Friday, December 30, 2022

End of 2022 with C.S. Poe


It's been... well... a year. Creative burnout and illness got their claws into me, and so there wasn't much by way of new content. I allowed myself time to relax, to not think about my unfinished books, and to not feel guilty when I needed to skip writing in the mornings. This was all easier said than done, of course, but I did manage to get back on track and I'm feeling creative and confident as we move into the coming year! Here's what came from Emporium Press in 2021:

Novels:
The Doctor (Magic & Steam: Book 3) | Ebook & Paperback

Subway Slayings (Memento Mori: Book 2) | Ebook & Paperback


Novellas:
Lights. Camera. Murder. (The Silver Screen: Book 1) | Paperback


Audiobooks:
The Mystery of the Spirits (Snow & Winter: Book 5) | narrated by Wyatt Baker

The Doctor (Magic & Steam: Book 3) | narrated by Declan Winters


Translations:
Jour de chance (Nouveau départ à Lancaster: T1) | French, MxM Bookmark

Jour de neige (Nouveau départ à Lancaster: T2) | French, MxM Bookmark

Le Mystère du corbeau (Snow et Winter: T1) | French, Mnemosyne Lit.

Le Mystère des curiosités (Snow et Winter: T2) | French, Mnemosyne Lit.

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Translation: Le Mystère des curiosités

The second French edition of The Mystery of the Curiosities (Snow & Winter: Book Two) is now available as Le Mystère des curiosités!

Blurb: Vous avez dit « curieux » ? 

Sebastian Snow est aux anges : l'Emporium prospère et l'inspecteur Calvin Winter de la brigade criminelle lui offre la vie de couple qu'il a toujours voulue. Sa seule préoccupation, à l'approche de la Saint-Valentin, est de savoir si Calvin est du genre à apprécier un dîner romantique. Ses projets sont toutefois mis à mal par un individu qui pulvérise la fenêtre de sa boutique en laissant derrière lui un message intriguant. 

Sebastian se retrouve dès lors emporté dans une série d'horribles meurtres qui ne semblent pourtant pas être liés les uns aux autres. En dépit des efforts de Calvin pour évincer Sebastian de l'affaire, quelqu'un lui force la main et il devient vite évident que toute cette histoire n'a été élaborée que pour lui : chaque indice qui le rapproche du meurtrier le plonge plus profondément dans les enquêtes officielles de Calvin. 

Bien plus que son gagne-pain ou sa relation, c'est la vie même de Sebastian qui est ici en jeu. 

Seconde édition entièrement revue.

Publisher: Mnemosyne Lit.
Series: Snow et Winter
Book #: 2

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Vivlio |

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Sale: 25-50% off at Smashwords


Until January 1, 2023, nearly all of C.S. Poe's backlist is on sale, only at Smashwords!

Get 25-50% off every title, from A Friend in the Dark, co-written with Gregory Ashe, Madison Square Murders, the first book in the exciting new police procedural mystery series Memento Mori, The Mystery of the Spirits, the final title in the Snow & Winter amateur sleuth series, or the latest in the steampunk Magic & Steam series, The Doctor. Even standalones like 11:59 and Southernmost Murder are included.

Stock up today and read into the New Year!

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Translation: Le Mystère du corbeau

The second French edition of The Mystery of Nevermore (Snow & Winter: Book One) is now available as Le Mystère du corbeau!

Blurb: Découvrez ou redécouvrez le phénomène Snow et Winter ! 

Noël approche et tout ce que veut Sebastian Snow, antiquaire à New York, c’est que les clients affluent et qu’il trouve le moyen de sauver sa relation avec Neil Millett, inspecteur à la scientifique encore dans le placard. Toutefois, lorsqu’il retrouve un cœur sous le plancher de l’Antique Emporium, sa boutique, Sebastian ne peut s’empêcher de plonger le nez dans ce mystère. 

Il se retrouve bientôt imbriqué dans des affaires de meurtres qui font écho aux macabres récits d’Edgar Allan Poe. Comme si cela ne suffisait pas, l’investigation de Sebastian met davantage son couple à mal, tandis même qu’il tombe sous le charme de l’inspecteur Calvin Winter, en charge de l'enquête. 

Tout en faisant fi du danger et de la tension sexuelle grandissant entre eux, Sebastian et Calvin devront se serrer les coudes s’ils souhaitent percer le secret derrière ces meurtres… avant que le détective du dimanche ne devienne la prochaine victime. 

Seconde édition entièrement revue.

Publisher: Mnemosyne Lit.
Series: Snow et Winter
Book #: 1

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Vivlio |

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Sale: Holiday-lite short stories


Three of my holiday-lite short stories are on sale at all vendors until Dec. 25th! These are great little palate cleansers to enjoy between longer books and are 0.99 in US, UK, CA, EU and 1.99 in AU, NZ.

Love in 24 Frames: Declan Groves is a CPA in New York City. His adult life is dictated by routine and monotony. The need to express himself, in ways his career and crippling shyness have never allowed, leads Declan to becoming an amateur stop-motion filmmaker. The problem with this—Declan is now in love with the Wandering Artist Studios receptionist, Shota Watanabe. Shota has always had a smile and engaging comment ready for Declan, but even if it’s more than casual politeness, Declan hasn’t been able to get out more than a tongue-tied sentence at a time. And a man like Shota surely has no intention of waiting forever.

So when an unexpected change to Declan’s daily schedule during Christmastime throws the two together outside of the studio, it might be the catalyst needed to explore what’s been unspoken between them. But if they’re to have a future, Declan needs to find a way to tell Shota how he feels before the magic of the holidays is behind them.

 

New Game, Start: Reclusive medieval scholar, Edgar Royal, has a crush. On a guy. Not a big deal, except that said guy, Walter Chase, is a famous online gamer who has no idea Edgar even exists. Edgar has harbored these feelings for nearly a year, and when Walter announces on Twitter that he’ll be visiting New York City as a guest at the GamerOn convention, Edgar decides he’ll be one of the thousands of fans who responds to the message. He definitely doesn’t expect to be singled out by the humble, gorgeous, out-and-proud heartthrob.

When it comes to dealing with people, Edgar’s skills are pretty nonexistent, even with Walter giving all the right signals. Edgar lacks the courage to do anything about the mutual attraction growing through their online courtship, but then again, he’s always been better with the written word. So maybe the perfect Christmas gift will say what he cannot. But if Edgar can’t get the present to Walter before the convention ends, he may miss out on the boyfriend of a lifetime.

 

That Turtle Story: Nor O’Brien spends his days in sunny Key West caring for and rehabilitating sea turtles. He doesn’t need anything else in life, except maybe a significant other to cuddle with after a long day. But recent heartbreak has left Nor salty, and he’s not in the mood for anything, Christmas included. Then Eugene Montgomery walks into Turtle R&R, claiming to have found a clutch of eggs in distress.

Nor is smitten with the tourist at first sight, and at the suggestion of his screwball colleagues, indulges in some no-strings-attached fun. Nor and Eugene are quick to get along, happily enjoy each other’s company, and take in the island’s unique holiday pleasures together. But Nor would never leave his turtles, not for any man. So when his rebound fling turns into strong romantic feelings for Eugene, it’ll take a Christmas miracle to keep the two together forever in Key West.

Monday, December 5, 2022

Sale: Color of You

Color of You is participating in Kobo's romance BOGO event the entire month of December! Pick up a copy and grab a second title from their selection for free! This sale is valid only at Kobo US, UK, CA, AU, NZ.

Blurb: Bowen Merlin—yes, that’s his real name—accepts a position in the quaint town of Lancaster, New Hampshire, as the high school band director. He leaves New York City for the snowy countryside of New England just in time for the holidays. With class, homework, after-school activities, and a surprise Christmas concert to plan and rehearse, Bowen is plenty busy. And since he’s never had much luck with romance, factoring in time to find Mr. Right isn’t a priority.

Until he meets the proprietor of Snowy Ridge Apple Orchard, Felix Hansen. Suddenly, true love seems like a possibility for the first time in Bowen’s life. The two are a perfect match and fill the skipped beats of each other’s hearts. But as wonderful as Felix seems, he’s harboring old scars that could bring an end to their budding relationship after someone in town goes to great lengths to sabotage their careers.

If Bowen is to survive, he’ll need to lean on old friends and new, convince Felix he’s worth any hardship, and prove they can come out of the catastrophe stronger if they do so together.

Sunday, December 4, 2022

Nominee: Members' Choice Awards 2022


The nominations at Goodreads' M/M Romance group have been made and the Members' Choice Awards are open for voting! In order to participate in the polls, you'll need to be a group member and signed in. Polls can be found here.

Nominations of my titles can be found in the following categories:

Best Cover: Subway Slayings, Reese Dante
Best Law Enforcement:
Subway Slayings
Best Action/Suspense/Adventure:
Subway Slayings
Best Book of the Year:
Subway Slayings
Best Mystery/Whodunit:
Subway Slayings and The Mystery of the Spirits
Best Sci-Fi/Futuristic/Steampunk:
The Doctor
Best Audiobook Narration:
Madison Square Murders, Kale Williams
Best Main Character:
Gunner the Deadly (Magic & Steam) and Everett Larkin (Memento Mori)
All-Time Favorite M/M Series:
Memento Mori and Snow & Winter
All-Time Favorite Author:
C.S. Poe

Convention: RARE '23


I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be once again be in attendance at international book events, this time with RARE (Romance Author and Reader Event) in Florence, Italy! The signing will be on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the Spadolini Pavilion: 1 Viale Filippo Strozzi 50129 Firenze. I believe the event has since sold out, but tickets do become available as attendees' plans change and they sell theirs if they're unable to make it. Details can be found here and on their Facebook group here.

I also plan to schedule a meet-up with readers in the area, where we can perhaps get coffee or lunch together and talk about books for the afternoon! Date and time and location will be determined, but I hope you'll join me if you're able!

Translation: Snow e Winter


I'm thrilled to announce that I'm working with Triskell Edizioni to bring my books to the Italian-language market! Snow & Winter has been contracted for translation and Nevermore, Curiosities, and Moving Image will begin rolling out in 2024. I look forward to sharing cover art and purchase links when they become available!

Translation: Jour de neige

The French edition of Color of You is now available as Jour de neige!

Blurb: En déménageant dans le New Hampshire, Bowen ne s’attendait pas à trouver l’amour. Ni à devoir se démener pour prouver à l’élu de son cœur que leur relation naissante vaut la peine de se battre.
Bowen Merlin – oui, c’est son vrai nom – accepte un poste dans la ville pittoresque de Lancaster, dans le New Hampshire, où il sera désormais le directeur du groupe de musique du lycée.
Il quitte New York pour la campagne enneigée de la Nouvelle-Angleterre juste à temps pour les fêtes de fin d’année. Entre les cours, les devoirs, les activités extrascolaires et un concert de Noël surprise dont il doit organiser la conception ainsi que les répétitions, Bowen est plutôt occupé. Et puisqu’il n’a jamais eu beaucoup de chance en amour, prendre du temps pour trouver Monsieur Parfait n’est pas dans ses priorités.
Du moins, jusqu’à ce qu’il rencontre le propriétaire de la pommeraie Snowy Ridge, Felix Hansen. Soudain, et pour la première fois de sa vie, accéder au véritable amour semble devenir une possibilité. Les deux hommes vont parfaitement ensemble et font palpiter le cœur de l’autre.
Malheureusement, aussi merveilleux que Felix puisse paraître, il garde en lui de vieilles cicatrices qui pourraient mettre fin à leur relation naissante, en particulier avec cette personne en ville qui se donne beaucoup de mal pour saboter leurs carrières.
Si Bowen veut survivre à ça, il va devoir s’appuyer sur ses anciens amis ainsi que les nouveaux, convaincre Felix qu’il en vaut la peine et lui prouver que, s’ils font face à la catastrophe ensemble, ils en sortiront plus forts.

Publisher: MxM Bookmark
Series: Nouveau départ à Lancaster
Book #: 2

Amazon | Kobo | 7Switch | iBooks

Friday, October 28, 2022

Release: Subway Slayings

I'm thrilled to finally be releasing the second book in the Memento Mori series and to have returned to my beloved Larkin and Doyle! These books are very difficult to write—piles of research books, endless hours lost to scientific studies, months of hemming and hawing over every single word because Larkin is so exact, so calculated, but so horribly broken, that the story is like walking a tightrope so as not to overwhelm the reader with too much sensory input. I hope you enjoy Subway Slayings as much as I did writing it.

Blurb:  Detective Everett Larkin of New York City’s Cold Case Squad has been on medical leave since catching the serial killer responsible for what the media has dubbed the “Death Mask Murders.” But Larkin hasn’t forgotten that another memento—another death—is waiting to be found.

Summer brings the grisly discovery of human remains in the subway system, but the clues point to one of Larkin’s already-open cases, so he resumes active duty. And when a postmortem photograph, akin to those taken during the Victorian Era, is located at the scene, Larkin requests aid from the most qualified man he knows: Detective Ira Doyle of the Forensic Artists Unit.

An unsolved case that suffered from tunnel vision, as well as the deconstruction of death portraits, leads Larkin and Doyle down a rabbit hole more complex than the tunnels beneath Manhattan. And if this investigation isn’t enough, both are struggling with how to address the growing intimacy between them. Because sometimes, love is more grave than murder.

Purchase: Available Online Retailers
Title: Subway Slayings
Series: Memento Mori
Book #: 2
Cover art: Reese Dante

Add to your Goodreads and BookBub today!

Soundtrack: Subway Slayings


Today is the release of Book 2 in the Memento Mori series and the return of detectives Larkin and Doyle: Subway Slayings. With the exception of the denouement, usually because I'm just beyond frazzled at that point and can't bear a single sound while working, I always write to music and tend to obsess over the same half a dozen songs for the entirety of the project. Here's the soundtrack that Subway Slayings was written to:


 
Save Tonight - Eagle-Eye Cherry 
 
 
 
Die Young - Sylvan Esso 
 
 
 
BETTER - Royal & The Serpent 
 
 
 
Without You - Avicii 
 
 
 
Help Me - Alkaline Trio 
 
 
 
I'm Good (Blue) - David Guetta & Bebe Rexha 
 
 
 
Nine - Boom Boom Satellites 
 
 
 
House of Memories - Panic! At the Disco 
 
 
 
Experience - Ludovico Einaudi

Thursday, October 13, 2022

Sale: The Mystery of Nevermore


The Mystery of Nevermore (Snow & Winter: Book One) is on sale! This is the story that began my writing career and I'm thrilled to offer new readers a chance to meet Sebastian and Calvin for only 99c.

This sale is valid for a limited time in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, and is hosted by Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, iBooks, and Kobo.

To be notified of future sales, please follow me on BookBub!

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Translation: Snow et Winter


After some housekeeping on my French translations, I'm happy to announce that Snow & Winter has transitioned to Mnemosyne Lit. and will be translated by my dear friend, Terry, the owner of the former Reines-Beaux house. Books 1 - 4 will be re-released, and The Mystery of the Spirits and Interlude will be translated into French for the first time!

Below is the publication schedule. All books are currently available for pre-order:

Le 28 octobre : Le Mystère du corbeau
Le 9 décembre : Le Mystère des ossements
Le 23 décembre : Le Mystère des esprits
Le 13 janvier 2023 : Interlude, recueil de nouvelles
 
For readers looking for more available French translations:

Juno Publishing:

Bookmark:
Jour du chance (Re-release Q4 2022)
Jour du neige (Release Q4 2022)
Magic & Steam (Release 2023)

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Coming Soon: Subway Slayings


Subway Slayings (Memento Mori: Book Two) is complete and in edits! Everett Larkin and Ira Doyle are returning October 28, 2022. Thank you, everyone, for your support and patience while my production dipped this year. Creative burnout is rough, and there's nothing I wanted more over the summer than to write, but it's not one of those things you can force, nor does it go away in a few days. And I'm thankful my burnout was only a few months and not years! I'm psyched to begin the next project, which will be a short story entitled, Curio.

You can pre-order Subway Slayings here. Please note that the book will also be available at Google Play and Smashwords—those links just come closer to release day.

And if you'd like to add Curio to your Goodreads shelf, you can do so here!

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

A Day in... Pt. 1

A (Very Exciting) Day in the Life of a Full-time Indie Author

Once upon a time, long, long ago in the ye olde days of the internet, I used to follow this fun group of strangers who would post 'a day in their life' via photographs. It was a really neat way to experience other places, cultures, and professions, and last week, it resurfaced in my mind and I thought: this could be a neat thing to do again!

I mean, let me preface, this life is not glamorous. I did nothing interesting. I didn't even hang out with my girlfriend. It was a very typical day. But hey, maybe someone will find it interesting, and maybe I'll do it again when there's something cooler on my calendar.

wake up

feed the kitties, skincare routine, make coffee...

activate the machine!

cereal while checking business accounts

and then work begins on Memento Mori 2

some light [research] reading...

a second cup of coffee and a second breakfast, because I'm a hobbit

walk around the apartment trying to work out plot kinks

post in my reader group on Facebook

about 5 1/2 hours of writing and research wrapped

a lunch of plant based hotdogs and fruit

watch a true crime doc on my break

kitties wake up for lunch

I can't jog in this heatwave, so an indoor workout will have to suffice

don't forget to hydrate!

also, vitamins

time for a shower

and we're dressed and ready for errands

check the P.O. Box

needed to get my glasses adjusted

walked by this cool doorway

picked up Sichuan for dinner!

arguably the most important decision of the day

spicy, cold sesame noodles is perfect when it's 900 degrees outside

check-in with the boys

a glass of whiskey...

...and bad TV while I catch up on some administration

yikes, two hours later!

give Milo a brush and top off my glass

doing a re-read on a favorite series before the release of Book 3

evening skincare routine and it's off to bed!

2022: Quarter 3

Welcome to the late start of Quarter 3 of 2022!

Suffice it to say, this year has not been going according to plan for me! Between Covid at the start of the year and burnout in the middle of the year, I've had to admit that my grandiose 2022 plans are simply not going to be fulfilled, and I need to take it easy on myself so that what I do produce is the high quality content I'm known for. That being said, here's a rough idea of what I foresee happening over the next few months.

July

Writing:
Subway Slayings (Memento Mori: Book Two)

Audio Release:
The Doctor (Magic & Steam: Book Three) - Audible does not supply a date. This is an estimate.

August

Writing:
Subway Slayings (Memento Mori: Book Two)

Writing:
Curio

Edit:
Subway Slayings (Memento Mori: Book Two)

September

Edit:
Subway Slayings (Memento Mori: Book Two)

Edit:
Curio

Release:
Subway Slayings (Memento Mori: Book Two) - 09/29/22

Reads: June, 2022


July has been a rough month, and I'm really behind schedule on pretty much everything, so I'm just now getting to sharing my reads!

Beyond the Mourning Veil: Postmortem & Mourning Photography by Thanatos Archive

Subway Lives: 24 Hours in the Life of the New York City Subway by Jim Dwyer

Off Duty: Volume 3 (Hazard & Somerset: Arrows in the Hand) by Gregory Ashe.

As always, I post my reviews at Goodreads and mirror them to BookBub (when they're listed) and welcome new followers!

Saturday, July 2, 2022

Sale: Madison Square Murders


Madison Square Murders
has been chosen as a July Kindle Monthly Deal, exclusively at Amazon UK! Until July 31st, pick up Book 1 in the Memento Mori series for only 99p and solve a twenty-year-old murder with neurodivergent Cold Case detective, Everett Larkin, and his forensic artist partner, Ira Doyle.

Madison recently won 1st place in mystery with both the Next Generation Indie and e-Lit Book Awards, and there's more twists, turns, sarcasm, banter, slow burn romance, and Larkin-knowledge-dumps (you have to be there to understand!) than you can shake a stick at.

Blurb: Everett Larkin works for the Cold Case Squad: an elite—if understaffed and overworked—group of detectives who solve the forgotten deaths of New York City. Larkin is different from others, but his deduction skills are unmatched and his memory for minute details is unparalleled.

So when a spring thunderstorm uproots a tree in Madison Square Park, unearthing a crate with human remains inside, the best Cold Case detective is assigned the job. And when a death mask, like those prominent during the Victorian era, is found with the body, Larkin requests assistance from the Forensic Artists Unit and receives it in the form of Detective Ira Doyle, his polar opposite in every way.

Factual reasoning and facial reconstruction puts Larkin and Doyle on a trail of old homicide cases and a murderer obsessed with casting his victims’ likeness in death. Include some unapologetic flirting from Doyle, and this case just may end up killing Everett Larkin.

Monday, June 13, 2022

Sale: Magic & Steam series


In celebration of International Steampunk Day this Tuesday, I've put the Magic & Steam series on sale all week! If you've been hesitant about steampunk as a genre, now is a great opportunity to give it a try and race the streets of Gilded Age New York City with magic-wielding federal agent, Gillian Hamilton and his gentleman thief and infamous outlaw lover, Gunner the Deadly. Take a ride on airships, battle crazed engineers and power-hungry gangsters, sneak into the gay clubs along the Bowery, and try to survive as a mysterious villain threatens the magic encompassing Gillian's world!

Book 1, The Engineer, is only 99c, and Book 2, The Gangster, is on sale for $1.99. Be sure to grab the newest release too: Book 3, The Doctor.