Publisher's Blog

Midwest Book Review of Bradamant's Quest

2012-01-08T01:12:46Z

Midwest Book Review
January 2012 Small Press Bookwatch

Bradamant's Quest
Ruth Berman
FTL Publications
PO Box 1363, Minnetonka, MN 55345-0363
9781936881024, $15.95, www.ftlpublications.com
"Bradamant's Quest" is a youthful fantasy from Ruth Berman who
presents a story of Bradamant, who is charged in recovering her
family's magical talismans after Charlemagne's wars are over. But
faced with the forces of magic . . . Bradamant's task is
anything but easily done. "Bradamant's Quest" is an excellent pick
that shouldn't be overlooked.

Ashes to Ashes by Mary Monica Pulver available as ebook

2012-01-07T17:48:22Z

Ashes to Ashes by Mary Monica Pulver

A body is found in “Crazy Dave” Wagner’s appliance store after the store is destroyed by a fire. Detective Peter Brichter is called in because local organized crime is thought to be involved. Brichter consults arson investigator Captain Isaac (Zak) Kader, and other officers in the police department, but no matter how many suspects they interview, they seem no closer to solving the case. Meanwhile, at home, Kori Brichter struggles with the right timing to tell Peter that she’s pregnant, after they agreed they would not have children.

Available as an ebook from Kindle and Smashwords

Thunderbirds novel Extreme Hazard published

2011-12-18T23:15:53Z

Gordon Tracy, aquanaut, weapons expert, and fun-loving fourth son of Jeff Tracy, learns of a missile that can destroy an International Rescue aircraft. While working on a way to defeat that, the team discovers an even greater menace: plans for a bomb that could destroy the Earth have been lost. Unless International Rescue finds those plans, they could fall into the hands of criminals, who could build such a device and use it for their own ends. Can International Rescue retrieve the plans and save the planet from certain destruction?

More information at ftlpublications.com

Available from FTL Publications and Amazon.com

Show Stopper by Mary Monica Pulver available as ebook

2011-12-14T23:41:12Z

FTL Publications is pleased to announce the publication of the mystery novel, Show Stopper by Mary Monica Pulver, in ebook form. This ebook is available on Kindle and Smashwords.

When Kori Brichter took her horses to the Fourth Annual Lafite Class-A All-Arabian Horse Show, she wasn’t expecting murder. But the next morning, an unpopular horse trainer is found dead in one of her stalls, and her 18-year-old groom is the prime suspect. Convinced of the groom’s innocence, she sets out to solve the crime herself.

A delightful mystery, particularly for horse fanatics. Kori Brichter is a horse farm owner, whose Arabian filly is competing in a local show. There, her 18-year-old groom is accused of murdering another groom, a man noted for his cruelty both to animals and his fellow humans. When the police delay the show in order to investigate, Kori decides to get it going by solving the crime herself. There is a lot of detail about horses, shows, and trading in this story that's sure to hold the attention of animal fans as well as mystery lovers. —Susan McFaden, Fairfax County Library, VA (School Library Journal)

Midwest Book Review of Secret Murder

2011-11-07T19:48:48Z

Midwest Book Review
November 2011 Small Press Bookwatch

The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Secret Murder
Ellen Kuhfeld
FTL Publications
PO Box 1363, Minnetonka, MN 55345-0363
9780982523285, $15.95, www.ftlpublications.com

Before forensics, the truth had to be found through determination.
"Secret Murder" is an alternative historical novel, set in a world
where the Europeans settled North America much sooner than
1492. When murder is afoot in a Minnesota trading outpost, Ellen
Kuhfeld blends this unique world into a fascinating read that will
prove hard to put down. "Secret Murder" is an excellent pick for
both historical fiction and fantasy collections, very much
recommended reading.

Bradamant's Quest by Ruth Berman published

2011-10-25T20:47:31Z

FTL Publications is pleased to announce the publication of Bradamant's Quest by Ruth Berman, a fantasy novel which takes place at the time of Charlemagne.

It sounded like such a straightforward quest when Oberon proposed it—just gather up the magical talismans the fairies had given her family and give them back, now that King Charlemagne's war with Spain was over. But when Bradamant took on the quest, she didn't know that her brother would think it was trafficking with devils. Her cousins the magicians didn't want to give up their carefully indexed books of magic (much less the hippogriff—a useful steed and a loyal companion). Her sister-in-law was willing to give up the spear of Galafrone, but not until she'd finished using it. And her cousin Roland seemed to be haunting his grave, where his magically enduring sword was buried with him, and dead set against being disturbed. What's a warrior to do when valor alone is not enough for her to complete a quest?

Available from Amazon.com, Amazon Kindle, Smashwords, and FTL Publications.

Secret Murder: Who Shall Judge? by Ellen Kuhfeld published

2011-10-02T00:37:10Z

FTL Publications is pleased to announce the publication of Secret Murder: Who Shall Judge? by Ellen Kuhfeld. This is an alternate history and mystery novel.

What if, in the middle ages, North America had been settled by Europeans? The Americas would have developed very differently. Settlers from an eleventh-century Europe would have been on a relatively even footing with the local people. We could end up with an Anglo-French empire along the Mississippi up to the head of navigation at Saint Anthony Falls. North of that would be Norse, settling on the Iron Range; and north of the Norse, Finns. Large areas of North America would still belong to the indigenous peoples. Traders would travel about, by land and by river, as traders always have. At trade fairs, men and women of different lands, laws, and customs would come together. As always, jackals would gather to prey upon them …

Secret Murder is available through FTL Publications, Amazon.com, Amazon Kindle, and Smashwords.

Original Sin by Mary Monica Pulver available as ebook

2011-08-18T21:25:05Z

FTL Publications is pleased to announce the publication of the mystery novel, Original Sin by Mary Monica Pulver, in ebook form. This ebook is available on Kindle and Smashwords.

Kori Price Brichter planned on a wonderful Christmas. She and her police officer husband, Peter Brichter, had invited their friends, Frank and Mary Ryder and Gordon Ramsey, to spend the holiday with them, their son Jeep, and their nanny, Jill. Most important, Kori had invited Evelyn Biggins to join them. Having believed that all of her relatives had died, Kori was particularly thrilled to have found Evelyn, now her only living relative, to tell her of her family history. But Evelyn had only been in the house for a few hours when she was found, dead, in the house's library, victim of an apparent murder. Since the guests were now isolated in house because of a blizzard, the only possible conclusion is that one of them had killed Evelyn. But who?

Extreme Hazard - Thunderbirds novel cover

2011-07-26T16:31:40Z

Cover for next Thunderbirds novel, Extreme Hazard ...

The Unforgiving Minutes by Mary Monica Pulver available as ebook

2011-05-13T01:28:00Z

FTL Publications is pleased to announce the publication of the mystery novel, The Unforgiving Minutes by Mary Monica Pulver, in ebook format on Kindle and Smashwords.

The Unforgiving Minutes on Smashwords
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/57709
on Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00507U1ES

Police officer Otto Peter Brichter is an outstanding detective, though socially awkward. An investigation of a local crime ring brings him to Tretower Ranch, where he meets Nick Tellios and his niece, Katherine McLeod Price. Kori, as she is called, is a young reclusive woman whose primary interest is in the horses on the ranch. Brichter falls head over heels in love with her, but the trauma of her parents' murder as a young child still haunts her and makes her distant. As Brichter's investigation continues, he finds that Tellios is linked to the local organized crime syndicate, and that Tellios is exploiting Kori and keeping her a virtual prisoner. When Kori is kidnapped, the evidence increasingly points to Tellios being behind it. Brichter finds that this is just the beginning of a mystery with far-reaching implications, some of which go back to the unsolved killing of Kori's parents.

Situation: Critical is a Mom's Choice Awards® Silver Recipient

2011-04-19T01:52:00Z

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2011

On this date, the Mom’s Choice Awards® named Situation: Critical, a Thunderbirds™ novel by Joan Marie Verba among the Best In Family-Friendly Products.

The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) is an awards program that recognizes authors, inventors,
companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media, products and
services.

Parents, educators, librarians and retailers rely on MCA evaluations when selecting quality materials for
children and families. The Mom’s Choice Awards® seal helps families and educators navigate the vast
array of products and services and make informed decisions.

An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children,
librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and
others. A sampling of our panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, ten-time Emmy-winner,
professor and founder of PBS’s Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The
Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times best-selling author, Priscilla Dunstan, creator of the
Dunstan Baby Language; Patricia Rossi, host of NBC’s Manners Minute; Dr. Letitia S. Wright, D.C., host
of the Wright Place™ TV Show; and Catherine Witcher, M.Ed., special needs expert and founder of
Precision Education, Inc.

MCA judges are bound by a strict code of ethics which ensures expert and objective analysis free from
any manufacturer association. The evaluation process uses a propriety methodology in which entries are
scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment
value, originality, appeal and cost.

To be considered for an award, each entrant submits five identical samples of a product. Entries are
matched to judges in the MCA database. Judges perform a thorough analysis and submit a detailed
assessment. Results are compiled and submitted to the MCA Executive Committee for final approval.
The end result is a list of the best in family-friendly media, products and services that parents and
educators can feel confident in using.

For more information on the awards program and the honorees, visit MomsChoiceAwards.com.

A current list of honorees is posted at: http://www.momschoiceawards.com/celebrate09.php#YA
("Young Adult" category.)

Situation: Criticial is a finalist in the Scribe Awards

2011-04-04T23:20:00Z

The International Association of Media Tie-in Writers is proud to announce the 2011 Scribe Award nominees for excellence in licensed tie-in writing -- novels based on TV shows, movies, and games.

Our 2011 Scribe Nominees are:

BEST YOUNG ADULT

ALPHA & OMEGA: THE JUNIOR NOVEL by Aaron Rosenberg
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: ALDWYNS ACADEMY by Nathan Meyer
THUNDERBIRDS: SITUATION CRITICAL by Joan Marie Verba

GENERAL ORIGINAL
CSI: SHOCK TREATMENT by Greg Cox
BURN NOTICE: The Giveaway by Tod Goldberg
MIKE HAMMER: THE BIG BANG by Max Allan Collins and Mickey Spillane
MURDER SHE WROTE: The Queen's Jewels by Donald Bain
PSYCH: The Call of the Mild by William Rabkin
SAVING GRACE: TOUGH LOVE by Nancy Holder

SPECULATIVE ORIGINAL
GUILD WARS: GHOSTS OF ASCALON by Matt Forbeck and Jeff Grubb
STAR TREK: MIRROR UNIVERSE: THE SORROWS OF THE EMPIRE by David Mack
STAR WARS: FORCE UNLEASHED II by Sean Williams
SUPERNATURAL: HEART OF THE DRAGON by Keith R. A. DeCandido
WARHAMMER: BLOODBORN: ULRIKA THE VAMPIRE by Nathan Long

BEST ADAPTATION

FINAL CRISIS by Greg Cox
GOD OF WAR by Matthew Stover & Robert E. Vardeman
THE WOLFMAN by Jonathan Maberry

The Fifth Annual Scribe Awards will be given at a ceremony and panel discussion held during Comic Con International in San Diego in July 2011. Details will be announced soon.

FTL Publications announces the next 2 Thunderbirds novels

2011-04-02T17:51:00Z

FTL Publications is pleased to announce that it will be publishing 2 Thunderbirds novels in the last half of 2011.

Extreme Hazard by Joan Marie Verba will be focused on Gordon Tracy.

Arctic Adventure by Anthony Taylor will be focused on Brains. Anthony Taylor is a long-time Thunderbirds and Anderson fan. He is the author of The Future was FAB: The Art of Mike Trim, detailing artist Mike Trim's career designing models and special effects for Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, and UFO.

More details to follow as they develop.

FTL Publications participates in 2011 read an ebook week

2011-03-07T01:41:00Z

FTL Publications is participating in 2011 Read an Ebook Week.

Go to Smashwords at http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ftlpublications to order.

Here are the ebooks and discounts for this week (March 6-12, 2011):

TITLE - REGULAR PRICE - COUPON CODE - DISCOUNTED PRICE - DISCOUNT
Autumn World $2.99 RAE50 $1.50 (~49% off)
Boldly Writing: A Trekker Fan and Zine History, 1967-1987 Second edition $2.99 RAE50 $1.50 (~49% off)
Cat's Paw $9.99 RAE50 $5.00 (~49% off)
Murder at the War: A Modern Day Mystery with a Medieval Setting $9.99 RAE50 $5.00 (~49% off)
The Bestseller Book Marketing Strategy Workbook $1.99 RE100 $0.00 (~100% off)
Voyager: Exploring the Outer Planets $4.99 RAE75 $1.25 (~74% off)
Weight Loss Success! $1.99 RE100 $0.00 (~100% off)

Midwest Book Review of Situation: Critical

2011-02-14T23:40:00Z

Children's Bookwatch: February 2011
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review

Thunderbirds: Situation: Critical
Joan Marie Verba
FTL Publications
PO Box 1363, Minnetonka, MN 55345-0363
9780982523223, $15.95, www.ftlpublications.com

The Thunderbirds captured the imaginations of many young
television viewers decades ago, and now they can once more for a
new generation. "Thunderbirds: Situation: Critical" follows John
Tracy and Thunderbird 5 as he finds a planetary system that is
hurtling meteors towards earth and may be a sampling of the
disasters that are to come. Another exciting short novel for young
adult readers following the adventures of International Rescue,
"Thunderbirds: Situation: Critical" is a choice pick for science
fiction collections.

Situation: Critical published

2010-11-11T00:11:00Z

Situation: Critical, the John Tracy novel, arrived from the printer yesterday and is now available for sale.

For details and ordering information, or to read chapter 1, go to: http://bit.ly/d2eO3i

Situation Critical Thunderbirds novel complete cover

2010-09-27T19:39:00Z

Complete cover for the next Thunderbirds novel, Situation:Critical

Reviews and mentions of Countdown to Action and Thunderbirds books

2010-07-19T22:24:00Z

Countdown to Action received an excellent 5-star review on the Action Book Review Blog:

"This book was exceptionally well written with an easy to follow plot, great action, and plenty of fun dialogue."

http://unknownbooks.wordpress.com/

The Thunderbirds books also received a nice mention on Paul Cornell's blog:

http://tiny.cc/goqau

FTL Publications eBooks on Sale on Smashwords in July

2010-07-02T01:43:10Z

FTL Publications is participating in the July 2010 sale on Smashwords. For the month of July, the eBooks Weight Loss Success! and The Bestseller Book Marketing Strategy Workbook will be free (use discount code SW100), and the eBooks Autumn World, Boldly Writing, Cat's Paw, Murder at the War, and Voyager: Exploring the Outer Planets will be 50% off (use discount code SWS50).

Remember, you do not have to have an e-reader to purchase and view these. They all are available in PDF format, which can be downloaded and read on a computer with Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Details at: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ftlpublications

Front cover for Situation:Critical, Thunderbirds novel

2010-06-10T20:54:51Z

This is the front cover for the next Thunderbirds novel, Situation:Critical