Ray Keating Reads from SHIFTING SANDS

Ray Keating talks about and reads from SHIFTING SANDS! Grab the Kindle edition for only $2.99! Go to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KDYH5NY

Pastor Stephen Grant Triple Play – MURDERER’S ROW, SHIFTING SANDS, and DEEP ROUGH – Signed by Ray Keating

If you love sports fiction – especially some sports mixed into exciting thrillers and mysteries – then the Pastor Stephen Grant Triple Play is for you! Get a dose of baseball in MURDERER’S ROW: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL; lots of beach volleyball in SHIFTING SANDS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY; and majors golf in DEEP ROUGH: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL.

Go to https://raykeatingonline.com/products/pastor-stephen-grant-triple-play

3 Reasons for Reading the Pastor Stephen Grant Mysteries/Thrillers: Perfect Time for SHIFTING SANDS

Here are three reasons why right now is the right time for reading SHIFTING SANDS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY...

1. SHIFTING SANDS revolves around a pro beach volleyball tournament happening on the West Side of Manhattan. Well, guess what? The AVP Beach Volleyball’s New York City Open is happening on June 7-9. What better way to get ready than to enjoy SHIFTING SANDS? Check out info on the New York City Open here.

2. Until the end of May, SHIFTING SANDS is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month. That means there are great deals on signed books and sets at https://raykeatingonline.com/t/book-of-the-month.

3. Through the end of May, the Kindle price of SHIFTING SANDS has been cut from $3.99 to $2.99. Grab it right now!

4 Quick and Cool Points on the Beach Volleyball Court in SHIFTING SANDS

SHIFTING SANDS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY is the May Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month. That means the Kindle edition price has been slashed from $3.99 to $2.99. Go to https://www.amazon.com/Shifting-Sands-Pastor-Stephen-Grant-ebook/dp/B07KDYH5NY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=.

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

Check out 4 volleyball points on the sand from the book...

• “Ambler, with her long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, offered another quality serve, but this time Gale responded with an impressive dig. Sackett then provided a near-perfect set as Gale returned to her feet. On one side of the net, Gale, in a dark blue bikini, jumped into the air, with the tall Ambler, sporting her team’s bright yellow bikini, doing the same on the other side. Gale went for the spike, and Ambler for the block. Ambler’s quick thinking, height and formidable leaping ability went a long way in making up for her team’s relative inexperience. At first, it appeared that Ambler’s block was successful, but after the ball ricocheted off her right hand, it hit the sand a few inches out of bounds.”

• “Khan handled the serve, and an extended rally ensued, filled with spikes, digs and blocks – all appreciated by the crowd – until Gale lofted a soft shot over both Khan and Ambler, who were out of position after managing to return a spike by Sackett. The ball landed in a back corner of the court.”

• “With her back to the net, West backpedaled, glanced over her shoulder at the opponents, looked up at the ball, and then leaped high into the air. With her back still to the net, she swung her right hand into the air, and attempted a blind spike over her shoulder.”

• “On the court, Sackett provided a perfect set for Gale, who jumped in the air, and struck the ball that eluded Ambler’s block. But West managed a full extension dig, and kept the point going.”

Ray Keating Talks Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month: Shifting Sands

SHIFTING SANDS is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month.

SHIFTING SANDS is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month for May. The Kindle price has been slashed from $3.99 to $2.99. Go to https://www.amazon.com/Shifting-Sands-Pastor-Stephen-Grant-ebook/dp/B07KDYH5NY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=. 

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

Pastor Stephen Grant Character Quote of the Week from SHIFTING SANDS

The Pastor Stephen Grant Character Quote of the Week...

Jennifer gave a slight roll of the eyes, and interjected, “I get the feeling you guys are going to start singing a Beach Boys tune.”

3 Reasons for Reading the Pastor Stephen Grant Mysteries/Thrillers: 5-Star Love for SHIFTING SANDS at Amazon.com

Here are three big thumbs-up reviews for SHIFTING SANDS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY from Amazon reviews...

1. 5 stars

“It is hard for me to imagine what impression this this novella might make on a first time reader of the Pastor Grant stories. Now that I am addicted to the series, it is like catching up with interesting friends and traveling with them to interesting places like the touring beach volleyball exposition in New York City where we learn that security has been alerted to emerging threats, and we recognize agents from previous stories on duty. Then, in the person of Pastor Grant, we get sucked into the action due to past associations/present skills and... I do not want to spoil the story for you.

“I enjoyed the ensemble aspect of this story, the broadened perspective beyond that of the main character. The fact that this is a shorter story made the narrative more vivid for me as there were fewer moving parts to keep track of than in the longer Pastor Grant novels. The character descriptions and development were satisfying and on one occasion surprising. The setting was also vivid to me conveying some of the excitement of such events where we know some of the competitors in a big venue.

“I had read that a short story had a single point, or strove for a single impression. That is not the obvious case here and it struck me as a novella rather than a short story in the tradition of Poe or Chekhov. Poe did write a series (3?) of detective stories, the most famous being "Murders in the Rue Morgue," but the Pastor Grant stories are more in the tradition of Fleming's "James Bond" with the novel addition of the world of Missouri Synod Lutherans.”

2. 5 stars

“With so many titles under his belt already, I have come to really enjoy and feel a connection to many of the characters in the Keating 'universe', and I'm glad to hear about Melissa Ambler again. There's always a pleasant suspension of disbelief while reading Ray Keating's Stephen Grant novels, but that doesn't take away from the way he weaves together the importance of faith as the foundation for everyone who faces challenges, both big and small. And Keating's writing keeps getting better and better! He has a knack for these short stories along with the novel-length pieces. Another enjoyable read!”

3. 5 stars

“I'm blown away by Keating's creativity and writing/research skills. Now he ventures out of his novel genre with the Pastor Stephen Grant series with this short story. With this considerable shorter format, he still manages to pack his usual skill in unloading a mystery involving Grant's two careers. Here it revolves around beach volleyball, American dominance vs. terrorism, and on top of all that, his theological acumen. Keating's typical, excellent, surprising, twisting ending is worth the read. Anyone looking for short read packed with action and written in clear, moving prose, would do well in getting this. Make great gift as well.”

Facebook Reviewer Calls Shifting Sands "Awesome!"

A new Facebook review of Shifting Sands: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story says: "Just finished it! Awesome!"

That adds to the many positive reviews of this exciting tale about beach volleyball, danger and international intrigue.

For example, Self-Publishing Review also said: "Keating compresses what could be a full-length novel into a tightly packaged and page-turning mystery that hums with energy - as is always the case with this series. Rich descriptions, detailed background research, and a confident storytelling tone continue to serve Pastor Grant and his loyal readers exceptionally well. Recommended for fans of the series or as an introduction to Keating's engaging protagonist."

Character Quote of the Week from SHIFTING SANDS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY

While driving into New York City, an exchange between Pastor Stephen Grant and Father Tom Stone:

     “Well, you were a Southern California guy,” observed Stephen. “Surfing, volleyball on the beach, and what else?”
     Tom smiled. “Cars and pretty girls.” 

3 Reasons for Reading the Pastor Stephen Grant Mysteries/Thrillers: Thumbs Up from Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews has favorably reviewed the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and short stories. Here are quotes from the most recent reviews.

1. Kirkus Reviews on SHIFTING SANDS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY: 

“Stephen is a well-rounded protagonist who’s skilled in combat but likewise vulnerable: He faces a bulky assailant who hardly acknowledges the pastor’s stranglehold. There’s an impressive mystery this time around, as readers may not easily discern the terrorists’ ultimate motivation or who exactly 11 is. Resolutions come to light during the rousing final act, rife with explosives, bullets, and a few bodies. Another solid thriller with the always welcome and dexterous hero.”

Read the entire review here.

2. Kirkus Reviews on HEROES AND VILLAINS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY: 

“In this short story, Keating’s (Reagan Country, 2018, etc.) recurring cleric Stephen Grant steps up to help a popular comic-book creator targeted by armed assailants... An entertaining, immersive jaunt with a formidable protagonist.”

Read the entire review here.

3. Kirkus Reviews on REAGAN COUNTRY: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL: 

“The villains, meanwhile, are just as rich and engrossing as the good guys and gals. The familiar protagonist, along with sensational new and recurring characters, drives an energetic political tale.”

Read the entire review here.

4 Cool and Quick Facts: Sports Moments from the Pastor Stephen Grant Novels and Short Stories

Sports have played parts in various Pastor Stephen Grant adventures. Here are 4 cool sports moments from these adventures:

1. Auto racing from WINE INTO WATER: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL:

     Stephen Grant decided to savor the moment. 

     He sipped the aromatic, earthy white Hermitage wine. Bottled 15 years earlier, it came from grapes grown on slopes above the French town of Tain on the banks of the Rhône River.

     While swallowing, Grant took in his surroundings from the rooftop of the Loews Hotel in Monte Carlo. 

     He looked down at the Formula One cars fighting an unnatural restraint in order to make hairpin turns. As was always the case when observing excellence, Grant admired the drivers’ skills, as well as the expertise of those who built and maintained these machines. His ears recognized the vast difference between these engines versus other so- called high-performance cars, not only in terms of power, but also the precision and responsiveness needed to compete in the Monaco Grand Prix. 

2. Baseball from MURDERER’S ROW: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL:

     Casey Granger peered at two fingers just over 60 feet and six inches away. Ty Beachamp called for the hook. 

     Granger nodded, and offered the faintest of smiles that few would have noticed. 

Beachamp shifted his crouch behind home plate slightly to his left, moving away from the left-handed batter. 

     With his glove just inches from his face, Granger set a curveball grip on the cowhide with his left hand. He pivoted on the rubber while kicking his right leg in the air, and pushed forward off his left leg and let the baseball go. 

     The 89-mile-per-hour rotating white sphere seemed headed for the batter’s head. In 0.45 seconds, the man in the batter’s box leaned back as his knees buckled, while the pitch broke down and across the plate. It snapped into Beachamp’s mitt, and the umpire called, “Strike three!” 

3. Golf from WARRIOR MONK: A PASTOR STPEHEN GRANT NOVEL. A moment on the course for the threesome of Stephen Grant, Ron McDermott and Tom Stone...

     Ron asked Stephen, “Shall I lead the way?”
     “Please do.”
     Ron teed his ball up high. The combination of his long 

driver with a huge head and a flat, aggressive, inside-out swing resulted in a long draw that landed in the middle of the fairway, but continued to run left and settled just in the light rough some 270 yards away. 

     “Nice ball,” observed Stephen, as he teed up his own. “Thanks.”
     Grant showed off a smooth swing, with his high, slight fade coming to rest on the right side of the fairway at a distance of 255 years. 

     “Even better,” said Tom, who finally arrived on the tee box with a hybrid in his hand and a shiny new ball. The look of Stone’s swing was not as polished as his friends’. A three- quarters back swing was followed by a hard, crushing move on the ball, with an abbreviated follow through. The result, though, was a high, straight projection that split the fairway at about 220 yards. 

     “And you do that without warming up,” Ron observed shaking his head. 

     “Clean living and concentration,” Tom responded. 

     “Really? We’ll see if that clean living and concentration help you sink a putt today,” said Ron. 

4. Beach volleyball on SHIFTING SANDS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY...

     Melissa Ambler took a stride forward, and tossed the white, blue and yellow ball high against the azure sky. She jumped in the air, and slapped a serve that skimmed just above the net. The ball hit the sand between the two frozen opponents, and just inside the end line. Ambler and her partner, Ranya Khan, pumped their fists, exchanged a high five, and urged each other forward. 

     Meanwhile, thumping, high energy music played on unrelentingly. The beat even continued during the action, though at lower decibels than between points. There was no indication that the players cared or were distracted, and the fans loved it. 

     Like many spots up and down the California coastline, the sands of Manhattan Beach ranked as familiar terrain for beach volleyball. Of course, this particular event was far beyond a local pick-up match or amateur league. This was professional beach volleyball, with men’s and women’s two- person teams competing for not-so-insignificant purses. And they played before a few thousand fans packed into a temporary stadium erected between the waves of the Pacific Ocean to the west, and palm trees and the city of Manhattan Beach to the east, while sitting alongside the famous pier. 

     Manhattan Beach had served as a stop for the pros since the 1980s, and the 928-foot Manhattan Beach Pier included plaques of the “Volleyball Walk of Fame.” 

     This new tour called itself “Bedlam on the Beach.” 

Sale on Set of Signed Short Stories - HEROES AND VILLAINS and SHIFTING SANDS

New deal offers savings on the two Pastor Stephen Grant short stories - HEROES AND VILLAINS and SHIFTING SANDS. Signed by the author, Ray Keating.

Take advantage of this great sale at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/pastor-stephen-grant-short-story-duo-heroes-and-villains-and-shifting-sands

Character Quote of the Week from "Shifting Sands"

Father Tom Stone...

Tom responded, “... And you’re going to love the competition. It’s great. Beach volleyball was part of my younger days.”

Beach Volleyball Thriller: Shifting Sands

How about an exciting thriller swirling around a major beach volleyball tournament in New York City? That's what's happening in SHIFTING SANDS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT SHORT STORY by award-winning novelist Ray Keating.

Stephen Grant, a former Navy SEAL, onetime CIA operative, and current pastor, is on the scene with his wife, friends and former CIA colleagues. While battles on the volleyball court play out, deadly struggles between good and evil are engaged on and off the sand. Keating weaves together a fascinating tale of action, faith, humor, terrorism, duty, friendship, conflict, and beach volleyball.

Reviewers love SHIFTING SANDS...

"Stephen is a well-rounded protagonist who's skilled in combat but likewise vulnerable: He faces a bulky assailant who hardly acknowledges the pastor's stranglehold. There's an impressive mystery this time around, as readers may not easily discern the terrorists' ultimate motivation or who exactly 11 is. Resolutions come to light during the rousing final act, rife with explosives, bullets, and a few bodies. Another solid thriller with the always welcome and dexterous hero." - Kirkus Reviews

"Keating compresses what could be a full-length novel into a tightly packaged and page-turning mystery that hums with energy - as is always the case with this series. Rich descriptions, detailed background research, and a confident storytelling tone continue to serve Pastor Grant and his loyal readers exceptionally well. Recommended for fans of the series or as an introduction to Keating's engaging protagonist." - Self-Publishing Review

Available in paperback or for the Kindle.

Shifting Sands Brings Together Beach Volleyball, New York City, Stephen Grant – Former CIA Operative and Current Pastor – and a Terrorist Threat

Thriller Lovers Will Enjoy Hitting the Beach this Christmas Season in Another Exciting Adventure from Ray Keating

Long Island, NY –Stephen Grant, pastor at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church on Long Island, a former Navy SEAL and onetime CIA operative, is back in Shifting Sands: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story. 

Shifting Sandsis the second page-turning short story by award-winning novelist Ray Keating, and the tenth thriller/mystery featuring Pastor Stephen Grant. 

  

Beach volleyball is about fun, sun and sand. But when a big-time tournament arrives on a pier in New York City, danger and international intrigue are added to the mix. Grant is on the scene with his wife, friends and former CIA colleagues. While battles on the volleyball court play out, deadly struggles between good and evil are engaged on and off the sand. 

  

Keating weaves together a fascinating tale of action, faith, humor, terrorism, duty, friendship, conflict, and beach volleyball. 

Shifting Sandscomes on the heels of two previous Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers/mysteries published in 2018. In Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story, Grant finds himself in an entirely unfamiliar setting – a comic book, science fiction and fantasy convention – where he joins forces with a unique set of heroes. AndReagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant Noveltakes readers on a wild ride from the Reagan Presidential Library in California to the White House to a Russian Orthodox monastery to the Kremlin, while also providing a salute to the legacy of Ronald Reagan. 

About Keating’s Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, one reviewer declared, “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.”

Paperbacks and Kindle editions of Shifting Sands: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story are available at https://www.amazon.com/Shifting-Sands-Pastor-Stephen-Grant/dp/1730956866/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1543169109&sr=1-1.

Keating’s previous Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers/mysteries – Heroes and Villains, Reagan Country, Lionhearts, Wine Into Water, Murderer’s Row, The River, An Advent For Religious Liberty, Root of All Evil? andWarrior Monk– have received widespread praise. 

Signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com.

Review copies, and author interviews and appearances are available upon request. 

Contact: Ray Keating

Phone: 631-909-1122

E-mail:raykeating@keatingreports.com

Facebook:www.facebook.com/PastorStephenGrantNovels

Twitter: @KeatingNovels

PastorStephenGrant.com