I’m having a blast writing my next OBX novel, TheGoatman Murders. Here’s a excerpt from the first chapter. Detective Angie Stallone and bookstore owner Mee Mee Roberts are heading north on Route 12 about a mile from Avon when this happens: “It’s a man with a goat’s head!” Mee Mee gasped. Angie’s heart pounded as the creature lifted a wooden-handled object with its hairy arms. The Jeep’s headlights flashed off the metal end of the object. Angie blew the horn, and the creature turned, loped across the road and scrambled up a sand dune. “Did you see what it was carrying?” Mee Mee gulped. “Yeah. A bloody axe.” I’m looking forward to book signings during the second week of June at the Island Bookstores in Corolla and Duck, Buxton Village Books, and Downtown Books in Manteo. The Goatman Murders, my eleventh OBX mystery novel, will be published sometime in July or August. Hope to meet some of you at the book signings…. Read more….
That sounds like a thrilling excerpt! If you’d like me to expand on it or write a 1000-word segment for the book signing announcement, I can help you with that. Let me give you a fleshed-out version based on your ideas that maintains the tension of the scene and provides a bit of insight into your upcoming release
The Goatman Murders – Coming Soon!
If you’ve followed my journey as an OBX mystery author, you know how much I love bringing the unique atmosphere of the Outer Banks to life in my stories. And now, I’m beyond excited to share the latest chapter of that adventure with you all. My new book, The Goatman Murders, will be hitting the shelves in July or August, and it’s sure to give you that same spine-tingling thrill that my previous novels have.
The first chapter sets the stage for the chaos to come, and I’m thrilled to share this sneak peek with you all. Here’s a glimpse into the gripping opening of The Goatman Murders:
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“It’s a man with a goat’s head!” Mee Mee gasped, her voice a frantic mixture of disbelief and terror. The words felt like they hung in the air for a moment, suspended by the dim glow of the Jeep’s headlights as they cut through the darkness of Route 12, a mile north of Avon.
Detective Angie Stallone’s pulse surged as she took in the grotesque figure ahead. Her fingers tightened around the wheel, but it wasn’t the sudden appearance of the strange creature that made her heart race. It was the heavy, oppressive silence that had descended over the road, broken only by the sound of their tires humming against the asphalt.
The creature—if it could even be called that—was standing eerily still in the middle of the road. It had the body of a man, but where its head should have been, there was only the twisted, nightmarish face of a goat. The fur was matted and dark, clinging to its humanoid frame like a grotesque parody of nature itself. But it wasn’t just its appearance that was unsettling.
The creature lifted a wooden-handled object with its hairy arms, and Angie’s gaze locked onto the metal end of it. A gleam of light flickered off the axe as if it were some ancient weapon poised to strike.
Angie’s hands reflexively slammed down on the horn, the shrill sound of it cutting through the night like a siren of warning. The creature didn’t flinch. Instead, it turned, its head jerking unnaturally to face them, its yellow eyes gleaming with an unsettling intelligence.
For a brief, harrowing moment, Angie thought it might charge toward them, but instead, the creature spun on its heels, loping across the road with a bizarre gait, its heavy footfalls muffled by the sand underfoot. It didn’t stop, didn’t hesitate, just scrambled up the sand dune beside the road, disappearing into the blackness.
“Did you see what it was carrying?” Mee Mee’s voice trembled beside her, the question hanging in the air, heavy with fear.
Angie’s throat felt dry, but she forced herself to speak. “Yeah,” she said, her voice hoarse. “A bloody axe.”
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This chilling encounter is just the beginning of what will become a nightmarish puzzle for Detective Angie Stallone and her friend, bookstore owner Mee Mee Roberts. As they dig deeper into the mystery, they will uncover more than just strange legends surrounding the Goatman. The Outer Banks have always been a place of secrets—some buried beneath the dunes and others lurking in plain sight. But when the past resurfaces in the form of brutal murders and unexplainable occurrences, Angie will have to push her skills to the limit to uncover the truth.
As the story unfolds, the true nature of the Goatman legend will unravel, leaving everyone—especially Angie—questioning what they thought they knew about the land they love. It’s not just about solving a crime. It’s about confronting the darkness that has been living alongside them all this time.
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I can’t wait to meet all of you at my book signings this summer, where I’ll be celebrating the launch of The Goatman Murders. I’ll be stopping by Island Bookstores in Corolla and Duck, Buxton Village Books, and Downtown Books in Manteo during the second week of June. These signings are going to be a fantastic opportunity to connect with readers like you, share stories about the Outer Banks, and chat about what goes into writing these mysteries.
If you’ve enjoyed the previous OBX novels, I think you’ll find that The Goatman Murders will be a new favorite in the series. But if you’re new to the OBX mysteries, don’t worry—you can easily dive in without having read the other books. Each novel in the series stands alone, so this one will still make perfect sense, even if it’s your first time picking up one of my books.
But just like the other novels, The Goatman Murders blends elements of suspense, horror, and the unique beauty of the Outer Banks. Angie Stallone has seen a lot in her time as a detective, but this case is different. It’s not just a whodunit—it’s a battle against something far older and more terrifying than anything she’s encountered before. Whether it’s chasing down a seemingly mythical creature or delving into the darker corners of the island’s history, Angie’s determination and strength will be tested like never before.
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As we count down the days to the release, I want to thank you for all the support you’ve given me over the years. The Outer Banks, with its untamed beauty, has always been a place of mystery and magic for me, and I’m so grateful to be able to share it with all of you. Writing these books has been an incredible journey, and I can’t wait to continue that journey with The Goatman Murders.
So, please join me this summer at one of the signings, grab a copy of the new book, and let’s talk about what’s coming next for Detective Angie Stallone and the eerie world of the OBX mysteries. There’s always something new around the bend in the Outer Banks—just make sure you’re ready for what’s lurking in the shadows.
Until then, stay safe, stay curious, and as always, keep reading.
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This is just a sample expansion. If you’re interested in more details or further developments in the story, feel free to let me know!
