The Novel Approach welcomes Rhys Ford on the Black Dog Blues blog tour today. This is Stop 9/Card 9, so if you’ve missed any, be sure to have a look at the tour schedule below to catch up.
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED
A few years ago, I wrote an urban fantasy called Black Dog Blues. When the book simmered and boiled in my brain, there were a few things I wanted to have in this book: An elf who was unapologetically bisexual and raised human, blood, gore, guns and monsters.I’d released it into the wilds of self-pubbing—mostly because there wasn’t a place for him then— and Kai did pretty well.
Then, one day at a yarn store, Elizabeth North of Dreamspinner Press fame, started talking about a new venture they were trying out—DSP Publications, DSP’s boutique genre imprint. Long story short, Elizabeth asked if I’d submit Black Dog Blues, I did and now, here we are—with Kai making his way into the mainstream.
Repackaged and gone over again for red squiggles, Black Dog Blues is getting a re-release on February 3rd and I can’t be more excited. The story is the same but Anne Cain rocked me a new cover, more in line with the urban fantasy feel of that genre, and I’ve had a chance to kick a few of the tires I wanted to kick in editing. The biggest thing about this re-release is that Kai is going out there again, and I can put his sequel firmly into my queue.
So to celebrate Black Dog Blues’ re-release, I’m holding a 12 stop blog tour where YOU can win a dragon. Well, a stuffed dragon. Who’s kind of goofy. And much less terrifying than the one Kai ran into. Leave a comment or use the widget the blog’s provided and enter to win one of these plush dragons! International welcome. Dragons for all. Mostly because man, they’re HUGE and take up a lot of space in the guest room.
As an added bonus, be sure to collect ALL of the Black Dog Blues trading cards and return to my blog rhysford.com at the end of the tour for a special giveaway. You’ll need the cards to enter. Winner will be chosen randomly from entrants with the correct answers.
Black Dog Blues Trading Card: These fine collectibles showcase some of the many creatures and inhabitants of Kai Gracen world. Just like life, there are no true good or evil creatures. It’s just that some of them are more wicked and deadlier than others.
If you’ve already read Black Dog Blues, thank you. REALLY. Thank you. You rock and you’ve made Black Dog Blues a success and got it notice. I cannot say thank you enough. No need to re-buy the book but if you’d left a review on Amazon—and have the time—repost it onto the new listing. Unlike Goodreads, re-release reviews don’t carry over. *grins*
If you haven’t read Black Dog Blues, ah—Kai really is my special precious, growly kitten. I adore writing him. I adore writing his world and man, there’s so many places to go with his story. I’m really looking forward to digging in.
Thank you again for letting my snarling elf have a space on your ebook reader. You all rock. Thank you.

Black Dog Blues Blurb: Ever since being part of the pot in a high-stakes poker game, elfin outcast Kai Gracen figures he used up his good karma when Dempsey, a human Stalker, won the hand and took him in. Following the violent merge of Earth and Underhill, the human and elfin races are left with a messy, monster-ridden world, and Stalkers are the only cavalry willing to ride to someone’s rescue when something shadowy appears.
It’s a hard life but one Kai likes—filled with bounty, a few friends, and most importantly, no other elfin around to remind him of his past. And killing monsters is easy. Especially since he’s one himself.
But when a sidhe lord named Ryder arrives in San Diego, Kai is conscripted to do a job for Ryder’s fledgling Dawn Court. It’s supposed to be a simple run up the coast during dragon-mating season to retrieve a pregnant human woman seeking sanctuary. Easy, quick, and best of all, profitable. But Kai ends up in the middle of a deadly bloodline feud he has no hope of escaping.
No one ever got rich being a Stalker. But then few of them got old either and it doesn’t look like Kai will be the exception.
Purchase Black Dog Blues at DSP Publications
Black Dog Blues is also available on Amazon and other fine eTailers.
Tour Stops:
Jan 28
3 Chicks After Dark
Jan 29
It’s About The Book
Boys in our Books
Jan 30
Joyfully Jay
Jan 31
TTC Books and More
Feb 1
Christy Duke—Christyloves2read
Boy Meets Boy
Feb 2
Reading Reality
Feb 3
Love Bytes
The Novel Approach
Feb 4
Prism Book Alliance
Feb 5
The Blogger Girls
About Rhys Ford: Rhys Ford was born and raised in Hawai’i then wandered off to see the world. After chewing through a pile of books, a lot of odd food, and a stray boyfriend or two, Rhys eventually landed in San Diego, which is a very nice place but seriously needs more rain.
Rhys admits to sharing the house with three cats of varying degrees of black fur and a ginger cairn terrorist. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird, a Toshiba laptop, and an overworked red coffee maker.
And at the Starbucks down the street. No really, they’re 24/7. And a drive-thru. It’s like heaven.
My books can be purchased, folded and first chapters read at Dreamspinner Press.





Lovely post and giveaway!!
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I need that Dragon. It is the perfect mate for my kitten. She’s gonna love it!
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I really am loving these cards! The fun fact on this one is great.
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I enjoyed the post the excerpt was really good and the book sounds intriguing.
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Picked up my trading card! Thanks for hosting Rhys!
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In the middle of reading it now – loving it so far!
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Wendigos are creepy, but the visual of them gorging on pizza from the bin is pretty funny. Thanks!!
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A jolly good reason to avoid dumpsters! Loving this tour.
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LOL! Dumpster divers for pizza :)
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Note to self: no taking naps near Italian restaurant dumpsters.
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::Starts a chant:: More Kai, More Kai, More Kai..::runs off giggling::
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Thanks for hosting Rhys ~ I LOVE her books! :)
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The fun facts on these cards crack me up!
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I especially like the wendigo fun fact.
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Not sure I’d like Wendigos as they might try and steal my pizzas (if they don’t eat me first :D )
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I love these cards. And every time I read ‘The size of a large cat! Becomes a pillow!’ I have to smile. Thanks again for the chance to win.
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Thanks for a chance to win the Dragon, I need it in my life :-D
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Wendigo always makes me think of Supernatural.
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WEndigos are supposed to be nasty creatures.
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Pizza?
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Another great card!
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I’ll need to sneak out back and take a look at the dumpster the next time I have pizza. :-)
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Great card. I love the cute dragon pillow:)
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Looking forward to reading. Thanks for a chance in the giveaway.
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ummm…..attractive critter….NOT!
glad they prefer pizzas :P
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Loved the book!
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So excited!
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Ugh…a bat. Love the fun fact though =)
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Hmmm…yeah I would not sleep with wendigos around o-0
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Pizza dumpster diving! Better than human flesh.
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I think I may have to purchase this again. My last laptop died and it was downloaded to there–I lost my kindle too. Nice cover though–so it is not all bad!
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I’m looking forward to reading this. Sounds awesome!
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4 feet tall! Scary! Love the cards and this is such a fun tour!
juliesmall2016(at)gmail(dot)com
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Ah, the wendigo! Haven’t seen a good wendigo since the early days of Supernatural. Theirs was a bit larger, but I’m sure yours is equally destructive. After all, size isn’t everything.
Thank you for the excellent cards, and best of luck with the re-release!
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nothing wrong with left over pizza. love these cards and I Want That Dragon!!!
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Great and enyojable post…
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I could have sworn that I had left a comment here! Oh, well … This has been a fun tour. Let’s do this again sometime!
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Great Tour! Love this book. <3
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Love the trading card!
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Good morning, dear readers, and many thanks to all of you for stopping by to enter Rhys’s Black Dog Blues Dragon Pillow Pet giveaway. The Novel Approach’s portion of the contest has now ended, and the winner’s been selected. Today’s lucky reader is
romanczukc
Congratulations to you! I’ve just send you an email with details on how to claim your prize, so be sure to check your inbox. :)
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