“You feel like your sympathies shouldn’t really rest with our main man, but somehow in the hands of Sarah Chen, they do. Can Finn clean up his act, get out from under and find some measure of redemption? Or is he doomed to repeat the mistakes of his past?”
“I absolutely loved Cleaning Up Finn by Sarah M. Chen. I defy anyone who reads this tightly wound novella to find anything wrong with it. It has a classic noir main character, death, despair, and—best of all—a full-throttle plot that picks up more and more speed as the plot unfolds.”
Check out Out of the Gutter today where reviewer Derrick Horodyski gives FINN a thumbs-up.
Here’s a little excerpt: “I absolutely loved Cleaning Up Finn by Sarah M. Chen. I defy anyone who reads this tightly wound novella to find anything wrong with it. It has a classic noir main character, death, despair, and—best of all—a full-throttle plot that picks up more and more speed as the plot unfolds.”
It was a fantastic night at Book Show where the audience participation was the best I’ve ever seen! It was like having a discussion on writing and novellas in someone’s living room. A great time and a fabulous book store. I’ll have to go back.
With S.W. Lauden, Eric Beetner, Gary Phillips, and the owner of Book Show, the awesome Jen Hitchcock.
On Saturday, June 4, at 8pm, I’ll be participating on a panel with Eric Beetner, S.W. Lauden, and Gary Phillips where we’ll discuss the novella in modern crime fiction. It should be an entertaining night and since I’ve never been to Book Show, I’m doubly excited as it’s always fun to check out new venues.
Of course novellas (like CLEANING UP FINN) will be for sale! Hope to see you there!
Life is a constant party for restaurant manager, Finn Roose. When he seduces an underage woman on one of his booze cruises and loses her—literally, it sets off a massive search involving the police, her parents, and a private investigator. Finn is an expert manipulator but his endless lies only tighten the screws on himself and his unsuspecting best friend. Finn scrambles to make things right which may be too much to ask from a guy who can’t resist a hot babe and a stiff drink.
“Majorly screwed up. But in a good way.” — Brett Battles, USA Today bestselling author of the Jonathan Quinn thrillers
“Chen creates a compelling character with restaurant manager Finn Roose. Readers with certain taste (like me) will enjoy watching this self-deluded ladies man bumble from one mistake to another, trying to hide his involvement with a missing teenage girl. Sarah M. Chen creates a hybrid West Coast restaurant noir novella. A great read.” — Travis Richardson, author of the noir novella, Lost in Clover
“A speedboat ride along the Southern California coastline where the sun shines a light on the lecherous locals. Finn Roose is an opportunistic restaurant manager who finally gets in over his head when he meets an underage femme fatale. Lives are shattered and bullets fly through the salty ocean air in this fast-paced debut from Sarah M. Chen.” — S.W. Lauden, Bad Citizen Corporation and Crosswise
“If you like your crime fiction the way Finn Roose likes his women, hard and fast, you’ll love Sarah M. Chen’s debut novella. A challenging, unsentimental look at a man who may be beyond redemption. Chen is a writer to watch.” — Matt Coyle, author of the Anthony Award-winning Rick Cahill crime series
“Cleaning Up Finn is a complex morality tale of debauchery, selfishness, sacrifice, and guilt. This romp of a noir through Southern California’s South Bay will stay with you, challenging your ideas of poetic justice and leaving you wanting more from Sarah M. Chen.” — James W. Ziskin, Anthony-, Barry-, and Lefty-nominated author of the Ellie Stone Mysteries,
Styx & Stone, No Stone Unturned, Stone Cold Dead, and Heart of Stone
“A gritty and compelling journey, Chen navigates the intricate labyrinth of great modern storytelling with believable style. I’ll be tapping my foot waiting for more from this incredible author and more of her character Finn.” — Darrell James, author of the Award Winning Del Shannon series
So today was the day…the first FINN signing and I lucked out with having it at my favorite bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy! OK, I kind of planned it that way. And I was able to share the limelight with awesome and talented fellow crime fiction author, S.W. Lauden. He maybe even managed to make me look not so freakishly weird and anxious because he’s cool like that.
It was a blast and even better…we sold books! If you want to order copies from an indie bookstore, call Mysterious Galaxy. They ship anywhere!
I’ll be signing and discussing CLEANING UP FINN, published by All Due Respect Books along with awesomely-talented writer and friend, S.W. Lauden. He’ll be signing his novella CROSSWISE, released with Down & Out books.
We’ll talk about the novella in crime fiction, “surf noir” or “sunshine noir” stories, and why our covers look so badass (hint: we had the same graphic artist). And did I mention cupcakes?!
Today, it’s interrogation #2 this week over at DO SOME DAMAGE. Author Holly West asks me questions about my writing process and of course, my debut book CLEANING UP FINN! Hop on over and take a look.
“Majorly screwed up. But in a good way.” – Brett Battles, USA Today bestselling author of the Jonathan Quinn thrillers
“….Sarah M. Chen is taking no prisoners in this brakeless toboggan ride of a hardboiled romp.” – Craig Faustus Buck, Macavity Award-winning author of GO DOWN HARD
“If you like your crime fiction the way Finn Roose likes his women, hard and fast, you’ll love Sarah M. Chen’s debut novella, CLEANING UP FINN. A challenging, unsentimental look at a man who may be beyond redemption. Sarah M. Chen is a writer to watch.” – Matt Coyle, author of the Anthony Award-winning Rich Cahill crime series
“Cleaning Up Finn is a complex morality tale of debauchery, selfishness, sacrifice, and guilt. This romp of a noir through Southern California’s South Bay will stay with you, challenging your ideas of poetic justice and leaving you wanting more from Sarah M. Chen.” — James W. Ziskin, Anthony-, Barry-, and Lefty-nominated author of the Ellie Stone Mysteries
My debut book CLEANING UP FINN is officially out NOW folks! I’m so excited I don’t know what to do with myself. Except shout out to the world that MY BOOK IS OUT!
“Majorly screwed up. But in a good way.” – Brett Battles, USA Today bestselling author of the Jonathan Quinn thrillers
“….Sarah M. Chen is taking no prisoners in this brakeless toboggan ride of a hardboiled romp.” – Craig Faustus Buck, Macavity Award-winning author of GO DOWN HARD
“If you like your crime fiction the way Finn Roose likes his women, hard and fast, you’ll love Sarah M. Chen’s debut novella, CLEANING UP FINN. A challenging, unsentimental look at a man who may be beyond redemption. Sarah M. Chen is a writer to watch.” – Matt Coyle, author of the Anthony Award-winning Rich Cahill crime series
“Cleaning Up Finn is a complex morality tale of debauchery, selfishness, sacrifice, and guilt. This romp of a noir through Southern California’s South Bay will stay with you, challenging your ideas of poetic justice and leaving you wanting more from Sarah M. Chen.” — James W. Ziskin, Anthony-, Barry-, and Lefty-nominated author of the Ellie Stone Mysteries
