The Segmented Tail by Stanley Straub

3/31/2018

Multi-volume author, Stanley Straub, introduces us to The Segmented Tail:
The Segmented Tail is a gripping Science Fiction suspense thriller written in the vein of a Dean Koontz and Stephen King novel. The story starts in the small fictitious town of Bounder, Arizona. Creatures are seen that make screeching sounds and they scare and kill people in Bounder. When people are murdered, two detectives are assigned to investigate. The detectives fear for their lives as they get deeper and deeper into the investigation. What they uncover is something that no one could ever have imagined, aliens created by two animal experts accidentally mixing up alien DNA with Dinosaur DNA. The story winds its way from beginning to an exciting and unanticipated conclusion.

This story was a lot of fun to read. Stanley did a nice job of creating tension among many of his characters and the dread regarding the murderous creatures was quite palpable. I kept wondering who was going to be eaten next.
There were quite a few plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. The scene-setting, action, and dialog were good. The town of Bounder felt quite real.
I give The Segmented Tail a score of 4.5 stars! The score would have been higher but I found quite a few spelling errors. I believe they have been corrected, so the read will be that much smoother.
The author is working on a different book, “The Trail In the Woods” and I am looking forward to it. Thank you, Stanley.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Segmented-Tail-Stanley-Straub-ebook
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Segmented-Tail-Stanley-Straub-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-the-segmented-tail

You can follow the author:
twitter.com/Renownedwriter
www.facebook.com/stanley.straub.92
https://www.facebook.com/Stan-Straub-Author
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/76655467
Tags: mystery, thriller, monsters, police
Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

91 Comments

Stanley C Straub

4/2/2018 03:02:39 pm

I loved writing the book. It was a lot of work and it was equally a lot of fun. My wife who doesn't read much started reading the book and couldn't quit until she finished it. She said it was one of the best books she's ever read. I got the idea for the book from my daughter-in-law. She told me about cutting off a tail of something in her yard in Arizona. I thought to myself, that would make a good scary science fiction story. I started writing and the story just unfolded before my eyes. I hope that people will enjoy reading the book as much as I liked writing it. I've been writing for many years and have just now begun full-time writing. I'm currently working on my new thriller, The Trail in the Woods. It will be a suspense thriller also. PS. My wife is reading it and can't wait for me to finish each chapter. Stan Straub, Author

Mark

4/2/2018 03:09:08 pm

That is a great story! I love how a simple experience brought a book to life. What is the inspiration for the new book?

4/2/2018 03:49:15 pm

The new book was just something that I came up with on my own by thinking of a story that would be frightening. I thought how much scarier could something be than people hiking on a trail and then vanishing. From that thought, the story took off. Thanks for asking, Stan

Rhani D'Chae

4/2/2018 04:01:16 pm

I like books with plot twists & stuff. I'm going to look a little closer at this one. 😀

4/2/2018 04:03:56 pm

Hi Rhani,
I think you'll like the book. Once you start it'll be hard to put down until you finish it. A word of warning, it has a surprise ending. Let me know what you think of it. Stan

4/2/2018 04:13:14 pm

Rhani, I think you will enjoy the book! The last plot twist almost gave me kink in my neck! I totally didn't see it coming!

4/2/2018 04:08:13 pm

Want to let everyone know that I spend a good part of each day writing on my books. Sometimes I even have to let household chores go to do the writing. I get as caught up in the story as hopefully readers do. I can hardly wait for the ending. Sometimes I don't know what the ending will be and it just comes to me. (PS. I like surprise endings and I hope that readers do too.) Stan

4/2/2018 04:14:33 pm

I am glad you have your priorities straight. ;-) I am looking forward to Trail.

4/2/2018 04:16:27 pm

Thank you Mark. I try to keep priorities in order. :)

4/2/2018 04:11:57 pm

For anyone reading the review and/or book having any questions, please ask me. I love to write and I'll gladly answer any and every question. Thanks, Stan

4/3/2018 02:10:50 pm

Someone asked the question, do you work? Ans. I'm retired, but I work at my writing, which I call fun. Writing is fun if you enjoy it. Most writers like what they do and like to see their books in print. I'm no different than all the other writers. Writing books is as entertaining as reading books. It's my life and I love it. Stan

4/3/2018 02:22:39 pm

I am retired also. Not quite a year now. You are right, doing what you love isn't work. How long have you been retired? What did you do before retirement?
Do you plot a book out or are you a panster?

4/3/2018 02:45:56 pm

Hi Mark and thank you fopanr the questions. Before I begin, I'd like to congratulate you on your retirement. Retirement was one of the best things that I ever did. I retired from the Aerospace Industry (TRW, which is now Northrop Corporation in California) in 1997 after over 28 years as an electrical engineer and manager. I loved my work, but also found it quite stressful. I'm a semi-plotter and not a pantser. I have never written a story by just starting to write and seeing where it goes. I come up with a basic plot before starting my story. However, I don't plan out all the details or work up an outline. I let the story unfold and usually have only a general idea of how the story will end. The final ending usually comes to me as I'm writing the book. Stan

4/3/2018 03:55:35 pm

The aerospace industry is going through a lot of changes. Being a hybrid style writer sounds like it works well for you. How many books do you have published? What genres?

4/3/2018 06:37:45 pm

Hi Mark,
Again, thank you for your questions. I have published two books. The first one, The Killer Within, is a medical mystery thriller. The second book that you reviewed is, as you know, a science fiction thriller. My third book, I'm working on now, will be another thriller and is leaning toward being a science fiction novel. However, I reserve the right to change the genre of my newest book. It'll definitely be suspense. The ending may also be suspenseful and not revealed until it's published. :) Stan

4/3/2018 07:17:11 pm

Sci-fi is my favorite genre with fantasy close behind. Have you ever thought about writing something in first person POV? It can be very intimate to read.

4/3/2018 07:20:55 pm

Hi Mark,
No, I haven't tried writing something in the first person POV, but it sounds intriguing and I might give it a try sometime. Thanks for the question and the suggestion. Stan

4/3/2018 07:34:34 pm

I have learned there are different ways to write in First person POV. Michael Allan Scott writes his main character in first person, the others in third. Tessa Clare has written Divinity Bureau in alternating first person, each chapter is a different character's pov. Sometimes the chapters are consecutive, sometimes parallel.
How old were you when you wrote your first story?

4/3/2018 07:45:48 pm

Hi Mark,
I was about 55 when I started writing my first book, "The Killer Within". I had written many short stories prior to that. One of the first short stories I wrote was a science fiction story titled "The Return". I wrote it for an English class I was taking in college. The teacher said it was really good and read it to the other classes that she taught. She told me that I should keep writing and that someday I would get published. That really encouraged me, but it took a few years before it actually happened. I've also written a few short stories and poems. However, I prefer writing thrillers and science fiction. Thanks again for asking, Stan

4/3/2018 07:48:40 pm

What do you think now of that story you wrote in college? Do you agree with the teacher's assessment? How many short stories have you published?

4/3/2018 07:55:45 pm

Hi Mark,

Yes, I agree with the teachers assessment. The story showed a lot of imagination and that's what the teacher liked. I've only published a couple of short stories, both of which can be found on Amazon.com. One is humor, "Wally and the Fisherman" and the other is serious and is about a lady in a nursing home. I wrote the serious story for a year-end newspaper contest. It didn't win, but several people said they liked it. It's titled "A Grandma for Nicole". Thanks again for the great questions, Stan

4/3/2018 08:35:19 pm

I want to read the funny one, I really enjoy laughing.
Do you have favorite authors? One dead and one living?

4/3/2018 08:53:09 pm

Hi again Mark,

You can get the funny story at:
https://www.amazon.com/Wally-Fisherman-Stanley-Straub-ebook/dp/B005CWFKDS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522802790&sr=8-1&keywords=wally+and+the+fisherman

Two of my favorite authors that are now deceased were Arthur C Clarke and Robert A. Heinlein. My favorite living author is Dean Koontz. Again thank you for the great questions, Stan

4/3/2018 10:06:16 pm

The short story was cute. I enjoy a good laugh. Wally is pretty smart alright, but that almost was his downfall too. Have you thought about writing more humor? Yes, I found a homophone error.
Is Dean Koontz into splatter and gore? You could have put a lot of gore into The Segmented Tail, but you didn't.

4/3/2018 10:44:42 pm

Hi again,

Wally and the Fisherman was a short story I wrote several years ago. You only found one homophone error. I'm surprised that is all you found. :) I might write more humor, but not until at least I finish The Trail in the Woods. lol Dean Koontz isn't too much into splatter and gore, but he does add a lot of scary fantasy to his stories. I'm not really into gore. I could do it, but that's just not me. I prefer keeping it more routine with just suspense and frightening parts. Thanks for your questions, Stan

4/3/2018 10:54:55 pm

I do like your approach to thrillers. I might pick up one of Koontz's books later.
Are you reading anything right now?

4/3/2018 10:58:33 pm

I'm not reading anything at the moment. I'm too busy writing on my new novel. It takes up a lot of time.

4/3/2018 11:22:06 pm

That makes sense that you are too busy to read because you are writing. Do you write in long stretches or short bursts?

4/4/2018 12:50:07 am

I do both bursts and long stretches. Usually, I'll write for awhile and then I get up and take a break. Too much sitting makes my back hurt and I need to get away and take a walk. Stan

4/4/2018 02:37:11 pm

I relate to that. Do you ever struggle with writer's block? How do you overcome it?

4/4/2018 02:40:09 pm

Hi Mark,

Maybe I'm lucky, but I've never experienced writer's block. So, not sure what I would do if I did have it. I guess I would write down what the paragraph or chapter is about that I'm writing on and see if it would unblock the block. :)

4/4/2018 05:41:32 pm

I should have mentioned that, although I don't get writer's block, I do get writer's burnout and have to just get away from, time-to-time, from my writing. After walking away for awhile, sometimes hours and sometimes days, I come back refreshed and get right back into it. It's like taking a vacation. Stan

4/4/2018 05:46:33 pm

That makes a lot of sense. Do you have a writers group you participate in? Writer friends you hang out with and share writing problems?

4/4/2018 05:50:04 pm

When I lived in Cottage Grove, Oregon before moving here to Lebanon, Oregon in 2014, I belonged to a writer's group where we supported each other and had weekly meetings. I do not currently belong to any writer's groups here nor do I hang out with other writers. Stan

4/4/2018 07:40:22 pm

What kinds of software have you tried to write a book with?

4/6/2018 10:00:43 pm

Did you know there are writer groups on Twitter? There are several, I can think of one at the moment RRBC, Rave Reviews Book Club. What do you think about joining one?

4/4/2018 07:48:22 pm

Hi Mark,
I use Windows 10 and Word for my writing and then, lately, I've been checking my writing with SpellCheckPlus.

4/4/2018 08:04:21 pm

You haven't tried any of the fancy software like Scrivner? Have you tried Grammarly? Who makes Spell Check Plus?

4/4/2018 08:19:43 pm

No, I haven't tried any of the fancy software. I'll have to check out Scrivner. Once I find something that works, I usually just stick with it. I don't know who makes Spell Check Plus, here is the website. http://pro.spellcheckplus.com/ Stan

4/4/2018 09:40:30 pm

I have tried Grammarly and a couple of others, they miss stuff I find.
Thanks for the link, I will check it out. Do you have any hobbies?

4/4/2018 09:53:52 pm

I used to ride motorcycles and jog. I quit riding my motorcycle and sold it four years ago when I met my new wife who doesn't ride and doesn't want to. I have ran 5 marathons years ago and used to run all the time, but because of age and bad back I have given it up. However, I still try to get on my treadmill and use it from time-to-time. I also used to ride a bicycle all the time before I started riding a motorcycle. The only other thing I do when I'm not writing is read. Again, thank you for the questions, Stan

4/4/2018 10:40:36 pm

Have you ever thought about trying a different genre, one that you haven't tried yet?

4/4/2018 10:52:45 pm

Yes, maybe someday. However, for now, I'm locked into Science Fiction and suspense. Who knows what I might try in the future. I've thought about writing romances, but not sure that I want to write in that genre. Again thanks for the great questions, Stan

4/5/2018 12:10:50 pm

Do you write yourself or others into the story? Partially or whole?

4/5/2018 12:20:04 pm

I normally don't write myself or others into my stories. I do put in some of my personal ideas and philosophy, but not my character or anyone else. However, with that said, I did put myself into my first book, The Killer Within. :) (I'm Bob in my first book.)

4/5/2018 01:23:55 pm

I think it would be difficult to not have some of your beliefs in your books.

Do you write on a schedule? Do you have a specific place that you do your writing in? Does music help or hinder your writing?

4/5/2018 01:28:47 pm

I do not write on a schedule. I have an office that I write in. I couldn't write at all while listening to music. It would distract me too much. When I'm writing, I need to fully concentrate on what I'm writing.

4/5/2018 02:38:38 pm

I am with you, the radio goes off when concentration is required, usually for proofreading.
There are a lot of people working on their first book. I have heard more than one editor say the first book should never be published, because the author learns so much in that initial process. What do you think of that?

4/5/2018 02:53:09 pm

That's probably true about first time authors and their first book. However, I know how excited I was to get my first book published and to see it in print. I think anyone that puts a lot of work into a book will want to see it published. However, I do agree that authors learn a lot from writing and their first book is definitely a learning process. On the other hand, every new book a writer writes is a learning process and an author will get better and better with each new book. So, if an author waited for perfection, they'd never publish anything. LOL

4/5/2018 03:33:29 pm

That has to be a really good feeling to see your baby in print and hold the first copy in your hands.
What advice would you give to a new author?

4/5/2018 03:39:20 pm

You're right about it being a fantastic feeling to see your book in print and to hold it in your hand. My advice to a new author would be to not give up and to continue writing. Try to make each new book that you write better than the last one. If you are meant to write, then write and never quit. Always feel that your next book will be a blockbuster. If you keep it up, someday it will be. Thanks Mark for another great and thought provoking question, Stan

4/5/2018 03:51:53 pm

Good advice. Glad you are enjoying our conversation, I am certainly having fun.
Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing? Did it change the way you write?

4/5/2018 04:32:07 pm

Mark, Thanks for the questions. I'm enjoying the the conversation and having fun also. I haven't actually read just one book that changed the way I write, but I have read lots of books on writing and together they form how I write. One good book is "Guide to Good Writing" from the editors of Writer's Digest. I take a little something from each book I read. I feel that as writers we should always try to improve our writing. By reading books on writing, it can make us a better writer, but we have to apply what we read. Stan

4/5/2018 07:51:17 pm

What is the best money you ever spent to advance your writing career?

4/5/2018 08:45:32 pm

I’ve spent some money advertising my book on Amazon, Facebook, and a couple of book promotional sites, but so far nothing has resulted in any more book sales. However, I keep hoping. What I’m finding out is that it’s very difficult to get people to read new books let alone sell books. Keeping fingers crossed that sales will take off. 😀 Thanks for asking, Stan

4/5/2018 08:52:32 pm

I hope you sell a bunch of books also. Have you done a book signing or a public reading of one of your books?

4/5/2018 09:05:37 pm

No, so far I have not done a book signing or a public reading. I wold think that both would be helpful, but have done any. I did book readings in a book store in Cottage Grove Oregon when I lived there, but none here in Lebanon Oregon. We only have one book store here and it’s very small. Thanks again for asking, Stan

4/5/2018 09:12:02 pm

Are your books on the shelf in that bookstore? Being a local author would be a nice hook I think.
How hard is self-publishing? Will you continue to do it?

4/5/2018 10:40:07 pm

Hi Mark,
No, my books are not on the bookshelves in that bookstore. I tried to do that, but the owner wasn't interested. I wanted to put them in the book store and give a local discounted price. However, so far, that hasn't worked out. Self publishing isn't exceptionally hard, but self promoting is. I'm not sure whether I will continue to self-publish or not. I probably will though, because very few authors actually get publishers to accept them. My guess is that the majority of writers are self-published and they, like me, hope that they'll be discovered. At least, self-publishing gets your book in print and out where it might get discovered by a publisher. Thanks for asking, Stan

4/6/2018 01:36:08 pm

Too bad the local angle didn't work out. Have you thought about nearby communities? The public library?
I understand there are many ways of self-publishing. Why did you choose the path you did?

4/6/2018 01:45:29 pm

Hi Mark and again thank you for the questions. Since I wrote my last comment, there's been a change. I'm scheduled to have a book signing in the local bookstore on 7 June from 4 to 7 pm. I'll be there along with two other authors. Hopefully, it'll help. Why did I choose the path of self-publishing? I sent off query letters until I ran out of paper and envelopes and never got any positive responses. I did this on my first book and on my second book. I never received even a response on the tons of queries I sent to the many publishers and agents. I wrote and rewrote my query letters, but never heard any replies. I know that they say you have to keep doing it and I did, bu t still no responses. So, after awhile, one finally gives up and goes the self-publishing route. One problem about self-publishing is that you have to do "all" the promoting, whereas publishers will do a lot of that for the author. Thanks, Stan

4/6/2018 01:52:06 pm

Congratulations on the signing! I hope that will be fun. What is the name of the bookstore?
I can sure appreciate the frustration of no responses. Did you use Createspace or some other publisher?
Did you know I have a list of indie publishers on my Twitter home page?

4/6/2018 02:02:12 pm

Thank you for the congratulations. The bookstore is Think Brain Candy books and Tea. It's a very small bookstore, but at least it's a start and hopefully will be fun. I did use Createspace and Amazon Direct Publishing for my books. I found them relatively easy to use and inexpensive. I was not aware that you have a list of indie publishers on your Twitter page. Stan

4/6/2018 03:53:24 pm

I have about 20 lists of people who provide services for authors on my Twitter home page.
Is there a particular type of scene that is hard for you to write?

4/6/2018 03:56:08 pm

Hi Mark,
No, I don't have a problem writing any particular scene. To me, that's just part of writing. I'll check out your lists of people providing services. Thanks again for the questions and suggestion, Stan

4/6/2018 05:43:00 pm

You are welcome. Did you ever read your books aloud while writing them? Have you thought of writing an audio book or converting one of your books to an audio book?

4/6/2018 05:46:19 pm

The answer to all those questions is no. I haven't read one aloud while writing it and I haven't really thought about writing an audio book or converting one to an audio book. Maybe, someday, but I would want some idea of what I would gain by doing it. Thanks for asking, Stan

4/6/2018 06:36:44 pm

When you have time to read, do you prefer an e-book or a physical book?

4/6/2018 07:05:39 pm

I prefer a physical book.

4/6/2018 07:21:35 pm

This was just posted by West Coast Bob on Google+:
Very good book (The Segmented Tail). I enjoyed the story-line. Keep up the good work.

4/6/2018 07:30:45 pm

Congratulations on that review! Have you ever had a bad review? Did it change your writing in any way?

4/6/2018 07:52:06 pm

Yes, on my first book, The Killer Within. It was from a publisher and basically said that it went off in too many directions. I agreed with the assessment and have tried to write differently because of that review. Stan

4/6/2018 08:17:10 pm

What are your thoughts about mentoring other writers?

4/6/2018 08:32:13 pm

I really haven’t thought about it. I’m having a hard enough time mentoring myself. Lol

4/7/2018 12:18:08 am

Hi Mark,
Thanks for the suggestion about joining a Twitter book club. I'll look into it. Stan

4/7/2018 12:34:04 pm

I have over a dozen lists of people who have a service authors will find helpful, including reviewers, bloggers, promoters, editors, publishers, coaches, and more.
Let's go back in time a bit. Did you have a favorite book as a child? Were you writing stories as a child? Do you remember anything about those stories?

4/7/2018 12:47:00 pm

That's going back a long ways, even before my time. lol As a child, I loved books. I loved to go to town with my mother and go with her into stores where I'd usually find a book to have her buy for me. One book, which I still have, is an old book about animals. I was fascinated by the pictures in the book. I didn't start writing stories until I was out of High School. I would start writing a story and usually not finish it. I had lots of ideas. It wasn't until I got into college that I started finishing the stories that I was writing. I don't remember much about them. I still have a box of papers with stories I started on them. Thanks for asking. The question brings back lots of memories, Stan

4/7/2018 02:59:47 pm

Do you find it difficult to write a female character? Why or why not?

4/7/2018 03:12:13 pm

I don’t have a problem writing a female character or from a female point of view. I think it’s something that all writers should be able to do. Stan

4/7/2018 08:05:07 pm

When you were editing and rewriting The Segmented Tail, were there any large parts or plot points you took out and why? Or did you realize that you needed more to make it flow better?

4/7/2018 08:28:36 pm

When I first wrote The Segmented Tail, I realized that it was too short and had to add a lot more to the story. At first, I thought it would be very difficult to add to something that was all done, but as I started adding I realized that the story actually flowed better and was more complete. Stan PS. I'm taking advantage of the lull in questions and have been writing on my new book. I've added a few pages today.

4/8/2018 06:13:31 pm

I am glad you are writing, since I don't want to be an interruption the interrogation will end soon. Is there anything you wish I had asked, but didn't? Any last thoughts?

4/8/2018 06:20:33 pm

Thank you Mark,
I've really enjoyed this conversation and only wish that others would have joined it. I asked and begged, but it's like pulling your own teeth. So far, no one else has joined. Question you could have asked. Do you ever feel like giving up? Ans. I've been writing for a long time and I have taken a break for many years, especially after my first wife passed away in August of 2012. It took a lot out of me and only recently have I jumped back in with all four (two?) feet. Last thoughts, If you love to write, like I do, never quit. Someday, you'll not only be a published writer, but you may just set the world on-fire. Thank you again, Mark. If you have any other questions or thoughts yourself, please ask. Maybe, I will need a short break, Stan

4/9/2018 05:19:10 pm

Hi Mark,
Per your suggestion, I just joined the Twitter Rave Reviews Book Club. I hope it pays off. I need more reviews and hopefully this will help me get some. Thanks for the suggestion, Stan

4/12/2018 08:53:21 pm

Glad to hear that. I bet it will work out well for you.

4/13/2018 01:06:33 pm

Thanks Mark. I also hope that it works well. Sounds like a good group of people.

Bette Stevens link

4/12/2018 04:36:58 pm

Kudos on a great review, Stan! :) Sharing...

4/12/2018 08:54:40 pm

Thanks for visiting my website Bette. I hope you had the chance to look around a bit. Did you find the humor page? It's full of word and grammar jokes.

4/12/2018 08:58:44 pm

Thank you Bette. 😀😀😀

4/25/2018 02:36:07 pm

Thank you Bette. I appreciate your words. Stan

6/1/2018 03:07:35 pm

Thanks again Stanley.

The Segmented Tail by Stanley Straub

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