Words that carry us

"From this day forward."

It's a phrase from our wedding vows, words we recited to each other in a stately Atlanta sanctuary seventeen years ago.

My wife repeats that phrase when we're going through challenging times. It's part of our shorthand, a way to remind each other that, despite whatever we're facing at the moment, we commit ourselves and our futures to each other.

Those words have power for us.

Love is a funny thing. It settles on you easily and lightly, a sunbeam breaking through a gap in the clouds. It lifts your spirits to soaring heights.

Love that lasts a lifetime: now that's something more. It's a culmination of shared history and caring. It's a bold statement that, because of that history and sometimes despite it, we choose to go forward hand-in-hand... regardless of what lies ahead.

Life has been challenging this past year and a half, with health concerns on my part that have us taking regular trips to the cancer center in Seattle. We're now in the midst of a flood of chemo that will require us to be there for each of the next 42 days.

As we prepared to leave our home town for this trip, a dear friend came by our house to wish us well. She's tiny and white-haired and a generation ahead of us. She has the wisdom of someone who's been through much. And she reminded us of a line from a great old hymn:

"Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow." 

That simple phrase sums up a lot for us right now.

Words have power. Power enough, sometimes, to see us through the night, with calm hearts and eyes resting easily on the horizon of a new day.

Vengeance and virtue in "Stone and Silt"

In Stone and Silt, gentle John Wales is suspected of murdering a local thug, Matthew Doyle.

Matthew's older brother, Elias, isn't waiting around while the colony policy investigate. He swears to avenge his brother's death by wreaking havoc on the Wales family.

Nikaia Wales knows that she's responsible for putting her father into peril, and desperately tries to identify the murderer. Time is short: Elias Doyle is on the move, and the colony judge will soon arrive by sternwheeler to rule on her father's guilt or innocence.

Desperation is a powerful motivator, and I found that it was interesting to explore it in different ways in the writing of this book.

Elias Doyle is seething at the bloody death of his brother. While his tactics are violent, it's not hard to find sympathy for a man mourning a brother who just had his lungs shot through.

The colony police are motivated to lay the heavy hand of justice on murderers and ruffians in the raucous gold rush town of Fort Yale. Quick, severe action on their part is a powerful deterrent to troublemakers... even if that results in an innocent man being found guilty.

Kate Wales, John's native Indian wife, struggles to defend her husband's name while reassuring her two daughters that all will come out well.

And at the center of it all is Nikaia, a brooding 16-year-old who finds herself in the most desperate time of her life. With a noose tightening around her father's neck, she follows clue after clue through the Fraser Canyon and into the bawdy, seedy underbelly of Fort Yale.


Stone and Silt will be released on Amazon (e-book as well as paperback) and on other online sites on August 19th. Sign up for the newsletter to get word on a special discounted price that will be available on that day only!

We have winners! Free copies of "Stone and Silt"

We've drawn our winners for free e-copies and signed print copies of "Stone and Silt," the historical mystery that's about to be released on August 19th.

Thank you for all the interest in this, my first novel. We had 2,665 entries from over 800 people. Wow!

The 18 winners are listed below. The first 16 will receive e-copies of the book - viewable on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, PC, Mac, and smart phones. The last 2 people listed will receive signed print copies of the book.

E-mail notifications will be going out shortly to our winners. Thanks to everyone who participated. And stay tuned for news about a special price on the book, available *only* on August 19th.

(Stone and Silt is a historical mystery, based in 1860s British Columbia, and a cozy read for young adults as well as older readers. Here's a synopsis of the book.)



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Book goodies

My journey into the world of book-writing continues. Here are some of the book-related goodies that have arrived in the mail as part of the Stone and Silt launch.


I'll be using the bookmarks, counter-cards, and poster pictured above for book signings and readings. I think I have everything I need - except, of course, the book itself! Paperback copies of the book (as well as ebook copies) will become available on August 19th, from Amazon and other online retailers.

If you want a free copy of the book, you still have a few days to throw your name into the pre-release drawing. Here's the link to enter.

The "Stone and Silt" tour bus

My publisher has arranged a Blog Tour, in which prominent book review sites will feature my upcoming historical mystery, Stone and Silt. The tour will begin shortly after the book is published on August 19th.

So far 18 events are planned, including reviews of the book, interviews, and guest posts. The book launch is less than a month away now!

If you blog, and are interested in posting a review, get on board the tour bus! Just email my publisher at Lynn@RedAdeptPublishing.com.

Here's the schedule of events so far:

August 21: Guest Post on author Bryan Alaspa's blog

August 21: Guest Post on "A Knife and a Quill"

August 22: Interview on "Laurie’s Thoughts & Reviews"

August 23: Interview on author Imogen Rose's blog

August 23: Blog Radio Interview on WebbWeaver Books

August 24: Interview on "Into the Land of Books"

August 26: Guest Post on "Big Al’s Books & Pals"

August 27: Review on "Random Musings of a Curious Mind"

August 30: Review on "Literary Musings"

August 30: Review on "I’m a Voracious Reader"

August 30: Guest Post on "My Book and My Coffee"

September 2: Guest Post on "Page Flipperz"

September 4: Review on "Big Al’s Books & Pals"

September 4: Review on "Bookend Babes"

September 6: Guest Post on "Read for Your Future"

September 8: Interview on "The IndieView"

September 11: Review on "Book Babe"

September 13: Guest Post on "Omnimystery News"

A chance to win a free copy of Stone and Silt

My publisher is offering to give away fifteen FREE pre-release copies of "Stone and Silt"..!

And, two more people will receive signed print copies of the book.

The release date for Stone and Silt is August 19th, but the 15 winners will receive an e-copy of the book early, after the drawing on July 31st. The e-copy is readable on your PC, Mac, or e-reader.

You can sign up below to enter. And there are ways you can get additional entries - see the form below!

On July 31st, a random drawing will determine the winners. 

(Stone and Silt is a historical mystery, based in 1860s British Columbia, and a cozy read for young adults as well as we older readers. Here's a synopsis of the book.)



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Sneak Peek! Excerpt of "Stone and Silt"

Getting close now... my new mystery novel "Stone and Silt" is through proof-reading and is on its way to final formatting. All of this is in preparation for its August 19th release.

And now, my publisher has released a sneak preview of the book. You can read its first chapter at the link below!

http://redadeptpublishing.com/excerpt-stone-and-silt-by-harvey-chute/