Calling Beta Readers!

I’m looking for people who’d be interested in trying out an early version of my next novel. I’m planning to send this out via email on either Sunday night or Monday morning.

Ideally I’d like to have some feedback within a few days. Short time frame, I know. But a week later I’ll be sending out a revised version to an editor and anyone who’s willing to help but would prefer to wait a week.

So, it’s a lot to ask, and if you’re not up for it I think the book will still turn out okay. (Actually, I’m a lot happier with it than I expected to be at this point.)

Feedback can be streamed, too–if you get a copy and only have time to read part of it, letting me know what you think of that part will still be very helpful.

Here’s where I should have a blurb ready. Some would say I needed that before writing the book. And I sort of have one, but this thing’s a little complicated and I don’t want to share its current version. So, what’s it about? Oh, the usual…poker players, gypsies & a plausibly deniable ghost story. It might be a mystery, or a romance, or both.

Okay, I’ll try to do better:

Fifteen years ago, John Faa played poker for a living. He was on top of the world, and recently married…but something terrible happened to his new wife during a poker-game robbery. Since then he’s given up the game, and is raising their son while running a bookstore in Austin, TX.

But John finds evidence that his mentor, who died that night, may have been involved in the robbery–and he’s pulled back into his old circles to try to find out what really happened. His mentor’s family, who turn out to be Romani (gypsies), would also like to know.

In alternating chapters, John’s wife Jeanette tells the story of how they met, fell in love, and were married.

From fifteen years apart, John and Jeanette both try to understand the events that led up to the robbery. How did it really happen? Who was involved? Is there anyone left who knows, or who might have been responsible? In Pagan Sex, it’s hard to know just what is possible.

See what I mean? I love that last line for all the seriously wrong reasons, but the thing as a whole needs some help. I’ll work on it. Meanwhile, email me at david at this domain dot net if you’d like to help.

Thanks!