The Times are A’changing

A few new developments are happening at Windsor Hill Publishing, all related to marketing—the most disliked word in fiction writing. Writers write because they have to; once the bug bites them, they keep writing until they drop dead (some do), before doing anything else like eating or having sex. I mean it. Look at the writers out there; they clearly aren’t eating.

But when it comes to shilling their work, we writers fall on our faces—smack. So we are attacking this marketing thing one step at a time, an old, old dog learning new tricks. We are deep into Amazon ads, scary, but so far, so good. Hundreds of experts will gladly take your coins to teach you, but this dog needs to understand what it all means—again, so far, so good. Thank goodness for YouTube videos.

The next marketing frontier to conquer is the vast world of Facebook, Instagram, and a dozen others. I will let you know what is best for ROI (return on investment).

 

Last year, after leaving a well-known publisher on my terms, I refreshed my covers, developed a strong visual identity and branding for the five different series, and made a big push with the new mysteries we published over the past year. Here are a few before-and-after examples. Look to books on the right side for the new, updated covers.

The old cover

The new cover

 

 

I am working on a new Sheriff Jordan Tynes modern western. She has become my greatest seller (by double and triple factors). While I would love some love for my other characters, it’s delightful to learn how much people enjoy these stories. Other ideas are in development. 

My other characters are demanding to be read and heard: Detective Tony Alfano is losing patience, Sharon O’Mara, the other redhead in my life, wants more time, and Alex Polonia wants to continue taking on the world and stop injustice. And what would WWII be like without Max Adler and Sophie Norcross? Many stories are in outline and even started – unfortunately, they don’t make the hours longer.

 

I have been participating in a few book clubs and presentations, and as always, I would like to do more. I can be reached via email at rpd@lmi.net.

 

I have a dear friend with whom I’ve been working on producing his memoir. Claude has had a wonderful, if not enjoyable, life. But at 94 years old, his story, like many others, might have been lost if he hadn’t sat down and written it. It is a classic Horatio Alger story. He and his family escaped Nazi Germany in 1938, and they had to sell everything to the Nazis to leave. His story is an American story of Love, Sex, & Economics. It is available on Amazon (here).

 

All the best and have a great summer.

Gregory C. Randall

Seven Books - One Year

Welcome back and Happy New Year. 

I must blog more often – that was my new year’s resolution, and here it is March, and I am finally getting to it. So much for that.

 

It has been a busy fourteen months since the start of 2024. Over this period, I’ve published seven books as of March 18, 2025—hard to believe. (I’ve got blisters on my fingers!)

 

The first three were the Sheriff Jordan Tynes modern western mysteries under our publishing house, Windsor Hill Publishing. The fourth comes out on March 18, Fire on Breakneck Mountain. Jordan has indisputably and shockingly become my best-selling series (sorry, guys and gals of my other five series—patience). It is what the public is reading nowadays, and my mantra is what the Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises wrote almost a hundred years ago: “The market is supreme,” i.e., give the public what they want—so I am working feverishly on Book 5. The series' success has surprised me; I’m pleased but still surprised. You can get them starting here with One Yellow Dog: https://tinyurl.com/mpjed27v

 

The other two were a Detective Tony Alfano mystery (Book 5), Chicago Back Beat, and a World War II romance, Wars Amongst Lovers, that I have been working on for years (long, long, story and I won’t bore you). But it is published and out of my mind, and the reviews have been good.

 

We just finished offering Four Women Named July (new this past fall) for free through Written Word Media and Freebooksy. I was stunned to see that we gave away 4,227 eBooks. I sincerely hope that these get read. The free book idea gets my name out there, that’s true. But my intention is that the story gets read. That’s why we are in this business—our novels must be read. And being in a Kindle or iPad, they can get lost in the dozens, if not hundreds, of other novels stored there. We can only hope and occasionally remind readers we are still out there pounding away and publishing.

The Four Bodies in the Freezer

Later this year, I’m bringing back my Marigold Gang for a new case: The Mystery of the Missing Monte Carlo. It is a nostalgic trip back to the days of rock and roll, muscle cars, and fast women. I’m getting to like these five old guys. Their first case was The Mystery of the Four Bodies in the Freezer. Here’s the blurb:

You’ve seen them, you may even know them, those fellows sitting together in the back of the diner early Wednesday mornings. They have known each other for years and have been friends for over half a century.

They call themselves the Marigold Gang.

They grew up on Marigold Court in the village of Lincolnville, Illinois in the 1950s and have stayed true friends. They took the moniker The Marigold Gang because it sounded tough for a bunch of twelve-year-olds. They have been by each other's side through high school, college, marriages, families, grandchildren, and death.

After the tragic passing of one of their own, Allen Fisher, they are asked to clear out his house. Bravely, the Gang faces clearing a hoarder’s house filled with the debris of Allen’s complicated life. What they find, suitcases of money and rich quantities of treasure, baffles them. And in the basement, it is even worse.

 

The Marigold Gang allows me to indulge in my favorite pastimes: historical research and nostalgia. You can be sure there will be, in these “cozies,” rock and roll, muscle cars, fast women, and sharp-dressed men. They let me reflect on my youth and tell stories (some true, some not) from the past. Pick up the first mystery on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/y2zn8j95.

Here is the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuFPX5_W67Y

 

I’ve neglected but not forgotten Sharon O’Mara, Tony Alfano, Max Adler, Alex Polonia, my standalones. They keep waking me up in the middle of the night with new ideas. Having one voice in your head is enough, but with five more, sometimes the cacophony is deafening.

 

All the best and stay tuned . . . . .

A Year of Living Dangerously

There are times in our lives when events overtake us, like a tsunami that picks us up and takes us away. We don’t know where the events will take us, but we are prepared and, as always, hope for the best. Our tsunami dropped us on safe ground.

The last year has been challenging for my family, with serious illnesses, dramatic changes in publishing and distribution, and some uncertainty. We got through it and are healthier, more robust, and wiser. More importantly, we are still here punching, kicking, and writing.

I won’t divert you with the illnesses; they were complex and challenging, but now the future looks terrific.

On the other hand, publishing and distributing an author’s hard work are parts of the writing industry that are as important as writing itself. I have been down many publishing roads, initially self-publishing my first dozen or so thrillers, mysteries, and novels. Then, through the efforts of an agent, I hooked up with Thomas & Mercer, an Amazon imprint. They were great, and I did two thrillers with them. Then, as happens (this is a business, you know), they cut me adrift – what I thought would be a long relationship ended in divorce after two years. Undaunted, during the next few years, I kept writing and published a half dozen additional books within my other ongoing series (see sidebars to the right and website).

On the River

Bouchercon 2023

Incidentally, about this time, we took a road trip through Montana, explored this glorious expanse of America, fly-fished some incredible rivers and streams, and came up with the idea of a new series focusing on a new character, Deputy Sheriff Jordan Tynes, from Park County, Montana (the northern gateway to Yellowstone Park). With a helpful suggestion from my agent, I contacted an established publishing house (really a distributor since I kept the rights), who took me on. They published three of my Jordan Tynes stories but didn’t market the books the way I wanted. We amicably parted, I took all the distribution rights back, rebranded my titles, and voila, I reestablished our publishing house, Windsor Hill Publishing. We then rereleased all the novels, thrillers, mysteries, and science fiction stories with new covers and renewed vigor.

Here is a photo of the stacks of titles and fourteen years of work—it measures almost 19 inches and almost two million words.

Fourteen Years of Work

We are currently attacking the marketplace utilizing Written Word Media and Freebooksy.

They are just one of many, possibly dozens, of BookBub-type marketing sites that utilize a pay-to-play to get your titles to potential readers. All require payment for one day of email distribution to tens of thousands of potential readers. It's a great way to get your name out there, but consistency is required, and the more titles, the better. We did a Freebooksy for Deputy Sheriff Jordan Tynes's first book, One Yellow Dog, and gave away almost six thousand copies. Do you know how many bookstore events it would take to reach that many new readers? And for only $100. This immediately rolled over into sales of the other two titles, hits on the website, and sales of our other titles. We are proud to say our best two-month stretch of sales—ever.

Look for three new novels coming in the next six months. These are Wars Amongst Lovers, Four Women Named July, and the fourth Sherif Jordan Tynes modern Western, Fire on Breakneck Mountain.

Have a great fall, and I wish you all the best in your writing endeavors.

 

More Later . . . . . . . .

SO MUCH GOING ON, SO LITTLE TIME

So much going on, so little time.

Quick personal note: a few days after the Bouchercon Conference, I got COVID-19 (rumor has it I was not alone). It has taken me over a month to get back to what might be called normal. This is the third time I've had the bastard; this time, brain fog (yes, it exists), extreme tiredness, and persistent dry cough that still lingers six weeks in. Get your shots. I had mine, and I hate to think what it would have been without them.

 

Now, back to our station, there is no grass under these boots—two new books out this fall. On October 3, 2023, we (Wolfpack Publishing and I) released Blood in the Yellowstone.

This is the third Deputy Sheriff Jordan Tynes Modern Western. Jordan is becoming one of my favorite characters (and I have so many to choose from), and as of three weeks after release, I'm thrilled with the reviews and five-star ratings. And sales have been good, not great, but good. Here are a couple of published reviews:

Here is just one:

5.0 out of 5 stars JORDAN TYNES IS A GREAT CHARACTER AND RANDALL DOES A TERRIFIC JOB PRESENTING HER SKILLS

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2023

I've reviewed Mr. Randall's previous Jordan Tynes novel. I expressed my enjoyment with the whole range of his writings: from Sharon O'Mara's time in the Iraq War enhancing her skills as an investigator; to Tony Alfano and his work as a Chicago Cop in the 1940s; The Cherry Pickers and his non-fiction historical analysis, The Original GI Town.

Blood in the Yellowstone finds my new hero, Park County Acting Sheriff Jordan Tynes, trying to unravel the sudden murders of 4 men. The story becomes twisted in the upcoming election for Ms. Tynes' full-time role of Sheriff as Livingston Police Chief Wes Banning enters the race for Jordan's job.

The twists and turns require Jordan to stay focused on her job.

 It's a terrific story, and the scenic details are worth the read alone.

And another:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps your interest and guessing what's next

Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2023

I enjoyed reading this book and found it hard to put down. There was a lot in the different plots to keep your interest high. There were some twists in the story that kept me guessing and my interest high. I would recommend this book to all.

 

Now, those are fans. Their comments make me want to start another – but I already have another waiting for you. On December 5, 2023, I’m releasing my first cozy genre mystery novel.

 

Meet The Marigold Gang:

 

The Blurb:

You’ve seen them, you may even know them, those fellows sitting together in the back of the diner early Wednesday mornings. They have known each other for years and have been friends for over half a century. They call themselves the Marigold Gang.

 

They grew up on Marigold Court in the 1950s and have stayed true friends. They took the moniker The Marigold Gang because it sounded tough for a bunch of twelve-year-olds. They have been by each other's side through high school, college, marriages, families, grandchildren, and now, death.

 

After the tragic passing of one of their own, Allen Fisher, they are asked to clear out his house. Bravely, the Gang faces clearing a hoarder’s house filled with the debris of Allen’s complicated life. What they find, suitcases of money and rich quantities of treasure, baffles them. And in the basement, it is even worse.

 

To discover what happened, the Gang volunteers to investigate. Our intrepid detectives are shocked to learn they have signed on to solve a handful of sixty-year-old murders. And in the process, put their own lives in jeopardy. And who are those bodies in the freezers?

 

The Marigold Gang is my first 'cozy' mystery, which is defined by the general types of characters and location.

 

Cozy mysteries, also referred to as "cozies," are a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence occur off stage, the detective(s) is/are an amateur sleuth(s), and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community.

 

I can check off all of those – I even took out the big swear words. There is NO sex in this story; the violence occurred sixty years earlier, and no place is more intimate than a suburban village on the south side of Chicago.

 

In fact, this novel is a standalone (right now). However, it is the third in a series of books focusing on stories around Chicago and the Midwest. And, if I include my non-fiction work, GI Town, and the Tony Alfano detective stories, I seem to have written at least ten novels that take place in and around Lake Michigan and the adjacent states. I did grow up there, so maybe my roots are deep and robust.

 

Please check these two stories out – and if you haven't started the Jordan Tynes mysteries, now would be a good time.

 

UPDATE on Alex Polonia:

The New Alex Polonia Thriller Covers

 

In 2017, I was thrilled to be with the powerhouse publisher, Thomas & Mercer, an imprint of Amazon. We brought out two new thrillers, Venice Black and Saigon Red. Both feature Alex Polonia, Cleveland cop and now international security agent with Teton Security & Defense. It was a good run while it lasted, and then the publisher moved on to other bright and shiny things. I brought out St. Petersburg White in 2020 under my imprint, Windsor Hill Publishing.

 

I didn’t want these first two stories to languish. So, I asked for the rights back, was given a yes, and rebranded and redesigned the covers, and here they are. I am currently working on the fourth in the series and expect it out next summer – it is tentatively called London White.

 

I will try to keep this newsletter up to date.

A sad note here. Several years back, I made the acquaintance of Les Edgerton, a well-known writer from Indiana. We had a shared love of the San Francisco Giants and writing. His voice was strong and direct and spoke of the common man, their troubles, and the simple fact that life is a bitch. Les passed away in late August from complications of COVID. He will be missed.

 

More later . . . .

 

No Apology Needed - The Next Year

February 21, 2023

First, I apologize to those who follow and often visit my blog. It has been a year since my last post. There is no excuse not to find the time to write a paragraph or two, considering that I wrote almost half a million words during the past year. Shame on me.

 

Second (see above and below), I was also too busy. Lame excuse #2.

 

And the last year has been something; read on:

§  I joined Wolfpack Publishing and Mike Bray a year ago. Four publishing imprints comprise Wolfpack Publishing: Wolfpack Publishing, Rough Edges Press, Wise Wolf Books, and CKN Christian Publishing. Three of these imprints have released or republished my books.

 

§  Last fall, Wolfpack published the first two Deputy Sheriff Jordan Tynes mysteries, One Yellow Dog and The Killings in Paradise Valley. (This spring, we will publish Blood in the Yellowstone).

 

§  Rough Edges Press published White Rabbit last summer.

 

§  Rough Edges also republished The Chronicles of Sharon O’Mara (my second favorite redhead), the Max Adler WWII duology, and the five-book series of 1933 Chicago Detective Tony Alfano. These are all eBooks series – multiple books for the price of one.

 

§  I was also delighted when they rereleased The Cherry Pickers under their young adult imprint, Wise Wolf Books.

 

Hard to believe I published four new books last year, and this does not include the series compilations. When I joined Wolfpack, they promised a lot, and we have all been down that road. In their case, they delivered.

 

Hard to tell what the coming year will bring. As mentioned, a new Jordan Tynes modern Montana western, a new Max Adler WWII (under the new CIA) post-war mystery and thriller, possibly a new SF story, and maybe get back to Sharon O'Mara and Tony Alfano. Too many options, and then there is the siren call of new books and adventures. Never a dull moment.

 

Do me and my characters a big favor and download or order one (or all of my stories). I genuinely believe you will love them.

 

All the best, more later.