FROM THE EDITORS
A couple of quick notes. You’ll see some ads, and some “boosts” accompanying these newsletters. I try to choose those who approach us who seem aligned with readers and authors in a positive way, I choose those. It’s not free to publish these, and we are just starting to build a bigger audience, so I do what I can.
Another alarming thing happened over at ACX. They have a beta program where narrators are using their own voices to train AI narrators to sound like them. We have zero interest in using that program, so, of course, every time I open my dashboard a big pop-up asks if I want to get started and there is no way to prevent the pop-up. Just “Get Started” or “I’ll do this later”.
Here is the thing about Large Learning Models (It’s not AI, calling it that was the first mistake). They are prone to errors. The errors have to be found (by humans) and fixed, or worlds of incorrect slop will pour out into the world. If someone does not have the energy, ability, or attention span to create a thing in the first place, they are NOT going to check, correct, or do any of the important things that LLM content requires. It’s going to get people sick, killed, bored and we want no part of it. It’s in our contract now that there will be no AI, including narration. Just wanted the policy to be clear. On to the books.
I have added a “Spotlight” section where we will either feature a series, an author, or possibly even a narrator with some info on their work. If there are things you’d like to see in the NL feel free to drop us a line.
Whenever possible, the links below are Universal, giving all the possible options for eBooks. Some of the universal links don’t include Amazon, B&N or KOBO so we will provide those separately. Our Audio is created through ACX and available on Audible, iTunes and Amazon, and our paperbacks are available on Amazon.
NEW RELEASES
The Saga of Dead-Eye, Book Four: Golems, Ghouls & Grisly Gargantua – Ronald Kelly – follow the resurrected gunfighter Dead-Eye as he tracks the renegade vampire, Jules Holland, and his fathers across the south and west, doing battle with an increasingly crazy list of evil creatures. All four books in this series are available in eBook, trade paperback, case-laminate hardcover, and the first three are available in unabridged audio performed by J. Rodney Turner. Book 4 audio is on the way! AMAZON B&N
SPOTLIGHT: MELVIN LITTON
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Author MELVIN LITTON – Melvin Litton’s latest work, The Kansas Murder Trilogy, presents three novels of shared theme but separate time and character: King Harvest (1); Banks of the River (2); and Skin for Skin (3) – all published by Crossroad Press. He has three previous novels (also from Crossroad): Caspion & the White Buffalo; Geminga; and I Joaquin. He also has two collections of short stories, Son of Eve & Other Tales, and Idylls of Being in eBook. He is a retired carpenter and lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife Debra and their shepherd Jack. Formerly captain of the Border Band, he now performs as The Gothic Cowboy with Mando Dan: https://www.bordergand.com
COMPLETE SERIES RELEASES
THE BOOKS OF CTHULHU (9 Books So Far) – These are available in Kindle Unlimited – and most in unabridged Audio – AUDIO SERIES. (Book 9 audio coming soon) This Anthology series includes: Tales of the Al-Azif, Tales of Yog-Sothoth, The Book of Yig, Tales ofd Nyarlathotep, Time Loopers, Eldritch Prisoners, The Book of Hastur, The Book of Ghouls, and the newly released Tales of Shub-Niggurath. These stories look at Lovecraftian fiction from a number of perspectives, including deep south redneck, established series entries, and much more. The list of authors is too long for a newsletter, but if you love Lovecraftian fiction, this series is for you.
NEW PAPERBACK RELEASES
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Fires Rising – Michael Laimo – The church waits in darkness. It looks abandoned, forgotten. It has no congregation, but it is not empty. Under its floor, in a pit dug long ago, lies a wooden crate that was never meant to be unearthed. But the church is finally being renovated and workmen have found the pit. How could they realize what they have done? How could they know the forces they’ve unleashed?
Rapid Transit: Volume 2 – Wayne Allen Sallee – Wayne Allen Sallee has been writing the pain, and writing through the pain for decades. His work has found its way onto the pages of hundreds of magazines, multiple volumes of “The Year’s Best Horror,” onto award ballots and into the dark recesses of readers minds. His work is raw. His stories draw vivid, stark images and even darker pieces from the back doors of the imagination. This is volume II of his complete works.
Dagon’s Bell and Other Discords – Brian Lumley – The second collection of a witch’s dozen of weird or horrific tales from Brian Lumley, author of the internationally bestselling Necroscope and Vampire World series. Remember: in the field of no-holds-barred terror fiction, there’s Brian Lumley – and then there’s the rest… note We are released and are releasing a large number of Brian’s books in trade paperback…
NEW PRE-ORDERS
SEA OF GHOSTS – Alison Scott Skelton – from the Warriors of Tir Nan Og series – … who better to trust than the man who would not be earl? … Summer’s end on Hrolf’s Isle. The chieftains gather for the wedding of Ulf and Grimhildr. A year has passed since the Warrior’s Roman journey. But the pledge made by Floki Magnusson on the voyage home shadows the island.
At Saint Matthew’s Feast, he sails to Norway, surrendering himself into slavery for the loss of the Sea-King’s son. Chieftains and people are certain his offer will be met by a swift and brutal death, none more certain than his helmsman, Gil Lake. As the wedding party dances, Jocelyn Guidbairn strikes and a day begun in laughter and song ends in fire and destruction.
Still Floki refuses to abandon his pledge, or to abandon the Warriors whose quest has drawn Guidbairn’s wrath. And when he names an heir, it is not upon his cousin Hakon he rests the earldom, but on Gil Lake of Tir nan Og.
FREE AUDIOBOOK DOWNLOAD CODES FOR AUDIBLE
Here is the list of books we are offering free download codes for. We are trying to build reviews, and while we don’t require a review for a free download, even just a rating on Audible or Amazon can make a huge difference in visibility. Beneath the new books are those from last week, because all still have some codes available for US and UK listeners. We will offer them to the first five who request them, and only one title per requester.
This week’s titles are:
Night Visions: At the Crossroad– by Chet Williamson, Richard Laymon & Gary Brandner, narrated by Chet Williamson. A classic anthology reborn in digital and audio!
Other Seasons – Volume 1– by Neal Barrett Jr., narrated by T. W. Ashworth – Quirky literate fantasy, sci-fi and horror from a literary master.
Fire Loft by Rev di Certo and Duncan Eagleson – performed by L. C. Kane. Steampunk Alternate history adventure!
LAST WEEK
Calamity: Being an Account of Calamity Jane and Her Gunslinging Green Man – By J. D. Jordan. This is narrated by Naomi Rose-Mock, and it is a personal favorite. It’s one of the best sci-fi western books I’ve ever read, and easily the best audio.
Blood Kinby Ronald Kelly, performed by Gary Noon – Southern horror from a master, and narrated by one of the best new voices in audio.
Burning Brightby Melissa Scott – performed by Naomi Rose Mock – Sci-fi adventure and showing off the talents of an award-winning author and very versatile narrator.
REVIEW COPIES
There is a form on our website for requesting review copies of any of our titles, but you can also do so by emailing us at crossroad@crossroadpress.com – Let us know which of our many books you’d like to read and review. Provide us with the places you will post your review, and let us know if you’d like to be added to our list of reviewers to hear about all upcoming titles.
THAT’S A WRAP!
Thanks to everyone who made it to the end of the newsletter. Remember to share, and check out all our titles, available on most eBook platforms.
David & David
Wilson & Dodd