Musings of Two Creative Minds

KIRKUS BOOK REVIEW In Krummenacker and Caminiti’s paranormal thriller series starter set in the Civil War era, an Irish immigrant on a spy mission fights monsters and discovers a new superpower. The story opens on a man named Jacob Long, who’s carrying his infant daughter in a blizzard, encountering a great beast called a Skinwalker, which gains different powers depending on what pelts it acquires. The creature protects the child when a pack of monsters attack. Readers soon learn that the monsters are under the control of a mysterious figure working with an assassin named Lansford Hastings. The plot transitions to the main character, Keefer O’Connor, an Irishman who’s made a name for himself as a military strategist. This leads to his recruitment by Union Army Provost Marshal Lafayette Baker, and soon, Keefer is promoted from a captain to a colonel by the War Department. He’s assigned a mission to assassinate Gov. Fredrick Low of California if he sways from his antislavery stanc...

The original baddies are back in the 5th book of Helen's "Forever Detective" book series... Once upon a time, Rafael Jones was just another guy back from the war, starting up his own business. But because that business was a detective agency, he took a case that led him face-to-face with a pair of monsters. One of those monsters, Grigori Rasputin the legendary Mad Monk of Russia, chose him to join their ranks and made him a vampire. But Rafael struggled against their 'gift', drove them from New York, and has continued to seek a cure, while holding onto his humanity in spite of his new condition. But now those who turned him are back, and it seems like a new nightmare is about to be unleashed on a particular part of the city's population. Rasputin, the vampire with religious mania, has turned his attention to those he acknowledges as God’s first Chosen People… the Jews. And now Rafael has to race against time and find out exactly what Rasputin has planned for t...

What a way to start a brand new the year! Helen just got a Kirkus Review of her first novel "Forever's Too Long", calling it... "A tense, thrilling paranormal adventure with a striking cast." Here's the full review: A supernatural crime novel set in the 1940s focuses on a private detective. This series opener begins in 1947. The narrator of the story, Rafael Jones, has set up shop as a private investigator in New York City. Rafael has an extensive background in law enforcement (both civilian and military), and he is eager to strike out on his own. No sooner has he put the sign up for Harmony Investigations than he is approached by a British woman named Clara Thomas. Clara has been sent to persuade Rafael to work for Interpol. She is a sharp woman, with a degree in mathematics from Oxford, who knows how to handle herself in a fight. She can also fly a plane. Rafael doesn’t need that much convincing, and he soon learns that working with Clara will be fun....

Kindle Pre-Orders are being taken now for Helen's "W. I. T. C. H. Hunters Forever" a short-story collection/spinoff of her Forever Detective Series of books. Here you'll find some familiar faces such as Clara Thomas, Sir Lynn Fox her brother-in-law/wizard, Medium Brown a spiritualist accountant, plus many new faces. Here's more: When he heard about Hitler's interest in seeking out artifacts and legends, British wizard Sir Lynn Fox knew he needed a group with unusual talents to do more and better. W.I.T.C.H. Hunters is that group. This collection of stories gives us a sample of the wide variety within the group: a sympathetic healer, a hedge witch with a penchant for sleuthing, a telekinetic sculptress, a spiritualist accountant, a demonologist monk, two Antipodean adventurers, and one extraordinarily ordinary woman who wants to do her part, and an immortal cat. Order your copy now and have it arrive in your e-mail this Saturday: Amazon US Link:  W. I. T. C. H....

It's been a while since I did a book review so I'd say we're do for a new one. Right? Well even if you said no, this post is going to be a book review anyway, especially since the book in question is by an author I've long heard about and was a huge influence on HP Lovecraft (one of my favorite authors of all time). Now some of you may have already figured out who I'm talking about, but for those who haven't caught on, I'm referring to Lord Dunsany (better known by friends and family as Edward Plunkett, the 18th Baron of Dunsany). Now as I said before, I've heard of Lord Dunsany from my collection of HP Lovecraft books which often reference his lordship as having a big influence on the creator of the Cthulhu Mythos. And I'd been rather interested in trying some of his work for some time. However, I'm one of those readers who likes shall we say... a sampling of an author's work before committing myself to a full novel. So, I read a lot of coll...

With the holidays over and all audio recording projects edited and out there, Helen and I have finally had time to settle down and work on rewriting the first book in our Para-Earths series "The Bridge". As you know from previous entries, the last 'edited' files that we published got corrupted without our knowledge, so when I found out I took it down from all sites (which is why you cannot find it now). But rest assured work has begun and some 'technical' changes are being made to the new edition which will be released next year 2023. Originally I planned on re-releasing it this year as a special 10th anniversary edition, only to discover that while I put a 2012 copyright year in the original version, it never actually reached Amazon or any of the other outlets until 2013.  So to keep with calling it the 10th Anniversary edition, we all have to wait a little longer. However, I'm not actually bothered by this delay. Because reworking the book, I'm disco...

Here's the book trailer for "Forever Festive" which is the 4th book in Helen's vampire/noir book series set in the 1947. Click on the image and see what she has in store for our favorite vampire detective as he tries to spend Christmas with his folks who don't know his little secret... “Forever Festive” is available now in paperback and e-book formats at: Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KCC5HZV AmazonUK Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09KCC5HZV AmazonCA Link: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09KCC5HZV AmazonAU Link: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09KCC5HZV Smashwords Links: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1112190 Barnes and Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forever-festive-helen-krummenacker/1140442307?ean=2940165068287 Kobo Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/forever-festive Apple Books Link: ‎ https://books.apple.com/us/book/forever-festive/id1592528404

Starting today it's Free (Sound) Sample Saturday over on Helen's Blog "The Forever Detective". What is Free (sound) Sample Saturday? Simple, it's where she shares a chapter (or two in this case) from the Audible version of her 1st solo book "Forever's Too Long".  A mystery involving vampires in the noir setting of 1947 New York City.  And since I've been posting for months about doing audiobook recordings, I felt it was only appropriate to share this with you since "Forever's Too Long" is my first complete voiceover project. That's right you'll be hearing me narrating the story, and supplying the voices voices for the entire cast. Furthermore, next week we will be sharing the 2nd chapter and so on in the following weeks. Some come and take advantage to check out the Prologue and full 1st Chapter of this 5 star rated series and see what everyone is talking about, by clicking on the link below: https://www.theforeverdetective....

Our first novel in the Para-Earth Series, is going to get a complete rewrite!  Yes, you are reading that correctly. You're eyes are not playing tricks on you. I know earlier this year I said I was going to try and clean up "The Bridge", but the further I got into reading it, the more I saw just how messed up it had gotten. But before I go further, a little history lesson. "The Bridge" was the first book I ever released, so naturally there were a lot of rookie mistakes made in it, which were pointed out to me early on in the reviews (even though those same reviews gave it 4 and 5 stars). But I couldn't ignore the fact that there were problems with my baby. I call it that, because I did all the writing and did not credit my wife for all the help she gave me in developing the story. So I tried going back and fixing the errors only to wind up with mixed results. A third attempt was made, which still seemed plagued with problems. Finally, a few years ago, my edit...

My rating: 5 STARS -  This Series Keeps Getting Better and Better... This may be my favorite installment of this series to date. Between this one and the two previous books I'm feeling like the series is maturing as a whole. The first book "Soul Taker" did a good job of introducing us to the author's vision of this world, while "Sundance" and "Demon Tracker" started fleshing that world and its characters out more and more. In "Bounty Hunter" we dive more deeply into this series and get a new perspective from one of the actual members of the Council of Twelve. This time we start out seeing things from the perspective of Centriel who having seen how the world's of his fellow Archangels have changed, and wondering if he will ever find such happiness. Then he meets Simin a Demon Hunter and soon both their worlds' are turned upside down, and we are soon drawn deeper into the manipulations of Hell and it's many minions. Finally, I w...

Book 3 of the Forever Detective Series is now available Rafael Jones is always a little out of his depth in rural settings, but he's not just a detective, he's also undead. He can't ignore the call from the Saratoga County coroner when she mentions the bite marks found on several drowning victims during the spring and summer of 1947. However, he knows his weaknesses (sunlight, running water, and a woeful lack of country manners), so he isn't working alone. His slowly developing powers and quick wits may not be a match for something old, strong in magic, and completely cursed. Available now in all e-book formats for $3.99 at: Kindle link:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0894513Y4 Nook:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forever-in-deep-helen-krummenacker/1137077012?ean=2940164087760 Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/forever-in-deep Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1024000 Kindle UK Link:  https://www.ama...

Today we are proud to be part of A. J. Alexander's "Demon Tracker" Blog Tour, where we introduce you to the author and the third and newest installment to her 'Council of Twelve' book series. Let's start with getting to know the author herself, Miss Aurora Jean Alexander: Thanks for joining us today Aurora, tell me what is your e-reading device of choice? I'm reading on a Kindle Paperwhite Describe your desk what does it look like? I have a computer desk with a laptop and an extra monitor, a multifunctional printer device and books, papers, paper sketchbooks and pens, pens, pens. Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing? My upbringing does not have any influence on my writing. I'm writing fantasy and paranormal romance. When did you first start writing? I’m not sure there ever was “a start”. I learned to write at the age of four and I remember developing little stories since I’m a Kindergarten kid. ...