. You can always order a hard copy from Amazon as well, though given the spread of Covid-19 there’s no way to estimate how long shipping will take.
You can order Cinderborn digital or hard copy from Amazon here.
Furthermore you can obtain Cinderborn early if you order from Smashwords here.
So tell your friends. Tell your loved ones. Grab a copy and enjoy the explosive sequel to The Clockwork Caterpillar.
We have exciting news to share. Between the Covers has published its third book! It’s a bit different than the others. Wherein Thyre and Clockwork Caterpillar were steampunk fantasies occupying a shared world with marginal crossover, this next book is instead a speculative fiction/science fiction anthology!
Called Synthetic Landscapes: Science Fiction Anthology Volume 1 this collection of short stories explores the effects of near future technology on societal order and personal development. It represents a body of work done in recent years which I’m hoping will be the shape of releases to come. While I enjoy fantasy and have no intentions of leaving Felicity and her crew behind, I’ve been fascinated with the potentials that face us as we march forward into the great unknowns. I suppose there’s some overlap between The Red Sabre and these futuristic shorts in that regard.
But more than just a change in subject matter, there’s another reason to be excited for Synthetic Landscapes. This is the first publication of Kait’s work and she is the featured guest author! So if you’re wondering what her stuff looks like, be sure to pick up a copy!
This incredible art has been made by Kait McFadyen! All rights reserved to us (which is so nice to say) and Between the Covers.
Course, it would be remiss of me to not give some idea of what lies within Synthetic Landscapes. There’s The Thousand Faces of Buddha which follows a liberated clone in a futuristic Seattle mega-city as he investigates a peculiar murder. This story was inspired by the peculiar will of PETA’s president and looks at the idea of people being seen as little more than a commodity.
The Affairs of Catherine Hill is a little piece of spy fiction wherein the titular character Catherine Hill is charged with corporate espionage. Unfortunately for Catherine, corporations have replaced nations and employees are the new citizens. Catherine herself is unincorporated and so is left to the mercy of currying favours from the monolithic corporations that determine the policy of a central bank.
Then there’s Awaken, Hatshepsut! This is a story that revolves around the curious industry of cryogenics and the desire for some people to freeze themselves with the hopes of being resuscitated in a future where they can be cured of terminal illnesses or live forever. Unfortunately for these hopeful souls, Kian Pious has made a living breaking into their storage facilities and stealing their heads. Why? He hopes to utilize a one-of-a-kind device that will allow him to read their memories and access the funds these members have to live comfortably once their preferred future arrives.
These are just three of the stories that away in the anthology. Synthetic Landscapes can be found here on Amazon. It is available in digital and hard copy from all the usual printing options. If you pick up a copy, I would really appreciate – and it would go a very long way – if you could write a quick review and leave your thoughts!
Thank you so much for your love and support! I’ll see you lovely folks next time!
The Clockwork Caterpillar officially releases Thursday April 5, 2018. That is only two weeks away!
However, you don’t have to wait. The eBook is now available for pre-order at Amazon and Kobo. It should be up on Apple iBooks and Barnes & Nobel shortly. You can also purchase it direction from Smashwords, our new electronic distributor.
Don’t have an eReader or prefer the comfort of something solid in your hands? Don’t worry, a print version will also be available from Amazon starting April 5, 2018.
From the back cover:
Athemisa is a continent divided. To the east lies the industrialists of the Thyrian Empire. To the west lies the Jader colonists of the Celestial Throne. Scarred wilderness separates them with a slew of railways vying for the services of the new world’s inhabitants. In Athemisa, the rails mean everything. They are the lifeblood of the remote settlements reliant on shipments of food and supplies. They are the land claims staked by foreign thrones measured by troop movements and weapon deliveries. For Felicity Metticia, they are a way of life.
Here’s the lovely cover for The Clockwork Caterpillar. So cool!
Felicity is a rail mercenary, making a living on the wild frontiers by running contracts between the two empires. Life is difficult but she has a crew of her own as capable as it is diverse. Schroeder, her right hand, is a wealthy rail magnate’s son disowned for his unprincipled lifestyle. Pacal is her fearsome crackshot, hailing from the recently unshackled south. A haunted war surgeon, rescued Jader girl, righteous navigator and reclusive engineer keep her train on the rails. They have managed many difficult jobs. But when the bounty posted by the magnate Bernhard Nikolai becomes more trouble than it’s worth, Felicity must follow-up a dangerous proposition from old connections in order to keep her crew paid and her engine running.
Unfortunately, many dangers await her on the tracks. Pirates strike from armoured engines. Revolutionaries wield their idealism like a weapon without concern for friend or foe. And always the Thyrian magnates seek to control who can and cannot ride their rails. Torn between a big pay-off, past obligations and her principles, Felicity must navigate the troubles to find a mechanical wonder whose humble exterior belies its ability to reshape the face of the world.
Wounded and haunted by the Queen’s Campaign, Lieutenant Jarret Renette returns from the colonies to discover Thyre has become an unfamiliar city smothered in smoke and secrets. Struggling to reintegrate into a life of frivolous salons and visitations, Jarret’s disappointments mount as he bears witness to the relationship changes between his friends. A rash of curious silver thefts has grappled the fickle attention of the Thyrian elite and whoever can unmask the identity of the bold thief will receive a pair of pistols, opera tickets, the services of a sorcerer and, most importantly, a date with Lady Isabella. Needing distraction, Jarret is more than happy to accept a friendly wager amongst his colleagues. Unfortunately, what begins as a friendly bet becomes a sinister game when the group of unlikely companions discover the thief brutally murdered in his own manse. Suddenly, the sporting chase for a rascally thief has twisted into a dangerous hunt for a vicious serial murderer. As the investigators close in on their enemy, Jarret and his friends start to attract the unwanted attentions of deadly sorcerers, paranoid nobles, reclusive mechanists and an unforgiving constabulary. Prestige and noble ancestry won’t buy them any favours on the gas-lit streets of the Empire’s capital. And once Jarret learns that Isabella’s life is at risk, he must find a way to overcome both his physical and mental deficiencies if he hopes to spare his beloved from the killer’s knife.
The Clockwork Caterpillar officially releases Thursday April 5, 2018. That is only two weeks away!
