Author: Scott William Carter

1000 Email Subscribers Reached – Summer Mailing List Giveaways – Sign Up Today!

Just last week, my mailing list crossed over 1000 subscribers. It’s a neat milestone, and a nice reminder of how many new readers I’ve picked up lately. Thank you! To show my appreciation, I’ve decided to do some giveaways for my fans. If you sign up before Sunday, June 21 (the first day of summer), you’ll be eligible for all the following FREE prizes:

#1 . . . 3 people will receive one FREE ebook of the next Garrison Gage mystery at least twenty-four hours before it has been published, as well as a signed paperback edition of that book to be mailed a few weeks after publication to a United States address. Right now, this book is scheduled for a Fall 2015 release.

#2 . . . 5 people will receive a FREE signed trade paperback copy of one of my already published Garrison Gage books or one of my Myron Vale books, mailed at my expense within the United States, whichever book the winner chooses.

#3 . . . 20 people will receive coupon codes for FREE copies of the audio edition (via Audible.com) of all three Garrison Gage books

#4 . . . Everyone on my mailing list will receive a coupon code for 50% off the print edition for all the Garrison Gage books and all the Myron Vale books, good for one month. You can use it on one book or all of them. Shipping not included. That’s right. Everyone.

You can keep the prizes for yourself or give them to others. Remember, to be eligible all you have to do is sign up for my mailing list. Crazy? Well, I’ve had a good year as a writer, and this is the least I can do to show how grateful I am. Your email will never be shared with others, and I only email a handful of times a year.  All the prizes will be selected randomly. And no, I’m not running this giveaway on any of the popular contest sites.  This is just for my readers.

And if you’re on the list?  Don’t sweat it.  You’re already eligible.

I hope it’s worth five seconds of your time. Feel free to tell others, so long as you think they’d be interested in my books. Sign up here:

http://scottwilliamcarter.com/newsletter/new-releases/

The fine print:  No purchase necessary to enter or win. To be eligible for the giveaway, you must be on Scott William Carter’s email list before June 21, 2015. You must be over 18 years of age and, alas, a resident of the United States. (Blame Canadian and European laws, folks; I love my international readers.) Odds of winning any prize are approximately 1 in 1000, except for #4, which will be awarded to all people on the mailing list before June 21, 2015. Winners will be notified via email.

New Book Published: THE GHOST WHO SAID GOODBYE

I mentioned this book was coming in my last post (and I informed my mailing list a few days ago*), but I’m pleased to announce that The Ghost Who Said Goodbye is now available in both print and ebook.  A sharp-witted private investigator who has a hard time telling the living apart from the dead? Check. A serial killer with a paranormal twist that only our hero can stop? Check. Elvis as a hot dog vendor? Yep, it’s all here. If you enjoyed Ghost Detective, I’m hoping you like this one, too.  More information about the book below.  (There are a few retailers, like iBooks, that will be available soon.)

*If you haven’t signed up for my mailing list, you can do so here. There will be some contests coming up soon, some free giveaways for my fans, so it’s worth a couple seconds of your time. And I only email a few times a year.

ghostgoodbye_cover031315The Ghost Who Said Goodbye
A Myron Vale Investigation

Ebook:
Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

Paperback:
Amazon | B&N | Indiebound

Genre: Fiction | Mystery

Even the dead can die . . . the second in the riveting series about the private investigator who bridges both sides of the great divide.

Charles Manson. Ted Bundy. Jeffrey Dahmer. Known for their cunning and savagery. In the late eighties, another infamous serial killer sent seventeen innocent people to early graves. Then, suddenly, the murders in the panicked city of Portland, Oregon, stopped–and the Goodbye Killer got away.

Myron Vale remembers it well. Long before a fateful bullet cursed him with the ability to see ghosts, he was the young son of the city’s most esteemed detective. The case changed Hank Vale, haunting him with a single glimpse of the killer’s otherworldly face. He was never the same man again. Or the same father.

Now a new victim points to the Goodbye Killer’s return. And when the most powerful forces on the other side of the great divide approach Myron desperate for help, he uncovers a terrifying truth. It’s not just the living who should fear for their immortal souls … even the dead can die.

What They’re Saying About the Series

“The Sixth Sense meets Spenser For Hire in Scott William Carter’s magnificent Ghost Detective.”– Michael J. Totten, author of Taken

“Scott is one of those rare writers who can and does cross genres, and do it well. You never know what kind of story you’ll get from him, but you do know that it’ll be good.” – Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Hugo award-winning author of The Disappeared

“A sultry blonde walks into a detective’s office. Big deal, seen it a million times, right? Wrong! THE GHOST DETECTIVE ranks as one of the most ingenious departures from the norm I’ve seen in a long time … I’ve always enjoyed Scott William Carter’s work, but THE GHOST DETECTIVE takes my admiration to a whole new level. I loved this book. ” – David H. Hendrickson, author of Cracking the Ice

“There is fantastic character development, snappy dialogue, and an interesting, intelligent plotline that kept me guessing up to the last page.”  –  Cheryl Stout, Amazon Top 1000 Reviewer

“Ghost Detective has it all — suspense, humor, compelling characters, and a depth of emotion that kept me turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning.” – Leslie Claire Walker, author of Skin and Bone

“It’s very rare that find a novel that’s funny and sarcastic and poignant and scary, all at the same time. In GHOST DETECTIVE, Scott William Carter pulls all four off with amazing aplomb … A gripping, wonderful read – and I definitely look forward to the next Myron Vale novel. Highly recommended.” –  Kathryn Cunningham, Amazon Top 500 Reviewer

“Don’t let the title trick you into false assumptions; Ghost Detective is an outstanding book, one that uses its paranormal premise not as a way into scares or even romance, but instead uses it to explore ideas about loss, death, and our pasts. It’s really well-crafted stuff, and I’m excited to see that Carter plans more books in this series; after this one, I’m eager to see what comes next for Myron.”  –  Josh Mauthe,  The Library Police Podcast

“Scott William Carter takes aim at smooth genre blend and scores a bulls-eye … Fantastic read.” – Nathan E. Meyer, author Aldwyn’s Academy

The Ghost Who Said Goodbye – Cover and Description

ghostgoodbye_cover031315

That’s the cover for The Ghost Who Said Goodbye, which is on track for an early April release.  There might be a few last minute tweaks, but I’m feeling very good about it.  I’ve gotten the book back from my intrepid copy editor and am making my final edits now.  As always, if you want to be the first to know, sign up for my e-mail newsletter.  I use it almost exclusively to let my readers know about new releases, so it’s doubtful you’ll get more than a handful of emails a year.  I also occasionally offer special editions, free books, and other deals through it, so it’s worth signing up.  And of course your email will never be shared with others.

For you Garrison Gage fans, yes, I’m now working on the fourth Gage book and really like how it’s shaping up.  Going’s a little slow right now, because I’m in one of the busiest stretches I’ve had in quite some time, but things will open up quite a bit in about a month.  I also had to make a trip back to Minnesota for my grandmother’s funeral, who died just shy of 98. She lived a long life and died fairly quickly at the end, so I saw this visit as a celebration of her life and a chance to reconnect with some cousins and other relatives I don’t get a chance to see often.

Rainy and gray here in Oregon, typical for March, though weather has been a bit schizophrenic this year.  The course I mentioned in my last post filled, which is great to see, and I think I’m putting together a very robust class.  Looking forward to it.

Here’s the full description of The Ghost Who Said Goodbye, the second Myron Vale investigation.  More soon.

ghostgoodbye_cover031315Charles Manson. Ted Bundy. Jeffrey Dahmer. Known for their cunning and savagery. In the late eighties, another infamous serial killer sent seventeen innocent people to early graves. Then, suddenly, the murders in the panicked city of Portland, Oregon, stopped—and the Goodbye Killer got away.

Myron Vale remembers it well. Long before a fateful bullet cursed him with the ability to see ghosts, he was the young son of the city’s most esteemed detective. The case changed Hank Vale, haunting him with a single glimpse of the killer’s otherworldly face. He was never the same man again. Or the same father.

Now a new victim points to the Goodbye Killer’s return. And when the most powerful forces on the other side of the great divide approach Myron desperate for help, he uncovers a terrifying truth. It’s not just the living who should fear for their immortal souls … even the dead can die.

WR 450: Writing for Publication (Western Oregon University, Spring 2015)

Hamersly_Library_Western_Oregon_University

About a year ago, the English department at Western Oregon University (the day job part of my life) approached me about possibly teaching a course on writing and publishing — steeped in the kind of practical, nuts and bolts stuff that someone needs to know to write for publication today. I’m pleased to announce that it’s finally come together, and I’ll be teaching the course this Spring term.  First, the actual course description:

WR 450:  Writing for Publication (4)

Seal_of_Western_Oregon_University

An advanced course on writing and publishing for a commercial audience. Half the course concentrates on the techniques and skills needed to write successful popular fiction; the other half concentrates on publishing, with equal emphasis on both traditional and self-publishing options. Topics include: scene and structure, creating compelling characters, developing a unique voice, manuscript submission, literary agents, copyediting, contracts, ebook creation, Print-on-Demand, movie options, and many other areas of interest. While the primary focus is on short stories and novels, arrangements can be made with the instructor for writers of non-fiction. This is a HYBRID course; students should expect to spend 2-3 hours each week online in addition to the Wednesday night classroom time.

  • Instructor:  Scott Carter
  • Date/Time:  Wednesdays, 4:30-7:20 (with one hour online)
  • Location:  Room TBD | WOU, in Monmouth, Oregon
  • Term Begins:  March 30, 2015
  • Cost:  WOU Tuition Rates
  • Register:  Web registration is here | For new students, call the Registrar’s Office at (503) 838-8327 | Opens at the end of Feb

 

I’ve designed it to be the kind of course I wished I had.  I took several good writing classes as an undergraduate (as well as more than a few bad ones), but none of them were really grounded in both the craft and the business, especially from a professional perspective.  When I attended the University of Oregon, I was fortunate to happen upon a remarkable weekly workshop run by Kristine Katherine Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith, which was not affiliated with the university at all and was frequented by many professional writers who lived in the area.  Attending that workshop on Tuesday nights for three years in the banquet room of greasy G. Wilikers Bar and Grill (long since closed) really helped show me what writing with a professional mindset is all about.  Not many writers are lucky enough to have that kind of workshop, though, so I’m hoping this class might, in some small way, serve the same purpose. This will be about clearing myths and setting people who are serious about writing on the right track.  

Who should take the course?  

People interested in writing for a commercial audience — in other words, writing as a professional endeavor.  What does it mean to write for a commercial audience?  Generally, it means writing for some combination of money, audience, or prestige.  Should you pursue a traditional publisher or self-publish?  Contracts?  Royalties and advances? Literary agents? What are the elements of great fiction, fiction that sells?  There are no prerequisites, but this is a 400 level course, so the expectation is that the student will have done some amount of writing before attending.  If unsure, however, email me via my contact page.

Spring registration at WOU opens at the end of February. If it goes well, I hope to teach it every year, but there are no guarantees.  If you’re interested, and you’re within driving distance of Monmouth, Oregon, I’d suggest taking it now.  I realize the tuition ain’t cheap, but this will be a lot more in depth than the teaching I’ve done in the past at conferences and workshops.