The Paranormal Investigator

Last week we took a look at the paranormal phenomenon in literature. The week I want to focus on the occult detective. Or in today’s parlance, the Paranormal Detective.

Edgar Allan Poe created the detective genre with his amateur sleuth, C. Auguste Dupin. It can easily be said that mother and son writing team, E. and H. Heron created the occult detective sub-genre with their Flaxman Low stories.

After Low’s introduction, a steady steam of occult detectives appeared on the literary scene. Some of them are:

Dr John Silence, created by Algernon Blackwood

Thomas Carnacki, created by William Hope Hodgson

Aylmer Vance, created by Alice and Claude Askew

Moris Klaw, created by Sax Rohmer

Jules de Grandin, created by Seabury Quinn

Steve Harrison, created by Robert E Howard

John Thunstone, created by Manly Wade Wellman

Dr Alex Caspian, created by Joseph Payne Brennan

Dirk Gently, created by Douglas Adams

Repairman Jack, created by F. Paul Wilson

The occult detective has also appeared on TV in shows such as Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Penny Dreadful, Twin Peaks, Angel, and, of course, The X-Files.

Twin Peaks and The X-Files gave a little twist to the occult detective genre by having the investigators FBI agents. The government was now involved, one way or the other, in the investigation of supernatural occurrences.

I grew up in the 50s and 60s. The UFO scare and the talk of government cover-ups was news. I remember reading of sightings, or watching reports on TV, along with the usual government “explanation”. I read books on UFOs “proving” their existence. Circumstantial evidence to be sure. But if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck…

Consequently, since writers write mostly about what they know, it was only a matter of time before my Muse gave me Pierce Mostyn and the Federal Office of Unidentified Phenomena. A Federal uber-secret agency whose purpose is to investigate and determine the threat level of those things that go bump in the night, and eliminate them if need be.

And what greater terror can there be, the greatest of those things that go bump in the night, then the Great Cthulhu and his ilk?

Lovecraft, in The Shadow Over Innsmouth, intimated that the Federal government was indeed interested in and sought to cover-up the existence of The Great Old Ones.

Pierce Mostyn and the Office of Unidentified Phenomena are a natural riff on Lovecraft and the government investigations and cover-ups alluded to in Lovecraft’s stories, Twin Peaks, and The X-Files. Along with being more action-oriented than those three predecessors.

Today, if you search Amazon, you’ll quickly see that the current crop of writers use the terms paranormal detective, or paranormal investigator.

The occult and supernatural are out, and the paranormal is in — at least as far as being a category identifier is concerned. So if you’re a writer writing about the occult and supernatural, just call it the paranormal and you should be alright.

Before I go, I do want to shine a spotlight on two excellent paranormal investigator reads. They are Herkimer’s Nose and Tony Price: Confidential (which is all three Tony Price volumes in one book). Richard Schwindt is an amazing storyteller. You won’t regret spending the 3 bucks to get these books.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

The Paranormal

Emblem of the Office of Unidentified Phenomena

I’m taking a bit of a break in our series Good Books You Probably Never Heard Of to talk about the Paranormal. Mostly because later this month I’ll be publishing the fourth Pierce Mostyn Paranormal Investigation. And I want to share with you some thoughts regarding this category.

Back in the dark ages when I was growing up, we didn’t use the word “paranormal” all that often. We used “supernatural” and “occult”. I’m still inclined to use those words rather than “paranormal”. But I also want to sell books. And if the “in” word is paranormal - then, so be it.

Hence the series is about Pierce Mostyn’s Paranormal Investigations and not his Occult or Supernatural Investigations.

The times move on and language with them.

Today, we have paranormal everything. Just key the word paranormal into the Amazon search box. You’ll get paranormal romance, paranormal mystery, paranormal dating agency, paranormal cozy mystery, paranormal police department, paranormal PIs, paranormal reverse harem (what????), and all those shifter romances.

The paranormal, with or without magic, is hot. One of the reasons I started thinking about writing my own paranormal series last year.

A writer basically has two options when it comes to deciding what to write. Either write about what you love. Or learn to love what you write about.

I tried the latter approach a few decades ago with romance novels. What I learned was I was not going to learn to love writing about love. In fact, I hated it! And subsequently gave up on the idea.

Today, I write what I like or love to read. And that works for me. 

I enjoy writing. And I make some sales and get some KU page reads along the way. Which is also nice.

I probably won’t get rich from writing because what I like to read isn’t what is hot. I’ve accepted that. But I haven’t yet thrown in the towel on the idea that I can make some kind of livable income from writing. Which for me is basically a nice supplement to my retirement income. After all there are lots of writers who aren’t on the bestseller lists who make some decent money from their pens.

The idea for Pierce Mostyn came about while I was watching the first season of The X-Files on Netflix. The thought came to me what if there was an uber-secret government agency whose mission was to save us from… From what? I like the Cthulhu Mythos, so why not those bad guys?

The more I thought about it, the more I decided the concept worked for me. And thus Pierce Mostyn and the Office of Unidentified Phenomena was born.

My first inclination was to call the investigations “occult”. Then I told myself, No, they have to be “Paranormal” if you want a chance to make some coin. And so the series became the Pierce Mostyn Paranormal Investigations.

Occult and supernatural literature - or paranormal in today’s parlance - has been popular from the beginning. Stories of monsters, demons, and ghosts. And we are still telling these stories today.

It’s great fun working in an ancient storytelling tradition with a modern twist.

If you haven’t read the Pierce Mostyn series, I urge you to give them a try. I’m quite proud of the books. As one reviewer noted, they’re, “…entertaining and action packed.” And if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you don’t have to pay a cent. Such a deal!

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

Steve Bargdill

Good Books You Probably Never Heard Of - Part 6

Okay, Steve Bargdill is not a book. He’s a writer. A doggone good one, too. To date, he’s self-published four books and they are all winners. He’s also shopping a novel around to agents. I read a draft and it’s dynamite. I wish him much success.

I’ve read all of his books and I’m waiting for more. His only fault, as far as I’m concerned, is that he doesn’t write fast enough.

Banana Sandwich

Banana Sandwich was my first foray into the fictional world of Steve Bargdill. I noticed his tweet that his book was more popular than Moon Pies. And that got us talking and got me reading his book. I’m glad I saw that tweet.

The book is a dark and gritty rollercoaster ride of mental illness and emotions. There is enough comic relief so that the book isn’t oppressively dark. Bargdill knows pacing. And the ending… Well, it will blow you away.

As an aside, I’ve seen people rip the cover. Personally, I love the cover. It says everything about the story. And being lit fic, what else can the cover say? It’s perfect. 

Banana Sandwich is a fabulous book. Don’t pass it by. You’ll regret it. Truly, you will.

Wasteland: The Complete Series

Wasteland is a compilation of 6 separately published novellas. Here’s the review I posted on Amazon:

Six novellas. One novel. People bound, chained, imprisoned by the warden of their minds to views of what is and isn’t possible.

Steve Bargdill takes us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, delirium, sanity, and insanity. People who are trapped and feel they have no other choice but to do what they are doing. People who feel hopeless and helpless. Crushed by life.

And yet because the only constant is change, new people and new dynamics intersect with the lives of the main characters. What seems to be a life without purpose and without hope, very often isn’t. It all depends on what we think is possible.

Dark. Gritty. Surreal. Absurd. Wasteland by Steve Bargdill is the 21st century Our Town and Winesburg, Ohio. This book is a must read.

I can’t add anything more. Get Wasteland. It could be life changing.

Color of Hope

Color of Hope is a very short collection of poetry and flash fiction. Every single poem and story is good, with some being truly superb. Definitely the kind of collection to keep handy for when you have five minutes to spare and want something far more enjoyable then that old magazine in the mechanic’s waiting room, or the dentist’s office. Or while you’re waiting for the rain to pass.

It’s a wonderful little book and it’s only a buck. You can’t go wrong.

Neighborhood Mums

Neighborhood Mums is a short story — and an excellent one. Because it stays with you long after you’ve finished the story — and that’s the mark of an excellent writer.

The narrator and his dog, Sebastian, are on a neighborhood search for a couple of mum plants that were stolen from his yard.

What we are treated to in this simple story, is picture after picture of people. People going about their business. It’s a look into ourselves, and those around us.

Neighborhood Mums is a short story you will definitely remember.

Please do yourself a favor and read Steve Bargdill. His work is entertaining and thought provoking. He’ll make you cry and laugh. And you’ll remember his books long after you’ve read the last word.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!

Agonising

Good Books You Probably Never Heard Of - Part 5

A year or two ago, I never thought of social media as the place where I’d find my next book to read. And I’m not talking Goodreads here.

I don’t particularly like Goodreads. The site is clumsy to use. The reviewers are often unnecessarily vitriolic. And there is a decided bias in favor of corporate publishers and their books.

No, I’m talking about Twitter primarily, although I’ve found some very good reads on some of the closed Facebook groups.

Three of the recent authors I’ve run across who write very enjoyable books are RH Hale, Joe Congel, and Richard Schwindt. In the past, I discovered Crispian Thurlborn, Ben Willoughby, and Steve Bargdill.

One of my recent discoveries was Agonising by Ernestine Marsh, who describes herself as “a woman who has written a book”. And what a book it is!

Agonising is written as a series of alternating advice columns between two rival agony aunts, Jean Price and Raine Vincent. Both of whom are characters in every sense of the word. We are treated to delicious humor, biting satire, and an insightful look at human nature. The advice they give to the answer seekers is usually ridiculous and frequently irreverent. And their acerbic comments about each other will have you falling out of your chair from laughter.

With a deft hand, Ms Marsh has pulled back the curtain on the façade that hides the reality of our times and who we are.

Not to overplay my own hand, but if Voltaire were alive today I think he’d be looking over his shoulder at this very worthy competitor.

There’s not much of a plot, but I don’t think you’ll miss it. You’ll be too busy laughing. And what plot there is, Ms Marsh brings to a very satisfying and hilarious conclusion.

Agonising is very highly recommended! And, as of this writing, a mere 99¢.

Comments are always welcome, and, until next time, happy reading!

The Stone Seekers

Good Books You Probably Never Heard Of - Part 4

A couple, three years ago I ran into Jack Tyler on a now defunct steampunk forum. We’ve kept in touch over the years. He’s a very interesting fellow and you can read his thoughts about books and life on his blog.

I read and reviewed Beyond the Rails a couple years ago. It’s a good book. I have the other two in the series and look forward to reading them.

However, I think the book that is truly the winner in Jack’s oeuvre is The Stone Seekers.

Over the years, I’ve drifted away from fantasy because, for the most part, the corporate publishers gave us nothing but Tolkien pastiches that weren’t anywhere near as good as the original. Or magic that just didn’t make sense because it was inconsistent.

If I see the words elf, or dwarf, that’s it. The book goes back on the virtual shelf. Or if I see pointy ears, the same — back on the shelf it goes. With very rare exception. The same goes for magic.

As a result, I was very surprised — pleasantly surprised — not to find even a smidgen of Tolkien in The Stone Seekers. There is magic, but it is well done.

Tyler has given us a new world of quests and high adventure. He’s given us new beings that are unique and mythic. Along with his straightforward and good storytelling.

In fact, I think The Stone Seekers could be turned into at least a trilogy, if not a series. And I think we readers would like that. But first, we need to get Mr Tyler some sales and reviews. The book is currently only 99¢. You can spend a buck on far worse than Jack Tyler’s book and not get the lasting satisfaction and enjoyment provided by The Stone Seekers. The book would also make for a fabulous movie.

The story line is a standard quest plot. Nothing new there. Where The Stone Seekers shines is in the well-drawn characters and the world that Tyler has created. The characters are complex, but not overly so. The world is richly drawn, but description doesn’t bog down the story.

As I stated above, Tyler is a good storyteller. He gives us enough so we keep on reading, right to the end. Where I, at least, was filled with sadness that there was no more.

The Stone Seekers is very much worth your time and money. The book is good old-fashioned fun and very satisfying entertainment.

Comments are always welcome, and, until next time — happy reading!

An Angel Fallen

Good Books You Probably Never Heard Of - Part 3

Somewhere in the social media world I ran into Andy Graham. From that encounter, I went on to read his novella An Angel Fallen. And I’m glad I did.

Graham is a superb writer. His command of the language, as well as his knowledge of literature, and his skill at telling a story — all add up to one fabulous read.

An Angel Fallen must be experienced. To try and tell the story in brief would do it an injustice. And the story is about justice. And retribution. And sacrifice.

An Angel Fallen could very well be the ultimate coming of age story. Even though it’s much more than that. It is a philosophy of life masquerading as a story — one that is haunting and stays with you long after you’ve read it.

I do not understand why this gem is not selling like the proverbial hot cakes. Because it needs to be. It’s that good.

What I didn’t realize is that An Angel Fallen is Book 2 of the Dark Fiction Tales series. So I went ahead and bought the first book and am looking forward to reading it.

Don’t miss this superb writer. His star, and ours, is rising.

Comments are always welcome, and, until next time, happy reading!

Entangled

Good Books You Probably Never Heard Of - Part 2

My purpose in writing this new blog series is to 

1. Share books I’ve read and liked, and
2. Promote those books to a wider audience

I’m not a “professional” reviewer. I’m simply a reader who appreciates good books. Reviewing isn’t my job. Writing is. However, when I come across well-written and entertaining books I will share them with you. Mostly, if not exclusively, these will be books that aren’t selling, or aren’t selling well. Books that, in my opinion, deserve a much wider audience. Books that truly should be bestsellers.

And, now, on with the show!

Entangled

The novel Entangled by J. Evan Stuart, as of this writing, sits at number 2,420,293 in the paid Kindle store. That essentially means no one is buying or reading this book. And that is too bad, because the novel is very well written and the story is one that you don’t want to end.

Supposedly, Entangled is the first in the Sonya Reisler series. However, the author has apparently disappeared. His blog hasn’t been updated since 2016, and his Twitter account hasn’t seen any activity since May 2017.

A very good writer, now apparently lost to the reading community. Just this one gem left behind. A shame. A very sad shame.

Entangled is, loosely, a police procedural mystery. I use the term “loosely” because the story does not focus on the procedure, but on the characters.

Connor is being framed for killing his parents and almost killing his sister, who he adores. Detective Sonya Reisler, a newbie on the detective squad, is supposed to look over the evidence and rubber-stamp the local sheriff’s decision. When she does, however, something doesn’t sit right with her and the more she digs, the more things don’t look right. Is Connor being framed? Is he the easy out?

Then to complicate things even more, Connor meets Sonya to tell her his side of the story. And as fate would have it, they like each other and Sonya finds herself protecting the fugitive.

Stuart brings the book to a very exciting and satisfying conclusion that easily leaves the door open for a sequel, or several sequels.

Let’s get this author some buys, KU reads, and reviews. Maybe, just maybe we will find out what happens in the rest of the series.

Comments are always welcome, and, until next time, happy reading!