GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY
Mysteries and Strange Events:
Volume One – Nine Short Stories
Volume One – Nine Short Stories
by Drew Jones
Mysteries and Strange Events: Volume One by Drew Jones is currently on tour with Silver Dagger Book Tours. The tour stops here today for a guest post by the author, an excerpt, and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
Mysteries and Strange Events: Volume One brings together an evocative debut collection of nine short stories from the author Drew Jones. They are fantastically wide-ranging in subject and include Jaguar cars, railway accidents, strange salvage operations, commercial espionage, greed, science fiction, and ghosts - and every reader will find a favourite within the book. They will all make you stop, think, and question. This amazing mix is completed with some light humor as the flamboyant sleuth Mr. Theodore Halfpenny makes his first appearance.
This irresistible book will be your perfect companion as you commute to work, struggle through a long-haul flight, or just to keep at the side of the bed after a long day.
Excerpt from “The Returning 4.2”
One muggy late August night in 2015, Terry Daniels left or rather staggered from his local The Six Bells, and groped his way homeward – a distance of two miles. The Six Bells was nestled deep in Oxfordshire’s finest postcard countryside and little stirred that night as Terry finally reached the main road. He would follow this for a mile to reach his village and not long after that his front door.
He stopped his clumsy journey after 10 minutes and propped himself on a five-bar gate and was now experiencing that “I wish I hadn’t had that last one” moment when all at once he heard a car approaching from the direction he had travelled. A mist was forming close to the road surface and the sound of the vehicle approaching shattered the stillness well before the vehicle was close.
Terry leaned back on the gate and became an avid spectator as this late arrival showed itself. “An old Jag!” he thought in amazement. Sure enough, a large Jaguar Saloon thundered into sight. Terry’s late father had owned one and he recognised it at once even taking into account his current condition courtesy of The Six Bells hospitality. The familiar grill and blazing round headlights met his gaze and were replaced by the sleek boot and twin exhausts. This he was sure was a series 3 XJ6 and the familiar sound had to be a 4.2 with the legendary XK straight six engine.
The old car carried on past him at tremendous speed and then the driver slammed on the brakes and probably with the aid of the handbrake, the huge machine with much tyre roar and smoke, half spun half skidded across the road and into a lay-by on the right-hand side of the road. It was a long lay-by as it had once been the old road before the current main road had been built. The Jag continued up half its length and suddenly stopped…and then silence.
The disturbed dust began to settle, and under the clear skies, Terry moved forward from his observation point to study the car which was bathed white in the moonlight. It had come to a halt under some trees and he was unable to make out a driver due to the dark shadows from the branches. Moving closer still he confirmed it was indeed a series 3 XJ6 and what he thought was dark brown in colour with stainless steel wheel trims. Part of the number plate was something, something 313X - it looked like an early one. He was baffled why the owner of this lovely old car would be out so late and thrashing the poor aging beast. Could it have been stolen?
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
“Loved this book had me sitting on edge of my seat many times wondering what was about to happen. Can’t wait for a 2nd book.” ~ tania pippin
Guest Post by the Author
A Bit About Me and My Book
Hi, I’m Drew Jones, and I live in the wilds of West Wales! I have a wonderful golden Labrador called Monty, who usually lays at my feet while I write in my study. He is great company and many plots and stories are conjured up while we walk in the woods together.
I have quite diverse interests including collecting military memorabilia, cars, and British Cinema. These, combined with meeting equally diverse people from my work at a university and in the security business, have all combined to give me a wonderful library of characters and ideas for my stories.
In Mysteries and Strange Events: Volume One, I have introduced the character Theodore Halfpenny. I have great ideas and plans for him – so do watch out for him as he will be making another appearance soon.
As my work is in the form of short stories, it is difficult to imagine them as a movie – but I think "A Sign of Danger" might make an exciting movie and "Solitude" perhaps a more intriguing piece. Not forgetting the wonderful Theodore, of course – I think you could have a lot of fun with him in a movie.
About the Author
My name is Drew Jones and enjoy writing about mysterious and strange events. Some of my ideas are derived from my interest in classic cars, military airfields and the paranormal. I normally write in my study in Wales with my Labrador dog Monty at my feet, and many ideas and plots are thought through on our walks together in the woods. There are lots of ideas buzzing in my head, many involving our sleuth Theodore Halfpenny, who will appear in Mysterious and Strange Events Volume 2 - which I hope to start work on soon!
I have really had fun putting this collection together – so I hope you have enjoyed them too. Perhaps you have read them on your commute to work, on a plane as you travel towards your holiday, or as a quick read at the end of a long day.
As with all authors, I would be grateful if you would leave a review on Amazon – it only takes a second and is always much appreciated.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a £10 Amazon gift card.
Links
Amazon (Kindle Unlimited)
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