Haunted House Flipper this Halloween

My novel Haunted House Flipper is a perfect read for the Halloween season. I describe it as Supernatural meets HGTV with a Christian mythology.

Here's the synopsis:

Ray is a friendless realtor who stumbles on some supernatural tools, including a sword, that can rid a property of evil spirits. He decides to use them to change his career and finally become a house flipper, but on a grander scale. He plans to flip old haunted mansions that no one else will buy, rid them of their evil spirits, renovate them, and sell them for a hefty profit. Getting them to leave isn't as easy as he'd hoped and he has some competition from Bill Baldock, who buys up haunted mansions to destroy them and build apartment complexes in their place. Discover a new world within our own with Ray as he tries to learn how to use his new tools against demons, make new friends, and outsmart new enemies.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B & N | Smashwords

Click your preferred online retailer above and grab your copy today! Available in both Paperback and eBook at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and in all eBook formats at Smashwords.

Seekers Tales by Nathan Lowell | Book Review

Review for "In Ashes Born"

I don't know how he does it. These books are like no Sci-Fi I've ever read. They are more akin to classical literature where not much happens externally in these quiet beautiful stories, but a lot is going on internally in the main character. This book was written with heart. I really enjoyed the many quiet scenes and descriptions of good meals among old friends. It's certainly a treat for those of us who set off on our first voyage with Ishmael when he was but a kitchen rat who knew how to make good coffee. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the next book in the series. Time to set sail once again with some of the old crew and some new friends. Nathan's done it again.

Review for "To Fire Called"

It is so awesome to get more stories with these characters. I loved most of this book. So many great scenes with characters I've come to love. I really enjoyed all of act 1. There were a few slow parts near the end of act 2 that left me pining for more to happen and the plot was a bit confusing, but I was happy with the book once I finished it. Of all of the Solar Clipper stories this one is a 4 and every other book has been a 5. I'm done with this review because I'm ready to start reading the next one right now!

Review for "By Darkness Forged"

That was a really fun ride through the deep dark with some very beloved characters. It was so fun to set sail with them again after reading the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper books when they first came out a while back. It was great to see the protagonist, Ishmael, back in action in this book. He was like his old self again and seeing him emerge once more was very satisfying. I really enjoyed this last book and it was bitter sweet to read the last few chapters. I had a huge smile on my face and tears in my eyes because I loved it and it was coming to an end. So glad to have more adventures with Ishmael after the other books ended. 

Head on over to Nathan's site to grab copies for yourself:

https://nathanlowell.com/catalog/bookslist/

I'm Writing Fiction Again

That's right. I'm writing fiction again and you'll never guess what kind it is. It's not the Kindle Vella story  "I Can Fly" that I started as I wrote about a few posts ago, though I would like to keep writing episodes for that. 

I am writing an Unofficial Minecraft Book. 

My good buddy Pixel Ate has been making a living writing these books! It's not just the genre either, he's a great writer who puts out books consistently. Read the first book, "Accidental Minecraft Family: Book 1" and see for yourself. The coolest part is, his own son couldn't get into reading until he read books like these that take place in the world of Minecraft. Once he found them he devoured dozens of them so my friend tried his hand at it and he's doing really well at it. His books are fun and funny. If you have Kindle Unlimited you can read his book for free! It's about a family who wakes up in the game Minecraft. If you like them like I do, he's up to the 16th book available for pre-order now!

My story is going to be about a boy from medieval times who dreams of fighting real monsters and becoming a hero. He walks through a fairy ring which acts as a portal transporting him into the world of Minecraft where he was told he could fight monsters, but he knows nothing about the world and must figure it all out the hard way. I'm on chapter 2 of 40 so I have a ways to go but the great thing about these books is that they're short. I don't have much time to write it but when I do have a small amount of time I'm able to knock out most of a chapter.

My Haiku Book was Reviewed!

Check out a review of my book "Explore: 107 Haikus" over at Indies Today!

Here's what R.C. Gibson had to say about my book:

Explore is a collection of 17 syllable poems set up in the style of a guessing game. Dan Absalonson has taken the traditional Japanese art form and transformed it into an easily digestible group of poems that fit together like a colorful puzzle of the earth. The division of topics is systematic, ranging from letters of the alphabet to the 50 states. In with the well-ordered themes are several illuminating snippets about word origins, facts about the planet, and even the birthplace of cheese dip!

As you peruse the pages of Explore: 107 Haikus, you get an overwhelming sense of joy and wonder. One can only assume Absalonson had a great time gathering facts for the book, including which state is the smallest, the location of the first JCPenney, and nifty details about dainty little ladybugs. Perfect for a road trip game or as a topic of conversation among family members, this collection is meant to be shared and learned from.

There is truly something for everyone, with topics covering everything from the history of our modern calendar to the scientific name for the spots on a graceful giraffe. Dan Absalonson has his sense of humor fully intact as he challenges readers to use their minds, not just their cell phones, to take a journey of the imagination and explore our world. Young and old alike will delight in wonder as they fit the pieces together in the family friendly and educational book, Explore: 107 Haikus.

Grab your copy today in Paperback or Kindle!

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darknessby Andrew Peterson | Book Review

It took a while to get going, but man did I love this book. I think the reason it may take readers a bit to get into it is it's greatest strength - it is different than most books. It has awesome secrets and cool bad guys and a fun story world, but it's also goofy. If you feel like you're not "getting" this book yet, just keep reading. I was richly rewarded for it. That said, I enjoyed this book a lot and found it humorous and quaint, but man once things started really going down I was so hooked! The other thing I LOVED about this book was the poetic prose. The silly stuff is all mixed in with beautiful epic writing you might find in a poem, but it was not purple prose that ever pulled me out of the story, just the opposite. When grand things in the story were being described or spoken of the language became higher, and when it was normal everyday stuff the humor will have you and your kids loving it. I've read in some reviews that the sense of humor didn't work for them in this book, but it worked for me and I think my kids will love it too. The way this book ended had me enjoying every word. The way the environment and how the characters felt in it and the unfolding of bigger things in the world... no spoilers here. By the end of the book I had fallen in love with it. I can't wait to read it again with the new knowledge of the story world I have. I bet I'll pick up on all kinds of fun little stuff. This is a bit strange, but I think the other reason I really connected with this book is because I have a lot in common with the author and the things he likes. I recently read his somewhat autobiographical book on being a creator called "Adorning the Dark" and it was like reading about me in many ways. So yeah, when authors write a story they would love - in this case it worked well for me. I loved this story and the things in it I could pick up on like the author's love for books and fantastical tales and diction that flows off the tongue in a way that brings beauty to the ears. Lastly, although some of the action felt a lot darker and a bit abrupt from how the book felt at first, it was great and added a lot to the story as you could feel the character's world get scarier and the stakes much higher. I really enjoyed this read.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon MessengerBook Review

I really enjoyed this book. I read it because all my kids have been devouring the series. There were a few reasons I liked this book and a few reasons I didn't give it 5 stars. I thought the story world was awesome. I've always loved the idea of characters who are (slight spoiler) ancient. I also loved the whole idea behind the lost cities and I love the urban fantasy trope of our normal world but there are other worlds we normal people just don't know about. Super cool. That said, there were a few things that heavily reminded me of Harry Potter but I'd say in comparison this book has way less depth when it comes both to the individual characters and the story world. They're still great but I did get bored a few times while the character was (slight spoiler) getting through school. OK - all that to say I'm a 38 year old and not the target audience for this book so I think most readers will love those chapters because they're very relatable to you if you're still in school. I have also heard that as you keep reading the book in this series get even better so I have great hopes as I continue on to the next one. It's also really fun talking about books with my kids and this series is one they are all excited about so I'm thankful to share that with them. 

My poetry book "Explore: 107 Haikus" is finally published!

I'm still waiting on the proof copy of the paperback to come so I can review it before I publish the paperback version, but you can go and pick up the eBook version now! If you have Kindle Unlimited you can read it for FREE! I had a lot of fun writing this little book of haiku poems and I think readers will get a kick out of it too. I'm most excited about the paperback version as I think this kind of book lends itself more to that medium than an eBook, but I think the eBook version is still a great option. Many people prefer eBooks. For fiction I know I do. 

UPDATE:

The paperback is out now! Grab a copy for you and one for a friend!

Buy my new book at Amazon in paperback.

Writing Progress and Future Plans

Ever since I started down the road of training to become a pastor I mostly stopped writing. I have yet to write any new fiction, but I have been making progress lately on my book of Haikus. 

Here's the introduction to the book:

This is a book of 108 Haiku poems. Explore our world by guessing what each one is about. Haikus are poems made up of three lines, each with a specific number of syllables used. The pattern is five, seven, five. The first and third lines have five syllables, and the second line has seven. In this book I have divided the haikus into different topics. Each topic will have simple instructions on how to guess what the haikus are alluding to. Think of each haiku as a set of hints. This is a great book to read while traveling, either alone or out loud with a group. Everyone can join in on the guessing. Enjoy!

And the cover:

IN OTHER NEWS: I am toying with the idea of writing some new fiction for a brand new publishing avenue. Amazon is starting something called Kindle Vella. Click that link and you'll see their video on it. It will be a new platform where readers buy tokens and then spend those tokens on episodes of stories. You get the first few episodes for free, and then to read more episodes you use more tokens. I think I may start fleshing out an idea I've had for years about a boy who discovers he can fly and once the government finds that out he end up working for them to find and capture ancient and/or magical artifacts that they don't want the world to know about. I also have a couple other ideas I might try instead of that one, but the idea is a fun one. It would definitely be a different animal than tackling a novel if you did it right, making each short story it's own episode with a beginning, middle, and end. Seems exciting! That's it for now! Stay tuned for the release of "Explore" and possibly some serialized fiction. Thanks for stopping by!

Running Around Indian Trail | A Poem

For a casual day that won't make you burn and huff,

There are endless quiet neighborhoods lined with serpentine sidewalks.

If you've saved your jog for the later hours fear not,

The lights of all burn bright to illumine your sneakered steps.

If you're up for a war on your calves to reach the zenith,

Barnes road will go on and on deriding you to stop and walk.

The easy breezy way back down will be worth the sweaty mess you become,

And you'll soon find yourself dragging your feet back up to catch that view again.

If you can find the treasure at the end of the pristine paved lands,

There are trails to be found looping around under lines humming with power.

On rainy days they make a tickling fizz from the raindrops dying above,

And if you're lucky you just might spot a deer bouncing across your path.

Two Penguins of Differing Opinions

There once was a happy little penguin who danced in celebration of a most joyous event. Another penguin looked on in derision, appalled at his lack of decorum. 

Doesn't this boisterous little partier know the proper ways of the penguin? the older penguin thought. Penguins are dignified. Doesn't he know this from our formal habiliment?