How Much Wicked is Enough? by Randy Overbeck #WickedWednesday

 WICKED WEDNESDAY

How great to have Randy Overbeck back on Discover... Now I'm not calling Randy wicked, but he sure knows how to write about it. Take it away, Randy... 

            As a writer and a reader, I’ve always been fascinated by how much we are all drawn to the “wicked”. In TV news and on newspaper headlines, the dominant saying is “If it bleeds, it leads.”
On Social Media posts, those who get the most traction are often the ones depicting horrible events. Earlier this month, the demented gunman who shot up a Louisville bank and killed six livestreamed the event, no doubt because he thought people would be drawn to the horror of it all.

I believe most of us are surrounded by far too much real life “wickedness”—a twenty-something using an AK-15 to shoot up a bunch of six-year-olds in a Texas school, a politician accepting millions of dollars in bribes for an energy vote in Ohio, misinformed protestors
looting and beating up cops defending the US Capitol, the faceless scammers bilking unsuspecting seniors out of what

little money they have, the deluded Tennessee racist murdering black worshippers in church, or podcasts about psychopaths who victimize and murder unsuspecting victims or even the successful South Carolina lawyer who killed his wife and son after embezzling millions of dollars from his clients. The list of real life wickedness goes on and on. Either there is more real wickedness today or it is splayed more in our faces today, which amounts to the same effect.

Real life wickedness is inescapable.

            When readers open the pages of their favorite books—or turn on their e-reader—they are certainly looking for a hero or heroine to root for, for the good guys to win.  But I believe most
readers are also seeking fictional wicked characters who can be vanquished. The scheming real estate mogul who murdered his competition, the serial killer who gets off on the thrill of watching others die, the monster, vampire, werewolf who preys on the

helpless, the desperate murderer who kills his wife/partner/friend to keep his secret from getting out—all of these fictional antagonists who embody wickedness also draw readers into our books. Of course, without antagonists, there would be no conflict and without conflict there would be little story. But I believe it is more than that.  A great many readers find reassurance in the stories where the wicked get their just reward, where justice prevails with more predictability and regularity than in the real world.

I’m one of them.

            In my Haunted Shores Mysteries series, I take as great a care selecting and crafting my antagonists, those embodying wickedness as I do with my heroes. For some of these villains, their wickedness is obvious, for others it is hidden, much like in the real world.  In Scarlet at Crystal River, the murder under investigation is particularly heinous—the execution of two helpless, immigrant children. So for this tale, I chose my antagonists with extreme caution. And, most important, readers are satisfied when the bad guys in my narrative end up behind bars where they deserve. 

“The characters are well drawn. Darrell and Erin make an attractive pair. The bad guys are very bad indeed and the plot is engrossing. It’s an enjoyable read with protagonists who are easy to root for and it ends in a very satisfying way. Highly recommended”.—Amazon Reviewer 

But, with each of the entries in my series I try to go one step further. My protagonist Darrell does manage to bring the fictional wicked bad guys to justice but he also learns that the murder of these two young Latino children is tied to a much larger and very real evil he never dreamt of. The murdering of the five- and six-year-olds turn out to be only a small indication of the broader abuse and victimization of immigrant migrant workers by the entire system. My hope is that readers will get what they seek—an escape into a world where good triumphs and evil is vanquished—but they also can see the connection of the fictional evil to the very real wickedness spoiling into the real world. I hope readers’ escape into the suspense of my books provides them with an awareness and unexpected insight into one corner of real world wickedness. And, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (and others) said, “All it takes for wickedness to prosper is for good men to do nothing.” My hope is that my novels, in addition to being engaging reads, make it a little harder for good men and women to do nothing about evil.

Dr. Randy Overbeck is a best-selling author of the award-winning series, The Haunted Shores Mysteries, each a cold case murder mystery wrapped in ghost story served with a side romance, set in a beautiful resort location. He is the host of a new podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual backstories of famous authors, directors and poets. He is also a speaker in much demand, sharing his multi-media presentations, “Thanks Still Go Bump in the Night” and “A Few Favorite Haunts” with audiences all over the country. More info about his novels, programs and podcast can be found at his website www.authorrandyoverbeck.com . 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorrandyoverbeck

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorrandyoverbeck/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/randy-overbeck 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Randy-Overbeck/e/B07QQHW7DM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1658371317&sr=8-1 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4825632.Randy_Overbeck 

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1924616/10983135 

Purchase/Book Links

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE 

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57841458-scarlet-at-crystal-river?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=RTpsYLU6mO&rank=3 

BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/books/scarlet-at-crystal-river-by-randy-overbeck 

 

So, You Need an Escape by Randy Overbeck #getaway #vacation

 MUSE MONDAY

Please welcome Randy Overbeck to Discover... We can all use an escape, and Randy can help! 

            Right about now—ten long months into this pandemic, still not able to do much—could you use a getaway? The vaccine is coming to you and yours soon, but in the meantime could you use a getaway? Couldn’t you just picture yourself on an sun-drenched beach, toes in the warm sand and a frosty drink in your hand? Or maybe sailing across blue green waters, waves lapping peacefully at the sides of your sailboat with the shoreline around you exploding with color?

I’m right there with you.

That’s why, when I decided to write my new series,  the Haunted Shores Mysteries, I decided to set each story in a great getaway location. But not just any getaway. I mean, everyone knows about places like Hilton Head or Malibu or Daytona Beach. For my stories, I was searching for unique, even unforgettable locations that I could introduce readers to, places that would leave a lasting impression.

For me, my first choice was obvious since it’s been a favorite destination of ours for years. The setting for BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE is, well, the Chesapeake Bay. Or to be more precise, the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, which I believe is one of the undiscovered gems in the country. Thousands of miles of undulating shoreline, some of the best seafood you’ll ever eat, and
sunsets over the water that would melt your sheltered, hardened heart. Not to mention the scene of variegated foliage covering she shores that can match even peak autumn in New Hampshire. If you close your eyes, you might be able to picture yourself in the middle of the Bay aboard a two-masted sailboat, rocking gently on the waters. Or you could just let my novel take you there.  Here’s a brief excerpt from BLOOD.

A few stray clouds chased each other across an azure sky which turned the water to an aquamarine. A light breeze filled the two white and gold sails and stirred the water, creating only small waves which rocked the sloop gently. Across the horizon, a few white sails punctured the beautiful blue that wrapped around them. Gusts of wind filled the two triangle sails and flapped the four-square Maryland flag at the rear. Along the rock-strewn shoreline, charming Cap Cods with Adirondack chairs in front competed with two-story Colonials wearing their white clapboard siding and green sloped roofs like their Sunday best. 

Don’t you wish you were standing on the deck of that sailboat right now? Well, you can almost.

For the second entry in my series, I went for something quite different, but just as intriguing in its own way. CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY is set in a quintessential resort town, with expansive white sand beaches for the sun-worshipper, a famous getaway for more than 150 years. With over a hundred unique Victorian houses and mansions—think “the painted ladies”—lining the shore and filling the streets of this quant town and you have a setting and a sight unmatched anywhere in the U.S.  And, the fact that the town is the most haunted seaport on the Eastern Seacoast made it a no-brainer for the setting for my second narrative. A few pages into this novel and I promise you’ll forget the present doldrums of Covid-19 and find yourself in another place and time, one you’ll enjoy. Here’s just a sample.

They crossed at the light, and Darrell took in the sight ahead of them—a near perfect, expansive sandy beach edged by crystal blue water that seemed to stretch on forever, merging with a perfect azure sky. Smudges of white dotted the heavenly canvas, and small curls of white-topped breakers were sprinkled along the waters farther out. Quiet waves gurgled up upon the sand before leaking back into the watery expanse. Throw in the meticulous architecture of all those Victorian mansions and B & B’s and you have resort few places could match. 

Of course, my novels are far more than mere escape reads. Both include a cold-case murder mystery, a haunting ghost story and a bit of romance, all with some unforgettable characters.

Perhaps, one of the Amazon reviewers put it best: 

“Was your vacation canceled this year? I know ours was put on the back burner, but I can recommend a great get-away that won't cost much. Read the book Blood on the Chesapeake: A Cold Case Murder Mystery. It's a vacation to a beautiful seashore with characters you'll love and some you'll hate. Of course, everyone wants a vacation with a happy ending, and I won't spoil the book for you, but you'll smile about the ending after you put it down.”—Tami A, an Amazon reviewer 

            If you haven’t had the chance to discover either, click any of the links below to grab your copy and escape the present.

            Here are just a few things reviewers and readers are saying about these ★★★★★ and award winning novels.

·       “So engrossing it had me hooked from the very first page.” ★★★★★—Nana’s Reviews, Greece

·       “Overbeck’s pace is spot on and makes for a thoroughly engaging and quick read… A Gold Award Winner!” ★★★★★—Literary Titan

·       “An absolutely chilling ghost story wrapped around an even scarier piece of history - or perhaps it’s the other way around. Recommended. BEST BOOK!” ★★★★★—Chanticleer Reviews and Media

·       “This book was riveting and full of mystery, romance, and suspense. I could not put this book down once I was past the first chapter. I would find myself reading late into the night telling myself "just one more chapter"- just one more chapter would turn into 50 or 60 pages. Excellent book with a hint of history lessons to enrich our lives.”—An Amazon reviewer

·       “Thrilling! Haunting! Convincing! Loved it as much, if not more, than “Blood on the Chesapeake!” Began reading the book on Monday and finished it at midnight on Tuesday!”—an Amazon reviewer  

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/Crimson-Cape-Haunted-Shores-Mysteries/dp/1509231633/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1BCBKCDPQRK3L&dchild=1&keywords=crimson+at+cape+may&qid=1599856137&sprefix=Crimson+at+Cape+May%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-2 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crimson-at-cape-may-randy-overbeck/1137088608?ean=9781509231638 

https://www.bookbub.com/books/crimson-at-cape-may-by-randy-overbeck 

Randy Overbeck

randyoverbeck@authorrandyoverbeck.com

www.authorrandyoverbeck.com

@OverbeckRandy

FB: Author Randy Overbeck 

BIO

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, writer and speaker who has earned recognition in the Midwest and beyond. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation “Things That Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9nWiaGO-KM