29 January 2016 by Published in: Uncategorized 8 comments

I released Fatal Exchange in June, 2011. Since then I’ve written something like 46 books. My latest, to go live February 26th, 2016, is Fatal Deception, the sequel to Fatal Exchange.

I’ve had the outline for that book on my desk for four years. Stared at it guiltily month after month as I worked on other projects. Over time I fleshed out bits of it, added to the plot, eliminated some ideas that seemed hackneyed with more experience, and modified the story arc so that the central crime of horrific snuff films and who was behind them took on added importance.

In the process, I reread Fatal Exchange, and decided to rewrite it. I cut a few thousand words, cleaned up a lot of the language to something more polished, and generally re-edited it so I felt it lived up to the its sequel.

If you Fatal Exchange already, I’d see about re-downloading it, because it’s worth a reread, should you be in the mood. I notified Amazon that I rewrote large chunks, so they should send out a notice to anyone with it on their kindle, but who knows when that will happen?

So that’s what I’ve been up to. I’m now working on researching a post-apocalyptic trilogy, tentatively titled The Day After Never, which will release beginning in April. I’m chomping at the bit to write it, which is always a good sign, and if I don’t botch it, the main character should be one of my most interesting yet.

In the meantime, here’s a cover reveal for Fatal Deception, which just went out for pre-sale on Amazon. You could do worse than ordering it. Just saying.

FatalDeception_eBook (1)

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Comments

  1. ken010107
    Sat 30th Jan 2016 at 10:33 am

    Yup, just pre-ordered “Deception” and will look for the rewrite of “Exchange” whenever that comes out. I was glued to the original story with Tess 3 years ago, so I can’t imagine what you changed to make it better.

    As with all your books, I anxiously wait on the next iteration involving each and every character; yes, yes including Artemis. I had to push myself to read the first one, because….well, I mean….Bogart?? Really? Once you started to develop Roxie (she’s a little bit Lisbeth Salander’ish, and I love it) and Mugsy, I was a believer. How could I ever have doubted you … I’m still hoping to see more from Doc Cross.

    For the record I’m glad you came to your senses regarding ending the Jet series. What was that all about!? Jet was the reason I discovered you, and offering those early books for free was a brilliant marketing strategy. I am a Russell fan for life and since you’re younger than me I get to enjoy your stores until the light goes out! Thank you.

    I remain your indentured fan, Ken

    Reply
    • Russell Blake  –  Sat 30th Jan 2016 at 11:54 am

      I cleaned up the prose, eliminated a lot of lazy echoes (same word used several times in proximity), cut repetition (wherein I would restate what I’d said earlier – another lazy habit I’ve become sensitive to with time), axed internal dialogue that was gratuitous (better to show via a spoken word what the character’s thinking or feeling rather than then re-emphasizing it with a sentence underscoring their sentiment), etc. Just made it a more polished read. Same story, which thankfully didn’t require a lot of triage, just prose doctoring to make it read faster.

      Reply
  2. Kirk Alex
    Sat 30th Jan 2016 at 11:51 am

    Re: Fatal Deception. Love the cover, Dawg!
    Gorgeous babe.
    Did the same German designer who does your stunning
    Jet covers create it?
    Best,
    K

    Reply
    • Russell Blake  –  Sat 30th Jan 2016 at 1:19 pm

      No, this was done by Elizabeth Mackey, who is a talent in her own right.

      Reply
  3. Sat 30th Jan 2016 at 5:36 pm

    Looking forward to reading. Been waiting on this one for a long time.

    Reply
  4. Sat 30th Jan 2016 at 10:17 pm

    I’m chomping at the bit to write it

    If you were an old horse person, you’d say “champing at the bit.”

    “Chomping<” is the vigorous biting off and chewing of (usually) food. “Champing<” is that noisy rattling of the bit in a horse’s mouth that the horse does when it is anxious to get moving. It flicks the bit with its tongue, it rattles it against it teeth, etc. There is a certain slight amount of opening and closing of the horse’s mouth as this goes on, but the action is not “chomping” by any means.

    It is, unfortunately, a common mistake nowadays, as fewer and fewer people are as familiar as they used to be with horses and what they do.

    Reply
  5. pastor
    Wed 10th Feb 2016 at 2:34 am

    Is this book on KU?

    Reply
  6. Janet
    Wed 06th Apr 2016 at 2:47 pm

    You had made mention that this book was “gritty”. I am a bit of a delicate type and can’t take too much graphic violence. Just wondered if u had toned that down as well? U had said u figured out it was unnecessary in your later books. Love your work, just wondered if I should give this a whirl.

    Reply
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