While my editor, Gari Strawn, works on the final edit of Where the Night Takes Us, I am working on the second draft of the sequel, When the Night Takes Us, a psychological thriller.
Forensic psychiatrist Simon Fethullah used to work with the FBI. Retired, he’s tracking down the cold case of a missing girl in Texas. He owns a huge RV, but due to his medical condition, he’s had to hire a driver. The driver’s name is Paloma.
Here’s a little excerpt:
I sighed and reviewed the pictures Willy had posted. “I want to believe she’s not down in the dark. The City of the Dead swallows the lost and waits for us all.”
Paloma shot me a quizzical look. “I’ve been to the City of the Dead. Took a tour while on leave once.”
My head came up as if I were awakening from a dream. “Huh?”
“The City of the Dead is Cairo,” Paloma said. “You know, Egypt! What are you babbling about?”
“I wasn’t babbling. I am musing pensively. And no, I don’t think Willy had the resources to make it to Egypt. Sorry. My inner monologue leaked into my outer monologue.”
“Well, rein that shit in, boss. You sound crazy.”
It’s more than merely sounding crazy, I thought.
I will be posting a pre-order link in the near future. Sign up to the newsletter or subscribe to this blog for details and news as all is unleashed. 🙂
A while back, I reevaluated the business side of my publishing experience. For most of my backlist, Amazon was no longer delivering. There are many variables to what makes books hit or miss. I’ve gone into detail about that before, so I won’t belabor that again here.
So I made a move, quite literally.
Most of my books are no longer exclusive to Amazon. You’ll still find them on Amazon, but you’ll also find them on book sales platforms across the planet. Think library services like Overdrive, and publishing platforms such as Kobo, Tolino, Barnes & Noble, and Gardners.
I have also added Vengeance Is Hers to a newish sales platform I’d only discovered recently. Laterpress is one way authors can sell their work directly. Check out Vengeance Is Hers on Laterpress here.
Vengeance Is Hers (and many more can be found on these services.)
Screenshothttp://ow.ly/1KcI50BVp04This was not supposed to be a prediction or a prescriptioon.
Selling books for a living is hard. At Chapters Indigo, I met Yahaya, who was selling his novel, Struggles of a Dreamer. It’s a sugary mix of Chicken Soup for the Soul and The Richest Man in Babylon.
Yahaya, author of Struggles of a Dreamer
As shoppers passed by, he humbly asked, “May I tell you about my book?” That takes a lot of guts and time, and I respect the effort. Nice guy. I bought a signed copy.
Yesterday, I joined the Crime Writers of Canada. (Huzzah! It was long past time I got around to that!)
This morning, their first missive to me was a newsletter announcing, among others, the best crime novel set in Canada. Salt on Her Tongue looks great! I was immediately intrigued because I grew up in Nova Scotia, seven miles from the Bay of Fundy.
But here’s the rub: Published in June 2025, the novel has but one review on Amazon.ca. (Canucks, stand up!) Alas, no reviews on Amazon.com.
Best Crime Novel Set in Canada
Sponsored by Shaftesbury with a $500 prize
C.S. Porter, Salt on Her Tongue, Vagrant Press
Animated by the intense fog and turbulence of the Bay of Fundy, as well as the personal struggles of the varied characters who take the reader on this gripping journey, Salt on Her Tongue keeps the reader engaged through masterful pacing and startling revelations.
The jurors pointed in particular to how well the author evokes the geography, maritime life and weather that forms the setting, and how well it amplifies the conflicts and mysteries in the plot. Also, the characters, from salty locals disdainful of big-city practices to wealthy and powerful elites, are drawn with a clarity that brings them to life, making the reader see their unique perspectives. Notably, the detective’s self-awareness of her mental fragility helps the reader see inside her head, empathizing as she persists despite barriers, including that the people around her seem to be trying to hinder her investigation. Further, the scope of the plot is engaging, convincingly telescoping from local corruption to an unexpected plot twist sure to leave readers satisfied.
Looks great! But sadly, not visible enough. (Yes, I’ll be getting a copy. I’ll check my local bookstore today.)
Re: Marketing
I’ve been in this position, and it’s uncomfortable.
Vengeance Is Hers has been out a year and has stalled at five reviews in the States and seven internationally. I admit, I didn’t launch it correctly. I simply tossed it out there, sent some emails, and posted a few ads, hoping it would catch readers’ eyes and Amazon’s algorithms. Alas, that was not to be.
I love Vengeance Is Hers, but what does my love for my work matter when it comes to the book marketing side of the publishing business? People who read it tend to enjoy it a lot, but few have read it.
As I prepare for the launch of the new series, Fear-Death Experiences, I’m going at it differently. I’m looking into engaging a publicist, Booksprout, and a launch service with Reedsy. I’ll set up a pre-order as we hunt for more readers interested in getting advance review copies.
Meanwhile, Amazon has changed its review filters, probably in response to receiving false reviews, reviews written by AI, and too many AI books. If a book gets too many reviews all at once, for instance, the AI reviewer might flag the reviews for deletion. Way to go, Amazon. In your quest for more organic reviews, you’ve made it harder for authors to reach readers. The same wave floods all boats.
This is one of the reasons I’ve taken most of my catalogue wide. You’ll find most of my books are no longer exclusive to Amazon. Draft2Digital has my work on library services and book platforms everywhere now. (Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Tolino, you name it).
Whatever the struggles of writing and publishing, I persevere. It requires time, talent, persistence, business smarts, and stupid, blind optimism. It’s no great burden. It can be very frustrating, but I love the writing life.
I have a cover and back jacket copy (below). The manuscript is in the editorial pipeline. Things progress!
Dr. Simon Fethullah’s weapon was his mind. It is also his torment.
As a forensic psychiatrist working with the FBI, Simons’ testimony helped to convict the Rainy Day Cannibal. After taking a bullet for his trouble, Simon retreats to the wilds of Montana to hide and to heal with his loving wife Carla and Stefano, their massive dog. Simon seeks peace, but murderers have long memories. When the President’s Press Secretary is assassinated, a serial killer’s dreams become our nightmares.
Though caged, prison walls cannot contain Rainy Day’s ambitions. The madman has a loyal following and a vendetta that demands a terrible price. When threatening postcards find their way to Simon’s door, it’s clear that dangerous people know how to find the good doctor, and they are coming for blood.
~ If you’re new here, I’m Robert Chazz Chute, an introverted author pretending to be an extrovert. I write apocalyptic epics and killer crime thrillers. My next series follows the adventures and misadventures of a brilliant forensic psychiatrist who is haunted, but not in a supernatural way. Think Dr. Gregory House of House MD (but with a big Cane Corso, a gun, and a love for murderous puzzles).
Gari Strawn has been my faithful editor for years. A kind and empathic person, she has found that her brother is trapped in an expensive system that makes little sense. If you can donate to help out, please do.
Yesterday was an incredibly productive day! (Today will be, too. I’m very motivated.)
When asked how I became a novelist, my usual joke is, “Spite.” But is it entirely a joke? Before I got on this high roll of productivity, I think a few things came together.
1. I have improved my health and work on that daily with diet and exercise. Feeling good means a clearer mind and more energy to spend. 2. I am enjoying The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey. Reading about becoming more productive won’t make me more productive on its own, but I do find the mindset motivating. Best takeaways so far: “Productivity isn’t about doing more things. It’s about doing the right things.” It’s less about a to-do list and more about accomplishments. What’s actually getting done? 3. Back to spite. I was disappointed that Vengeance Is Hers didn’t win a competition I’d won before with a different book. Submitting the novel to new competitions right away got me past that disappointment quickly.
Today’s agenda:
1. Polish the third draft of my next thriller, Where The Night Takes Us. 2. Exercise and meal prep. 3. Research audio tech requirements for recording audiobooks. 4. I’m not doing taxes yet, but I will consolidate to make sure I have all my receipts put together. 5. Read. 6. Post two videos to socials. 7. French study. 8. Watch The Pitt tonight!
