Thursday, May 1, 2008

Cover Design 1, 2, 3


Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Now Available! Buy Your Copy Today!



Write this day on your calendar!
Today is the day Seattle finally has a hero worth reading about.

Dear family and friends. I’ve just published the first issue in my action-adventure series. The main character, Owen Ruger, has hit the ground running and ever since I first exposed the character and his adventures to the literary public he’s gained praise.
Here’s what the authors who provided blurbs for my book said about the first issue:

Author J.E. Braun of Paranoia wrote:
“The Man Beneath Lake Union is much like the ’79 Pontiac Trans Am that the hero, Owen Ruger, drives in the novel: sleek, fast, and fun. From the moment Nicholas Michniki touches the red, oily substance in the water to the machine-gun paced climax, author C.L. Vaughn grabs the reader and takes them on a wild adventure that bodes well for the future of the Owen Ruger franchise.

Set in Seattle, The Man Beneath Lake Union is filled with vivid descriptions and rich details that bring the city and surrounding areas to life, which is amazing, considering the story is less than one hundred pages long. There is no room for fluff or pointless subplots. Vaughn knows that in such a small amount of space, every word matters, so each word seems to be chosen, and each sentence seems to be crafted in such a way that makes them all count.

Still, Vaughn manages to not only provide the reader with a scintillating experience, but also to inject humor, start a romance, and tackle a very controversial topic: genetic experimentation. Only a truly talented writer could do all this in a way that is boiled down to the bare necessities and still ensure that the reader does not been short-changed.

I can attest that I did not feel short changed. In fact, The Man Beneath Lake Union was so much more than I expected. I look forward to reading more of Owen Ruger’s adventures.”

Author D.H. Brown of Honor Due wrote:
"C. L. Vaughn has written a fast paced tale with great precision that will interest
young adults the world over. The Owen Ruger micro adventures are sure to be a hit."

Author Rai Aren, co-author of Secret of the Sands wrote:

“The Man Beneath Lake Union is a sexy high-octane marine adventure awash in breakneck action, mystery and thrills…

Like a fast-moving tide, The Man Beneath Lake Union surges over you with murky hints of menace and mystery, then pulls you down into a twisting vortex of breakneck action, finally exploding into a story so unique, it will leave you breathless…”

My book is selling for only $6.95 in print and $2.95 as an ebook, so instead of spending that on a thousand-calorie latte that you don’t need and will feel guilty about later, buy my book. Help me achieve my dream of being a successful author. You are my family, my friends, my biggest and most important fans, please show your support.

Now Available!
The Man Beneath Lake Union
Issue #1 in the Owen Ruger Micro-adventure Series
ISBN: 978-1-4357-1714-5
Available online at
http://www.lulu.com/content/2446633

Monday, April 21, 2008

The Man Beneath Lake Union: Sneak Peek

Hey gang,

Here's the sneak peak of the first issue.


Above is the mockup artwork for the cover. The finished cover will have more details and blending, but this gives you a great feel for the overall cover.

Also, I'm sharing with you the book's prologue. Happy reading!

From the cover:

When a rash of Eco-terrorism strikes the Seattle waterfront, Owen Ruger and his trusted friend Rafael Sernansa are hired to investigate the crimes and protect the assets of a large fishing company. Then during a rescue of a beautiful woman they see what can only be described as a merman swimming away from the scene. Driven by what they've seen, Owen and Sernansa race to solve the mystery and stop the destruction before fear grips the city. But they soon learn that everything isn't what it seems and the mystery swimmer maybe just another victim.

Prologue: Gone Fishing



Seattle WA, 1985



Nicholas Michniki walked briskly along the dock with his fishing pole in hand, carefully avoiding the frosted patches on the dock’s weathered wood to keep from slipping into the frigid water. Reaching the end of the dock, he pulled out a fresh cigarette, lit the unfiltered roll and took a deep drag. He stared across the calm waters of Lake Union with reverence. It was a typical January morning in the Puget Sound area with no hint of snow and just enough moisture in the air to cause everything to frost over and turn white. Nicholas watched his breath linger in the cold air and shivered deeply as the twenty-eight degree air bit through his clothing and licked his skin.


Inhaling the warmth of his cigarette, Nicholas set his fishing pole in a small wooden rowboat, stepped in and untied the line to the dock. Early morning fishing had become a ritual to him since retirement, and even in his seventies, he found it easy to row the waters of the lake. His cobalt blue eyes still sparkled as if he were in his twenties and seemed to hide the wrinkles and weathered skin of his pale face.


Nicholas set out on a steady course that led north along the shore and watched the Seattle skyline materialize as the sun began to rise. After nearly twenty minutes of rowing he reached his favorite fishing area and cast his line. It was then he noticed a large patch of red film on the water; not a blood red, but an oily tinted crimson that glistened in the morning sun. Curious, Nicholas dipped his fingers into the water and examined the liquid.


He rubbed the oily water between his fingers and tried to get a smell from it; it was odorless but felt like baby oil. Nicholas shrugged and wiped his hands on his jeans before reeling in his line and checking his bait, then casting the line again. He sat quietly and watched the white and red bobber float gently along the small lake waves.


Nicholas had no knowledge that his life was about to change as he sat in the predawn light. It started when he felt a slight headache building in his right temple and gave it a rub. He noticed that his vision was getting a little blurred and he blinked his eyes to try to refocus. The thought of a heart attack crossed his mind as his right arm began to throb and he became short of breath.


Suddenly Nicholas began to feel disorientated and lightheaded. The world around him began to spin uncontrollably as he gasped for air. He thrashed out in a violent convulsion that caused his little rowboat to rock wildly back and forth, capsizing and spilling him overboard. He watched the blue sky disappear and blur as he sank into the freezing lake water. But as the light slowly faded with each fathom, he soon realized that he wasn’t drowning; he was breathing.


Thoughts of his family raced through his mind as he plunged into unconsciousness and disappeared from the human race.








Welcome & Sneak Peek @ Issue #1




Welcome to the new blog site for the Owen Ruger adventure series. In the next month I will be debuting the first issue of the series which is titled "The Man Beneath Lake Union".




If you're a fan of action/adventure fiction then the Owen Ruger series is for you. Each mini-novel (novella) is 50 to 120 pages and jam packed with action. I'll be keeping you at the edge of your seat with wild chases, gun fights, hand to hand, villains that make you seethe, a touch of the paranormal... and of course the girls... hey, if James Bond can get the girls then so can Owen Ruger!




And don't forget his trademark car, his 1979 Pontiac Trans Am!




If you can't wait for issue #1, you can buy a special short story that is published through Lulu.com and on Amazon.com's Kindle for only $0.99. Point of No Return, A Look at the Hero: Owen Ruger
"Being in the military is all about teamwork, your brothers in arms, and the man next to you in the foxhole. But those ten seconds before you jump are yours. Thoughts and memories flood your mind like a tsunami. You think about who you are and what you've done." Owen Ruger...
Seattle's newest action hero is hitting the ground running in a new action adventure series. This is a look into his past and who he is.
"A great look into the mind of Seattle's newest hero." ~ Seattle Action Magazine
"I can't wait to read this series in book form, the manuscripts kept me at the edge of my seat!" ~ AmericanChronicle.com
"If you enjoy authors like Cussler, Alten, and Preston, you'll love Vaughn!" Powell Reviews