My Novels

The Haunted Speakeasy is Available for Preorder

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Okay, deep breath, because this one feels big.

I’m ridiculously excited (and a little emotional, if I’m being honest) to finally say that The Haunted Speakeasy is officially up for preorder on Amazon.

You can grab it right now right here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GC9NSF7L

This book is the third installment in the Lucien Knight series, and I swear—every time I think Lucien has seen the worst the spirit world can throw at him, I prove myself wrong. In The Haunted Speakeasy, he comes face-to-face with his most terrifying and dangerous ghost yet, and let’s just say… the dead are not feeling particularly cooperative this time around.

What The Haunted Speakeasy Is About (No Spoilers, Promise)

When Lucien Knight arrives at one of Chicago’s most glamorous underground clubs, he expects trouble—just not the kind that reaches out from beyond the grave. The Velvet Vice is a place of music, secrets, and carefully buried sins, and something there refuses to stay quiet. As strange “accidents” begin piling up and a restless spirit makes its presence violently known, Lucien finds himself pulled into a mystery rooted in betrayal, love, and a death that was never truly laid to rest. To stop the haunting, he’ll have to untangle the club’s dark past and confront a ghost who isn’t just angry—but determined.

A few important details if you’re planning ahead (because I know some of you like to):

📘 Ebook: Will be available in Kindle Unlimited, so KU readers are covered.
📚 Paperback & Hardcover: These will be available directly from my site at rogerhyttinenbooks.com, as well as through other online retailers. If you like ordering direct or prefer a physical copy, I’ve got you.
🗓️ Release date: The book officially goes on sale February 10th.

I can’t overstate how happy I am to be bringing this third Lucien book into the world. This series has become something really special to me. Truth be told—and I mean this wholeheartedly—I’m having an absolute blast writing it. The characters, the atmosphere, the ghosts with opinions… it’s the kind of project that reminds me why I started doing this in the first place.

So if you’ve been following Lucien’s journey, thank you for sticking with him. And if you’re new to the series—welcome. Just know that once you step into this speakeasy, things are going to get strange, dangerous, and very hard to leave behind.

More soon. Always more soon.

The Haunted Speakeasy is Available for Preorder Read Post »

🎶 It’s Here! Spectral Symphony Has Officially Hit the World 🎶

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book cover for Spectral Symphony, young man in Fedora in front of Carnegie Opera Hall

Okay, I’ve been sitting on this news for a bit and trying not to be that person who blurts things out before coffee, but… I can’t help it.

Book two in my Lucien Knight series, Spectral Symphony, is officially out in the wild.
And yes, I am doing that awkward author thing where I pace the room, refresh browser tabs, and mutter, “Well… here we go.”

If you’ve already met Lucien, you know he’s a paranormal detective with a complicated relationship with ghosts, music, and his own past. If you haven’t—welcome. You’re about to meet a man who keeps trying to live a quiet life and keeps failing spectacularly.

🎼 So what’s Spectral Symphony about?

It starts the way bad ideas often do:
a terrified stranger.
a scrap of sheet music that shouldn’t exist.
and a sense that something has gone deeply sideways.

Lucien wants normal cases. Cheating spouses. Missing people who just don’t want to be found. Instead, he gets a ghost who won’t stop playing the piano, a violin note that echoes where no one stands, and a very prestigious opera house quietly losing its mind.

The music is wrong. Not “out of tune” wrong—dangerous wrong.

And as Lucien digs into what’s happening behind the velvet curtains of New York’s classical music scene, he finds obsession, ambition, murder, and secrets that refuse to stay buried. The deeper he listens, the harder it gets to tell whether the dead are warning him… or luring him in.

Also? His personal life is a mess. Because of course it is.

📚 Where you can grab it

Here’s the good news:

So whether you’re a digital reader, a “must smell the paper” reader, or someone who likes their shelves looking dramatic, you’re covered.

💭 Author confession time

I’m having so much fun writing these Lucien Knight books.

They let me lean into moody settings, sharp dialogue, queer characters who get to be messy and human, and supernatural mysteries that don’t play fair. Every time I start a new one, I think, okay, this is the one where I calm down—and then I absolutely do not.

I really hope you enjoy Spectral Symphony as much as I loved writing it. And if you already read book one and were wondering where Lucien would end up next… trust me, things are only getting stranger from here.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for supporting indie authors. And thanks for sticking with me while I keep unleashing haunted detectives into the world.

🎶 It’s Here! Spectral Symphony Has Officially Hit the World 🎶 Read Post »

Weekly Roundup for Nov 1, 2025 + Book Announcement

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In Case You Missed It… Murder at the Savoy Is Up for Preorder!

So, in case you didn’t catch yesterday’s post (or you were off doing something much more glamorous, like alphabetizing your bookshelves), I finally have actual, honest-to-goodness news to share: Murder at the Savoy is officially up for preorder! Yep, the first book in my Lucien Knight Mysteries series is stepping out into the world in a crisp trench coat and a suspiciously haunted fedora.

This one’s been a long time coming. I’ve been yammering about it forever—plot tweaks, ghostly shenanigans, 1930s detectives with secrets—and now it’s finally real. The series blends detective noir with the paranormal, which basically means moody lighting, cigarette smoke curling in the air, and the occasional ghost who refuses to stay quiet. Lucien Knight is my prickly, skeptical detective who’d prefer to deal with cold cases over cold spots, but fate has other plans.

If you’re an ebook reader, you can snag your preorder now and have it magically appear on your device when it’s released (technology still feels like witchcraft sometimes). But if you’re like me and love the feel of a physical book—the smell of ink, the weight of a story in your hands—you don’t even have to wait. The paperback and large print editions are already available on my web store, and if you’re loyal to Amazon, the paperback’s up there too.

Below is the big cover reveal, and I’m ridiculously proud of it. It’s got that smoky, vintage noir feel I’ve been chasing since I first dreamed up Lucien skulking through a rain-slick alley with his overcoat collar turned up.

Anyway, thank you all for being so patient with me while I fussed, rewrote, and talked your ears off about this book. It feels wild to finally say: it’s out there.

Murder at the Savoy book cover

Some Things I Thought Were Worth Sharing

My author friends may find this of value: Tawny Lara on Embracing the Sh#tty First Draft https://lithub.com/tawny-lara-on-embracing-the-shtty-first-draft/

My writer friends may find this of value: How Proper Body Position Fuels Health and Creativity https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/10/the-writers-stance/

The 20 most important LGBTQ+ films of the past 20 years https://www.queerty.com/the-20-most-important-lgbtq-films-of-the-past-20-years-20251024/

Kit Connor stepping into his movie-star era under an iconic gay director? Yes please.
The queer film world keeps getting richer. https://www.queerty.com/kit-connors-link-up-with-an-iconic-gay-director-has-fan-ready-for-his-movie-star-era-20251023/

My author friends may find this of interest: When Your Imaginary World Becomes Real https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/10/when-your-imaginary-world-becomes-real/

My writer friends may find this article about reviews of value: https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/10/reviews-light-the-way/

James Whale—openly gay, brilliantly bold—and behind Frankenstein, The Invisible Man & The Old Dark House. The 1930s didn’t know how lucky they were. https://www.queerty.com/this-handsome-out-gay-director-was-behind-some-of-the-biggest-horror-films-of-the-1930s-20251021/

Lukas Gage says his brief, high-profile marriage to stylist Chris Appleton cost him acting opportunities — and that kind of honest candour? It matters. https://greginhollywood.com/lukas-gage-says-brief-but‐high‐profile-marriage-to‐chris-appleton-cost-him-acting-opportunities-248216

‘Playing for both teams’ took on a whole different meaning: 6 queer agents from history working in the shadows. 🕵️‍♂️🌈 https://www.advocate.com/news/gay-queer-spies-double-agents

My author friends may find this piece about censorship of value: Yiming Ma on the Future of Censorship https://lithub.com/yiming-ma-on-the-future-of-censorship/

My writers friends may find this piece on ‘dialog tips’ of value: 10 Dialogue Tips to Consider before You Start Writing https://www.livewritethrive.com/2025/09/29/10-dialogue-tips-to-consider-before-you-start-writing/

Pablo Alborán is ready to dominate …with a new album, tour & Netflix series alongside Manu Ríos https://www.queerty.com/pablo-alboran-is-ready-to-dominate-with-a-new-album-tour-netflix-series-alongside-manu-rios-20251014/

These folks nailed Halloween — From clever DIYs to full-on showpieces, check out the best costume wins of the year! https://www.boredpanda.com/best-creative-halloween-costumes-2022/

When drag meets storytime and reading meets revolution — Nina West shows how her childhood love of books paved the way for a drag career and a mission: to give all kids a hero who sees them. https://lithub.com/why-drag-queen-story-hour-matters/

Monochrome magic: These 9 winning photos from the 2025 Black & White Photo Awards show why stripping away color can still tell the strongest stories. https://www.peta pixel.com/2025/08/20/the-9-marvelous-winners-of-the-2025-black-and-white-photo-awards/

Weekly Roundup for Nov 1, 2025 + Book Announcement Read Post »

Guess What’s Finally Happening? Murder at the Savoy Is Up for Preorder!

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Okay, deep breath. After talking your ears off about this one for what feels like forever, Murder at the Savoy—the first book in my Lucien Knight Mysteries series—is officially available for preorder! Cue the dramatic noir saxophone.

This series has been brewing in my head for ages: picture 1930s Chicago, a haunted nightclub, a skeptical detective with a knack for attracting the supernatural, and just enough danger to make you check behind your curtains at night. It’s detective noir with a paranormal twist, served with a splash of whiskey and a dash of ghostly menace. Lucien Knight is the kind of man who would rather mind his own business, but trouble (and the occasional ghost) keeps finding him anyway.

If you’re an ebook reader, the preorder is live and waiting for you—but if you’re more of a hold-it-in-your-hands kind of person, the paperback and large-print paperback are already up on my web store. And yes, for those loyal to the Big A, the paperback’s available on Amazon too (as always, the Large Print edition is a web store exclusive on my site).

It’s such a weird feeling seeing it out there—the book that’s been haunting my to-do list for months is now an actual thing you can buy. I’m equal parts thrilled, nervous, and slightly caffeinated. Below is the official cover reveal, which I am completely obsessed with. It nails that smoky, vintage atmosphere I’ve been chasing since page one.

Murder at the Savoy cover

Thanks to everyone who’s followed along while I muttered about plot holes, ghosts, and suspicious detectives in fedoras. You’ve been my sanity through the chaos.

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Big News, Ghost Fans! The Nick Michelson Box Sets Have Landed !

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Okay, okay, so I’ve been sitting on this for a while now, and it’s been killing me not to blurt it out the second it went live—but here we go: my entire Ghost Oracle series is officially available as two shiny, spooky eBook box sets!That’s right. All six books. Boom. Packaged up like haunted candy for your reading pleasure.

Let me back up for a second in case you’re like, “Wait, who’s Nick Michelson?” First of all, hi, welcome, I love that you’re here. Second, Nick is my boy—my stubborn, sarcastic, ghost-seeing high schooler turned reluctant medium/detective/savior of the barely living. Over the course of six books, he’s tangled with angry spirits, shadowy demons, and way too many people who don’t understand personal boundaries (some of whom are dead, which makes it worse, honestly). He’s a little bit of a disaster, but he means well. He has a tendency to make bad choices under pressure, and I think that’s what makes him so real to me. Also, he talks to ghosts, so there’s that.

Anyway. If you’ve been meaning to catch up on the series but kept getting distracted by, like, life or grocery shopping or the terrifying abyss that is your email inbox—this is the moment. I’ve split the series into two parts:

  • Books 1–3 (aka: The “Nick just wants to graduate high school without being haunted to death” years)
  • Books 4–6 (aka: “Nick has zero chill left and also demons are literally hunting him” era)

They’re available now in handy-dandy box set form, which means you get to binge, baby. You can curl up with a blanket and dive straight from one paranormal crisis to the next without even having to click “next book.” The ghosts don’t take breaks, so why should you?

And here’s the part where I get slightly math-y but in a fun way: if you grab both box sets, you’ll save around $4 total. That’s basically a small fancy coffee, or like, a third of a sandwich at a bougie café. So yes, there’s a financial incentive, but mostly I just want you to hang out with Nick and the gang and get fully swept up in his ghost-whispering chaos.

These box sets are filtering their way down into all your favorite online retailers as we speak. If you’re an Amazon or Kobo user, you’re already golden—they’re live and waiting for you right this second. Other platforms are rolling them out this week, so keep an eye out if you’ve got a favorite storefront you like to haunt (pun entirely intended).

Also—and I know I always say this—but if you do check them out, drop me a line. Send me a DM, scream into the void, or write me a cryptic message in mirror fog like a true ghost oracle. I love hearing from you all, especially when you yell at me about plot twists or cry over Nick. (Sorry. Not sorry.)

That’s all for now, folks. I’ll be over here lighting a protective candle and plotting my next fictional haunting. Happy reading—and remember: if a ghost asks you for help, maybe ask some follow-up questions before agreeing.

Ghost Oracle Box Set: Books 1-3
Buy at Amazon
Buy at Kobo

Ghost Oracle Box Set: Books 4-6
Buy at Amazon
Buy at Kobo

Big News, Ghost Fans! The Nick Michelson Box Sets Have Landed ! Read Post »

New Nick Novella Coming Soon

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book cover for Nick's Awakening

Okay, so I’ve gotten quite a few emails lately—more than a few, actually—from readers asking if I’m ever going to write another book in the Ghost Oracle world. Some of you were super polite about it, like “Would you ever consider it?” and others basically shouted “MORE NICK MICHELSON, PLEASE” (you know who you are). And honestly? I’ve thought about it. Not in a “clear my calendar, it’s happening now” way, but it’s definitely been lurking in the back of my brain like a ghost that never fully crossed over. So while I don’t have any immediate plans to write a whole new book in the series, I have decided to do something a little fun. A little extra. A little haunted.

I’m working on a brand-new Ghost Oracle novella. Yep. It’ll feature Nick, some supernatural shenanigans, and—this is your teaser alert—a haunted video arcade. (Because of course.) I just started outlining it, but it’s already got that weird, goosebumpy energy I love writing, and I think you’re gonna have a blast with it. Best part? It’s going to be completely free for newsletter subscribers. Past subscribers, current subscribers, new subscribers, time-traveling subscribers from the future—I’m not picky. It’s a thank-you gift, really. You’ve all been so supportive, and this is my way of saying I see you and appreciate the heck out of you.

Anyway, thanks as always for reading and being part of this little spooky book club we’ve accidentally created. More updates soon—probably with ghosts, possibly with neon lights. Stay tuned.

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A liitle update — and a newish book out now

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vintage writer with quill pen

Whew. So, big news first: I officially shut down my day job. Yep. After nearly two decades of that chapter in my life, I finally slammed the door, locked it, and maybe even set the keys on fire a little bit. I mean…not literally. But yeah, I’m free now—free to dive headfirst into writing like I’ve always wanted to. And let me tell you, the words have been flowing. Like, coffee-pot-left-on-overnight level flowing.

Right now, I’m elbows-deep in my new detective noir series set in 1937, and it stars this sharp, broody, secretly tender gay detective named Lucien Knight. He’s the kind of guy who orders whiskey straight and pretends not to believe in ghosts—until one throws a barstool at his head. The poor guy wants to be a “normal” detective handling “normal” cases but just keeps ending up knee-deep in ghosts. It’s a vibe.

I’ve written the first two books in the series (I know, right??) and a third one’s already fully outlined and itching to be drafted. I’m very much a plotter, not a throw-it-at-the-wall-and-hope-it-sticks kind of writer, so I’ve got every twist and red herring lined up like little literary ducklings. Of course, we’re still in first draft territory, which means the editing phase is coming at me like a freight train. But I’m weirdly excited about that, too. There’s something satisfying about sanding a story down till it shines like a cursed dagger in a smoky back alley.

So yeah, expect to see  a lot more from me going forward. No more juggling jobs and sacrificing sleep to write a paragraph here and there—I’m in this full-time now, and I couldn’t be happier.

And for those of you who missed it, my latest novel, “The Golem’s Guardian” is out now. You can snatch it here, if you’d like. The synopsis is below:

Blurb

David Rosen’s life as a Brooklyn librarian is predictably ordinary—until the night he accidentally brings a tiny clay figure to life. Suddenly, David discovers he possesses an extraordinary gift passed down through generations of his Jewish ancestors: the ability to create golems, magical protectors formed from clay and ancient mysticism.

As David struggles to understand his newfound powers, two unexpected forces enter his life: Jacob, a charismatic social worker who captures David’s heart, and a shadowy sorcerer wreaking supernatural havoc across Brooklyn. When the mysterious villain—known only as the Shadow—threatens everything David holds dear, he must embrace his heritage and master his abilities before it’s too late.

With guidance from a wise rabbi and support from his sister Sarah, David crafts a towering clay guardian powerful enough to protect his community. But every time the golem fights, David pays a physical price. As a rare celestial alignment approaches that will amplify both his power and the Shadow’s, David faces an impossible choice: risk everything to stop the darkness, or protect himself and lose the man he’s grown to love.
In a world where ancient magic meets modern Brooklyn, one reluctant hero discovers that true strength comes not from power, but from the courage to use it wisely.

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