Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for The Anchor by Kevin R. Doyle. This book tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as an interesting guest post from the author about how similar and different he and his main character are. There's also the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour for more content. Enjoy!
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Author: Kevin R. Doyle
Publisher: Night to Dawn Magazines and Books, LLC
Publication Date: November 15th 2022
Print Length: 326 pages
Genre: Mystery
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Jen has toiled away in television news, just waiting for a big break. And at the same time she finally gets a shot at the promotion opportunity she’s waited years for, head anchor for the nightly newscast, an unseen, shadowy man is desperate for her to notice him. When messages and well wishes don’t do the trick, her mysterious admirer intends to do anything necessary to make Jen a success and snare her attention, even if it means attacking her fiancé and killing off her competition.
Goodreads * Amazon * Apple Books *
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EXCERPT:
“Package for you,” Aldiss said.
Jen looked down at the plain wrapped bundle lying on her desk.
“Jack do something to make up for?” her deskmate asked.
Jen puffed in exasperation and plopped into her chair.
“What hasn’t he done?” she replied.
Aldiss chuckled and bent over his computer screen.
“How long have you and I shared a desk?” she asked.
“A year or so, give or take,” Aldiss replied, looking up.
“Uh huh. And how long have I been seeing Jack?”
“That you’ve admitted to? Seems like running on a year.”
“Eleven months.”
“Close.” Her coworker turned away and went back to his work.
Jen tapped her fingers on her desk and stared at the bundle. It had a small card attached, but without raising the flap and reading it, it looked like some sort of generic message-type thing.
“And when’s the last time he’s sent me a gift at work?”
Aldiss grinned.
“What’s the package say?” he asked.
“You didn’t look?”
“Hey, bunky, I believe in privacy.”
“Some reporter you are.”
She glanced at the package again, noted that it had come from FedEx, and assumed Tammy had signed for it up at the front desk. Then she flipped the front flap on the little card open.
“Hmm.”
Aldiss glanced up from his work but didn’t say anything.
Jen snared some scissors out of her desk and cut the paper open.
“Obviously, somebody thinks my current diet’s unnecessary.”
He looked up again, his brows raised.
Jen held up a box of Russell Stover chocolates.
“Card not from him?”
Jen shook her head.
“Say who it’s from?”
She held the card up eye level.
“In appreciation of all your service to the community,” she recited.
“Doesn’t sound like a new lover.”
“I hope not. I’d like to think I’d know if I was seeing someone new.”
Aldiss furrowed his brow.
“You done any story lately that’s been big time?”
Jen half glared at him.
“Meaning?”
Aldiss spread his hands out in a placatory gesture.
“Hey, nothing personal. I’m just curious what they mean by service to the community.”
Jen glanced down at the card for a second before looking back up.
“Maybe it’s just a fancier way of saying ‘I like your work.’”
“Or maybe it’s just some creeper who’s got a thing for you. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time a hot news anchor had an admirer.”
Grinning, Jen picked a paper clip off her desk and flipped it at him.
“Far as that goes,” she snorted, “wouldn’t be the first time for me.”
Aldiss picked the clip up from where it had fallen on his desk and tossed it back her way.
“Just imagine if they end up giving you Karyn’s nighttime slot. They’ll be coming out of the woodwork.”
“Thanks,” Jen said. “I’m doing my best not to think of that.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A high-school teacher, former college instructor and fiction writer, Kevin R. Doyle is the author of numerous short horror stories. He’s also written three crime thrillers, The Group, When You Have to Go There, and And the Devil Walks Away and one horror novel, The Litter. In the last few years, he’s begun working on the Sam Quinton private eye series, published by Camel Press. The first Quinton book, Squatter’s Rights, was nominated for the 2021 Shamus award for Best First PI Novel. The second book, Heel Turn, was released in March of 2021, while the third in the series, Double Frame, came out March of 2022.
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GUEST POST:
- In what ways are you and your main character alike? Different?
Addressing how my main character and I are alike is a little difficult. Jennifer McCallister is an early-thirtyish woman working her way upward in her career. I, on the other hand, am an almost-sixty man soon coming to the end of my main career (teaching high school). So having to detail the ways we are alike, at first, rather stumps me.
You could say that Jen lives a little too much for her career in local television news, and there have been times when all of my time, both spare and otherwise, has been taken up by either teaching or writing, to the exclusion of almost everything else.
One could also point out that Jen is a little clueless when it comes to the feelings and reactions of other people, and I’m sometimes guilty of this myself. Not to the point where I’m a cold-hearted sociopath, at least as far as I know, but often I end up speaking without thinking, expressing a sense of humor that’s a little obscure for others to get, and missing blatant signals about someone else’s state of mind.
And in her own way, mainly because of the aforementioned focus on career, Jen can be somewhat the same.
It’s funny, but when I first saw this prompt, I scratched my head trying to think of any way we were alike. Had this post been in conjunction with one of my Sam Quinton novels, things would have been a lot easier. Not that I’m a former pro wrestler who owns a gym and works as a private eye, but as I fashioned Quinton he’s a lot closer to me in age and comes from a similar Midwestern background. That would have been a snap to write about. However, once I gave it some thought, I was amazed I came up with the above-mentioned similarities between myself and Jen.
Though as I think about it, I’m not sure what that says, good or bad, about me.
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GIVEAWAY:
Night to Dawn Magazine and Books LLC will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Good luck!
(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prize. Goddess Fish Promotions and the publisher assume all responsibility over this giveaway.)
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to thank you for taking part in another of my tours. It is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, as always =) Thanks for visiting my blog again!
DeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeletevery unique cover, this book some interesting
ReplyDeleteThank you for featuring Kevin’s book. I enjoyed reading his thoughts on the major character compared to himself. It was a pleasure publishing his book. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I love featuring Kevin's books on my blog. =)
DeleteIt looks like a good read.
ReplyDeletelove the plot!
ReplyDeletemia2009(at)comcast(dot)net
interesting
ReplyDeleteI love the cover and look forward to reading the book.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
ReplyDeleteabfantom at yahoo dot com
after reading the excerpt - I would like to read this book-thanks
ReplyDeleteDo you have any advice for new writers?
ReplyDeleteJamie, don't know if I'm the one to give advice, but if I did the main thing would be to keep plugging away and always, always listen to constructive criticism from publishers and editors. They often do know best, and it's hard to evaluate our own work because we're too close to it.
DeleteThe book sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis mystery sounds scary yet exciting to read. Thanks for the introduction to this book.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI feel like this is a book I would want to read with all of the lights on
ReplyDeleteCandie, maybe turn off one or two for atmosphere.
Deletedo you write during the holidays
ReplyDeleteUsually yes. I'm a high-school teacher, so holidays are some of my rare downtimes to get some writing done.
DeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteyou are a new author for me-I would like to read this book-thanks
ReplyDeleteSatkins, thanks for your interest. My work is basically split between procedurals, private detective mysteries, and some horror. A little of something for everyone.
DeleteIt looks like an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteWhat age did you decide to become an author?
ReplyDeleteJen, I was around nineteen or so, but my first short story wasn't published until twenty-two, and my first book didn't come out until I was in my late forties.
DeleteThe book sounds intriguing. The cover is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds intriguing! I am interested in reading more!
ReplyDeletewhat are your writing goals for 2023
ReplyDeleteSounds like one I would love to read this winter season.
ReplyDeleteheather hgtempaddy
Have a wonderful Thursday.
ReplyDeletelooks like a good read
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt. It sounds like a very interesting read.
ReplyDeletethanks again for the giveaway Happy New Years
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, and Happy New Year to you as well.
ReplyDeleteVery intriguing guest post!! I enjoyed reading it and learning more about this book!!
ReplyDeleteWhat's your favourite hobby?
ReplyDeleteWhat types of beverages do you like to keep on hand while writing?
ReplyDeleteLove the book cover
ReplyDelete