The Celwyn Newsletter Issue 18

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In this issue:
An interview with Chad Miller, author of historical mysteries

Book Review, Scars of the Heart by Bob Van Laerhoven

The second installment of the serialized short story, Genevieve Understood Us, by Richard Koreto is available on his website!

Celwyn’s Cats

Deer parade, not a cat parade

Swango Swango Swango! Book 6 in The Celwyn Series is almost here!

Swango, book 6 of the Celwyn Series is available for pre-order & for sale 12-29-24. In 1870s Singapore, Celwyn survives a vicious attack only to find it may take even more to endure his own family. His brother Pelaez has returned, insisting on his innocence, and their father Wolfgang Augustus Griffin has his sights set on Nemo’s marooned crew.

A Review of Scars of the Heart, by Bob Van Laerhoven

Mr. Van Laerhoven is an artist with words who paints in all mediums.

He also has the ability to make you think and feel. In this collection of short stories his talent is on display with a heavier hand in horror and angst, and it works well. There is no sugar coating what the characters see and do, and yet it is so real, you can picture each part of it, and will find the stories will not go away when you finish them.

For instance, Drees the painter was cursed, no matter what he did, and to make matters worse his best friend’s spirit haunts him. The spirit has company in his guilt. The story is at once old and new, and everything in between. It even has a reference to the race driver, Sterling Moss. The noir is as thick as the betrayal, the revenge, and the retribution; it all ends up in a unrelenting drive to (hiding the spoiler).

From the story the Abomination there is a comparison: the Doctors Without Borders treat all the patients alike, including the murderers and their almost victims—all under one roof. “What do stupid Westerners know of the honour of hatred?” A line that stands out and reminds us that there is whole world out there of so many cultures and history, something Van Laerhoven describes so well.

This story in particular is multi-layered: the narrator is the murderer (honorably in his opinion) of many, and when he later meets one of his victims, he really sees what he did to a victim in the hospital room next to his. He remembers killing her sisters viciously, and yet he tries to atone. His solution is unexpected, except when you realize the circular beauty of retribution and (hiding spoiler) seems to be his unique way of resolving it all. These stories are wonderful, and unsettling, and should be on your list to read. Highly recommended.

Find it on Amazon

Interview with Chad Miller

One axe. Two murders. Who will confess?

Chad Miller has been writing dark fiction, horror, and mysteries for over 25 years. Deeply inspired by the works of Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker, and Kurt Vonnegut, he’s been studying to create his unique voice. Chad is a pharmacist and lives in Delaware. Chad enjoys playing guitar and going to the theater, museums, and being immersed in culture that large cities can provide.

Find The Confession by Chad Miller on Amazon.

If you had to recommend one of your books to young adults just leaving YA reading, which of your books should they start with, and why? The Confession. This is an historical mystery and follows my main character, Isabella from her childhood to young adulthood. Even though there are elements of horror and a few brutal scenes, we get an insight of the struggles of a young girl as she tries to navigate adolescence in the late 1800s.

How soon do you know you’ll kill off a particular character, and what told you to do it? I’m not an outliner, but I have specific plot points that I try to organically try to reach. Sometimes this is killing off a character, but other times the story drives itself. I firmly believe that no character is safe. I killed off my favorite character I had ever written because the story demanded it to happen. This even surprised and saddened me.

Which of your books was the hardest to write, and why? Prisoner of Despair. This book was heavily inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I tried to capture the feel of classic horror, so the novel is written in the epistolary style. The story is told through a series of diary entries and letters through multiple POVs. It was difficult to keep all the voices distinctive and keeping the timelines in order was tedious.

For your own reading, what genre (s) do you read? I’m all over the place. Lately I’ve been reading a lot of Neil Gaiman and Cormac McCarthy. I read almost any genre, except erotica or steamy romance. I just need a great story with great characters. Of course, classic horror is my favorite genre.

Tips from a reader: Gina Rae Mitchell

Navigating the Dreaded Reading Slump: Tips and Tricks

Reading slumps are like an unwelcome guest for avid readers—a period where no book seems to capture your interest or hold your attention. You may find yourself picking up book after book, only to put each one down after a few pages. It’s frustrating, especially when reading is usually a source of joy or escape. So, what causes reading slumps, and how can we break free from them?

First, it’s essential to recognize that reading slumps happen to everyone. Life can get busy, and distractions like work, stress, or fatigue can make it difficult to focus on books. Sometimes, it’s not the book—it’s you. Even the best story might not hold your attention when your mind is preoccupied.

The good news? There are plenty of ways to get out of a reading slump. One simple solution is to change the genre. If you’ve been diving into heavy historical fiction or intense thrillers, try something light and easy, like a romance or a fun mystery. Alternatively, reread a favorite book. Nostalgia can rekindle the joy of reading and remind you why you love books in the first place.

You can also try audiobooks. Sometimes, the act of physically reading can feel daunting, but listening to a book while doing other activities can help ease you back into the habit.

Lastly, give yourself permission to take a break. It’s okay to step away from reading for a while. Often, the desire to read comes back naturally when you’re not forcing it.

Remember, reading slumps are temporary, and your next great read is just around the corner!

What’s up next on the blog?

BBNYA (Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award) has entered the finals stage. I have been assigned a few books to read for the final round. This year, my reading is a little bit curtailed due to vision issues. So, to make up for it (and in my excitement), I agreed to post 59 Spotlights featuring the semi-finalists over the next two months. This is on top of my regular Indie Author Reviews, Blog Tours, and weekly Friday Fun Finds. I might just be crazy!! Visit my website to follow along with the fun!

Website: GinaRaeMitchell

The Celwyn Series YouTube channel

Other News

In case you have friends or family in London, Karen Haden will be speaking about her debut novel Paying in Blood at a Cheltenham Literature Festival Local Writer Event on Wed 9 Oct at 12.30pm in the Hub venue.

Available mid-October Richard Koreto’s The Cadieux Murders. The ink is still wet on the contract, but Wren Fontaine is already running into trouble as she renovates Cadieux House, a modernist masterpiece on Long Island’s exclusive Gold Coast. The home’s architect was the brilliant and eccentric Marius Cadieux. He was there that night in 1955 when a glittering party ended in a murder that 70 years later still hasn’t been solved.

Story Serializations. As frequently as possible, the Celwyn newsletter will have an ongoing serialization of stories of speculative, mystery, and any other genre I enjoy.
If you miss any parts of the upcoming serializations, you can find them here:

Serialized Stories

Richard’s story is also here:

Genevieve Understood Us

What is New with the Celwyn Series?

Swango, book 6 of the series, finally has a release date: 12-29-24.

The blurb. A magician, a widower, and an automat travel the world… but nothing has prepared them for Swango.

In 1870s Singapore, Celwyn survives a vicious attack only to find it may take even more to endure his own family. His brother Pelaez has returned, insisting on his innocence, and their father Wolfgang Augustus Griffin has his sights set on Nemo’s marooned crew. As the Nautilus travels to Beirut, Prague, and Findbar Island, they encounter Swango, a seemingly innocent clairvoyant and drinking buddy from the magician’s past, a man who has more help with his predictions than most spiritualists. Meanwhile, Nemo must finally confront the secrets of his own past.

For book 7, Lucky and Mrs. Nemo: Finally, it is with the beta readers. Those lucky and kind souls. I’m excited about it because of the major changes in it, but also nervous that I’ve captured all the opportunities with it.

There isn’t an official blurb yet for Lucky and Mrs. Nemo, but Lucky is a character, literally and figuratively. Traditionally the personality of a scientist is dry. Not so for Lucky, who enjoys a good gunfight. She participates in the final bloody scene as they defend Findbar, and where they find the ghost of Mrs. Spencer in the mansion’s tower with her broadsword and a deadly attitude. The new genre introduced into the series in book 6 is active in book 7, and Kang and Bartholomew both wish it weren’t. Certain things scare them more than others.

Book 8: Although 130 pages of the handwritten first draft is still safely put away I have been thinking instead of continuing with it, letting it percolate like a confused cup of coffee.. More ideas have come to the surface, and they require a bit of fore-planning. Not if they’ll be included, but how.

The near future will have Pelaez still causing trouble, and Celwyn keeping the peace between his brother and Captain Nemo. Maybe Swango can be bribed to leave Pelaez somewhere in the future? Or Pelaez will reach the point where he wants to be the only untrustworthy member of the ensemble.