New Release - A Broadway Romance!

Ever since I was a kid, I've been enthralled with the stage. I love Broadway/West End shows and especially musical theater. For me, good theater has always been a magical experience. And there's something extra special about watching a live production, the actors and dancers working "without a net," at the top of their game, having to deliver perfect performances every time.

Romance author Devika Fernando and I have teamed up to bring you a new novel set in this unique artistic environment.  Called Broadway Bound: an Inspirational Romance Set in the Musical Theater, it's about a young, handsome, up-and-coming Broadway actor who suddenly finds his career derailed. To wait out the storm, he moves to a small town where his parents have retired...and that's when he meets the beautiful, young local ballet teacher. The romantic sparks begin to fly, but he has no intention of giving up his lofty dreams and settling down in a small town, and she's equally opposed to the stress of living in a huge city, surrounded by "shallow" people who are trying to claw their way to the top. 

There is a lot of humor in this novel, and because it is set in the Christmas season, it makes a great holiday read.

To try it out, you can download Book 1 free from all the usual ebook retail sites.  The 1-2-3 book set is also available on all stores here, and also from my online bookstore in Kindle and ePub formats at a significant (25%) discount - use the code AMXNZSP5CY at checkout (hurry, offer expires in 3 days!)

Also, Devika and I are now offering our double-trilogy, bestselling series, Forbidden: A Novel of Love & Betrayal, as a special boxed-set on Amazon for only $9.99, or free if you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber. You can still download the boxed set from my online store in both Kindle and Epub formats, and also at a 25% discount - use code LGLQPO6BKT at checkout (hurry, offer expires in 3 days!)

I hope you enjoy the books!

Mike

New Cover & Promotion for Passion, Power & Sin

Some of you may remember Passion, Power & Sin, a five-book thriller series I wrote some years ago? I've never felt that this story got the promotion it deserved. Never mind that this book's average review rating is even higher than that of the Lust, Money & Murder books! To do the exciting story justice, I decided to have a new cover illustration done for it.

What do you think?

I also created a new, shorter and more focused synopsis fo it:

"If something seems too good to be true, it probably is."

When a young, daring, impulsive redhead falls prey to an Internet scam and is swindled out of her life savings and her childhood home, she’s hell-bent on recouping her losses and punishing the person responsible. Her single-minded quest for revenge takes her around the world, from New York to Japan, to the untamed steppes of Kyrgyzstan, to Greece, and ultimately, to a sleek super-yacht anchored in the Mediterranean Sea. 

In the midst of her global escapades, she also finds love. 

Will she let her thirst for retribution destroy that, too?

If you have not read this series, I would recommend it as a great holiday read or gift for a friend/family member. I'm offering a 40% discount on the box set through tomorrow night (Friday Dec. 20th)if you get it directly from my bookstore (in both Kindle and ePub formats). Click on the image below, and at checkout, copy and paste in the coupon code: BTJH2B38WW

Of course you can also get it/gift it from Amazon and all the other large retailers here.

I wish you and your family a happy holiday season!

Mike

Why Audiobooks?

     Many of my bestselling ebooks are also offered in audio format.  Listening to an audiobook is a different experience than reading the same book the usual way.
     First, deciding whether to read a book or listen to the same book in audio format is a bit like deciding whether you want your ice cream in a cup or a cone.  A lot of it has to do with the way the material is presented, and also the environment you'll be in when you consume it.  There are advantages and disadvantages to both.   With an audiobook, the main upside is that your eyes and hands are free to do something else while you're experience the story--such as driving, for example, or doing your laundry.
     The following are the most common reasons people listen to audiobooks, or at least the reasons they start listening to them.
- Commuting back and forth to work via car, bus, train, ferry, etc.  Great for reducing boredom and alleviating stress, such as when stuck in traffic.
- Exercising/working out/hiking/walking
- Performing repetitive tasks such as housework/cooking/gardening, etc.
- Doing hobby or craft work such as knitting, painting, pottery, modeling, etc.
- Traveling on long trips by car, bus, train, or plane (audiobooks are very popular with truck drivers)
- Taking a bath or sunbathing, when the light isn't conducive to reading, you want to lay back and relax, or you simply don't want to risk getting your book or ereader or tablet wet.
- Experiencing a story in a group setting (with family or friends while on a road trip, for example).
- Learning English (or the language in which the book is narrated) - hearing the tone and pronunciation of words can help learners become more natural speakers.
- Increasing your "reading" time - in general, audiobooks allow you to consume new material at times you otherwise could not.  Many book reviewers have started listening to them to increase their output.

     As I said, these are the main reasons that people start listening to audiobooks.  What many folks discover after they try one or two of them is that the experience is quite different than reading, and that it has one unexpected advantage:  the ice cream "cone" itself tastes good, too!  A great narrator can add to the drama as the story unfolds and the overall impression that various characters make.
     When I was in the sixth grade, I was lucky enough to have a teacher read a novel aloud to us for 30 minutes every day when we came back from lunch.  One was the bestselling thriller Failsafe.  To simply say he "read" the book to us is doing the man a great disservice.  He had a lot of acting experience, and he didn't just read the book, he performed it for us, almost like a stage play. The story made such a powerful, lasting impression on me that I've never forgotten it. I can still vividly remember various scenes and bits of dialogue, and that was almost 50 years ago!  A good narrator can  definitely enhance a story, increase the dramatic impact with his/her voice.
     Of course, there are downsides to audiobooks, such as the fact that you may not like the way the narrator interprets the characters or the story. But I've found that if the narrator is skilled, most readers will enjoy audiobooks and the hands-free, eyes-free, group listening advantages they provide.  I spend a great deal of time auditioning narrators and choosing just the right one for each book, the one that I think is the perfect fit and brings the most to the story.
     So, in summary, please don't think I'm pushing audiobooks on you, or that I believe they are superior in any way to good, old-fashioned reading.  I simply want to provide all my books in audio format so that those who want them can have them.  It also pleases me to see my work interpreted and "acted out" by talented people--an audiobook is an interpretation of a book, similar to a movie or stage play.  As an author, I would be thrilled to see every one of my books adapted in all these different forms.
     And who knows?  If you've never listened to an audiobook before, maybe you'll try one and discover a new form of entertainment with benefits that will surprise you.  To try a three hour audiobook totally free of charge, you can listen online or download Lust, Money & Murder, Book 1 on SoundCloud here.

Your Weekend Reading Material has Arrived!

I'm excited to announce that Wild Child, Book 3 - The Patriarch is now available for download on all the major retail sites (links below).  If you're a Wild Child fan, I know this book has been a long time in coming and I appreciate your patience.  It took me a while to figure out where I wanted this story to go, but when the direction finally came to me, it really grabbed hold!

Synopsis:  Kyle and Briana find themselves ensnared in the bizarre Evergreen Colony, hopelessly addicted to the magical green water. At first glance, Evergreen appears to be a utopia. Each of the nearly five hundred members enjoys extraordinary physical and mental abilities, perfect health, and nearly eternal life. But there's a catch: once you drink the water, you can never leave. Kyle soon discovers that one man may have secretly developed an antidote--the former Evergreen Patriarch. Can Kyle track him down without being killed, or will they be trapped in the colony forever?

Wild Child, Book 3 - The Patriarch

Amazon USA	Amazon UK	B&N (Nook)	Flipkart
Apple iBooks	Google Play	Kobo	Smashwords

Comments from beta readers:

"Reads like a tsunami coming at your full force!" - Tome Tender Book Blog

"The writing itself is so excellent that it has the addictive quality of the green..." - Mehreen Ahmed, Author & Book Reviewer

"My daughter and I have enjoyed all three of these books immensely! They just continue to get better and better!" - Amy G. Dehart, Amazon Reviewer

"The character development in this particular book was the best I've ever seen in a book before, especially with the female heroine, Briana." - Bailey Crawly's Book Blog

"An exceptionally absorbing read and another fine addition to my e-book collection." - Adisha Kariyawasam, Music Composer & Book Reviewer

I hope you enjoy Wild Child 3.  If you have not read the first two books, I will be publishing all three together as a trilogy in about a week.  For the first seven days I will price it at the same price as Book 3 by itself, so please grab it quickly if you want it (I will send out another email when it is released).

Have a great weekend!

P.S. Theme music for Wild Child, Book 3 - The Patriarch created by London-based composer Adisha Kariyawasam

Secrets of the Elusive Lover Now Available as an Audiobook

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Secrets of the Elusive Lover has just been released as an audiobook and is now available for download on Audible, iTunes, and Amazon sites (link below). Mark Torres, the narrator, has 20+ years experience as a theater actor in New York City. I believe he brings a lot to the project, really makes the characters come alive.

 Audible  Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

Synopsis:

Every woman knows an Adam. He's a "player," the type who professes true love, but with eyes that never stop wandering. He always has the perfect excuse when you find that long strand of blonde hair stuck to his collar, and fidgets whenever you get near his computer. Adam can't fool Bethany, who, despite her better judgment, falls head over heels him. Bethany is far more intelligent and strong-willed than Adam bargains for, and he finds himself smitten, too. Hilarious at times and poignant at others, Secrets of the Elusive Lover explores the age old challenge of obtaining the unattainable man, and the paradoxical issues surrounding monogamous relationships.

Note:  There is some sex that takes place between characters this novel, but it is not graphic as the sexual acts are not actually depicted.  It is more about the impact of sex on relationships and particularly non-monogamous relationships.  It is a fun and thought-provoking listen.

OTHER MIKE WELLS BOOKS IN AUDIO

(Note:  you can download any of the below FREE by becoming an Audible member on a no-risk 30 day trial basis)

Lust, Money & Murder - International Thriller

Audible  Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

Passion, Power & Sin - International Thriller

Audible  Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

The Drive-By Wife - Romantic Thriller

Audible Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

Baby Talk - Horror/Supernatural Thriller

Audible Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

The Mysterious Disappearance of Kurt Kramer - Paranormal Thriller

Audible Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

The Wrong Side of the Tracks - Coming of Age Thriller

 Audible  Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

"Set in the teenage hell known as high school" - Cindy Harrison

The Wrong Side of the Tracks, Books 1 & 2, has just been released in audio format and is available for download on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes.  This unabridged audiobook is narrated by professional actor and theatre director Mark Torres, who also narrated The Drive-By Wife.

Mark Torres, Narrator

 (Note:  if you don't yet have an Audible membership, you can listen to this book free by joining audible on a no-risk trial 30 day membership and then canceling if you don't wish to continue)

Download links:   Audible  Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

Description:  14 year old Stephen moves into a tough neighborhood and soon finds himself in love with Kristine, one of the prettiest girls in his class. Kristine appears to like him, too, but Stephen learns she "belongs" to a big, mean football player who's three years older. Despite warnings from his best friend, Stephen moves ahead anyway. All hell breaks loose. Will Stephen allow himself to be shoved into the background, or will he win the girl he truly loves?

Reviews (ebook):

5 Stars! Very well-written, exciting, and keeps you reading till the end! -- Billie J. Copas

5 Stars! a great book with a lot of turns and twists in it. -- MacKenzie Becker

From Dustin Reviews:  The Wrong Side of the Tracks was one of those remarkable reads that sucked this reader right out of the real world and into Wells fictional story book universe. When one finds such a read, it's magical. From the first paragraph, I was reminded of the 1986 American dramatic film: Stand By Me, directed by Rob Reiner. Based on the novella The Body by Stephen King which starred Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and others. Reading The Wrong Side of the Tracks was like visiting old friends that I hadn't seen in years. Although Stephen King's and Mike Wells stories are quite different, they share a similar overall feel. Wells brought the teenage (main) characters to life in a way that I felt I was actually part of the story itself, although I was a silent observer. Wells descriptions and dialogue are spot on and weaves a very realistic and believable story. The Wrong Side of the Tracks holds true to Wells reputation as a writer of 'unputdownable' novels.

__________________________________________________

More Mike Wells Books in Audio

(Note:  you can download any of the below FREE by becoming an Audible member on a no-risk 30 day trial basis)

Lust, Money & Murder - International Thriller

Audible  Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

Passion, Power & Sin - International Thriller

Audible  Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

The Drive-By Wife - Romantic Thriller

Audible Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

Baby Talk - Horror/Supernatural Thriller

Audible Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

The Mysterious Disappearance of Kurt Kramer - Paranormal Thriller

Audible Amazon USA  Amazon UK  iTunes

How a Big, Burly Truck Driver Showed Up and Took My Story

Not long ago, a strange thing happened to me.   When I was smack in the middle of writing my latest novel, a huge, bearded, tattoo-clad truck driver showed up and made off with the whole damn thing.  Well, that’s not completely true—he actually forced me to rip the manuscript to pieces and write a completely different story...

About him.

The original book was a Silicon Valley thriller about a young, upper middle class couple who get in serious trouble with the mafia and have to go on the run.  The problem is, their marriage is in such bad shape that Cynthia would just as soon be on her own than stuck as a fugitive with her self-centered, workaholic husband. 

As they flee their beautiful San Francisco home, their only means of protection is an ancient .22 calibre Beretta that belonged to Allen’s father, which Allen has never even fired.  To test it out, they stop at an outdoor shooting range in Oakland.  Allen has zero experience with firearms and of course he wants to hide this from Cynthia.  Fortunately, the shooting range is deserted and no one is around to witness Allen’s bumbling lesson in marksmanship.

That's when Billy shows up, out of nowhere.  The quiet morning stillness is shattered by roar of an engine...a smoke-belching tractor-trailer rig pulls into the shooting range parking lot.  Not an entire truck—only the cab portion.   If the image that's air-brushed on the side of the driver's door isn’t enough to unnerve the young couple—a gibbering skull crowned by a ring of roses—the man who emerges from the monstrous vehicle is.  He seems as big as a mountain.  He's wearing a snakeskin cowboy hat, matching snakeskin boots, and is clad head-to-toe in faded denim.

Billy

“Howdy,” he mutters, from behind his thick, scraggly beard.  He proceeds to unload a veritable arsenal from his truck—pistols, rifles and shotguns.  

Allen turns back to Cynthia, trying to concentrate on teaching her how to shoot their little pistol, but he can feel the trucker just standing there, watching them with what Allen imagines is a kind of mocking amusement.

“Ya’ll don’t know much about guns, do ya?” the man finally says, in a thick Southern drawl.

“Ignore him,” Allen whispers to his wife, but it’s no use.  Billy  is already sauntering over to them.  Before Cynthia knows what's happening, he steps up behind her and encircles her with his thick arms.

“Darlin', you got to stand with yer legs more far apart, like this.”  Billy moves in a little closer, his head almost touching hers.  “That’ll give you a stable base.  See?”

Allen doesn’t like it one bit, being pushed aside, standing there watching his wife be all but fondled by this overbearing, redneck version of Santa Claus.

Billy tilts his head, looking down the line of sight with her, even closer now.  “Now, ya gotta aim real careful, keepin' your arms steady, and then you slowly pull back on the—”

“Get your hands off my wife,” Allen says.

Billy becomes perfectly still.

Cynthia is afraid to breathe, her torso wedged between the trucker’s beefy arms.  As his bearlike head slowly turns towards Allen, she could feel his whiskers scratching across the back of her neck.

“I said, get your hands off my wife.”

There is another long, tense moment.  The shooting range is so quiet you could only hear the sound of the breeze whispering through the trees.

Billy finally lowers his arms from around Cynthia, but not completely.

That’s when he looked at me.  Right past the two of them, straight at me, his brown eyes burning with an intensity that sent chills up my spine.

“Listen here, Mr. Writer-man.  You're gonna tell this story the way I want it told, see?  It ain't about no mafia, and it sure as hell ain't about no Sili-cone Valley.  This story about me.  Billy.   Billy Hunt.”  He paused, letting his words sink in.  “You got it, Writer-man?”

Oh, I got it.  I got perfectly.

I tore up everything I had written and started over again, madly writing down everything he said.

My new book is called The-Drive-By Wife, and it's supposed to be out by September.

At least, I sure hope it is.

That's what I promised Billy.