Posted on Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Skull Creek Stakeout Wins 2021 Purple Dragonfly Award

Congratulations to our 2021 Purple Dragonfly Award Winners!

Skull Creek Stakeout by Eddie Jones takes

2nd place in ebook Middle Grade Fiction

A murder . . . A mystery . . . A monster . . . Is there a vampire killer running loose in Transylvania, North Carolina. ★ 2021 Purple Dragonfly Award Winner for Middle Grade Fiction ★

Last summer, Nick Caden became an Internet celebrity for almost a whole day when he discovered Billy the Kid’s killer in the “living” ghost town of Deadwood. (Not the real Billy the Kid — he’s been dead for years.) When the owner of the Cool Ghoul Gazette learns of Nick’s super sleuthing skills, he hires Nick to investigate the death of a vampire. In Transylvania, North Carolina, Nick finds a corpse with fangs, bite marks and a stake driven through its heart.

But once he begins to peel back the clues surrounding the murder, Nick finds his new job is not only dangerous but could suck the life out of him.

Features:
* The Monster Mysteries are Award Winning Middle Grade Novels
* Each story involves a “monster” from the Bible: ghost, vampire origins, walking dead, man turned to beast, phantom
* Short, fun, fast read, spiced with humor and illustrations
* No profanity, sexual overtones or glorification of evil
* Book report / criminal report questions for each case

Benefits:
* Encourages readers to list suspects, follow clues, question motives, and look for half-truths and lies in alibis
* Reinforces the Golden Rule
* Honors family
* Middle Grade audiobooks series / audio books for teenagers
* A good boy book for boys who like to read

★ Help teen sleuth Nick Caden solve a vampire murder in Transylvania, NC ★
Complete the Skull Creek Stakeout: Official Criminal Inquiry: Write a Book Report – Catch a Crook to see if you have the makings of a homicide detective. With this easy-to-follow “homicide detective” worksheet, you can fill in the answers to the questions while you read. When finished, your book report should be thorough enough to convict a killer! Check out the book report questions on this page: amazon.com/dp/B088VL152Z/.

Awards for the Monster Mysteries series

Winner of the Selah award for tween / teen mystery series
INSPY Award nominee
Moonbeam Children’s Book Award nominee

Praise for the Monster Mysteries series

“This series has the same longevity and wholesome quality as “The Hardy Boys” and “Nancy Drew” but the author writes for today’s youth.” ~ Amazon review

“I enjoyed reading this fun, suspense adventure. Great book for middle school. Teen boys and girls will enjoy it, too!” ~ Amazon review

“I would think it would be for ages nine and up. A good Christian book for boys.” ~ Amazon review

“I was guessing until the end of the book. I did not know who it was. Even adults will enjoy this book.” ~ Amazon review

Parents can trust the Monster Mystery Series. There is no sexual dialogue or situations, violence, or strong language, only positive moral values.

Books I support—authors I trust.

Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Frankenstein Lives!

A Peek Into the Birth of Book Six in the Monster Mysteries Series

My name is Nick Caden. I’m fifteen and live in Savannah, Georgia. We moved to Savannah because a few months back, on Halloween night, a zombie snatched my sister. You might have read about it. It was all over the news for a while. The zombie who kidnapped my sister (not a real zombie – there’s no such thing) pinned me to a mud flat and waited for the tied to rise, but I held my breath long enough to escape.

When I am not in school or working at the boat yard near our apartment, I write for the Cool Ghoul Gazette. That’s a publication that focuses on paranormal and supernatural events. The Cool Ghoul is why I ended up solving a vampire murder, ghost town murder, and helped capture a werewolf. (Not a real werewolf, ghost, or vampire – there are no such things.) Which brings me to today’s “Breaking Noose” article.

The below news alert just arrived in my inbox.

“Hi. I am a Contract Specialist with the FDA. I am tasked with the purchase of tissues suitable for H.M. research. I would like to request a quote. Please review the Statement of Work and quote your pricing as outlined.

Statement of Work

The supplier will provide human fetal tissue with the following characteristics:

- Age range 16-24 weeks
- Liver and thymus tissue from the same donor unless liver only is requested.
- Tissue must be fresh and never frozen.
- No tissues where the mother is known to be positive for HIV or for Hepatitis A, B, or C viruses.
- No known chromosomal abnormalities.
- Testing for HIV, Hepatitis B & C will be completed on maternal blood for all tissues procured and results provided when available.

Period of Performance

Twelve months from the date of award of the contract.

In order to expedite the services required please return your quote to me by 3:00 pm Eastern Time. If you do not wish to submit a quote on this requirement, I would appreciate it if you would let me know.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you.

My editor wants me to investigate this human fetal body parts smuggling ring that is using human tissue to create a new species of . . . Well, that’s where the mystery comes in. We’re not sure what the biotech company, Enhanced Bioscience Regeneration, is up to, but I’ll find out and report back. – Nick Caden

Posted on Monday, April 20, 2020

Seeds of a Story

The Day The World Sneezed

March 12, 2020, I closed my laptop and walked across the Neuse River bridge to enjoy my evening walk on the greenway. Midway across the bridge the title for a story came to mind: The Day The World Sneezed. That Thursday, Raleigh and Wake County had begun to discuss imposing restrictions on business. There was talk schools might close the following week. When I got home from my walk I made a fake book cover with the words: “The Day The World Sneezed” at the top and posted it on Facebook. Done with that, I thought.

Friday during my evening walk Elmer showed up. Elmer introduced himself as the main character in “The Day The World Sneezed” and began to explain how the “crud” had disrupted his life. He talked as we walked. If you know a writer you may have witnessed them staring off into space in a daze. Odds are a character in their head is speaking and your writer friend does not want to miss a word. That night I celebrated my birthday with my wife, boys, and granddaughter. There I mentioned Elmer and how he had set out to help others but ended up making a mess of things – for a while, anyway.

Saturday morning, March 14, I began writing. Monday, March 16, our city and county began shutting down. As a writer who lives in a cave with characters no one can see, “shelter-in-place” was God’s gift to me. Finally I had an excuse to avoid all social contact: which meant I had more writing time. On April 5, Elmer finished telling me his story.

Several dear friends have mentioned that it is too soon to tell Elmer’s story: that people are dying (that’s true) and grieving (also true), but Elmer did not seem concerned about any of this when he told me his story.

“The Day The World Sneezed” is a story of hope, helping others, and finding the “light-hearted” moments in the midst of tragedy. If such a story is too soon, I’m sure Elmer will understand. He’s not the sort to force himself upon others. Maybe later, after all this “crud” business is over, you’ll consider listening to Elmer’s story. He really is, a colorful character.

Posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Lord, I Praise You For the Sales Success of These Books

Lord, I praise you for the print sales of these books yesterday. May you continue to bless these titles, these authors, and all our LPC titles.

A Rebel in My House
Among the Poppies
Bury Me with My Pearls
Christian Chick’s Guide to Surviving Divorce…
Conversations With Jesus
Get Your Spirit On!
Hungry for God … Starving for Time
In the Shadow of Salem
Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors
Running from a Crazy Man
Sick and Tired: Empathy, Encouragement…
The Gilded Curse
The Hope of Glory

Sing praises in a skillful psalm and with understanding. Ps.47:7

Be delighted with the Lord. Ps. 37:4

Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2015

Pray for This Book

Falling for Chloe

Falling for Chloe Jake Marley always dreamed of making it big as a singer/songwriter. And when a chance meeting in his hometown ends with an invite to Nashville, he’s sure fame and fortune are just around the corner.

But as Jake’s notoriety grows, so do his addictions. Jake is The Ghost—in more ways than one. He didn’t realize how much he’d have to give up in the pursuit of stardom. But the hardest thing? Losing Chloe, his small-town girlfriend and the only person who knows the real Jake.

Can Jake and Chloe find their way back to each other, despite the millions of people who want a piece of Jake? Or will the pressures of fame bring Jake’s downfall before he has a chance to prove his love for Chloe?

“Lord, bless this book to find those who need to know the healing power of your love. I know not every book is for everyone, but I also know someone needs to see how the mistakes of the past can impact our plans for the future. Please honor this book. Expand its boundaries. Grow its influence. Amen.” EJ