Lou Paduano | Urban Fantasy Novels | Sci-Fi Crime Series

Part Seven of Army in the Obelisk starts today!

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We’ve reached the halfway point of the tale! Army in the Obelisk Part Seven launches today on Patreon.

Army in the Obelisk Part Seven – Nightmare Scenario

This part was a blast to put together. It deals with Soriya, specifically, and delves into her past in a way that has never been done before. For as much as it is touched on in the main series, there was never a moment where Soriya spoke about the life she lost when she was four years old.

There’s a reason for that: Soriya has no memory of that life.

But even still, wouldn’t there be some lingering questions about who she was and who her parents were? Of course there would be. No kid cannot wonder about who their parents were or what happened to them. That was the impetus behind this part of the story.

How this is all revealed is where the fun came in. For me, at least. Probably less fun for Soriya.

Not only do we get a cool new villain (which will be revealed in next week’s installment) but a lot of the story hinges on Djuhuty’s involvement. Bringing him more into the forefront is very intentional and as the rest of the novel unfolds, you’ll understand why.

I love this part and hope you do as well.

Head over to the Patreon and start reading the first two chapters now!

Army in the Obelisk continues this month!

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Welcome to Month 2 of Army in the Obelisk! I hope you’ve enjoyed the opening five installments of the story. Take a look below to see what is coming your way this June.

Army in the Obelisk in June

I wanted a strong start for both the Greystone serial and the Patreon page. The first month showcased what the page will have to offer with a good-sized chunk of Army in the Obelisk.

Going forward, releases will still be coming out on Wednesday, but they will no longer be entire parts every week. Part VI kicks off this week but will be split up over the course of three weeks and Part VII will launch at the end of the month.

Why the change? 

Mostly for my sanity, if I’m being honest. It was always meant to come out over the course of a whole year. I’ve truncated that by offering the first five parts in full right off the bat. This gives me some breathing room so I can have some great content ready to surprise and delight you at the end of this year and the start of 2025.

Army in the Obelisk Release Schedule

  • June 5th – Part VI Chapters 1 – 3
  • June 12th – Part VI Chapters 4 – 6
  • June 19th – Part VI Chapters 7 – 8
  • June 26th – Part VII Chapters 1 – 2

Part VI is called Stalked by Serket, which introduces another goddess from Egyptian mythology to trouble our heroes. This time, the focus is on Loren and Standish in the second section of three that explains their evolving relationship through the Greystone series. (Part IX closes this out with a bang.)

I’ll be talking about Part VII at the end of the month, but I will say it has one of my favorite villains in the piece.

Join the fun and start reading.

It’s been a great experience offering the Patreon to people. I find it is the best venue to showcase my work, and I hope you’ll follow along. I’ve said it in the past, but Army in the Obelisk is FREE for all followers of the page. No subscription necessary to enjoy this book.

Hope to see you over there. Happy reading.

The Cult of Anubis strikes this week

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If you’ve read last week’s chapters of Army in the Obelisk, you know things aren’t looking so good for Soriya. This week continues the story with Part IV – The Cult of Anubis. Loren desperately searches for his missing partner and uncovers a deadly threat to the city.

The thought behind Part Four

This part is a little different than the rest. There are some ties to a previous story from the series – Connections – which can be found in Pathways in the Dark.

When I was putting together the series, my aim was to keep it standalone. And it is. Mostly. But if you’ve read the releases before this, you know there is more to the Cult of Anubis and their leader Osiris. You know where their story continues, so I took some time to make that definite connection to Pathways.

I love those connections to the larger narrative. As a reader, it pulls me in and as a writer, I think it helps with worldbuilding. Every story – big or small – should have a lasting impact, and that was my goal with this part of Army. That while the Cult of Anubis might not be the center of matters for this book, they will return to pose a danger to Portents and to our heroes.

Connections

As an added treat, subscribers to the Patreon will be able to read the Cult of Anubis’ first appearance this Friday! There’s a lot to love about this one, and I remember how fantastic some of the imagery throughout was when putting the story together. From the Onna Bugeisha to the pyramid buried beneath the city, this story showcased everything I love about Greystone.

I hope you enjoy both stories this week. Next Wednesday, Part Five arrives with a murder in the Courtyard and the arrival of some cool new characters.

Army in the Obelisk continues…

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Part Three of Army in the Obelisk arrives today on Patreon! New Dynamics puts Loren at odds with his partner, Robert Standish, and forces Soriya to take a risk that may cost her everything.

Building the serial

If you subscribe to the page, you’ll read more about why I felt it was important to include Robert Standish in this story. His presence really cemented the idea of setting the story in the past. There is this gap in Tales from Portents where Standish goes from absolutely hated (Gremlins) to tolerated as a partner (View from Above) and Army in the Obelisk is the glue that puts it all together.

There are some great beats in this section. The crime scene in Chapter Three is a personal favorite for me. I enjoyed the dialogue between Loren and the shopkeeper. (Much as one can enjoy a conversation centered around the death of an innocent.) Sometimes I dread putting together a crime scene, mostly because I’m afraid of repeating myself from a previous book. The interview from Loren was my way to add a layer of character to the mix, which then led into the scene itself with Standish being an ass (as is his way…)

New Dynamics – Soriya/Loren

There is always a give and take with Soriya and Loren. They can handle the mundane or the extraordinary, but rarely do we see them try to tackle both. I love Loren’s explanation that the dead take priority and how it finally clicks for Soriya. There is always that level of disconnect for her, due to her background, so it was fun to play with that aspect of their relationship.

Head over to the Patreon and start reading.

A reminder: It is free to join the Patreon page and read Army in the Obelisk. I want everyone to have the chance to enjoy this story and hope you are digging it.

Let me know what you think on the page!

Read Part 2 of Soriya and Loren’s latest adventure

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I hope you enjoyed the opening salvo of Army in the Obelisk last week. I wanted to jump right into the action and thought the Nehebkau was such a cool visual for the threat against Soriya. Djuhuty might be my favorite character in the entire book, and you’ll see why as the story expands over the course of the twelve parts.

Army in the Obelisk Part Two is available now!

The second part brings Loren and Soriya together as the two try to set a trap for the thieves. With the help of Patricia Fleming, our heroes believe they have a way to draw out the enemy, but will it be enough to win the day?

These eight chapters also feature some happy returns. There’s Ruiz, of course, but also Rufus Mathers and a surprise guest at the end that will cause Loren some grief going forward.

Head over to the Patreon page and start reading.

I hope you’re enjoying the page. I’m trying to bring my A game with content. The Friday Fun Facts are a blast to put together, with some tidbits about what went into creating the book as well as hints about what might be coming your way.

If you have any other suggestions on what you might like to see, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out to lou@loupaduano.com and let me know.

Check out some free books this month!

Both of these amazing promos have dozens of free science-fiction and fantasy novels for your reading pleasure. I hope you check them out and find some new favorites.

Army in the Obelisk continues next week!

Army in the Obelisk Launches Today

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The Patreon page is live! This has been a long time coming, something I’ve been trying to build up for years, and am finally pulling the trigger on. I’ve always wanted a single spot to showcase not only my writing, but offer exclusive behind-the-scenes content, cover reveals, and more.

Having this page, bringing people to it and having them experience everything from Greystone, DSA, and a bunch of new series I’m tinkering with, makes a lot more sense than chasing algorithms and buying ad space. (Though I am sure some of that will always be necessary, unfortunately.)

If you haven’t checked out the Patreon page yet, head there now and pick your tier. Your support is much appreciated.

Army in the Obelisk

A new Greystone tale is waiting for you on the page today. Army in the Obelisk is a twelve-part serial that will be coming out over the course of 2024. In May, I’m delivering a new part (eight chapters each) every Wednesday for your reading pleasure.

Patreon is the only place to find this story. I hope you’ll join me on this new adventure.

What is Army in the Obelisk?

An army is rising…

Thefts of ancient Egyptian artifacts draw Detective Greg Loren and Soriya Greystone into a centuries-old mystery. Standing in their way are mythic creatures and god-like beings, all carrying out orders from a shadowy group attempting to reclaim a bygone era.

At the center of their cause is an obelisk of unknown origin which guards an ancient power within.

Loren, still wary of Soriya’s world, turns to Egyptologist Patricia Fleming for help. As the mystery deepens, so does Loren’s attraction—feelings he never imagined possible after the loss of his wife.

Navigating the dangers all around them, Soriya and Loren must overcome their differences to find a way to piece together the mystery and stop the threat of the obelisk before its power is unleashed upon the city of Portents.

Part One is available now!

Read the opening chapters of this sprawling epic. It has a great battle between Soriya and a terrible new menace, as well as Loren’s confrontation with a mysterious foe that will be troubling our dynamic duo during the course of the serial.

Start reading Army in the Obelisk today!

Thank you to everyone for supporting my work. I know there are a million ways to spend your time and money with content today. I appreciate every subscriber and hope to deliver you the best content I can for many years to come.

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