You can read a slightly different version of this blog on the newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/0baf142adc82/our-new-book-is-out?e=2b1e842057

 Or, you may gotten the newsletter three days ago, in which case ... never mind. But don't forget our author appearance this coming Saturday at the Art and Author Fair, which you can read all about here:

https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2022/04/were-coming-to-kendallvilles-art-and.html 

And now, back to our regularly scheduled blog. 

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, this might get complicated.

As all fourteen of my regular readers know, my first published novel was Storm Chaser. When my publisher, Whiskey Creek Press, heard I was writing some short stories to promote the book, they offered to print them as a separate collection. That was the unfortunately titled Storm Chaser Shorts. I'm explaining that because chances are you haven't read it.

Storm Chaser sold so well Whiskey Creek Press published a sequel, The Notorious Ian Grant, which I personally think is even better. Later we self published The No-Campground Girls, which is set in the same universe and includes some of the same characters.

Then Whiskey Creek Press was bought out by a larger publisher. They continued to offer the books for sale, but otherwise forgot them and never reduced the prices even years later--prices I thought were too high for an unknown author to begin with.

In addition, Storm Chaser Shorts suffered from being too short for my publisher to do a print version, and many of my readers prefer print. Sales were poor, like me.

Eventually I got the rights back for all three works, which is why you can no longer find the e-book versions for sale. The new publisher still offers the print versions, despite the signed paperwork reverting the rights to me.

I told you it was complicated.

Our plan: to reissue all three books independently, with new covers and a lower price. We got delayed by COVID and other issues, but ....

Wait for it ....

This is also going to take some explaining.

The original title for the short story collection was no good, and I now refer to it as "The short story collection title that must not be named". I can see some browsing customer now:

"Wait ... Storm Chaser Shorts? Is that, like, padded underwear for storm chasers? Is it for protection, or scared bladders? Do they make them in boxers?"

So for our reissue we changed the name, and Emily designed a new cover, but wait--there's more!

We wanted a print version, and, if the original was too short for that ... let's make it longer! So we did. And now you can order either the print or electronic versions on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YGJ1XR6

In fact, the new version, Storm Squalls, is almost twice as long as the Shorts. Of the sixteen stories, six are original to this new edition (they tend to run longer than the originals, too).  Seven of the stories take place before the events of the original Storm Chaser, while three aren't set in the timeline, so if you haven't read any of the Storm Chaser books you can still check those out. Sadly, it looks like we won't have the books available in time for the April 30 author appearance, but we'll have a pre-order sheet for anyone who stops by.

This is getting lengthy, so I'll talk more about it in a later blog. But just so you know, later this year we'll reissue Storm Chaser and The Notorious Ian Grant, also at a lower price. Hope you'll check them out!

Okay, so I already revealed the cover to More Slightly Off the Mark once, but this time we really, really mean it. We thought the original was a little imbalanced, so Emily added a newspaper nameplate, or banner, or ... whatever it's called. That brought us to this:

(Do I yell "ta da!" now?)

Which, yes, is similar to the original Slightly Off the Mark, but it is a sequel, after all. Hopefully it's not too similar. Let's compare:

Yeah, it's different enough. And here's the new book's back cover:

So, there you go. I've shown you my front side, and I've shown you my backside. Judge me as you will, or get a closer look here:

https://www.amazon.com/More-Slightly-off-Mark-Other/dp/1709741287

Just between us (until the next post), it's up for sale on Amazon, and we'll have it on the website to order soon. If you just can't wait and/or want a signed copy, contact Emily or me and we'll get you taken care of. Come to think of it--how many copies should we order?

Here's the cover of our newest book!

And you can order the Kindle version as of today:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082SLML4T

We're working on the print version. Now, I know what you're thinking: "Doesn't that look similar to one of your older books?" Well, yeah, it's a sequel. So, in honor of the second Slightly Off the Mark book, we lowered the e-book price of the original to just 99 cents. Happy Christmas shopping!

Speaking of humor, we've lowered the e-book price of the photo-filled Hoosier Hysterical: How the West Became the Midwest Without Moving At All from $3.99 to $2.99, in addition to dropping Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights to $1.99. They're all here:

https://www.amazon.com/Mark-R-Hunter/e/B0058CL6OO

Or here (Except for the newest, but it'll come soon):

http://markrhunter.com/

Remember, whenever a humor book doesn't sell, Mark Twain rolls over in his grave ... which might explain all those recent small earthquakes in Missouri.

I’ve just realized it’s only 19 days before the release date!  Images of America: Albion and Noble County comes out August 24^th, months ahead of when I originally thought it would. Emily and I worked hard on this book, a photo heavy look at local history that’s part of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America line … I guess the title hinted at that, didn’t it?

You can see the book description at the publisher’s website:

http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9781467114516/Albion-and-Noble-County,

and don’t forget to check out all their other great history books. It’s already listed for preorder on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.

Save the date for some upcoming appearances: Look for us in the fireplace room of the Kendallville Public Library main branch, on September 9^th at 6:30 p.m. I’ll give a brief presentation on the book, and also have copies available for sale.  

We’ll also be at the Stone’s Trace Pioneer Festival near Ligonier, where we’ve been invited to do a book signing between 1-5 p.m. Saturday, September 12^th. It’s a great historical site that gets mentioned more than once in the book.

Look for more events coming up—and thanks to everyone for your support!