The very first review of Safety Nation has hit the net. Unlimited Book Reviews provides recommendations for books available under Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program. Feel free to check out their website, they have lots of great recommendations.
Most importantly, they liked Safety Nation. Click here to read the full review. Or you can read on…
If you haven’t picked up a copy yet (and you know who you are), then now is the time to do it. This weekend only (February 4-5), the ebook of Safety Nation will be completely free on Amazon. What are you waiting for? It’s time to get it already. Unless you hate things that are good. You don’t hate things that are good, do you?
Do you have a blog where you frequently/occasionally/rarely review books? Or maybe you review movies, but are interested in reviewing something different?
Are you interested in a free copy of Safety Nation?
Well, today is your lucky day. If you are a blogger, and are interested in reading my novel (and how could you not be?), send me an email at: brikhaus81 at gmail dot com. I will send you a free review copy of the ebook. Of course, you need to have an actual, legitimate website for this to work.
All you need to do is read the book and publish a review of it to get the word out to your readers. Pretty sweet deal, right?
If you’re interested, let me know. For those of you who have already grabbed copies, I hope you are enjoying it!
Today’s the day, my first novel, Safety Nation, is available for purchase! I hope you have enjoyed getting to read the first 100 pages, because now you have to buy the book to read the rest.
Here’s how you can buy it. For the first 90 days, Safety Nation will be available exclusively on Amazon. You can buy the ebook or the paperback. Once the 90-day exclusivity period is over, the ebook will be available from all the other major retailers. The paperback will always be exclusive through Amazon.
Of course, the ebook is cheaper, but let me take a minute to convince you to buy the paperback. Why? Because it’s fucking gorgeous, that’s why. It’s sturdy, professionally bound, and has a velvety matte finish. And let’s not forget how amazing the cover art it. I’m getting horny just thinking about it. The paperback also lets you see my chosen fonts, which isn’t possible on the Kindle format. With that, you just get whatever fonts come pre-loaded on the e-reader. Besides, in today’s digital world, isn’t it nice to hold an actual book in your hands?
If you’re worried about the price, don’t be. I only take home, like, 20% of the price, with the rest going back for production costs and Amazon’s cut. At the end of the day, I’m not making a killing off this thing. I just want you to read the best possible version of it.
If you still don’t believe me, have a look and see how well the book turned out.
You can get either the ebook or the paperback, it doesn’t really matter to me. Just as long as you read it!
Thanks, everyone, who helped make this book possible.
There are only three more days until Safety Nation is published! Until then, enjoy one more chapter!
In case you have missed the chapters so far, here are links to them:
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5
Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10
As always, the chapter below, and entire novel, are copyrighted.
— — —
Safety Nation by Logan Riley
11
I sipped my coffee, wishing it was hotter.
All of Healthcare Detail had swarmed onto Hospital Twelve. The facility was one of the major downtown healthcare centers. It was a gigantic building that served hundreds of patients a day.
Atwood walked at a brisk pace. The other agents hurried to keep up with her. I walked at my regular pace. I couldn’t run because I would spill my coffee.
I was so tired from last night’s investigation that I bought a cup of coffee from a Central Office vending machine. It tasted a month old and was lukewarm. Even so, I drank the sludge, eager for the caffeine to hit my brain.
At Healthcare Detail, Atwood pointed to the electronic map which displayed blueprints of Hospital Twelve. The map blinked and was replaced with the names and faces of three physicians. Atwood told us they were violating safety regulations and had to be arrested immediately. She assigned us each to a group of four. My team consisted of Zamyatan, Lowry, and Atwood herself.
Before the briefing adjourned, Atwood said, “This is a huge case, everyone. Career defining. Don’t screw this up for me.”
The other agents nodded in the affirmative. The bevy of people broke up and departed for the parking garage. My team piled into Zamyatan’s car. Zamyatan took the driver’s seat, Atwood the front passenger’s seat, and Lowry and I were consigned to the back.
“Nice to see you again,” I said to Lowry.
“Thanks,” she said, looking slightly ill.
The Auto-Driver engaged and the vehicle took off. Atwood craned around and looked at me, stone-faced. “Don’t get any ideas, Inspector Smith. I only put you with us so I could keep an eye on you. I don’t want you ruining this.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
If you’d been thinking the plot of Safety Nation was a little scattered, I wouldn’t blame you for it. The entire first arc serves to set up the world and the main characters. It isn’t really until this point, Chapter 10, where things start to move forward at a brisker pace, and with the pieces starting to move together. This chapter is the jumping off point for the rest of the main storyline. And, I’ve only got a couple more chapters remaining to share with you, so I hope I’ll leave you wanting more, and you’ll buy a copy of the book.
In case you have missed the chapters so far, here are links to them:
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8
As always, the chapter below, and entire novel, are copyrighted.
— — —
Safety Nation by Logan Riley
10
I lumbered out to the parking lot. Lowry was nowhere in sight. I stood beside my car with one arm slung across the roof, and watched stragglers trickle out of the Central Office. Most had already left for the day, on time, as there was no reward for extra work.
On the far side of the lot, a larger group of agents were filing into the building. The night crew. Their faces were far less enthusiastic than the ones who were going home.
After a good thirty minutes of waiting, I decided I wasn’t going to see Lowry. She must have slipped out before Zamyatan and I had finished our work. Now the only thing I had to look forward to was a night with my demon-dog and troll-wife.
I got in my car and punched in the coordinates for the diner I frequented. I ate alone, slowly chewing a bland piece of meat.
Once I finished choking down dinner, I trudged back to my car. I sat inside for a long time, the engine off. I watched the sun drop below the horizon. The sky turned fiery orange, then dusky purple, then dark black. Fluorescent lights continued to burn over every inch of the city. For the streets and sidewalks, it was always the middle of the day.
I started the engine. The electric motor whirred to life. I input a new set of coordinates. The vehicle maneuvered out of the parking lot and into the street, carefully minding all traffic laws.
Before me stood a solid brick building with an affixed sign reading, “Clothing Incorporated.” The windows were dark. I walked toward the dormant factory, looking side to side, making certain no one was watching.
The front door was locked. I stepped off the sidewalk and walked to the right, alongside the building. When I reached what I thought was the manager’s office window, I attempted to open it. It was locked, too. I headed to the rear of the building, trying, and failing, to open every door or window I encountered.
The back door didn’t budge. I would have been inside already if I had my multi-tool. I would have to take a different approach. There was a long vertical window, at ground level, just to the right of the back door. I took off my hat and pressed it to the glass. I punched the hat as hard as I could.
I reeled back, clutching my hand as it throbbed with pain. The window, meanwhile, stood proudly, undamaged by my feeble attempt to break it.
Chapter 9 is fun because you really get to see how ridiculous government bureaucracy can be. The chapter is meant to illustrate how much time, money, and resources a government can waste upholding pointless policies. A lot of people who have to do this sort of thing in real life think it’s just as stupid as Smith does.
In case you have missed the chapters so far, here are links to them:
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8
As always, the chapter below, and entire novel, are copyrighted.
— — —
Safety Nation by Logan Riley
9
Zamyatan was parking the car. We had received a tip about a safety violation in a downtown office building. Upon our arrival, we found the parking situation was as dreadful as always. My partner dropped me off in front of the building, and told me to get started while he found a place to park.
It was early morning, but the sun was already blazing. I started to sweat the moment I exited the car. When he drove away from the curb, I pulled off my hat and fanned my face. I headed inside, through the revolving door, welcoming the cooler air.
The building was a high-rise, fifty stories tall, in the center of the city. The atrium looked like every other atrium: stone floor, a ceiling triple the height of a regular ceiling, and a panel of UV-shielded windows above the entrance. To the right was a small coffee stand. Near the back was a bank of elevators and an unmanned security desk.
Whoever was in charge of security would be in trouble if anyone discovered them absent. I hoped Zamyatan wouldn’t notice. I wasn’t looking forward to doing any extra paperwork today.
Between the elevators was an office directory. I read it, looking at the myriad companies crammed into the building. Which one were we here to investigate? I had no idea. I hadn’t paid attention to Atwood this morning.
There was still no sign of my partner. I walked over to the coffee stand.
The barista, a 20 year-old kid with a minefield of acne on his face, asked, “What can I get you?”
“Irish coffee.”
“Irish . . . coffee? I’m not sure what that is.”
“It’s regular coffee, but with whisky in it.”
“Whisky? You mean alcohol?”
“You catch on fast.”
“I’m sorry, sir, we don’t serve whisky. Alcohol is illegal.”
“Red wine is legal. It’s good for your heart.”
“Oh, I see. Would you like some red wine in your coffee?”
“Do you have any?”
“No.”
“Then why did you ask?”
The barista’s jaw moved up and down like he wanted to say something, but his brain couldn’t process the conversation any longer.
We’re getting into the home stretch now. The book’s release date is less than a month away. I only have a few more chapters left to preview for you, and after that you’ll have to buy the book to read the rest.
This chapter is an interesting one because it represents a shift in the story. Smith is still his same old sarcastic self, but now he’s working in a different department with a different crazy adversary. Now, getting out of work becomes harder for Smith and Lowry. I hope you enjoy this chapter, because it was a lot of fun to write.
In case you have missed the chapters so far, here are links to them:
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
As always, the chapter below, and entire novel, are copyrighted.
— — —
Safety Nation by Logan Riley
8
Daylight.
I woke up giddy like it was Christmas morning. I felt light, free. As I dressed, my suit seemed airy, the black fabric silky. Everything I touched felt improved.
On my way out of the house, I saw the demon-dog passed out on the couch. A wad of cotton, ripped from one of the cushions, was in its mouth. My troll-wife was asleep beside it. I didn’t mind. I was headed to work, and I wasn’t going to Sex Detail.
The morning routine was quicker and less annoying than usual. Before I knew it, I had my equipment. I entered the high-ceilinged main room. I looked around until I saw the sign labeled, “Healthcare.” The area it comprised was quite larger than Sex Detail’s.
Lowry was already there with a dozen other agents. The department head, a woman, lectured them while pointing at a large electronic map. It stood proudly on a rolling easel, brand new and state of the art.
When I approached the group, the woman stopped mid-sentence. A perturbed expression crossed her face. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m reporting in.”
“And who are you?”
“Smith.”
“Inspector Smith, it would behoove you to show up on time.”
“Uh, okay.”
“You wouldn’t want a demotion to Sex Detail, would you?”
I stared at her. When she realized she wasn’t going to get a response, the perturbed look flattened, leaving a blank affect. She looked familiar, but I couldn’t place her. I racked my brain trying to remember who she was.
It’s finally time to reveal the long-awaited (for me, at least) publication date of my first novel, Safety Nation.
Are you ready?
Drumroll, please…
brrrrr
drrrrr
prrrrr
January 10, 2017!
I wasn’t able to secure a 2016 release date like I had originally planned. But I think it’s probably for the best. Since 2016 turned out to be such a clusterfuck with Harambe, Brexit, Trump, Zika, and the celebrity apocalypse, I thought maybe it would be bad luck. So, 2017, it is.
Everything is basically done, except for some minor tweaks on the brightness/shading of the cover art. The printer was turning out copies that were a tad too dark, so my awesome designer lightened it a bit.
No new chapter today, but I’ll be sure to keep you updated soon.
In case you have missed the chapters so far, here are links to them:
I went through the entire proof from the publisher. It looked great overall, but there was a minor issue with the cover, and I spotted a few typos here and there. I’ve hopefully corrected everything, and have ordered a second proof from the publisher. If that one looks good, then we’ll be able to set the release date for the book!
In case you have missed the chapters so far, here are links to them:
As always, the chapter below, and entire novel, are copyrighted.
— — —
Safety Nation by Logan Riley
7
We slid into the same booth as last time. The waitress was the same as before, too. Lowry ordered a big meal with her coffee. I had coffee only. Lowry blew on her steaming mug before taking a sip.
“How was I?” she asked.
“Amazing,” I said. The excitement from earlier was still pumping through my veins.
She returned a sly grin.
“I’ve never seen anything like that. You weren’t kidding when you said you were going all the way to the top.”
Lowry put her mug down. She folded her arms and rested them on the table. The lights above shimmered on her red hair, reminiscent of a halo. “Have you worked Healthcare Detail before?” she asked.
“No.”
“What do you think it will be like?”
I sipped my coffee. It was strong and bitter. “The same as every other department. We’ll waste taxpayer money to enforce a bunch of rules nobody wants or cares about,” I said.
“You don’t think the public wants the safety regulations?”
“Maybe they did when the First Government was founded. But not now. I can’t imagine anyone wants government perverts spying on them.”
“You really hate this job, don’t you?”
“I didn’t always hate it.”
Lowry sipped her coffee again. She turned to the window and looked outside. The world looked dark through the UV-filtered glass. Cars drifted by on the busy street. The city expanded as far as the eye could see. Everything was cast in drab shades of whites and tans and grays.
Awesomely Shitty 