Fabulous and Brunette: Vengeance of Grimbald by Richard Hacker - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway

Hi, lovelies! It gives me great pleasure today to host fellow Northwesterner Richard Hacker and his new book, “Vengeance of Grimbald”! For other stops on his Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Richard and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Vengeance of Grimbald

by Richard Hacker

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GENRE: Fantasy Thriller

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BLURB:

Addison and Jules, members of the League, a secret alchemist society of Inkers who protect the time continuum, believe they defeated their enemy, Cuthbert Grimwald, known to them as Kairos. When he resurfaces filled with vengeance, intent on destroying the League, and acquiring the Alchimeia, a book of such power the League has hidden it for millennia, Grimwald leaves a path of destruction across centuries. As he quests for absolute control of reality, Addison and Jules pursue him through time and death in a desperate struggle to save the world from his vengeance.

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EXCERPT TWO:

Addison glared at her.

“You inked in, blind to everything around you. You were so focused on getting revenge you forgot why we were there.”

“Okay, I screwed up. Is that what you want to hear?”

“I want to hear you say you’re my partner and we’re in this together. I want to hear you say you’re not going to run off again on a personal crusade.”

They locked eyes, Jules wanting her partner back, Addison not yet able to give her what she wanted.

“One more thing.”

“Come on, Jules. Give it a rest. Feels like the damned Inquisition.”

“We inked into the Inquisition, so we both know how much your exaggerating right now. It’s about me. What did Kairos’ minion mean when he said you loved another Jules?”

“He was crazy. Ranting. I don’t know what he meant.”

Jules studied him, sitting back, arms crossed. “I’m not saying you’re lying to me, but you are holding something back. Something significant enough for you to lose control like you did under the citadel. We’re partners, Addison. Whatever goes on in your head effects both of us. Secrets lead to lies on top of more secrets. Secrets corrode relationships.

“There is no secret, Jules.”

“Okay. But if there is, I hope you won’t wait until it’s too late to tell me.

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GUEST POST:

Notes on My Favorite Scene from VENGEANCE OF GRIMBALD:

A number of scenes come ot mind when I think of my favorite scene in VENGEANCE OF GRIMBALD, but the one that floats to the top is set inside the Washington Monument during Martin Luther King’s speech in the Mall in 1963. The research I did to create this moment is really what makes it a fav.

First, the scene. The antagonist Grimbald with a high-powered sniper rifle aimed at King. The League knows if Grimbald succeeds the country will spiral into a civil war. In an effort to stop Grimbald, two League operatives ink into the past, racing to the top of the monument determined to stop him.

I wanted to create a realistic scene—something that could actually have happened. I was lucky enough to travel to Washington D.C. while working on the novel. My research began one extremely cold (I recall 10 degrees Fahrenheit!) snowy day. I was able to walk right into the monument. Apparently, all the tourists were staying warm somewhere else. I took photos and made notes as I walked into the monument, past a bronze George Washington.

And stepped into the elevator.

Those details added to the description in a way I would not have been able to accomplish without standing in the location. Here’s a small section of the scene as the Inkers enter the monument. A caution—this is a murder scene so might be disturbing.

Magnus followed his partner’s gaze to the police officer who should have been standing guard inside the door. The officer lay dead, his throat slit, in a pool of his own blood. They strode past the downed man, finding two more bodies crumpled by the elevator door. A blood trail traced grooves in the tile mosaic of an American shield surrounded by a wreath, the brass stars now islands in an expanding crimson sea. The only witness to the murders, a life-sized bronze of George Washington, stood in an alcove to their left, walking stick in hand. To their right, open elevator doors led them into a stainless-steel box.

Another benefit of visiting locations when possible is there is much more to a scene than what can be seen with the eyes. Sure, I can Google “Washington Monument” and see lots of photos. I can go to Google maps and tour the location virtually. But what about sounds, smells, the temperature, humidity? All of those components can help bring a scene to life in a way that allows the reader to more fully experience the moment.

And when I can’t visit a location?

I will use Google to explore, read other’s experiences, talk to people who have been to those places. In the first book of the Alchimeia series, I have an extensive scene in Machu Picchu. I was lucky enough to have a writing colleague take a trip to Peru and Machu Picchu happened to be one of her destinations. She was kind enough to make extensive notes on everything from the color and feel of the stone, to insects, birds, plants, to the smell of the place, to the sounds.

I hope you’ll check out DIE BACK and now book 2 of the Alchimeia, VENGEANCE OF GRIMBALD. Both are available on Amazon. And you can find me at www.richardhacker.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RWHacker.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Richard Hacker, lives and writes in Seattle, Washington after living many years in Austin, Texas. In addition to the science fiction/fantasy novels of The Alchimeía Series, his crime novels ride the thin line between fact and fiction in Texas. Along the way, his writing has been recognized by the Writer’s League of Texas and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. As a judge in literary contests shuch as PNWA and ChicLit, and as a freelance development editor, he enjoys the opportunity to work with other writers. In addition, he is the Sci-Fi/Fantasy editor for the Del Sol Review. DIE BACK was his first novel in the Alchimeia series.

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CONNECT WITH RICHARD:

Website:

http://www.richardhacker.com

Newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/b2e1a43fe511/die_back1

Email:

richard@richardhacker.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/RWHacker

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Richard_Hacker

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/richard-hacker-ec7b14df-b30a-4665-9904-e4b05b00e11d

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6557734.Richard_Hacker

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51212259-vengeance-of-grimbald

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/38XLMY8

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AMAZON BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3d2nY8n

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/38MAFB2

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Richard will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.