Derrick by Russell - Book Tour + Giveaway
Derrick
by Russell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Horror, Suspense, Thriller, Mystery, LGBT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
In Hyde Park, a movie theater erupts in flames on a bitterly cold November evening.
It seems like a job for the fire department, but under Captain Creighton’s direct orders,
Detective Gavin Nolan and his partner, Derrick Williamson, must investigate.
Arriving on the chaotic scene, they find multiple fatalities —but one of the victims is most peculiar…
Detective Gavin Nolan and his partner, Derrick Williamson, must investigate.
Arriving on the chaotic scene, they find multiple fatalities —but one of the victims is most peculiar…
Gavin soon discovers that this fire wasn’t the first of its kind.
The arsonist has set ablaze other buildings around Chicago, and more female victims left in the same
gruesome state have been discovered.
The arsonist has set ablaze other buildings around Chicago, and more female victims left in the same
gruesome state have been discovered.
Gavin and Derrick determine that the arsonist is not an arsonist at all—but a sinister serial killer with
an agenda.
an agenda.
Juggling the unexpected events in his personal life, Gavin digs into the locations of the explosions.
At the same time, Derrick probes into the victims’ lives, searching for any possible connection.
At the same time, Derrick probes into the victims’ lives, searching for any possible connection.
However, when the next explosion occurs, the killer leaves behind a significant object,
and Derrick becomes noticeably reserved. Gavin soon uncovers an enigmatic link,
one that points to Derrick’s military past. A time that his partner had wished to forget.
Yet, to catch the vicious maniac, Derrick must tell Gavin everything.
and Derrick becomes noticeably reserved. Gavin soon uncovers an enigmatic link,
one that points to Derrick’s military past. A time that his partner had wished to forget.
Yet, to catch the vicious maniac, Derrick must tell Gavin everything.
In a suspenseful, gripping ride to the end, it is up to Gavin to rescue his partner from the clutches of a
killer. But will he make it in time?
killer. But will he make it in time?
WARNING: This book contains graphic scenes, explicit language, and violent sexual situations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
The Opus Theater was a gouged-out smoldering shell of a building,
resembling a nefarious beast defeated at the hands of a mob of local villagers.
Its massive first-floor entrance breathed out the last of the smoke,
the toothy marquee scarred with black soot.
Above, its blackened window-eyes stared down upon the people menacingly.
As Gavin ambled closer, avoiding the other officers, a gripping scent of chemicals, fabric,
and noxious gas filtered into his nostrils, then wafted away with the wind.
Next to the theater, a pair of smaller sibling buildings, a shoe business and a comic magazine shop,
were scarred and smoldering as well. Even from here, Gavin could make out the shattered glass
sparkling grimly against the siren lights.
resembling a nefarious beast defeated at the hands of a mob of local villagers.
Its massive first-floor entrance breathed out the last of the smoke,
the toothy marquee scarred with black soot.
Above, its blackened window-eyes stared down upon the people menacingly.
As Gavin ambled closer, avoiding the other officers, a gripping scent of chemicals, fabric,
and noxious gas filtered into his nostrils, then wafted away with the wind.
Next to the theater, a pair of smaller sibling buildings, a shoe business and a comic magazine shop,
were scarred and smoldering as well. Even from here, Gavin could make out the shattered glass
sparkling grimly against the siren lights.
As he had seen on the news, the fire trucks clustered near the front of the buildings.
The crews were already wrapping up their gear, and one was lowering its long ladder.
Firemen dashed from the trucks into the dark façade of the building,
being swallowed up by the dying beast.
Other men tugged on the thick gray hoses that were haphazardly tossed around on the street.
Already, pockets of ice were forming on the standing water and small icicles began to grow from the
edges of the building. Gavin carefully stepped over the hoses,
which reminded him of ripped-out intestines from the gut of the savage beast,
and tried to get out of the firemen’s way.
The crews were already wrapping up their gear, and one was lowering its long ladder.
Firemen dashed from the trucks into the dark façade of the building,
being swallowed up by the dying beast.
Other men tugged on the thick gray hoses that were haphazardly tossed around on the street.
Already, pockets of ice were forming on the standing water and small icicles began to grow from the
edges of the building. Gavin carefully stepped over the hoses,
which reminded him of ripped-out intestines from the gut of the savage beast,
and tried to get out of the firemen’s way.
Hastily, a fireman rushed past him and knocked him slightly.
Grunting an apology, the man kept talking into his radio and rounded one of the trucks.
The smell of smoke invaded Gavin’s nostrils once again.
Grunting an apology, the man kept talking into his radio and rounded one of the trucks.
The smell of smoke invaded Gavin’s nostrils once again.
From behind him, Derrick shouted, “About time you fucking got here.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guest Post
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guest Post
I
must share some exciting news with all of you!
My
new book, DERRICK, just won in 2018
New Apple Literary Awards Contest as Official Selection in Psychological
Suspense. I am completely surprised, flattered and humbled by the honor!
Also
to add, GAVIN (Part 1 of The Gavin
Nolan Trilogy) won 2017 New Apple Literary
Summer
E-book Awards as Official Selection in Horror.
What is the Inspiration behind
DERRICK?
I
have to discuss the Gavin Nolan Trilogy as a whole, and my unique writing process. When I began writing, I truly did not know
what to expect as the story begins to take hold. As I pen a new story, a
beginning usually appears in my head and I start writing. In essence, I write
without character descriptions, no outlines nor any research. I just let my
fingers (and quite active imagination) command the ship. Because of this, the
story builds momentum, meaning that I do not necessarily know what happens at
the end until midway through. So if I’m surprised, my reader will feel that
rush as well.
For
the series, I was inspired by other authors who create dark, gritty thrillers,
which borderline on horror genre. Similar to
Harris’s The Silence of the Lamb and
Flynn’s Gone Girl, my series
heightens the intensity of the scenes, and puts the characters in perilous
conditions. Echoing the likes of Clive Barker, Peter Straub and even John
Connolly, I create some visceral, graphic content which some of my readers
found rather disgusting still they could not help but to keep reading. Finally,
I truly love interwoven plots. Perhaps, my inspiration comes from daytime soap
opera that my mother used to watch in the 80s. As you will see in the Gavin
Nolan Trilogy, my books are not for the light reader. I create multi-layered
plots involving my man character and trickle into the secondary characters. On
the surface, my series could be easily described as homicide detective novel.
However, as you read my books, so much more occurs.
Needless
to say, I wrote GAVIN (Part 1) with a
clear intention as a stand-alone piece. However, Gavin Nolan, the protagonist, became
a formidable, strong character with a several skeletons in his closet.
Being
stated, the secondary characters also had strong personalities which develop
and push the story forward. Despite the climatic, intense ending, I realized
that Gavin’s partner on the force, Derrick Williamson, had much more to say.
When I completed the first draft, and began editing GAVIN, I quickly began to write DERRICK
(PART 2). In a way, the story starts six months after the events of GAVIN, and the reader discover Gavin in
a different point in his life. Yet, the strong friendship between Gavin and
Derrick is tested by the hands of deadly madman’s agenda--something connected
to Derrick’s military past. As a side note, DERRICK
subtly alludes to the final book, QUINN
(Part 3). Currently, I’m editing it and hopefully have it out by Spring
2020. In fact I have a preview of QUINN at the very end of DERRICK.
Finally,
GAVIN and DERRICK is for a mature audience
and not for anyone under 18. I have graphic depicted violence, explore and
develop strong sexual situations and include rather explicative language. If
you are not dissuaded from my disclaimer, then you will absolutely love my
books!
Thanks
for having me today! Please follow me on Twitter and Instagram @Russell_Writer.
Also, check out my website: www.RusselltheAuthor.com.
Read
to Escape!
Russell
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Russell has been writing for the majority of his life.
Slipping into alternative universes allows him to enjoy the process of creativity from the novel’s
conception to its final draft. Currently, he lives in South Texas with his wife, two kids and several cats.
Slipping into alternative universes allows him to enjoy the process of creativity from the novel’s
conception to its final draft. Currently, he lives in South Texas with his wife, two kids and several cats.
DERRICK is a 2018 Winner in the New Apple Literary Awards, receiving Official Selection in
Psychological Suspense.
Psychological Suspense.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Russell.The.Author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Russell_Writer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Russell_Writer/
https://www.amazon.com/Derrick-Second-Installment-Gavin-Biography-ebook/dp/B07KXG3KH4
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
Russell will be awarding $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner
via rafflecopter during the tour.
via rafflecopter during the tour.
9 Comments
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteWho is your favorite literary charachter?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteAlways fun to hear about another new great book. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your guest post and the book info. I have enjoyed reading about you and your work.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any plans for your next book?
ReplyDeleteHow long ago did you start writing your book?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read
ReplyDeletePlease try not to spam posts with the same comments over and over again. Authors like seeing thoughtful comments about their books, not the same old, "I like the cover" or "sounds good" comments. While that is nice, putting some real thought and effort in is appreciated. Thank you.