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Anthology, Author, authors, book release, bookreviews, Books, Detective, Editing, horror, Horror Movies, scary

Join Justin Alcala’s Book Tour this week!

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Join me all this week for my 42 book-blog site tour! I’ll be answering questions about A DEAD END JOB, and my other books, telling stories and giving bad life advise.

All the tour stops are listed here:
November 8:
1: Literary Gold
2: Wake Up Your Wild Side
3: Westveil Publishing
4: Travel the Ages
5: Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’
6: Sadie’s Spotlight
7: Author Deborah A Bailey blog
8: Ilovebooksandstuffblog
9: JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder
10: Coffee and Wander Book Reviews
11: Jazzy Book Reviews

November 9:
1: Fabulous and Brunette
2: All the Ups and Downs
3: Long and Short Reviews
4: Tina Donahue Books – Heat with Heart
5: The Pen and Muse Book Reviews
6: Wendi Zwaduk – Romance to Make Your Heart Race
7: Independent Authors
8: Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

November 10:
1: Andi’s Book Reviews
2: FUONLYKNEW
3: The Avid Reader
4: It’s Raining Books
5: The Obsessed Reader
6: The Faerie Review
7: Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog
8: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
9: The Key Of Love

November 11:
1: Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love
2: Read Your Writes Book Reviews
3: Welcome to My World of Dreams
4: Seven Troublesome Sisters
5: Locks, Hooks and Books
6: Harlie’s Books

November 12:
1: Gina Rae Mitchell
2: Kit ‘N Kabookle
3: Novels Alive
4: Sandra’s Book Club
5: Triquetra Reviews
6: Iron Canuck Reviews & More
7: Sybrina’s Book Blog
8: Beyond Romance
9: Our Town Book Reviews

Today’s Tours


https://www.literaryau.com/2021/11/a-dead-end-job.htmlhttps://galestanley.blogspot.com/2021/11/a-dead-end-job-by-justin-alcala.htmlhttps://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p=12579https://traveltheages.blogspot.com/2021/11/welcome-to-author-justin-alcala.htmlhttps://stormynightsreviewingandbloggind.blogspot.com/2021/11/a-dead-end-job-giveaway.htmlhttp://sadiesspotlight.com/a-dead-end-job-giveaway/https://dbaileycoach.com/brightbooks/2021/11/spotlight-giveaway-a-dead-end-job-by-justin-alcala/https://ilovebooksandstuffblog.wordpress.com/2021/11/08/a-dead-end-job-book-tour/https://jbbookworms.blogspot.com/2021/11/a-dead-end-job-by-justin-alcala-noir.htmlhttps://coffeewanderbooks.blogspot.com/2021/11/book-tour-excerpt-dead-end-job-by.html

Anthology, Author, book release, bookreviews, Detective, Editing, horror, Horror Movies, Interview, Magical Realism, nour, Race, scary, Uncategorized, urban-fantasy, urbanfantasy

Hahaha! You have to take this A DEAD END JOB Quiz to learn about your weapon of immortal destruction

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“Lilith, my oldest work-friend since… well, friends became a thing. Unmentionables weren’t around when dinosaurs and other eat-poop-then-die creatures were on Earth. It’s only when sentience became all the rage that God cut off her finger and gave it to me as Lilith, divine retribution for anyone bold enough to manipulate the cosmic work schedule. Since then, Lilith has, and always will be, the most dangerous weapon in existence. While I used her special holy abracadabra to transform Lilith into a scythe, she adjusts to the user’s character in order to be the best possible work tool. So if you want to be my next intern, and you’re comfortable getting my dry-cleaning, let’s first see what’s in that mushy pink wetware between your ears. It’s a sorting hat sort of thing, only with irremediable, world ending consequences.”
-Death

https://www.buzzfeed.com/parliamentbooks/the-sorting-hat-for-killers-4l2ia0r8rv

Anthology, Author, authors, book release, bookreviews, Books, Detective, Editing, Halloween, horror, Horror Movies, Interview, Magical Realism, nour, Race, scary, travel, Uncategorized, urban-fantasy, urbanfantasy

Publisher’s Weekly just named “A DEAD END JOB” BEST BOOKS

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Big WOW! Publisher’s Weekly just named “A DEAD END JOB” BEST BOOKS this week along w/ a generous review. I couldn’t be more honored. Check out the link in my bio and don’t forget to preorder your copy.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-953539-92-2

Anthology, Author, authors, book release, bookreviews, Books, Editing, Halloween, horror, Horror Movies, Interview, nour, Race, scary, Uncategorized, urban-fantasy, urbanfantasy

Readers Wanted

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Book Reviewers: Get an early e-copy of A DEAD END JOB before it hits shelves October 6th. Just drop a message to be the first to read this hilarious urban fantasy book following Buck, the lovable Chicago Hitman, as he interns for the Grim Reaper.

Message or email me at justinalcala@justinalcala.com
Anthology, Author, authors, book release, Books, Detective, Editing, Halloween, horror, Horror Movies, Interview, nour, Race, scary, travel, Uncategorized

A Dead End Job hits bookshelves 10.6.21

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A Dead End Job hits bookshelves 10.6.21
Anthology, Author, authors, book release, Books, Detective, Editing, Halloween, horror, Horror Movies, Interview, Magical Realism, scary, travel, Uncategorized, urban-fantasy, urbanfantasy

“The Last Stop” Yesterday’s Goosebumps Today!

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“What a lame day to die. It was Friday, possibly the best time of the week for any seventh grader, it was ruined. People should die on Mondays. That sounds right.”

-Morrigan, The Last Stop

Morrigan’s family needs out of the city. So they move to suburbia where her special needs brother, Asher, is closer to his treatments. Life in a little town though isn’t what it’s cracked up to be and soon Morrigan grows tired of discourteous classmates, quiet streets and strange neighbors. What’s worse, she and her tag along brother are the last ones dropped off every day on the school bus, dragging out her drab existence. The none day a new bus arrives and Morrigan’s life gets deader than she could have ever imagined.

Coming 2022, Submissions Open to Agents/Publishers
Anthology, Author, authors, book release, Books, Detective, Editing, Halloween, horror, Horror Movies, Interview, Magical Realism, nour, Race, scary, travel, Uncategorized, urban-fantasy, urbanfantasy

A…Dead…End…Job…Is almost here

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Preorder on Sale at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kobo Today!

There’s never been stranger urban fantasy than with “A Dead End Job” presented by Parliament House Press. Buck was just a lowlife Hitman trying to make his way through this miserable world when the gun was flipped on him. Now he’s interning for the Grim Reaper in an attempt to dodge eternal damnation. His new job entails taking out “Unmentionables,” those who cheat death. The only problem? When you know how to dodge your final demise it’s usually because you have a few tricks up your sleeve. Poor Buck.
PREORDER “A DEAD END JOB” on #amazonbooks #barnesandnoble and #kobobooks or wherever great books are sold.

A Dead End Job https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LQXMY5C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_12EBAT3NR40NPXR68KNN

Anthology, Author, authors, book release, Books, Detective, Editing, Halloween, horror, Horror Movies, Interview, nour, Race, scary, travel, Uncategorized, urban-fantasy

Preorder Today: “A DEAD END JOB” Punch in for the Night Shift

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“The hardest thing about a job isn’t the killing. It’s the freaking planning. Tailing your mark’s whereabouts is expensive on a hit man’s pockets. Especially in Chicago. Oh well. Should’ve stayed in school I guess.”
-Buck, Death’s Intern


PREORDER “A DEAD END JOB” on AMAZON, B&N OR KOBO TODAY!

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Anthology, Author, authors, book release, Books, Editing, Halloween, horror, Horror Movies, Interview, Magical Realism, nour, Race, scary, travel, Uncategorized, urban-fantasy, urbanfantasy

2021 Justin Alcala Schedule Released

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Well, there’s always a silver lining to any adversity, and 2020 was no different. While it’s globally unanimous that 2020 was like skidding down a razor bladed playground slide, there were some benefits. Beyond the zenith of all joys, the birth of my son, Ronan, I could also get a lot of writing projects ready for their 2021 debut. So, strap on your helmet, squeeze into your short shorts, and grease those rollerblades, because we’re skating through 2021 with conviction. Here’s a look at the Justin Alcala schedule for the upcoming year. 

JANUARY 2021

  • Final edits for “A Dead End Job” were put together by Parliament House Press and myself
  • Production Meetings began for the future graphic novel, “Apollyon” with talented producers/creators James Rock and Alex Gomez
  • “Taming of the Cthulhu” 1st proof reaches 30,000 words. 
  • “A Dead End Job” cover artist completes project for acceptance 

FEBRUARY 2021

  • “A Dead End Job” cover reveal on February 25th 
  • “Magic of Motivational Quotes” by Wingless Dreamer publishing is released, featuring a Justin Alcala excerpt 
  • Cover reveal for the new anthology, “Citizen Survivors: The Red Book” released by BLK  DOG Publishing. This historical fiction piece about the world had Nazi Germany been victorious features a short story by Justin Alcala titled “The Entrepreneur” 

MARCH 2021

  • Proofreading for the Middle Grade book, “The Last Stop” begins. This young reader horror story follows seventh grader, Morrigan, and her little brother, Asher, as they explore the frightful history of their new town, and the connection with their eerie new bus driver. 
  • “Taming of the Cthulhu” manuscript should reach the halfway point for creation
  • Two new short stories will begin for Halloween distribution
  • “Citizen Survivors: The Red Book” hits shelves

APRIL 2021

  • “The Last Stop” will sent off to agents and publishers 
  • Short Horror Stories “A Horse for Us All” and “Buried in the Rain” hit anthology and literary magazine shelves
  • Finishing touches for the first proof of “Taming of the Cthulhu” complete and sent out to editors

MAY 2021

  • “The Last Stop” proposed to agents and publishers 
  • “Apollyon” finishes proofreads and illustrators begin early sketches

JUNE 2021

  • Early reviewers get their “looking-balls” on “A Dead End Job”
  • Interviews on podcasts, radio stations and literary journals for the premiere of “A Dead End Job”

JULY 2021

  • Early announcement about “The Last Stop” publication
  • Short Horror Story Projects Cut Off for Submission 
  • We will take part in the “2021 Charity Drive for the Extra Life for Kids” program 

AUGUST 2021

  • We will start the countdown for “A Dead End Job” with great giveaways, including e-books, t-shirts and other great 

SEPTEMBER 2021

  • “The Last Stop” continued publication announcements
  • “Taming of the Cthulhu” hits submission phase
  • “A Dead End Job” preorders completed 

OCTOBER 2021

  • “A Dead End Job” released (Woo hoo!). Parliament House PRess will release physical copies and ebooks starting October 5th, 2021.
  • Podcast interviews to continue in promotion of Parliament House Press in conjunction with “A Dead End Job”
  • Halloween Short Stories hit publication 

NOVEMBER 2021

  • “The Last Stop” begins editorial phase with new publisher
  • “Taming of the Cthulhu” early publication announcements 
  • Justin Alcala short story and novel contest results announced

DECEMBER 2021

  • Christmas Giveaways for “A Dead End Job” gifted for select readers 
  • “Apollyon” publication announcement updates 
Anthology, Author, authors, book release, Books, Detective, Editing, Halloween, horror, Horror Movies, Interview, Magical Realism, nour, Race, scary, travel, Uncategorized, urban-fantasy, urbanfantasy

Turn the Page by Justin Alcala

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You hear it all the time. Goodbye 2020. What a year. Can’t wait for 2021. We yearn to move on. We ache for a better tomorrow. And in the literary world, the uncertainty from the last twelve months drives a similar desire. 

According to Guardian journalist, Alex Clark, 2020 was a mixed year for the publishing life. While bookshops closed, literary festivals cancelled and hardback sales shrunk, digital books surged in the face of the pandemic. Lockdowns and work-from-home environments gave readers more time for books. Racism, COVID-19 and a divided nation drove authors to their keyboards, congesting the market. As a result, many established writers, such as novelist and screenwriter David Nicholls, are bowing out, focusing on other projects. 

But is stepping down the answer? Is it time for career writers to walk away in the face of a flooded environment? Unless you’re well established, even the best rising stars in the literary world will face a noisy market. Getting your voice heard and your book in front of an audience will be more difficult than ever. Should budding authors, columnists and screenwriters retire?

The answer is a simple sentence word. No. Writers run a parallel struggle with the rest of the world. Confusion, mistrust and disorientation fog the future. There are new hurdles. But one thing is for certain in these turbulent times. They will change. In the words of C.S. Lewis, “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

The fingerprint of the literary world will never be the same. Digital books, who were already on the rise, have clinched a large part of reading retail. Bookstores and libraries will need to change the way they do business, focusing on alternative ways to sell physical copies. Top tier publishers will have to be more selective on how they sift through thousands of authors, and independent writers will need to get creative with getting books in readers’ hands. What doesn’t change though is a writer’s desire to create.

Storytellers are storytellers. Journalists need to report. Artists can’t cease the call for expression. Fresh stories, no matter what the temperature of the market, need writing. An author shouldn’t ever compromise their work because of business complications. Once the book is ready, then one can worry about market strategies, sales profits, and whether they need to find other ways to help establish income. It won’t be easy, but there’s no wisdom in trying to take the fire from a dragon. 

We may want to move on from the past. The future may be confusing. But in the literary world, one thing is for certain. Readers need books. There will always be a desire to read insightful columns, inspiring stories, and other forms of written art. Authors are going to need to think of novel ways to get their work into readers’ hands, but it can never deny the call to write.