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Andrew Monge

@muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social

480 followers 230 following 490 posts

Books, books, and more books.

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · Jul 11

Completely shocked to learn @micromancemagazine.bsky.social nominated my story, “A Burst of Cinnamon,” for Best of the Net! I was so psyched just to have the story accepted by Gail Lynn Brown, who has created such a great publication. A nomination is too cool. Thank you so much! Story link below.

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 15h

Truly excellent work. Here’s hoping the Declan Shaw series continues with many more page-turning, edge-of-your-seat investigations. I’ll be first in line to purchase a copy if it comes to fruition.

Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 15h

Proctor’s characterization is one of her strong suits, and BLUE DAY is no exception, offering a large cast of unique characters; this time she also shows off her world-building with a fictitious coastal town that is so fully realized you feel like you’re walking down its streets.

Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 15h

CATCH ME ON A BLUE DAY by @meproctor.bsky.social was one of my most-anticipated books of the year, and she delivered in every way. PI Declan Shaw is back, this time to help a friend with research on his upcoming book…until his friend commits suicide and Shaw decides to dig in to the case.

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 3d

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 3d

I *think* you use the knife regardless, and have to choose cut vs dig, but I’m not a reliable narrator in this story.

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 3d

Again, memory is hazy, but I think you start with a knife? If you cut the plant, it dies; if you dig it out, it lives.

I remember nothing else about the story, but that realization late-game will stay with me forever. 🤬

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 3d

The #BookMail concludes with a late entry in #EdMcBain’s 87th Precinct series. I already own the e-book, and tried reading it earlier this year, but it’s a mess of spelling and grammar mistakes. Just couldn’t do it anymore. Hoping the hardcover is a cleaner read.

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 3d

It is. Came out about a month ago. No idea how I missed it. I have to assume the spam folder is eating my newsletters from Ed Brubaker. 😢

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 3d

The #BookMail continues, and considering how much I love The Wire, I can’t believe it took me this long to get to Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets by @audacityofdespair.bsky.social. At just shy of seven hundred pages, I’ll be lost in it for quite awhile.

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 3d

The #BookMail continues, and this one is embarrassing because I usually get the newest Brubaker and Phillips on release day. Not sure how this one got by me, but happy to have corrected the error of my ways.

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 4d

All this #BookMail made the virtual shelves a little jealous, so it was time to add some fresh titles to them as well.

Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 4d

I haven’t played it in 30 years or so. I really should give it another go, just to experience lines like the one you listed above. I’ve been missing out!

Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 4d

If I remember right, on the very first screen is a mailbox with a plant growing at its base. You could extract it different ways, and I chose wrong on my first play through, only to find out it was necessary toward the end of the game and I couldn’t use it. Had to replay the whole damned thing!

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 4d

Oh, hell no. I think I got a couple items in the trophy case, but I was usually grue food.

I did, however, beat the first Zork game that implemented graphics, and I hold my head high as a result. 👍

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 4d

LOVE your trilogy idea. 🤣

As for the text adventure game, I don’t think I ever beat one, which is crazy considering how much I played this one and Zork.

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 4d

Will do! And I hear you: I’m a little nervous to try recapturing that old magic too. Fingers are crossed! 😬

Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 4d

Annnnnd another book, this time purchased at my local indie shop. I’ve never read Pynchon, but there’s a lot of buzz among the book peeps over this new release, so what the hell. Throwing a dart, and hoping it hits bullseye.

Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 4d

The #BookMail continues, and this is a rarity for me: a series of books I’ve already read. I was a huge fan of the Hitchhiker series as a kid, and played the hell out of the C64 game. Looking forward to a revisit, all these years later.

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 4d

The #BookMail continues, this time with some Elmore Leonard. I’m a huge fan of his writing, and it’s been too long since I dove into one of his novels. Time to fix that.

Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 5d

#BookMail, Part Two: if you’re a fan of @trashcatlit.bsky.social (and really, how could you not be?!), go grab their first print antho. Proceeds go to charity, so you’ll be doing some good in the world while enjoying the stellar writing.

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 5d

#BookMail, Part One: late to the party (seems to be a recurring theme), but finally grabbed the latest issue of Guilty Crime Story Magazine. Killer ToC in this one.

Reposted by Andrew Monge

Tori- 5 star Author and Editor of Bunker Squirrel Magazine @tcwestminster.bsky.social · 7d

Ever have an intense conversation and realize you are talking about different things?
@muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social
Andrew Monge manages it beautifully with a Serial Killer

tinyurl.com/AndrewsDoubl...

Don't miss this month's fun:
#OverheardInAnOperatingRoom
bunkersquirrel.com/submissions....

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 8d

This was on my top-ten list a few years back. A thrill-ride from start to finish. Get on it, people!

Point of Impact Publishing @pointofimpactbooks.bsky.social · 8d

Daylight is starting to fade, the weather is turning cooler (maybe), which means it's a great time to curl up with a good book.

Or one of ours!

Have you met John Frenzi yet? He's the man the Mafia couldn't kill, and he's unleashed in book 1, The Mafia Massacre!

books2read.com/mafiamassacre/

Cover for Frenzi: The Mafia Massacre, featuring a silhouette of Frenzi with his Colt Python in front of a bullet-riddled muscle car and the Los Angeles skyline.

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Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 10d

Thank you, sir!

Andrew Monge @muchadoaboutnil.bsky.social · 10d

Thank you, Casey!