Press
When Angels Fail To Fly -
A Steve Cassidy Mystery
December 2009 – Windsor, ON.
Canadian author John Schlarbaum’s troubled private investigator Steve Cassidy is back for a second mystery involving murder, intrigue, insurance scams, missing persons, former and current loves, and his distinctive sarcastic loathing for everyone, including himself.
In 2008, the first book in The Steve Cassidy Mystery series, Barry Jones’ Cold Dinner was released to positive reviews and solid sales. The new novel, When Angels Fail To Fly finds the main character again at odds with the law, the press, friends, and even other investigators.
After regaining some personal redemption at the conclusion of the last adventure, the disgraced former ex-cop’s life seems back on track. His P.I. business is booming and he’s settled down with his girlfriend. Even a true crime novel about his celebrated cold case file portrays him as a reformed man and one to watch. Unfortunately, several people are watching him these days. When mysterious events happen to Steve’s loved ones, people begin to question his every move. To complicate life further, a cryptic phone call begins a new investigation into the bizarre death of a woman keeping a fatal secret.
“In the first novel Steve Cassidy was a man on a mission, not only to solve a big case, but to make amends for past personal and professional transgressions,” author and former private investigator Schlarbaum states. “Unfortunately, I could only scratch the surface of his many self-inflicted failures. After Barry Jones’ Cold Dinner release, many readers asked if more of Steve’s so-called lost years would be revealed in the sequel. I am happy to say by the end of this book, everyone will know exactly what makes Steve tick, although they might not agree with some of his decisions.”
In contrast to the first book’s leisurely small-town investigative tempo, When Angels Fail To Fly is fast-paced throughout, as Steve attempts to stay ahead of the authorities and the press.
“I envisioned a road trip-type investigation, with Steve travelling from city to city searching for clues. However, the characters would lead me in other directions, usually ending with Steve on the run!”
Another new feature Schlarbaum undertook was writing a separate story-within-the-story, introducing key players of the case before Steve Cassidy’s investigation really begins.
“I have often thought of writing a ‘fictional true crime’ story – outlining the crime in question, and profiling the different players. That is what I’ve done with several chapters in this sequel, writing in a third-person narrative, giving the reader a glimpse into the personalities of those involved in Steve’s investigation. The reader – now knowing the true circumstances – will then be carried along his wild investigative ride thinking, ‘How is Steve going to connect these dots and solve the case?’”
With its rich blend of humour, cynicism, hope, denial, and hardcore investigative techniques, When Angels Fail To Fly gives a fresh twist on the belief “Only fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”
When Angels Fail To Fly and Barry Jones’ Cold Dinner can be purchased online at the author’s website: www.scannerpublishing.com, Page 233 Bookstore in Amherstburg, Ontario, through the Chapters bookstore chain, and other stores listed on the website.
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Barry Jones’ Cold Dinner -
A Steve Cassidy Mystery
August 2008 – Windsor, ON.
A Delicious Mystery is Served
Author publishes the first book of an exciting new P.I. series
The tagline on the cover of author John Schlarbaum’s new cold case mystery novel, Barry Jones’ Cold Dinner states, You never know where you’ll find the truth . . . or where it will find you – a reference to the trials and tribulations about to face the story’s main character. Billed as a Steve Cassidy Mystery, the storyline follows a troubled private investigator’s quest to locate the elusive Barry Jones, a family man who disappeared without a trace seven years earlier. With Mr. Jones’ wife petitioning the courts to declare her chronically absentee spouse dead, P.I. Cassidy is hired by her insurance company to determine the truth behind the mysterious vanishing act.
After working for years as a Private Investigator, the writer clearly knows his way around the field of insurance cases.
“I let the reader get inside the head of a P.I., as he methodically pieces together each clue one step at a time,” Schlarbaum states. “As in all cold case files, the investigator inevitably has to deal with the faulty memories of witnesses, and track down new leads, no matter how insignificant some appear on the surface. For all the dead ends Steve Cassidy pursues, usually a new avenue of inquiry is revealed along the way, propelling the storyline forward.”
Although the novel is a straightforward mystery, it is also a richly detailed account of one man’s journey to restore a sense of normalcy in his life. After years of substance abuse, a failed and dishonorable career as a cop, and a broken marriage, P.I. Cassidy finds himself back in his old hometown, which he had left many years earlier.
After writing the first chapter in a conventional third person narrative, Schlarbaum opted to try his hand at composing his mystery in a first person style, with the narrator being Steve Cassidy. “It permitted me to bring Steve’s true feelings to light,” Schlarbaum says, “and allowed the reader to connect with him in a more personal way. It also gives the reader an opportunity to figure what happened to Barry Jones in real-time, even before the main character does.”
Combining his love of writing, his P.I. experiences, and the chance to “virtually” revisit his own former small town life, was a rewarding experience for Schlarbaum, which shows in each chapter.
With a second Steve Cassidy Mystery in the works, the author believes Barry Jones’ Cold Dinner will be the beginning of a very popular series of books for years to come.
Barry Jones’ Cold Dinner, along with Schlarbaum’s previous two books, The Doctor’s Bag and Aging Gracefully Together, can be purchased on the Scanner Publishing website and bookstores listed on the site: www.scannerpublishing.com
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AGING GRACEFULLY
A Story of Love and Marriage.
March 2006 – Windsor, ON.
Aging Gracefully Together is an uplifting journey of two people destined to be life-long soul mates. From the time of their engagement through to their golden years, the reader shares in this devoted couple’s hopes, dreams, joys, heartaches, and most importantly, love for one another.
The two main characters are Henry and Tina Cole – two strong minded individuals whose partnership thrives and survives many life altering experiences over a 50 year period. As with the narrative style in his last book, Schlarbaum lets the story unfold through a series of five episodes that chronicle different stages of the Cole’s marriage. The issues they confront together are ones any reader who’s ever been in a caring relationship can relate to easily.
What makes this tale unique is the technique Schlarbaum uses to convey the highs and lows of the Cole’s complex relationship over the years.
“Each chapter is like a snapshot that deals with one event, on one day, during a different year in their lives at the ages of 19, 25, 42, 55 and finally at 70. When people look back on their lives, it’s single events over the years that have the most impact on their relationships with family or friends. That’s the case with this story – it’s the individual encounters between Henry and Tina which affect both of their lives.”
Aging Gracefully Together actually started in a slightly different form: as a play. Back when he was just starting his writing career in the television industry, Schlarbaum wrote several one-act plays in his spare time. However, when his childhood best friend decided to take a bride, three of these plays were expanded into book form and two more chapters were written to tie all of the elements together, making it a very personal one-of-a-kind gift at the time.
“The plays I had written all dealt with a couple sitting down to discuss their relationship or about something they had to deal with together, so it wasn’t hard to write a couple of new situations. What’s funny now is one recent reader commented that the book would make a great play. So you never know, what goes around comes around, and an Aging Gracefully Together play may very well be performed on a stage one day.”
Until then, Schlarbaum is eager to expand on the success of The Doctor’s Bag, which has sold over 400 copies in just five months. His goal now is to corner the wedding and anniversary gift book market, stating his new book appeals to both men and women of every generation and can be given as a romantic gift to someone special throughout the year.
“With the wedding season about to start and Father’s Day just around the corner, I’m hoping both books will continue to touch a cord with readers and make this year even more successful than last.” Both Aging Gracefully Together and The Doctor’s Bag are released by Scanner Publishing of Windsor, Ontario. Books can be purchased online at www.scannerpublishing.com and also at several bookstores in Southwestern Ontario listed on the website.
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“THE DOCTOR’S BAG”
A Heartwarming, Short Story of Family Bond.
Book readers are often the hardest to buy for due to the overwhelming amount of new releases each year. This year however, the cure for your book buying blues can be found within The Doctor’s Bag – A Sentimental Journey, a new inspirational story from Canadian author John Schlarbaum.
Written several years ago as a special Father’s Day present, this fictional story follows the ever changing relationship between a father and son, from the boy’s adolescence to the age of twenty. The bond between them is an old weathered doctor’s bag, which used to belong to the boy’s grandfather. In the opening chapter the father promises his young four-year-old son that if he can carry the bag to his room, it would be his. Over the next several years this simple promise lays the groundwork for a somewhat turbulent upbringing for both of the main characters.
What makes this tale unique is the narrative technique Schlarbaum uses to convey the highs and lows of the parent-child relationship.
“Each chapter is like a snapshot that deals with one event, on one day, during a different year in the boy’s life at the ages of 4, 7, 9, 16 and finally as a young man of 20. When people look back on their lives, it’s single events over the years that have the most impact on their relationships with family or friends. That’s the case with this story – it’s the individual encounters between Thomas and his son, which affect both of their lives.”
As a private investigator, and a former television writer and interviewer, Schlarbaum has sat down with many people to talk about their lives. But it was a discussion with his father one day that started the literary wheels into motion.
The idea for such a story came after Schlarbaum interviewed his father on the occasion of the elder’s 75th birthday. During the conversation many aspects of the writer’s father’s life were revealed for the first time, as specific memories and events were recalled that had personal meaning decades later. “My father also talked about tiny mementos he had and still cherished, like a baseball pin he’d received in his youth. I realized these same items would become family heirlooms, and this thought helped me write the last chapter, when the father makes a final attempt to keep the promise he’s made his son.”
Originally intended primarily as a gift fathers and sons could exchange, since its publication many female readers, from late teens to grandmothers, have written favourable reviews about the book, many saying they were moved to tears at the story’s sentimental conclusion.
“Just prior to publication, a friend of mine called me up and convinced me that this type of story would appeal to women as well. When I asked why she said, ‘Because it’s not about a father and son relationship, it’s about a parent’s love for their child. Women readers love books about sentimental journeys.’”
“Regardless of the gender of the reader, ultimately the story is about a promise made, a promise kept and that it’s never to late to tell someone you love them.”
Written with both a child and parent’s sensibilities and emotions in mind, The Doctor’s Bag is guaranteed to stir the hearts and minds of all readers.
“It’s very gratifying to discover that this simple inspirational story I wrote for my father eleven years ago, is now affecting others with its message of hope, love and understanding. My Dad is now 86 and thrilled our story is being shared like this.”
THE DOCTOR’S BAG is released by Scanner Publishing of Windsor, Ontario, and can be purchased online at www.scannerpublishing.com and also several bookstores in Southwestern Ontario, listed on the website.
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Biz-X Magazine – People Profile “City Smiles”
June 2006 Windsor, ON
Story by Lisa Rene-de-Cotret
At Biz X Magazine our slogan is “You Can Judge A Book BY ITS COVER.” But, we also know that the quality of the content invites people to get past the cover to read the stories. John Schlarbaum, President of Scanner Publishing and an author, is well aware of the importance of content. Schlarbaum has written two novels, “The Doctor’s Bag”, (an inspirational father/son story) and “Aging Gracefully Together.” Both books were written to fill a perceived void on bookstore shelves.
“There was a lack of inspirational books for fathers and for weddings or anniversaries,” he says.
Schlarbaum’s intent was to create a market of gift giving that wasn’t just a simple card, but something people would keep, read and re-read. This writer/publisher has worn many hats in his life. He is a graduate of Mohawk College with a diploma in Television / Broadcasting. Now aged 40, he has worked in the film and television industry, which included staging, lighting, and writing. He left that industry and then pursued a career in the private investigation field. However, the call of the pen was much stronger and it drew him back to his first love – writing. Born in Peterborough, and raised in West Lorne, the novelist moved often, enjoying the small towns of Ontario.
“I feel the experiences I have faced living in small towns, mid-sized cities, and large metropolitan areas, have helped me better understand people and also enriched the characters and situations I write about,” says Schlarbaum. His sense of community is what motivates him to contribute both personally and financially to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “I have had close relatives suffer heart attacks and strokes and want to help in anyway to further understand and treat these medical conditions.” Schlarbaum chose this community because of its diversity and his desire to grow his business. “I hope I can bring other people’s stories to the public and establish Scanner Publishing as a leader in inspirational books.”
SECRET-TO-SUCCESS: “Trusting my instincts and following through with my plan.”
