A Sharp Medicine is now out on Kindle- and I'm on a Bouchercon Panel

Great news!

Last night brought awesome news- I've been selected for a panel at Bouchercon, the world mystery conference, this year being held in Toronto, Canada.

I'll be speaking on "A Dark Attraction,"  described as: “Why are we fascinated by the dark side of mysteries?”

So yeah, there's that level of wow.

And then I've been working away to get all the versions up of my latest Zack Taylor mystery, A Sharp Medicine.

So far is Kindle and Smashwords. Print soon.

Here are the blurbs from a couple of pro writers:

"I'll bet a sawbuck Dale Phillip's PI Zack Taylor is related to Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder. It wouldn't surprise me either if he were also a distant cousin of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer on one side and Robert Parker's Spenser on the other. Except instead of Boston or New York, Taylor works the hardscrabble streets of Maine. Phillip's style goes down as smoothly as a fine bourbon and his writing is as mean as any junkyard dog."

--Dave Zeltserman, author of Small Crimes


"A Sharp Medicine, the fifth Taylor outing, churns forward with the dark inevitability of Classical Greek drama, revealing as it goes a penetrating awareness of the violent dimensions of present day America. Dale Phillips is hitting bull’s eyes with this one." 
           
--David Daniel, author of the award-winning Alex Rasmussen mystery series and Inflections & Innuendos

So get your copy now!

3 New Book Releases!

Yup, it's been a busy time. Now you can see what I've been up to. We can now celebrate the long-awaited release of A Certain Slant of Light, the fourth Zack Taylor mystery. Woo-hoo!

The print will be out soon, listed on Amazon.
For ebooks, go for Kindle here, and all other formats here.
Here's the teaser:
Trapped by a final promise to a dying woman, a reluctant Zack Taylor seeks her missing grandson, a slippery con man of the art world. Zack discovers the corruption beneath the glossy exteriors, confronting murder, greed, fraud, and a host of crimes that belie the beauty of the art in which the people deal.

And just in time for Halloween, some scary tales in a collection with 5 other writers.
Print here, Kindle here, all other ebook formats here.
Teaser:
Reality slides into madness again in these eleven tales from some of New England’s finest storytellers. Feel your heartbeat quicken as your senses drift to dark places: the howls of horror, terrifying visions, a hint of mystery in the air, and the bitter taste of death. You may never sleep with the lights off again.

And from Level Best Books, the latest collection of Best New England Crime Stories 2016: Red Dawn.
The title says it all. Last year's collection, Rogue Wave, (which I had another story in) was a finalist for a Silver Falchion Book Award.  
Print here, Kindle here

Remember, books make great gifts. Just in case you want to get a jump on the holidays...

Celebration!

Well, yes, it's St. Patrick's Day, and that's cause enough to celebrate, but there's more.

I've finished the edits on A Shadow on the Wall, the third Zack Taylor novel.

I've been working on the edits to this since November, trying to make it absolutely spectacular. Thanks be to my editors, who labored to call me on every bit of writing that wouldn't work as top-notch.

I told my daughter it was like writing a 300-page term paper, which could be graded by every English professor on the planet.

So- on to celebration, and then other projects!

Like getting Halls of Horror into the Kindle Daily Select program. My first time with them- let's see how it goes.

It's like being a superhero-- the fight never ends. But you cherish the victories, and keep going.

Erin go bragh!

A Shadow on the Wall Coming Soon- and Big Holiday Giveaway

This is the 400th posting on this blog-- and to celebrate, we've got some
great news for you!

First- we're in the editing stages of A Shadow on the Wall, the third Zack
Taylor mystery, out soon from Rosstrum Publishing.

This is the long-awaited followup to A Fall From Grace, and Zack gets into even deeper trouble.

If that's not enough of a Christmastime gift for you, how's this?
To celebrate the holiday season, a bunch of authors and publishers decided to get in the spirit of things-- and we're all giving away free ebooks and stories!

Wow, you say-- how do I get some of that? Look below for authors and links.
Follow directions to email them, or leave a comment on their blog (with your email) and tell them which book of theirs you'd like to win!

Around Christmas, each author will select a lucky winner for each book, and notify each person on how to collect.

Feel free to enter on all author sites-- giving you mutiple chances to win!

Here's the current list, but check back on this page-- we'll add more books as other authors get in the giving mood! Most books are available in multiple ebook formats.

Debbi Mack, NY Times Best-Selling author, is offering her Sam McRae mystery, Riptide:
To enter to win, go to her blog My Life on the Mid-List and leave a comment saying, "I'd like to win Riptide."

Vlad Vaslyn is offering Brachman's Underworld, novel of Stephen King-like horror.
And a copy of Yorick, a creepy novella.
To enter to win, go to his site and give him your info.

Cathy Dougherty is offering In Polyester Pajamas, a fun read of women's fiction:
To enter to win, go to her site and give her your info.

Rich Feitelberg, fantasy author, is offering two stories:
Sans Boat
The Last of Her Kind
Go to his blog and enter a comment stating which item you want, and in what format (PDF, Kindle, ePub). Be sure to include a valid email address.

Katherine Tomlinson has three to give:
Toxic Reality
Poisoned Teat
12 Nights of Christmas
Go to her blog and comment, telling her which book you want (leave your email). She'll pick winners on December 20.

Pete Morin is donating a book and a story:
Diary of a Small Fish
Club Dues
Drop him an email and let him know what you'd like.

Brian Hammar has got a pair of books and a pair of stories for you as well:
Wind Castle
Anastasia's Quest for Wind Castle
Fisherman's Justice
Shoes
Drop him an email and let him know what you'd like: jenchrisonlineventures@gmail.com

Ann Everett is offering her books:
Laid Out and Candle Lit
You're Busting My Nuptuals
Check her website and send her a message via any of her contact points, and say "Ann, I'd like to win... (your choice)"

Rosstrum Publishing is offering a slew of books, both fiction and non-fiction!
Go to the website to check out the books, select Contact Us, and leave them an email with your book desire.

How to Improve Your Interviewing Skills

366 Tips for a Successful Job Search

Lawless in Brazil

Timberline

Pursuit

The Dave Maynard Spin (Coming soon- check the website)

And of course, there's my offerings-- I'm giving you a shot at all of them!
Leave a comment on this blog (with an email), or email me, and tell me what you'd like to win!
You can enter for multiple books, but you can only win one.

A Memory of Grief

A Fall From Grace

A Shadow on the Wall (Coming soon- check the website)

Crooked Paths

Fables and Fantasies

Apocalypse Tango

Strange Tales

Halls of Horror #1

Halls of Horror #2

Jumble Sale

Any of the stories, too:

Froggy Went A Courting

Our New Queen

The Little Guy

Blades and Butchery

Great Review!

Got a great review of A Fall from Grace today from Cathy Speight, of Cath 'n' Kindle Book Reviews.

Seems she rather liked the book, and wants to read more of the Zack Taylor series (a regular happening among discerning readers-- ;-).

Hey, when someone who's a power reviewer says about my book:
"This was a well-written mystery, well-paced and well-constructed," you have to love it!

Check it out-- she gives a brief synopsis without putting in any spoilers.

***

And just for grins, Joe Konrath posted a wickedly funny April Fool's blog yesterday.

Snow on Signing Day Sucks!

The launch for A Fall From Grace was yesterday-- so what do the Fates do? Dump the biggest snowfall of winter on us! Result- almost no downtown shoppers, few customers.

Except-- my friends and family. The team came in, fought the storm, and we had a good crowd anyway. No down time, I was chatting the whole time.

So I feel a lot like George Bailey in the movie "It's A Wonderful Life." No money, but the best family and good, dear friends who pitch in when needed.

10 book sold-- and the cookies were great! So we're declaring victory. Thanks to all who showed, to those who bought, and to the marvelous staff of the bookstore!

Great pics-- http://www.daletphillips.com/grace_signing.html

Second Zack Taylor Novel, "A Fall From Grace" is Out!

At long last, my second Zack Taylor mystery novel, "A Fall From Grace," is finally out!

Buy on Amazon or as an ebook on Smashwords (no e-reader required, PDF and browser also available)

Both places allow you to sample the text first.

Giveaway Contest and Guest Post

Giveaway contest starting today at Book'd Out!

Enter for a chance to win an ebook of "A Memory of Grief."

Also with a guest post by me-- just a few thoughts of my take on writing.

Great Review!

My novel "A Memory of Grief" got a great review today at Book'd Out.

Here's an excerpt:
"A Memory of Grief" is an exciting and strong series debut by Dale Phillips, whose writing experience shows in his well crafted prose. I enjoyed being introduced to Zack and look forward to A Fall Of Grace due out in the next few weeks."

Check out the site-- we'll be having a contest for a free version of the book.

First Bookstore Royalty!

Huzzah! Got my first check from a bookstore-- for their five copies of "A Memory of Grief."
The place is Nonesuch Books, in South Portland, Maine, a very nice little shop with a lot of great writing for sale. Stop by next time you're up that way.

This is another milestone I've dreamt about and worked for for many years, getting a published book into bookstores where people can walk in and buy it. Am very pleased to have achieved another goal.

And yes, we finally got our power back, after being without from Sat night to late Wed. afternoon. The ordeal is over. Now back to more writing and publishing.

Manuscript Away

It's been a busy time. Had to finish the manuscript and send off the follow-up novel "A Fall From Grace." The Zack Taylor series continues-- which is good, because a number of people have read the first, and want the second.

So now it's in the hands of the line editor and the publisher for final formatting and submission before e-publishing and printing. It's got a kick-ass cover, and a recommendation from NY Times best-selling author Debbi Mack. So far, everyone who's read it and reported says it's good, so I'm going to believe them.

Should be out in a matter of weeks. For those who need to catch up, the first book in the series, "A Memory of Grief" is available as well-- Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords (in all e-book formats).

Super Summer Sale!

For a limited time, my publisher, Briona Glen, is offering the ebook version (in all formats) of "A Memory of Grief" for only $2.99.

Go to the following link, and when buying, enter the Coupon Code SE86U: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/59556

Another sale- and books are in!

Yahoo! First, I'm gazing fondly on a box-- chock full of my novel "A Memory of Grief." Wow. It's real. Lots of beautiful copies that I can sign for people.

So you say, "Well, how could this night get any better?"

With a story sale, that's how. Just sold "The Mousetrap" to Over My Dead Body.
Will post the pub date when I hear.

Anybody got some champagne?

Great review!

Wow- now have a 5-star review of my novel "A Memory of Grief," courtesy of Debbi Mack, the NY Times best-seller pro mystery author. (It's also available on Amazon-- just no reviews up there yet.)

So if you were waiting to see what someone else thought of it before getting your own copy, you now know that there are two reviews that think it's good, then there's the orginal blurb from David Daniel, another pro mystery author. So you've got two professionals willing to put their name down to say "read it!"

Another Feature

Getting further along in the catchup phase, I see that my debut novel "A Memory of Grief" was also just recently featured on Mark O'Neal's blog!

This is an indie books blog that helps promote indie authors. Am pleased to be featured on the site.

Wow-- I go away for two weeks, and get more press than ever! Keep up the good work everybody! And thank you for helping to get the word out. People have been telling me they like the novel, so if you know someone who likes mysteries, have them check it out.