August 2025: Rhine Trip and New Audiobook On the Way
Hi.
It’s been too long since my last missive. One reason for the gap is that I was away for a few weeks. The other is... well, no good reason. Too busy being busy, I suppose.
Cycling the Rhine
Regular readers are familiar with my time in the Army and how most of those eight years were spent in Germany. I fell in love with my father’s native country during my time there, and can’t get back often enough.
So, for a few weeks in May and June, a friend and I rode bicycles from Basel to Amsterdam. Most of that trip followed the Rhine from Switzerland through France and Germany, but after we reached Utrecht in the Netherlands, we veered away from the river and to the sea before riding into Amsterdam.
The flight from Newark to Frankfurt is just over 3800 miles, but riding a bike through Germany felt like a return home. I think a lot of that was because we rode bicycles through Germany, rather than driving in a car.
Cycling brings you closer to the land and the people you’re visiting than any cruise ship, bus, or car will. A bicycle puts you in the midst of things and even makes you more approachable—especially in cycling friendly places like Germany or the Netherlands. People are more willing to help with directions or just strike up a conversation with a couple of guys on bikes than they are someone in a rented Opel.
While I spent most of my military service stationed well east of the Rhine, the trip still took me through some familiar territory, including the village Emil Zimmerman and Ludwig Oberacker’s Eueleheim is based on, which also happens to be where my father was born. We spent a few days with family there and even had a chance to visit a nearby decommissioned nuclear reactor.
We had a great time, and we’re already talking about setting up a return trip in the next couple of years.
Clouds Audiobook
The audio version of Shadows in the Past has been out for a while now, and it’s selling much better than I expected. To be honest, I thought of it as more of a very expensive vanity project than anything else when I kicked the recording off, but sales have been brisk. I attribute much of that to Stuart Gauffi’s excellent narration.
So, I kicked off the audio version of Clouds in the Future last month. I don’t have a release date yet, but it will likely be available at your favorite retailer by the end of October.
Which brings me to the bad news...
Murder Reschedule
Last week I pushed the release date of Murder in Soft Words to the end of November. Without delving into a bunch of personal issues, things have been rough the past few months and holding off so I can get things right with this book is better than rushing to get it out the door.
I’ll be sharing a chapter or two with you later this month or early September as I get my head back in the game.
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Deals!
While you’re waiting for Murder’s November release, you can load your e-reader up with exclusive deals over here!
I’m part of a fun promotion this month. It includes everything from complete space opera series to some truly intriguing fantasy. I’ve already picked up a few new titles myself, and the trick will be making sure I finish writing my book before I dive too deeply into someone else’s!
See you in a few weeks.
Refer a subscriber to my list from this link, to get a free ebook copy of Shadows of the Past!
Eric Goebelbecker
Trick of the Tale LLC
25 Veterans Plaza #5276
Bergenfield, NJ 07621-9998