It's been a while since I've sent out one of these newsletters. August to be exact. With the holidays almost here, it's time to show the people we love how much they mean to us. What better gift for the reader in your life than a book they're sure to enjoy?
A Day in Fall makes a great gift or stocking stuffer. And right in time for the holidays, it's easier to purchase than ever!
Paperback Links: Amazon / Signed Copy / Books A Million
eBook Links: Amazon
Audiobook Links: Google Play / Kobo / (Now Available on Spotify!)
BIG IDEAS
Spy thriller
Conspiracy
Twists and turns
Sophisticated
Political
Action
Current events
Merch is available here
COMPARABLE AUTHORS
Daniel Silva
David McCloskey
Brad Thor
Steve Berry
David Baldacci
Vince Flynn
Brad Meltzer
Joseph Finder
A Day in Fall is the opening book in the four-part Echelon series. This series started out as what would happen if a president used shocking events (like riots and mass shootings) to distract the public while they siphoned away more power. (Crazy, right?)
But something bigger grew out of that initial concept - a deeper dive into the battle between forces of globalism and isolationism, for one. If the two ideologies went to "war" on a global scale, what would that look like? And can we figure out a way to slow down the climate change that threatens to wipe us out? What happens if we don't?
I don't pretend to have answers to those questions, but that's where the series is headed. Hidden conflicts with major consequences.
Michael Larson and his colleagues find themselves a the heart of these struggles - in a gray area where right and wrong are never absolute. In A Day in Winter, a gray war is being fought, one that takes Michael Larson and his friends from Africa, to Europe, and Asia. Buckle up; it's a wild ride.
**PUBLICATION UPDATE**
One international publisher has given a tentative "yes" to A Day in Winter, but there's no deal in place yet. If that works out, fantastic. If not, I have and continue to reach out to many other publishers. Spy thrillers aren't at the top of the publishing wish list at the moment, but A Day in Winter is timely and relevant to current events. I'd like to have it out in the world by the first half of 2025.
Here's a sneak peek from A Day in Winter:
Dominic watched the old man trudge away until he was swallowed by the compound, ignoring the pit of dread welling in his stomach. His first objective was complete. Distant rotor blades beating against the swamp’s high canopy signaled the second.
He reached into the backseat and grabbed the metal attaché case, clutching it tightly. Turning, he left the car and the long driveway, crossing a lawn that was too perfect to be anything but manmade. Like a secluded golf course; each blade of artificial grass trimmed to exacting specifications. Light glowed behind sheer curtains in the main house. He couldn’t peg why coming here made him uncomfortable. It was probably the swamp. There was nothing like this back home.
Then a helicopter crested the trees and sank toward him. Dominic started to run.
The hovering aircraft drowned out all other sounds, wind from its rotors so powerful that he was blown sideways. Dominic steadied himself and stopped running. His mind jumped to a soldier bursting out of the brush, shooting him in the head and pushing his corpse into the blackwater for alligators to feast on. The thought terrified him. But no soldier appeared.
He held the case up like a peace offering and approached the helicopter.
A side door slid open. One pale face appeared. Then another. They were gruff men, staring at him with mistrusting eyes. Dominic ducked under the swirling rotors and offered the case.
A hand reached down and grabbed it, hoisting it inside the helicopter and securing it somewhere he couldn’t see. Another shone a flashlight in his eyes.
“Good work,” a voice yelled over the rotors. Not American, Dominic realized. Russian. Just like him.
He tried to back away and the second Russian seized his arm.
“Let go! What are you doing?” Dominic screamed.
He had never been aboard a helicopter and had no desire to change that. Better to let them feed him to the gators.
The man ignored him. “You’re coming with us.”
Before he could protest, he was yanked aboard.
The helicopter rose until the ranch was a speck of light. And then Okefenokee Swamp and everything in it was gone.
If you'd like to be a beta reader and want advance copy, let me know right here or email me at ceharned@gmail.com. It ratchets up the action and intensity from A Day in Fall.
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
Speaking of gifting books, here are some great ones I've read recently that you might enjoy:
The Housemaid's Secret: Freida McFadden is all the rage right now. The housemaid series seems mundane until it knocks you on your back. This sequel to the hit first installment is no exception.
The Quiet Game: Greg Iles is a heavy hitter in the conspiracy thriller world. This is the first book in his Penn Cage series - a menacing crime thriller with plenty of legal thriller vibes thrown in.
The Club: Ellery Lloyd has a Lucy Foley-esque (if you don't know, Google her) thriller here with family/employee drama and plenty of characters ready to blackmail, deceive,...and kill.
The Locked Door: Another Freida McFadden hit that's not part of the Housemaid series. Maybe it's even better. That's for you to decide.
The House of Wolves: James Patterson and Mike Lupica find away to make a book about a tomboy daughter inheriting an NFL franchise one of the best crime thrillers I've read in a while.
First Lie Wins: Ashley Elston did great things with this one. A girl shows up in a small town under a false identity. All is well until someone shows up pretending to be her. Read it!
Rivers of London: Ben Aaronovitch created a series that's like Harry Potter for adults. I came away a big fan.
Guilty Minds: Joseph Finder knows what he's doing when it comes to crime/conspiracy thrillers. Plenty of intrigue with just the right amount of action.
That's all for now. More to come on A Day in Winter (and hopefully another book or two) when there's some concrete news on that front. Follow me on TikTok @charlesharnedauthor and Instagram @charlieharned.author for giveaways and more! And while you're here, subscribe to my newsletter here.
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