SHADOW OF BETRAYAL

By Brett Battles

I share my very good friend Rob’s reluctance toward self-promotion. But, unlike him, I do not have a wonderful wife reminding me that I should do it anyway. So I hope he doesn’t mind (and you all don’t either) but I’m going to borrow the spirit of his wife and do a little (brief) BSP today. 

On the same day Rob’s new book DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN came out last week, the mass paperback edition of my last book, SHADOW OF BETRAYAL, also arrived here in the states. Here’s a little teaser:

The meeting place was carefully chosen: an abandoned church in rural Ireland just after dark. For Jonathan Quinn—a freelance operative and professional "cleaner"—the job was only to observe. If his cleanup skills were needed, it would mean things had gone horribly wrong. But an assassin hidden in a tree assured just that. And suddenly Quinn had four dead bodies to dispose of and one astounding clue—to a mystery that is about to spin wildly out of control.

There are a couple of things I incorporated into SHADOW OF BETRAYAL that are personal to me. One would be most of the California locations. For the most part I tried to use places I frequent now or did in the past, and places that have special meaning for me. Also, there is a special child that is a central character in this book, a little girl named Iris who happens to have Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome, as some of you know, is a big part of my life as my son (who is just a week away from graduating Junior High) was born with it. These are some of the most wonderful, loving children in the world, and I hope I’ve been able to show that affectively with Iris.

So if you get a chance please visit your local independent bookstore or wherever you prefer to shop and pick up a copy. My pretend wife wants me to tell you that you’ll definitely enjoy it!

One last thing for any UK fans out there. In the UK, SHADOW OF BETRAYAL is called THE UNWANTED. The paperback edition for THE UNWANTED will be out October 14^th, but a little treat here as I’ve just received the new paperback cover!

Thanks for indulging me, folks. Little to no more BSP from me until Apirl!

Okay, all…I’m going to give away two copies of SHADOW OF BETRAYAL, so in the comments let me know one of your favorite places. I’ll then put everyone’s names in a digital hat and pull out two lucky winners! (I'll post the names of the winner in the comments, too, late Thursday night. So check back. I'll need to get your address from you!)

Ready. Set. Go!

BOOK TOUR, BOTH REAL AND VIRTUAL

After what can only be described as a fantastic evening at the Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Phoenix last night, my real-world tour for the release of SHADOW OF BETRAYAL is almost done. I’m not sure what the exact audience count was, but it had to have been north of 75. That was thanks, in large part, to the amazing Barbara Peters and her staff who not only scheduled a great three author event, but also publicized it far and wide. I was there with John Lescroart and Steve Martini, two great authors who are also a lot of fun.

I’ve got to say, I think multi author events are really the way to go. It’s great for the people who attend because they get exposed to authors they might not be familiar with, and it’s great for the authors because of the very same reason. It becomes a cross-pollination of audiences. I know that many people who came last night for either Steve or John ended up also buying my books, and I also know the same happened for in reverse.

Anyway, as I said, I’m almost done. I do have an event this Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Lancaster Library in Lancaster, California, where I’ll be appearing with our own Robert Gregory Browne. (If you’re around, I hope you can make it!) Then another event in mid-September. And that’ll be about it.

But as the real-world tour is winding down, my virtual tour is just getting into full swing! I’m in the middle of a blog tour that will last all month. I’ll be doing interviews, writing a few articles, and generally having fun. One of the more interesting things I did was an interview where I was the interviewer and my main character Jonathan Quinn was the interviewee. You can read it here.

I’m also the victim…eh…subject of Murderati regular commenter Karen Schindler’s TEN QUESTION TUESDAY. That was a lot of fun, too!

http://miscellaneousyammering.blogspot.com/2009/08/ten-questions-tuesday-with-brett.html

That’s just a couple of the places I’ll be. I’ll be posting a list in the next day or two on my personal blog. So check it out when you have a chance.

Finally, I just wanted to also thank all of you who came out and saw me as I was out on the road, and to the wonderful bookshop owners and employees who do such a great job for all of us (fans and writers) everyday!

And for those of you I didn’t see, hopefully we’ll do it next time.

A Quick Reminder and Some Motivation for Those Who Want It

First, before I forget, if you’re in the L.A. area on Saturday afternoon, I’m having my book launch party for SHADOW OF BETRAYAL at the Mystery Bookstore in west Los Angeles. It starts at 5:30 and should go on for an hour or so. I really hope you can make it! Here’s the info:

Mystery Bookstore
1036-C Broxton Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024

310.209.0415

I’m also off on a book tour starting on Monday, hitting San Mateo, CA, Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, San Diego, CA, and Phoenix, AZ. For more info, check out my booktour.com listing.

Now, a little bit of encouragement to some of you out there. This isn’t directly related to writing, but it will help you with it. I know. It’s helped me. Feel free to ignore.

I’ve been walking around for several years with a little too much extra baggage around the waist, if you know what I mean. And not just the waist. My neck, my face, my arms, my legs, all were sporting more flesh than necessary. Well, I finally decided to do something about it last April, and since then I’ve lost nearly forty pounds. You read that right, but please don’t congratulate me. That’s like congratulating the klutz who backs into your car, but then makes sure it’s fixed properly. Sure it’s nice he got it fixed, but if he’d been paying attention in the first place, it would have never happened.

I’ve been wanting to loose it for a long time. In fits and starts I would try, and then give up. But this time I wasn’t going to let that happen. And I have fellow author Jeff Shelby from our friends over at First Offenders to thank for it. You see I read a post he put up last spring where he said he’d started running again, and had lost 25 pounds. I realized then and there that I needed to just do it.

I’ll admit right here if I weren’t writing full-time, my weight loss would not have been as dramatic. I’m exercising more than I could have when I had a full-time job, but that doesn’t mean it would have been impossible. So don’t let that stop you. Find the tool that works for you and use it.

The one that worked for me, surprisingly, was my iPhone. See, I found this free application called Lose It! It helps me track my calories and my exercise. It’s exactly what I needed. I even look forward now each day to filling in what I’ve been eating and how much exercise I’ve done.

The results have been wonderful. I have more energy. My back doesn’t bother me. I sleep better. One slight problem (a problem I’m happy to have) is that I’ve had to buy some new clothes, because my old clothes fit me like a tent.

Anyway, I thought I’d share in case any of you out there could take motivation from this just like I took from Jeff. By the way, thanks, Jeff! I owe you big time.

So, ‘rati, any tips? Methods that work for you? Ideas?

It's time to be BETRAYED

To quote Louise from a couple of months ago, “I only get to do this once a year, so you have to bare with me.”

It’s publication time for my third novel, SHADOW OF BETRAYAL, and I couldn’t be more excited. SHADOW hits stores next Tuesday…just in time for Thrillerfest next week, which I will be attending! And for those of you in the U.K., you get it even earlier, albeit under a different title…THE UNWANTED should be available in U.K. store as of today! That’s right TODAY!

“The best word I can use to describe his writing is Addictive. Razor-sharp prose bits deep, cuts to a raw nerve, and leaves you…craving more. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.” — James Rollins, New York Times Bestselling Author.

About SHADOW OF BETRAYAL

The meeting place was carefully chosen: an abandoned church in rural Ireland just after dark. For Jonathan Quinn—a freelance operative and professional “cleaner”—the job was only to observe. If his cleanup skills were needed, it would mean things had gone horribly wrong. But an assassin hidden in a tree assured just that. And suddenly Quinn had four dead bodies to dispose of and one astounding clue—to a mystery that is about to spin wildly out of control.

Three jobs, no questions. That was the deal Quinn had struck with his client at the Office. Unfortunately for him, Ireland was just the first. Now Quinn, along with his colleague and girlfriend—the lethal Orlando—has a new assignment touched off by the killings in Ireland. Their quarry is a U.N. aide worker named Marion Dupuis who has suddenly disappeared from her assignment in war-torn Africa. When Quinn finally catches a glimpse of her, she quickly flees, frantic and scared. And not alone.

For Quinn the assignment has now changed. Find Marion Dupuis, and the child she is protecting, and keep them from harm. If it were only that easy.

Soon Quinn and Orlando find themselves in a bunker in the California hills, where Quinn will unearth a horrifying plot that is about to reach stage critical for a gathering of world leaders—and an act of terror more cunning, and more insidious, than anyone can guess.

Fast, smart, sleek, and stunning, Shadow of Betrayal is vintage Brett Battles: a gritty, gripping masterpiece of suspense, a thriller that makes the pulse pound—and stirs the heart as well.

After I get back from Thrillerfest, I’ll be going on a mini-West Coast tour. If you’re near one of these locations, stop by and say hi. I’d love to meet you.

Saturday, July 18, 5:30 PM – BOOK LAUNCH PARTY
The Mystery Bookstore
1036-C Broxton Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90024

Tuesday, July 21, 7:00 PM
M is for Mystery
85 E 3rd Avenue, San Mateo, CA, 94401

Thursday, July 23, 7:00 PM
Powell's Bookstore at Cedar Hills Crossing
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton, OR, 97005

Friday, July 24, 12:00 PM
Seattle Mystery Bookshop
117 Cherry Street Seattle WA, 98104

Thursday, July 30, 7:00 PM
Mysterious Galaxy
7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite 302, San Diego, CA 92111

Tuesday, August 11, 7:00 AM
Poisoned Pen
4014 N Goldwater Blvd. Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251

Saturday, August 15, 2:00 AM
Lancaster Library
601 West Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster

October 15 thru 18
Bouchercon Conference
Hyatt Regency, One South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN

Saturday, November 21, 9:00 AM
Men of Mystery
2701 Main St, Irvine, CA

And if anyone’s been waiting for the paperback of my second book, THE DECEIVED, it’s now available!

Hope to see you all on the road somewhere!