In just over a month, the second novel in the Duke Becker Series, Murder by Prophecy will be published by Sapphire Star Publishing. I originally wrote this first sequel to Murder in Silence back in 2004, and I find myself very excited to finally see it being published.
Rereading it again for the purpose of editing it was a great deal of fun for me. I read it as if for the first time, loving most of it, laughing at some parts and wondering to myself what had I been thinking in others. That is why it is so important to have a great Editor and I certainly do.
The folks at Sapphire Star... Amy, Katie and Devyn have done such a fantastic job both with Murder in Silence and now Murder by Prophecy. I loved both novels when I wrote them but in all honesty they are better, easier to read and follow and more exciting with the changes that have been made.
Editing can be brutal but I can guarentee you that there isn't an author out there who doesn't need some editing on their work.
I hope all of you take the time to get to know Duke Becker and his squad and find these novels to be good reading and fun, with a mystery and some thrills thrown in. E-mail me or look me up on Twitter and Facebook and let me know what you thought. I'd love to hear if you were able to figure out the murderer!!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
JUST TWO LITTLE WORDS
There are two words that have impacted the world unlike any others. No, I am not talking about "I Do", although they are very powerful words as well. And it isn't, "Stop, Police!" The words I am talking about have an effect on almost everyone in every way of life.
Those two words are...WHAT IF.
If early man had never said what if, early art, ways of hunting, the beginning of language may never have been born. If the inventor had not said what if, would we have electricity, computers or put a man on the moon, a craft onto Mars?
And now we come to my craft, the craft of imagination. When Margaret Mitchell said, what if, I take two people who have a love/hate relationship and set it during the civil war...we have Gone With The Wind. When Stepen King said what if, a young girl is shunned and tormented until she discovers the power that is hidden deep within her...we have Carrie.
I would never claim to be in either of those two great authors league and yet I and millions of other authors have started with those same two words and created millions of stories and characters. Stories of romance, science fiction, horror all have come from what if. Stories for children that delight even when those same children have grown into adults might never have been if it weren't for what if. Stories that scare us, make us think, allow us to leave behind reality and go on adventures to new worlds are there because of what if.
As for this author, years ago I thought what if there were police officers being brutally killed? What if there were no real clues and the murders were not connected in any way? What if there was an elite squad of homicide detectives, led by one man, an Inspector who could stop the murders? And there was born Inspector Duke Becker and my first novel, Murder in Silence.
I have thought those two powerful words many times more, with the latest result being Book Two in the Duke Becker series, Murder by Prophecy. For those who want to enter the world I have created, it will be available on January 3rd, 2013.
I hope that I never stop thinking about those two words and that after reading this, you ponder them as well. Who knows where they will take you if only you stop and think...what if.
Those two words are...WHAT IF.
If early man had never said what if, early art, ways of hunting, the beginning of language may never have been born. If the inventor had not said what if, would we have electricity, computers or put a man on the moon, a craft onto Mars?
And now we come to my craft, the craft of imagination. When Margaret Mitchell said, what if, I take two people who have a love/hate relationship and set it during the civil war...we have Gone With The Wind. When Stepen King said what if, a young girl is shunned and tormented until she discovers the power that is hidden deep within her...we have Carrie.
I would never claim to be in either of those two great authors league and yet I and millions of other authors have started with those same two words and created millions of stories and characters. Stories of romance, science fiction, horror all have come from what if. Stories for children that delight even when those same children have grown into adults might never have been if it weren't for what if. Stories that scare us, make us think, allow us to leave behind reality and go on adventures to new worlds are there because of what if.
As for this author, years ago I thought what if there were police officers being brutally killed? What if there were no real clues and the murders were not connected in any way? What if there was an elite squad of homicide detectives, led by one man, an Inspector who could stop the murders? And there was born Inspector Duke Becker and my first novel, Murder in Silence.
I have thought those two powerful words many times more, with the latest result being Book Two in the Duke Becker series, Murder by Prophecy. For those who want to enter the world I have created, it will be available on January 3rd, 2013.
I hope that I never stop thinking about those two words and that after reading this, you ponder them as well. Who knows where they will take you if only you stop and think...what if.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
BEEN A WHILE...
It has been quite a while since I last posted anything here. Lots going on right now and I am happy to say that it is all good. Since the release of Murder in Silence, published by the great team of Amy and Katie at Sapphire Star Publishing, I have rteceived so many good wishes and responses. To all of my fans out there, thank you and I hope you are all looking forward to the next book in the Duke Becker series, Murder by Prophecy. Right now Murder by Prophecy is being edited and the cover being made but it will be ready for release on January 3, 2013!
As for more books in the Duke Becker series, #3 is called Classic Murder and #4 is Murder by the Invisibles. Bet you can't wait for those too! #5 is being written as we speak, a story of blood lust and the return of one of Duke Becker's protagonists.
That's all for now and please let me know what you think of Duke and the rest of the gang in Special Investigations, Homicide. You can e-mail me at grdianofgotham56@aol.com and check out more info @ www.garykassay.com. Thanks again!
As for more books in the Duke Becker series, #3 is called Classic Murder and #4 is Murder by the Invisibles. Bet you can't wait for those too! #5 is being written as we speak, a story of blood lust and the return of one of Duke Becker's protagonists.
That's all for now and please let me know what you think of Duke and the rest of the gang in Special Investigations, Homicide. You can e-mail me at grdianofgotham56@aol.com and check out more info @ www.garykassay.com. Thanks again!
Saturday, July 28, 2012
WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
This past week I was in Atlanta for the 26th Internationaal DARE conference. Many people believe that DARE is a "Just say no to drugs" program, but they are so wrong. DARE teaches kids how to make good decisions, how to have a good circle of friends, that a Police Officer can be more than the man who came to take away Dad or Mom, brother or sister when they have made a mistake...a Police Officer can be a friend and someone to trust.
All week long I spoke with officers from around the country and from around the world. What we do is worth every second, every moment in the classroom and out. Again and again I heard stories of lives that have been touched and changed. I hope that I have made an impact on some of the 640 students I taught last year. I know they have made an impact on me.
All week long I spoke with officers from around the country and from around the world. What we do is worth every second, every moment in the classroom and out. Again and again I heard stories of lives that have been touched and changed. I hope that I have made an impact on some of the 640 students I taught last year. I know they have made an impact on me.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
TECHNOLOGY: GOOD OR BAD
Yesterday my contract was up on my old phone so my wife and I went to the Verizon store. We had a long discussion with a very helpful young lady and I tried my best to follow along with what she was saying. Half of what she was telling me definitely went over my head but in the end I picked a new smart phone which my wife paid for as a gift. While we were waiting for the info from my old phone to be downloaded, all the forms to be printed out and so on, an older couple came into the store. Soon we were discussing how things have changed.
We were remembering the days of leaving the house and having no contact with anyone that you couldn't reach out and touch. You could be alone if you wanted to...really alone with no way for people to reach you. Solitude, calm peacefulness all by yourself. Now I know some may say, "Why not just turn off your phone?" But really, who does that nowadays. I have a job where if I am needed then I have to be able to be reached. So turn off the phone? Not likely.
Of course there are many things that have been improved with the advent of smart phones and technology. Out somewhere and need food, gas or maybe medical attention? No problem. Get in a car accident, need to keep in touch with a sick parent, friend or child...again no problem. But what have we lost? Perhaps the art of conversing, the beauty of a long hand written letter or seeing the smile when you reach out and touch someone's hand. Our language is being reduced to texting or speaking in letters strung together instaed of real words. You are no longer my best friend, you are my BFF.
In the end it comes down to choices. We have the choice to actually call someone and speak to them or text them, losing all the nuances that go into speech. We can choose to be found every wking moment or turn everything off and remeber what quiet times really means. We can teach our children what conversation is like or we can give them cell phones at an earlier and earlier age until they know no better. We can use common sense when driving and not worry about the inane unimportant texts and conversations we feel the need to say. Were the "Good old days" really better? In some ways yes and in some ways no. How good the "New days" are really depends on each of us and the choices we make.
We were remembering the days of leaving the house and having no contact with anyone that you couldn't reach out and touch. You could be alone if you wanted to...really alone with no way for people to reach you. Solitude, calm peacefulness all by yourself. Now I know some may say, "Why not just turn off your phone?" But really, who does that nowadays. I have a job where if I am needed then I have to be able to be reached. So turn off the phone? Not likely.
Of course there are many things that have been improved with the advent of smart phones and technology. Out somewhere and need food, gas or maybe medical attention? No problem. Get in a car accident, need to keep in touch with a sick parent, friend or child...again no problem. But what have we lost? Perhaps the art of conversing, the beauty of a long hand written letter or seeing the smile when you reach out and touch someone's hand. Our language is being reduced to texting or speaking in letters strung together instaed of real words. You are no longer my best friend, you are my BFF.
In the end it comes down to choices. We have the choice to actually call someone and speak to them or text them, losing all the nuances that go into speech. We can choose to be found every wking moment or turn everything off and remeber what quiet times really means. We can teach our children what conversation is like or we can give them cell phones at an earlier and earlier age until they know no better. We can use common sense when driving and not worry about the inane unimportant texts and conversations we feel the need to say. Were the "Good old days" really better? In some ways yes and in some ways no. How good the "New days" are really depends on each of us and the choices we make.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
GUEST BLOGS
On 7-5-12the first book in the Duke Becker series was released by Sapphire Star Publishing. I was very excited and I cannot thank Amy and Katie as well as all my fellow authors for their amazing support. Everyone who helped spread the word will have my undying thanks! To all of you bloggers who allowed me to guest, thanks, thanks, and thanks! To all who read Murder in Silence, please let me know what you thought. And for those who want more, Murder by Prophecy will be released on 01-03-13 and more will follow! Here are a few links for those who want to get a copy. Once again, thatnks to everyone out there!
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-silence-gary-kassay/1100372946?ean=9781938404122&format=paperback
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-silence-gary-kassay/1100372946?ean=9781938404122&format=paperback
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
BURNED INTO MY MIND
In my life there have been many moments that have excited me, saddened me and burned themselves into my memory and have been special. First kiss, first real date, first time driving a car by myself. Engagement day, wedding day, honeymoon days and nights. Hearing a child is on the way, holding that child for the first time, when that child says I love you Dad. Swearing in for the Police Department, that first arrest and the first time injured proving you are neither John Wayne or Superman. Sad days like the fall of the Twin Towers, deaths of loved ones. Many many moments all remembered and brought to mind at different times.
On 7-5-12 there will be another day to be remembered. On that day my first novel in the Duke Becker Series will be released by an amazing publishing team, Sapphire Star Publishing. The title is "Murder in Silence" and it will be followed in January 2013 with "Murder by Prophecy". If you pick up a copy, let me know what you thought. Those comments will also be burned into my memory forever.
On 7-5-12 there will be another day to be remembered. On that day my first novel in the Duke Becker Series will be released by an amazing publishing team, Sapphire Star Publishing. The title is "Murder in Silence" and it will be followed in January 2013 with "Murder by Prophecy". If you pick up a copy, let me know what you thought. Those comments will also be burned into my memory forever.
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