Hey crew, this went out to my newsletter tonight—let’s get Mafiya rolling!
This weekend, I finished the first round of edits on Vengeance, the fourth book in my 122 Rules thriller series. There’s a moment when writing a new novel that I realize I’ve fallen in love with the story and the people in it. That moment hit me Saturday morning as I wrapped up the last chapter.
My affection for this tale has been steadily simmering as I’ve made my final pass through the pages before sending it off to my editor. The bad guys suck like an overclocked Hoover stuck on a shag rug of doom. My heroes are juggling chainsaws, rabid squirrels, and questioning their sanity as they face—on top of their own personal baggage—climactic, world-altering ramifications from the mess they’ve uncovered.
But the Oh Shit!, OMG!, and Rah! moments, especially toward the end… wuh! I really want to spill all y’all’s beans about it, but I’m gonna be a good kid and keep it a surprise. For drama and adrenaline junkies, it’s gonna be delicious.
Of course, the journey’s not all hugs and hearts. As with every novel, emotions zigzag from hating the story, to feeling like a fraud, to adoration, and everywhere in between. Here’s the writer’s emotional map:
- Day 90: Sobbing into my coffee because the plot’s a mess.
- Day 150: I’m a hack who should stick to writing grocery lists.
- Day 200: Blasting triumphant heavy metal as the climax clicks into place.
- Day 201: Cackling like a supervillain as I hit “save.”
Buckle up—it’s a bumpy ride!
At least for this moment (as happens with each of my books), this is my favorite story that I’ve written so far. And now, I need y’all to help bring it to life.
I’m launching a Kickstarter campaign at the end of April to get Mafiya—Book 3 of 122 Rules—polished and ready for its summer debut, with Vengeance (Book 4) hot on its heels 30 days later. Want to ride this rollercoaster with me from the start? I’m hunting for a few wild minds to conjure characters meaner than a rattlesnake with a hangover or brighter than a hero’s last stand. It’s one of the rewards—craft a good guy, a bad guy, whatever you dream up.
Audiobook Sneak Listen
I'm ridiculously excited to get to share with you the first chapter of the audiobook version of After the Fall. My narrator is rocking the role as Shai. In the next newsletter, I'll send out the second chapter. For giggles, I might even share out the third after that.
Hold on to your earbuds, audiophiles! Head on over to Free Stuff on my web site and give it a listen.
