Well, apparently it's not the end of the world like some of the people who misinterpreted the whole Mayan calendar believed. If it was, then my latest interview would not have been posted this morning.
This one was done by another dear friend, fellow NaNoWriMo participant, and also self-published author, Allison Cosgrove. Allison is the creator of the Stan Brookshire detective series, and has released the first novel from it, Sacrifice of Innocence -- a novel I enjoyed so much, a comment from my review is ending up on the cover of the book's second edition; which will be released this January. In the meantime, Ms. Cosgrove is in the midst of working on her second novel, Dragon Twins, for a planned released this coming April.
You can check out her website at StanBrookshire.com . While you're there, you can read the Q & A I did for her site, or you can click here to go to the article directly.
This will be my last post before the holidays, so I would like to wish my readers a Happy Holidays and a happy and safe start to 2013.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
My first interview in years
I have to admit, this is an experience I haven't felt in quite a while.
Last week, I was the subject of an interview -- conducted by my dear friend, Dianna L. Gunn -- for her website. In it, I discussed my past and upcoming projects; as well as, my experiences in the realm of self-publishing. Looking back, I have to sit back and say, "Wow, I did that?"
Sure, I've done interviews for jobs I've applied to, and I admit, a community newspaper article back in the 1980s when I was trying my hand at being a track-and-field athlete (I wasn't all that good; hence, why I switched to swimming the following decade); however, seeing your words in an article is quite an eye-opener. It enables people to see your views and opinions from your own eyes and mind. Mind you, it's no different than writing a blog entry, but viewing it on a website other than your own, or in print, is a bewildering accomplishment.
It has been quite an adventure over the past year and a bit. Here I was back in November 2011, about to participate in my third NaNoWriMo; fresh off a disappointing first attempt at Camp NaNoWriMo the preceding August, and one year removed from the crippling meltdown I endured. I wanted to turn my fortunes around and compose a compelling tale for the annual writing challenge. Fast-forward to December 2012, and now I have two published novels under my belt with a third in the midst of editing. It's been a wild ride, so far, and one I don't want to disembark from just yet. It all seems so surreal.
If you're interested in checking out the interview, you can do so here: http://diannaswritingden.com/2012/12/19/author-interview-douglas-mcleod/
Last week, I was the subject of an interview -- conducted by my dear friend, Dianna L. Gunn -- for her website. In it, I discussed my past and upcoming projects; as well as, my experiences in the realm of self-publishing. Looking back, I have to sit back and say, "Wow, I did that?"
Sure, I've done interviews for jobs I've applied to, and I admit, a community newspaper article back in the 1980s when I was trying my hand at being a track-and-field athlete (I wasn't all that good; hence, why I switched to swimming the following decade); however, seeing your words in an article is quite an eye-opener. It enables people to see your views and opinions from your own eyes and mind. Mind you, it's no different than writing a blog entry, but viewing it on a website other than your own, or in print, is a bewildering accomplishment.
It has been quite an adventure over the past year and a bit. Here I was back in November 2011, about to participate in my third NaNoWriMo; fresh off a disappointing first attempt at Camp NaNoWriMo the preceding August, and one year removed from the crippling meltdown I endured. I wanted to turn my fortunes around and compose a compelling tale for the annual writing challenge. Fast-forward to December 2012, and now I have two published novels under my belt with a third in the midst of editing. It's been a wild ride, so far, and one I don't want to disembark from just yet. It all seems so surreal.
If you're interested in checking out the interview, you can do so here: http://diannaswritingden.com/2012/12/19/author-interview-douglas-mcleod/
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Recovering From A Crazy November
Hello, dear Gary Celdom followers,
My apologies for being silent over the past few weeks. Things have been crazy here in my life, but not without good reason. As most of those who know me are aware of, I am an annual participant in National Novel Writing Month; a writing challenge that requests those who take part to pen a 50,000-word novel within 30 days. It is this challenge that lead to my first self-published novel, Scarlet Siege, and also provided the framework for my second novel, Barbadian Backlash; both of which are now available for sale at fine online retailers like Amazon.com, kobobooks.com, and other retailers affiliated through the Smashwords Network (i.e. Barnes&Noble.com).
In this year's edition of the month-long write-a-thon, I composed the first draft of what I hope to be the next adventure in the Gary Celdom Case Journals series; tentatively entitled, Rouge Numbered Week. In it, the trio of Gary, Jessica, and Karen are on the trail of a mass-murder causing a reign of terror during the festivities for the Canadian football Championship being held in Toronto. Gary's writing compatriot, Doug Bennett, also makes a notable appearance, but I won't spoil how he is involved in the story. You'll have to wait until the book is released sometime in 2013 to find out what happens. Stay tuned to GaryCeldom.com for updates.
One thing I love about participating in "NaNoWriMo" is the opportunity to meet fellow aspiring novelists; some of which have gone on to publish their own works. One of which is fellow Toronto-area participant, Allison Cosgrove. A few years back, she wrote her own detective novel, Sacrifice of Innocence. In it, her main character, Detective Stan Brookshire, is on the trail of a cult that has been conducting ritualistic murders of children. However, his troubled past is hindering his involvement in the investigation. It is a tale of mystery, and suspense that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Can Detective Brookshire stop the cult, and clear his name before it's too late? The second edition of Allison's novel is being released in January 2013. You can follow her at StanBrookshire.com
Another author I have had the pleasure of meeting during my involvement with the November writing fest is Hilary Slater. She is a multi-faceted artist who paints, writes, plays the cello, and is a studying yoga instructor. Over the course of the past ten Novembers she has written 23 first draft novels. However, it wasn't until this year that she has ventured forth to release her first self-published novel, The Bird People. The novel, catered towards the Young Adult demographic, is a tale of two children who learn they are descended from an ancient civilization that can transform themselves into aviary creatures. The children then embark on a life-altering quest to the South American continent in an attempt to find not only their long-lost grandfather, but more about themselves. The Bird People is slated for an early 2013 release. Find out more about this talented writer and artist on her blog, HilarySlater.com
That's all for now here at my writing desk. In case I forget between now and then, I would like to wish all of the readers Happy Holidays and a very Happy and Healthy 2013. Thank you all for your continued support, and keep reading.
My apologies for being silent over the past few weeks. Things have been crazy here in my life, but not without good reason. As most of those who know me are aware of, I am an annual participant in National Novel Writing Month; a writing challenge that requests those who take part to pen a 50,000-word novel within 30 days. It is this challenge that lead to my first self-published novel, Scarlet Siege, and also provided the framework for my second novel, Barbadian Backlash; both of which are now available for sale at fine online retailers like Amazon.com, kobobooks.com, and other retailers affiliated through the Smashwords Network (i.e. Barnes&Noble.com).
In this year's edition of the month-long write-a-thon, I composed the first draft of what I hope to be the next adventure in the Gary Celdom Case Journals series; tentatively entitled, Rouge Numbered Week. In it, the trio of Gary, Jessica, and Karen are on the trail of a mass-murder causing a reign of terror during the festivities for the Canadian football Championship being held in Toronto. Gary's writing compatriot, Doug Bennett, also makes a notable appearance, but I won't spoil how he is involved in the story. You'll have to wait until the book is released sometime in 2013 to find out what happens. Stay tuned to GaryCeldom.com for updates.
One thing I love about participating in "NaNoWriMo" is the opportunity to meet fellow aspiring novelists; some of which have gone on to publish their own works. One of which is fellow Toronto-area participant, Allison Cosgrove. A few years back, she wrote her own detective novel, Sacrifice of Innocence. In it, her main character, Detective Stan Brookshire, is on the trail of a cult that has been conducting ritualistic murders of children. However, his troubled past is hindering his involvement in the investigation. It is a tale of mystery, and suspense that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Can Detective Brookshire stop the cult, and clear his name before it's too late? The second edition of Allison's novel is being released in January 2013. You can follow her at StanBrookshire.com
Another author I have had the pleasure of meeting during my involvement with the November writing fest is Hilary Slater. She is a multi-faceted artist who paints, writes, plays the cello, and is a studying yoga instructor. Over the course of the past ten Novembers she has written 23 first draft novels. However, it wasn't until this year that she has ventured forth to release her first self-published novel, The Bird People. The novel, catered towards the Young Adult demographic, is a tale of two children who learn they are descended from an ancient civilization that can transform themselves into aviary creatures. The children then embark on a life-altering quest to the South American continent in an attempt to find not only their long-lost grandfather, but more about themselves. The Bird People is slated for an early 2013 release. Find out more about this talented writer and artist on her blog, HilarySlater.com
That's all for now here at my writing desk. In case I forget between now and then, I would like to wish all of the readers Happy Holidays and a very Happy and Healthy 2013. Thank you all for your continued support, and keep reading.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
It's Time For Gary to Face the "Backlash"
Greetings from my current desk here in Toronto.
As I write this blog post, I am currently in the midst of preparing for this year's National Novel Writing Month. This November, I'm planning on penning the third adventure featuring the trio of Gary, Jessica, and Karen; set during the upcoming festivities of the Canadian Football Championship taking place here in Toronto in a few weeks. Admittedly, I'm concerned about how it will turn out, but we shall see as the month progresses.
Also, as I look on my calendar, today is the official release of the second installment of the "Gary Celdom Case Journals" series entitled, Barbadian Backlash. The novel takes place almost two months after Scarlet Siege where Gary and Jessica are in the midst of investigating a string of break-and-enters, when Detective Celdom's old writing buddy, Doug "Highlander" Bennett, comes calling, and asks if he could interview Gary as research for his upcoming novel writing project. The interview leads to Gary reminiscing about a case he was assigned to four years ago into the murder of his former partner with the Toronto P.D. We see Gary travel to Barbados on the trail of his colleague's killer, but during the investigation, he meets and catches the eye of a bar waitress; her name, Elaine Abraham.
So, as the story progresses, we see Gary conflicted about his history with Elaine, and how he hasn't been completely up front about it with Jessica. All the while, Karen is needling him about the mistake he made by entering a relationship with the Barbadian. To complicate matters, the investigation into the current break-and-enters leads to the officers of the Special Investigations Unit injecting themselves, and Gary finds himself in a bind that could cost him his career.
Does Gary still have his job? How does Jessica take the news of what really transpired in Barbados, and is she and Gary still together? Find out in Barbadian Backlash. You can pick up your copy in your desired format by clicking on the appropriate link on the right.
Now, time for me to do some more pre-plotting before Thursday.
-- DJM
As I write this blog post, I am currently in the midst of preparing for this year's National Novel Writing Month. This November, I'm planning on penning the third adventure featuring the trio of Gary, Jessica, and Karen; set during the upcoming festivities of the Canadian Football Championship taking place here in Toronto in a few weeks. Admittedly, I'm concerned about how it will turn out, but we shall see as the month progresses.
Also, as I look on my calendar, today is the official release of the second installment of the "Gary Celdom Case Journals" series entitled, Barbadian Backlash. The novel takes place almost two months after Scarlet Siege where Gary and Jessica are in the midst of investigating a string of break-and-enters, when Detective Celdom's old writing buddy, Doug "Highlander" Bennett, comes calling, and asks if he could interview Gary as research for his upcoming novel writing project. The interview leads to Gary reminiscing about a case he was assigned to four years ago into the murder of his former partner with the Toronto P.D. We see Gary travel to Barbados on the trail of his colleague's killer, but during the investigation, he meets and catches the eye of a bar waitress; her name, Elaine Abraham.
So, as the story progresses, we see Gary conflicted about his history with Elaine, and how he hasn't been completely up front about it with Jessica. All the while, Karen is needling him about the mistake he made by entering a relationship with the Barbadian. To complicate matters, the investigation into the current break-and-enters leads to the officers of the Special Investigations Unit injecting themselves, and Gary finds himself in a bind that could cost him his career.
Does Gary still have his job? How does Jessica take the news of what really transpired in Barbados, and is she and Gary still together? Find out in Barbadian Backlash. You can pick up your copy in your desired format by clicking on the appropriate link on the right.
Now, time for me to do some more pre-plotting before Thursday.
-- DJM
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Flash Friday: Thoughts of a Steeltown Icon
I don't live here, I am a resident of a rival city. However, I have integrated myself into the culture and lore of this grand ole field. Its' heritage, its' legacy, its' heroes; all have been instilled into my thoughts, as if I have been living amongst the nearby smokestacks of my life.
I have visited here along with the rivals a few times before, seeing it as dangerous territory. The action mere metres from where I have sat. Fate would change my stature a mere half-a-decade ago, and now I feel like an ally, rather than the enemy. In that short time, I have walked within its hallowed gallows, and I revel in the greats who have stepped onto its marked surface. From adverse conditions, to last-second glory, to hometown heroics that included hoisting the prized chalice. Memories that will last forever, but the building's existence will not.
Within a fortnight, they will demolish this palace, the Bastion on Balsam. They will resurrect it with a new cathedral, in hopes new milestones will be created and remembered. However, they will never take away from the history of this neighbourhood. I don't know if I will be amongst those will return full-time when this phoenix rises from its ashes, but the lore will never leave me. For I will never forget the place they've called Ivor Wynne.
I have visited here along with the rivals a few times before, seeing it as dangerous territory. The action mere metres from where I have sat. Fate would change my stature a mere half-a-decade ago, and now I feel like an ally, rather than the enemy. In that short time, I have walked within its hallowed gallows, and I revel in the greats who have stepped onto its marked surface. From adverse conditions, to last-second glory, to hometown heroics that included hoisting the prized chalice. Memories that will last forever, but the building's existence will not.
Within a fortnight, they will demolish this palace, the Bastion on Balsam. They will resurrect it with a new cathedral, in hopes new milestones will be created and remembered. However, they will never take away from the history of this neighbourhood. I don't know if I will be amongst those will return full-time when this phoenix rises from its ashes, but the lore will never leave me. For I will never forget the place they've called Ivor Wynne.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Time To Get Your Write On: NaNoWriMo 2012
At the risk of sounding more eccentric than I already am, "It's the most wonderful time of the year..." Yes, as of this posting, it is three-and-a-half weeks until the commencement of one of my most favourite points on the calendar. It is a time where myself, and thousands of others around the globe, embark on a journey that will take them to the inner sanctums of their own creative psyches in a bid to do something that most people would think is ludicrous. It is almost time for the 2012 edition of NaNoWriMo.
What the heck is NaNoWriMo?
Allow me to break it down for you. NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month. It is a literary journey where people around the world, with the gumption to do so, set out to do what seems impossible. Their task at hand is to write a novel. Not just any novel; a novel that is a work of fiction that contains at least 50,000 words. However, there is a catch to the task. Those 50,000+ words must be written within a specific time frame: from one second after the stroke of midnight the writer's local time on November 1st until one tick of the clock before the end of November 30th.
50,000 words in 30 days? Are you insane?
Naturally, it would be easy to draw that conclusion; however, like I said before, there are others from around the globe who are embarking on this challenge, as well. Some of which are in your own neck of the woods. So, in essence, you're not really alone in the endeavour. What's more, it enables one to establish a new social circle where you can gather at different events to work on your respective novels-to-be. They can be at a local library, an area coffee shop, or even someplace off-the-wall -- like in my current hometown of Toronto, Canada; where they arrange for a group of people to write while riding on the subway. What's more, in some regions, they will even organize a special weekend where you all gather in a disclosed location, and type or scribble away all through the night. It's like a sleepover, but you're all working towards your respective 50,000 word goals. In short, you could create a novel, and have some awesome fun in the process.
This sounds interesting. Where can I find out more information about this?
It sounds like I've piqued your curiosity. If you'd like to probe even further, you can surf on over to the NaNoWriMo website at http://www.nanowrimo.org , and what's more, sign-up is absolutely FREE! However, it is a non-profit organization, so while it's not mandatory, if you're able to scrape up a couple of dollars and donate it to them directly, or through your region at one of the write-in or social events, they would greatly appreciate it. Doing so will help them continue to carry on such a wonderful event year in and year out.
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to go over right now and register.
That's great. If you do, I hope you are successful in reaching the 50,000 word goal. Trust me, it is possible. *pets his copy of Scarlet Siege as proof.*
What the heck is NaNoWriMo?
Allow me to break it down for you. NaNoWriMo is short for National Novel Writing Month. It is a literary journey where people around the world, with the gumption to do so, set out to do what seems impossible. Their task at hand is to write a novel. Not just any novel; a novel that is a work of fiction that contains at least 50,000 words. However, there is a catch to the task. Those 50,000+ words must be written within a specific time frame: from one second after the stroke of midnight the writer's local time on November 1st until one tick of the clock before the end of November 30th.
50,000 words in 30 days? Are you insane?
Naturally, it would be easy to draw that conclusion; however, like I said before, there are others from around the globe who are embarking on this challenge, as well. Some of which are in your own neck of the woods. So, in essence, you're not really alone in the endeavour. What's more, it enables one to establish a new social circle where you can gather at different events to work on your respective novels-to-be. They can be at a local library, an area coffee shop, or even someplace off-the-wall -- like in my current hometown of Toronto, Canada; where they arrange for a group of people to write while riding on the subway. What's more, in some regions, they will even organize a special weekend where you all gather in a disclosed location, and type or scribble away all through the night. It's like a sleepover, but you're all working towards your respective 50,000 word goals. In short, you could create a novel, and have some awesome fun in the process.
This sounds interesting. Where can I find out more information about this?
It sounds like I've piqued your curiosity. If you'd like to probe even further, you can surf on over to the NaNoWriMo website at http://www.nanowrimo.org , and what's more, sign-up is absolutely FREE! However, it is a non-profit organization, so while it's not mandatory, if you're able to scrape up a couple of dollars and donate it to them directly, or through your region at one of the write-in or social events, they would greatly appreciate it. Doing so will help them continue to carry on such a wonderful event year in and year out.
Thanks for the tip. I'm going to go over right now and register.
That's great. If you do, I hope you are successful in reaching the 50,000 word goal. Trust me, it is possible. *pets his copy of Scarlet Siege as proof.*
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
What's Happening With Gary...
Hello, fellow readers...
My apologies for not posting anything for a little while; I've been rather busy with a few things. First, I'm gradually increasing the availability of Scarlet Siege for various e-Readers. After much waiting, my debut novel will be released on Kobobooks.com this coming Saturday, September 29th. However, realizing I needed to branch out further than that, I have signed up with Smashwords to widen the book's reach. As of current writing, Scarlet Siege is not only available on the Smashwords site, but has shown up on Diesel e-Books, and for Apple's iBooks service. I was hoping it would appear on Barnes & Noble's Nook service by now; however, there has been a delay in that respect; however, it should be made available soon. It should be noted, there is a listing for the paperback version on the B&N site, but it is through a secondary retailer who is charging twice as much as if you would be able to purchase it directly via Amazon. I don't know about you all, but to me $7.99, plus shipping is a lot more economical than playing $16.87, plus the cost of having it mailed. However, this is not the only news that I have with this posting.
As you may know, I have been working on the revisions for my second novel, Barbadian Backlash, over the past few weeks. Well, I am pleased to announce that the edits have now been completed, and the cover has been designed. I would like to take this time to thank my dear friends, Marissa Moses for supplying me with the cover photo, and Jen Geffros for helping me edit Marissa's snapshot to get the hue just right. Lately, I've been immediately posting updates on Facebook, and I know that has given this blog great injustice. However, I'm making amends right now. For it's public Internet debut, I would like to reveal the cover for my second adventure with Gary, Jessica, and Karen for you all, right here on Gary Celdom.com ...
Now, the question is: when will you, the loyal supporter and reader, be able to obtain your copy of my latest tome? Well, I'm trying to guesstimate the timing, but I am shooting for a release date of Tuesday, October 30th. And instead of it popping up on various websites on a staggered date, I will do my best that this will be the date it will be made available on Amazon's Kindle service, Kobobooks.com, and Smashwords. I'm hoping the paperback version will be released on this date as well.
Thank you all for your continued support, and stay tuned. This November, I commence work on the third episode of the Gary Celdom Case Journals series. I shouldn't give any spoilers, but it involves a murder during the festivities for the 100th edition of the Canadian professional football championship. Until next time, happy reading.
My apologies for not posting anything for a little while; I've been rather busy with a few things. First, I'm gradually increasing the availability of Scarlet Siege for various e-Readers. After much waiting, my debut novel will be released on Kobobooks.com this coming Saturday, September 29th. However, realizing I needed to branch out further than that, I have signed up with Smashwords to widen the book's reach. As of current writing, Scarlet Siege is not only available on the Smashwords site, but has shown up on Diesel e-Books, and for Apple's iBooks service. I was hoping it would appear on Barnes & Noble's Nook service by now; however, there has been a delay in that respect; however, it should be made available soon. It should be noted, there is a listing for the paperback version on the B&N site, but it is through a secondary retailer who is charging twice as much as if you would be able to purchase it directly via Amazon. I don't know about you all, but to me $7.99, plus shipping is a lot more economical than playing $16.87, plus the cost of having it mailed. However, this is not the only news that I have with this posting.
As you may know, I have been working on the revisions for my second novel, Barbadian Backlash, over the past few weeks. Well, I am pleased to announce that the edits have now been completed, and the cover has been designed. I would like to take this time to thank my dear friends, Marissa Moses for supplying me with the cover photo, and Jen Geffros for helping me edit Marissa's snapshot to get the hue just right. Lately, I've been immediately posting updates on Facebook, and I know that has given this blog great injustice. However, I'm making amends right now. For it's public Internet debut, I would like to reveal the cover for my second adventure with Gary, Jessica, and Karen for you all, right here on Gary Celdom.com ...
Now, the question is: when will you, the loyal supporter and reader, be able to obtain your copy of my latest tome? Well, I'm trying to guesstimate the timing, but I am shooting for a release date of Tuesday, October 30th. And instead of it popping up on various websites on a staggered date, I will do my best that this will be the date it will be made available on Amazon's Kindle service, Kobobooks.com, and Smashwords. I'm hoping the paperback version will be released on this date as well.
Thank you all for your continued support, and stay tuned. This November, I commence work on the third episode of the Gary Celdom Case Journals series. I shouldn't give any spoilers, but it involves a murder during the festivities for the 100th edition of the Canadian professional football championship. Until next time, happy reading.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Short: High Has Sunk So Low
There have been a lot of
things I've seen during my 27-year career. I've witnessed grizzly deaths, I've
experienced both triumph and heartbreak; none more vivid than when Karen was
taken away from me on what was supposed to be my wedding day. However, I could
never imagine what I witnessed the other day.
Jessica and I happened to be making our way to The Beach for a nice little dinner out; something to help us unwind after solving another case together. As we were driving along Queen St. East, towards Woodbine Avenue, we noticed a commotion out by the Greenwood Tele-theatre. It's situated on the site of the old Greenwood horse racing track, but they've turned part of the old Grandstand into a little horse betting parlour where one could wager on various simulcast thoroughbred and harness races from around the continent. I was going to drive on past it; thinking it was a matter that would be handled by the officers at the nearby 55 Division, but something in the back of my head told me to rubberneck and see what it was all about. Looking back, I probably should have ignored it altogether.
Apparently, one of the patrons had gotten unruly to the point where he was escorted out of the facility and was being threatened with trespassing charges. Detective Emerson thought such a complaint was excessive, but we would later find out that the offender had previously self-excluded himself from all Ontario Lottery and Gaming venues, and for some reason, he felt compelled to try his luck at playing the ponies; thinking such an edict only applied to casino and slot facilities across the province. The ejected patron was noticeably agitated and was shouting obscenities at the security guards. Fearing the situation would get out of hand, I pulled over, and both Jessica and I decided to interject ourselves in a bid to defuse the situation. I asked the unruly individual to calm himself down, and as he turned to me; that was when my heart had sank. I knew the person who was creating all the fuss. It was my old writing companion, Highlander.
Both my girlfriend/partner and I would accompany him to the nearby police Division, and as much as we apologised for stepping on the booking officers' toes, we took him into one of the Interrogation Rooms to find out what the hell was going on with him. It was then that my illusion of the budding writer had shattered. While he was still struggling to get an initial work published, he confessed to both Jessica and myself that he was a problem gambler who had been seeking counselling for his addiction; even going as far as self-excluding himself from all casino and slot facilities last April; however, about a month ago, his one-on-one counsellor explained that such an edict only applied to those certain facilities, and not lottery kiosks. Upon the knowledge of this "exemption", he had fallen back hard onto playing the daily lotteries. It was only today he attempted to see if it applied to the Tele-theatre near The Beach, since he knew Woodbine was off-limits to him. It was a gamble that didn't pay off. Then again, gambling in general rarely does and one usually ends up losing more often than winning.
After all was said and done, Highlander was let off with a Warning: if he were to ever show his face down at the Queen East facility, he would be formally charged. Jessica and I drove him back to his place, and left a message with his one-on-one addictions' counsellor to inform him of this lapse. It's a shame that my friend had hit a tailspin. Before he recently slipped he had been clean for 5-1/2 months. I don't know if he can successfully get back on the wagon, but considering he stuck his neck out for me during the hostage siege last month, I sincerely hope that he does.
Jessica and I happened to be making our way to The Beach for a nice little dinner out; something to help us unwind after solving another case together. As we were driving along Queen St. East, towards Woodbine Avenue, we noticed a commotion out by the Greenwood Tele-theatre. It's situated on the site of the old Greenwood horse racing track, but they've turned part of the old Grandstand into a little horse betting parlour where one could wager on various simulcast thoroughbred and harness races from around the continent. I was going to drive on past it; thinking it was a matter that would be handled by the officers at the nearby 55 Division, but something in the back of my head told me to rubberneck and see what it was all about. Looking back, I probably should have ignored it altogether.
Apparently, one of the patrons had gotten unruly to the point where he was escorted out of the facility and was being threatened with trespassing charges. Detective Emerson thought such a complaint was excessive, but we would later find out that the offender had previously self-excluded himself from all Ontario Lottery and Gaming venues, and for some reason, he felt compelled to try his luck at playing the ponies; thinking such an edict only applied to casino and slot facilities across the province. The ejected patron was noticeably agitated and was shouting obscenities at the security guards. Fearing the situation would get out of hand, I pulled over, and both Jessica and I decided to interject ourselves in a bid to defuse the situation. I asked the unruly individual to calm himself down, and as he turned to me; that was when my heart had sank. I knew the person who was creating all the fuss. It was my old writing companion, Highlander.
Both my girlfriend/partner and I would accompany him to the nearby police Division, and as much as we apologised for stepping on the booking officers' toes, we took him into one of the Interrogation Rooms to find out what the hell was going on with him. It was then that my illusion of the budding writer had shattered. While he was still struggling to get an initial work published, he confessed to both Jessica and myself that he was a problem gambler who had been seeking counselling for his addiction; even going as far as self-excluding himself from all casino and slot facilities last April; however, about a month ago, his one-on-one counsellor explained that such an edict only applied to those certain facilities, and not lottery kiosks. Upon the knowledge of this "exemption", he had fallen back hard onto playing the daily lotteries. It was only today he attempted to see if it applied to the Tele-theatre near The Beach, since he knew Woodbine was off-limits to him. It was a gamble that didn't pay off. Then again, gambling in general rarely does and one usually ends up losing more often than winning.
After all was said and done, Highlander was let off with a Warning: if he were to ever show his face down at the Queen East facility, he would be formally charged. Jessica and I drove him back to his place, and left a message with his one-on-one addictions' counsellor to inform him of this lapse. It's a shame that my friend had hit a tailspin. Before he recently slipped he had been clean for 5-1/2 months. I don't know if he can successfully get back on the wagon, but considering he stuck his neck out for me during the hostage siege last month, I sincerely hope that he does.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Sneak peek: Chapter 1 of "Barbadian Backlash"
I had previously posted this on Goodreads, but since I now have this blog as my new writing showcase, I figured I should post this here.
I'm currently in the midst of editing my second adventure with Gary, Jessica, and Karen; entitled Barbadian Backlash. In it, Detectives Celdom and Amerson are on the trail of a suspect responsible for a number of break and enters in the Regent Park area; however, as the two Toronto detectives are about to proceed with the case, Gary gets a call from his old writing buddy -- whom he reunited with in Scarlet Siege -- to interview him for a future Novel Writing Challenge project. The interview leads Detective Celdom to recall the case where he was sent to Barbados to assist in the investigation of the murder of his former partner. It is during this Caribbean case where Gary first meets the infamous Elaine Abraham. Below is the opening chapter of this tome.
--
I'm currently in the midst of editing my second adventure with Gary, Jessica, and Karen; entitled Barbadian Backlash. In it, Detectives Celdom and Amerson are on the trail of a suspect responsible for a number of break and enters in the Regent Park area; however, as the two Toronto detectives are about to proceed with the case, Gary gets a call from his old writing buddy -- whom he reunited with in Scarlet Siege -- to interview him for a future Novel Writing Challenge project. The interview leads Detective Celdom to recall the case where he was sent to Barbados to assist in the investigation of the murder of his former partner. It is during this Caribbean case where Gary first meets the infamous Elaine Abraham. Below is the opening chapter of this tome.
--
If
there is one season I enjoy out of the entire year, its autumn. The weather
starts to get a little cooler, the foliage on the trees change into a
kaleidoscope of red, yellow, and brown, and if you happen to be Canadian – like
I am – the dawning of a new professional ice hockey season is upon you. Mind
you, if you happen to be a fan of such a sport in Toronto, chances are you look
upon the season with much promise with the hopes that the Maple Leafs will
finally seize the season and make a serious run for the league championship;
only to have your hopes dashed sometime around the All-Star break in late
January. Unfortunately, in my line of work, one doesn’t get much of an
opportunity to get too involved with such follies. For I happen to be a detective
with the Toronto P.D. with 27 years of experience under my belt.
I
have seen a lot during my years on the job, but things took an interesting
twist just a little over a month earlier when, after I was in the midst of a
hostage situation during a fan convention for my favourite television series, I
begun a new romantic relationship. I had been involved with a couple of women
in the past; one of which still haunts me to this day. However, the one I
commenced the previous August was different. For I wasn’t dating any fellow
member of the law; I was dating my partner.
“So,
Gary,” she asked, “do you have any plans for Thanksgiving?”
“Not
really, Jessica,” I told my partner. “I was thinking of closing up my cottage
in the Kawarthas for the winter. But other than that, I don’t have anything
concrete in the cards.”
Just
then, I heard a ghostly voice urging my co-worker.
“Go
on,” the spirit encouraged. “Ask him.”
“I
was wondering if you would like to come to my place for Thanksgiving dinner,”
my co-worker enquired.
I
turned to the spectre and quizzed, “And you didn’t put her up to this?”
“Relax,
Gary,” Karen reassured. “I had no part in this whatsoever. Well, aside from her
talking to me about it and asking what I thought.”
In
the few weeks since it started happening, it is a notion that I still have
problems fathoming. In the run-up to my first date with my partner, Detective
Jessica Amerson, the spirit of my long-departed fiancée, Karen Prairie,
revealed herself to Jessica, and gave her the incentive that out of all the
women I have dated in the twenty years since her death, Jessica would be the
one that would receive Karen’s blessing to enter into a relationship with
Detective Gary Celdom. Up until that point, I was the only one who could
actually see and hear my ex-fiancée. However, Karen’s reasoning was since
Jessica and I have the same chemistry that she and I used to share, she
believed the two of us would be able to hit it off outside of the workplace, as
well as working the beat.
“I
don’t know,” I hesitated. “What about Benny?”
“You
can bring him along,” Jessica replied. “I’m sure he’d like gnawing on the bone
from a turkey drumstick.”
“And
huskies are just like any dog,” Karen added. “Just make sure you save a little
bit of meat on it for him.”
I
was thinking about the prospect of my pet of the past seven years tagging along
for the festive feast. Usually for the autumn harvest feast Benny and I just
spend an extra day up at the cottage and have a quiet meal together consisting
of a microwavable turkey entree for myself and some premium kibble with a
little bit of a turkey slice from my dinner mixed in. Having an actual
home-cooked holiday meal with someone you care about is a rarity I enjoy
anymore. Then again, this Thanksgiving will be the first actual holiday Jessica
and I would be spending together. It would be a welcome change from the typical
pace I have enjoyed for the past couple of decades. I was about to give my
response when my desk phone suddenly rang. I temporarily excused myself from
the conversation to take the call.
“Toronto
P.D., Detective Celdom,” I answered.
“Hello,
Toronto Phoenix?” the voice on the other end queried.
Out
of all of the years I have worked as a detective here in Toronto, there is only
one group that has referred to me by such a moniker. It was the alias I had
given myself nearly three years ago to the day when I became a participating
member of the Toronto chapter for a month-long novel writing challenge. It was
an event I got turned onto by one Elaine Abraham, a waitress I had met four
years ago when I was in Barbados investigating the murder of my former partner,
Rob McManus. I was all set to scribe my own 50,000-word novel when that
November’s event turned into a crime spree. One of the participants turned into
a murderous psychopath because he objected to some of the members within the
chapter creating a character within their novels based on him, and then killing
him off in the name of prose. I could understand being a little miffed about
such homage, but the problem with some people who have a few screws lose: they
tend to take their displeasure too far and act out upon it. While a few budding
writers did end up losing their lives in the process, I was able to eventually
apprehend the killer with the assist of one of the fellow writers; a gentleman
who called himself “Highlander of the Bluffs.”
He
and I would meet up again, ironically, during the hostage siege a few weeks
prior to today, and would even offer himself up as a sacrifice in a bid to save
me after one of the captors pointed a loaded assault rifle at us. Fortunately,
Jessica and the rest of the reinforcements showed up before Highlander and I
became the third and fourth murder victims that weekend.
“Yes,”
I confirmed, “this is him.”
“My
apologies for intruding, Detective Celdom,” the voice on the other end of the
line spoke. “It’s Highlander.”
“Oh,
hello there,” I recognized. “What can I do for you?”
“Well,”
he commented, “as you know, a few weeks from now is the annual novel writing
challenge.”
“That
it is,” I nodded. “Have you thought about what you’re going to write yet this
year?”
“Actually,”
Highlander replied, “that’s why I’m calling you. I’m planning on redoing the
novel I wrote when we first met three years ago and I was wondering if I could
interview you for some research?”
“You
mean that detective novel you tried to hammer out back then?” I enquired.
“That
would be the one,” he noted. “I figured I could pick your brain so I could help
solidify my story idea. You know, smooth out the rough edges I had back then.”
“I
don’t know,” I said reluctantly. “You wouldn’t be using any case details
word-for-word would you?”
“Oh,
no, no,” he reassured. “I wouldn’t use any real names, and I would change the
details so that you wouldn’t get into trouble with your superiors.”
Great,
now I had a second decision to make. I remembered his novel idea from the year
we first met. I thought it seemed almost similar to the McManus murder case.
However, I thought if I could recollect what actually transpired down in
Barbados, maybe it could make for a better story. The only thing is it might
also open up the can of worms that was the relationship between Elaine and me.
Karen wasn’t too impressed with how that relationship started, and if Jessica
found out those details, I would be in the dog house with her.
I
temporarily excused myself from the phone conversation, covered up the
mouthpiece, and I asked the spirit sitting with my partner, “its Bennett. He
wants to interview me for research on a novel he’s working on.”
“And
this is a problem?” Karen questioned.
“Possibly,”
I mentioned. “I suspect he wants me to go over the McManus murder case with
him.”
“That
case was closed three years ago,” Jessica interjected. “I don’t see why that
would be such a problem.”
“There
are certain matters of the case that I don’t think I should be divulging,” I
attempted to reason.
“What
matters?” my partner quizzed.
“I
think I know,” Karen acknowledged. “He doesn’t want to get into details with
him and that Barbadian strumpet.”
“You
still have bad blood towards Elaine, don’t you?” I accused the spectre.
“The
woman was taking you for a ride, Gary,” she commented. “If you hadn’t come to
your senses last year when she was here for the Caribbean Carnival, you
would’ve still been led along like a dog on a leash. Besides, if you got back
together with her, you wouldn’t have the good thing you have right now.”
“What
do you think, Jessica?” I posed to my partner.
“It
was in the past,” my girlfriend/partner answered. “While I can understand that
it might bring back old feelings and memories; whether it might be of Elaine or
the cases you worked on with Rob, you have to move on.”
“So,
you’re saying I should do the interview?” I blinked.
“Absolutely,”
Jessica reassured. “And if something does come up, you could always talk to Ann
about it.”
My
partner was right. I did have a support safety net in place in the form of the
Police psychologist, Ann Knoblach. Should I begin to have any feelings of
remorse or anxiety because of what had transpired back then during my recollection,
I could always call her and make an appointment to talk about it. With the vote
of confidence I returned my attention to my phone conversation.
“Alright,”
I responded, “I can do the interview with you.”
“Thank
you kindly, Detective Celdom,” Highlander answered. “Is tomorrow afternoon at
five good for you? We can do it at The One over on Danforth.”
“Tomorrow
at five works,” I confirmed. “Just be forewarned, I’ll still be on call, so
don’t be alarmed in case I have to cut the interview short because of an
investigation.”
“No
problem,” he acknowledged. “I hope to get as many questions as I can before you
get called away.”
“Okay
then,” I replied. “I will see you tomorrow at 5.”
“See
you then,” Highlander concluded. “And thanks again.”
“My
pleasure,” I finished.
I
hung up the phone and returned to my original conversation.
“So,
as I was going to say before we were interrupted,” I commented. “Benny and I
can return from the cottage a day early and we can go to your place for
Thanksgiving dinner.”
“That
would be wonderful,” Jessica smiled.
“Is
there anything you’d like me to bring?” I questioned my partner, “Some salad?
Stuffing? Dinner rolls?”
“If
you could make a salad and bring some rolls,” she replied, “it would be greatly
appreciated.”
“There’s
one thing I should ask though,” Karen interjected. “Will it just be the two of
you and Benny? Or will any of your family be showing up?”
“Not
this time around, Karen,” Jessica confirmed.
“That’s
alright,” I sighed in relief before taking a sip of my coffee. “Her family
hasn’t met me yet.”
“I’m
saving that for Christmas,” my partner added.
The
next thing I knew, I ended up doing a spit take upon that revelation.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Starting Fresh
I guess since I'm now a published author, I should have a blogsite devoted to my writing endeavours.
Don't get me wrong, I had a decent -- yet, often neglected -- blogsite for my ramblings already; however, since I've now listed my debut novel, Scarlet Siege, over on Amazon.com -- and coming soon to kobobooks.com this fall -- I should take the first big step and start a blog devoted to my actual literary scribings.
This will enable those who are interested in my series of novels to gain some insight into the creative, and debatedly tortured, mind that has created the world of one Detective Gary Celdom, his partner Detective Jessica Amerson, and the ghostly spectre that is Detective Celdom's former fiancée, Karen Prairie.
This also comes at the best of times, as well, as I'm currently in the midst of editing the second adventure of Gary, Jessica, and Karen; entitled, Barbadian Backlash, which I hope to have released in paperback and in e-book formats for both the Kindle and Kobo e-readers.
Detective Celdom is a character I've been nurturing within me since my days in secondary school over two decades ago, and it wasn't until the past few years I've been able to finally give him a voice. It's going to be an interesting ride, and I invite you all to come along for the journey.
Don't get me wrong, I had a decent -- yet, often neglected -- blogsite for my ramblings already; however, since I've now listed my debut novel, Scarlet Siege, over on Amazon.com -- and coming soon to kobobooks.com this fall -- I should take the first big step and start a blog devoted to my actual literary scribings.
This will enable those who are interested in my series of novels to gain some insight into the creative, and debatedly tortured, mind that has created the world of one Detective Gary Celdom, his partner Detective Jessica Amerson, and the ghostly spectre that is Detective Celdom's former fiancée, Karen Prairie.
This also comes at the best of times, as well, as I'm currently in the midst of editing the second adventure of Gary, Jessica, and Karen; entitled, Barbadian Backlash, which I hope to have released in paperback and in e-book formats for both the Kindle and Kobo e-readers.
Detective Celdom is a character I've been nurturing within me since my days in secondary school over two decades ago, and it wasn't until the past few years I've been able to finally give him a voice. It's going to be an interesting ride, and I invite you all to come along for the journey.
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