Q&A with Ray M Schultz, Author of Jack London and Murder on Nob Hill

Publication date: December 2, 2025 by Ray M. Schultze

Genre(s): Mystery, murder mystery, historical fiction, historical mystery, literary fiction, biographical fiction

In Jack London and Murder on Nob Hill by Ray M. Schultze, a murder Jack London witnesses vanishes from all official accounts, setting him on a path into areas defined by competing interests and guarded truths.

The narrative unfolds in 1898 San Francisco, where Jack’s concerns about the unacknowledged killing lead him to examine places characterized by long-standing disputes and informal structures of authority. As he navigates Chinatown’s alleys, he encounters evidence of disappearances and alliances that seldom draw outside attention. A woman tied to these elements complicates his understanding of what occurred, offering insight laced with uncertainty. Jack’s determination places him in the path of individuals who depend on discretion to retain control. His search exposes the deeper framework shaping interactions across the city’s hidden pockets.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/48AI8UB

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244308185-jack-london-and-murder-on-nob-hill

What are the hazards of fictionalizing a real person? 

The thought that you might be guilty of libel plays on your mind, which is a good reason to choose as a subject someone who’s been dead for at least a century! I fictionalized Bogart in one of my novels, and I sweated that one because he’s so iconic. You really feel the pressure of getting the personality down right. The last thing you want is some expert on the man telling you that you got it all wrong. Arrggg.

How do you come up with your ideas for novels? 

Because I’m an independent author trying to seduce the major publishing houses, I’m always on the lookout for what the industry calls “high concept” stories—basically ones based on an outrageous or over-the-top premise like the idea of the writer Jack London getting involved in a murder investigation. Seriously?

When do you get your best ideas for writing? 

Sometimes when I’m half-awake in the middle of the night or just rousing myself in the morning. Sometimes entire lines of dialogue pop into my head and I try to write them down before I drift off again.

You’ve written some international thrillers. Do you try to visit the setting when it’s a far-away place? 

It’s a must for me. You can research your heart out on, say, Portugal or Austria, and probably uncover every detail your story needs—except for the intangible feel of a place. The only exception I made was my novel Beranek’s Stand, set in Iran. I chickened out on that one.

If you could time-travel, where would you go? 

The bronze-age city-state of Knossos, on the island of Crete. It was the first sophisticated urban civilization of Europe, and the Minoans produced magnificent art and gloried in nature. By coincidence, Knossos happens to be the setting of my next novel…

Ray M. Schultze is the author of six novels, five of them works of suspense—The Last Safe Place, Combustion, The Devil in Dreamland, Decatur’s Dig, and Beranek’s Stand. His most recent novel, Russian River, is historical fiction. His interest in writing began in childhood with a handmade, folded-paper “magazine” that his mother encouraged. After graduating from the University of California at Riverside, he pursued newspaper reporting as a practical way to support himself while writing fiction. Over a twenty-five-year career, he covered politics, the legal system, and education for newspapers in California, Florida, and Arizona. When he turned to fiction full-time, he drew inspiration from authors such as Alan Furst and Ken Follett. Ray now lives in Santa Rosa, California, with his wife, Judi. They enjoy tennis, hiking, exploring the region’s beaches and headlands, and international travel—experiences that often shape his novels’ settings. He is also an award-winning woodworking artist. Visit him at his website.

Release Blitz for In a Heartbeat by Laura Pavlov

 

In a Heartbeat by Laura Pavlov is now live! A Small Town, Cowboy, Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers, Standalone Romance from USA Today and Amazon #1 Bestselling Author, Laura Pavlov. Wren Waterstone isn’t just one of the most decorated equestrians in the world―she was also my best friend for as long as I can remember. Until she wasn’t. Now she’s back in Rosewood River, and thanks to a temp agency, Wren has been placed at my ranch. I have no intention of allowing my ex-best-friend to work for me, but when I see the desperation in her eyes, I can’t turn her away, even though I know I should. Old habits die hard. Seeing her every day is more challenging than I expected. She’s guarded. Wounded. And she looks at me like I’m the enemy. I need to know why. The more time we spend together, the more the lines between past and present blur―and we find our way back to one another. The only problem is, she’s got big dreams to chase. And I only want to chase her. I’ve loved this girl my entire life, and our time apart didn’t change that. I let Wren Waterstone get away once. Am I really going to make that mistake again? Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited https://geni.us/inaheartbeat Paperback: https://amzn.to/4iGiano Hardcover: Coming soon! Audible: https://geni.us/IAHAUDIO Narrated by: Alex Knox and Samantha Brentmoor Goodreads: http://bit.ly/477mR5w

Release Blitz for Follow the Play by Kaylee Ryan

 

Follow the Play by Kaylee Ryan is now live!

NYT and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylee Ryan brings you a new standalone series surrounding the Nashville Rampage football team. Follow the Play is a single dad, nanny, friends to lovers, forced proximity sports romance.

Baker

Being a single dad was never part of the playbook, but one look at my son and everything changed. 

Now football and fatherhood are my whole world—a world that gets turned upside down when my nanny quits two weeks before training camp. 

Sloane Peterson runs interference by stepping in to help. 

She's sweet, dependable, and the one woman I shouldn't want. Not when our lives are so entwined.

But every time she smiles at my son—or me—it gets harder to remember that our little arrangement is only temporary. 

Sloane 

Taking a short-term nanny gig for Nashville Rampage’s most eligible DILF has disaster written all over it. 

But when Daddy Sin is in a bind, I do just that. It keeps me from waiting tables, and his son is the cutest little boy on the planet. 

Baker Sinclair is famous, has a body like a Greek god, and when he’s in daddy mode… he’s irresistible. He’s also currently my new boss, and completely forbidden. 

The longer I'm in his home, the less this feels like a job. 

Because between reading bedtime stories and baking cookies, I can't imagine my life without them... either of them. Too bad love doesn't follow lesson plans... or playbooks.

  Download today!

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3H28CVy      

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4mlNEQs 

 

Meet Kaylee Ryan

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylee Ryan has been crowned the Queen of Swoon by her readers. With nearly fifty romance books under her belt, she's known for penning happily ever afters with heart. When she's not writing, you can find her with a book in her hand or hanging out with her family where she resides in her home state of Ohio.

 

Connect with Kaylee

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Amazon Text Updates |  KRAMAZON to 513-854-1147 

Apple Books, Kobo, & Barnes & Noble Text Updates | KRWIDE to 513-854-1147

Available Now!! Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart by Giulia Lagomarsino

 

Title: Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart

Series: The Last Place for Love Book #1

Author: Giulia Lagomarsino

Genre/Tropes: Romantic Suspense; Small Town Romance; Western Romance  

Release Date: December 15, 2025

Cover Design: Artscandar

Cover Model: Tony Brettman

If I had known that night that being in my life would put her in danger, I never would have asked her to dance.

For years, I’d danced around this flirtation with Bailey. We both knew it would eventually lead to that big, white chapel, overwhelming love, and a lifetime together that would rival any tragic love story.

If it weren’t for that dance.

That was the night everything changed.

I’d been planning this night with Bailey since I was in third grade when I rescued her from the monkey bars.

Ever since then, she was mine.

She knew it. My family knew it. Hell, the entire town had been waiting for the moment I would finally make my move.

Apparently, so was someone else.

But there was no joy where he was concerned, only a need for revenge that would destroy any happiness the two of us shared, along with anyone in my family.

No matter how hard I tried, there was no way out.

Her life was in danger, and it was all because of me. And that was something I just couldn’t tolerate.

She was the love of my life, but keeping her alive was more important than winning her in the end.

“So, Liam, what took you so long to ask me to dance?”

“Can’t a man have any secrets?”

“Not in this town,” she chuckled.

My eyes left hers for only a moment, but it was long enough to see the entire bar staring at us. “Alright, fair enough.”

“You know, I’ve had a crush on you since you helped me off the monkey bars in second grade.”

“Third,” I corrected. “You climbed up there in that pink dress, determined to be just like the boys.”

“You remembered.”

If she only knew how much I watched her. “There’s not much I don’t remember about you, Bailey Bennett. I’ve had my eye on you since I saw those cute little hearts on your underwear.”

“Liam!” she laughed, attempting to smack my chest with the hand I was holding. “You weren’t supposed to look! You promised!”

I'm a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, "No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book." I didn't think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn't already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven't been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.

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