"I truly enjoyed it. [Darkness Descends is] a real spellbinder with a multitude of twists and turns through a labyrinth of intrigue. A read not easily forgotten. Frank has created a timeless tale of suspense." - Clive Cussler

Once again, the major on-line booksellers have lowered the price of Scott Frank's mystery/crime thriller, "Darkness Descends," from $19.00 to $15.95 (a 16% discount).

This includes the following:
http://www.bn.com
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.booksamillion.com
http://www.mediaplay.com

As well, most of them offer their advantage or club members an additional 5% or 10% discount.

In addition, bn.com and mediaplay.com offer free shipping with an order of two books or more, while booksamillion.com and amazon.com offer this service for an order greater than $25.00.

While http://www.walmart.com currently offers Darkness at $17.67 they generally lower their price to about $14.38 or so when bn.com goes to $15.95. However, there generally is no free shipping offered at walmart.com.

To take advantage of these great prices, go to the site of your choice and search for the ISBN, 1591131286. Add two copies to your cart (one for you and one for a dear friend) and head to the checkout. It's that simple! They will generally arrive within a week or so. (Beats driving to the store and fighting traffic!)

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To read an excerpt of "Darkness Descends" go to http://scottfrank.writernetwork.com.

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"Darkness Descends" can also be purchased as an eBook at the following:

http://www.booklocker.com/books/786.html (Acrobat Adobe version)
http://www.firstprint.com/authorswelch2.htm (Microsoft Reader version)

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Now, as to "The Marble Killer."

Yes, May is here, but the book isn't. (As was originally planned.) Truth be told, the newest book will not be completed until summer. Also, Scott is checking into other publishers and may have "The Marble Killer" published as a hardcover and a trade paperback (as well as an eBook).

And, as mentioned in an earlier newsletter, "The Marble Killer," which is primarily set in Fresno (CA), will include more of Groveland and Pine Mountain Lake (CA) (which appeared in "Darkness Descends") as well as Las Vegas locations in the story.

However, while the full manuscript is not complete, here's an excerpt not available anywhere else:

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Chapter 10

AND THAT WAS HOW VERONIQUE HAD SET OUT on her quest to eliminate those nine very possessive men from her life forever. The thought of it, as she held the bottle of Zoloft pills in her hand, was on the one hand amusing, and on the other frightening.

Not frightening in the sense of getting caught. Frightening because she wasn't quite sure why she was doing it. Only that it had to be done. She knew she was too clever to ever be caught, she had been too careful, too tidy. There were no tracks of her anywhere, she was sure of that. Other than her precious marbles and a CD.
Merely a couple of clues to drive the police batty.

Each man she had been with knew her by a different name. None of them had ever known a last name, a phone number, nor an address. They were all utterly dependant upon her seeking them out and filling their occasional evenings with the kind of sex men dreamed.

They had all, having once made love to Veronique, waited for her to show up to see them. They eagerly did this. But with these particular nine men, it was too eagerly. The one common trait among them was their possessive attitude for her after having been together. She equated that with her being "a possession." That was one thing she was not. She was a fully independent woman with well over seven figures in the bank and one that didn't have to work.

Veronique couldn't understand it.

A good time was just that. Something to have, not something to own.

What was it with men anyway.

She opened the bottle of pills.

"Shit," she said to herself, "Do I really want to do these again?" She capped the lid casually.

With the small bottle in her hand, she walked to the kitchen and poured herself a straight double shot of vodka-Stolie, naturally. Setting the Zoloft bottle on the counter, she downed the clear liquid with a quick gulp. It burned only slightly going down and the familiar warm glow in her stomach soon surfaced.

"Five down, four to go," she said staring at her glass.

She poured another double and walked to her bed, leaving the drugs on the counter.
I'll think about those again in the morning. Maybe it's not getting easier if I think I have to take them, she prudently considered.

Lying back, Veronique closed her eyes and allowed the vodka to warm her entire body.

I need a man, she thought as she drifted off to sleep. A real man.

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It looks like Scott Frank will be doing a book signing in Groveland (GA) this summer at the Chili Cookoff (not the actual name) held in September. Keep reading ScottNews for updates on the exact time and location.

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It definitely appears that there has been some movement in the amazon stores for "Darkness Descends" in England, France and Germany. Slowly, but surely, the book is making it around the globe.

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That's the latest from ScottNews.

Best wishes to all,

ScottNews