Press Release
Launch Release: February 28, 2008
Solve a mystery, win $25,000
Local mystery writer debuts interactive novel containing clues for reader
By Sandra Hernandez, Contributing Writer
Published on February 28, 2008
A casino executive discovers the body of a gangster in the trunk of Mayor Goodfella's car. If a mystery like this interests you, then the new novel "Vegas Die" promises more than the pleasure of reading. It promises to make you a part of it.
Local author Stephen Grogan is taking reading to the next level, with an interactive novel that leads readers on a treasure hunt for a silver dagger worth $25,000. The dagger is hidden somewhere in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. "This is actually a lot more than a treasure hunt," Grogan said. "It's almost a kind of a challenge to the reading public, to look at something and see beyond just the written words."
In a time when there are many ways to inform and entertain, Grogan said that people are losing the ability to sit down, take a book, read it, think about it and enjoy it.
This is partly the reason why he created this interactive book. He wants the readers to immerse themselves in the novel, and then become detectives to discover the clues and find the hidden dagger.
If someone finds the dagger "you have the choice of keeping it or, deal or no deal, you can give it to me and I'll write you a check for $25,000," Grogan said.
The humor behind this premise is that he has to "sell a bunch of books to pay for the dagger."
Those who dare to take on the quest will have three years to find the dagger, but if no one is able to locate it, then he will reveal the clues that lead to the silver dagger. Grogan is the only one who knows where the dagger is located. "Eventually I want someone to find this, because that validates the fact that it was a good game," he said.
Anyone who wishes to participate in the quest must register at QuestMystery.com for rules and perhaps some clues. If you are not in Las Vegas you can still participate by enlisting friends to go on the hunt for you.
Grogan also slyly warns readers that "the dagger is not hidden in the author's backyard."
In addition, he wants to create "a community" of those in search of the dagger because he hopes to write similar books. Grogan wants the "questors" to keep in mind that they should "beware of the path they follow," because not all clues lead to the dagger.
The book itself is not what it appears to be, even the word "Die" in the title has more than one meaning, he mentions. There is, however, more to this book than just what people would expect from a story set in Las Vegas. "This is more of a fun one. A lot of times when they write about Vegas, it's always about the dark side, the CSI side of Vegas," Grogan said.
Besides an interesting mix of characters like strippers, nerdy card counters, an Elvis impersonator, super star twins and assorted corpses (immolated, shot, sliced and diced), there is a lady detective, who is trying to get to a crime scene but cannot find a babysitter for her child.
"I think that shows that Vegas has a little bit behind the scenes as a human town," he said.
What about the mayor and his link to the mob? If this sounds familiar at all, real Vegas mayor Oscar B. Goodman read the book and Grogan said he liked it.
On Goodman's blurb for "Vegas Die," he sarcastically said, "I don't know if Mayor Goodfella is believable. After all, I'm quiet and unassuming, and I know for a fact we never had mobsters in Las Vegas."
Originally from Colorado, Grogan said he started writing the novel three years ago and getting published was not easy. Even though getting published is easier with modern technology, the problem is to be taken seriously in the literary world. According to Grogan, it is hard to break what he calls the "New York publishing mentality," where there are only a few major publishing companies that control all the major literary production in the United States.
"That is not necessarily fair to the hinterlands or the people out there in mainstream America who really are the people buying interesting books," Grogan said. Grogan already has another book formulating in his mind. The characters in this book will stem from "Vegas Die" and it will feature a GPS hunt.
The Rebel Yell (UNLV Newspaper)
More Arts & Entertainment from 2/28/2008
Arts & Entertainment
More Arts & Entertainment from 2/28/2008
Arts & Entertainment
Solve a mystery, win $25,000
Local mystery writer debuts interactive novel containing clues for reader
By Sandra Hernandez, Contributing Writer
Published on February 28, 2008
A casino executive discovers the body of a gangster in the trunk of Mayor Goodfella's car. If a mystery like this interests you, then the new novel "Vegas Die" promises more than the pleasure of reading. It promises to make you a part of it.
Local author Stephen Grogan is taking reading to the next level, with an interactive novel that leads readers on a treasure hunt for a silver dagger worth $25,000. The dagger is hidden somewhere in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. "This is actually a lot more than a treasure hunt," Grogan said. "It's almost a kind of a challenge to the reading public, to look at something and see beyond just the written words."
In a time when there are many ways to inform and entertain, Grogan said that people are losing the ability to sit down, take a book, read it, think about it and enjoy it.
This is partly the reason why he created this interactive book. He wants the readers to immerse themselves in the novel, and then become detectives to discover the clues and find the hidden dagger.
If someone finds the dagger "you have the choice of keeping it or, deal or no deal, you can give it to me and I'll write you a check for $25,000," Grogan said.
The humor behind this premise is that he has to "sell a bunch of books to pay for the dagger."
Those who dare to take on the quest will have three years to find the dagger, but if no one is able to locate it, then he will reveal the clues that lead to the silver dagger. Grogan is the only one who knows where the dagger is located. "Eventually I want someone to find this, because that validates the fact that it was a good game," he said.
Anyone who wishes to participate in the quest must register at QuestMystery.com for rules and perhaps some clues. If you are not in Las Vegas you can still participate by enlisting friends to go on the hunt for you.
Grogan also slyly warns readers that "the dagger is not hidden in the author's backyard."
In addition, he wants to create "a community" of those in search of the dagger because he hopes to write similar books. Grogan wants the "questors" to keep in mind that they should "beware of the path they follow," because not all clues lead to the dagger.
The book itself is not what it appears to be, even the word "Die" in the title has more than one meaning, he mentions. There is, however, more to this book than just what people would expect from a story set in Las Vegas. "This is more of a fun one. A lot of times when they write about Vegas, it's always about the dark side, the CSI side of Vegas," Grogan said.
Besides an interesting mix of characters like strippers, nerdy card counters, an Elvis impersonator, super star twins and assorted corpses (immolated, shot, sliced and diced), there is a lady detective, who is trying to get to a crime scene but cannot find a babysitter for her child.
"I think that shows that Vegas has a little bit behind the scenes as a human town," he said.
What about the mayor and his link to the mob? If this sounds familiar at all, real Vegas mayor Oscar B. Goodman read the book and Grogan said he liked it.
On Goodman's blurb for "Vegas Die," he sarcastically said, "I don't know if Mayor Goodfella is believable. After all, I'm quiet and unassuming, and I know for a fact we never had mobsters in Las Vegas."
Originally from Colorado, Grogan said he started writing the novel three years ago and getting published was not easy. Even though getting published is easier with modern technology, the problem is to be taken seriously in the literary world. According to Grogan, it is hard to break what he calls the "New York publishing mentality," where there are only a few major publishing companies that control all the major literary production in the United States.
"That is not necessarily fair to the hinterlands or the people out there in mainstream America who really are the people buying interesting books," Grogan said. Grogan already has another book formulating in his mind. The characters in this book will stem from "Vegas Die" and it will feature a GPS hunt.
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