Trevor A. Dutcher's Blog

I’ll keep this one short and sweet and cut straight to the point - my book trailer is now released (YAY!) and you can watch it below. I’m so excited abut the trailer as well as the upcoming release on October 27!

Click the book cover below to watch!

Well, first of all… Hello!!!

It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

I haven’t been paying much attention to my books or my characters for a while, and boy do I miss it! I’m now very glad to be picking some of my creative endeavors back up, and pulling them forward (or trying to jot down panicked notes in an attempt to keep up with them, as the case may be…).

In that regard, I recently had the opportunity to host a table at Ohana Comic-Con in Livermore, California — And what a fantastic experience that was! It was a really fun and energetic crowd and it came with some happy surprises. I had planned to go there to promote my first book, Michael McGillicuddy and the Most Amazing Race. But I was struck by the number of people who were already aware of it and had already read and enjoyed it, and who were even itching for a sequel. It was really nice to connect with folks who were already familiar. And while it was a Comic-Con by nature, I was also pretty stoked to see so many people who appreciate some good steampunk. Brief photo recap here.

Several people stopped by to share how much they had enjoyed the first installment, and I even heard from a few readers who had checked it out from their school library! I honestly had no idea…

I also used the event as an opportunity to preview my upcoming book, Logan LeVec and the Keepers of the Light. This is a standalone book, quite separate from McGilicuddy, but I couldn’t not write it! (more on that below…)

It’s been a while since I spent much time on writing, but I’m very excited to be on my way to sharing it with readers at long last.

And by the way… I had such a great time at the Livermore Comic-Con, I will be tabling in Santa Rosa as well - Sunday, October 27. If you’re close by (or not so close, but going anyway) I hope you’ll stop by. Stay tuned for more to come, but in the meantime, here’s a little teaser about Logan:

* * *

The Never Ending Story meets The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Logan LeVec is an over-achieving middle-schooler who struggles socially. He enjoys a strong bond with his grandfather who tells the most over-the-top imaginative stories — much to the dismay of Logan’s mother, who worries about her father’s detachment from reality. But when Logan’s grandfather passes away, Logan discovers that the stories were all true, and a subtle form of training to prepare him for his higher purpose.

With the help of Muggins the Elementalist, and Ginny the girl next door, Logan enters Cameria through a magic portal. Cameria is under siege because Karma is stealing the Light and wants to destroy Cameria. The Light, of course, is the force from which all things good, like kindness and compassion, are derived. Without it, a most profound darkness will descend upon Cameria.

As ill-prepared as Logan feels, he is Cameria’s last hope. He must be anointed a Keeper of the Light, defeat Karma, and release the Light to return Cameria to its original glory. If he fails, Cameria will be lost forever. Karma, however, is a powerful adversary, who uses an enchanted mirror to force people to “reflect” on their wrongdoings and dole out extreme Karmic punishments. Logan must overcome Karma’s wrath, the army she has assembled, and his own self-doubt to save Cameria. But does he really have what it takes?

I’ll be sharing more info about this in the not-too-distant future! Until then, happy reading, and I hope to see you in Santa Rosa.

Take care,

Trevor

I had a really great time sitting down and chatting with Jools Aguemont about my novel, Michael McGillicuddy and the Most Amazing Race. Jools runs a writing blog and hosts a podcast called Introducing Indie Authors. We talked about my book, the writing process, sources of inspiration, and upcoming projects. We even spent some time talking about the fictional game, Cubetta, which features prominently in the book. You can listen to the full interview here.

Big-time thank you to Jools for reaching out, it was a lot of fun!

I hope you’ll check it out.

I’m happy to share that my book, Michael McGillicuddy and the Most Amazing Race, is stocked at another great Bay Area bookstore, this time at A Great Good Place for Books in Oakland. Thanks to the team for bringing it in! Autographed copies are available on the shelf.

If you can’t make it over, no problem, I’ll also be at Clockwork Alchemy, signing books March 20-22. I hope to see you there and meet some new friends. In the meantime, have a great week, everyone, and happy reading.

Trevor

It’s been a while since I wrote a blog post, mostly because I loathe self promotion. I’m always happy to answer questions when people ask, because I assume they are interested in the answer. Otherwise, why ask, right? But I do tend to stray away from blathering on unsolicited. So when I was pondering a new blog post and what to talk about, I figured Hey, why not answer a question people might want the answer to? Simple enough, right?

As luck would have it, my friend Mike Wolpert at Social Jumpstart (www.socialjumpstart.com) is a video marketing whiz.

So we sat down a while back. He asked me some questions, and I provided answers. He also happened to have a camera running at the time, so it worked out great.

One of the most common questions I get when people find out I wrote and published a book is some variant of “how did you get started writing generally, or this book in particular?”

Well, thanks to Mike, I now have a video answer I can share with you. I hope you get some interesting insights from it. Please let me know what you think, and if you’d like to see more of these. As always, thanks for taking the time to read this, and have a wonderful weekend.

How did I get started?

Enjoy the video by clicking here

I’m looking forward to hosting a table in Author’s Alley at Clockwork Alchemy 2020. It will be my first time attending and I’m really looking forward to it. I will have autographed copies of Michael McGillicuddy and the Most Amazing Race available, so I hope you make it by. Come on out and see what it’s all about.

If you’re not aware, Clockwork Alchemy is the San Francisco Bay Area’s own Steampunk Extravaganza. Originally part of FanimeCon, Clockwork Alchemy is now its own independent event celebrating music, makers, dancing, writing, crafting, fashion and fun related to steampunk. Clockwork Alchemy 2020 will be held March 20-22 at the Hyatt Regency SFO in Burlingame, CA.

More info available at www.clockworkalchemy.com

I hope to see you there.

Trevor

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while, but… well, life. In any event, some of my co-workers graciously took some time out and listened to me go on and on about my book and my writing process and my future plans for further writing. They asked a lot of great questions, and it was a super-fun sit down. The “three feet of tacos” were good, the margaritas were great and the company was fantastic. I’ve never sought out public speaking opportunities, but it was really nice to share my thoughts with them and take questions. Hopefully, at some point, I can do the same at some local book stores. Thanks, team, for the warm-up! Click to scroll through.

I also did my first event as a book vendor at the Hiller Aviation Museum’s Steampunk Extravaganza, and had some great help with setting up and coordinating. It was a lot of fun, I met some great people and enjoyed some pretty amazing outfits as well.

I will have a table at the upcoming Steampunk Extravaganza hosted at the Hiller Aviation Museum on July 13 this year. I’ll be signing books and hanging out. Come on out and say “hi” if you’re so inclined, and I hope to see you there. More information at https://www.hiller.org/event/steampunk-extravaganza/

Adventure

 We stood next to the old train tracks at the edge of town in the cold February air, wearing our matching aviator caps. I liked my goggles down, but Jessie wore hers up, just like Charlie Broadmoor did in the movie Flightpath. Nobody kept watch over us, and nobody was there to keep us out of trouble. Nobody ever was back then, it’s just not how things worked.  It was just me and Jessie. 

 She was the girl next door, and my very best friend for all of time. We stood there, side-by-side, staring at the dull grey fog, where the train tracks disappeared some fifty yards out. The old hand car still worked, and despite its rust and many splinters we could still pump the lever up and down to make it go. Jessie, forever the planner, had fashioned a makeshift sail, just in case we needed it for the journey home.  It was made from an old broomstick, and a bed sheet from her mother’s linen closet. 

 In my backpack, just the essentials. A pack of gum and some candy, a peanut butter sandwich, four marbles and my father’s Boy Scout pocketknife, now handed down to me.

As we stood staring into the fog, the church bell rang at the center of town. A man had passed away and they were holding his funeral. I wondered how he died. What he was like. How old he was. What they would say at his eulogy. 

 Jessie stared down the tracks into the foggy abyss. She looked as fearless as anybody I had ever seen, even more fearless than old Charlie Broadmoor pulling that ripcord. Jessie feared nothing. She met every challenge straight on, and with grace. 

 “What do you think we’ll find in there?” she asked. 

 “Adventure,” I remember telling her. “Definitely adventure.”

 We pumped the hand car down the track, straight into the fog, until we could no longer see the place where we started. Once inside, we searched high and low for monsters, and dragons and giant mutant slugs that only eat your face, leaving you to wander the earth for all of eternity looking a horrible mess. Jessie came up with that last one. She had a flair for the dramatic. 

 After searching in vain, in need of a break, we sat in the fog, on a rotting log. We shared my sandwich and discussed our plans for what to do if we ever found them. We agreed that they must have heard us coming, and had gone into hiding long before we ever arrived. We would be quieter the next time.

 That particular adventure might have lasted only an hour, but I never forgot it. It ended with our mothers calling us back to our homes, just a short run’s distance from the rusty old hand car. It was time to wash up.

 The creatures in the fog were safe for now, and they would live to haunt another day. Jessie and I would be back, however, with the very next fog. Rest assured. 

 That was the day I realized it. I liked Jessie. And I liked her not just a little. I liked her a very great deal. It was our first adventure together, and I never could have imagined the countless adventures that would follow. Some were good, and some were not. That’s life, really. Even among the good, some were better than others. 

 A found treasure. A lost tooth. A scraped knee, a loving embrace and the premature death of a parent. High school graduation. Moving from our childhood homes to attend college in different cities. 

 The stress of managing our budding careers and supporting each other through it all. Dealing with ends that just wouldn’t meet. Finding a way to make them.

 The innumerable joys of our wedding day. Four tragic miscarriages. One miracle birth, the doctors even said as much. 

 A puppy found in a stocking on Christmas morning, and the day we decided it was finally time to put the old boy down. 

 Raising our miracle daughter, watching her, worrying for her, teaching her, guiding her, protecting her, providing for her, sacrificing for her, wishing the absolute best for her. Giving her away on her wedding day, and welcoming our first grandchild into this world. Then our second, and our third, each a miracle in their own right.

 Planning. Saving. Retiring. Building a healthy nest egg and making the best laid plans to enjoy our golden years together. Cocktails in Maui, watching a perfect sunset, eating a perfect meal. Losing our luggage in Greece, permanently. 

 Planning a safari in Africa. Receiving a diagnosis. 

 Treatment. Remission. Recurrence. A life lived beautifully and ended far too soon.

 As I drove here today, I reflected on the fog and the tracks and the hand car. I thought about the church bell, and what they must have said at that man’s eulogy so many years ago. 

 I wondered what I would say, standing here, delivering one of my own. I think I’ve probably covered it. I also wondered what Jessie would want me to say on her behalf. I think it’s quite simple.

 Be present. Love with abandon. 

 But most important, go on adventures and enjoy them for what they truly are. You never know where they will take you, and that’s just simply fantastic. 

 I would be grateful if only we could have a few more together. But as things stand, Jessie has gone back into the fog, alone for now. And doubtless, I’ll catch up with her in my own time. When I do, I know she’ll be waiting for me. In the meantime, however, I’ll just have to go on a few of my own. I think that’s what she would have wanted. Until then I’ll look forward to telling her all about them, when we reunite in the fog once again.

Cover art (c) Didier Graffet / Bragelonne 2019

I’m very pleased to announce that my new novel, Michael McGillicuddy and the Most Amazing Race is now available for pre-order. Just $4.99 for the ebook for a limited time. Paperback coming soon!

Michael McGillicuddy and the Most Amazing Race

Puzzling Intrigue. Epic Adventure. Cut-throat competition.

When introverted gadgeteer, Michael McGillicuddy, is invited to participate in the annual race organized by a secret society called the Order of the Blue Cloak, he forces himself to take the chance. 

The action-packed adventure that follows features a vibrant cast of characters, including some of the brightest minds and most unscrupulous characters 1895 Europe has to offer, including a Luxembourgish railroad baron, a middle-eastern mystic, a British female spy and a Dutch female alchemist. A devious circus ringmaster, and his equally devious crew, including a strong-man with a mechanical arm, and a ruthless female enforcer with a chip on her shoulder and a penchant for poison, provide the main antagonistic forces.

Follow the racers over land, sea and air, from London’s outskirts to Paris, as they risk life and limb to embark on a scavenger hunt-style race with few, but important, rules. The winner of this year’s race will be the first to solve all the milestone challenges and arrive at the finish with a complete and matching set of milestone tokens. Along the way, Michael will encounter intellectual challenges, physical peril, fantastical creatures, games you’ve never heard of, sabotage, betrayal, heartbreak, and even a touch of magic, all while discovering himself and a newfound taste for adventure.

But as a novice among veterans, and with the odds so heavily weighed against him, how will Michael survive, let alone compete?

Order Here

First 5 Chapters Free