One More trip to Gale Harbour (#IWSG May 2025)

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of my first published book, Ten Thousand Days. It was also my 45th birthday. How did I celebrate? By releasing a new book, of course!

It even fits in your pocket!

The third book of the Gale Harbour series, and my fifth published book overall, is now available. It took me five years to complete the trilogy, which wouldn't be bad in the old days, but is pretty abysmal in modern self-publishing. Unless you're putting out 10+ books a year, are you even trying?

I'm not in this for the money (thank God). This will never be my full-time career. I just love writing and seeing my work in print. People reading and enjoying it is a huge plus. With each book, I try to get a little better, both in writing skill as well as getting it to the right audience. I do think Satan Worshippers is a better book than the last one, but whether it will increase the reach and audience of the series is yet to be seen. 

I did not put as much effort into the pre-release of Satan Worshippers as my last couple of books, so it's definitely starting with a handicap. It just took so much mental effort to get this book across the finish line, I didn't have the energy to do all the marketing and legwork that is required for a successful launch. Maybe it's because my previous books didn't exactly set the best seller lists on fire, maybe it's just because I'm not as optimistic as I was when I was younger. I'm certainly don't have as much energy. Hopefully I'm not shooting myself in the foot.

Anyway, today is supposed to be an exciting, hopeful day (though if I can't share a little insecurity on IWSG day, when can I?). I PUT OUT A NEW BOOK! And overall, I think it's pretty good. I went all out for the finale, with plenty of laughs, scares, gross-out moments and tragedy. I hope I did justice to the characters and everyone who stuck it out will enjoy the payoff. 

THANK YOU, everyone who have stayed with me this far. This may be the end of Niall, Harper and Pius' journey (for now), but it's not the end of Gale Harbour. There are too many weird characters and creepy stories in that cursed town...

Hugs & Kisses,

-CDGK

P.S. WAIT A MINUTE! I almost forgot to tell you the deets about the book!

The blurb:

Newfoundland, Canada. 1994.

Niall O’Neil is wallowing in teenage angst, still getting over Harper Jeddore, his childhood crush who helped him save the sleepy town of Gale Harbour from otherworldly monsters. Twice. When he meets a new, less-complicated girl named Stacey, it seems his life might be turning a corner. But Niall is pulled back into his old world when people start disappearing around town again, seemingly abducted by Satan-worshipping rednecks.

Torn between his new existence of simple happiness and his messy feelings for his old flame, Niall must make a decision: Enjoy dating girls, experimenting with drinking and making new friends, or risk his life to save the town one more time?

The fate of the entire world may depend on the choices of a hormonal fourteen-year-old with a flair for the dramatic.

Join Niall, Harper, Pius, Keith and Skidmark as they band together for one last adventure…

BUY DIRTBAG SATAN WORSHIPPERS FROM DOWN BY THE BAY HERE:

AMAZON US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F277SXCV/

AMAZON CANADA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0F277SXCV/

AMAZON UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F277SXCV/

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Writers post their thoughts on their blogs, talking about their doubts and the fears they have conquered. It's a chance for writers to commiserate and offer a word of encouragement to each other. Check out the group at http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

GALE HARBOUR 3 RELEASE DAY!

Today is the day! 

After three years of waiting, Gale Harbour 3: Dirtbag Satan Worshippers From Down by the Bay is finally available for purchase. You can get it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and (hopefully soon) from Indigo!

Here's the blurb:

Newfoundland, Canada. 1994.

Niall O’Neil is wallowing in teenage angst, still getting over Harper Jeddore, his childhood crush who helped him save the sleepy town of Gale Harbour from otherworldly monsters. Twice. When he meets a new, less-complicated girl named Stacey, it seems his life might be turning a corner. But Niall is pulled back into his old world when people start disappearing around town again, seemingly abducted by Satan-worshipping rednecks.

Torn between his new existence of simple happiness and his messy feelings for his old flame, Niall must make a decision: Enjoy dating girls, experimenting with drinking and making new friends, or risk his life to save the town one more time?

The fate of the entire world may depend on the choices of a hormonal fourteen-year-old with a flair for the dramatic.

Join Niall, Harper, Pius, Keith and Skidmark as they band together for one last adventure…

* * *

Satan Worshippers is by the far the longest of the three books, clocking in at about 105,000 words. For reference the second book was 85K, and the first book was only 65K. I had originally intended the series to be short, pulpy adventures, but it kind of got away from me. The cast of characters grew, and they became deeper and more complicated, too. I really got hooked on the normal teenage drama these characters were experiencing, in addition to the supernatural stuff. I think it helps the story, instead of hindering it. Most of the compliments I've received are from people who relate to the characters, who remember being kids that age, of thinking and acting like they do. Being attached to the characters really ups the tension, and I hope that readers are afraid for their safety and sanity.

I went into this with the idea that no one was safe, that this finale was going to be bloody and tragic. I went back and forth on who would live and die, and honestly my alpha and beta readers had to rein me in a little bit. The current ending, which I'm happy with and I think brings the story to a satisfying conclusion, is WAY less dark than the original version. It's not all sunshine and roses, not by a long shot, but let's just say that after my wife read the original ending she looked at me in disgust and wouldn't speak to me for the rest of the day. 

So is this really Niall and the gang's last adventure? Maybe, maybe not. Certainly the last for awhile, anyway. But I will revisit Gale Harbour again, of that I'm certain. There are plenty of other interesting characters and stories to tell in that cursed town. 

SO PLEASE! Head out and grab yourself a copy of Gale Harbour Book 3 and complete the series! It's available on Amazon Kindle and in paperback, and the links are below. Leave me a review and let me know what you think of it! Lemme know if I've wasted the last five years of my life writing this stuff... ;-)

Hugs & kisses,
-CDGK

BUY DIRTBAG SATAN WORSHIPPERS FROM DOWN BY THE BAY HERE:

AMAZON US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F277SXCV/

AMAZON CANADA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0F277SXCV/

AMAZON UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F277SXCV/

Watch Out For Satan-Worshippers! (#IWSG April 2025)

May 6, 2025.

Three reasons this date is important:

1. My birthday.
2. The 10-year anniversary of my first published book, Ten Thousand Days.
3. It's the release day for GALE HARBOUR BOOK 3!!!

Here's the info:

Name: Dirtbag Satan Worshippers From Down By the Bay
Series: Gale Harbour Book 3
Release Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9798314745380
ASIN: B0F277SXCV
Available for Kindle ($4.99 USD) and in paperback ($15.99)
379 pages

Newfoundland, Canada. 1994.

Niall O’Neil is wallowing in teenage angst, still getting over Harper Jeddore, his childhood crush who helped him save the sleepy town of Gale Harbour from otherworldly monsters. Twice. When he meets a new, less-complicated girl named Stacey, it seems his life might be turning a corner. But Niall is pulled back into his old world when people start disappearing around town again, seemingly abducted by Satan-worshipping rednecks.

Torn between his new existence of simple happiness and his messy feelings for his old flame, Niall must make a decision: Enjoy dating girls, experimenting with drinking and making new friends, or risk his life to save the town one more time?

The fate of the entire world may depend on the choices of a hormonal fourteen-year-old with a flair for the dramatic.

Join Niall, Harper, Pius, Keith and Skidmark as they band together for one last adventure…

PRE-ORDER HERE:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F277SXCV

Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0F277SXCV

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F277SXCV

Help spread the world about the Satan-Worshippers! 

If you can, please sign up to help promote Gale Harbour Book 3 when it releases the week of May 6:

If you can help me with the release by posting it on your blog, I will be in touch soon to provide you with some promo material! Thank you so much in advance.

ALSO CHECK OUT GALE HARBOUR BOOK ONE!

If you're on the fence about the Gale Harbour series and want to check it out with no entry free, the first book, PSYCHO HOSE BEAST FROM OUTER SPACE, is currently FREE on Amazon Kindle from now until Friday, April 5th. I like to call it STRANGER THINGS meets DEGRASSI - it's about kids in small town 1990s Canada. It's got horror, laughs, and plenty of teenage awkwardness. Please go pick up your copy if you haven't already!

GRAB PSYCHO HOSE BEAST FOR FREE!

It's very exciting, I'm glad to finally put GH3 to bed and get it out into the world. It's been a lot of work and many ups and downs, so I would like to thank everyone who has supported me with positive comments over the last few years. I hope I've been able to provide you some of the same.

See you next time (maybe)!

Hugs & Kisses,
-CDGK

And finally, in other writing news...

PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISAPPEARED

Quite a number of people have vanished from the United States in recent weeks. Their stories may be good material for someone interested in writing that kind of thing. What would you call it? Thriller? Mystery? Horror? True crime? Truly an opportunity for genre-bending fiction that cannot possibly be as terrible as real life.

Rumeysa Ozturk

Rumeysa Ozturk, a PhD graduate student at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was grabbed by masked individuals outside her home and brought to an unknown location.

Mahmoud Khalil

Khalil was kidnapped from his home in front of his 8-month pregnant wife and transported to another state under the cover of darkness. Officials admit he has committed no crimes. 

Andry

A gay barber who left his home country to avoid persecution, Andry was abducted and transported to a prison in a completely different country to be tortured and abused.

Let's remember them and all the other innocent people who have disappeared in recent weeks. Maybe they'll inspire someone (maybe even me) to write or do something good.

GALE HARBOUR 3 NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

FINALLY! Gale Harbour Book 3 is available for pre-order!

Here's the info:

Name: Dirtbag Satan Worshippers From Down By the Bay
Series: Gale Harbour Book 3
Release Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9798314745380
ASIN: B0F277SXCV
Available for Kindle ($4.99 USD) and in paperback ($15.99)
379 pages

Newfoundland, Canada. 1994.

Niall O’Neil is wallowing in teenage angst, still getting over Harper Jeddore, his childhood crush who helped him save the sleepy town of Gale Harbour from otherworldly monsters. Twice. When he meets a new, less-complicated girl named Stacey, it seems his life might be turning a corner. But Niall is pulled back into his old world when people start disappearing around town again, seemingly abducted by Satan-worshipping rednecks.

Torn between his new existence of simple happiness and his messy feelings for his old flame, Niall must make a decision: Enjoy dating girls, experimenting with drinking and making new friends, or risk his life to save the town one more time?

The fate of the entire world may depend on the choices of a hormonal fourteen-year-old with a flair for the dramatic.

Join Niall, Harper, Pius, Keith and Skidmark as they band together for one last adventure…

PRE-ORDER HERE:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F277SXCV

Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0F277SXCV

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F277SXCV

I'm so excited to finally release this one into the wild. Watch this space for more details as we approach the release day!

Announcement (#IWSG March 2025)

Who missed February? I dunno. Why are you looking at me?

I'm not going to do today's question. The idea of being anyone or anything for a day leads me down all sorts of random creative hallways, all of which ends with me blowing up certain world leaders. So we'll try to keep this on a positive note.

It's still not done, but fuck it, I'm announcing it today. It's veeeeeery nearly ready, so maybe throwing it out into the wild will light a fire under my ass to finally push it out the door.

.

..

...

...Ready?

Gale Harbour book three is officially titled: Dirtbag Satan Worshippers From Down By The Bay!

Here's the tentative blurb:

****

Newfoundland, Canada. 1994.

Niall O’Neil is wallowing in teenage angst, still getting over Harper Jeddore, his childhood crush who helped him save the sleepy town of Gale Harbour from otherworldly monsters. Twice. When he meets a new, less-complicated girl named Stacey, it seems his life might be turning a corner. But Niall is pulled back into his old world when people start disappearing around town again, seemingly abducted by Satan-worshipping rednecks.

Torn between his new existence of simple happiness and his messy feelings for his old flame, Niall must make a decision: Enjoy dating girls, experimenting with drinking and making new friends, or risk his life to save the town one more time?

The fate of the entire world may depend on the choices of a hormonal fourteen-year-old with a flair for the dramatic.

Join Niall, Harper, Pius, Keith and Skidmark as they band together for one last adventure…

***

The blurb is still a work in progress, so any feedback is welcome.

A new book of course means a new cover style, so that means I had to redo the first two covers as well:

I'm really happy with the new style, but again, feedback is welcome!

Keeping it short and sweet today. When exactly is the new book coming out! Release date TBD - I do have a date in mind, and it's coming up soon, I just need to wait for all the pieces to fall into place. Watch this space for more info!

How was your month?

Hugs & Kisses,

-CDGK

So this is 2025? (#IWSG January 2025)

I almost missed IWSG day again, but I have a good excuse! On Monday night I was cutting some plastic and accidentally sliced my hand with a box cutter. It wasn't a big cut, but it was fairly deep and right in the middle of my palm, so I figured I would need stitches. I went to the Emergency Room, and then proceeded to spend the next SIXTEEN HOURS waiting around the hospital. For TWO STITCHES. 

Universal healthcare in Canada is great, but there are levels of our government that has been purposefully underfunding it for years, hoping to make the public more amenable when they try to roll-out private health care. Health care shouldn't be a political topic.

Anyway, didn't get a lot of writing done over the holidays, but revisions on Gale Harbour 3 are coming along. I hope to announce a release date very soon. 

This post is not going to be very long because my hand hurts and it's hard to type. :-) Just let me say Happy New Year, and I hope you haven't failed at your resolutions yet. Also, I do not recommend cutting your palm with a box cutter. 0/10.

Seriously, why is it in movies, when someone needs blood for something, they always cut their palm? That's literally the worst place to cut yourself!

Hugs & kisses,

-CDGK

Edge of Seventeen (#IWSG December 2024)

A few days ago I finished writing my 17th book. No, it wasn't Gale Harbour 3, that was the 16th book. A quick look at my Amazon page will show I've only published 4 full-length books (Gale Harbour 3 will be number 5), plus stories in various anthologies. 

So what are the rest of those books? Ten of them, including number 17, are the "Christmas books," the books I write for my family as gifts for the holidays. This doesn't include the picture books I made when my kids were really small; the ones I'm counting are all 40k words or more, and none of them have been read by more than a dozen people. 

This is last year's Christmas book, BTW. This year's is still a surprise... shhhh...

The other two are the very first full length novel I wrote—the one I sent to publishers and agents in my mid twenties, and with which I collected dozens of rejection letters—and a large heartbreaker fantasy, part of a substantial series I envisioned spanning seven volumes. Fortunately for all of us, neither of those books will likely ever see the light of day.

Why do I bring this up? Next year will mark my 10-year anniversary with self-publishing (I'll also be turning 45, holy crap). Unless a meteor falls out of the sky, I will have published my 5th by then. Five books in 10 years is pretty good, right? Not really, not by today's standards. Not if you want to find any success in this business. I'm in a few writing groups where people are sharing their successes, celebrating the publication of their 50th book, or making six-figures a year, or making their first million in writing. I've seen a couple of examples of people who have hit all the boxes: they only starting publishing during the pandemic (less than 5 years ago), are already closing in on $1 million in sales, and have published between 40-50 books.

What I imagine those writers' KDP payments look like.

It really puts things into perspective. I always knew I wasn't going to be rich as a writer. I would probably never even write as a full-time job. But a little bit of success would be nice, right? In ten years, I've only sold a little over 500 books total, so not exactly big money. Should I be happy with that success? I mean, I used some extreme examples above; for everyone who makes a million dollars, there are thousands of people who don't sell anything at all. And for every one of those, there are probably thousands who wish they could even write and finish a book. So I get it, I'm doing better than many people, and I should be proud of what I've accomplished. When I stop to really think about it, I am grateful that I've gotten as far as I have. But we all have those "what if" thoughts. What if I wrote something that really caught on? What if my books find the right niche market and exploded in popularity? What if I found the right routine, and I could finish 5 books a year, instead of 5 in a decade?

What if my KDP dashboard looked like this?

At this point, I would be happy if I made back what I spend on writing. Between editing and writing software/aides, advertising and design fees/software, I think I'm still in the red. Writing is not a cheap hobby, it turns out. Not to mention the hundreds and hundreds of hours spent actually doing it.

Anyway, I'm not sure what my point was with all this, it's just some of the things that's been going through my head the past week. The important thing is I finished this year's Christmas book on time and got it off to the printer. I nearly cut off my finger working on a different Christmas present, but that's another story. I'm not going to do the questions this month as I'm sure you're all tired of reading my nonsense anyway. Instead, I'll just wish you all a Happy Holiday season, and I hope your New Year is healthy and productive.

Hugs & kisses,
-CDGK

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Writers post their thoughts on their blogs, talking about their doubts and the fears they have conquered. It's a chance for writers to commiserate and offer a word of encouragement to each other. Check out the group at http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/