Wattpad - Chapter 5 - The Big Man // Troubleshooter Serialization just out

Check it out, Chapter 5 just out on Wattpad of my first Troubleshooter novel — title: "The Big Man". The story is picking up. Head over to Wattpad!

“But one look into Trouble’s eyes, and there was no underestimation of anything. His green eyes showed a strange mix of curiosity and hardness. He radiated confidence. None of the nervous wandering that many of Daven’s opposites had when they were sitting face-to-face with the big boss. For a second Daven had the impression that a large cat was sitting in front of him, ready to eat him for lunch, if it pleased to do so. Daven shook the feeling off and made a mental note to ask others who had encountered Paul if they were getting the same vibe.
”

— From: Troubleshooter - Chapter 5 - The Big Man

Bigger is better - Piratenkapitän and Piratenjunge available in bigger print

My youngest son complained that Piratenjunge, my German young adult novel, is too hard to read due to the small font size in the paperback version. As I wrote the book and its sequel Piratenkapitän for my kids, I ran a little side publishing project over the Christmas break period and added a new edition of both books as large print. It was a compromise between number of pages and readability, hopefully he will continue to read past chapter five when the new print version arrives on Thursday.

Mostly it was an exercise in Word formatting and Scrivener rediscovery of lost know-how. But maybe that is another worthy post for a later day...

Both books are now available on all the major platforms. 

Wattpad Special — Troubleshooter Chapter by Chapter

Hi everyone, happy New Year, may the force be with you and all that...  To kick off the year and maybe generate some new Paul Trouble fans, check out the chapter-by-chapter reissue of "Troubleshooter" over at Wattpad. 

There are around fifty chapters, so for the next half year, this should do it. Chapters 1 and 2 are up,  I'll try to stick to a Saturday / Wednesday cycle.  

Happy Holidays — Why not check out "Trouble at Christmas" for a festive short read!

Just to remind you, my short Troubleshooter Novella "Trouble at Christmas" is still out there. Set right after the Troubleshooter ends, Paul returns home to Welcome, Montana, to visit his dad and old hometown friends. But of course, Troubles get into trouble constantly, and his father is no exception.

You can read it in different form or sizes, here are your options:

Make my day option: Buy the short story in my Troubleshooter Novella collection "Pieces of Trouble", available online at almost every book and eBook outlet (among it Amazon, Google Play and Apple iBooks). It collects four short stories from the various life stages of the onehanded ex-spy Paul Trouble. Among it, of course, "Trouble at Christmas"

The support the artist option — "Trouble at Christmas" was the first novella. I just published it as a sort of promotional article as a stand-alone novella. You can buy it at Amazon.

The cheapskate version: head over to the online reading platform Wattpad. I have some stories published there to tease readership, among it the very short story "Trouble at Christmas". For free. Really. No strings attached. Like I wrote: the cheapskate version. 

Cover Relaunch for Troubleshooter

Apart from finishing up Troubleseeker and preparing for the media blitz (joking!), I gave the series a cover overhaul. I liked the overall look but found the covers still too cluttered. So, a new font and some Photoshop layer deletions later, the whole series is looking better than ever. 

Troubleseeker launch on its way...

Listening to Bear's Den new single "Berlin" fairly loud, even though the house is dark is quiet, everyone else asleep. This is out of my hands now. Work is done. "Baby on the way, catch!" Pressed the "Publish" button, mere days before Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Barnes and Nobles will start carrying "Troubleseeker", the third (or fourth, depending how you count) installment from the Troubleshooter universe.

Always a good feeling, on the other hand a scary feeling, letting go of a story that consumed you for about half a year, many train rides, many late evenings. Your protagonists gather around you like ghosts, whispering their story to you, consuming your thoughts, inspiring you to write their story, their truth and your truth mix until the story is made of one thought, made of one truth. 

“THE MAN ON PAUL Trouble’s doorstep fell into his apartment with a solid thud, muttered something that could be widely interpreted as “far,” “harr,” or “argh,” and died. Paul stood in his PJs and stepped aside to avoid getting any blood on his bare feet. The dead guy’s hands, face, and back were sticky and dark with it, soiling Paul’s hardwood floor and the corridor’s carpet.
When the doorbell had rung, Paul had expected a neighbor asking for late-night assistance, not a film-noir situation. A quick inspection of the hallway and staircase confirmed that the bleeding had been heavy all up the stairs. Paul was sure he would get into trouble with his neighbors in the morning.”

— First sentence "Troubleseeker"