Ah, new beginnings. A time to set aside the old and welcome the fresh. June is also the month of Solstice, when we leave behind the old season and enter the new.
So, in keeping with the newness theme, Kari and I assembled Spiral Publishing’s June Reads bundle with six stories that all feature the start of something exciting.
In "Wings of the Heart," Kari follows Mranes as she takes the next step to leave childhood behind, part of which includes sharing her desires for her life as she travels along the road toward adulthood.
My story "For the Love of Books" is nominally a story about two obsessed collectors, but which ultimately asks us all to consider what makes something truly valuable to ourselves.
Anyone who knows Kari knows she’s a born driver. In "The Road to Paradise Mountain," she gets to live an awesome fantasy through Ella, who discovers the roads less traveled in an unexpected place.
Anyone who knows me, knows I favor the silly a lot of the time. In "Fresh Blood and Old Music," I balance a gruesome murder with a dash of toe-tapping goofiness, with a clue only someone willing to brave the world of novelty songs can appreciate.
Kari’s Soul Travelers world is one of my favorite places to visit. "Decisions in a Dangerous Situation" introduces us to Hugh and Carolyn, and gives us a glimpse of Hugh in his earlier life, when his willingness to do whatever it takes to protect those he cares for becomes very apparent.
Finally, it’s off to Atlanta to meet a newly hatched gumshoe in "Dirk Knight: The Case of the Rustled Ranch," the first story in the DK series. I love this guy, and the woman he wins with his heart and mind, rather than with his powers of deduction.
So get yourself a nice, cold glass of sweet tea, settle into your favorite porch rocker (or under your favorite air-conditioning vent), and join me, Kari, and several people taking their first step on their respective journeys.
And, as always, happy reading!
As usual, this bundle is only available at the special price of $5.99 until the end of the month, until the next Monthly Reads bundle comes along.
