Ric

About me:

Writer, musician, reformed biker, downhill and x-country skiier, ex-waterskiier, home brewer (and cosumer of)and working hard to bring my golf score under 85.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ric Wasley – Author – Mystery Writers of America>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NEW...! December of 2009 a new Mystery/Vampire/Romance… ‘Midnight Blue’ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=100&products_id=300 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It's the summer of 1969 and what the world needs now is a little 'peace, love and understanding'. But one young college freshman thinks he'd be even happier if he could add to that noble sentiment, the other side of the coin that his generation will be remembered for - 'Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll!' Hitching a ride to a hick town in Upstate New York that no one has ever heard of: Woodstock - little does eighteen-year-old Michael realize, his life will be changed irrevocably. Especially when meets a stunning raven-haired girl. But the girl is not what she seems at first glance. Yes, she's beautiful, has a face like an angel and can dance and sing - but she is far from an angel. She is, in fact, a vampire. During the three days of Woodstock the young man falls hopelessly in love with the girl with the jet black hair, deep green eyes, deathly pale skin and blood red lips. He swears he would give his life to be with her forever, but apparently he has never heard the old adage, "Be careful what you wish for," because she grants his request and sets him on a path to eternity that will put him in deadly peril until possibly the end of time. Strange events begin to shuttle his life from the unusual to the incredible, because the next woman to enter his life may not be a woman at all. She is a 6,000 year old vampire who has seduced and manipulated those at the center of a dark power struggle from the dawn of civilization to the present. Her name is Lily, but that is merely a convenient modern abbreviation of the name that she was born with-an ancient name-an Old Testament name of power and evil...Lilith. And this alluring but deadly vampire has been behind many of the inexplicable turning points that have changed history and now she wants to make him a part of her deadly game. But why? That is what it will take him years of love, adventure and heart stopping danger to find out, and when he does, he may wish that he never had. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> McCarthy Mysteries by Ric Wasley: •The Scrimshaw – A McCarthy Mystery - December 2008 •Shadow of Innocence - Mystery - 2007 •Acid Test – Mystery - 2004 Short Stories: • At my Window with a Broken Wing – Mystery/Romance – 2009 • Embers – Historical - 2008 • The Night – Vampire - 2008 • Long Black Veil – (Weirdly 3 – Anthology) Historical/Paranormal – 2010 Background Information: (Please excuse the lack of spaces and paragraphs. Apparently I haven't sent up the right offerings to the gods of the internet so they keep mashing them all together. Oh well - I hope you find it interesting)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> From Ric Wasley - A McCarthy Family Mystery … The Scrimshaw ! Break free. Read wild. www.wildchildpublishing.com >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> From the author that brought you Shadow of Innocence and Acid Test comes The Scrimshaw. Ex-Army sergeant Michael Prescott McCarthy, or “Mick”, rolls into town with his lover and fellow musician Bridget Connolly. Ready for some R&R, little do they suspect what lies in wait for them at the innocent-looking inn. Equal parts mystery, paranormal, and romance, The Scrimshaw takes you on a hair-raising, rollercoaster ride guaranteed to leave you wanting more. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mystery/Romance/Paranormal ISBN: 978-1-935013-38-9 Pages: Trade Paperback Size: 6 x 9 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=ric+wasley&x=9&y=21 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Follow Mick and Bridget, a pair of musicians and lovers, as they unwittingly ride smack dab into the middle of a 110 year old mystery, or is it a…curse? Mystery or curse, there’s something that’s been waiting in a peaceful looking white-painted, primrose-covered, Cape Cod inn. It’s been waiting for a long time – 110 years. But now, the wait is over… >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ric Wasley grew up in the Boston area. As a college student he played music and was involved in the vibrant world of social change that was Harvard Square in the late sixties. This later became the inspiration for his “McCarthy Family” series. Ric has been writing for over 30 years. He has been published in several literary magazines in L.A. and San Francisco while living in California. He currently lives outside of Boston with his wife and three children, works for a major media company, and retains his love of music and writing. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> And from reviews for The Scrimshaw >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cocktail Reviews Print and Ebook Reviews The Scrimshaw: Wild Child Publishing October 24, 2008 >>>>>>>>>> SCORE: 5 Stars >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Author: Ric Wasley Publisher: Wild Child Publishing REVIEW:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Events in 1858 bring forth repercussions in later years. Jeptha Dawes is instructed by his captain to take a chest and bury it on land. The chest must never see the light of day, and no one must know where it is buried or that it even exists. If knowledge of the chest gets to the wrong people, all hell will break loose. In 1968, lovers Mick and Bridget head to Cape Cod for a vacation. They opt to stay at a quaint inn in a quaint town. Except they aren’t so quaint, and neither are some of the townsfolk. Quickly embroiled in an accusation of murder, Mick must seek answers to help him out of his dilemma within seven days. Mick and Bridget follow a trail of mystery and suspense that takes them back in time to 1858. The Scrimshaw is told in scenes from 1858 and 1968. As a reader, I got to know all parties involved, and each section from those years ended in a way that I wanted to quickly read on to see what happened next. Ric Wasley has penned a web of intrigue that ensnared me to read The Scrimshaw in one sitting. A wonderful tale of suspense and intricate sub-plots that at times had me on the edge of my seat. I honestly enjoyed this so much. Except my fingernails are that little bit shorter now. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Other recent Books by Ric Wasley: Shadow of Innocence >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> As a one review put it. "The Newport Folk Festival provides a cool backdrop for this fun and exciting mystery set in the music and drug soaked sixties. You’re sure to enjoy this appealing mystery featuring a pair of musician partners in love and danger. Don't miss Shadow of Innocence!" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> And here's a chapter excerpt from Shadow of Innocence >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Bridget strained against her bonds, every nerve fiber screaming to let her sink her fingernails into that fat, mocking face. The movement attracted the attention of the figure sitting in the half light at the head of the table. He stopped stroking the blond head of the girl by his side. He slowly got up and moved down the table until he stood next to Bridget. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> She stopped struggling and looked up into the bottomless eyes. It was like looking into a deep black well. Fear began to chip away at her rage. The memories of the night before came rushing back. She felt her stomach constrict as he reached out one of his scarred muscular hands and stroked her cheek, just above the gauze covered wound underneath her black turtleneck. >>>>>>>>>>>>> “You’re right, Cataldo. I did give her something to remember me by last night, but where is it? It should be right here.” His finger traced a line down her cheek. “Yes, it should be right here, but it’s not.” He took Bridget’s heart shaped face between his massive thumb and forefinger and looked into her frightened eyes.>>>>>> “Didn’t you appreciate my gift? Whether you realize or not, it really was a gift you know. It would have saved you from becoming a soulless, heartless bitch, whose only purpose was to seduce men with those perfect eyes and lips and—face.” The steel-like fingers pressed into her jaw. “But you rejected my gift. You’ve kept that beautiful face which can only cause you and everyone around you, pain and tears and regret.” His voice was getting louder. >>>>>>>> “Where is your mark, little girl? I know I struck your skin. I heard you scream. I smelled burnt flesh. Where is it?”>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Bridget pushed back into the moldering chair but his fingers rolled down her face, gripped the collar of the black turtleneck and pulled.>>>>>>>>>>>>> There was a sound of tearing fabric and a satisfied, “Ah, there.”>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tears of rage, pain and humiliation rolled down her cheeks and he caressed them with his fingertips. He put one tear wet finger between his lips and licked it.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> “Do you know what it tastes like, little girl?” Bridget bit her lip beneath the gag to keep from crying but it was no use.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> “I’m afraid that it still tastes like… beauty.” His eyes burned. “I thought I had saved you last night and likewise saved everyone who would look at that beautiful face and be poisoned, imprisoned and emasculated. But somehow you avoided my healing brand or twisted away. I failed. I apologize.”>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Bridget writhed and tried to pull away from his hands. He smiled. “But I promise you, I won’t fail again.”>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> He took a gold engraved cigarette lighter out of his pocket. “Shall we complete what we started?” Bridget’s nostrils flared as she tried to scream underneath her gag.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> “Oh, forgive me.” He reached down and ripped the taped gag from her mouth. “You’ll want to scream, won’t you?” He flicked the wheel over the lighter’s flint and a bright blue flame sprang from its tip. He grabbed Bridget’s jaw in a vise-like grip.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> “It was such a pretty face, wasn’t it? But now it going to be better. So much better for all concerned.”>>>>>>>> He moved the lighter to her face. Bridget gritted her teeth as the uncontrollable tears ran down her cheeks. Don’t cry. Don’t scream. You are a Connolly girl! she screamed in her mind. Remember the beatings your father’s taken, your grandfather. You are a Connolly, damn you. Don’t cry! But the tears didn’t listen; they kept on dripping onto the stone floor.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> He looked at her with something that far back in his dim past might have been a feeling close to compassion. He bent down and kissed her cheek. “This will be the last kiss that this beautiful face will ever receive.” >>>>>>He pushed the red-hot lighter toward Bridget’s milk-white cheek.>>>>>>>>> She screamed. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PERSONAL BACKGROUND INFO >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I've always believed that it's more convincing to write about things you know and have experienced. I was lucky enough to have spent (or rather I should say, "misspent") a large part of my younger days crisscrossing the country on a motorcycle with a guitar and an occasional lady friend for company. I often quite literally 'sang for my supper'and quickly learned why honkey-tonk bars put chicken wire in front of the stage! Years later, I used these experiences as background for the adventures of Mick and Bridget in my McCarthy Family Mysteries. In fact here's an excerpt from a recent interview that I did with Book Lovers Haven that pretty well tells the story. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BLH: You began as a musician. Were you writing while you organized and played in your own band? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> RW: Yes. I actually started in a high-school basic rock band, but I had the good fortune to live just 15 miles from Harvard Sq. in Cambridge. And in the 60's all of the greats of folk music - Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Ian & Sylvia; came to play in Harvard Sq. clubs such as the original Club 47 (later known as Passim's). One night I had the opportunity to play at the 47 on the same stage and was really blown away by Dylan's ability to combine poetry, prose and music into something incredibly powerful. From then on I was hooked on both music and writing. One interesting side note is that both of my sons also play in rock bands and they have both put out what I, as their obliviously 'proud papa', think are some really dynamite words and music! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BLH: Which do you prefer most, song or book writing? Why?>>>>>>>>>>> RW: When I was about sixteen, I read Jack Keroac. And while his 'stream of consciousness' prose leaves you kind of panting for breath, I was drawn to his self discovery, on-the-road, stories. As a result, I started keeping a kind of a journal of my own 'adventures on the road' traveling around on my motorcycle, playing as a single folk act, and later in a VW Mini-bus touring with my rock band. Equally fortunate, I kept these journals which many years later became much of the source material for the adventures of Mick and Bridget, my two main characters in my McCarthy Family Mystery series. The series. equal parts mystery, Paranormal and Romance, is set in 1968. And, in addition to helping out his dad with his detective agency, Mick and his girlfriend, Bridget... (guess what?). Often go 'under-cover' when working on a case, and travel around as musicians and somehow mange to keep jumping from one frying pan straight into the next fire! But I can promise the reader lots of excitement along the way! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ric_Wasley http://www.kunati.com/shadow-of-innocence-hip-myster/ http://www.mccarthyfamilymysteries.com >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> From BLH: >>>>>>>>>> "Ric Wasley has spent almost forty years wandering through corporate board - rooms and honky-tonk bars. >>>>>>> Ric is the author of the new Vampire novel,Midnight Blue and three Mystery, Romance and Paranormal novels – And The McCarthy Family Mysteries: The Scrimshaw, Shadow of Innocence, Newport Blues & Acid Test >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> He is also the author of two short stories and a novella. At my Window with a Broken Wing, Embers and The Night... >>>>>>>>>> And he now divides his time between writing and observing the really ‘juicy parts’ of the human condition." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>