Violins Played before Junstan
by Lou Kemp
GENRE: Fantasy (magical realism)
Buy Links:
https://www.bookdepository.com/Violins-Played-Before-Junstan/9781644506264
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/violins-played-before-junstan-lou-kemp/1141757454
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBLLD7WK/ref=sr_1_5
While
on a mission to avenge the death of his lover, the immortal peyote-eating
magician Celwyn is hired to deliver an automat, Professor Kang, to a priest.
But Celwyn quickly learns that everything the priest told him was a lie. Now
his ship, the Zelda, is stuck in a horrific storm and Celwyn knows he must
reconsider his allegiance if he is to steer his vessel in the right direction
and continue his quest.
Excerpt One:
San Francisco, 1865
Late in the evening, thick ribbons of fog moved like a
living animal, breathing, then thinning to vapor before revealing the shadows
between the wooden barrels that lined the docks. Beyond the Opera House’s
silhouette, oily glimmers of the bay cut through the darkness, only to be
obscured by the fog again.
As Celwyn neared the docks, he heard virulent cursing above
the commotion from a carriage as it charged down the cobblestones toward him.
When the coach drew level, the driver raised a whip above his horse. On its
descent to the horse’s back, the tip suspended mid-air and snake-like, the whip
shimmied out of the coachman’s hand.
The man steered the hackney to a stop. As he slithered out
of the high cab, the whip followed him, wrapping around his ankles, lifting him
feetfirst into the air. His cursing echoed to screams as he disappeared into
the night sky. A moment later, a splash could be heard, and a satisfied smile
crossed Celwyn’s lips; he couldn’t stand to see anyone mistreating an animal.
The horse trotted down the street, rather jauntily, back toward the stable yard
as the magician stepped around a snoring drunk and into Salty’s tattered and
dingy atmosphere. Celwyn could have sworn it was the same drunk he stepped over
last night.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Early work was
horror and suspense, later work morphed into a combination of magical realism,
mystery and adventure painted with a horrific element as needed.
I’m one of
those writers who doesn’t plan ahead, no outlines, no clue, and I sometimes
write myself into a corner. Atmospheric music in the background helps. Black by
Pearl Jam especially.
More
information is available at LouKemp.com. I'd love to hear from you and what you
think of Celwyn, Bartholomew, and Professor Xiau Kang.
Milestones:
2009 The
anthology story Sherlock’s Opera appeared in Seattle Noir, edited by Curt
Colbert, Akashic Books. Available through Amazon or Barnes and Noble online.
Booklist published a favorable review of my contribution to the anthology.
2010 My story,
In Memory of the Sibylline, was accepted into the best-selling MWA anthology
Crimes by Moonlight, edited by Charlaine Harris. The immortal magician Celwyn
makes his first appearance in print.
2018 The story,
The Violins Played before Junstan is published in the MWA anthology Odd
Partners, edited by Anne Perry. The Celwyn series begins.
Book 1, The
Violins Played before Junstan reissue with the publisher, the 4 Horsemen on
10-17-22. The 4 Horsemen will publish the remaining books in the series
beginning with Music Shall Untune the Sky, The Raven and the Pig, The Pirate
Danced and the Automat Died. The companion
book, Farm Hall continues the story of Pelaez, another immortal magician and
Celwyn's brother will also be available.
https://loukemp.com/the-violins-played-before-junstan/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3452047.Lou_Kemp
3 comments:
Dawn, I hope everyone stops by, election or not. Thank you for hosting. Much appreciation to Goddess for my book tour--they are the best.
If anyone has any questions, please let me know.
I enjoyed reading the excerpt and Violins Played Before Junstan sounds like an intriguing read!
Thanks for sharing it with me and have a splendid day!
Thank you for posting about Violins Played before Junstan, I love the cover art, synopsis and excerpt and I am looking forward to reading this story
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