BLURBS:
Spy for a Dead Empire (Book One)
AELFA,
THE GRAND CAPITAL of the once mighty Aelfan Empire, has fallen. Barbarian war
parties and nomadic tribes harass the retreating and broken legions that once
overawed them. All that stands against them now is the city of Zyren, the last
bastion of Aelfan rule.
Acting
as a spy for Zyren is Grant Scotland, a man leading a double life because his
own had been taken away from him by the very people he serves. An unwilling
recruit into the business of clandestine missions and deceit, he searches for
anything real to cling to as the world around him devolves into insanity. And
when an old friend shows up asking him to help save his family by delivering a
mysterious book to a shadowy figure, Grant's two lives collide and he is thrust
into an even stranger world than he had known; one where ancient magic is
wielded by deadly players who compete against one another for a prize greater
than simply the rotting carcass of a dead empire.
Spy for a Troubled King
(Book Two)
AMONG
THE ASHES of the mighty Aelfan Empire, the House of Gregyan seeks to forge a
new kingdom—one where both Huthan and Aelfan alike can prosper. But old
prejudices and ancient traditions and an exiled enemy threaten the peace.
Caught between compassion for his home and allegiance to his fallen empire,
Grant Scotland finds himself trapped in the turbulent machinations of enemies
and friends. As he works to uncover mysteries about his father’s treachery and
confront new threats to his future, he moves perilously close to revealing his identity
and losing everything.
Spy for a Wayward Daughter (Book Three)
AS
THE GREGYANS MARCH TO WAR and his handler takes a trip to Zyren, Grant
Scotland, spy errant of the Aelfan Empire, gets ready to pursue a lead on
finding a man who might be able to tell him the truth about his father's
treason. Old friends, new enemies and hidden dangers soon confront him on his
quest, but when he enters the dark world of another family's intrigue, he finds
that not even the frontiers of the Aelfan Empire are far enough away to escape
the dangers of fortune and fate.
The
Adventures of Grant Scotland series is an entertaining mix of fantasy, mystery
and espionage featuring a hero whose many faults provide almost as much
challenge to him as the formidable obstacles he must face as he attempts to
impose sanity upon a world rapidly descending into chaos. Collected in this
volume are the first three books in the series: Spy for a Dead Empire, Spy for
a Troubled King and Spy for a Wayward Daughter.
Spy for a Greedy Villain
(Book Four)
RACIAL
TENSIONS IN AELFA simmer and threaten to boil over when the harbormaster is
found dead and the Huthan oppressors threaten to crack down in the Lower Docks.
As Grant Scotland finds more questions than answers in the journals of Berthul
Magnussen about his father’s treachery, he is drawn into a murder
investigation, a kidnapping plot and the nefarious machinations of the city’s
biggest crime lord—Mr. Quinn. In order to stop Quinn’s plans and save the city
from being thrown into open revolt, Grant prepares to take his biggest gamble
yet.
Excerpt from Spy for a Dead
Empire (Book One):
Everything
that ever happened to me since I was a kid played out in my mind and I was
eagerly explaining every moment and why it was important to the foot of the
table near my head as I regained consciousness. Unfortunately, my mouth wasn't
cooperating, so I'm fairly sure the only sound that came out was
"Mmurfermumf?" The foot of the table had no response. I didn't blame
it. I'm the same way. I get embarrassed when I'm around people who talk about
themselves too much, too.
I
tried to get my hands up under me and push to get up, but I didn't even get
half of that done before I decided to knock off and maybe try again tomorrow.
My head felt like a lead weight and a constant ringing was filling my ears.
After a few minutes passed I decided I could maybe twist around a bit and get
on my back, which I managed to do with all the speed of a garden slug.
My
vision was slowly clearing and sharpening and I could tell I was in a dark room
somewhere with dim light coming from partially shuttered windows. Suddenly I
remembered the horse and the rain and the door and looked around quickly to see
if my assailant was nearby.
I
deeply regretted that action as blood roared in my ears and a wave of nausea
almost overwhelmed me. I choked and screwed my eyes shut and stayed perfectly
still and after a time I was able to breathe and open my eyes again. Good thing
whoever hit me wasn't still around. If they were, I'd have given them what for
by throwing up all over their shoes.
Have you ever had an imaginary
friend?
-You
mean besides Grant Scotland? No. At least, I don’t think so. Unless he’s there
and I just can’t see him. That would be kind of silly, right? I mean… Wait. Did
you hear that?
Do you have any phobias?
-Fear
of success. The problem with success is that once you achieve it then
everyone’s expectations of you go up dramatically. It’s real. I’m working on
it.
Do you listen to music when
you're writing?
-Yes!
I would never describe myself as a “music person” because I couldn’t tell you
my favorite band or type of music, but I have a Pandora station I’ve put a lot
of time crafting into something that plays stuff I enjoy. It helps loosen the
creativity muscles.
Do you ever read your stories out
loud?
-Rarely
and only when I’ve written something that makes me laugh.
Tell us about your main character
and who inspired him.
-Grant
Scotland is a hero whose many faults provide almost as much challenge to him as
the formidable obstacles he must face. His creation was inspired by Chandler’s
Philip Marlowe, Parker’s Spenser, Burn
Notice’s Michael Westen, Cook’s Garrett and basically every character Bruce
Campbell has ever played.
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Author Bio
and Links:
Writing
stories infused with the smoky charisma of classic film noir mixed with the
pulse-pounding excitement of adventure fantasy and the cagey class of
suspenseful espionage, Dan McClure brought the best parts of all of our most
cherished pulp together and added his own signature brand of wit. He currently
lives, writes and works in and around beautiful and historic Arlington,
Massachusetts.
I
can be reached at dmcclure17@hotmail.com.
Follow
me on Twitter, like
Grant Scotland on Facebook, sign
up for my newsletter on my blog, and visit
my Amazon Author page.
Buy
Link: Amazon – See below for sale dates on the books.
KINDLE
COUNTDOWN SALE DATES:
Spy
for a Greedy Villain (Book Four):
1/4
- 1/7 @ $0.99
1/7
- 1/11 @ $1.99
Spy
for a Dead Empire (Book One):
1/11
- 1/14 @ $0.99
1/14
- 1/18 @ $1.99
Spy
for a Troubled King (Book Two):
1/18
- 1/21 @ $0.99
1/21
- 1/25 @ $1.99
Spy
for a Wayward Daughter (Book Three):
1/25
- 1/28 @ $0.99
1/28
- 2/1 @ $1.99