Thursday, September 15, 2016

Straight Browsing from the Library: The Lizard's Tale by Kurt Kamm


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

READ THE BLURB


Kurt Kamm has written a novel that's a literary crime novel, with a strong thread of non-fiction running through it. The Lizard's Tale is a tale of crime—with an a wide-ranging cast of characters.

When the DEA goes up against the Sinaloa Cartel, an orphan and an endangered lizard are caught in the conflict. The action moves from Guatemala to Mexico to Catalina Island off the coast of California.

Alejandro, a middle class Guatemalan, wants his share, and makes a deal with the cartel. Now he’s risking his life to deliver the goods.

El Dedo, a brilliant financier, is the Sinaloa Cartel’s banker. He worries about what to do with the billions of dollars collecting dust in his underground vault.

Ryan, a DEA Special Agent, needs to make a high profile case to get a promotion. Is the big yacht headed for California carrying a Mexican drug shipment?

Kate, a wildlife officer on Catalina Island, smells smoke. When she heads out in the middle of the night to investigate a fire, she makes an astonishing discovery.

Jorge, an orphan from the streets of Mexico, is abandoned in the United States. Will he find his way back home and track down his mother’s killer?

READ AN EXCERPT


Gina wasn’t looking for a husband—she was far too independent to let a man run her life—but she needed male companionship. After coming to Catalina, she spent a lot of time alone until she met Brad, a captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He worked at Station 55, and was big, strong, and good-looking. All her Latin lovers had been dark and she was attracted to his blond hair. She loved running her fingers over the blond carpet that covered his chest. At thirty-six, he was five years younger than she was, and married. Brad was perfect.

Their affair lasted almost two years. She didn't see him every day—in fact, she didn't want to see him every day. His wife and daughter lived in Seal Beach, and once a week he took the ferry to the mainland and spent three days at home. But he didn’t always head home right away, and they often stole a few hours together on one of the remote beaches on the rugged, wind-swept west end of the island. During the off-season, they sometimes managed to spend a night at a local bed and breakfast in Avalon, and occasionally she cooked dinner for him at the ranch house. When nothing else worked, they drove up into the hills and screwed in the back of his SUV. For Gina it was a perfect relationship—she got what she needed without making a major emotional commitment.

MEET THE AUTHOR


Malibu, California resident Kurt Kamm has written a series of firefighter mystery novels, which have won several literary awards. His newest novel, The Lizard’s Tale, provides a unique look inside the activities of the Mexican drug cartels and the men dedicated to stopping them.

Kurt has used his contact with CalFire, Los Angeles County and Ventura County Fire Departments, as well as the ATF and DEA to write fact-based (“faction”) novels. He has attended classes at El Camino Fire Academy and trained in wildland firefighting, arson investigation and hazardous materials response. He has also attended the ATF and DEA Citizen’s Academies. After graduating from the DEA Citizen’s Academy in 2014, he began work on The Lizard’s Tale.

Kurt has built an avid fan base among first responders and other readers. A graduate of Brown University and Columbia Law School, Kurt was previously a financial executive and semi-professional bicycle racer. He was also Chairman of the UCLA/Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Foundation for several years.

Visit his author website at www.kurtkamm.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kurt Kamm LITERARY AWARDS
TUNNEL VISIONS (MCM Publishing 2014)
2014 USA Best Book Award -Fiction: General – Finalist

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL (MCM Publishing 2013)
Best Novel 2013 – Public Safety Writers Association
Winner of the 2012 Hackney Literary Award for best novel of the year ($5,000 PRIZE)
Reader's Favorite 2013 – Finalist – Urban Fiction
The 2012 Dana Award – Finalist
Eric Hoffer Award - Finalist (2014)
Excerpt published in Birmingham Arts Journal http://www.birminghamartsjournal.com/pdf/baj10-2.pdf

ONE FOOT IN THE BLACK (MCM Publishing 2012)
The 2012 USA Best Book Awards – Fiction: General – Finalist
The 2013 Beverly Hills Book Awards – Fiction: General – Finalist
Excerpt published in Felons, Flames and Ambulance Rides: Stories About America's Public Safety Heroes

CODE BLOOD (MCM Publishing 2011)
Writer’s Type - First Chapter Competition. January 2011- First Place
2012 International Book Awards - Fiction: Cross Genre Category – First Place
National Indie Excellence Book Awards – Faction (fiction based on fact) - Winner of the 2012 Award
The 2012 USA Best Book Awards - Fiction: Horror - Winner
LuckyCinda Publishing Contest 2013 First Place – Thriller
Reader's Favorite 2013– Finalist – Horror Fiction
Knoxville Writer’s Guild - 2011 Novella or Novel Excerpt – 2nd Place

RED FLAG WARNING Aberdeen Bay 2010
The Infinite Writer– Mystery 2010 – First Place
The Written Art Awards - Mystery/Thriller 2010 – First Place
Royal Dragonfly – Mystery Category 2011 – First Place

Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY


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73 comments:

  1. Could you tell us about your hobbies (when you are not writing or reading)?

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  2. Is there a book by an author you admire and respect that you wish you had written yourself? If so, what is it?

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  3. Good Morning from Malibu CA. Its still very early here. Thanks to my host for sponsoring todays tour.

    Mai- I was a bicycle racer some years ago, and still ride every day. That takes up 2-4 hours. Writing takes another 2 hours. Simple life. I also read a lot.

    Clojo - I have read so many books, and there are so many writers I admire, hard to pick a single one. Ian McEwan is one of my current favorites. James Salter one of my all time favorites.

    Thanks for your comments. I think you will enjoy reading The Lizard's Tale - some unique characters. Reviewers have called my work "FACTION" -fact based fiction. You may think you are reading non-fiction.

    Best wishes
    Kurt

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  4. I really enjoyed reading the blurb & excerpt, thank you!

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  5. Sounds intense!

    --Trix

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  6. congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)

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  7. Thanks so much for the excerpt and giveaway. Book sounds like a terrific read.

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  8. Happy Friday! Enjoy your day and thanks for the giveaway!

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  9. Shared on Facebook to help spread the word! :)

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  10. Rainy morning so far here in Michigan. Hope you have a sunny and fun weekend. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  12. Dropping by to wish everyone a happy Monday!

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  13. Hope your Monday is great and thanks for the opportunity at winning this giveaway

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  18. I am off to work soon so stopping by, wishing you a great Saturday and saying thanks for the giveaway.

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  32. Stopping by to say thank you for the chance at winning and enjoy your day!

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  35. I am back to thank you once again for the opportunity to win this giveaway. Have a great day!

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  36. Happy Friday!!!! Hope it's a great one and have a fun weekend. Thank you for the giveaway

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  37. Good Morning! Have a terrific Saturday and thank you for the giveaway

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  38. Hoping you have a relaxing and fun Sunday! Thanks for the chance at winning this giveaway

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  41. About to leave for work soon but here to thank you again for the chance to win.

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  42. Hello! Having a coffee and visiting some of my favorite blogs. Thanks for all you do and the giveaways as well.

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  43. Happy Friday!! Hoping it's a good one for you and thank you for the giveaway.

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  44. Hello! I am back again. Hope you don't get tired of hearing from me. Thanks for the giveaway and enjoy your Saturday.

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  56. Hello and happy Friday! Hope your weekend is great and thank you for the giveaway.

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  63. We made it, finally Friday even though I will work for most of it. I will ask my sister to help me out on here. Thanks again for this opportunity to win and have a great day!

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  67. How's your Saturday going? Hoping it's a good one for you and thanks for the giveaway.

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