What's New at Foertmeyer Fiction

Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards

2009-02-26T12:39:00.005-05:00

Well, today I entered the Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards. I entered both Taylor Manse and The Wager, as I couldn't decide which one of the two to enter. To be honest, I haven't entered any competitions since my last attempt at this very contest, and I struck out. Since then I have been content to sit on my Dorothy Parker award for Carver: High Mountain Tragedy and my Bloody Dagger Awards for Carver: High Mountain Tragedy, The Cats' Lair, Alex 'n Bender, and The Room Beyond the Veil.

My last attempt at the Writer's Digest awards resulted in two "Certificates of Participation" for Bewildered and Moon Cave. The certificates were nice, but the prize money and recognition as a winner would be even better :) !

Wish me luck...

Colonial Court Inn

2009-02-23T09:29:00.008-05:00

Just like everyone else, I enjoy a good vacation. Well, my vacation of choice is a relaxing week, or so, in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. My lodging of choice is the Colonial Court Inn, a relaxing, "Old Florida" kind of place, but with modern amenities, of course. And, if you like the beach, the Colonial Court Inn is right on the beautiful, white sand beach. The photo below was taken almost half-way to the water, as I turned and looked back at the inn.

Colonial Court Inn

The Colonial Court Inn is owned and operated by two wonderful people, and your gracious hosts, Laura and Jim Labadie. They will make you feel right at home from day one of your stay there. Now, it was not my intention to create a "commercial" here, and I am somewhat reluctant to mention this wonderful slice of Heaven, because if it gets too popular it will be harder to get a reservation when I need one.

Now here's a thought for authors everywhere, this is a great place to do your writing as well...

Congratulations Emily!

2009-02-22T11:56:00.007-05:00

Well, in an attempt to inject a little personalization into this blog, I am including this little snippet from my personal life. My niece, Emily, has just qualified for, and signed up for, nuclear school in the US Navy! Yep, she just enlisted! Congratulations, Emily! I am very proud of you!

Way to go girl!

About the Author

2009-02-18T18:50:00.005-05:00

C.H. Foertmeyer was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1949, the eldest of four children. Following a wonderful childhood in Wyoming, Ohio and a wild ride through Wyoming High School, he relocated to New Mexico to attend college. After graduating from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico he returned to Ohio to pursue his career in the paint coatings industry. He married in 1978 and raised two wonderful step-children, Brian and Angie, and a lovely daughter, Jennifer, in his Lockland home. Today, Mr. Foertmeyer divides his time between a full-time job, web authoring, and fiction writing. He now resides in Forest Park, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. His daughter lives in nearby Greenhills, and is the inspiration of his writing, inspiring him to write his first novel at age fifty-three.

The Wager is Available!

2009-01-31T20:52:00.007-05:00

I look forward to each new Foertmeyer book because I never know what his fertile mind will create next. But after reading 13 of his books, I know to expect that the mysterious and surreal will seep into the lives of ordinary folks. His literary style is unusual, and addicting!

In this latest book, specters from a good and decent man's past shatter his world. Nick Hines is the well-respected owner of a hardware store in Montrose, Tennessee. He's a reliable and kindly friend, a devoted family man and dedicated Christian active in his local church. On his 30th birthday, he sees a high school friend limping down the street and can barely believe his eyes. The friend has not changed from High School days, still a teenager in appearance. Nick is frightened to discover the old friend died before his spectral appearance on the quiet streets of Montrose. That day begins Nick Hines' unraveling.

Over the next 315 days, Nick loses everything. His wife, the sheriff, the townsfolk are convinced he's crazy when he continues to see his dead friend around town, and also begins to see his brother who died as a child. Each ghostly vision precedes the horrible discovery of a dead, missing child. He's investigated as a child killer, diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, loses everything and everyone dear to him, and imprisoned for murder. An evil, invisible force is at work in Nick's life, driving him to the brink of madness and beyond. Will his faith in God be enough to save him from the final disaster? You'll have to read the book to find out.

The Wager is a parable with Nick Hines as a modern-day Job. If you aren't familiar with the story of Job, I suggest you read it as a comparison to this book. As with all Foertmeyer's books, this one is imaginative, mysterious, and entertaining.

Review by Laurel Johnson

Read the first three chapters

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-21T16:17:00.001-05:00

Well, with thanksgiving just around the corner, I wanted to say hello to everyone out there, and to let you all know that I am now preparing The Wager for publication. So far, the voting is running two to one in favor of The Wager over Chinibuck the Observer. Yep, out of all three votes, two of them are for The Wager. So, all three of ya, thanks for your input!

C.H. Foertmeyer

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Spring 2008 Update

2008-04-13T08:35:00.007-05:00

As summer approaches and my thoughts turn to vacation and having some outdoor fun, I am in a quandary as to which of my two finished books to publish next. Perhaps I should ask you, my readers, which book you would like to see next. So with that in mind, click the link below and give me your input. Your choices are, Chinibuck the Observer or The Wager.

Here is a little bit about each book:

Chinibuck the Observer

Henry Kellogg was a simple man who enjoyed hiking in his Shawnee Forest and working on web projects for his clients. Then one day, while out hiking the top of Limestone Gap, he found Keyawa, a Wauami Indian, and Keyawa was injured and in need of help. But the help Keyawa needed was not to be rescued from the ledge he had fallen to, as Henry had thought upon finding him there. Keyawa needed help dying, and in order to do so, he needed a successor to the Gift of the Egg. He needed to pass along the Gift, and in doing so, create a new Chinibuck. Henry just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time... The Gift of the Egg, created by the Great Father and delivered to the People by Yellow Eagle, was never intended for the use or abuse of the white man. Now, Henry Kellogg, a white man, was the bearer of the Gift; the Observer that should never have been allowed to exist. But exist he did, and now it was up to Nahni Strange Owl, his Keeper, to prevent Henry from interfering with the normal order of time and events.

The Wager

As Nick Hines arose at 5 a.m. on March 28, 2005, other than the fact that it was his thirtieth birthday, the day ahead held no promise of being anything more than ordinary. He was up, as usual, before the rest of his family, and after a quick breakfast he would head out the door and make his way down Route 47 to Montrose. It was just a typical Monday in every way, except that this Monday was to end with cake and ice cream after supper. Long before the birthday party though, Nick’s ordered life would begin a spiraling downslide into chaos. The changes in his life were about to begin, as he sat at the only traffic signal in Montrose, watching the red glow of the light, and wondering how he managed to get caught by a traffic light that never turned red. But, today it had, and as he sat awaiting the green, he looked left up High Street, and his life began changing immediately. The beginning was innocent enough, to all outward appearances, but what lay beneath the surface–was horrific. Nick Hines, for whatever reason, and totally unbeknownst to him, had become the subject of - The Wager.

Okay, go to MY WEBSITE and submit your choice. The poll is located right below all my book cover images on the main page.[ POLE IS NOW CLOSED - THE WAGER IS NEXT ]

C.H. Foertmeyer

New Year Update 2008

2008-02-16T18:25:00.002-05:00

Hello Readers,

Just a quick note to let you know I am still alive and kicking. I have three new books lined up in the making, and one by one they will be marched out, as time and circumstances allow. Thanks again for your continued interest and loyalty.

Sincerely,

C.H. Foertmeyer

Take Advantage of my Offer

2006-10-22T14:27:00.000-05:00

Okay, here's the deal

Take advantage of it, if you want a good, free read!

Coming up in the future

2006-10-08T15:59:00.000-05:00

Coming up after Badr, are two more great fiction novels. I will provide more information on them later, but for now here are the planned covers for The Wager and Chinibuck the Observer:

Coming Next - Badr

2006-10-07T21:43:00.000-05:00

What goes around comes around. Everything is connected. But, what connection could there possibly be between Marlin Goldburg who was killed in a traffic accident in 1986, and Badr, son of Abdul-Halim of Sarsarif, Iraq? Could the connection be that Badr was born on the same day that Marlin died? Hardly likely, in so much as Marlin was a Jew, living in the United States of America, and Badr grew up to be a Jew hating terrorist the U.S. Marines in Sarsarif knew only as Lone Wolf, the deadliest of insurgents.

So, why did Marlin see visions of deeply tanned hands, bearing a distinctive tattoo, planting bombs in sandy soil? And, why does Badr see visions of pale white hands, planting jonquil bulbs in rich black soil? Why does Badr hear a woman speak the name Marlin with each vision? What is the connection? Reincarnation… Resolution… Restitution? Perhaps—it is just coincidence… But, if not mere coincidence, then what purpose is served by this connection between two so different men; one living, and one long deceased?

Read First Three Chapters

Taylor Manse is ready!

2006-09-09T15:05:00.000-05:00

Taylor Manse

is now ready for ordering. As I feel that if you could just read a few chapters you would be sold on buying Taylor Manse, I have provided a link HERE that you may click on and read the first three chapters of the book. So, enjoy... and then buy!

C.H. Foertmeyer

Taylor Manse to the Publisher

2006-08-13T20:25:00.000-05:00

This is just a quick note to inform all interested parties that Taylor Manse has gone to the publisher for publication. It follows that Taylor Manse should become available in about one month, or around mid-September. This is one helluva ghost story, so don't miss out on the fright, if you're into being scared witless.

C.H. Foertmeyer

Changing Gears

2006-07-25T07:11:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm back and working on finishing Taylor Manse. Yes, I'm changing gears and thinking about bringing out Taylor Manse ahead of Chinibuck the Observer. Why? Well, primarily because of my niece, Emily, who is anxiously awaiting the chance to read Taylor Manse. Since she is one of my biggest fans :) I thought I had better listen to her. Stay tuned for more....

C.H. Foertmeyer

Taking a Break

2006-06-04T20:24:00.000-05:00

Due to commitments I have recently made, I am taking a short break from writing and publishing my works. I hope to have Chinibuck the Observer out by year's end, but I make no promises about that now.

Thank you for your interest in my books, and for those of you who are awaiting my next publication, I hope to be back on track in the near future.

C.H. Foertmeyer

Chinibuck the Observer Coming Soon

2006-04-22T19:34:00.000-05:00

Well, it won't be long now; Chinibuck the Observer will be available soon. For information about this new book, please look down the page to its description, or click the link above.

Hell's Interstate is Now Available

2005-12-19T19:14:00.000-05:00

Hell's Interstate is now available through the publisher, iUniverse, Inc., or through www.bn.com (Barnes & Noble). Check it out...You won't be sorry!

Update

2005-11-29T10:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Readers,

Hell's Interstate, which I hope to release before the end of the year, has gone to the publisher. With any luck at all, it will be ready in time for Cristmas ordering! If you haven't seen the new cover design yet, it can be viewed on my website: http://www.foertmeyer.com.

Thanks for your continued interest in my work!

About The Author

2005-09-22T13:18:00.000-05:00

C.H. Foertmeyer was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1949, the eldest of four children. After graduating from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico he returned to Cincinnati to pursue his career in the paint coatings industry. He married in 1978 and raised two wonderful step-children and a lovely daughter, Jennifer, in his Lockland home. Today, Mr. Foertmeyer divides his time between a full-time job, web authoring, and fiction writing. He now resides in Forest Park, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. His daughter lives in nearby Reading, Ohio and is the inspiration of his writing, inspiring him to write his first novel at age fifty-three.

Welcome Readers

2005-09-22T09:30:00.000-05:00

Hello Fiction Readers,

My name is C.H. "Chuck" Foertmeyer, author of several award winning novels and a few others that mostly delve into the world of the unknown; into time travel, reverent religious fiction, and the other side of normal.

Read over some of my recent and upcoming books here, then visit www.foertmeyer.com for full information on all my books, and even read the first three chapters of each.

Sincerely,

Chuck Foertmeyer

A Little History

2005-09-22T09:10:00.000-05:00

I have been asked from time to time how I got started writing fiction so late in life. Well, I actually started years ago, but never, until the age of 53, had I seen my efforts through to fruition.

In 2001 I was put on short hours at my "full-time" job, and had plenty of spare time on my hands. One day my daughter, Jennifer, called me on the telephone to read me the latest chapters from the book she was writing at the time (her passion is writing). I was inspired by her efforts, and after hanging up, I went straight to my file cabinet and pulled out an old, hand-typed manuscript I had completed maybe four chapters of perhaps ten years before. I began reading through it, entering it in my word processor, and editing and embellishing. Now it was like I wanted it to be, but it still required finishing the story. Ah, the hardest part of the process, because once finished, you become obligated to do something with it. That means, of all things, actually letting someone read it and criticize it.

"Oh no! What if it stinks?" you ask yourself, repeatedly. But why write it if you don't intend for anyone to read it? So, six months later I finished Carver: High Mountain Tragedy and let someone read it. Then I published it, and continued into a second book, and then a third, and so on...

So, the message to new authors is, "Finishing that first book is the hardest part of writing. Get it done, put it out there, and see what happens. If you don't finish it you will never know if you were to become the next great name in writing!"

The Room Beyond the Veil

2005-09-19T17:36:00.000-05:00

Here is the latest comment on The Room Beyond the Veil:

Haunting and Time Travel
July 22, 2005

Reviewer: J. McNerney

Laurence Harbor, NJ

This book is really fantastic. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day. It has everything. It has hauntings and time travel, which I really love. I highly recommend it.

What is The Room Beyond the Veil?

Well, here... see for yourself...

Twenty-one year old Tom Jewett has embarked on a new career. His new job as a cub journalist with the Traber Herald sends him and his wife, Sally, to Traber, Colorado, the birthplace of Tom's great grandfather. Almost immediately after settling into their new Victorian fixer-upper, Tom's dreams begin. But, are these dreams of an old room decorated with antiques and dimly lit with kerosene lamps–simply dreams? Maybe, just maybe, the room does exist.

Days of searching lead to absolutely nothing, not a trace of the old room, until one night when a terrible storm hits Traber and the power goes out. It was to become the blackest of nights for young Tom Jewett and the deepest of mysteries for Sally...

The Threef Project Just Published

2005-09-18T18:50:00.000-05:00

It was a family camping trip to the Jennings family's favorite camping site, high in a remote area of the Ozark Mountains. It began, as each of their previous trips had begun, with wonderful weather, family togetherness, and a sense of adventure. It would end with the kidnapping of Doctor John Jennings's family, and his own flight into the forest to save himself from certain death.

John fled into the unknown wilderness of the Ozarks, moving steadily to the northwest in hope of coming across a road, or perhaps, with any luck, a town. What he finally came across was the home of Cordell Heartley, a recluse spelunker, living sometimes in his cabin, and at other times in his caves. Finding Cordell would lead John into the adventure of his life; to the discovery of an illegal, covert military operation, known as The Threef Project.

Review of The Threef Project

2005-09-18T18:49:00.000-05:00

The Threef Project
by C.H. Foertmeyer
ISBN 0-595-36308-3153
pages at 12.95
trade paperback
iUniverse
2021 Pine Lake Rd.
Suite 100
Lincoln NE 68512

C.H. Foertmeyer's ninth book is a departure from his previous genres of sci fi and fantasy. With The Threef Project, this prolific Cincinnati author tackles an action thriller at the encouragement of his fans. Foertmeyer fans won't be disappointed. This thriller is every bit as good as his award nominated sci fi / fantasy novels.

Dr. John Jennings is a small town family practice physician who loves his work and his life. Hatcher Creek Arkansas is a peaceful village, far removed from the traffic, noise, and polluted air of cities. Jennings, his wife Carrol, and children Timmy and Sally embark on their annual rough camping trip to a remote mountainous region not far from Hatcher Creek. The experience swiftly changes from idyllic recreation to danger when Jennings hikes to his favorite fishing lake in hopes of enjoying solitary time. He's driven into unfamiliar territory by a storm and takes refuge in a cave that smells strongly of exhaust fumes. Back at camp, his family sees an oil slick on a clear mountain stream. In Dr. Jennings' absence, his family is surrounded by men in military garb, blindfolded, and held hostage in an unknown location. The campsite is swept clean. An empty clearing greets Jennings on his return. He has no choice but to retrace his path in hopes the cave will yield clues to his family's disappearance.

When Jennings stumbles across the mountain home of Cordell Heartley, the odds of finding his missing family change to his favor. Heartley is a reclusive ex-Army Ranger, an experienced spelunker and warrior whose survival skills prove helpful to the bewildered Jennings. Using a natural underground cave system, they systematically track the smells of vehicle exhaust. What they find is shocking, a hidden military project underground where SUVs are transformed into bombs destined for Iraq. Those involved are patriots of a different stripe than Heartley, playing a dangerous game without the knowledge of their government. From that initial discovery the game becomes straight arrow Rangers vs. a few bad apples as the danger level increases exponentially with passing time. Heartley's investigation takes him from Arkansas to New Orleans to Iraq as he calls in favors from old friends and military contacts to prevent the deaths of innocent civilians. But the unprincipled predators hiding behind U.S. Army uniforms don't plan to give in without a fight. They'll eliminate Heartley if they have to, murder Jennings and his family if necessary to accomplish their illegal goals.

The Threef Project is fast paced and exciting. The plot is distinctive and definitely not a clone of every other action thriller out there. Heartley is a true patriot in the finest sense of the word, and John Jennings is a courageous common citizen caught in a frightening maze. This book is Foertmeyer's testament to the men of courage and honor -- both in and out of the military -- who love their country and do whatever it takes to protect it.

Review by Laurel Johnson - Midwest Book Review

Hell's Interstate Next

2005-09-18T18:46:00.000-05:00

Thirty year old Vern Sanger and thirty-five year old Reed Haskell are taking a trip down Hell's Interstate. Where they are going, they have no idea, but they are distributing death and destruction all along their way. With the law on their trail, Vern, an escaped convict, and Reed, a cold-blooded murderer, are living on the proceeds of their ongoing, two-man crime wave.

So far, so good, but there are forces at work that Vern cannot even begin to fathom, or suspect. It's only a matter of time, before Hell's Interstate turns the bend, and leads him down a path he certainly never expected to travel. How much time? Too much, for all those the two encounter along the way.