LAST DAY - Save on HEROES AND VILLAINS

LAST DAY! HEROES AND VILLAINS is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month for July. 

The Kindle price has been CUT from $3.99 to $2.99. Go to https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Villains-Pastor-Stephen-Grant-ebook/dp/B07DGLBWZM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=.

And BIG sale on signed books and sets at https://raykeatingonline.com/t/book-of-the-month

3 Reasons for Reading the Pastor Stephen Grant Mysteries/Thrillers: More Thumbs Up from Reviewers for the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month – HEROES AND VILLAINS

Once again, we ask: Why buy HEROES AND VILLAINS, which is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month for July? Well, yes, there’s the Kindle price being reduced from $3.99 to $2.99. 

And signed books and sets are on sale at  https://raykeatingonline.com/t/book-of-the-month.

But consider three more thumbs-up from noteworthy reviewers...

1. "An engaging story that not only entertains, but also confronts the sad reality that creators and their work have been tainted by political agenda."  - Tyrel Bramwell, author of The Gift and the Defender

2. "Heroes and Villains takes you inside all the drama of a comic convention, including that which only Stephen Grant can help with. It's an enjoyable romp complete with the gritty realism of the Burton Batman films, the camp of the Adam West adventures of the 60's, and the modern humor of LEGO Batman. 

     "If you know the adventures of the Avengers from the movies or the pages, dream of the day of decent DC films, or love the experience of Comic-Con, Heroes and Villains is the read for you!  

     "Gun-toting clergymen aren't only found in Wyoming. Keating's novels and short stories prove it with Pastor Stephen Grant and his adventures. May they continue! DC and Marvel are famous for telling stories of worlds like ours, yet different. This is the 'multiverse.' Somewhere, there is a world like ours where these stories have their own screen adaptations. How I'd love to see Pastor Grant on Netflix!"  - Lutheran Book Review

3. "This is a fantastic novel... If you are a comic book fan who is fed up with the political correctness that's going on, you have got to pick up Heroes and Villains... I highly recommend this book... I'm definitely going to be paying more attention to Ray Keating, and getting more of his novels."  - Jacob Airey, host of StudioJake

4 Quick and Cool Mentions of Famous Comic Book Heroes in HEROES AND VILLAINS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL by Ray Keating

Ray Keating’s HEROES AND VILLAINS – the July Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month – focuses on danger and excitement at a local comic-con. While the story focuses on Grant meeting and helping all-time great comic book creator Wes Jenkins, and his wife, Kelly, there are some mentions of comic book characters people know in our own world. Consider four excerpts from HEROES AND VILLAINS...

1. “‘That’s a personal one. I’ve kind of embraced this Captain America thing.’ Trent Nguyen not only ranked as one of the most decorated agents in FBI history, but his parents, an American nurse stationed in South Vietnam during the war and a Vietnamese businessman, taught him from a very young age to appreciate the United States. His patriotism and willingness to stop evildoers earned him the nickname of ‘Captain America’ among colleagues at the FBI. ‘I’m looking for an Avengers #4 from 1964. It’s the return of Captain America.’” 

2. “Nguyen continued, ‘When I was growing up, comic books played a big part in getting me interested in reading, and I guess not so ironically, my favorite was Captain America. Funny, I never told anyone at the Bureau that, but here I am telling you.’”

3.    “As he strolled, Grant observed attendees, from pre-teens to some in their seventies, enjoying a shared interest with varying intensity. Some came simply to meet favorite creators or in pursuit of certain publications. For others, it was an excuse to do something with family or a group of friends – more about social engagement than appreciating certain stories via page or screen. 

   “There were others for whom it was all of the above, including being dressed in full character regalia. One couple in this category not only caught Grant’s eye, but drew the attention of seemingly everyone else as they strode through the event. It was evident that the two spent considerable time in the gym. The man stood at six foot four and the woman at just over six feet. He was dressed as Hawkman, with the costume showing off his muscular arms and much of his rock-hard torso. He was wearing a hawk mask and had large wings coming out of his back. He also brandished a Thanagarian Mace. Meanwhile, the woman’s blue eyes, long black hair, thin waist and strong arms and legs seemed to make her a natural Wonder Woman, with the bathing- suit-sized costume of red, gold and blue, with white stars, a natural fit. The golden lasso hanging on the side of the costume, silver bracelets, and high red boots completed the look perfectly.”

4. “Grant watched as the guard outside the van started to panic. He put his gun away, and scrambled to shut the van’s side door. He subsequently stumbled when reaching to open the front passenger door. By then, three attendees of the comic book convention grabbed and pulled the man down. Others joined a growing pile – one was dressed as Spider-Man.”

HEROES AND VILLAINS is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month for July. 

The Kindle price has been CUT from $3.99 to $2.99. Go to https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Villains-Pastor-Stephen-Grant-ebook/dp/B07DGLBWZM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=.

Big sale on signed books and sets at https://raykeatingonline.com/t/book-of-the-month

3 Reasons for Reading the Pastor Stephen Grant Mysteries/Thrillers: Thumbs Up from Reviewers for the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month – HEROES AND VILLAINS

Why buy HEROES AND VILLAINS, which is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month for July? Of course, the Kindle price has been reduced from $3.99 to $2.99. 

And signed books and sets are on sale at  https://raykeatingonline.com/t/book-of-the-month.

But consider three thumbs-up from noteworthy reviewers...

1. “An entertaining, immersive jaunt with a formidable protagonist."  - Kirkus Reviews

2. “Keating's creativity and storytelling ability remain on point, for a fun and different take on Pastor Grant, and one that's just as satisfying as longer books in the series."  - Self-Publishing Review

3. "Good summer reading."  - Mary Moerbe, "Meet, Write, & Salutary" blog

More Action and Danger Than San Diego's Comic-Con!

Lucky enough to be attending Comic-Con in San Diego on July 18-21? Either way, there’s a heck of a lot more action and danger at the comic con in HEROES AND VILLAINS. Plus, enjoy big savings on the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month with the Kindle price cut to only $2.99!

As a onetime Navy SEAL, a former CIA operative and a pastor, many people call Stephen Grant a hero. Now Grant finds himself in an entirely unfamiliar setting – a comic book, science fiction and fantasy convention. But he still joins forces with a unique set of heroes in an attempt to foil a villainous plot against one of the all-time great comic book writers and artists.

"Heroes and Villains takes you inside all the drama of a comic convention, including that which only Stephen Grant can help with. It's an enjoyable romp complete with the gritty realism of the Burton Batman films, the camp of the Adam West adventures of the 60's, and the modern humor of LEGO Batman. If you know the adventures of the Avengers from the movies or the pages, dream of the day of decent DC films, or love the experience of Comic-Con, Heroes and Villains is the read for you!... How I'd love to see Pastor Grant on Netflix!" - Lutheran Book Review

HEROES AND VILLAINS is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month for July

The Kindle price has been CUT from $3.99 to $2.99. 

Big sale on signed books and sets!

Spy Stuff: CIA Recruits at a Comic-Con

Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story sees Stephen Grant – former Navy SEAL and CIA operative – attending a local comic-con, where he takes on evildoers with the help of some new friends and heroes. But in case you think this lies too far outside the realm of reality, consider that the CIA set up a booth at Awesome Con in Washington.

Photo courtesy of WJCT.org and Greg Myre/NPR

As reported by WJCT: “Not exactly the place you'd expect a CIA discussion on recruiting foreign spies. And yet CIA staff historian Randy Burkett, wearing khakis and a polo shirt with the CIA logo, was doing exactly that.”

That’s interesting. But no doubt, not as much fun as Heroes and Villains!

- Ray Keating

Character Quote of the Week from HEROES AND VILLAINS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY

An exchange between Pastor Stephen Grant and Pastor Zack Charmichael in HEROES AND VILLAINS...

     “Tell me more about the author who is receiving a lifetime achievement award tonight?”
     “Wes Jenkins. He ranks as one of the great storytellers, as a writer and artist, in comic book history.”
     Stephen noted that Zack was ramping up the enthusiasm to provide the Jenkins’ bio.
     Zack continued, “Early on, he had great runs with some of the big DC and Marvel characters. But then he teamed up with Simon Huck to form J&H Comics Publishing. Fans and people in the industry thought Jenkins was nuts. No one predicted his subsequent burst... No, wait, ‘burst’ doesn’t capture it. No one predicted his outbreak or storm of creativity. He gave comic book fans dozens of heroes and villains, ranging from more classic, bright characters to dark, noir-ish ones. Jenkins’ creativity, coupled with Huck’s eye for bringing in complementary talent, launched J&H from nowhere to the third largest comics house.”
     “Impressive.”
     “You’ll appreciate the fact that Jenkins’ work is rich in biblical allegories, and Greek and Roman myths. He also likes to play with historical parallels.”

3 Reasons for Reading the Pastor Stephen Grant Mysteries/Thrillers: Have Some Comic Book Fun with HEROES AND VILLAINS

HEROES AND VILLIANS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY takes onetime Navy SEAL, former CIA operative and current pastor, Stephen Grant, into an entirely unfamiliar setting – a comic book, science fiction and fantasy convention. But he still joins forces with a unique set of heroes in an attempt to foil a villainous plot against one of the all-time great comic book writers and artists. 

Here are three thumbs-up to consider about this rip-roaring adventure...

1) "Keating manages to instill the same suspense of his other epic thrillers into this unlikely little gem. As he always does, Pastor Grant brings bravado and humility to the table at the same time, instilling the book with morality, action and thought-provoking revelations from start to finish. Keating's creativity and storytelling ability remain on point, for a fun and different take on Pastor Grant, and one that's just as satisfying as longer books in the series."  - Self-Publishing Review

2) "Heroes and Villains takes you inside all the drama of a comic convention, including that which only Stephen Grant can help with. It's an enjoyable romp complete with the gritty realism of the Burton Batman films, the camp of the Adam West adventures of the 60's, and the modern humor of LEGO Batman. 

     "If you know the adventures of the Avengers from the movies or the pages, dream of the day of decent DC films, or love the experience of Comic-Con, Heroes and Villains is the read for you!  

     "Gun-toting clergymen aren't only found in Wyoming. Keating's novels and short stories prove it with Pastor Stephen Grant and his adventures. May they continue! DC and Marvel are famous for telling stories of worlds like ours, yet different. This is the 'multiverse.' Somewhere, there is a world like ours where these stories have their own screen adaptations. How I'd love to see Pastor Grant on Netflix!"  - Lutheran Book Review

3) "This is a fantastic novel... If you are a comic book fan who is fed up with the political correctness that's going on, you have got to pick up Heroes and Villains... I highly recommend this book... I'm definitely going to be paying more attention to Ray Keating, and getting more of his novels."  - Jacob Airey, host of StudioJake

Character Quote of the Week from "Heroes and Villains"

An exchange between Pastor Zack Charmichael and Pastor Stephen Grant...

        [Zack said,] “It’s cool. I’m looking forward to going with her next month to a Wolfe Pack event.”
        [Stephen replied,] “Wolfe Pack?”
        “It’s the literary society for Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe mysteries. Cara loves mysteries, and she introduced me to Stout’s Nero Wolfe books. They rank among her favorites, and I’ve come to like them, too.”
        “Okay, I’ll put Nero Wolfe on my to-be-read list. Wasn’t there a TV show?”
        “Yeah. Cara has it on DVD if you want to borrow it.” 
        “Sounds good.”

Check out the Fun and Exciting HEROES AND VILLAINS

Grab HEROES AND VILLAINS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY in paperback and for the Kindle at https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Villains-Pastor-Stephen-Grant/dp/1718881614/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=.

A onetime Navy SEAL, a former CIA operative and a pastor, many people call Stephen Grant a hero. At various times defending the Christian Church and the United States over the years, he has journeyed across the nation and around the world. But now Grant finds himself in an entirely unfamiliar setting – a comic book, science fiction and fantasy convention. But he still joins forces with a unique set of heroes in an attempt to foil a villainous plot against one of the all-time great comic book writers and artists.

5-Star Review of "Heroes and Villains"

Lutheran Book Review Praises "Heroes and Villains"

What did the Lutheran Book Review say about Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story?

"Heroes and Villains takes you inside all the drama of a comic convention, including that which only Stephen Grant can help with. It's an enjoyable romp complete with the gritty realism of the Burton Batman films, the camp of the Adam West adventures of the 60's, and the modern humor of LEGO Batman.
     "If you know the adventures of the Avengers from the movies or the pages, dream of the day of decent DC films, or love the experience of Comic-Con, Heroes and Villains is the read for you!
     "Gun-toting clergymen aren't only found in Wyoming. Keating's novels and short stories prove it with Pastor Stephen Grant and his adventures. May they continue! DC and Marvel are famous for telling stories of worlds like ours, yet different. This is the 'multiverse.'Somewhere, there is a world like ours where these stories have their own screen adaptations. How I'd love to see Pastor Grant on Netflix!"

Praise for HEROES AND VILLAINS and the entire PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT Series

The following review essay of HEROES AND VILLAINS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY and the entire Pastor Stephen Grant series was penned by Susan O. Bachman, Professor Emerita, Concordia University Irvine. Professor Bachman’s 5-star review on Amazon was titled “Refreshing (Lutheran) Framework and Dang Good Stories”:

Much to praise here. Comments on “Heroes and Villains” short story first, and then my opinions about the series of books. 

Stephen Grant, a senior Lutheran pastor, accepts a last-minute invitation to join his younger associate pastor Zachary at a comic convention. The setting lets readers see a younger colleague, a comic aficionado, know the scene more than the series hero. Beneath the celebrative gathering of comic writers, producers and costumed attendees we learn of differences of opinion re concepts and marketing of future projects. Disagreements grow ugly, and things—as they can do—turn dangerous. 

The story’s graphic novel and comic orbit can inform and gratify a range of readers, starting with high school teens. Yet the author does not lose “seasoned” readers (like me) and even teaches along the way. Keating, in a novella-size frame, deftly assembles a small cast of recognizable action heroes to support Stephen and Zachary in thwarting the industry villains. The story’s action climax makes the reader almost see, as on a comic page, the “Pow” “Biff” “Oof” via vigorous fights and clever, believable physicality: great fun to read and see unfold. 

Young and mature readers alike recognize comic characters Batman or Wonder Woman. I, for one, had never heard of the classic comic character Hawk Man, but Keating worked him in helpfully—sent me to Wikipedia (!) Without too much artifice, Keating turns the story back to Christianity and church, mostly in ways that don’t make us roll our eyes. A rollicking, fast-moving story you can enjoy in a couple hours. 

Now for the book series: 

Starting with the first novel, Warrior Monk, Ray Keating introduces a savvy Lutheran fighter-for-justice to the small club of clergy detective heroes who keep the faith and also solve crimes or wrestle with people problems. Think of the popular tv Grantchester stories (Anglican), Father Brown mysteries (Roman Catholic), and Rabbi Small’s sleuthing (Jewish). The Stephen Grant stories likewise manage to entertain and give food for thought about and through its Lutheran lens. 

In the books we have a winsome Stephen Grant, a former Navy SEAL and special-ops CIA operative turned second-career Lutheran pastor. He sounds like Ellis Peters’ Cadfael—a former Crusader monk in Norman England who has taken the cloth—being drawn back again into combatting evil, solving adventures, refurbishing his sword/CIA-glock-wielding skills in times of need. 

I hope we Lutherans can joyfully lay aside for a few hours our serious inter-church quarrels and admittedly-urgent social and political polarities to embrace these books. They embed easy-to-grasp bits of Lutheran distinctives. Without being heavy-handed, the author drops hints of what works in worship for Lutherans or what makes, for example, Christian belief different from other faiths or from secular humanism. Avoiding saccharine piety, the stories shine a light on how faith matters and how naturally faith can work for ordinary—or extraordinary— folks. The books are accessible to faith seekers as well as seasoned church-goers.
Yes—there’s bloody violence along with fast-paced action, scary evil, a little semi-graphic sex, and sad loss in Keating’s stories. Yet the moral trajectories of the core characters enlighten and encourage readers overall. OK—so Pastor Grant is married to an always well-dressed, wealthy, brilliant professional wife, and they drive (and crash sometimes) nicer cars than most of us own. But never mind: it’s “willing suspension of disbelief” in literature, after all. 

Skillful in plot and description, Keating paints three-dimensional and interestingly different locations and crimes in each book. He has a writerly gift for making the action crisp. Keating researches his settings too. Example: In Water into Wine you enter with believable detail into the arcane world of wine counterfeiting, while the title subtly invokes the faith connection. In all the books you enjoy well-paced scenes, clear reminders who is who, vivid word choices, and helpful chapter divisions. 

I recommend the books for the story lines as well as their Christian themes and distinctions. I hope Keating sets some future stories in Lutheran missions overseas or other homelands (Ethiopia? a school in Madagascar? the Seminary at Westfield House in Cambridge?) Or maybe he will take his heroes into smaller parishes in the U.S. Midwest or South with rich pasts and dark problems to solve.

Get the books at Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Villains-Pastor-Stephen-Grant/dp/1718881614/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=#customerReviews

Another Thumbs Up for HEROES AND VILLAINS

A new review from a Facebook reader ...

Summer reading with Ray Keating and Pastor Stephen Grant.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1718881614/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1529456075&sr=8-2&keywords=heroes+and+villains+by+keating

Self-Publishing Review Gives Big Thumbs Up for HEROES AND VILLAINS

A "WOW" review of HEROES AND VILLAINS from Self-Publishing Review. SPR says,

"Keating manages to instill the same suspense of his other epic thrillers into this unlikely little gem. As he always does, Pastor Grant brings bravado and humility to the table at the same time, instilling the book with morality, action and thought-provoking revelations from start to finish. Keating’s creativity and storytelling ability remain on point, for a fun and different take on Pastor Grant, and one that’s just as satisfying as longer books in the series."  

Read the entire review at https://www.selfpublishingreview.com/2018/06/heroes-and-villains-a-pastor-stephen-grant-short-story-by-ray-keating/

5 Stars for Heroes and Villains!

The first Amazon review is in on HEROES AND VILLAINS, and it's 5 stars!

Summer reading with Ray Keating and Pastor Stephen Grant.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1718881614/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1529456075&sr=8-2&keywords=heroes+and+villains+by+keating