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James Blakey

@jamesblakeyauthor

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I write crime/mystery, fantasy, science fiction
Derringer Award Winner
Shenandoah Valley
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Today’s the big day—my first official publication! 🎉 I’m so excited to be a part of this incredible group of Virginia authors and that I got to share my creepy, little locally inspired story.

Special thanks to @jamesblakeyauthor and @catsimpson_writes for putting this together, and to @gracedunnwrites for reminding me what day it was 😅 You all are gems.

Excited for this huge writing milestone and for what’s to come. ☺️

#richmondfantastic #speculativefiction #creepystories

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ARCs are in!!! Obsessed with how this one turned out ✨✨✨

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📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Hotel Manager's Guide To Murder by Erlendur Arason
Translation by Quentin Bates

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks so much to Ewa Sherman, for allowing me to be today's stop on the #VirtualBookTour for #thehotelmanagersguidetomurder !

Blurb

The smarter a place looks, the darker the secrets it hides… Guests at one of Reykjavík’s smartest hotels never know what happens behind the scenes –including what brings a group of the city’s homeless to the Bristol Hotel every winter night while the rest of the world sleeps. When overworked supervisor Torfi finds himself given an unexpected promotion that comes with a respectable pay rise, he takes it as a lucky break – until he’s told to make a murder victim disappear, and that he doesn’t have any choice.

That’s when his life rapidly gets a lot more complicated. What isn’t he being told? Torfi doesn’t know, but when police officers Haukur and Dagný start asking awkward questions, he needs to find answers – even though he knows only half of the story. Longing desperately to go back to his old, boring life, Torfi finds himself desperately out of his depth as his family are threatened and his problems spiral far out of his control.

Review

Well, main character Torfi just can't catch a break, can he?! Problems on all fronts - personal, professional and financial - then it seems his prayers have been answered. But no, he really isn't that lucky.

What follows is a catalogue of events pulling him in deeper over his head than he could have ever imagined - and he still doesn't have a clue what is actually going on! I felt sure a heart attack was on the cards with each new development...

I was drawn in right from the start by the vibrant characters and the fast pace, not to mention the dry humour. The story caught my interest and held it all the way through. I'm delighted this is only the first book of a trilogy, and I wonder how many of the cast will reappear in future instalments.

As always, a fantastic translation by Quentin Bates as well.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and Ewa Sherman for the eARC of this book.

#ad #NordicNoir #ErlendurArason

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Today was a success. Thank you, James Blakey for coming into Harrisonburg Bo9ks-A-Million and signing your book "Superstition". It was great to have you!

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📚🐈 Meet the author behind one of this summer’s most talked-about YA mysteries!

Join us for An Afternoon with James Blakey as he celebrates Superstition, the chilling first book in the Secrets of Van Buren University series.

🗓 Friday, July 18
🕛 12:00 PM ET
📍 Books-A-Million – Harrisonburg, VA

Stop by to meet James Blakey, get your copy of Superstition signed, and chat about the mystery, suspense, and supernatural twists that have readers hooked. Whether you’re already a fan or looking for your next page-turner, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Tag a friend who loves YA mysteries and paranormal thrillers, and we’ll see you there! 📖✨

#booksigning #bookevent #yamystery #yabooks #local

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We are so excited to be hosting an afternoon with local author, James Blakey! Join us at the Harrisonburg Books-A-Million July 18th at noon for signing and conversation with the author. Reserve your spot for free at the Eventbrite link in our bio.

#bookishevents #localauthor #booksamillion #booksigning #harrisonburgva

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Talk about the Cat’s Meow! If you want a fun read (and a short read, something you can take on in between longer tomes) then this is one I highly recommended. Three engaging, entertaining tales of literary fantasy and wonder. Intelligent cats, life coaches misidentified as witches, and a galactic and fantastic world where there are people along with talking critters caught up in espionage. From author and editor at @whitakerlyonpress, @jamesblakeyauthor, a three-time finalist for the Short Mystery Fiction Society’s Derringer Award, winning in 2019 for his story “The Bicycle Thief.” My plan is to work his novel, Superstition, into my TBR lost this year as well.

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We enjoyed hosting some of the writers of Virginia Fantastic this afternoon here at Parentheses. It’s so exciting to see writers telling their stories and having fun! Special thanks to James Blakey @jamesblakeyauthor and everyone that attended today to celebrate the book and future projects. I loved hearing that they are planning a high school student edition.

You guys were FANTASTIC!

#parenthesesbookshop #virginiafantastic #localauthorspotlight #harrisonburgva #readmorebooks📚❤️📚

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May 30, 4:00

Real places! Unreal stories! Welcome to Virginia Fantastic.

Join us this Saturday to celebrate local legends, haunted history, and wondrous tales as contributors to Virginia Fantastic gather to discuss their stories and sign copies of the anthology.

Be there! No ticket required.

It’s gonna be FANTASTIC! Jackie

#vafantastic #authorevent #parenthesesbookshop #parenthesesbooks #harrisonburgva

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Exciting and inventive with characters you’ll love 🪄

#currentlyreading

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‼️AUTHOR EVENT‼️We have the tall, feline devoted author @jamesblakeyauthor here signing his new book ~Superstition~. Come on stop by and chat with this author about the power of superstitions and the mysteries that surround them. @barnesandnoble

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Real places. Unreal stories. Welcome to Virginia Fantastic.

Discover a Virginia you’ve never imagined.

From the barrier islands of the Eastern Shore to historic Richmond, from the misty peaks of the Appalachians to the tree-lined streets of Arlington—discover stories where history collides with wonder, legends awaken, and the Commonwealth reveals its secrets.

This collection of forty-one spellbinding flash stories blends fantasy, science fiction, and subtle horror with a distinctly Virginian twist.

Wander Cold Harbor Battlefield where fallen soldiers still march. Share moments with presidential ghosts. Face fire-breathing dragons soaring over the Shenandoah Valley. Tread through the murky depths of the Great Dismal Swamp, where otherworldly creatures lurk. Smile at a clever feline lighthouse keeper tending the beacon at Cape Henry Lighthouse.

Perfect for fans of regional weird fiction, flash fiction enthusiasts, and anyone who loves seeing their home state through a speculative lens.

https://booksirens.com/book/DIROK9H/H69LXLQ

Official Publication Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026

The ebook is now available for pre-order here: https://amzn.to/3O9znuz

The paperback will be available to order starting April 21st.

Upcoming book events
* RavenCon, Richmond – April 24-26
* Blacksburg Books – May 3rd @ 5pm
* Barnes & Noble, Charlottesville – May 15th @ 6pm
* Parentheses Books, Harrisonburg – May 30th @ 4pm
* Winchester Book Gallery – May 31st @ Noon

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