An Update and Some Other News...

Allan here to apologize for the fact that I've been a big reason for Helen's absence on this blog. We've been dealing with my health issues to get a firm diagnosis, as well as dealing with disability. I won't go into great detail, but it was enough to sidetrack both of us for the last few months. 

Plus, Helen has had her own share of health issues as well, and between the two of us there's been a lot to contend with, which has taken her away from her writing. However, she has been making progress on the next installment of the Forever Detective Series, which will be called "Forever on Broadway". As the title implies, Rafael will be finding himself deep in a theater mystery which will also take him even deeper into the realm of the paranormal than ever before. What wonders and dangers await him? Well, you'll have to sit tight for a while but trust me it will be worth the wait.

In the meantime, we're happy to announce that we now have an online store at: 

The Krummenacker Library Store

Here you can purchase personalized and autographed paperbacks of most of the Forever Detective Series. 

I say most, because at the moment we are currently sold out of "W. I. T. C. H. Hunters Forever". But we will be expecting more soon so keep checking out the site.

You'll also soon be finding other works by Helen and myself, including personalized and signed copies of our Para-Earths Series of books. These paranormal/sci-fi books have been likened to the works of HP Lovecraft and Dean Koontz. Again, not all the books are available at this time (namely "The Bridge" is currently being re-edited due to formatting and other issues which took place when the book was switched from Createspace to Amazon). I hope to have this fully rectified by the end of this year. On the same note, each book in this series acts as a standalone tale and can be fully enjoyed individually. 

Currently, we are working on adding still more items, plus we hope to open a 2nd branch to the store... but more on that another day. 

For now, thank you all for your patience and continued visits here. And please come and check out our online store at the link provided above. So, if you or someone you know would really love one or more of these exciting stories (or even the whole set) signed by Helen, go ahead and place an order. Copies are available for mailing anywhere in the United States (although shipping rates may vary for Hawaii and Alaska - I'll have to look into that and update the site accordingly). 

And if any of our readers from Canada or overseas would like any signed copies, I'll be looking into what will be involved into the costs of shipping and update you all as soon as I have more information.

That's all for now. But keep coming back here for more news and updates. Take care and Happy Reading everyone! 

"Forever Haunted" Has Received a Kirkus Review...

"A well-paced and quirky love letter to classic crime fiction."

In the second installment of Helen Krummenacker’s Forever Detective series, a private investigator looks into a 20-year-old murder while also adjusting to his new life as a vampire. 

In the summer of 1947, Rafael Jones, a former cop and now a P.I., is hired by his friend Jimmy Clarke to debunk a rumor that the upstate New York family home Jimmy recently inherited is haunted, so that he can more easily sell the property. The rumor, however, is shown to be true when Rafael wakes up to a gruesome sight: a ghostly reenactment of a woman’s murder. He’s no stranger to the supernatural; a few months before, he was turned into a vampire himself. He knows that to help the woman’s spirit move on, he must identify her killer and bring him to justice. After establishing a friendly, albeit limited, rapport with the woman’s ghost through music, and with the help of clairvoyant Methuselah “Medium” Brown, he learns that her name is Phoebe Travers and that she was killed in 1925 by an ex-boyfriend who was the father of her child—a mobster named Lorenzo Russo. Rafael, with the help of friends, former police colleagues, and long-distance girlfriend Clara Thomas, gets to work tracking down Russo, finding new evidence, and going head-to-head with the mob. As he investigates, he teaches himself how to control his new vampiric abilities and use them to his advantage—all while resisting the urge to bite someone. 

In this sequel to Forever’s Too Long (2019), Helen Krummenacker presents a highly entertaining paranormal murder mystery. Rafael is a smart, compassionate protagonist who narrates his story with wry humor, especially when it comes to his vampiric condition: “It was nice to be sitting next to a pretty woman without feeling an itch around my teeth,” he says during his first interaction with Phoebe’s ghost. The cast of characters is impressively diverse and well developed, and the story moves quickly while offering sharp and detailed descriptions. Fans of vintage detective stories will enjoy this novel’s supernatural twist on a genre full of gruff detectives, organized crime, and femmes fatales.

Want to get a copy of this exciting mystery for yourself or someone you know? Here are the links, just remember to choose the one that works best for you...

E-BOOK, PAPERBACK, AUDIOBOOK LINKS:

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0821Z6RMY

AmazonUK Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0821Z6RMY

AmazonCA Link: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0821Z6RMY

AmazonAU Link: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0821Z6RMY

E-BOOK (only) LINKS:

Smashwords Link: Forever Haunted (smashwords.com)

Barnes and Noble Link: Forever Haunted (The Forever Detective, #2) by Helen Krummenacker | eBook | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Kobo Link: Forever Haunted eBook by Helen Krummenacker - EPUB Book | Rakuten Kobo United States

Apple Books Link: Forever Haunted on Apple Books

AUDIO (only) LINKS:

Audible Link: https://www.audible.com/pd/Forever-Haunted-Audiobook/B08XZQ7TCW?asin=B08XZQ7TCW

Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/forever-haunted-the-forever-detective-book-2-unabridged/id1556807833

Signed Copies of Forever Chosen Are Now Available...

Look what arrived yesterday...

This means that signed copies are now available and can be sent to you or someone on your Christmas list (although please note we cannot guarantee delivery will arrive in time for Christmas due to slow postal service and lateness of the books having just reached us).

To order, just contact my husband, Allan at: 

 allan.krummenacker@gmail.com

Signed copies are $15.00, plus $3.00 for shipping

This 5th installment of the Forever Detective Series is already gaining 5-star ratings and reviews*, so why not check it out and see what new mischief our favorite vampire detective is finding himself in his latest outing. 

*the review:

Caroline D. Henry

5.0 out of 5 stars I've Become a Forever Fan of the Forever Detective

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2023

Verified Purchase

Disclaimer up front--I know the author and was a beta reader for this book, however that is a very different experience than just reading it through purely for the pleasure of it. I purchased the e-book of Forever Chosen two days ago, and I've zipped through it as a fun read. Reluctant vampire and dedicated detective Rafael Jones comes up against his archenemy Russian criminal vampire Rasputin who hopes to corrupt and co-opt the Zionist movement in post World War II New York. This guy is very powerful, and it's a good thing Raf has the aid of a demonologist, a dryad, a sharp secretary, a NYPD cop, and maybe a Russian princess--and you will find yourself hoping that's enough. Helen Krummenacker successfully combines the detective noir genre with elements of fantasy and legend. I can hardly wait for the next book.

Also, if you're a fan of Smashwords here's another piece of news...

I’m excited to announce the entire Forever Detective Book series (5 in all) will be promoted on Smashwords as part of their 2023 End of Year Sale starting on December 15! Be sure to follow me for more updates and links to the promotion for my books and many more! 

Again, this sale will start on December 15th and will end on January 1st, 2024. Here's the link you will need:

https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos/ 

*NOTE: Smashwords offers e-books in the following formats: Barnes and Noble for Nook, Kobo, Apple, Overdrive, and Scribd

**ALSO NOTE: You can have an e-book sent to someone and even schedule when it is to arrive through both Smashwords and Amazon.

HAPPY READING AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

The Wait Is Over... "Forever Chosen" Is Now LIVE!

The original baddies are back in the 5th book of the Forever Detective Series...

Once upon a time, Rafael Jones was just another guy back from the war, starting up his own business. But because that business was a detective agency, he took a case that led him face-to-face with a pair of monsters.

One of those monsters, Grigori Rasputin the legendary Mad Monk of Russia, chose him to join their ranks and made him a vampire. But Rafael struggled against their 'gift', drove them from New York, and has continued to seek a cure, while holding onto his humanity in spite of his new condition.

But now those who turned him are back, and it seems like a new nightmare is about to be unleashed on a particular part of the city's population.

Rasputin, the vampire with religious mania, has turned his attention to those he acknowledges as God’s first Chosen People… the Jews. And now Rafael has to race against time and find out exactly what Rasputin has planned for them, and stop him, before the body count begins to stack up again.

Available NOW in Kindle and paperback formats...

Click on the appropriate link for your region to get your copy in this growing 5-star series:

AmazonUS: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMNGM2CR

AmazonUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CMNGM2CR

AmazonCA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CMNGM2CR

Collection being planned

Allan and I love volumes that collect multiple books of a series, as it takes up less space in a book shelf. Therefore I planned to turn the first 4 novels into a volume, rather than the usual three at a time, to play off for/four with 4ever Begins. Conveniently it will have all that takes place in 1947, as Forever Chosen is set in February 1948. One of the hardest parts is deciding on the cover-- I'm thinking of showcasing the comedy aspect a bit. What would you like to see for the cover? 

The "Forever Festive" book trailer has arrived...

 

"Forever Festive" is available now in paperback and e-book formats at:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KCC5HZV

AmazonUK Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09KCC5HZV

AmazonCA Link: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09KCC5HZV

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1112190

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forever-festive-helen-krummenacker/1140442307?ean=2940165068287

Kobo Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/forever-festive

Apple Books: ‎https://books.apple.com/us/book/forever-festive/id1592528404

*NOTE: An audio version of the book will be coming out next month to Audible and I-Tunes *

The Future of the Forever Detective Series

With 3 books done, you may wonder if I have plans for further novels in the series. Yes, I do.

Right now I have 12 more novel concepts planned already just for Rafael Jones. And while I have them in mind to be in the 40s-50s, I'm interested in doing more contemporary stories with him. I'd like to give him a Goth sidekick in the 80s, because of course that would happen. :)

One thing I want to know is: as a reader, do you want the books to be in chronological order? Or are you okay with the series jumping around a bit in time if the story warrants it? (And thanks to weird genius Eugene, time travel may even be part of some plots.)

Also: would you love a spin-off? While getting the stories direct from Rafael has its appeal, you know that Clara, Medium Brown, Sir Lynn Fox, and other members of W.I.T.C.H. Hunters have stories of their own. I want to get to work on those soon, starting with an anthology. Are you intrigued?

Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash

****RELEASE DAY - "Forever In Deep****

Book 3 of the Forever Detective Series
is now available

Rafael Jones is always a little out of his depth in rural settings, but he's not just a detective, he's also undead. He can't ignore the call from the Saratoga County coroner when she mentions the bite marks found on several drowning victims during the spring and summer of 1947.

However, he knows his weaknesses (sunlight, running water, and a woeful lack of country manners), so he isn't working alone. His slowly developing powers and quick wits may not be a match for something old, strong in magic, and completely cursed.

Available now in all e-book formats for $3.99 at:

Kindle link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0894513Y4

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forever-in-deep-helen-krummenacker/1137077012?ean=2940164087760

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/forever-in-deep

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1024000

Kindle UK Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0894513Y4

Kindle CA Link: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0894513Y4

*Also available in Trade Paperback for $12.99 at Amazon OR "Signed" copies available by contacting/e-mailing the author at: helenkrummenacker@gmail.com * 

Coming out May 29th (next Friday)

Raphael Jones is always a little out of his depth in rural settings, but he's not just a detective, he's also undead. So when the Saratoga County coroner mentions bite marks found on several drowning victims, he can't ignore her request to investigate.

However, knowing his weaknesses (sunlight, running water, and a woeful lack of country manners), he has decided not to work alone. Between his friends, his slowly developing powers, and his quick wits, he hopes to find the culprit. But can they prevail against something old, strong in magic, and completely cursed?

Watch this (approximate) space

I'm looking into ways to make it possible to buy directly from this website, especially with our development of an audio version of the first book. More will follow, but right now, my voice artist has a very bad cold so he can't record right now. (By the way, if you want that quasi-antique phonograph, I found it a Kohl's ad)

I know a lot of people would rather buy directly from a creator than a large corporation, and I've found out Audible is a pretty expensive resource for audiobook listeners, so we want to make options available. We will also have CD sets available and I'd like for people to be able to buy signed books without having to take the initiative and hit Contact Me (but totally contact me if you want a signed copy). Maybe a pdf download purchase option, too. After all, the easier it is for readers to get their books instead of having to open extra tabs, the better, right?

A woman's place is as the author

Even though my books are genre novels, not feminist writings, and even though the main character is male, being a feminist has had a lot of influence on them. 

One reviewer mentioned for Forever's Too Long, "I especially appreciated the way that the female characters (both heroes and villains) were fully formed, intelligent, and autonomous - delightfully atypical of the genre." I've kept that going with women who have their own sense of purpose, their own careers (including uncommon ones), references to problems both historical and ongoing, etc. That won't go away. 

And there won't be any nonsense of having strong women just so the man can prove himself even stronger by conquering them/putting them in their place. Rafael won't slap a woman to cure her hysterics. He's not weak enough to need that. 

No, my hero gets to have real, meaningful, supportive friendships. He experiences fear and disappointment, wistfulness and hope, affection and joy. He sees beauty as well as darkness in the world. He has time for introspection as well as action. You wouldn't think it would take feminism to write a well-rounded male character, but a lot of male writers are steered by growing up with toxic masculinity. 

But he is emotionally vulnerable-- that's another side to feminism. Allowing men to have a full range of emotions, not just anger, resentment, and pride (wait, wrath, envy and pride are almost half the deadly sins right there). Why do men hate men so much? 

Finally, feminism has been intersectional for most of its history. Seneca Falls meetings dealt with abolitionism and feminism both. Abolition took priority for feminists in terms of action, because of the severity, but once the Civil War was won, women's suffrage was the next big thing for many activists. Social work began because of women with education and influence becoming involved with immigrant and impoverished communities and seeing a need for political policies and trained workers to pave paths to a better life for the marginalized. 

So, my women's history course dealt with a lot of racial concerns, too. I've researched it and read widely outside of feminist writing on race, but there are a lot of connections.

Natural History

I've always loved reading about the sciences. For the most part, that's influenced my participation in the Para-Earth series, where paranormal and science fiction (in the form of parallel Earth evolution) come together. However, I'm finding my interest in animal life is even useful in the Forever Detective series. Many folklore entities are closely connected to the natural realm. Even unnatural creatures like vampires are able to shape shift and control animals to do their bidding-- so it helps to know about those animals.

For instance, there are many types of bats, and vampire bats are a tiny minority. Insectivores are far more common, and the flying fox type-- the largest bats-- are not only cute, but they live on things like pollen, nectar, and fruit. If a vampire turns into a flying fox, it tells you he doesn't think like other vampires.

For Forever Haunted, I had to do some research on moths, which was rather fun and unusual. I've learned about jaguars, too, as I will be using that information later.

I need to know about horses for book 3, Forever in Deep. I also need horse racing information. Anyone want to recommend good sources?

Another Review Another 5 Stars: "Forever's Too Long"

So excited to share this latest review...

5.0 out of 5 starsReally enjoyed this one!

August 10, 2019

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I hadn't read this genre or point of view for awhile.It had some humorous bits,the plot moved well,and it was pretty believable.The whole movie played out in my head in black and white,as it could be,if ever it becomes one.It was my first time read in this author--Highly recommend her.

This is the book's 6th review and all of them have been 5-stars. If you haven't picked up your own copy, here's where you can get one in the format that works for you.

Nook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forevers-too-long-helen-krummenacker/1131555250?ean=2940163217083  

Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RSGKTDF

      AmazonUK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RSGKTDF

      AmazonCA:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07RSGKTDF

      AmazonAU:

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07RSGKTDF

     Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/938589

Countdown to release:7 Days. Why Print-On-Demand?

So, one of the first things I often hear from people when they hear I have a book coming out is, "Who's your publisher?"

There's long been a stigma to self-publishing, and until recently, it was deserved. A writer had to buy a few thousand copies to get it printed at reasonable rates and generally did so as a pet project. Anyone who wanted to reach a wide audience and to possibly make money had to find a publisher who thought their work was high enough quality to invest in. It would go through rounds of editing before ever going to the shops. A real publisher meant the writer had talent. Self-publishing just meant they had money.

But.

That was then. This is now. Everyone knows there have been radical changes in how books are sold.There are many formats besides paper. Bookstore chains have collapsed or moved to online only. Publishing houses rise and fall, to the point where there are few one has heard of. But more has happened behind the scenes. Publishers tend not to invest in writers who aren't celebrities. Instead, even authors who have turned a modest profit on multiple books are asked to shoulder the burden of "typesetting fees". The manuscript is rarely put through an editing process. What most publishers look for is one thing: marketability. They are looking for a trendy subject, a sexy concept, and work that fits neatly into a hot genre or niche market.

Allan and I worked together on his first project to create something ended up combining thriller, paranormal investigation, police procedural,science fiction, horror, and strongly featured a lesbian couple. It didn't fit neatly into a genre and as Allan researched the market and the experience of other writers, he realized how much things had changed.

With print on demand technology, works can be published with little more investment than the blood, sweat, and tears of the writer. Not relying on a publisher who doesn't want to pay an editor to proofread the material, error checking is done by volunteers, and by several read-throughs by the author who is deeply committed to putting out a quality product. A publisher wants to sell a book and if the reader is dissatisfied, it means little. You'll buy another author next time. The writer, on the other hand, has to deliver great work if they want readers to love their book and look for more by them.

In short, I don't believe publishers care as much about quality as marketing at this point. And while anyone can self-publish a book these days, it's not a warning sign that it was unpublishable by other means, because print-on-demand is great for giving an author more control, a greater profit share, and a way to reach a large audience, hence it is the first choice rather than last resort. Allan and I have chosen this route and advise others to do the same.

Interestingly, the publishing houses track print-on-demand sales. If an author makes themselves into hot property, then they may be offered a favorable contract that will help them get into more brick-and-mortar stores. Ultimately-- the fate of writers is in the hands of the readers. Thank you for thinking of me!

Pre-Orders Available NOW...

Welcome to the first solo novel of Helen Krummenacker, co-author of the Para-Earth Series. 

Adventure, humor, film noir and dark urban fantasy blend in a unique vision that will appeal to fans of Harry Dresden or Marvel's Horror Comics....

Enter the world of The Forever Detective Series...

Raphael Jones' love of adventure took him into police work, military service, and finally a career as a private eye. But when his first couple of cases combine to drop him into deep trouble, can his sense of adventures survive? For that matter, can he? A practical man with a kind heart, he never expected to encounter supernatural evil threatening the people he cares about.

"I was reading along enjoying the Raymond Chandler vibe and suddenly WHAM! Night Stalker!" - author Danarra Ban

Available June 1st, 2019 for all e-books (Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Apple, PDF, etc.) and trade paperback!

Reserve your e-book now at:

Nook:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forevers-too-long-helen-krummenacker/1131555250?ean=2940163217083

Amazon: 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RSGKTDF

AmazonUK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RSGKTDF

AmazonCA:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07RSGKTDF

AmazonAU:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07RSGKTDF

Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/938589