Ciao Reader Intensity: 2/9 on the Kp-index Inspired by nature’s wonders Digging into my Brooklyn roots Reviews and current reads Indie Author Spotlight What inspires you? A journey to Iceland in winter is a wondrous adventure. We trekked on a glacier and into crevices carved into blue ice. A geyser erupted for us “on demand.” The sun set on Diamond Beach, igniting the ice crystals aglow. And we saw 3 views of the Aurora Borealis. As I flip through the photos of this trip, I’m inspired to...

Ciao Reader Now Offering eBooks! Not in a million years am I one to exaggerate, but... This may be the biggest boon to local bookstores since the little bell that goes ding when you walk into one. (And the unbeatable smell of ink on paper 📚) Finally, there's an alternative to the that massive online eBook retailer. And now you can support a local bookshop when you get your eBooks at Bookshop .org. Pick your local store or let part of the proceeds go into a pool shared by all member stores. 🗣️...

Milan Noir - Scene of the Crime Recent Read/Watch/Rec Let’s Talk Tropes Do You KU? Me Too! Milan Noir On the south side of the city lies a subset of Milan’s nightlife, drawing tourists and locals alike. It’s the prefect setting for a crime. They call it The Navigli. (Unless you’re Italian, your mind’s not pronouncing it right. 😉) The official description: “The navigli are a system of interconnected canals dating back as far as the Middle Ages.” Although landlocked, some say ancient Milan...

The reward of surprise (it's more than a great plot twist) Best writing advice of 2025? Update on THE 12TH CLEANSING and current WIPS Deals for you (of course) The reward of surprise More than that one huge plot twist (almost) no one saw coming, surprises keep us engaged, turning pages, and invested. And here's another bonus: they reward the reader. 🎁 Page-turning books ☂️ a number of subplots, character desires and goals, and complex relationships under the main plot. In each of these,...

🤮 How to suck without knowing it 🙋🏻♂️ What I’m up to ✍🏼 Author resources Just write Yep, that’s the advice so many "experts" give us authors. They say it’s the best way to improve. Is it? 🧑🍳 If you suck at cooking and just keep cooking, you’ll likely improve a little. Trial & error can be a decent teacher. 🤔 But would you open a restaurant if you’re the only one who ever tasted your food and you consider it good? I think it’s true that writers improve by writing, but only so much. If no one...

Look, I totally get it—you’re only here 'cause you grabbed a free story. I really hope you had a blast reading it. And hey, maybe you even stumbled upon one of the other freebies I sent your way through this newsletter. Awesome. 👍🏼 Fun Fact: In Italian, "Ciao!" means "Hi" and "Bye." But the last thing you needed was another useless email cluttering your Inbox. Heck, you may have a filter or rule shoving me into oblivion, making this note moot. C’est la vie. (Did you say "la vie"? 😉) So feel...

📝 A note from this author 🫣 “Me” in my characters & stories 😘 Darkened Cloud launch price goes bye bye 🔓 A Personal Note: I don’t often share my personal losses and experiences. One October gave me the most unimaginable of these when my sons (12 & 13 at the time) and I lost the most amazing & loving wife and mother. We carried on and I’m proud of the men my sons have become. The thing about personal experiences, even the tragic ones, as a writer is how they shape my characters and stories....

Global Book Awards Gold Medal Winner Darkened Clouds Book Launch is Today! Reading, Watching, & Writing Crime Thrillers 🏅 Finding Idyllium is the Gold Medal Winner! 🏅 I could not have been more excited to open an email on Saturday and read: Finding Idyllium has been awarded the GOLD medal in the category Science Fiction - Adventures at the Global Book Awards. What do you think of the new cover? Find Idyllium Now 📖🚀 From Soft Release to Launch Day Gaze Upon a Darkened Cloud - If You Dare! From...

👉 Soft Release = FREE Novel 👈 Look up - If you dare! My new sci-fi thriller is free for a few days only! Yep, it’s a shameless plea for early reviews. You can grab this sci-fi thriller for free, no obligation. It'd be awesome if you took a second to drop a review. It really helps others find and enjoy it. Review now on:Amazon | Goodreads Did you grab my 🆓 short with its ambiguous ending? KILLING TIME is “Permafree” on Amazon, Apple, Google, Smashwords, &...

My new short story is yours free New no-cost ARCs for you to read Audiobook and Netflix show recs A host of freebie reads & new release deals This short with an ambiguous ending is yours 🆓 Most of you are here because I gave you a free short story. Shiny! Here’s another one. More are coming. I love connecting with readers and offering engaging reads. I’ve wanted to write this one for a while, leaving the story open to your interpretation. Oh… and I’d love to get your opinion. What do you...