The latest from Smorgasbord – Variety is the Spice of Life —
Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore: New Book on the Shelves – The Genie Hunt by M.C. Tuggle.
A welcome to M.C. Tuggle to the bookstore with his latest book The Genie Hunt (Spook Hunters Book 1) published on May 8th 2017. Thank you for popping today and it would be great if you could pass on the word about Mike’s new book.. thanks Sally.
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Kate Seabury reviews The Genie Hunt in Manhattan with a twist:
The author does a great job at combining real-life scenarios with elements of fantasy. The novella reads like a combination of the television shows “Law & Order” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The writing and content made it so I never knew what to expect; with each turn of the page came a new surprise and boy, does that make for fun reading. It was not at all a “horror” book, but rather a suspenseful mystery with a healthy dose of the supernatural.
I also enjoyed how Tuggle maintains the strong friendship between Buddy and Coot, even though the events in their lives seem to keep going from bad to worse. Even though everything happening could tear them apart, their bond never breaks. They remain loyal to one another and even are able to joke around and make the best of what is surely a terrible situation. I found myself endeared by their friendship, and I was rooting for them the entire time.
This was not my first M.C. Tuggle book–I reviewed a novella of his called “Aztec Midnight” sometime last year–so I knew there was going to be more to the story than what initially met my eye, but even I was surprised at the extent of the uniqueness and creativity which flowed from the beginning of the book to the very last page. I can confidently say I have never read anything like “The Genie Hunt” before, and I am looking forward to what Tuggle comes up with next.
Check out the entire review at Manhattan with a twist.
Super-blogger Cristian Mihai reviews my novella The Genie Hunt:
If you’ve read my previous reviews, you know I’m not the one to provide a synopsis of sorts, or write about the usual aspects of storytelling.
What matters most about the book, the essence of it, is the aftertaste, the way it makes you feel after having read it.
Is it worth it? Do you recommend it? Would you read it again?
The Genie Hunt by M.C. Tuggle is a short, fast read. The supernatural adds an interesting twist to a classical suspense storyline.
Thank you, Cristian! Read the rest at Cristian Mihai.
I am honored by Cathleen Townsend’s review of The Genie Hunt. Thank you, Cathleen!
Sue Vincent at the Daily Echo generously allowed me to guest-post on her blog. “It’s Not A Human!” addresses man’s self-defeating alienation from nature and how literature can restore the connections that make us human.
Matt Bond is the webmaster of The Book Blogger, a UK-based site dedicated to reviewing books of all genres. He interviewed me about my writing goals and my latest book, The Genie Hunt.
Things were going smoothly. Then he asked, “What would surprise readers about you?”
Solstice Publishing has just released my novella The Genie Hunt, a modern fantasy set in High Point, North Carolina. It’s the latest comic adventure of Buddy Vuncannon and Coot Pickard, whose first exploit appeared in my short story Witch Flambé, published by Aurora Wolf.
Attorney Buddy Vuncannon and his friend Coot Pickard are heading out of town for a fishing weekend when they’re surrounded by a SWAT team. When Coot is booked, Buddy learns three of Coot’s friends identified Coot as the gun man at a pawn shop robbery, the latest in a string of violent crimes that have terrified the small town.
To defend Coot, Buddy must stand up to a bullying district attorney, uncover the identity of the real robbers, and battle a powerful genie from Iraq who serves the robbers. Buddy’s investigation implicates an old friend, reigniting long-forgotten friction between Buddy and Coot. Old and new loyalties clash, leading Buddy and Coot to a desperate backwoods chase that forces them to seek the help of a madman they both fear.
It was a blast researching and writing this story. I grew up in High Point, which was once a thriving mill and furniture center in the North Carolina Piedmont. After reading J. D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy, I was moved to write about how the middle class is seeing its way of life disappear in a changing, often bewildering world. These neglected people deserve their due, as well as a little respect. As in the real world of rural and small-town America, the maltreated but proud characters in The Genie Hunt still have a lot of fight left in them.
I want to thank my critique partners and beta readers for their invaluable insights, as well as the hard-working editors at Solstice Publishing. The end result of our efforts is a fast-paced comedy thriller that’ll hook you at page one. Enjoy!
Available now on Amazon.
Early reviews:
“Tuggle redefines a popular fairy tale character in his tale of the paranormal, of powerful dark alliances, and of deadly deception, set in a small town in North Carolina. Those bedtime stories we were told as children may just have a frightening, more threatening side. The Genie Hunt will keep you guessing about how a good lawyer can overcome evil to set an innocent man free.”
Ben Sharpton, author of 3rd Option.
“I was hooked from the start. Great story, full of suspense. This book is one of my must-reads this year.”
Aman Mittal, Confessions of a Readaholic
“The small town Carolina setting and the friendships forged by the people who grew up there together give the story an authentic feel.”
Cathleen Townsend, author of Dragon Hoard.
Here’s the lowdown on one of my favorite fantasy tropes – the mysterious assassin!
It’s Tough Travelling time again! This is a feature hosted by Laura Hughes at Fantasy Faction (originally created by Fantasy Review Barn). Every month, with the help of Diana Wynne Jones’s classic Tough Guide to Fantasyland, it puts the spotlight on a particular fantasy trope, theme or cliché, and invites bloggers to list stand-out books related to that week’s theme.
This month’s theme is assassins:
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“What do you get when someone blends these genres: Thriller and Fantasy? You get M. C. Tuggle’s new book The Genie Hunt. I was hooked from the start. … Great story, full of suspense. This book is one of my must-reads this year.” – Aman Mittal. Read the rest at Confessions of a Readaholic
I wanted to pass on this news — for the next few days, author Ben A. Sharpton is offering his novels at 99 cents! Check it out.
M.C. Tuggle, Writer 